One On One With Lucas Miller
From Bulldog Memories To Committing To The Razorbacks
7-13-05 By: Brian Vaughn
Lucas Miller left his mark his senior year on the field and court for the Bulldogs with unbelievable catches and in your face slams. Lucas pulled himself away from his summer workouts to meet with me on a hot July afternoon at Smith-Robinson Stadium to go One on One with the Dog Pound. It was a trip down memory lane and a look into what the future holds for him.
Greenwood Dog Pound: I want to thank Lucas for taking some time to go One on One. Let's start by going back to the past and your sophomore season. You didn't play much that I can remember. Your thoughts on Coach Welch, just not wanting to play sophomores.
Lucas Miller: I wish he had. I think it would've helped the team and a lot of us individually for the seasons he had to come. That's why I like Coach Jones philosophy on it, it doesn't matter what grade your in. If your better...the best...then your going to play. I think that does a lot for a program.
GDP: Now on to your junior season. You got to play, got some passes, but I wouldn't say you were the "go to" receiver.
LM: No, that season Mr. Woody (Ed Woods) had a good season. I had some ankle problems and some injuries. I was just kind of a role player and a position receiver if we needed a catch. That was a good learning year, where you just get in the system more and know your role and just continue to build your skills and knowledge of the game.
GDP: Your thoughts on just how the 2003 season went.
LM: Our junior season...I feel it was a disappointment. We had the personal..the players to really be a successful team and I think we did well until the playoffs then just kind of shutdown. Especially losing nine to zero at home in the first round was a really difficult game to lose and a disappointment to end the season.
GDP: As a player during that season, what's your memory on the feeling around the program as the season wore on? It just seemed liked the passion was gone and everyone including the players by the end were just going through the motions of having a season.
LM: To look up into the stands at the Alma game and the Stuttgart game was very disappointing. It felt like people just sort have given up, just because the season just seemed to roll on. It wasn't a big build up to the playoffs like it was this year. It was just like, let's get it over atmosphere because there wasn't very many people on either side of those two games and normally a playoff game at Smith-Robinson is packed and it wasn't. Just making the playoffs then it's over. Not wanting to win and move on to the next round or the championship game. The feeling even in the locker room (Stuttgart game) was like that there wasn't to many encouraging words or left ups to build the team up. There was of course your weak, come on we can still win, but it wasn't convinencingconvinencingconvinencingconvinencing. So everybody basiclly it seemed gave up.
GDP: And your senior season, a whole new attitude comes to Greenwood. Your thoughts on the coaching change.
LM: Good change...very good change.
GDP: How do you think your senior season would have went if Coach Welch had still been the coach?
LM: I'm not sure I would have been playing football. I didn't see a point in wasting another fall of my life when I could have been focusing on basketball as a single sport. It would have been very hard to enduare another year of that kind of attitude process of football. It wasn't fun anymore.
GDP: Rick Jones comes to town, your thoughts on him and what he brought that spring.
LM: He's one of my favorite people that I've ever met. He came in here and turned the town completely in a one-hundred eighty direction back towards how it used to be in the old days. Turned the program back from a first or second round playoff team to going back to the Rock team in one season. That just shows how great of a coach and person he was on and off the field. A man who can turn a football team completely around in a season diffenatly needs his props. I expect great things from him for years to come.
GDP: Were you surprised just how fast he not only turned the team around, but got the community turned around as well?
LM: It was a philnomial season. Most fun that I've ever had in school and to beable to share it with your best friends and people that you've played sports with your whole life. Basically for him to come in here...it's like he just brought out the best in everybody. He brought out the best out of the coaches, the community, the players. He united everyone once again back to how a program should be if it wants to be successful. He did that. I think everyone in this town relizes it and sees it and is very appreciative of it.
GDP: In the preseason last year we were ranked eighth and was picked fifth in the conference, just barely a preseason bubble playoff team. I think anyone who saw what you guys were doing in the off season knew we were going to be better than that. Coach Jones was working to hard for us not to be better than that.
LM: Right, he sweat more than we did on a few occasions.
GDP: As a player looking at the time that he puts in, did you go if he's going to commit this much time we're going to commit this much time too?
