Draft Day Memories: G Deuce Lutui
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]With the 2007 NFL Draft just around the corner, azcardinals.com has sat down with some current members of the Arizona Cardinals roster to hear some of their memories from the day they were drafted by the Big Red. In this installment of Draft Day Memories we catch up with guard Deuce Lutui…[/FONT]
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After two stops at community and junior colleges, Deuce Lutui landed at USC where he excelled as a versatile offensive lineman. In his junior season he started all 13 games at right tackle before making the switch to left guard gis senior season where he started every game and protected quarterback Matt Leinart. [/FONT]
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Lutui closed out his career at USC a consensus All-American and was also named USC’s Offensive Lineman of the Year. [/FONT]
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Growing up as child in Mesa, Lutui’s childhood dream was to one day suit up for the Big Red. Well, that childhood dream became a reality last year when the Cardinals selected him in the 2nd Round as the 41st overall pick. [/FONT]
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In his first season Lutui saw action in 15 games and received eight starts. He was also part of an offensive line that helped Edgerrin James rush for over 1100 yards. [/FONT]
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Now Deuce takes a look back to almost a year ago when the Cardinals drafted him… [/FONT]
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On the morning of the Draft what was going through your mind? [/FONT]
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“Whether I was going to be hot or cold. I wasn’t nervous I was just wondering about what the weather was like in the city where I’d end up.” [/FONT]
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Where did you have your draft party? [/FONT]
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“I was in Mesa with the whole family. We are a bunch of local guys so when I got the call it was a big, big party.” [/FONT]
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First you see your college teammate and good friend Matt Leinart get drafted by the Cardinals, and then the next round you get drafted by the Cardinals, how could you sleep at night? [/FONT]
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“It was hard to catch up with sleep. I remember lying in my bed that night and I just couldn’t go to sleep. I felt so lucky, it was a blessing to be home and get drafted here.” [/FONT]
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Did you actually have a chance to hear the commissioner call your name? [/FONT]
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“In fact I missed that whole thing; I just saw the slot with my name in it. I don’t think the commissioner could pronounce my name anyway.” [/FONT]
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Prior to the draft did you honestly think about what it would be like to return to Arizona? [/FONT]
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“The night before the draft my wife and I got in an argument (about where I was going to play). I told her wherever we go in the draft; I still want to make Arizona our home. She said that she wanted to live in Utah because it is too hot here. She kept telling me that we needed to move to Utah. I asked her what if we get drafted here? Long and behold we got drafted here. I kind of rubbed it in her face afterwards.” [/FONT]
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Did you have any idea that the Cardinals were interested in you? [/FONT]
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“Not at all I wasn’t aware of it they weren’t even on the radar, so it was a big surprise.” [/FONT]
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Did you continue to watch the Draft after you were selected? [/FONT]
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“No. As soon as I heard coach ask me if I wanted to be a Cardinal, I made sure it wasn’t a prank and then I hung up and started stomping up and down.” [/FONT]
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After you signed your contract what was the first purchase you made? [/FONT]
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“Diapers (laugh). Costco Diapers for my kid!” [/FONT]
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Was there anything that you didn’t like about the Draft? [/FONT]
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“The waiting moments and stuff like that. The hype and everything, I just wanted to get it over with. Regardless of where I went I was going to make the best of it.” [/FONT]
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Did you find that the transition from college to the pros was much easier because you had the comfort of your family and friends? [/FONT]
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“I sometimes wake up in the morning and just think how good can it get for me being home and having the luxury of my friends and family around. It is a great atmosphere for me and I am able to perform at a comfortable level under extreme pressure.” [/FONT]
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What is your best advice for a college player who is stressed about the upcoming draft? [/FONT]
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“Just worry about the things you can handle and don’t worry about the things that are out of your control. Whether you’re a first rounder or a free agent it is still an accomplishment.” [/FONT]
