Fresno State Athletics
Carter Uses Mind Over Matter to Lead Dogs
9/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 1, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - For most of his life, Fresno State defensive end Chris Carter has embraced inspiration and guidance in everyday living and in the game from an unlikely source. Surrounding himself with the wise words of world writers and the unfailing solid support of his family, Carter is blasting into his senior year taking all tools he has developed for a successful final season with the Dogs and beyond.
"One of the most important lessons I have learned is responsibility," said Carter. "That's a big thing about this program. Now that I have been able to comprehend, understand and apply that to my life, I am part of the teaching process now and I teach the younger guys. It's all about being committed to what you do, be responsible and be on time wherever you need to be on time to. You have to go above and beyond and don't just do enough, because if you just do enough, chances are you'll end up second place because the person who is coming right behind you is doing more than enough."
Goal driven and full of dreams, Carter has always worked hard for every ambition he has set his sights on, and never falls short on achieving everything he wishes to become. His can-do attitude dates back to his days in high school and has carried him to where he is now.
"I have always wanted to get All-WAC, and so I earned that my junior year," said Carter. "I got second team and then I kind of wanted to get first team, and then the next year I got it (last year). That would be the biggest achievement for me so far. I have also gotten a couple of other awards such as special teams captain of the year, I have been nominated for different awards amongst athletic groups, and then I also got picked to go to the WAC media conference in Utah, so that was a big accomplishment. So that was a big thing because I remember when I was first coming in here and I arrived Tyler Clutts was coming back from it and I was like wow that's cool, I want to be that guy who goes my senior year, and sure enough I was the one my senior year."
And his successes are just the beginning. A man well versed in philosophy, Carter applies the deeper meanings of words and sayings to every facet of his life, especially to his game, which is very important to him. One of his favorite quotes he follows is: "When you want to be successful as bad as you want to breathe, then you will successful."
"This quote goes back to the hard work," said Carter. "It comes down to that. That is something I like to listen to as well and something I like to share with my brother, David, who plays football at UCLA. Every game we have to go out there wanting to breathe and we have to fight for every play, and I want to get that tackle, I want to make this play and I want to help my team win just as bad as I want to breathe, because if I don't then I'm not existent, I am just some other guy out there."
Now, Carter is a shining example and leader to his fellow Bulldogs, teaching and instilling in them the lessons he has learned through the Fresno State program, on an off the field. Bulking up an extra 20 pounds and ready to explode his speed on the field, Carter is ready to roll.
"My goals this season are to win a WAC Championship," said Carter. "Speed is definitely my advantage point and I really wanted to improve on that, because it was hard for people to deal with last year, so, I just wanted to improve and make it even harder. Every year everyone is getting better, and no one tries to stay the same because then you'll never be good, so, that's why this off season I have really focused on getting my speed together and a big point of difference I wanted to make this season was my weight. I am very strong for my size, but at the same time if you don't have a lot of weight, it makes it easier for some people to push you around and double team you. Since I got double teamed a lot last year, my weight ended up working against me, so I put on 20 pounds this season. I organized a new diet plan with my strength and conditioning coach and right now I have to eat at a minimum five times a day. I eat as much as a (offensive) lineman."
Coming a long way from his freshman year, Carter recounts his experiences at Fresno State. He believes that the opportunities he has been given, and experiences he has lived here will, without doubt, facilitate his future in more than one way.
"As a football player my dream is to go to the next level," said Carter. " think these tools are going to help me in the postseason in preparing for the draft. Even if I don't end up in the NFL, those tools will help me out in that I will be a lot more productive, reliable, and people will consider working with me a lot more because of my diligence and my commitment and my responsibility. I will never forget the time we went to the Humanitarian Bowl and we beat Georgia Tech. That was a really exciting season my freshman year. I got the opportunity to play a lot which I didn't anticipate at first but I wanted it bad, so I came out everyday working my butt off and it paid off. We went and I got an opportunity to play a bowl game my first year and I felt like I really earned a ring that year, because everyone gets a ring when we win at a Bowl Game but I never wanted to get a ring if I felt like I didn't earn it, but I felt like I really did and my entire team we really got out there and fought and we had a really good team that year and we smacked them."
And the thrill of a screaming red wave at Bulldog Stadium feeds his drive, and Carter is confident that fans will turn up in large masses for Saturday's home opener against Cincinnati. Focusing one game at a time, Carter and the Dogs are ready for action, and the hard work will pay off, he says.
"You've got to go out and get your award, because no one is going to give it to you and you have to get out there and show what you've worked for this off season and all those years in the past," said Carter. "So you just have to go out there and take control. So I think about that and my family and I refuse to lose a battle. I hate losing. I hate it with a passion."
Now Carter and his brother, David Carter, who is also about to start his final season of college ball at UCLA, are both looking at the NFL in their futures, where it is possible, they could both play on the same team.
"That would be something I would love to see," said Carter. "We could be there together and push each other instead of having an over the phone relationship. Football is a very demanding sport and especially in college you use a lot of time, so that would be awesome. But everyone has their own destiny and if ours is that we end up together I would love it. We have been blessed with a lot throughout our lives and I wouldn't be surprised to see that."
"We Are Your Team!" The Dogs open their season on Saturday, September 4, against defending Big East Champion Cincinnati. Don't miss any of the Bulldog football action. Ticket packages, includes season tickets for all seven home games are available now by clicking the tickets icon at the top of the page.
