WEBVTT - Listen: Sam Ficken (9/18) 0:00:02.400 --> 0:00:04.760 All right, welcome back into the play m GM Studios 0:00:04.800 --> 0:00:08.880 for the Official Jets Podcast. This time, Sam Ficken joins us. 0:00:08.880 --> 0:00:11.760 Sam thanks so much for joining us. You can listen 0:00:11.800 --> 0:00:15.960 to the podcast on SoundCloud, Apple podcast, New York Jets 0:00:16.000 --> 0:00:18.840 dot Com, and YouTube, Google play where everywhere. Be sure 0:00:18.880 --> 0:00:21.480 to check it out, rate us, review us, let us 0:00:21.480 --> 0:00:24.400 know what you think. I wonder listen to her. I 0:00:24.400 --> 0:00:29.480 don't know, we had maybe on on last week. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 0:00:29.520 --> 0:00:34.320 you're following up no pressure. Yeah yeah, after a future 0:00:34.320 --> 0:00:40.879 Hall of Famer. Oh, laying the hammer here early Sam's 0:00:40.920 --> 0:00:42.879 used to pressure though. We'll get to that in the 0:00:42.920 --> 0:00:46.520 podcast throughout in the episode, but before we dive into 0:00:46.600 --> 0:00:49.839 kicking and Penn State and all that, something that fans 0:00:49.840 --> 0:00:52.920 don't know about you. You were on Wall Street before 0:00:53.000 --> 0:00:55.360 you were in the NFL. So can you kind of 0:00:55.400 --> 0:00:58.720 explain how that came about and what happened on Wall 0:00:58.760 --> 0:01:02.520 Street and your job when you re entered the NFL. Yeah, 0:01:02.640 --> 0:01:05.399 so I graduated from Penn State with a finance degree. 0:01:05.680 --> 0:01:10.160 Um three point what three point six five? I think 0:01:10.319 --> 0:01:12.759 that's not too bad. I'll take it. I'll take it 0:01:13.280 --> 0:01:15.320 as with my parents. So I was happy with that. 0:01:15.520 --> 0:01:19.280 But no I graduated with a great degree. Um, you know, 0:01:19.319 --> 0:01:21.560 kind of dabbled a little bit, um a couple of 0:01:21.560 --> 0:01:25.479 training camps. I was with the Jags. Unfortunately didn't work 0:01:25.480 --> 0:01:28.440 out there, so you know, I kind of decided it 0:01:28.520 --> 0:01:31.120 might be time to get a real job. So UM 0:01:31.200 --> 0:01:34.000 kind of dug into the into the roots, and UM 0:01:34.360 --> 0:01:36.640 came up with a guy by the name of Lance 0:01:36.680 --> 0:01:40.520 Launergan who's a Penn State letterman. Uh runs a trading 0:01:40.520 --> 0:01:43.200 firm in Greenwich, and UM, you know, reached out to 0:01:43.280 --> 0:01:46.240 him and told him I was interested, and he, uh 0:01:46.360 --> 0:01:48.080 he allowed me to come out and then they hired 0:01:48.080 --> 0:01:51.040 me full time after about a two month internship. So 0:01:51.080 --> 0:01:55.200 I was doing equity trading and UM, it was an 0:01:55.200 --> 0:01:57.560 awesome experience. I had a lot of fun there. How 0:01:57.600 --> 0:02:00.800 long were you doing that? Uh? Um? So I got 0:02:00.880 --> 0:02:05.160 hired full time in June of seventeen, and UM, that 0:02:05.240 --> 0:02:07.320 was kind of with the caveat that. You know, they 0:02:07.360 --> 0:02:11.080 were like, hey, like, what's your football, Like, give me 0:02:11.120 --> 0:02:13.800 a percentage of like getting you back And if you 0:02:13.840 --> 0:02:16.160 get to call Sam, are you gonna go? And I 0:02:16.200 --> 0:02:18.280 told him, I said, if I get a call, I'm leaving. 0:02:18.320 --> 0:02:20.760 But you know, it's been pretty quiet here for a while. 0:02:20.840 --> 0:02:25.320 So um, with that being said, they hired me full time. UM, 0:02:25.400 --> 0:02:28.280 and about three weeks later, the chiefs called me. So 0:02:29.000 --> 0:02:30.680 you know, I said I if I got a call, 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:33.560 I'm leaving UM and went out there. I want to 0:02:33.600 --> 0:02:35.800 try out. And I was there for a training camp 0:02:36.560 --> 0:02:39.799 and then got released. So I went back to the job. UM, 0:02:39.960 --> 0:02:42.560 got all my licenses out of the way series seven 0:02:42.680 --> 0:02:47.560 sixty three fifty