Instant Interview Replay: Paul Troth

Instant Interview Replay: Paul Troth

06/11/2003

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Pirate junior quarterback Paul Troth joined ECUpirates.com for a live, online chat session on Wednesday afternoon. Following is a complete transcript of his responses.

Leonard : Last year had to be difficult following the success of David Garrard, Marcus Crandal, Dan Gonzalez, and Jeff Blake. What has been the most difficult thing about being the Pirate's starting QB thus far and how have you handled those difficulties?
Paul Troth : I think the most difficult thing has been trying to prove to my teammates that I can play to the caliber that those other guys have. Not so much the fans because I learned a lot last year that you can't please everybody. The trust of my teammates is most important.

joe : How does it feel to always be in competition with Desmond? Does it create strife between the two of you?
Paul Troth : Competition is healthy for any athlete and I think I got better this spring because of the competition. Me and Desmond are competitors and we're also teammates and we help one another out. We never let the competition come between us.

Hillsy 12 : What do you feel is the most improved part of your game since last season.
Paul Troth : I think my confidence has improved tremendously since the new coaching staff has come in. A lot of people might think that is a surprise because of the year that I had. But playing in this system, just from the spring, I can already tell this whole offensive scheme and coaching staff has made us better in a short period of time. My confidence, I feel like, has improved a whole bunch since last year.

BK : What new receiver do you foresee having a breakthrough year?
Paul Troth : I think Terrance Copper will be our leader in the receiving corp this year. In the spring game, we all saw the talent he has. Damarcus Fox is going to be tremendously driven this year because he's become a leader to the younger guys. Because he didn't redshirt, he has to grow up quick. Another guy that has moved to wide receiver that has surprised a lot of us on the team in pass skel is Sakeen Wright. But in all our pass skels, every receiver has stepped up his game.

Mike : What do you think of our special teams? Especially our kickers and punters.
Paul Troth : I think we have a lot of potential in the group that we have. Of course, losing someone like Kevin Miller is always going to be tough. Especially for me because of the guidance and support he gave me last year. Chris Baglio and Cameron Broadwell are competing really hard and I'm sure the best one will come out on top. The guy that everybody is excited to see on the field is Ryan Dougherty, punting-wise. Some of the balls he's punted in practice, they don't ever seem to come down.

: Any prediction on our 2003 record?
Paul Troth : We'll be better and we'll compete for a bowl bid and possibly the championship. At least that's how I feel. Coach Thompson isn't expecting anything less than going to Memphis.

Chris : How is your relationship with your offensive line?
Paul Troth : They are my best friends. I treat those guys with the utmost respect. I live with two linemen, Hagen Mason and Charlie Dempsey, and having Brian Rimpf as a friend has opened me up this spring to new people and new perspectives.

Kyle Chase : I will be playing at ECU this fall, I was wondering would the offense put up good numbers, or will the defense have to pitch shut outs every week?
Paul Troth : I'd like to have both things happen this year. I think we return a good nucleus of talent on both sides of the ball, but both sides need to improve from last year. I think you should be more worried about Coach Whitten and the conditioning program when you get up here, because he's working our tails off right now!

CK : what is the major difference between Logan's system and Coach Stockstill's
Paul Troth : In Coach Logan's offense, there was more mental preparation into each play and less reaction to the defense if they switched up on you. In Coach Stockstill's offense, it's more of like being out there on the sandlot and the most obvious thing pops up on you, so you do that instead. In Coach Stockstill's offense, we always think we have the upper hand because we always have a response to what the defense does. It's way more shotgun and the quarterbacks like that.

Cari Smith : Are you steady with someone or do you like to play the field....Girls, so to speak?
Paul Troth : I previously stated that Brian Rimpf had opened me up to new people, and in preparing for his wedding, I got to meet a lot of the people that surrounded him, particularly Young Life leaders. In doing so, I met a beautiful young lady who puts God as her No. 1 priority and she has helped me see that there is more to life than just football. So yes, I am seeing someone and it's the first time in college that I'm doing so ... and it's great.

PETEE : What about the progress of Vonta Leach?
Paul Troth : He's a beast. Anybody who came to the spring game can see that. He's definitely stepped up his leadership qualities going into his senior year and he brings a new attitude to the offensive side of the ball. Plus, he's one of the funniest guys you'll ever meet.

george : If you couldn't play QB, what position would you like to play? And are you wanting to turn pro?
Paul Troth : I've always wanted to play defense and give out some hits, so I'd probably like to play on that side of the ball. You guys can pick what position you want to put me at! And yes, I do hope to play well enough to make it to the next level, but I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket. However, I've done the extra steps this summer to improve my foot speed and reaction time by working out twice a day -- once with the team and once on my own doing sprint work.

Money : Are you looking forward to the opportunity to play on a national stage when the team travels to Miami this year?
Paul Troth : Anytime you get to play a former national champion, you look forward to it. But we are preparing as hard as we can for Cincinnati because that, too, is on a national stage on ESPN on Labor Day. Plus, it's our conference opener, so that game will set the tone for the conference race.

