2008 Woodie Awards
Face to Face with Nate Parseghian
Katie Giovinale
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Sports
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Sport: football
Katie Giovinale (KG): First of all, congratulations on being named the MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week. How does that feel?
Nate Parseghian (NP): It's an honor to win the award. There are a lot of really good special-teams players in the MAC and to be recognized like that is very nice.
KG: How did you get into football?
NP: I actually played soccer my entire life until I got to high school. When I got there, I decided that I wanted to try football because my brother played. I fit in as the position of kicker with my soccer background. I started varsity and was all-conference for three years. After high school, I went to Hargrave Military Academy to get my ACT and SAT scores up so that I would have a better chance of playing at a better school.
KG: How did you decide on Miami University?
NP: My family played a big role in my decision to come here. It came down to deciding between Miami and Central Florida and Miami won due to the fact that it's a better school and my brother was playing here.
KG: How was playing with your brother?
NP: He was a senior when I was a freshman and I actually tore my ACL the summer before freshman year so I was out that first year and we were never on the roster together.
KG: What happened when you came back?
NP: For the 2005 season I was a backup. 2006 was a rough season; we went 2-10. I started out the season and didn't do too well, but I improved and got put on the kickoff team for the second half of the season. The 2007 season I began strictly doing kickoff then I got promoted to kickoff and field goal.
KG: What is your relationship like with the guys on the team?
NP: A lot of the guys on the team are my best friends, considering the fact that you spend all your time with them. I live with Jake Richardson, who's our punter, and Jake O'Connell, who is one of our tight ends.
KG: What about your relationship with your coach?
NP: I'm pretty close with Coach Vonderheide. For our road trips he always makes goodie bags for all the kickers during our bus rides.
KG: What's the most difficult part of being a student-athlete?
NP: The time commitment and missing Thanksgiving break. I haven't had Thanksgiving home with my family since high school.
KG: What are some of your hobbies?
NP: I enjoy music and being outside. I really like sailing and I actually just got a drum set. I'm teaching myself right now but when I get more money I'd like to take lessons. I've learned a lot about drums from playing Rock Band.
KG: What are your plans after graduation?
NP: Probably after graduation I'm going to take some time off and travel. I want to get a sports related job and coach football anywhere from youth to high school. I'm actually a volunteer coach for Oxford Recreational Basketball. The 8- and 9-year-old team that I coach won the championship last year.
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