[Football preview] Q&A with Tab Perry

Coming into the 2004 season, Tab Perry didn’t know if he
would ever catch footballs in a Bruin uniform again. But now, after
getting himself academically eligible over the summer, he’s
back and loving life. After getting off to a slow start, Perry has
emerged in recent weeks, making his presence known on the field.
And now he’s trying to help UCLA become bowl-eligible and
finish off this season with a bang. But there’s much more to
Perry than just hauling in passes from quarterback Drew Olson. Find
out what the senior wide receiver would give up for a victory
against the Trojans, the meaning behind his tattoo, and why flowers
are occupying his time.

Daily Bruin: If you were lost on an island, what three
things would you bring? Tab Perry: Hmm … can I bring a big
house? DB: No. TP: OK, I would bring my family. DB:
Wait, you would want your family to be deserted too? TP: Yeah
because we could make the island into a paradise if we wanted to. I
would bring a real cute girl, so I could make my own little tribe.
I would probably just chill. Maybe get a pet monkey. DB: So
what’s your favorite sport other than football? TP:
Soccer. I played for 16 years. DB: What position? TP:
Midfield, goalie and striker. DB: Do you like European soccer
or American? TP: European. It’s more fun to watch.
DB: Let’s turn to music. What CD is in your CD player
right now? TP: Sade. You know “Smooth Operator.”
(Proceeds to sing the lyrics.) DB: Do you have any opinion on
this week’s presidential election? TP: Nah, I
don’t pay attention to politics. Whatever is going to happen
will happen. DB: What’s your biggest guilty
pleasure? TP: I like flowers, gardenias especially, they smell
good. Like tranquility. I don’t want to be a florist but I
want to have my own garden. DB: If you weren’t in
football, what would you be doing? Besides tending to your
garden? TP: I would be a stripper. No, just kidding. I would
be a paramedic or firefighter. I like to help people, it’s
always intrigued me. DB: Would you rather beat USC or win a
Superbowl? TP: SC victory, absolutely. DB: Do you pattern
your game after anyone in the NFL? TP: Nobody really. But if I
could compare myself to somebody I would say Terrell Owens.
We’re the same size and I think we think very similarly.
DB: Do you own a sharpie? TP: Hey, ahh … no comment on
that one. DB: Since you lived up north and here in L.A., do you
consider yourself a Northern California or Southern California
guy? TP: Nor Cal, fo’ sure! DB: Any NorCal / SoCal
rivalries on the team? TP: Hell yeah, we talk about it all the
time. All the time. DB: So you went to San Jose State for a
bit, what was the best and worst thing there? TP: The best: My
best friend Nasser was there. Worst thing was that it was a
commuter school. No one really cared. There were people like 60
years old in my classes. DB: Explain your tiger tattoo.
TP: I’m obsessed with tigers. DB: What about white
tigers? TP: Yeah those, but all of them. It’s like my
symbolic animal. Cool, quiet, big, strong, agile. DB: So you
must like Siegfried and Roy then. TP: Yeah well he got bit
because he didn’t feed them. DB: Ever see the show?
TP: Nah, never did. I wanted to but then he got bit, so I guess I
can’t now.

Interview conducted by Jessica Bach, Bruin sports
staff.