Oklahoma State University Athletics
10 Questions With Mike Hamilton
August 12, 2004 | Cowboy Football
“It is a lot harder coming in here from high school because you have your high school plays and now you are coming into a whole new set of plays. It is a lot tougher because the play calls are different and you have to learn the signals for each play and which routes to run. You have to learn your steps when you are running the ball and that has been harder for me. The first day I was here, I didn't feel like I knew what I was doing.”
How do you feel you have progressed throughout the week?
“I think I have caught on really fast. I went in and watched film. From Monday, when I didn't feel like I knew anything to today I have improved a lot and have gotten better.”
How much did being around these guys this summer help you get adjusted?
“It helped me meeting all of the new players and it got me conditioned. I was out of shape when I got here, so the running really got me into shape and helped me a lot.”
How did you choose Oklahoma State?
“When I came on my recruiting visit I liked it. It was nice here and I wanted to do something different. I didn't want to go to school in Florida and I wanted to get away from home.”
How exciting is it to get to play at a school with a rich tradition at running back?
“It means a lot. That is one of the reasons I came here because I had heard about those guys. Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas were good players and I wanted to come in behind them and make my own name.”
What is the biggest asset that you bring to this team?
“I am a bigger back. Most of the guys are smaller. I think I am a bigger back, but I still move like a smaller back that can make cuts.”
Is there a running back that has a running style similar to yours?
“Eddie George. Most people back home say that I run like him.”
How did you choose football over baseball?
“When I was little, all I played was baseball. When I played football I was a center in little league. When I got into high school, that was the first time I played running back and I started to like it. Baseball got boring to me and I liked football more so I got away from baseball.” (Hamilton's brother, Tracy Thorpe, is a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays' Single-A affiliate, Dunedin, of the Florida State League.)
How exciting is it to get the opportunity to play Division I football?
“It is going to be a lot of fun. I am looking forward to all of the fans being here. I know I am going to be nervous the first time I see it, but it is going to be fun.”
How do you expect to help the team as a freshman?
“ I think that if work my hardest and learn the plays, I can get a chance to play this season.”
