Pick6 Magazine
contents
4 A Work Of Art 6 Be Brave 10 The Underdog: Chris Harris Jr 14 Q&A With Erin Coscarelli 17 King Of The Grill 19 The Bsk’s Bold Predictions 20 Down With The King 22 Next Big Pick Lamont Wade 24 The World According To Matt Miller 26 Mecole Hardman Jr Next Big Pick 28 Patrick Heer’s Guide To Beard And How To Get A Thicker And Darker Beard 30 Savannahreier Kicking It With Guys 32 On My Way Home
Dear Football Fanatics,
L
et me introduce myself: I’m the Editor in Chief of Pick6 Magazine and this has been quite a ride the last year and a half. My beautiful wife Dani gave me the idea a couple years ago to start the website and from there the vision has gotten bigger as we have dived into the magazine world to give football fans a new perspective on their favorite players on & off the field. I know me personally, I’ve never got a chance to see my favorite players underneath the helmet, to get a chance to see what there favorite hobbies are and there dog’s name. I also have a awesome team that has help me put together this amazing magazine. I wanna thank Stephanie, James , Jared, Ashley and to my mentor Kendall for the helping me along the way. I hope you guys really enjoy this issue, the team worked hard to put a enjoyable read for the real football fans. So support the movement and we will work hard to give you the best product possible. This is just the beginning....
Dee Merritt
HERE’S THE PPL (AUTHORS)WHO WROTE THE STORIES... Stephanie Metzger: Chris Harris Jr Erin Coscarelli Be Brave Savannah Reier James Burky: Mecole Hardman Jr. Lamont Wade
Justin Rodney: Larry Butler III Dee Merritt: Matt Miller Alex Ansara Michelle Girardi
A Work Of
Art
1
Tell me about yourself, your twitter bio has you as a Jack all trades in a good way. Explain who is Alex? - I’m a Cardiology specialized Clinical Pharmacist by day (I work alongside doctors to help them medically manage patients with heart attacks, blood clots, heart failure, irregular heartbeats), a father of two young children in the evening, and a sports nut, guitarist, runner, and artist when the kids are asleep. I have way too many hobbies which is why I don’t sleep much.
How did you get started painting?
- I’ve been a sports memorabilia collector ever since I was high school, collecting for the day that I finally had a house with a large mancave. Having already collected footballs, baseballs, helmets, jerseys, and photos of my favorite players, I was forced with a decision: stop collecting or start collecting more unique items. I had dabbled in small (8x10”) colored pencil artwork, but several artist friends of mine suggested I pick up a paint brush about 3 years ago. I had never painted before and didn’t know where to start, but when presented with an opportunity to meet one of my favorite players (A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals), I decided to attempt a painting to have something unique to get autographed. It took me 65 total hours to do it, but I got it done. This painting was supposed to be a one-time-thing for me. But I had enough fun doing the painting and getting it autographed that I decided I’d try a second. Then a third....but then I just kept painting.
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3
Your from Indy correct? Who’s your favorite Colt of all time? - I was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, actually. I lived in Cincinnati until I moved away to go to grad school at the age of 24 years old. But I’ve lived in Indianapolis for 12 years now. My favorite Colt is Andrew Luck, but I’m a huge fan of Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton as well.
Who was your favorite athlete to paint?
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- This is the million dollar question that I always get asked: “Which painting is your favorite?” That’s like asking a parent of 6 kids to pick their favorite! There are so many paintings that are fun for different reasons. The Odell Beckham painting was fun because it was the first full-body pose that I painted and that catch was so historic. The Calvin Johnson painting was fun to paint the glare on the visor and the Decepticon logo on the jersey. The Jeremy Hill painting was fun to add all of the tattoos on his arm.
What’s your expectations for the Colts this year?
- They always beat up on the AFC South, so I expect them to easily win the division and make a playoff run. Same goes for my Bengals. Hopefully this is the year they get that elusive playoff win!
Who was your favorite athlete to meet?
- I’ve enjoyed meeting all of them, but most have been at organized events. So the two that stand out the most are T.Y. Hilton and Texans wide receiver Cecil Shorts. Both took an interest in my paintings and asked to have one, so they each contacted me and set up a private meeting with me to hang out, take pictures, sign my painting, and trade me some game-used memorabilia for a painting. Having the chance to meet them one on one was definitely a neat experience, and both players were so humble and personable.
Where can we get your amazing work? W - All of my artwork is displayed on my website: www.SportraitsByAlex. com. Poster prints, canvas prints, and some autographed prints of all of the paintings are available for purchase. I also post frequent updates to the progress of paintings on my Twitter account: @ SportsArtByAle
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Be brave The diagnosis left the Chambers family winded. You always know the crippling effects cancer has on people. But you never expect it to happen to you, or your family. Joshua Chambers was three years old when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). His father, Jeremy, had raised awareness for childhood cancer patients in the past, but he was not prepared for the impact when it struck his own family. “It was just shock,” Jeremy recalled. “We had done some advocating for childhood cancer, never expecting it would touch our own family like that.” Joshua was diagnosed in February 2013. He endured a year of intense chemotherapy which required Joshua to miss out on all the activities meant for little boys. He missed preschool. He missed t-ball. He watched the world carry on in all its unforgiving tact. But he remained eager. “He did it all with a smile on his face,” Jeremy said.
Smiling comes a bit easier when Sara Bareilles invites you to sing with her on stage. Or when Michael Strahan sends you a football. And when Urban Meyer invites you to his team’s practice, you don’t just smile. You smile and you go. Ohio State senior linebacker Joshua Perry got in contact with Joshua through a mutual friend in Ohio. A chance connection morphed into an inspiring friendship. The pair swapped photos and Facetime minutes, making Joshua one of the Buckeyes’ biggest fans, though Jeremy is an Ohio native. The support became mutual. 6 . PICK6 Magazine
With Joshua stuck in the hospital with a fever one afternoon, Jeremy and Perry swapped text messages. Perry had a quick solution for lifting Joshua’s spirits. Darron Lee, Raekwon McMillan and the core of the Buckeyes’ defense made videos uploaded to YouTube for Joshua. The videos went viral, picked up by Eleven Warriors, Fox Sports and ESPN. Meyer invited the Chambers family to Columbus, deeming Joshua his guest of honor at a game in November. The trip was more than a family affair. Fox Sports accompanied the Chambers family to Ohio from their Orlando, Florida home for a feature story.
