Chambers exposure Part I

O’Neill Chambers is a talented blue-chip receiver recruit at BYU who might be growing up right before our eyes this week after an ESPN interview is reviewed by the Cougar team.

Say it. Live with it.

Reporters love bluntless and quotes. But quotes have consequences and Chambers will have to figure out how his interview with ESPN’s contract college football blogger Graham Watson weighed in with teammates, coaches and fans. We’ll then learn how candid he plans to be in the future with the rest of us who’ll see him daily as Watson takes off for Texas and the Eastern Seaboard.

Credit Watson, or just put it completely on Chambers, it came out a blockbuster paradox, something like this:

I’m lost and crappy right now but better than other guys on the team and should get more reps.

Wow.

I will say, in interviews with Chambers over the past week, he has been gracious, humble and grateful for teammates and acknowledged the challenge of learning the system. That’s what makes this so interesting, quoting him as a selfish, shortsighted jock then pointing out how badly he’s struggling to run plays.

Here’s an example of a Chamber’s quote:

“There’s a difference between returning receivers that are good and returning receivers that shouldn’t be on the team,” Chambers said. “I’m just going to work hard and do what I’ve got to do and not worry about much. My time will come and time will tell.”

Then here’s Watson’s description of what’s taking place:

“Time will tell if Chambers can actually learn his playbook before the Aug. 30 season opener against Northern Iowa. During 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills Tuesday, Chambers was running the wrong routes and working the wrong plays. Junior receiver Austin Collie and senior receiver Michael Reed have been trying to point the freshman in the right direction.”

In my experience in journalism, I found the best technique with subjects is to allow them to fully understand and educate me on the topic at hand, allowing them to freely express how they feel and think both off and on the record. This opens up a reservoir of information and sourcing that can continue throughout a lifetime. Many times people speak their mind off the record, knowing they can fully express their frustrations, likes, dislikes and criticisms so, for background, I can understand the issue. Then, when on the record, they can express themselves in a way in which they absolutely and fully expect to be quoted and see their words in print.

Many times, even when they are quoted, and done so accurately, their phone starts ringing and people start telling them how dumb they sounded, they then tell friends and coworkers, or even call the reporter and say they were misquoted or taken out of context and complain or protest, even when reminded it was on tape. Human nature, I call it.

But in the above cases, I’m dealing with seasoned politicians or athletes who are used to the give and take of interviews. I don’t think Chambers is experienced in this regard at all. When dealing with teens, I usually try to give them the benefit of the doubt about quotes and try and interpret what they mean before taking a direct quote and deploying it.

Watson made Chambers look selfish and kind of a dummy. I believe he is neither one.

Young people can say some sensational things. It makes great copy. But is it representative of what they intend to project?

Maybe yes, maybe no.

In this case, Chambers contradicted himself in such an obvious manner in this interview (other quotes), I would have felt an obligation to ask for a clarification. I don’t think I’d have to lose the great quotes that showed brashness and gave Watson the “fiber” and “meat” to this blog. Without knowing what questions Watson asked, it’s tough to interpret how the dialog (the back-and-forth) progressed until it got to the quotes. I give her the benefit of the doubt because she is a professional.

That doesn’t mean it could have been handled differently. I handle 18-year olds differently than 22-year olds. I also handle a calm Lance Reynolds differently than a Lance Reynolds fresh off losing game, seconds after a cooling off period when he may so ticked off he can’t put his thoughts together. They say it, you got it. But it’s more than that, it’s a give and take with some guidelines. I’ve seen stuff like this lead to a player or coach never talking to the same reporter again – or only dishing out cliches.

At BYU it’s happening right now with some players and reporters.

Thing about Watson, who knows when she’ll be in town again or interview Chambers. And who knows how Chambers reacted to the interview. Maybe he doesn’t care at all. Maybe he’s embarrassed or angry.

I don’t think Chambers was misquoted, just a guy speaking his mind, trying to explain his aspirations and his reality. They collide.

Bottom line is Chambers did not sound like a Bronco Mendenhall player and he is responsible for that. Without the tree, there is no fruit.

You can read the full blog at ESPN.com. Go to the college football page and then to the box about conference coverages and then “others” after it mentions a few BCS leagues.