AFL Q&A: San Jose SaberCats OS James Hundon
April 1, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
Now in his fourth AFL season, San Jose OS JAMES HUNDON (6-1, 176, Portland State) is in search of his second ArenaBowl title. Hundon and the SaberCats, who won the ArenaBowl in 2002, are off to a Western Division-leading 6-1 start this season. San Jose faces the defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm (3-5) this Sunday on NBC at noon ET.
The SaberCats were ranked No. 1 in the preseason and the AFL Writers Association (AFLWA) has ranked San Jose No. 1 in all but one week during the regular season (No. 2 in Week 2).
Heading into Week 9, Hundon ranks among the League's leading receivers, claiming Top 25 positions in receptions (tied for No. 22 with 37), receiving yards (No. 12 with 576), and scoring (tied for No. 23 with 66 points).
Q: When was the first time you ever played football?
A: It was my freshman year at Jefferson High in Daly City, Calif. I was 13.
Q: Do you play any other sports?
A: I'm not too bad at basketball. If I didn't play football, I could probably play basketball somewhere. And roller skating also.
Q: How does the AFL compare/differ from 100-yard football?
A: It's much different. The AFL is a faster-paced game, it's like fast-break football on half a field.
Q: Are your children fans of your sport?
A: Oh, yeah. They love coming to SaberCats games. They have jerseys and hats. You name it, they've got it.
Q: What is your pregame ritual?
A: I always arrive at the arena an hour or an hour-and-a-half before everybody else is supposed to be there. I just like to survey the field and get used to my environment before everybody actually gets there.
Q: What is your fitness schedule and eating habits?
A: I work out 5-6 times a week. I'm pretty healthy but there are a lot of times that I'm a junk food junkie. I burn off food as fast as I can walk.
Q: What kind of music do you listen to?
A: I listen to a lot of R&B, soothing and relaxing types of music. Before a game I listen to some TUPAC or something more up-tempo that I can transfer to the game. Anything that's up-tempo with a nice beat to it is applicable to me.
Q: Describe your characteristics on and off the football field.
A: Off the field I'm a real mellow guy. I try to get along with everybody and treat everybody with respect. You treat people the way you want to be treated. On the field, I'm more in the zone. I'm not a trash-talker. My trash-talk is my ability to play the game at the highest level I can play at. No one in this league can ever say that I'm a jerk or I'm cocky. I'm just a person that puts myself in a zone and goes from there.
Q: What makes you a good teammate?
A: I'm a very unselfish player. With this offense and how it works, the reason for everybody's success is predicated on what I do in the middle. I understand a lot of times I'm not going to have 5-10 catches a game. It's creating situations for (JAMES) ROE or RASHIED (DAVIS) or Wags (BARRY WAGNER) to get open so that we're scoring and moving the ball.
Q: What would you be doing if you weren't playing/coaching in the AFL?
A: I would be working as a probation counselor right now at my current job, the juvenile hall in San Mateo (Calif.).
Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: I see myself continuing to work for the (juvenile) hall and also doing some type of camps or programs, maybe even throwing an AFL football camp. I think it would be something unique to teach kids to play arena football and go through the characteristics of the sport. It would get more kids interested in the sport.
Q: What is your favorite moment from your AFL career to date?
A: I would have to say my first year (2001) when we played the Florida Bobcats. It was the end of the game with no time left and (San Jose QB MARK) GRIEB threw a jump ball up in the endzone and I came down with it to actually tie the game up. After winning the coin toss (in overtime) the very first play I scored a touchdown. And that was the winning touchdown. (San Jose won, 56-55.)
Q: Which AFL arena do you think is the toughest to play in?
A: I would say Arizona. There is just a mystique about going there and playing there. Under the tutelage of DANNY WHITE, the history of the Rattlers makes it just a tough place to play.
Q: Who is the toughest AFL player/coach you've faced in your career?
A: I would have to say DANNY WHITE would be the toughest coach. He is an intimidating factor. He is this great NFL legend and he's always trying to find a way win games. The toughest player, I'd have to say, looking at when I first got in the League was (former Arizona, currently Grand Rapids DS) CECIL DOGGETTE. He was a very patient defensive back. If you are patient and have good feet like he has, well, it made my games tough against Arizona.
Q: What two AFL teams would you like to see in the ArenaBowl this year?
A: San Jose SaberCats and whoever else makes it. I don't have a particular choice of who we will play, but whoever wins enough games to get there.
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