Wednesday off week

What a refreshing change today. Just the usual beat writers were up on campus and we were actually able to spend time with some of the players, not the usual 5-10 minute gang interviews. I talked with Rob Lunn, Zach Frazer, Donnie Brown and Tyler Lorenzen about 20 minutes each way. You can get conversational, and that leads to greater insights. I wasn't just looking for a quote.

You actually get a chance for open ended questions which lead you down paths you never thought about.

It's nice to get outside the fish bowl. During normal weeks there is such a crush and a rush. Not any ones fault (I think the Tuesday's have gone smoothly), but a different atmosphere this week.

Hopefully, the stories that come out of it are better. I think they will be.

As far as topics, there really isn't much breaking news at this point. Lorenzen hopes to return against South Florida at the earliest, and the bowl game the latest. Of course there is a chance we have seen Tyler in his last game. That would be a shame. I am not sure how they would work him back in (depends on how Frazer plays), but I imagine if he is able to go Randy Edsall will find a way to use him. He deserves that chance.

Lorenzen knew it right away when he broke his foot (he had a growth plate fracture in his left foot in high school) and he asked the trainer right away how long he would be out. That left a difficult position for Tyler to be in.

He had to cheer lead, but also come to grips with the injury.

"It was bittersweet," Lorenzen said. "I was happy for the team, but I was down because of the injury."

What is Lorenzen's role now?

"I can bring some leadership, be upbeat as possible," he said.


Frazer did almost an hour of interviews. He answered everything that was throw at him. On why he left Notre Dame? "I wasn't happy in regards to the football program."'

He had a close relationship with QB coach Peter Vaas (now an assistant coach at Duke) who left abruptly before spring practice. There were other things.

Frazer watched the tape of the UNC game and he said he was to blame for the loss. I think that is a bit much, one of the interceptions was Kashif Moore's fault and the interception return for a touchdown was at 24-6. Game was over already.

UConn lost this game because of penalties and punt blocking. Frazer is a nice humble person. I found him down to earth and personable. Not shy, he was mature and had command and didn't fluster.

I asked an awkwardly phrased question about him being the last of his Elite 11 campmates (Tim Tebow was at the camp among others) to throw a college pass.

He immediately interjected, "Well that's all right."

He then made a case that most QBs sit for 2 years at least before playing. Command of the facts and composure. He could have handled 10 minutes the week before (we never give up).

Let's talk about a Fat White Guy.

Lunn's blog has taken off bigtime. He destroys this site in blog hits. Part of it is the angle, he can provide what no one else provides, and that its a football player is even more remarkable.

It's also such a different perspective, absolutely captivating at times. The kid (I am only 7 years older than him) is a talented writer. Don't know if he can(actually, wants) to do the nuts and bolts journalistic work, but he has the makings of a columnist.

Superior whit and talent, it's kind of like taking a guy with a 4.35 40 and molding him into a player. Lunn is rough around the edges (focus, style and he has to prove he is versatile) but that that ability is too good to pass up. He can be a star writing if he wants to be, and of course catches a couple of breaks. He already has a niche though and that's important.

I hope this doesn't offend him, but he is a better writer than he is a football player.

On an aside, Lunn went to the Daily Campus as a freshman and asked to write, but because he was an athlete they kind of brushed him off. I can't tell you how poor a decision that was. He wasn't a journalism major, so he gets turned down?

I am mortified as an alum. Whatever happened to openness?

And, no wonder my business is in the tank. No vision, can't think out of the box. Even in college.

Gotta pay the bills.

Later...

P.S. May consider live blogging Celtics Preseason game.

P.S.S Not kidding

P.S.S. GO RAYS!