1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to Blue Star Media's news storytelling podcast, A Cowboy Life. 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: I'm Brady Tinker and we are thrilled to bring you 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,239 Speaker 1: these stories about Dallas Cowboys players told to us by 4 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: the players themselves. We start with Pro Bowl linebacker Jalen Smith, 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: now number nine, presented by Smoothie King. Blending goodness to 6 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: fuel your greatness. Enjoy Jalen Smith's story a clear eye 7 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: view I've never heard in my personal visits with him. 8 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: First came in about woe is me. I had a 9 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: bad break because he certainly would have been in the 10 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: very top of the draft when he came out. He 11 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: has never complained. He has never wavered, never missed a workout, 12 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: and he's never not one time. He is admired by 13 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: his teammates. He is admired by his people he compets against. 14 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: His story is one that I would have done anything 15 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: to be sure that it could be a Dallas Cowboys story. 16 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is a fantastic businessman, a loyal 17 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 1: family man, and everything that I've ever seen him be 18 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: involved in just a truly passionate person. Jalen Smith was 19 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: raised on the south side of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and 20 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: for a good part of his childhood, he was mostly 21 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 1: Rod Smith's little brother. Rod, you see, was a Southside 22 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: legend as a running back. Jalen loved and admired his 23 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: older brother every minute, but instead of staying in his shadow, 24 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: he paid attention. He asked questions, and without really knowing 25 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: it at the time, he began to pay his own 26 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: well thought out path that became known as clear eye view. 27 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: Clear I view. It's all about how I operate my 28 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: life and how I live my life. It's through three 29 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: different pillars. A focused vision, a determined belief, and earned dreams. 30 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: That's what I define as a clear eye view. A 31 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: focused vision is about having a laser being focused on 32 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: what you want to accomplish. I'm being able to see 33 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: it clearly. And then a determined belief is about a 34 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: self belief, a belief in God that he has your back, 35 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: a belief in others, understanding that others believe in you 36 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: as well. And then from their earned dreams, it's just 37 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: about how bad you want it, what work are you 38 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: willing to put in to accomplish your clear eye view, 39 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: and what you want to achieve. As a young boy 40 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: raised by two loving parents, Dylan was often encouraged to 41 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: ask questions right from the very start. His personality. Ain't 42 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: that easy, both mom and dad in my life, my 43 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 1: entire life, just being able to learn and grow and observe. 44 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: Come from a big family. Both sides of my families 45 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: are athletes. We get our be from my mom's side 46 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: of our family. We get our size from my dad's 47 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: side of the family. So just always being active growing up, 48 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: just really learning basic principles. It's kind of really shaped 49 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: who I am today. Coming from south side of four Wayne, Indiana. 50 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: I have six brothers and one sister. Then I have 51 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: like five step siblings. Both of my parents I remarry, 52 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: so you know where we're all family. Just come from 53 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: and come from a big family, very close, getting opportunities 54 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: to learn from each other every day. An average kid 55 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: might see a big family as a burden or something 56 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: that takes away from his one on one time with 57 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: his parents, but not jailing. He loved and learned from 58 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: that big family every day. My mom kind of taught 59 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: me at a young age just to always be observant 60 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: and it's okay to think and learn, so to just 61 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: developed and intriguing mindset and less to have a lot 62 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: of great people around me. Some Marrea is at the 63 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: south side of Fort Wayne, Indiana, I can be viewed 64 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: as dangerous. The people there are very hard working, but 65 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: somewhat less affluent than other parts of the state. It 66 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: is a part of what some call the distressed zip code. 67 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: Coming from the southside of Fort Wayne, Indiana, you get 68 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: a chance to see a lot and for me, it's 69 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: just about not taking anything for granted and being blessed 70 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: for numerous opportunities. I'm always having to drive to be 71 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 1: something in life in efforts to find my purpose. With 72 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: lots of people around, young kids can get lost in 73 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: the shuffle, especially in a neighborhood with so many things 74 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: that could say challenge your decision making. There's different paths 75 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: that you can take when you're exposed to so much. 76 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: For me, like I said, it's having a great based 77 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: around me in family and France to always keep me going. 