University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Chaz Chambliss
November 03, 2022 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Chaz Chambliss carries his memories of his father, Cliff, with him everywhere. They are meaningful and they are inked into permanence. Among the tattoos on Chambliss' arms, the one that stands out is a beautiful father-and-son fishing scene on his right bicep.
Chambliss' father, who had a master's degree in Civil Engineering, served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years, including as a drill sergeant. Just 53 years old, he died in March 2020, 10 months after suffering a stroke. Ten months after his father passed, Chambliss, a 6-foot-2 and 250-pound linebacker from Carrollton, Ga., enrolled early at Georgia.
As a freshman last season, Chambliss played in 14 of Georgia's 15 games, mostly on special teams and as a reserve linebacker. Chambliss has continued in the same role this season, including his best performance yet: three tackles and a fourth-quarter sack in the Bulldogs' win over Florida last week.
During a Quick Chat earlier this season, Chambliss talked about fishing with his father, his start in football, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: To start with, who is the funniest guy on the team?
Chambliss: It probably would be between two people: K3, Kamari (Lassiter), and we might go (Xavier) Truss. They're both funny guys.
Frierson: How valuable is it to have those funny guys around during a long season?
Chambliss: I mean, the season wears down on you, and when you get serious you can kind of go into a slump. Those guys get you excited, get you going, and they keep practice exciting.
Frierson: I see you have what looks like a peaceful, father-son scene on your arm. Does that represent something specific for you?
Chambliss: Yes, sir, I did my whole right arm for my dad. We used to go fishing and do everything together.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite fishing story?
Chambliss: It was probably my last time fishing with my dad. It was probably 5 o'clock in the morning, just me and him, just silent while we were fishing.
Frierson: Is fishing how you get away from football and school now?
Chambliss: I like to do that — anything in the outdoors, mainly. I like to hunt a lot, too.
Frierson: Have you taken any teammates hunting? Is there someone on the team that you've introduced to hunting that we might not expect?
Chambliss: There's probably a few you might expect, like (Brock) Vandagriff.
Frierson: Take me back to your start in football. How old were you when you first started playing?
Chambliss: I was 5 years old when I started. I'd always wanted to play football and some of my family were coaches. I'd always wanted to play football ever since I was little.
Frierson: What other sports did you play when you were young?
Chambliss: Baseball, mainly, and I got into track when I was in high school.
Frierson: How would you describe yourself as a baseball player?
Chambliss: I was pretty good. I was more of a home run or strikeout kind of guy.
Frierson: Has there been a class you've taken at Georgia that really caught your interest or attention?
Chambliss: Probably a chemistry class because of how hard it is here.
Frierson: I saw that you're a Biology major. Is there something specific you want to do with that one day?
Chambliss: I'm interested in physical therapy. I got into that because of my own experience with injuries and I always want to be part of a team and athletics.
Frierson: What is it like to be on the field in the middle of a big game? Most of us can't relate to the experience of playing in front of 70,000 or 92,000 people cheering like crazy for four hours.
Chambliss: It's just fun because the guys that worked all week are able to play, and seeing those guys play and seeing that work pay off — it's all about the connection of the team.
Frierson: Do you remember your first play on the field for Georgia?
Chambliss: My first play was special teams, punt return, against Clemson last season. It was kind of nerve-wracking. After the first hit, you kind of settle down and just play football. Last year, that took a little bit longer to settle down, but this year, I know what's going to happen.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Chambliss: I'd say eggs. I'll go with eggs over easy.
Frierson: How are you in the kitchen?
Chambliss: I'm pretty good. I can cook — can't bake but I can cook meats and things like that.
Frierson: If you were to invite a couple of teammates over for dinner, what would you make them?
Chambliss: I might do a crawfish boil. I think that would be really good.
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for one day, just to experience what it's like, what would it be?
