1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to another episode of Falcons 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: in Focus. I'm Scott Bearer. That's story mc laney, the 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: gentleman in the quote unquote hot seat, which is what 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: I just named it right now, Yeah, and sitting here 5 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: Falcons kicker and someone who I think has the best 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: hair on the team. It's it's very rarely out of place, 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: which I find fascinating. So my intro question to you 8 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 1: is this, have you ever won best hair in high school? 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: And if not, why were you robbed? I didn't have 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: this haircut in high school, so it's only late to 11 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: the cool hair game. Is that what it is? What 12 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,959 Speaker 1: type of haircut did you have in high school? Yeah? 13 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 1: It was a lot shorter. Really, see every I feel 14 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 1: like every guy went to high school with when because 15 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: I feel like we probably were in high school around 16 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: the same time, and like mid two thousand tens ish, 17 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: everybody had the bowl cuts. Yeah, like that was like 18 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: in the middle school freshman year. I had that, you 19 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: know the h I did have that. Um, I'm pretty 20 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: sure it was Arthur Smith who said when y'all did 21 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Eats video, he called you not the face 22 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: of the franchise. The hair of the franchise. Does that 23 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: sound like something he would do, because I think he did. 24 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: Do I think he did say that to say something 25 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: like that, Yeah, for sure. Does he call you that 26 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: often or was it just in that moment? I wear 27 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: my hat a lot around him? So that was the 28 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: only time. It's just crazy because the man kicks the 29 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: game winning field goal against Carolina, Yeah, gets tossed off 30 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,559 Speaker 1: on a bunch of offensive lineman's shoulders, throws the helmet off, 31 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: and in every picture it's like straight out of the promise. 32 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: This will not be the entire about that moment. So 33 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: have you seen someone like I don't even I think 34 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: it was even our social team did a side by 35 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: side of that photo. I don't know if you've seen 36 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: it. It It was after you're up on their shoulders and 37 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: you're throwing the helmet and it's a like Renaissance painting, 38 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: so funny, it's pretty good. Um okay, So, as someone 39 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: who's never done it, when you're in that moment and 40 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: the game is on the line and there's seventy thousand 41 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: people screaming for you to succeed or fail, do you 42 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: still get nervous? Did you ever get nervous, Like do 43 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: you have that kind of worked out of you, Like 44 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: what like take us inside your mind when those moments 45 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 1: are happening. Um, I would say I was definitely like 46 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: more nervous beginning of my career, for sure, But I 47 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: still get nervous. I think it's good nerves. So like 48 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: I feel like if you don't get nervous, like you know, 49 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: you don't really care. You know. I feel like if 50 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 1: you carry, it's normal to get the butterflies on game 51 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: day and you've you know, visualize those moments as a kicker, 52 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: But I don't really try to get caught up in 53 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: all that external stuff, you know, like the fans and 54 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: all that that's um kind of fans. Obviously, if I'm 55 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: watching a football game as a fan, I'm going to 56 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: ride those you know, emotional world coasters, right. But as 57 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 1: a person who was like all right, like I'm kind 58 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: of I catch myself sometimes like Okay, they scored a touchdown, 59 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: It's like okay, well, and I was like, oh no, 60 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: I gotta kick a ball, So like I need to 61 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: lock in here, you know. So I tried to detach 62 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: myself emotionally from the game so I can stay locked 63 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: in on my on my process. Um, so at the net, 64 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 1: I'm just kind of in my own world. So, um, 65 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: you know we have those um press boxes or the 66 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: suits right now. I might I don't know, seem like 67 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: but I just kind of and I know everybody, it's 68 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: not that like I'm you know, trying to be mean, 69 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: but I just try to be in my own world 70 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: and in my zone. So yeah, you're just making sure 71 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: like that everything is zeroed in on the moment, now, 72 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: do you. I've heard this before from people that like 73 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: they are are so locked in that they can't even 74 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: hear Is that kind of like how you are or 75 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: can you still when you're out in the middle of 76 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: the field and it's loud and people are screaming, Like, 77 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: is it a situation where you can still hear that? 78 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: Because I know some people like disassociate so much that 79 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,679 Speaker 1: it's not even like that. Yeah, it kind of becomes 80 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: like white noise for me. Um, I try to just 81 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 1: think about the stuff that I think about out here 82 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: kicking and practicing, you know, um, thinking about the snap, 83 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: my timing the hold and what I'm gonna look at 84 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: and my steps and my angles and stuff like that. 85 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: So all the other stuff just kind of becomes white noise. 