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joecrisp · 03-25-2004, 09:20 PM

I just got the schedule for this weekend (it wasn't finalized until last night), and it looks like there won't be as much time for talking to the players individually as I had hoped.

The schedule for Saturday and Sunday is one practice session from 1pm to 2:30pm. The players and coaches won't be made available to the media until 2:30pm, so there's going to be a lot of reporters clamoring for these guys' attention all at once when practice is over.

The marquee players will be doing group interview sessions, so any opportunities I get to talk to players like Portis, Arrington, Brunell, Ramsey or Smoot will likely be limited. That's not a surprise, as that's pretty much how they did it at training camp last year, too. I'll try to grab these guys as they're coming off the field, and get some questions in before they do the full group deals, but they'll likely have assistants with them that will divert the media until they're ready for the group interviews.

I was originally just planning to go on Saturday, but now that I know there's only going to be one practice and interview session each day, I'll most likely go up there on Sunday, too.

Coach Gibbs will be addressing the media at 3:30pm on Saturday, and again on Sunday. Again, my opportunities to talk to him individually are likely very small, so I'll try to get a few questions in during the press conferences.

My plan of attack is basically to target the players or coaches that aren't surrounded by ten reporters from the time they step off the practice field. I'd like to get at least two or three quality interviews each day, where they can answer five or more questions at a time. I had pretty good success with this strategy last year, and was able to get quality interviews from Gardner, Smoot, Morton, Jacobs, Samuels, Bowen, Fiore, Hamdan, and a few others. I could have had Bailey, too (my photographer had corraled him, but I was talking to Bowen at the time-- Doh!!!

) In Bailey's absence, I expect Smoot to be a much bigger media target this year, but he's very generous with the media, so maybe I'll get more than I expect from him.

I'm doing this for you guys, so if you have any suggestions as to how I should prioritize my interview targets, let's hear 'em!

03-25-2004, 09:20 PM	#34
joecrisp The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Age: 49 Posts: 1,501	I just got the schedule for this weekend (it wasn't finalized until last night), and it looks like there won't be as much time for talking to the players individually as I had hoped. The schedule for Saturday and Sunday is one practice session from 1pm to 2:30pm. The players and coaches won't be made available to the media until 2:30pm, so there's going to be a lot of reporters clamoring for these guys' attention all at once when practice is over. The marquee players will be doing group interview sessions, so any opportunities I get to talk to players like Portis, Arrington, Brunell, Ramsey or Smoot will likely be limited. That's not a surprise, as that's pretty much how they did it at training camp last year, too. I'll try to grab these guys as they're coming off the field, and get some questions in before they do the full group deals, but they'll likely have assistants with them that will divert the media until they're ready for the group interviews. I was originally just planning to go on Saturday, but now that I know there's only going to be one practice and interview session each day, I'll most likely go up there on Sunday, too. Coach Gibbs will be addressing the media at 3:30pm on Saturday, and again on Sunday. Again, my opportunities to talk to him individually are likely very small, so I'll try to get a few questions in during the press conferences. My plan of attack is basically to target the players or coaches that aren't surrounded by ten reporters from the time they step off the practice field. I'd like to get at least two or three quality interviews each day, where they can answer five or more questions at a time. I had pretty good success with this strategy last year, and was able to get quality interviews from Gardner, Smoot, Morton, Jacobs, Samuels, Bowen, Fiore, Hamdan, and a few others. I could have had Bailey, too (my photographer had corraled him, but I was talking to Bowen at the time-- Doh!!! ) In Bailey's absence, I expect Smoot to be a much bigger media target this year, but he's very generous with the media, so maybe I'll get more than I expect from him. I'm doing this for you guys, so if you have any suggestions as to how I should prioritize my interview targets, let's hear 'em!