Gene Chizik

SI: What are your goals for 2012?

GC: Four of the last five national title winners have come from the SEC West. This side of the league is a jungle. We're not here to win eight or nine games; we're here to continue to chase national championships.

SI: Characterize the current roster.

GC: We're young. Seventy percent of our roster will be freshmen and sophomores. But when this team grows up—and it could be in a month, could be in a year—we'll be good. Our future is bright.

SI: YOU'RE PRETTY OPTIMISTIC.

GC: I FEEL GREAT ABOUT THE PROGRAM. WE'RE ONE RECRUITING CLASS AWAY FROM BUILDING THE FOUNDATION UP. OUR NEXT RECRUITING CLASS WILL BE VERY, VERY BIG.

SI: What do you worry about most when you're thinking about the program?

GC: I don't worry about anything. What's important to me is one word: develop. Not just as a player but as a young man—socially, spiritually and athletically. We want to develop the whole young man.

SI: What's an ideal off day for you?

GC: Spending time with my family. My wife and I love to travel, and as a family [the Chiziks have three children] we spend our free time at the beach. That clears our heads.