KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
A former Harlingen Cardinal quarterback is giving back to his alma mater this summer.
Brandon Garza, who graduated from Harlingen High in 2014 and is currently at the University of Texas at San Antonio, is using his offseason to work out with the current Cardinals quarterbacks by giving them advice and drills at the position.
The Valley Morning Star was able to catch up with the former Red Bird signal caller.
—
Q: What made you want to come back home and work out with the current QBs at HHS?
A: With Harlingen being my alma mater, I figured I could pass down my current knowledge with them and try my best to help them get ready for their upcoming season. When I’m done with school and playing football, I plan on opening my own strength and conditioning facility in Harlingen. I also plan on becoming a private QB coach and I want to teach QBs of all ages from the Valley various things I’ve learned throughout my experience at the Division 1 level.
Q: How long do you plan on working with the QBs?
A: I only get a couple of weeks throughout the year to come back to Harlingen due to the busy schedule of being a student-athlete at UTSA, but I will continue to help them as much as I can when I am in town.
Q: What experiences can you share with the younger QBs?
A: Sports can teach life lessons and throughout my career I have experienced both adversity and success. I can share with them everything it, takes physically and mentally, what it takes to be a quarterback at the high school level and the Division 1 college level.
Q: What does it mean for you to come back and help your alma mater?
A: It means everything. The more knowledge I can pass down to these younger guys, the better prepared they will be to handle anything thrown in their direction. These kids need a positive voice that can convince them they can do whatever they want in this life. They need someone to make them believe that the impossible is possible. The impossible being that no one from the Rio Grande Valley can get to the Division 1 level. I believe there are multiple kids that can get to that level.
Q: What’s your message to the QBs?
A: My message to all athletes in the entire Rio Grande Valley is to continue to chase your dreams and don’t stop until you reach them. Try to do everything you can to expose yourself to college programs across the country. Go to college camps and learn from college coaches.
Q: Before transferring to UTSA, you were at the University of Houston. How was your college experience at U of H?
A: It was amazing. I got to experience everything I ever dreamed of as a kid. I was able to receive a championship ring being (American Athletic) conference champions, and also being bowl champions after beating Florida State University (in the Peach Bowl). I got to learn from great coaches like Tom Herman (who is now the head coach at the University of Texas) and Major Applewhite, who was our offensive coordinator at the time and is now the head coach at the University of Houston. But I felt it was best for my football career to transfer out of Houston and continue playing at UTSA.
Q: What’s next for you at UTSA?
A: Due to NCAA transfer rules, I was ineligible and had to sit out last football season. But I am now eligible to play this upcoming season. College football has definitely been a process and I am going to continue to trust my process of when it is my time to play
Q: What’s your major?
A: My major is kinesiology exercise science.
Q: What can we expect from you this upcoming season?
A: Our starting QB is returning from last year so I will be in a backup role this season. But I live by the phrase, ‘if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.’ I will continue to work hard and trust the process of eventually playing.