2010 Football Summer Preview: Getting To Know...
The 2010 MAC Football season is quickly approaching and as part of our preview we would like to give you an inside look into the lives of our student-athletes. You can find the schedule of student-athletes we will preview by scrolling to the bottom of the page or by clicking the "Getting To Know" advertisement on the front of our homepage or football page. You can also stay up-to-date with our player features via Twitter, Facebook or our new fan blog at MACFootballNation.com
Be sure to visit www.mac-sports.com on Friday, July 30th to watch live video interviews with the league's head coaches and student-athletes as we kick off the season with our 2010 MAC Football Preview at Detroit's Ford Field
Getting To Know...Northern Illinois' Landon Cox
Landon Cox is a senior wide receiver for the Northern Illinois Huskies. Cox is the Huskies leading returning receiver as he caught a team-high 45 passes for 535 yards and four touchdowns in 2009. He also caught 16 balls for 126 yards and a score as a sophomore in 2008. Cox is a native of Calumet City, Ill. and is majoring in accountancy. Below is a closer look at the NIU wide receiver...
1. How did you get started playing football?
I got started playing football watching my older cousins play for the South Holland Jets, a neighborhood team. In the fourth grade, I was able to play and from there the game just grew on me and I've been playing ever since.
2. What would your superhero name be?
If I had to make one up, I guess it would be "Mr. Gifted." It embodies everything as far as what I'm capable of doing in terms of running, catching, blocking, and it also indicates how blessed I am.
3. What was your youth sports highlight?
My first game ever for the South Holland Jets, I was in the fourth grade and in the first half I had seven quarterback sacks, three were on running plays. I was nine years old and they pretty much gold me to go get the quarterback. Actually, Tracy Wilson [NIU safety] was a wide receiver on that team.
4. What is something people don't know about you?
I love old school music. Stevie Wonder is my favorite artist along with Anita Baker. But no, that's not what we put on in the locker room.
5. What is your favorite vacation spot and why?
I haven't been on very many vacations, but one place I would like to go is Venice, Italy. It is a city built on water and I'd like to see how it was built, learn about it and ride in one of those boats (gondolas).
6. What actor/actress would play you in the movie of your life? Why?
My favorite actor is Denzel Washington, he'd be the guy.
7. What was your first job?
My first job was delivering newspapers for $25 a month and I think after a year or so I got a raise to $30. But it was only one day a week, for a local paper in my neighborhood. I was 10 years old and the route was very, very long.
8. Who is your non-sports hero ... why?
My non-sports hero would have to be my father. He has groomed me to be in the place I am right now. He gave me all the tools to be successful and is still doing that today. He and I haven't always agreed on things, but in the end, I know what he tells me is right.
9. Besides football, what sport would you have pursued for a college scholarship?
I definitely would have played basketball. Up until I was a junior in high school, I thought I was going to play basketball. I had some opportunities as a junior, there were some people talking about scholarships, but I made up my mind that year to go toward football instead.
10. What's the best part of being a Division I athlete?
The best part of being a Division I athlete is being able to go against the cream of the crop. I've had the chance to go up against the best players in the country. The other cool thing is how much you get to eat!
