Great Interview with HOF Bruce Irvin
9 months 1 week ago - 9 months 1 week ago #379
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Great Interview with HOF Bruce Irvin was created by wvu4u2
Irvin Goes From A Humble Start to the Hall of Fame
By John Antonik
July 31, 2023 04:59 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Bruce Irvin will forever have a soft spot in his heart for West Virginia University.
Irvin, who recently wrapped up his 11th NFL season with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, is one of six outstanding contributors to Mountaineer athletics making up the 33rd WVU Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023 announced by director of athletics Wren Baker. The group will be officially inducted on Saturday, Sept. 23, prior to the Texas Tech football game.
Irvin only spent a year and a half at WVU, but he considers it among the most impactful periods in his life.
"It was definitely life changing for me coming to West Virginia," he said earlier today from his home in Acworth, Georgia. "Coming out of junior college, I had 28 offers, and when I took my visit to West Virginia, it felt like home immediately. When I decided to go there, it was no second-guessing or anything like that. I was 100% committed and ready to get to work."
Irvin's background was unusual for a Hall of Fame-caliber performer.
He didn't play high school football while growing up in Atlanta and went on the Internet searching for junior colleges looking for a place to play. Eventually, he settled on Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California, which is about as far away from Stone Mountain, Georgia, as he could get.
"I basically just Googled junior colleges and showed up," he recalled. "I had no film or anything, and I tried out, made the team, and it took off from there."
Irvin might have been discovered at Mt. San Antonio College, but it was at WVU where he developed into a player good enough to be drafted in the first round by the Seattle Seahawks in 2012.
He admits his life story is definitely movie worthy.
"I came from literally nothing. I got my GED, and I wanted to get as far away from Georgia as possible so I could focus and went out there and did my thing and survived for two years. It was a struggle for me out there," Irvin explained. "I lived in a two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment with 10 Polynesians, and we were all sharing food to survive.
"Then, I came to West Virginia and did my thing there," he added.
He sure did.
Irvin produced 22½ sacks in just two full seasons at WVU in 2010 and 2011, good for fourth all-time in school history. His 14 sacks in 2011 are third-most in school history, and had he played four full seasons, Irvin believes he could have had 50 sacks for his career.
Irvin, playing in defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel's unique 3-3-5 stack scheme, said he got most of his sacks playing in the nickel defense on third down. In those situations, the defensive call was basically "Go get 'em, Bruce!"
Irvin thought the stack really helped him with his run fits when he got into the pros.
"In the 3-3-5 stack, the end is head up on the tackles, so it definitely helped me with that," he said, "but I got all of my sacks in the nickel when I was in the four-down."
Irvin lists one of his fondest memories as beating 14th-ranked Clemson 70-33 in the 2012 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The 37-point bowl victory is still the biggest in school history.
Irvin recalls once telling his 10-year-old son, Brayden, about playing in that game.
"He didn't even know that we beat Clemson, and they had Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins and all those guys," Irvin said proudly. "I told him, 'The whole entire (ESPN prediction map) was orange except for one state, West Virginia, and we took it personal. We went out there and handled our business.' That's a night I will never forget. That's West Virginia all the way; no matter what everyone else feels or thinks, we can always ride with each other and find a way to get it done."
Irvin said he was immediately drawn to the people of West Virginia and has always identified with their hard-working persona. During his years playing professionally in Seattle, Oakland, Atlanta, Carolina and Chicago, he would frequently correct people's misconceptions of the state and its people.
"I have always felt a connection to West Virginians," he explained. "Many people there have gone through their struggles, just like I did, and they always find a way to make ends meet and find some type of happiness out of their situation. That's been my whole life. I am always going to make it work, no matter the situation."
Irvin's 11-year career in professional football includes two Super Bowl appearances and a world championship in 2014 when Seattle routed Denver 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. He shows 340 tackles, 55½ sacks, 16 forced fumbles, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns in 138 career games.
Irvin admits he's satisfied with what he's accomplished in the NFL, but he is not sure he's entirely gotten the credit that he deserves. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder was sort of pigeon-holed as a pass-rushing specialist when he believes his game evolved into much more than that over the course of his career.