86 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: Do you know, right when it leaves your foot, that's good, 87 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: um most of the time. Yeah, did you know it 88 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: against Carolina? Yeah? I looked up and as soon as 89 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: I saw where it took off, I knew. So that 90 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: was a good feeling. Do those moments ever get old? 91 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: You've done it several times now. I love it. No, 92 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: you know, that's that's what we work for, and when 93 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,679 Speaker 1: we get an opportunity to win, you know, it's a 94 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: great feel speaking of doesn't ever get old. So I 95 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: don't know if you remember this, but last year, the 96 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 1: I think if I remember correctly, and people don't quote 97 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: me on this, but if I remember correctly, your game 98 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: winner against the Giants was your seventieth field goal as 99 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: a Falcon, I think that may have been right. I'm 100 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: not entirely sure, but I remember after that game I 101 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,239 Speaker 1: ranked your what I thought to be your top five 102 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: field goals as a Falcon, and I asked you, and 103 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 1: it was funny because our ranking was exactly the same, 104 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: which I was really proud of, like for myself. But 105 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: I'm curious to know if it's changed since then, including 106 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: kind of like what we just saw against Carolina. So 107 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: do you want me to recap what the five were? Sure? Okay, 108 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: So the number five sending to overtime in Tampa Bay 109 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen. Number four fifty two yard or verse 110 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: is Tampa Bay in twenty twenty, which at the time 111 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 1: I think was your longest. Um, it may still be. 112 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 1: I'm actually not sure. Um, number three game winner versus 113 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: Miami in twenty twenty one, Number two the debut thirty 114 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: seven yard field goal versus the Saints in twenty nineteen, 115 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: and then number one, the game winner versus the Giants. 116 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 1: The forty yard or in twenty twenty one was number one. Um, yeah, 117 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: I will say they you know changed. Yeah. Um, at 118 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: the time, I probably didn't have enough. I still don't 119 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: have enough game winners to cover my top five. I 120 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: would definitely keep the first one as a falcon in 121 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: New Orleans. It was good because we've also won, right, Um, 122 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: that one is good. Um, I gotta add the game 123 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: just you know, yeah, yeah against Carolina, wild game for sure. 124 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 1: Have you ever been a part of something quite like that? Um? 125 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 1: I don't know that. I don't think that crazy, Yeah, 126 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: you know, but we won, So I guess the Giants 127 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: wasn't really special for me because my middle school high 128 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: school coach who taught me how to kick kick a football. Really, Um, 129 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: he was at the game. So I'm glad you brought 130 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: that up, because that's actually a line of questioning that 131 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: we had for the podcast later, Simpier as a you say, yeah, yeah, 132 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: he was. He was at the stadium that day. Because 133 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: you went to high school and everything in in New Jersey, right, Um, 134 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: and he kind of helped you kind of kick. And 135 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: I think he was even quoted on our website Sam 136 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: that that was one of the best moments of his life. 137 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: To be able to do that with him. You have 138 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: friends and family in the stands, Um, must have been 139 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: a pretty powerful moment, especially when you're so close to home. Yeah. 140 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: I mean I grew up twenty minutes from that stadium 141 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: him and I think like eighty five percent of my 142 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: high school with Giants fans. But he taught me out 143 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: to kick kicking football, you know, my freshman year in 144 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: high school. Um. And he was a special person for 145 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: me because I kept in touch with him every you know, 146 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: at least once a week even after I graduated high school. Um, 147 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: and we kept in touch and he always checked on 148 