Q&A with Northern Bedford quarterback, Blake Over

[Coach]

Name: Blake Over
Position: Quarterback/CB
School: Northern Bedford
Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH_Cl5QrYmw


Pic from NCAASports.org

NBC has been a program that has a winning tradition. This year with so few seniors, how do you continue to put up W's?

In a game like football experience helps out a lot. With our lack of seniors we will have to rely on younger guys, which I feel will step up and play like seniors. We’ve been putting a lot of work in the summer so far between camps and lifting.


In today's sports world we are finding less and less three sport athletes. You are successful in all three that you participate in. What are the benefits of being a multi-sport athlete?

One big thing is confidence. By winning two state medals in track it gives me confidence that I can compete with anybody. I feel like all sports are kind of connected. Like playing basketball you have to see the whole floor, which is like when you read coverage in football. Also by doing all three sports I’m always staying in shape. Another big thing about a 3 sport athlete is that we never get tired of playing just one sport.


If you could add one local guy to your team that isn't currently on the team, who would you add and why?

If I could add one guy it would be Darrin Sipes. He’s the fastest kid in the area, so who wouldn’t want him. He would give us experience, speed, and be a good target to throw to.


Tell us about a coach or teacher that has had an impact on you as an athlete.

A coach that has made the biggest impact on me as an athlete would be Coach Batzel. Even though we go back and forth sometimes, he has taught me to be coachable and is always trying to help me get better. He coaches me in 2 sports so I’ve gotten to know him pretty good.


Do you have any pregame rituals or traditions?

Yeah, I usually sit down in my locker and just think about the game a little. I kind of just go through different situations and those kind of things. It helps me feel more prepared when I go out on the field.


Being a quarterback is the dream of a lot of little kids, have you always been a quarterback and do you like playing that
position?

I’ve always been a quarterback ever since I can remember. In youth football me and Kyler would take turns at QB and WR. Then as we got older I focused more on quarterback. I love quarterback and its my favorite position, but I also wouldn’t mind going out for some passes this year and actually using some of my speed and jumping ability.


What is the best advice you have ever been given as an athlete?

To be coachable. I used to not listen to any of my coaches, because I thought I knew what I was doing. But then once I got to varsity I learned fast that you have to be coachable. It helped me out a lot, just listening to the coaches and letting them help fix what I needed fixed.


Other than you and Kyler Diehl, who is someone from Northern Bedford that we are going to hear a lot about in 2013?

We have two kids this year that are really going to have to step up in order for us to do good. They are Austin Heck, a sophomore tailback and Zane Snyder, a first year senior wide out. Austin is really good for his age. He is fast and strong and could get a lot of carries this year. Zane is another one of those 6’2” kind of receivers. He has good jumping abilty and speed and his hands are good too.


You get to pick where you are going out to eat. Where are you going and what are you getting?

Either the Golden Corral or Prime Sirloin. I’m going there because they have steak on the buffet. I’ll probably end up eating over 5 or 6 before I leave.


What is the best part about playing football?

The brotherhood between teammates. I feel like it’s the only sport where everyone is that close together. We go through camp together, practice together, lift together, and finally play games together. If one person doesn’t go all out it can cause the whole team to fail. I like that.


A movie is made about NB football, who plays head coach Jeff Batzel?

Probably like Julia Roberts. No, I’m just kidding lol. He reminds me of Matthew McConaughey in the movie “We are Marshall”. He’s a coach figure that just brings everyone together to make our team as good as possible just like McConaughey does in the movie.


How do you think football has helped you grow as a person?

Its helped me grow up a lot more. Especially being a quarterback, I have to be a leader. That leadership carries with me off the field and has allowed me to achieve a lot of things. It also makes you tougher. Especially that 10th grade year, when you play for the second string team against the first string defense. You get the heck beat out of you, but it helps prepare you for the future.


People say there isn't much to do in the Cove, what do you do for fun?

I’m usually just around the school playing pick up games of basketball with some of the guys. We’ll go up and play a couple nights a week at the school outdoor courts. There’s also a lot of campfires and that kind of stuff that are always going on.


Tell us a little bit about a former player that has had a big impact on you.

Logan Fluke has probably had the biggest impact on me. My 10th grade year I didn’t play much, I just stood and watched Logan play. I watched him and learned a lot from it. He always tried to teach me new things at practice, whether it had to do with throwing the ball or reading coverages. He is one of the reasons why I had the success I had last season.


What is the one game on your schedule that you love to play in?

Tussey. Its always a big game for us because of the rivalry we have with them. The stadium is always packed and that means there’s a lot of energy. There’s also a lot of trash talking during the week, and I love that kind of stuff. It just gets me more pumped up for the game. Its our own backyard brawl.


You were a 2,000 yard passer last year. After losing some of the weapons you had a year ago, how can you continue to
have success throwing the ball and helping your team win games?

Last year being a 2000 yard passer was pretty easy. We threw the ball a lot and I had 3 guys out there catching the ball that were 6’3 or taller. I could make a mistake and they could bail me out. Coming into this year I know it will be tougher, but I’m confident that I can do it. I still have Kyler to throw to along with Zane Snyder and some other good wide outs. I have confidence in them and they have confidence in me and I think that’s really important. Also I’m going to have to depend on a fairly young line, but they can do it. I’ve been going to camps and putting in the time this summer because I just mainly want to do 1 thing and that is win the D5 championship, and I feel like we can this year.

[life hunts]

Nice reply, Blake Over.

It is difficult being the QB at times especially when your team throws as much as NBC has in the past few years. Easy for fans to become critical if the QB misses an open receiver or throws an INT....Many fans equate HS performance with college or even pro level throws or reads. Remember, most of these kids are 15, 16, or 17 years old.

I appreciate how Blake has matured through the years. He has always been blessed with God given physical tools of size and speed, but his coachability has improved and hopefully the time in the weight room will help his durability.

If I could continue the Q&A, I wonder what sport Blake is considering now to play in college if he would have a preference heading into his senior. The funny thing is that it could change from season to season depending on a variety of factors....just curious for a talented multisport athlete which sport he would like to continue working hard an playing beyond the HS level.

Keep working hard, young man.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Great article Coach!