Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
"One of those legacy moments” - Q&A with CUSA Hall of Famer Kevin Byard
10/18/2024 11:42:00 AM | Football
The former All-American safety took some time before being honored on the field against Kennesaw State to talk to GoBlueRaiders.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — At the end of the first quarter of Tuesday night's football win over Kennesaw State, Middle Tennessee honored its first two ever inductees into the Conference USA Hall of Fame — legendary track and field coach Dean Hayes and All-American safety Kevin Byard.
While the late Hayes was represented on the field by his daughter Erin, Byard was able to attend Tuesday's game alongside his family, as the Chicago Bears safety is on a bye this week in the NFL season.
Before the game, GoBlueRaiders.com Staff Writer Sam Doughton chatted with the NFL All-Pro about his reaction to his induction this summer, his memories of Coach Hayes, being a part of Build Blue and watching his brother, Muaaz, play for the Blue Raiders.
The questions asked have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
--
This week is your bye week, a chance to come home to MTSU. How exciting is hitting that bye week during the season in the NFL and getting a chance to come to a midweek game at your alma mater?
It's awesome. Speaking for our team specifically, it's coming at a good time. We've got some injuries; we need some guys (to) get back healthy. So, it's pretty cool being able to enjoy being a dad, getting a little time off away from the building, kind of reset your mind a little bit and getting ready for this stretch we're about to have, because we've got a pretty tough schedule coming up.
Middle Tennessee is obviously honoring you for being the first defensive football player in the Conference USA Hall of Fame. What was your reaction when you got that news this summer?
I didn't really know what to expect at first. I got the call from Chris Massaro, and I didn't really know how the conversation was going to go or anything like that. I was in the airport about to catch a flight, so I was shocked. But definitely honored. You just think about the memories I've had here, the relationships I've been able to develop and build. To be going into the Conference USA Hall of Fame as a defensive player, being the first one, was definitely something that surprised me as well. I'm just very happy to be able to go into the hall of fame.
You were inducted alongside legendary MTSU Track & Field Coach Dean Hayes. There's a lot of interaction between teams and programs here at Middle Tennessee. What do you remember about Coach Hayes from your time as a student here?
I just remember him being a man of character. I would spend a lot of time up in those offices upstairs (in the Murphy Center) with Stock, watching film with him. And would always walk past Dean Hayes' office. Sometimes I'd go in there and speak to him and sometimes we'd run into each other in the hallway. He was just a good man, a person that everybody respected. Obviously, (him) having his name on the track stadium as well, he's just a guy that we definitely revered.
I always kind of joked with him about trying to get on the track team, because I ran track in high school, I went to the state championships in hurdles. I know Kenneth Gilstrap, who was a player here as well in those days, he ran track for him as well. So, I always joked with him to see if he had some space for me on the track team.
Speaking of putting your name on things, your name is going to be on the weight room of the new Student-Athlete Performance Center when it opens next year. What's it been like following its construction and knowing that you were a part of building this facility that I'm sure you wished you had as a student-athlete?
That's one of those legacy moments. Lee (De Léon) has always sent me videos of the process and everything. It's something that my kids will be able to come here and see, their last name on a building not necessarily that I built, but I definitely came here and helped contribute a lot to. It's definitely something awesome and something that I'm proud of.
Your brother, Muaaz, has worked his way into the starting lineup this season for the Blue Raiders on the gridiron. How much have you been able to watch him as he's begun to make his mark and what advice have you provided to him at this point in his career?
First and foremost, I'm just proud of him. His journey in football, he obviously came in as a preferred walk-on. He had to spend some time at a prep school to be able to have this opportunity to come play football, so I'm just proud of the journey that he's had. I've been telling him to just kind of enjoy it. At the end of the day, you never know how these things go. But I always told him that the work starts first and, obviously, he's put in a lot of work to put himself in a position to get some starts.
His brother (Tawfiq), obviously my brother as well, is a safety at South Florida, so I've been watching both of them. I'm excited for both of their processes, just telling them don't really look at it as trying to live up to my reputation, just go out there and have fun. The amount of work that you put in, let the chips fall where they may.
Two different positions for you and Muaaz too, so it's a different skillset as well.
Like you said, he's a linebacker, obviously I was a safety. At the end of day, just enjoy the college experience. You'll only get to be this age once; you'll only get to go to college once. Enjoy it, work hard, and have fun.