seven. UM. And actually the day after 0:02:47.600 --> 0:02:51.880 I passed my final certification to actually start clicking buttons 0:02:52.120 --> 0:02:55.160 was when I got a call from the RAMS. I 0:02:55.160 --> 0:02:57.680 said again, you know, if if I get a call, 0:02:57.720 --> 0:03:00.880 I gotta go, and and they were super supportive. Um. 0:03:00.919 --> 0:03:02.760 You know, I think part of the caveat was I 0:03:02.800 --> 0:03:05.600 was always brutally honest with them and where I stood, 0:03:05.639 --> 0:03:08.520 and um, you know, obviously playing in the NFL has 0:03:08.560 --> 0:03:11.440 been a dream of mine, so UM they understood that. 0:03:11.520 --> 0:03:13.919 And you know, when I did get that call, They're like, hey, 0:03:13.960 --> 0:03:15.840 we hope, we hope we never see you again. So 0:03:16.160 --> 0:03:19.560 that's pretty nice though. Yeah. Yeah, they were super supportive 0:03:19.600 --> 0:03:22.000 through the whole thing. Obviously, not too many I think 0:03:22.080 --> 0:03:24.359 corporate companies would allow you to kind of hop back 0:03:24.400 --> 0:03:26.160 and forth So how would you break it down to 0:03:26.200 --> 0:03:30.560 a high schooler who wants to get into Wall Street 0:03:30.600 --> 0:03:34.200 and business equity trading? What does that mean? Um? So, 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:37.600 I mean your your common stocks like Apple, Facebook, Google, 0:03:37.720 --> 0:03:39.880 those are just obviously the big names. Now, we kind 0:03:39.880 --> 0:03:43.440 of specialized in in sticky stocks, so stuff that wasn't 0:03:43.560 --> 0:03:46.440 you know trading. You know, Apple trades a couple of 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:49.080 million shares probably a day we were you know, are 0:03:49.200 --> 0:03:52.720 kind of little caveat was you know, the sticky names 0:03:52.760 --> 0:03:56.600 that maybe we got a forty dollar buy or sell order, 0:03:57.240 --> 0:04:00.000 but only you know, five thousand shares trade to day. 0:04:00.240 --> 0:04:02.400 You know, we go out to clients on either side 0:04:02.440 --> 0:04:04.880 of the aisle that have been in that name, and 0:04:04.880 --> 0:04:07.280 then we try and match it get them a better price, 0:04:07.360 --> 0:04:09.600 because if you go and try and hit that cell 0:04:09.720 --> 0:04:12.240 order for forty shares, you're going to drive that price 0:04:12.360 --> 0:04:15.720 way down. So again, when you're dealing with thousands and 0:04:15.760 --> 0:04:20.359 thousands shares, pennies really count. So and whenever the NFL 0:04:20.440 --> 0:04:23.120 is over for you, whether it's ten years from now, 0:04:23.160 --> 0:04:25.440 however long that is, is this something you want to 0:04:25.440 --> 0:04:28.520 go back into. Yeah? Yeah, probably, you know, I really 0:04:28.560 --> 0:04:32.520 enjoyed my time there, and again I think finance, especially 0:04:32.680 --> 0:04:35.839 right now, is a shifting landscape. Um, but I think 0:04:35.880 --> 0:04:38.000 the people that I met, and you know, kind of 0:04:38.000 --> 0:04:41.799 the environment that surrounds that type of type of business 0:04:41.880 --> 0:04:44.799 is something that draws to me. Give me the review 0:04:44.960 --> 0:04:49.160 of The Wolf of Wall Street. How much of that is? 0:04:51.000 --> 0:04:57.479 How much fantasy? You know? It's funny. I watched yesterday 0:04:57.520 --> 0:05:00.240 before the game, I watched we're recording this on the 0:05:00.279 --> 0:05:03.360 Tuesday after the Browns game. For the record, I watched 0:05:03.360 --> 0:05:06.400 American Psycho for the first time with Christian Bale And 0:05:06.680 --> 0:05:09.200 have you ever seen the movie? I've I've seen clips, 0:05:09.240 --> 0:05:11.760 not told right, so I can't stay with it for 0:05:11.800 --> 0:05:14.679 the whole thing. Yes, it's just too much for Yeah, 0:05:14.839 --> 0:05:16.920 I didn't know that coming into it, though it a 0:05:16.960 --> 0:05:20.200 little much. But here I am thinking, like, you know, 0:05:20.200 --> 0:05:23.239 it's a bunch of Wall Street guys, pinchtripe suits, slick 0:05:23.279 --> 0:05:25.000 back here and here I you're in like shorts and 0:05:25.040 --> 0:05:29.080 a teacher, and I'm picturing you in a suit doing 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:30.680 the thing on Wall Street and I think it fits. 0:05:31.320 --> 0:05:33.680 I appreciate, Yeah, I think it fits. But he's but 0:05:33.720 --> 0:05:36.560 he's an Indiana kids. So when I think about Indiana kids, 0:05:36.640 --> 0:05:43.680 I think about hoops and John melcamp peaks right Indiana, 0:05:43.720 --> 0:05:47.479 it's it's hoops, I think, right after religions. So you know, 0:05:47.760 --> 0:05:50.360 those are those are the important aspects back there. Uh, 0:05:50.400 --> 0:05:52.720 what kind of hoops player were you growing up? We're 0:05:52.760 --> 0:05:56.440 just talking about it before we started taping. Your first 0:05:56.520 --> 0:06:00.200 cousin is want to produce all time greats, and it's 0:06:00.240 --> 0:06:04.680 Robbie Hummel. Yeah. Yeah, I certainly wasn't at his level. Um, 0:06:04.720 --> 0:06:08.200 you know, he obviously had a tremendous career and um, 0:06:08.240 --> 0:06:10.880 you know, growing up in Valpo, I get to see 0:06:10.960 --> 0:06:14.120 kind of that whole journey for him, and um, you 0:06:14.120 --> 0:06:17.200 know I played basketball with his younger brother, so um, 0:06:17.240 --> 0:06:20.159 I think he actually might. He's still balling. He's playing 0:06:20.240 --> 0:06:22.680 like in these three and three tournaments. I think might 0:06:22.760 --> 0:06:26.080 be making the Olympics potentially. So obviously hats off to 0:06:26.160 --> 0:06:28.039 him for that. And you know, now he's kind of 0:06:28.400 --> 0:06:31.000 joined the other side of the aisle doing broadcasting. So 0:06:31.720 --> 0:06:35.880 um yeah, obviously his story is exceptional, and you know, 0:06:36.160 --> 0:06:38.200 the way he worked at it throughout his whole career 0:06:38.279 --> 0:06:42.440 was pretty cool. But do you have an exceptional story yourself? Um? 0:06:42.640 --> 0:06:46.960 Goes back to Penn State because you weren't recruited by 0:06:47.160 --> 0:06:52.080 those big Indiana schools whether that probably was obviously Notre 0:06:52.160 --> 0:06:57.080 Dame Perdue. Then you got Bloomington right there are you? 0:06:57.960 --> 0:07:01.279 And you ended up at Penn State. Uh, obviously you 0:07:01.320 --> 0:07:06.200 got a tremendous education. What was your football experience like there, 0:07:06.240 --> 0:07:09.040 because I know a lot of people have read about 0:07:09.040 --> 0:07:13.400 your start and then it was bumpy at the beginning, 0:07:13.720 --> 0:07:18.760 and then you just took off from there. Yeah, I think, Um, 0:07:18.800 --> 0:07:21.560 you know, obviously the start of that crew was well documented. 0:07:21.640 --> 0:07:25.040 But um, he gets sick of talking about Virginia. What 0:07:25.120 --> 0:07:27.840 closes through your mind when you hear the name Virginia? Listen, 0:07:28.560 --> 0:07:32.400 you know, I think everyone's past a little different. Um, 0:07:32.440 --> 0:07:35.360 you know with me, Um, you know, got there not 0:07:35.440 --> 0:07:37.200 having a ton of you know, I only played two 0:07:37.280 --> 0:07:41.560 years of high school football player. I was playing soccer, so, um, 0:07:41.720 --> 0:07:45.040 you know, I was kind of new to that whole scene. Um. 0:07:45.640 --> 0:07:48.240 And you know, my freshman year, I think I played 0:07:48.280 --> 0:07:51.640 in three games kind of non crucial moments really. Um. 0:07:52.200 --> 0:07:56.000 And then obviously all all sorts of stuff happens at 0:07:56.040 --> 0:07:58.680 Penn State. And um, you know, our starting kicker at 0:07:58.680 --> 0:08:02.160 the time, Anthony Ferry, trans furs and Um. You know 0:08:03.040 --> 0:08:05.640 by kind of focus in that off season was let's 0:08:05.680 --> 0:08:09.600 focus on gaining a little weight and you know, kind 0:08:09.640 --> 0:08:11.840 of fine tune in the details. So