Q&A with Reggie Love

Reggie Love, a former member of both the basketball and football teams at Duke University, was kind enough to answer a few of my questions. Love lettered four times in football and three times in basketball while being an important contributor to Duke’s 2001 Men’s Basketball National Championship team. He also had a brief stint in the NFL. Here’s the transcipt of our Q&A session:

Can you give us a glimpse of your life since leaving Duke? I know you bounced around to a couple of teams in the NFL (Packers and Cowboys), but I'd like to hear your take on what you've done since leaving Duke.

After I left Duke in the spring of ’05, I moved to Dallas in April, where I was apart of the Cowboys organization. Coach Parcells referred to me as his project. I played outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme, which is a combination of outside linebacker and rush end. I stayed with Dallas until September (when I was released) and I kind of hung around Dallas and my parents’ house in North Carolina in the hopes of being brought back to the practice squad. In late November/early December, I interviewed with Senator Obama’s office, they offered me a job as a staff assistant, and I moved to Washington D.C. Jan ’07. I’ve been on the Senator’s staff since, holding various positions.

So you are working for the Obama presidential campaign. How do you help out with the campaign and why do you think he would make a good president?

I’m a staffer for the Obama campaign. I think Senator Obama would be a great President because he represents change, which is much needed in Washington, and he has the ability to unite our country and to inspire people to care and to be involved in our country’s politics because [when he is president] the people’s voices will be heard and will be taken into account.

Has working for the campaign made you consider getting into politics?

Yes and No. Working with Senator Obama, I see that change in our American political system is possible. However, I have also seen first hand how tough campaign schedules can be on your personal life and your family. A lot of it has to do with timing.

You came out of high school ranked as the 10th best wide receiver prospect in the country. Why did you decide to play football at Duke?

This will sound kind of pessimistic, but you never know when your last snap of football will be and you never know the last time you will be able to run up and down the court. Being a gifted athlete is exactly that, it is a gift, and you can’t control when that gift runs out. I chose to play football at Duke because it is and was a great educational institution that would prepare me for life after sports and also because the football coaches would allow me to earn a spot on the men’s basketball team as long as playing basketball didn’t hinder my academic and football performance.

What is your relationship like with Coach K?

Coach K is a dear friend and a great mentor to me.

What was your best game at Duke? Why?

ACC tournament. UNC/NC State/Maryland (in that order). They were the first games that I had played crucial minutes of a game and I was able to help our team win a championship when everyone else thought that we couldn’t win because Carlos had broken his foot.

What's your best memory from your five years at Duke?

The best memory from Duke would be when I was named captain of the ’04-05 team.

Can we expect you to tryout for another NFL squad in the next few years?

Probably not. I’m thinking about maybe going to try out for a basketball team overseas after the campaign is over.

What do you think about last year's Duke team?

Last year’s team was very young and talented. They had to deal with a lot of Duke “media” pressure and I think they did a great job handling it and that it will better prepare them for it this upcoming year. Last year’s experience will make those guys a lot tougher, mentally and physically, for the years to come.

How do you think the team will do this season? Any predictions?

It’s too early to tell, but I can bet they will be well coached, well conditioned and will play disciplined defense.

Are you still in touch with any past teammates?

I am. Basketball players – Chris Duhon, Andy Borman, Andy Means, Shane, Mike D., Ryan Calbeck.

What do you think about how some of your past basketball teammates are doing in the NBA (Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy, Chris Duhon, etc...)?

I’m proud of all of those guys. It is always very exciting for me to see all of those guys playing well. It makes me miss playing basketball.

What do you think Duke needs do to help resurrect the football program?

I’m not a football coach or an AD, but I think there should just be better job of goal setting and accountability for reaching those goals.

How did Duke prepare you for life?

I learned a lot of life lessons from a lot of great professors and coaches. I don’t think there is another institution that could’ve better prepared me for life.

Overall, how would you rate your Duke experience? If you had to do it all over again, would you still decide to come to Duke?

The Duke experience was 10/10. I couldn’t imagine me going to a different school.