We have DCane with us but as I’ve fondly called him through the years: Cane.
SEC Media: What’s your age?
DCane: I’m 45
SEC Media: Where’s your general location?
DCane: I’m located in Virginia Beach, VA.
SEC Media: I’ve noticed the headband doesn’t always come out - is it for special
occasions?
DCane: Nah man it’s only on when I don’t have plans to leave the house. It’s actually for my waves, when I put the cap on it prevents the cap from pressing into my skin and forming a line also cutting off circulation lol.
SEC Media: Dawgs seem to have a target on their backs - is it you or because they’re one of the better rated teams?
DCane: I honestly believe it’s because they are the better rated team. The are no longer the best team in the game but I don’t think many thinks of my actual skill as they do the skill ofthe team.
SEC Media: I stumbled across the UF/MC’s hit list (so to speak) of coaches and you made the list - how do you feel about that?
DCane: It’s all in fun. We have only played twice and both times he had teams he knew well against teams I knew nothing about. I believe it was TT against Maryland and TT vs TCU, he had Texas Tech of course. But he would say that was just an excuse lol.
SEC Network: I saw the Bama/UGA game - heartbreaker. Are there lessons learned on
losses in this game?
DCane: Definitely, it’s the lesson I had to really pull myself to accept and turn around. One you can’t win playing conservative/safe ball, two you can’t take your foot off the breaks too soon. I was guilty of doing both in that game and went from leading to having to play catch up.
SEC Media: Is it important to you to get the Dawgs back to the CFP?
DCane: As a coach yes, one they are a good team, two because I feel my name gets
overlooked when it comes to some of the better coaches in the league. I feel I can play with any of them (notice I said play with not win) and I say that because you never know how the game is going to go until the clock hits 0:00. But I’m confident I would have solid games against any of our top coaches.
SEC Media: There are still some old dogs with stick skills - I’m not one of them but you
certainly are. How do you keep your edge in the game?
DCane: My process is all muscle memory, working through custom playbooks I come to know formations and plays and it helps me on defense, scrims, labs in practice mode, Online dynasties all of them are opportunities to learn what to look for, what to read and how to read and react to it.
SEC Network: The SEC is brutal - don’t believe I’ve ever seen such a loaded conference. How do you navigate such a brutal schedule and ensure you get to the SEC title game?
DCane: Honestly you have to take it one game at a time. I can’t think about UF until after I get past Texas and so on. Your focus has to be on the team ahead, looking at their rosters, seeing how you would use them or how you would attack if that were your team, seeing what players to watch for, and when you know or learn a coach's tendencies it makes processing it easier.
SEC Media: I have zero doubts that at least three teams from the SEC get at large bids (it may be too early tbh at this point) but do you look down the road and agree?
DCane: Definitely. SC is doing great, UF, Texas, and Bama are hard to keep out of the
conversation and I will do what I can to get there myself which means derailing the UF or Texas train.
SEC Media: Getting back to Florida and certainly don’t mean to poke the bear (kidding, definitely news worthy and the readers want to know) - where did the beef come from?
DCane: I personally didn’t/don’t have beef and I believe MC just saw my comment about me not having a warm up game and like the rest of the league ran with it and started the nickname Dscuses. Personally, it doesn’t bother me. I know my process and what I need in order for me to be effective at this game. It has been proven as each one of my losses were games where I just jumped on and played for the first time that day.
I’m 45 with mental health issues one being ADHD lol. I serious have to get my brain in whatever I’m about to do “mode” before doing it. For me it’s like my eyes and thoughts are at one speed but my brain isn’t processing at the same speed yet. So, if I see a WR or a hole and I’m thinking where and when to throw or when to cut my brain hasn’t actually processed that thought
yet so it's like a lag or delay and timing is off etc. But what once I’ve work through a game and my brain is in CFB “mode” when I see it, I can hit it, catch it, intercept it, hit stick it etc. Lol might sound like a lot to some but it's just my process and I always trust the process.
SEC Media: Why did you choose the Dawgs at the #1 spot when you could have easily taken your Canes?
DCane: Good question. The biggest reason is because Dealer asked if he could have them. UGA is my dad’s side of the family’s team and honestly what sealed the deal was when I saw Miami had the same win goal as UGA but with a lesser team so I went with the team I felt would get me into the CFP and hopefully before I leave the school get me to the Big Dance.
SEC Media: What’s your oldest NCAA memory?
DCane: Believe it or not when the first NCAA came out for online play, I logged on and went into a lobby game where they randomly select your opponent right. Well, the guy I got matched up with who is still a good friend of mine till this day was none other than VTRunNgun aka Chase. Since then, every year except this one chase and I would play a Miami vs VT game and that has to be my oldest and fondest memory - man that we both ended up here in the NDL and remained friends after a random game lol.
SEC Media: Lastly, the tough one - dog or cat person and why?
DCane: Honestly, I love both. I had a cat once but he acted like a damn dog I mean he would be waiting at the door for me when I came home from work and everything. His
name was Coffee bean, awesome cat but I love that they are independent but also loving.
Dogs because they are easy to connect with, bond with, they are very caring and that emotional connection like you know your dog loves you or doesn’t there is no guessing lol.
SEC Media: Thank you for taking time out to answer the hard hitting questions.
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