I wouldn't say 0:08:11.840 --> 0:08:15.320 I was super ready. Um. You know when he decided 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:20.760 transfer was like, oh uh, you're the guy. Yeah. And 0:08:20.920 --> 0:08:25.040 you know, I think I think from a from a 0:08:25.120 --> 0:08:27.880 standpoint of could I kick at that level, yes, But 0:08:27.960 --> 0:08:30.320 I don't think mentally I was ready because of that 0:08:30.400 --> 0:08:32.439 whole off season I was prepping to be the backup 0:08:32.600 --> 0:08:36.120 and try and kind of learned from Anthony and and 0:08:36.400 --> 0:08:39.800 go that route. Um. But again, you know, I think 0:08:40.559 --> 0:08:43.800 with with the way I started, UM, a lot of 0:08:43.920 --> 0:08:47.200 good came out of out of that rough start. Um. 0:08:47.360 --> 0:08:49.840 You know I got, I grew a relationship with Robbie Gold, 0:08:50.320 --> 0:08:52.280 and I don't think i'd be here sitting in this chair, 0:08:52.640 --> 0:08:55.439 um if that wouldn't happen. And I don't know, um 0:08:55.840 --> 0:08:57.520 if he would have reached out the way in which 0:08:57.559 --> 0:09:00.520 he did if I had no struggle so much so early. 0:09:00.800 --> 0:09:05.920 So for those of people listening who don't know, you've 0:09:06.040 --> 0:09:10.000 missed four of five field goal attempts against Virginia headed, 0:09:10.640 --> 0:09:14.640 extra point blocked. UM time State lost that game. Down 0:09:14.640 --> 0:09:19.040 in Charlotteville by one point. Um, a lot of people 0:09:19.080 --> 0:09:22.480 were a lot of people were crumble. Yeah it was. 0:09:22.679 --> 0:09:24.880 It was a tough, tough few weeks for me. But 0:09:25.400 --> 0:09:28.439 but that speaks to who you are again, you know 0:09:28.720 --> 0:09:31.400 it was it was a learning experience. Uh. It taught 0:09:31.440 --> 0:09:35.160 a lot, um, you know, about myself, um, and how 0:09:35.240 --> 0:09:38.920 to kind of handle adversity. Um. You know, I wasn't 0:09:38.960 --> 0:09:42.640 the most well liked person around campus, and you know, 0:09:42.679 --> 0:09:45.160 I'm a social guy. I I don't like it when 0:09:45.200 --> 0:09:48.679 people don't like me for you know, without even knowing me. Um, 0:09:49.559 --> 0:09:50.959 you know, So that was something that I kind of 0:09:51.000 --> 0:09:53.640 had to deal with and um, you know, it is 0:09:53.720 --> 0:09:55.160 what it is. But again it's it taught me a 0:09:55.240 --> 0:09:59.800 ton about myself, um, you know, emotionally and you know 0:10:00.040 --> 0:10:04.520 a kicker. Well, just like to not to harp on it. 0:10:04.679 --> 0:10:09.000 But the severity of the negativity that was towards you, 0:10:09.120 --> 0:10:14.120 wasn't it like huge? Like we didn't you get death threats? Uh? Yeah, okay, 0:10:14.120 --> 0:10:16.760 because I I read one online and it said that 0:10:16.840 --> 0:10:18.360 you laughed at it, So I felt like I could 0:10:18.400 --> 0:10:20.840 bring it up again. I think you know, there's humor 0:10:20.880 --> 0:10:24.559 to every situation. Did I take it seriously. No, Um, yeah, 0:10:24.600 --> 0:10:27.360 I think the joke that I think got me, you know, 0:10:27.480 --> 0:10:29.800 cracking up a bit, was, Uh, you don't have to 0:10:29.880 --> 0:10:34.160 worry about sam Um hurting himself because he can't kick 0:10:34.240 --> 0:10:38.120 the chair out from under right. But but your story 0:10:38.200 --> 0:10:40.840 does have a happy ending here, at least in Penn 0:10:40.880 --> 0:10:44.079 State terms, because when you look at full circle the 0:10:44.320 --> 0:10:46.839 end of your Penn State career, well one, it's in 0:10:46.960 --> 0:10:51.199 Yankee Stadium. You randomly get assigned Derek Jeter's locker and 0:10:51.280 --> 0:10:54.120 then have a game tying field goal and then a 0:10:54.200 --> 0:10:58.439 game winning extra point after the BC kicker misses his 0:10:58.559 --> 0:11:01.920 extra point in overtime. So to think about how far 0:11:02.080 --> 0:11:05.960 you came just in those in those years in Happy Valley, 