Michigan State University Athletics
Q & A With Senior Outfielder Jamey Embree
3/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Senior outfielder Jamey Embree, a Grosse Pointe, Mich., native, brings a genuine love for the game day in and day out. Transferring from Detroit after his sophomore season, Embree has emerged as a postive force for the Green and White. Prior to practice, Embree took a moment to share his thoughts on the Spartan baseball.
Q: You played at the University of Detroit transferring to State. Was the experience there any different than it is here?
A: "Here, there's a much bigger budget, and baseball is a bigger deal than it was at the University of Detroit, but it's still the same game. You still have to do the same things right. Detroit was a mid-major, so the league wasn't as competitive as it is here at State, but it still was really comparable in terms of competition and all the preparation that you have to go through in order to be successful."
Q: What brought you to State?
A: "U of D discontinued the program after my sophomore year. So after my sophomore season, I called all of the coaches and luckily State had some spots open, and I joined the program two years ago. It's been great ever since I got here - I like all of the guys on the team, and the coaches are great."
Q: How do you think the team stacks up against the rest of the Big Ten this year?
A: "I think we should do pretty well. We have a lot of returning guys with a lot of experience, and a lot of great leadership from our coaches. I think we're ready to compete in the Big Ten, and I think that we're well prepared for league play."
Q: How important is the team's chemistry in terms of winning ballgames?
A: "I think that it's really important. You have to have that winning attitude, and everyone has to be on the same page, especially late in the games. When you're playing games, everyone should feel like they're together, and our team chemistry is going to help us get a lot of wins this year. Everyone's so close and we know we can depend on each other."
Q: What teams are you most looking forward to facing?
A: "All of the teams in the Big Ten, but no one really stands out."
Q: Are there any teams that you aren't looking forward to facing?
A: "No. Every team's a challenge, but you don't really dread playing any teams per se, it's always just looking forward to the challenge. Every game presents another challenge."
Q: Your father spent time in the Cincinnati Reds' farm system. Do you have any plans to give the MLB draft a shot?
A: "If I was drafted, it would definitely be an opportunity that I'd pursue, but right now I try to focus on academics. If the opportunity presented itself, I would definitely step forward and follow the same career path."
Q: What is the main reason that you started playing baseball?
A: "My dad instilled a love for the game in me at a really young age. I'd say that it was just fun and something that I enjoyed and that I had a lot of success with early on, and it kept carrying over to the next level. I'm really fortunate to have the opportunity to play for a great program like State."
Q: If you could play any other sport, what would it be?
A: "Probably basketball, especially at State. I played basketball in high school, and it's just such a cool atmosphere in the Breslin Center. MSU basketball is such a big draw, especially from the students. The game atmosphere is just awesome. It's just one of those games that's really fast-paced, and one of those things that I loved in high school, especially at a school like mine."
