Cary Estes will provide insight and information at the 2007 Conference USA Football Media Blitz in New Orleans for the league's official website.
July 31, 2007
Day 2
Posted at 6:57 a.m. CT
Good morning. Or as they say in New Orleans, "Where's the coffee? My head hurts."
- CE
Ready To Begin
Posted at 8:39 a.m. CT
We are gathered in a ballroom at the hotel, waiting for the beginning of the teams' three-hour interview session with the print reporters (affectionately known as the ink-stained scribes). There also is a separate room for the television media. The players and coaches are all wearing golf shirts with their school logos on them. Many of the print reporters, meanwhile, appear to have broken out their finest T-shirts for the occasion.
- CE
A Good Turnout
Posted at 8:47 a.m. CT
Actually, we are only kidding about the print reporters. They have shown up in larger numbers than ever before in conference history, an indication of the growing strength and appeal of the league. C-USA relies on the media to get the word out about the league, and we certainly appreciate their hard work.
- CE
A True Student-Athlete
Posted at 9:30 a.m. CT
UTEP senior Lorne Sam is an example of what is right about college athletics. Sam already has earned his undergraduate degree in multi-disciplinary studies, and he will play this season while working on his Masters degree in educational leadership.
"Instead of being lazy and doing something easy just to get by, I figured I might as well take advantage of it and go ahead and work on my Masters," Sam says. "Hopefully by May I'll have two degrees while most people are working on one.
"I want to show the younger guys coming into college that it is cool to do well in school. You need to get the degree. That's the main focus. I want to be a leader on and off the field."
He's well on his way.
- CE
They Are ... Movie Stars
Posted at 9:43 a.m. CT
Marshall head coach Mark Snyder says he has received nearly as many questions in the past year about the recent movie "We Are ... Marshall" as he has about his football team. Not that he is complaining.
"Everybody wants to know about Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox (two stars of the film) and some of those experiences," Snyder says. "That was a good time. It was a chance to bring two forms of entertainment - athletics and Hollywood - together.
"It has helped our recruiting some. I think we'll really see a benefit when it comes out on DVD."
- CE
Size vs. Speed
Posted at 9:55 a.m. CT
Ideally, coaches want their players to be both big and fast. But given the choice between the two, SMU head coach Phil Bennett says he will take fast every time.
"I'm a speed guy. I'll give up size for speed," Bennett says. "People talk about a guy and say, 'He's not very big.' And I'll say, 'Yeah, but can you tackle him?' That's the key."
- CE
Heading Home
Posted at 10:07 a.m. CT
This year's Homecoming game for the Memphis Tigers will be on Nov. 3 against East Carolina. But for senior quarterback Martin Hankins, the true homecoming will occur a week later, when Memphis plays at Southern Miss. That's because Hankins is a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., and the Nov. 10 game will be the first time he has played a college game in his old stomping grounds.
"It will be fun to come home and play in front of friends and family," Hankins says. "You try not to look ahead, but that's a game I've already noticed."
- CE
Some Serious Bling
Posted at 10:23 a.m. CT
Instead of wearing his 2006 C-USA championship ring on his finger, Houston senior linebacker Brendan Pahulu is sporting it on a chain around his neck during today's interview session. He says he is displaynig it as a reminder to the other teams in the league, and to himself, that the Cougars are the defending champs.
"Coach (Art Briles) says we have a target painted on us right now, and I just wanted to show why we have a target painted on us," Pahulu says with a smile. "(Players on other teams) have come up and looked at it. I tell them that they're not lying when they say you have to work hard for this."
- CE
Saying Yes to N.O.
Posted at 10:51 a.m. CT
One of the reasons the C-USA Football Media Blitz came to New Orleans this year is to show support to the city and Tulane University as the area continues to recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. It is a gesture that is greatly appreciated by new Tulane head coach Bob Toledo.
"First of all, we have great leadership from our commisioner, Britton Banowsky. It was a great call on his part to have it in New Orleans," Toledo says. "It's a city that's working very hard to make a comeback, and Conference USA has helped. I'm very appreciative of that.
