1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: Six thirty seven, seven hundred wlw RNL Carrier Sports Talk 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: presented by Kelsey Chevallet Am Lance McAllister. Thanks for hanging out. 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: Let's talk some soccer. FC Cincinnati players report to camp 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: this week. On hand will be a new edition with 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: local ties. A cool story full circle story. Thirty three 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: year old defender Kyle Smith was the two thousand and 7 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: nine GCL South Player of the Year at LaSalle High School. 8 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: His journey includes three seasons with Louisville City FC and 9 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: the USL, the past seven seasons in MLS with Orlando 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: City SC, and now with the Orange and Blue. What 11 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: a treat pleasure to welcome in Kyle Smith. Kyle Lance McAllister, 12 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: how are you? 13 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 2: I'm doing well? How are you doing? 14 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 3: I'm fantastic. Welcome home. 15 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 1: I mean, how exciting it must be to now be 16 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: looking forward to playing in front of family and friends. 17 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's very exciting. Honestly, I can't wait to get 18 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 2: in TQL Stadium and start playing. 19 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: Do I understand this correctly? Your parents have to be excited. 20 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: They've been season ticket holders of FC Cincinnati, Is that right. 21 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 2: Yes, they have. They've been seasoned ticket holders. I think 22 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 2: since the MLS since FC Cincinnati started in the MLS, 23 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: so quite a while. 24 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: Man, oh man, So let's backtrack a little bit. Man, 25 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: let listeners know about some of these background. After you 26 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: graduated from Transylvania University, and I understand you were working 27 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: in accounting and you were playing amateur soccer with the 28 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: Cincinnati Dutch Lions, tell me about that time. 29 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 3: In your life. 30 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. So when I graduated, I moved back home and 31 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 2: then I got a job with the University of Cincinnati 32 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 2: at the College of Medicine, working in accounting. So you know, 33 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 2: I did that for about two years while I was 34 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 2: trying to break it in, break into professional soccer. And 35 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: like you said, I played for the Cincinnia Dutch Lions, 36 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:54,559 Speaker 2: and then I started doing like open tryouts and I 37 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 2: thankfully made Louisville City, So I got an opportunity and 38 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 2: got my foot in the door with that cole. 39 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: Just so fans understand when when you're going to these tryouts, 40 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: you're paying at these tryouts and you're you're one of 41 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: a gazillion trying to stand out. 42 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 3: That explain that situation. 43 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,519 Speaker 2: Yeah, honestly, it's kind of like American Idol, Like anybody 44 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 2: can show up, so you got some people that are 45 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 2: good and some people that are not so good. But 46 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 2: it's it's difficult to you know, stand out because there's 47 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 2: so many people. So I went in with you know, 48 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 2: a particular strategy of just you know, trying to score 49 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: as many goals as possible, and you know, it helped 50 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 2: me stand out. So I think that's why I got 51 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 2: the opportunity. 52 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 1: I was reading an excellent story that Carter Chapley wrote 53 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 1: about you for Fccincinnati Dot Comedy and he mentioned you 54 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: back in the inaugural season of FC Cincinnati in twenty sixteen, 55 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: you had tried out for the Orange and Blue. 56 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 3: Is that right? 57 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 2: Yeah. I was an open try out again, so you know, 58 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 2: like anybody can come, and there were hundreds of people there, so, uh, 59 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 2: you know, I didn't make it, and I didn't get 60 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: the opportun counity with FC Cincinnati, but I went to 61 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: Louisville City as well and did the same thing and 62 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 2: they gave me, you know, an invite te tryout where 63 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 2: there was about only twenty kids there, and then I 64 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 2: got invited. I was one of like three guys to 65 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 2: get invited to preseason with them, and then we went 66 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,119 Speaker 2: to IMG Academy in Florida, and then I got two 67 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: weeks to try out, and then they offered me a 68 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 2: contract after those two weeks. 69 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 3: Unbelievable. What a cool story. 70 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: Kyle Smith checking in tonight and new is remember the 71 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: Orange and Blue FC Cincinnati camp opening this week. So 72 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: you've been aware obviously and following long since the first 73 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: season of the Orange Blue. Just give us your impressions 74 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: of FC Cincinnati, what they've built and what they've become. 