Nelson BarnesWhen did you first learn that Steve Mocco would be playing football at Oklahoma State? And what was your initial reaction?
Barnes: I think we first learned about it during the summer. The NCAA cleared him for a fifth year. His eligibility was done in wrestling, but he still had one more year in another sport. The NCAA grants permission for two-sport athletes who redshirt one season. It would be the same case if a young man played basketball and redshirted one season … and then played football. So you would still have a five-year clock.
Has he talked to you about why he is giving football a try? Do you know if he has aspirations of someday playing in the NFL?
Barnes: I never talk in terms of going beyond collegiate football and playing professionally. Steve Mocco made the decision to come out … and he wanted to be a part of the program. He knows a lot of the football players. A lot of the football players came out during the wrestling season and helped him prepare him to try to win a national championship, so he wants to have the opportunity to come out and help them.
In your opinion, how have Mocco's wrestling skills translated into skills as a defensive lineman?
Barnes: Well, I don't know anything about wrestling, so I couldn't speak intelligently on how his wrestling skills have helped. But what I can speak on is his work ethic. He has a tremendous work ethic. You can see that rubbing off on a lot of the players in our group. If you're a hard worker, people notice that. So, No. 1 … I would say his work ethic and how he goes about his business … a lot of the players have picked up on that and it has benefited them.
He has been actively wrestling in the spring and summer … did he come into practice in good shape? How has his conditioning been?
Barnes: His conditioning is good. He ran with the players during the summer, so he's in very good shape. Plus, he's a wrestler … those guys are always in great shape.
Steve Mocco (Photo/John Sachs)Barnes: No, he's been a great young man to work with. He has a great attitude every day. And he's been very positive every day. When I talk to him, he's really enjoying himself. We enjoy having him … and he's enjoying the experience.
Have you noticed how Mocco has interacted with the other football players? How have they accepted him?
Barnes: It's been excellent … athletes are athletes. Whenever they workout together and sweat together, there's a common bond. So he has bonded extremely well with the guys in the group.
You open the season on September 2 at home against Missouri State. How much playing time do you anticipate Mocco will get this season?
Barnes: Well, playing time is something I never talk about with the players. We have a starting group and we have a depth chart. We play players as we need to play them. It's never something we talk about. Of course, if you're the starter, you're going to start the game and you'll probably play a significant amount of it. If you're not, you're going to play as you're needed.
Can you say where he sits on the depth chart at this point?
Barnes: Well, we haven't really finalized our depth chart yet. We won't do that until two-a-day practices are over. Everybody just starts in a spot and we just work. We don't have a true starting depth chart. And we won't have that until we get ready to prepare the week of the first game.
Stephen NealBarnes: Well, we're happy to have him where he is right now. And I think he's enjoying the experience. So for me to be able to speak on behalf of (Neal), I wouldn't know. I don't know anything about his football background. So I couldn't speak on whether he and Mocco have similar attributes.
Has Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith been spotted at practice yet checking in on his former wrestler?
Barnes: I couldn't say that I know that. I have talked to John Smith … I've visited with him a few times. He could have been at practice … I don't know that. Our practices have been open, so there are always a lot of people out there. But I can't really say whether he has been there or not.
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