Conversation with #8: Tim McGill

Tampabaystorm.com interviewed Tim McGill this week. Get to know the
man the team calls Gills and why it's going to get ugly on the field
this season.

Where are you from and where'd you grow up?
TM: I'm from Chicago. I grew up on the west side in the city.

Were you involved in sports at an early age?
TM: No, not really…Sports was something my dad made me do when I got
into high school. He pretty much made me play until I developed a
love for sports. I never really played organized sports and didn't
want too until then. I wrestled, played football and basketball, and
ran track. I pretty much did everything in high school.

How long until you developed a love for football?
TM: It was probably my sophomore or junior year [in high school] that
I realized it might or could take me places. I had a little talent so
I started to like it.

Are there any sports you were involved in that people wouldn't
normally expect?
TM: Yeah, my dad used to do martial arts. So he taught me a few
things growing up, and that's how I got involved in martial arts. I
also power-lifted in high school. I've always been naturally strong,
and in the back of my mind, power lifting is something that I've
thought about doing. Power lifting entails bench-pressing, dead
lifting and squatting. If I `d never played football, that's probably
what I'd be doing because I was always strong for my age. I love
working out and using big weights. I pride myself on strength and
being the strongest man around.

You've played in af2, the AFL, and the NFL. What is the most
memorable moment of your football career thus far? And why?
TM: I think it would be when I signed with Jets. The path I took
was so different that no one would've ever expected that I would've
ended up in the NFL. When you consider all the things that happened
before, that day was the most defining moment and it was like okay…I
made it.

You said that your path was different than the average player. How so?
TM: I was a full back in high school and got moved to defense in
college. I only played maybe three games in college. I got hurt the
second game of the season and was done for that season. They didn't
know if they wanted to red-shirt me for the second season, but ended
playing me later in the year and I pulled my hamstring. So I was done
for that season too. After that, I just made a decision that I didn't
want to play football anymore. I was done with it because I didn't
like how I was being treated. I was pretty much done for about a
couple years. So, I basically had no college experience and never
really learned to play defense until I got to arena.

How'd you decide to come back to football? Why arena football?
TM: I started getting that itch again. I just wanted to compete. When
I was out of college, I was on the Internet one day and saw an ad for
tryouts with the Chicago Rush. I wanted to play football again, so I
thought maybe I should go try out. I didn't make the team, but Coach
Rich Ingold from the Quad City Steamwheelers (an af2 team) was there.
He said he liked what I did out there and signed me. I'm a
competitor. I can't just sit and do nothing. I have to compete.

You were named the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year in Arena
Football. What awards or accomplishments mean the most to you?
TM: I just want to win. I honestly don't care about awards and that
kind of stuff. I just want to win a championship. So if that were
what I could do, I would choose that!

How do you spend the off-season?
TM: I've been in the weight room almost everyday just getting
ready. I just take the off-season as preparing for the season. That's
what I've been doing ever since I've started playing football. As
soon as the season ends, I'm back working out getting ready for the
next season. I've got big goals for 2009. If I accomplish what I
think I'm going to accomplish this year, I'm going to be in the
record books. I just hope they're ready for me because it's going to
get ugly out there.

How do you prep on game days?
TM: I like to get to the locker room probably one and a half to two
hours early, and put on some music. My favorite artist is Young Jeezy
and I just listen to my music, and go over what I've got to do.

Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals?
TM: I do an Epson salt bath before the game, and don't answer my
phone the whole day. I don't know if it's a superstition or a ritual,
but I just try to focus on the game ahead.

During the pre-game introductions, you do a special dance. How did
that come about?
TM: It's a dance that I got from watching wrestling and Ravishing
Rick Rude. He used to come out, put his hands on his head, and twist
his hips.
The first time I did it for fun and the crowd liked it. So I kept
doing it.

What are your expectations for the upcoming season?
TM: To win a championship. That's always the expectation going into
the season. It's the most important thing to me. I want a ring
because I've never had one. I'm going to contribute to winning the
championship. I know it's a team effort, but I'm going to do what I
have to do to help get us that ring.

Watch as All-Arena defensive lineman Tim McGill returns with the
Storm's key players: quarterback Brett Dietz, Hank Edwards, and
Tyrone Timmons in pursuit of a 2009 Championship. For ticket
information, please call 813.301.6600.


Source: www.tampabaystorm.com