Joshua spent time tossing footballs with Perry in Ohio Stadium. He ran the length of the field. He met Coach Meyer. One never would have guessed Joshua underwent chemo in the hospital just two weeks prior. After attending the Ohio State-Indiana game, which the Buckeyes won 42-27, the family was invited to Perry’s home to spend the evening with Perry and his family. The Chambers also took 25 Android tablets to a Columbus children’s hospital to show their gratitude. “We wanted to make sure we appreciated the support from central Ohio,” Jeremy said.
Joshua has enjoyed every moment of support he’s received, but his father doesn’t think he fully understands the exclusivity of his experiences. “I think five or 10 years from now, he’ll look back on this and kick himself a little bit,” Jeremy said. The Chambers have connections with the Orlando City SC, Orlando’s Major League Soccer team. The team has extended an open invite to Joshua to attend their private practices, which the family attends once or twice each month. “He’s got international soccer stars coming over and saying hi and, not that he’s jaded to it, but he’s just there to play soccer,” Jeremy said. “He doesn’t care who it is. He doesn’t care if it’s the trainer who kicks the ball around with him or if it’s Kaká.”
Santonio Holmes is another example of Joshua’s exclusive friends list. The wide receiver has spent time at the Chambers’ home hanging out and getting to know Joshua. “Whether it’s Santonio or Joshua Perry, or any of those guys he’s spent time around, they’re just his friends,” Jeremy said. “I don’t think he understands the impact yet that he’s had on other people. We get cards and notes and messages on Facebook from all over the world from people in their 60s and 70s all the way down to kids his age and we share all of them with Joshua. He knows he has a lot of people that follow him and have been affected by him, but I think it’ll be several years before he really understands the impact of what he’s doing.”
Life moved forward for the Chambers family and once Joshua reached remission, they launched their Be Brave Foundation. The foundation raises funds for financial support to families with children diagnosed with cancer. Through various fundraising efforts and events, the foundation raised just under $60,000 in its first six months, providing aid to more than 100 children and their families. “It’s just the financial strain that it takes on a family when you have a child that’s going to be in the hospital from anywhere between a couple days to a few weeks,” Jeremy said. “If you’re a two-income family, a lot of times that drops you down to a one-income family and then you have to start looking at, do you pay the electric bill or do you buy groceries? We just encourage people, if it’s $1, $10 or $50, it will make a difference.”
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“Whether it’s Santonio or Joshua Perry, or any of those guys he’s spent time around, they’re just his friends,” Jeremy said. “I don’t think he understands the impact yet that he’s had on other people.
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The heart of Be Brave’s efforts is expended on September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. This year, the fundraising efforts have taken the form of friendly rivalry. The Chambers befriended a boy named Isaac, an Indiana resident who was diagnosed with cancer at age 13. He won his battle at age 15. Joshua and Isaac have fought the same battle, but during September, they’re fighting each other. Isaac is a University of Michigan fan. The kind of Michigan fan who proudly dons the maize and blue colors that scarlet and grey supporters are bred to hate. College football’s greatest rivalry now has a purpose beyond bragging rights and win-loss records. The Be Brave Foundation created a friendly Buckeyes versus Wolverines competition between Joshua and Isaac. Whichever fanbase raises the most money through the month of September wins. At stake? An embarrassing photo posted to social media of the runnerup donning the rival team’s jersey. Sure, there are worse consequences, like a tattoo of Jim Harbaugh’s face or YouTube video singing “Carmen Ohio.” But Joshua is determined to win. As of the second week of September, Joshua’s team raised more than $2,300 compared to Isaac’s $1,400. Support for Joshua’s Ohio State squad has been huge, including ESPN analyst and former Buckeye Robert Smith. Of course, Joshua’s Buckeye buddies have shown support. “It’s made all the difference,” Jeremy said. “You never want anybody to go through something like cancer alone or just in their little circle. The more encouragement and support you can have around them, the better. When he was watching the National Championship game, he saw Ezekiel Elliot and Cardale Jones, Joshua Perry and Darron Lee and those guys wearing his Be Brave wristbands on the field. It’s almost like he watches the games to see who’s wearing them.” Joshua, now 6, got his boyhood back. Though he’s still on treatment, he spends his days attending the first grade and playing t-ball. “He can pretty much do what any normal 6-year-old can do,” Jeremy said. Joshua will also spend his Saturday afternoons this fall cheering on the Buckeyes. In his mind, he’s simply supporting his friends. As the Buckeyes fight for a second consecutive national title, Joshua will continue to fight cancer for himself and for the millions diagnosed. “I really didn’t have any doubt, based on his personality and attitude, that Joshua would beat it,” Jeremy said. “And I really didn’t question why it happened to him. His personality makes it very clear why something like that would happen to a kid like him, because he’s the kind of kid that can take that and do something with it. It’s not going to stop him. It’s not going to slow him down.” To learn more about Be Brave, or to make a donation, visit bebravefoundation.org. 8 . PICK6 Magazine
PICK6 Magazine . 9
The underdog
Chris Harris Jr BY STEPHANIE METZGER
I
t’s ironic that his teammates call him “Pitbull,” because Chris Harris Jr. is an underdog.
Sure, he’s tenacious and tough, unapologetic and unrelenting on the field. He’s made a career of the game for which most pay to simply watch. He makes millions, can be seen on SportsCenter’s highlights and spends his Sundays with Peyton Manning.
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But he still feels like few root for him. Arguably one of the best corners in the league, Harris seeks recognition from fans and his peers alike. He’s an underrated up-and-comer who, technically, has already arrived. Maybe it’s because he went undrafted. Maybe it’s because he didn’t go to a “football school” touting SEC repletion or Buckeye brass. Maybe it’s because he plays the same position as big name stars Richard Sherman, Joe Haden and Darrelle Revis. Last year, the chips fell into place for the former University of Kansas standout who has had a chip on his shoulder since childhood. The 26-year-old Oklahoma native finished the 2014 season with Pro Bowl and second team All-Pro nominations in his fourth season with the Denver Broncos. He notched three interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. He was the only corner in the league who did not surrender a touchdown pass in coverage. Still, his name evokes responses of, “Who?” Even his peers don’t seem to pay him much attention.
The NFL’s annual Top 100 list, selected by players, excluded Harris. Of six nominated cornerbacks, Sherman was the top-ranked at No. 11. Five Broncos made the list. “I definitely felt disrespected,” Harris said. “It’s something that I kind of knew wasn’t going to happen, just with me being undrafted and all. They punished me for being undrafted. That’s just the tip of the things that I have to deal with.” At the University of Kansas, Harris crafted one of the better careers in the program’s history. He was a starter in the Jayhawks’ 24-21 victory over Virginia Tech in the 2008 Orange Bowl. It was Kansas’ first bowl victory in 39 years. As a senior, in 2010, he was named the team’s Defensive Back of the Year. Still, NFL teams paid little attention and his name went uncalled in the 2011 draft. “That definitely put a chip on my shoulder,” Harris recalled. “I definitely was angry because I had started every game when I was in college. It definitely made me have a little of an underdog mentality and I’ve been able to keep that same mentality through my whole career.”