0:11:06.760 --> 0:11:09.280 how much do you feel like you grew mentally? And 0:11:09.360 --> 0:11:11.760 then how much did that prepare you for the situation 0:11:11.840 --> 0:11:16.440 that you're in now. Uh, you know, I think from 0:11:17.480 --> 0:11:19.880 from that Bowl game and you know it was really 0:11:19.920 --> 0:11:22.880 a storybook ending on my college career. Um, you know, 0:11:23.040 --> 0:11:25.160 to start the way I did and then you know, 0:11:25.320 --> 0:11:29.040 make second team All Big Ten and um, you know, 0:11:29.200 --> 0:11:32.839 finish on such a high note. Obviously you've seen the 0:11:32.920 --> 0:11:36.280 roller coaster of emotion and this position I think it 0:11:36.480 --> 0:11:42.000 naturally involves that. So, um, you know, hopefully I never 0:11:42.080 --> 0:11:44.200 miss you know, obviously that would be that would be great, 0:11:44.280 --> 0:11:46.199 but that's kind of the nature of the position you 0:11:46.440 --> 0:11:49.160 you will miss eventually. Um, And it's about kind of 0:11:49.240 --> 0:11:52.760 staying level headed and not you know, worrying yourself about 0:11:52.800 --> 0:11:56.400 it too much. The most ironic thing about all of 0:11:56.480 --> 0:12:01.400 your past is that how tight the hen State A 0:12:01.559 --> 0:12:06.240 Lumps are. But everybody got after you initially and said 0:12:06.760 --> 0:12:08.880 this guy, we gotta get him out of here. But 0:12:09.080 --> 0:12:12.800 now look at how you've grown, not just professionally in 0:12:12.880 --> 0:12:16.479 the National Football League, but what you're gonna do ultimately, 0:12:16.600 --> 0:12:20.040 probably beyond football after whenever your career is said and done. 0:12:21.040 --> 0:12:23.880 The people who you're talking to right off the bat 0:12:24.400 --> 0:12:27.760 our Penn State Alumps. Yeah, you know, I think I 0:12:27.840 --> 0:12:30.439 think that was a little bit to do with also 0:12:30.679 --> 0:12:33.719 kind of the situation of which we were playing through. Um, 0:12:34.280 --> 0:12:36.000 you know, when the when the sanctions hit, we had 0:12:36.040 --> 0:12:39.559 like Letterman fly back to kind of tell us, hey, listen, 0:12:39.920 --> 0:12:43.120 we know it's going to be struggled, but um, you 0:12:43.200 --> 0:12:45.920 know we're here for you. When when football is also done, 0:12:46.360 --> 0:12:49.199 we got your back, and um, you know I'm I'm 0:12:49.280 --> 0:12:52.520 firsthand experiencing that. Um and hopefully I don't have to 0:12:52.559 --> 0:12:55.360 go back to that world for a while. UM, but again, 0:12:55.400 --> 0:12:59.400 you know I utilize that, and and Lance was who 0:12:59.480 --> 0:13:02.240 was my ball obviously um at the brokerage. You know, 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:06.480 he was again right there for me as an inspiring 0:13:06.880 --> 0:13:10.199 NFL kicker who now is the New York Jets kicker. 0:13:10.559 --> 0:13:14.040 Have you had to head? Have you had to have 0:13:14.559 --> 0:13:19.040 your bags literally packed? Because you're kind of like you 0:13:19.120 --> 0:13:21.720 got the Josh mccowy, you're the Josh mccounty kickers right 0:13:21.720 --> 0:13:24.760 now because you've already you've already been on five or 0:13:24.800 --> 0:13:27.360 six teams, and you're a young dude, and we love 0:13:27.520 --> 0:13:30.800 we love Josh for the record, So it's a compliment. Yeah, 0:13:30.920 --> 0:13:33.640 you know, you you kind of get used to. You know, 0:13:34.080 --> 0:13:37.959 I'm very good at packing about two suitcases and living 0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:40.559 out of that for a while. Um. You know that's 0:13:40.600 --> 0:13:43.320 just the nature of the business. Um, I think until 0:13:43.360 --> 0:13:46.559 you kind of get a foothold in one spot. Um, 0:13:47.320 --> 0:13:49.640 you know, kicking is a crazy business, especially in the NFL. 0:13:49.800 --> 0:13:53.200 So um, you know you kind of know that going 0:13:53.320 --> 0:13:54.959 in and that's kind of what you signed up for. 0:13:55.280 --> 0:13:59.040 Did you have you watched the Jets from a far 0:14:00.120 --> 0:14:03.040 or in proximity, You're not too far away about what 0:14:03.200 --> 0:14:06.439 happened this offseason. They have a Pro Bowl kicker Jason Myers, 0:14:06.480 --> 0:14:10.079 wh when free agency goes in signs with the Seattle Seahawks. 