Michael Brewer Q & A

For the Hokie fans trying to learn a little bit more about Michael Brewer, here is a recent Q&A he recently had with HokieSport.com. An interesting part of the Q&A is that Michael has a brother playing QB for Lake Travis High School. Knowing VTs history of recruiting brothers & cousins, maybe it is not too early for the staff & Michael to start recruiting the brother.
Q: How are you feeling now that you know that its official?
A: I feel good. Im extremely honored to be labeled the starter at a program like Virginia Tech. Im very thankful for my teammates and the coaching staff for entrusting me and giving me this opportunity. Im looking forward to this season.
Q: Did you ever doubt youd be the starter?
A: I came here with a purpose, and that purpose was to play. Throughout the summer workouts and fall camp, I tried to do everything that I could to make sure that happened.
Q: Does having the job allow you to approach practice or the way you talk with the team or run the huddle differently now?
A: Before, I liked to pretend like and act like I was the guy every day. I dont think itll be too much different, but now that theres a title, obviously itll mean a little bit more.
Q: Whats been the most difficult part of the process moving from Texas Tech to Virginia Tech?
A: A little bit of everything. Living in Texas my whole life and going to college at Texas Tech and playing football there for three and a half years, and then having to move all the way out here and not really knowing anybody or anything like that and having to hit the ground running was kind of the toughest part. I had to get used to everything and everybody, but it didnt take long. Everybodys been really good to me and made the transition really easy.
Q: Can you put in perspective to be at this point from where you were a year ago to being a starting quarterback and what thats meant to you in everything?
A: Its surreal. You know, looking back on it, when you have an injury like that - which was basically a season-ending injury since I wasnt able to come back until the last couple games of the year - and then the whole transfer process ... it was tough. All of the bad things Ive gone through in the last year and being able to bounce back to be named the starting quarterback at a place like Virginia Tech is something special to me. Im extremely thankful for the opportunity.
Q: Coach Beamer said your leadership was one of the factors in his decision. Whats your approach in the huddle and in the meeting rooms?
A: You have to act like youre the guy. You have to demand perfection. Nobodys perfect and no team is perfect, but every day, we want to strive to be as close to perfect as we possibly can. If you continuously do that, it makes you better every day.
Q: You havent been on the field as a starter since 2010 when you were a senior in high school. Whats that going to feel like next Saturday when you trot onto the field for the first offensive play?
A: Its going to be a special moment for me, my family, all my friends and everybody thats involved in my life and knows what Ive been through. Growing up in a special program like Lake Travis and having the success that we did, to everything that I went through at Texas Tech and to where Im at now, its going to be special.
Q: What kind of family support will you have Saturday?
A: For my first game, Ill have my mom and my dad and Im sure my grandparents and some aunts and uncles will be here. My sister just enrolled at TCU, so she wont be here, and my brother will be playing Friday night, making his first start at Lake Travis, so hell have to miss it as well. Im hoping they can make it throughout the season.
Q: Many people outside the program at least assumed this day would come and youd be named starter. How much did Mark and Brenden push you?
A: They pushed me extremely hard. We all just pushed each other. Any time youre in a quarterback battle, its tough. Its tough to be competitive on the field, and yet get along for the sake of the team off the field. I think thats been done really well between all of us. We all get along really well in the film room and off the field, and even on the field. But at the same time, everybody has that drive to be the guy and only one guy can be the guy. Everybody pushed each other really hard.
Q: Virginia Tech has had some pretty solid quarterback play over the past 15 years, including three guys in the NFL right now. How do you see yourself stacking up to them, or do you just go out and do your own thing?
A: Im not going to compare myself to anybody else. Im going to go out there and be Michael Brewer. I have confidence in myself that that will be just fine.
Q: How are you going to celebrate?
A: Im going to celebrate by preparing to beat William & Mary in the first game. You know, theyre a tough opponent. Weve seen a little bit of film on them and theyve got a lot of seniors, they play really hard and they had a good season last year. So the only celebration will be working that much harder.