John Russell
You’ll notice two things immediately about Hannah Clarkson, a fourth year Materials Science and Engineering Ph.D. Candidate in the Shu Yang lab.
First, her love of sports isn’t the casual kind. She watches the way a coach watches, tracking systems, matchups, and momentum, then digging one layer deeper into what’s happening between an athlete’s ears when the game tightens up. Second, she’s almost always knitting. Give her a chair, a conversation, and a little time, and she’ll have a sweater in progress before you’ve even finished your first question.
For our sports edition of 13 Questions, we sat Hannah down to talk hockey, football, and the teams she can’t quit. Along the way, she hands out a Super Bowl pick, explains why Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith is the Philly athlete she’ll defend without hesitation, and proves you can love a game with your whole heart while still breaking it down with a clear head.
1. Okay, you’ve got North Carolina roots but you’ve fully embraced Philly sports. Be honest, which team and sport is actually your favorite?
I love football and hockeyfor different reasons. I grew up going to high school football games with my dad, so there’s the nostalgia for me, but I’ve come to really love hockey during my time in grad school, to the point that it’s my favorite sport at this point. As far as favorite team, it’s really hard to choose between the Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks, but they’re in different conferences so I’m just gonna say both. Also the New York Sirens and Montreal Victoire of the PWHL
2. You’re fantastic at breaking down coaching philosophies, over-and-under performing players, and teams, so I’m putting you on the spot: four teams left, who’s winning the Super Bowl?
I’m gonna go with the Seahawks. I think they’re easily the most well rounded. If Sam Darnold gets past his boogeyman (the rams), he’ll be fine.
3. Pitchers and catchers report to camp soon. How are the Phillies really looking this year? Chances for a “chip” (Philly vernacular of a championship)?
Uhhhhhhh I think the Phillies will be fine? We resigned Kyle Schwarber right? Look, we’re about to get NHL players in the Olympics, and just the Olympics in general. I’m a little preoccupied with that.
4. Which coach do you trust the most right now for Hockey, and which one makes you nervous every time they make a decision?
I’m not as familiar with hockey coaches, but I think I have an answer. I trust Paul Maurice (Florida Panthers), that team has gone to a bottom feeder to back to back Stanley Cup Champions. I also trust any man who wears shirts with ridiculous photoshops of his cats to the Stanley Cup parades. I think the coach that makes me the most nervous is Greg Fargo of the New York Sirens. I think their decision to trade some of their bigger names for draft picks and a young core has been working out, but I really want the Sirens to stop being at the bottom of the PWHL.
5. Is Sidney Crosby a top ten player of all time, why or why not?
I have eyes…… yes Sidney Crosby is a top ten player of all time. However I will argue that Marie-Philip Poulin is a way more influential National Team Captain in Canadian hockey history.
6. What’s one sports take you have that most fans would strongly disagree with?
Chapel Hill Basketball is overrated (UNC for those who aren’t from North Carolina). Chapel Hill fans in general are annoying. I’m not even a huge Duke fan, I just dislike them less than Chapel Hill.
7. Is there a Philly athlete you’ll always defend, no matter how chaotic the fan base gets?
Hmmmmmm I think I’m gonna go with Eagles WR Devonta Smith. He took a smaller deal because he wanted to stay in Philly, and he’s already making generational wealth. Also the clip of him talking about the juicer he bought is one of the best things I’ve seen on the internet.
8. Switching gears, how do you usually explain your research to people who aren’t in your field?
I like telling people that I use bacteria to grow rocks. I work in biomineralization and living building materials, with the hope of creating concrete that is less reliant on Portland Cement
9. Do you approach your research the same way you watch sports; lots of analysis and patterns, or do you try to shut that part of your brain off?
I’m definitely detail oriented when it comes to most of my life, but I’ve had to learn to look at things from a much bigger picture when it comes to my research. I’m collecting so much data at one, I need to make sure I’m not getting bogged down in too many individual details. I do pay attention to all of them though, my brain can’t help it.
10. What’s more emotionally exhausting: a bad playoff loss or a rough week of research that goes nowhere?
Easily a bad week of research. I’ve gotten pretty good at remembering to treat Sports as my fun escape, so I’ll definitely get emotional in the moment, but I usually let it go after an hour or two. Since I work with bacteria, I have to work on their schedule, cause you can’t really make them grow any faster. This leads to a lot of really long or strangely-houred days, so when something gets messed up, it can set me back up to a week. It’s not fun
11. Okay, important debate: Quaker, Mountain Hawk or Tar Heel: who has the better mascot?
Mountain Hawk, easily. Pacifists aren’t very intimidating. Gritty is still the best mascot to ever exist though.
12. What sport do you think people don’t appreciate enough from an analysis standpoint?
This is definitely an interesting question, since I actually watch a ton of sports (I probably know more about the Russian women’s figure skating chaos than most). This might be predictable, but I’m gonna go with women’s hockey. There’s still some physicality, but not nearly as much as the men’s game, so the players have to rely way more on skating skill and clever puck handling. I can’t wait to go to the New York Sirens game at Madison Square Garden later this semester.
13. Is there a team you just don’t trust, even when they look great on paper?
The Carolina Hurricanes. They always crumble in the Eastern Conference Final.
14. If you had a totally free weekend, no games, no research, what would you be doing?
I’d definitely do a lot of crafting. It’s rare that you see me at a seminar or group meeting without a knitting project in my hands, so I’d definitely take the time to work on some more of my complicated sweaters or do some painting.
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