Q & A: Brent Haberly: THE International Commodity Carriers, Inc.
Saturday, 29. November 2008
This Q&A was picked especially for the Civil War. Brent Haberly bleeds green and gold like no other player (except for maybe Joey, but we didn’t really want to rehash his Civil War in Corvallis) I came across.
One of the reasons that I always thought so highly of him is that he worked harder than almost anyone else. He seemed to embrace being on the team more than anyone on the team and I loved that about him.
When he broke his arm senior year, he was not able to practice and would sometimes keep me company during the extra long ones on Wednesday and Thursday. Although he had been told that he wouldn’t be ready to play in the Civil War that year, he used to always tell me, “I’m playing. This my NFL. This is my Super Bowl. I don’t care if I’m hurt the rest of my life.”
How can you not respect that?
Based on some of his answers, I’d say he has no love for the Beavers and is as true of a Duck fan/former player as you’ll ever meet.
1. Introduce Yourself: This is Brent Haberly – ex linebacker and UO alum! Class of 2007.
2. You grew up watching the Ducks. Can you describe what it was like to play on a team you loved to watch growing up? Growing up, I only missed two Duck home games. My parents had their first date in Autzen and I used to sleep under the old wooden bleachers during the game. That was back when there was nobody there because we were 2-9. I never had a dream to play in the NFL or be a superstar. All I wanted to be was a Duck. At first, I was star struck playing with all of the guys I used to watch on TV. I was just happy to have a jersey. But as time went on and after all the practices and workouts, I said to myself, “I can play with these guys.” I got an opportunity and never looked back..
3. Do you think guys from California understand the rivalry? I don’t think the Cali boys understand the game until they play in it. Their first go around is just like another game, but after that, they get it. I still have old teammates from the Bay Area and Southern California texting this week and letting me know they still hate the guys who dress up like Halloween 24/7!
4. Will you be attending this year’s game? Of course I will be there. I hate that place though. I usually hold my breath when I pass it on I-5. I can’t wait to play spoiler. I will be there with a bouquet of roses and I will be plucking them one by one on the 50-yard line after we win!
5. What are your thoughts on the game this year? Any particular matchups you are interested in? This one is big. I don’t think that OSU is as good as everyone thinks. All these ignorant OSU fans think their ticket to Pasadena is already punched. I had the opportunity to speak at the DAF luncheon at the Rogue Valley Country Club on Tuesday. We had Coach Bellotti on the phone and he said to watch out for J-Will. I am glad they haven’t given up on the big guy. He can do big things in this game because people have forgotten about him. But obviously as Masoli goes so do we. Patrick Chung will ball like always and I love watching Matthews play because he is so young and so talented! Can’t wait to see him light up the run game!
6. You suffered an arm injury late in the season as a senior. Is there anything that could have kept you off the field for the Civil War? The injury changed my life dramatically for the better. Before I was injured I thought I had it all figured out. Getting hurt let me take a step back and realize that getting complacent will destroy you. I told the doctors before the game, I said “listen, you spent 10 plus years going to school to be a doctor, and let’s say that the day before your final exam to get certified your professor said that you can’t take the exam. That’s me! I have played ball since I was in 2nd grade. This is my final exam. I’m playing. Figure it out!” I cant imagine watching that game from the sidelines.
7. Can you describe a funny on-field moment from your playing days at Oregon? Toooo many to write down. I have a couple though. Nick Reed tackling Yvenson Bernard by his dreadlocks! I lost it. I was laaaaughin soooo hard. They were pissed. In the “fog bowl” in 2005, I remember Ryan Gunderson was playing QB because Matt Moore was hurt. I heard through the grapevine that he was a Duck fan growing up. We must have blitzed him 50 times that day. I picked him up off the turf and told him I was sorry this is how his first one had to go. He put his arm around me and I walked him back to the huddle! And the TD at Arizona obviously. I have a lot of family in Arizona and I grew up saying, “Bear down Mildcats!” They were all in the exact end zone that I scored in. You should see the home video! haha
8. Who was your funniest teammate and why? Again, too many to name. Devan Long was hilarious. We had scooters we rode around on and we named ourselves the night riders. We were dumb. Parris Moore was stupid funny! There was never a dull moment. Dave Martin just had no clue! Those three were just too funny every day!
9. What do you miss most about playing on Saturday’s? I miss crowd pleasing. I had a lot of fun on the field and there is no better feeling then making 60,000 people stand up and scream. People say I had too much fun, but I lived it man. I loved making plays and felt like every play I made was my first. I miss the police escort to the game because now it is a mission to just get to Autzen..
10. What do you think of Quizz Rogers? Quizzz Rodgers, huh? I’m over it. Give me a break. I’m pissed that he broke my buddy JD Nelson’s dad, Darrin Nelson’s, Freshman record for rushing. I hate the fact that he has put Corvallis on the map. Did I spell it right Cornvalley? Anyways, I just want to shut them up. I’m going to stop there.
11. What are you up to? I live in Medford, Oregon right now. I work for a freight management company called International Commodity Carriers, Inc. (ICCI). I work for/live with the CEO/donor to the Ducks program H. Dewey Wilson III. We have a great time and enjoy each others’ company. Come visit! We have plenty of room!
12. Who would win a 40-yard dash? Don Pellum or you? The 40-yd dash question. My phone blew up when Anthony Trucks said on his Q&A that DP would beat me. I left him a mean voicemail!!!!! I would get him. I think he has an old knee problem that would give me the edge, but like Anthony said, he might trip me before I finish! I love that man though. I might just let him win. I have a lot of respect for him. He made me the player I was!
13. What’s your guilty pleasure television show? Hmmmmm. I usually just watch ESPN, but an oldy but goody is Flavor of Love. Does that count? Yaaaaaah Boyyyy!
Go duckies!









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