ASK THE STEELERS – MIKE WALLACE – PART 1
Steelers.com brings you the Ask the Steelers feature. Fans submitted the questions that were asked. Please understand that we receive an incredible number of questions for each player, with many of the questions being similar, and not all of the questions can be answered. We selected as many as possible, and took your questions to the current subject to get your answers.
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*From Paul Jefferson in New York:What was draft day like for you, waiting for the phone to ring?
Mike Wallace:It was exciting as well as aggravating. Each pick you are getting more anxious waiting for your name to be called. But it was an exciting and great experience.
From Rita Lloyd in Pennsylvania: What was your first reaction when you learned you were going to be the newest Pittsburgh Steeler?
Mike Wallace: It was the best feeling in the world, getting it out of the way and getting my name called. Then being on the World Championship team. You can't really explain it, the feeling of being on a World Championship team.
From Mark James in Ohio: What was it like to see the six Super Bowl trophies for the first time?
Mike Wallace: It was exciting. Hopefully we are able to get number seven.
From Larry Bower in Florida: Is there more pressure coming to a Super Bowl champion or less because you don't have to be a savior?
Mike Wallace: There is pressure because you are trying to fit in with these guys. They are superstars and you don't want to be the one to mess it up. It's your job and you have to do it. You have to keep your composure and learn everything. You have to understand coming in as a rookie there is going to be a learning curve so you can't get frustrated.
From George Reynolds in Pennsylvania: How valuable are the OTA's?
Mike Wallace: They are real valuable. Without them I would go straight into camp without knowing the plays too well. This kind of evens out the playing field with everybody else because you are going to almost be on the same page. If you go in without OTA's you are going to go in without knowing anything, you are going to go in raw. You won't have enough time before the season.
From Steve Foley in West Virginia: What was your first impression of the attitude among the team and the camaraderie?
Mike Wallace: It was a real warm feeling knowing everyone is like a band of brothers and not a bunch of individuals. I have heard stories about different teams before I got to the NFL and how everybody stays to themselves and things like that, where they don't talk to people. From Ben Roethlisberger, to Aaron Smith to James Harrison, everyone is like brothers. They get along, they talk to each other. It's a warm feeling to walk into the locker room and see that.
From Jeff Tallon in Colorado: What is some of the advice the veterans have given you?
Mike Wallace: Hines (Ward) and Santonio (Holmes) I can't even explain how helpful they have been. They have been teaching me all of the little things, all of the veteran tricks. They help with my steps on my routes, snapping my head around, ball drills. They have helping me out a whole lot.
