Jerry Slocum is a winner.  His record speaks for itself and he is one of just 17 active NCAA men’s basketball coaches to have reached the 600 win mark.  The 12th head coach in Youngstown State Men’s basketball history had a lot of success at Gannon and Geneva, which prompts his critics to point to school size and unknown opponents.  Slocum wears his heart on his sleeve and coaches with aggression and passion that would make Bobby Knight jealous.

I sat down to interview Slocum, and for a guy who takes so much criticism for his 17 second press conferences and cold personality, the 28 minutes he spent talking with me cannot be covered in a single story.  The interview will be broken into three parts.  Media Treatment, 2011-2012, and How Winning Affects Recruiting.

Paneech: First of all, congratulations on the marked improvement that the team showed this year.

Slocum: I appreciate that.  Obviously, I was excited about this class and I am very excited about our future here.  I thought that the improvement was more noticeable as the year went on.  Damian Eargle and Kendrick Perry got better.  Blake Allen and Ashen Ward got better.  As things moved along, all of our guys just got better as the year went on.  The thing that is obviously the most disheartening to me is that we are not winning enough games.  It is not acceptable, but in the same breath, the growth and competitiveness were both there.  I appreciate you saying that because I do take a lot of criticism.  I know that the criticism is a part of the job, it is what happens to coaches.

Paneech: Please expand on the growth you saw this season.

Slocum: When you beat the team that was in the final game played in college basketball this season, you lose to Valpo in overtime, you have a shot to tie or win the game against Detroit, you should have, could have, beaten Akron.  When you look at the entire body of work, you were extremely competitive, and it gives you hope for where you are going in the future.  I think with our new recruits combined with who we are getting back, we have good Horizon League talent.  Do I think we are the cream of the crop?  I don’t think so, not yet, but I think our guys can grow into that.

Paneech: You have the reputation for being someone who is really tough to handle at a post game interview.

Slocum: You can take your shots, and say the negative things that you want to say at me, but at least report the facts also.  Report the facts, for example, the questions being asked at the press conferences are things like, “Everyone thought you were going to get blown out by 20 tonight, are you happy that you didn’t get blown out?” or “Do you feel that this was a wasted effort tonight?”  Take your shots at me, that’s part of the job, but in the same breath, at least report the facts.  We had the best backcourt in the conference with the turnover to assist ratio, Damian Eargle averaged 15 points and almost ten rebounds a game while leading the conference in blocked shots.  Report the fact that this team is growing and improving.  They are losing games, but for the first time in probably ten years, you are looking at a core group of kids who are coming in from the bottom up as Freshmen and Sophomores who have a chance to be the best Division-I team put on the court here at Youngstown State.

Paneech: Even reporting the facts, there has to be some quote to describe them.

Slocum: My point is that I have been doing this for a really long time.  I thought I was being a professional by keeping my answers short and quiet and not exploding on a question, I would just be quick.  If you lose a game, for example, the Milwaukee game, why not say, “Coach, that was a great basketball game tonight, you hit a five minute stretch where you didn’t score, can you comment on that”.  That is the way a question should be asked by somebody who understands basketball.  My reaction would be, here is an intelligent question, and I would do all I could to answer it.  I have never, no matter how tough the losses have been, not answered a question put to me that was a well-phrased question.  When you sit down in there and your heart is broken, you have never lost in your career, and now all of a sudden you are into your sixth year of misery  because you can’t get this thing where you want it to be, it weighs on you every moment that you are awake, and you come so close… and the first thing you get is a guy saying to you, “Do you think tonight was a wasted effort”.  I have never said,  “this is the end of the press conference”, but there is silence.

Paneech: I have been there for some of those moments, and have seen silence.

Slocum: The reason why there is silence is because most of the people who criticize me do not have enough confidence that they can ask me a legitimate or intelligent basketball question.  Any media guy can say, “your back court was 5-19 and had nine turnovers, did you think that affected your chances to win tonight?”, and that is the most disappointing thing.  Some guys can’t even see the game to know the right question to ask, and then when they report on it, they can’t even report the facts.  How can you not write or report on the last month of the season with all of those big games we were in and how close we were.  Some reporters just don’t get it.  Their basketball IQ is not to the point where they can effectively ask a question.  Whether or not they are good people is not for me to judge.  I get paid to win basketball games, and I think we are on our way to doing that.  Have some knowledge of what you are reporting on instead of asking some of the most ridiculous questions I have ever heard.

