Sept. 18, 2005

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Senior wide receiver J.J. Outlaw (Columbia, Md.) recently sat down for an interview relating to this season, his goals for the season and to talk about other topics.

How was it different to prepare for you senior season and knowing that it is your final year of college football?

JJ: It is a little bit different to go into your senior year. As a player, you are more in tune with things and with knowing that it is your last season. This is the last go-around with this team and this group of players, and you want to make a strong impression coming into the season and go out on a high note.

How do you think you have changed as a player and as a person over the last four years?

JJ: As a player I have definitely learned to game-plan more, both with myself and with teammates. You start to learn a more mature approach to making a game plan, and you can bring that to every game and every practice. As a person, I think I have changed in the same ways as with football, just in terms of becoming more organized and overall a more mature person.

Looking back, what was the one factor that made you want to come to Villanova?

JJ: Originally I wanted to play basketball in college, and Villanova was appealing for that. When it came time to make a decision, however, I knew that I would be playing football and Villanova seemed like a perfect fit for me. I knew that I would have a chance to come here and maybe play freshman year and become an impact player for the team.

What message would you have for incoming players at Villanova?

JJ: The one thing I would say to someone coming into Villanova would be to listen to the coaches and some of the older guys who have been around for a few years. Everyone comes in with a preconceived notion of what it will be like as a freshman and is used to doing things a certain way. I would say that it is important to come in with an open mind and be willing to take advice from the people around you.

Tell us a little bit about what it is like to play for Coach Talley.

JJ: It is great to play for Coach Talley. He is a terrific coach and he is definitely a player's coach. He takes care of a lot of little things for us that other teams might have to worry about. Coach does a lot to help us so that we can concentrate on just playing football and going to school. You can see that with each passing year he gets better and better as not only a coach, but in taking care of things for us too.

This season Villanova had a bye in the first week of the season and is playing 11 straight weeks after that. Is it more of a challenge to play straight through without a bye week?

JJ: I think most players would tell you that they would prefer to play straight through for the 11 weeks. When you get to the third or fourth week of playing it is hard because your body is hurting and you have some injuries and bruises on top of old bruises. For myself, though, I like being able to go straight through. It is a little hard to have a bye in the first week, but after that you can look straight ahead and focus on the rest of the season.

What is a typical week of practice like in between games?

JJ: Our preparation for each week's game starts right away on Sunday. We watch a tape of the game the day before and then put that game behind us, whether it is mistakes or great plays. After you see the tape you have to move on and start lifting and conditioning for the next week. We are off on Monday, and then come in on Tuesday as on offense to meet about the upcoming opponent. When we meet on Tuesday we go over tendencies and the coverage of the opposing team, watch film of the opponent and start making the game plan. Basically we are just putting different things out there to throw against the wall and see what sticks. What you see Saturday is the final product.

Is there any one part of getting ready for a game each week that is the most difficult?

JJ: Tuesday is a difficult day because you are getting a lot thrown at you. We hear about the players from the other team and it's not just their tendencies and coverage but their background and other information too.

Do you have any rituals for the day before or the day of a game?

JJ: I like to eat some pasta and a steak the day before a game. That is definitely something I enjoy. The day of a game I try not to eat too much. Before a game I like to listen to music and get into a zone before going to the stadium. On the road I listen to music from the time we leave the hotel until we get to the game and then afterwards all the way home. Everyone has a zone that they get into before games.

You room with quarterback Marvin Burroughs. What was it like for you to see him get injured against Rutgers? Does the injury affect you at all on the field?

JJ: I don't think there is any effect to me on the field. Frank Jankowski is a great quarterback, and Marvin has taught him the same way he was taught by other people. But it is still hard on you to see a friend go through an injury, and you know that it isn't half as hard on you as it is on him. Marvin has such a mellow personality and a lot of times he doesn't show what is going on. I like to keep things light and keep a smile on everyone's face, but you still know what's going on and it is upsetting that we can't all play our senior year together.

Individually, do you have any goals for this season?

JJ: The main goal I have this season is to become a better leader, and I think that will make me a better football player. A lot of people might say their goal is to get to the playoffs and win a championship, but right now we really just need to get a win. We have to take things week-by-week and game-by-game and focus on the task at hand each week. The teams that can do that are the ones who can have a chance to reach the playoffs and win championships, but for right now I just want to try and be as good a leader as I can be.

Your next game is against Penn at Franklin Field. What is it like playing in such a big and historic stadium?

JJ: Franklin Field is a great venue and I really love it there. It is almost like a home game because anyone who can get to Villanova can also get to Penn. I have a lot of friends that go to Penn and they always come to the game. It is also a night game, which makes it a great evening out. My parents enjoy coming to the game and having dinner in the city, and I think students like having the opportunity to get off campus and into the city also.

Are there any other places you have particularly enjoyed playing?

JJ: I really enjoy when we play at Delaware. There is a huge rivalry between the schools; we have a lot of respect for them and I think that they respect us. I know that we have to alternate sites, but I would love to play there every season. It is an unbelievable atmosphere and I really enjoy playing in their stadium. In terms of a favorite city, I really enjoy going to Boston when we play Northeastern up there. It is a nice trip for us and we stay right in the middle of the city.