As Comcast SportsNet writer Peter Socotch pointed out, the Portland Thunder have had their struggles at quarterback, ranking as one of the worst passing offenses in the Arena Football League. However, the team saw hope when they brought in Danny Southwick, an AFL veteran. During last week’s loss to the Los Angeles KISS, Southwick played the best and was the most consistent player under center this season. As Southwick himself will state, in just over a week after joining the team, he anticipates being the starter of the Thunder in their inaugural season. I sat down with Danny to talk football and get to help introduce him, both on and off the field, to the fans in the Rose City.
Garrett Imeson (GI): Let’s start with last week’s game. When and where did you join the team? We got the news the day before the KISS game. When did you know?
Danny Southwick (DS): I knew about two and half days, Thursday afternoon. Basically, I thought I was coming out for what amounts to a two day waiver workout this week and I was actually going to fly out and fly back next week and do another workout and let them take another look at me. So I basically just ran the scout team on Tuesday and Thursday. Thursday after practice I was about to head to my flight because I have business school in Los Angeles and coach [Matthew] Sauk said, “Hey we want you to sign with us.” So I went back and did a real rushed physical. I got the play sheet on Saturday morning and then the game was that night. I thought there was a chance I might get in [the game] but I didn’t know when.
GI: Did Coach Sauk give you any indication how much playing time you’d get or was it that you might get in if the situation allowed?
DS: They’ve been doing a quarterback rotation here for a couple weeks and I watched the games before I was signed. I think Coach Sauk was anticipating getting me in there at some point and he told me to be ready to play. I had to make sure I knew the plays but there was definitely no conversation of me going in the second quarter or anything like that.
GI: What was the experience like getting into the game in the second quarter with so little time with the team? That had to be a relatively unique experience for you.
DS: Yeah. It was a little bit like running scout team because you don’t know the plays very well so you just go out there and do the best that you can so you go out and read the defenses and react. Except is scout team you don’t get sacked [laughter]. To be totally honest, plenty of the sacks I had were my fault. Not having my feet under me and getting back into the flow of things. It was a wild experience. What a fun opportunity to be a part of the LA KISS’s first home game and to be on this expansion team and to be a part of what we’re building here in Portland. I had a blast and I ate it up. It was really exciting for me.
GI: Looking ahead a little bit, has Coach Sauk given you any idea of how much playing time you expect to get in Spokane? Do you know if you are the starter yet?
DS: I think I’ll be starting off the game. I haven’t asked Coach Sauk so we haven’t talked much about what his plans are. I know Darron is obviously a very talented quarterback and he is continuing to learn the game at a fast clip. I know Darron had a great week of practice. I finished the game playing and I’ve taken a lot of reps this week and I anticipate I’ll be starting but I don’t have any indicators of what [Coach Sauk’s] long term plans are. All of us have to compete and continue to improve and all that will work itself out.
GI: Spokane is going to be a tough opponent. It didn’t get any easier after LA. What’s been your personal focus this week, the first full week with the team?
DS: That’s a great question. My personal focus has been to get down our offense. Coach Sauk has an intricate offense. He has a way of getting guys wide open. It’s up to me to know that. It’s up to all of us to know and understand that. It’s been my focus to learn what we have and to execute it on a high level. Obviously we’ve watched film on Spokane but in the AFL defenses can stay the same or switch things up from week to week. If you know your playbook and the adjustments well enough, you should be able to execute no matter what they throw at you.
GI: Less football related, have you made any fast friends on the team? Any guys you’ve been clicking with?
DS: All the guys are really cool. There is not a guy on the team that I haven’t been able to talk with. I’ve been embraced by everybody. Samora Goodson, we were on the San Jose Sabercats together and we’ve been friends for a few years. He was hurt in the first game but he’s been here and he’s been a close friend outside of football for years. I played with Clay Harrell, the offensive and defensive line coach. He played fullback for the Cleveland Gladiators last year. I was a quarterback there last year so he’s a friend. He’s a coach now and that relationship is a little different with him as coach. Obviously he’s still a friend. Everybody else is really cool. No issues on my side. I like everyone here, even down to the equipment people and the trainers. It’s a really positive organization and a good group.
GI: Before you joined the Thunder, had you spent much time in Portland? Had you been in the area at all?
DS: I spent a little bit of time in Portland. My freshman year of college, I was at Oregon State and I went on a date or two in Portland and I liked it. I remember Oregon being really pretty. One of my good friends is in Oregon. He showed me around town and it’s incredible. There’s no place really like it. It’s really artistic and has a ton of personality. Me and my wife liked it. I wouldn’t just say that! Portland is legitimately a great place. There have been some places I’ve played … eh … not so much. Portland is awesome.
GI: When you aren’t on the football field or in the field room, what do you like to do for fun? What do you like to do to unwind?
DS: During the season, all the summer blockbusters come out. I like to hang out, go to the movies, hang out with the friends, watch TV, stuff like that. I am also very busy. When I’m not playing ball, I’ve got to finish up a couple online classes for business school and a couple other things I’m putting together. As far as just down time, I like to be social, have fun, go out on the town and do fun things. My friend took me out to see the Gorge the other day. I saw this huge freaking waterfall. Portland is unbelievable, how pretty it is and Oregon all around. I’m sure I’ll get out and do all that too.
GI: You’re going to business school. What do you see yourself doing when your football career is over? Do you want to stay in the game in some capacity or are you going to transition over to business?
DS: I think I’ll always be around the game in some capacity. I have a youth 7-on-7 league that I run in Utah. I help out coaching high school out there. I also want to make sure I can provide a stable environment for my wife. I’ve moved her around so much for football that I have to kind of find a home base. I’m fairly entrepreneurial and I actually have some things I’ve been working on with online content creation and production and I imagine I’ll stay in that field. My business degree applies to that. Even during football, I want to make sure I’m putting my education to good use. Football players only play half the year. Obviously, I work out and drill in the off-season but I want to make sure I’m a balanced person.
GI: Thanks for sitting down with me. Good luck against Spokane on Saturday.
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