July 26, 2010
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By Leigh Torbin
UCFAthletics.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UCFAthletics.com) - Shortly after checking into the Hilton Memphis for Conference USA's Football Media Day on Sunday, Bruce Miller met Marshall linebacker Mario Harvey.
Miller and Harvey started chatting while still in the lobby about the thrilling 2009 game between the sides where UCF erased a 20-7 fourth quarter deficit to win 21-20 with Miller forcing a crucial fumble by Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson in the final minutes. The two combatants from that ESPN-televised night shared an elevator to the tower's 24th floor and amicably bantered on and on about the game until the elevator stopped.
Experiences like meeting Harvey, one of the nation's leading tacklers last fall and a member of the Nagurski and Lombardi Award watch lists just like Miller, is often what student-athletes find as rewarding as any other element of a media day event. The league's 12 teams come together in a cordial setting before their respective preseason camps, and eventually 2010 seasons, get under way. The student-athletes who will soon be looking for every last edge to defeat each other's teams represent their programs before a crowd of media members from across the conference and the country. But, what they most often take home, are new friendships forged out of mutual respect.
Miller got to joke with affable Rice head coach David Bailiff and was given some high praise from Southern Miss head coach Larry Fedora. But, leading off an exclusive Q&A below, conducted with a little perspective this morning at Memphis International Airport while waiting to fly back to Orlando, the pass rushing defensive end's answer to what was the best part of the experience was not unusual of student-athletes in his shoes.
What did you enjoy the most about this trip?
"It was definitely getting to meet the coaches and players and mingling with them and getting to know those guys. I enjoyed that the most. I spent a lot of time with all of the quarterbacks, which is ironic. I enjoyed meeting Case Keenum (Houston), Austin Davis (Southern Miss) and those guys a lot and getting to know them a little bit."
What did you all talk about?
"It was mostly comparing our situations and how similar they were. We'd ask how they do things at each school. We talked about those experiences the most and we also talked about our games against each other some too."
What stood out the most about the actual media portion of the event?
"You get the same questions often. How is our defense going to do? How is the team developing? How has the offseason gone? I really enjoyed the main press conference. It was the first time I got to experience that with the laptops and the cameras and stuff like that. That was pretty cool."
What was the most interesting question you got?
"I was asked what my dream play was. It's a third down. We're losing and need a big play. The quarterback drops back, blindside hit, fumble, recovery, scoop and score for a touchdown, win the conference championship, the whole nine yards. That would be a dream play."
You did come kind of close to that last year against Marshall. When you're talking to Mario Harvey and other players around the conference that you've had noteworthy games against, and I also heard you and Austin Davis having a good talk about the Southern Miss game we lost last year, how does that go?
"It's interesting to get their perspective and how they look at the same games and the same plays. I know how we feel about how our team did but it's interesting to get their perspective on how they see the same game differently."
Given the current big national story I'm sure you were asked plenty about agents. What did you say?
"I told the media what I do, that I'll worry about them after the season and give them my parents' number if one tries to reach me. I'm just focusing on UCF and what I can do to help the team out now."
What does it mean to you that teams could only bring one student-athlete this year and George O'Leary picked you to represent the team?
"It's an honor to be here and I really appreciate coach O'Leary giving me the opportunity to come here and be a part of this media day experience. It was a good experience with all of the teams and players. I had a good time."
This is your last weekend off before preseason camp starts. I understand that you have some very important plans for it.
"My sister is getting married. So I'm going home to be a part of a wedding. I have to put on a tuxedo. I'll do it all. I'm not in the wedding but I'll have to escort and seat people. I'll be involved a little bit so that will be exciting. Then it's back here for fall camp."
Is there one thing that you're looking forward to the most when you do get back here for preseason?
"I actually enjoy camp. I enjoy a team coming together and building the team chemistry that we'll need for the season. I'm looking forward to the times when we're not in practice or meetings that we get to spend together and gel as a team. I look forward to that kind of stuff."
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