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| Muhammad Abdulqaadir will take your questions in a live chat on Thursday night. |
Chat With Saluki Running Back Muhammad Abdulqaadir
The All-American running back is coming off a 200-yard rushing game in SIU's dramatic win over #2 Western Illinois Saturday. He was named National Player of the Week by the Sports Network. He will take your questions in the chat room on Thursday night at 5:15 p.m.
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| Moderator: Welcome to tonight?s chat room. Practice ended shortly after 5 o?clock. Muhammad is on his way over from the stadium and eager to answer your questions! We?ll get started in a few minutes. |
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| Sam (Mt. Vernon): What's your favorite movie? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Paid in Full. It was a little different from most movies. It depicted real-life situations and the consequences of living the wrong type of life. |
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| Chris - St. Louis: Congrats to the awesome season you guys are having. Which team do you think stands in the way the most between winning the conference or coming in second? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Every single team. This conference is like the SEC of the I-AA. Every game is critical. |
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| John (Lawrence, KS): How much did the Jayhawk Conference prepare you for SIU? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: It prepared me a lot. Every team had a 55-man roster. Of those 55 men, at least 20 of them will go to prominent D-I schools. If Coffeyville had a 4-year program, they could come and play against SIU with the type of talent they have. |
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| Karen (Vienna): Do you prefer grass or turf? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Grass. I'm into more of the natural type of lifestyle. I'm not into artificial things. |
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| Eric (East Cape Girardeau): How do you feel about the fans of southern illinois? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: They're like a flock of birds that changed direction quickly! But they do support us, and I appreciate it. They're great fans. |
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| JD (Germany): Other than football what is your favorite sport? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: I would have to say boxing. I think it's the ultimate competition, one-on-one. |
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| jeff (boston): What do you think of being a Payton Award candidate and how do you deal with that pressure? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: There is no pressure. During the game, I'm not thinking about that. I just come out and play football. If you do everything the best you can, things will fall into place. |
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| Ed (Pinckneyville): What's the most important trait that makes a good running back? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Hard to say because running backs have different styles. Being coachable is maybe the most important thing about being a running back. |
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| Saluki Sam: Which running backs will pick up the slack for SIU next season and beyond? We've got a lot of underclassmen everywhere but running back! Thanks for a terrific season! |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: We have Charles Wheeler, Antoine Jackson and Sterling Haywood. I would imagine all three of those guys will see playing time. They're good backs. |
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| Eric (Murray, KY): If you make it to the NFL, wouldn't it be cool if the MOJO mob showed up for some games? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: That'd be cool. I'd find a way to get them in the game right down there by the sideline! I appreciate those dudes because they didn't take those shirts off when I was hurt. |
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| Nick (St Charles): Do you have any pre-game rituals? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: I get extremely focused. Not say anything and envision myself doing what I'm going to do. It's hard for me to stay still. |
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| Chris - St. Louis: Are you a Cardinal or Cub fan? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Cardinals |
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| Argus (Singapore): How do you respond when opposing players "talk trash" at you? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: The first thing I do is laugh. Then the next chance I get to hit them, I try to put a hurt on them. After I've done my job, I don't say anything and go back to the huddle. |
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| Arlin John Corsicana, texas: Waz up mo! This your boy Arlin. Keep up the great work, remember press the tube and were going north and south. I'm at a juco in corsicana,texas getting things in order. See you down in florida for the all-star game. PEACE OUT! |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Hey Arlin. Hold your head! You know what I'm saying. Call the football office and get in touch with me. |
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| Bernard (Champaign): Being such a good football player, are the ladies all over you? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: No. I'm too low-key for that. I don't exploit it. |
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| Dean (Las Vegas): If you were to buy all your offensive linemen dinner for the hard work they do...which one would cost you the most money??? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Probably Wes Proctor. I'd roast Wes a whole cow. You know how they have a bar and turn it over a fire? You'd need a whole cow to feed Wes. |
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| Sunshine(Carbondale): Muhammad: What do you plan on doing after you graduate college? Do you plan on going to Pro Ball? If so, where? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: I'm just letting football run its course. Wherever it takes me, as long as I can make money for what I do. |
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| Todd (Murphysboro): What has been the key to your success? Hard work, determination, God, family or anything else that inspires you to do great things on the field? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: All of those that you mentioned have been the key to my success. |
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| Dean (Las Vegas): Whats your favorite NFL team? And do you know if many teams have been checking you in preparation for this years draft? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: I don't have a favorite team, and yes they have been checking me out for the draft. |
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| Bruce (Urbana): What's your favorite musician? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: It depends on the type of music. I mostly listen to hip-hop and my favorite artists are 8-Ball and MJG. |
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| Harold (Italy): What's your favorite food? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: A good home-cooked meal. Tuna casserole would be alright with me. |
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| Eric (mt. vernon): How did you pick #32? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Jimmy Brown (Cleveland Browns) If you think about it, most people who wear #32 are good football players. |
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| June Johnson from Gardner Ks: Mo,
Do you think your size is a disadvantage?
And do you like peanut butter or chocolate cookies?
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: No. I don't think my size is a disadvantage. Everything is about heart. And I would prefer chocolate over peanut butter (laughing)! |
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| c, moline: Who do you think is the best running back in the nation, besides yourself? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Bruce Perry from Maryland is pretty good. |
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| Jens (Miami): This is a 2-parter, which is better, the Southern Illinoisan or Daily Egyptian and who do you like to be interviewed by from the DE most? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: They're all the same, but pound-for-pound, you're the best Jens! |
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| Jessica: boxers or briefs? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Briefs. |
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| Yusuf Haqq (SIU Alumni): With Islam being the focus nationally and internationally of the media and people in general, do you feel pressure to be a good example of what a Muslim is and is not? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: I don't feel any pressure. Most of what you see in the media is propaganda in its purest form. |
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| Lisa (Alton): Were you always a good runner growing up? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Yes. I've always been a good runner. |
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| Ethan (Carbondale): What do you say to people who say this is a basketball town and football will just never cut it here? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: LOL! People are going to be fans of whatever they want. We're going to perform the way we've been coached, regardless of how many fans show up. |
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| Heath (Florissant): Mo,
Congratulations on a great season and career so far. Do you guys feel added pressure now that you are the hunted, and how has Coach Kill kept you from thinking about the playoffs? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: No, we haven't felt any pressure, because we were picked to finish sixth in the conference. Coach Kill keeps us from thinking about playoffs by having us focus on taking things one week at a time. We can't get to the playoffs until we accomplish the goal of winning each week. |
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| marcus-saint louis: Mo keep up the good work man..They havent even begun to see your talent...And Khalid says good luck.. |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: FYI. Khalid is my little brother and Marcus is his best friend. Where've you been Marcus? Give me a call. |
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| Sally W (carterville): What's it like playing alongside Tom Koutsos? |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: It's a blessing. It's kind of funny that my last year as a student-athlete that I got to play with a team like this alongside a soon-to-be historic running back. And with our success, it's a blessing. |
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Muhammad Abdulqaadir: Saluki fans. Thanks for all your questions. I really appreciate it and appreciate your support. I have to go eat. See you Saturday. |
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