0:14:10.120 --> 0:14:12.760 The Jets bring back Chandler Canton Zero. He struggles in 0:14:12.800 --> 0:14:17.280 the preseason, he retires. They bring back Terrell Teller Bertillette 0:14:17.559 --> 0:14:21.360 who struggled in the preseason, and then they go out 0:14:21.440 --> 0:14:25.720 and get carry fed Vic who uh had his problems 0:14:25.760 --> 0:14:30.840 on opening Day. What is your mindset as you're monitoring 0:14:31.000 --> 0:14:32.880 what's going on in the National Football League and you 0:14:32.920 --> 0:14:36.440 see specifically what's happening with the Jets. I mean, you know, 0:14:36.760 --> 0:14:38.960 that's kind of the tough thing. Obviously, if you're on 0:14:39.040 --> 0:14:43.400 the street, you're obviously rooting for an opportunity for yourself. Um. 0:14:44.840 --> 0:14:47.560 But then on the same side, it's like you don't 0:14:47.600 --> 0:14:50.760 really root that they miss kicks because you know, I've 0:14:50.800 --> 0:14:53.640 been in that situation and it sucks to get cut. Um. 0:14:54.000 --> 0:14:57.840 I've been cut plenty of times. So I think you're 0:14:57.880 --> 0:15:00.520 you're obviously aware of of kind of what teams you know, 0:15:00.600 --> 0:15:04.840 are are you know, potentially looking and um, but at 0:15:04.880 --> 0:15:06.400 the end of the day, I let my agent handle 0:15:06.440 --> 0:15:08.760 all that stuff. I try to kind of dissolve myself 0:15:08.800 --> 0:15:11.960 from the situation. Um, because you know a lot of 0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:15.480 these guys I know personally, um, whether it's through kicking 0:15:15.560 --> 0:15:20.040 camps or tryouts or whatever. So um, you know, on 0:15:20.120 --> 0:15:24.080 a personal level, obviously you've lived at yourself. So that's 0:15:24.120 --> 0:15:26.320 a bad part of this business. But at the same time, 0:15:26.400 --> 0:15:28.640 you know, you obviously want yourself to get an opportunity, 0:15:28.760 --> 0:15:30.440 and you know that's just the nature of the game. 0:15:30.720 --> 0:15:33.440 And did you allow yourself to hear the crowd roller 0:15:33.480 --> 0:15:35.120 after you made your first vehicle as a New York 0:15:35.200 --> 0:15:39.760 Jet that's not a chippy either, Green. Yeah, you know, 0:15:41.040 --> 0:15:44.760 generally the crowd doesn't cheer like that, le that like 0:15:45.240 --> 0:15:48.640 unless it's like a six D yard or something. But um, again, 0:15:48.720 --> 0:15:52.680 obviously you're aware of the situation. Um. I thought. I 0:15:52.760 --> 0:15:54.760 think if you saw it on TV, I think I 0:15:55.040 --> 0:15:59.480 gave it a little chuckle. But you know, at the 0:15:59.560 --> 0:16:01.160 end of the day, just go out there and do 0:16:01.280 --> 0:16:03.560 your job. I think it's it's the nature of the game. 0:16:03.680 --> 0:16:06.560 I think they were happy you made the kick, and 0:16:06.920 --> 0:16:11.600 it was also like relief, Yeah, we got our guy. 0:16:12.880 --> 0:16:15.600 I think. So it's putting it through those uprights and 0:16:15.920 --> 0:16:19.840 here you go. Um a good start. How many text 0:16:20.000 --> 0:16:23.760 messages did you receive following Monday night football, because not 0:16:23.800 --> 0:16:27.600 only did you get your game action with the Jets, 0:16:27.720 --> 0:16:32.040 you start out in prime time. Yeah, you know, I 0:16:32.160 --> 0:16:34.040 think it was like a hundred and thirty or something 0:16:34.120 --> 0:16:37.720 like that. A hundred thirty texts after the game. Oh 0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:42.040 my god. Yeah, people I hadn't heard from in quite 0:16:42.080 --> 0:16:46.080 a while. Yeah, we're probably asking oh no, no, no, 