IMPORTANT NOTE: The interview was conducted over the phone, and due to the poor reception on the line, the podcast recorded approximately half of the interview, as the volume coming from the BC lines simply wasn't loud enough for the system to pick up. I did my best to recount word-for-word, but some/many of these are not exact quotes, but rather me trying to piece together what the podcast was unable to record from what I remembered. Lastly, some of the questions were asked in a different order than they appear here. Any incorrect grammar or spelling errors should be attributed to the writer, not Bowman.
Also my questions are paraphrased, because let's face it, you're not here to read what I have to say anyway. Well, not in this piece at least.
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BCDraft: Marty Bowman! Thanks so much for coming on.
Marcellus Bowman: No problem.
BCD: A couple weeks ago we were lucky enough to have Alex Albright join us for an interview. We asked him about nicknames and he told us that you go by "Boomcat". Where did "Boomcat" come from?
MB: [this entire piece did not record, this is all from memory]. Basically Bowman was wresting a guy one time and dropped him so hard that it made a huge "boom!" sound when it happened. It happened again with another guy, and people started calling him "Boomer". Then, as he hit people on the football field and during practice, the name "boomer" solidified, but people started adding "cat" because of his quickness. Over time it's gotten a little shorter, so now it's just "boomcat".
BCD: Many BC fans have taken notice of what a huge hitter you are, for sure. In fact, Mike from Rivals even stated earlier this season that you were the biggest BC hitter, EVER. What are your thoughts on that and how does that make you feel?
MB: Wow, that’s really quite an honor, to be the best of all time at anything is a great honor. It always makes you feel good when you hit somebody.
BCD: Game is on the line, BC is up five and the opponent has just thrown a deep out as the clock expires. The ball is in the air and if they catch it, they win. Do you go for the big hit to knock the ball out, or for the INT?
MB: (pauses) Wow, I think I’d like to go for both! I’d go through him to the ball..
BCD: I like that answer! Next question: How do you prep for a game? Do you have a pair of old socks you ALWAYS wear or anything like that? Any music or pregame rituals?
MB: I like to keep it different every game. The more I went through a routine, the more I would get nervous and worry about making sure I did the routine right. I switch it up every week and listen to some different non-pump up music, so I can maintain a calm, and store up all of the energy so when it’s time to get out on the field I can let it all out.
BCD: We're very glad you're an Eagle...but why BC? It looks like you had offers from Cincy, Pitt, Purdue, WVU, and ‘Cuse among others. What about BC stood out to you?
MB: Basically, everybody wants to go to a college and make a name for themselves. You can go anywhere and make big plays. You make enough big plays, you’ll get noticed no matter where you are. But the thing for me was, “What if I got injured?”, “What if I had to go to plan “B”?”. Well if you’re at BC, you know what “plan B” would be, it would be getting a graduating with a great degree from BC. So I would say that the academics really is what stood out the most for me.
BCD: What did your final choice come down to…were there two or three others? BC and who?
MB: It was basically BC, Purdue, and Pitt. But, I felt so sure about my decision when I committed early in my senior year, there was no point dragging on the recruiting process because I knew where I wanted to go.
BCD: You are a leader on the secondary this year.. how would you rate your performance at leading so far? 1-10, where 1 is awful and 10 is All-American.
MB: I’d say about a 6 or a 7. The reason I would say that is that is after the big play you may have made, there’s always another play you didn’t make, or should have made. At the same time, I’m only starting for the first time this year at BC, so for in-game situations, I’m still learning as I’m playing.
BCD: When you were coming up, what BC guy helped you along the most?
MB: Ryan Glasper, a very emotional leader. After he left, Paul [Anderson] and I rotated a lot, and obviously he won the starting job. I learned a lot from him, too.
BCD: Which current BC guy who is an underclassmen are you helping to bring along?
MB: I’m a big fan of Jimmy Noel. He hasn’t gotten a lot of play so far, he hits hard, even though he’s not a big guy. I mean, he’s tall, but he’s pretty thin. Right now he plays really high and I know with his ability, if we can get him lower, he’s going to be a great one.BCD: Do you model your game after anyone? Anyone in the NFL that you try to emulate?
MB: I’m obviously a big YouTube guy and I like to YouTube the big hits and take a little bit from everybody. I like how Roy Williams comes in low, I like the way Sean Taylor played, and I liked how Ed Reed plays at Baltimore. I try to take a little bit from all of the greats.
BCD: Now on to some questions from our readers. First, D-Able wants to know about your workout routine. It seems like you're really taken your game to another level this season and he's curious what you've done in the off-season differently.
MB: I really watched my intake this year, but one of the things you learn as you go through your time at BC is where you can find extra time between classes or after breaks where you can sneak in a work out here or there. I really took it extra seriously. Put in extra time, finding extra time, and really went at it hard. At the Plex, there’s also a couple machines that no one seems to use, no one else knew about this one machine, and I really thinking those secret machines are helping me this year.
BCD: So are you going to tell us where the secret machines are??
MB: I’m going to leave it a secret, no one ever uses it, people will just have to try them out for themselves and figure out which one it is.
BCD: Legrand want to know about BC and VT familiarity. Do you think it helps one side or the other seeing how you guys have played each other so much over the past two years?
MB: I think it’s even because it’s really a chess match, and we’ve seen each other’s moves so much at this point that we [both VT and BC] know a lot about each other..
BCD: Con1818 wants to know how the young safeties are looking in practice. I know you already talked about Sticks Noel, but what about guys like O, Atkinson, and Mulrooney?
MB: O is natural when it comes to tackling and hitting people. Atkinson, he’s quiet, hard nosed, and consistent. Mulroony, I like him too. All of the young guys are really coming along and starting to understand the big picture here at BC, and they’ll be ready to play if the opportunity arises.
BCD: E4GLE1 wants to know what your most memorable hit was. We saw you blow up Jarvis at Kent State earlier. Is that your favorite hit?
MB: That’s a tough one. I don’t think I really have one. I guess if I had to pick one, I’d say my hit vs. Ford [Clemson WR Jacoby Ford] this year. He went back the farthest when I hit him.
BCD: Jaybert is dying to hear, as many of us are, what you guys call Keuchly in the locker room. The kid HAS to have a nickname, right?
MB: Nothing yet, he doesn’t really have any sort of outrageous personality traits or anything. Well, we call him Clark Kent sometimes off the field with his glasses, he’s clean-cut, good posture…then he goes on the field and seems like Superman getting 13 tackles a game.
BCD: Ok, last question. McGrate wants to know which quarterback is the toughest you have had to go against since you first donned the maroon and gold.
MB: Without a doubt, Riley Skinner.
He just has an innate ability to keep the play alive. A lot of times when he’s running around back there, you’re tempted to come up to help the team out and make the tackle, but you have to stay disciplined and make sure the ball doesn’t get thrown your way. He just has the ability to make plays with his legs and his arm. I’d definitely say I have a lot of respect for Riley Skinner.BCD: Again, Marty--thanks so much for taking the time and coming on. Go BC, and beat VT!
MB: No problem.
EOC
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Mary Bowman is a football player. Period
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