10 Questions With Men's Soccer Player Peter Davis
10/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 22, 2008
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Now a senior on the men's soccer team at USC Upstate, Peter Davis has some different opportunities and plans for the future upon graduation. Davis, a 6"6' Corporate Fitness major, has ambitions of studying sport in grad school. Davis has played in three games this season, after missing the 2007 season for surgery to repair a torn ACL in his knee. This season, Davis has recorded 12 saves in his 225 minutes played.
Before coming to Upstate, Davis played for two years at Spartanburg Methodist, where he was a two-time Region X All-Region Team member and a two-time Most Valuable Player. Prior to that, he broke all the goalkeeping records at Seneca High School, was a two-time All-Region selection and was named to the All-State team as a senior.
Davis recently sat down with Sarah Hurd of upstatespartans.com to review the 2008 season and his plans upon graduation.
How did you first become involved in soccer?
I first began playing soccer when I was in elementary school through the local YMCA. Soccer wasn't the only thing I played, I also competed in baseball and basketball. Of all the sports, I felt that I enjoyed soccer the most and I stuck with it.
Did you ever play any other positions besides goalkeeper?
When I first started out, I played all the different positions. As I got older and taller and the competition narrowed, the coaches wanted me to play in the goalkeeper position because of my height. I think it worked out well for me.
What's the most important thing to keep in mind when you're playing within the goal posts?
In my opinion, it's very important to keep a cool and level head and to believe in yourself. Compared to all the other positions on the soccer field, the goalkeeper needs a significant amount of confidence and mental concentration because one mistake can affect the game. There is also more agility and pressure involved in the position.
The men's soccer team has had an unfortunate year, posting a 1-12 record so far. What do you see as the main challenge your team has faced?
We have a very young team (with only three seniors, including myself), which obviously brings many challenges to a new school competing in Division I, especially. Fortunately, many of the young guys have stepped up. Being a senior, I hope to come back next year and see most of them as returners. A main challenge for us has just been adjusting to the intensity and competition level at the Division I level, especially after enduring so much success in Division II in the Peach Belt Conference. As a senior, going out with a record like that is obviously disappointing, but I always take positives out of the season, regardless of the record. In my eyes, our team has very many talented players, but we are just inexperienced.
What are your plans after graduation? Do you still see yourself playing soccer?
I'd like to go to graduate school. Any individual who plays college soccer wants to compete at the highest level possible, so trying to play at the next level is always a possibility for me as well. I try to be realistic about the situation, and there are many other factors outside of soccer I'd like to pursue. I'd like to explore a possible career in sport management or communications, since I am majoring here in Corporate Fitness.
How do you get motivated and pumped up before a big game?
Everyone has his/her own way of getting motivated before a game. Usually, I like to think about the positive aspects of play, like practice that week or certain things I excelled at. I always talk to my mom on the phone, which relaxes me and puts me in the right mindset for the game, and I listen to music as well.
If you didn't play soccer, what other collegiate sport would you want to play?
I guess basketball or swimming would be a good fit for me because of my height, but I've never really thought about that.
Who is your ultimate athletic hero and why?
Lance Armstrong, given the circumstances that he was put under and what he achieved with his life-threatening cancer. I thought that coming back from all the lows he has had and working to win the Tour De France was phenomenal. As far as a soccer-related hero, I always look up to goalkeepers I can relate to because of my height, such as Peter Check.
What's it like playing with so many diverse individuals from around the world on your team?
It's great. Since I've been at Upstate, there's always been a vast array of athletes from different countries on all the different teams. When I played at Spartanburg Methodist, the majority of the athletes were from the local areas within the Southeast. When I came here, it was almost the complete opposite. It has enabled me to experience and understand what other cultures are like and make friendships around the world.
Aside from soccer, what's your favorite sport to watch at USC Upstate and why?
Probably baseball because it is my second-favorite sport. A few of the guys on the team usually go support the women's volleyball team, and I do enjoy watching those matches as well. I try to make it to as many sporting events at Upstate as possible because they always give me something to look forward to.
