Chris Collins Interview

[Walker Fan]

Chris Collins was just interviewed on Chicago Sports Radio (AM 670 - The Score)and said that the sky is the limit for his program and kept on emphasizing the four freshman and the two sophomores that are part of the rotation of this year's team. He also mentioned the influx of talent (three freshmen and one transfer) coming in next season. But it is quite refreshing to hear a NU coach be so optimistic about the team's future. This is not a shot any other NU coach current or former so my intent is not to start an endless debate on comparisons with other coaches.

Collins said a decision about the CBI will not be made until after the tourney and it will depend on how his team is feeling after the Big 10 tournament. He did state that some teams need some time to rest and get in the weight room which might indicate from his comments about McIntosh and other freshmen that there might be reasons not to go to the CBI. The host of the show, Mike Mulligan, a seasoned reporter of 20-30 years in Chicago, mentioned that also the players at NU also have to go to school and then chuckled, of course. The host did make the mistake that NU starts with Indiana tonight instead of Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Hopefully, someone corrected that later in the show.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

I heard it too, and boy, is Coach Collins good at staying on message. He must have said the word "Chicago" 25+ times in the interview. "Where I grew up." "Happy to be in the tournament in Chicago." "Give the Chicago area something to be excited about." He's either a natural or the sports marketing/communications people have done a great job media training him.

 

[lou v]

He's a natural. NU does a good job with media relations, but Collins grew up around this his whole life. He has been fluent in coachspeak since he was in grade school.

 

[Medill90]

If Collins had been on the Titanic and not one who got off he would have spun it as a positive. "This is great, never in my life did I think I'd have this much salt water and now I have more than I can use..."

Which is exactly what this program needs.

Added to this is that he's a cold blooded shark (part of why he likes salt water). Which is also what the program needs.

 

[JournCat]

Originally posted by PURPLECAT88:
I heard it too, and boy, is Coach Collins good at staying on message. He must have said the word "Chicago" 25+ times in the interview. "Where I grew up." "Happy to be in the tournament in Chicago." "Give the Chicago area something to be excited about." He's either a natural or the sports marketing/communications people have done a great job media training him.

I'm with Jabari Parker. Northbrook isn't Chicago!

That said, I like that he's not gone into full Fitzian yet. He'll occasionally give interesting details at postgame press conferences and in longer interviews, even if he slips into the necessary coachspeak for TV and radio.