1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to School Stories presented by three M, the official 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. Tonight, we are looking 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: back at a couple of our favorite interviews from this 4 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: incredible season. In the second half of the show, we'll 5 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: catch up with special teams Guru Gary's Honor, but first 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: we're talking to former Shutdown corner Xavier Rhoads about living 7 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:33,319 Speaker 1: his best life down in Miami. Please enjoy tonight's conversations. Well, 8 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 1: Xavier Roads, Welcome to the show. It's great to hear 9 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: from you again. I'm sure the fans are anxious to 10 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: hear from you. And will you give those fans a 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: quick update on how you're doing these days? 12 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 2: Ah? Man, I'm doing great man back in South Florida 13 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 2: where I was born, to ay living a best life 14 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 2: right now? 15 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: What do you characterize the best life at this point 16 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 1: of your young guy? 17 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 3: What does that look like? We want to know what 18 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 3: this looks like for a retired retired player. 19 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 2: You know you work hard to accomplish you know you 20 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: play college ball, you have this dream to play in 21 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 2: the NFL, and I was able to play ten years 22 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 2: and I devoted my life to the game. So now 23 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 2: what I mean about The best life is just being 24 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 2: with my family, watching my kids grow, watching my son 25 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 2: become a phenomenal basketball player right now, you know, teaching 26 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 2: him about hard work and dedication. 27 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: How old was your son and what levels you're playing 28 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: at right now? 29 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: He's fifteen, ninth grade and playing varsity right now. 30 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 3: Oh wow, that's fantastic. So the for parents listening, what 31 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 3: kind of advice do you give him? 32 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 2: Oh? Sports wise? 33 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, just like yeah, just sports wise, because I think 34 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 3: people are very, very curious, and it's been my experience 35 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 3: that like the guys that were former players, when they 36 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 3: have kids that play, they just it's the basic things, 37 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 3: it's effort and stuff like that that they really let 38 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 3: them know how much work it's going to be in 39 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 3: the dedication of the sports type thing. 40 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 2: I mean, I mean, yeah, same thing. You know, I 41 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 2: let my son know. You know, it's multiple schools, multiple 42 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 2: high schools. You know that in each state. You know, 43 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 2: you got to outbeat some of those guys in basketball, 44 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 2: they actually dropping guys overseas, so you actually got to 45 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: put an extra word extra time. But not only that, 46 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 2: you know, you have to know that, well, whatever sport 47 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 2: you play, it has an expiration date to it. So 48 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, you've got to have 49 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 2: you have to have a backup plan. So I'll be 50 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 2: on a more on school than anything else, and following 51 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 2: with the world is going to so you know, now 52 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 2: the world going to tech, So being more on to that, 53 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 2: try to be more involved into that. So when you 54 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: become an adult, you can have the qualities and you 55 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: can have the requirements that needed to to adjust to 56 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 2: the world. 57 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: What is going It's a great lesson. Did your son 58 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: have any designs on following in your footsteps and playing 59 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: football or did it always lean towards basketball? How happy 60 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: are you about that? 61 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: Listen? Listen, So I don't know, you know about the 62 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 2: basketball player. They have this thing when they walk into 63 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: the gym and they have easy slides and have their 64 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 2: choosing their backpack. Yeah, headphones on. That is my son. 65 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 2: So you know football, see football is over. He's not 66 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: considered during football at all. 67 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's not I mean, and that's not a horrible thing, 68 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 3: is it not? Just as long as he has something 69 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 3: whatever that is that he's that he's dedicated to, right. 