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Friday, Oct. 02, 2009

James Burns: Playmaker -- Former Golden Valley star Randle making a name in Utah

It's been three years since The Burn List last interrogated Chris Randle.

It was 2006, and fall was giving way to winter.

The interview took place in the end zone at Lincoln High in Stockton, and there were tears streaming down Randle's cheeks.

Time ran out on the former Golden Valley star's prep career that night. He felt like his world was falling apart, and here I was sticking a recorder in his face.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this," Randle said that night, feeling every ounce of pain pinned to a 42-14 playoff loss. "This is was what it was all about. It's sad it had to end like this."

From one big game to the next, The Burn List caught up with Randle, now a junior defensive back at Utah State.

The Aggies take on No. 20 BYU tonight at 6 p.m. in a rivalry game as salty as the state itself.

The Burn's wish for Randle: Only tears of joy this time around.

TBL: Do these in-state rivalry games stir up ol' Mayor's Cup memories? Any similarities there, in terms of emotion and buildup?

CR: During the summer, and throughout the season, we have old alumni visit. They talk about the tradition here, but the main thing they bring up are the games with BYU and Utah; how they remember going out there and fighting, and what it felt like to win those games.

It's fun to play a rivalry game. It's similar to the Mayor's Cup, extremely similar, especially in feeling. You just want to win so bad. It's the in-state battle and (BYU) is such a good team. You just want to win these games. In college, it's so hard to win football games, especially rivalry games. But if you do, man, that's the icing on the cake.

TBL: So what's the latest on Chris Randle? Statistically, you've found ways to impact the game. One interception. Sixteen tackles. Solid numbers.

CR: This year I'm getting more opportunities to perform as a starter, so I'm trying to live up to that.

I've been getting more snaps, which means more opportunities to make plays. But I haven't proven anything yet. I have an interception and a couple of pass-breakups, but it's only been a few games.

Quarterbacks are going to test me. They're not gonna say, "Oh, we can't throw at this guy." I need to be focused on every play, because you never know when the big play might come.

TBL: Tell the truth, as much as you love playing defense, do you ever miss being a quarterback, running around with your hair on fire?

CR: Of course, I miss (offense). I played quarterback throughout high school, but I've grown into a defensive back. I got to stay focused on one task at this level. I'm giving all my attention and time and will to being the best DB I can possibly be.

I miss playing QB, but realistically, I got to focus on being a DB.

(Short pause)

But I'll give (Aggie quarterback Diondre Borel) some tips every once in a while.

That's one of my best friends on the team. We talk and I'll be like, "You know I can be a better quarterback than you, right?" He's good. He can throw the ball. I always joke around with him, but he's a pretty good QB.

TBL: Sometimes a hometown can be like a tractor beam. It sucks you back in. Have you had to battle homesickness or thoughts of coming home?

CR: Homesickness, yeah. I miss my friends, my family and my mom.

But as far as wanting to go back home, I jumped straight into the game as soon as I got here. I was playing and performing and doing everything I wanted. It wasn't like I wasn't producing, so I've never really thought about coming home.

I've always been the kind of person to finish what I've started or what I'm doing. There's no point in losing sight of the opportunities out here.

TBL: Pretend I'm a recruit, say, from Golden Valley or Merced -- a kid that's never been outside of California. You've got once chance to convince me to come to Logan, what do you say?

CR: First off, you got a terrific coaching staff, willing to do anything and everything for you. We've got people from all over the country, people determined to change this program. You can be a part of the class that sets it off.

And then you've got the weather. We got sun. We got snow. We got all four seasons. It's a great feel.

To be honest, I had no idea about Utah before it came to recruiting. I saw the opportunity and said "Why not capitalize on it?"

It's not about "Oh, man, it's Utah." You take your opportunities and make the most out of them.

James Burns is sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.