Aug. 17, 2012
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By KYLE SOLDWISCH
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior wide receiver Steven Staggs saw the first action of his career as a junior, catching five passes for 45 yards. Hawkeyesports.com caught up with Staggs to ask the Oskaloosa, Iowa, native 10 questions. Here is what he had to say:
What is the biggest change in the offense under new coordinator Greg Davis?
“The terminology is always different between coaches, but football is still football. However you want to word it, it’s still the same. Getting to learn the terminology and how things are called was the biggest difference, but I think I’m grasping it.”
After not seeing action as a freshman or sophomore, what did it mean to play in 10 games as a junior?
“It was great. It’s what you work for, whether you play for four years or you play for one year. I didn’t come in here expecting to play four years; I knew it was going to be a grind and that I was going to have to work my way up. Any snaps that I get are great.”
What is the best thing about playing in Kinnick Stadium?
“The history there and all the great players that have been there in the past. To say that you’re part of that fraternity is pretty special.”
Who was an athlete that you looked up to growing up?
“Tim Dwight was always my favorite growing up. I don’t know how many Tim Dwight jerseys I had. That was always the guy I loved to watch and tried to emulate.”
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“I tried to improve all-around. Anything and everything I could; route running, releases, catching the ball. There’s always something you can improve on, and I tried to improve as an overall player.”
Steve Staggs
UI senior wide receiver |
What did you improve on most since the 2011 season?
“I tried to improve all-around. Anything and everything I could; route running, releases, catching the ball. There’s always something you can improve on, and I tried to improve as an overall player.”
What are your expectations for the 2012 team?
“We’re going to come out and do the best we can. You can’t predict anything because so much is out of your hands, but everyone is working hard. We’re going to do what we can and control what we can control.”
What is it like to play in the Big Ten Conference?
“It’s arguably one of the best and most prestigious conferences in the country. It’s hard to explain just how great it is, but I love it.”
What did you learn from All-Big Ten wide receiver Marvin McNutt?
“How he prepared each week, how he would attack different looks that people would give him and how he really wasn’t afraid of anything. I think he had a confidence about him that rubbed off on all of us.”
How has quarterback James Vandenberg improved since last season?
“James is a tremendous player. We were in the same conference in high school, so I played against him for three years before coming here. We played in the Shrine Game together. Seeing him the whole way, I’ve always thought he was a great quarterback. He’s smart, he’s always working hard and he’s always improving. It’s an honor have him as our quarterback. We have a lot of confidence in him.”
You and Tyler Sash are from the same hometown. What was your reaction when he won a Super Bowl championship with the New York Giants and have you talked to him at all since?
“I got to talk to him a lot. We stay in touch during the season and everything. It was neat the journey he got to go on through the playoffs. There are not many people that can say that they won a Super Bowl. That’s a tremendous accomplishment for him. It was really great.”