Q&A with Megan: Featuring Cade Marks

Alfred State sport management major Megan Gridley recently interviewed junior tight end Cade Marks. Marks gives some insight on what football has looked like thus far and what it spring football might look like.

I know this year has been crazy, and to add to it, all sports were moved to the spring. How do you feel about football being in the spring instead of the Fall where the weather is colder? This year has certainly been crazy in more ways than one. At first, I was pretty upset about the season being pushed back until the spring. This has been my first fall in a very long time without playing any football games. Saying that, the only thing that my teammates and I can do is roll with the punches. As long as everything goes well, we will have a great opportunity to go out and compete in games this upcoming spring. I must say that I am not worried about the weather at all. We have had cold fall and spring practices before. When a player is out on the field focused on being the best football player they can be, the weather doesn't matter. Nothing can lessen my excitement for the chance to compete in the spring.

Most of the sports teams' seasons are flipped, meaning off-season is now in the fall. Do you feel this time is a good way for the newcomers to get acclimated with the team? I was very interested to find out how it would go for the newcomers this year being that everything has been so different. In the beginning it was harder for the upper classmen and newcomers to connect as easily as it would be in a normal year. Normally we would have had camp and been on campus for a while with just us and other athletes. This is normally a good time for everyone to get to know each other and for newcomers to learn how our system works. Instead, we had a few weeks in the beginning where we did not hold practice at all. This was an uncertain time, but our team made it work. We held virtual team meetings where the coaches did a good job of connecting us through our big/ little brother program. We are now practicing, and everything is beginning to click. Everyone is getting to know each other better and the newcomers are taking the opportunity to get acclimated with the team. They are learning how we do things here which will greatly benefit them once we are able to have competitions.

What are your main goals for the upcoming football season?

My main goals for the upcoming football season are pretty straightforward. My first goal is to win every single contest. Another more personal goal is that I want to help the team in any way possible. Whether that be through a leadership role or by just doing my job correctly.

How do you see the team doing, record wise?

Our team is working hard right now to learn all of the plays and to get in better shape. I know that this will continue through the winter break and into the spring where we will hopefully have our chance to play. There are a lot of teams that we play that are not able to practice at this point in time. This gives us a good chance to get a head of them in our preparation. Last year we had some more success than previous years and we are looking to build on that. I plan on heading into every game to win it and I know that my teammates are with me in this goal.  

Quick Hits

Favorite drink: Sweet tea 

iPhone or Android: iPhone

Favorite NFL team: The Dallas Cowboys