Tanner Price (‘14)
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Potential Major: I haven’t declared yet but probably economics with a minor in entrepreneurship.
Relationship Status: Single (HC: YESSS!)
Nickname(s): The only nickname I can think of is TP.
HC: Why did you choose Wake?
TP: I liked everything about Wake, especially the academic aspect of it. Being a top-25 school definitely made Wake a more appealing option. It’s also a smaller school with a big-time feel to it. I didn’t mind using football as a way to get into the school I wanted to go to, and I’m excited to play in a big-time conference like the ACC.
HC: Apart from Wake, what other schools did you consider?
TP: Stanford, Rice, Tulsa and Northwestern a little bit.
HC: How many hours during the day do you spend doing football-related things?
TP: When you add up the time I spend lifting [weights], watching film, going to meetings and actually practicing with the team, it comes out to about six hours a day (practice lasting about two and a half hours).
HC: What does your typical day look like?
TP: I wake up at 7:00 to go lift [weights] at 7:30. Then I have class at 9:00, tutoring and then more class. At around 3:00 we start meetings, and after meetings we have practice.
HC: Do you get to eat anywhere in there?
TP: Breakfast bar and lunch and team dinners as well.
HC: You have team dinners every night?
TP: We have them at least every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
HC: How do you handle managing such a busy schedule?
TP: I go to bed really early, probably around 9:00, and watch a movie while I fall asleep. If I don’t get eight hours of sleep, I can’t function.
HC: You do this every night? How do you have that many movies?
TP: Yeah, I’m a big fan of Netflix. Do you have a Netflix?
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HC: Yes I do, and I agree, it’s the best. What movies do you like to watch?
TP: This may be slightly embarrassing, but I’ve been watching a lot of Disney movies recently. I started watching the Lion King and the Jungle book, the classics I grew up with. They take me back to my childhood years and remind me what it’s like to be a kid again.
HC: If you could create a holiday, what would it be?
TP: National Bowling Day. A whole day dedicated to bowling would be pretty cool.
HC: Are you any good?
TP: I’m OK. I just like it. I’m actually in a bowling class right now.
HC: That sounds like a fun class! Are you in any other fun/interesting classes?
TP: I’m actually taking Movement for Men this semester, too. It’s kind of like a dance class but has a lot of athletes in it.
HC: Does that involve ballet?
TP: Yeah, we do some ballet like the chassé. Also, last week we did stage fighting, so we practiced sword fighting with wooden swords.
HC: When does this class meet?
TP: 9:30 to 10:45 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
HC: Great, I’ll see you on Thursday morning!
TP: Haha sure.
HC: What is your ideal first date?
TP: I’m pretty traditional so maybe go to dinner. You know, a long walk on the beach … watch the sunset … perhaps a fireside dinner… the usual.
HC: When was your first kiss?
TP: Eighth grade.
HC: Didn’t take you long to remember that …
TP: It was memorable. It was my first real kiss.
HC: How do you approach a girl you’re interested in? Have you ever used being Wake’s QB to pick up a girl?
TP: I usually throw a bunch of cheesy jokes at them and typically that fails, so then I resort to, “Hey, did you know I am the starting quarterback?”
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HC: Do you get fan mail? If so, how can we send you letters?
TP: I do get fan mail. It usually gets to me through the football office.
HC: What is the most uncomfortable part of your football gear?
TP: I wear a knee-brace.
HC: Why? Is it because of your injury scare during the Syracuse game?
TP: No, that was my other knee. It’s more of a preventative measure.
HC: What is the most exciting game you’ve ever played?
TP: Definitely this past weekend against FSU. It’s always been a dream of mine to upset a top-25 team, and to be able to do that at home with all of our fans there was especially great.
HC: At what point did you feel confident you were going to win?
TP: Well, you know we have a history of letting the other team come back late in the game, but when we settled for a field goal that put us up by two possessions late in the 4th quarter, I felt pretty good about securing the win.
HC: What’s your pre-game ritual?
TP: I always listen to “Big Yellow Taxi” by Counting Crows. It gets me relaxed and puts me into a good mood. I also like to get mentally focused. I go over plays and think through what’s going to happen.
HC: What is your post-win celebration?
TP: My family makes it up to every game, so usually I hang out with them for a while. I’m really close with my family. After I spend some time with them, I go hang out with my friends.
HC: Are you a mama’s boy?
TP: I guess you could say I am. I do love my mom.
HC: Where do you sit in the Pit?
TP: I like to mix it up. Sometimes I’ll sit by myself in the back corner.
HC: Do you like to people watch?
TP: Yep, sure do. Otherwise, I sit in the middle table where all the athletes sit. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.
HC: Do y’all sit there because that’s where the TVs are?
TP: I think that has a lot to do with it. Also, during the summer we eat at the Pit a lot, and we always sit there.
HC: What’s the best part of being a Texan?
TP: First of all, Texas is the best nation in world. Being from Texas you have that extreme pride. “Everything’s bigger in Texas.” (I love the mottos.) “Don’t mess with Texas!” I also kind of like that we are the only state that flies its flag equal with the American flag.
HC: What is the best praise you’ve ever received?
TP: I would have to say the best praise I have ever received was when an old pop warner (which is like peewee football) coach who I still keep in touch with told me that if he has a son he wants him to be like me in every way. I thought that was very nice.
*Photography by Karleigh Ash