Feb. 14, 2008
1. Use 5 words to describe yourself:
Hardworking, loyal, happy, content, and enthusiastic.
2. Describe your perfect day – who would you spend it with, what would you do, and where would you be?
It would be back home in Fort Lauderdale in the spring with my buddies who I grew up with. We’d go to the beach, play pickup football, and then head out for the night.
3. What is your pre-meet routine?
We come here about three hours early, stretch out, eat, and then warm-up. Right after warm-ups are over I go sit by myself and try to get in a zone and then get up on the boards and do my thing.
4. Other than the Irish, what is your favorite sports team?
The Chicago Bears.
5. What do you miss the most about being at home?
My family, of course. They’re far away so I only get to see them twice a year. And during the winter I miss the weather a lot.
6. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
As of recently, I met Dennis Rodman, but I got to meet Dick Butkus once, so I would say he is the might be the most famous person I’ve ever met.
7. If your life was to be turned into a movie, what genre would it be; what would the title be; what actor would you have star in it?
It would definitely be a comedy. Actor: Brad Pitt. Title: Bulfin. It would just be my last name.
8. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’d go to Switzerland in the winter for a snowboarding trip.
9. What is the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
I was at the NCAA National Championships and the best kids in the country are there and I was a freshman and it was early in the morning. I wasn’t really thinking and I put my suit on backwards. So it was all turned around and I walked out and got on the board and everyone just looked at my like I was an idiot. That was pretty embarrassing.
10. What is the best advice you have ever received and who was it from?
We were on our way to spring break, and I got in a car accident, so I was bummed and the kid riding with me, Mike Hopkinson, he was bummed that I was bummed. So we weren’t gonna go on spring break with that attitude. So he told me that you can’t dwell on the past; you’ve got to move forward. So that’s kind of influenced my life because anytime that you’re in a moment where you get put down, you can’t dwell on that. You’ve got to move forward, forget it even happened, and move on. Mike Hopkinson told me that.
11. What is the last song you listened to?
“Sideways” by Citizen Cope
12. If you had a choice to travel either forward or backward in time, which would you choose and why?
I would definitely go backwards in time, back when you could do what you wanted and kind of get away with it – back in the Wild West.
13. Where is your favorite place at Notre Dame?
I’d have to say Zahm Hall. That’s where a lot of my friends are and that’s where a lot of things happen.
14. What is your major and why did you choose it?
My major is finance so that I might be able to come out of here with a good paying job, to be completely honest.
15. What is the first thing you think about when you wake up?
The first thing I think about when I wake up is what I have to do for the day. It’s usually around 6:30 in the morning, and I’m about to get dressed for practice, and I think about how cold it’s gonna be on the walk over.
16. Do you have any siblings?
I have one sister. She graduated from Notre Dame with a 3.95 gpa, Summa Cum Laude. She’s at UVA right now. She’s kind of got the brains in the family.
17. What is your favorite class or professor so far at Notre Dame, and why?
I’d have to say Carl Ackerman because he’s just the man. He’s a hilarious teacher, but also a great teacher and very patient and works with you very well.
18. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would you eat?
Fried Chicken.
19. Who was your role model as a child? Why? Has your role model changed now that you are older?
I always wanted to be like my dad. But also, I was growing up in the days when Michael Jordan was playing basketball, so I’d have to say Michael Jordan, too. I’m not so much worried about becoming an NBA basketball player anymore, but I still aspire to be as good of a person as my dad, so that has stayed the same.
20. How has being a student and athlete at Notre Dame influenced your life?
It’s taught me that things don’t come easy. You have to work hard to get everything. Trying to do diving while I’m trying to study is demanding, so I’m not used to not having to work for anything. It’s given me a better work ethic.