09-12-2021, 06:56 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-24-2021, 03:56 PM by Tesla. Edited 1 time in total.)
LEM SPORTSINTERVIEWS: Thank you for tuning in today. I am delighted to be joined by the 4th overall pick in the Season 31 ISFL Draft to the New Orleans Second Line, Mr. Amari Springer. ‘Mari, how are you doing today?
AMARI SPRINGER: I’m doing great man, thanks for having me.
LEM: You definitely turned some heads with where you went in the draft. That must’ve been nice to ruin a lot of people’s mock drafts, wasn’t it?
AMARI: Haha yeah, you know I guess there are some people who are angry at me and not at the people who picked me for that. But I’m overjoyed that it happened. You know, everyone wants to be a first round pick. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Guys can talk about how they ‘went to the team they wanted to’ or something. But there’s no better feeling than the team you wanted to go to taking you at their very first opportunity. There are a lot of guys who get drafted in later rounds in drafts that will play their entire career with a chip on their shoulder: they were taken behind so many guys but they know they belong. I want to play knowing that I was wanted and desired. Because I worked my ass off the last few months proving that I had what it takes. And I like having high expectations and setting lofty goals for myself. That’s because I know what I’m worth.
LEM: So it’s fair to say New Orleans was your #1 choice?
AMARI: You know, as cheesy as it’s gonna sound, they absolutely were. I had some excellent discussions with their management and members of the team. They told me what they would want from me. I told them what I would want from them. And we clearly found some connection. But they were, by far, more attentive and focused and caring towards me than any other team I talked to. No disrespect to any of them: I definitely had some solid fall-back options. But New Orleans was the place for me. I love that they drafted me and I love that they used a 1st round pick to do so.
LEM: Are you, at all, envious of the people taken before you?
AMARI: Hahaha nah, not at all. The Czargyros brothers are both ballers and just can derail any offense put in front of them. I knew they both would go first round but it was nice to see them go back-to-back. And Cedric is a guy who I watch a lot of. He knows things that I’m still trying to learn about the defensive side of the ball. I’m just happy that defensive players made up the first 5 picks of the draft. We’re all gonna be playing against each other but there is this great camaraderie between us defenders. You know, we’ll never line up against each other so we’re always gonna be supportive of one-another. And as I said, I went to my #1 team. So I’m not complaining one bit.
LEM: So let’s talk about what was probably the biggest knock on you heading into the draft: your defensive inexperience. You were, of course, a wide receiver your entire collegiate career. What made you switch to safety?
AMARI: I’m a team player more than anything. And there were plenty of times in high school where if there was a guy on the opposing offense who just couldn’t be shut down, coach would call my number. Didn’t always work but I always gave it my A-game. And when I went to Tijuana, I got asked by management to play defense. It was a tough choice because it meant I had to swap over there full-time. But when you play in offenses enough and you see other guys getting the ball more than you sometimes, you might have that instinct to switch sides. And that’s what defense is. There’s no arrogance out there. It’s everyone playing their role and supporting one-another for their efforts. I’m not leaving games upset I only had 3 receptions or never found the endzone. If we prevented those guys from scoring more than us, then I’m over the moon.
LEM: Was moving away from playing wide receiver tough for you?
AMARI: Oh, absolutely. It’s the position I grew up loving. Minnesota’s known for its great wide receivers. I didn’t want to play anywhere else for a while. Coaches would tell me that I had to get reps at corner or linebacker or even tight end and I’d shoot it down. It gave me a bit of a ‘diva’ reputation. But I didn’t care. I wanted to prove that I was the best wide receiver in the state. And the only way I could prove that, to me, was if I consistently played at that spot. It wasn’t until high school that my coach sat me down and explained to me the value of being a team player. He didn’t judge me or think less of me with my actions or the things I said. He was honest and really changed my perception of the sport. So opting not to play there anymore was tough, but it would’ve been a lot tougher if they were asking me that while I was still in high school.
LEM: You, of course, opted to play about 4 hours north of where you live in Bemidji for the Bemidji State Beavers. Despite that, you had offers to play for the Golden Gophers and the Badgers, who were much closer to you. What drew you up north and away from the bigger, more glamorous schools?
