Photo by: Andy McNamara/GoDucks.com
Young Faces Of Oregon Football Soak Up Media Day Experience
07/26/17 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Quarterback Justin Herbert and linebacker Troy Dye, two sophomores, are representing Oregon at Pac-12 Media Days in Los Angeles this week.
LOS ANGELES — Midway through the morning schedule of interviews and photo shoots for Pac-12 Media Days at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on Wednesday, Oregon player representatives Troy Dye and Justin Herbert donned shoulder pads and jerseys for Pac-12 Network promo videos.
Dye, the Ducks' returning MVP on defense, went first. Asked to ham it up a bit, he immediately started dancing and mugging for the camera.
Oregon's leading tackler a year ago, Dye was shifted to inside linebacker for his sophomore season. His performance Wednesday showed he's clearly comfortable in the middle of the action.
"I'm super excited," Dye said of the chance to participate in conference media days. "It's a blessing. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to do this — represent your team, represent your school. I feel honored."
For Oregon's soft-spoken, reserved sophomore quarterback, nothing came naturally. Perhaps, a producer suggested, you have an end zone celebration you like to do, and could demonstrate?
"Um …" Herbert replied. "Not really."
Whether he enjoys it as much as Dye or not, Herbert too is entrenched in the spotlight as the Oregon football team enters the 2017 season. After starting seven games last fall — the first true freshman to do so for the Ducks since 1983 — Herbert is the face of the UO offense as it enters the Willie Taggart era, just as Dye is the face of the defense.
One just happens to be a little more comfortable in that spotlight than the other.
Given the state of Oregon football entering the start of preseason camp Monday, Dye and Herbert were fitting choices to represent the team in Hollywood. They're young guys — both sophomores — who endured some thrilling highs but also disappointing lows as true freshman starters in 2016. Now, they're out to build on that experience and get the Ducks back on a winning track.
On Thursday, Dye, Herbert and Taggart no doubt will answer questions about the challenges of that process, when they face the media in press conferences throughout the morning. While half the Pac-12 teams did that Wednesday, Oregon's contingent spent its time shooting promotional material — a chance for the two players to demonstrate their personalities.
Their very different personalities.
The morning began with Dye and Herbert meeting Pac-12 staff members who would shuttle them from station to station for their interviews and photo shoots. Dye, ever the alpha, jumped into the fray, introducing himself and shaking hands; Herbert sat back, taking it all in.
Herbert's first stop was filming a public service announcement to be played prior to games, about the importance of good sportsmanship from players and fans alike. He breezed through most of the PSA before stumbling on one of the last words, requiring a couple more takes.
"I hope it wasn't too bad," Herbert said softly as he walked off the sound stage.
"You're a natural!" a producer said.
"I don't know about that …" answered Oregon's self-aware quarterback.
Make no mistake, Herbert is making an effort to come out of his shell. In one of the more serious interviews he conducted Wednesday, Herbert was asked about the most important lesson he learned as a freshman.
It was, he said, to keep your head up even under difficult circumstances, for the sake of teammates following his cues. In practices and games, Herbert has a tendency to let mistakes eat at him visibly, a habit Taggart worked hard in the spring to help him break.
"There's a team that needs to be led, and you have to put your best foot forward for those guys," Herbert said to his interviewer Wednesday morning.
Dye answered immediately — a dinosaur, when he was about 3 years old. A fan of the cartoon "Rugrats" as a kid, Dye said his costume looked a little like the character "Reptar."
And the favorite costume of Herbert, who played football and basketball along with baseball while growing up?
"I always would go as a football or basketball player," he said with an unassuming shrug.
In a similar interview with ESPN, Herbert was asked what animal he'd like to be. A bald eagle or hawk, he responded, and the choice made sense — they're solitary birds who remain above the fray, until swooping down upon unassuming prey with deadly strikes, as Herbert did last fall while tying UO records for single-game passing yardage and touchdowns.
Before entering the same room, Dye was giddy at the prospect of answering such questions.
"This is exactly what I was looking forward to!" Dye said. "Funny questions, so I can give funny answers."
Alas, time constraints caused the interview to end before Dye could be asked to identify his own spirit animal. (His prepared answer, for the record: a sloth, and surely he was ready with a suitably goofy justification for the choice.)
Bummed to miss that chance but amped up for what the day held next, Dye bounded off to his next appointed. Herbert, meanwhile, was thanked for his participation after one interview, and told he'd done a great job in what figured to be the "first of many" such obligations during his career.
"I kind of hope it's not true," Herbert said upon hearing that. "But it probably is."
Without a doubt it is, Herbert having played his way into the spotlight as a freshman. He's adjusting to all the new attention entering his sophomore year, shouldering a leadership role with his fellow sophomore Dye as they lead Oregon into the start of preseason camp Monday and beyond.
Looking for season tickets or to attend a game or two? Great seats are still available. CLICK HERE to #DoSomething.
