Chris Hovan Interview

Date:  03/26/02

Interviewer:  Gene “Norseman” Ramsay/football.com

Interview format:  Phone

Chris Hovan:  Warrior In the Middle

When I caught up with Chris Hovan, I took the opportunity to ask him about himself.  I was not disappointed.  This inside defensive lineman has become a leader and an example for the Minnesota Vikings in the last three years.  His intense style of play is just that…intense.  Having just recently bought a home in Minnesota, his off-season has been totally dedicated to the job at hand…getting better, stronger and faster for the 2002 football season.  He definitely wants to improve on his team-leading six sacks that he had in 2001, as he also wants to be a positive influence on the younger players on the team.

Let’s put Chris Hovan through the Norseman’s Blitz:

GR:  Chris, I wanted to do this interview today because of various online polls and my personal thoughts that you are fast becoming a fan favorite and a fairly well known player in the NFL.  Your name just keeps popping up.

CH:  Wow.  I appreciate that.

GR:  As the Vikings seem to be stressing defense, what do you think about the off-season losses and acquisitions?

CH:  Free agency is tough.  You can really lose some of your top players and losing Kailee (Wong) and Griff (Robert Griffith) were big losses.  We did pick up some solid acquisitions in Crockett, Mixon, and Chavous.  These guys are vets and they should add a great dimension to our defense.

GR:  Whom did you grow up pretending to be when you were playing backyard football?

CH:  I would say Clay Matthews.  He is from the Browns.  Number 57.  He played hard and was always a reliable player.

GR:  Before joining the Vikings, who was your favorite NFL team?

CH:  That would be the Browns.  Not anymore though.

GR:  How ironic is it that your past favorite team acquires all these Vikings for their roster…hmmmm?

CH:  Yea, weird, huh?

GR:  If you could play any other position, what would it be and why?

CH:  None.  I love to hit people and I like being in the mix.  No other position offers you that.

GR:  I assume you graduated from Boston College.

CH:  Yes, I did.

GR:  What did you get your degree in?

CH:  Communications.  Advertising in TV and radio mainly.

GR:  Walk us through a week in Chris Hovan’s off-season.

CH:  Well, I work a five-day workweek.  I do weight training 3-4 days and try to run 1-2 days.  I work mainly on things that will help me to explode off the ball.  Always trying to get faster with whatever I do in my work out.

GR:  Who is your favorite quarterback to go after and why?

CH:  Man…that would have to be Brett Favre.  There is just something about him that makes you want to go after him.

GR:  Who, as an offensive lineman, stands out in your mind?  I mean, you go up against some good guys, but who comes to mind?

CH:  That would have to be Larry Allen of the Cowboys.  He is aggressive, has good technique and I have a lot of respect for him.

GR:  What is your favorite movie?

CH:  That would have to be “Rocky”.

GR:  If you were an animal, what would you be?

CH:  A wolverine.  They look like nothing until you make them mad.  Then you see them in action and it’s awesome.  They are relentless.

GR:  What is your favorite music?

CH:  I like hard rock and alternative.  Metallica, Kid Rock, Red Hot Chili Peppers, people like that.

GR:  What are your hobbies?

CH:  I don’t take a lot of time off but when I do I relax, listen to music and hang out with my bulldog Rocky.  I also like to get in extra workouts.  It clears my head and gives me some positive results.

GR:  How long would you like to be a Viking?

CH:  I want to be here for as long as they want me here.

GR:  Well, I want you to be a Viking for quite some time.  Your style of play is awesome and you are a fun player to watch.

CH:  Thanks.

GR:  If you were selected to be the head coach for the Vikings, what would you do?

CH:  I have no idea.  That is too much responsibility.

GR:  If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?

CH:  What a crazy question.

GR:  It’s all in fun.

CH:  Man, I am out of the cartoon character days.  I don’t have any idea who is cool or not.  I don’t want to seem dated.  I guess I would have to say He-Man.

GR:  He-Man is still pretty cool.

CH:  Good.  He-Man it is.

GR:  If you were not a football player, what would you be doing?

CH:  Probably construction.  I would be doing some type of blue chip job doing serious manual labor.  I’m just very thankful that I get to play football right now.

GR:  What would one thing be, about Chris Hovan, that we might be surprised to know?

CH:  My passion for the game.  It’s not just on the field.  I love the game of football and I have a sincere passion for what I do and how well I do it.  I want to be the best at my position.

GR:  What do you do to get “up” for a game?

CH:  Listen to music and do everything I can to focus mentally on what is about to go down.

GR:  What are your feelings when you see someone wearing your jersey?

CH:  I feel a sense of pride and honor.  It really means a lot.  I mean, this person wearing my jersey has probably seen me play and liked it enough to spend their money to buy a jersey with my name and number on it.  It’s an awesome feeling.

GR:  What is the one thing about playing in the NFL that you were not prepared for?

CH:  Seeing guys come and go like they do.  The free agency thing was not something I was prepared for.

GR:  What has been your most memorable moment so far?

CH:  Last year playing Chicago.  When I sacked the quarterback and took the ball from him.

GR:  What has been your most embarrassing moment?

