'Cuse Camp Clips ... with Nick Santiago
8/6/2008 6:27:20 PM | Football
Training Camp Photo Gallery (August 6, 2008)
Senior Nick Santiago is battling for a prominent position on the 2008 Orange defensive line. The Utica, N.Y. native has played in 32 games during his Syracuse career, working in the trenches as a defensive tackle. Santiago and the Orange completed the third day of preseason camp on Wednesday.
Syracuse kicks off the 2008 campaign at Northwestern on Saturday, August 30. Season and individual tickets are available online (click here) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (1-888-DOMETIX). Learn more about Nick in this edition of 'Cuse Camp Clips.
What was your ‘Welcome to college football moment’?
I had a double team against (current Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle) Adam Terry and Matt Tarullo my first year here.
What Syracuse University class has taught you the most?
My business ethics with Mrs. Gedro, HSH 420. I learned a lot of things about life. She taught us a bunch of stuff in regard to ethics in the work place and also with sports and a lot of rules and regulations in the workplace that you must follow and what is and isn't right to do. I think it's very valuable because all of that information's going to help you in the workplace down the road.
Who in your life has shared the most valuable ‘life lesson’ and what is it?
My family. Learning life's lessons and growing by watching my brothers and my Mom. She was a very strict mom. She was always helping me out and kept my head straight throughout school.
Five years after graduating from Syracuse I will be …
Hopefully, I'll get my shot to play for an NFL team, but after that, I'd like to pursue a career in what my degree pertains to which is hospitality management. I'd love to try and run a hotel, casino or a restaurant, whatever works out. I'm looking forward to both, but mostly a shot at the NFL and if it works out, that's great. But, if not, I'm going to work hard and work at my major and try pursue a path with that.
Advice to first-year teammates?
They have to keep their heads straight and not get down. A lot of times, the younger guys tend to get down on themselves when coaches yell at them or they make a bad play. The young guys have to understand it's not about getting down. It's about getting back up, keep your head straight and move on to the next play. You'll get your chance to redeem yourself on the next play.
How do you maintain your focus on training camp and not August 30th?
Especially in these beginning stages here, we need to work on just trying to get broken in. This summer we ran a lot, but this is a big transition from just running all day to get into physical activity. Myself, for example, I'm wrestling and going against linemen all day, chasing the ball and hitting people. Those are the things I have to stay focused on right now. The most important thing right now is just working on the basics and getting yourself prepared. We're always thinking about the first game because it's really close. We try to stay focused as much as we can on what we're doing right now, but in the back of your mind, you're always thinking about that first game.