Dye, the Ducks' returning MVP on defense, went first. Asked to ham it up a bit, he immediately started dancing and mugging for the camera.
Oregon's leading tackler a year ago, Dye was shifted to inside linebacker for his sophomore season. His performance Wednesday showed he's clearly comfortable in the middle of the action.
"I'm super excited," Dye said of the chance to participate in conference media days. "It's a blessing. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to do this — represent your team, represent your school. I feel honored."
A few minutes later, Herbert rotated into the hotel meeting room housing the Pac-12 promo shoot. He too donned a helmet and shoulder pads, and was asked to emote for the camera."Ever since I was a kid I wanted to do this — represent your team, your school. I feel honored."
— Troy Dye, UO sophomore linebacker
For Oregon's soft-spoken, reserved sophomore quarterback, nothing came naturally. Perhaps, a producer suggested, you have an end zone celebration you like to do, and could demonstrate?
"Um …" Herbert replied. "Not really."
Whether he enjoys it as much as Dye or not, Herbert too is entrenched in the spotlight as the Oregon football team enters the 2017 season. After starting seven games last fall — the first true freshman to do so for the Ducks since 1983 — Herbert is the face of the UO offense as it enters the Willie Taggart era, just as Dye is the face of the defense.
One just happens to be a little more comfortable in that spotlight than the other.
Given the state of Oregon football entering the start of preseason camp Monday, Dye and Herbert were fitting choices to represent the team in Hollywood. They're young guys — both sophomores — who endured some thrilling highs but also disappointing lows as true freshman starters in 2016. Now, they're out to build on that experience and get the Ducks back on a winning track.
On Thursday, Dye, Herbert and Taggart no doubt will answer questions about the challenges of that process, when they face the media in press conferences throughout the morning. While half the Pac-12 teams did that Wednesday, Oregon's contingent spent its time shooting promotional material — a chance for the two players to demonstrate their personalities.
Their very different personalities.
The morning began with Dye and Herbert meeting Pac-12 staff members who would shuttle them from station to station for their interviews and photo shoots. Dye, ever the alpha, jumped into the fray, introducing himself and shaking hands; Herbert sat back, taking it all in.
Herbert's first stop was filming a public service announcement to be played prior to games, about the importance of good sportsmanship from players and fans alike. He breezed through most of the PSA before stumbling on one of the last words, requiring a couple more takes.
"I hope it wasn't too bad," Herbert said softly as he walked off the sound stage.
"You're a natural!" a producer said.
"I don't know about that …" answered Oregon's self-aware quarterback.
Make no mistake, Herbert is making an effort to come out of his shell. In one of the more serious interviews he conducted Wednesday, Herbert was asked about the most important lesson he learned as a freshman.
It was, he said, to keep your head up even under difficult circumstances, for the sake of teammates following his cues. In practices and games, Herbert has a tendency to let mistakes eat at him visibly, a habit Taggart worked hard in the spring to help him break.
"There's a team that needs to be led, and you have to put your best foot forward for those guys," Herbert said to his interviewer Wednesday morning.
Later, in an interview with CBS for its game broadcasts, the players were peppered with off-the-cuff questions that further illustrated their personalities. Among them: What was your favorite Halloween costume while growing up?"There's a team that needs to be led, and you have to put your best foot forward for those guys,"
— Justin Herbert, UO sophomore quarterback
Dye answered immediately — a dinosaur, when he was about 3 years old. A fan of the cartoon "Rugrats" as a kid, Dye said his costume looked a little like the character "Reptar."
And the favorite costume of Herbert, who played football and basketball along with baseball while growing up?
"I always would go as a football or basketball player," he said with an unassuming shrug.
In a similar interview with ESPN, Herbert was asked what animal he'd like to be. A bald eagle or hawk, he responded, and the choice made sense — they're solitary birds who remain above the fray, until swooping down upon unassuming prey with deadly strikes, as Herbert did last fall while tying UO records for single-game passing yardage and touchdowns.
Before entering the same room, Dye was giddy at the prospect of answering such questions.
"This is exactly what I was looking forward to!" Dye said. "Funny questions, so I can give funny answers."
Alas, time constraints caused the interview to end before Dye could be asked to identify his own spirit animal. (His prepared answer, for the record: a sloth, and surely he was ready with a suitably goofy justification for the choice.)
Bummed to miss that chance but amped up for what the day held next, Dye bounded off to his next appointed. Herbert, meanwhile, was thanked for his participation after one interview, and told he'd done a great job in what figured to be the "first of many" such obligations during his career.
"I kind of hope it's not true," Herbert said upon hearing that. "But it probably is."
Without a doubt it is, Herbert having played his way into the spotlight as a freshman. He's adjusting to all the new attention entering his sophomore year, shouldering a leadership role with his fellow sophomore Dye as they lead Oregon into the start of preseason camp Monday and beyond.
Looking for season tickets or to attend a game or two? Great seats are still available. CLICK HERE to #DoSomething.
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