Before his first career Super Bowl appearance, all-world Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly tackled some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: How scary was your concussion that kept you sidelined for three games this season?
A: I don’t know if it was scary, it was more I was ready to be back but it just wasn’t quite the right time for it. Fortunately here with us, we had our training staff and they took great care of me, and Coach [Ron] Rivera said, “Whenever you’re ready to come back, come on back,” and we took the necessary time and everything went well. They always said as long as you let it get better, you’re no more prone to get one, and that approach has worked so far, and I’m very fortunate to have a good group of people around me that didn’t push me, and said when it’s your time it’s your time, and it worked our for us.
Q: Have you or will you see the “Concussion” movie?
A: No, I haven’t seen it. I don’t know if I’ll see it. I haven’t had a chance to see it, and it’s nothing that’s on my to-do list right now.
Q: How do you feel about being called Captain America?
A: Oh man, Cam [Newton] has been throwing that around. Cam’s got a good personality, and you know what, it’s better than some other nicknames I’ve previously had, so I’ll take that one.
Q: What were some of the previous ones?
A: Oh man, I don’t know if those are appropriate.
Q: Describe your on-field mentality.
A: I just think for me it’s really go out there and be focused and calculated, and at the same time you gotta be aggressive. It’s a fine line between being aggressive, at the same time understanding what you’re doing, what they’re doing, and playing in a manner that allows you to be … I’m trying to think of a good word. … You got to be smart and at the same time incorporating what you learn during the week and what you studied, and put it all together at once.
Q: Describe the transformation from mild-mannered Luke Kuechly to what we see on the football field.
A: You get competitive. You want to win. You put so much work in during the offseason and training camp and during the week, then you get out there, you want to win. Guys are competitive on the field. I’ve been competitive my whole life. You can be as nice as you want off the field, but when you’re on the field, you’re going to do everything you can to win.
Q: What drives you?
A: I just want to win. I’m not concerned so much about anything individual, I just want the team to win. I want the team to do well. This year’s been a lot of fun because it’s been that way. Regardless of what your individual numbers look like, I want to go out there and win for the team.
Q: Why is winning so important to you?
A: I think that’s why you play the game is to win. You want to win multiple games during the season, you want up be at this point in the season. For me, you play the game to win, and it’s only as simple as that.
Q: What does it take to be a tackling machine?
A: I think you just got to have consistent effort, and you got to study your opponent and know what they’re trying to do. And I think with tackling, the biggest thing is that you got to give effort. You never know when you’re gonna find yourself around the ball, and if you give effort, you’re going to find yourself around the ball more than you won’t.
Q: Did you have a Super Bowl dream as a boy?
A: I don’t know if I had a Super Bowl dream, but every year we either had a Super Bowl party or watched it at home or ask people over to the house to watch it, and in the back of your head, you always wish that one day I can play in the game. It’s kind of cool now because we’re actually in it.
Q: Have you envisioned hoisting the Lombardi Trophy?
A: It kind of goes along with the last question a little bit. You always think about it. You always see the guys on the stage with the confetti falling down and the smiles and the hats and the shirts. You see the coaches and the players hold the trophy. So I guess you do. … You think about it quite a bit when you’re a little kid.
Q: Sum up coach Ron Rivera.
A: I think he’s passionate. I think he loves the game. … He enjoys being around the guys. I think he encompasses the [term] players’ coach. He takes cares of the guys, at the same time when it’s time to go he really makes it work.
Q: Cam Newton.
A: Charismatic.
Q: Is he misunderstood by outsiders?
A: I guess it depends on what you say about what misunderstood means. I mean, we all love Cam, and I don’t think some people feel the same way, and I don’t know why that is. But I think everyone should appreciate him for his effort and intensity and competitiveness and willingness to have fun. … I think people don’t like the fact that he has sometimes too much fun.
Q: Thomas Davis.
A: Resilient.
Q: What’s it like playing behind Kawann Short?
A: Those guys, him and Star [Lotulelei] and Dwan [Edwards] and Kyle [Love] — those guys make a linebacker’s job a lot easier if you ask me, you ask Thomas. As well as those guys are playing, especially Kawann, it just makes our job so much easier. His rush, his effort, his willingness to play the run as well as he does makes everything so much easier for us.