While the late Hayes was represented on the field by his daughter Erin, Byard was able to attend Tuesday's game alongside his family, as the Chicago Bears safety is on a bye this week in the NFL season.
Before the game, GoBlueRaiders.com Staff Writer Sam Doughton chatted with the NFL All-Pro about his reaction to his induction this summer, his memories of Coach Hayes, being a part of Build Blue and watching his brother, Muaaz, play for the Blue Raiders.
The questions asked have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
--
This week is your bye week, a chance to come home to MTSU. How exciting is hitting that bye week during the season in the NFL and getting a chance to come to a midweek game at your alma mater?
It's awesome. Speaking for our team specifically, it's coming at a good time. We've got some injuries; we need some guys (to) get back healthy. So, it's pretty cool being able to enjoy being a dad, getting a little time off away from the building, kind of reset your mind a little bit and getting ready for this stretch we're about to have, because we've got a pretty tough schedule coming up.
Middle Tennessee is obviously honoring you for being the first defensive football player in the Conference USA Hall of Fame. What was your reaction when you got that news this summer?
I didn't really know what to expect at first. I got the call from Chris Massaro, and I didn't really know how the conversation was going to go or anything like that. I was in the airport about to catch a flight, so I was shocked. But definitely honored. You just think about the memories I've had here, the relationships I've been able to develop and build. To be going into the Conference USA Hall of Fame as a defensive player, being the first one, was definitely something that surprised me as well. I'm just very happy to be able to go into the hall of fame.
You were inducted alongside legendary MTSU Track & Field Coach Dean Hayes. There's a lot of interaction between teams and programs here at Middle Tennessee. What do you remember about Coach Hayes from your time as a student here?
I just remember him being a man of character. I would spend a lot of time up in those offices upstairs (in the Murphy Center) with Stock, watching film with him. And would always walk past Dean Hayes' office. Sometimes I'd go in there and speak to him and sometimes we'd run into each other in the hallway. He was just a good man, a person that everybody respected. Obviously, (him) having his name on the track stadium as well, he's just a guy that we definitely revered.
I always kind of joked with him about trying to get on the track team, because I ran track in high school, I went to the state championships in hurdles. I know Kenneth Gilstrap, who was a player here as well in those days, he ran track for him as well. So, I always joked with him to see if he had some space for me on the track team.
Speaking of putting your name on things, your name is going to be on the weight room of the new Student-Athlete Performance Center when it opens next year. What's it been like following its construction and knowing that you were a part of building this facility that I'm sure you wished you had as a student-athlete?
That's one of those legacy moments. Lee (De Léon) has always sent me videos of the process and everything. It's something that my kids will be able to come here and see, their last name on a building not necessarily that I built, but I definitely came here and helped contribute a lot to. It's definitely something awesome and something that I'm proud of.
Your brother, Muaaz, has worked his way into the starting lineup this season for the Blue Raiders on the gridiron. How much have you been able to watch him as he's begun to make his mark and what advice have you provided to him at this point in his career?
First and foremost, I'm just proud of him. His journey in football, he obviously came in as a preferred walk-on. He had to spend some time at a prep school to be able to have this opportunity to come play football, so I'm just proud of the journey that he's had. I've been telling him to just kind of enjoy it. At the end of the day, you never know how these things go. But I always told him that the work starts first and, obviously, he's put in a lot of work to put himself in a position to get some starts.
His brother (Tawfiq), obviously my brother as well, is a safety at South Florida, so I've been watching both of them. I'm excited for both of their processes, just telling them don't really look at it as trying to live up to my reputation, just go out there and have fun. The amount of work that you put in, let the chips fall where they may.
Two different positions for you and Muaaz too, so it's a different skillset as well.
Like you said, he's a linebacker, obviously I was a safety. At the end of day, just enjoy the college experience. You'll only get to be this age once; you'll only get to go to college once. Enjoy it, work hard, and have fun.
MTSU Football Signing Day Press Conference 1/3/25
Wednesday, December 03
MTSU Football at New Mexico State post-game press conference – 11/29/25
Sunday, November 30
MTSU Football at New Mexico State post-game press conference – 11/29/25
Saturday, November 29
Raider Report Game 12 - MTSU vs. New Mexico State University
Friday, November 28
