Tider Insider's
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POST-SIGNING INTERVIEW
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 The
White Deuce |
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| Chris Reier is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Alabama recruiting
class. He gets no respect -- from those who've never seen him play.
You have to see Chris Reier play to appreciate what he can do on the football field. He plays QB, WR and DB, and returns punts and kickoffs. And he wins -- he led Bolles to a 54-4 record in four seasons. Those who matter the most, like his teammates, call him "a great player." His HS coach calls him "one of the finest athletes we've ever had here." And that's coming from a coach who had eight players sign D-1 scholarships this year! We spoke to Chris on March 5. He says he's excited about playing for Alabama. |
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| TI | Chris, we understand you may return punts for Alabama next season. Punt returns have not been a strong point at Alabama the past few seasons. Do you think you can make an immediate impact returning punts? |
| CR | Yes, I think I can help out there. I'm small but I'm quick. I have swift hips. When I return punts it's like I'm playing basketball without dribbling. No way the first guy is going to tackle me -- at least that's the way it was in high school. |
| TI | We read a quote attributed to you in which you called yourself "the white David Palmer." Did you really say that? |
| CR | Yes, I said that. I think I'm a lot like him. I pattern myself after him as a player. I can do a lot of the same things he did -- like play several positions. In high school I wore number 2 because of him. Some people who've seen me play call me "the white Deuce." |
| TI | Growing up in Florida, how did you become an Alabama fan? |
| CR | David Palmer is the main reason. I loved watching Palmer. Also, my brother, Travis, was up there in school in '92 when Alabama won the national championship. He was a big Alabama fan, so I started following them too. It was great watching that '92 team. I liked Palmer, Antonio Langham and George Teague. That play Teague made in the Sugar Bowl [stripping the ball from Lamar Thomas] is something I'll never forget. I'd like to make a play like that at Alabama. |
| TI | Did you have much influence on your high school teammates, Travis Carroll and Sam Matthews, signing with Alabama? |
| CR | I know some people say I'm the leader of the group, but I don't think I had that much influence on them. It's true that Travis and I have wanted to go to the same school for a long time. But Travis really likes coach Rouzie a lot. He would've probably signed with Alabama anyway. I think Sam loved Alabama for a long time and wanted to play for coach DuBose. Sam would've gone to Alabama regardless of what Travis and I decided. We all just wanted to go to Alabama. |
| TI | Other than Alabama, I know you looked at Georgia. What about Florida, did they recruit you? |
| CR | They recruited me hard. The day I committed to Alabama, the Florida coach who was recruiting me came up to Bolles to see me. He asked me if I was sure that's what I wanted to do. When Alabama was going through the coaching change, the Florida coach called me again and asked if I would reconsider Florida. Then when I had my injury, he called and told me they still had a scholarship for me. |
| TI | Speaking of your injury [a broken foot], how's it coming along? |
| CR | It's doing good. I'm ahead of schedule. I'll be 100% by summer. |
| TI | Before we let you go, we understand that you follow recruiting fairly close. What do you think about this Alabama class? |
| CR | I think it's great. Getting Kenny Smith was huge. I think Travis Carroll is the best linebacker in the country. Sam's a great player too. I saw Tony Dixon on tape and he's a big-time player. It's going to be a great group! |
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