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But there is much to be discussed locally about her feelings about media interviews, for it is something that West Virginiaòòò½ÊÓƵ™s athletes òòò½ÊÓƵ” especially in the major sports of football and basketball and, to a lesser degree, baseball and soccer òòò½ÊÓƵ” deal with on a regular basis.

It is, in truth, an important part of their growth from high school athlete to professional athlete or, for the majority of them, from high school athlete down whatever path their life may take them and, so it is, West Virginia tries to help guide them through this area that does not come naturally to many.

Mike Montoro has served the last 14 years as the schoolòòò½ÊÓƵ™s director of football communication and, working in conjunction with Michael Fragale, the senior associate athletic director for communications, and whomever his head coach at the moment, that being Neal Brown the last two years, sets up a policy to ease the fears that come with such moments and help guide them through what can be a maze of potential pitfalls.

òòò½ÊÓƵœYou have to make sure they are ready before you bring them in for their first interviews,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Montoro said on Tuesday when asked how the matter is approached. òòò½ÊÓƵœDifferent coaches have different philosophies on that. Some coaches think if they are mature enough to handle it, they would let them come into the interview room early as a freshman, like Zach Frazier last year.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Others, like Dana Holgorsen, held them out interview situations until theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™d been at the school for a year and were getting some playing time.

Both approaches have benefits.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThereòòò½ÊÓƵ™s freshmen who, unlike Zach Frazier, are not ready at this time to come in and answer questions because they are still trying to mature as a freshman and figure out the college scene,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Montoro continued. òòò½ÊÓƵœIf you start them early and donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t put them into an interview setting before they are prepared they will handle it better and it wonòòò½ÊÓƵ™t leave them with a bad taste in their mouth.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

There are some players, be they college freshmen, seniors or professionals, who simply donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t want to be interviewed by the media. òòò½ÊÓƵU tries to get them past that, not only for the good they can do selling the program through print, radio, TV and social media interviews but the good they can do themselves.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThere are people who say they donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t want to do it, so you try to encourage them by letting them know this isnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t a chance for you to talk about your football playing and to promote the team, but it can improve your communication skills,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Montoro said. òòò½ÊÓƵœYou have to know how to talk, no matter what you do, no matter what job you have in life.

òòò½ÊÓƵœYou have to be able to put a couple of sentences together and answer questions sometimes on subjects that arenòòò½ÊÓƵ™t fun to talk about. The more you do it now, the more experience you get, the more it will help you later in life.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Montoro offered up a couple of examples of people who came to school unskilled in interview situations and not looking forward to them who benefitted from being pushed into doing it.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWeòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve had guys like Bruce Irvin come back, guys like Wendell Smallwood come back saying the stuff you guys put us through here has prepared us for the NFL,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Montoro said. òòò½ÊÓƵœòòò½ÊÓƵ�Bruce Irvin told me one time that it really helped him at the NFL Combine and at the draft workouts. He said òòò½ÊÓƵ˜You know how those go, they ask you some questions to see how youòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll answer them. I sat there calm, cool and collected and Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m seeing other guys sitting on either side of me sweating all over the place, their legs are twitching, theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re shaking.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Once upon a time òòò½ÊÓƵU would hold training sessions with guest speakers trying to introduce the players to the interview process.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWe used to bring people in and do media training, but it got to the point with the generation that they donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t want to hear about it, especially in a big group,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Montoro said. òòò½ÊÓƵœNow we do individual stuff with them. We talk to them before they do their first interviews. We critique their interviews in a positive manner and try to encourage them to look the media in the eye when you talk to them. Talk slow, talk clear, know what youòòò½ÊÓƵ™re saying ... know what you are going to say before you go in. Think about what they might ask you so you are prepared.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

During the season Neal Brown is on the Big 12 media call on Monday, has his own press conference along with his offensive and defensive coordinator on Tuesday, followed by bringing in players to break out into group interviews.

This past year, of course, everything was done via ZOOM call and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s still undecided how that will be handled this season. While the ZOOM calls worked for basic interviews, any chance to get in depth interviews or one-on-one interviews òòò½ÊÓƵ” which lead to the most interesting stories òòò½ÊÓƵ” are lost and throughout sports the coverage has suffered because of it.

Fans like to get up close and personal with their favorite athletes, no matter the media.

Some athletes really enjoy the byplay with interviewers, some donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t.

The communications people eavesdrop on the interviews as they are in progress but try not to insert themselves into them.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWe just want to hear how they handle themselves,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Montoro said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThen, when they are finished, we give them pointers out in the hallway where they are not going to be embarrassed. We tell them òòò½ÊÓƵ˜You handled this good but you might want to try this when someone asks you that.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Among those where were best were the likes of former center Tyler Orlosky, last yearòòò½ÊÓƵ™s center Chase Behrndt, nose guard Chris Neild, quarterbacks Geno Smith and Will Grier, fullback Owen Schmitt and kicker Pat McAfee.

From the side of the interviewer, it sometimes is amazing to see how much a player will progress in his ability to deal with the situation from the time he comes in as a freshman until he heads for the National Football League ... and in recent years the obligations have grown quite a bit due to social media.

That has become part of Neal Brownòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Fifth Quarter program.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThey donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t do media training, per se, with them, but they do training as far as social media, public speaking and things like that,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Montoro said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThat all adds up to how to handle yourself in public, what to say and when to say it. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s paid off huge dividends.òòò½ÊÓƵ