Early next week, Part II, 2011-2012, will be up.

Sophomore Vicky Rumph was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Softball First-Team and junior Jordan Ingalls was a third-team selection, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced on Thursday.

Rumph is the first softball player in school history to earn first-team honors, and 2011 is the first time in school history more than one softball player received academic all-district laurels.

Rumph, a who carries a 4.0 grade-point average in exercise science, is batting .314 with three doubles, a triple, four home runs and 25 runs batted in this season.

In her career, Rumph owns a career average of .321 with 12 home runs, 51 runs batted in and 48 runs scored in 93 games.

Ingalls, who leads the team with a .376 batting average, carries a 3.59 grade-point average in physical education. This season, Ingalls leads the team with nine doubles, four doubles and 38 runs batted in, which is the third most in a single-season.

A career .346 hitter, Ingalls has played in 143 straight games and has belted 11 career home runs.

The last softball player to earn all-district honors was McKenzie Bedra, who made third-team in 2008. Kelly Murphy was the first softball player to garner academic all-district honors with a second-team selection in 2004.

The Youngstown State softball program will celebrate Senior Day as the Penguins host Green Bay in the 2011regular-season series finale, May 7-8, at McCune Park in Canfield, Ohio. The seniors will be honored prior to the 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, May 7.

The Guins will honor seniors Erin Gilmour, Kim Klonowski and Kristina Rendle prior to Saturday’s first game. Gilmour joined the program in 2010 and has served as one of the Guins’ top pinch-runners. Klonowski is a four-year letterwinner and ranks tied for third all-time with 18 career home runs. Rendle joined the Guins in 2009 and is batting a career-best .336 in 2011.

** Photo Courtesy of Ron Stevens.

Several Youngstown State University student athletes have recently been recognized nationally for their excellence in the classroom.

The Youngstown State football team had four former student-athletes named to the 2011 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, the organization announced on Wednesday. Stephen Blose (Erie, Pa.), Kyle Banna (Canfield, Ohio), Luke Matelan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Eric Rodemoyer (Sharon, Pa.) were YSU’s selections.  Blose, Banna, and Erik Johnson received the Missouri Valley Football Conference President’s Council Academic Excellence Award, the league announced on Tuesday.

Being selected to receive the Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award, which requires a minimum GPA of 3.2 for the previous two semesters, were Blose, Bobby Coates, Tyler Figueroa, Chris Gammon, Johnson, Marc Kanetsky, D.J. Moss, Dom Rich and Nate Schkurko. A total of 104 student-athletes received the league’s Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.

You will not meet a more personable group than the Youngstown State University Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff. They are all very genuine, real, and fun people to talk with.  John Vogel, who handles the women’s basketball program from a sports information director position was gracious enough to tape the roundtable interview I got to conduct.  Topics discussed are the recruiting process, Brandi Brown being overlooked on postseason awards, and a fun segment where the coaches have to pinpoint what their peers like and dislike.

Big thanks to Mr. Vogel for not only creating this opportunity, but for also being very helpful with my requests.  Also, a million thanks to Coach Bob Boldon for being a guy who is always candid and approachable.  This was my first real conversation of any kind with the assistants.  Pictured above are John Cullen, Kate Schrader, and Tavares Jackson.  Not pictured but included in the video is Jen Theissen.

Just before this interview was conducted, these coaches were working with a few of the players on the last day of workouts until August.  To watch how they coach as a group was fun.  Coach Boldon is kind of an overseer and delegates authority for an assistant to watch a defender and another coach to monitor an offensive player.  The other assistants usually encourage the players working in the various drills.  The dedication of this staff is going to put bodies in seats over the next couple of years.

Also, a new piece of equipment was in use at practice.  As a player shoots a three-point shot, a three foot high box announces the arc, or highest point, that the ball hits on its way to the basket.  Coach Theissen explained that the machine would register different numbers based on factors such as a players size.  For example, Macey Nortey and  Tieara Jones are about a foot different in stature meaning their arc would be different.  Very nice piece of equipment!

Thanks again to all who participated!

For a guy who was supposed to light the world on fire and set home run records to rattle the history of Pittsburgh Sports, Pedro Alvarez sure has been a disappointment so far.  Through Sunday’s 8-4 win over the Colorado Rockies, Alvarez is batting .213, which was bolstered by two singles in four at-bats.  Prior to that game, Pedro was tinkering in the forbidden .200 range.

