Tuesdays with Wilde: Marshall Newhouse

I come from a football family. My dad, John, played at Dallas Carter High School and then at the University of Houston under coach Bill Yeoman. He was a part of three Cotton Bowl teams (1977, 1979, 1980). The way he tells stories, he loved playing football there. He definitely wished he could’ve continued his career. Then my cousin Robert – he’s technically my dad’s cousin, so he’s my second cousin – he played 12 years with the Cowboys (1972-‘83). As I was growing up, everyone just called him “Uncle.” He of course won himself a Super Bowl. And then his two sons, Roderick played at Rice and was with Ravens, and then Reggie played receiver for Baylor, set a bunch of records and then was with the Cardinals and the Jets. And then my brother played at Rice as well. But football was never forced on me.

At same time I was playing football and baseball and other sports, my parents were stressing importance of academics. People don’t realize how small the odds are. They were definitely on me about school, but also to do the best in all the sports I played. I can’t remember the exact numbers, but I remember somebody showing me the numbers of how many football players get full scholarships, and then the number of players that actually play, then the number that make it to NFL, and the numbers just keep dwindling, especially compared to rest of the country. One injury here or there it’s over, so you can’t take it for granted.

I didn’t do too much for Halloween. I went out and saw a couple people. I’m not sure I’m comfortable saying what I dressed up as. I don’t know how appropriate or PC it is. So I’m going to keep it to myself.

My favorite TV shows? I’m a big fan of "The Wire." I watch "No Reservations" with Anthony Bordain, and I like "The Office." Those are my top three. I’ve been watching "No Reservations" since it first came on. I’ve always wanted to travel, and he’s such a smart guy. I’ve read a couple books, too. It’s an entertaining show, for sure.

I was a graphic design major when I first got to school at TCU, so I’ve got an artistic side. From time to time, I like to take my mind off football and draw. I keep a sketch book. I definitely don’t think I’m the most talented person. But I do enjoy it. I rarely show my drawings to anyone, though. I took a few drawing classes, and we had to all show each other stuff. That was my one opportunity to let people see. I usually keep it to myself.

I enjoy reading. I just read Malcom Gladwell’s Outliers. That was such an interesting book. And I just read this book King’s C, which is an awesome book as well. It’s a Christian book. It goes in-depth on the story of Christ.

On my iPod right now, I’ve got some Kanye West, and I just downloaded some Wale, which is another rapper. I’ve also got some country on there, like Jason Aldean. I’m all over the spectrum, man.

I’ve been told throughout my life that I’m mature for my age. I don’t know where it comes from. I definitely was raised to have a good head on my shoulders. I owe that to my parents, for sure. They’ve helped me approach situations with a different mindset than most people my age. I’m by no means a know-it-all or have everything figured out. But I owe it all to my parents. That’s just how I’ve been. I guess I’d just say I like to think things through.

I like Twitter. My ID is @mnewhouse74. I first got into it to have between me and my friends as another way of communication. Then when I got to the Packers it was a way to open up and reach out to the fans. It has its pros and cons. I like to use it from time to time.

Being at the Super Bowl was such an awesome event, especially with it being in my hometown. There were so many things that happened that may never happen again in my life. I was so appreciative to be there, especially being a football fan my entire life. That blew me away.

I feel like the whole mood of the whole week of the Super Bowl changed because of the (wintry) weather. I just enjoyed being home, got to see people, got to see my parents, it was great. Just being at the Super Bowl and then winning it, it was crazy. People might’ve made a big deal about the IR guys being there, but I felt as part of the team as anybody else. I was just enjoying the ride.

I just saw In Time back when I was home, which I don’t think was very good. No sparkling reviews there. One of my top movies is Pulp Fiction, and I love Trading Places, the old Eddie Murphy/Dan Akroyd movie. I feel like I just saw it one time at my parents when I was young and loved it. It was funny then and it’s funny now. It’s one of those movies that never gets old. To me at least.

