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In an perfect world where good things happen to me, I'd have a press credential from BYU and they would give me the opportunity to interview BYU's new quarterback Tanner Mangum. Since the athletic department apparently hates people from New Jersey, I'm denied any direct access to the players. That being the case, I've decided to circumvent that whole process and hold my own little interview with Tanner via social media.
***
So Tanner, back when you got your mission call, a lot of people probably questioned your decision to leave football for two years. What do you have to say to those people?
I love it when I hear people say I'm throwing away my career by serving a mission. It'll make it that much sweeter when I prove them wrong.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) July 5, 2013
It sure seems like you have proven them wrong after only one game. I'm sure that hasn't come without some serious challenges.
Nothing worth having ever came easy, it's all about learning to love the challenge.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) July 9, 2013
Words to live by. Ever since the game on Saturday you've been a media darling. Is it cool to see yourself on SportsCenter and a slew of other ESPN programs?
You think you're cool until you hear the sound of your voice on a recording...
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) June 13, 2013
You're telling me. I hate when make it into someone's Snapchat story and you can hear my dumb voice in the background. I sound like such a buffoon sometimes and it's the absolute worst.
Nothing worse than pouring a bowl of cereal then having no milk in the fridge...
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) May 30, 2013
Touche. That is much worse than having a terrible voice.
Back to the questions. How are things going at school? Have you found it difficult to manage you game prep and school work? Do you put a lot of time into your studies?
Always sucks when you study for hours and hours and get the same score on the test that you would have gotten if you didn't study at all.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) March 15, 2013
Uh oh, you didn't fail a...
In other words, the Econ 110 midterm just did me dirty.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) March 15, 2013
Oh good ole Econ 110. We've all been there my friend. This seems to be a sensitive subject, so let's go back to football. The starting quarterback before you, Taysom HIll, was a pretty fast dude. For all those wondering, what is your 40 time?
40s are overrated. Players are considered good players then all of a sudden they run a bad 40 and they're worse? Doesn't make sense to me.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) February 25, 2013
True, but when getting to the NFL combine that's how they're going to judge your speed.
I think a lot of the combine stuff is overrated. Just because someone is a freak athlete doesn't make them a good football player.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) February 25, 2013
True...
But I mean I'm just a slow white quarterback so I guess I'm a little biased.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) February 25, 2013
OK I get it. You're sensitive about your 40 time. I promise I won't ask about it again. Are there any other sports that you like to play outside of football?
Beach volleyball is seriously one of the funnest sports to play.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) August 17, 2012
What about music do you have any favorite tunes?
Holocene by Bon Iver. Never gets old.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) March 13, 2013
Great choice. Does this mean that you prefer indie folk music?
Country music = The best music
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) May 1, 2013
I don't know about that. Is there one artist out there that you really want to see in concert?
Please don't judge me, and I won't judge you.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) July 14, 2012
This is a judgement free zone. You can tell me anything.
Keep calm and listen to Taylor Swift. #motto
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) July 28, 2012
NOW WE'RE SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE.
Enchanted by T-Swift. Easily Top 5. Never gets old.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) July 16, 2012
Couldn't agree with you more. I could talk about T-Swift for days -- like, please tell me in the three months since you got home you've listened to 1989 at least 30 times?
Anyway, lets move on to politics. I know that the election is still a long ways out but do you have any thoughts on the 2016 election?
Who am I voting for? I'm voting for Regina George because she got hit by a bus.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) November 6, 2012
Regina who? Is she a republican or a Democrat?
If I quote Mean Girls and you don't catch the reference... We're not friends. Okay maybe a little harsh. #butreally
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) November 13, 2012
OH. RIGHT. Of course. I knew you were quoting Mean Girls.
Well Tanner, this has been a lot of fun. I'm pretty much all out of questions for you. Do you have any questions for me?
So, what's the latest gossip? What's the 411?
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) March 11, 2013
Well since you asked, my dating life has been a little crazy lately. I recently broke up with my girlfriend of three weeks and it's been pretty rough. She kind of wants to get back together but she doesn't like my singing voice and I'm not sure how I feel about it.
People are people and sometimes it doesn't work out.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) March 17, 2013
You know what you're right. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. I just hope i can look ahead and move on from all of this.
Sometimes you just have to take a step back and have faith that everything is gonna work out.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) March 26, 2013
So much infinite wisdom. It's like you have life all figured out.
Just trying to be the best that I can be. Simple as that.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) February 8, 2013
You're a good man Tanner. At any rate, I'm afraid that's all the time we have today. We'll have to do this again sometime soon.
I hate goodbyes.
— Tanner Mangum (@tannermangum) March 6, 2013
Me too buddy. Me too.