"A lot of guys can say that, but I feel like I've had a good career. I'm blessed, don't get me wrong," he said. "We won a Super Bowl, and I'm financially stable with a nice pension, that's the biggest thing."
Irvin once compared his stats to a player with similar career numbers and that player made $46 million more than he has over the course of their careers.
"Stuff like that is crazy, but it is what it is," he sighed. "If I worried about someone else's situation, I would never be happy. Nevertheless, I'm still extremely blessed, and I have no complaints at all. I'm living the American Dream."
The "American Dream" for Irvin these days includes raising three boys, ages 10, three and two, with his wife, Jonnie. He admits his daddy naps mean always having one-eye open to keep track of the two littlest ones, but he hasn't completely closed the book on professional football.
Irvin, 35, said he is keeping himself in shape and waiting for teams to call when they need an experienced defensive end after training camp.
"I'm playing," he predicted. "I'm past the training camp and preseason stuff, so I will sit back and wait. Somebody will call, that's for sure, so as long as I'm ready, I will be good to go.
"I can sit back and see what situations are good, but more importantly, I can sit back at home and take my kids to school and help out my wife," he added. "While those guys are out there sweating and beating on each other in 95-degree weather, I'm about to get me another ribeye steak made by my wife."
Irvin said he has already reserved hotel rooms for the weekend of the induction ceremony and is planning to be in Morgantown for the event if he's not signed by a team.
"Hopefully, I can hold off and am not playing before that, but I can't control that," he said. "It will work out how it's supposed to and hopefully I can be there."
Irvin knows he is always welcomed in West Virginia no matter the occasion and will forever consider it his home away from home.
"God forbid, but if I were ever to get down in life, I know I could always come back there and get on my feet and do whatever, that's just how special of a place it is there," he said. "It's just hard to put into words what that place means to me. The people there are just so genuine.
"Whenever I'm there, I will never say no to a picture or an autograph. I am always, 'yes, yes, yes' there and will show as much love as I can, because I know that's how they feel about me as well," he concluded.
see more at: WVU Sports . com
By John Antonik
July 31, 2023 04:59 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Bruce Irvin will forever have a soft spot in his heart for West Virginia University.
Irvin, who recently wrapped up his 11th NFL season with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, is one of six outstanding contributors to Mountaineer athletics making up the 33rd WVU Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023 announced by director of athletics Wren Baker. The group will be officially inducted on Saturday, Sept. 23, prior to the Texas Tech football game.
Irvin only spent a year and a half at WVU, but he considers it among the most impactful periods in his life.
"It was definitely life changing for me coming to West Virginia," he said earlier today from his home in Acworth, Georgia. "Coming out of junior college, I had 28 offers, and when I took my visit to West Virginia, it felt like home immediately. When I decided to go there, it was no second-guessing or anything like that. I was 100% committed and ready to get to work."
Irvin's background was unusual for a Hall of Fame-caliber performer.
He didn't play high school football while growing up in Atlanta and went on the Internet searching for junior colleges looking for a place to play. Eventually, he settled on Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California, which is about as far away from Stone Mountain, Georgia, as he could get.
"I basically just Googled junior colleges and showed up," he recalled. "I had no film or anything, and I tried out, made the team, and it took off from there."
Irvin might have been discovered at Mt. San Antonio College, but it was at WVU where he developed into a player good enough to be drafted in the first round by the Seattle Seahawks in 2012.
He admits his life story is definitely movie worthy.
"I came from literally nothing. I got my GED, and I wanted to get as far away from Georgia as possible so I could focus and went out there and did my thing and survived for two years. It was a struggle for me out there," Irvin explained. "I lived in a two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment with 10 Polynesians, and we were all sharing food to survive.
"Then, I came to West Virginia and did my thing there," he added.
He sure did.
Irvin produced 22½ sacks in just two full seasons at WVU in 2010 and 2011, good for fourth all-time in school history. His 14 sacks in 2011 are third-most in school history, and had he played four full seasons, Irvin believes he could have had 50 sacks for his career.
Irvin, playing in defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel's unique 3-3-5 stack scheme, said he got most of his sacks playing in the nickel defense on third down. In those situations, the defensive call was basically "Go get 'em, Bruce!"
