Andrew Whitworth spent high school towering the hallways and being a part of a national championship football team for West Monroe High School. In his four years at LSU, Whitworth spent his time towering the quad and being apart of a national championship. The fifth-year senior has achieved more in his career than the majority of athletes. The NFL draft last weekend was minus Whitworth after he elected to forego the draft for a senior season at LSU. He talks about his motive for staying, gives his take on new coach Les Miles and a glimpse into his personal life.
 
Tabby Soignier: Watching the draft this weekend, did you ever have second thoughts about coming back for one last season?
 
Andrew Whitworth: No, because my decision to come back was due to the fact I wanted to put on the pads and play for LSU with some guys that I thought all represent what LSU is all about. There are some really quality people and players that will make up this team next year. It’s an honor for me to play beside these guys that have put in time at this school to make LSU football be recognized for the success that we all have worked so hard for.
 
TS: Have you talked to any of your teammates since they have been drafted?
 
AW: No, I have called a couple of them and left messages. I know they are really busy right now, and I just wanted to let them know how proud I am of them — drafted or undrafted. We all played and were a part of memorable years in LSU football. We will always have something special from those memories.
 
TS: What was the main reason (or reasons) for your decision to come back?
 
AW: This team is going to do all we can to be successful, and I knew that coming back to play with this team and for this community would be all I could ask for. The support of our program from students, faculty, coaches and community is unmatched by any other school in my eyes. I don’t think all of them can understand the appreciation our team and all LSU sports teams have for that support.
 
TS: After completion of spring practice, what is your take on Les Miles?
 
AW: I believe he is a coach that is dedicated to hard work and being successful. I think the team has fit well with all coaches. Coach Miles and the staff have done a great job up to this point, and I believe that it is up to us to match our intensity and drive with their coaching and let that take us where we want to go.
 
TS: What are some of the main similarities you see between coach Saban and Miles?
 
AW: I just think you can’t really compare coaches. They all have their own ways. That is not to say one is better than the other — just different styles. I believe if you picked similarities though they would be team unity and their individual intensity to being successful.
 
TS: What are some of the main differences?
 
AW: I think they don’t really have that many differences. I mean sure you can say coach Saban was louder at practice, but I mean that’s just his style. Where as coach Miles is more of a correct-it-in-the-meeting-room kind of guy. Neither style is better than the other — just two different personalities.
 
TS: I hear you just got engaged. For our women readers, how did you propose?
 
AW: I have family in Dallas and she has always wanted to go there, so I took her. On Friday night, I picked her up in a limo to take her to a really nice steak house. I knew she was thinking something was up, so I told her about some pictures I took on my cell phone. She looked them up while riding to dinner. Little did she know that the last one was a picture of our beautiful bulldog, MIA, with a ring box on her head. She gasped for air and I got on a knee and proposed.
 
TS: At 6’7” has anyone been crazy enough to pick a fight with you?
 
AW: No, I’m not much of a night owl — unless I’m playing Xbox. So I’m not in many situations for that to occur.
 
TS: You have been an active Christian for several years now. With so many temptations, what keeps you faithful?
 
AW: I think the biggest thing is knowing the big picture — living for God. I mean, have I made mistakes and done things that I wouldn’t want people to judge me by — yes. Everybody sins and I know that, so I have to do every little thing I can to do something that affects someone positively. I try to be an example and realize that you have to turn things down sometimes no matter how fun they might be, so that you provide an example for others. One of the best things anyone ever told me came from one of the guys I came back to play with and committed to this University with, Rudy Niswanger. He once told me that he does not drink and hang out at clubs just because he doesn’t want to tempt himself with bad things, but also because he never wants someone to do something or go somewhere like that off of his lead. Now that’s caring for yourself and for others.
 
TS: You have had many accomplishments in your football career. Is there one accomplishment you hold closest?
 
AW: No, I believe that God has blessed me in so many ways. I just think of all of them as pedestals to stand and be an example on. I’m not the best guy to receive these blessings, but I believe that I have given my best to be a guy that people could say they would be proud to be a supporter of or have played with.