Chat Live With J.R. Lemon April 20th!Chat Live With J.R. Lemon April 20th!

Chat Live With J.R. Lemon April 20th!

Chat Live With J.R. Lemon April 20th!

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 J.R. Lemon
Cardinal Commitment:
J.R. Lemon continues a series of twice-weekly chats by Stanford Football players during 2004 spring practice

Lemon To Chat Live Tuesday, April 19

Stanford, CA - Stanford football player J.R. Lemon will make a special visit to the gostanford.com moderated chat room on Tuesday, April 19 (1:00 pm, PT) to continue a series of twice-weekly chats by Stanford Football players during 2004 spring practice.

The junior running back is looking for a breakout season in 2004 and is expected be one of the team's top rusher's in the upcoming season. Lemon has 552 career yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, while also catching six balls for 77 yards.

Lemon finished second on the team in both rushing yards (467) and carries (118) last season, while adding four touchdowns on the ground as a sophomore last season. He came on strong during the latter stages of the campaign with a pair of big games against Arizona State (34 carries, 151 yards, 2 TD) and California (17 carries, 84 yards), earning the Frank Rehm Award as Stanford's most outstanding back in the Big Game. Lemon also had a 100-yard showing versus San Jose State in the season-opener, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. In addition, he earned honorable mention Academic All-Pac-10 honors.

As a sophomore, Lemon picked up 85 yards and three touchdowns on 30 rushes, while also playing on special teams. He picked up 69 of his yards on 17 carries versus San Jose State.

Stanford will begin its 2004 football season by hosting San Jose State on Saturday, September 11 (TBA).

The Management Science and Engineering major and native of Fayetteville, Georgia, will enter the chat room on Tuesday at 1:00 pm, PT. If you would like to ask your questions ahead of time feel free to leave them now, and we will save them for his arrival.

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Moderator: Hello everyone. J.R. is here in the Chat Room and ready to answer your questions.

Michael Forrest (Porter Ranch, CA): JR...

First off, please give me your impressions of all the other RB's on the team...

Secondly, I've noticed over the years you've been the recruiting host to several RB's... Is that awkward hosting kids who you know want to come in and take your job?

Hope to see you as 1st string come the fall...

I know your family and especially your late mother are very proud of you!

Thanks in advance...

stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: Michael, firstly, t hank you for the complement. To anwser your first question, I feel very strongly about the running backs core entering this upcoming season. I think that within the group there exist a number of different personalities that can assume different responsibilites for our team. Kenny is a very solid running back. He is elusive in his running style and his speed catches many people off guard. Another thing about Kenny that works to his advantage is his durability, our nickname for him within our group is Unbreakable. David is a speed demon and also has some shiftiness to him. Jason is a very hard runner who has the ability to also make people miss. Kris has really come on strong this spring in his blocking and catching so I am expecting big things from him come fall. Emeka is a talent that I believe will develop into a great player. As far as hosting guys, yes I have hosted a number of recruits. The kicker is that I love the competetion. I feel that it will only make me better fighting for my position. Complacency can be a major downfall at this level.
Leilani: How has balancing Engineering and Sports been since you have been at such a strong academic school? How has Spring Ball been for you during your studies?
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: Balancing the two has been very challenging being that I did not come to Stanford with much AP credit and have had to take all of the prerequisite classes. However, at this point balancing a thousand things seems to be second nature to me now. I have 20 units right now so it is hard but you just have to try to allocate yur time wisely.
Oscar (San Francisco): What sort of improvements have you, as well as the team, made between the end of last season and now? Can we see the Stanford offense capitalizing on opportunities to score like that of the 2003 Big Game? Likewise can we see the Stanford defense manage to do its share of making sure scores like 0-35, and 3-43 don't happen in 2004? Best of luck in 2004!!!
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: I feel that in the spring our offense has made substantial improvement. We have been bringing it to the defense all spring. Part of that is maturity on our part and the other part I think is the offensive coaches creating an enviornment that gives us the oppurtunity for all of the offensive to be successful in. Our Defense I feel will be strong as before, for it will be on the offense to keep them off of the field

Mike Biselli (Reno): J.R.- what's up big guy!

