Killer
03-14-2010, 01:19 PM
Modest Hood is focused on getting better
Evander "Ziggy" Hood grew up in Amarillo knowing that when the subject turned to the NFL, this place bleeds the silver and blue of the Dallas Cowboys.
But for more than two hours Thursday, Hood turned part of Amarillo into "Steeler Nation."
http://www.amarillo.com/images/031410/69001_270.jpg
http://www.amarillo.com/images/031410/69002_270.jpg
In a store called Gameday near the Westgate Mall, Hood sat in the middle of the jam-packed store at a table next to his dad, Charles, and was engulfed by Pittsburgh fans decked out in black and gold in the heart of Cowboys country.
He signed purses, T-shirts and shot glasses with the Steelers logo. He signed football cards, photos, many No. 96 Steelers jerseys with HOOD on the back. And sometimes, as many as six or seven items for one person.
The 300-pound plus Hood, a muscular mountain of a man, is a Palo Duro graduate and was the first-round draft pick of Pittsburgh Steelers last year after starring on the defensive line for the Missouri Tigers.
Hood said he is taking a break from his workout schedule in Pittsburgh for a week or so to be with family and friends in Amarillo.
And his fans.
"This is the greatest day of my life," one young girl shouted after taking a picture with Hood.
"Can you win us another Super Bowl?' asked a man wearing a leather Steelers jacket.
"We'll try," said Hood, breaking into a smile.
Hood is a man of few words. He signed and signed free of charge on this day.
Hood is also a man proud to call Amarillo his home, and he has been kind enough to share his road to the NFL with all of us.
He talked with Palo Duro football players for an hour this week. He continues to keep his feet on the ground. And this good guy who got more and more playing time as the season progressed, answered a few of my questions,
My favorite answer was about his impression of the NFL after a year.
"Until your name is ringing like Jerry Rice, and you know you have it made," Hood said. "Until then, I have to keep on working."
In his first season, Hood played in all 16 games, made eight tackles, had one sack and defensed two passes.
Hood took time out from his autograph schedule to answer a few more questions.
What's it mean to see this many fans come out and want your signature?
"The Steelers fan base is growing in Amarillo. We didn't have too much to smile about (during the season). To come in here and see all these smiles, I'll take that day. Hopefully, I can bring a smile to them, too."
What was your message to the Palo Duro football team?
"For me it's about if I can help just one kid get out (to college) - mission accomplished. Not everybody is going to have a chance to play in the NFL. I know that and they know that. It's a business. It's the league.
"But what I told them is if you can put your effort in other ways in life and help contribute to society and help others, then you are a success. That's what you have to do. I shared my story and said just because you make the NFL it's not suddenly easy. You have to grind pretty much every day because someone is out there working right now and coming after your job."
How different is the college game from the pro game?
"Really, it was all the game speed. All the guys are big and everybody is fast. Until you experience it, there is nothing like it. It's hard to explain.
"But you have guys weighing 350 pounds and running just as fast as you are and you are fifty pounds lighter. It's crazy."
What did you learn you have to do to succeed in the NFL?
"It's all mental. Because everybody is big and fast. If you can outsmart your opponent, you are going to win. You won't win every time, but most of the time.
"Last year at this time, I didn't know what team I was going to play for, what technique, what position. Now, I know what I am. I'm a 3-4 defensive end playing four techniques and two-gapping. I can focus now more on my technique and get better. Coming up in our OTA's I won't struggle as much. Now I won't be running around trying to balance the playbook on my shoulders and can become a true technician on the field."
What's a Steelers home game like?
"The fan base out there is crazy. I don't see any fan base as crazy as that. Maybe some Cowboys fans, but I'm not sure they can even relate. They get Steelers tattoos and it's not just one person. It's a bunch of them. It's crazy. And I like it."
http://www.amarillo.com/stories/031410/new_news4.shtml
Evander "Ziggy" Hood grew up in Amarillo knowing that when the subject turned to the NFL, this place bleeds the silver and blue of the Dallas Cowboys.
But for more than two hours Thursday, Hood turned part of Amarillo into "Steeler Nation."
http://www.amarillo.com/images/031410/69001_270.jpg
http://www.amarillo.com/images/031410/69002_270.jpg
In a store called Gameday near the Westgate Mall, Hood sat in the middle of the jam-packed store at a table next to his dad, Charles, and was engulfed by Pittsburgh fans decked out in black and gold in the heart of Cowboys country.
He signed purses, T-shirts and shot glasses with the Steelers logo. He signed football cards, photos, many No. 96 Steelers jerseys with HOOD on the back. And sometimes, as many as six or seven items for one person.
The 300-pound plus Hood, a muscular mountain of a man, is a Palo Duro graduate and was the first-round draft pick of Pittsburgh Steelers last year after starring on the defensive line for the Missouri Tigers.
Hood said he is taking a break from his workout schedule in Pittsburgh for a week or so to be with family and friends in Amarillo.
And his fans.
"This is the greatest day of my life," one young girl shouted after taking a picture with Hood.
"Can you win us another Super Bowl?' asked a man wearing a leather Steelers jacket.
"We'll try," said Hood, breaking into a smile.
Hood is a man of few words. He signed and signed free of charge on this day.
Hood is also a man proud to call Amarillo his home, and he has been kind enough to share his road to the NFL with all of us.
He talked with Palo Duro football players for an hour this week. He continues to keep his feet on the ground. And this good guy who got more and more playing time as the season progressed, answered a few of my questions,
My favorite answer was about his impression of the NFL after a year.
"Until your name is ringing like Jerry Rice, and you know you have it made," Hood said. "Until then, I have to keep on working."
In his first season, Hood played in all 16 games, made eight tackles, had one sack and defensed two passes.
Hood took time out from his autograph schedule to answer a few more questions.
What's it mean to see this many fans come out and want your signature?
"The Steelers fan base is growing in Amarillo. We didn't have too much to smile about (during the season). To come in here and see all these smiles, I'll take that day. Hopefully, I can bring a smile to them, too."
What was your message to the Palo Duro football team?
"For me it's about if I can help just one kid get out (to college) - mission accomplished. Not everybody is going to have a chance to play in the NFL. I know that and they know that. It's a business. It's the league.
"But what I told them is if you can put your effort in other ways in life and help contribute to society and help others, then you are a success. That's what you have to do. I shared my story and said just because you make the NFL it's not suddenly easy. You have to grind pretty much every day because someone is out there working right now and coming after your job."
How different is the college game from the pro game?
"Really, it was all the game speed. All the guys are big and everybody is fast. Until you experience it, there is nothing like it. It's hard to explain.
"But you have guys weighing 350 pounds and running just as fast as you are and you are fifty pounds lighter. It's crazy."
What did you learn you have to do to succeed in the NFL?
"It's all mental. Because everybody is big and fast. If you can outsmart your opponent, you are going to win. You won't win every time, but most of the time.
"Last year at this time, I didn't know what team I was going to play for, what technique, what position. Now, I know what I am. I'm a 3-4 defensive end playing four techniques and two-gapping. I can focus now more on my technique and get better. Coming up in our OTA's I won't struggle as much. Now I won't be running around trying to balance the playbook on my shoulders and can become a true technician on the field."
What's a Steelers home game like?
"The fan base out there is crazy. I don't see any fan base as crazy as that. Maybe some Cowboys fans, but I'm not sure they can even relate. They get Steelers tattoos and it's not just one person. It's a bunch of them. It's crazy. And I like it."
http://www.amarillo.com/stories/031410/new_news4.shtml