LM: Exactly, We felt like if he could be here that much and put in that much time of his own then we can give that three or four hours a day of practice and weights. I've never seen a guy that determined or that motivated to win or basically make everybody give there best. That was something you saw everyday. That wasn't a once a week thing, it was everyday that he was here he was trying to make everybody their best. Trying to get everything out of them that he could get.
GDP: Let's go into the first ball game. Shiloh Christian. A much hyped ball game, a packed Smith-Robinson Stadium, new uniforms to go with the new attitudes. The Bulldogs ended up pulling out a big victory to start the Rick Jones era.
LM: We did...The hype like you said coming into that game was unbelievable. Then to see this place packed back out just made everyone in that lockerroom want to give just that more. To see how excited and nervous Coach Jones was. You know I was in his office before the game and I'm one of those guys that like to act like I'm not nervous and be a big time I'm ready to win kind of guy. To walk into his office and see him sitting there going over game plans even before we're to go on to the field. I was just like, "are you nervous?" He was like, "yeah". I was like, "don't be nervous we got this." I know I can just remember that look, he just gave that smile...that good ol' big smile that he always has on. Just made us like we're going to win it for him and the town and put us back on the map.
GDP: Coach Jones appeared to have totally united you guys as a team even as you walked out together onto the field for that first game last season.
LM: He united us just that quick and everything was precise from warm-up to practice habits and everything. But to walk on like I said with your best friends and people that you have gone to war with in a sports manner it was just really neat to see how he...with the holding of the hands and shoulder to shoulder coming out to the field I think did really intemidate teams and I think that's why we did it. Because looking at us were not intemidating at all because we're not big, but to see how each one of us has each others back, that's scary. You see a team of sixty or seventy players that are that close and that united and packed together. I think the other teams were really scared.
GDP: Let's fast forward to the conference opener against Vilonia. They were the preseason number one ranked team last year. A lot of smack and attitude on the internet on this one also. They were the state runner-up the year before and were rejoining the AAAA-West and Greenwood's attitude was basically we're just going to go over and welcome them back to the West.
LM: That was a very motivated week of practice. The scariest thing was when we went into the lockerroom before the game nobody said a word until game time. It was the quietest I've ever heard a Bulldog team. I wasn't sure if it was good or bad. I'm normally the one talking a lot, but with no one talking I just sit there too. I think it helped us get our heads straight and really focused on the task ahead of us and that was to not only beat them, but welcome them back to the West conference. I think we did that and after that game it really jump started our season.
GDP: The week ten showdown with Alma. Both undefeated in conference playing for the conference championship, just like both of us like it each year. That was the most electrify high school atmosphere I've ever been a part of. Your thoughts on the game with Alma.
LM: The feeling....you knew it was going to be a big year when both teams were on a roll and you find out a week before both teams are undefeated and it's actually going to happen. I think everybody was like, this is going to be the game to watch. When we came out early for our pregame it was already loud, people were already yelling. Back in the lockerroom for awhile, then when we came out it was dark with a little cool breeze outside. Everywhere you looked there was people standing and in the stands yelling back and forth. Student section yelling at student section..each at each others throats with signs...I just remember leading them out and thinking to myself, this is how it's suppose to be my last year..you know against your arch rival this is how it's suppose to be. I will never forget that game.
GDP: End up the number two seed out of the West, which wasn't a bad thing looking back now. Had Blytheville here for a first round playoff game. Considering how far they had to travel and staying overnight on the way over, I felt better good going into the game.
LM: Yeah, when they're asking about your basketball team before half-time you know you've got them. We were talking about that a lot on the sideline.
GDP: Second round thought we'd be going to Monticello, but ended up making our first of two trips to Little Rock to face JA Fair.
LM: That game was a wake up call at just how blessed we are in Greenwood and just how much people care about the sport of football and the players. Fair I can remember the bleachers being empty for them, there band was there and maybe a few parents there. I think our fans really helped us get a win that night just keeping us going. Seeing that I really felt sorry for Fair not to have a fan base.
GDP: Come back home after that game to face undefeated Pulaski convincingbasically, which had been in the semi-finals the previous two years without getting to the Rock had to feel like the odds were in their favor.
LM: Yes.