Irvin thought the stack really helped him with his run fits when he got into the pros.
"In the 3-3-5 stack, the end is head up on the tackles, so it definitely helped me with that," he said, "but I got all of my sacks in the nickel when I was in the four-down."
Irvin lists one of his fondest memories as beating 14th-ranked Clemson 70-33 in the 2012 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The 37-point bowl victory is still the biggest in school history.
Irvin recalls once telling his 10-year-old son, Brayden, about playing in that game.
"He didn't even know that we beat Clemson, and they had Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins and all those guys," Irvin said proudly. "I told him, 'The whole entire (ESPN prediction map) was orange except for one state, West Virginia, and we took it personal. We went out there and handled our business.' That's a night I will never forget. That's West Virginia all the way; no matter what everyone else feels or thinks, we can always ride with each other and find a way to get it done."
Irvin said he was immediately drawn to the people of West Virginia and has always identified with their hard-working persona. During his years playing professionally in Seattle, Oakland, Atlanta, Carolina and Chicago, he would frequently correct people's misconceptions of the state and its people.
"I have always felt a connection to West Virginians," he explained. "Many people there have gone through their struggles, just like I did, and they always find a way to make ends meet and find some type of happiness out of their situation. That's been my whole life. I am always going to make it work, no matter the situation."
Irvin's 11-year career in professional football includes two Super Bowl appearances and a world championship in 2014 when Seattle routed Denver 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. He shows 340 tackles, 55½ sacks, 16 forced fumbles, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns in 138 career games.
Irvin admits he's satisfied with what he's accomplished in the NFL, but he is not sure he's entirely gotten the credit that he deserves. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder was sort of pigeon-holed as a pass-rushing specialist when he believes his game evolved into much more than that over the course of his career.
"A lot of guys can say that, but I feel like I've had a good career. I'm blessed, don't get me wrong," he said. "We won a Super Bowl, and I'm financially stable with a nice pension, that's the biggest thing."
Irvin once compared his stats to a player with similar career numbers and that player made $46 million more than he has over the course of their careers.
"Stuff like that is crazy, but it is what it is," he sighed. "If I worried about someone else's situation, I would never be happy. Nevertheless, I'm still extremely blessed, and I have no complaints at all. I'm living the American Dream."
The "American Dream" for Irvin these days includes raising three boys, ages 10, three and two, with his wife, Jonnie. He admits his daddy naps mean always having one-eye open to keep track of the two littlest ones, but he hasn't completely closed the book on professional football.
Irvin, 35, said he is keeping himself in shape and waiting for teams to call when they need an experienced defensive end after training camp.
"I'm playing," he predicted. "I'm past the training camp and preseason stuff, so I will sit back and wait. Somebody will call, that's for sure, so as long as I'm ready, I will be good to go.
"I can sit back and see what situations are good, but more importantly, I can sit back at home and take my kids to school and help out my wife," he added. "While those guys are out there sweating and beating on each other in 95-degree weather, I'm about to get me another ribeye steak made by my wife."
Irvin said he has already reserved hotel rooms for the weekend of the induction ceremony and is planning to be in Morgantown for the event if he's not signed by a team.
"Hopefully, I can hold off and am not playing before that, but I can't control that," he said. "It will work out how it's supposed to and hopefully I can be there."
Irvin knows he is always welcomed in West Virginia no matter the occasion and will forever consider it his home away from home.
"God forbid, but if I were ever to get down in life, I know I could always come back there and get on my feet and do whatever, that's just how special of a place it is there," he said. "It's just hard to put into words what that place means to me. The people there are just so genuine.
"Whenever I'm there, I will never say no to a picture or an autograph. I am always, 'yes, yes, yes' there and will show as much love as I can, because I know that's how they feel about me as well," he concluded.
see more at: WVU Sports . com
Last edit: 9 months 1 week ago by wvu4u2.
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9 months 1 week ago #383
by queenszep
Replied by queenszep on topic Great Interview with HOF Bruce Irvin
Bruce's story is incredible. Glad he got a Super Bowl and had a solid, steady career. I wonder if he will go into coaching when he retires.
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