An Interview With Former Badgers Football Player Louis Nzegwu

Aug 15, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Matt Barkley (2) passes the ball under pressure from Carolina Panthers defensive end Louis Nzegwu (50) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Panthers 14-9. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

JR: Once on campus, who geared you up to be a 27-game starter?

LN:  Charlie Partridge. Coach was a great teacher of the game. I really benefited from him a tremendous amount, on and off the field. I really didn’t know much about playing defensive end because of my lack of experience.

Nzegwu walks to the practice at the Panthers practice facility. Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

It was a slow process the first year I got on campus, but I immediately got it down upon Coach Partridge’s arrival. He was really committed and made sure everyone got a chance. Coach did everything he could to help our development and he was very dedicated to us. Ben Herbert as well.

JR: How much did your final game weigh on your mind, if at all? Or did you treat it as just another normal game?

LN: (2012 Rose Bowl) didn’t really weigh down on me until after it was over. The last game in Camp Randall was pretty heavy.

The focus on the opponent outweighed everything until the final seconds of the fourth quarter.  I was really excited and looking forward to the Rose Bowl though, because I was injured for over half the season.

We had a few weeks before the bowl game so I was able to get my body back together and I was really thinking about being as healthy as possible so I could give everything I got in the game.

I was graduating before the game as well so I was thinking about a lot things besides it being my last.

JR: Usually former players reminisce about the locker room experience or the day-to-day activities over the actual games themselves. Was this your experience?

LN: Too many…I could write a book.

Next: Nzegwu Heads South