Vanstone: Sawyer Buettner’s bloody beak is causing a stir on the internet
Daniella Ponticelli’s savvy interview with bloodied University of Regina Rams quarterback Sawyer Buettner quickly went viral.
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Sawyer Buettner leaked a stealthy quarterback.
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It was a modest price to pay for a one-yard touchdown run that helped the University of Regina Rams topple the ever-powerful University of Calgary Dinos 34-21 in football action from Canada West October 2.
The victory was the first in Rams history against a first-ranked team in U Sports. But who could have imagined that an excerpt from a historic victory would resonate everywhere?
Buettner, the Rams’ close-range quarterback, came out with a bloody, battered beak after making his way to the south end area of ​​Mosaic Stadium. Shortly after reaching the bench, he responded to an interview request from Daniella Ponticelli, the side reporter and host of the game’s telecast on Canada West TV.
“She asked me if I wanted to do an interview,” recalls Buettner. “I said, ‘Do you want to do the interview? I’m sort of running away here. “
It was the signal for the magic of television – a minute-long conversation that quickly went viral.
Ponticelli began by asking Buettner how the extremely bloody nose was born.
“I’m not sure,” he replied on air. “Someone got their hands in there, but it’s okay. I was never very handsome, anyway.
Buettner proceeded briskly, cheerfully, even though neither the circumstances nor the aesthetics were the best.
“I’m from Moose Jaw,†he noted, “so we’re a serious group. “
Ponticelli also showed real courage. She continued the interview even though, as Buettner said, “I am 98% sure I have blood on her left shoulder.”
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As it turned out, his on-air apology was as profuse as the bleeding.
“I thought it was very kind of him – very Canadian of him – when he apologized,” Ponticelli said in an interview with this scribbler.
The reaction of the public, at the beginning, was rather contained. However, the exchange began to gain momentum after it was broadcast on Twitter by the Rams.
People associated with the Pardon My Take podcast, which is part of Barstool Sports, saw the video and summarily shared it with nearly 650,000 subscribers, after which it all went bonkers.
“It was very weird,†wondered Ponticelli. “You never know what’s going to take off on the Internet.
“I received a text from a friend, who wrote,“ Bleeding from the nose is amazing. “”
So incredible, in fact, that he was quickly nominated for the Podcast’s Football Guy of the Week Weekly Award.
“Then my phone started to explode,†recalls Buettner.
“It was a little crazy. I’ll go through my 15 minutes of fame for as long as I can, although I think it’s pretty much over now.
It all started out as a matter of routine.
“Usually after every touchdown we interview a player,†said Ponticelli, whose supporting role was a spotlight for someone who usually excels in her full-time vocation as a Global News Morning presenter in Regina.
“I think he was in line for first aid. I walked over to him and said, “Hey, do you want to talk? He didn’t miss a thing.
“I had to catch him for the interview when I did it because the window of time is so short. We had to put it in this perfect little spot so right after kickoff we cut it.
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“I had a feeling he would be a good person to chat with, just because of his presence on Twitter.”
Buettner, as previously reported in this precious space, is a social media staple. His Twitter account (@SawyerBuett) was a source of hilarity long before more information was gathered following the October 2 interview.
Consider this beauty Buettner from May 31: “My sister just graduated. It is now two degrees and I haven’t closed mine yet, but like I said before, I still threw for more meters.
Buettner retweeted this the other day, adding: “She didn’t win #FootballGuy of the Week so I think I could be my mom’s new favorite.”
He was the favorite of 56.2% of the 9,754 people who voted online for Football Guy of the Week.
And what does he get for being the big winner? Nothing but publicity and applause, so far.
“Pardon My Take is sponsored by Chevrolet,†said Buettner, “so a truck would be pretty cool.â€
The same would be true for a gift card from a dry cleaner, as Buettner’s # 12 jersey looks like an accessory for a detergent advertisement. It was such a mess on October 2 that he was forced to don a No.15 jersey for the second half.
“I hope they can get the blood out of my jersey and I can wear it again because I love number 12,” he said.
Buettner is happy to report that his nose, although curved, is fine.
“It’s not broken,†he said. “I feel like he’s leaning more to the right than before, but I didn’t pull out a protractor to measure the angle.”
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The angle, from a storytelling standpoint, was compelling.
“All credit to Daniella,†said Buettner. “I don’t know how many journalists would like to do this. It was a team effort.
“I’m someone who doesn’t take things too seriously and someone who rolls with the punches – literally.”
Who knows? Sitting on the sidelines can impact in other ways.
“I’ve always wanted to do a story about MMA and I think it really sets me on that path,†Ponticelli said, laughing. “I guess this interview will be on my reel for the UFC.”
The very real nature of the self-effacing, down-to-earth Buettner also struck a chord with Ponticelli.
“I’m so glad he got the recognition that he did,” she said. “When players let their personalities shine, that’s what makes those moments.
“When you have those moments, you say to yourself, ‘Oh my God.’ If this has taught me anything, it’s to go with your instincts. It leads to these very authentic moments.
Would there be a sequel?
Keep in mind that the Rams are preparing to host the UBC Thunderbirds (Saturday, 2 p.m., Mosaic Stadium). And, again, Canada West TV is broadcasting the game. Ponticelli will be back on the sidelines, so …
“Nothing has been decided, but we have to find a way to put it back on the show,†she said. “I hope he scores another touchdown because we have to wrap up everything that has happened.”
Buettner will undoubtedly handle such a session, if it materializes, with humility and humor.
“I’m still the same old man from Moose Jaw,†he concluded. “I just illustrated the courage of Moose Jaw in a great team victory. “
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