First Lessons

The Giants ' top draft pick, 6'5", 265-pound DE Mathias Kiwanuka , 23, had 37 1/2 sacks at Boston College --and one tackle in his NFL debut

THE BIGGEST SURPRISE ABOUT TRAINING CAMP WAS HOW LONG IT IS.

Nothing prepares you for being smack in the middle of it, when your legs are shot and you think there's no way you can cope with practice, let alone play a game. You have to stay positive--and get in that cold tub every day. A lot of vets told me to do that. It helps your muscles recover.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM [DES] MICHAEL STRAHAN AND OSI UMENYIORA .

They both had Pro Bowl years, so I wasn't a threat to them. They give me tips. Strahan and Osi will say, "Study on film if the tackle usually punches at you with his outside or inside hand, so you know which of his hands to chop at and which way to go." They're coaches out there--if I repeatedly make the same mistakes, they get mad.

I'VE GOTTEN ON COACH [TOM] COUGHLIN'S BAD SIDE ONCE.

I don't know what I was doing--watching film or lifting or something--but I was running behind for practice. I got halfway to the field and realized I was still in a sweatshirt. I had to sprint to the locker room, grab my jersey and sprint back out. I made it before the horn blew, but Coach was like, "I don't like a rookie being the last one out here." That was the last time that happened, I'll tell you that.

I HAD EIGHT FAMILY MEMBERS AT SUNDAY'S GAME AGAINST THE COLTS .

I grew up in Indianapolis . They waved, but I didn't wave back; I keep focused on the field. A big inspiration to me is my late grandfather Benedicto, the first prime minister of Uganda . He was for the people and wouldn't let himself be changed. Idi Amin had him assassinated in 1972, a decade before I was born, and in my grandfather's honor I got a tattoo of a Ugandan coat of arms on my back. What I got from him is, whatever you're doing, great or small, find something you believe in and don't let anyone change your mind. Also, he inspires me to treat everyone equally. I'm going to carry those principles into the NFL .