0:16:46.320 --> 0:16:49.120 just you know, a lot of messages of support. Um, 0:16:49.640 --> 0:16:52.520 you get back to every I've tried, you know, not 0:16:52.760 --> 0:16:55.240 last night, for sure, I was retired last night, but um, 0:16:55.520 --> 0:16:57.200 this morning, I tried to do my best to get 0:16:57.200 --> 0:16:58.640 back to most people. All Right, I want to know, 0:16:58.680 --> 0:17:00.040 I just want to bring this back to hoops for 0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:05.000 a minute, because I I didn't ask this Indiana. You 0:17:05.119 --> 0:17:08.520 said hoops is before religion. I know you said it facetiously. 0:17:09.200 --> 0:17:13.520 But if you're not good at basketball growing up, are 0:17:13.560 --> 0:17:15.720 you like ostracized as a kid? Like are you shoved 0:17:15.760 --> 0:17:19.480 in the corner? I wouldn't go that far, um, but 0:17:19.640 --> 0:17:22.800 it I mean, it's certainly the dominant sport in the area, 0:17:22.920 --> 0:17:25.720 and um, but like, where does an average Indiana kid? 0:17:26.840 --> 0:17:30.880 How would an average Indiana kid fair and pick up here? 0:17:32.600 --> 0:17:36.240 All right? Especially especially from the from the corner three spot. 0:17:37.040 --> 0:17:41.240 That's kind of our where. You know, we're not the 0:17:41.280 --> 0:17:45.200 most athletic, but we know how to play smart and 0:17:45.280 --> 0:17:48.080 we know how to shoot the ball. So where's your game? 0:17:48.400 --> 0:17:51.080 Were you? You're not that small? I mean, see, that's 0:17:51.080 --> 0:17:52.560 the thing. I would have been like a two on 0:17:52.680 --> 0:17:55.960 my on my high school team. So Robbie, obviously we've 0:17:56.000 --> 0:17:58.760 talked a little bit about him. He was six eight 0:17:58.800 --> 0:18:01.960 and he played the three. Yeah, so I think they're 0:18:01.960 --> 0:18:04.200 starting line up. Their point guard was like six one. 0:18:04.440 --> 0:18:08.240 Their shooting guard was like six three. He's six eight. 0:18:08.480 --> 0:18:11.560 Scott Martin, who played in Perdue as well as Notre 0:18:11.640 --> 0:18:14.840 Dame um six eight, and then they had a center 0:18:14.880 --> 0:18:17.960 who was like seven one. Would you guys ever pick 0:18:18.040 --> 0:18:21.960 up the ball and play a little bit of family gatherings? Uh? Not? 0:18:22.119 --> 0:18:25.399 With Rob? Rob had to sit on the sideline. I mean, 0:18:25.640 --> 0:18:27.359 was that was that his choice? Or you guys just 0:18:27.440 --> 0:18:30.080 didn't want to play because yeah, it wouldn't be fair, 0:18:30.640 --> 0:18:32.840 It wouldn't be fair. I think i've you know, I've 0:18:32.880 --> 0:18:35.920 actually tried to take them a few times and I 0:18:36.040 --> 0:18:38.840 get it like three dribbles in and then steals it 0:18:38.920 --> 0:18:41.840 from me. And who are your guys growing up? Like? 0:18:41.960 --> 0:18:43.840 Who who did you look up to as a HOOFS player? 0:18:45.000 --> 0:18:51.000 Obviously Rob but Um, you know I obviously, I mean 0:18:51.160 --> 0:18:53.840 I played with like six or seven NBA guys um 0:18:54.200 --> 0:18:57.440 throughout the like Duneland Athletic Conference was their conference, so 0:18:58.119 --> 0:19:03.240 like Mitch McGarry was my age. Um, Glenn Robinson um 0:19:03.520 --> 0:19:07.480 won the dunk contests in the NBA. UM played against 0:19:07.720 --> 0:19:13.960 um Zeller that AU tournament. I mean, yeah, it's just 0:19:14.480 --> 0:19:19.600 pretty uh pretty wealthy landscape and the college recruiting front there, Yeah, 0:19:19.720 --> 0:19:23.119 I would say so. So, Um, you've been here just 0:19:23.240 --> 0:19:26.399 for a little bit. Uh so where are you living at? 0:19:26.440 --> 0:19:28.760 You're living close to the complex, so it's not that 0:19:29.000 --> 0:19:32.200 much of a commute in here. And you've been known 0:19:32.320 --> 0:19:36.200 to give your leg quite a workout in terms of 0:19:36.640 --> 0:19:39.680 the volume of kicks. If you and Brandt Boyer come 0:19:39.760 --> 0:19:42.520 together and