GoDuke.com Q&A With Kyle Helton

DURHAM, N.C. - GoDuke.com sat down with Kyle Helton to discuss his time at Duke on the soccer field and off. Helton talks about some of his favorite memories, winning consecutive ACC Championships, going to the College Cup in 2004 and about how far he thinks this year's team can go, plus much more.

GoDuke.com: How do you feel about the team's performance this season?
Kyle Helton: We've had a great season. We've had a lot of players stepping up, a great performance by everybody this year. It's good to be where we are right now; we just have to perform and get the results.

GD: What was it like to win the ACC Tournament two years in a row?
KH: Winning the ACC the first time was just crazy. Then we won it this year, and it felt even better than the first. We have great team chemistry right now just to win that, so now we know we can do what needs to be done in the NCAA.

GD: What was it like to make it to the College Cup Final Four 2 years ago?
KH: I think it was good, and it was definitely a humbling experience for us. Just going into the tournament I don't know that a lot of our guys thought we could make it that far, but when we made it that far, to go out the way we did, was definitely a great experience for us. I think we have a lot of guys on the team that obviously know what can happen when we get to the NCAA's.

GD: Describe your most memorable college soccer experience.
KH: I really think this year when we played UNC. Looking over to our fans to see them hopping like they were in Cameron Indoor was a great experience for me because in the last ten minutes of the game you're getting a little bit winded, a little tired and you see that. There's no way you're going to lose in the last five minutes with that kind of support.

GD: Besides Duke, where is the best place to play in the ACC?
KH: As much as I like UVA, the crowd at Maryland is incredible. Just to have everyone in the stands screaming all sorts of profanities...I don't know, I actually had a six-year-old boy curse me out right in front of his parents, so that was a good experience for me because I like it when that kind of stuff happens.

GD: Who is the team in the ACC you enjoy beating the most?
KH: UVA, hands down.

GD: Do you have any pre-game superstitions or routines?
KH: Not so much. I just obviously like getting a lot of rest before the game and visualizing how the game's going to go. Prayer, obviously, but that's about it.

GD: What are your plans after you graduate?
KH: We're going to see what kind of opportunities come, whether or not there's a career for me in soccer; hopefully I can do that. Or maybe I'll go to law school or business school.

GD: What do you like to do in your free time, in terms of hobbies?
KH: From time to time, I get on the keys a little bit, on the piano. I do that whenever I have a girl or two I can sing to. Besides that, just chilling with the guys, and I like music a whole lot.

GD: What are some of your favorite musical artists?
KH: Lil'Wayne, T.I., and Jay-Z are probably my favorites. I really like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Coldplay as well.

GD: Name two people in history you would want to sit down to dinner with.
KH: I grew up watching a whole lot of basketball, sitting around the TV with my entire family watching the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. I respect Michael Jordan as a player and a leader; his talent was unparalleled, and anything I could learn from him I would. Obviously also different names and figures in history like Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a very influential speaker, and I admire that a lot.

GD: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
KH: I've been told I need to go to Dubai. I really want to go to Greece, Spain, Italy, and back to Brazil. Brazil was incredible.

GD: Who is your favorite athlete and why?
KH: Michael Jordan. I have so many memories of watching him.

GD: Who is your role model and why?
KH: I'd probably say my brother. He's been very successful, not only in soccer, but also in business. He's doing investment banking right now, and I admire that a lot. He played soccer at Howard University, and he did very well.

GD: If you could play any sport other than soccer, what would it be?
KH: I really like football. I like pretty much all sports, but I think if I were a little bit bigger I probably would have ended up playing football.

GD: What is your favorite movie?
KH: Either The Count of Monte Cristo or Gladiator. Those are definitely my two favorite movies.

GD: What is your favorite TV show?
KH: To be honest, I don't watch too much TV, but my boy Chase Perfect got me into House and Prison Break.

GD: What is your favorite food?
KH: My favorite foods are my dad's gumbo and my mom's macaroni and cheese.

GD: What is your favorite professional sports team?
KH: It's kind of hard for me not to say Real Madrid because they have so much talent. Anybody in the world knows how much talent they have. I would also say the Atlanta Falcons. I'm rooting for them; hopefully they'll go a long way this season. Mike Vick has been having a pretty good season, so we'll see how it goes.

GD: What do you think the possibilities are for Duke in the NCAA tournament?
KH: I know the possibilities are endless. It's just us showing up. If we play the way that we know we can, we can go a long way. But we can only take it one game at a time.

GD: What is your favorite memory of Duke University?
KH: Just being out here on the field with my teammates. We've had a lot of great wins on this field (Koskinen Stadium), so just the passion and intensity we've shown. It's incredible.

GoDuke.com Q&A With Kyle Helton

Players Mentioned

Kyle Helton

Chase Perfect

Duke information

GoDuke.com Q&A With Kyle Helton

Players Mentioned

Kyle Helton

Chase Perfect

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