70 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean sports alone. Teach kids dedication, teach everyone 71 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 2: how you know to prioritize their time. Let you know 72 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 2: about adversity. There's a lot of things you can learn 73 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 2: from sports. And I'm not against him planning. I didn't 74 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 2: want him plan at first. But the things I see 75 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 2: and what it's teaching him to scructure, how to be structured, 76 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 2: I mean, it's changing. So I encourage, I mean a 77 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:30,839 Speaker 2: lot of people to put their kids in some type 78 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 2: of sport or anything that's going to give them like 79 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: a schedule, and you're going to see a drastic change 80 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: in your child if they're not actually doing anything. 81 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: Right well, speaking of growing up in the environment he's 82 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: growing up in right now, Florida. As we all know, 83 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: Florida high school football is famous for being one of 84 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: the most competitive in the country. And what was it 85 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,839 Speaker 1: like for you growing up in that environment and when 86 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: did you know you kind of had that gift to 87 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: to keep moving up the ladder and eventually becoming an 88 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: NFL player. 89 00:03:57,840 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 3: Oh man, my. 90 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 2: Story, My transition was pretty difficult, you know, going playing here, 91 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 2: I played against a lot of guys and a lot 92 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: of my friends played in the NFL. You know, I 93 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: grew up with Kevon Webster, Gino Smith, Dedman Bailey. I 94 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: can keep going. It's a lot of guys. I probably 95 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 2: grew up with like nine ten guys that played in 96 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 2: the NFL, So that let you know along how competitive 97 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 2: it was down this way. And it's more guys in 98 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: South Florida I played against, you know that's in the 99 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 2: league still to this day. So you know, I wasn't 100 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 2: really highly rated growing up. I was a receiver and 101 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 2: running back growing up. So once I got to Florida State, 102 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 2: I actually thought I was going to play receive a 103 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 2: running back, but they came my position at the corner, 104 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: and once that happened, my dreams and hopes of playing 105 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: going to the next level was shot. Like I didn't 106 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: believe I would get there. But like I tell my son, yeah, 107 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: like I tell my son, now, hard work and dedication 108 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: and believing in yourself would get you far. But I 109 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: dedicated myself to the game and learning that position. And 110 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: ten twenty years later, however, so I played a great 111 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 2: had a great career. 112 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 3: Now I have to ask you something about Florida State 113 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 3: Andobby Bowden, because legend has it that Bobby Bowden would 114 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 3: be at practice but he would kind of sit up 115 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 3: in the up in the stands or up in the 116 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 3: tower and kind of had a megaphone and would just 117 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 3: you know, yell things down every once in a while. 118 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: Is that the case that he was? You know, Bobby Bowden, 119 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 3: He's talking about his stoic figure, a legendary head coach. 120 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 3: And then to know that he wasn't on the field, 121 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 3: he just was. You heard that all the time. He 122 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 3: just sits up on this thing and yell stuff down. 123 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 3: It's like, I just wanted to make sure that that 124 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,239 Speaker 3: was actually the case. 125 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 2: I mean, yeah, yeah, it was. 126 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 4: You know. 127 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 2: I got Bobby on his tail end of his his 128 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 2: coaching career. You know, it was his last recruiting class. 129 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 2: So I've seen Bobby three times the day in practice. 130 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 2: I've seen him in the beginning of practice, the middle 131 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: of practice, in the end. That's the only time you've 132 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: seen Bobby, like, like you say, in between those times, 133 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 2: Bobby was in like he was someone else watching practice. 134 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 2: You couldn't really get close to him because he was 135 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: pretty old, you know, but he stayed close to the players. 136 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 2: He talked to the players, make sure it was good, 137 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 2: you know. And Bobby coached so many players throughout his 138 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: career where he didn't really know your name. He couldn't 139 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: remember your name, so he called you out your number. 140 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: But yeah, I mean he coached a lot of great, 141 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 2: a lot of great, so it was respectable. Like you know, 142 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 2: once Bobby actually like knew your name and call you 143 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 2: by your names. That's when you know you was doing great. 