CH:  Anytime I have fallen on my butt.  I don’t even like to think about it.  It has happened a few times, but I hate it.

GR:  Who is your best friend?

CH:  My mom and dad would have to be my best friends.  I also have a friend, Paul Laquerre.  I played ball with him at Boston College.  He and I are close.

GR:  What is your take on nutrition and supplements?

CH:  What you put in your body is what you are going to get out of it.  As for supplements, I stay away from them.  The NFL is really cracking down on stuff like that and I don’t want to do anything to make them look my way.  I stay away from them.

GR:  What about protein drinks and things like that?

CH:  Those are OK, but nothing with questionable ingredients in it.

GR:  Are you a Coke or Pepsi guy?

CH:  Pepsi, definitely.

GR:  Really, why so?

CH:  Have you seen the Britney Spears commercials?

GR:  What is your favorite food?

CH:  Anything you put in front of me.  I grew up in a home where you ate what was put in front of you or you did not eat.

GR:  What are you afraid of?

CH:  I would have to say nothing.  In my position, I can’t afford to give any edge to anything or anyone.  There is nothing I am afraid of.

GR:  What is your favorite video game?

CH:  I don’t play them.  I find other stuff to do.

GR:  Do you watch TV?

CH:  Oh yea.

GR:  What is your favorite show?

CH:  WWF Raw.

GR:  Your favorite character on there is?

CH:  Well, Stone Cold is the man, but now that Hogan is back it’s a tough decision.  I like Hogan too.

GR:  Do you know the words to the Vikings Fight Song?

CH:  Yea.

GR:  Really?  Can you tell me how it goes?

CH:  Something…something…Fight, fight, fight…not real sure, but I know it has fight, fight, fight in it.  That’s all that matters, is that we fight.

GR:  What?  You are not going to sing it for me?

CH:  Nope.

GR:  OK.

GR:  What is Chris Hovan’s motivation?

CH:  Every day, getting up and wanting to be the best.  My goal is to be the best at my position.

GR:  What makes you angry?

CH:  That’s a tough one.  I would have to say the quarterback.  You know, he is just back there behind his linemen, going untouched and I have to do everything I can to get to him…man, it’s making me angry just sitting here thinking about it.  I just want to sack that smile right off his face.

GR:  What makes you happy?

CH:  Knowing that my friends and family are all happy.

GR:  What famous person would you like to meet?

CH:  Probably Metallica’s lead singer, James Hetfield.

GR:  If you could ask him one question, what would it be?

CH:  What does it feel like to be on stage in front of all those people?  I mean, it’s like all eyes are on him.  I’d like to know how he deals with that.

GR:  Where do you call home?

CH:  Now?  Minnesota.

GR:  Describe a night out with Chris Hovan.

CH:  We’d go to a simple bar, hang out, watch some football and eat some wings.  We’d have a good time.

GR:  I saw a number of pictures online after the September 11^th tragedy.  They were of players having a moment of silence or in prayer on the first game back after it happened.  A few of those shots were of you.  Can you tell me your emotions on that day?

CH:  I was confused and angry.  It was a tragedy and it made playing that day very difficult.  We had to play, though.  We had to get back to business and back to entertaining the people who had come to band together with us so we could all get through it.

GR:  Who are your mentors?

CH:  I would say my mentor would be John Randle.  He was really a help to me in my first year.

GR:  What is the most valuable advice you have ever received?

CH:  It was not really advice.  Someone told me that I couldn’t do something.  That motivates me the most.

GR:  You mean like someone telling you you would never make it in the NFL because you weren’t big enough or fast enough?

CH:  Exactly.

GR:  What would you like to say to the Vikings fans all over?

CH:  You are the greatest.  We love you.  Keep cheering and hang in there with us.  You’re the best.

GR:  In your opinion, what does it take to be consistently good on defense as a team?

CH:  In our scheme it would be to know your gap, stay in it, and make the tackle.  That’s it.  If everyone does that, we will succeed.

GR:  Do you still stay in touch with John Randle?

CH:  Here and there.  He is doing well in Seattle.

GR:  Who is the funniest guy on the team?

CH:  Korey Stringer was.

GR:  What about now?

CH:  No one has gotten “funniest guy” since he’s been gone.  He is still the funniest.

GR:  What about the most serious guy?

CH:  That would be Corbin Lacina.  This guy is no smiles.  We have to work hard just to get him to crack a smile.

GR:  I bet watching you fall on your butt might do it.

CH:  That just might do it.

GR:  We football fans all saw the rookies get their initiation into the team on “Hard Knocks” on HBO this last year.  What happens to the rookies for the Vikings?

CH:  I will not be specific, but they become part of the team.

GR:  What will you personally do to get the Vikings moving toward the Super Bowl?

CH:  Everything I possible can.

GR:  What will you expect from those around you?

CH:  The same.  These veterans we have gotten this off-season are good and it should help really keep us solid.

GR:  Chris, thanks for your time today and for answering all these questions.  I know some seemed a little off the wall but the purpose was to find out about you and I think we did that today.  Good luck in the off-season and keep up the good work.  We’ll see you on the field.