AMARI: When you’re a freshman on teams like those, you get redshirted. When you’re a sophomore, you might get some reps, but you’re still gonna be playing behind upper classmen. I wanted to play as many snaps as I deserved all four years. I didn’t want to be one of those guys who practiced and trained every day with their teams just to seldom, or never, see the field. And, you know, power to those guys for being team players. But I don’t want to work my ass off all season in practice just to be put under guys because they’re a few years higher than me. Practicing without playing sucks. It’s like cooking your favorite recipe just to throw it right in the trash. And that’s what Bemidji State offered to me; I’d be a starter from day one. Of course, I’d get some flack for not being developed by the ‘top facilities’ but that didn’t faze me. I’d prove my worth through my play. And I had a lot more time to do so at Bemidji State.
LEM: So I know how excited you are that you went first round in the recent ISFL Draft. But how did you feel about falling to 23rd overall in the DSFL Draft? Many called you one of the biggest draft slides in the class. Was that demoralizing to you at all?
AMARI: Yeah...it was, honestly. The process before the draft is really enthusing. All those teams coming to you with interest and possible hopes of bringing you in is quite something. And I definitely felt like I made some connections during that time which I hope would’ve blossomed into something bigger. But certain things lead to other things and I fell in the draft. I was the 6th wide receiver taken. It was, I’ll admit, a very stacked class for receivers. But I genuinely believed I proved my worth. I know there are guys who went much lower than me who also have a lot of worth. But they all wanted to be top picks. I refuse to believe there’s anyone who doesn’t. But, you know, Tijuana has been extremely generous to me and I quickly removed any of the reservations I had in my mind about going late based on how much I’ve enjoyed it there.
LEM: You’re going to be coming back this season for Tijuana. You were a Pro Bowler last season and a finalist for Safety of the Year. Tijuana made it all the way to Ultiminus but unfortunately came up short. What was that loss like and do you feel like you’ve learned anything off of it? And do you believe Tijuana has what it takes to return to the championship game this coming season?
AMARI: It’s one of the worst feelings in this game, honestly. To make it to the doorstep of greatness and squandering it at the 11th hour. But it was definitely a learning experience. And it gave me plenty of experience in the postseason. I know, for sure, I want to get back there. So that’s what I’m gonna start working at every season. And as for a return to the championship game, it’s tough to tell. We still have a full season to play before we can say anything for sure. But I have faith in this group. It’s extremely well-run and everyone plays their part bountifully.
LEM: Well Mr. Springer, best of luck to you in this coming season and hopefully you can get right back to where you were with a, potentially, different outcome. Much love, man.
AMARI SPRINGER: I’m doing great man, thanks for having me.
LEM: You definitely turned some heads with where you went in the draft. That must’ve been nice to ruin a lot of people’s mock drafts, wasn’t it?
AMARI: Haha yeah, you know I guess there are some people who are angry at me and not at the people who picked me for that. But I’m overjoyed that it happened. You know, everyone wants to be a first round pick. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Guys can talk about how they ‘went to the team they wanted to’ or something. But there’s no better feeling than the team you wanted to go to taking you at their very first opportunity. There are a lot of guys who get drafted in later rounds in drafts that will play their entire career with a chip on their shoulder: they were taken behind so many guys but they know they belong. I want to play knowing that I was wanted and desired. Because I worked my ass off the last few months proving that I had what it takes. And I like having high expectations and setting lofty goals for myself. That’s because I know what I’m worth.
LEM: So it’s fair to say New Orleans was your #1 choice?
AMARI: You know, as cheesy as it’s gonna sound, they absolutely were. I had some excellent discussions with their management and members of the team. They told me what they would want from me. I told them what I would want from them. And we clearly found some connection. But they were, by far, more attentive and focused and caring towards me than any other team I talked to. No disrespect to any of them: I definitely had some solid fall-back options. But New Orleans was the place for me. I love that they drafted me and I love that they used a 1st round pick to do so.
LEM: Are you, at all, envious of the people taken before you?
AMARI: Hahaha nah, not at all. The Czargyros brothers are both ballers and just can derail any offense put in front of them. I knew they both would go first round but it was nice to see them go back-to-back. And Cedric is a guy who I watch a lot of. He knows things that I’m still trying to learn about the defensive side of the ball. I’m just happy that defensive players made up the first 5 picks of the draft. We’re all gonna be playing against each other but there is this great camaraderie between us defenders. You know, we’ll never line up against each other so we’re always gonna be supportive of one-another. And as I said, I went to my #1 team. So I’m not complaining one bit.
