Oct. 22, 2004
#4 Ryan Grant
Senior, 6-1, 218
Running Back
Nyack, NY/Don Bosco Prep
Senior Ryan Grant is in his fourth season at Notre Dame and has been the team’s starting running back in 21 of the team’s 31 games he’s played in. A three-time monogram winner, Grant went into last week’s game with Navy, needing just 152 yards rushing to become the 13th player in Notre Dame history to rush for over 2,000 yards. As a sophomore in 2002, he ran for 1,085 yards. Grant came to Notre Dame after being named the New Jersey player of the year in 2000 by USA Today. GameDay Magazine’s Bridget Viehmeyer gives Irish fans a chance to get to know Ryan Grant.
Veihmeyer: Tell me about your major and why you’re interested in it.
Grant: I’m a sociology major because I like working with people. I’ve always been involved in things going on in my community and interested in social concerns. I’m also a computer applications major because I like computers.
Veihmeyer: What has been your toughest class and why?
Grant: My toughest class has been statistics; it was a lot of work and is not very interesting.
Veihmeyer: What has been your favorite class and why?
Grant: My favorite class has been CORE, because you have to read a lot of books and I like books.
Veihmeyer: What made you pick Notre Dame over the other schools you were interested in?
Grant: I picked Notre Dame because it had the best combination of athletics and academics, which is what I was interested in. I also looked at Michigan, Florida State, Ohio State and Georgia Tech.
Veihmeyer: To date, what has been the highlight of your Notre Dame career?
Grant: The highlight for me was going 8-0 during my sophomore season.
Veihmeyer: Who were your sports idols as a kid?
Grant: My idols as a kid were Charles Barkley, Eric Dickerson and all the Michigan basketball players.
Veihmeyer: Who has been your biggest non-sports role model and why?
Grant: My parents have always been my role models. My mom because she’s a leader and my dad because he taught me my work ethic.
Veihmeyer: What is one thing in your life you can’t live without?
Grant: For me, the one thing that I can’t live without is my family.
Veihmeyer: Do you have any pre-game rituals that you follow?
Grant: Before the game, I sit with a towel over my head and try to zone out.
Veihmeyer: What is the best advice that you’ve ever been given and who gave it to you?
Grant: My mother told me to always stay positive and never let the negatives overtake anything you do.
Veihmeyer: How have you grown as a person since coming to Notre Dame?
Grant: I’ve matured a lot and become more experienced in a lot of different ways.
Veihmeyer: What is one thing about you that might surprise people?
Grant: One thing about me that might surprise people is the fact that I like to read.
Veihmeyer: What is your most embarrassing moment in sports?
Grant: My most embarrassing moment would be when I was 11. I scored in the wrong basket during a basketball game.
Veihmeyer: If you were stranded on an island and could only eat one meal, listen to one song, and have one person with you; what would you eat, what would you listen to, and who would you pick?
Grant: I would eat chicken or macaroni and cheese, I would listen to something by Jimi Hendrix, and I would have my brother with me.
Veihmeyer: What are your favorite movies?
Grant: The Usual Suspects, Reservoir Dogs and The Last Dragon.
Veihmeyer: What are the toughest places you’ve played as a college football player?
Grant: The toughest places that I’ve played have been at Michigan and at Florida State.
Veihmeyer: What CDs do you have in your collection that would surprise people?
Grant: Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin.
Veihmeyer: Who are the best athletes you’ve ever competed against?
Grant: The best athletes that I’ve faced are Charles Rogers and Larry Fitzgerald.
Veihmeyer: When your football career is over, what do you see yourself doing?
Grant: I want to be a daddy and play with my children.
Veihmeyer: What is your favorite thing about playing for Notre Dame?
Grant: My favorite thing about playing at Notre Dame is going out everyday and competing with my teammates.