Nice Article on Hawk's character.

o1higuy · 04-25-2006, 05:09 PM

A.J.'s RULES
It is an understatement to say that Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk is unbending in his dedication not to be seen as better than anyone else. His family, his friends, and his teammates and coaches have experienced that Hawk "I'm-the-same-as-everybody" philosophy many a time.

Five of A.J.'s rules:

Instructed his parents not to cheer for him in high school (Centerville, Ohio), although they could clap for team touchdowns.
Never wore his high school varsity jackets. Did not want to seem "big time."
Refused to let Buckeyes photographers take a new media guide head-and-shoulders of him after his freshman year because he did not want to give up precious rest time between two-a-day August practices. Photos don't matter!
Requested that an inch be taken off his Ohio State roster height (from 6-2 to 6-1). "I don't ever want to meet somebody and they go, 'You're not as tall as I thought you'd be,' " he told his father Keith.
On Senior Day, he was the only Buckeye to greet his parents with his helmet on. That was the rule in high school -- helmets stay on!
"He doesn't like anything false," his father says. "Nothing false. He wants it all to be better. He wants to give something better than anyone expects."

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/9394262

04-25-2006, 05:09 PM	#1
o1higuy 100th Post Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 189	Nice Article on Hawk's character. A.J.'s RULES It is an understatement to say that Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk is unbending in his dedication not to be seen as better than anyone else. His family, his friends, and his teammates and coaches have experienced that Hawk "I'm-the-same-as-everybody" philosophy many a time. Five of A.J.'s rules: Instructed his parents not to cheer for him in high school (Centerville, Ohio), although they could clap for team touchdowns. Never wore his high school varsity jackets. Did not want to seem "big time." Refused to let Buckeyes photographers take a new media guide head-and-shoulders of him after his freshman year because he did not want to give up precious rest time between two-a-day August practices. Photos don't matter! Requested that an inch be taken off his Ohio State roster height (from 6-2 to 6-1). "I don't ever want to meet somebody and they go, 'You're not as tall as I thought you'd be,' " he told his father Keith. On Senior Day, he was the only Buckeye to greet his parents with his helmet on. That was the rule in high school -- helmets stay on! "He doesn't like anything false," his father says. "Nothing false. He wants it all to be better. He wants to give something better than anyone expects." http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/9394262
o1higuy 100th Post Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 189