Pedro Alvarez was on the fast track.  The 24 year old native of the Dominican Republic had Pirates fans convinced he was ready to assume the duties at the hot corner finishing 2010 with 16 home runs in 347 at-bats.  Being known as a notoriously slow starter, Alvarez can really play a role for a franchise hoping for at least mediocrity.

Neal Walker and Jose Tabata have done their parts as young components of an inconsistency machine.  Lyle Overbay is starting to prove why the Pirates need a first baseman.  Overbay, much like Alvarez, has shown little with the bat so far in 2011.

At the rate Alvarez is going, he will end the season with about 40 RBI and just 5 dingers.  The numbers have to get better, don’t they?  If not, Hurdle better have a “Plan B” in place.  Maybe he can switch Overbay and Alvarez in the batting order and on defense.  Maybe he can let Alvarez pitch in a mop-up situation and make Overbay catch.

The moral here is that there are two guys holding Pittsburgh back from being at the very least, a .500 team.

Something weird happened earlier this afternoon.  As I looked up into the sky, I noticed a large bright yellow thing.  I know somewhere I have seen this object before, but not since last year.  Having bought a new vehicle in January, I am proud to say that just four months later, I gambled and drove with my window down.  The last time I attempted that, the value of my car took a hit from rain damage.

I’m not sure how to feel about this crappy weather.  A part of me wants to take up hunting, groundhog hunting.  Phil, if you are reading this, just stay in your hole next year, don’t even think about coming out.

The group of people I feel the worst for are the men and women who play baseball and softball at Youngstown State.  Actually, I feel bad for everyone trying to play baseball this Spring.  T-Ball participating children are in great danger.  They can play their first game real soon with just a couple of practices.  By the time they get the hang of it, it will be time to face live pitching.

Mother Nature has been dominant this season.  Her ERA is 0.00 in every league she has been a part of this year.  She may not be the most popular player on a baseball field, but what she says, goes, period.

Jordan Ingalls, a YSU Softball Player, earlier said, “You can’t pay attention to the weather.  It is equal for both teams to play in such unfavorable conditions.”  That interview was three weeks ago, and I think Jordan has played three games of a scheduled 13 since.

It’s an easy fix, Penguins fans.  We need to petition Dave Dravecky to donate a few bucks to his alma mater for a new domed facility.  Put it behind McDonald’s by the stadium.  Better yet, just build it and include the McDonald’s to eliminate the need to hire concession stand workers.  In the offseason, use the area for parking, indoor parking.  Sell special passes for twice as much.  With the little deck closed and students forced to park anywhere from the Covelli Centre to Federal Plaza, these parking passes will sell like hotcakes.

OK, so it was a slow sports day.

Phil Klein is tearing it up on the diamond for Youngstown State this season.  Klein has joined six other pitchers in YSU history to record 200 career strikeouts.  Just this season, Klein has been named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week, twice.  He is the Horizon League leader with 61 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings.  He has earned four of YSU’s eight wins on the year.  He struck out 13 batters against Toledo earlier in the season.  He is Phil Klein, and if you were a Major League Baseball Scout, you would already know that.  Klein will almost definitely get drafted and he has a very bright future in the sport of baseball.

Paneech: How much pressure is put on you to be a mentor to the younger guys trying to succeed as pitchers?

Klein: We have got so many young guys.  Really, we only have a couple of upperclassmen who are pitching on this team.  Things can go their way, but it isn’t consistent.  You wonder what is going through their head, not so much the physical or mechanical stuff, but rather the what if they pitch good, what is going through their heads?  We try to encourage them to think on an even-keel level to balance things out.  There are times when it looks like they get it.  Sometimes, these young guys will go out and have a really good outing, other times they get knocked around.  I can only tell them so much, they have to learn how to be consistent.

Paneech: Supposedly, 90% of your power comes from your legs.  How true is that to you?

Klein: I believe it.  In the offseason, I focus more on running than lifting.  If you don’t, you can put the ball over the plate and get hit around.  I like to think I can go for as long as I can because my legs stay fresh from the work I have put in.

Paneech: Consistency is the biggest thing with any pitcher.  You look at someone like Rick Ankiel.  He was thrown into a relief role to pitch in a postseason game and ends up missing badly with every single pitch.  How can a pitcher come unglued?

