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Sports

Doty starting center of attention in off-season

UH offensive lineman gives a glimpse of his fun-filled adventures

by Chris Elliott 
THE DAILY COUGAR

Ask an average football fan what the most crucial position needed to jumpstart an effective offense is and the most common response would probably be quarterback. Ask a coach, quarterback, running back, or receiver the same question and the response will be different. 

"The offensive line is definitely what makes the offense go. A lot of the media attention goes towards more of the skill players: quarterbacks, receivers, running backs," UH center Sterling Doty said. "That's great and everything, but if we don't block for them then they don't get the ball in time to make the big plays. Really for us as a team and as an offensive unit it starts for us up front."

Doty, standing at 6-1 and 295 pounds, attended West Point Prep before transferring to UH and sitting out a year in 2003. Doty has started every game since then and has grown fond of a college life not under the scrutiny of military officers. In other words, UH has been good to this man in the middle.

"It was totally different. Coming out of high school it was really tough. West Point focuses a lot on academics. As a freshman, I was taking 21 hours. On top of that you had to wake up early in the morning and do all those chores," Doty said. "It's totally different for regular college life. I'd definitely say I like it a lot better here. That's why I left, to become a part of a better football program."

Doty and the rest of the offensive line have been a part of an attack that has produced numbers that are consistently in the top tier of NCAA Division I statistics. Operating primarily out a mostly spread offense they have been able to produce three straight 1,000 yard rushers, which is a feat in itself.

"When you talk to a lot of people around the nation they think that we have a pass-first-type offense when really we take what the defense gives us. If they have a light box we're going to run the ball. If they have a heavy box we're going to pass the ball," Doty said. "We just take what the defense gives us, and of course we have some of the best skill players in the nation. We have a better receiving core than anyone in the nation, as fast as they are and as talented as they are. It's been really cool to be able to run the ball when people think all we do is pass. We do a lot of stuff out of the shotgun. We run the zone and the stretch. It makes it a little bit difficult but we just get the backs through there and then we got ourselves a touchdown."

When in comes to the professional game, Doty has his own criteria when it comes to what types of players and philosophies he would like to play with and be a part of if given a shot in the NFL.

"Tom Brady. Being an offensive lineman I think he'd be a great quarterback to work with. He's really a team player. He's really unselfish and really gets it done. You don't hear that much about him as far as records and passing yards are concerned, but man he's got three rings on his fingers for a reason."

Doty can be found doing one of two things when he's not on the field: playing poker or watching movies. Doty claims to be an experienced veteran in both of these activities, putting hours of practice and preparation in order to try to perfect both.

"I enjoy playing poker. Texas Hold'em. I'd say I'm pretty good at that; it's all about the money. We have a weekly game that a lot of the offensive linemen play in. We do that a lot and mostly just hang out and have a good time," Doty said. "Last summer I went on a streak there when I was winning a lot, but I've kind of dried out this past spring. I'd say the person who's hot right now is probably Perry McDaniel."

Though Doty is not the man right now when it comes to the poker roundtable, he may still hold the crown when it comes to the Silver Screen and DVD rentals. Blockbuster can vouch for him in that area.

"I like to watch a lot of movies. My roommate, Kevin Kolb and me have the blockbuster online deal. So we get like three DVDs in a week. We like to watch a lot of movies and go to the movies," Doty said. "When I go, I like to see more than one. That's probably what I'm known for on the team. Going to the movies and watching three or four things at a time."

"Comedy. One of my favorites that have come out in the last couple of years has been Wedding Crashers. I thought it was hilarious. Anything with Vince Vaughn in it is going to be great," Doty said. "My favorite comedy movie of all time has probably got to be Dumb and Dumber. My top three movies of all time are Tombstone, Seven and Dumb and Dumber."
 

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