As West Virginia prepares to battle Clemson in the Discover Orange Bowl this Wednesday, Ohio Valley Athletics was able to catch up with Shaq Petteway. Petteway serves as a linebacker/safety for the Mountaineers and is a graduate of Steubenville High School.
OVA: First, how are you guys enjoying Miami?
Shaq Petteway: We are enjoying it. We did a lot of work in Morgantown so we are able to enjoy it down here. Although we are enjoying it,we are still putting in a lot of hard work.
OVA: How is the preparation going for the Discover Orange Bowl?
SP: It’s going well, it has its ups and downs. I’m a freshman playing in bowl game so coach (Holgorsen) is challenging me mentally to see how I respond. It’s a lot of film study and spending time with the older guys.
OVA: Growing up in the Ohio Valley, what’s it like playing for a school like West Virginia that isn’t too far from home?
SP: Being a hometown kid, a lot of ppl from West Virginia know me cause they follow my high school and it’s just like I’m playing at home.
OVA: What made you decide on West Virginia?
SP: When I went to visit West Virginia, I took mother and brother. She said I can go anywhere, but I knew I wanted to stay close to home. Just how the coaches interacted with my family with my brother and mother, I knew this is where I had to be because it was the best opportunity for me and my family.
OVA: Do you still follow your high school team (Steubenville) pretty closely?
SP: Oh ya, I get text message updates from games everyday and I follow every game including their last game the one they lost in the playoffs. I even made it back for one game this year.
OVA: Who’s been the biggest influence on you so far in your time at WVU?
SP: All of the seniorshave been. Najee Goode, Keith Tandy, Eain Smith and Julian miller. Everyone has had a large impact on me with how they get ready and it’s the opportunity of a lifetime that I have right now.
OVA: Earlier this season, Coach Holgorsen said that you will be playing the “bandit position” this season. Describe to me what the bandit position is?
SP: The bandit safety is like a strong safety in a 4-3 defense being up high on the safety. What I’m playing now is like an extra linebacker but with safety responsibilities as well.
OVA: When I say Pitt, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
SP: Like everyone says around campus, “Eat Sh*t Pitt”.
OVA: While you have been primarily on special teams this season, what have you learned in your first year at WVU?
SP: That it’s another step from high school and everything you do is another step up from high school. Everyone was the man in high school and was the best player. Coming to college, you have to step up your work ethic and attitude because it’s easy to get distracted and lose the hunger that you had in high school.
OVA: Playing in front of big crowds against LSU and Pitt had a bowl-type presence this season. How do you think those atmosphere’s will help prepare you against Clemson for the Discover Orange Bowl?
SP: They’ll both have an impact because we already dealt with it. It’s gonna be the biggest game of all season with a million people watching and all eyes are on us. We are the underdog as of right now.
OVA: Clemson is big and fast. Boyd has played great at quarterback this season and many think this is going to be a shootout type of ballgame. What is the key to slowing the Tigers down?
SP: On defense, we are looking to stop the big plays. If they get the ball, tackle them and stop them. We can’t let them survive solely on big plays.
OVA: Shaq, just last year you were a senior in high school playing in Ohio. Now you are going to take center stage in a BCS game. Describe how that feels to you.
SP: God has put a blessing in my life and to be here coming from where I came from means a lot. God gave me a better life and I’m very grateful.
Photo Courtesy of wvu.scout.com
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