Q&A with Greg Porter

Senior tight end Greg Porter talked with AggieAthletics.com about dealing with close losses, playing top-ranked teams, playing athletics at Texas A&M, and riding buses in the minor leagues.

Senior Greg Porter is leading the nation's tight ends in receptions.

Every loss this season has basically gone down to the wire. How have you guys dealt with that?

"Those losses hurt, all of them, but the thing you have to understand the character of the team is there. If you look at all the losses, there isn't a game there, I don't think anybody would disagree with me, that we couldn't have won. It hurts. But again, the character shows, and you give yourself a chance to win each and every game. This season has kind of been disappointing, a little bit disheartening, but to be honest with you there's still a lot of things that can happen. There's still a lot of positive things (can happen) with part of the season left, so it's just going to be a matter of execution from here on out. It's just going out there and doing it. Don't worry about the weather, or who we're playing, or anything else. Just go out there and execute."

Not necessarily about Oklahoma, but in general, what's it like getting a crack at a No. 1-ranked team. Does it get your juices flowing even more?

"It does. You'd be lying if you said no. Everyone wants to play the No. 1 team at home, especially here. If you say, 'Hey, we're playing the No. 1 team in the nation,' and you don't get pumped up just hearing that, you're in the wrong sport. The way we're going go about it is we're going to have an offensive scheme, and I'm sure the defense will too, and we're just going to play them and prepare like every other team. It's going to be an exciting game and everything, but we're going to take it game by game. When it's all said and done, a win is a win and a loss is a loss, and it doesn't matter who you beat so to speak."

You're a team guy, but on a personal level your role on the team has increased almost weekly. Have you enjoyed getting to see more balls come your way?

"When I came in here this season I said (to the coaches), 'Hey, you know what, just use me whatever way you can.' I said that I understand my role and if you need to change it, change it, and I can accept it and I'll take it. The personal goals that I'm starting to get as far as being part of the offense more and more, it's definitely exciting. It makes you more involved and it makes you feel like you're more a part of it. But as great as its getting, it'd be nice to win. Not only that, it kinds of makes you feel empty, because you play well and you don't get away with a win. If you're winning, the little personal victories, those are going to come. It is exciting to be a part of the offense, to be a key factor as the game progresses."

It seems that you catch everything that comes your way...are those soft hands something you've picked up or something you've always had?

"I don't know. I guess you'd have to ask my family and those who've known me the longest. I think my whole life is on video. I can't watch one video where I'm not throwing some type of ball, or food for that matter. It's just something that I believe, all of your talents are God given. They really are. It's just utilizing them and breaking them down and starting to work on them to make them even better. You know, I've pretty much just done that. I've accepted the fact that I was given certain talents and I've tried to use them the best I can."

You've gotten to play at Olsen Field on the baseball team and Kyle Field on the football team, arguably two of the best venues of their kind in college athletics. Can you compare the two?

"They really are two of the best atmospheres. We pack out near 90,000 people (at Kyle Field). There are some stadiums that are more, but I don't think there's one that's louder or that's more packed. They're both about as good as it gets in the sport. One of them is (a) baseball (venue), and 10,000's a ton for baseball. And then in football, 90,000's a bunch. It's kind of the best of both worlds you have here. The atmosphere is the same. Win or lose, they are going to support you, and in return, we need to win to give them something to cheer for. I was blessed to come here and be able to play and be cheered on and motivated by the fans and the crowds and everything."

You've played two years of minor league baseball...are you enjoying that?

"It's rough. You've got people up there who know quite a bit, and they do a lot of changing and do a lot of shifting. They try to change things about you and try to form you into what they see as the best. Sometimes you get into personal conflicts, but you know, it takes time. There isn't a guy in the majors who hasn't put in his time in the minors or even had bad years or whatever. Everyone's got to go through it. It's a growing and learning process. Is it fun? Yeah, because you're with a bunch of guys that are all trying to make it. That part's fun. But the bus rides and the long seasons, that kind of wears you down. But it's all part of it."

What's the longest bus ride you've had?

"My first year, we had an 18-hour bus ride from Medicine Hat, Canada all the way back to Provo, Utah, which is right outside of Salt Lake City. And, it was our off day, so our off day consisted of a bus ride."

You can only watch so many movies and play so many games of cards.

"You ain't lying. We just started knocking our heads on the walls because we couldn't knock each other out. It was miserable, I tell you. We stopped about three or four times, which wasn't enough. But, you just get with the guys, and you start talking, you start playing cards, you watch movies, and the next thing you know you're home, but just a day later."

Being in the Anaheim organization, was it kind of fun watching their run to the World Series title, and do you know any of the guys up there?

"Actually, I went through Spring Training with (game 7 starter John) Lackey, because in Spring Training they switch you around on teams a lot, so I played with him a little bit. He was a good guy. It's exciting, especially for the Angels I'm sure...what, they've only been to the playoffs like three times before this? They're not really an experienced team. They had a good team this year, they played with what they were dealt, and they got hot at the right time. If you noticed, right before the playoffs they started clicking again, and after they took the Yankees they got confidence and they just took it. It was definitely exciting getting to watch them."