78 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: Jalen didn't see his big, blended family as something that 79 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 1: was all that unique. I know multiple examples, especially in 80 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: the in the black community, of makes families and things 81 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: of that nature. We all just look at each other 82 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: as family, being able to learn from each other, being 83 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: able to have each other's backs. Just really a great experience, 84 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: super super huge family, so always someone to talked to. 85 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: I'm a Jim and I don't like being alone, so 86 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: I'm really I'm really good with it. If you were 87 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: around Jalen Smith for any amount of time at all, 88 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: you'll see his drive and his inquisitive nature. You know. 89 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,559 Speaker 1: He always asked my son Jake and I questions about 90 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: our lives and being together and about our business. And 91 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: you'll also hear him talk about his clear eye view 92 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 1: and his desire to focus, improve and learn. It started 93 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: I think at a young age when he was a 94 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: very good athlete, but maybe he went a bit unnoticed, 95 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,359 Speaker 1: as we mentioned, because his older brother Rod was fast 96 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: becoming a Southside legend. We're three and a half years apart. 97 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: I grew up watching him, idolizing him. He was like 98 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: the greatest thing coming out. I was his little brother. 99 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: Kind of forced me into excellence because I didn't want 100 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,799 Speaker 1: to be the little brother that was just mediocre or less. 101 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: Always wanted to be able to live up to that 102 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: family name. And like I said locally in the city, 103 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: our families have huge trackage three of having huge success 104 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: on both sides. So my brother being kind of the 105 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: pinnacle of it growing up, always forced me to work 106 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: extra I'm very observant, so always watched his moves and 107 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: his success and being able to cultivate, you know, into 108 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: my own and then from narrow it's just about stepping 109 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: out of his shadow and becoming my own man, my 110 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: own person. And who was able to do that. And 111 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 1: then after watching each other for years but never playing together, 112 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: the Smith brothers were teammates and they were Dallas Cowboys. 113 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: Definitely a blessing be able to play three years with 114 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: him for the Dallas Cowboys. He's a free agent right 115 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: now training and we both still live in in the 116 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: DFW area. He's one of my idols though, and steady 117 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: pushing each other. I look up to him. I watched 118 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 1: for three years as these brothers, Jalen and Rod played 119 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: on the same field, one for the defense, one for 120 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: the offense. The respect and love was evident as they 121 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: rooted for each other from opposite sides of the field, 122 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: and they shared each other's lump and triumphs. It was 123 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 1: very cool to see. Our dad is a diehard Dallas 124 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: Cowboys fan, so they saw them the family so Fhia 125 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: Smith was a track star, Roger Smith was a football player. 126 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: All in the family. Indeed, you know, in NFL history 127 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: point zero two percent of high school football players actually 128 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: making to the NFL, only three hundred and eighty five 129 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: times have brothers met it to the league, and only 130 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: sixty seven times since nineteen forty have brothers played on 131 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: the same team. But we're making such a big deal 132 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: out of Jalen Rod playing together now because they didn't 133 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: ever play together all the way through high school. When 134 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: it became time to select my high school, I came 135 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: to my mom. I told her I wanted to go 136 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: to Bishi Bluers, this Catholic high school, and the reason 137 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: being was just wanting to step out of my comfort zone. 138 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: I never really experienced being around white people a lot. 139 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: They just wanted to get diverse with the world. I 140 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: always thought, and we weren't perfect, but I always thought 141 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: that the best gift we gave the diversity. Rod Smith 142 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: was All State and the high school player of the 143 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 1: year at Harding High in Fort Wayne. Jalen Smith decided 144 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: to carve out his own path in multiple ways, not 145 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: just with his football but with his life, and he 146 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: needed to challenge himself at a different high school, and 147 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: that lady you saw was his principal at Bishop Lewers 148 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: High School on the South Side. When you look back 149 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: on it, you know, how do you feel about your 150 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: time there? I think it definitely all provided a great 151 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: case to help me become the man I am today. 