Behind the Facemask: Shane McDermott
June 27, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla.–They are stories of perseverance. Stories about growing up, becoming men and being a part of a family. One-by-one, we hear from them. These are the Miami Hurricanes…
Shane McDermott | Offensive Line | Redshirt Freshman | Lake Worth, Fla.
At the U, I’ve learned so much from the older guys, especially the seniors from our offensive line. Tyler Horn and Joel Figueroa have really helped me out and showed me the ways of how to work hard here. Even people from the past, like Brett Romberg, have shown me that when you’re at the U, you work hard and you have to uphold the legacy and keep succeeding.
My favorite part about the U family is how unique it is to college football. It’s special, it’s the most recognized brand in football. I get to brag about it for the rest of my life (laughs).
One thing everyone should know about Miami football is that it’s tough football. Miami football is the toughest football you can find around the country.
I have a tattoo of me and my grandfather. I lost my nose in the tattoo during practice, but it’s all good. (laughs).
I’ve always wanted to be a Hurricane. Being a Hurricane means a lot to my family, it’s just a very special thing. Only a few people get to be one. I’m a Hurricane because I love it.
Growing up in Lake Worth, I was split between Miami and Florida. It’s very mixed up there. My dad and brothers always loved watching Miami. I still remember watching the national championship in fifth grade and losing to Ohio State and it was horrifying to watch. Being able to go to the Orange Bowl to watch games with my older brother, when he was being recruited by Miami, was really special.
My favorite song right now is “I’m On One” by DJ Khaled.
The most influential person in my life is split between my mom and dad. Both of them were college athletes at Ohio University. My mom was a basketball player and my dad was a baseball player. My dad has shown me how to be competitive, and so did my mom, she still holds records at her college where she played basketball. I’ve been blessed to have two great parents who’ve showed me the way through life so far. It’s given me a huge advantage.
Other than football, I’m talented at fishing. Spearfishing and hunting are my other passions besides football. I really enjoy them, that’s what I do during all my free time. Me and my family caught two 20-pound dolphin, and they gave a ton of meat. I was able to give Coach Golden some meat and still have a cookout for the entire offensive line. We had one big fish fry, Linder cooked his special recipe, and I did some macadamia-encrusted mahi. It was a lot of fun.
People might be surprised to know that I’ve stabbed a hog. I went hog-hunting up near Belle Glade. My mom actually got to film it, it was a funny experience.
When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be Brett Romberg or Ray Lewis. I used to play linebacker when I was younger. I always thought it was so cool that Romberg played at Miami as a center, and when he got into the league and played for the Rams and the Falcons, I always loved watching him. Watching Ray Lewis dance after making a big tackle, with all that energy, I loved it.
In high school I stopped playing linebacker my freshman year of high school. I played both ways in high school, but my coaches and my dad pulled me aside and said, “listen, you run a 5.1 forty, you’re not gonna be a linebacker” (laughs). I started putting on some pounds, because I only weighed like 185 pounds back then.
The actor I would want to play me in a movie is Russell Crowe.
If I could spend a day with anyone, it would be Jose Wejebe. He’s a show host for the Spanish Fly, and he does fishing shows. I’ve always been a big fan of his, and I love watching his videos online, because it helps me learn more about fishing. He came to this country from Cuba and made himself into something from nothing. He’s a really cool guy to watch and to learn from.
My favorite midnight snack is a glass of milk and Oreos.
If I was a superhero, my name would be Trace and my superpower would be speed. My middle name is Trace, and I could get out of there so fast and “without a trace.” (laughs)
Playing football has given me the skills to be well disciplined off the field. It’s made me a competitive person, which you need to be in this country. It also showed me that later on in life, even though right now things can be really tough, getting up at five in the morning for workouts, all of that is going to pay off later down the road. If you make it to the NFL or make it to another job, you can get through anything. It teaches you how to be tough.
I was raised by my grandfather and my dad, and the rest of my family, to be a good person. My grandfather came from nothing and worked his way all the way up. He was in the Army when he was only 13 years old. It showed character. My dad has shown me you have to just keep on working, and not to be afraid of failure, because you’re eventually going to succeed if you keep on going after what you dream.
Song no one could believe I have on my iPod is “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift (laughs).
I never thought I would be a Miami Hurricane. Watching them play, it never dawned on me that I could be a Hurricane ten years down the road. It truly is a blessing and a dream come true.
The trenches really show who you are. When it’s fourth and one in the national championship game with five seconds to go and you have to make the first down to get into field goal range, it shows who you’re gonna be and who you are.
When I was six years old, I was put into my first pop warner football league. My mom took me out there and I saw everyone wearing flags, and I turned to my mom and said, “I don’t wanna play flag football, I wanna play football.” My mom convinced them to put me on a team with ten and eleven year olds, and I became an All-Star that year.
Coach Kehoe is a very energetic coach that I love. He shows his passion for being a Miami Hurricane, and he’s shown us how important being a Hurricane is. I go way back with Coach Kehoe, because he recruited my older brother at Ole Miss, and they’re actually in the same book, Bruce Feldman’s Meat Market. There’s a chapter dedicated to Coach Kehoe and my older brother.
The best advice is to go for your dreams and never quit. Nothing is impossible.
No one can believe I came in at 265 pounds and now I weigh 290 pounds. I’ve put on all of that weight in only a year and a half.
Make sure to check in for a new Behind the Facemask profile each and everyday in preparation for the Hurricane football season opener. For a review of all past profiles, check out Behind the Facemask Central.