I wanted to know why there is such an allure for you Georgia boys to come play for the Cardinal? It seems as though, besides California, that Georgia is Stanford's "go-to" state in regards to recruiting.

Keep working hard and I look forward to seeing you guys this weekend at the Spring Game!

P.S.- I am still keeping that blow dart strong (haha)...

stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: Well obviouslly Stanford is a great school to have the chance to come to. I think that the reasons differ for each individual, but for me in making my decision, I simply asked myself this question, "When would I ever get the chance to live all the way across the country, be around great people, and pretty much live for free ever again" But thats just me. And I got my darts to buddy
BMiL (Pasadena): I heard you have ten different ways of saying the word "yeah". Is this true?
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: LOL yes sir that is correct
Erick F. ( Seattle): J.R.What are your individual workout plans for the summer, what areas are you hoping to improve on ? Good luck next season.
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: I will be going home for about a month and will be doing alot of speed training there. As far as areas of improvements, I would like to work on my flexibility and explosiveness in the offseason. I feel that I can do all of the things that they want me to do (i.e. run, block, catch) however I will try to fine tune those things come this summer and get great at all of them.
Spankdiddy (Stanford): You're a very talented running back...Do you feel that you have the responsibility of putting Stanford's running game back on the map? Will our offensive scheme this year allow you to do this?
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: I definitely feel an obligation to get this program's rush attack back on the map. To my team because I know that we have to ability, to the fans because you guys deserve some wins and to myself to live up to the expectations that I have for myself
Momaceta, Atlanta, GA: You are such a great role model for young athletes. How do you manage to balance academics and athletics?
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: There is a fine line between to little and too much of either there being only 24 hours in the day, but in my situation I always viewed my academics as a necessary thing while I always felt that my athletics would create an alternative oppurtunity for me to achieve comfortablity later on in life. Plus I am a guy who enjoys the sports so much.
PAUL BELMONT: J.R. LEMON DO YOU WANT TO SELCTED BY NFL DRAFT PICK ON YOUR HOME TOWN
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: Yes, that would be a dream come true.
Papatunde (Naperville): What are your ultimate goals this year for the team and for yourself? Keep up the good work. See you at the games and the Rose Bowl. GO CARDINAL!!!
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: Ultimate goals;PAC 10 Championship#1 Rush Offense in Country#1 Scoring Offense (Country)National Championship
Denise, San Francisco: Miss ya Duuude! Spring ball is often difficult becuase it is the first time the team is together without the seniors of the previous season. Is there any position where you feel the loss the most?
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: Not especially, for we were so young last year everybody seems to be back. Loosing Luke, Kirk, Amon, Chris, and Brett hurts but we have guys to step in for them it appears.
FootballFan(Miami): Is this going to be a breakout year for the Stanford "O" and how is the young offensive line doing this Spring? What is the toughest part about going up against the Cardinal "D"
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: I believe that this will be the year. Additionally, our line has stepped up their game big time maturing it seems with each day of practice. The toughest part of our D being that they are all so fast is picking up thier blitz
Connie (Bakersfield): Is Stanford everything you thought it would be? Why did you go so far from home to play college football?
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: It was all about the people.
Derek (San Francisco): J.R. - You've really emerged as a tough runner, so who in the Pac-10 would you most like to stiff-arm to the ground this year?
stan-sm-chat-icon.gif spacer.gif J.R.: Anybody that tries to tackle me. Everyone who I would have though graduated or left early
Moderator: J.R. had to run to a team meeting. Thanks for your questions and come out and watch J.R. and the rest of the Cardinal at the Spring Game this weekend. Go Cardinal!
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