152 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: I'm so thankful to be able to attend a high 153 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: school like that with especially at the principle at the time, 154 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: Mary Keefer, so much love. It wasn't until his junior 155 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: year that I really got to know him because he 156 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 1: never got in trouble, He never there was never any 157 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: reason for him to come our way. Indeed, Mary Keefer 158 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: was the principal at Bishop Lewers High School in Fort 159 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: Wayne for twenty years, and you can tell when you 160 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,319 Speaker 1: talk to her that she has her faith and an 161 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: unending enthusiasm to help kids learn and to be smarter 162 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: and kinder. Hey, Jalen was going to Bishop Blewers, a 163 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:15,199 Speaker 1: tough decision. A couple of our family members kind of 164 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: went there before and had some success. The football program 165 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: was legit a small, super small Catholic to a high school. 166 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 1: My graduating class was about seventy seventy something. The only 167 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: Catholic high school on the south side of the the town. 168 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: That's really kind of what went into my decision. Definitely 169 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: was able to learn a lot about myself attending that school, 170 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: and to this day, I always go back when I'm home, 171 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: so forever a Bishop Lewers Night. Four time state champion 172 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: as well, winning state four years in a row for 173 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: our little school. It was a big deal. Was able 174 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: to put up some banners, so that's that was a 175 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: beautiful thing. Before there was a draft, you could size 176 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: up a cowboy by three simple factors. 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Is it att dot com for details. 211 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,559 Speaker 1: Jalen made an impressionate Bishop Blewers High School from the beginning. 212 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: His impact on the field was immediate, and as he 213 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: grew as a person, he also impacted students at his 214 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: own school and at the grade school down the street. 215 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: He was rather mild mannered. As a matter of fact. 216 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: I can remember a couple of things about him that 217 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: made him stand out. We had a little Lutheran school 218 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,079 Speaker 1: that was adjacent to our school, and he a friend 219 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: of his went over there every week and read to 220 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,960 Speaker 1: their second graders, And this was something that he decided 221 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 1: he was going to do. Every week. They walked over 222 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: there and read to those kids, and that touched my heart. 223 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: You know, most of us grow up as needed. Jalen 224 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: set out in high school to learn about himself at 225 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 1: Bishop Lewers, and he found he liked helping others almost 226 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: as much as playing football. But boy was he good 227 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: at playing football, and people were starting to notice. Junior year, 228 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: all the talk started about this is a dude, this 229 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: is an athlete. Junior year that Kelly he came to 230 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: watch him play basketball. Kelly that Mary is referring to, 231 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: is the head football coach to the University of Notre Dame, 232 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: Brian Kelly, and his coming to Bishop Blewers High School 233 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: to visit was a big deal. Right beside me in 234 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: our little gymnasium and watched Jalen play basketball. The gym, well, 235 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: there was no room left to sit in the gym. 236 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: Mary was very accommodating. She brought it. She brought a 237 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: chair in for me and we kind of sat in 238 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: the hallway right underneath the basket, and I made a 239 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: grand entrance to make sure everybody knew I was there, 240 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: whether it was a football game or a basketball game. 241 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 1: Jalen never really let any of that distract him from 242 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: what he wanted to do, and that was when so 243 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: he went out and did his normal thing. You know, 244 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: he would tell you that he was a great player. 245 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: I would tell you that he was a great competitor, 246 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,439 Speaker 1: and we'll leave it at that. Brian Kelly is now 247 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: in his twelfth year as head coach at Notre Dame, 248 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: and he's won over seventy percent of his games, and 249 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: it was pretty cool of him to call us back 250 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: to chime in on Jalen. Then he came back the 251 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: senior year to watch him play football, and all the 252 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: hype and all the hoopla threw out at all, Jalen 253 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: remained humble. There was never any look at me or 254 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: any of that. Did he tell you about working at 255 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: Burger King? Nope? Oh, he should have told you about 256 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: working at Burger King. Maybe a block from school. He 257 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: got a job at Burger King, and he was highly 258 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: recruited at that point. That was his senior year and 259 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: there he was Dalen Burgers. Jayleen was not a great communicator, 260 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: and he wanted to use the platform of a job 261 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:45,239 Speaker 1: like Burger King to enhance his interpersonal and communication skills. 262 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: You know, I remember having this talk with Jayalen at 263 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: his locker. His coach is right. He made his way 264 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: to the drive in window at Burger King his senior 265 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: year in high school when he was already famous, solely 266 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: with the idea of giving fast service and making people smile. 