144 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: We took that as a badge of honor because you know, 145 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 2: Bobby walking around saying, hey, Xavier, oh you know my name, 146 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 2: Light up that player. I'm doing something great. I'm doing 147 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,359 Speaker 2: something good. They must be talking about me and the 148 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 2: coaches meeting at something. But yeah, man, it was great 149 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 2: memories being around him, you know, great memories being coached 150 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 2: by him, him and Mickey Andrews. Yeah, I still to 151 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 2: this day remember those memories and the times I had 152 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 2: with him. 153 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: Well, I'm sure you still pay attention to uh. Obviously 154 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: in college football in particular in Florida. What do you 155 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: make of what is going on right now with the 156 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: nil money and the transfer portal and what that would 157 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: have been like had you been playing during those days. 158 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: Is it hurting the game? Is it just like, is 159 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 1: it about time that the players are getting common been 160 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: stated for what they're doing and whether the money they're 161 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: helping bring into these universities. 162 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, in my what I think is not 163 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 2: actually allowing these players that are coming in to be 164 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 2: fully developed. You know sometimes you know, when you leave 165 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 2: high school, you know, you you have play with coaches 166 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 2: that don't really understand how to develop a player. It's 167 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 2: different coaches that now to develop players. So they going 168 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 2: to college, and these college coaches don't really have the 169 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 2: time because the transfer portal is available now, so it's 170 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 2: all about winning now. So by having that mentality, a 171 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 2: lot of teams are just jumping into the transfer portal 172 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 2: just to try to get that championship, and you going 173 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 2: with players that's not fully developed and not being fully developed, 174 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 2: and you have they get left out, left behind, or 175 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 2: you know, you put them on the field and they 176 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 2: not really they not ready yet. So that's what I said, 177 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 2: a lot out there on that field when it comes 178 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,239 Speaker 2: to the nil and how affected the game college game actually, 179 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: you know, because you know it's you see it like 180 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 2: you see a lot of people getting beaten. Jimmy's don't 181 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 2: really understand the defensive offensive calls to understanding gaps, the 182 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: blitz blit saying they don't really understand the fundamentals of 183 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 2: the game and knowing that and seeing that you know 184 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: that's only going to hurt you in the long run 185 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: because when you get to that next level, everyone on 186 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 2: that field understands the game, right, I mean everybody understands 187 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 2: the game, you know, and it's all about who's the 188 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 2: smartest one. I need to know your next move before 189 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 2: you make it. That's the game is about playing an NFL. 190 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 3: And you you made that transition. Uh part of a 191 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 3: draft class that was very unique with three first rounders 192 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 3: Sharif Floyd, Cordrell, Patterson, yourself. The question I've been waiting 193 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 3: to ask you since I found out we were going 194 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 3: to have you on was you know you're drafting under 195 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 3: Leslie Frasier. I got what an amazing guy to play for. 196 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 3: But as a player when Zimmer came in, it seemed 197 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:45,839 Speaker 3: like your career took off then, and I just at 198 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 3: some point I want to know what was it about 199 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 3: Zimmer and the defense? And maybe it had nothing to 200 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 3: do with Zimmer and the defense. It was all about you. 201 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 3: But what changed for you? Because the level of play, 202 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 3: that's really when you accelerate. And it was interesting that 203 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 3: you said you hadn't played corner dB your whole life, 204 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 3: because that's another part of it as well. It is 205 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 3: just learning the position. You know what I mean, you 206 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 3: didn't play it since you were six years old. You 207 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 3: just started playing it and going from offense to defense. 208 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 3: That's another huge thing. 209 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 2: I would give my thanks and I would like to 210 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 2: say thank you the coach great you know my position coach. 211 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,959 Speaker 2: Reason why is because once Zim signed on to the 212 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 2: Vikings and became the head coach, he hired Coach Gray 213 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 2: to be deep as a back coach, and I was 214 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: one of the first players he called here like, hey, 215 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 2: we love you here, we wanted, we want you to 216 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 2: be a great here. He said, Man, you listen to me. 217 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: We're gonna I'm gonna have the Braach truck back up 218 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 2: in your backyard. 