Getting TV time
SLIPPERY ROCK — This was a hat trick Milly Raye was not expecting.
Three weeks, three appearances on ESPN for the Slippery Rock University senior slot receiver.
Only the third time, it was live.
“I was just laying in bed Sunday morning (Sept. 17)and I get a phone call,” Raye said. “It was from (SRU sports information director) Jon Holtz, asking me how soon I could get up there.
“He told me ESPN wanted to interview me live on Sports Center. I was like ... 'what?' Then I got dressed and got going.”
The Raye segment lasted about three minutes on the program. The live interview was two minutes and the show featured multiple clips of Raye touchdowns from the season's first three weeks.
Each of the previous two weeks, a Raye highlight was featured on SportsCenter as he used his “spin move” to escape numerous tacklers and take off down field.
“I don't know where it came from or how I developed it,” Raye said of his 360-degree turn away from trouble. “It's just something I feel comfortable doing.”
No matter where it came from, the spin has resulted in national publicity for SRU.
“You can't even put a measure on that,” SRU football coach Shawn Lutz said. “Slippery Rock is at the hub in Division II right now. Milly and these other receivers are drawing a lot of attention.
“So many people come to our games because these guys put on a show and people want to be there to see it.”
Raye was actually featured on ESPN yet again Sunday morning as one of his highlights from SRU's 49-45 win at Gannon was shown. Raye had 11 catches for 125 yards in that game.
He has now been featured on the national network during each of the college football season's first four weeks.
Raye is believed to be the first SRU athlete to be featured on national television while still playing at The Rock.
The Taylor Allderdice product has 26 catches for 440 yards and five touchdowns this season. He is fourth in Rock history in career receptions and is tied for third in career TD catches.
And he wasn't even recruited by the school.
“I was a receiver in a running offense at Allderdice,” Raye said. “(SRU senior defensive end) Bishop Gethers was my quarterback in high school. He was recruited by SRU, told them about me and I was invited to come try out.
“They liked what they saw and now I have a scholarship.”
And national publicity.
“He's an explosive player,” Lutz said. “I wouldn't be surprised if he gets on (ESPN) again.”
Rate has caught at least one pass in 31 consecutive SRU games. That is the longest active streak in the PSAC.
