Reporter: What are some of the hardest lessons you've learned while becoming an NSFL player?
Trey Willie: Nothing Handed to me. I was gifted early on with some special skills. That gave me an advantage in junior high and high school. I never stopped training though. When I reached the collegiate level, I was quickly humbled by those around me. I was no longer the standout star. This has only made me hungrier to train and play at an elite level. When I am not in team based practices, you can find me in the gym or working with my personal trainer to get better.
R: Who in the NSFL do you look to for support and guidance?
TW: So far, being in the wide receiving group, I have spent the most time with Robert Phelps and Brad Westfield. They have helped me to get acclimated with this team and up to speed on the playbook and coach’s expectations. They have been an integral part of my development and initial progression. Besides them, I have also tried to spend as much time with Mike Boss as possible. Working with Mike will strengthen our relationship both on and off the field. Once we reach that dynamic synergy, great things are going to happen.
R: Your first game was in Week 3 against the Liberty. How was that for you?
TW: It was electric. I have played in some big games in my short career but nothing could prepare me for the atmosphere and experience of being on THAT field. I didn’t enter the game in the first quarter but that didn’t stop my eagerness. Early in the second quarter, I was in and caught a short, 7-yard pass. I thought that calmed my nerves some but later on in that same series, I dropped a pass on second down that would’ve given up a new set of downs. We had to settle for a field goal on that drive. The real excitement came late in the third quarter. We were down 13-12. We were in the red zone when I caught a short pass on a slant route. Mike hit me in stride and I was able to run up the middle of the field and score. My first career NSFL TD. You already know that ball is sitting on my mantle.
R: You played again in week 4 against the SaberCats. Unfortunately, you didn’t win. What do you think went wrong tonight?
TW: Oh man, I knew this question was coming. If I had to attribute this loss to anything, it would probably be third down efficiency and penalties. Our 3rd down production was a mere 30%. You aren’t going to win many games with that stat alone. We went into halftime down by 5. Coach had us pumped up to start the 2nd half and we were able to take the lead late in the 3rd quarter. Phelps and Westfield were doing everything possible to keep us in the game. We had a few penalties that really hurt a few drives. It came down to the last play but in the end, it just wasn’t enough to secure the win over a stout team like the SaberCats.
R: You play again tonight against the Legions, who are another struggling team this season. What are you doing to prepare for this next game?
TW: With the short week between games, coach didn’t give us much time off. We were right back into full practice mode immediately. There has been a significant emphasis on protecting the ball and making sure we don’t get into 3rd and long situations. Nothing really ground breaking here. On the offensive side off the ball, we want to keep the ball moving and control the tempo our way. On the defensive side of the ball, we want their quarterback to be uncomfortable from the very first snap.
R: Can we expect to see Trey Willie in the end zone again tonight?
TW. I want to be in the end zone every night. You can definitely expect to see me playing my hardest and fighting for every yard.
R: Once this interview was booked, we asked a few fans to tweet in questions they would like to see answered. Do you have time for this?
TW: I can’t wait. I will always make time for my fans.
R: Perfect! We will just run through these rapid fire. You ready?
TW: You bet!
R: First, what team was you hoping would pick you up?
TW: Honestly, I had my eye on the Otters as soon as I declared myself eligible for the NSFL. They had a small hole in their dominant offense and I was hoping to be that missing piece. Being able to work closely with Mike Boss has been amazing and should help to make this team as great as the fans expected.
R: We finish the interview and you step outside the office and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?
TW: Haha. First thing, I’m ordering that pro level gear. It’s been sitting in my Amazon cart since before I even joined this league. If there’s anything left after that, I would probably give it to my mom.
R: What do you work toward in your free time?
TW: I am always trying to be a better person and player. Now that I have landed in Orange county, I am getting out in the public and trying to contribute any way that I can. I’m always trying to pay my success forward into these young athletes.
R: If you were to get rid of one state in the U.S., which would it be and why?
TW: Ummm, South Dakota? I visited there once. There was nothing going on. Not only is it just awful, it’s not even the best Dakota.
R: You’ve been given an elephant. What would you do with the elephant?
