Quarterback Gage Roy grew up in Dallas and played at USC before transferring to Illinois State. (Photo by GoRedbirds. com)
By Dan Verdun
Illinois State quarterback Gage Roy is experiencing his first Midwest fall. He’s enjoying it far more than a central Illinois winter.
After all, Roy was born in California and moved to Dallas as a two-year-old when his father got a job in Texas.
Roy spent four years at the University of Southern California before transferring to ISU last winter.
“When I drove from California to commit at Illinois State, I was still wearing flip-flops when I arrived in mid-January. That shows you how prepared I was,” Roy told Prairie State Pigskin.
But the 22-year-old learned quickly.
“The one thing that surprised me is how windy it gets. Sure, it’s cold out but the wind is what amplifies it,” he said. “You’ve got to be prepared with multiple layers.”
Then, there’s this story. When he woke up to find his car windshield coated with snow and ice, Roy had a plan.
“I was going to throw hot water on it,” he recalled. “My roommates were like, ‘No, don’t do that!’ I asked why, and they said, ‘Your glass will break.’”
Get to know all about Roy in our weekly Moving the Chains Q&A.
What’s the worst weather you’ve ever played in?
When I was in seventh grade, it was around 17 degrees in Dallas. You couldn’t even feel the ball when you threw it. Other than that, it was probably when I got here. Going out for some of those spring ball practices, it got pretty cold.
What was it like growing up in Dallas and making your decision to attend USC?
Both of my parents (Neal and Vicki) are from Southern California. They met in high school. My mom went to USC, and so did my grandfather. My dad’s job moved us to Dallas.
Growing up in Dallas was awesome. I really think it’s a good place to raise a family, and obviously football is like a religion in Texas. I always wanted to play football, and I was the only kid in Texas that was a USC fan.
Both sets of grandparents and my cousins live in California. Every year for Christmas, we’d go to Los Angeles. It was nice to be there for college.
As I started getting recruited in high school, I had a lot of Group of Five and FCS scholarship offers. I was set to commit to an FCS school. Then, there I was in English class my senior year when Coach (Lincoln) Riley texted and offered me a preferred walk-on spot. Being a USC fan since I was a kid, it was pretty surreal. I jumped on that opportunity.
How would you describe that Friday Night Lights culture of Texas high school football?
The school that I went to, Dallas Jesuit, has a great football culture. The whole area of Preston Hollow in North Dallas goes to the games. It was good for me because I wasn’t scared of 10,000 fans being in the crowd, which is pretty unique. I know that doesn’t happen in a lot of places.
You see those pictures of the Texas high school football stadiums. Well, I’m grateful to have been able to play in a lot of the ones that are featured. Those were some pretty big-time environments. It was great for me in my development as a player. Everyone eats, sleeps and breathes football there. I embraced that culture. That’s all I thought about, and all I did year round.
How did you make the decision to leave USC and choose Illinois State?
I had a really positive experience at USC. I only have good things to say about it. But the fact that I wasn’t getting as many reps on the field as I would have liked there on Saturdays was the reason.
I talked to my quarterback coach (Luke Huard) at the beginning of my senior year. I told him my plan, which included graduating a little early. I wanted to get my degree from USC, but I wanted to play another year of football and get some playing time.
Coach Huard was very supportive. He had coached at Illinois State with Coach (Brock) Spack (from 2010 to 2012). He had always said such positive things about that experience. We had a really great relationship and he believed in me as a football player, which I’m very grateful for. While I was in the transfer portal, he got into contact with Coach Spack and sent over my film and told him a bit about me.
I didn’t know much about Illinois State, but had watched the run (to the national championship game). There was some notoriety about them. I didn’t know much about the town or what it was like to live there, but Coach Huard spoke so positively about his experience. In his opinion, it was the best place for me. I’m so happy that Coach Spack agreed to have me land here.
Being from the Dallas area, are you familiar with Frisco being the site for the FCS championship game for many years?
I always knew the FCS championship was there. Frisco is probably 30 minutes from my house. When North Dakota State was always there, you could see plenty of people wearing their shirts in restaurants.
It’s funny because I didn’t know that Illinois State had played in that game (in January 2015), but I’m sure I watched those highlights. I’d watch it every year.
What pro teams did you root for as a kid?
I was a Dallas Cowboys fan. In my 22 years, there hasn’t been much to cheer on, but I’m still a diehard Cowboys fan.
Did you have a favorite player?
Early on it was Tony Romo, then it switched to Ezekiel Elliott and Dez Bryant and those guys.
You mentioned fall earlier. What was your favorite Halloween candy to get?
Tootsie rolls, for sure.
What was your favorite Halloween costume?
I was Tony Romo for a couple of years. Every now and then, I’d wear a USC jersey. But, my favorite costume was being a Power Ranger one year. My friends from elementary school and I were all different colored Power Rangers.
Which color were you?
I was red.
If you could go back 10 years and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
One of the best pieces of advice that I ever got is that there are two things you can control every day: your attitude and your effort. As long as you go all in on those, whatever you do in your life is going to work out. No matter what happens, you can always have a good attitude and give a good effort.
What is your gameday routine?
I’m a religious guy, so I go to Mass at 7:30 (a.m.) on Saturdays. I come back and go to the team breakfast. If I have more time, I go over our plays. I go in the indoor (facility) and go through the game script and get mentally ready to play.
Do you prefer day or night games?
I prefer night games. Honestly, Eastern Illinois was the first day game I ever played. At USC, unless we were on the road, we always played at night.
I did like the Eastern game because once we finished, there was a bunch of time left in the day to watch football and hang out with my buddies.
If you could swap lives with anyone for a week, who would you pick and why?
Tom Brady would be pretty cool. Now, he’s doing the announcing but it seems like he’s got his hands in a lot of things. He’s got that pretty cool house in Florida. He plays a lot of golf. Football and golf are my two main things. Being Tom Brady would be pretty cool.
What was your favorite TV show?
When I was probably 17, I watched The Sopranos, which was awesome.
If you had a chance to be in the Olympics, what sport or event would you pick?
The 100-meter (dash). It would be pretty amazing to be the fastest person on the planet.
What’s your favorite seat on an airplane?
Window. 100%. I have to have the window to put my head on something and sleep.
What other sports did you play growing up?
I played basketball. I can shoot a little bit. That was my role, just being in the corner shooting. I was also a decent passer, which translates well to football as far as seeing the court and seeing the field. That helped me.
Who’s the best basketball player on the ISU football team?
I’ve heard it’s Rico (Clay). He was really good in high school. He plays cornerback and has really good hands. Whenever we throw to them before practice, you can see he’s a pretty good athlete.
Or I’d say Dexter Niekamp. He’d be a strong power forward.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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