Assistant Coach Adam Houston:
SORSN: What is your coaching role with the team?
Adam: I’m in charge of the “Hawgs”. But my main job is to keep Coach Shillings from playing grab tail with the media during the games.
SORSN: Originally a Yellow Jacket from across the bridge, is your blood turning SOR green?
Adam: No question! I look good in green.
SORSN: When we asked Craig which Assistant Coach would win in a bikini contest, he picked you. Have you thought about modeling as a career after coaching? And does it scare you to know that Moser thinks you would look good in a bikini?
Adam: Modeling comes natural to me. Times are stressful, maybe Moser’s mind wanders.
SORSN: You recently developed a piece of land next to Coach Mike Hayes. How much grief did he give you about “messing up his yard!”?
Adam: You must see the man on his riding mower!! He left me alone most of the time, but for some reason he did stand at the fence behind his house looking over it.
SORSN: From the start of the season to now, what changes have you seen in the players and the team?
Adam: The saying goes, “Big time players play big in big time ball games.” They seem to rise to the occasion. And it’s big time from now on.
SORSN: After a big win like the Waves had last week, some teams can come out flat against their next opponent (GA vs. TN for example). What are the coaches doing to keep the team focused and ready to start off strong against Coalfield?
Adam: Old school! Foot on the gas, mind on grass!
Assistant Coach Jake Campbell:
SORSN: What is your coaching role with the team?
Jake: I coach Tight Ends and Defensive Ends. But one of the things I enjoy is trying to get the players fired up and ready to play their opponents.
SORSN: Except for the period around the late ’80s, Midway is a school that gets little, if any, news media coverage. Though they’re not as good as SORSN.com, WATE Channel 6 News was at the Midway-Greenback game. Do the players notice the camera crew on the sidelines and how much excitement does that bring to the players and coaches knowing that the game is being covered by a Knoxville TV Station?
Jake: I believe the younger players notice it and get excited, but the juniors and seniors don’t pay much attention to it at all. They just go out and play the game.
SORSN: The Campbell’s are like the O’Toole’s in that it seems each season there’s a different Campbell playing. Between the 3 Campbell brothers, who’s the better football player? The better looking? The better singer? The smartest?
Jake: Not to take away any of the playing ability from my brothers but I was the better football player, although Matt is just a sophomore and has a long way to go. He may just show me up. Better Looking that would have to be me. Joe the oldest is by far the better singer, and Matt is more than likely the smartest of us three.
SORSN: It’s obvious from past interviews that Coach O’Toole likes pie. Did you as a player or currently as a Coach, have a favorite pre-game meal?
Jake: Well, the night before every game when I played, me and a lot of the other seniors on the team went to Taco-Bell.
SORSN: The first time we interviewed Jude, we asked him about what the doctors said the condition of his shoulder was. To which he replied; ” – .if the river is flowing, put the turtle in the soup.” Do you have any idea what that means?
Jake: I think it goes hand in hand with “if the chinstrap is buckled it’s time to lay the lumber.”
SORSN: A great poet by the name of Hank Williams Jr. once spoke about how a “Country boy will survive.” Your thoughts?
Jake: Mr. Williams is a smart man, and not only do I believe its true but our boys are an example of it.
Head Coach Craig Moser:
SORSN: Over the last 5 years when Coalfield and Midway have faced off, it’s been the visiting team that has won. Your thoughts on why home field has NOT been an advantage for either team.
Craig: This is a strange scenario. Over the last few years, both teams have been evenly matched. In big games, it usually comes down to turnovers and field position. If you look at this series, the team that has made the fewest mistakes has won. 2 years ago at home we turned it over 7 times.
SORSN: Take anyone who went through Midway Elementary while your father was teaching and a common memory we all have is seeing your father with a pocket knife and piece of cedar in his hand. Growing up, how many cedar swords and bats were around the house? Are you as handy with a pocket knife and chunk of wood as your father?
Craig: Not a lot of bats and swords (he gave them to his students). But, there were quite a few wooden paddles for my mess-ups. I am not as capable with a knife as my dad.
SORSN: You and your team basically control your own destiny now. If you win out you will be #1 in the region. Is this an added pressure and distraction to your team?
Craig: Not at all. It is a motivation. The pressure is on Coalfield, they have 1 region loss and we don’t.
SORSN: Coach Darryl T. Ruffner has a quote, “Winning breeds winning. Losing breeds losing.” Which basically means, if/when you start winning, it becomes habit forming and you keep winning; same thing about losing. What’s your opinion on this?
Craig: Confidence! If a team is confident in winning each game, it goes a long way. I am very confident in our team and they are confident in each other.
SORSN: It seems as if everywhere the team travels, the opposing team’s field has been named after someone. Does the MHS field carry a name and if so what?
Craig: In the late ’80’s, the Roane County News called it “The Emerald Forrest,” However, there is no official name for it. Anyone have any ideas?
SORSN: Well since you asked; everything is going to “tech” names. For example, NASCAR Winston Cup is now Nextel Cup. I think “SORSN.com Field” has a nice ring to it.
SORSN: Halloween is coming up, what was your favorite costume as a child and whose house was your favorite to visit when ‘Trick or Treating’?
Craig: Batman – my Papaw’s and Grandmother Patterson’s
SOR – FDY