Chambliss: I'd want to be great at being sociable, making connections, and being an outspoken person. I'd like to be better at meeting people and making connections.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Chaz Chambliss carries his memories of his father, Cliff, with him everywhere. They are meaningful and they are inked into permanence. Among the tattoos on Chambliss' arms, the one that stands out is a beautiful father-and-son fishing scene on his right bicep.
Chambliss' father, who had a master's degree in Civil Engineering, served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years, including as a drill sergeant. Just 53 years old, he died in March 2020, 10 months after suffering a stroke. Ten months after his father passed, Chambliss, a 6-foot-2 and 250-pound linebacker from Carrollton, Ga., enrolled early at Georgia.
As a freshman last season, Chambliss played in 14 of Georgia's 15 games, mostly on special teams and as a reserve linebacker. Chambliss has continued in the same role this season, including his best performance yet: three tackles and a fourth-quarter sack in the Bulldogs' win over Florida last week.
During a Quick Chat earlier this season, Chambliss talked about fishing with his father, his start in football, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: To start with, who is the funniest guy on the team?
Chambliss: It probably would be between two people: K3, Kamari (Lassiter), and we might go (Xavier) Truss. They're both funny guys.
Frierson: How valuable is it to have those funny guys around during a long season?
Chambliss: I mean, the season wears down on you, and when you get serious you can kind of go into a slump. Those guys get you excited, get you going, and they keep practice exciting.
Frierson: I see you have what looks like a peaceful, father-son scene on your arm. Does that represent something specific for you?
Chambliss: Yes, sir, I did my whole right arm for my dad. We used to go fishing and do everything together.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite fishing story?
Chambliss: It was probably my last time fishing with my dad. It was probably 5 o'clock in the morning, just me and him, just silent while we were fishing.
Frierson: Is fishing how you get away from football and school now?
Chambliss: I like to do that — anything in the outdoors, mainly. I like to hunt a lot, too.
Frierson: Have you taken any teammates hunting? Is there someone on the team that you've introduced to hunting that we might not expect?
Chambliss: There's probably a few you might expect, like (Brock) Vandagriff.
Frierson: Take me back to your start in football. How old were you when you first started playing?
Chambliss: I was 5 years old when I started. I'd always wanted to play football and some of my family were coaches. I'd always wanted to play football ever since I was little.
Frierson: What other sports did you play when you were young?
Chambliss: Baseball, mainly, and I got into track when I was in high school.
Frierson: How would you describe yourself as a baseball player?
Chambliss: I was pretty good. I was more of a home run or strikeout kind of guy.
Frierson: Has there been a class you've taken at Georgia that really caught your interest or attention?
Chambliss: Probably a chemistry class because of how hard it is here.
Frierson: I saw that you're a Biology major. Is there something specific you want to do with that one day?
Chambliss: I'm interested in physical therapy. I got into that because of my own experience with injuries and I always want to be part of a team and athletics.
Frierson: What is it like to be on the field in the middle of a big game? Most of us can't relate to the experience of playing in front of 70,000 or 92,000 people cheering like crazy for four hours.
Chambliss: It's just fun because the guys that worked all week are able to play, and seeing those guys play and seeing that work pay off — it's all about the connection of the team.
Frierson: Do you remember your first play on the field for Georgia?
Chambliss: My first play was special teams, punt return, against Clemson last season. It was kind of nerve-wracking. After the first hit, you kind of settle down and just play football. Last year, that took a little bit longer to settle down, but this year, I know what's going to happen.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Chambliss: I'd say eggs. I'll go with eggs over easy.
Frierson: How are you in the kitchen?
Chambliss: I'm pretty good. I can cook — can't bake but I can cook meats and things like that.
Frierson: If you were to invite a couple of teammates over for dinner, what would you make them?
Chambliss: I might do a crawfish boil. I think that would be really good.
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for one day, just to experience what it's like, what would it be?
Chambliss: I'd want to be great at being sociable, making connections, and being an outspoken person. I'd like to be better at meeting people and making connections.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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