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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER>DeMarcus Curry</H1>
<H2 ALIGN=CENTER>Offensive Line</H2>

<CENTER><FONT SIZE=3>by Amber Guy</FONT></CENTER>

<TABLE ALIGN=RIGHT BORDER=0 WIDTH=10>
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<IMG ALT="DeMarcus Curry" BORDER=1 SRC="pic/curry01_bw.jpg" WIDTH=148 HEIGHT=193>
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</TABLE>

<P><FONT SIZE=7>t</FONT>he guys in the trenches don't usually get the lion's share of attention. But guard DeMarcus Curry has made a name for himself as one of the most consistent players on the offensive line this season. Under the tutelage of Rick Trickett and help and advice from some friends, Curry has blossomed into an NFL-caliber player.

<P>Curry packs over 300 pounds onto his 6'5" frame, creating a formidable wall to protect his quarterback and running backs. From early in his career, he showed the signs of the ability that would eventually make him one of Auburn's top offensive linemen; but as all young players must do, he had several lessons to learn first.

<P>Trickett, whom Curry credits with teaching him to never quit fighting no matter what obstacle he faces, has been impressed with his performance this year and his growth as a player.

<P> "DeMarcus is playing now like I'd hoped he would a lot earlier," Trickett explained. "He played good last year off and on at spots, but now I think the maturity part of it has come into play. That's what happens with an offensive lineman. It takes so long to mature, but he's been so consistent week after week after week. I think that has a lot to do with him being a fifth-year senior. His hopes of going to the NFL haven't hurt anything either. I'm real pleased with DeMarcus."

<TABLE ALIGN=LEFT BORDER=0 WIDTH=10>
<TD>
<IMG ALT="DeMarcus Curry" BORDER=1 SRC="pic/curry02_bw.jpg" WIDTH=216 HEIGHT=232>
<HR>
</TD>
</TABLE>

<P>Growing up in nearby Columbus, Ga., Curry always liked football. He started playing in eighth grade at both defensive end and as part of the offensive line. His main problem growing up was deciding which college team to place his loyalties with.

<P> "I kind of liked Georgia because I was from Georgia. I also liked Auburn because it was really close. I wasn't able to go to a college game until my senior year, and I went to both an Auburn game and Georgia game that year," Curry explained.

<P>The decision over which team to pull for was made a little easier when a Kendrick High School teammate decided to come to Auburn.

<P> "At the start of my tenth grade year, I had a friend, Leonard Thomas, who came here. I also had a friend, Frank Watts, who played for Georgia. I had one friend at Auburn and one friend at Georgia. I went to school with Leonard, though, so I knew him a whole lot better," Curry said.

<P>When it came time for Curry to decide what school he'd play for, he had a big decision to make. Schools like Nebraska, Tennessee and Florida recruited the offensive lineman. When it came right down to it, Curry's mother, Juanita had a big impact on her son's decision.

<P> "Auburn had a great recruiting coach back then, Coach Rodney Garner. My mother really liked him and the fact that my position coach, Rick Trickett, was a very hard-nosed coach. She really liked the discipline part of it and wanted me to come to Auburn.

<P>"I liked Auburn because it felt like home. It is very friendly, but so were the other schools with big programs that I visited. I think the thing that really drew me here was that it was close to home and it reminded me so much of it," Curry explained.

<P>Curry was red-shirted in the fall of 1994 and saw action as a backup offensive lineman during his red-shirt freshman season. In 1996, he finished spring drills as a backup to Jim Roe at tight tackle where he played mainly a reserve role all season.

<P>In 1997, Curry started all 11 regular-season games at tight guard. His best performances came against Mississippi State, Florida and Arkansas. He played every snap at Virginia and at LSU and was in on 61 of 65 offensive snaps against South Carolina. Curry finished his junior season with a total of 13 pancake blocks.

<P>In 1998, Curry has emerged as one of the most solid and consistent members of the offensive line, who has done all he can to ensure NFL playing time in the near future.

<TABLE ALIGN=RIGHT BORDER=0 WIDTH=10>
<TD>
<IMG ALT="DeMarcus Curry" BORDER=1 SRC="pic/curry03_bw.jpg" WIDTH=216 HEIGHT=268>
<HR>
</TD>
</TABLE>

<P>Prior to the Arkansas game, Curry had 16 pancake blocks and 14 knockdown blocks, had his best game against Florida and posted the highest grade among offensive linemen in four of the last five games.

<P>The determination and drive that have kept Curry focused on the playing field are the same ones that caused him never to give up, even when as a kid, he went door-to-door selling newspapers for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. This sales job instilled a love in him that still exists in the Economics major today.

<P> "I really like business. I've always been a very business-oriented person. I plan to graduate this March, and after football, I want to go into banking or insurance," Curry said.

<P>Curry had a chance to gain a bit of practical experience in the business world when he worked at College Street Sports this summer.

