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For a short time Sunday morning it seemed as if the ClayNation Civil War Camp featuring two NFL players as lead counselors was a done deal. I had already spent late Saturday and early Sunday morning in intense negotiations with Craig Stevens and Geoff Schwartz to confirm that in the off chance the Titans drafted both of them that we would put the wheels into motion on the Civil War camp.
Schwartz had even gone so far as to draft a press release for our camp and sent it to me via text message: "Local author and writer Clay Travis along with rookie draft pick Geoff Schwartz open up a Civil War sleep-away camp for kids between the ages of 13-18." Aside from being a vaguely scary release, I have it on good authority that this would be the first Civil War sleep-away camp to feature NFL players and be sponsored by a downtown bar.
By 10 a.m. I'd already received a text message from Schwartz and Stevens letting me know that Craig was en route to Nashville. Stevens, a tight end from Cal, was the Titans' third-round (85th overall) pick. This almost didn't happen because Stevens was nearly drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.
In fact, he was on the phone with the Ravens and had just been told he was their pick when his other line buzzed and a 615 area code showed up. Stevens' first thought was, "I don't know anyone from 615 but Clay. Is this him calling me right in the middle of the draft?"
Even still, he switched over.
Turns out it wasn't me. It was Jeff Fisher informing Stevens that he was a Titan. Craig said he didn't know what to do since the Ravens had told him he was their pick at 86 but he tried to click back over to tell the Ravens what had transpired. After he spilled his story, Craig heard the Ravens' response: "This is still Coach Fisher." Turns out he hadn't switched lines. By the time he truly clicked back over, the Ravens braintrust was not on the phone anymore. Such is life in the fast-paced world of the NFL Draft.
All of this drama meant it was up to Schwartz to make our Civil War sleep-away camp a reality. And Schwartz had a long day in front of him. A really long day.
As a fan I have always wondered what it's like to wait agonizing hour after agonizing hour to see if you will be selected in the NFL Draft. Each pick, your emotions rise, your stomach clenches, you think about why a team is the ideal fit for you, make sure your cell phone is in perfect working order, then you don't get selected. This happens all day.
That's what Oregon offensive tackle Geoff Schwartz's day was like. But rather than hear it from me, I decided to interview Geoff and share his responses with y'all. So read on to find out what draft day is like for a seventh-round pick in the always invigorating ClayNation interview.
Clay Travis: What time did you start watching the draft Sunday?
Geoff Schwartz: At 7 (PT) when it started. I got up at 6:30. I'd told myself I wasn't going to watch but I watched all day.
C.T.: Where did you have your cell phone?
G.S.: My phone was in my lap at all times. Even in the bathroom. It would have been ironic to get a call in the bathroom from a coach, but that didn't happen.
