Sophomore quarterback Bodie Reeder stepped into a leadership role for the Panthers this semester. Homesickness made him leave the snow and mountains of Wyoming behind to return to Illinois and lead the Panthers to a 2-0 start in the Ohio Valley Conference. Reeder sat down with associate online editor Nora Maberry to discuss his shortcomings as a quarterback

What is the biggest difference between the college game and the high school game?

The speed of the players on the field is a lot different everybody on the field is extremely fast and in high school you might not have that. That is the biggest adjustment is the speed of the game.

What is your biggest strength in the game of football?

My offensive line.

I’d say that I understand our offense pretty well and I know where to go with the football and I know where to go with the ball and when to go and I think I have good timing at times.

What is your biggest weakness in the game of football?

My height. Quarterbacks in the NFL are 6-foot-5 and I’m barely over 6 feet tall. I’m not the proto-typical quarterback out there, but you just have to find a way to get the job done.

How difficult was it to learn Eastern’s no-huddle offense?

Actually extremely difficult because you have twice as many things to think about with the signals coming in. So you have to decipher the different codes and signals coming in and think about the play all in a matter of seconds.

So you’re from Ivesdale?

Yup.

We’re you surprised by Illinois’ 4-1 start this season?

Oh, extremely surprised. I am a big Illini fan. I always cheered for them and I’m extremely happy to see those guys succeed, but hopefully they won’t be doing that well next year when we play them. Oh, I wanted to go to Illinois out of high school. Obviously it was my dream school growing up being an Illinois fan. But things happen for a reason and they decided not to recruit me. So, no hard feelings but things happen for a reason and I’m happy now.

What is your favorite stadium in the OVC?

I like the one at Eastern Kentucky (Roy Kidd Stadium), plus I like playing on a grass field more than AstroTurf. The grass field makes it feel more like football. I like after the game having grass stains on you, being dirty and stuff. You don’t have that on artificial turf.

Why did you come back to Illinois after a year in Wyoming?

To be honest, I was kind of a mama’s boy and I got homesick. I couldn’t really concentrate on football with so many different things to think about. I just was torn up all the time. I didn’t think I would be as successful out there not being happy and I didn’t really experience a family environment out there and I went on a visit to Eastern and I fell in love. I loved it. I actually came to the Southern Illinois playoff game. That was two years ago and I really liked it and decided to make a change.

While you were in Wyoming you did a lot of skiing and snowboarding, what do you like best about that?

I love the scenery and the mountains. I could get lost out there. I love just that you can look for miles and miles and not see a skyscraper. It’s unbelievable how God could make something that beautiful; it’s just mind-boggling.

Illinois is pretty flat, what do you do here to get your snowboarding fix?

I watch it on TV. I just have to find ways to express yourself. I’m a pretty outgoing guy, adventurous. I’ll try anything once to get my fix i guess.

What is your favorite place in Charleston?

Wal-Mart because they have everything.

This year you wear No. 4, last year you wore No. 16. Why did you switch?

It’s my favorite number. I’ve always been No. 4 in high school and every sport I’ve played. It has a special meaning to me. I was the fourth child in my family. For some reason it was always my favorite number. Every chance I have I’m always number four, the fourth person in line and I always do things in fours if I can.

Does your family come to your games?

I have the most supportive family in the world. My mom and dad have never missed a game. The only one they didn’t go to was Hawaii last year. But also, my extended family. I had around 30 people at the last two ball games and they support me through thick and thin. They even went to the games when I wasn’t playing so it’s not like ‘oh, since their kid’s on the field they decide to go.’ They’ve always been there.

What do you want to do when you graduate?

I am a secondary education social studies and history major but I would really like to get into coaching maybe. It’s sad to say at 21 years old that I’m not really sure exactly, but I have a couple options. I could go the teaching route or getting into college coaching but I want to be involved with kids because I always hear that kids make you feel younger and stay younger in your old age.

What’s your favorite movie?

The Big Lebowski. I really like that guy’s lifestyle.

What is your favorite class this semester?

Constitution with Lynne Curry. I like her a lot. It’s a good class; makes the entire class participate and we get debates going. She always challenges us to think deeper about why different articles and ideas were brought up with the forming of our constitution and government and not everything was legitimate or moral and she really brings that to life and challenges us to think deeper about it and more than just the letters on the page.

What is your favorite band?

Widespread Panic.

Favorite song of theirs?

Ain’t Life Grand.

Do you have any pregame rituals?

Yes. Jason Fisher and I always go on the field and we both have our headphones on. We go through passing routes and stuff. We don’t even have to say a word to each other, we know exactly which one comes next. We’ve done it for a few games, we did it last year. It’s our little thing to just get ready.

