Quotes about Alonzo Chopp

Chopp works until 2:30am, and Wes Suan told him yesterday:
"Sorry I missed you at the club last night." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Alonzo Chopp just laughed. He doesn't even feel guilty about it. He just staggers right past the 50 other sleeping players in his room, and goes straight to his cot, ready to crash."


About how he's exhausted when he gets back from his night job, Chopp said:
"When I get in, I'm pretty tired. I fall asleep right away." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Four hours later, Chopp wakes up with his teammates and gets ready for practice. He's never punished for breaking curfew. It's special treatment, but not star treatment. In three years at UH, he's played in three games and carried the ball once. He's so far down on the depth chart, it's hard to tell if he's fifth or sixth string in the Warriors' one-back formation. The guy isn't even on scholarship."


Asked why Chopp doesn't get punished for breaking curfew, JJ said:
"We have some guys with baby-sitting issues, so we give them some breaks. But this one is unique." (HSB)

HSB Note: "IF YOU'VE been to 7-Eleven on King Street near University Avenue, you may have been served by a UH football player and not even known it. Alonzo Chopp's been working there quite a while now, 20 to 30 hours a week, on night and graveyard shifts that don't interfere with school and football."


About how he regularly is a customer when Chopp is working, JJ said:
"I come in at 3:30 or 4 in the morning. I get coffee over there and he takes my money. You'd think I'd get free coffee, but he's a good employee. He can't give it away." (HSB)

HSB Note: "To Jones, that's a sign of character. So when Chopp told Suan and Jones that participation in fall camp would conflict with his work schedule, they decided to let him go to his night job. As a walk-on, Chopp is allowed to have a job throughout the year, unlike teammates on scholarship. He needs the job for rent, food and other expenses."


About how he can't quit his job, Chopp said:
"I have to keep working. I have to pay the bills." (HSB)


About Chopp, RB coach Wes Suan said:
"If he was a pain-in-the-butt guy or high-maintenance guy, we'd worry about it. But he's very dependable, so we want to do everything to help him become better. Other guys we would tell them, 'Well, just go work at the job,' forget about football." (HSB)


About how he is also a regular 7-11 customer of Chopp, Suan said:
"I get nothing free from him. And he doesn't get anything free from me. It's even." (HSB)


About his no-discount policy, Chopp said:
"Full price for everybody." (HSB)


About how nobody resent Chopp missing curfew, Mario Cox said:
"When somebody tries to come up with an excuse for something, you know it's not a good excuse. Because of what Alonzo does." (HSB)


About making it through jungle training in Okinawa as a Marine, Chopp said:
"It was just survival. Catch our own food, find some live chickens, skin 'em and cook 'em. Wild plants. I ate a lot of gross things as a Marine." (HSB)


Asked what was the worst food he ate as a Marine, Chopp said:
"Processed eggs." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Chopp said he was fully prepared to serve in the war, but is glad his enlistment ended before it came to that and that he wants his fellow Marines and his country out of Iraq. He was a track, as well as football standout in Hearne, Texas, and was supposed to get a tryout with the All-Marine Corps track and field team before his orders were changed. When that happened, he decided not to re-enlist, and "look for a school to walk on at." That school turned out to be UH, since he was stationed at Kaneohe."


About how Chopp can contribute to the team this year, Suan said:
"This year he could help us with special teams. And he's knowledgeable enough to do some cleanup work at running back. He's such a great kid, willing to make all the sacrifices." (HSB)


Mario Cox calls the 26-year-old Chopp:
"Grandpa." (HSB)


About Chopp (he appointed another Marine walk-on Ammon Tong and Chopp team captains for a game the week of Veteran's Day 2 years ago), JJ said:
"He's like every other Marine I've ever known. A team player. He does whatever he can to help the team, and that's what a good Marine is." (HSB)