July 28, 2010

OXFORD, Ohio -- Though he's just a true freshman, Houston's ALLEN VEAZIE (pronounced VEE-zay) is aiming for a Texas-size rookie season at Miami University.

The former Eisenhower High School star defensive back was pursued by numerous college programs, ultimately choosing the RedHawks over the University of Minnesota.

Miami head coach Michael Haywood is high on the Texas speedster.

"Allen is a great man-to-man cover guy and he's not afraid to come up and hit you," said Haywood.

MURedHawks chatted with Veazie recently. Here's how the interview went:

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Who was your first contact with Miami University?

VEAZIE: My first contact was Coach Cedric Cormier. He came to one of our spring practices when I was junior and began to recruit me. Two weeks later, Miami offered me a scholarship. Then Coach Guidry got involved in the recruiting and the relationship just kept growing stronger and stronger. Later on down the line, Coach Haywood got involved, and the relationship just kept building and building. But at the time I was committed to Minnesota.

So what changed your mind to be a RedHawk instead of a Gopher?

VEAZIE: The switch came because I wanted to go to college and pick my school choice off of my heart and what I feel comfortable with, and I just didn't feel comfortable with Minnesota. My mother didn't either. So, I came on my visit to Miami and I kind of felt like I was at home, like it was a down south feeling. There was just a lot of love and a family, united type of thing. And that's what I wanted to be around. I always pray to God to help me make the best decision because the next four years of my life is a really big decision. I had never heard of Miami of Ohio until now, and now I like it a lot.

VEAZIE: Kelvin Jackson, he went to Hightower. I played against him in high school. Then we have Tracy Woods who went to North Shore, I played against him also. Then, as soon as I arrived, Nick (Harwell) was just waiting on us to get to Ohio. All the freshman, we've got this bond together. We're all staying in Havighurst (Hall), and we've all kind of just got this bond. We feel like we are going to change the program around. I have high goals for myself. Coach Guidry has been talking to me about becoming a freshman All-American, which is being a starter. In high school, he saw the competition I was going against. I always played against D-1 talent. Then in my school, we had receivers that went to Oklahoma, Texas and Ohio State. I've always been playing against good competition. I know the college game is a little different from high school. I feel like I can come and do big things, learning the game and gaining knowledge. That's why I hang around (Jordan) Gafford a lot, because he teaches me a lot of stuff. I'm like his little protégé.

What's been the toughest part of getting into the routine of class and big time athletics?

VEAZIE: Well, the toughest part about it was just learning the whole system, and learning the new things. Just coming to Ohio alone, leaving the state of Texas, was a big change for me. But I'm not homesick at all; we've all been enjoying ourselves. It's a busy schedule. I always have somewhere to be every second of every day. And learning how classes are different from high school. Our anthropology class is a two-hour class. So, you know, just getting groomed to that and groomed to the system was the hardest part. But after the first week, I've got it down pat so far.

It's all about time management, isn't it?

VEAZIE: Time management is the big thing and getting your rest and sleep in. And it'll come even faster when two-a-days start rolling around.

Miami has high expectations for its student athletes.

VEAZIE: Yes sir, I'm capable of making A's and B's, That's all I strive for is A's and B's because you have to be eligible to play. We have a lot of resources around, like the computer labs, the library, the tutors, and then study tables. So we have a lot of resources behind us to reach that level.

What do you think you'd like to do after football?

VEAZIE: I'm pushing towards kinesiology. And I like animals a lot so maybe that's in my future. I've also thought about being a sports analyst.

What do you think it's going to be like to be in a big-time college practice?

VEAZIE: I feel like it'll be a real competitive practice. I think everybody is going to enjoy it. I know I'm going to enjoy it. You should want to go against competition because that makes it more fun and it gives you something to work for and live for every day when you come to practice. Getting better every day is the main goal I strive for. The DBs are always pushing each other in the weight room and when we run. I feel by the time we leave here we should at least be in the top 10, top 25, or the number one secondary in the nation.

What are your initial impressions of Coach Guidry?

VEAZIE: Me and Coach Guidry kind of have this father-son relationship. When I got hurt, Coach Guidry stood by my side. I knew getting hurt is not a good thing when you come to college, but he and Coach Haywood stayed by my side. Coach Guidry is a good coach. He has passion for the game and I have passion for the game. I really love what I do, and if you don't love playing football or love playing any sport, I don't think you should be out there because you aren't going to give it your all. Coach Guidry is the type of coach that's going to push the best out of you. The only thing I do is soak up all the knowledge I can. When he gets on me, it's just coaching. You shouldn't take it to heart.

You're going to get a lot of stiff competition in practice against the Miami receivers -- Nick Harwell, Chris Givens, Luke Swift, Jamal Rogers, Andy Cruse, Armand Robinson, etc.

VEAZIE: I wouldn't want anything different because it's just going to make me better in the games. I always practice hard, always strive to get better every day, and I'm going to be hard on them and I want them to be the same on me. That way, when you get in the game, it should be easy for you.

Tell us about your family.

VEAZIE: I have two brothers and one sister. I'm the youngest out of the four. I had to grow up kind of fast, didn't have everything my way at times. Growing up fast was just something we had to do. I've been through some struggles here and there in my life, but I wouldn't change anything from my past because it made me the person that I am today. I guess you have to have tough skin sometimes, and I think that's what I have. So it's all good.

Are you planning to run track at Miami?

VEAZIE: Yes, sir. I plan on running track because track and football just go hand in hand. The group of freshman we have here plan on putting together a group, have a 4 x 100 team or any type of relay. Me, Willie Culpepper, Dayonne Nunley, Tracy Woods ... coming from Houston, we are pretty fast.

I want to find out about your personality. If you could gather three or four people together from history to have a conversation, who would you invite?

VEAZIE: Just to get some knowledge in football, I would invite Deion Sanders. Jesus Christ would be on my right side. Then the third person would be my grandmother. She just passed in late April.

What would you ask your grandmother about?

VEAZIE: Since my grandma has been up above, I'd ask her if I have been doing everything I'm supposed to do. Have I been on the straight and narrow. Just for her to be back in my presence, that would be a wonderful thing, and I'd just be happy to see her. I have plenty of questions for her.

When you're not playing football, what do you like to do?

VEAZIE: I'm an outdoor person. I like riding horses and I raise dogs back in Houston.

What kind of dogs?

VEAZIE: American pitbulls, I like to raise them. Then I had some poodles coming along too, and I had a pet iguana. I like cars a lot. In Houston, we have certain cars we like. I like just relaxing, too ... just chilling with my family, chilling with my teammates, things like that.

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