Ryan McAllister: Fifth year's a charm

Daily Egyptian: What got you started in football?

Ryan McAllister: I was always just watching it with my dad. Just hanging around with him. It's his favorite sport. I guess he got me into it.

DE: After being hurt last year, what was it like having to sit the rest of the season?

RM: It's bad. I played three games. I was just getting into the conference. I had to watch the team from the sidelines. It's no fun for sure. Especially when they struggled. I thought I could have helped a lot. It's hard watching from the sideline. No one likes to do that.

DE: After getting permission to play for a fifth year, was it an easy decision to play here again?

RM: It was a no-brainer. It was the best thing. It gave me another year for school. I'll graduate in December. I had another year to work out with the team and come back and be part of this. It was a no-brainer.

DE: How much did you talk to Tom Koutsos and Muhammad Abdulqaadir about their injuries since something similar happened to you last year?

RM: Not a whole lot. Playing with Tommy over the last few years, I know it's just killing him. The same thing with Muhammad. Just knowing him this year, no one wants to talk about it. It sucks.

DE: Have you seen a big turnaround in the team over the years that you have been here?

RM: Definitely. A lot of positive things have happened in the last couple of years with getting a lot of new facilities and uniforms. The coaches are great. I think anyone who knows anything about them, that has paid attention the last couple years, they can tell stuff is on the right track. They are doing the right things.

DE: With the team heading in the right direction, what is it like knowing the team could be pretty good in the next few years and you won't be a part of it?

RM: They've got some really good, young players. I've had my time. I wish them the best. Coach Kill will get them on the right track. It will be fun to watch them.

DE: How do the coaching styles of current coach Kill and your old coach Quarless compare?

RM: They don't compare. They really don't. Coach Kill is really set. We've got the clock out here that tells us how many periods we're going. We know exactly what we're doing. We do it, we get it over with and it's done. Coach Quarless was more physical with us. We were always hitting. We didn't know when practice was going to get over. It would just carry on and carry on. We really overdid it a lot of times. It caused a lot of injuries back in '98 and '99. There was a lot of guys who got hurt.

DE: How do you feel about Saturday being your last game?

RM: It's the last game for now. We'll see what goes on. Hopefully, I'll go out on a good note. That's all I can ask for. Just play the best I can just one last time. See what happens after that.

DE: Are you a big Iowa football fan?

RM: Yeah, I like Iowa. The boys are doing good, too. I don't know as many of them as I used to. There are a lot of them that have graduated. There are still a few guys that are starting that I know. They have to be having a great time with this.

DE: Let's get away from football. How does Carbondale compare to your hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa?

RM: It's actually a lot like it. It's about the same population without the students. We've got about 22,000 in my town. It's similar size-wise. It's a lot alike.

DE: Other than friends' houses, where do you like to hang out in Carbondale?

RM: Mugsy's.

DE: Do you have a sports idol?

RM: I really don't. I looked up to a lot of guys who played football. The 49ers were my favorite football team. I grew up watching [Joe] Montana and Ronnie Lott and guys like that.

DE: Now for some short-answer questions. What is your favorite TV show?

RM: "Dukes of Hazzard."

DE: Favorite movie?

RM: "Any Which Way But Loose." Clint Eastwood. That's my boy.

DE: What was the last DVD you bought?

RM: I just bought the box set of Eastwood's "Man With No Name."

DE: Last CD you bought?

RM: Classic Country.

DE: Greatest band ever?

RM: Charlie Daniels Band.

DE: Favorite book?

RM: The Cat in the Hat.

Reporter Christopher Morrical can be reached at cmorrical@dailyegyptian.com