With No. 8 Virginia Tech playing No. 2 LSU on ESPN's College Gameday Saturday, the Daily Collegian takes a look back at Evan Royster's Q&A following the Blue-White Game, which honored the slain Virginia Tech students.
Q: How would you describe your running style?
A: "I'm definitely up the middle, north-south. I don't really like running outside. Sometimes it takes me out there, but, once I get out there, I like to go north-south."
Q: How did spring practice go?
A: "It was good, we really came together as a team. We're showing a lot of progress. We're working toward the national championship."
Q: What do you think sets yourself apart from Austin Scott, and what do you think you can bring to the table that he may not be able to?
A: "I think I'm a little more patient than he is. But he's stronger than I am, and he can lower his shoulders a little better than I can, but I like to wait a little more, wait around the backfield."
Q: You said you like to run in the middle; you don't like going outside?
A: "I like running in the middle a lot more, to tell you the truth. Outside is a lot of wasted time running out there, then having to turn up, you know?"
Q: It was kind of a tough week for you [the week of the Virginia Tech shootings], being a Centreville (Va.) kid. Was it nice to just be able to get on the field and put aside some of the questions people are asking you about that?
A: "It was a real hard week. I had numerous friends call me and talk to me about it. Like, we're all supporting each other and stuff. It's hard to lose people you know, you graduated with."
Q: You did know both of the girls [killed from Centreville]?
A: "Yes. I mean, it's a sad feeling ... someone from my school would actually do the shooting, too [Seung-Hui Cho also attended Royster's high school]. It hurts everybody, you know?"
Q: What was it like to see all the students dressed in orange and maroon during the Blue-White game?
"It touched me, personally. I've got so many friends down there. ... It reminds me of them. It's just a great feeling that everybody is supporting it, even though some of those people don't know them, they're just showing so much support for them."