Kev, G Vegas : I saw where the coaches wanted you to lose 10 pounds over the summer. How is that going?
Paul Troth : It's going great. I'm already down to 223 right now and trimmed a lot of the fat on my body by eating healthy and maintaining a good workout regime in this hot, humid Greenville weather.

mw : what is your favorite play/formation under Stockstill? Your "money" play?
Paul Troth : I don't have a certain favorite play, but I do get excited whenever we put in a new play that we haven't run here before. Because I know teams are going to be surprised at what they see formation-wise from us. As long as we're moving the ball and making touchdowns, I don't care what play they call. But a favorite play of mine would be involving a throw, of course.

Jeff : Which team in the league talks the most trash? Any one player specifically?
Paul Troth : Louisville, no doubt. And mainly their defensive line. With Southern Miss a close second. But with respect to Southern Miss, they're allowed to talk trash with the defense that they have ... especially Rod Davis. (laughs)

Steve : Any chance of growing a mullet?
Paul Troth : I'm growing my hair out long, but not a mullet!

bob : Do you feel you have the speed to run any option play effectively?
Paul Troth : A lot of people out there think that I can't run. And of course, I'm not the fastest guy on the team. But I'm making steps to change that because I know that, with my size, I can get five yards like Coach Stock wants me to and that's all the coaches would like to see. Don't take the sack, get positive yardage, go to the next play.

mw : how much film do you guys watch during the week before a game? Are you already watching film for Cincy?
Paul Troth : I try and watch film everyday and be a "film rat" so to speak. Every quarterback that's been successful will tell you that film study is part of the job and if I'm not watching film, somebody else is and getting a leg up. We've got tapes on Cincinnati already and I'm studying those along with my communications course for the summer.

Durham Pirate : What is your favorite hang out in GVegas?
Paul Troth : I would have to say it's a toss-up between Bradford Creek Country Club, golfing with my roommate Hagen, and in the offseason before I workout, it's Krispy Kreme, making late night runs for doughnuts for the house!

Bacon15 : Who is your favorite NFL team?
Paul Troth : The Green Bay Packers. My favorite athlete is Brett Favre. Also, somebody previously asked if I pattern myself after any quarterback and I would have to say that when I watch Tom Brady, I see a lot of similarities between us.

R & J : Do you agree with me that Charlotte is the greatest city ever?
Paul Troth : Charlotte is a great city, the "banking capital of the world." However, I'm not from Charlotte, I'm from Davidson which is right by Lake Norman and a great college town atmosphere to grow up in. But the whole Charlotte area is filled with great things to see and do.

Steve : Luke Fisher was in a fraternity, Have you given it any thought?
Paul Troth : No, football is my fraternity. But there are some guys on the team that are in one.

Medford : In retrospect, Do you wish that you were redshirted with an extra year of eligibilty? Or did it help having more training under David?
Paul Troth : It was a double-edged sword. It was not my decision not to redshirt. But like my Mom says, I can't control things in the past, I can only control the future and last year was a great learning experience with tremendous ups and downs. But as a person, I grew from it and I'm looking forward to a new season and a new challenge.

Marty : What changes would you like to be made this year to make ECU a better football team?
Paul Troth : Changes have already been made. We as a team have adopted a family attitude and we, as football players, would just like to continue to see the great fan support that has been given to us throughout the years in Greenville and Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Jon : How competitive is the Ironman?
Paul Troth : Every year, it gets a new twist added to it. Coach Whitten loves to surprise us and loves to challenge us. Each year, the guys take more and more pride in the competition -- especially guys who have been here since Coach Whitten has been here. This year is really competitive because of the new events that have been added.

Troth's Biggest Fan : Do you have any pregame rituals or superstition?
Paul Troth : If you ask anybody that knows me, I'm the most superstitious person in the world. So to list all my pregame rituals would take too long. But I do have a few. Basically, my superstitions are based on what worked in the past. I try and figure out everything I did, clothing-wise, routine-wise, to continue the success. As soon as it goes bad, the rituals go out the door and a new set begins.

Jeff : What qualities of Rick Stockstill have impressed you the most and what has he taught you as a QB?
Paul Troth : Coach Stock believes in exuding confidence as a quarterback. The team is going to look at you and your actions and respond in certain ways. So he thinks that the game should be as fun as it can because we are blessed to be out there playing a game, so why not have fun doing it.

Maniacguy : I've seen you at most basketball games. Do you enjoy them as much as the Maniacs do?
Paul Troth : I definitely like going to the basketball games and being a fan and supporting our other athletes in the Pirate sports program. But I particularly like the men's games because I often get a chance to play golf with Coach Herrion and Coach Herenda and those guys are really fun to play with and get to know.

Carl Rees - Greenville, NC : As a result of the intense recruiting battle for your services and the fact that your dad was a Pirate, you were a legend in the eyes of many before you even played game one at ECU. Has this "hype" led to unfair criticism of your play from the fans and media?
Paul Troth : I think so. I think a lot of people feel that just because you're highly recruited, you can immediately change from a skinny 18-year-old kid into a grown man in one year. But for me, the change has come more gradually and I think, with the things that I've learned, people are going to be surprised in what they see this year. People should just wait to speak when passing judgement.

ECUpirates.com : Thanks, Paul, for taking time out of your busy summer to chat with us today.
Paul Troth : No problem. Anytime I'm privileged enough to be asked to talk the Pirate faithful, I get excited. And I'd just like to say hi to Mom and Dad and Jake back home ... I'll see you at home this weekend with Teresa! To everybody who sent in questions, thanks for all your support and we as football players look forward to seeing you in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for the home opener against West Virginia. Go Pirates!

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