Senior John Hampton is a tight end for the Mustang football team. Hampton is arguably one of the best tight ends in the country. He ranks 15th on SMU’s career receptions list.
The Daily Campus: You are a tight end. What exactly does this entail? Do you consider yourself an offensive lineman, or an offensive threat?
John Hampton: First off, linemen can be offensive threats, and good ones are threats to any defense. Tight end is a unique position. On some plays, I have to block like a lineman, and that is not an easy task. Those guys do not get the recognition they deserve, and on most pass plays, I run routes and catch passes. I am nowhere near tough enough to be an offensive lineman, but I hope I can be somewhat of an offensive threat.
DC: Have you ever been the butt of a joke because you are a tight end?
Hampton: I catch some really cheesy flack from older ladies that know nothing about football.
Hampton: It’s a catch-22 situation. We have to win more games, but at the same time, it is a lot more fun feeding off the fans. It kind of sucks to go to away games and be more pumped than at home because of the fans. It’s not that bad here. When we win next year, there will not be any excuse for my fellow students not to be there. The fans there are much appreciated, and the ones that stay until the end are really great. Thanks players’ parents.
DC: What do you think of Coach Phil Bennett?
Hampton: I don’t think our athletic department could have made a better decision with coach Bennett. There is a completely new attitude and work ethic that I haven’t seen here in a long time. Hopefully that will translate into more wins for us. No matter who the coach is, we as players must be accountable for our actions on and off the field. I think that is being made much more clear than in years past.
DC: Next year is the last time you will wear red and blue. What are your future plans?
Hampton: I would love to play football for as long as possible, but if that doesn’t work out, I’m going to have to get serious about a job. I have no clue in what field yet, but I don’t see myself putting on a tie every day. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to leave Texas for a while and get a taste of another part of the country. Then come back and have a nice little family and a nice house in the country somewhere.
DC: Tell us a funny story about one of the football players.
Hampton: This could be the most hilarious thing I’ve witnessed since being at SMU. One night, [junior quarterback] Kelan Luker got caught hiding in his closet with all of his clothes around him because he did not want this girl to see him. We all knew he was in the closet, but when we opened it up, we couldn’t see him, and we knew right away he actually took the effort to get under a large pile of clothes and did not move for a minute or so. He thought he was so smooth, but the entire time the girl knew he was in there, and at the end of it she went to the closet door and called him “pathetic.” She was a real country girl with an awful accent, and the way she said it capped it all off.
DC: What are your personal goals for the 2002 season?
Hampton: I would like to make sure I do everything in my power to help the team win a WAC championship. That would be far greater of an accomplishment than anything I could achieve alone.
DC: What are your predictions for the 2002 season?
Hampton: If we have a good summer and keep getting better, I have no doubts about these guys. We will win a lot of games next year and hopefully have a chance to win the conference championship. It’s something I know my teammates and I are working hard for everyday.
DC: Who is your favorite Mustang to watch?
Hampton: When I was getting recruited to play here, I loved watching senior linebacker Vic Viloria play and still feel that way three years later. No one loves the game like Vic, except for junior linebacker Brian Bischoff, and I like watching him play because he is so tough. I also like to watch [sophomore running back] ShanDerrick Charles play, along with [junior corner back] Jonas Rutledge. The game can change any time those two touch the ball. [Senior wide receiver] Cody Cardwell is also fun to watch cause he moves so fluently.
DC: Who is your favorite Mustang to play alongside?
Hampton: I think ShanDerrick makes me look better than I am, and I love being on the field with [senior wide receiver] Chris Cunningham for his productivity and consistency. I like being in the huddle with Kelan Luker because he is in a band and he sings to us when things get hectic.
DC: After next year, who will fill your shoes?
Hampton: I have to get a lot better in the coming months to make sure I still have a position. [senior] Billy Ford and [junior] Trent Hrncir and I are a formidable group of tight ends, and it’s not like it is my position only. We each bring something different, and since Billy and I will be graduating next year, Trent will have a great opportunity to be the one guy that gets to fill all of our shoes.
DC: Who can the fans expect a breakout season from in 2002?
Hampton: There are a lot of younger guys that will have a chance to step up and break out this year. Defensively, [sophomore defensive tackle] Allan Adami gets better every day, along with [sophomore safety] Alvin Nnabufie. Offensively, we have two young quarterbacks that will get better and push Kelan Luker for the job. Sophomore wide receiver Jay Taylor will have a great career here if he continues to work as hard as he does. I need a breakout year as well.
DC: Who is the quarterback going to be next year?
Hampton: Kelan Luker brings a lot of experience and ability to the position. Tate Wallis and Richard Bartel are redshirt freshmen and are having great springs. We will have to see how this summer and two-a-days go.
DC: How has your role changed under the new staff?
Hampton: My position used to be heavily relied upon with the old staff. In the new offense, everyone is expected to be relied upon equally.
DC: What game on next year’s schedule do you look forward to the most?
Hampton: We have 12 games that will be equally important. With that said, I would have to say the Tulsa game on November 23 will be the most important because that will determine if we conclude an undefeated WAC schedule.