Soap Opera Digest: Welcome to the wacky world of soaps!
Mark Schlereth: Well, thank you!

Digest: So we know that GL Casting Director Rob Decina contacted you out of the blue. Can you give us the full scoop?
Schlereth: I thought it was one of my buddies playing a joke on me. I was e-mailed at my personal Web site and I just kind of laughed it off and then I started doing some investigative work. The e-mail was: "We really like you on television. We think you have that look...." The names and e-mails checked out, so I thought, maybe this is real! I responded and said, "Certainly I'd be interested in possibly pursuing this." And then I came out [to New York] and auditioned and it's been great.

Digest: And there's a story about the name Roc Hoover, too?
Schlereth: I started goofing around on radio here at ESPN. I couldn't possibly go in as Mark Schlereth. I had to have an alter ego or a nickname or whatever you want to call it. So I invented the name on the spot that afternoon. Roc was the no-brainer part. Where Hoover came from, I have no idea. It just kind of came out and [ESPN radio show hosts] Mike and Mike.... they run with it, with their production crew and all the people behind the scenes. They have a guy name Joaquin, he created my own theme song! Then it took on a life of its own. I get stopped as many times [by fans] in the airport asking Roc Hoover questions as I do NFL questions. I've had a great time with it.

Digest: And GL gave the okay for the name?
Schlereth: Several people in the casting office happen to be ESPN junkies and so they saw me basically breaking out the nickname.... They decided to stick with it. It's funny, when I walked in there the first day, all the guys on the soaps and the people I spent time with on the cast were laughing about the name, "Oh, my God. Roc Hoover!" But it's been fun.

Digest: How was your first on-set experience?
Schlereth: It was great. The people are awesome. Soap operas are very much like a football team. It's a very tight-knit family....There are so many talented people. You can really see why [GL] has run for 70 years.... I had apprehensions, I had trepidations. I was very nervous....With the guys, I knew I was going to take a boatload of ribbing about it. The other thing is, I don't want to go out there and be a toolbox and totally bomb on this thing! I'm very comfortable on ESPN and very comfortable with what I do for a living, but to grow, you've got to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and see how it goes. I had a blast doing it. It seems as though it worked out pretty well.

Digest: Had you watched soaps before?
Schlereth: No. I've never watched a soap opera and I have yet to watch a soap opera. I'm trying to get caught up. I'm so doggone busy.... I really haven't had two seconds to bone up on soap operas. I'm going to have to TiVo the doggone thing for a couple of days.

Digest: So you're coming back?
Schlereth: The people were great and I'm looking forward to having an opportunity to come back and develop the character. Who knows what's going to happen? I'm just excited for the opportunity. It's nice when those things come your way and you try to take advantage of them.