- Starting defensive end
- Redshirt junior
- 6-foot-3, 250 pounds
- Langley H.S.
- Great Falls, Va.
- Sociology major
- Only member of the defensive line to start every game last season
- Tied Cav record with two forced fumbles against Maryland
- Tormented BYU quarterback Kevin Feterik in last year's Virginia win, racking up five tackles, two sacks and a season-high four quarterback hurries
Q: Last year, the Virginia media guide said you "loved to draw." Why is that gone this year?
A: When I was younger and through high school, I enjoyed art. Sketching, things like that. It was a leisure activity, but with football and class now, there's not too much time to do much else. I guess it went from art to watching TV.
Q: Obviously, the NFL is every college football player's dream, but are you realistically planning on that?
A: I'm just hoping to play football as long as I can, and just see wherever it takes me in life and see what type of people it'll introduce me to and opportunities it might bring. The NFL would be great, but if that doesn't work out, I'd try to play overseas. Just anywhere I could - Arena League, I wouldn't care. As long as my body would take it and someone will have me, I'll just keep playing. Before I have to get a real job, I guess.
Q: Any funny stories growing up in Great Falls with a name like Ljubomir Stamenich?
A: The first day of class is always interesting. Since I've been young, since elementary school, it's always fun to see how the teachers pronounce it. Sometimes they put letters in there that aren't even on the roll. I don't understand. There's a guide in the media guide [Loo ba meer STAM en itch], so I always wondered how commentators and announcers might get it wrong. I should probably get a pronunciation guide for the roll or something. I never thought it was too hard. "Lube" has been with me since I was young.
Q: Speaking of which, we've now got Thweatt pops to help Byron's All-American candidacy. Are we going to see free Lube job promotions anytime soon?
A: [smiles] I doubt it. I don't think I have that type of image or character on the team. Maybe next year, as long as I produce on the field. There might be an opportunity for that, but right now, I don't see it happening.
Q: With your parents having immigrated from Serbia, is that culture a part of your life?
A: The older I've gotten, the less and less it's been that way. When I was younger, it was involved in my household, but since I've come here to school, it's been kind of difficult. I'm here 10, 11 months out of the year, so it's not a big part of my life. I still speak Serbian when I'm at home with my parents. It's kind of a mix of English and Serbian. And my Serbian is slowly getting worse and worse. I actually have a Serbian book just in case I forget some words.
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