In 2011, Harris earned an invitation to Broncos training camp, where few believed he would make the team. Yes, Harris underdog.
is
certainly
an
But he’s no Yorkie. Harris was invited to the Broncos’ training camp in 2011 as an undrafted free agent. He didn’t just make the roster, he excelled, earning Breakout Player of the Year and Overachiever of the Year honors as well selection to Denver’s All-Rookie Team. He also earned the nickname “Pitbull” from teammates who admired his efforts in practice. For three seasons, Harris remained under the radar, quietly bolstering Denver’s defense with elite numbers. But even a pitbull can’t defend itself from serious injury. The blow occurred Jan. 13, 2014, against the San Diego Chargers during the Division Round of the AFC playoffs. Harris suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and was sidelined the remainder of the season, forced to watch his teammates crumble to the Seattle Seahawks, 43-8, in Super Bowl XLVIII.
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Falling two games shy of achieving his dream of playing in the Super Bowl, the underdog found himself plagued with doubt. He said he felt lost. Some said he wouldn’t come back from the injury. But Harris’ faith never faltered. He rehabbed. He returned. He conquered. His 2014 season was his best, and the Broncos bought in. In December, Denver inked Harris to a five year, $42.5 million contract extension. “It means a lot just to have the franchise invested in you,” Harris said. “You want to go out there and prove them right. You want to go out there and make sure they invested in the right person and go out there and make plays for them.” The pressure is heavier than ever, but Harris is confident his 5-foot-10, 199-pound frame can bear the weight.
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“I’ve always prepared very well, so when I go to the field, the game’s really slow to me, to where I already know how a team’s going to attack me, so I’m able to make a lot of plays,” Harris explained.
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“Once you get the big contract, you get a microscope on you,” he explained. “Playing cornerback, you always have to have a lot of pressure playing my position. That’s something I’m used to. I know if I get beat, everybody in the world is going to see it. I’ve always had to play with that pressure in that position, so it’s not that big of a deal to me at all.” The world will be watching the Broncos, although the scope will not be focused on Harris. All eyes will be on Peyton Manning, pondering if the veteran quarterback’s career is coming to a close. The Broncos suffered a few hits during free agency and Denver’s offensive line is peppered with early question marks. Resigning receiver Demaryius Thomas during the offseason was huge, and the crop of newcomers, such as Ty Sambrailo and Gino Gradkowski, are intriguing additions. But the Denver defense raises little skepticism for those who have paid attention. Two of the league’s best outside linebackers in Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware will be complemented by the addition of Shane Ray, the edge rusher who was the Broncos’ firstround draft pick out of the University of Missouri. The inside line duo of Brandon Marshall and DannyTrevathan could be just as daunting to opponents. Harris and Aqib Talib headline the crop of corners, with Bradley Roby hungry to improve upon his rookie season. Denver’s defense is formidable, and Harris has given fair warning to those who underestimate their brainpower. “We’re very intelligent. We play very hard, but we’re also very smart,” he noted.
The smart play starts with Harris’ approach, which includes meticulous preparation. He spends hours on his iPad, feasting on game footage. He believes that preparation is the key to his success. “I’ve always prepared very well, so when I go to the field, the game’s really slow to me, to where I already know how a team’s going to attack me, so I’m able to make a lot of plays,” Harris explained. Harris believes the pieces to a winning season are there. He believes Denver will return to the Super Bowl soon. And he believes the fans, the team and the league will climb aboard his bandwagon. “Now the Broncos are pushing me,” he said. “They’re pushing me out there, getting me more publicity. I think sooner or later, people will wake up after this season.” A big year could lead to the recognition Harris deserves. In the meantime, he continues to embrace his underdog status. Others should embrace it, too. In 2012, the Chris Harris Jr. Foundation was born.Harris, who plans to build an afterschool center in his hometown of Tulsa, views the foundation as more than the standard, run-ofthe-mill after-school program. He wants children to develop a pitbull mentality, prepping them for success when the odds are not in their favor. The skills he wants children to develop include succeeding in school, leadership, financial planning and preventing domestic violence. Harris also hosts football camps every summer, a place for children to learn more than X’s and O’s.
“We just want to find kids out there in the world that grew up in the same environment I grew up in,” Harris said. “I grew up in a single-parent home. Educating these kids in the same type of situation I was, that’s what we’re doing.”
“We have so many responses from the kids saying how much fun they had, how much of the education they needed so much,” Harris said. “Being able to give these kids a head start, seeing them progress, that makes me happy.”
Harris also created the Student Success Challenge, a program partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Salvation Army. It’s designed to provide children with a well-rounded approach to education by promoting community service and healthy living.
A fifth successful season will also make Harris happy, and he’s convinced he won’t be ignored much longer. His sights are set on more interceptions, a bullet point en route to the hall of fame resume he knows he can produce.
Participating children receive scorecards consisting of various categories to earn points throughout the semester. Students with the top 25 scores at the end of the semester earn time hanging out with Harris and his wife, Leah.
He’s done all he can so far. It’s up to the remainder of the football world to take notice. Harris has embraced the underdog status that has stalked him since childhood, but he doesn’t intend to bear the title of the puppy much longer. Few give him credit and fewer recognize his name, but in the NFL’s dog-eat-dog culture, Harris’ bark isn’t losing any bite
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Q&A with
Erin Coscarelli Erin Coscarelli is a host for NFL Network’s “NFL AM.” Prior to that, she was an anchor and reporter for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, where she covered the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers and San Francisco Giants. Coscarelli began her career with ESPN. She is a Pasadena, California native and a graduate of the University of Southern California. She currently makes her home in Los Angeles. Follow Erin on Twitter @erincoscarelli and visit her website at erincoscarelli.com. Hometown: Pasadena, California Current city: Los Angeles, California
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Did you play sports? I played every sport imaginable growing up. I didn’t play college. I went to USC and I studied journalism. If you go to USC, you have to be a top, top athlete. Favorite sport: Volleyball is my favorite sport to play. My favorite sport to watch is football. Favorite moment in sports: Kerri Strug in the 1996 Olympics. That was such a cool moment to me because that moment is what you work for. It was so motivating and inspiring and that really affected me.
Favorite TV show: HBO Real Sports. Who do you look up to? My mom. She’s the kindest lady ever. She’s No. 1 in my life. What type of music is in your current playlist? Right now, I like Renegades by X Ambassadors. I’m a huge fan of classic rock, so Aerosmith is always a favorite. Also, Def L e p p a r d , Journey and Elvis Presley.
