A Special Interview With @edsbs

When I started writing Blame The Kicker, I really didn't know how people would take to it. But the response thus far has been so cool. It's simply been a dumb man's opinion about the greatest sport there is. So I want to thank all of you that have read it at some point or even to those that haven't read it but told me you have. Many of you have asked me what made me want to do something like this. Well complete boredom lead to this. As well as inspiration from other bloggers. Probably the most influential person out there was a blogger/ tweeter that goes by the name of @edsbs. If you even remotely like sports, and are not following him on twitter, stop what you are doing and go follow him right now. So this past week, I decided to try to contact him. So I got on his blog and found his contact information. Turns out Spencer Hall is the man behind it all. So I emailed him, not really planning on hearing anything back because he is such a busy man. Well within an hour he had returned my email that asked him to do a short interview with me. And this is what we got. The man is a brilliant writer as well as hilarious, so I hope you all enjoy.

Rob: What Lead you to the profession? How did you get where you are today?

Spencer: Complete randomness led me here. I was underemployed and didn't fit in on regular message boards, so I inadvertently made my own. I was terrible at it, but kept doing it. Timing mattered a lot: I did this in 2005 when very few people were doing it. Today I doubt that would be the same situation, but I lucked out. That's a big part of it, and no matter how untalented or talented you may be luck and randomness is always a huge part of it.

The rest was doing the same thing every day and not doing the same thing every day all at the same time. I'd try to write every day, and yet not write the same way every day. 

Rob: What you do at EDSBD and SB Nation, in my opinion, is the most informing/ funniest thing going in college football. Is it fun for you? Or is it like any other job?

Spencer: It's fun for me, though the management element is like any management. It's necessary, and it will make you rip your own teeth out at things like "how disorganized you are as a person," and "why can't other people read the brilliant and unspoken thoughts in my head on their own." As always, the only real disappointments I have are with myself in this department, not the people I work with.

Rob: In your opinion, why are Americans, and more specifically southerns,  so passionate about college football?

Spencer: The answer is pretty simple: market demand and supply. Pro football didn't have a team in the South, so the college teams filled that demand. Unlike NFL teams, those teams had the built-in branding of being from someplace distinctive, and thus could forever be far more distinct from one another (to the local, at least) than pro teams ever could.

Rob: I know you did a story on the Mississippi State football program this past spring. And as a lifelong resident of Mississippi, I realize we are for the most part irrelevant to the rest of the nation. How do you personally perceive Mississippi State and it's football program?

Spencer: Mississippi State is its mascot: undersized compared to larger dogs, cursed by basic genetics a lot of the time, and often unable to catch up with its short legs and breathing issues. Yet, in the right circumstances, it can take a leg or a hand off if you're not careful. Underestimated and overachieving: that's Miss State for much of its history.

Rob: Halfway though the season the Bulldogs are 7-0, but the argument is they haven't played anyone. Assuming you have watched them multiple times this year, are they legit? Can Dan Mullen compete year in and year out in such a tough conference?

Spencer: I've watched probably three full games, and they are legit, particularly on defense. The offense doesn't have anyone who will pop the eyeballs, but they don't turn it over, move the ball efficiently, and run better than you might think on first glance. If real is "competitive, and with breaks could beat Alabama?" then they are real. But you need a lot of breaks to do that, and zero injuries at key positions.


I want to thank Spencer again for taking time out of his busy life to chat with me. Seriously, go follow him on Twitter right now. See you guys Friday.