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: me no matter what. You know, Um, it would be 149 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: the same questions. But we always talked. You know, it 150 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: was just hey, how you doing. We just talked about 151 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: it two days ago. But I'm good. You know, nothing 152 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: changed in two days, but that you know, he was 153 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: a really special person. His heart, his kindness and his 154 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: generosity to just coach kids. You know, he didn't take 155 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: any payments. He just did that for the love of 156 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: the game and helped kids out. And there's a community 157 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: of kickers that were coached by him and we all 158 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: you know, kind of kept in touch and he kind 159 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: of left that with us so and he just he 160 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: just reasons past spring right right. Was it the type 161 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:05,719 Speaker 1: of thing he could watch you on TV? Let's say 162 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: after it like miss or something like oh there. It 163 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,079 Speaker 1: is like he just knows you so well. Yeah, he 164 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: always called. I have tons of voicemails, you know, just 165 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: talking what happened, this and that. But uh, yeah, you know, 166 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: I think now he left that with us where you know, 167 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: it left for us to stay in touch with everybody. 168 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: That's one thing that he taught me for sure. That's fantastic. 169 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: Do you have any memories from a high school young 170 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: way with him that you you like telling. Yeah, I 171 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: mean it was just the same things all the time, 172 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: where he would be in the parking lot just waiting 173 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: for me to come, you know, and we would go 174 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: out in the morning and he was always early, and 175 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: you know, he would always hold the ball for me, okay, 176 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: given at that age, because he loved seeing it from 177 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,719 Speaker 1: that angle and he loved to feel it. And you know, 178 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:00,199 Speaker 1: I was like, no, it's really okay. You don't really 179 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: have to get down there. You know, it was taking 180 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 1: a little bit longer. It's okay, Like I don't I 181 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 1: feel bad like having you go down and hold the 182 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: balls and all that stuff. But uh, you know, he 183 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: insisted and he always did that. So, um, that's for me. Um, 184 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: it's one of the things I always remember. So you 185 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: were you were really into soccer, right, So give us 186 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: your your kind of football origin story. It sounds like 187 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: some guys asked you to punt at recess or something. 188 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 1: I grew up playing soccer, and when I moved to 189 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: New Jersey, Um, I picked up soccer, and naturally I 190 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: started playing that first. But then um, I got into football. 191 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: Um during a lunch recess, you know, they were like, hey, 192 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: I know you play soccer, like kicked us off, so 193 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: we can you know twa and touch football whatever, and 194 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: I just booted it and they were like, hey, you 195 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: should come out. Hey, why don't you complain? Sign up? 196 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: So then, um, that's how I signed up for football. Um. 197 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: And that's how I really like made a lot of 198 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: friends that otherwise I wouldn't have, you know, especially at 199 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: that time when I didn't speak English. I was, um 200 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,599 Speaker 1: trying to find my way in a new community and 201 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: new you know, new school, knew everything, so that helped me. 202 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: But um, I fell in love with like the physicality 203 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 1: of football. Um. So over time, I guess a couple 204 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: of years before high school, we chose to go with 205 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,959 Speaker 1: football because, um number one, I loved it a lot 206 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 1: more than soccer. And to my middle school coach explained 207 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: to my dad like, hey, like, he has a future 208 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: in this, and my dad was at the time it 209 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: was like what are you talking about? He's just kicking 210 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: a ball. That was so it was really um big 211 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: for my middle school coach to come to my house 212 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: and explain to my parents like, hey, like he can 213 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: you know go to college for this and maybe you 214 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: know even further. So, Um, yeah, that's that's how I 215 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: got into football. That's interesting. And it's interesting too that 216 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 1: you talk about how football kind of connected you to 217 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: other people because you moved to the United States at 218 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: a very like formative age, right like twelve thirteen years old. Um, 219 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 1: walk through what that was like to come here down 220 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: and you said didn't speak English, Like, I feel like 221 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 1: that's probably a lot for a young teenager. Yeah. I 222 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: have like a couple of stories where like my first 223 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: day in school, I was assigned to all the classes 224 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: with like another Korean kid so he can translate things 225 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: for me. So I remember that first day, like I 226 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 1: went to a gym class and all the kids are 227 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 1: coming up, like you know, there's a new kid in school. 