Oklahoma State University Athletics
Q&A with Greg Richmond
July 11, 2007 | Cowboy Football
“I love it. The experience is more than what I thought it was going to be. It feels like I never left.”
How was your NFL experience?
“It was a great one, but it was also a painful one. During my three years with the Philadelphia Eagles I had two back operations and I didn't get to enjoy my NFL career like I wanted to due to those injuries. But I had a great experience just meeting the guys that I met and being able to be around the NFL setting and participating with the team and organization every day of the week.”
How is it working for Rob Glass, assistant AD, head of strength and conditioning?
“I love it. He's even better than I thought he was. I always thought he was good but I think highly of him now just spending time with him every day, being around him, getting feedback from him and also him accepting our feedback. You don't find too many strength and conditioning coaches of his caliber that are as attentive to what other guys think and feel about the job they do.”
What attracted you to this position at OSU?
“This is my way of getting into a program quickly. At the end of the day I want to coach and this is a way that I can get started and get around the guys and just help them as much as I can.”
What made you want to be a coach?
“The way I get along with people so well. This is also my way of giving back to the university and kids that are going through the same things that I've been through. Maybe I can help them along the way to overcome the bumps in the road that they'll face in the future.”
Do you think the fact that you're so close in age to some of these guys, that it helps you relate better to them?
“Things are different when it comes from someone who you look at as your peer. They don't look at me as a 35-year-old coach or whatever. They look at me as a person, a person who can relate to them and let them know the obstacles they're going to face and just help them.”
What advice do you give the guys?
“I just pretty much tell them to be accountable for everything they do. The decisions that you make today will affect you 10-15 years from now. So I tell them to take care of their bodies and focus in on their schoolwork because without any of that, I wouldn't be here today.”
What is your impression of the OSU football squad this summer?
“They work hard. I love watching them. All of their bodies have changed since Coach Glass has been the strength and conditioning coach and that's a good thing. His program is the program that they need. It's something that I look forward to every day: coming out here and being a part of this and helping the guys. And I think highly of the team and I'm looking forward to great things from them this year.”
