Summer Break with David Godbold

June 21, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. -- Throughout the summer, SoonerSports.com will feature interviews with players on the OU men's basketball team. Fans will get to know how the student-athletes are spending their summers, what they like to do for fun off the court and what to expect for the 2007-08 season.

The first interview subject is senior-to-be David Godbold. The 6-5 guard from Oklahoma City, who now weighs 221 pounds, leads current OU players in career games played (88) and games started (48). Godbold averaged 7.4 points an outing last season, coming off the bench in 18 of his 31 games. A career .347 3-point shooter, the wing made at least three treys in a contest eight times a year ago and scored a career-high 20 points against sixth-ranked Texas A&M.

Godbold and center Longar Longar will be the only two seniors on the 2007-08 squad.

David Godbold Bio

What is your most memorable game as a Sooner?
"I would say the Kansas game my freshman year. It was a really big game because they were ranked No. 2 in the country. Playing well against them kind of made a statement for me, showing that I had the ability. Coach Sampson believed in me and let me play that game. That was a big game for me."

Who wins if you take on Coach Capel in a 3-point shooting contest?
"It just depends on what day it is. Maybe he would beat me on a Saturday, for instance. But other than that, I'll win."

What is the best part of your game?
"Probably just catch-and-shooting. I like hitting the 3's."

How is the off-season going?
"What is off-season? We don't really have an off-season. Right now we get up for 5:30 a.m. workouts. We're lifting weights and doing some sprints and things like that. We feel like it's a Bob Stoops type of workout. We think we can hang with the running backs -- we feel fast. It's good though. With our new guys here, this is the time when you build relationships with each other. We also come in individually or with a couple other guys and get a lot of shots up. And we're also playing some pick-up games."

What are the main things you're trying to improve on this summer?
"I am trying to get better at ball handling and being more consistent with my shooting and decision making."

What's the best thing about playing for Coach Capel?
"Just his laidback personality. He teaches us the game and makes it more exciting for us. Our first year with him was really fun. We didn't play as well as we should have, but he stuck by us and he didn't turn on us."

What are you doing this summer besides playing basketball?
"I'm taking a summer school class in the mornings and I'm also interning at the Channel 5 sports department in Oklahoma City. Basically, I'm learning how to be a sportscaster. I find stories, research them and write them. It's fun. I did some stuff on camera the other day that supposedly might air on Sunday night (June 24). I listed my top five NBA draft picks and threw in some analysis. They said I couldn't get it done in less than 10 takes but I knocked it out in five."

Since you want to get into TV broadcasting, who is your favorite current personality?
"Probably Ahmad Rashad. In a close second would be Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley because I put them together. They are all funny and they talk about important stuff, but they also make it lighter for everyone."

What show would you most want to host on ESPN?
"I would have to say I'd want to host Cold Pizza. I'll take Skip Bayless' job."

Besides basketball, what is your favorite pastime?
"Video games. I love to play against my teammates. Right now we play NBA 2K7 on PlayStation 3. I was ranked No. 1 in the world a few times but I kind of got bored with it. I'm still in the top 10, though. I won't ever lose my top-10 status."

What teammate do you enjoying playing against the most when it comes to video games?
"Longar, without question. We go way back. We've been playing for four years, since we were in the dorms. That's a great rivalry."

If you had to chose one restaurant to eat at for the rest of your time as a Sooner, what is it?
"Chili's. I love the 'Triple Play.' It has egg rolls, buffalo wings and chicken crispers. It's my favorite dish."

Being a senior, what advice can you give to the newcomers?
"Just to listen to Coach Capel. He is here to help you and if he gets on you it is only because he loves you and wants you to be the best you can be."

What are your thoughts on the newcomers so far?
"Cade Davis is a good shooter. He is really quick, but he said he wants to work on that more. Chris Early has a big, strong body. He has good size for a freshman. Blake Griffin gives Longar Longar a workout every day. Tony Neysmith is really smart and doesn't make many bad plays."

Do you have anything fun in store for the new guys?
"Hazing is illegal so we won't be doing that. But if we were to play a prank, well, I can't disclose that information. We always give them a hard time. We make them get our towels and stuff like that. We can't let them have it easy."

What are you looking forward to next season?
"I am looking forward to a better season. We want to show everybody that we have talent and we should be an elite team."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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