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Alex
Khvatov:
What are your measurements (height, weight and forty
time)?
Eric
Kush: I am 6’3 ½,
296 pounds right now. I run in the range of 4.8 –
4.95.
Alex
Khvatov:
What schools recruited you when you were coming out
of high school?
Eric
Kush: Mostly
Division II schools and a couple of MAC schools. I
had Duquesne, University of Albany in New York wanted me to come on a visit and
Division II schools.
Alex
Khvatov:
Are you happy with the choice
that you made by coming to California of PA?
Eric
Kush: Absolutely,
I love it here. They have a great criminal justice
program that I am studying in. It is a great town,
great people. There is not too much trouble to get
into here because it is a rural
neighborhood.
Alex
Khvatov:
Describe your senior season from a team and
individual standpoint thus far.
Eric
Kush: We have a
really good QB and a good offensive line. We have
two great running backs. We are just going out
there and playing as hard as we can. We are 6-1
right now. We tripped up to a team that we
definitely shouldn’t have lost to. We will just
keep on going and see how far it can take us.
Alex
Khvatov: What
are your expectations for the rest of the season?
Eric
Kush: I expect us
to finish the season hard. We need to win it one
game at a time. Every week is a new tough game that
we need to play in. I really can’t give an
expectation. We just need to win it one game at a
time.
Alex
Khvatov:
What are your strengths on the football field?
Eric
Kush: I have a
pretty good understanding of plays and what we are
trying to do out there. I have a very good
understanding of run plays and pass plays, different
schemes and protection. I am able to manipulate it
sometimes and have it work out in high pressure
situations. I am also pretty quick off the
ball.
Alex
Khvatov:
What areas of your game do you need to improve upon?
Eric
Kush: I need to
play with a little more strength. It is not that I
don’t have strength. I just need to play with a
little more power as opposed to finesse.
Alex
Khvatov:
What is the highlight of your football career up to
this point?
Eric
Kush: The
highlight of my football career was when we played
Indiana (PA) this year. We play them every year and
it is called the Coal Bowl. We play for a trophy.
We beat them the last three years. The entire game
was just tough. The whole game was just back and
forth. Then they scored, and we were down seven
points with about a minute and thirty seconds to
go. One big play downfield and we scored a
touchdown. Then we missed the extra point. We were
pretty frustrated after that. It was only a minute
left on the clock after we missed the extra point.
After we missed it, they took the trophy to Indiana
(PA) side of the field. It was pretty tough. They
were ready to receive the trophy. All of their
seniors were touching it and looking at it. Then we
were able to get the onside kick. We threw it with
a couple of pass plays and we were able to set up a
field goal to win the game. Then we got the trophy
back to our side of the field. It is probably the
highlight of my career having the trophy yanked out
from them. It was right in their grasp, and we
yanked it out on our side of the field.
Alex
Khvatov:
What is your favorite NFL team?
Eric
Kush: My favorite
team growing up was the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Everyone in my family rooted for the Steelers. I
was raised 10 miles south of Pittsburgh. I have lived here my whole life.
It is right there.
Alex
Khvatov:
Who is your favorite NFL player?
Eric
Kush: I would have
to say Maurkice Pouncey of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He goes on Twitter every morning and throughout the
day, he posts motivational stuff. Over the summer,
I got up early and worked hard. I would lift, train
and work hard. Every morning, he would post stuff
that will be great motivation for me. I follow him
and read his Twitter page. I receive some
inspiration from him.
Alex
Khvatov: What
separates you from all of the other players at your
position?
Eric
Kush: I would say
my attitude and work ethic. I don’t think anything
is ever given to you. You have to work hard for
everything. Also my understanding of the game now
is also a huge plus. I understand run and pass
schemes like the back of my hand right now.
Alex
Khvatov:
What do you enjoy most about
playing college football?
Eric
Kush: The
camaraderie where I get to play with my friends and
my buddies. I have been with these guys for four to
five years. You know just working hard with all of
these guys. We are pushing ourselves in the weight
room. I am working with my best friends to get
better every day.
Alex
Khvatov:
What is your definition of a leader?
Eric
Kush: My
definition of a leader is someone that sets the
example for others. It is someone who goes out
there and works hard every day, every game, every
practice, every snap and every rep. A leader is
someone who leads by example. He doesn’t have to be
a big talker. It is someone who works hard and
shows how it is supposed to be done.
Alex
Khvatov:
What is the greatest lesson that you have learned in
life so far?
Eric
Kush: If you want
to succeed, you have to work hard for it.
Alex
Khvatov: What are
your hobbies?
Eric
Kush: I have a
Jeep Wrangler and I like to work on my Jeep. I like
to go four-wheeling through the woods. I also like
to go fishing.
Alex
Khvatov:
What do you plan to do with your life after your
football career is over?
Eric
Kush: My degree is
in criminal justice and forensics science. I plan
to be a police officer whether it is with
Pennsylvania state police or with Pittsburgh police.
Alex
Khvatov:
How has the experience of being a father changed
your outlook on life?
Eric
Kush: It is
certainly a motivational thing. I get up and I
think about it. It is not just about me anymore. I
am responsible for my son’s life as well
now.
Alex
Khvatov:
Finish the sentence, Eric Kush is….
Eric
Kush: A blue
collar, high character guy who works hard on the
football field and is a family man
off-the-field. |