Question:
You have a younger sister who
is a student at the University of Illinois. Which team did she root for when you
squared off against them?
Tim McGarigle: She
wouldn’t be allowed in the house if she didn’t root for Northwestern.
It’s kind of a family thing going on, my dad went to Illinois but
obviously he’s a “new” Northwestern fan.
Q:
I know you closed your career as the NCAA’s all-time leading tackler,
but this is a tough draft linebacker class to be coming out with when you’re
trying to land an NFL job isn’t it?
TM: There are
a lot of great linebackers in this class and I’ve met a lot of them through
the Big Ten and at the Combine. We
will know how great this class is in five years if we are all still playing or
what happens, but I think everyone’s going to get a shot and the best players
will be playing in five years.
Q:
You were counted on to be an emotional leader for your team; tell me
about your attitude and demeanor on the football field…
TM: I’m a
totally different person on the field. At
all times I want to have everyone ready, pumped up and excited to play the game.
I just go out there let my emotion fly, let loose, have fun and make
plays.
Q:
I saw on your profile at Northwestern, you said the one person from
history you would like to have dinner with would be General George Patton.
Why is that?
TM: I’ve
just heard some crazy stuff about how he would get his men to do anything and he
was such a great leader. I just
think that he was such a positive leader and I would like to see how he did it
and his way of going about things.
Q: What did you get out of your
Combine experience?
TM: It was a
great experience, a couple of days where you could the top guys at your position
and the top players in the draft. It
was fun, but more importantly it was a chance to show everyone your skills and
what you have to offer as a player and a person.
Q:
Are there any current NFL linebackers out there now that you try to
emulate, or are you strictly your own guy out there?
TM: I respect
every linebacker in the NFL. If you
make it to that level and you’re playing it’s a great accomplishment.
I just go out there and try to be myself and play my style of football.
I’d be happy to be compared to any NFL linebacker.
Q:
You were co-recipient of Northwestern’s “Wildcat Warrior” award.
Tell us about that award and what you did to earn it…
TM: I think
that award is for someone that doesn’t get that much credit off the field.
It’s a tough guy thing; it’s just for a guy that’s very respected
and for someone who is a tough person, a tough player and is kind of like a
warrior.
Q:
I saw your goal was to be a starter as a rookie.
What type of defensive scheme is going to allow you to thrive and quickly
establish yourself with a new team?
TM: General
managers would know that better, but whether I go to a 4-3 or a 3-4 team I just
know I’m going to go out there and play my hardest. I feel comfortable in any
scheme.