Name: Grant Canning
Year: senior, class of 2015
Major: FTDM- Sports Broadcasting
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Activities: Grant enjoys participating in anything athletic related. He specifically enjoys playing basketball at the Rec.
Relationship Status: In a relationship.
Meet Grant Canning, a senior at Texas Christian University. Canning is majoring in FTDM-Sports Broadcasting and minoring in Business. Next year, he will be pursuing his dreams while attending graduate school at Ohio University for Sports Administration. We sat down with Canning to ask him a couple questions. Canning talked about his role as our school mascot, Super Frog, and gave us some juicy dating tips as well. Check out our fun interview with this week’s Campus Cutie!
Q: How did you become Super Frog? Why did you want to be Super Frog?
A: “Well, I was a chant leader in high school and I wanted to carry that over to TCU somehow. The closest thing to that was Super Frog. I lived in Moncrief freshman year, so I became close with a lot of the Showgirls and Cheerleaders. I asked one of my friends (who is a Showgirl) about getting involved with mascoting and it turned out her coach had mentioned (to the Showgirls) that if they knew anyone interested (in being a mascot) to let the coach know. I shot their coach an email, was given an appearance (tryout), and I guess killed it at the appearance. That all was in the spring of my freshman year. I just had to stop doing it (being Super Frog) this semester because of work that I’m doing in Athletics. But, it has been one of the coolest experiences of my college career by far. I’ve done over 15 football games, including the LSU game and the Peach Bowl game against Ole Miss. I’ve done the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament and have met a lot of great connections as well.”
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: “Anything that has to do with playing sports (baseball, basketball, football, golf). I like hanging out with people, I don’t like just sitting- I’m way too active to waste the day sitting around.”
Q: Who is your celebrity crush?
A: “Jennifer Aniston, Blake Lively, Eva Longoria, and Natalie Portman.”
Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: “I like to sing in the car…a lot.”
Q: What qualities do you look for in a girl?
A: “One of the biggest things that I look for is someone that I can always be myself around. I have a quirkiness about me and if they like me for me, then I’m all about that. Also, I look for someone who I can see my friends and family getting along with really well, but also someone who I can easily call a best friend. I need someone who is extroverted like me, who has a strong personality, and who is extremely passionate. I love girls who have an idea of where they want to go or what they want to be one day. Also, someone who can make me laugh. I have my funny moments from time to time, but if you can make me laugh plus everything I said above, you’re a winner.”
Q: What is your ideal first date?
A: “Hmm, interesting question. To be honest, I’m not really a ‘date person’. I really enjoy hanging out, talking, and getting to really know someone. I do enjoy a good car ride and listening to music with someone- you eventually find yourself talking about deeper things than you ever planned on and it leads to awesome conversations. I think if I could go on any date, it would probably be a batting practice at Rangers Stadium, followed by a picnic in center field. Simple, but nearly impossible to actually happen…but it would be so freaking awesome!”
Q: What is the worst date you have ever been on?
A: “Knock on wood, I’ve never had a date horror story. I’ve definitely hung out with some girls who are awkward and really hard to make conversation with, but you just try and liven the conversation up as best as you can.”
Q: What makes you want to ask a girl out on a second date?
A: “For me, it’s if I get that ‘vibe’ that I could really see myself hanging out with this person for a long period of time and really enjoying myself. Also, I generally have a good sense if the date went well or not. Depending on what the first date was like, the second would probably be way more relaxed, just because that’s how my personality is. But if I had that feeling that I wanted to get to know her more, then absolutely, I’ll ask for a second and third date.”
Q: Do you prefer a “high-heel girl” or a “tennis shoe girl”?
A: “Tennis shoe girl for sure. Gotta’ be active and ready to go! #sports.”
Q: What was your worst kissing experience?
A: “I don’t think I have one legit experience…it’s more of an incident that I’ve had happen and I know a handful of my buddies have had. When there is no chemistry or flow between you and the girl when kissing, it just throws everything off. You aren’t in sync and it honestly just becomes awkward because someone is off and then you start over thinking and it just leads to a bad situation.”
Q: Brunettes, blondes, or redheads?
A: “Blonde or brunette. I’d say I’m a sucker for blondes, but I’ll more than likely end up with a brunette.”
Q: Are you an extrovert or introvert?
A: “Very extroverted.”
Q: Should the girl text first?
A: “Depends on the situation. I like a girl who will show some initiative, but I have to feel her out too. If that means I need to text her first to see if she’s actually interested, then that’s fine with me and we can go from there.”
Q: Is it attractive when girls make the first move on a date?
A: “Depends on what you mean by the ‘first move’. If she’s trying to kiss you or hold your hand on the first date, that’s a bit much for me. I’m more of the one who likes to set the pace on the first date I guess. There is such a thing as ‘too aggressive’ to me. Slow and steady wins the race.”
Q: When does a girl come on too strong?
A: “A lot of texts, acting like you’re dating too soon, or if I can sense she’s getting ‘clingy’ too early. I don’t like to use that word (‘clingy’), but there’s really no nice way to say that.”
Q: Have you ever been ‘Notebooked’?
A: “I honestly don’t even know what that means. Maybe it has to do with the movie The Notebook. In that case, yes, I have seen The Notebook a time… or two…or eight.”
Q: How do you feel about the male/female ratio at TCU?
A: “I obviously notice it, but it really has never played a big role in my experience at TCU. My major is predominantly males, so I guess that has probably helped. However, I’ve made some of my best girl friends (friends who are girls) that I will have in my life for forever. It’s obviously nice, because there are so many attractive and beautiful girls at this school, but it really has never played a role in anything I’ve done here.”
Q: What is one piece of dating advice you would give girls?
A: “It sounds so textbook, but just be yourself. One of the (most annoying) things for me with girls are ones that are fake and just want to tell you everything you want to hear. If you are yourself and are upfront with a guy, that’ll be so much more beneficial in the long run. Honesty and openness are huge, end of story.”