Guilty pleasure: I love to have a nice glass of wine and watch a scary movie. Favorite movie: I like thrillers. Those are always fun. Favorite places to travel: Hawaii and Italy. I just went to New Orleans, which was also a lot of fun.
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What’s something about you that most people don’t know? I love cars – I’m a huge car freak. Anything sort of vintage is up my alley. Also, my spiral game is pretty off-the-charts and I play a mean HORSE game, too. Favorite athlete you’ve interviewed: JJ Watt at last year’s Pro Bowl. He was super humble, was really funny and made fun of his end-zone dance moves. I also had the chance to interview 2-time Super Bowl champ, John Elway. I interviewed him after Stanford beat Oregon in the PAC-12 North Championship a couple years ago. It was pretty cool. One athlete you’d like to interview: Magic Johnson. What sparked your interest in sports journalism? I was an athlete growing up so I loved sports. I love the idea of competition. I was always outside, racing my neighbors and a lot of them were guys. I’m just kind of a competitive tomboy. Growing up, having that in my backbone, cemented my love for sports. I love people and connecting with people, telling someone’s story. Sports is reality at its finest, at its rawest moment. For instance, the Super Bowl, the game is on the line. It’s like a fight-or-flight moment. There are those who step up to the plate and those who choke. That’s the highest pressure you’ll ever experience – knowing the people are watching you. You’re watching reality TV and its realest moment in life. What advice would you give to other women seeking a career in sports journalism? Never give up. You’re going to face a lot of challenges and people aren’t going to believe in you. You’re going to get doors shut in your face. It’s those moments, much like sports, when you’re faced with a decision where you can either give up or you can take that challenge as motivation. There have been plenty of times where I have wanted to quit and I’ve wanted to give up. I’m at where I’m at because I persisted. I believed in me. It gets tough, but the reward is so worth it. If it’s truly what you love, keep at it. What are your thoughts on the NFL’s market toward women? A lot is being done in the NFL to support women. Fifty percent of the people who watch football are women; so doing things that involve them is important. Because of the large female fan base, we’ve become an integral part of the sport. Women are passionate; we love the sport. If you go to a stadium, you see women rocking the Kaepernick or the Rodgers jersey, and a ton of them play fantasy football. Also, the NFL just hired their first female ref and a female to do preseason playby-play, and Jen Welter, the Cardinals’ first assistant coach. The organization is taking steps that have never been taken before – and I think it’s great. I’m excited to see it flourish. To learn more about Erin, visit her website at erincoscarelli.com. Also thanks to Chad Alan & David Heisler for the pictures 16 . PICK6 Magazine
BLOWTORCH RIBS INGREDIENTS:
KING
OF
THE
Grill
S
cott Thomas, the Original Grillin’ Fool, was sent off to college 22 years ago with a suitcase and a grill where he overcooked, undercooked and burned every piece of meat he could find. After thousands of failures, and quite a few successes, nearly two decades later he started a website to show step by step, picture by picture, foolproof instructions on how to make great things out of doors so that others don’t have to repeat the mistakes he’s made on the grill.
1 slab baby back ribs, membrane removed
Continually challenging the traditional “rules” and “standards” of BBQ, Scott will grill anything from lettuce and leeks to brisket and bread. He has written feature articles for both St. Louis and Feast Magazines, been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and appeared on countless television and radio spots in his hometown of St. Louis. He is recognized nationally as one of the Char-Broil All-Star Bloggers and as a Pinterest Ambassador.
1 qt apple juice (cider is even better)
Come game day, you’re the king of the parking lot. You have the canopy with your favorite team’s logo which happens to match the flag on your 20 foot pole. You’ve got the bean bag boards, a sweet tailgating grill and your guest rave about what you grill. All you need is a throne and you’d be the king, right? Almost. You want to be the king of the lot, you need to bust out the blow torch when you grill your ribs. I’ll show you how.
1 heaping tbsp hot pepper jelly
¼ cup salt Your favorite rub 2 heaping tbsp peach preserves
1.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce
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The day before the game, skin the membrane off the bone side of the ribs. Put the ribs, juice (or cider) and salt in a resealable plastic bag. Slosh the juice around until the salt dissolves completely. Put the bag of brining ribs in the fridge for 2-12 hours. Remove the ribs from the brine, pat dry with a paper towel and coat with your favorite rub. No salt needed. The brine infused plenty of salt. Also, always put the rub on the bone side first so that when the ribs are flipped over to coat the other side, the bones keep the rub elevated off the cutting board and keeps the rub from sticking to the board. Place the ribs in plastic wrap or in another resealable bag for the ride to the game. Now prep the sweet, savory and a little spicy glaze. Mix the rest of the ingredients together in plastic bowl with a lid. Slap the lid on and put the glaze in the cooler with the ribs. Now head to the game. Set up the canopy, the bags, and light the grill. Put the charcoal on one side along with some smoke wood and put the ribs on the other side. Target temp inside the grill is 300 degrees. The ribs should take about 2 hours to be done at 300, but don’t trust your watch. The bones will tell you when they are done. They bones should look like this when the ribs are done:
B Now pour the glaze ingredients into a pyrex measuring cup and place the cup over the heat. Leave it there until the gelatins have melted. Remove from the grill carefully as the cup will be wicked hot.
Spoon the glaze over the meat side of the ribs and spark up that blowtorch. The goal here is to cook the glaze down to thicken it. Only let the very tip of the flame touch the glaze and keep the torch moving slowly back and forth so the glaze doesn’t blacken:
C After 4-6 minutes of torching per slab, let the ribs rest for a couple minutes to let the glaze set. Then slice and serve.