228 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,079 Speaker 1: It's like, hey, my name's this nice meet you, like welcome, 229 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: And I just remember like nodding, like smile on my 230 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 1: face right like the whole day. And I was at 231 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: home and I'm like, mom, I have no idea what 232 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: I you know, I don't know. Yeah, So I remember that. 233 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 1: And I was in ESL, so I was with maybe 234 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: five kids that just came and they didn't speak English either, 235 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: So we were going through the similar things. But as 236 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: I got into sports, um club, soccer or football, whatever 237 00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: it was, I started to make friends outside out of 238 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: that like ESL or classroom environment, and that helped me 239 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: big time in terms of like emerging myself into a 240 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: new culture and making new friends. And I was going 241 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: to practice one day with a bunch of friends and 242 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: I didn't really know how to phrase a sentence of like, Hey, 243 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: what do you guys do like on the weekends? Yeah, 244 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: you know, you guys want to hang out? Because I 245 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: was at home, like you know, shooting hoops or whatever. 246 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: But like I didn't really know how to like ask that, 247 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: like I don't know what they do here, you know 248 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: it some new country, Like I don't know. So I 249 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: was in the car and I was like, you know what, 250 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do it. I was like I'm bored, and 251 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: they're like what right, like right now? I'm like no, 252 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: like uh weekends and they're like, oh, you're bored. On 253 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: they so they kind of put it together on the 254 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: little things that threw out and that weekend they called 255 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: me to hang out. So then that's how I really 256 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: like made my first like like move to make friends 257 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:03,479 Speaker 1: outside of like this ort of classroom or anything like that. 258 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: I'm board weekend. I mean, he got all the necessities 259 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: in there. It's like, I don't want to sound stupid, 260 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: but like I have to ask because I'm tired of 261 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: you know, like I don't know how to moment for 262 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: me for sure. Now it's interesting that you know, sports 263 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: connected you to friends in the culture and everything like that, 264 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: because um Ak was on the Our podcast not too 265 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: long ago and he said the exact same thing coming 266 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: from Cameroon, and it was interesting because he was talking 267 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: about how like they're at one point he had to 268 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: learn football and he was like, I'm just playing like 269 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: c ball, hit ball, like because I was still learning 270 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: the game and he was like, even into high school, 271 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: I was still kind of learning the ins and outs 272 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 1: in the game. Did you have something similar kind of 273 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 1: having a um a soccer background but having to learn 274 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: the game of football too. Yeah, it's just just the 275 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: way I had a Korean friend that I was in 276 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: all the classrooms with. I had a current Korean friend 277 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: on the football team, and he was like translating stuff 278 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: for me during practice. Like if coach would be like, hey, 279 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: you gotta do this, then he would explain to me 280 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: what he said so that I can go and do 281 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: it until I started picking up English. So before then, 282 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: like he would explain to me, it's like hey, do this, 283 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: do that, but he would translate things for me, and 284 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: that's how I picked up. But yeah, I mean I 285 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: was naturally good at kicking. But I loved playing football, 286 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: you know, right, you know, middle school, I was playing everything. 