Sedrick Irvin

By Allyson Turner

This 6-foot, 223-pound junior tailback looks to help No. 23 Michigan State this season. The All-America and Doak Walker Award candidate is the first player in Spartan history to rush for 1,000 yards as both a true freshman and a sophomore. He gained 1,067 as a freshman and 1,270 last season. He already ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in rushing yards (seventh at 2,337), rushing touchdowns (sixth at 25), touchdowns (third at 32), scoring (seventh at 192 points) and all-purpose yards (ninth at 3,391). Irvin has nine career 100-yard games, and the Spartans are undefeated in his nine career multiple-touchdown games. Michigan State opens the 1998 season in the Black Coaches Association Football Classic on Aug. 29 against No. 15 Colorado State. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.

 

Sedrick Irvin rushed for 1,270 yards last season and 1,067 yards his freshman season. (AP)

If you had to trade places with one person, who would it be?
Oprah Winfrey. I'm not really interested in hosting her TV show, but I'd be interested in picking up her paycheck.

What is one word or phrase that best describes your personality?
Happy life.

What is your pet peeve?
Laziness.

You're writing your autobiography. What is the title?
The Beginning to the End.

What is your favorite place in the world?
Church.

If you could be a fly on the wall anywhere, where would it be?
Michael Jordan's house.

What in your life are you most grateful for?
My 80-year-old grandfather. She is an inspiration to me because she has been fighting illness every day for a long time, yet her outlook on life remains great. She has taught me a lot about the power of prayer.

Who had the most influence on your career?
I have never gotten that close to a coach. My belief in a higher power has helped me more than anything. Somebody certainly has been watching over me.

What is the best part about being a player?
I love the atmosphere on a college football Saturday. The college crowd is the best.

What is the worst part about being a player?
I don't like that fact college players have become public figures. You can be a hero after the game Saturday and a goat later that night. I understand that there's an added responsibility that goes along with putting on your school's uniform, but I think it's unfortunate that today's student-athletes don't have private lives.

It's your last meal. Where and what do you eat?
Soul food at my grandmother's house.

What is a perfect day?
The perfect day for me would be helping someone less fortunate in the morning and then having my grandmother see me graduate from college later in the afternoon.

What are you intimidated by?
Losing a loved one.

If I were to push "play" on your CD player, what would be playing?
Something inspirational. I don't have a favorite gospel singer, but you could certainly count on hearing some church-going music.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A football player.