Dec. 1, 2006

TheACC.com introduces you to the league's
athletes, coaches and administrators each week.

Darryl Richard
Georgia Tech
Year: Red shirt Sophomore
Football - Defensive Tackle
Hometown: Destrehan, LA
Major: Business Management
Favorite flavor ice cream: Strawberry

Darryl Richard was red-shirted last year with a knee injury. After the 2004 season, he was named to Sports Illustrated magazine's All-Bowl team after an impressive performance against Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl.

This year, Richard has had 44 tackles and has played in every game, with one forced fumble and 2.0 sacks.

How did you get started playing football?
Ever since the age of seven, everybody was doing it and I definitely wanted to also. It's been 13 years. Football was pretty much all we ever knew even before we were playing, we used to watch it on T.V. and we all wanted to go out there and play, so as soon as we were old enough, we all went out and started playing.

What has been your greatest accomplishment so far as an athlete?
Actually, playing a substantial amount as a freshman. Just coming to try to play division I football, which isn't very easy. That's has to be the greatest accomplishment so far.

What do you still hope to accomplish in the future?
Definitely to become an All-American player. To do something that actually leaves a legacy.

Who was your most influential role model?
That's a tough question, there are a lot of people who have played the part. So I couldn't even pinpoint it down to one person. It's a list, they know who they are, but it's a long list. I mean obviously my family, its not just one person, but as a whole. Some teachers I had and some coaches, but specifically, I couldn't really pinpoint one person, there have been a lot of people. I always find myself thinking about things they taught me.

What was the best advice you ever received from a coach?
To play like there's no tomorrow from (Georgia Tech Assoc. Head Coach) Jon Tenuta.

What's your most memorable moment in sports?
I would have to say getting a safety my freshman year in a bowl game. It was the Champs Sports Bowl and we played Syracuse in 2004.

Georgia Tech hasn't won an ACC title since 1990. What does this mean to you to be playing in this game?
To say it's big would be an understatement. We're trying to do something that other teams haven't done. So this is a very big game.

What do you think is the biggest difference between this team and last year's team?
The biggest thing about this team is that we are so cohesive. You can say we have one heartbeat and that's just how we are, with each other. It's not a front, we're really that close. And that helps a lot when you are on the field. And even going on summer workouts, we still had that one heartbeat; we are so close as a group.

Why did you choose Georgia Tech?
I think out of all the schools I looked at, Tech offered me the best of both worlds. Whether four years or 40, they talk about that a lot in recruiting. I mean, Georgia Tech has so much to offer you athletically and academically, that I don't think many schools can compare.