La Voz

Issue date: 5/29/07 Section: Athletics

Media Credit: Julia Eckhardt De Anza football player Lateef Duncan stands in front of the De Anza College field after practice. [Click to enlarge]

20 year old Lateef Duncan, could not even get into pee wee football when he was younger. He then went on to play at San Jose High. Now the successful big-hearted football player aims to play for a Division One team.

Q: How did you get started playing football? A: Well, it started when I was little. I didn't really have a father figure growing up and my mom was too busy working so I kind of kept myself occupied with sports and clubs. I just kept going and then I played in high school. Now I'm doing it in community college, trying to do something with my life.

Q: How far would you like to go in football? A: I'd like to go to a Division One like a UC, and maybe semi pro. The big schools with 20,000 kids. I'm pursuing my major of criminal justice to be a police officer or a detective.

Q: Tell me why you want to be a criminal justice major and how does that fit into playing football as well? A: Being student athlete requires you be a student first; the student is before the athlete. I have taken time off before, I took a day off to prepare for a speech in my class, but that's pretty much it. I used to watch "Cops" when I was little and I got interested in solving cases. Then I got into "CSI" and all the "Law and Order" stuff. It's pretty interesting solving cases, having to think outside the box.

Q: So do you want to be a lawyer or more investigative? A: I want to be more hands on, like out in the open talking and interacting with people. When I was growing up I always kept to myself, but now I've got football. I have more friends interacting. They want me to be a leader so I'm going to try to fit that role as much as I can.

Q: What motivates you to play? Why do you like it? A: Playing football makes you think critically and outside the box, just as it would if you were solving a case. Also, it helps your self-esteem. People who are not that vocal, for example, sometimes they would like somebody to help them out. And the coaches can't help everybody, since there's about 50 players. Sometimes you have to look to your inner self, the other linemen, the other players on the team and ask them, "Hey I need this help." It gives you a better sense of a team.

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