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Interview with Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz

Interview with Detroit Lions Coach Jim Schwartz on the Gatorade: Beat the Heat Program

Gatorade recently launched a program called Beat the Heat that informs athletes of all ages about how to stay hydrated during the summer months and during practice. They joined forces with the NFL to educate athletes, parents and coaches about heat-related issues and the proper way to stay hydrated.

The NFL and Gatorade along with the help of players and coaches from the NFL are helping out to not only raise awareness about properly hydrating but to raise money for the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) and the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation (KFMF).

Korey String tragically died due to heat stroke in 2001 while with the Minnesota Vikings. In honor of Stringer, The Korey Stringer Institute was formed by his wife Kelci Stringer with the helps of University of Connecticut.

This summer has been intensely hot throughout the United States. With the NFL season right around the corner and players reporting to training camp this week, I had the opportunity to interview Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz about his involvement with the program, the upcoming season, Lions first round - 2^nd pick overall, Ndamukong Suh and how he spent his summer. He is one of the many NFL coaches and players Gatorade asked to help the worthy cause.

MSG: Let’s start out by talking about how you spent your summer in this intense heat?

Coach Schwartz: We have a house on the Chesapeake Bay (on the Atlantic Ocean). We were on the lake and in the pool a lot. We probably spend most of the days outside from 9 o’clock in the morning to about 9 o’clock at night just about every day.

MSG: Did you get some fishing in?

Coach Schwartz: Yea, fishing, kayaking, we got a couple of small sail boats that we tried to figure out. I don’t think we ate inside once while the sun was out. It was great.

MSG: How did you get involved with Gatorade and their program Beat the Heat ?

Coach Schwartz: Just being around the NFL. Gatorade is such a big partner with the NFL. But, back when I was playing youth sports and we had some coaches that were old school that weren’t up-to-date on hydration. Some coaches didn’t allow water during practice and when you get to the NFL you get the best trainers and see how important hydration is. You just want to spread the word and educate coaches and parents as to how important being hydrated during the hot summers. But it isn’t about hydrating during practice -- it’s also about hydrating during and after practice while having a good plan about preparation and prevention. Being in the NFL, you have an obligation to educate young athletes and parents.

MSG: You had the opportunity to Coach Jevon “The Freak” Kearse while you were the Defensive Coordinator with the Tennessee Titans, now you have the newest “Freak” in Ndamukong Suh. First, how long did it take for you to learn his name and what do you expect of Suh this year?

Coach Schwartz: When the players are that good, you tend to learn his name pretty quickly. You want to make sure you say his name right the first time cause he is pretty big dude. Saying it is a lot easier than reading it. You definitely learn it quickly.

As for my expectations of Suh, he is a rookie and this is his first training camp with us. We obviously think very highly of him since we drafted him second overall. He brings in a great resume, credentials and is a hard worker but I think we will keep our expectations about him learning our scheme and getting him better everyday so he can compete in training camp. We will worry about that right now and get ready. First, we need to get him signed.

MSG: With Suh being a rookie and all this hazing going on with Dez Bryant, what is your take on hazing in the NFL?

Coach Schwartz: Were not a fraternity, we are a multi-billion dollar business and we know hazing isn’t allowed but there are some traditions that comes along with being a rookie. For instance, filling up the meeting room with water and Gatorade, carrying guy’s pads in after practice, making a food run before they get on the plane, that’s all harmless and that’s a part of being a rookie. There is a line that shouldn’t be crossed when you embarrass your teammates. When players start physically torment them, that is were we draw the line. That should never happen. But there is nothing wrong with a rookie carrying a player’s helmet into the locker room -- we have all done it at some point in time.

MSG: When I played baseball, as a freshman in college we had to bring in the equipment, fetch loose baseballs around the field and were last to take batting practice. It’s harmless -- I don’t know what Bryant is complaining about.

Coach Schwartz: Yeah, the NBA is the same way with their rookies picking up balls. The bottom line is that you want your rookies to feel comfortable on the field and with the team -- you never want it to step over the boundaries where it affects their daily routine. I think that everyone can mustard up the embarrassment of carry your teammates equipment. You’re only a rookie one time.

MSG: Exactly.

MSG: You’re a Georgetown graduate, how much Georgetown basketball do you follow?

Coach Schwartz: It’s a little strange because before I decided to go to Georgetown I grew up in Maryland and was a big University of Maryland Terrapin fan back when they had Albert King, Buck Williams and those guys back in the mid ‘70s. I have always been a bigger Maryland Terp fan than a Georgetown fan. Actually, in the four years I went there, I attended zero basketball games. I’ve been to two games Georgetown games, just not at Georgetown. I have always followed them, but growing up Maryland and Georgetown were always rivals -- I never knew I was going to go to Georgetown back in grade school.

MSG: I read that you had three guitars in your office and a huge Judas Priest fan (well, that’s from your new twitter account), what is your favorite song by them?

Coach Schwartz: Probably, Beyond the Realms of Death. I go a little old school from time to time with British Steal, Killing Machine and Heading out to the Highway. I like all their stuff and they are one of the best bands I have ever seen in concert, their right in my wheelhouse along with 1980’s heavy metal.

I lived ten years in Nashville and am really into Jamie Johnson and got to know Eric Church down there. There is a lot of country music I like but again my wheel house is the ‘80s heavy metal. Being in Michigan now, I love Kid Roc and Uncle Cracker. I also enjoy Ted Nugent and White Stripes.

MSG: Speaking of Michigan and the city of Detroit, they have a rich tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day, what has it meant to you to coach in Detroit on Thanksgiving?

Coach Schwartz: It was a big part of my family on thanksgiving and we always watched the Lions and Cowboys. I got to coach in 2008 on Thanksgiving Day with the Titans in Detroit. It’s not just another game, it’s a tradition we take seriously and you feel that when you take the field. It’s a big part of the NFL and Detroit and we need to start playing a little better and make it a better Thanksgiving here in Detroit.

MSG: Last, plug Gatorade’s: Beat the Heat program.

Coach Schwartz: I think the one thing we need to do is educate parents and coaches and the best thing to do is go to www.nfl.com/trainingcamp and scroll down to the Beat the Heat section to download the Gatorade’s Heat Safety Kit to educate them on how to hydrate. Again, it’s not just during practice, it’s before and after. Water isn’t enough your need the carbohydrates, electrolytes and what Gatorade can give you. It’s especially important this time of the year because of the start youth or high school sports. We shouldn’t have as many tragedies that we have had in the past.