Coach Mac on Mighty MAQ

When the Oakland Raiders selected offensive lineman Paul McQuistan of Weber State University in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft, two questions immediately reverberated throughout the Raider Nation: Who? Where?

Since then, we’ve learned a lot more about Paul McQuistan, and even a little bit about Weber State, a Division 1-AA school in Ogden, Utah. Oakland is a long way from Ogden, both geographically and culturally, yet McQuistan seems to have made a smooth transition. Along the way, he has managed to become an improbable cult hero. He inspired a haiku fest here at Raider Take and even earned his own fan club.

But how did McQuistan get here in the first place? What are the qualities that made him a third-round selection? How did Weber State prepare him for the NFL—and does he have what it takes to succeed at the highest level? To answer these questions, Raider Take turned to Ron McBride, head coach of the Weber State Wildcats.

Coach Mac, as he is known around campus, wields nearly 40 years of coaching experience. Prior to joining Weber State, Coach Mac was head coach at the University of Utah for 13 seasons. He led the Utes to six bowl games during his tenure—three more than the school had attended in the preceding 97 years. During his illustrious career, Coach Mac has guided many players to the NFL, including Jamal Anderson, Mike Anderson, Kevin Dyson, Steve Smith and Barry Sims.

Coach Mac is also a cool guy. Without hesitation, he kindly took time out of his camp preparations to tell the Raider Nation more about Paul McQuistan. Following is the transcript of our interview:

What was the first thing you noticed about Paul?

He was in the weight room with his brother the first time I saw him. These two big red-headed kids. They looked good, and they were strong. That's what I first remember. This was a year before I became the head coach, when I was visiting a friend at the university. Then when I took the job and I saw them again, I was impressed by their size and leanness.

Were you surprised to see Paul get selected in the third round of the NFL draft?

No. I've coached a lot of guys over the years who were drafted. Barry Sims played for me at Utah. I've had a lot of linemen who've gone on to play in the NFL, and I think Paul is as good as any of those guys.

Has the selection of the McQuistan twins by the Raiders and Cowboys elevated the visibility of your program?

Well, everybody's talking about it. We had two players drafted, the McQuistan brothers, and another who got signed. That's a total of three players who made it to the NFL, which is perhaps the most representation this year from a Division 1-AA school.

What’s your favorite memory of Paul at Weber State?

Well, he's pretty funny. He's a practical joker. He likes to do stuff that's a little out of the ordinary. He has a good sense of humor. I'd be standing around and he'd touch me at some point from behind. I'd see him over there giggling like he didn't do it. I'd say, "When you get to the NFL, you'd better not be touching your head coach and hiding!”

What do you think about the Raiders switching Paul from left tackle (his position at Weber State) to right guard?

They've got a veteran offensive line coach, so I know they're going to put him in a position that best suits their needs, and where he best fits. If Barry Sims moves to left guard, I could have two former players starting at guard for the Raiders, which would be pretty interesting. They both come from small towns. Barry is from Park City, and Paul is from a small town in Oregon.

How do you think Paul will fare in the NFL?

He'll have a long career. He has a great work ethic, and he's a gym rat. He's aggressive and he's tough. He'll play hurt. The only thing that would shorten his career is a serious injury. He's got all the right qualities.

Did you know that Paul is already a bit of a cult figure in the Raider Nation?

Somebody told me that, and I kind of chuckled when I heard. I thought he hadn't been there long enough to be a cult figure. Maybe it's his hair, maybe he looks like a biker. I'll tell you, he's a great kid, a funny kid and an aggressive football player. He’s got all of the qualities to succeed in the NFL. You need to be a bit off center to play the game at that level. If you've got all your marbles, you’re probably not playing.

Thanks to Coach Mac for a great interview. Keep those linemen coming. Go Raiders and go Wildcats!