<P> "I was able to work behind the scenes at College Street Sports and work in the business-end of it and it was a really good experience," explained Curry.
When he's not working, on the playing field, or in the classroom, Curry enjoys listening to music, and is rumored to play the cello. The bond he shares with his mother has also remained strong.

<P> "My mother tries to come down every Sunday after a game, and we go out to eat. We talk all the time," Curry said.

<P>In other free moments, Curry hangs out with teammate Kendell Mack and still talks with former Auburn player Leonard Thomas who now resides in Montgomery.
It was players like Thomas, who taught Curry valuable lessons to be used on the playing field and in real life.

<P> "I think when I was younger, players like Leonard Thomas, Willie Anderson and Jim Roe taught me a lot. I guess from Leonard Thomas I learned to be smart, from Willie Anderson I learned to be confident, completely confident, and from Jim Roe I learned to be patient. As I grew, got older and learned, each one of the different players taught me how to act in different situations; how to handle myself both on and off the field," Curry said.

<P>Curry has definitely put what he's learned from experience and from others into practice, and perhaps what he learned in his days as a newspaper salesman is what has made so many of his hopes, wishes and dreams become a reality.
"I realized back then that it didn't really matter what I did; as long as I did my very best."

<P><TABLE WIDTH=80% BORDER BGCOLOR="#000099" ALIGN=CENTER>
<TR>
<TD>
<FONT SIZE=4 COLOR="#FFFF00"><B>Q &amp; A With DeMarcus Curry:</FONT></B>

<FONT COLOR="#FFFFFF">

<P>Favorite food: "Hot dogs with everything, especially my mother's chili."
Least favorite food: "Squash."

<P>What is your most treasured possession? "My family as a whole."
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why? "Probably Rome. There's just something about Rome. Growing up, you learn so much about it. It's a special place."

<P>What's your favorite movie? "Coming to America."

<P>What's your favorite song? "Joy by the Georgia Mass Choir."

<P>What's the one thing that surprises most people about you? "My ability to be like a chameleon to blend in wherever I am, and my ability to do just about anything I want to."

<P>Whom do you admire most and why? "My mother because she raised me and my sisters, and also my grandfather."

<P>What's something you've always wanted to do, but never have? "I've always wanted to be part of a singing group, like Boyz II Men."

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<P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="./" target="_top">TABLE OF CONTENTS</A> | <A HREF="../" target="_top">PROGRAM INDEX</A> | <A HREF="../../index.html" target="_top">HOME</A></P>

<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>&copy; 1999 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>


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	<H1 ALIGN=CENTER>DeMarcus Curry</H1>
	<H2 ALIGN=CENTER>Offensive Line</H2>

	<CENTER><FONT SIZE=3>by Amber Guy</FONT></CENTER>

	<TABLE ALIGN=RIGHT BORDER=0 WIDTH=10>
	<TD>
	<IMG ALT="DeMarcus Curry" BORDER=1 SRC="pic/curry01_bw.jpg" WIDTH=148 HEIGHT=193>
	<HR>
	</TD>
	</TABLE>

	<P><FONT SIZE=7>t</FONT>he guys in the trenches don't usually get the lion's share of attention. But guard DeMarcus Curry has made a name for himself as one of the most consistent players on the offensive line this season. Under the tutelage of Rick Trickett and help and advice from some friends, Curry has blossomed into an NFL-caliber player.

	<P>Curry packs over 300 pounds onto his 6'5" frame, creating a formidable wall to protect his quarterback and running backs. From early in his career, he showed the signs of the ability that would eventually make him one of Auburn's top offensive linemen; but as all young players must do, he had several lessons to learn first.

	<P>Trickett, whom Curry credits with teaching him to never quit fighting no matter what obstacle he faces, has been impressed with his performance this year and his growth as a player.

	<P> "DeMarcus is playing now like I'd hoped he would a lot earlier," Trickett explained. "He played good last year off and on at spots, but now I think the maturity part of it has come into play. That's what happens with an offensive lineman. It takes so long to mature, but he's been so consistent week after week after week. I think that has a lot to do with him being a fifth-year senior. His hopes of going to the NFL haven't hurt anything either. I'm real pleased with DeMarcus."

	<TABLE ALIGN=LEFT BORDER=0 WIDTH=10>
	<TD>
	<IMG ALT="DeMarcus Curry" BORDER=1 SRC="pic/curry02_bw.jpg" WIDTH=216 HEIGHT=232>
	<HR>
	</TD>
	</TABLE>

	<P>Growing up in nearby Columbus, Ga., Curry always liked football. He started playing in eighth grade at both defensive end and as part of the offensive line. His main problem growing up was deciding which college team to place his loyalties with.

	<P> "I kind of liked Georgia because I was from Georgia. I also liked Auburn because it was really close. I wasn't able to go to a college game until my senior year, and I went to both an Auburn game and Georgia game that year," Curry explained.

	<P>The decision over which team to pull for was made a little easier when a Kendrick High School teammate decided to come to Auburn.