D Make sure to have plenty of extra paper towels as these are a little messy 18 . PICK6 Magazine
THEBSK’S BOLD PREDICTIONS
T
he man the sports world knows as “The BSK” has been a fixture on our airwaves 25 plus years giving us his real, unbiased and powerful opinons on sports topics. Kendall Lewis has blessed us with his predictions on this 2015 NFL season. NFC EAST 1) DALLAS 2) PHILADELPHIA 3) NYG 4) WASHINGTON
AFC WEST 1) KANSAS CITY 2) SAN DIEGO 3) DENVER 4) OAKLAND
NFC WEST 1) SEATTLE 2) ST LOUIS 3) ARIZONA 4) SAN FRANCISCO
AFC NORTH 1) PITTSBURGH 2) BALTIMORE 3) CINCINNATI 4) CLEVELAND
NFC NORTH 1) GREEN BAY 2) MINNESOTA 3) DETROIT 4) CHICAGO
AFC SOUTH 1) INDIANAPOLIS 2) HOUSTON 3) TENNESSEE 4) JACKSONVILLE
NFC SOUTH 1) CAROLINA 2) ATLANTA 3) NEW ORLEANS 4) TAMPA BAY
WILDCARDS 1) BALTIMORE 2) CINCINNATI
WILDCARDS PHILADELPHIA MINNESOTA NFC TITLE GAME: GREEN BAY VS SEATTLE NFC CHAMP SEATTLE AFC EAST 1) BUFFALO 2) NEW ENGLAND 3) NYJ 4) MIAMI
AFC TITLE GAME KANSAS CITY VS INDY
Wanna hear Kendall? Check out www.THEBSKSAYS.com & Twitter @TheBSKsays
AFC CHAMPION KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SUPER BOWL 50 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 24 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 21 2015 NFL CHAMPS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS NFLOROY: MARCUS MARIOTA NFLDROY: LEONARD WILLIAMS NFL MVP: RUSSELL WILSON COMEBACK POY: ERIC BERRY PICK6 Magazine . 19
Down With The King “PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT I'M A DIVISION I CALIBER PLAYER."
R
ecently I had the pleasure of speaking to a college football player, one on one, mano y mano. My educational institution, Rider University, doesn't have a football program anymore. We "may or may not have" cheated. Back in 1951, Rider was smack dab under investigation beacuse of allegations that the team was paying recruits and giving players improper benefits. Then, the NCAA "kindly" asked the school to halt the football program. FOREVER. Anywho, I spoke to Larry Butler III, via FaceTime. Yes, FaceTime. Technology, eh? T he 6'1'', 253 pound middle linebacker hails from Southern Nazarene University, with roots in Baton Rouge. He's heading into his senior year as part of the Crimson Storm. Before the storm, Butler spent one year of his college career playing football at Eastern Arizona College, and before that, he spent some time with New Mexico State. Right out of high school, his football career as an Aggie and Monster were cut short due to financial reasons. Intriguingly enough, the stats of his existence there were erased online. He's not even on the team picture and
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roster during the Eastern Arizona Monster's 2013 season. It's like as if Larry Butler III was a phantom that never got the limelight or chance to be recognized. Larry is the son of Pamela and Larry Butler II. Very early in his life, Larry found himself without a father figure due to his parents splitting up. Being the third Larry Butler, it's clear the that he wants better from his name. "The lineage isn't something that I really harp on a lot, being that I don't know my father too well. From what I've heard about him, there have been a lot of negative things. The thing that I do or can do is make that name, bring that name to a positive light when moving forward. So when you hear Larry Butler III, in general, I hope it will make people think something positive." Through his high school years, made the decision that one day he will make it in the NFL. hat dream began to become more T clear when he decided to go to draft and scouting combines in high school where he could work hard and show people what he could do out there.The path he chose four years ago clearly hasn't been easy. Bouncing around from school to school can be hard on a NFL hopeful's chances, but that didn't really affect
his performance when Butler arrived at Southern Nazarene for his Junior year.Southern Nazarene is a Division II school. It's not exactly a Catholic school, but aligns itself with the Church of the Nazarene. Which the church's mission is to make disciples through evangelism, education, showing compassion, working for justice, and bearing witness to the kingdom of God. Larrytakes God to heart. "God and religion are definitely important in life. I have been heavy into religion, especially as of lately. I've been doing a lot of praying trying to make my life better." The Crimson Storm may have had a dismal season losing every game that year, but Larry Butler III certainly did his job.Larry Butler III garnered 39 solo tackles, 57 tackles total with assists, that's 3 times the number he got in his senior year of high school. 3 years later? 3 times better? Coincidence? I don't think so. L arry Butler went for the three-peat faster than Drake coulddo in a month. Those tackles make him one of best, if not the best, linebackers on the team. That all-state recognition in high school wasn't a fluke.
It would be also safe to say that Larry Butler III found a home in Southern Nazarene. Of course, all of that wouldn't have been done if it wasn't for the hard work in put in the offseason. Last year Butler weighed 231 pounds, going into the 2015 season the kid is weighing in at 251 pounds...of muscle. The Crimson Storm website just shows the stats. Larry Butler III actually shows the work through various websites like Hudl or YouTube. In the social media age, there is always way on the Internet to show people what you've got. On his YouTube page you will find him bench pressing 245 lbs. and showing his various, and strenuous, workouts.
Sports websites like The SportsJunkies101 that Larry Butler III could be a future NFL Hall of Famer. Okay...okay...let's not get too carried away, butthe hype like this has led the Green Bay Packers to recently be scouting and interested in drafting him. Butler's prayers may beanswered if he could play for the Pack. "It would definitely, definitely be a honor to play with any NFL team. I would love to play with those legends, but I wouldn't get too starstruck because I think I belong with them. Being around those guys would motivate me to be the best player I could be."
Larry Butler III's NFL dream is coming closer and closer to fruition. Hopefully he can increase his numbers by 4 times, or more, the amount in his senior year. Training camp just started and his final season as part of the Crimson Storm begins. He has a chance to be something more than just a phantom in the shadow of every Division I school. Southern Nazarene doesn't have the press raving about them or the giant stadium flooded with fans from all over the world. They do have a possible star on their hands though. No one said the ride to greatness would be easy. Larry Butler III could ride the storm to the NFL.
No one said the ride to greatness would be easy.
PICK6 Magazine . 21
NEXT BIG PICK: LAMONT WADE 22 . PICK6 Magazine
BY JAMES BURKY
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here aren’t many residents in Lamont Wade’s hometown of Clairton, PA, its population of 6,796 people (according to the 2010 Census) is small enough to have Clairton legally considered a third-class city under the state’s classification of local governments. With just
three professional football players to come out of Clairton, and only one in almost 40 years, Clairton isn’t what one would call a football factory. Despite this, Lamont Wade is the top rated cornerback in the class of 2017, a 5 star corner, and the 5th rated prospect according to Rivals. Pick 6 took a moment and talked with Lamont to get to know the man behind the facemask. How are you keeping focus heading into your senior year? Is there any tension? No not at all. It’s really humbling, I mean last year we lost the state championship, so that’s our goal this year. What schools have caught your eye so far? What do you like about them? I really like Ohio State and UCLA. Ohio State because, well they’re coming off a National Championship, and UCLA because they’re all the way out there in Los Angeles and I think I’d really like being out there in California. What process do you go through when choosing a school to even consider? What’s the criteria a school needs to have for Lamont Wade? Oh well sometimes it starts with being a school being a dream. You have a dream school being a little
kid, you always wanted to go there. Then once that school offers you, you start going on visits, checking out their academic program, the prestige of their program, I look at the alumni program, the conference that they play in, stuff like that. Who do you model your game after? On the offensive side of the ball, I try to model my game after Adrian Peterson, and on the defensive side, I would want to be more of a Karl Joseph type player, you know? Growing up, who was your favorite team? My favorite team was Florida, the Florida Gators. Did you have a favorite NFL team growing up? I grew up watching the Pittsburgh Steelers a lot, so I’d have to say the Steelers. Who were your favorite players from those teams? Oh Tim Tebow, he’s my favorite college football player ever, I really enjoyed watching him play.
