By Rick Figurin
pigskinpress.com

Football can be a funny game; one minute your one of the best high school running backs in the state of Michigan, and just three years later you’re looking at a possible NFL future on the other side of the ball. This is the story of Ameer Ismail, a defensive standout at Western Michigan University who found his niche and talent in the place he least suspected. Pigskinpress.com had a chance to chat with the All-MAC senior linebacker about the position change, his hopes for an NFL future, and life as a Muslim football player in a post 9/11 world.

Pigskinpress.com: “Let me get this straight. You get switched from RB to Linebacker, and in one year you rack up 93 tackles and 8 sacks? How tough of a transition was that for you?”

Ameer Ismail: “I played a little bit of linebacker in high school. At running back, I went through some injuries, I tore my ACL and when I came back it was an easier transition on my knees to be a hitter instead of the hitee. It seemed like a good fit to move, and so far it’s worked out.”

PP: “Nobody expected Western Michigan to have the good season they had last year (7-4). How do you think the attitude about Bronco football on campus has changed in two years?”

Ismail: “It changed when we got a new coach (Bill Cubit). We knew we had good guys, we just needed discipline. We had a lot of talent, we just needed to bring it all together. On campus, and around town, people are much more excited than they were just a few years ago.”

PP: “You racked up 20 tackles for a loss last season, which is impressive considering that Western was known primarily for their great offense. How will the defense and offense compare to each other in 2006?”

Ismail: “We’re hoping the defense will continue to get better. Last year it was a brand new “D”. We were running a 4-2-5, but now (starting in 2005) we are in a 4-3. It’s a great defense, but it was our first year running it. Now I think we will step it up a notch. We have 9 of our 11 starters returning, so we should be able to improve. We have a great group of offensive players too.”

PP: “With the name Ameer Ismail, it’s probably well known by some that you are Muslim. Have you experienced any interesting comments about that on or off the field?”

Ismail: “Not so much. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a good-hearted person. There is good and bad in every religion, and what happens overseas with some crazy terrorists is not a reflection of all Muslims or myself. There are a few jokes here and there, but I can handle it. For the most part with my friends or teammates, their jokes are all in good fun.”

PP: “What are the biggest differences in coaching philosophy between Bill Cubit and former coach Gary Darnell?”

Ismail: “Darnell is a good guy. He knows a lot, he just ran a different defense and offensive style. He was more laid back. Coach Cubit is more intense. He’s more disciplined and more structured. He tends to be more involved and more hands on.”

PP: “Now be honest seeing two of your former teammates (Tony Scheffler, Greg Jennings) drafted into the NFL has to make you feel pretty good that scouts are watching your team, right?”

Ismail: “It’s great for the MAC and our team. It excites me more, and gives me more motivation. I want to be like them, so I’ll keep working hard and we’ll see what happens.”

PP: “Speaking of the MAC, who’s the toughest guy to play against?”

Ismail: “It would have to be Garrett Wolfe (RB, Northern Illinois). He’s definitely the hardest to get a hold of, but once you get a hold of him he goes down.”

PP: “You guys open up with Indiana to start the season. What do you think, another patented MAC upset?

Ismail: “We are working hard every single day. We know Indiana is a good team, but we are hoping we can come away with a victory.”