Klein: It all starts with the first batter of an inning.  If he gets on, it gets in your head.  Then he could steal, and it is further in your head.  It can snowball until you regain your focus.  By looking back at what happened, you give up a five or six run inning because the problems snowball in your own head.  It starts with the first batter of an inning and all builds one way or the other from there.

Paneech: Do you prefer pitching from the stretch or a full wind-up?

Klein: I have no problem with either one of them.  Last weekend, I was pitching out of the wind-up and my footing just felt wrong.  I went from the stretch with no one on base because I felt more comfortable that way.  It’s a feel thing, some people have a preference, but I am usually comfortable either way.

Paneech: You are blessed to have good coaches here.  Coach Pasquale eats and breathes YSU Baseball.  Talk about how these guys are to play for.

Klein: I talk to Coach Dan [Lipari] at least once a day.  He’s a young guy but he knows his stuff.  I can come at them with anything, and that’s the thing I like most.  I can talk to any of them about school, baseball, girls, anything at all and they will be there for me.

Paneech: Having so much success at this level, are the big boys making their presence felt yet?

Klein: I filled out some paperwork for a few teams and have had conversations with some scouts.  I am trying not to focus on that yet, but rather this team and this season.  Those people cannot do anything for me while I’m in college and that kind of got in my head last season – always wondering who was watching and what they thought.  It takes you out of the present, so I will worry about all that when the time comes.

Paneech: You look at Stephen Strasburg.  He is babied along by the Nationals and then when they kind of turn him loose, he gets badly injured.  Do you think him skipping this level was a mistake?

Klein: I don’t how much of Stephen’s problems came from mechanical things or if it was coaching.  I feel like it is a benefit to work your way up because you are pitching to a better type of hitter each time you progress to another level.

Paneech: What kind of a hitter are you?  If you get to the National League, you will have to bat.

Klein: (laughs)  I would like to think I am a good hitter.  I always tell the guys that if someone gets hurt, that I will go up there and take the three biggest swings you will ever see.  I might not hit it, but I will take three big swings.  If I played in the National League, I could always become a bunter.

Paneech: Lets talk Major League Baseball.  Who do you root for?   Who is your favorite player?

Klein: I am a big Boston Red Sox fan and Josh Beckett is my favorite player.  He struggled early, but he is back on track now and has recorded plenty of strikeouts while keeping his ERA down around 1.00.  His demeanor is even-keel and he is very intense.  I can’t stand the Yankees and two of my roommates are all about the Yankees.  It gets intense when they play each other and we throw our teams shirts on and have at it.  I don’t wish bodily harm on any Yankee players, but I do hope they make ten errors and the Red Sox score 20 runs.

Paneech: What would happen if the Yankees drafted you?

Klein: (long pause)  I’m going in there like it is any other team.  I wouldn’t ask for piles of memorabilia.  If I had to pitch against the Red Sox it would definitely be in the back of my mind that I grew up rooting for that team.  I would have to take the right approach and do my best for whoever it is I am pitching for regardless of who it is against.

Paneech: Who was the best starting pitcher of all-time?

Klein: I would have to say Pedro Martinez back in the day.  He was unreal.  I also think Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, and Roger Clemens were all the cream of the crop.  Those guys were so good for so many years.  These guys were good for 15 years.

Paneech: How are things going academically here for you at YSU?

Klein: I am a finance major.  I am having the toughest semester of my life right now.  I have two classes that I could spend all of my time on.  I don’t care for the accounting as much as the stock market.  The stock market is what I want to work with.  If baseball doesn’t work out, I want to go into investment banking.  They make good money.  I love it here though.  I get along with all of the guys on the team.  i don’t think I would be nearly as happy at an Ohio State where there are 50,000 people running around and there is nowhere to park.  I kind of like the size here.  I had a couple of really good classes last Fall.  I had Astronomy and Weather and really liked them.  You know what the things are but you don’t know how they work.  The worst class ever is one I have right now, it is a Financial Analysis class.  The teacher flies through everything and I don’t get it.  She might as well be speaking a foreign language.  I have no idea on some stuff in there and have been to the teachers office a few times asking for help, it is rough.

Paneech: OK, here is $10,000, how do I invest it right now?

Klein: (laughs)  I would throw a lot of it in Apple.  Steve Jobs is having some health problems, but they always have something new to give their stock a big boost when it needs one.  In three years they have returned 300% of what was invested.  They always step up.  I would spread it out though, and try to diversify your investment.

