Before Noke Football’s big game this Saturday, the Brackety-Ack was given a special opportunity to interview head coach Bryan Stinespring, quarterback Aaron Barber, and running back Tyson Miller.
Q: For this program’s first ODAC season, what identity are you hoping to establish with this team?
Stinespring: By winning the outs, selling discipline, pride, and coming together as a team, we hope to represent the strength and hope of Roanoke. Half of the entire team didn’t even know each other when we first began, so they had to collaborate and create synergy as a team since.
Q: What is the biggest challenge for your opener, and how are you preparing your team to face it?
Stinespring: How we handle adversity and maturely handle tasks, for sure. There’ll be experienced players on the other team that will pose a threat against our team of freshmen and sophomores. However, by taking hard work and Roanoke College’s determined spirit, I’m confident they’ll pull through!
Q: What have you learned from your coaches and teammates during practice that’s helped you prepare to lead the offense in the first ODAC game?
Barber: Just building trust with players as a quarterback, really. It’s a selfish position for sure, one where I have to call the shots and collaborate with my teammates. Working together and having confidence is crucial.
Q: How would you describe the chemistry between you and the offensive line heading into the season opener?
Miller: Increasingly getting better by each week. Last year, everyone was freshmen, so we all grew together. The team depends on the offense to get their job done, and they’ve easily grown and made progress compared to last season. I’m proud of them for stepping up, and I’m excited to see what this season will bring us.
Q: What do you want the Roanoke College community to know or feel when they watch this team take the field for the very first ODAC season?
Stinespring: So thankful for the opportunity, the school’s support, Salem, alumni, and the 42’ that came before. We wanna let them know that we get to play a game we love, and are extremely grateful to do so while surrounded by a culture that appreciates football as much as we do.
Miller: I want to let them know we worked hard to get here, coaches worked hard recruiting, and how appreciative I am for everyone’s support.
Barber: The support Salem has with football is astounding: all 9,000 seats sold out at the stadium. We have so many fans that drive us further, and it makes us feel bigger than we could’ve ever anticipated. Thank you!
Zachary Bayers
Editor-in-Chief
