Linebacker Michael Graham began his Ohio football career as a redshirt walk-on. Now Graham has become one of the most dependable defensive threats for the Bobcats. The Post's Nick Brockman talked with the defensive standout about high school football, memorable Ohio football moments, goals for the future, and early season favorites for the Super Bowl.
The Post: Your high school (Cincinnati St. Xavier) is undefeated and ranked 19th nationally. Have you been able to keep up and stay in touch with them?
Graham: Only from what my dad tells me, but yeah, they are undefeated, and hopefully this will be the first year (in school history) they can win the (Ohio Division I) state championship.
The Post: Do you miss the cross-town rivalries in the Greater Catholic League?
Graham: Oh yeah. I mean, we have rivalries here in the MAC, but it's not quite the same because you don't know the people in the MAC like in the GCL, I knew those kids growing up.
The Post: Do you start any rivalries (with former teammates)? I know there are (St.) X guys on Miami.
Graham: Miami, definitely. I think there are like 50-something guys from my senior class that went there, so that's the team I want to beat the most...definitely a big rivalry with some buddies on the team.
The Post: What was it like playing the first game at Virginia Tech's new stadium and against Marcus Vick?
Graham: It was fun. I mean, as far as everyone kept asking us about the crowd noise, I don't think that really was a factor, especially being on defense. The crowd for them isn't as loud when their offense is out there, so I don't think it was anything that affected us. It was a lot of fun playing in front of that many people.
The Post: What's been your most memorable OU football moment so far?
Graham: The Pittsburgh game, definitely. Playing here at a packed Peden was 10 times better than playing in front of however, 60,000-something in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The Post: Are there any pranksters on the team, and if so, can we print any of the jokes?
Graham: Shane Yates is definitely a prankster - his jokes cannot be printed.
The Post: Who are some of your closest friends on the team, and what do you guys do with your spare time?
Graham: (Tyler) Russ, (Matt) Muncy, (Ryan) Senser, (David) Escobar. At football we play football. Away from football we like to watch football. We go out and have a good time together.
The Post: What's your favorite road-trip activity?
Graham: Fireside chat. Usually we'll have like maybe 20-30 minutes at least break time in between meetings and things like that. There they (might) have a hot tub there at the hotel or not, some of (the players) will sit around the hot tub and tell college stories, things that happened in college.
The Post: What's your early season favorite for the Super Bowl this year?
Graham: Cincinnati Bengals. They're backing me up this year too.
The Post: What are some of your goals athletically as well as for the rest of life here at Ohio University and beyond?
Graham: To win the MAC definitely. I want to win the MAC two years, twice before I graduate. I got two years left, this season and next year and hopefully then also for myself to make an all-MAC team in those two years. I have ambitions of going to grad school maybe and getting my M.B.A., something like that.
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