219 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: You're gonna get paid. 220 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 2: So I'm like, oh, man, coach, what you're talking about? Like, man, 221 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 2: listen to me. I'm telling you. I got you. Just listen. 222 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 2: Everything I'm telling you and everything I'm gonna teach you 223 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: is gonna it's gonna it's gonna pay off an end. 224 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,199 Speaker 2: I said, all right, So Dan, you know, with with 225 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 2: Zim coming in and George coming in, those guys was 226 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 2: like all on me, and they saw potential with me 227 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 2: because on the previous film I had last year and 228 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 2: those guys, all three of those guys, was only each 229 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 2: and every day. You know, you heard the stories about 230 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: me wearing gloves, boxing gloves and practice because I was 231 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 2: holding too much. You know, those a little details those 232 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,959 Speaker 2: coaches paid attention to because they wanted me to be great. 233 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 2: And Zim came in where you know, we know Zim 234 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 2: love him to death. He was the hard nosed coach. 235 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: They don't really want to smile, walking around, grouchy all day, grumpy, 236 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 2: but you know, but we was able to get to 237 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:29,679 Speaker 2: him because we know how to get to him and 238 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 2: he's loosen up with us, and by doing so, he 239 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 2: let his guards down. And by letting his guards done, 240 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 2: that's when we knew we had a connection as a 241 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 2: team and that's why we was able to play the 242 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 2: way we played. 243 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 1: Thanks again the Xavier Rhoads for joining the show. For 244 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: the full conversation with Xavier Roads, please check out our 245 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: podcast feed on your favorite podcast app. Be sure to 246 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: come back for our second half of the show for 247 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:56,839 Speaker 1: our conversation with special teams guru Gary zunder right here 248 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: on school stories presented by three M. From the field 249 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 1: to the roof and everywhere in between. Three M, the 250 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings, is here. Visit 251 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: Vikings dot com slash school Science to learn more. Unreal 252 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: is back with their limited edition Vikings Drop head to 253 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: Narl dot com for more details and welcome back to 254 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: tonight's edition of School Stories presented by three M. Please 255 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: enjoy our previous conversation with Special Teams Guru Gary's Honor Well, 256 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: Gary's owner. It's great to have you on our show today. 257 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,319 Speaker 1: So much to catch up on. I remember your days 258 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,199 Speaker 1: fondly with the Minnesota Vikings, mostly as their Special Teams coach, 259 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: especially in the heyday late nineties in particular. But with 260 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 1: so many years to cover, first 'll just give the 261 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: fans a quick update. What you're up to these days, 262 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: and where are you living and how active are you 263 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: still in the world of football. 264 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 4: Well, I live in Mountain Hills, Arizona. Basically semi retired, 265 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 4: but I still do some consulting. I train high school, 266 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 4: college and prospective NFL specialists. I have two major comb 267 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 4: that I run, one in February of the College Senior 268 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 4: Combine and then the Free Agent Combine in March is 269 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 4: attended by many of the NFL teams, are CFL, UFL, 270 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 4: or any of those new leagues. They come out and 271 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 4: they check out the talent level of the free agents available, 272 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 4: which your new kicker was a part of it. He 273 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 4: actually came in twenty twenty two to the College Senior 274 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 4: which I ranked him as a one A prospect NFL prospect. 