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| J.R. Lemon carries the ball against Oregon in a 2003 Stanford game |
Cardinal Commitment: J.R. Lemon Chat Wrap
Junior running back answered questions beginning at 1:00 pm, PT.
Stanford, Calif. - Junior running back J.R. Lemon made an appearance in the gostanford.com chat room this Thursday, September 9 (1:00 pm, PT) to continue a series of weekly chats with Cardinal football players throughout the 2004 season. The chat series is one element of the in-depth, detailed and exclusive coverage of the 2004 Stanford Football team featured on the Cardinal Commitment page of gostanford.com. Other features on the page include press releases, a behind the scenes look at the Stanford Athletics Department staff, promotion and ticket information, Buddy Teevens' press conferences, player reports, assistant coaching reports, and of course, Gameday Central every Saturday for all Stanford Football games.
This past Thursday, fans had the opportunity to chat with one of the team's top threats in the backfield in Lemon, who along with teammate Kenneth Tolon gives the Cardinal a rapidly developing 1-2 punch at running back.
Lemon showed flashes of brilliance in a promising 2003 sophomore season when he rushed for 467 yards to finish second on the team to Tolon, while leading Stanford with four rushing touchdowns. He played in all 11 games a year ago and was the team's starter in the final three. Lemon twice rushed for 100-plus yards in Stanford victories with 103 on 18 carries versus San Jose State and career-highs of 151 yards and 34 carries (tied fourth all-time on Stanford's single-season list) against Arizona State. He added 84 yards on 17 carries in the Big Game at California to earn the Frank Rehm Award as the Most Outstanding Back in the contest. Lemon also excelled in the classroom during the 2003 campaign, earning honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic honors.
Lemon made his Stanford debut the previous season as a redshirt freshman in 2002, carrying the ball 30 times for 85 yards and three touchdowns. He gained 69 of his yards on 17 carries and had two touchdowns in his first action for the Cardinal against San Jose State in the second game of the season.
Lemon started in Stanford's 2004 season-opening 43-3 win over San Jose State last Saturday, rushing for 17 yards on six carries.
He has totaled 571 career rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He has also caught six balls for 77 yards.
Lemon is a Management Science and Engineering major at Stanford. A native of Fayetteville, Georgia, he prepped at Sandy Creek High School, where he was a consensus prep All-American as a senior and a finalist for the prestigious 2000 Watkins Award (given annually to the nation's top African-American high school football player) despite missing five games due to an injury.
Stanford (1-0, 0-0 Pac-10) continues its 2004 football season by hosting Brigham Young this Saturday, September 11 (7:00 pm, PT). The game will be televised live on both College Sports Television and KRON Channel 4. Audio broadcasts can also be heard on KNEW 910-AM, KZSU 90.1 FM and gostanford.com, as well as on the Stanford Football Radio Network (KFIA ... 710 AM, Sacramento ... KPSI 920 AM, Palm Springs ... KUIK 1360 AM, Portland).
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| Moderator: J.R. is here and ready to begin answering questions. |
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| nancy (belmont): JR, What have you worked on as an individual to help this team succeed this year? |
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J.R.: Firstly I have worked to improve my all around game but aside from that I have worked to instil some attitude to the guys on the team |
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| Momaceta, Atlanta: What is your pre game ritual?
