Rockne's Roundtable

I had a chance to sit down with B&G's latest emerging superstar, Steve Wiltfong. At first, I wasn't going to post this because I had a deal in the works with ESPN to air this on some ESPN First Take show. ESPN's PR person called me at the last minute to say that there must have been some mix-up because they double-booked my slotted time. Apparently, they will now air a special titled Lovin' The SEC. Anyway, here we go...

IFR: Thanks for taking the time out for this interview, Steve.
Steve: No problem. When my people said that IFR wanted to interview me, I thought they meant Indiana Football Review. It was too late to get out of it by the time I knew it was you.
IFR: Umm, that was kind of rude.
Steve: Sorry. Didn't mean to say that last part out loud.
IFR: Ok. So...you are all kinds of busting onto the scene at B&G. You even have the great Sapponator praising your work.
Steve: Yeah. Sapp's a great guy. I even enjoy most of the comments from the Dissapples.
IFR: Dissaples?
Steve: (laughs) That's my own pet name for Sapp's followers.
IFR: Catchy.
Steve: Meh. I'd say it's about a high 4-star nickname.
IFR: So, have you met Somogyi?
Steve: You know, this is a cut-throat business. You have to have inside info. Sources. A good handle on what teenage kids say and mean and want. Your finger has to be on the pulse of everything. You need Twitter. Unlimited texting. Facebook. YouTube. It's insane.
IFR: I'm not following - what does that have to do with Somogyi?
Steve: I wasn't finished. You mistook my pause as an invite for you to speak. Anyway..I was just saying how hectic this recruiting business is. You have to be at the top of your game or you'll be replaced. You'll be yesterday's news. Breaking one story a year won't cut it. People want more, more, more. And that's where Lou Somogyi comes in.
IFR: Yay!
Steve: Really?
IFR: Sorry. Didn't mean to say that out loud.
Steve: Touche.
IFR: Yeah.
Steve: So...Somogyi. He is the epitome of being at the top of your game. Can't be replaced. The man is an endless vault of Notre Dame knowledge. He's the burning bush of B&G. The Mt. Olympus. The Titanic.
IFR: The Titanic sank.
Steve. (sigh). I know that, RFI. It's a metaphor.
IFR: It's IFR.
Steve: What?
IFR: Nothing. So - Gunner. You rocked that.
Steve: Correction - Jason and I both rocked that. It's like we feed off of each other. It's competitive, but we're not adversaries. And he's an ex football player, so he has great insight. It's really just a pleasure to work alongside Sapp. And to be a part of B&G.
IFR: Well, I'd like to wish you the best in your future endevours. I hope to see you at B&G for a long, long time. And thanks for the interview.
Steve: Actually, I rather enjoyed the interview, FIR.
IFR: Actually, it's IF...nevermind. Thanks again, Steve.
Steve: Anytime.