HEADLINE NEWS - Features

Monday - 9/10/2001

QUICK FACTS

• Age: 37
  
• College: UNLV
  
• Birthdate: March 27, 1963 in Santa Barbara, CA.
  
• Attended Santa Barbara High School
  
• All three of his brothers (Sam, Bruce and Anthony) played college football. Sam played professionally for the New England Patriots from 1973-79 and in 1981.
  

Hobbies:
�I like to play golf. But my main activity away from the game is writing music lyrics. I write gospel and inspirational songs. I have a music studio in Las Vegas that I built. It�s called Studio 7.�

Best professional football moment:
�Having the opportunity to play in the NFC Championship game in 1998 as quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.�

Best high school football moment:
�Going to the state high school championship and playing against Long Beach Poly. We were out-powered by them and didn�t win, but it was the first time our team had ever been tested and really challenged. It was great because we fought them the best we could and displayed a lot of character. That one game taught me more about our football team than the previous 13, and we went undefeated before that.�

The player that influenced his career the most:
Without hesitation Randall says, �James Harris. Growing up in Los Angeles and watching James Harris play for the Rams showed me that being a black quarterback in the NFL was possible. Just seeing him with that opportunity and then watching the way he carried himself really encouraged me. That is why I wore number 12 in Philadelphia.�

Best defensive players Randall has played against:
Linebacker: �Ray Lewis. He has taken the position to another level. Even from the short time I have watched him play, he is just an amazing player.�
Defensive lineman: �None other than Reggie White.�
Cornerbacks: �Eric Allen, Darrell Green and throw Aeneas Williams in the mix too.�
Safety: �Andre Waters. People don�t remember him, but he would take you out. He was ferocious. He would hit you anywhere, and he was like that every time he played.�

On punting:
�I started punting back in pee-wee flag football. I was always bigger than every other kid, so I did everything. It came easy to me.�

The aspect of his game that has changed the most:
�My throwing. I used to just step back and fire the ball and my completion percentage wasn�t real good. Guys wouldn�t see the ball coming and couldn�t adjust fast enough to it. I�ve learned to try and get it to my receivers in a position where they can get to it, make it soft enough so they can catch it.�

The game through Randall�s eyes, 16 years after his first start:
�I have come to understand the business and the game better. I was never really concerned with a whole lot besides those 60 minutes of game time. I was so caught up in trying to dominate everything I did, and concerned about myself, that I was oblivious to the other realities of the game. If you don�t do your job, you won�t last in this game and I never thought about that type of thing.