One Word Answers:

Favorite Fast Food Order: Taco Bell — Crunchwrap Supreme and Three Soft Tacos w/ Sour Cream.

Biggest Fear: Snakes.

Worst Habit: Being a Perfectionist.

Favorite Pitch: Slider.

Best Baseball Movie Ever: Bull Durham, hands down.

Favorite Gum: Eclipse Spearmint.

Favorite TV Show: Two And A Half Men.

Best Musician Out There: Jason Aldean.

Best Christmas program You Look Forward To Each Year? Christmas Vacation.

Best Player In Baseball Who Plays Somewhere Other Than Boston: Robinson Cano.

Ultimate vacation: Australia.

Tell me What You Think of Groundhog Day: It’s a waste of time… regardless of whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow it is going to be cold anyway.  Valentine’s Day is a worthless holiday too, and I have a girlfriend.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have announced a sampling of the promotional events to be featured for the upcoming 2011 season at Eastwood Field.

The Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase (featured in the above video), will appear for the Scrappers game against the State College Spikes on June 26.  Ted will be on hand to throw out the first pitch and will be signing autographs for fans during the game.  In addition, a $20 meet and greet package is available.  Included in the meet and greet package are  a box seat to the game, a food voucher, an 8 x 10 picture and a pre-game meeting with Mr. DiBiase.

James Scott, known for his role as EJ DiMera on Days of Our Lives, will be on hand August 13 for the Scrappers – Brooklyn Cyclones matchup.  Scott will be in the house to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and to sign autographs during the game.  A VIP meet and greet package is available for $25 and includes an 8 x 10 autographed picture, a box seat game ticket, a food voucher, and the opportunity to meet Scott before the game.

Mark Saturday, May 14 off in your planner as the 2011 season kicks off with Mahoning Valley Scrappers Fan Fest Day.  The event will take place at Eastwood Field between 10-2 and marks the official date fans can purchase individual game tickets.  Fans will be treated to $1 hot dogs, soft drinks, and beer.  There will also be some good deals on team merchandise in the team store.  Fans will have a chance to take batting practice from 10-1 while children can enjoy games and face painting.

At Fan Fest, there will be open auditions from 10 -1 for people interested in singing the National Anthem.

For more information on any of the upcoming events, contact the Scrappers front office at (330) 505-0000 or visit www.mvscrappers.com.

• The Youngstown State men’s tennis team dropped a hard-fought 4-3 match to third-seed Wright State on Thursday at the Horizon League Championships. The Penguins now face Butler in the fifth-place match on Friday morning at 9.
• The Youngstown State women’s basketball coaching staff will offer three camp formats this summer for young student-athletes and high school teams.  For individuals entering fourth through ninth grade, the staff is offering a half-day camp from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Monday, June 27, to Thursday, June 30. Players who are preparing for the collegiate level are invited to participate in the overnight elite camp on Thursday, June 30 and Friday, July 1. There will also be a team camp for varsity and JV squads on June 10 and June 12.   For more information, contact the Women’s Basketball Office at (330) 941-3004.
• The Youngstown State softball team picked up a single game against Ohio State tonight at 7 p.m. before heading to Indianapolis for a three-game Horizon League series against Butler, April 22-23.
• Youngstown State had eight winter sport student-athletes named to the Horizon League’s various All-Academic teams on Tuesday. The swimming and diving program led the way with three selections.  Representing YSU from the swimming and diving program were senior diver Amanda Carpin, senior swimmer Alana Kane and sophomore diver Casey Hill. It was the second straight year Carpin, a 3.95 student in Special Education, was named to the team.  Sophomore Brandi Brown was named to the women’s basketball all-academic team. Brown is the first Penguin since Lauren Branson in 2007-08.  The track and field program had four representatives named to the Academic All-League team. On the men’s side, senior Adam Kagarise was named to the squad for a third time while sophomore Jeff Hanselman earned his first academic honor. On the women’s side, senior Alisha Anthony earned her third indoor academic selection while sophomore Samantha Hamilton picked up her first track and field academic honor.
• According to YSU Sports Information Director Trevor Parks, the No Stone Unturned Pancake Breakfast held this past Sunday was a huge success.  The paid admission is estimated to be right around 1,000 meals served, which is 3,000 pancakes.  The charity function, headed by Coach Wolford and his wife, also did well with raffles and a Chinese Auction.

