The new recruit

By Greg Tepper // TexasFootball.com

I've never introduced myself to an entire state full of football fans at one time, making this both an exhilarating and terrifying experience.

In any case, I don't think we've been formally introduced.

My name is Greg Tepper, and I'm the new associate editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and TexasFootball.com. I'm thrilled and honored to be joining the most revered and respected source for football in the Lone Star State, and even more so to be working with the beyond-talented DCTF staff.

I'm a 2008 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, a 2004 graduate of Coppell High School and a 1997 graduate of Crabapple Crossing Elementary.

My background includes, in reverse-chronological order: writing for The Dallas Morning News, copy editing for the Tulsa World, interning for The Dallas Morning News, interning for the Tulsa World, interning for the Dallas-area ESPN Radio affiliate, hitting the only home run of my baseball career, winning the fourth-grade geography bee, getting my mouth washed out with soap for reasons you can imagine, and birth.

I'm as passionate about the game of football as you'll find in anyone, especially at the high school and college levels. Growing up in Texas, I understand what the game means to the people of this state, and I view it as a privilege to help keep the fans informed.

One of, in my view, the most critical tenants of journalism is transparency. When I write something, I better be able to back it up; that's my responsibility as a journalist, and I don't take it lightly. If you ever have a question about something I wrote, e-mail me. I'd be happy to get back to you.

An important note: I do not play favorites. Over the course of what I hope will be a lengthy tenure at DCTF, I will probably be accused of hating each of the more than 1,300 schools that we cover. Please know that while I may not always be perfectly complimentary of your favorite school, that certainly does not mean I am out to get it.

Other important things you should know about me, since we're going to become quite close in the coming weeks, months and years:

-Yesterday, my iPod played, in succession, Josh Abbott Band, Lil' Wayne, Pantera, Dexy's Midnight Runners and Ben Folds Five. That is an accurate cross-section.

-I believe that life is too short to take yourself too seriously, so expect a fair amount of snarky comments and pop culture references. Speaking of which, kudos to those who caught the "Tommy Boy" reference in my first post.

-I have a Twitter; consider it your No. 1 source for outbursts about Rangers games, impromptu reviews of movies that came out four years ago and almost no football insight. The DCTF Twitter feed is far, far better.

That's about it for me. Consider this my friendly handshake.

Hello, Texas. Let's be friends.