75 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. I feel like they've the past a few years here, 76 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: they've definitely, you know, raised the standards in the MLS. 77 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 2: They've been consistently at the top of the table, and 78 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 2: that was a big reason why I wanted to come 79 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 2: play here, because of the winning culture that they had created. So, 80 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 2: you know, I'm super excited for this season and I 81 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: really can't wait to get start are with them. 82 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: So how take me through this offseason? How did how 83 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: did the whole FC Cincinnati opportunity turn out to be 84 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: a thing, and and now you've put pen to paper, 85 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: how did it come about? 86 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they contacted my agent and uh, at the time, 87 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 2: I was in negotiations with Orlando, my old team. UH, 88 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 2: and you know, once I heard that Cincinnati was interested, 89 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 2: I you know, kind of shifted gears and definitely wanted 90 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 2: to pursue that opportunity to come home and you know, 91 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: play for such a great club and in a great 92 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: city where I'm from. So I, you know, jumped on 93 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 2: that opportunity. 94 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: Kyle, tell FC Cincinnati fans who are listening right now, 95 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: what the type of player you are, what you think 96 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: you do well, and how you envision your role here. 97 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. So with my old team, I was kind of 98 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 2: like a Swiss army knife. I play multiple positions, and 99 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: I think that's kind of, you know, my role that 100 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: I'll have here as well, and you know, just kind 101 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 2: of step up whenever I needed when my when my 102 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 2: numbers called, and I you know, work hard on the field. 103 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: I'm a defender and but I can also play in 104 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: the midfield, so I I try to keep it simple 105 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: and then you know, just I uh, I think I'm 106 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 2: a player that has good spatial awareness on the field. 107 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. 108 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 1: Do you do you know any of your new teammates 109 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: from from previous playing days? 110 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, so Nick Haglin and I played against him for 111 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 2: you know, since we were like eleven years old. Yeah, 112 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 2: and then he guests played for my team one year, 113 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 2: and he was actually showing me some pictures today of him. Yeah, 114 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 2: guests playing when we were probably like twelve thirteen years old. 115 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: I I always say I I enjoyed talking with Pat 116 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: Noonan when he's on the show with me, and I 117 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: always said I thought, if I were a player, I'd 118 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: love to play for Pat Noonan. Give me your early 119 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: impressions of him and what you've heard about Pat Noonan. 120 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would say he has very high standards and 121 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 2: he's a coach that wants us to you know, work 122 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 2: hard and come in every day and you know, keep 123 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: raising the standard and and building the winning culture that 124 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 2: they've already you know, kind of established. So my first 125 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 2: impressions are, you know, he seems like a great guy 126 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 2: and a great coach, and I'm very excited to get 127 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 2: to play for him. 128 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: Take me back to two thousand and nine, a while ago. 129 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: You're the GEO GCL South player of the aar at 130 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: Lasal High School. What are your memories of your playing 131 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: days at LaSalle High School. 132 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. I had a great time at LaSalle High School. 133 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: It was a great school. I think they you know, 134 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 2: helped me improve as a as a person and. 135 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 3: As a player a lot. 136 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 2: So I'm very thankful and grateful that I chose to 137 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 2: go there for my high school. So yeah, I think 138 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 2: it's a great school for anyone to go. 139 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: To, you know, as the hometown kid. And coming back, 140 00:06:57,480 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: you know, everybody's gonna come out of the woodwork. They're 141 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: going to have tike request. Are you ready for this? 142 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 2: Yeah? I think so, but I have you know, I 143 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: have a lot of family here, so you know, they 144 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 2: get first DIBs on the tickets. But I think I'm ready. 145 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 3: Good. 146 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: Hey, uh, I know it's been a whirlwind and I 147 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: know you've got a busy week ahead. Thank you for 148 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: making time tonight. Congratulations. I'm really happy for and I 149 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: hope we can talk again during the season. 150 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: All right, thank you very much. 151 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 3: All Right, take care, Kyle, all right, take care. There 152 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 3: you go. 153 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: Kyle Smith, thirty three years old defender FC Cincinnati from 154 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: from LaSalle to an open tryout to getting an opportunity 155 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: with Louisville City FC in the USL and try I mean, 156 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: think of it. You're you're trying out for FC Cincinnati 157 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: back in the the inaugural season as well, and then 158 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: seven seasons in MLS, And now the next chapter becomes 159 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: a chance to come home. 160 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,239 Speaker 3: That is really cool.