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J.R.: Don't really have one other than some praying and alot of stretching. |
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| Nate (Provo): Notre Dame was held to only 11 total yards rushing last week, why will Stanford be more successful against the BYU defense? |
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J.R.: Yup. We'll do what we need to do to be the victor. |
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| Big Daddy (Annapolis): How did you and your teammates react to hearing that BYU beat Notre Dame last Saturday? |
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J.R.: We all thought that it was a great win for them. |
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| BILL (REDWOOD SHORES): JR -- ENGINEERING ISN'T A TYPICAL "FOOTBALL PLAYER" DEGREE ... DO YOU LIKE HELPING SHAKE THE DUMB JOCK IMAGE BY BEING A STANFORD ATHLETE? |
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J.R.: Yes, I think that there are many players on this team that help to contradict that sterotype by taking the more challenging curriculum this school has to offer. |
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| zach (quantico): How are you guys preparing for BYU this weekend? |
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J.R.: Offensively, we are just working to understand their unorthodox defense which blitzes from everywhere. |
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| Jenny (San Fran): what did you guys learn about this year's team with the win over San Jose? |
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J.R.: Not much yet. We will see the most when some adversity comes. |
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| doug (d.c.): Did the 40-point win give you guys a lot more confidence going into the game vs. BYU? |
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J.R.: I think so. But at this point we have worked so hard that I think that the confidence would have been there anyway. |
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| Huey (Stanford): Hey JR, how would you characterize the difference between you and Tolon on Saturday? Also, has the OL significantly improved in practice this week, and how ready will they be for BYU's unorthodox D? |
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J.R.: I really cant put a finger on our differences. I think that he is a great running back that has many tools and is excellent at making defenders miss. The line is doing a great job of picking up the attacking defense of BYU. |
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| trey (LA): do you think OSU taking LSU to overtime makes the Pac-10 look better nationally? |
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J.R.: Without a doubt. I wish that could have won. |
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| mike (p.a.): jr ... you've gotten to play with a lot of great players while at Stanford ... has any teammate really helped you progress as a player? |
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J.R.: Yeah many players have like: Chris Lewis, Kerry Carter, Brian Allen, Kenny, Teyo, Amon, OJ,and more all have helped me in some regard. |
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| Chad (Burlington): What team are you most looking forward to matching up against this year? |
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J.R.: I always cant wait for the next team we play and for now thats BYU |
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| Arlo (South City): J.R., you and Tolon are a good tandem at the running back spot. Do you two have a good working relationship? |
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J.R.: Yes, I think that we have an excellent relationship. |
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| Joe (Storrs, CT): You and Kenny Tolon both see lots of action in the backfield. Can you explain how that works? Does it keep both of your legs fresh? |
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J.R.: Yeah we just roll in and out whenever one of us gets tired. And yes it does help to stay fresh throughout the game. |
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| Joel (Santa Cruz): You've had a great career so far - how do you want this season to play out? |
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J.R.: I really just want to continue to win |
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| Art (Ceres, CA): I have heard that you are a pretty capable receiver out of the backfield although you have not been throwing to that much. What do you think your role in the offense is as far as catching the ball and do you think that will be expanding. |
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J.R.: I dont really know how much the offense will use me as a reciever. I do feel that I am very capable of doing so if they need me though. I do split out sometimes in our empty backfields sets but we'll see if I get any balls thrown my way |
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| Lukas (Oaktown): I read that you're from Georgia...What made you want to come all the way to Stanford? Is there a difference between southern football and west coast football? |
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J.R.: Stanford University got me all the way out here. Great school. Also my dad added some fuel to the fire. I think that down south they run the ball alot more. Out here offenses are much more complex. |
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| gunz (modesto): What is your biggest highlight to date at Stanford? |
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J.R.: I wasnt playing but probably when we beat Oregon at their place the 9-2 season |
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| Charley (Daly City): How important is a win against BYU, given that Pac-10 play is looming in the very near future? |
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J.R.: It is a must. |
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| tommy (San Francisco): You've played with Trent Edwards for a couple of years now. How has he improved from his freshman season last year? |
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J.R.: I think that he is learing to use his mobility in addition to his great arm. |
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| Lavell (Jersey Shore): BYU blitzes a lot and really came after Notre Dame's backfield. Are you guys preparing for their different looks and coverages? |
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J.R.: Yes we are. |
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| Funk (Boulder): So how has you're new hairstyle improved your game? I hear it's a mowhawk. |
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J.R.: The haircut has added a new dimension to my game. If I told you what it did though I would have to come after you though. |
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| Bobby (PA): Can we expect to see you catch more passes out of the backfield as the season progresses? |
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J.R.: Hopefully |
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| Marcus (Palo Alto): I hear you draw your powers at tailback from your hairstyle...is it still a mohawk? |
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J.R.: Yes it is. |
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| Carol/Portland, OR: Most improved defense or offense? Best of luck to you and would love to see the Cardinal celebrating many times this season. |
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J.R.: Probably offense, since we have been so young in the past and with the addition of a great scheme. |
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| John D. (Richmond): What game are you looking forward to the most this year? |
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J.R.: the next game on the schedule |
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J.R.: Thanks for your questions. I have to go to practice now. GO CARDINAL!! |
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