8/28/03

Two-Minute Drill: Austin Sendlein

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Sunday's game will be your third opener here at UT. What are your thoughts heading into the game and how has practice been this week?
"I think as a whole, our team is more prepared this week than we have been for any opener since I have been here. As a team, we are both mentally and physically prepared. Everybody is in shape and ready to go and I'm really excited about the game."

Talk a little about your friendship with Marcus Tubbs.
"It's a defensive line thing. Marcus, Kalen Thornton and myself, we just have a little clique riding on the back of the bus together between games and we hang out on the weekends."

In Kalen's interview this week for "KT On the Edge" with Marcus, he mentioned the 2-3 club and your name came up. What is your role in the club and where did it originate?
"Last year, it was Cory, Kalen, Marcus and myself and it was the 2-3 club and that was the original thing. Then they added me on as the one-degree. So then it became the 2-3 and the one-degree last year. Now, we haven't even discussed it this year on whether we are going to drop the one-degree or just leave it. So right now, I'm staying as the one degree. Cory is still in the 2-3 club. He'll be in the club forever. Cory, Kalen or Marcus came up with the name, I couldn't tell you exactly."

What do you like to do when you have some free time away from the game?
"I used to like to work on cars a lot, but now there is not as much time for that anymore. My first car was a 1956 Ford F-100 and that always provided me with a lot of problems to work on. I also like animals and spending time outdoors."

Would you consider the 1956 Ford F-100 your dream car?
"Yeah, it still is. When I get out of college I am going to buy another one. It just wasn't real practical for me to drive it here from Phoenix."

Is the car still back home or do you even still have it?
"I sold it to someone back home, but they said as soon as I was done, they would sell it back to me. They have kept it in great shape and have improved it times ten."

What did you do this past weekend when you had a couple days off from practice?
"Sat by the pool and just swam and relaxed with my brother. We also had a little barbeque with some friends."

Your father was linebacker here at UT in the late '70s. Did that have any bearing on your decision to come to Texas?
"My whole life I was raised as a Longhorn, but surprisingly, when it came down to me picking schools, my parents were extremely impartial. Wherever I wanted to go, they were happy to go with it. My dad never put pressure on me and stayed impartial throughout the whole process."