Q: Your thoughts on Peyton Manning being the sentimental favorite?
A: I think he deserves it. Everything that he’s done in his career dating back to Indy and now in Denver, he’s Peyton Manning. When that name gets brought up, there’s not a whole lot else to be said other than … Peyton Manning. I don’t have to describe him because he is what he is. He’s one of the best to ever do it, and it’s gonna be really fun playing against him.
Q: What are the keys to this game?
A: We got to stop the run. Obviously, they’re a dangerous team, and if you can cut one aspect of the game out of the game out of them, it just makes them maybe a little easier to defend.
Q: Who was your boyhood idol?
A: Ray Lewis and Derrick Brooks and Brian Urlacher, those guys were the guys that I watched quite a bit when I was younger.
Q: Who are linebackers you like watching now?
A: NaVorro Bowman from the 49ers, I think he’s a stud, I’m glad he’s back. I think Sean Lee’s a guy that’s fun to watch with his effort, intelligence. Bobby Wagner’s fun to watch out in Seattle.
Q: Who are athletes in other sports you admire?
A: Everybody grew up and liked Michael Jordan. That was pretty straightforward. You loved those guys because they were the best at what they did, they were ultra-competitive, they hated losing, and they did everything they could to win.
Q: Your favorite Boston College memory?
A: I think my sophomore year [2010], we were in a bad spot and we kind of turned the season around and we ended on a hot streak and ended up going to a bowl game. That was one thing that stuck out to me, but a lot of it was just hanging with my buddies on the team. I had a lot of good friends up there. I miss it up there, but it was a good experience, and I’m glad I was able to be a part of it.
Q: How heartened were you by Mark Herzlich’s comeback?
A: Oh, it was great. When I was in high school getting recruited, everybody knew who Mark Herzlich was. And when he went down with the [cancer] diagnosis, I didn’t quite know what to think, and I got there and I wondered what he was going to be like. … He couldn’t have been nicer. He couldn’t have been more helpful. He couldn’t have been better for a young guy like me to have around, because obviously he was a great player, but he was willing to teach. He was willing to help out. He was willing to show you how it’s done. For me, I think I was in a very fortunate position to have him, and another guy named Mike Morrissey that were the guys in that room that really helped me out.
Q: What was it like playing with Jon Beason at Carolina?
A: He was very helpful. He helped me out quite a bit. He’s a lot like Mark. A guy that when I came in, he said. “Hey, I’m Jon Beason. I’m going to do everything I can to help you out.” And he did that and more.
Q: What’s it like being one of Charlotte’s most eligible bachelors?
A: Oh man. It’s all right. I don’t think about that stuff too much.
Q: Do you cook for yourself?
A: I try to.
Q: Who are you more like your mother or father?
A: Oh man. I think a combination of both. I think when I play football I’m more like my dad, and when I’m off the field I’m more like my mom.
Q: Best piece of advice your parents ever gave you?
A: Be nice and respect people.
Q: You went back to B.C. to get your business marketing degree.
A: That was a demand from my mom. She said, “If you leave early, you’re going back and getting your degree,” and there’s not a whole lot of arguing back and forth. When she said that, my dad just kind of smiled and nodded, because he knows that she makes the rules and you better do what she says.
Q: Superstitions?
A: No. I have routines that I like to follow throughout the week and during gameday.
Q: Hobbies?
A: I like being outside. I like fishing.
Q: What do you like best about this Carolina team?
A: I think they do a good job of really embracing every person on our team. It sounds cliché, but I think we got a very family-oriented atmosphere in our locker room, and guys treat it that way. I think that’s been one of the keys to our success this year.
Q: What do you hope Panthers fans say about Luke Kuechly?
A: That he played hard every Sunday, and he gave it his all, and that he was respectful around the community.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Michael Jordan, George Washington, Denzel [Washington].
Q: What would you ask George Washington?
A: I’d ask him about what was going through his mind when he got elected.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Remember the Titans.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel.
Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?
A: Dave Matthews.
Q: Favorite meal other than Skyline chili?
A: Well, that’s definitely up there. My dad makes a quesadilla dish and my mom makes flank steak that’s really good.