Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Enjoy Big Ten Media Days
8/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 1, 2006
CHICAGO, Ill. - For two days each summer, hundreds of local, regional and national media convene in Chicago for the annual Big Ten Conference Football Media Days. While this event provides incredible exposure for the league, Indiana senior wide receiver/kick returner Lance Bennett says the opportunity to interact with opposing players is just as valuable.
"To me, that's the best thing about this event," Bennett said as the interviews commenced on Aug. 1 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. "It's neat to see how other programs do things and laugh and joke around with these guys. People think that we are out there trying to hurt each other, but we really care about each other's lives at the next level. To hear what they have going on in their program, their plans for the future, to share and bounce ideas off each other is the best part."
Senior offensive lineman Justin Frye concurs.
"We were just sitting at lunch with (Illinois running backs) Pierre Thomas and E.B. Halsey," Frye said. "We were trading stories, talking about conditioning and training. It's nice to be able to put faces with names."
Indeed, Big Ten Media Day is a final summer perk before players report to fall camp this weekend.
"I'm real antsy," Frye said. "Football is what we do. This is exciting. This is a good break from summer training before we put our nose to the grindstone and get after it."
Bennett says that the Hoosiers' rigorous summer training program will pay dividends during the intense two-a-day practices.
"The key word is anticipation," Bennett said. "Everyone knows that camp is grueling, but it is also an opportunity to put it all together, to know if what you have been doing is enough or you need to add to it."
Bennett is known for balancing his football and songwriting careers, as he and his brothers have written several songs for Will Smith. Bennett put his entertainment skills to the test on Aug. 1, as he was one of 11 Big Ten players to participate in the filming of a public service announcement set to air during league telecasts this fall.
Head coach Terry Hoeppner, Bennett, Frye and senior first team Academic All-American safety Will Meyers will address the print media Aug. 2 from 8-10 a.m. (CST) at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The quartet will join the other Big Ten coaches and players for the public autograph and photo session from 10-11 a.m., and the 35th annual Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon begins at 11:30.