275 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 3: Which we don't know what that means. Eight Oh my god, 276 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:30,599 Speaker 3: Well it's not. 277 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 4: It's rankings. But you know, Pete, you were probably a 278 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 4: one B. 279 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 3: But I know that. 280 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, But you know, there's there's free agents, and there's 281 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 4: draftable guys. But I one A means I think the 282 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 4: NFL team should take a look at this guy because 283 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 4: I think he's got some potential. So every year, a 284 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:51,079 Speaker 4: lot of guys have gone out and proved the scouts wrong, 285 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 4: and I've had quite a success rate. I think there's 286 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 4: fifty six starters in the NFL in the last sixteen 287 00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 4: years of guys that I've had here that did not 288 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 4: go the NFL Combine that made it to the NFL. 289 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 4: And this past year I had Brayden Arbusen who went 290 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 4: with those other guys the Packers the new long snapper 291 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 4: with the Detroit Lions Hogan Hattan. He was kind of 292 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 4: a sleeper and actually Jake Bates with the Detroit Lions 293 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 4: he was the year before this past year, I also 294 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 4: am part of the Hula Bowl selection committee where Spencer 295 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 4: Schrader came to the Hula Bowl did quite well. He 296 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 4: signed with the Colts, then he played I think one 297 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 4: game with the Jets, and then the Kansas City Chiefs 298 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 4: just picked him up. So but anyways, that's kind of 299 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 4: what I do. And then you know, I train whoever 300 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 4: wants to get better as a punter, kicker, snamper. 301 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 3: Hey see this is I mean, that's something I think 302 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 3: as a special teams coordinator as there's a lot of 303 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 3: them out there, a couple of your former players or 304 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 3: guys that you know, like Heath Farwell, I know you 305 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 3: and you know the Vikings and the Bravens. At the 306 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 3: time we were trying to fight over him in free 307 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: agency because he didn't get drafted. But you knew a 308 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 3: lot about the kicking game and it's it's amazing and 309 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 3: talk about this, I guess for fans listening, special teams 310 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 3: coaches don't always know kicking, do they like I'm saying. 311 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 3: When I say kicking, I mean the technique and what's 312 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 3: wrong with the what can be good or bad about 313 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 3: the kicker swing and those kinds of things. Am I 314 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 3: mistaken in that? 315 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 4: Well? I just happened to be fortunate enough to be 316 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 4: a kicking coach that learned a lot about special teams 317 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 4: and I just happened to be in the right place 318 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 4: at the right time. I was at BYU because LaBelle Edwards, 319 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 4: and a Hall of Fame coach, saw my resume and 320 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 4: he said, would you please give me a call? And 321 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 4: I called him up and he says, you know, Gary, 322 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 4: everybody on this team gets coached except three guys, the punter, kicker, 323 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 4: and snapper. And it ended up he hired me and 324 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 4: we had an All American punter in Clay Brown, and 325 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 4: we had a guy there by name Eli Johnson that 326 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 4: played eighteen years. But that's kind of started my career. 327 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 4: And as I went from there to San Diego State, 328 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 4: on and on, eventually I met, you know, George Allen 329 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 4: and he hired me. Danny Green. I met in there 330 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 4: with Brian Billick and Ni he was a special teams 331 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 4: coach at one time, and he says, you. 332 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 2: Know, you're I'm going to bring. 333 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 4: You in because you're one of the few guys that 334 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 4: not only knows the special teams aspect, but more importantly, 335 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 4: you know the kicker. 336 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. 337 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 4: And then then he would always say, you know about 338 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 4: the snapper, And I was always looking to, you know, 339 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 4: bringing new guys just geart. I worry enough about the kicker. 340 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 4: I don't ever want to worry about the snapper. So 341 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 4: that's when we had That's when we had Mike Morris. 342 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 4: But your point, Pete, there's a lot of coaches that 343 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 4: they get in the NFL because they know a head coach. 344 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 4: They could have been head coaches in college, but they 345 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 4: come in as a as a NFL Special teams coach 346 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 4: and they get through the meetings and you know, they're 347 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 4: supposedly because you got the title special Teams coordinator, but 348 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 4: they really don't know the mechanics of the kicker. Like 349 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 4: a guy, you know, why is he missing it right? 350 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 4: Why is he pulling it left? Why is the long 351 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 4: snapper laces going backwards? And that's my whole thing. I 352 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 4: used to teach guys the art of snapping perfect laces. 