You guys probably don't know how this works, but by 9 a.m. every morning the UA asks that we submit any media requests for the day if there is a practice. Fairly standard practice nowadays.
Out of all the media people who attend - probably anywhere from 1 to 2 dozen, only about three or four a day actually submit requests and everyone else interviews who is there. I was a little surprised it was so few people, but I asked media relations because I always notice it's like almost always the guys I request and maybe one or two others. And there were two days where I forgot to get my request in last camp, and I noticed there were like 2 people available one day and 3 the other day. So I asked who sends in requests.
I submit media requests 98 percent of the time and always have when that option is available. Some reporters never have submitted one. Just always find that interesting because I prepare for the guys I request so I have good questions for them.
I don't always get who I ask for, usually for good reason - an injury, a guy might have an academic issue, guy might be too new to the program, might be coming out of the dog house, etc. Didn't even bother requesting Jamario Bell for example, even though I'm interested in his story I know he's not going to be made available at this point.
Requested Ricky Town yesterday, but I knew that was a real longshot, too. I probably wouldn't have unleashed the media on him just yet if I were in their shoes. Won't be long before Bret lets us talk with him, though.
Today we get defensive players. I sent in requests for McTelvin Agim (somewhat of a longshot because of newness, but not unheard of for a mature younger player), Jeremiah Ledbetter (will get), Deatrich Wise (will get) Randy Ramsey (longshot because of situation), Santos Ramirez (will get), Willie Sykes (probably will get). I usually don't request that many players but I did this time because I have a couple of longshots in there.
Back in the day, after we were finished watching an entire practice, the media relations folks would ask us who we wanted to speak with just before practice ended and they'd grab them for us on their way off the practice fields. Before that, Houston Nutt would walk up (he did an interview after every single practice) and we'd all surround him for an interview. Then we'd literally get one-on-one interviews with the players and coaches we requested to speak to, aside from the obvious guys like a starting QB who would usually be surrounded by reporters.
Now everyone just interviews a guy all at once. The one negative of that is I may have noticed something at practice that nobody else did, and I'm left having to ask a question that gives that information away to every reporter who didn't notice what I did. Or since it's oftentimes a player I requested, I ask a specific question that most reporters there probably weren't aware of and I give away my angle.
Anyway, thought some of you might be interested in how that works. I'll also add, the media relations guys we have at the UA, a relatively newer group, are fantastic.
Out of all the media people who attend - probably anywhere from 1 to 2 dozen, only about three or four a day actually submit requests and everyone else interviews who is there. I was a little surprised it was so few people, but I asked media relations because I always notice it's like almost always the guys I request and maybe one or two others. And there were two days where I forgot to get my request in last camp, and I noticed there were like 2 people available one day and 3 the other day. So I asked who sends in requests.
I submit media requests 98 percent of the time and always have when that option is available. Some reporters never have submitted one. Just always find that interesting because I prepare for the guys I request so I have good questions for them.
I don't always get who I ask for, usually for good reason - an injury, a guy might have an academic issue, guy might be too new to the program, might be coming out of the dog house, etc. Didn't even bother requesting Jamario Bell for example, even though I'm interested in his story I know he's not going to be made available at this point.
Requested Ricky Town yesterday, but I knew that was a real longshot, too. I probably wouldn't have unleashed the media on him just yet if I were in their shoes. Won't be long before Bret lets us talk with him, though.
Today we get defensive players. I sent in requests for McTelvin Agim (somewhat of a longshot because of newness, but not unheard of for a mature younger player), Jeremiah Ledbetter (will get), Deatrich Wise (will get) Randy Ramsey (longshot because of situation), Santos Ramirez (will get), Willie Sykes (probably will get). I usually don't request that many players but I did this time because I have a couple of longshots in there.
Back in the day, after we were finished watching an entire practice, the media relations folks would ask us who we wanted to speak with just before practice ended and they'd grab them for us on their way off the practice fields. Before that, Houston Nutt would walk up (he did an interview after every single practice) and we'd all surround him for an interview. Then we'd literally get one-on-one interviews with the players and coaches we requested to speak to, aside from the obvious guys like a starting QB who would usually be surrounded by reporters.
Now everyone just interviews a guy all at once. The one negative of that is I may have noticed something at practice that nobody else did, and I'm left having to ask a question that gives that information away to every reporter who didn't notice what I did. Or since it's oftentimes a player I requested, I ask a specific question that most reporters there probably weren't aware of and I give away my angle.
Anyway, thought some of you might be interested in how that works. I'll also add, the media relations guys we have at the UA, a relatively newer group, are fantastic.
