Eddie George Covering New Ground by Brent Johnson As one of the most celebrated running backs in the NFL, Eddie George has rushed for more yards than any other player of his generation. He was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1995, Rookie of the Year with 1,300 yards rushing for the Oilers in 1997/98, and became only the sixth player in league history to hit the 4,000 yard mark in his first three seasons. George has been compared to Eric Dickerson in the way he powers through people, rather than threading the needle like a Walter Payton. At 6'3" and approximately 230 pounds, George is an awesome opponent. Players that do battle with him on the field, as well as the spectators in the stands understand that they're watching history. George is a record book in the writing. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, George is somewhat of a standout for his classic approach to the game. In the current period of play acting and sports drama that casts many athletes as heroes or villains, George is a pure sportsman whose performance on the field and off, places him above the kind of marketing hype that surrounds less accomplished players. In an environment where flash, glitz and attitude seem to get the most recognition, George quietly, steadily and determinedly pushes back the milestones. What many people don't realize about Eddie George is that, in apparent contradiction to his intimidating physical presence and beneath the hard exterior of a gridiron warrior beats the heart of an artist. George is a student of Landscape Architecture at Ohio State University where he was mentored by none other than Jot Carpenter himself. In the following Q&A George discusses his reasons for becoming a Landscape Architect and how the profession has helped to fulfill his personal goals. Q: Why did you decide to become a Landscape Architect? A: It was the challenge of it at the time. Going into school, I wanted to study architecture, but due to my schedule I didn't have time so I chose the next best thing, which is landscape architecture. I found an interest and pursued a degree in it. Q: What are your favorite kinds of landscape? A: Tropical, I really like tropical scenery. It's more serene than any of the other styles. I appreciate the other styles, but I'm more the tropical contemporary style. Q: What impact did the late Jot Carpenter have on you as one of his former students? A: Jot was definitely a go-getter. Actually, he pushed for the whole profession and how Landscape Architects fit in the profession. He really stood for their rights. He made a huge impact on me because he never let up on me as a student. There were times when I didn't want to finish my degree. I wanted to change majors because it was so tough. He kept on my back and kept working with me. Q: Do you think that the profession of landscape architecture requires licensure? A: Definitely. That way we know what we can do in our profession. We can protect what we do and there's no conflict with any other profession. Q: Do you think the University of Tennessee, Knoxville should have its own landscape architecture program? A: I think they should for the simple fact that it's a totally different major than the others. It requires a lot more understanding of what's going on rather than doing a combination of majors. Q: Why did you decide to return to school? A: To finish up my degree. That's something I couldn't leave undone. I didn't have to; it was something that I wanted to do. Q: What is the most difficult part about returning to the classroom? A: Sitting in class. But once I got past sitting in class and students looking at me kind of weird, I actually sat down and wanted to learn more about what it was I was studying and what I was getting myself into. Q: Who is your favorite running back (current or past players)? A: Walter Payton, Jim Brown, and Terrell Davis. The reason I like those guys is because they appreciate the game. They worked extremely hard no matter what level they continue to go to or have gone to. They've found ways to continue to separate themselves from the rest of the class. Q: When you decide to retire (years from now) would you like to coach or get into management, or would you consider practicing landscape architecture? A: Probably do it all. I think the opportunities are there for me to jump into anything I want to do. That's the main reason I chose to go back to school, to open another door of opportunity for me. Just in case after football was over I chose to get in that field, or if I chose owning a team or whatever. I was creating opportunities for myself.