Rookie orientation

The Demon Dynamic Duo of Julie Lessiter and Dustin Eubanks rode again Friday morning.

Lessiter, the academic advisor for athletics, and Eubanks, the compliance director, host a series of meetings each football preseason for the newcomers to learn the important stuff -- how to fill out their financial aid paperwork (read - get their money) and how to fulfill their academic responsibilities (read - get moving toward their diplomas). They also get a few life skills tips and a chance to hear from the sports information folks about dealing with the media.

We've done this for a few years now, and it's always interesting. In our 30-minute segment, we talk about how working with the media can benefit the young men, give them some tips and then have some fun doing mock interviews.

There's nothing like being in front of your peers to get you on your toes. No disrespect meant to previous signing classes, but I can say without any hesitation that the 2007 rookies are the most lively group I've encountered. It is also interesting to note how many of them already are really media savvy. I guess in this day of the internet and wall to wall, 24-hour sports channels, not to mention intense coverage of high school football, they've been exposed to so much more than their predecessors, and most of them have picked up on it to some degree.

Noteworthy - freshman running back Jeremy Jefferson was one of the most interviewed prep players in recent memory in Shreveport-Bossier over the past three years as he scored 69 touchdowns at Booker T. Washington. So what career interest does he have? Journalist. Seriously. And believe me, when we opened the floor in a mock press conference format for the players to ask their peers questions, Jeremy had no shortage.

It was a fun visit, and I expect these guys will be fun to watch. Listening to head coach Scott Stoker after practice yesterday, it wouldn't surprise me if 4-6 of them got onto the field right away this fall. And as the SID, I wouldn't have any reservations based on how they handled this morning's seminar.

Doug Ireland, SID