287 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: In high school. I almost went to a private school 288 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: to just kick, but I chose not to because I 289 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: wanted to play with my friends that I grew up 290 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: playing football with, so I can play, you know, practice 291 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: and play offense defense. And you know, kicking was just 292 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: something that came more naturally to me. That's interesting that 293 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: you bring that up, because I believe and again no 294 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: one quote me on this, but I believe that Marquis 295 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: we were talking to him maybe a year ago or so, 296 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: and he said he was like, ah, if young Way 297 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: was not a kicker, he could go out and be 298 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: a dB or safety. Like he said that about you, 299 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: and I was like, that's awesome. And then of course, 300 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: looking back at some of your high school stuff, like 301 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: you played a multitude of positions, like what you said, 302 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: you weren't just kicking. Do you think that you could 303 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: go out there and play safety or dB or anything. 304 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: I think there's a reason why I was just kicking 305 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: in college. But I definitely enjoy it for sure. I 306 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: know if I I know for a fact, I can't 307 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: play out here, just maybe it's just zone just like 308 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: sit back, I do know, something like that. But that's 309 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: why I loved kicking off. You know, kickoff was something 310 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: where I can run down the field and feel like 311 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: I'm doing something other than kicking a ball right now, 312 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 1: because you know, we'd go out there to take three 313 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: steps kick a ball and that's really it, right, So 314 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: it's not really that stereotypical football physicality. So when I'm 315 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: on that kickoff team, I was like, man, I'm running 316 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: down the field and I'm gonna make something happen because 317 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: the only time I get to do something then kicking. Yeah. 318 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: And then now we we got Bradley, so I'm not 319 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 1: doing that Bradley out there. No need to run another 320 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: sport that we've noticed that you're pretty good at. There's 321 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: like a very serious yeah in the Falcons locker room, 322 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: and there seems to be varsity JV and then like 323 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: a ninth grade team and young ways on the varsity list, 324 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: right for sure, and I walked in. I think I'm 325 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: kind of good. And then then I was like, I 326 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: could definitely like compete with those guys. And then you 327 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,159 Speaker 1: watch Young Way and Anthony Firks are playing people. No, 328 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:34,719 Speaker 1: I would get skunked every single time. There is so 329 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: much spin going on there. Yeah, the competition, it's, uh yeah, 330 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: we need to clear the whole like half the locker 331 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: room twenty feet beyond the table, you know. But uh yeah, 332 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: I mean I've been I've been going through a little slumps. 333 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: Been uh, folks not beating me a lot, But it's okay. 334 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 1: It's about the only guy who can who can take well, 335 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,119 Speaker 1: isn't it Like Firk is like number one? This is 336 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,439 Speaker 1: what I've heard from Casey Hayward. So he loves to 337 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: play as well, Um track right, yes, and Lorenzo of course, 338 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: but it's like the top of the pyramid is Burg apparently, 339 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: and then it's you and Felipe. Yeah, I think that 340 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: board is very subjective. I'll try not to argue it, 341 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: you know, we'll see. Let the play speak for itself here. Yeah, 342 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 1: I mean we did a like JV tournament, varsity tournament, 343 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: like a you know, freshman team tournament like that. But 344 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: we'll see when we do that again. You do have 345 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: to keep your hat on a swivel in that locker 346 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: room because those ping pong balls are flying around. Yeah, 347 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: we do have a rule. It's like you've you know, 348 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,360 Speaker 1: it's interference, then you've got to play that point over. 349 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: That's definitely fair. Yeah, so let's fast forward just a 350 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: little bit. You know, you're going from high school to 351 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 1: Georgia Southern and the Chargers opportunity, and then you're kind 352 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: of working your way back to get this opportunity, which 353 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: you've obviously made the most up. Is there a way 354 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 1: to describe what that period was like when maybe you 355 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: were kind of un hurtin about how your career arc 356 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: was going to go. Were you liked surfing? Yeah, that's 357 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: what we were talking earlier. I was like, should I 358 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: ask him if he was like CouchSurfing because I know 359 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:13,880 Speaker 1: that something that like, you know, like tryout circles. Right, Yeah, 360 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: that's something that like in guys lived together, Like what 361 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: was your experience like? Um So, after after the Chargers deal, 362 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: I stayed out in San Diego. I linked up with 363 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: John Carney. Um he kicked in the league for twenty 364 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 1: four years and he was training a bunch of guys 365 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: out there. So I stayed out there and I tried 366 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: to learn the game. Um. When I first came out 367 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: of college, for me, it was kind of you know 368 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: what ak was saying, you know, seaball get ball type 369 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: of deal, and for me it was seaball hip ball. 370 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 1: I didn't really get into the craft of kicking you know, um, 371 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 1: but I realized as a pro, you gotta pay attention 372 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 1: to the details, and you gotta work on your craft, 373 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: and you gotta continue to work to perfect a craft. 