Students: Good luck on Jeopardy! Mr. Humphreys! Woo!
Uh, my name is Brooks Humphreys. Uh, I teach at Mercy High School in Omaha, Nebraska, and I teach social studies.
What made you choose teaching as a career?
I chose teaching as a career because I thought that that would be, when I look back at my legacy, I would have left something. I would have left students that I had worked with, and I'm very sincere about that, in that I feel that that is a calling, and it's something that I was called to do.
How did your students react when they found out you made it on Jeopardy!?
They were giddy. They were jumping up and down and were so excited about it since I found out about the audition at the end of last year, and, uh, they have been very excited for me ever since I got called to the audition. So, um, yes, they were bouncing off the walls.
What do you hope your students learn from watching you on Jeopardy!?
I hope they can take away enough from my classroom that perhaps someday they might be able to try out in Jeopardy!, or else get a really good college education and go out into the working world.
Tune in! You might learn a thing or two!
...
How does it feel to advance to the semifinals?
Advancing to the semifinals, I have a great sense, first of all, of relief, and I, um, hope my--my girls can, uh, can pick this--my girls at school can--can pick up on this, yes, we're going to get through this, and, uh, um, we're gonna try to put the "W" on the board, so, uh, I'm very excited.
How did you prepare for the Teachers Tournament?
To prepare this--for this tournament, I have to tell you, I have been preparing for 45 years. There is no doubt about that. You can talk to my family. They know that to be, uh, for certain. Um, there--there is nothing that I haven't done. When I play Jeopardy!, when I see games, and so forth, that's, uh--did I do anything different? Not particularly, no.
Will you watch Jeopardy! in your classroom when the show airs?
They have already planned to watch in the auditorium, yes.
...
How does it feel to be headed to the finals?
Well, I-I feel like right now, that, uh, after I won in the first round that, uh, everything past this was gravy. So, I'm thinking right now maybe there's going to be a little bit more gravy! So... I'm, uh, I'm very excited about that.
Do you have any concerns going into the finals?
Not particularly. The only thing that I can do is come out and play the game. That's, uh--when I'm locked in, there's no dollars in your head. You just have to think, "What's the answer to that question?"
Did the win or go home format change your strategy?
When I--I bet a lot of money on a--on a Daily Double in--in Double Jeopardy! knowing that it was catch up now, or I wasn't going to be able to catch up, so that did influence my bet in that, and, uh, um, that turned out to be my category, the TOOT SWEET category, yes.
What was going through your mind when you knew the answer to Final Jeopardy!?
Yeah, you have that little moment where it hasn't happened yet, but you know--know to yourself, I mean, that--here it is, it's going to happen. And, particularly when Alex says, "Yes, that's correct answer"--I-I pretty much knew it was the correct answer, but at the point he said yes, that was the correct answer, you start grinning inside, even though you're--you kind of have to stay cool for a moment anyway.
Do you have a special plan going into the finals?
Just sort of sit and relax and--hey, I get to play two more games of Jeopardy! That's--that's what I'm looking forward to. |
