Players Media Session
December 26, 2018 02:14 PM | Football
ORLANDO, Fla. – Senior wide receiver Dominique Maiden and senior defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Wednesday, Dec. 26, before taking part in the Camping World Bowl's Day for Kids event at Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, in Orlando, Florida.
Senior Wide Receiver Dominique Maiden
On his thoughts about the event
It's just important to get to meet the kids. The Camping World Bowl reps came and talked to us about how important it is for the community to meet us and what a big support system we can be for these kids, so I'm just glad to be here and glad to be supporting the kids.
On interacting with the kids
Most of us are just big kids ourselves, honestly, just playing football. It's really easy to connect with kids, just have fun, spend some time with them, talk to them, it's really easy to do it. I like it.
On connecting with the kids through games and activities
It's a little buffer, and it's easier to connect with them when they have the games around. It's definitely fun here at Andretti's. I know I'm going to win all the races, but we'll see. (Senior defensive end) Zeke (Ezekiel) Rose and I are going to have a big championship, so we'll see later.
On the importance of community service
My dad is a Navy SEAL, so growing up, you do a lot of community service with people in the military and military homes. Growing up with other kids around, I was always the big kid, so I loved to just connect with people and hang out with people. This is a really good experience for everyone. It's just a good way to connect with the community. I love it.
On playing the bowl game without senior wide receiver Gary Jennings Jr.
Gary is a great player, and we were glad to have him for the four years that we did. But I'm just trying to do what I've been doing and make sure we can the win on Friday. We can't do any more than that.
Senior Defensive Lineman Ezekiel Rose
On participating in Day for Kids
I feel like this will be a great experience to get the kids out, let them have some fun. They'll meet some players, some great players, and they get to go home and say they had a great day with some great people.
On the experience of being with the kids
I feel like it's always a new experience. Sometimes, kids are very unpredictable, and you have to be ready for anything. I enjoy having them around, and most of the time, I just enjoy letting them talk. They have funny stories all the time, and it makes my heart warm just to hear them tell their stories and have fun.
On how he'll go about interacting with the kids
I'm actually a hyper guy myself, so I like to run around and play around. That usually gets them going, gets them started, and I just let them go from there.
On if Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey reminds him of anyone
To me, personally, I feel like he's a (redshirt senior quarterback) Will Grier type of guy. He can make things happen in the air, and, if he needs to, with his feet. They extend plays, he knows how to run, and he's a very versatile guy. He brings everything. He's actually really smart, so I'm expecting him to do some things like I see in practice from (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier).
On his career at WVU
I think it was great. It was a great experience for me. I came up here not knowing what to expect. I came on my visit and it was like the people knew me before I even got off the bus. I was excited about that, and after I got here, people grew to know me, and I loved the place. First, I became a part of West Virginia, then West Virginia became a part of me.
Senior Wide Receiver Dominique Maiden
On his thoughts about the event
It's just important to get to meet the kids. The Camping World Bowl reps came and talked to us about how important it is for the community to meet us and what a big support system we can be for these kids, so I'm just glad to be here and glad to be supporting the kids.
On interacting with the kids
Most of us are just big kids ourselves, honestly, just playing football. It's really easy to connect with kids, just have fun, spend some time with them, talk to them, it's really easy to do it. I like it.
On connecting with the kids through games and activities
It's a little buffer, and it's easier to connect with them when they have the games around. It's definitely fun here at Andretti's. I know I'm going to win all the races, but we'll see. (Senior defensive end) Zeke (Ezekiel) Rose and I are going to have a big championship, so we'll see later.
On the importance of community service
My dad is a Navy SEAL, so growing up, you do a lot of community service with people in the military and military homes. Growing up with other kids around, I was always the big kid, so I loved to just connect with people and hang out with people. This is a really good experience for everyone. It's just a good way to connect with the community. I love it.
On playing the bowl game without senior wide receiver Gary Jennings Jr.
Gary is a great player, and we were glad to have him for the four years that we did. But I'm just trying to do what I've been doing and make sure we can the win on Friday. We can't do any more than that.
Senior Defensive Lineman Ezekiel Rose
On participating in Day for Kids
I feel like this will be a great experience to get the kids out, let them have some fun. They'll meet some players, some great players, and they get to go home and say they had a great day with some great people.
On the experience of being with the kids
I feel like it's always a new experience. Sometimes, kids are very unpredictable, and you have to be ready for anything. I enjoy having them around, and most of the time, I just enjoy letting them talk. They have funny stories all the time, and it makes my heart warm just to hear them tell their stories and have fun.
On how he'll go about interacting with the kids
I'm actually a hyper guy myself, so I like to run around and play around. That usually gets them going, gets them started, and I just let them go from there.
On if Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey reminds him of anyone
To me, personally, I feel like he's a (redshirt senior quarterback) Will Grier type of guy. He can make things happen in the air, and, if he needs to, with his feet. They extend plays, he knows how to run, and he's a very versatile guy. He brings everything. He's actually really smart, so I'm expecting him to do some things like I see in practice from (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier).
On his career at WVU
I think it was great. It was a great experience for me. I came up here not knowing what to expect. I came on my visit and it was like the people knew me before I even got off the bus. I was excited about that, and after I got here, people grew to know me, and I loved the place. First, I became a part of West Virginia, then West Virginia became a part of me.
Players Mentioned
QB
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WR
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WR
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DL
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