GDP: That was one game I can say I was nervous about before the game started. Could we stop the running game of Robinson with a ticket to the Rock riding on it. I felt a lot better after we held them to three and out on their first offensive position.
LM: That game was a really big game for us. For us as players we had never been past the first or second round. All of seniors of course had been there to watch the 2000 team play and win all those games on the way to the championship. We as players were out to see what was on the otherside of that second round and so our attitude was to win and win big and keep punishing. Make a sign and statement to everyone else. Coach Jones offensive scheme and Perrin on the defensive side that they put in all week seemed to be working. Everybody was giving it they're all, everybody was wanting to win and wanted to see our coaches look successful and our team to be successful so everybody preformed up to the best of their ability. By half-time the score was enough that you could see that they were done, but that wasn't enough for Greenwood. Greenwood we've got to keep going, so we came out with that passion still going even in the second half and still just kept putting it on them.
GDP: It appeared that the Bulldogs really turned it on and took it to a different level last season when the playoffs started with a new tougher mentality.
LM: That was just it we started a new season with the playoffs and we weren't going to be disappointed with a loss. We had our minds set on being in the championship game and we weren't going to except anything less than that. Even just a player on a team you have to have that mentality and goals in order to achive it. If you don't want it that bad and you say we're still going to make it there you probably won't. You have to want it that bad to be there.
GDP: Just winning a semi-final game knowing then your going to play at the Rock for the State Championship is a very exciting thing. I know it was exciting here with the win over Robinson, the student section storming the field, the band playing the fight song over and over and the team chanting "To the Rock!" and singing "Down By The River".
LM: That was a very special chant "Down By The River"...you know that was our last, but our goal is to play fourteen games in a season and we did exactly that. To play our last home game and semi-final game and win and play that well it really felt good. We really felt like we left something in Greenwood. We feel like we left it better than when we found it as sophomores and I believe that even now.
GDP: Then for the State Championship you faced Wynne. Always good every year led by The General Don Campbell. Looked like you guys had the right game plan and only need a break here or there and would have won that game. Talk some about playing in the State Championship game.
LM: I had never been there. Just being there was a great honor it was everything that we had been told about it. (Chris) Bynum's brother (Brandon) and some others from the 2000 team came in and talked to us about enjoying it and taking it all in.
GDP: Your thoughts to stepping into that "go to receiver" role your senior year, when there's been such a long line of star receivers at Greenwood over the years, Kris Weible, Terral Meeker, Josh Bell, Josh Leftwich.
LM: Coach Jones he talked to me about the role early in spring football. He said, you're our go to guy act like it basically to be blunt. When your in spring ball sometimes your attitude is like, it's fun, but your not really stepping up and doing everything you can in practice. He was like, you're setting a tone for these young guys. They look at you as their leader, their go to guy...why don't you act like it. That was a reality check for me, I was like OK. For a coach to tell you that though, I like that being put on my shoulders. I was like right then, okay I'll try to set the tone and do my best. To even be comparied to some of those guys from the best is...Wow. Kris Weible I got to see for the first time this past season. I wasn't here when he played and he came back and visited and I got to meet him. I look at that jersey of his every time I walk through the arena. Look at those numbers and I'm like I want to try to beat those. I've met Josh Bell, I knew Josh Leftwich, Terral Meeker. I know all these guys, I've seen them play, I know what they've done. Just to be compared to the same page as them, wow what an honor.
GDP: Now let's talk some about your recruiting. I heard there was looks in football and basketball, so just go back and recap for us the recruiting process for you and your thoughts on if you were going to play basketball or football and how you ended up committing to the Arkansas football team.