I was just in shock man, it was a blessing and I was so happy. Did you run home to tell everyone what happened? Just say “Hey look what I got!” Yeah I called my mom as soon as I got it, I was real excited when I was on the phone with her, and Tyler Boyd (former player at Clairton High School), who plays for Pitt, he was around so I went and told him. When you first got to high school, did ever you think you’d get a Division I scholarship, let alone one your freshman year? I knew I had the work ethic and the talent to get one, but I didn’t think I get one my freshman year Did that give you motivation to keep working hard? Did that offer set the tone for you to continue your game throughout high school? Yeah, it’s definitely a humbling experience, it humbles you, and you just always want more, you know? So you’re not going to stop until you’ve got all that you can.
And on the Steelers, I was a Willie Parker fan When did this dream of playing college football start becoming a reality? When did you take a step back and just say ‘Wow, this is really happening.” My freshman year when I got that first offer from Pittsburgh and I was like ‘Wow, all my hard work has been paying off, I really got a Division I offer’ and then it hit me. Wow, you got a D-I offer as a freshman? that’s amazing, describe to us what the day was like. It was like May of last year and my coach came in, they [University of Pittsburgh] couldn’t talk to me so they talked to my head coach and he sat down with me and they told me everything and I was just like, in shock. I was kind of waiting for one, waiting for my first offer, and when they told me I got one, I was jus like, PICK6 Magazine . 23
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MATT MILLER
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s Bleacher Report’s NFL Draft Lead Writer, Matt’s work has been featured in the last three Madden video games, on ESPN, SiriusXM, NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, SI.com and USA Today as well as utilized by NFL, CFL and AFL teams. Matt was the secondary and special teams coordinator for the three-time league champion Joplin Crusaders of the Central Football League. So the good old folks at Pick6 wanted to pick Matt’s brain a little bit and what’s it like to be the great Matt Miller.
Bclipboard in hand. When did you know football would
So Matt, I’m pretty sure you grew up with a football &
be your life? One of my earliest memories is sitting in the back seat of my parent’s car—right between my older brothers Marcus and Michael—and having contests to see who could memorize information on the back of football cards. Pretty early on I had a talent for remembering details: height, weight, college, stats and I think that really fueled my fascination with football. I was also born right in time to fall in love with “Tecmo Super Bowl”, so it was really a perfect timing sort of thing. Even in elementary school I told teachers and friends I was going to play in the NFL when I grew up. I’d guess it was early high school when I realized the NFL wasn’t going to happen, but I joined the yearbook and newspaper staff because I loved to write and I loved sports, so it seemed like a natural move into something that would fill both needs for me. Looking back on it everything seems so planned, but it was more luck than anything.
Cby you because you interact with a lot of your followers
And of course I’m nowhere near that level of importance, but if I can inspire or motivate a few writers, that makes me feel really good about what I’m doing. As for the journey, I fell into this job by luck. My daughter was born three days before my senior year of high school (not recommended) and I knew post-high school I needed to quickly get into the job force. I went through an EMTParamedic program and worked for four years in the medical field, all the while writing on the side for any draft website that would have me and then starting my own site (New Era Scouting) in 2006. I burnt out of hospital life in ‘06 and started working for a photography lab, where I eventually moved into a social media marketing role. That’s really where I started to research writing jobs and trying to get my work out more. I saw an ad for Bleacher Report on journalismjobs.com and went to the site and applied for an NFL featured columnist opening. That unpaid opening in late 2010 turned into a parttime job in February of 2011, and then a full-time job in May of 2011. I’ve been there ever since and hope they’ll let me stick around for another 35 years.
I see a lot young draft aficionados are really inspired
on social media, but a lot of people don’t understand the journey. Could you talk with us about that? It’s important to me to always remember that I’m a small town guy who is just lucky to have this job. That means answering questions on Twitter, responding to emails and taking time to help the younger guys in this business. I can remember emailing every general manager in the NFL for a job and how I felt when a few took the time to reply to me.
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Dbasis?
How much game tape do you watch on a everyday
This definitely varies, but it’s a lot. A normal Saturday during football season means watching games from noon until well past midnight Central Time. The same goes for Sunday. I have a set up in my office at home with five screens, and each has a purpose on game day. Throughout the week, depending on what my assignments are, I would guess that I’m watching 5-6 hours of tape each day.
Emany mock will you make by next year?
When do you start working on next years draft? How
You’d think there is a clear line in the calendar when I start working on next year’s draft, but it’s honestly a process that bleeds over year after year. I keep a database in Google Drive that has all the seniors, juniors and redshirt sophomores I see throughout the year that are NFL talent. So when a junior or sophomore doesn’t declare for the draft, I’ve already started working on him and have good notes heading into the offseason. It’s also important for me to have a good feel for the top players in the next class in the week’s heading up to the current draft. Like this year, the draft ended and I was immediately doing radio shows and interviews talking about next year. It’s really a process that never, ever stops.
It was easy in the 80s and early 90s when they were dominant, and then there was a long stretch of frustration before Harbaugh came to town. Now it’s harder to be a fan of any team, and I find myself becoming a fan of players more than anything.
Ichoice?
When you’re studying film, what’s your snacks of
Oh wow, this is an easy one—David sunflower seeds, Absolute Zero Monster energy drinks. That’s it. I’m in heaven with that.
JA big part of my day is making sure I’m up to date on What’s your everyday life like?
Fbloodlines yet?
Have your children been immersed into the football
I’m working on it! My 14-year-old daughter thinks she wants to be a writer and work for Bleacher Report, and she knows the game as well as I did at that age. In fact, today she asked if she could help me update my scouting notes on some Ohio State players. My almost two-year-old son isn’t quite ready for the scouting life, but he watches football four days a week during the season, so I’m hoping he catches the bug too.