LEM: So let’s talk about what was probably the biggest knock on you heading into the draft: your defensive inexperience. You were, of course, a wide receiver your entire collegiate career. What made you switch to safety?
AMARI: I’m a team player more than anything. And there were plenty of times in high school where if there was a guy on the opposing offense who just couldn’t be shut down, coach would call my number. Didn’t always work but I always gave it my A-game. And when I went to Tijuana, I got asked by management to play defense. It was a tough choice because it meant I had to swap over there full-time. But when you play in offenses enough and you see other guys getting the ball more than you sometimes, you might have that instinct to switch sides. And that’s what defense is. There’s no arrogance out there. It’s everyone playing their role and supporting one-another for their efforts. I’m not leaving games upset I only had 3 receptions or never found the endzone. If we prevented those guys from scoring more than us, then I’m over the moon.
LEM: Was moving away from playing wide receiver tough for you?
AMARI: Oh, absolutely. It’s the position I grew up loving. Minnesota’s known for its great wide receivers. I didn’t want to play anywhere else for a while. Coaches would tell me that I had to get reps at corner or linebacker or even tight end and I’d shoot it down. It gave me a bit of a ‘diva’ reputation. But I didn’t care. I wanted to prove that I was the best wide receiver in the state. And the only way I could prove that, to me, was if I consistently played at that spot. It wasn’t until high school that my coach sat me down and explained to me the value of being a team player. He didn’t judge me or think less of me with my actions or the things I said. He was honest and really changed my perception of the sport. So opting not to play there anymore was tough, but it would’ve been a lot tougher if they were asking me that while I was still in high school.
LEM: You, of course, opted to play about 4 hours north of where you live in Bemidji for the Bemidji State Beavers. Despite that, you had offers to play for the Golden Gophers and the Badgers, who were much closer to you. What drew you up north and away from the bigger, more glamorous schools?
AMARI: When you’re a freshman on teams like those, you get redshirted. When you’re a sophomore, you might get some reps, but you’re still gonna be playing behind upper classmen. I wanted to play as many snaps as I deserved all four years. I didn’t want to be one of those guys who practiced and trained every day with their teams just to seldom, or never, see the field. And, you know, power to those guys for being team players. But I don’t want to work my ass off all season in practice just to be put under guys because they’re a few years higher than me. Practicing without playing sucks. It’s like cooking your favorite recipe just to throw it right in the trash. And that’s what Bemidji State offered to me; I’d be a starter from day one. Of course, I’d get some flack for not being developed by the ‘top facilities’ but that didn’t faze me. I’d prove my worth through my play. And I had a lot more time to do so at Bemidji State.
LEM: So I know how excited you are that you went first round in the recent ISFL Draft. But how did you feel about falling to 23rd overall in the DSFL Draft? Many called you one of the biggest draft slides in the class. Was that demoralizing to you at all?
AMARI: Yeah...it was, honestly. The process before the draft is really enthusing. All those teams coming to you with interest and possible hopes of bringing you in is quite something. And I definitely felt like I made some connections during that time which I hope would’ve blossomed into something bigger. But certain things lead to other things and I fell in the draft. I was the 6th wide receiver taken. It was, I’ll admit, a very stacked class for receivers. But I genuinely believed I proved my worth. I know there are guys who went much lower than me who also have a lot of worth. But they all wanted to be top picks. I refuse to believe there’s anyone who doesn’t. But, you know, Tijuana has been extremely generous to me and I quickly removed any of the reservations I had in my mind about going late based on how much I’ve enjoyed it there.
LEM: You’re going to be coming back this season for Tijuana. You were a Pro Bowler last season and a finalist for Safety of the Year. Tijuana made it all the way to Ultiminus but unfortunately came up short. What was that loss like and do you feel like you’ve learned anything off of it? And do you believe Tijuana has what it takes to return to the championship game this coming season?
AMARI: It’s one of the worst feelings in this game, honestly. To make it to the doorstep of greatness and squandering it at the 11th hour. But it was definitely a learning experience. And it gave me plenty of experience in the postseason. I know, for sure, I want to get back there. So that’s what I’m gonna start working at every season. And as for a return to the championship game, it’s tough to tell. We still have a full season to play before we can say anything for sure. But I have faith in this group. It’s extremely well-run and everyone plays their part bountifully.
LEM: Well Mr. Springer, best of luck to you in this coming season and hopefully you can get right back to where you were with a, potentially, different outcome. Much love, man.
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