374 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:59,159 Speaker 1: But I didn't really have those details down yet. Um. 375 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: So when I linked up with John, he taught me 376 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: a lot not only how to you know, work on 377 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:09,239 Speaker 1: your craft, but also like as a pro, what situationally like, 378 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 1: what do you pay attention to, what your routines are like? 379 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: And there was just so much that went into it. 380 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: So I learned a lot from him. But also I 381 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: stayed at Airbnb's pretty like six seven months while I 382 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: was out there. Wow, And I probably wasn't the smartest 383 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: with my money at the time, but from what I 384 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: got from the Chargers, I spent it all on like 385 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 1: Airbnb and pretty much you know, like food and training 386 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: fees out there. So when I ran out of money, 387 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 1: I moved back home to my mom's in Georgia. And 388 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 1: that's when I was like feeling like I was hitting 389 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: like that bottom because I was like, man, I feel 390 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: like I'm in high school because I'm back at my mom's, 391 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: but I don't have school, you know, I'm not working. 392 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: And I know a bunch of guys that got a 393 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:58,439 Speaker 1: job and they trained on the side, and but for 394 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: me at the feel right, I was like, I can 395 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: only do this now, Like I can always get a 396 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 1: job when I'm forty five fifty years old, but I 397 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 1: can't kick a ball then. So I'm just gonna put 398 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,679 Speaker 1: all my energy into this now. So I just you know, 399 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: made a routine, you know, things that I learned from John. 400 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: I had to really put it to work. I wrote 401 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: down my plans, you know, down to the detail of 402 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: what I'm gonna do Monday through Sunday, and I just 403 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: stay ready for those workouts. And when I I said 404 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: to myself, as long as I'm getting calls for workouts, 405 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: I'm gonna keep going. Yeah. And there were some you 406 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,919 Speaker 1: know tough times where it be in the off season 407 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:40,679 Speaker 1: where it'd be like three months go by and you 408 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: didn't get a single call, and I'm like, you know, 409 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: what am I doing with my life when all your 410 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:46,400 Speaker 1: friends are kind of getting a job and moving on 411 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: and moving on, you know, getting an apartment and all 412 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: that stuff, and I'm just still sitting at my mom's 413 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 1: you know, lifting and kicking kind of waiting for that call. 414 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:59,359 Speaker 1: That was definitely tough, but it helped me become who 415 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: I am today for sure, um, because that really like 416 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: fired me up where I'm like, you know what when 417 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: I when I make it like, I don't want to 418 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: be back in that position. So for me, that was 419 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: a tough time for me for sure. Right, But it 420 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: must make this where you just signed a five year extension, 421 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: five year extension, that that I mean pretty good. They're 422 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: like getting all deep here, but I mean, like that 423 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: must have been a real moment, right, Yeah. I mean 424 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: I'm definitely thankful, um for all the people to help 425 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 1: me get to this position. Um, the opportunity that I 426 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 1: got here, and once I came in here, all the 427 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:37,880 Speaker 1: people that kind of helped me get through that first year, 428 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: you know, back into the league after two years. You know, 429 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: that was tough, um, but just helping me, you know, 430 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 1: take advantage of the opportunity. I'm thankful for everybody that 431 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: kind of helped me. Um. But I try to always 432 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: look back at that time, and that's what kind of 433 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: keeps me going. Right. Um, that's those those days where 434 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: I'm like, man, what am I doing? You know that 435 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 1: that's my kind of motivation walking out that game day 436 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: tunnel and I'm like, I'm not going back to that couch. 