TW: I would trade it for 2 giraffes. Elephants are ok but nothing shows you’ve made it big in life like owning 2 giraffes. Can you just imagine me strutting across Newport Beach with a pair of giraffes in tow? That’s for sure what I’d do.
R: If you could pick one superpower, what would it be?
TW: I would choose to fly. There would be no stopping me at that point. I would own every record in the book.
R: You’re on a mountain in Alaska on a bus going 100mph. Where are you sitting on the bus?
TW: If the bus is going 100 mph, I am probably in the driver’s seat.
R: Would you share your Internet history with us?
TW: haha. Nope.
R: Karaoke time. What song do you choose?
TW: If I am just joking around with my friends, I am picking Biz Markie – Just a friend. If I am being semi-serious, I am picking Hold On by Wilson Phillips.
R: Who is your favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?
TW: Raphael for sure. His attitude and demeanor is totally relatable on a whole next level.
R: How many friendships have you ruined because you refused to play a game of Monopoly mercifully?
TW: More than I want to admit to. There’s an over looked rule in the original rulebook that I like to exploit for my own personal success. It doesn’t guarantee a win, but it for sure gives me an edge. Now, I try to avoid this game at all costs.
R: Have you ever found the image of a biblical figure on a piece of toast?
TW: No but as a gag gift one year I did get a toaster that burns an image of John Madden in my toast. He is close to biblical in my eyes.
R: How many times does it take for you to listen to a song that you love before you actually hate it instead?
TW: If it’s a song I love, I can listen to it on repeat for hours. If I make it my alarm ringtone, I will despise that song in less than a week.
R: If you could throw a parade of any caliber through the Zappos office, what type of parade would it be?
TW: Hell, I would throw a NSFL Championship parade right through the center of Orange County. I can already picture myself hoisting the Ultimus trophy. This would be the parade that all future parades are measured by.
R: What was the last gift you gave someone?
TW: After signing this contract, I was finally able to buy my mom a house. That was the best day of my life so far.
R: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role?
TW: If it was a true biography of my life, I would like to see Tom Hardy as the lead role. If it were a comedy spoof, Danny Devito would be hilarious.
R: How would you describe yourself in three words?
TW: Determined, Goal-directed, and Competitive.
R: What were you like in high school?
TW: Surprisingly, I was fairly quiet. I did my best to stay out of trouble, get my work done, and workout as much as possible. Coach was always there to keep me in line. Looking back, he may have been one of the top reasons I am where I am today.
R: What would we find on your Netflix recently watched?
TW: I always like to keep a few shows in the queue. I am watching through Breaking Bad now. I am not sure how I missed this show before. I also like all the new superhero origin shows that Netflix has been producing. Oh, and House of Cards. Binge watch that when every new season is released.
R: Pretend you are the GM of a team, would you select yourself ?
TW: That’s a loaded question. Of course I would. Any GM that has seen my progress and dedication should be able to expect what great things I am going to achieve. Granted, I can’t do it alone so an excellent team around me is essential part of my success.
R: You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What is the name of your new color?
TW: It would have to be Atomic Diesel.
R: How lucky are you and why?
TW: I would argue that I am the luckiest man in football. I get to play this game I love on a team that believes in me. There is no better feeling.
R: How would you sell me eggnog in the summer?
TW: Have you ever had eggnog? That stuff is delicious. Eggnog would sell itself.
R: If both a taxi and a limo were priced the exact same, which one would you choose?
TW: If they were both the same price, I would for sure choose the limo. I want that driver pulling up with the little hat opening my doors. When a limo pulls up, people stop and stare excite for who’s about to hop out. I want to feel that excitement every place I go. You won’t get any of that rolling around in some beat up yellow car with a taxi driver.
R: What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone?
TW: I am an excellent cook. I have this cookbook with hundreds of recipes that has been passed down through my family for generations. I am cooking all the time. I don’t think there is anything I can’t make taste good.
R: Wow! I am sure not many expected that response. That is about all the time we have today. I appreciate you taking time out of this busy week to sit down with us.
TW: This was my pleasure. Happy to do it anytime. I would like to encourage all you fan out there to come out and support the Orange County Otters. The fans are the real reason we are out there playing so hard.
