University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Profile - Dusty Johnson
October 17, 2001 | Baseball
Oct. 17, 2001
Vol Profile: Dusty Johnson
VOL PROFILE: Is there any extra sense of pride for you when you put on the Tennessee uniform since you are from Knoxville?
Johnson: "I think there is, when I was growing up I would always come here to watch the UT games. I guess it was always kind of a dream of mine, so I guess I feel little extra special every time I put the uniform on so I think so.
VOL PROFILE: Is there anyone you look to for motivation or inspiration?
Johnson: "I look to a lot of people. First of all, I look to my mom and dad and I look to my two brothers. I look to the guys that played here last year, and I saw the way Chris Burke led the team. I saw the way guys like Devon Nicholson led the team and I see this year the way Javi Herrera and Patrick Hicklen are leading, and I just try to do that myself."
VOL PROFILE: Are there any specific goals you've set for yourself this year?
Johnson: "Not really any individual goals yet. Of course our goal is to go back to Omaha, and now we are just working hard in the fall to try and do that."
VOL PROFILE: What is your favorite or most memorable moment on the field?
Johnson: "Last year, it's got to be the win over East Carolina that put us in Omaha. That was a dream come true and I would do anything to get that feeling again this year."
VOL PROFILE: What's your favorite thing about UT?
Johnson: I think it probably has to be the friendships I've made on this baseball team. I grew up with two brothers, and now I've got 25 more brothers here.
VOL PROFILE: What kind of mental preparation do you go through before you take the field?
Johnson: "I say a little prayer before I go in and pitch and I ask God to be with me on the mound."
VOL PROFILE: What are your interests outside of baseball?
Johnson: "I like to play ping-pong. I'm not very good at it, but I'm getting better and I like to play pool. Of course, we have a ping-pong table and pool table in here (locker room) so I'm going to keep practicing."
VOL PROFILE: Did you look at any other colleges besides Tennessee, or did you know that this is where you wanted to go?
Johnson: "I looked at some other places, but I pretty much knew that if I could come here that this is where I wanted to play. It's been my dream to play here."