	<P> "At the start of my tenth grade year, I had a friend, Leonard Thomas, who came here. I also had a friend, Frank Watts, who played for Georgia. I had one friend at Auburn and one friend at Georgia. I went to school with Leonard, though, so I knew him a whole lot better," Curry said.

	<P>When it came time for Curry to decide what school he'd play for, he had a big decision to make. Schools like Nebraska, Tennessee and Florida recruited the offensive lineman. When it came right down to it, Curry's mother, Juanita had a big impact on her son's decision.

	<P> "Auburn had a great recruiting coach back then, Coach Rodney Garner. My mother really liked him and the fact that my position coach, Rick Trickett, was a very hard-nosed coach. She really liked the discipline part of it and wanted me to come to Auburn.

	<P>"I liked Auburn because it felt like home. It is very friendly, but so were the other schools with big programs that I visited. I think the thing that really drew me here was that it was close to home and it reminded me so much of it," Curry explained.

	<P>Curry was red-shirted in the fall of 1994 and saw action as a backup offensive lineman during his red-shirt freshman season. In 1996, he finished spring drills as a backup to Jim Roe at tight tackle where he played mainly a reserve role all season.

	<P>In 1997, Curry started all 11 regular-season games at tight guard. His best performances came against Mississippi State, Florida and Arkansas. He played every snap at Virginia and at LSU and was in on 61 of 65 offensive snaps against South Carolina. Curry finished his junior season with a total of 13 pancake blocks.

	<P>In 1998, Curry has emerged as one of the most solid and consistent members of the offensive line, who has done all he can to ensure NFL playing time in the near future.

	<TABLE ALIGN=RIGHT BORDER=0 WIDTH=10>
	<TD>
	<IMG ALT="DeMarcus Curry" BORDER=1 SRC="pic/curry03_bw.jpg" WIDTH=216 HEIGHT=268>
	<HR>
	</TD>
	</TABLE>

	<P>Prior to the Arkansas game, Curry had 16 pancake blocks and 14 knockdown blocks, had his best game against Florida and posted the highest grade among offensive linemen in four of the last five games.

	<P>The determination and drive that have kept Curry focused on the playing field are the same ones that caused him never to give up, even when as a kid, he went door-to-door selling newspapers for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. This sales job instilled a love in him that still exists in the Economics major today.

	<P> "I really like business. I've always been a very business-oriented person. I plan to graduate this March, and after football, I want to go into banking or insurance," Curry said.

	<P>Curry had a chance to gain a bit of practical experience in the business world when he worked at College Street Sports this summer.

	<P> "I was able to work behind the scenes at College Street Sports and work in the business-end of it and it was a really good experience," explained Curry.
	When he's not working, on the playing field, or in the classroom, Curry enjoys listening to music, and is rumored to play the cello. The bond he shares with his mother has also remained strong.

	<P> "My mother tries to come down every Sunday after a game, and we go out to eat. We talk all the time," Curry said.

	<P>In other free moments, Curry hangs out with teammate Kendell Mack and still talks with former Auburn player Leonard Thomas who now resides in Montgomery.
	It was players like Thomas, who taught Curry valuable lessons to be used on the playing field and in real life.

	<P> "I think when I was younger, players like Leonard Thomas, Willie Anderson and Jim Roe taught me a lot. I guess from Leonard Thomas I learned to be smart, from Willie Anderson I learned to be confident, completely confident, and from Jim Roe I learned to be patient. As I grew, got older and learned, each one of the different players taught me how to act in different situations; how to handle myself both on and off the field," Curry said.

	<P>Curry has definitely put what he's learned from experience and from others into practice, and perhaps what he learned in his days as a newspaper salesman is what has made so many of his hopes, wishes and dreams become a reality.
	"I realized back then that it didn't really matter what I did; as long as I did my very best."

	<P><TABLE WIDTH=80% BORDER BGCOLOR="#000099" ALIGN=CENTER>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<FONT SIZE=4 COLOR="#FFFF00"><B>Q & A With DeMarcus Curry:</FONT></B>

	<FONT COLOR="#FFFFFF">

	<P>Favorite food: "Hot dogs with everything, especially my mother's chili."
	Least favorite food: "Squash."

	<P>What is your most treasured possession? "My family as a whole."
	If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why? "Probably Rome. There's just something about Rome. Growing up, you learn so much about it. It's a special place."

	<P>What's your favorite movie? "Coming to America."

	<P>What's your favorite song? "Joy by the Georgia Mass Choir."

	<P>What's the one thing that surprises most people about you? "My ability to be like a chameleon to blend in wherever I am, and my ability to do just about anything I want to."

	<P>Whom do you admire most and why? "My mother because she raised me and my sisters, and also my grandfather."

	<P>What's something you've always wanted to do, but never have? "I've always wanted to be part of a singing group, like Boyz II Men."

	</TD>
	</TR>
	</TABLE>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="./" target="_top">TABLE OF CONTENTS</A> \| <A HREF="../" target="_top">PROGRAM INDEX</A> \| <A HREF="../../index.html" target="_top">HOME</A></P>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>© 1999 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>


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