A QUICK Q AND A WITH WASHINGTON AND LEE’S MIKE HARTFORD

Balladeer’s Blog has been following the Washington and Lee Generals football team all through this noteworthy year for their program. Head Coach Frank Miriello became the Generals’ all-time wins leader, they went undefeated in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play for the first time in school history and last Saturday they clinched their first conference title since 2006, and with it a trip to the NCAA Division 3 Playoffs. Washington and Lee has had the ODAC Defensive Player Of The Week four times this season, and Balladeer’s Blog did a quick Q&A with this week’s winner of that honor: Junior Mike Hartford.

 Mike Hartford

Position: Defensive Back

Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Bandit

1. Complete the following sentence, please. My contribution to the Generals winning this year’s ODAC title has been ______.      “To limit the big pass plays. As a secondary, we’ve done a great job as a group of communicating and understanding our responsibilities to make the (opposition) offense throw it short and underneath. This is a credit to all the DB’s and Coach O’Brien for really emphasizing this throughout the year, and when teams tried to go deep on us we’ve been in position to make plays to get the ball back.” 

2. What should opponents fear the most from you?  “My biggest strength is press coverage so whenever I’m on the line jamming the receiver I’m in my biggest comfort zone.” 

3. What would you like people who’ve never met you to know about you?  “I’ve been a starter for 2 plus years but I don’t really talk much. There’s no trash talking from me when I’m on the field, I just play. I try to lead by example.”

4. If you were a war-time General, what would you like your nickname to be? Specifically in the tradition of “Mad Anthony” Wayne, “Stonewall” Jackson, “Black Jack” Pershing, “Stormin’ Norman” Schwartzkopf, etc.    “Being from Pittsburgh, I think my nickname would have to be “Steel Curtain” Hartford. I don’t think there are any other choices, really.”

5. Who would win a World of Warcraft matchup between your institution’s namesakes, George Washington and Robert E Lee?   “Seeing as Washington won the war he led and Lee lost, I think George would take this one.”

6. What is the most laughably bad movie you’ve ever seen?   “Kung Pow: Enter The Fist. By far, it’s awful . I think I’d actually be embarrassed if I had a hand in making that movie.”  

Thank you to Mike for playing along with my oddball questions and thanks to the coaches and administrators at W&L for making this possible. The Generals, currently at 7-2, (6-0 in conference) finish their regular season on the road this Saturday against the Juniata Eagles. Then, like so many other teams, they’ll be watching the NCAA D3 Selection Committee Show next Sunday the 14th at 3pm to see their opening round opponent in the 32 team playoff field.  

To follow Generals sports click here: http://www.generalssports.com/landing/index

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