1) Where did your love of sports stem from? Have you always had a passion to do this?
Ross Bjork: I played and watched sports all my life from an early age and wanted to be a coach. It was the only avenue to work in sports that I knew of. From there I was fortunate enough to play college football at Emporia State and found out there were other avenues to work in sports. I started volunteering in the athletics department at Emporia St. and gaining experience doing internships. The passion to give back to collegiate athletes keeps me going every day.
Scott Stricklin: I grew up in Jackson and became a huge sports fan early in life. My older brother and I would play (football, basketball, baseball) in the backyard constantly. I consumed the Clarion-Ledger sports page every day and watched any sporting event that came on TV (this was before ESPN, so having a game on TV was periodic enough that there wasn't oversaturation). As I got older and was able to attend college football and basketball games, it solidified my interest and led me to a desire to work in athletics.
2) What are some of the challenges you face being an athletic director in what most consider to be the greatest conference in the nation, the SEC?
Ross Bjork: Managing expectations of our fans and constituents in the best athletics conference in the nation. In our ever changing landscape, we must continue to move our program ahead at the right pace while also understanding the context of the competition. Funding, NCAA legislation, student-athlete welfare, and campus relationships are all challenges we face every day.
Scott Stricklin: The SEC is both a benefit and a challenge. Our student-athletes compete against the very best athletes in all of college athletics, which allows us to attract quality young people. But competing in this league is also a grind that you have to be mentally and physically prepared for. This league provides great revenue sharing opportunities, which is key because it takes significant resources for our programs to win consistently in the SEC.
3) Why do you think southerns are so passionate about their sports, especially college football?
Ross Bjork: Its been part of the lifestyle for southerners for multiple generations. The passion of our fans has been developed on great football and great traditions – therefore its been passed down from one generation to the next. It’s the best environment in all of college athletics.
Scott Stricklin: Great question. I think it stems from Southerners sense of regional pride, which you could probably trace back to the Civil War. Southerners like to win, and we like to share in the success of our region, states and athletic teams. SEC schools work like crazy to beat each other's brains in, but then throw complete support behind one another when facing a non-conference opponent. It's a cool dynamic.
4) What has this football season, with so much success, meant to you personally?
Ross Bjork: We have made tremendous improvement this season based on what Coach Freeze inherited and the climate that I walked into. Our charge was to build confidence back into our fan base and the Ole Miss family. In addition, we have had to change the mindset of our team and the culture around the football program. My satisfaction has been for the players – they deserve all the success they have achieved to date and I am proud they have bought into this new culture that Coach Freeze has implemented. For me personally, I love to see our fans start to have confidence again and understand that we can and will make it happen.
Scott Stricklin: I'm happy for our athletes, coaches, students and alumni when our teams have the kind of success our football team has had this year. So many people give of their time, talents and resources to help our athletic department be successful, so it's rewarding when their commitment leads to winning.
5) With the Egg Bowl coming in just a few weeks, what does that game mean to you?
Ross Bjork: I have been around some great rivalries working in college athletics. Missouri and Kansas. UCLA and Southern California. Miami and Florida State.
However, the passion we described earlier, takes the Ole Miss – Mississippi State rivalry to a whole new level for me. It will be a great week to see everyone talk about the game and see this passion around the state. Should be a great week with lots at stake for both programs.
Scott Stricklin: Growing up in Mississippi, the Egg Bowl has obvious significance to me. I've attended over 20 Egg Bowls (which is a pretty high total considering I spent 15 years working at colleges outside of Mississippi) so I understand the passion and intensity that the game produces. When you win, it makes for a fun holiday and bowl season and gives you important momentum heading into the offseason.
I want to say thanks again to both Scott and Ross for their time. Hope you all enjoyed. See you Friday.
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