What do you do after practice to relax?
I’d get my car out of being towed and then probably go back to the house and order some food. Tonight I gotta do some laundry, call up some friends and go hang out for a little bit. Maybe look at the playbook. If I have some homework to do, I’ll do that and then if there is something going on I’ll probably do that just depending on what’s going on that night. But, I’m just a normal college student.

You play any Nintendo?
Yeah, I play a lot of sports video games.

Do you have a favorite old school Nintendo game?
Old school Nintendo game is by far Mike Tyson’s Punch Out. That was the first video game I ever bought. I never made it to Tyson. I’m not very good at it. I can get past Glass Joe pretty good. I made it through about 10 guys or so.

Favorite bar around town?
I like to go all over the place. You know, in Gainesville, everything is good. Mondays probably the Swamp, Tuesday is Fat Tuesday’s. It depends on the days.

What's your favorite restaurant in Gainesville?
There’s a lot of good ones. I like to eat steak, so I like Outback and Stonewood is a good place and Ballyhoo’s. Those are probably the best nice restaurants but I’m a big fan of Wendy’s as well, you know.

What is it like going out when all eyes are on you?
I hate it. I hate it. I’d rather people not know who I was. Sometimes I guess that just goes along with it. But if somebody recognizes me, comes up to me, that’s fine. But not everyone’s a fan.

Do you like giving autographs?
It’s an honor that people would like me to sign something but it makes me feel uncomfortable. I like doing it but I still think, why would somebody want my signature on something. I’m not that cool. I’m thinking you would want Jennifer Lopez’s autograph, why would anyone want mine?

Do you have a best friend on the team?
I’m close with everyone on the team. The people I work with I am probably closest to. The guys on offense, the receivers maybe a little more closer but everyone is pretty close on the team.

Is it easy or hard to make friends being UF's most recognizable name?
It’s been just like a normal student. You get approached by maybe a few more people but as far as friends I don’t think it is as different as anyone else.

Do you have to fight off the ladies?
Definitely not. I don’t think a lot of girls care if I play football or not, so I don't think that's different at all either.

We asked around and the ladies love the messy hair, 5 o'clock shadow Rex look. What do you have to say to them?
That’s my look? I didn’t even know that was my look. How do I respond to that? I guess it is nice that somebody likes it. At least I have some sort of chance there I guess.

How would you rate people's expectations of you?
I just want to win games and whatever happens, happens. We’re going to try and win an SEC championship. No matter how I play, as long as we win an SEC championship that’s all that counts.

What do you think of the new coaching staff?
It's kind of unexpected but they’ve got a lot of intensity and a lot of drive to be good, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s a new challenge learning a whole new offense, but I'm excited about the season.

Do you have a pregame ritual?
Last year we woke up at about 9 o'clock, had a meeting and then had breakfast. Then we’d come back to the hotel room and watch the (ESPN) College Gameday show and then we’d have pregame meals. Come back, take a shower, get dressed, start listening to music and looking over your plays at the same time. Get on the bus and kind of get into that frame of mind.

What kind of music do you listen to?
I listen to everything from Puff Daddy to Korn to Bob Marley to Dave Matthews Band.

Do you have any superstitions?
I wear the same wristband on my left elbow and I have a wristband on my left knee. That and just weird equipment stuff pretty much. I don't wear the same socks or anything like that or do something really weird.

Other than QB, is there another position that you think you could play?
Probably not at this level but if I had to pick one, I’d probably like to play running back.

You wouldn't want to go out there and just lay somebody out?
Not take somebody out. I like offense. I just like the ball. I’m not fast enough to be a receiver.

What would you want to be if you weren't a football player?
You mean like in the real world? I’d like to own a restaurant or, there are a lot of things. I’d want to be my own boss. That’s the biggest thing. I don’t ever want to work for anybody. I’d have to be an entrepreneur in some sort of business field because I cannot work under somebody. Maybe at first, but eventually I’d have to be my own boss in something.

What's the best thing about being Rex Grossman?
I guess the best thing about being Rex Grossman is playing quarterback at the University of Florida.

Is it the playing or is it everything that goes with it?
It’s everything that goes with it, but the playing is the most fun. The winning, being part of a team, being quarterback of a top 5 team. It's the most fun.

What will you miss most about Gainesville when you're time here is done?
I kind of feel like you are still a kid when you are in school and when you leave you have a lot more responsibilities. I feel like I can still play around in Gainesville and not have anything. I can still party.

Back to Outside the Pocket with Rex Grossman

Story by Jon Warech
Photos by Glenn Danforth