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Questions and Answers with Colts running back Vick Ballard.
Question: What do you love about the game that has kept you playing?
Answer: "Just the brotherhood and being around the team, you know, most of the time we go off to play football and you're away from your family. So being around your team is like having another family away from home."
*Q: What was your best sport growing up? Was it football or was it any other sport? *
A: "I was pretty consistent with football. I never ventured off to other sports besides track, and I was just average at track, yeah, so I would say football."
*Q: What do you remember about your first team? *
A: "My first team, I was six years old playing pee-wee football. I just remembered that we lost every single game. I wanted to quit but my dad didn't let me. It's good that I didn't because it worked out."
Q: If you had to pick another position other than running back, what would it be? Why?
A: "Maybe safety or linebacker. I don't know. I played a little safety in high school and linebacker, too, and I kind of liked it, but they said they wanted me on the offensive side of the ball more. So, I stayed at the offensive side."
*Q: Did you have a favorite player or a favorite team growing up? *
A: "I had a couple favorite players, but one of my all-time favorite players I had to say was Clinton Portis who played for Washington. That was my dude. He recently stopped playing a year or two ago but I still try to keep up with him in whatever he is doing."
Q: What was your best football memory?
A: "My senior year of high school we were playing our rivals and we had never beaten them before. It was fourth-and-23 on our 30-yard line and I ran like a fade route or something and I caught the ball and ran in for the winning touchdown. It was our first time beating our rivals and on a play like that, fourth-and-23 in the fourth quarter of the game. It was pretty big for me."
Q: Who's the person most responsible for you being in the NFL?
A: "I don't think it was one single person. I think it's a collection of people, you know, everybody with me I benefited from to get to this level. So, I'm going to say it's not just one person."
Q: Do you have a pre-game ritual?
A: "No. It's just strap it up. No pre-game ritual."
Q: What about life after football? Do you have any post-career plans?
A: "I got a couple things that I think I might want to do, but nothing is set in stone yet to what I want to do after football. I'm just exploring my options."
Q: What was your first job?
A: "My first job was at a car wash. It was cool during the summer time because the heat won't bother you but during the winter time, it was cold and you got water on you. My hands would be frozen, and it was pretty rough."
*Q: What is your favorite quote that has inspired you in football or life? *
A: "I have one. I guess for football and life, just no excuses. I mean it might not be your fault, but don't use it as an excuse. Find a way to make whatever is going wrong right."
