 
10 questions with Bruce Chambers
May 22, 2007
When did you know you wanted to become a football coach? I'd say my senior year in college. As I look back on it, I'd say the coaches I had helped with that. I wanted to still be associated with the game and I wanted to take the knowledge I had and what I'd learned and pass it on. What is your favorite part about being a football coach? I think it is working with the young men who come in, not knowing anything and seeing how he evolves and learns. It is good to see them come in as boys and leave as men. What is your favorite part about coaching at The University of Texas? I think it is the players and the tradition here at Texas. Being from Texas, you wish that you had the opportunity that these guys have to go to a place like Texas. Seeing everything from the way they take care of their lettermen, to the fans, you can see that it is really important. Who has been the biggest influence on your life? I would definitely have to say my parents and my high school coach Freddie James. Who has been the biggest influence on your coaching career? I've only worked for two head coaches, Freddie James and Mack Brown. Freddie James was my high school coach and then he hired me for my first job. Then, I took over for him when I got my first head-coaching job (at Dallas Carter). What has been your proudest moment in coaching? I think seeing a young man come in as a freshman, whether it is in high school or college, and then you see him three years later, graduating. Those are the best moments, when you can see them grow. What player(s) that you've coached do you believe got the most out of their ability? I can remember a player I had in high school. He was a young man that wasn't the most gifted as far as athletic ability, but he tried to do everything right or to the best of his abilities. He was a guy that you didn't think was going to play, but became a really good player for us. People would ask, 'Why is he playing?' and I would tell them that he has one speed and that is full speed.
Players are often asked about their pre-game routines. Do you have anything special you regularly do just before a game? I listen to the same music on the way to the game. It's two songs by Yolanda Adams, who is a gospel singer. I also listen to a song named "We Are One" by Maze and Frankie Beverly. I've been listening to that ever since I was a freshman coach at Carter High School. By the time those three songs play, we're at the stadium. When we played USC in the Rose Bowl, those three songs played and we still weren't there, so I had to repeat them, but that is what I do. What do you think you would be doing if you had never gotten into coaching? I graduated with a degree in radio/TV/film so I'd probably be a sportscaster, but I got into teaching after college because I wanted to coach. Do you have any special talents outside of football or what is your favorite thing to do away from football? I like to watch old, black-and-white movies. I like to look at the fashion and I think the acting was just outstanding. I really like a lot of the old actors like Lionel Barrymore, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant and Lana Turner. You look at them and you just go wow. |
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