Troy University Athletics
Talking Trojans and Tigers Tonight
9/2/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
Behind the Microphone
Tuesday, Sept. 2
The weekly press conference was Monday at Country's Barbecue as always, with ribs on the menu. I'm not a big ribs guy, and neither is Derek Steyer from WSFA 12 in Montgomery. We both ate a couple and left five, which Troy Media Relations Director Ricky Hazel views as treasonous.
The ribs were good, but they give you a slab like you'd see on the side of the Flintstones car in the closing credits. The upshot was that, as each of the players was led to the interview spot in front of the TV cameras, most of them were scrubbing Wet-Naps across their faces to erase the evidence. The whole room smelled of barbecue sauce and lemon juice.
Most of the press is starting to get a sense of who the “go-to” interviewees are. The qualifications are usually pretty relaxed. The most in-demand are QB Jamie Hampton and LB Boris Lee, because they're the focal points of their respective units and both come across as “aw-shucks” country boys with good smiles and sound bytes ready.
Bear Woods, with his long red hair and relaxed demeanor (“Where do I look?” drew a laugh when he settled in front of the cameras), is pretty popular. Several of the players are intelligent and thoughtful, but soft-spoken, like RB DuJuan Harris and OT Dion Small.
If anyone in the media is reading and wants some suggestions on Trojans who'd make great interview subjects ? and I've talked to nearly all of them ? DE Brandon Lang is smart and forthright, DE Kenny Mainor is hilarious and seems to stop smiling only when he lines up off the tackle, S Sherrod Martin is relatively quiet but intelligent and funny.
WR Austin Silvoy is a great interview subject, but is probably tired of telling Tim Tebow stories from high school. WR Mykeal Terry is extremely California and has good insight into the culture shock between So-Cal and So-Al, and RB Maurice Greer is a great subject, simply because he's so inspirational, although one gets the feeling that he's ready to put the story of his cancer rehab behind him and just be regarded as a football player again.
LSU's coming up and everybody knows that the Tiger fans love their football. I'm scheduled to be on four radio shows in Louisiana this week so far, and most of the producers who've scheduled me ask me the same well-meaning but condescending questions about what Troy's goals are for the game and what Troy hopes to get out of playing the mighty Tigers.
I understand that they don't mean anything by it, but my answer's always the same: Troy's going down there to win the football game! Period! I remember how frustrated the LSU fans were after they beat Troy in Baton Rouge four years ago (on a late 30-yard TD pass to the tight end with about two minutes left).
They'd struggled against us, but there wasn't a single Trojan fan who was happy with having given LSU a run for their money. They were looking to win, and there was no moral victory about it.
Without a doubt, that's the attitude the Trojans will be going to Baton Rouge with, and every ounce of their energies will be going to bringing a win against the defending champions back to Troy.
Trojan Talk is tonight from Yanni's Steakhouse on Highway 231 in south Troy from 7-8 p.m. You can listen on www.troytrojans.com or on your local Troy ISP Sports Network station and you can call Coach Blakeney with your question or comment at 1-866-736-5889.
The radio broadcast Saturday starts at 6 p.m. Central. Kickoff from Tiger Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. on the Troy ISP Sports Network!
Tuesday, Sept. 2
The weekly press conference was Monday at Country's Barbecue as always, with ribs on the menu. I'm not a big ribs guy, and neither is Derek Steyer from WSFA 12 in Montgomery. We both ate a couple and left five, which Troy Media Relations Director Ricky Hazel views as treasonous.
The ribs were good, but they give you a slab like you'd see on the side of the Flintstones car in the closing credits. The upshot was that, as each of the players was led to the interview spot in front of the TV cameras, most of them were scrubbing Wet-Naps across their faces to erase the evidence. The whole room smelled of barbecue sauce and lemon juice.
Most of the press is starting to get a sense of who the “go-to” interviewees are. The qualifications are usually pretty relaxed. The most in-demand are QB Jamie Hampton and LB Boris Lee, because they're the focal points of their respective units and both come across as “aw-shucks” country boys with good smiles and sound bytes ready.
Bear Woods, with his long red hair and relaxed demeanor (“Where do I look?” drew a laugh when he settled in front of the cameras), is pretty popular. Several of the players are intelligent and thoughtful, but soft-spoken, like RB DuJuan Harris and OT Dion Small.
If anyone in the media is reading and wants some suggestions on Trojans who'd make great interview subjects ? and I've talked to nearly all of them ? DE Brandon Lang is smart and forthright, DE Kenny Mainor is hilarious and seems to stop smiling only when he lines up off the tackle, S Sherrod Martin is relatively quiet but intelligent and funny.
WR Austin Silvoy is a great interview subject, but is probably tired of telling Tim Tebow stories from high school. WR Mykeal Terry is extremely California and has good insight into the culture shock between So-Cal and So-Al, and RB Maurice Greer is a great subject, simply because he's so inspirational, although one gets the feeling that he's ready to put the story of his cancer rehab behind him and just be regarded as a football player again.
LSU's coming up and everybody knows that the Tiger fans love their football. I'm scheduled to be on four radio shows in Louisiana this week so far, and most of the producers who've scheduled me ask me the same well-meaning but condescending questions about what Troy's goals are for the game and what Troy hopes to get out of playing the mighty Tigers.
I understand that they don't mean anything by it, but my answer's always the same: Troy's going down there to win the football game! Period! I remember how frustrated the LSU fans were after they beat Troy in Baton Rouge four years ago (on a late 30-yard TD pass to the tight end with about two minutes left).
They'd struggled against us, but there wasn't a single Trojan fan who was happy with having given LSU a run for their money. They were looking to win, and there was no moral victory about it.
Without a doubt, that's the attitude the Trojans will be going to Baton Rouge with, and every ounce of their energies will be going to bringing a win against the defending champions back to Troy.
Trojan Talk is tonight from Yanni's Steakhouse on Highway 231 in south Troy from 7-8 p.m. You can listen on www.troytrojans.com or on your local Troy ISP Sports Network station and you can call Coach Blakeney with your question or comment at 1-866-736-5889.
The radio broadcast Saturday starts at 6 p.m. Central. Kickoff from Tiger Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. on the Troy ISP Sports Network!
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