EDITOR'S NOTE: This feature appears in the Digital Game Program for Saturday's contest with LA Tech. For the complete program, visit, goUTSA.com/Program.
By Dominique Ramos, UTSA Athletics Communications
Q: How do you normally celebrate Thanksgiving with your family?
Charles Wiley: Normally it is a big chill day for us. A lot of cooking that we will do, but it is very chill. Everyone is loving each other and gets to eat together. Normally we would go to my Aunt's house and see some distant relatives, giving thanks for the family we have and being able to appreciate one another.
Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory while growing up?
CW: When my grandma would make about 20 to 30 sweet potato pies. I could eat about two to three myself in one sitting and take about four home with me. My mom didn't like that but they were so good.
Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving meal?
CW: I like it all. I like turkey legs, honey-baked ham, fried turkey, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, macaroni and cheese. I love it all, I can't give just one specific thing. I like everything.
Q: When did you know that you wanted to play football at the next level and what was the process like to make this dream a reality?
CW: When I started to see my friends begin to start the process, like Kendarius Webster, and I saw he was getting highly recruited, D.J. Jones, both of them play for San Francisco. Josiah Coatney, he was big and I knew he was going to go to the NFL. When I saw some of the guys I came into college with, A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf, when I started seeing those guys going to the NFL and I played alongside these guys, I played at the same high level, so I began to think that I could be able to do it, too.
Q: What has the transition from Mississippi to UTSA been like thus far?
CW: I couldn't ask for a better transition. It has been very smooth, I appreciate the coaching staff. They have let me be a leader while letting me be outgoing. I couldn't ask for a better opportunity and a better transition between colleges.
Q: What does it mean to you to have a chance to be selected for a bowl game?
CW: It is amazing because I have never been on a team selected before. We had issues at Ole Miss as well as some rough seasons, so being able to have this opportunity going into my fifth year of college, that's amazing. That goes with the hard work we put in each and every day. I couldn't be prouder of the guys around me and the coaching staff. As much hard work that we put in, I definitely believe that we deserve it.
Q: With this being the last home football game for UTSA this season, how would you reflect on this year?
CW: I couldn't ask for anything better. I literally wake up every day happy to be able to go to work every day and be able to give my all for my teammates and my family and my coaching staff that believes in me so much. This has been an amazing experience and I couldn't ask for anything better for my senior year.
Q: What is something you have learned from your coaches or teammates that you will take into the real world?
CW: No matter what is going on in your life, good or bad, you have to prevail through it. We've had guys that were injured early in the season, I have seen guys have an off game and the next week they have the best game of their career. So, for me, no matter what the circumstance is, good or bad, it's just being able to prevail and continue to get better no matter what is going on.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
CW: I am really big on video games. That is probably what my life revolves around outside of school and football. I love "Call of Duty" and "Minecraft", I just love playing those games. For the most part, playing video games that's my biggest hobby.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
CW: I am not exactly sure just yet. I am just trying to get through week by week, trying to evaluate everything and just see how everything is going, to be able to take the time and be able to make the right decision for myself in the long run.
Q: Who is someone you admire most or look up to?
CW: I look up to both of my parents. I would not be the man I am today without them. My parents have always been really big on it's not how you start, it's how you finish. My father is an extremely hard-working man. My mother is the same way, and I want to make sure I live my life every day to make them proud. They have always made me proud throughout life.
Q: For the younger athletes going through this difficult time of shorter seasons and less games, what is some advice you would give them to keep pushing forward with the sport they love?
CW: Do everything you can on the things you have control over. Do not focus on the things you do not have control over, just do the things you can. Make sure you are getting the extra film time in, the extra workouts, being able to get with your coaches, doing everything you can that is in your ability. You can't justify or take control over how many games you play. Just make sure with the things you can control, do what you can do and everything will take care of itself outside of that as long as you keep the faith.