437 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 1: You know, I'm just gonna lock any more. So, Oh 438 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: I love that I'm getting I'm gonna run through a wall. Now. 439 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 1: When you're sitting there and you're going through all of that, 440 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,639 Speaker 1: the I feel like the anticipation of like waiting for 441 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 1: a call is like very heavy. Did it feel that 442 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: way where you were like you're talking about going months 443 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: without getting a call and then finally getting a call. 444 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: Is they're like that anticipation feeling like within that time 445 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: period where you're actively trying to get back in the league. 446 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: So it was like phases. It was like a year 447 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 1: and a half, two years of like, you know, waiting 448 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,120 Speaker 1: for that call. So the first few ones, I'm like, man, 449 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: all right, here we go like, here are the calls, 450 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: And as I kept going, I think I had like 451 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: twenty plus workouts before I signed here, and I was like, like, 452 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: towards the end of it, I was like, I'm killing 453 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: these workouts. I'm crushing it. I feel good. I feel 454 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:58,680 Speaker 1: like I'm ready to go. But it was always like 455 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 1: a you did a great today, but there was something, 456 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,159 Speaker 1: so towards the end of it, I was fired up. 457 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:06,439 Speaker 1: I was like, man, I don't know what else I 458 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: gotta do. You know, like, you can crush the workout, 459 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,120 Speaker 1: but you don't have enough experience, so they're saying no. 460 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,199 Speaker 1: So towards the end, I was getting frustrated. But that 461 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: definitely helped me become better as well, because that made 462 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: me do push even further to be like, hey, all right, 463 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: let's do even better then, you know. So you know, 464 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 1: it went through phases when I was getting calls for 465 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 1: workouts and stuff. That's awesome and I feel like you're 466 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,920 Speaker 1: such an inspiration for a lot of people. But there 467 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 1: was a moment in training camp that I thought was 468 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 1: one of the coolest moments. There was a fan of 469 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 1: yours that I believe had traveled all the way from 470 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 1: Korea and got to meet you. What was that experience like, 471 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: because I didn't know about that until someone had posted 472 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:52,200 Speaker 1: a video and I was like, oh my gosh, that's 473 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: freaking awesome. Yeah. Still to me, that's weird because I'm like, 474 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,160 Speaker 1: not weird, but like, what do you mean he them 475 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: to see me like like, you know, I'm just where 476 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: you're kicking the ball, you know, I'm just trying to 477 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: you know, have fun playing the game. And then, um, 478 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:12,240 Speaker 1: you know, it's surreal to me that like I can 479 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:19,880 Speaker 1: have some influence, you know, and to see um, people, um, 480 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,399 Speaker 1: you know support me and especially kids that kind of 481 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: say hey, I look up to you, you know, like 482 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: blah blah and I'm an inspiration to some Like that's 483 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,360 Speaker 1: crazy to me still and UM, but I understand that, 484 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: you know, I have a platform to kind of tell 485 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 1: my story and I'm not the first one to go 486 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: through something like that or the last one. So UM, 487 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 1: I love to just share my journey and sharing my story. 488 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:46,199 Speaker 1: So if I can just reach one kid or you know, 489 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:50,479 Speaker 1: influence one kid to push themselves to you know, um 490 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: out of their comfort zone to say like hey, what 491 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:54,919 Speaker 1: are you doing on the weekend? You know, um, to 492 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: make a friend or something like that. So I think 493 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 1: that would be uh, that'd be pretty cool. Just uh, 494 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,920 Speaker 1: just come things as we're wrapping up here. Um, one 495 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: question that I have to ask, which which is not serious. 496 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:09,160 Speaker 1: Specialists often spend a lot of time at practice. I'm 497 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,160 Speaker 1: sure you've gotten this question before. Where you can only 498 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: rep so much right, Eventually it just looks like you 499 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 1: and Liam and Bradley like chilling. What are the conversations like, 500 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 1: is there a level of boredom? I don't know, give 501 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: us some insight on what's happening on the especially so 502 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 1: we do have a lot of time at practice kicking 503 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: or punting. Um, I feel like you don't want to 504 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: overwork you know, the same muscles. I mean, yeah, you can't, 505 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 1: you know, kick all day for three hours, right. Um. 506 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:44,959 Speaker 1: So yeah, we do chill a lot on our on 507 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: our field. UM, a lot of visualization, UM mental reps 508 