Good evening, I'm Gregory Leonard Baley, and this is Inside the GLB. Tonight we feature a charming success story that shows anyone can make it in the league.
The D.C. Warpath opened the season with 3 losses and a tie, throwing them down into the cellar of their division. With fan attendance at a low, a man stepped up to the plate and took ownership of the team. Hogg Life (http://goallineblitz.com/game/home.pl?user_id=830) purchased a team going into their 5th game without a win. Since obtaining the team Life has over-hauled both the offense and defense resulting in 3 straight wins, all by comfortable margins. I had a chance to sit down with starting cornernback, and defensive captain, Corey Vandergriff (http://goallineblitz.com/game/player.pl?player_id=31683).
Gregory: Good evening Corey, and thank you for being here.
Corey: No problem, thanks for having me.
Gregory: Now what was your initial reaction, when you were offered a contract with the Warpath? If I'm not mistaken that only had 1 win under their belt when they came to you. What makes you join a team that, and I mean no disrespect, seems to be going no where?
Corey: I didn't think about where they were in the division, or how far they could potentially go. I thought, "Hey, this team just needs to be given a chance. With a little work, they could turn around." When I first arrived I just wanted the players together as a team, and turn everything around. We owed that much to the fans.
Gregory: Was it this attitude that made you a clear choice for team captain, or was it just simply your athletic ability?
Corey: It was all about determination. I was determined to win, the guys were determined to win. I had no problem staying late and helping with the game plans. It wasn't really something I was picked for, I just sort of eased into it on my own.
Gregory: So you sign the contract, become defensive captain seemingly by default... Now you get to play in your first two games with the team, which you win. Suddenly your out of the cellar and right into the playoff hunt with an 8th place standing. How does that feel?
Corey: It's an amazing feeling, but it isn't the same feeling that can come with winning it all. Everyone was happy, and it definitely helped bring morale up. We just have to remember not to let a 3 game winning streak go to our heads.
Gregory: So how do you do that? What do you tell the team every week to keep them focused on the game, and not settling for just being on a hot streak?
Corey: There isn't much I have to say until we're on the field. Once we are there, I get them huddled up and get them ready. I tell them... "Its game time. Time to tighten your cleats, adjust your straps, and tell the wife and kids that it is time to do what we do best, crack skulls and take no mercy. Our warpath has began and no man, team, or the curse of Satan himself is gonna stop us. We are the Warpath gentlemen, we enter the battlefield to destroy, and we leave with victory."
Gregory: Ah so you've got a good game-time speech, a Ray Lewis sort of thing going on. Okay, so who are your best players on offense and defense? If you lead the time off the field, who is leading it on the field?
Corey: Our runningback Matt Conley is a beast. Teams just haven't been able to stop him... of course our O-line helps a lot with that too. On defense we have Roy Fokker. Teams that try to test his side of the field come back with pain as results.
Gregory: So where do you go from here? What are the teams plans?
Corey: Thats simple. Just win. We don't want to lose anymore this season. We've had enough of that.
Gregory: Okay, and finally... what is it like working under Hogg Life?
Corey: He's a very good owner. He put together a great team, and caters to every need we have. He is always right there to help motivate us.
Gregory: Alright Corey, thank you for your time... and thank you, the viewers at home, for tuning in. We hope you tune in next time for Inside the GLB.
The D.C. Warpath opened the season with 3 losses and a tie, throwing them down into the cellar of their division. With fan attendance at a low, a man stepped up to the plate and took ownership of the team. Hogg Life (http://goallineblitz.com/game/home.pl?user_id=830) purchased a team going into their 5th game without a win. Since obtaining the team Life has over-hauled both the offense and defense resulting in 3 straight wins, all by comfortable margins. I had a chance to sit down with starting cornernback, and defensive captain, Corey Vandergriff (http://goallineblitz.com/game/player.pl?player_id=31683).
Gregory: Good evening Corey, and thank you for being here.
Corey: No problem, thanks for having me.
Gregory: Now what was your initial reaction, when you were offered a contract with the Warpath? If I'm not mistaken that only had 1 win under their belt when they came to you. What makes you join a team that, and I mean no disrespect, seems to be going no where?
Corey: I didn't think about where they were in the division, or how far they could potentially go. I thought, "Hey, this team just needs to be given a chance. With a little work, they could turn around." When I first arrived I just wanted the players together as a team, and turn everything around. We owed that much to the fans.
Gregory: Was it this attitude that made you a clear choice for team captain, or was it just simply your athletic ability?
Corey: It was all about determination. I was determined to win, the guys were determined to win. I had no problem staying late and helping with the game plans. It wasn't really something I was picked for, I just sort of eased into it on my own.
Gregory: So you sign the contract, become defensive captain seemingly by default... Now you get to play in your first two games with the team, which you win. Suddenly your out of the cellar and right into the playoff hunt with an 8th place standing. How does that feel?
Corey: It's an amazing feeling, but it isn't the same feeling that can come with winning it all. Everyone was happy, and it definitely helped bring morale up. We just have to remember not to let a 3 game winning streak go to our heads.
Gregory: So how do you do that? What do you tell the team every week to keep them focused on the game, and not settling for just being on a hot streak?
Corey: There isn't much I have to say until we're on the field. Once we are there, I get them huddled up and get them ready. I tell them... "Its game time. Time to tighten your cleats, adjust your straps, and tell the wife and kids that it is time to do what we do best, crack skulls and take no mercy. Our warpath has began and no man, team, or the curse of Satan himself is gonna stop us. We are the Warpath gentlemen, we enter the battlefield to destroy, and we leave with victory."
Gregory: Ah so you've got a good game-time speech, a Ray Lewis sort of thing going on. Okay, so who are your best players on offense and defense? If you lead the time off the field, who is leading it on the field?
Corey: Our runningback Matt Conley is a beast. Teams just haven't been able to stop him... of course our O-line helps a lot with that too. On defense we have Roy Fokker. Teams that try to test his side of the field come back with pain as results.
Gregory: So where do you go from here? What are the teams plans?
Corey: Thats simple. Just win. We don't want to lose anymore this season. We've had enough of that.
Gregory: Okay, and finally... what is it like working under Hogg Life?
Corey: He's a very good owner. He put together a great team, and caters to every need we have. He is always right there to help motivate us.
Gregory: Alright Corey, thank you for your time... and thank you, the viewers at home, for tuning in. We hope you tune in next time for Inside the GLB.