G
You’ve been on Madden the last few years, do you play? And if so, are you good? What’s your favorite team? True story—I was notorious for skipping school in junior high and high school so I could play Madden. It was a bit of an obsession. I know there were several semesters where I went over the maximum number of days you could miss from school and I was close to getting in trouble with the school board! I don’t recommend that as a career starter, but it’s true. As for playing, I don’t as much now that there’s a little guy running around the house, but when I do play I’m always looking for the worst team so I can rebuild them. That means a lot of Raiders, Browns, Jaguars and Jets right now (based on Madden rankings, not mine!), which is a lot of fun. I’m definitely not any good, though. I think that comes with a lot of practice. But if I had to play a life-or-death game of Madden, I’m picking the Packers. Great quarterback, great receivers, very good line and a pass-rusher on defense in Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers.
any NFL or college football news, so I’m constantly on Twitter and checking my phone for updates. During the season I’m either writing an article, sitting in my home studio for Team Stream Now videos or watching film it seems like. Outside of work I’m a dad, a cook, an inconsistent runner and pretty involved with my parents, three brother’s families and trying to keep up with my own kids. I’m up by 7:30 and usually don’t see bed before 1:00am, but I don’t think that’s unique when you talk to parents. As for the “dream job” aspect that I refer to a lot, it’s true. I mean, this job is amazing. Anytime someone wants to pay you to watch football and then talk about it, I think you’re winning. It can be tough, too. Writer’s block is a real thing, and like anyone there are days when I’m burnt out or tired and don’t want to walk myself upstairs to work. I’m sure that sounds like a first world problem, but it’s definitely accurate.
KI’m addicted to Jason Isbell right now. His new album, What are you listening to right now?
“Something More Than Free”, has been on repeat for a week.
LI was a bit of a nerd growing up! I one a school spelling
Let us know something about you that we don’t know.
bee and won state stock market games twice in middle school—one year we took first, another second—and even took second place in building a Mars Colony in high school. So yeah, total nerd. But I think that’s much cooler now than it was in the late 90s. I’m always telling my daughter to marry the smart kid!
HMost people guess that I’m a Chiefs fan since I grew up
Mstandup because your hilarious on twitter ?
in Missouri, but as I mentioned above, a big influence for me early on was trading cards and Tecmo Super Bowl, so I have been a 49ers fan for as long as I can remember.
I’d get thrown off the stage if the responses in person are like they are on Twitter! I try to keep things light, make people laugh and have a good time. But I’ve always maintained I’m more witty than funny. But maybe that’s a retirement career I can work on for now
Favorite Team growing up?
Last Question.. Have you ever thought about doing
PICK6 Magazine . 25
Mecole
Hardman Jr : Next Big Pick By James Burky
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emember that song from Eminem’s movie 8 Mile called Lose Yourself? There’s a line the chorus that goes “You better never let it go, You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”
You look at what every college has, you look at which college gets a top seed more than the next, the coaching, it’s more about fitting in than hype of the school. Who do you model your game after?
I’d probably have to go with who’s like me, so, I’d probably have to go with Tavon Austin. Just for the way he cuts and the way he runs. Yeah probably like Tavon Austin or Reggie Bush. I like the way they put the ball out there you know, I really like to be like Perhaps this, not this song specifically, but this them. idea, this realization that one only gets a single What sets you apart from the other prospects in the opportunity in their life to achieve their dreams, is country? what drives Mecole Hardman Jr. Mecole doesn’t come from a big city like Los Angeles, he comes I don’t know, I mean I just work hard man. As long as from the small town of Bowman, Georgia. He’s a you work hard, you show everyone you can do your small town kid trying to make it big. Hardman is part. That’s all you need man, to work hard. the top rated athlete (players who have not yet had Is it hard to keep focus heading into your senior their positions determined receive this designation) year of high school? You have the football season according to 247Sports. He realizes the struggles coming up and you have all of these colleges at of making it big, especially in the world of football, your doorstep, is it hard keeping focus? and now that he’s got this opportunity, he‘s never It can be at times. You want to get caught up in the letting go. stuff you want to do, but I know my responsibilities, I So you’re the top prospect at your position according know what I got to do and the path I got to take and to 247Sports. What inspires you everyday and I just do that and keep my head focused. practice, what inspires to go out there play football, When did this become a reality for you? When did what’s your inspiration? you take a step back and realize, “Hey, I’m going to You know, just to make it. For your parents, to make be playing college football.” your parents never have to do nothing no more, just to make sure they have nothing to worry about. Just Probably last year sometime maybe. When I got to get better and better each day, just to say that offers. Yeah, probably sometime last year when I started getting all of the offers and my rank just got you made it. higher and higher and took a step back and said, So what process do you go through when just “Hey man, I’m going to college!” considering a school? What does a school have to We want to get to know you off the field, who is have for you to consider them? Mecole Hardman? I mean every D-I major college is going to have those fancy things, like the big gym equipment, and I don’t know who I am. I mean, I’m just a kid man, coming from a small town, really just a kid coming all of that. from a small town trying to make it big and trying to make his parents proud. 26 . PICK6 Magazine
As long as you work hard, you show everyone you can do your part. That is all you need man, to work hard.
“
Mecole Hardman Jr
PICK6 Magazine . 27
PATRICK HEER’S GUIDE TO BEARDS HOW TO GET A THICKER AND DARKER BEARD
BY PATRICK HEER Founder of www.modernmane. com , a men’s grooming company that makes quality products for the discerning man.
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ports and facial hair go together. It doesn’t matter whether you have a thick mane like former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Brett Keisel or the more relaxed stubble of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Beard, scruff, goatee, moustache –athlete’s facial hair styles are as varied as their playing styles.
Hold off for even longer if you want to make sure your beard grows in as thick as possible. When you do finally trim, don’t completely shave your neck either. Leave about an inch of hair from where your neck hits your jawline. This gives the illusion of a thicker beard.
2
UPGRADE YOUR DIET
Beard growth is primarily influenced by genetics but you can also improve growth by changing your diet. Eat plenty of greens like spinach and kale. These help you regulate your hormone levels so you aren’t producing too much estrogen and too little testosterone (testosterone levels affect beard growth).
3
USE SUPPLEMENTS
You can try to aid beard growth by taking vitamin B1, B6 and B12, along with beta-carotene, flax seed oil and nettle oil. But the best supplement for optimal beard growth is biotin, which can be found in most pharmacies and health food stores. That said, don’t rely on beard supplements to give your beard a huge boost. Beard growth is primarily influenced by genetics and some men just can’t grow a beard. See Tom Brady.
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LIFT HEAVY WHEN YOU EXERCISE
Lift heavy weights and you’ll notice higher testosterone levels. As a result beard growth will be improved. Mix in some cardio to improve your circulation. The result will be a thicker, fuller beard than otherwise. Intense workouts lead to higher testosterone levels for up to an hour after your workout. Not to mention the increase in strength and overall fitness. However, if you want to see noticeable results you should get into the gym consistently.