2014 words
Graded
Trey Willie: Nothing Handed to me. I was gifted early on with some special skills. That gave me an advantage in junior high and high school. I never stopped training though. When I reached the collegiate level, I was quickly humbled by those around me. I was no longer the standout star. This has only made me hungrier to train and play at an elite level. When I am not in team based practices, you can find me in the gym or working with my personal trainer to get better.
R: Who in the NSFL do you look to for support and guidance?
TW: So far, being in the wide receiving group, I have spent the most time with Robert Phelps and Brad Westfield. They have helped me to get acclimated with this team and up to speed on the playbook and coach’s expectations. They have been an integral part of my development and initial progression. Besides them, I have also tried to spend as much time with Mike Boss as possible. Working with Mike will strengthen our relationship both on and off the field. Once we reach that dynamic synergy, great things are going to happen.
R: Your first game was in Week 3 against the Liberty. How was that for you?
TW: It was electric. I have played in some big games in my short career but nothing could prepare me for the atmosphere and experience of being on THAT field. I didn’t enter the game in the first quarter but that didn’t stop my eagerness. Early in the second quarter, I was in and caught a short, 7-yard pass. I thought that calmed my nerves some but later on in that same series, I dropped a pass on second down that would’ve given up a new set of downs. We had to settle for a field goal on that drive. The real excitement came late in the third quarter. We were down 13-12. We were in the red zone when I caught a short pass on a slant route. Mike hit me in stride and I was able to run up the middle of the field and score. My first career NSFL TD. You already know that ball is sitting on my mantle.
R: You played again in week 4 against the SaberCats. Unfortunately, you didn’t win. What do you think went wrong tonight?
TW: Oh man, I knew this question was coming. If I had to attribute this loss to anything, it would probably be third down efficiency and penalties. Our 3rd down production was a mere 30%. You aren’t going to win many games with that stat alone. We went into halftime down by 5. Coach had us pumped up to start the 2nd half and we were able to take the lead late in the 3rd quarter. Phelps and Westfield were doing everything possible to keep us in the game. We had a few penalties that really hurt a few drives. It came down to the last play but in the end, it just wasn’t enough to secure the win over a stout team like the SaberCats.
R: You play again tonight against the Legions, who are another struggling team this season. What are you doing to prepare for this next game?
TW: With the short week between games, coach didn’t give us much time off. We were right back into full practice mode immediately. There has been a significant emphasis on protecting the ball and making sure we don’t get into 3rd and long situations. Nothing really ground breaking here. On the offensive side off the ball, we want to keep the ball moving and control the tempo our way. On the defensive side of the ball, we want their quarterback to be uncomfortable from the very first snap.
R: Can we expect to see Trey Willie in the end zone again tonight?
TW. I want to be in the end zone every night. You can definitely expect to see me playing my hardest and fighting for every yard.
R: Once this interview was booked, we asked a few fans to tweet in questions they would like to see answered. Do you have time for this?
TW: I can’t wait. I will always make time for my fans.
R: Perfect! We will just run through these rapid fire. You ready?
TW: You bet!
R: First, what team was you hoping would pick you up?
TW: Honestly, I had my eye on the Otters as soon as I declared myself eligible for the NSFL. They had a small hole in their dominant offense and I was hoping to be that missing piece. Being able to work closely with Mike Boss has been amazing and should help to make this team as great as the fans expected.
R: We finish the interview and you step outside the office and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?
TW: Haha. First thing, I’m ordering that pro level gear. It’s been sitting in my Amazon cart since before I even joined this league. If there’s anything left after that, I would probably give it to my mom.
R: What do you work toward in your free time?
TW: I am always trying to be a better person and player. Now that I have landed in Orange county, I am getting out in the public and trying to contribute any way that I can. I’m always trying to pay my success forward into these young athletes.
R: If you were to get rid of one state in the U.S., which would it be and why?
TW: Ummm, South Dakota? I visited there once. There was nothing going on. Not only is it just awful, it’s not even the best Dakota.
R: You’ve been given an elephant. What would you do with the elephant?
