Opening & Background

1. Welcome to the Bucharest Titans! How does it feel to be part of the team?

It feels great to be welcomed so warmly by the entire team. It should be normal when joining a team but this team has made it very easy to settle in. I am joining with a former teammate of mine, as well as familiar faces that live here already. So far, it has been great to be around guys who really want to be the best version of themselves.

Integration with the Team
1. How do you plan to integrate into the team’s existing dynamics, both on and off the field?

Integration, in my opinion first starts with becoming familiar with the existing traditions. How serious is the warm up; how serious is the effort at practice; how serious is the work outside of practice. Then, joining those traditions and sharing some of my own, little by little. I have not yet had a chance to connect much with the teammates, but we have plans to do so very soon in the upcoming weekends. However, the warm welcome and assistance with everything has given a very good first impression of Romanian culture.

2. What strengths do you believe you bring to the Titans that can help elevate the team’s performance?

As a player-coach, I see my skills in coaching being very impactful. Why? Players here are looking to be better, and need someone to answer all of their questions. My coaching style is „lead by example,” so I very literally practice what I preach.

Recent Performance & Expectations

1. You’ve had a strong career so far. What are your personal goals now that you’re with the Titans?

My personal goals are to become someone the team remembers. Not for what I accomplish on the field – but what impact I have that will last for multiple seasons after this year. I am a versatile player, but so are many people on the team already. With this, we should be able to fill every position with a player that has a good combination of skill and IQ, and win our side of the ball. I expect nothing less than a championship and I won’t think otherwise until the season comes to an end.

Team Dynamics & Leadership

1. Given your experience, do you see yourself taking on a leadership role with the Titans?

Leadership is something that is earned, not given. Time will tell if I am to be leader, not by what I say but by what I do. In my opinion, there is not the best chemistry between players, which can change very quickly with practice attendance. I hope that my coaching is fun and encourages more people to join and enjoy the 2 hours we have together at each session. It should be a fun time, that we use to work on ourselves, not another chore in the evening.

2. How do you balance integrating into a new team while also focusing on your own performance?

My own performance needs to be the standard – as the things I coach should also be things that I myself execute in the moment. Using my time away from the field wisely, by focusing on the goal and a little less on the beautiful city of Bucharest.

Game Insights & Preparation

1. What challenges do you anticipate in the upcoming games, and how are you preparing for them?

The challenges we face so far are with the experience of the existing players. Some old and many new. But this is the same for our opponents, so there is no excuse. We all bleed. The playbook will be adjusted to the skill of each individual position group, and our preparation is highly dependent on our practice attendance.

Personal Reflection & Future Goals

1. Looking at your career so far, what moment do you feel best prepared you for this next chapter with the Titans?

No one moment has prepared me for this, but instead all 7 years combined. I am much calmer, more relaxed, and more focused. My short-term goal is to hold the other teams under 21 points every game, and I plan to contribute by forcing a turnover each match – fumble or interception or blocked kick.

2. What are your short-term goals with the Bucharest Titans, both individually and as part of the team?

My short-term goal is to hold the other teams under 21 points every game, and I plan to contribute by forcing a turnover each match – fumble or interception or blocked kick.

Background & Motivation

1. What initially drew you to play American football, and how did you get started?

I started playing football in 2002-2003. This was my ticket to pay for college tuition, but I learned after some years that I could tap into my potential. Eventually earned a D-1 scholarship at NAU, and started playing overseas in Bavaria. Then, Budapest; Istanbul; Ukraine; Sweden; Poland; Finland; now a bit more east than I have previously traveled. I’m motivated to wake up and go to sleep every day doing what I love, which many wish they could do in their lives.

Skills & Training

1. Can you walk us through your typical training regimen during the offseason?
My offseason usually involves playing a full season in another country. I rarely rest, but I prioritize body maintenance. I prepare for big games by spending the night and morning watching championship games of NCAA and NFL.

Game Experience

1. What has been the most memorable game of your career so far, and why?

Each championship game has been memorable because I leave everything on the field – nothing to have regrets about.

2. How do you handle the pressure of a close game or a critical play?

I play better under stress and pressure, so I look for these opportunities and dive in head first.

Strategy & Football IQ

1. How do you approach studying your opponents before a game?

I study my opponents by thinking of the big picture they want to accomplish, and work backwards. This is important because football is chess, not checkers, so you must be many moves ahead to prepare yourself and teammates accordingly.

Personal Development & Future Goals

1. How has playing football shaped you as a person off the field?

Football has been my 3rd parent, teaching me what my family could not. Good and bad together.
Fun & Personal Insights

1. Who is your football idol, and how has that person influenced your style of play?
My football idol is the football itself. Rarely appreciated, but necessary to play the game. Always there, but never seen. Always a part of the success, and also there in the failures. It is raw, and real, and never complains.

Closing

1. As you prepare for your first game with the Titans, what message do you have for the fans?
The fans need to know that each game is a live music show for them, and my goal is to provide that for them! I hope to achieve earning the trust of the men on this team and a friendship that grows for the years to come!