Q: So Tim, during football season, what position do you play?

A: On the offensive side, I play guard, and on defense, I’m the right end.

Q: Football is probably a taxing sport that takes a lot of time and requires real commitment to the game. What drives you to play?

A: Nothing’s as rewarding as putting all of your energy into 48 minutes and coming out with a win. It’s a real sense of accomplishment.

Q: So you must really love the game. What is your favorite part of playing?

A: My favorite part of playing is probably knocking people out. Just knowing that you hit someone so hard that they couldn’t stay up … That, or the locker room conversations.

Q: The buzz around Paly is that you will be one of the vital players for next year’s season. How does this make you feel?

A: It makes me feel great. I love our team and knowing that I’m important to its success makes it all worthwhile.

Q: Does this add any more pressure to you? Next year, you will be one of the senior players, so you will be expected to lead the team. How do you feel about that role?

A: There is definitely a huge amount of pressure, but there’s always pressure when Hansen is your coach.

Q: I’ve heard that football really is a year-round sport. While it may not involve actual games, you are still in training, correct?

A: Yeah, most guys do weight training in the off-season to bulk up.

Q: I’ve heard rumors about what goes on at the football team’s spring training sessions. Can you set the record straight?

A: We’re losing a ton of seniors this year, so our spring training will probably be more organization, just finding people to fill the positions.

Q: Have any kids died at spring training? Or at your rigorous summer training sessions?

A: No, no one’s died yet. But Cameron [Savaree-Ruess] comes pretty close every year.

Q: At your training sessions, what happens when you do something wrong? Do you get put in a cage with a nasty gorilla?

A: Yeah, his name is "coach."

Q: I’ve also heard a little rumor about you being the varsity captain next year? Is that simply hearsay, or do you know for sure who the captains are?

A: We don’t know who any captains will be for next year yet. But I hope I get to be one; it looks really great on college applications. Haha, no, but I would like to be one; I like that leadership position.

Q: I know you are losing a significant number of seniors. How do you plan on making your team go as far this coming year without the help of those seniors?

A: Hit, hit, hit. We’re going to beat the living daylights out of everyone we face until they’re too scared or beaten to come back for more.

Q: One of Paly’s worst losses will be Nathan Ford, the resident quarterback. Who will be filling Ford’s shoes? Will this person be a sophomore or one of the current junior players?

A: Well, it’s between a sophomore and junior right now, but either way, we’ll miss Nathan. I mean, no one looks as good as Fordy on game days.

Q: How do you think Paly’s team will react to having such a high number of strong players leave?

A: We’ll be fine, I think. The sophomore class has a huge amount of talent, not to mention the experience some of the juniors have.

Q: What are your hopes and aspirations for next year’s team?

A: Same as every year — we want to take it all the way to the championships and pound out another win.

Q: After high school, where do you hope to attend college? Do you want to play football in college?

A: I’m looking mostly East Coast and a few schools have sent me letters, but it would all be Division III. I really haven’t decided about college football, though.

Q: Next year is your senior year, and usually seniors have quite demanding schedules. My guess is you are taking difficult classes, so how do you plan on balancing being a huge part of the football team, being a first semester senior, applying to colleges, and having a social life?

A: Well, the social life might take a hit first semester, but I have all the confidence in the world that I can make up for it second semester.

Q: Besides school and football, what other stuff do you enjoy doing in your free time?

A: I play lacrosse, and I hunt. But what I really like is painting along with that guy with the afro. You know, the guy who paints "happy little trees" and throws in a "secret log cabin" here and there. It’s my passion.