After leading Vanderbilt's football team to its biggest victory in decades over sixth-ranked South Carolina in his first career start, redshirt sophomore quarterback Mackenzi Adams took some time to talk to The Hustler about football, classes and his taste in music.

Vanderbilt Hustler: How did you prepare for your first collegiate start, and were you nervous at all?
MA: I was nervous a little bit, but I prepared basically the same. This season, I've been preparing as a starter every game, and the only thing that was really different is that I got more reps in practice.

VH: Beating the sixth-ranked (South Carolina) team must have been a pretty awesome feeling. Was this the best moment of your football career?
MA: So far, it's definitely up at the top, probably the best moment since I've been here. They were a great team. But I didn't really want to think about the rankings; I just wanted to take it one game at a time.

VH: You finally got your chance to shine this past weekend, after a year and a half of backing up Chris Nickson. How difficult was it only playing QB sporadically?
MA: It's good in the fact that I got a lot of reps as a starter. I went in there my freshman year and played in a few games and played this year in a few games, so I definitely got some experience before I started.

VH: But you've played in every game of your career, holding since you were a redshirt freshman. Was that a new skill to you coming into college, or had you practiced that before?
MA: I didn't hold at all in high school. When I got here, we only had one holder, so I had to start learning how to do it. So, yeah, I guess you could count that as playing.

VH: After beating South Carolina, how is the team going to make sure that they stay grounded this weekend against Miami (Ohio)?
MA: You know, we just have to take it one game at a time. Yeah, we played good, we won a game, but that's one game in our season. We've got a lot of games we need to win to meet our goal. We had a good practice this week, so I think we'll be good.

VH: You guys now have a legitimate shot at making a bowl game, Vanderbilt's first since 1982. How cool would it be to play in the postseason?
MA: It would be awesome. It's been a long time since we last made a bowl. That was our goal in the beginning of the season, to go to a good bowl game, and we're in good shape to do that right now.

VH: What team's fans, other than Vandy's of course, are the best in the SEC?
MA: I've never played there, but what I hear is LSU. They went there the year before I got here, and I heard it was just absolutely crazy.

VH: Do you model your game after a certain quarterback?
MA: No, I don't really model after anybody. I learned a lot from Jay (Cutler) when I was here, and I do like Tony Romo. But I try to be myself out there.

VH: What is your favorite class you've taken at Vanderbilt?
MA: I did an independent study with a teacher, L. K. Browning, last year. It was a sports-focused independent study with a couple of people, and it was really fun.

VH: In high school, you excelled in track. What were your events, and did those skills translate to football?
MA: I ran both the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles, and I also ran the 4x1 and the 4x4. I actually won states in both the hurdles, so it was a pretty good deal. I definitely got faster from running track in the spring, but I've gained about 35 pounds since then, so maybe I'm not quite as I was.

VH: How was it having your dad as a high school football coach?
MA: It was good and bad. We had a lot of good memories together, and he was definitely a good support. But at the same time, it's kind of tough playing for your dad because he's a little harder on you, but I think it definitely paid off.

VH: Do you have a favorite NFL team?
MA: The Dallas Cowboys.

VH: What sports do you enjoy other than football?
MA: I love track. I play basketball sometimes at the Rec and stuff, but basically football and track would be it.

VH: You enjoy playing guitar. Who is your favorite guitarist or band?
MA: I really like the Eli Young band; they're a country band.

VH: If you had to describe coach Bobby Johnson in one word, what would it be?
MA: I'd say calm.