Sean Norris will return to quarterback the Thunder football team in 2009 after a a junior campaign that saw him set a Wheaton single-season record for touchdown passes, among other marks he established in the Wheaton record books. Below is an interview with the Thunder quarterback.
Q: Why did you choose to attend and play football at Wheaton?
A: It became clear to me that Wheaton was the right school for me when I came on an official visit to the school. I realized that had everything I was looking for in a school, a great academic reputation, a tremendous winning football program with highly committed players and coaches, and a strong Christian environment. I realized that combination of factors was the absolute best situation for me to grow as a young Christian man.
Q: What do you appreciate most about playing for coach Swider?
A: Coach Swider is an unbelievable man of God first and foremost. His intensity and drive is second to none. He is an unbelievable motivator. But most of all, he is a man of conviction that holds true to his beliefs and does not waver. It is easy to follow a man like Coach Swider because you know he lives what he preaches.
Q: What is your favorite Wheaton football memory over the past three years?
A: Well, that is very tough because there are so many great ones to choose from, but I would have to say one of my favorite things we do is Competition Night.
Every year, we split into four teams and compete against each other in the weight room, in the classroom and at different events. It all culminates in one night we call Competition night. The same four teams compete in intense games of dodge ball, sock fights, tug-of-war, wrestling matches, chicken fights in the pool, belly flop contests, donut eating contests and much more. Needless to say, there are usually a lot of bumps and bruises after that night and maybe some stitches, but it is a great time for our team to compete against each other and laugh a little too.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about the experience of advancing to the Semifinals last year?
A: This was one of the best experiences I have ever had playing football. We went into the playoffs as a very low seed, but we made our way through the state of Indiana beating three conference champions and making it all the way to the National Semifinals.
We played in some difficult conditions, rain, snow, cold, all on the road, but it was a lot of fun representing our school and competing at a high level. Traveling with the team is always a good time, being able to stay at nice hotels and have fun with your teammates was great.
Q: How many football ministry trips have you been on, what places have you went to?
A: I have been on two WFMP trips. I went to Sengal, West Africa my sophomore year and South Africa last year.
Q: What was you favorite experience of the football ministry trips you have been on?
A: This past year was an unbelievable experience; we worked at an AIDS orphanage in South Africa. We built a playground for the children, a fence, and we got to play with the kids. It was a very impactful experience to be able to serve the people in South Africa, we were able to see a lot of different things, from beautiful mountain ranges to extreme poverty, very sick, hurting people to joyful, happy children. It was powerful to see God work in a place like South Africa and all around the world.
