Newsome Operates With Intensity And Humor
10/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 25, 2000
By Dina Karwoski
Sports Information Intern
If there's one thing that senior free safety Richard Newsome knows besides humor, it's football. He has officially earned his doctorate in trash-talking with a minor in covering the best receivers in the country.
"I know I am not the only one that does yapping," explained Newsome "We faced (Michigan's) David Terrell and he doesn't stop talking. I think you have to realize that if you are going to talk the talk, you have to be able to walk the walk."
The secondary has been able to walk that walk. They are the third-ranked pass defense in the nation and are the best in the Big Ten, allowing only 153 yards in the air. Their phenomenal quickness and coverage skill has shut down threats like Michigan's Terrell and Marshall's explosive passing offense with high-octane Illinois and Purdue yet to come.
"Week to week, we go back to the drawing board to see what we can do better," said Newsome. "It's a matter of seeing what went wrong and what you did right. We know we can play with anyone given the chance."
Newsome almost lost his chance to play earlier in the season. He suffered a thigh contusion, which sidelined him for three games. He became a cheerleader of sorts - yelling brash comments to the opposing team from the sideline and getting in his teammates face before they took the field - anything to assist the secondary.
"It was tough to be on the sideline, watching my teammates and wanting to contribute," recalled Newsome. "All I could do is give them my support, help get them hyped and know that I was going to be back out there soon."
He returned with a vengeance, earned Defensive Player of the Game honors with a season-high 15 tackles in his first game back against Wisconsin. He followed up with team-high 13 tackles against Michigan last week.
With Newsome and the rest of the defense playing well, it's hard to imagine the Spartans at 3-4. When a loss comes after a hard-fought battle, it's tough to see the bright side, but Newsome perserveres.
"We have a 24-hour mourning period," said Newsome. "If you lose, you can think over it and feel bad about it for 24 hours. After that, it's time to suck it up, get back to playing and see what can be done to win the next game."
Newsome's goal is to try to get the Spartans back on track. No longer is there personal glory involved, merely a sense of pride. He wants the team to fly high, like the airplane imitation he does when he takes the field.
"All jokes aside, it's time to get serious," said Newsome. "Every game from here on is for pride -- pride in this program, pride in ourselves as players. It's going to be hard to stop us now, because you know that people react the worse when their backs are to the wall."
There's an extra kick to everything that Newsome provides -- that sense of raw energy that you need on the field or that lighthearted touch off it. Dr. Newsome is surely the one you want operating when the game is on the line.
