Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Ronald Talley:  I am 6’4” and I am around 280.  Actually I am 275 right now.  In the summer time, I ran a 4.83 forty.

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Ronald Talley:  I had offers from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Louisville and a lot of the MAC schools.

Alex Khvatov:  What made you choose the University of Notre Dame?

Ronald Talley:  At that point they had what I wanted.  They had the NBC contract which was good exposure for me.  They had the major that I wanted which was film and video productions.  I liked the coaching situation with Coach Willingham.    

Alex Khvatov:  What did it feel like to play for a school with such a rich football tradition?

Ronald Talley:  Well, I always like to make everything smaller.  I wasn’t too wrapped up in the fact that I was playing for Notre Dame.  When I looked at the film, I looked at the individuals that I was going to go up against like Jake Long or Kellen Davis.  My main concern was to figure out a way to make plays.  I wanted to play well and play hard.  
 

Alex Khvatov:  Is Notre Dame headed in the right direction under the guidance of Charlie Weis?

Ronald Talley:  Notre Dame is the past.  I have no opinion in regards to that question.

Alex Khvatov:  Under what circumstances did you decide to leave the Hurricanes?

Ronald Talley:  We had a couple of issues.  There were communication problems with the coaches.  I felt that I couldn’t trust the coaching staff.  I sat down with Coach Weis on three different occasions, and we agreed that it was best for me to split.  I had no off-the-field issues.  When I left I had a 3.4 GPA that last semester.

Alex Khvatov:  How did you wind up at Delaware?

Ronald Talley:  I sent out a release.  I always knew that Delaware was one of the top schools on my list.  I met the coaching staff, and my mother had a chance to meet with them.  I knew that they were a good school.  I looked at the entire picture.  I felt that I would have the chance to play, and I also knew that with this degree I would be respected.  I believed that the coaches were real and I was right.   

Alex Khvatov:  Did you finally find a home at the University of Delaware?

Ronald Talley:  Definitely, everything works itself out in the end.  I got my undergrad degree this past May.  I am in grad school right now.  The coaches push me on the field even though I am a captain and treat me like the rest of the guys.  Our defensive coordinator tells us that we are a blue collar defense and we certainly play like that.  I definitely feel that I am part of a family here.     

Alex Khvatov:  Tell me about your experience in the I-AA National Championship game last season. 

Ronald Talley:  It was a great experience.  I was very nervous before the game.  I wanted to play that game.  We lost, but it was a great experience.  We plan to come back.  We were ready, but we didn’t perform.  We can be the best.  We still have unfinished business.  I want first place and I am reminded of it every time I look at my second place ring.   

Alex Khvatov:  Tell me about your former QB Joe Flacco who just recently earned the starting job with the Ravens.

Ronald Talley:  Joe is a really laid back, smooth guy.  He is collected and low key.  He does a lot of doing instead of talking.  He is a worker.  I see nothing but good things from him in the NFL.  

Alex Khvatov:  How would you rate your team’s performance against Maryland in week 1 of the season?

Ronald Talley:  I give us a C.  We didn’t make enough plays.  When I looked at the film, the defense could have done more.  It is pretty simple, they had more big plays.  We left some plays out there.  We will bounce back.  

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths on the football field?

Ronald Talley:  The ability to read plays.  I have a quick get off.  I have good physical strength.  I will come after it play after play.

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game do you need to improve upon during your senior season?

Ronald Talley:  I would say that I need to get better in all phases of the game.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most memorable moment of your football career up to this point?

Ronald Talley:  I had a lot.  The most memorable moment is after we beat Southern Illinois in the playoffs last year and went to the Championship game.  It was a great feeling.  The first time I recorded a sack against BYU in 2005.  That was my first start.  I was nervous.  It was almost above me.  I had butterflies before that game.  

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Ronald Talley:  I root for players.  I am from Detroit, so I rooted for Barry Sanders.  He did some amazing things on the field.  He did everything by himself.  He had great vision.  He would turn guys completely around.  

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite player?

Ronald Talley:  My favorite player is Deacon Jones.  I watched his tapes.  I admired his mindset.  He would knock somebody out on every play.  He was a relentless person.  He wanted to jack somebody up on every play.  He was always dominant.

Alex Khvatov:  Do you have an opinion on the whole Brett Favre situation?

Ronald Talley:  It’s different seeing him in another uniform because he was the face of the Packers franchise for so long.  But change is for the better.  People should just get off his back.

Alex Khvatov:  Which underclassman on your team should we keep an eye on in the future?

Ronald Talley:  Matt Marcorelle, he is a junior DE.  He runs a 4.5 forty.  He is a very strong player.  He is real quick.  He would do some amazing things on the field.  He is a smart player.  He is a naturally athletic player.  He is a captain.

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the toughest player that you have faced during your career?

Ronald Talley:  Ryan Harris.  I was a right DE and I went up against him on almost every play in practice at Notre Dame.  He was a very tough player.

Alex Khvatov:  What are your expectations from a personal and a team standpoint for your senior season?

Ronald Talley:  First of all, play hard and well on every single play.  We have enough talent to win big games.  We have a blue collar mentality and we work hard.  We have the ability to get to the Championship game again and win it this time.  But we need to get our first win.  We need to win the division.  Personally I plan to beat my man on every single play.  I need to be consistent all the time and execute my assignment.  I used to be concerned with numbers, but not anymore.  I could care less about the numbers.

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about playing football?

Ronald Talley:  I guess the feel of winning.  It is a lot of hard work.  After you win, you are on top of the mountain.

Alex Khvatov:  Is the NFL a dream or a reality at this point?

Ronald Talley:  It is still a dream.  I am really a big guy with a deep voice, but when I think about the NFL I feel like a little kid.  I can’t imagine it.  At this point, it is a dream.

Alex Khvatov:  What is the one thing in your daily life that you can't live without?

Ronald Talley:  Talking to my mom on the phone.  I need to do that every day.  She has played a huge role in my life.  She is the reason why I am where I am today.  She single handedly supported me.  She instilled some qualities in me that will stay with me forever.   

Alex Khvatov:  If you could go back in time, who is the one person that you would like to have dinner with and why?

Ronald Talley:  I would say Malcolm X.  It seems like so many questions are still unanswered.  I wanted to see how he sees the world.  Back then there were a lot of social issues, and he tried to correct them.  But I feel that he wasn’t able to finish what he started. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most unique thing about you?

Ronald Talley:  I have to say that I am a genuine person.  I am very loyal.  If one of my friends or teammates needed something, I would be there for them.  I am really a genuine person. 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Ronald Talley:  I want to get into film or video productions.  I want to maybe move to Hollywood.  Be more hands on as a director.  I want to make movies and documentaries.  I want to make movies that deal with real life social issues.  I want to make thriller movies.  I want to see what I can do.  

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies? 

Ronald Talley:  I like to make movies, listen to music and watch Wire on TV (episode a day).  
 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most difficult thing about being a DL?  

Ronald Talley:  The toughest thing is hitting the biggest people on every single play.  It takes its toll on you.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Finish the sentence, Ronald Talley is…

Ronald Talley:  On the field, Ronald Talley is a nasty player.  I am a hard worker and I am relentless.  I will anything to win.  Off-the-field, I am very intelligent.  I am a family oriented person.  I always remember that what I do will affect the people around me.  I am not selfish.  I am always thinking about others.