For the first time in a year I went down to ‘The U’ for a game week Media Day. Media Day is normally on Tuesdays, but since this week’s game is on a Thursday the schedule moved back a bit. After leaving the Hurricane Radio Network in August of last year, I needed a break from the grind of UM football, so while my compadres spent their Tuesdays transcribing interviews and turning quotes into stories, I stayed up in the 954 and kept track of things from north of the county line. Hey 305, I’m back!
It felt good to be back. I made that all too familiar walk into the Hecht Athletic Center, up the stairs, and down the hallway lined with photos of great Canes from all sports. My journey ended up at the Edgerrin James team meeting room, home of Media Day. I always love the hobknobbing that goes on before the presser. I enjoy learning what my fellow media members are thinking before Randy Shannon walks in. I like to get a sense for how the next few minutes will go.
Randy opens the door, heads toward the podium and we all sit down. I always sit off to the left (Randy’s right). I was bringing my laptop to these events since I had a 20-foot phone line I’d patch in to an extra phone jack to be able to use the Internet. I type faster than I write, so I always am typing my way through these. However, for the first time, instead of making notes on a blank Word document, I used Facebook/Twitter to get my notes down, and out to the public. It’s amazing how the onslaught of social networking has completely changed reporting. No longer do you have to wait for the next day to read the local paper’s take on the presser. You can now read it in virtually real time online. Great stuff.
Randy was pretty short, going fourteen minutes according to my watch. That’s about half of what a typical coach’s press conference would be. It wasn’t Randy either. No one was asking questions. I always try to ask a few questions, even if I’m not on a deadline. If I have the opportunity to interact with the head coach of one of the top Division-I college football programs in the country, then why would I keep my lips sealed.
After Randy speaks, Jacory Harris (or any other starting QB) takes his turn behind podium. Jacory is listed at 200 lbs, ten pounds heavier than his listed weight on the roster last year, but he looks like he gained more than ten. He looks thicker and his chest looks like it could withstand a bullet (and hopefully a pass rush). I was impressed, to say the least. Jacory handles pressers with ease and it’s no wonder Travis Benjamin said he [Jacory], leaves the huddle and knows he’s the captain of this team. The one thing that came across today is how much Jacory missed not playing football in the spring. You could tell that his juices were flowing to play some pigskin.
Following Jacory, players will start to trickle in and occupy different seats in the EJ room. Today’s lineup was Brandon Harris, Josh Holmes, Matt Bosher, Damien Berry and Benjamin. I can remember the days when we’d be overwhelmed by players. Each outlet would have needed at least two players to cover it right. Now, it’s a bit different. For my purposes, four or five guys is enough, but other media outlets are hurting for more.
The one overall feeling I got talking to the players this week was a definite sense of the outside expectations and a self imposed challenge to meet those expectations. There is a feeling that the talent is there, and the excuses have to end. Berry talked about the team needing to be consistent and finish games. Harris said it’s time for that ’08 recruiting class to step up and start accomplishing their goals. Holmes is excited to see some of these young guys face real competition in a game. Benjamin knows that Jacory has a much better feel for where every receiver is going to be and it’s making for a better passing game, which is scary.
I’m so happy that football season is back. I really think this team is going to be special. Will they win the title? I’m not counting on it, but clearly there is a lot of talent out there and that makes for good football. It felt wonderful to be back at the Hecht for a game week.
One down, thirteen more to go.