267 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: Mary Keeper's husband Steve. And Steve was also a teacher 268 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: and a coach at Bishop Lewers and he had Jayleen 269 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: his senior year and he remembers when he got him, 270 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: he was impressed. We had our first organizational meeting and 271 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: he came in and he had Burger King in uniform 272 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: one he would have worked at Burger King. And he 273 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: was kind of a leader and got around and talked 274 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 1: to all the papers and the kids. The dude, as 275 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: Mary lex to call him, worked at Burger King one. 276 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: He didn't have to. The dude was also fast becoming 277 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 1: a leader. A couple of examples where a few of 278 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: the kids on the team were getting out of bouncel 279 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: that and all I had to do was going to 280 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: tell him and he said, coach, I'll take care of it. 281 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: He was. He was a great leader in that regard. 282 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: As Jalen Smith star rose in high school, he became 283 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: more and more comfortable being that leader. We had an 284 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: assembly that ended early. He came to me and he said, 285 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: could we the whole school do this one dance? And 286 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: I said, buddy, here's the microphone. You're in charge. I 287 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: don't even know what you're talking about. He organized the 288 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: entire school. They all videoed it and they put it 289 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: on there whatever their devices, and it was a big deal. 290 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: It was so much fun. We had fun every PEB session. 291 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: Those kids, we had so much fun winning state four 292 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: years in a ruble for our little school. It was 293 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: a vic deal. Winning four straight state titles was great. 294 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: And we know Jalen had become a big deal because 295 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: Brian Kelly watched him play basketball as a sophomore, basketball 296 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: not football, and by his senior year, while his prowess 297 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: in football had a big award coming his way. He 298 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: was receiving the Dick Butkus Award. It was to be 299 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: a big fat secret. So Butcas was going to call 300 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: the athletic office and I was to have Jalen there. Well, 301 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: his mom worked, he never came to school, but we 302 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: wanted her to be there to enjoy that. I was 303 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: walking him down to the office and his mom was 304 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: going in the office, Hi, Mama, he's way down the 305 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: hall of so that he knew something was up, unabashedly 306 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: always a mama's boy. And by the way, Derek Thomas, 307 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: Brian Bosworth, Luke Keekley, and Von Miller are just a 308 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: few other names to win the Buckas Award, named after 309 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame Bears linebacker Dick Budkas. He provided 310 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: so many experiences for me and us at our school 311 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 1: that will never be replicated. I mean, it just was awesome. 312 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: We have his retired jersey in the gymnasium. It's it 313 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: was just fun. It was fun. Now, honestly, how many 314 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: high school principals in this great country do you think 315 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: would single out a football player for his overall impact 316 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: on their school. He is so accommodating because everybody wants 317 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 1: a piece of him. He did a little football camp 318 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: local university, and I said, Mohammed's not coming to the mountain. 319 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 1: The Mountain's got to go to Mohammed. So I went 320 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 1: out on the football field. I just wanted to say hi. 321 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,160 Speaker 1: Andn't seen him for a while, and he had his bouncer. 322 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: No you can't, you can't. I said, you know, if 323 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: you go tell him that it's missus keeper, I promise 324 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: he won't. He won't mind. No, he doesn't want to 325 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 1: see anybody's he's got this camp going on. And I said, 326 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: I'm going to ask one more time, and she went over. 327 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:37,199 Speaker 1: He came running and hugged and was so this is 328 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: how he is. This is how he is. He's he's open, 329 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 1: and he's welcome and willing. And I think Mary has 330 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: another proud Jalen's myths story yet to come. Well, he 331 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 1: scored a touchdown and I'm all I was always on 332 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: the sideline pacing and he ran over and he hugged me, 333 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: and somebody snapped a picture. So I'm proud of that picture. 334 00:18:55,840 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: I love it. Sophia and Roger raised a smart and 335 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: thoughtful son in Jalen. Hey. Jalen Bishop Lewers was mostly white. 