LM: It was a very difficult choice. I've played basketball my whole life and started playing football my seventh grade year when I moved here to Greenwood and I decided I was going to try football. I really liked football and I liked basketball and going into my senior season I actually heard actually a lot more about basketball recruiting. I had quite a few schools looking at me for basketball, but not so much football because my sophomore year I didn't do anything, I played some but not a whole lot. My junior had some injuries and wasn't a go to guy. So I was leaning towards playing basketball in college, well Coach Jones really helped my recruiting in football talking to a lot of coaches. I started to get a lot of phone calls at home about football, so I had a really big discion to either play football or basketball. I went with the heart. After a season with Coach Jones he really brought the love of the game back to me with football, and it just kind of consumes me now. I decided to play and it was between Oklahoma State and Arkansas. I went and visited Oklahoma State and it was really nice, but the coach asked me a question, "Could you come to school here even if wasn't for football?" I was like, would I come here if I didn't play football...probably not. He then said, "Would you rather go here to just a school over Arkansas just as a student. I was like, no way. He said that I should think about that then. I didn't get a full ride, I got like ten thousand dollars there. For an in state schools that's good, but for an out of state school, that's really not a whole lot. So I started thinking and talking to a lot of people here in Greenwood. People were like we'll still support you if you go there, but if you go to Arkansas we'll be at every game. This town is really important to me. I started to think about it. My dream has always been to be a Razorback. So I went and visited and I fell back in love with the Razorbacks. I loved it, good things were told to me and I ended up verbally committing, so I'm going to be a Razorback next year as a red shirt freshman and I'm extremly excited about that. It was a lot of fun meeting my teammates and they showed me around. I got to meet Marcus Monk. Matt Jones was there doing his workouts and I got to meet him. That was pretty cool, I got to open the door for him. I was walking in and looked back and saw him coming and was like I can hold this just a second longer. He walks in got his long hair and says, "What's up dude?". I was like, "How's it going?". That was really neat, especially meeting Marcus Monk, cause we have a lot in common as far as looks...tall and lanky and not really big and bold, but what a receiver he is. So hopefully I'll learn a lot from him these next five years of football...get my chance and represent Greenwood well. That's another reason why I didn't take some of my smaller school offers, because people in Greenwood have all these great season, but how many of them do you see go do something at a big school. Even if I didn't get as much money at Arkansas as I wanted, I can change that..that's on me. I'm going to go up there and if I work hard and do what I've been taught to do then I should have no problem getting more. Just the experience I'm going to gain from it is a real important part. Of course their education is top notch. Their very facilities are top notch, nobody competes with their facilities. I'm only an hour from home, so during my red shirt year I can come back home and watch the Bulldogs play and enjoy it and wish them the best.
GDP: One of the things Coach Jones as commented on several times is the great leadership the seniors of the 2004 provided. At the end of spring practice he said that we have a lot of key players to replace on the field, but the number one thing that has to replaced is the leadership role of the senior class and how you guys led the team.
LM: I think we just took it personal. He told us your seniors and leadership is going to be key to having a successful season and I think each one of us just took that to heart and took it personal. We were like, lets set an example for these other kids to follow and I think we did a good job of that.
GDP: Now on to the 2005 Bulldog season.
LM: I wish them the best. They've got Dan the Man coming back.
GDP: I couldn't believe expectations for this year could be higher than last year, but Daniel being recruited by some division one schools and with the Hooten's preseason number one ranking the target on Greenwood is bigger than ever.
LM: They are. A lot of those players have seen playing time and experience. I think the state sees that and they have a great quarterback. I've never played with one that was that good that could make plays off of anything. Daniel is a great guy and a great leader and he's got his players back and his friends like (Jacob) Mills and Taylor (Sterling). Everybody in Greenwood wants the championship this year. We were there last year and runner-up. We got that under our belts now, why not take the top notch. In the preseason I think they're correct at putting Greenwood at number one. After being so good and having basically the entire offensive line back, bigger, better and stronger. Greenwood is another team once again to look out for and I think for years to come too. I think this is a long term thing.
GDP: A lot of people have questioned our receiver corp for this year with everyone but Mills gradutated. You know the underclassmen coming up. Your thoughts on the receivers that are going to be stepping in.
LM: We were a really close group. We were called the corp and I'm sure they'll be called the corp again. We felt the receiving corps is the heart of the team. I say that, I'm a receiver (laughing) that's coming from a receiver. If big things happen we expect our receivers to be doing it that. They're talented, they're very talented. A lot of them haven't seen any playing time, but Mills, but they've played against us in practice. They where there everyday and have been working really hard this summer in 7 on 7's and they say people are beginning to stand out. I think they'll be just fine.
GDP: Thanks Lucas, for going One on One. I'm sure the fans will really enjoy reading what you've had to say.
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