Oct. 15, 2002
by Jennifer Renaker * Host Communications
When Quentus Cumby thinks about a decision he almost made three years ago,he realizes that it could have been one of the worst decisions he ever made.
The senior free safety almost left the University of Kentucky his freshmanyear, but decided to stay after seeking advice from his mother.
“When I first got here, it was really hard for me and I thought aboutquitting or transferring to another school, but I would sit down and haveconversations with my mother and she would tell me that sometimes God putsus in situations that make us stronger and that help us grow,” Cumby said.
“That’s basically what happened with me and I stuck with it.”
The Cleburne, Texas, native was homesick and football was not going well forhim at the time, so going home seemed like a good option.
“It would have been a really bad decision,” Cumby said. “Everything I havegone through has just made me a better football player.”
Helping Cumby make the choice to stay at Kentucky or to go home wasthen-roommate and teammate, cornerback Derrick Tatum.
“He’s a pretty animated person and he probably has the most mental toughnessof any person I’ve ever met,” Cumby said. “I would sit down and talk withhim about everything. The rest of my teammates were really supportive, too.”
Cumby chose Kentucky over schools such as Texas Tech, Arkansas and TCU,citing its feeling of comfort, a feeling he noticed from the moment hearrived.
“When I came on my visit, it just felt like a good place to be,” he said.”The players that were already on the team accepted me and it just feltreally comfortable.”
In the beginning, Cumby wanted to play for Texas A & M, but they wererecruiting him to play linebacker, a position he did not want to play.
“I just wanted to play safety and play in the SEC (Southeastern Conference),”Cumby said.
And the Wildcats are certainly glad he decided to stay. After the game atFlorida, Cumby ranked third in pass breakups in the SEC with six.
Down in the Swamp against the Gators, Cumby made his presence known from thestart as he knocked loose a few Gator helmets with some hard hitting.
“It felt great,” Cumby said of the Florida game. “God blessed me with a goodgame that day and just getting there in the Swamp and knocking some helmetsoff – it felt good. I just wanted to support my teammates so that we couldget something going. It was a good feeling.”
Now in his final year with the Wildcats, the 6-1, 207-pounder is in his firstseason as a full-time starter on the squad.
“It’s been really fun and it’s been a long time coming,” Cumby said. “I’mthankful and blessed to get the opportunity to start. It’s been a reallygood experience for me.”
And the challenges of playing free safety in a conference with greatquarterbacks looking to throw the ball is something Cumby enjoys.
“Basically, it’s like being the quarterback on defense,” he said. “I likeseeing the field and coming up and making plays. It’s a great thing becauseyou know you are the last line of defense and if anything gets past you,it’s pretty much a touchdown. It’s a lot of pressure, but I like pressureand you just have to embrace it.”
According to Cumby the keys to being a good free safety are to be smart, havea lot of instinct and be a good athlete.
The three-year letterman began playing organized football in the fourth gradewhile learning the basics of the game from his father, Mark Cumby, whoplayed for North Texas, and his uncle, George Cumby, who played for Oklahomaand in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers.
Last season, Cumby played in 10 games, making six appearances in the startinglineup, while totaling 54 tackles and causing a fumble. He notched acareer-high 12 tackles at South Carolina, a game he looks forward to everyyear.
“I like the tradition they (South Carolina) have there,” he said. “That’s thestadium that was used in the movie, ‘The Program.’ Ever since I found outthat was the stadium in the movie, I’ve wanted to play there. Back then,that was like the best movie ever.”
Cumby’s expectations for the Wildcats are high this season and he expectsnothing less of the team than winning.
“It’s hard to explain what type of chemistry we have between us as a unit,”he said. “Everyone believes in each other and when you have that andeveryone wanting to win and you see people working really hard throughoutthe offseason, you know you are going to have a good year. People areconfident in what we are doing and it’s just starting to come together. Everyone wants to win and we’re a lot closer team now than what we havebeen, and losing is not an option at all.”
And much of Cumby’s own success comes from the fact that he has found a homehere in the Commonwealth.
“I’m really going to miss all of the people here, especially my teammates,because those guys are like my extended family, my home away from home,” hesaid. “Whenever I come to Nutter, it’s like home for me.”
