Anthony Perkins has made five tackles so far this season and forced a fumble, making him an integral complementary component to Syracuse’s defensive line. But what truly sets him apart is his personality.

Perkins, a junior defensive tackle from Washington, D.C., has garnered a reputation as a jokester and class clown in his time with the Orange. With his affable personality and ever-present toothy grin, Perkins’ presence in the locker room may be as important as what he brings on the field.

The Daily Orange sat down with Perkins last week to talk about everything from food and family to baseball and pro wrestling.

The Daily Orange: What would people be shocked to know about you?

Anthony Perkins: I can cook very well. I love to cook lamb, corn on the cob, baked potato salad. I make collared greens, I make cakes, I like to bake, so I think people would be shocked to know that.

Where did that stem from?

AP: Being around my mother and grandmother. I liked watching them in the kitchen and liked being around kitchen goods and kitchenware, that’s just what I like to do. I think people would be shocked to know after football, I want to be a chef.

So are you the best cook on the team?

AP: I’m the best cook on the team. I have many challengers but nobody has stepped up to the plate yet. Derrell Smith thinks he can cook better than me, Cory Boatman. Ironically it’s everybody on the defense, the offensive line they just come over and eat whenever they can.

I’m sure that’s a pretty big meal?

AP: Yeah, but it’s a lot of fun though. I like cooking for anybody, not just myself. It’s relaxing to just take my time and go in the kitchen.

Who’s the worst cook on the team?

AP: Arthur Jones, I would not eat anything that guy touched. I avoid their (Art and brother Chandler) house at all cost. If they need food, they come to me.

If you could play for any football team, who would it be?

AP: Tennessee Titans. I’ve loved the Tennessee Titans ever since I was young. Actually, my frat brother, rest in peace Steve McNair, was actually one of my favorite quarterbacks growing up and kind of the reason I joined the same fraternity as him. I also liked Eddie George, he was a big running back and back in the day in my heyday I thought I was a running back, but I was wrong.

How crushed were you when you heard the news of Steve McNair’s death?

AP: It was sad, it was real sad. We actually had a memorial service here, a small gathering and my heart goes out to his family and his children because I know that he had kids and stuff. That’s just a sad tragedy to go out like that, being shot in your sleep.

Is it tough balancing time between your fraternity (Omega Phi Psi) and football?

AP: It is, but it’s part of my life that I learned to balance everything. Frat, football, school and personal life. We all need time for ourselves, and it’s coming along. Being in a frat and football helped me to manage my time better.

I heard you’re a big fan of professional wrestling. Favorite wrestler of all time?

AP: My favorite wrestler of all-time has to be The Undertaker. Just his swag, he’s the phenom, everybody’s scared of him. I love his mind tricks that he can play on everybody, and it’s fun to watch. I used to imitate all his stuff, the old-school walking on top of the ropes, I do the rolling my eyes in the back of my head thing, it’s kind of fun. I always wanted to do his little hat thing.

Which of his WrestleMania matches is your all-time favorite?

AP: It’s kind of a draw between his casket match against Yokozuna and this year’s against Shawn Michaels. That was an awesome match and it was just pound for pound, round after round, it was awesome. I’d have to go with this year’s Wrestlemania against Shawn Michaels, it was a good match.

Any big sport team you like, being from Washington D.C.?

AP: I’m actually a Nationals fan. I root for the home team when it comes to baseball. It was an exciting time in D.C. The stadium is awesome. I’ve never really had a chance to go to the stadium with football and stuff, but after football is over and whatever, I want to go check out a game because I do like baseball. In my spare time, I used to play a little bit and Nationals is D.C. finally having a baseball team so I have to go with them.

What position did you used to play in baseball?

AP: First base and DH. I used to come to the plate and people used to throw balls because people thought I could hit. Secretly, I couldn’t hit. I actually didn’t swing until our championship game and I struck out. They finally figured out I couldn’t swing.

So if you were the general manager of the Nationals, how would you turn that team around?

AP: I would invest all of my money into a power hitter, somebody that could just slug a few out the park. They’re actually getting better, like they’ve been on a streak right now. They’ve beaten some top teams, and I know it’s coming down to the playoffs and other teams are just like whatever about going to the playoffs, but they’re doing pretty good. I would invest in a big-time home run hitter because that’s what brings the fans to the park and also wins you the game.

Favorite home run hitter?

AP: I really liked Ken Griffey Jr., and I’m not too much of a fan of Derek Jeter.

How can you not like Derek Jeter?

AP: I’ve never been a Yankees fan because everybody loves the Yankees. I’m that guy when it comes to a sports game. Everybody loves the Patriots, I hate the Patriots. Everybody loves the Celtics, I hate the Celtics. Everybody loves the Red Sox, I hate them, too. I go for the underdogs all the time. Especially in Super Bowls and all that stuff, I like rooting for the underdogs, the guy you never expect. Like I was a huge Giants fan a few years back, and when they actually won it was crazy.

If you could have a dinner party with five guests, who would they be?

AP: I have to invite Daryl Gross because he’s real cool, a real smooth brother, I like him. And I like his suits and I really have to get at him about his suits.

Well then what about Coach Q (women’s basketball coach Quentin Hillsman)?

AP: I might have to bring Coach Q over. We’d have to discuss suits because I’ve been trying to step my game up since we dressed up for all our games, I’m trying to make sure my suit game is on step with the coaches.

AP: So Coach Q, Daryl Gross, I’ll go with The Rock, LeBron James so I can talk some money with him, and last but not least, I don’t want to go cliché and say coach Marrone, I’ll say coach (Paul) Pasqualoni. He recruited me out of high school and I came here right after he left so coach Pasqualoni. I’d want to talk to him again.

mrehalt@syr.edu

Published on October 1, 2009 at 12:00 pm