336 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: When you decided to attend there, there had to have 337 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: been some trying times. Definitely had some surprising moments. Won't 338 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:14,640 Speaker 1: get it, won't get into it, but definitely definitely did 339 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: some of it. Just unknown when you experience different things 340 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: in life, sometimes it's hard to grasp if you just 341 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: don't know what you don't know a lot of learning 342 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 1: came from that, but nevertheless able to develop some great 343 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: friends and relationships that's still arise to this day. Like 344 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: I said, I'm a south Side guy. I love going home, 345 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: I love being around from all of my people. So 346 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: it's definitely great vibes at this brewis Jalen Smith knew 347 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,199 Speaker 1: there would be challenges when he stepped outside of his 348 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 1: comfort zone and attended the diverse Bishop Lewers. It's one 349 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: of the reasons he went there to learn about the 350 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: world outside of his big family. And then it was 351 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: time to choose a college, and Ohio State University sent 352 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: a former linebacker for the Buckeyes and Super Bowl champ 353 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,640 Speaker 1: by the way, Mike Grabel, to get Jalen to come 354 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: to Columbus definitely dream come true. To be able to 355 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: meet Mike Grabels, my favorite linebacker run up how versatility 356 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: was making big hits and sat causing turnovers, catching touchdowns. 357 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: I loved his versatility. He came to my high school 358 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: and I was going to work out. It was just 359 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: an amazing experience. Now, I personally would have liked the 360 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: Super Bowl champs chances of getting most kids to come 361 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: to Ohio State, But as usual, Jalen had a plan. 362 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: My brother was at Ohio State at the time. It 363 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: kind of made perfect sense. My dad wanted me to 364 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: go there so we could play together. That was his 365 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:38,360 Speaker 1: role model in so many ways in this recruiting process. 366 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:43,719 Speaker 1: It never became one where he pitted Ohio State against 367 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: Notre Dame. This was always about what was the best 368 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 1: place for Jalen Smith. We never really even got into 369 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:54,719 Speaker 1: talking about other schools. Ohio State is a great football school. Hell, 370 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 1: it's a great school, period, but Jalen had designs on 371 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: a school that he felt was worldwide. When it came 372 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: time to make my decision, I definitely wanted to choose 373 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 1: Notre Dame. I wanted to take my own path a 374 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: little closer to home, my mama's boy an hour and 375 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: a half away. South Bend is the education, the network, 376 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 1: Notre Dame being a global institute, global recognition, much like 377 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: the Dallas Cowboys. You know you got Notre Dame. You 378 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: got Dallas Cowboys, you got the Yankees. As far as 379 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: prestige and notoriety, and making it a forty year decision, 380 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 1: not a four year The best linebacker in the country 381 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,439 Speaker 1: headed to college was also grown up enough already to 382 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 1: think about lifelong ramifications of his college or choice. It's 383 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: pretty amazing to me he had a clear understanding that 384 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: Notre Dame, the brand power of Notre Dame, and Jalen 385 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: Smith would be a great marriage. And there's not many 386 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 1: eighteen year olds who begin thinking in those terms. At 387 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 1: that time, they're thinking about putting on a gold helmet 388 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: and running through the unnel, and certainly that was part 389 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 1: of it, but he had a much broader sense and 390 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 1: understanding of where he was going with his life. Opportunity 391 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: to play right away and be able to contribute to 392 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:16,479 Speaker 1: the team's success is just a beautiful thing. Man. He 393 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: made priorities in his life and that's why he was 394 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: such a great fit for us at Notre Dame. Translation, 395 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 1: he was smart and a great player, and he was 396 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: going to be plugged into the starting lineup from day 397 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 1: one in South Bend. But not much about Jalen story 398 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: runs along in a typical script for an eighteen year old, 399 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: No way, how much selling did you have to do 400 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: on Notre Dame, Coach, What we talked about was what 401 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: was most important for Jaylen Smith. We talked about his brother, 402 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 1: talked about his family. We talked about how this school 403 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: could enhance Jalen Smith and make him the best version 404 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: of himself. And that's why we felt pretty confident that 405 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, finding out so many 406 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,200 Speaker 1: of these things about Jalen that he was going to 407 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: choose Notre Dame. This is my thirty first year of 408 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: being a head football coach. I've had hundreds of players 409 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: to play for me. This young man was truly different 410 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 1: in so many ways, and it has to do with 411 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 1: wanting to grow at such an early age and understanding 412 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:20,440 Speaker 1: what growth meant and growth was inside out. That's why 413 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: he's such an extraordinary young man. And then nearly three 414 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: years after he left Notre Dame to enter the NFL, 415 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 1: he went back to the campus and back to the 416 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 1: classroom to finish his required courses to graduate. Finishing off 417 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,120 Speaker 1: what he started just says a lot about who he 418 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,919 Speaker 1: is and how revered he is. I mean, we I 419 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 1: had a couple of freshman players come back to the 420 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 1: football building and go, coach, You'll never believe who was 421 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: in the classroom. Who