How much of the 2007 NFL Draft did you watch this past weekend? If you are like most people on this campus who follow football, you probably tuned in for the first round, or at least until your favorite Penn State football player landed somewhere (yes Eagles fans, I'm sure you're thrilled with Mr. Hunt in your backfield).

But did you ever wonder what goes on in a NFL team's war room? The pressures of making the right selection, the hope that your "No. 1 guy" is still on the big board, or the temptation to move up to secure your future hall-of-famer. Well, wonder no longer draft enthusiasts, because I have your answer.

I spent the draft with the Baltimore Ravens' organization, and got an inside look at their draft process. Behind all of the glitz and glamour you see on the television lies a series of team mock drafts, stubborn coaches barking and the greatest food spread you could imagine.

Day one

The 2007 draft for the Baltimore Ravens began in the early hours of the morning of April 28th. The first people arrived around 4 a.m., and prepared all of the printed notes and itineraries for the weekend. Next, head coach Brian Billick, General Manager and Executive VP Ozzie Newsome, and head scouting director Eric DeCosta arrived and prepared for the longest weekend of the season.

By the time I got to the facilities, the draft was only a few hours away. My official job was to update the Ravens' draft board so everyone knew who had been taken and where.

You would think that as soon as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces the start of the draft, the Ravens would go into panic mode, right? Wrong.

I quickly learned the organization's motto: "hurry up and wait." The Ravens held the 29th pick and had several hours to wait before it was their turn.

Ravens' First Pick: 5:30 p.m.

At this point, the war room is getting a little more heated. With the realization that their pick was rapidly approaching, the Ravens made some final phone calls and even flirted with moving up a few slots to nab the not-so-highly-coveted Brady Quinn. From the expression on Billick's face, the free-fall that Quinn endured was too risky for the Ravens to chance, and the team opted to address the offensive line. The Ravens quickly jumped on the phone, negotiating with several teams to see what value they could get with the 29th pick overall.

After a series of calls revealed they wouldn't get what they deemed equal value, the Ravens called their representatives in New York City and made their selection.

The selection was Ben Grubbs, a guard from Auburn. Applause roared through the room, as personnel and coaches all seemed to agree with the pick. Grubbs figures to help to sew up the Ravens' offensive line.

Soon after, Billick and his staff went back to work, anxiously waiting for their next pick, which wouldn't come until the third round, and close to 9 p.m.

The first day came to a close at around 11 p.m. The first round lasted six hours and eight minutes, the longest single round in NFL history. Each team had seen the first day provide them with an assortment of talent, but also gave them little time to regroup for the long and grueling second day.

Day two

Day two had a different feel. I arrived back at the Ravens' facilities early, making sure Billick had everything he needed to make his final few picks. Everyone in the war room seemed excited at the thought of drafting more players but they also looked exhausted.

Day two began with round four, where the Ravens had two picks and needed to get involved in the action immediately. With breakfast foods in hand, the staff got to work, making even more phone calls, reviewing statistics and projecting scenarios that could affect their ideal picks.

The second day is when the front office earns its pay. The Ravens needed to address the quarterback position. Steve McNair is in his 30s and nearing ancient status. With the 37th pick in the fifth round, the Ravens saw one athlete staring them right in the face. Ohio State QB Troy Smith's resume was unmatched: 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, 30 touchdown passes in his senior season and a BCS National Championship appearance.

He had been rated highly on the Ravens' big board, with the team expecting him to go during the third or fourth round. By the time the fifth round came, the Ravens felt they had no choice.

Discriminated against because of his small 6-foot frame, Smith's draft stock plummeted, but that didn't stop the Ravens from taking a chance on him.

Mr. Irrelevant

As Ramzee Robinson, the Draft's Mr. Irrelevant, heard his name called at approximately 6:30 Sunday night, the Ravens war room quietly began to pack up. Most of the media had gone home, and everyone who remained looked like the living dead. I'll admit, I took a second to step back and admire the big draft board, which over the course of the draft, slowly transformed from a blank canvas into a masterpiece of football talent.

Still, although my feet were screaming in pain and I was feeling the effects of exhaustion, I knew that I had been fortunate enough to assist a professional football team in one of its most important weekends. The walls of the war room had seen frustration and jubilation, heard curse words and phones ringing off the hook, and even taken a good slap throughout the two-day event.

As Billick, Newsome, and DeCosta headed home late Sunday, they appeared as though they had drafted a class of players that will soon have a major impact in the NFL. And although no one truly knows whether their picks will have the career of a Peyton Manning, or a career of a Ryan Leaf, one thing is certain; each team leaves their respective war rooms believing that this year is their year.