I come from a pretty big family. But my grandparents, a lot of them have passed, so we’ve got a tighter family from that. I have an older brother, John. He’s 27. He’s in California. It’s just me and him as far as kids. I was the youngest.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous when I went in in Chicago or when I moved to left tackle in Atlanta. I think almost all football players get nervous, no matter how much preparation you have. I definitely was calm and just really focused on myself. When it happened at Chicago, it all took us by surprise on the sideline. You go through process in your head of, “OK, I’m next up.’ So I went in and took it from there. At that moment, you either rise above it or you let it consume you. I was definitely focused on just rising above it.

In May, I went with some friends to Haiti through Mission of Hope Haiti. We stayed outside of Port au Prince at an orphanage. It was just an opportunity that arose, and because of the lockout I had extra free time. It was something where I could go somewhere outside of my comfort zone and grow in my faith and as a man. We were at this orphanage, and the way it’s portrayed in the news media, everything is so dreadful and downtrodden, but they’re still people. They rely so much heavily on their faith than we do, because when you’re desperate, sometimes that’s all you have. They were building extra schools, trade workshops so they can help themselves get back on their feet. It was a great thing to see that grow. I learned some Creole and enjoyed some fellowship with some of my friends. God put us there to help the people of Haiti, and I’m just so blessed to be a part of it.

I don’t know if I went to TCU necessarily because of my faith. I only had a couple options coming out of high school. I was recruited by SMU and TCU and that was basically it. I had a scholarship offer from Tulane, but they had just gone through Hurricane Katrina. SMU was 10 minutes from my house, and TCU was on the right track with football, and I was able to get a great education and experience Fort Worth as a city.

We talk about our alma maters in the locker room, sure. There’s some playful ribbing and that stuff, especially when guys’ teams are playing each other. Everyone started to have respect for TCU after we beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl last year. I had been talking about my team all year, but for them to prove it on a national stage definitely gave them some serious credibility.

I love that TCU is going to be in the Big XII. Our new athletic director and our old athletic director were so dedicated to TCU moving upward and onward. I think it’ll be great. TCU is on the rise, they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.

As a kid, my favorite team had to be the Cowboys. I was a huge Cowboys fan. I only remember the 1995 Super Bowl, when they beat Pittsburgh. The other two, I was too young to appreciate. But I also remember all the struggles after that Super Bowl.

The best lesson I ever got from my parents was definitely just to have a thick skin. My dad, he’s a jokester, but he was tough on me, and it was a tough-love type of thing sometimes. Growing up, I had to get used to that. Life is going to throw stuff at you. How you react to it is so much more important than what’s happening. I’m so blessed to have my parents in my life. They’ve both been great role models for me.

If I weren’t playing football, I don’t know what I’d be doing. I think about that all the time, planning my next step. Possibly, I’d be a college football coach. My degree is advertising/public relations, and I can see myself working at PR firm, but there’s nothing specific. I love working with kids, so I’m always open to that now.

I don’t get recognized in Green Bay at all. When there’s more than one of us big guys, we stick out. But me by myself, I don’t get recognized. And I appreciate that. I never sought out the spotlight.

My favorite moment as a Packer, other than the Super Bowl, was definitely playing in my first live action in Chicago. Unfortunately the circumstances weren’t great, because Bryan (Bulaga) was hurt, but that’s something I’ll never forget, getting my first snaps.

If I were NFL commissioner, I would let all linemen be eligible receivers on every play. Can I catch the ball? Yeah, I can catch the ball. I had a designed play in college that I caught – unfortunately we didn’t score, but it worked. We worked on it for six, seven weeks. I had to catch a ball from Andy Dalton, and I had a little stiff-arm. So it was fun. I think I gained like six yards. And then got cut down by a cornerback who didn’t want to tackle me.

My closest friends on the team are my o-linemen and then a couple of the rookie tight ends, Ryan Taylor and D.J. Williams. We hang out a lot. You saw the picture of Taylor as Justin Bieber on Twitter? I didn’t know that was out there. Let me tell you, it took him awhile to get into those jeans.

Before games, I always read Scripture in the hotel room, so when I get to the locker room, it’s just a matter of getting loose and going outside, getting some fresh air. I have no routine. There are certain guys who it’s mandatory that they do certain things. I observe it and it’s kind of funny to watch, but whatever it takes to get ready, I respect that.

When my NFL career is over, I hope people say that Marshall Newhouse was a great football player but also a great character person. And that I played the game the right way. That was always preached to me, to play the right way.