Samples Talks Decision to Join Oregon Staff:
Oregon running back coach Ra’Shaad Samples has probably not had a moment to relax since arriving in Eugene. Coaching moves in the Spring can be challenging.
Samples had a previous relationship with Oregon tight end coach Drew Mehringer. He talks about playing for Mehringer, later working with him and now joining him once again at Oregon.
You can read his top comments below or watch the full video at the bottom.
On Teaming back up with Drew Mehringer:
“It was good man, Drew was always an awesome coach. He communicated well he was good to me as a player. He was really a players coach when I was young, when I was a young guy and so I don’t think it ever dawned on me that we’ll be working together. I GA’d for him my first year and right before he left so that was awesome experience but never did I expect us to be on the same staff. It’s it’s kind of crazy coming full circle.”
On Getting Up to Speed:
“Obviously getting the job and then actually getting ingratiated here with the team, yeah it’s been a whirlwind. I think I landed at midnight and then had my first practice last Tuesday so if you can imagine studying the playbook on the plane on the way here watching videos then staying up all night. It’s been a grind but it’s been exciting.”
On Decision to Join Oregon:
“The culture and the energy around here it’s really uplifting and it’s fun it’s been fun. Just continuing to grow being around guys like Dan (Lanning) I think was important to me to. One day I want to get an opportunity to be a young head coach. I think learning from Dan, learning some of the things he’s done, how he does things, seeing how he goes about it day-to-day and then being around guys like Will Stein, Junior Adams, Drew, A’lique, who’s a young smart coach, I think just positioning myself with these guys is going to continue to help me grow and help in my career.”
On Philosophy:
“You don’t sleep you just be relentless about your approach. I mean you spend all night up here and then you you wake up and you come up here early in the morning, you use the outlets you have. You know you lean on the players, you lean on the coaches and you just spend the time grinding and pick it up. Football is football and everybody has different terminology. I think it’s about learning that terminology and learning the players. Connecting with those players so as I learn I’m able to pour into them and push those guys because we have that connection.”
Impressions of Oregon:
“That’s a good question. It’s really green out here. I’ve never been to Oregon until I got this job. Well I’ve been to Portland once but I never really spent time in Oregon. I think the beautiful scenery really caught my eye and then again just this place, I mean it’s beautiful. The culture here, the people here are really nice. The people here have been really good to me but just the culture in the building has been awesome and it’s good to come here every day with guys who are committed to the work you know.”
