Transcripts

Search Transcripts
Jevon Holland – December 8, 2021 Download PDF version

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

S Jevon Holland

(I know we asked you a Mario Cristobal question last week. I had one for you. Players who you know who would ask you what does it require to play for him, what qualities does he value that are essential for players to have to want to play for him, you would say what?) – “That’s a good question. I would say players that have dignity, honesty, respect, they’re hard workers and they buy in. That’s really what it’s all about. That’s what was reiterated to us, just about buying into the process, trusting it and believing in what the coaches have for us and going out there and executing.”

(What does Mario Cristobal mean to you and what has he given you as a player?) – “He’s given me a lot of sense of direction and leadership. When I came in, I was a young player when I had a leadership role put on my shoulders and he encouraged me throughout my career at Oregon to step into that role, wear it with pride but also be one of the guys that younger guys can look to as somebody who gets there early, leaves late, does that extra 1/8th so that I can perform on the field but also help my team win in any situation possible. Definitely about pushing me and understanding how to buy into a culture, really believing that and not just trying to do what I want to do. Be a team player, there’s no I in team as the saying goes.”

(I know Mario Cristobal has been busy and you’re busy too, but have you talked to him or been like, ‘Hey, we’re both here?’) – “Nah, I haven’t reached out. It’s common knowledge obviously that I’m down here. He actually texted me a couple weeks ago just congratulating me on having a good season and continuing to, like I said before, he wants guys to continue to work hard and that’s what he reminded me. Always stay humble. Never be complacent. I’ll probably reach out to him pretty soon when everything dies down because I know it’s going crazy.”

(Was he involved in recruiting you?) – “Coach (Mario) Cristobal specifically was not involved with recruiting me. He was on staff when Coach (Willie) Taggert was the head coach. That was my main recruiter. Coach (Keith) Heyward actually, who was the safeties coach when I was there. But when Cristobal, it was like this whole movement of Cristobal in and guys were like we want Cristobal as the head coach. I went on my official (visit), met with him, talked to him and after that I was like ‘yup, this is the guy really.’ It was almost like we were recruiting him to Mr. (Rob) Mullins, so that he could be the head coach, if you put it that way.”

(What was it about him that you guys wanted in a head coach?) – “He just wanted us to become better ourselves. He was a player’s coach. People enjoyed him, enjoyed the way he coached, enjoyed his energy on the team. He was electric. You see that on the field. He’s a fireball of energy whether we’re losing, winning, regardless. He’s going to go out there and coach us as hard as he can.”

(Any plans for the bye weekend?) – “Yeah I got plans but I don’t know, there’s a camera on me and people are going to pull up on me. I don’t know. (laughter). Nah, I’m just playing. I’m going to be at Animal Kingdom and Universal Studios. Yup, Orlando.”

(What rides do you ride?) – “I don’t like roller coasters. I don’t. They make my stomach hurt. (laughter) But I do like the sightseeing and all the different cool stuff at Disney (World) and stuff like that.”

(You’ve done so much well obviously in your rookie season, I know Co-Offensive Coordinator/TEs George Godsey was saying, on both sides of the ball, the goal is for every player to be given one or two things to improve on over this week-and-a-half. For you, what’s one area where you think you’d like to take another step in your growth?) – “With the bye week and us not having an opponent, I want to really scout myself. That’s really what it is. Just go back and watch my tape because how we’re watching tape on other teams, other teams are watching tape on me. So to see my mannerisms and see where either I lack or need to improve at and go into next week a better myself.”

(I know you’ve talked about how valuable it was to have your dad stop the tape once the remote control was developed as you all were watching TV growing up. Does he still do that watching your games and send you a flurry of text messages after game saying I want you to this differently, that differently? Does he tell you on the phone after games?) – “Nah, not no more.”

(He doesn’t do any of that?) – “Nah, I mean he probably does it for himself but he knows I’m a professional athlete. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t do it myself and he knows that. He doesn’t do that no more.”

Search Transcripts

Weekly Archives