353 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 4: And I learned that from a guy when I was 354 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 4: in training camp with the Vikings. His name is Mick Tinglow, 355 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 4: and Mick was in camp and he's warming up and 356 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 4: I was up there for a tryout. I went to 357 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 4: the University Wisconsin lacrosse. They brought me in for a 358 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 4: tryout and Mick was warming up and I'm noticing and 359 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 4: he's turning back to Paul Krause, who's my holder at 360 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 4: that time, and he goes, Hey, Paul, where are the 361 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 4: laces coming out? And he says, oh, oh, court turn 362 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 4: So he adjusted and all of a sudden, you know, 363 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 4: I was twenty at twenty one, and they signed me 364 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 4: after a great workout. And so when I come back 365 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 4: to training camp being a physical education teacher, I'm going like, heate, Mick, 366 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 4: how did you do that? He says, well, you know, 367 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 4: you just got to get the right rotations and da 368 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 4: da da, and if it isn't, I turned the laces. 369 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 4: And so through my career, I always the vital man 370 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 4: in my kicking game was a long snapper, and I've 371 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 4: taught so many guys. Matter of fact, in the last 372 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 4: sixteen years, I've had thirty eight snappers in the NFL. 373 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 4: And the art of teaching perfect laces has really come 374 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 4: a long way because almost every guy when you watch 375 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 4: TV and you see a good kick, it's like snap 376 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 4: bone kick. It's good. But you'll occasionally see the laces 377 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 4: and you'll see you guys. They'll show close up of 378 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 4: the whole theer's spinning laces and the guy will miss it. 379 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 4: And like I said, it's become an art of having 380 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 4: a great snapper and then why does a guy miss? 381 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 4: But as I was looking at the stats this year, 382 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 4: I noticed that some of the kickers that are having 383 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 4: problems lost long snappers or the punter changed. But they 384 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 4: came up with this stupid kickoff rule. 385 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: Wait for that. 386 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 4: Larry Izzo called me about a kicker and I says, Larry, 387 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 4: here's what I'm afraid of. They got this stupid rule, 388 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 4: and I'm telling you, I think the percentage of the 389 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 4: kicker is going to go down this year. I like 390 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 4: in kicking to golf, when a golfer try kick shots 391 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 4: and spin shots and weird shots or it's the perfection 392 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 4: of what plubb he has and what he's trying to execute. 393 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 4: So they're now asking these kickers to try these well, 394 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 4: hit a squib kick between the twenty and the goal line, 395 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 4: or mishit the ball to the like the fifteen yard line, 396 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:04,880 Speaker 4: hook it to the left corner, or fake the guy 397 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 4: out like you're kicking right and kick it left. So, 398 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 4: as you know, Pete, in practice play Sunday, Monday, you 399 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 4: don't practice Tuesday. You don't practice on Wednesday. You come 400 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 4: out and you kick field goals. You practice probably punting 401 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 4: in punt returns. So the kickers may be kicking field goals, 402 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 4: but on Thursday you got kickoff, kickoff returning. He's still 403 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 4: kicking field goals. Then on Friday you're trying all these 404 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,479 Speaker 4: weird things with the kickoff rules. Now this is what 405 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 4: really gets me. Excuse me? Can I raise my hand? 406 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 4: We're now going to do an on side kick. There 407 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 4: is no surprise on side kick anymore. 408 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 3: Got it to clar it? Correct? 409 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 4: You got it? Declare? Well, why don't the quarterbacks declared 410 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 4: they're going to throw it pass? 411 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 3: That'd be nice. 412 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 4: I mean, it's the craziest things. 413 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,680 Speaker 3: And that's and that goes against everything because you needed 414 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,239 Speaker 3: to be consistent. And when you talk about laces, I 415 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 3: just want the listeners to know what Gary's talking about 416 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 3: is is these long snappers when they're snapping for field 417 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 3: goals and pats. When the holder catches the football, the 418 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 3: laces are already up. So not only are you snapping 419 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 3: a football perfectly in the perfect spot at the right 420 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 3: speed for seven yards the rotation, I mean, it's mastering 421 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 3: the rotation. So when the holder catches the football, the 422 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 3: laces are up ninety ninety five percent of the time. 423 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 3: You know, it's something that Morris did. It's unbelievable. 424 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 4: Pete, You're exactly right. And so, like I said, I 425 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,360 Speaker 4: learned it from Mick. I passed it on. I've got 426 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 4: a website called perfect Laces dot com and it's the 427 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 4: story of how I learned the coach the artist staff 428 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 4: in Perfect Laces, and I talked about Mckingdallhoffins camp or whatever. 