When I posted the YouTube video of the KU basketball and volleyball teams’ Jayhawk Musical in Monday’s Newell Post blog, I made sure to check the hit count.
The High School Musical spoof had just surpassed 500 views on YouTube.Just four days later, the video is approaching 50,000 views (it’s at 48,571 as I type this). So how did Conner Teahan feel about his starring role in this Internet sensation?
He talks about it in this Jayhawk Musical-themed Sideline Report.
The Jayhawk Musical-themed Sideline Report with Conner Teahan*
* — I didn’t ask all the questions this time, thus the Q&A format.
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Q: Were you surprised by the response the video received?
A: You know, I didn’t think it was going to be that big of a deal. That’s kind of why I did it, honestly. I knew that they were probably going to put it on YouTube, but I thought no one would find out about it or anything like that. I don’t really care, though. It’s not a big deal to me. I’m not mad. The only reason why I said I would do it was because I didn’t think many people were going to find out about it, and I didn’t want people to think I was enjoying that situation. That’s the only reason I didn’t care. I mean I don’t care if people realize I was just doing it as a joke, but whoever wants to watch it can watch it. I don’t really care. It’s not a big deal to me.
Q: Were there some strings that had to be pulled to get you to do it?
A: Oh yeah. They could have just asked me. I probably would have been a little bit reluctant. They didn’t really tell me about the lip-synching part until the day of. I wish they would have told me that so I could have at least gotten prepared and practiced maybe. They could have asked me, but they kind of pulled some tricks. But it’s all good. I don’t care.
Q: Do you it is important to do activities outside of your sport?
A: I think it is, just to show that you’re more than just a basketball player or more than just a volleyball player or whatever. It kind of shows a different side of us that people really don’t get to see that often. I think that’s good for people to understand that we do have a different side. Because I feel like there are sometimes that people are reluctant to come up to me, or approach me differently than they’d approach someone else when I just want to be approached the same way that they’d approach anybody else.
Q: Did you get roped into it because you look like Zac Efron?
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A: Yeah. That was pretty much how it was. I threatened to shave my head before, so I couldn’t get on that, but no, I couldn’t do it.
Q: Have you been dealing with the Zac Efron resemblance for a long time then?
A: Yeah, I have been. I understand I’m going to get it. I sit there everyday, I’m just like, ‘Gosh, maybe I should cut my hair. Maybe I should cut my hair.’ But then I think, I’m just like, ‘I had my hair before this movie came out. I’m not giving up my stuff for him.’ He can give it up first.
Q: So you’re saying Zac Efron looks like you?
A: That’s what I’m saying. (laughs)
Q: Did you get any guff from your teammates?
A: Not any more than I have. Every time I walk in the locker room: ‘Hey, what’s up, Zac?’ (laughs) It’s that joke. That really hasn’t changed, it’s just more people have seen this video, making me kind of look like the High School Musical man.
Q: Do you think this type of thing makes fans realize that you’re more human and that you have a personality off the court?
A: I think so for sure. I think that’s something that is good and that we kind of maybe need to do more of this stuff, maybe participate a little harder and maybe help all athletes become a little more approachable.
Q: If you had to do it all over again, would you?
A: Yeah. I don’t care. I’d do it, I guess.
Q: Were the winks your idea?
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A: No. Actually, I’m going to rat this person out. That was Brennan (Bechard). I’m standing there at mid-court, and they’re telling me to do something. I’m just thinking I’m going to go up there and dunk it, and then I hear Brennan go, ‘Why don’t you wink at the camera?’ My head fell like this, because I didn’t want anybody to hear it. Then one of the girls was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, that’s a good idea.’ But no, that wasn’t my idea. That’s what I’d change. I wouldn’t wink at the camera.