Summer Break with Jeff James

May 29, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. -- School is out at The University of Oklahoma, but for student-athletes it marks the beginning of hours of conditioning and training for the next season. Soonersports.com caught up with redshirt sophomore Jeff James this week on his summer plans, analysis of last season and future goals at Oklahoma.

Before suffering a season-ending injury versus Cal Poly on Feb. 15, the El Reno, Okla., native racked up an 11-7 total record. James was also selected by coaches as "most improved" on the Sooner roster at the season-ending awards banquet.

What are your overall thoughts on your redshirt-freshman campaign?
"Overall, I looked at it as a failure because I was looking forward to ending the season on a good note at the Big 12 Championships and NCAA's. Before I could do that I got injured and was out for the rest of the season. I lost all of my matches against ranked opponents and just didn't do as well as I had hoped for. I didn't get the chance to make up for it in the postseason."

How did you respond when the doctors informed you of your season-ending injury?
"It hit me all at once that my season would end without me accomplishing the goals I set out to achieve. I never want to have that feeling again."

What were some of the main obstacles you faced in your first full season of wrestling?
"One of the main obstacles was definitely the work load. Waking up at 6 a.m. to run sprints and then going to class and back to work out, it will make you tired. If you begin the season with everything organized and all your ducks in a row then it makes it much easier when times get hectic."

What do you enjoy most about wrestling for the Sooners?
"I really enjoyed the honor of it, just to be able to wear the singlet. I loved actually competing in the NCAA's. I have thought about that my whole life and now I am actually doing it. I have always looked at Oklahoma wrestlers as being the elite and now I am here."

What are some areas of emphasis you have set out to improve on this summer?
"I am trying to get bigger, faster and stronger. I am trying to master things. I want to get to the point where everything is second nature and I don't have to think about it, make everything habit."

What are your team expectations for next season?
"We need to get back to having All-Americans. Overall, we just need to get better and improve on last season. I don't want to lose a single match. If we get everything going the way we want it to we shouldn't lose. We are good enough and we just need to go out and prove it."

Personal expectations for your sophomore campaign?
"I don't want to have any offensive points scored on me, I want to be the one racking up all the points in the match. I don't want to have matches coming down to the wire. I want to win the Big 12's and be in the national finals. I feel like after a year of experience I know what my goals are and I know what I have to do to achieve them. I can't let everything come to me, I have to go get it."

With several newcomers next season, will your role change as a leader on the squad?
"I definitely have some words of wisdom for the newcomers, help them out wherever they need it. I can help them get their heads on straight and get onto the right path."

Talk about the new wrestling facilities and what it means to the program.
"I think the new facilities are awesome but it might spoil us a little bit. We have to remember what we are here at OU to do. We definitely appreciate everyone who made the new facility possible. It is going to great to practice in every day."

What are your summer plans?
"I am taking two intersession classes, getting a couple of them out of the way. I plan on hanging out with friends and relaxing. We go to the pool, go to the lake and take road trips."

If you could play another sport at OU, what would it be and why?
"I would have to say football. I would want to play on the defensive side, probably linebacker because I like to hit. I played middle linebacker in middle school and our defense only gave up two touchdowns the whole year."

If your teammates were given three words to describe you, what would they be?
"Stubborn, nice and hard-working. Maybe throw crazy in there."

What is your favorite restaurant?
"My favorite restaurant is O'Connell's. I love the boneless buffalo wings."