Recently, the trend has definitely been bigger is better when it comes to facial hair. Take James Harden of the Houston Rockets for example. His beard is one of the most intimidating in the NBA. But growing a beard that’s thick and impressive isn’t done by simply avoiding a razor for a few weeks. Growing out the perfect beard is an art. Here are some tips to help you grow your beard the right way.
Follow these tips and you’ll see the results in your beard. But the journey isn’t over once you’ve got a great beard – now you need to take care of it. The best way to do that is by using a beard oil daily. You can buy it online, or make your own if you’re adventurous.
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LET IT GROW
It sounds simple but many men trim or shave their beards prematurely. A thicker beard looks darker and fuller than a patchy one. Basically you just want to let the whole beard grow in before trimming. Patches will occur if you trim prematurely. Generally 4-6 weeks is a good timeline to set before trimming.
PICK6 Magazine . 29
Savannah Reier Kicking it with the guys BY STEPHANIE METZGER
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avannah Reier can’t wait to take the football field this fall. Yes, Savannah is a girl’s name.
Savannah Reier is a girl. And unlike most girls — or boys — Reier has kicked for University of Alabama Special Teams Coach Bobby Williams. Reier is entering her senior season as kicker for Tuscaloosa’s Northridge High School and she doesn’t plan on stopping there. If she has it her way, Reier will continue her kicking career for the Crimson Tide. Reier, a senior in her third season as a varsity starter, began her kicking career as a sophomore. A former basketball player, Reierwanted a break from the hardwood. Her father suggested football.
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“He kicked in high school and he always thought that I’d be able to do it because of how I played soccer,” Reier said. “He always talked about how he saw me as more of a kicker than a soccer player. We went out on a Sunday and just tried it.” Reier soon discovered she could kick it with the boys. Reier’s mother posted a video of Savannah kicking with her father to Facebook. The video reached the eyes of the Hilton Head High School coach, who arranged a try-out with Reier. She wasn’t scared. She wasn’t nervous. She was out of her element. “I had never put on pads, pants, nothing. I had to go out the next day in front of kids I’d known for a couple years in something completely different than what they’d seen me in.
It was definitely different and there was hesitation at the beginning, but once you prove yourself and they gain respect for you, it makes it a lot easier,” Reier said. Reier notched a spot on the Hilton Head varsity roster, where she spent two seasons before her family moved to Tuscaloosa. Reception from Northridge receivers has been warm. Reier says her teammates have embraced her without condition or special treatment. Her coaches, Mike Smith, Heath Guin and JasonBothwell, have also made an impact. “They’ve been great,” she said. “This is probably the best team that I’ve been on and they’ve been really accepting. It wasn’t hard at all to get adjusted to them. It’s really about proving yourself and then they respect you as more of an athlete, not just a girl playing football.”
Her feelings aren’t hurt by a bunch of boys looking to prove they’re better. Instead, Reier translates the challenges into incentive. Opponents have not been so inviting. Reier receives no free passes. No one “takes it easy” on her. Her ponytail is not an excuse. “It’s almost like they rush harder,” Reier explained. “They’re not as accepting. Especially when you’re beating a team and they have a girl kicking extra points, it might be a little bit frustrating for them. I understand where that frustration would come from, but they’re not nearly as accepting as my team.” Reier isn’t bothered by the opposition’s repugnance. Her feelings aren’t hurt by a bunch of boys looking to prove they’re better. Instead, Reier translates the challenges into incentive. “A lot of it kind of motivates me. It’s almost a respect thing, where they feel like they have to rush me or they have to try a little bit harder because they know that I can do it. A lot of times, it’ll come down to special teams, so I think it motivates me more than it bothers me,” she said. The thought of teenage boys twice her size rushing her doesn’t stop Reier. She’s been hit once during a game and has no fear of injury. Her teammates take care of her on the field, but Reier takes care of how she is perceived.
Girl power is important, but Reier prefers to be defined by her athletic accomplishments. She used to want to stand out as the only female on the field. But now she understands that her gender is indifferent when it comes to Xs and Os. “I don’t really want to be known as a girl kicker. I want to be known as a good athlete,” Reier said. “I’d rather be known as more of an athlete than just as a girl.” Still, being a girl has had its advantages, such as new friendships. Reier doesn’t know other female kickers in her area, but her unique role has led to a connection in Pennsylvania. Reier’s friend knew a girl kicking in Pennsylvania and the two have exchanged text messages to swap advice. “It’s kind of nice to have someone that plays because if you do have issues or need to talk to someone, there’s that person who understands what it’s like to be out there,” Reier said. Reier hopes more girls act upon their interest and get involved in football. She says there’s nothing to fear as long as the effort is outright. Any girl can do it, she notes; the key is simply having what it takes to convert the extra points.
“There’s no reason to be intimidated,” she noted. “You have to gain respect and prove yourself but if you really want to play, you can do it. It’s just a matter of being brave enough.” Reier has high expectations for the 2015 season. Beyond that, the future is unforeseeable. She’s attended various camps and met several coaches, including Williams, who told Reier he’d follow her senior season. Though she’s considering opportunities to play basketball and soccer in college, Reier is confident she can kick for the Crimson Tide. She says she’s raised some interested eyebrows and given a chance, she’ll take it. Now that football culture has accepted women in coaching and officiating roles, Reier feels that it’s just a matter of time for more females to grace the playing field. “There’s always going to be the people that think women shouldn’t be doing things like this and they should just play their own sports,” Reier said. “But I think that it’d inspire a lot of people. ...Whatever it took, whether I need to red shirt, walk on, whatever it took, I would do it.”
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ON MY WAY HOME W By Dee Merritt
hen you get a chance to do what you love to do for a living, that’s pretty much considered the dream job. But when you’re Michelle Girardi, the dream had just begun. After working for NFL Films producing , writing for 10 years she finally gets a chance to go home and do what she loves as the Senior Producer at Pegula Sports & Entertainment. If you didn’t know that’s short for working for the team she grew up rooting for..... The Buffalo Bills. She grew up with the trials and tribulations of the 90’s Buffalo Bills team that went to four straight Super Bowls without winning one. But things in Buffalo are looking up 20 years later, the prodigal son Jim Kelly is healthy after his tough bout with cancer, the new ownership of the Pegula’s have embrace the collegiate feel that Buffalo Bills fans bring every Sunday or really anytime they can. (#BillsMafia Where you at?) Oh yeah by the way, Rex Ryan is the coach of a young, up and coming nucleus that will grow by the week with a stellar defense in place. So Michelle, now that everything was set in place for your “Welcome Home” party. What’s not to love ?
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