Good thing Young is a people person By RICHARD JUSTICE Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle DETROIT — Vince Young stops and looks at the balcony above him, to a scene that's by now common. "It's just crazy," he said. Dozens of people are screaming his name. They're smiling and waving, holding cameras and pens, hoping for who knows what. They're all ages, male and female, none dressed in burnt orange. He was in a relatively isolated area of the Super Bowl media center Friday afternoon, brought there to do interviews with radio stations from around the country. As he made his way from talking head to talking head, the noise above him became louder and louder until, finally, he could no longer pretend it wasn't there. He halted and waved and exchanged small talk as the crowed leaned in to listen, as if a bit of his air space was all they wanted. Reggie Bush is also here this weekend, and supposedly so is Matt Leinart. They're attending parties and doing the things VIPs from around the country usually do on Super Bowl weekend. They'll be at the big game Sunday. Rubbing elbows with VIPs The difference is they're not 6-5. They're not instantly recognizable. They're not a month removed from one of the most remarkable performances in college football history. Since then, Young has exchanged small talk with Tiger Woods in Las Vegas and gotten handshakes and telephone calls from an assortment of athletes and celebrities. He has been invited to more things than he can count. There was Ray Lewis seeking him out Friday afternoon for a quick word. Young, wearing jeans and Timberland boots, looking a lot like any other college kid, said he's still grasping it all. "I'm amazed," he said. "It's a blessing knowing how much respect these people have for me. I guess I have a lot of fans. I think it started to change when we won the Rose Bowl last year. It has been real nice." No place like home He was to attend NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's VIP party Friday night, in part, to rub elbows with representatives of some of the companies that want him to endorse their products. "I enjoy it," he said. "I like getting out and meeting people. I don't know everything that's going to happen, but it's exciting." He would love to play for the Texans. He danced around the topic when he first declared himself for the NFL draft. Now he's upfront about wanting to play for his hometown team. Badly. "I'm praying about it," he said. "I have no idea what's going to happen, but that's what I'm hoping for. I want 'Texans' on my chest. I want to be No. 10. I want to wear the blue and red. I love Houston. That would be so nice. If it doesn't happen, I'm still going to love Houston." It's almost incomprehensi- ble the Texans would pass up someone so good. He has more playmaking ability, more leadership skills and more of a history of winning than anyone they've had. He'd give the franchise a buzz it has never had. Yet the Texans have invested four years in David Carr. Some inside the organization believe Carr can succeed if given the tools other successful quarterbacks have. New coach Gary Kubiak will have the largest say, and he might not be finished with his evaluation for at least another month. I asked Young if there's a downside to playing in his hometown. Because he grew up in Houston, will too many people want a piece of him? He motions to the friends he has brought along, to his uncle, Keith Young, and his agent, Major Adams. "No," Young said. "The people I keep around me understand there's a time to have fun and a time to go to work. They know not to bother me when it's time to work." Has he watched a replay of the national championship game? "Once," Young said. "I'm still in shock. We put in so much work to get to that point. I'll always be proud of what we accomplished." That game, a 41-38 victory over USC, cemented his legacy. He leaves the University of Texas as the winningest quarterback in school history (30-2) after a game in which he passed for 247 yards and ran for 200. He's scheduled to have more business meetings today, speak at a Detroit church Sunday morning and attend Super Bowl XL in the afternoon. "I don't think he realizes he's a national figure yet," Adams said. "He's taking it in stride. He's used to the attention in Austin, so this isn't that much of a change." Young finishes his last interview and disappears into a crowd of well-wishers. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/justice/texans/3635571.html
nothing is wrong with that. TO dissing his teammates for his own sake crosses the line. Vince is about himself, but he always seems to be team player and his teammates and coaches like him. that makes him anti-TO. basking in his glory is exactly what he has to do. kinda like when i take people to school on this board, i bask in my glory and say 'damn, im so freakin good'. go VINCE!
This brings a tear to my eye. Man, we really need a few of these players on the Texans, guys who actually like the city, embrace it, and don't regard it as just a place of business. (And they don't have to be from UT!) These are the players who reel in the MadMaxes of Houston, extending them an olive branch and uniting them in a common bond. Otherwise, to instill loyalty, you have to rely on a winning team, and, let's face it, it's hard to win consistently, year in and year out. I'm a "trade the pick" guy, but man, it's hard not to pull for Young with comments like that. (Cue Bush and robotic, monotone quote: "Houston is nice. I like NASA. And... uh, the skyline.")
it's a rare opportunity for an NFL franchise to have a hometown guy with so much hometown pride. i, personally, would love to have vince on the Texans. however, i also feel that trading the pick would be the best thing for the short term. vince could be a difference maker for a franchise for years...
How could the Texans pass this guy, a talent like that, and he WANTS to play for Houston. This guy has it all.... The Texans really have no choice, Vince is the man. DD
Do you think Tim Purpura or Carroll Dawson reads these forums? What about Les Alexander or Drayton McLane? Bob McNair? Phil Garner? Jessica Alba? What's the point of any of our posts?
im all for taking a huy who is a legend in the town BUT when people start saying he is talented and a leader etc they dont realize Bush has the same qualities if not better as a player im not sure how well young will do...i almost guarantee he wont go to the nfl combine workout and expose his weaknesses...Bush has been doing this for three years at usc..young right now is more hype throw both of them into an nfl game and i guarantee bush has more of an impact
No, I don't think they read the forums, which is why I don't go into every thread and say "Bush is so great, he is the man! The Texans have no choice: draft Reggie Bush." The point of posts is to discuss sports and other stuff with other people. Not to repeat the same thing over and over for no apparent reason (other than maybe he thinks Casserly is reading, which is why I asked).
DD is Vince's personal promoter. It's funny that he never gets tired of it. I can't wait when it's all over and we don't pick Vince. He is going to make alot of immature "I told you so", "What would've been", or "Texans suck" comments. The guy is just plainly immature.
I just don't see the point. A) he isn't going to convince anyone. B) No one he needs to convince is reading anyways.
This BBS is basically a Sports Bar without the booze and TV sets...a water cooler discussion without the water cooler....etc... A place for guys and gals to talk sports. I love this place. Where else can you find Houston Sport fans from all over the world????
i remember back after VY played his first ever game against New Mexico St back in his RS FR year. my roommate and our buddy saw him walking around jester circle. they caught up to him and asked for his autograph on 2 random sheets of loose leaf paper my buddy ripped out of his spiral. they talked to him for a bit and said how cool and humble he was. at the end he was just like "hey i gotta run, but you guys take care and hook'em." vince is a genuine good guy, fame or no fame. he deserves all this attention and money, he worked hard to get where he is. the funny thing is my old roommate still has that ghetto ass raggedy sheet of paper with the spiral holes still hanging off. he hangs it up next to his desk so everyone can see it
That's pretty sweet. I'm a Texan fan without a doubt, but I would no doubt become a diehard fan like I was with the Oilers if we draft Vince. VINCE IN BATTLE RED FOR '06!