Kevin Watts is under pressure these days.  He can hear his receivers coach, Andre Coleman, in his sleep.  Rather than squirm from the subject, Watts was quick to inform me that he respects Coleman and that any criticism he offers, regardless of volume, infliction, or frequency – he grows from it.  Unique athletes at the college level are those who can admit such a thing.  Watts is only a sophomore going into the 2011 season, but his attitude speaks volumes about how mature he has become in just one year.  This young man has so much potential that the university named the new indoor practice facility after him.  Well, that may be far fetched, but he is developing every day in a positive way.

Paneech: What got you into playing football?

Watts: I started playing at five years old.  I had an uncle who played at Ohio State as well as an uncle who played at Akron.  My dad was the pee wee coach, so it is in my blood.  My first year, my father put me at offensive end, I wanted to fight him every day.  After that, I played quarterback in middle school and switched to slot at Middletown High School here in Ohio.  We scored 68 points in a game, we upset Colerain, we upset Cincinnati Moeller.  It’s a smaller school, but we did pretty good there.

Paneech:  Coach Coleman and Coach Wolford are having a hard time figuring out why the receivers are dropping balls this Spring.  Do you hear these guys in your sleep?

Watts: (laughs)  Coach Coleman is a good coach who is very passionate about what we do.  He sees so much potential with this group and when we don’t do everything we can, he knows we can do more and step it up.  He is always on us, but I feel myself getting better as a result.

Paneech: How close are you with your fellow Penguins having only known them for a year or so.

Watts: We are definitely a pretty close group.  Dominique Barnes helped me out a lot last year and was in a similar situation by playing when he was a freshman.  He likes his records (laughs), but he has been a great person to look up to.  I would feel fortunate to get my name somewhere up there, or even close to what he did while he played.

Paneech: What are you studying here at YSU?

Watts: I am working toward a Special Education Major.  Everything is going really good right now and I am in the field working with kids at local schools.  That’s a lot of fun right now, I enjoy it.  The toughest class I took here was a Classical Music course.  It was rough to listen to that music like Bach and Beethoven all of the time.

Paneech: I am proud of the football team’s activity level on Twitter.  How did all of that start and what drives you guys to Tweet so much?

Watts: Twitter was something I installed on my phone when I got here last year.  When I got it, I noticed that nearly the whole team was on there Tweeting.  We mess around with each other and pick with each other on there.  For us, it is more fun than playing video games.  I follow Chad Johnson and like what he Tweets.  Dominique Barnes is the most famous person who follows me (laughs).  I would like to meet Donald Jones on there.  He is a guy I definitely want to meet that might be able to give me some pointers.

Paneech: It’s now 6:00.  How will you spend the rest of your evening?

Watts: I’ll grab a shower when we finish and then grab something to eat.  After that, I will go to the dorms, call my parents and talk with my family for a little bit.  After that, I do my homework and get ready for my classes the next day.  When all that gets done, I get on Twitter for a little bit!

Paneech: Are you happy with your choice to attend Youngstown State University?

Watts: Yes, I am very happy here.  This football staff is a bunch of winners who are up front with everybody on this team.  They tell us exactly what we need to do to get better.  I love this staff.  Coach Wolford, Coach Montgomery, and Coach Coleman all get their points across when you are not doing what you are supposed to and they will work with you to make it right.  This is really a great staff.

Paneech: Who is your best friend on the team.

Watts: I’m close with Jordan Thompson and Josh Garner.  We are from the same area so we ride home together and travel back together.  The Florida guys…  [Adaris] Bellamy is my boy, he’s a funny guy.  Him, Jelani [Berassa], all of those guys from Florida talk and act different.  Boat [Jamarious Boatwright] always comes up with these clever nicknames for himself.

One Word Answers

What Do You Order at McDonalds: Two McDoubles, Medium Fry, Large Hi-C.

Favorite TV Show: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Song On Your ipod People Wouldn’t Believe: Incomplete by Sisqo.

Biggest Phobia: Losing My Parents.

Worst Habit: Biting My Nails.

NFL Receiver You Want To Play Like: Percy Harvin   – he does it all.

Favorite Drink: Red Gatorade.

Favorite Snack: Fruit Snacks thanks to my little nephew.  He gives me one when he has a bag, now I love them.

Toppings on A Pizza: Extra Cheese and Sausage.

Pen or Pencil: Pen.

Favorite Movie: Ali.

Total Yards Prediction For The Season: If I am returning punts, I will have to say at least a thousand yards total.