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:53,640 Speaker 1: I call them, so, UM try to you know, lock 509 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: in while I'm working. But also, um, you know, I 510 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: guess you know the trade shot that I did in college. Yeah, 511 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 1: I always told people that I had too much time 512 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:09,640 Speaker 1: at practice that I I mean, I won't be backflipping now. 513 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 1: But yeah, that's great. I feel like you talk about 514 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: mental reps. In my head, I'm just picturing, like Liam, 515 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: like beside you, just going, hey man, you have three seconds, 516 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: Like that's just in my head. That's kind of like 517 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: what I'm in visualize visualizing. All right, Now, we've reached 518 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,360 Speaker 1: the portion at the end of the podcast, same five 519 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: questions to section. It's kind of a rapid fire thing. 520 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:37,119 Speaker 1: Are you ready? Sure? Here we go. We already kind 521 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: of talked about some of your top kicks. But I 522 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: don't know if there was ever the favorite play of 523 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:43,880 Speaker 1: your career. I don't know if there's kicked a game 524 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,719 Speaker 1: winner in high school or something at Georgia Southern anything 525 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 1: stand out. Oh? Um, my first year here when I 526 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:57,880 Speaker 1: was running down on kickoff and uh ball popped out 527 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: into my chest and I like got all recovery for 528 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 1: sure by far. Remember what happened. I remember long safter 529 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:12,959 Speaker 1: at the time, Josh yeah, he was like, I've been 530 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 1: waiting to do that for eight years and you've been 531 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:16,919 Speaker 1: here for six years. I just got that so for 532 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,879 Speaker 1: sure that that was one of the top ones. It's like, 533 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: how did I get this? Where did it come? Um? 534 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 1: Question number two? What TV show have you been binge watching. Uh, 535 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:30,919 Speaker 1: I don't really binge watch shows because after you know, 536 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: practices and meetings kind of tired. I al want to 537 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 1: sit there and just put something on and not really 538 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 1: pay it to right, you know, I feel that, But 539 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 1: I just put Family Guy on and just kind of 540 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 1: lay it on my phone. Oh man, Oh, I'm very 541 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: excited to ask this question. Um, what is your favorite 542 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: traditional Korean meal? Oh? Well, I do go to Korean 543 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 1: barbecue like once a week. Do you love Korean barbecue? 544 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: I just recently went last week, and it switches for 545 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 1: me like time to time, so I'll be I'll be 546 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: in a mood to be something different every week. So 547 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 1: but I feel like I do create create more Korean 548 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 1: food the older I get. Really yeah, it's I don't know, 549 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: it's weird. I heard that some people told me that 550 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: when I was going up like middle school, high school, 551 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 1: and I was like going away from Korean food. It's 552 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 1: like I don't want to eat that, you know whatever, 553 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: And They're like, just wait, it's gonna come back to you. 554 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: And I'm just like they're right, They're right. I love that. 555 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: There's this a place in Duluth called nine to nine 556 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: Korean barbecue and they do a like some type of 557 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: I think it's like job chay or something like that, 558 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 1: and it's spicy. It's amazing. You'll have to get it 559 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 1: when if you ever go. That's my plug. Who is 560 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 1: the falcon that you hang out with the most? Well, 561 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: we just talked about the specialist, right you know for 562 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: sure Liam and m Liam, Bradley and Bo who definitely 563 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 1: have more time together, write, more time to get an 564 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 1: offensive defensive meetings and we're just playing ping pong oh man. 565 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: And finally the last one, um, what is your biggest pet? Peeve? 566 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:18,719 Speaker 1: Oh oh? Is a tough one. I know everybody has 567 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: to think about that, I know, and everybody's had everybody 568 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: kind of gets uh. We've had a lot of different answers. 569 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: I will say that. Yeah, everything from bad drivers to 570 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: people that chew with their mouth open. Yeah, people who 571 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 1: say salmon instead of salmon. That was an interesting one. 572 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 1: That's a big one. We can check back with you 573 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 1: on that one. Get it before it comes out, young 574 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: young Wayku. Thank you so much for stopping by, and 575 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 1: thanks to everyone for downloading and listening. Please of course 576 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 1: rate review, subscribe all that fun stuff with the Atlanta 577 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: Falcons Podcast Network, and we will be coming to you 578 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: next week with another awesome guest.