Connor Lemons
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Media day extra: Ohio State men’s basketball team reveals their favorite NFL teams
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo courtesy of OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Yes, college basketball players have interests outside of basketball!
Ohio State’s annual basketball media day is a great opportunity for the media to catch up with returning players after a long summer, get to know new members of the program a little better, and hear from the coaching staff about the upcoming season. Getting the opportunity to ask the players questions in a non-press conference format usually leads to better answers, as the players aren’t wound so tight after playing a game.
Plus, everyone in the room — media and players alike — are excited for basketball to be back.
On top of that, media day is the most casual setting us media folks will have to ask players questions for the rest of the year. It is the last chance to ask questions relating back to last season, the off-season, and even some fun, off-topic questions that have nothing to do with basketball.
As you can imagine, the players got several repeat questions from the media. After half an hour, the team probably memorized their answers to these questions:
So on, and so forth.
To shake things up and give the members of Team 126 a chance to talk about their personal interests, I asked several players about football. Specifically, I wanted to know which NFL teams — if any — they were fans of, and why?
A few players are fans of specific players, a few follow teams because of where they grew up, and at least one loves football but has absolutely no interest in being loyal to one team.
Here’s what I learned about the Ohio State men’s basketball team’s NFL fandom.
“The Dallas Cowboys. Mainly because I’m from — well, I don’t want to say I’m from Dallas, but I was born down there. My entire family on my mom’s side, they’re all big Dallas fans, even my dad’s side. But I was born there, grew up there a little bit, moved up here. Just brought that love for Dallas — all Dallas things, really. Mavericks, Rangers, brought all that love up here.
So does that mean you stayed up the other night to see the end of that Sunday night game (versus the Pittsburgh Steelers)?
“Oh yeah, I stayed up for it.”
“I’m really an Aaron Rodgers fan. So I’m a Jets fan right now, and our coach just got fired this morning. So I’m low-key mad about that. So now it really looks all dysfunctional, but they (Aaron Rodgers and former Jets HC Robert Saleh) weren’t getting along. I know Aaron Rodgers is going to retire soon, so I’ve gotta find a new player.”
So you were a Packers fan when you were younger, but now that he’s in New York you’re a Jets fan?
“Yeah, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, all of them.”
“I don’t have a team.”
Do you not watch?
“Oh no, I definitely watch the NFL, but I’m just not picking a team.”
“So growing up I was a big Packers fan, and obviously I was a Bengals fan (too). But I’ve been really sticking with the Bengals. I love Cincinnati all the way. So right now I’m a big Cincinnati guy, I know we’re struggling right now.”
“So you’re gonna ride it out with the Bengals?”
“For sure. I’m riding with Cincinnati for sure, all the way. Rough start, but we’re gonna build off of it.”
“Kansas City. I’ve been following Kansas City for, I wanna say, I don’t know. People say I’m being a bandwagon, but I’d say for the past like… ever since Patrick Mahomes (got drafted), that’s my quarterback.”
“Detroit! I’m from Detroit, the Lions, man! I love the Lions, man. Super Bowl, man. Super Bowl.”
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo courtesy of OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Yes, college basketball players have interests outside of basketball!
Ohio State’s annual basketball media day is a great opportunity for the media to catch up with returning players after a long summer, get to know new members of the program a little better, and hear from the coaching staff about the upcoming season. Getting the opportunity to ask the players questions in a non-press conference format usually leads to better answers, as the players aren’t wound so tight after playing a game.
Plus, everyone in the room — media and players alike — are excited for basketball to be back.
On top of that, media day is the most casual setting us media folks will have to ask players questions for the rest of the year. It is the last chance to ask questions relating back to last season, the off-season, and even some fun, off-topic questions that have nothing to do with basketball.
As you can imagine, the players got several repeat questions from the media. After half an hour, the team probably memorized their answers to these questions:
- What have been the differences you’ve noticed with Coach Diebler leading the program?
- Are you guys actually going to pick up the pace this season?
- How has the chemistry been with this new group of guys so far?
So on, and so forth.
To shake things up and give the members of Team 126 a chance to talk about their personal interests, I asked several players about football. Specifically, I wanted to know which NFL teams — if any — they were fans of, and why?
A few players are fans of specific players, a few follow teams because of where they grew up, and at least one loves football but has absolutely no interest in being loyal to one team.
Here’s what I learned about the Ohio State men’s basketball team’s NFL fandom.
(Note: I wasn’t able to ask every player. These are the answers from the players who were available on Tuesday, Oct. 8)
Question: Do you have a favorite NFL team, and if so, why?
Austin Parks: Dallas Cowboys
“The Dallas Cowboys. Mainly because I’m from — well, I don’t want to say I’m from Dallas, but I was born down there. My entire family on my mom’s side, they’re all big Dallas fans, even my dad’s side. But I was born there, grew up there a little bit, moved up here. Just brought that love for Dallas — all Dallas things, really. Mavericks, Rangers, brought all that love up here.
So does that mean you stayed up the other night to see the end of that Sunday night game (versus the Pittsburgh Steelers)?
“Oh yeah, I stayed up for it.”
Bruce Thornton: New York Jets
“I’m really an Aaron Rodgers fan. So I’m a Jets fan right now, and our coach just got fired this morning. So I’m low-key mad about that. So now it really looks all dysfunctional, but they (Aaron Rodgers and former Jets HC Robert Saleh) weren’t getting along. I know Aaron Rodgers is going to retire soon, so I’ve gotta find a new player.”
So you were a Packers fan when you were younger, but now that he’s in New York you’re a Jets fan?
“Yeah, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, all of them.”
Devin Royal: Nobody
“I don’t have a team.”
Do you not watch?
“Oh no, I definitely watch the NFL, but I’m just not picking a team.”
Evan Mahaffey: Cincinnati Bengals
“So growing up I was a big Packers fan, and obviously I was a Bengals fan (too). But I’ve been really sticking with the Bengals. I love Cincinnati all the way. So right now I’m a big Cincinnati guy, I know we’re struggling right now.”
“So you’re gonna ride it out with the Bengals?”
“For sure. I’m riding with Cincinnati for sure, all the way. Rough start, but we’re gonna build off of it.”
John Mobley Jr.: Kansas City Chiefs
“Kansas City. I’ve been following Kansas City for, I wanna say, I don’t know. People say I’m being a bandwagon, but I’d say for the past like… ever since Patrick Mahomes (got drafted), that’s my quarterback.”
Micah Parrish: Detroit Lions
“Detroit! I’m from Detroit, the Lions, man! I love the Lions, man. Super Bowl, man. Super Bowl.”
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