TW: I would trade it for 2 giraffes. Elephants are ok but nothing shows you’ve made it big in life like owning 2 giraffes. Can you just imagine me strutting across Newport Beach with a pair of giraffes in tow? That’s for sure what I’d do.
R: If you could pick one superpower, what would it be?
TW: I would choose to fly. There would be no stopping me at that point. I would own every record in the book.
R: You’re on a mountain in Alaska on a bus going 100mph. Where are you sitting on the bus?
TW: If the bus is going 100 mph, I am probably in the driver’s seat.
R: Would you share your Internet history with us?
TW: haha. Nope.
R: Karaoke time. What song do you choose?
TW: If I am just joking around with my friends, I am picking Biz Markie – Just a friend. If I am being semi-serious, I am picking Hold On by Wilson Phillips.
R: Who is your favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?
TW: Raphael for sure. His attitude and demeanor is totally relatable on a whole next level.
R: How many friendships have you ruined because you refused to play a game of Monopoly mercifully?
TW: More than I want to admit to. There’s an over looked rule in the original rulebook that I like to exploit for my own personal success. It doesn’t guarantee a win, but it for sure gives me an edge. Now, I try to avoid this game at all costs.
R: Have you ever found the image of a biblical figure on a piece of toast?
TW: No but as a gag gift one year I did get a toaster that burns an image of John Madden in my toast. He is close to biblical in my eyes.
R: How many times does it take for you to listen to a song that you love before you actually hate it instead?
TW: If it’s a song I love, I can listen to it on repeat for hours. If I make it my alarm ringtone, I will despise that song in less than a week.
R: If you could throw a parade of any caliber through the Zappos office, what type of parade would it be?
TW: Hell, I would throw a NSFL Championship parade right through the center of Orange County. I can already picture myself hoisting the Ultimus trophy. This would be the parade that all future parades are measured by.
R: What was the last gift you gave someone?
TW: After signing this contract, I was finally able to buy my mom a house. That was the best day of my life so far.
R: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role?
TW: If it was a true biography of my life, I would like to see Tom Hardy as the lead role. If it were a comedy spoof, Danny Devito would be hilarious.
R: How would you describe yourself in three words?
TW: Determined, Goal-directed, and Competitive.
R: What were you like in high school?
TW: Surprisingly, I was fairly quiet. I did my best to stay out of trouble, get my work done, and workout as much as possible. Coach was always there to keep me in line. Looking back, he may have been one of the top reasons I am where I am today.
R: What would we find on your Netflix recently watched?
TW: I always like to keep a few shows in the queue. I am watching through Breaking Bad now. I am not sure how I missed this show before. I also like all the new superhero origin shows that Netflix has been producing. Oh, and House of Cards. Binge watch that when every new season is released.
R: Pretend you are the GM of a team, would you select yourself ?
TW: That’s a loaded question. Of course I would. Any GM that has seen my progress and dedication should be able to expect what great things I am going to achieve. Granted, I can’t do it alone so an excellent team around me is essential part of my success.
R: You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What is the name of your new color?
TW: It would have to be Atomic Diesel.
R: How lucky are you and why?
TW: I would argue that I am the luckiest man in football. I get to play this game I love on a team that believes in me. There is no better feeling.
R: How would you sell me eggnog in the summer?
TW: Have you ever had eggnog? That stuff is delicious. Eggnog would sell itself.
R: If both a taxi and a limo were priced the exact same, which one would you choose?
TW: If they were both the same price, I would for sure choose the limo. I want that driver pulling up with the little hat opening my doors. When a limo pulls up, people stop and stare excite for who’s about to hop out. I want to feel that excitement every place I go. You won’t get any of that rolling around in some beat up yellow car with a taxi driver.
R: What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone?
TW: I am an excellent cook. I have this cookbook with hundreds of recipes that has been passed down through my family for generations. I am cooking all the time. I don’t think there is anything I can’t make taste good.
R: Wow! I am sure not many expected that response. That is about all the time we have today. I appreciate you taking time out of this busy week to sit down with us.
TW: This was my pleasure. Happy to do it anytime. I would like to encourage all you fan out there to come out and support the Orange County Otters. The fans are the real reason we are out there playing so hard.
2014 words
Graded
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