‘Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance’ exclusive: Winner Jeremy Collins on being Sole Survivor, game moves, and more

Jeremy Collins played a heck of a game on “Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance.” There was no one dominant player, but he did perhaps the best job of having people perpetually around him and making sure that he was almost never a target. The final six was the only time his name was ever written down, and that was negated with his hidden immunity idol.

We spoke to a (very) happy Jeremy this morning about his strategy, whether or not Spencer hurt himself with his threat in front of the jury, and why he now feels as though he is done with the show after two seasons.

CarterMatt – Were you surprised to get all of the votes at the final tribal council?

Jeremy Collins – I knew I had a shot at winning. I was going back and forth thinking that Savage was going to vote for me or Tasha. I didn’t know what Joe was going to do. I thought he was going to vote for me or Spencer. I didn’t know about Kimmi — actually I kind of thought I would get her vote. I wasn’t sure. I didn’t count vote, so I was just going in hoping that I got the most.

Did Spencer hurt himself by threatening you in the way that he did at the final four tribal council?

I think it did! I think it might’ve. I think he was right. I don’t know if I would’ve come off so brash with it, but thought it would’ve been a bad move, it would’ve been a million-dollar mistake. If he had put it out there differently it might [have had a different impact with the jury], but I think he was kind of upset that I was thinking about [Kelley over him].

By the time you got to tribal council was there any doubt what you were going to do?

No. My decision to go with Tash and Spencer was made when Kelley made her decision to send us back to the shelter after the family visit. This was my final three. The voting block was fun, but it was time to solidify this alliance. Let’s stick tight.

Let’s talk about voting blocks, because I feel like everyone was talking about these all season, but you were one of the most-loyal people out there and you managed to win unanimously. Is this a sign that there are still some old-school techniques that work better than voting blocks and everything that is happening now?

I don’t think so. I think I did do a voting block and move around. The reason I had more success with it is because I had more of a bond with everybody. Everybody at some point in time worked with me and had trust with me. Even Wentworth. Last season when we played together we had trust, and this time we had no trust at all. We came together one time and worked to get [Wiglesworth] out. I had some type of bond with everybody at some point, and I think that this is where my game was successful.

One of the things I think you did so well this season was that you took a lot of these big threats and then worked with them. Was this a response to what happened to you the first time, where I know you got a lot of questions about why you didn’t try to work with someone like Josh, or more based on the people who were around you this time?

Last season when Val got voted out, I was [furious] and I said ‘Rocker did this. This is who Rocker is, everybody.’ That was an emotional part of my game and I shouldn’t have done that. If Rocker stays, I have a trust with Rocker and he comes with me. Jon Misch, I had a trust with Jon Misch, he is not taking me out before Rocker goes home. This is where I succeeded this season. I keep Joe around. They’re not coming after me before they are done going after Joe; they’re not coming after me before they are done going after Fishbach. I feel like my meat shields and my strategy meat shields worked better this year because I didn’t have that strategy last year.

You only won a single immunity challenge this season, and correct if I’m wrong but you only won a single one in ‘San Juan del Sur.’ They weren’t that important to your game. Is that something you really tried to emphasize out there?

I tried to tell people I’m not a physical threat. I can’t win physical challenges; that’s not my thing. I may look the part, but I’m better at social and strategic games. I think I’m a middle-tier player in every aspect of the game. I’m not bottom in anything, I’m not top in anything. I’m pretty solid in everything; I think that’s what my strength is.

I think you may be a top five player in humility because you just won the freakin’ game.

(Laughs.)

I loved your relationship with Stephen out there. How did you adjust your game after he was voted out?

Stephen was my guy. He trusted me, and as soon as he was gone, Spencer was my guy. Even before Stephen left I told Spencer ‘I’m with Stephen, but you can be my Stephen.’ I told him ‘I’m with people, but my game is so fluid. I trust you and we can work together.’ As soon as Stephen was gone Spencer became my Stephen. I just wanted to keep my game moving.

So when you whispered to Spencer that you would’ve used an idol on him, you would have?

Oh, I definitely would have. In fact, when Joe went home, I didn’t want Joe to go home. I sat there at tribal and said ‘there’s a lot of lying going around here, Joe. I want to know between you and Abi, who’s lying? They went back and forth and that is when that argument came through. That’s when Abi was all mad at him and said he looks like a clown and stuff. I had the idol in my pocket and I would’ve played it for Joe, had he convinced me that Abi was lying and not him. I would’ve played it right then.

Did you talk a lot with Natalie [Anderson] before this game? Did she give you any advice on things that she used?

You know what? I didn’t. I felt like my game was okay; I just didn’t think I could win the game. So it’s not like I went in saying ‘this is what I’m going to do’ or ‘I gotta talk to that person.’ I just didn’t think I couldn’t win the game. I’m a firefighter with two kids. I’m just gonna go in and play; I can’t change who I am. Let me just go in there and play reckless, play like it’s not for a million dollars, and then just see where the chips fall.

We saw a lot of your story last night about you and Val expecting another kid and your speech at tribal council, but how did you minimize that while still bonding with people, given that they really should have gotten rid of you as a threat?

With anyone that’s a parent, I just kind of connected with them on that. With people like Joe, I can bond with young guys and I can bro out. Even with girls, I can hang with girls. I did the mommy-and-me classes. That was me, so I know how to bond with everybody. I think that’s why my whole game went well.

So as we start to wrap up, let’s look outside of this game. Given how exhausting this was, do you have any interest in returning?

Ugh. This season punched me in my face. Last season, I said I’d come back every year. Just let me know. Now, I’m done. ‘Second Chance’ was horrible. I can’t even imagine what a third chance would be. (Laughs.) I couldn’t do it.

Is it because you’ve won? If you hadn’t won, would that hunger be there?

I was good either way. I was done. I love ‘Survivor’ and I hate ‘Survivor.’ It was HORRIBLE out there. Maybe it was the gameplay out there in Cambodia, but it was tough.

Last thing: How are things going to change for you? Are you going back to work soon, and do you have any plans for the money?

I’m going back to work Saturday. Nothing is really going to change. I’m gonna give the money to Val and let her [prepare for the new baby]. Maybe my kids will have a better jacket (laughs), they’ll have a better Christmas. Their life will be a little bit better, and there’s college that I gotta pay for. My life ain’t changing.

To quote Jeff Probst, your life is fine.

Yes! (Laughs.)

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