You grew your hair out this season, has the team given you flack?

I guess I did it now before I’m old and grey and it doesn’t look good anymore. But it seems like every guy on the team calls me Sunshine or Goldilocks or something, referring to my long hair but they’re not near as bad as the opposing crowds.

What has been the best crowd to play in front of so far this year?

I’d have to say Indiana State this year. I had so many people from my family there. I could see how proud I made my parents by actually getting to start a game, finally. Seeing the joy in my mom and dad’s eyes, I’ll never forget that. I got to make my parents proud and reciprocate all the things they have done for me.

What do the white bracelets all the football players wear mean?

They say “Pay the Price” and that’s like our team motto. Its sort of self explanatory, do what you need to do to become a champion and win football games. We’re not allowed to take it off and I don’t know why anyone would because we always think about our team. They come first this season.

At Indiana State you said the team needs a leader. How have you fallen into that role?

I always want to be a spark for the offense. I want to be the guy on the sidelines who’s picking it up and getting the guy ready for the next series and encouraging everyone on the offensive line, the backs and the receivers and I don’t want to be a downer, I don’t want to see any finger pointing from anyone. I just want the atmosphere to be as positive and anything is possible.

If you mess up on the field you admit it. Do you feel that’s part of being a good leader?

Yes. There is no point in pointing fingers because a person that lives in a glass house shouldn’t throw stones. If I’m the one that makes a mistake, I want to man up to it. I want to admit when I’m wrong or I don’t play well or don’t perform to the best of my abilities. It’s easy for someone to see when I don’t play well because I have the ball in my hand more times than not being a quarterback. I want to make sure they understand that it is my fault when things don’t go right. It is my fault. I want to take all the blame when things are going bad because I start every play by calling the play out and it’s my job to make sure things run smoothly. So it is my fault when things don’t go right and when I don’t play right, I want to admit that.

Last season you called in the plays from the sidelines, how did that help you transition to starting quarterback?

The thing is, I didn’t get a chance to play before but I did get to learn from Cole. He’s older than me and he’s been through some fires. I got a chance to learn from his mistakes and his successes. Having the headphones and listening to the plays going in, I sort of visualize what’s going on and why Cole did this and why Cole did that. Cole has been very supportive of me, I know he’s my biggest fan and I was always his biggest fan. We have a friendship that goes way beyond football and this year can’t stress that.

When you were told you were going in what was your reaction?

It was so fast. We punted and Coach Lynch was on the sidelines and he said, ‘Hey, warm up, you’re going in.’ It was that fast. I had the headphones on so I hear what all the coaches are saying and not a word was said about it and it was that quick of a decision. I grabbed a ball and started playing catch. The next thing I knew I was out there and I guess I didn’t really have time to be nervous or think about anything. We needed a touchdown and luckily, we got it. I didn’t have time to think about ‘Oh gosh, my first college game,’ or have my knees buckling. So maybe it was a good thing, going in at the last second like that.

You’re dad is the team chaplain. What’s that like?

Obviously, I have a huge spiritual leader in my dad. He’s always been supportive. He’s not narrow-minded and he lets me explore things. I’m not an angel by any means and he understands that. He understands that everyone finds God and Christ through their own path. I think the guys really respect him on the team. He does a good job. He’s always there for anyone. Guys meet with my dad to just talk, pray or read scripture. I couldn’t be more appreciative of my Dad. I have the most supportive family in the world.

Did you always want to play football in college?

Yes, football or baseball. I was a big football/baseball guy in high school. I love baseball and dreamed of being a professional baseball player, too, but football was kind of my first love so I thought I owed it to myself to give that a try.

Do you have a radio show on with Micah Rucker on WEIU?

Yes, Mondays at 2 p.m. Mic Check with Ruck and Reeder. It’s awesome. Ruck’s a good friend of mine and we get to go on there and argue and blow off steam for an hour. I’m glad he invited me to do it. We just talk sports and at the end he likes to think he knows what’s going on in the real world. It’s so much fun, I can’t imagine what having a job like that would be like. It would be awesome.

What do you guys do on the bus?

We watch movies, play cards and listen to Jason Fisher talk about his girl problem.

How do you think the game this weekend against EKU is going to go?

I think it’s going to be a dogfight; they are an extremely talented team. It’s an evenly matched game. Nothing is going to be given to us. The last couple of years we’ve jumped on them and scored a lot of points real quick and hopefully we can do that again this year. Their defense is talented, fast, physical and they are going to give us everything we need.