"They mentioned that this was the best turnout for the media, so obviously the media likes being in New Orleans. It's just been a very positive experience this year, and hopefully we'll be able to return to New Orleans many more times."
- CE
July 30, 2007
It's That Time Again
Posted at 4:20 p.m. CT
Greetings from New Orleans, aka The Big Easy, where the living has been anything but easy for the past two years. But the gumbo is still hot, the jazz is still cool and football is still king.
All 12 of the Conference USA head football coaches and several top players have descended upon the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street for the 2007 C-USA Football Media Blitz. It promises to be an enjoyable two days, so join us as we celebrate the beginning of another wonderful season.
- CE
Youth Clinic
Posted at 4:42 p.m. CT
One of the first items on the agenda for the coaches and players is a two-hour free clinic with members of the New Orleans Youth Football Alliance. The clinic is part of an effort to revive youth football in the area following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
And unfortunately, there is still plenty of evidence throughout the city of Katrina's wrath. The bus route to the fields where the clinic is being held passes some especially hard-hit neighborhoods. Entire blocks of houses are boarded up.
Many of the players gaze silently out the window during the 15-minute ride to the clinic. For a few moments, at least, the importance of football is put in perspective.
- CE
C-USA Football Youth Clinic Photos
Having a Ball
Posted at 4:54 p.m. CT
Then again, football can be important in its own way. That is evident as soon as the buses arrive at the clinic. The children are running around and throwing the ball and having a great time.
Never mind that it's a typical hot and sticky New Orleans summer afternoon. Never mind that hurricane damage easily can be seen from the field. For these kids, all that matters is that they're outdoors and having fun with real live college football players.
From that perspective, football is very important.
- CE
Hey, Aren't You ...
Posted at 5:02 p.m. CT
Initially, the most popular player at the clinic is Southern Mississippi sophomore tailback Damion Fletcher. But the children aren't in awe of Fletcher because he rushed for 1,388 yards and 11 touchdowns last year as a freshman (though that is impressive). Instead, they flock toward Fletcher because he is wearing No. 25.
You see, No. 25 also is the number worn by New Orleans Saints super running back Reggie Bush. At first, some of the children thought Bush was the player in the Southern Miss uniform.
- CE
Sign Him Up
Posted at 5:13 p.m. CT
During a receiving drill, SMU sophomore wideout Emmanuel Sanders tells the children that when they catch the ball, he wants to see their best touchdown dance. That is just fine with a 6th-grader named (appropriately enough) Deion, who makes a nice catch and then proceedes to execute a perfect backflip.
- CE
Live From New Orleans
Posted at 5:54 p.m. CT
Back at the hotel, the coaches and players are taking part in a series of television interviews that are being broadcast live on CSTV as well as the C-USA Web site. Members of each team spend approximately 10 minutes in the "studio" room during the actual interview session, and at least that long in the outer waiting area sampling the table-full of snacks, fruits and pastries.
- CE
A Good Laugh
Posted at 6:23 p.m. CT
One of the liveliest interview sessions is turned in by the UCF contingent. Junior tailback Kevin Smith and senior defensive end Emeka Okammor spend much of the time cracking jokes and laughing, while Coach George O'Leary sits nearby with a bemused look on his face.
Afterward, as the trio is leaving the room, O'Leary says with a smile, "I don't know whether they were laughing at me or with me."
- CE
A Fashion Statement
Posted at 6:55 p.m. CT
When the players and head coach of each team leave their interview session, they are all given CSTV baseball caps. Houston coach Art Briles puts his on, nice and straight and perfect. That elicits laughter from Houston senior running back Anthony Alridge, who protests that his coach is being too stiff.
"You don't have to wear it straight. Just let it happen," Alridge says. He demonstates by quickly plopping his cap on his own head, where it comes to a rest angled slightly down and to the right.
Briles examines this fashion statement and says, "That doesn't work for me. My flava don't flow like yours."
- CE