429 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 4: But I think it's in the old days. You know. 430 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 4: I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin a Packer fan. 431 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 3: But oh, sorry for that. 432 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 4: Usually the snapper was usually a player like Mick or 433 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 4: with the tight end or as a linebacker. 434 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 3: They have a specialty. 435 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 4: I worked for a guy by the name of George Allen, 436 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 4: and George, even when I was a young coach, George 437 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,119 Speaker 4: was the first guy to have the first long snapper. 438 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 4: George was also the first guy to I have just 439 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 4: a return specialist, and then everybody starts saying, George is 440 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 4: doing this, So all of a sudden they started, you know, 441 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 4: over the years, more and more teams had just a 442 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 4: long stamper on the roster. And you know, like I said, 443 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,199 Speaker 4: Devin Hester, I would say was probably a great return specialist. 444 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,880 Speaker 4: You know, he played a little, but he made his 445 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 4: money by returning. So everything was revolutionary. But I thought 446 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 4: George Allen was one of the first. And George was 447 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 4: the first guy to hire the first special teams coach. 448 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:30,679 Speaker 4: And so George was always, in my book, like the 449 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,880 Speaker 4: leader in changing things with special teams. And he did 450 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 4: a lot for football in many phases of the game. 451 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 4: But my whole career as a young coach was, Okay, 452 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 4: I'm going to win. As you always say, one third 453 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 4: of the game is special teams. Well, a lot of 454 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 4: guys say it, but they don't practice it and they 455 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 4: don't really give it a third of the time. But 456 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 4: that's how I got ahead. And I just happened to 457 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 4: be in the right place at BYU. I happened to 458 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 4: meet Brian Billick. Brian Billick picked me up at BYU 459 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 4: and then Brian went to the forty nine ers. From there, 460 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 4: I went to Sandy Yego State, and Brian and I 461 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 4: coached together. My roommate was Mike Smith, and then Brian 462 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 4: went to Stanford and I met Denny at Stanford, and 463 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 4: so the whole thing it's not always what you know, 464 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 4: it's who you know. And so I was very lucky 465 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 4: to be in the right place at the right time, 466 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 4: and people talked about me. And then I came to 467 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 4: the Vikings, and my last point was when I came there, 468 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 4: I asked Danny. He said, who's going to make the 469 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 4: decision on the specialists, because you know, he wanted me 470 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,199 Speaker 4: to come there, but I had my own kicking service 471 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 4: and I was doing quite well. And Denny says, well, Gary, 472 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 4: I make the final decision, but I'm going to count 473 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 4: on you to give me the recommendation. Who you want now, Pete? 474 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 4: You know this. We brought him Mitch Berger, and I 475 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 4: can remember being down on the field and Scott Studwell 476 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,120 Speaker 4: comes home and he says, Gary, why do we bring 477 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 4: in this guy? 478 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 2: He's been cut six times And I said, listen, he's. 479 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 4: A big guy. He's a punter that I think I 480 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 4: can coach. He can hold and he can kick off. 481 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 4: And if we can get a punter they can kick off, 482 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 4: we can go out and get the you know, the 483 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 4: greatest kicker. And we brought in Gary Anderson and for 484 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 4: eight years there was no problems with the kicking because 485 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 4: I was a great special teams coach, except for one game. 486 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 3: One kick that was your fault. 487 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 4: But I mean, Gary was just one of the greatest 488 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 4: kickers I've ever been around. 489 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: Well, folks, the NFL regular season wraps up with a 490 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 1: huge Sunday night football game between your Minnesota Vikings and 491 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: the Detroit Lions from the Motor City. It's a seven 492 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,400 Speaker 1: to twenty pm kickoff over on NBC here locally. Thanks 493 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: again to Xavier Roads and Gary Zana for joining the show, 494 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 1: and thank you fans for tuning into another edition of 495 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: Skull Stories presented by three M, the official science partner 496 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: of the Minnesota Vikings. We will see you all again 497 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 1: next week.