Damian Eargle is unique in so many ways.  He will leave a legacy of statistics behind, including becoming the all-time leader in blocked shots in Horizon League history.  More than that, Eargle will leave a hollow void in the charisma of Youngstown State Athletics.  It is refreshing to watch a student athlete truly enjoy what he is doing on the court.  His friendly demeanor is not a gimmick either because his personality has been top shelf since he came back home to play basketball at Youngstown State.

Paneech:  You might be the happiest Division I basketball player ever.  Does Coach Slocum ever give you an earful for smiling in games or practices?

Eargle:  All the time.  I try to stay positive and would like to think I made coach happy with my smile.  It definitely gets me into some trouble, but not that much.  I’m smiling because I love playing basketball, I love the game.  You will not always get calls, especially when you start complaining, so I always try to be friendly with the officials.

Paneech:  What about when coach stomps his feet and goes on a tirade with an official at a game, how hard is it for you not to smile and be yourself?

Eargle:  (laughs)  I get busted all the time…. all the time.  Coach Slocum seems to have gotten used to it, and it is not really that big of a deal anymore.  He knows that the smile is a genuine reflection of my personality.  The whole coaching staff is used to it.  When we are having a bad day at practice, I do my best to cheer everyone up.

Paneech:  On a more serious note, six young people from your hometown of Warren recently tragically passed away in an automobile accident.  Did you have any ties to the victims or know any of the families?

Eargle:  I did not know any of the victims.  Warren is a small community with a family setting.  Our hearts go out to all of them.  You probably hear a lot of bad things about Warren, but the citizens of that community are surely going to support those families.

Paneech:  To be the all-time leader in any Horizon League category must be an honor.  Does it enhance your value to get to the next level?

Eargle:  It was an honor to break both the Horizon League career record and the Horizon League Tournament record for blocks.  It is a good thing to have on your resume.  I believe it may give me an opportunity to play at the next level.

Paneech:  Is there any one blocked shot that you had that may be your best ever?

Eargle:  It would have to be when I blocked Stephen Curry my freshman year.  He threw up a floater and I came out of nowhere to get it.  I was headhunting because I wanted to get him so bad.  It felt so good even though he ended up with like 33 points in that game.

Paneech:  You have had to adapt and learn to play with a protective mask (below) on your face in the last few weeks.  What is different?

Eargle:  It gets sweaty under there and sometimes the sweat gets into my eyes.  I also sometimes have a hard time looking up.  On the positive side, it helps me be more aggressive, I am more open to contact because it does protect.  It was hard at first, but I have gotten used to it.  Since I started wearing it, my shooting percentage and rebounds have gone up, and I don’t know why.  When I feel comfortable enough, I will take it off.  I will never know when, but someday it will stay off.

Paneech:  How big of a deal is it that YSU has finally earned the right to play in a postseason tournament?

Eargle:  It is huge for the program.  It is the first time in the history of YSU that a men’s basketball team will be playing in a postseason tournament.  We are excited about it and even though we sacrificed our entire Spring Break to practice, we all welcome that trade, to play in that tournament.  I probably would have been sitting in my room or chilling at home, so I am much happier playing basketball.

Paneech:  Who is your favorite NBA player and why?

Eargle:  Penny Hardaway was my favorite player ever.  He was a 6’6″ guard and that is what made me want to dribble.  He and Shaq were my idols back in the day when they played for the Orlando Magic.  I remember the commercials with Little Penny, stuff like that made me admire him.  He was an amazing player and I wish he was still playing.

Paneech:  I have watched you shoot free throws in practice and you make 19 of 20.  Then you get to a game and you miss one, does it screw your head up?

Eargle:  It has a snowball effect, I’m telling you!  I can hit them regularly in practice.  Today, I think I hit 30 of 35.  It just gets mental.  I do practice them and they really are mental.   You can hit a pair and it gets easier, but when you miss that first one you think, ‘man, what am I doing wrong here?’

Paneech:  I love Coach Slocum’s emotional prowess, but from where I sit at home games I see two things when you shoot a free throw – you at the line and him in the same line of sight, staring at the floor unable to watch.

Eargle:  I can’t look that way when I am at the line.  I think the assistant coaches tell him what happens.  If I look that way, I might just miss, so I don’t even go there.

Paneech:  I respect the direction that Coach Slocum has this program going.  In any way, do you feel that maybe with the all-time leader in conference history in blocked shots, the all-time school leader in threes with Blake, and a first team offensive / defensive selection with KP that this team underachieved this year?

Eargle:  We wanted to do better, but we did take a big step up and doing things never before done here at YSU.  We made some history, and we are comfortable with where we are at right now.

One Word Answers

Favorite Cereal:  Trix

Fast Food:  Pizza Hut.  I get a P-Zone and a chicken alfredo family sized side and Mountain Dew.

Favorite Drink After Practice:  Water

Alternate Sport You Would Play:  Football, Tight End

Favorite TV Show:  Breaking Bad and Walking Dead

Song On ipod No One Would Expect:  Work To Do – Average White Band

Who Wins NCAA Tournament?  This year it is so random that I wouldn’t be surprised if Valpo won.  I will say Syracuse.

What Happens Next?  Camps, If not the NBA, Overseas.  If not overseas, I will work at a corrections facility in Elkton.  My college experience has taught me a lot about networking, it isn’t always what you know, but rather who you know.  I toured prisons, I’m fine with it.  I have tough skin.

Tough skin well hidden by a big smile.  Thanks Damian for your accomplishments at Youngstown State.  Many people are glad you came home to play.