said, hey, this is how we want to 0:19:42.520 --> 0:19:45.320 approach practice. You know, coach has been great through the 0:19:45.320 --> 0:19:48.639 whole thing. Obviously last week, Um, you know, you have 0:19:48.760 --> 0:19:51.280 the tryout and then you try and kind of fast 0:19:51.320 --> 0:19:54.160 forward to get used to the snapping hold. So you're 0:19:54.160 --> 0:19:56.040 obviously getting a lot of reps last week, but they 0:19:56.080 --> 0:19:58.560 did a good job of monitoring everything. And you know, 0:19:58.680 --> 0:20:00.520 with this week being a little short, you know, I'm 0:20:00.520 --> 0:20:03.000 sure we'll get together tomorrow to talk about what days 0:20:03.040 --> 0:20:05.560 we're kicking and um, you know that's not something I'm 0:20:05.600 --> 0:20:07.800 really worried. We live in a hotel right now, right now, 0:20:07.840 --> 0:20:11.000 I am actually I think I'm moving in at the time, 0:20:12.400 --> 0:20:16.639 about half half hour to the to the half make 0:20:16.720 --> 0:20:18.840 it easy on myself. You should get one of those scooters. 0:20:18.880 --> 0:20:22.399 I wanted to ask you about the try out. What happened? 0:20:22.440 --> 0:20:25.800 What happens with a kicking tryout? Are you there literally 0:20:25.880 --> 0:20:28.680 with other guys here at the complex or you're come 0:20:28.720 --> 0:20:32.040 in and you have your ten well maybe twenty minutes 0:20:32.080 --> 0:20:37.040 where they go through. Yeah, so generally, UM, at least 0:20:37.119 --> 0:20:40.560 most there's there's anywhere from three to five. Now my 0:20:40.720 --> 0:20:43.320 rams trough out there were twelve kickers, so that was 0:20:43.600 --> 0:20:46.960 that was kind of a circus um but I think 0:20:47.000 --> 0:20:50.560 we had five total. Um, you'd fly in the night before, 0:20:51.160 --> 0:20:54.080 you get up early for physicals and then um, you know, 0:20:54.200 --> 0:20:57.240 the kicking workouts about an hour long, you hit about 0:20:57.240 --> 0:21:00.280 I think we hit twelve or thirteen field goals and 0:21:00.680 --> 0:21:03.000 a few kickoffs and then they make their decisions. But 0:21:03.160 --> 0:21:09.040 does it literally rotate so like this you set up, Yeah, 0:21:09.480 --> 0:21:11.720 you just go one by one, same spot and then 0:21:11.880 --> 0:21:14.760 you move. Okay, So what's happening when you're a competitive 0:21:14.800 --> 0:21:17.960 guy and you're all there for the job. But when 0:21:18.040 --> 0:21:20.639 you see these dudes at the hotel, everybody checking in 0:21:20.720 --> 0:21:23.840 the night before, it's a small fraternity like you were 0:21:23.840 --> 0:21:26.200 talking about. Is it cordial or is it kind of 0:21:26.280 --> 0:21:28.399 like listen, Yeah, I'm just gonna get my meal and 0:21:29.040 --> 0:21:32.520 go upstairs. I haven't run into that yet. You know, 0:21:32.920 --> 0:21:35.000 at the end of the day, most of us know 0:21:35.119 --> 0:21:37.600 each other on a personal level. UM. Most of us 0:21:37.640 --> 0:21:40.320 want us to do well for one another. UM. So 0:21:40.480 --> 0:21:44.280 I think my mindset is always you know, obviously these 0:21:44.320 --> 0:21:48.200 are good, good people, UM, treat them as such. But 0:21:48.600 --> 0:21:50.240 you know, when it comes time for me to go 0:21:50.720 --> 0:21:53.760 try and earn a job, I'm super focused. UM. Obviously 0:21:53.840 --> 0:21:56.840 not a lot of chit chat once we're on the field. UM. 0:21:58.160 --> 0:22:01.080 But again, you know, I think for almost everyone I've 0:22:01.160 --> 0:22:04.960 running into their their good people. UM. And again, trying 0:22:05.000 --> 0:22:08.680 to treat them like that. Did you know during the 0:22:08.720 --> 0:22:13.480 workout that I know this you generally have a good 0:22:13.560 --> 0:22:16.920 sense of of who wins and and UM, you know, 0:22:17.000 --> 0:22:20.440 there's obviously been a few times where um, you know, 0:22:20.520 --> 0:22:24.040 maybe experienced factors into a decision or not. UM. You know, 0:22:24.320 --> 0:22:26.320