“I’m from Kansas, so there were a lot of vacant lots and open fields to tackle each other in so we could avoid tackling each other on the street. But running on the street and trying not to get taken down on the concrete, that will make you fast, that’s for sure.”

Individual goals never meant that much to me. The Heisman is no exception.

The reason of football is not to be the best but to be the best team

Let’s just win it and go home.

You know, I’m fairly intelligent, but I don’t think my grades reflected that.

Shortly after the end of last season, I felt that I probably would not return for the 1999-2000 season. I also felt that I should take as much time as possible to sort through my feelings and make sure that my feelings were backed with conviction.

I want to thank all of the fans and media who made playing in the NFL such a wonderful experience. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of them.

The game is the ultimate significance to me because it is so important to a lot of people. It has left a mark on our culture to be voted as one of the best to ever play.

Running back was always my favorite position.

I don’t want to get too detailed into it, but when you’re a good high school running back, you can almost be whatever type of runner you want to be. If you’re a good size and a good athlete, you can be whatever type of runner you want.

A lot of times I did lose yards on a run, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.

I sat behind Thurman Thomas for my first couple of years, then my first year starting I won the Heisman. After I won the Heisman, that’s when things changed as far as going to the NFL.

As a kid, I played my share of football in the street or in a vacant lot.

Christianity affects your whole life. I feel I’m more competitive, a better player, but off the field is where there is always a battle.

See God gave us the talent, but the devil make us famous.

You can look at everything from pre-Heisman to post-Heisman, and I think that’s why it ranks up at the top, because before then, I didn’t even think I was good enough to be a professional ballplayer.

It’s probably similar to being in New York City and having a cab driver behind you and you’re driving too slow. It’s not the most pleasant thing.

I have an affinity for Africa, especially East Africa, and Kansas looks very much like that.

Like every other place, I guess, Kansas City was quite a different city when I was a youngster there. They had quite a few clubs, and we had what we used to call jam sessions every night.

Somebody doesn’t know they’re not in Kansas anymore,’ said Stephanopoulos.