was Jalen Smith. I actually went 422 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: back to school after getting drafted. Two and a half 423 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: years later, I am rolled back in school to finish up. 424 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: I said, well, did you just say hi? There's no 425 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 1: way that's Jaylen Smith. I go, like, you could probably 426 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 1: go up and say hi and tell him that you're 427 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: a football player. Everything could be okay, But that's the 428 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: kind of I think reputation that he has a man 429 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 1: of integrity and when you carry that and you say 430 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: what you're gonna do and mean what you say, as 431 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: we all know in today's world, that means a lot. 432 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: It was a different feeling being able to graduate as well, 433 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: and from the university twenty nineteen. It was my graduation 434 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: day last semester. I walked across that stage, something I 435 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: told my mom I would do. Hi, I'm Clint Tillison. 436 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: Will you not at agin turf before? 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New Doctor Pepper zero sugar, You deserve it. 456 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: I do deserve that. You deserve decadent flavor without sugar, 457 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 1: and a day at the beach without sand getting everywhere, 458 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: and a relaxing bath that your children don't interrupt. I 459 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 1: deserve all that. It's really just a visual metaphor for 460 00:25:56,760 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: doctor Pepper zero sugar. Everything you want, nothing you don't. 461 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 1: A visual metaphor on the radio. Why do you deserve that? 462 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: Doctor Pepper zero sugar, the zero you deserve? He is 463 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 1: finally here. Before there was a draft, you could size 464 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: up a cowboy by three simple factors. The crease in 465 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,919 Speaker 1: his hat, the bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude. 466 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: A man stetson didn't just protect him from what life 467 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: threw at him. It projected a rugged unstoppable spirit. Stetson 468 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 1: hats are still American, made with pride. Right here in Texas, 469 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:30,199 Speaker 1: there's still the unofficial crowd of all self respecting Cowboys, 470 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: and Stetson is proud to be on the field with 471 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: America's team. Find a retailer nearest you at Stetson dot 472 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 1: com slash Cowboys. You know another surprising revelation of this story. 473 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:43,119 Speaker 1: Just a few months prior to signing a sixty four 474 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: million dollar life changing contract to stay with the Dallas Cowboys, 475 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 1: Jalen Smith was sitting in classes earning his last required 476 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 1: credits to graduate from Notre Dame. You know, I want 477 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: to go back to a major focal point in Jalen's 478 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,159 Speaker 1: football life, the injury in his last game in the 479 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,880 Speaker 1: Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, Jalen Smith versus Zeke Elliott, 480 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: seemingly the worst bit of luck at the most ill 481 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: fitting of times. New Year's Day two thousand and sixteen, 482 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: just months before the NFL Draft, and Jalen Smith suffers 483 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: what looks to be a career ending catastrophic injury. Definitely 484 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:23,959 Speaker 1: a life turn, you know, being able to experience real adversity, 485 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: possibly never been able to play the game that I 486 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 1: love again. I was not surprised that he'd played. He 487 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 1: had such a bond and a closeness to those players, 488 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 1: especially the seniors that were out there, and he was 489 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: one of them. He was a captain, he was a leader. 490 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,200 Speaker 1: Once you put that sea on your shirt, especially at 491 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 1: Notre Dame, there's a bond there. You're not going to 492 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: let your guys down. You're going to be with them 493 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 1: to the very end. So that didn't surprise me. I 494 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 1: think what I was absolutely shocked by was his reaction 495 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 1: with no bitterness, with no I wish I would have 496 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 1: done it differently. His reaction was I wouldn't change a thing. 497 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:10,440 Speaker 1: It's God's plan. I will overcome this. And the way 498 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,199 Speaker 1: he went to work after such a devastating injury and 499 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:17,440 Speaker 1: being told by so many people that you can't do this, 500 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 1: it was almost that he was destined for this, and 501 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 1: the way he overcame it is a story in itself 502 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 1: so incredible what he's been able to achieve because of 503 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: that injury. It just speaks to all the things that 504 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: he did leading up to it. All of Jalen's plans 505 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: were turned upside down. The draft was just months away, 506 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: didn't look for all the world like he may never 507 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: play again period. His role in the NFL Draft was 508 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 1: clearly going to be as a bystander. The setback could 509 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: have defined his career before it ever started. But Jalen 510 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 1: Smith defied the odds. He leaned on his faith and 511 00:28:50,440 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 1: he went to work and the Dallas Cowboys noticed there's 512 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 1: some of the background stuff that we had found out 513 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 1: about him being driven and all those things. The biggest 514 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 1: thing is we spent time with was you know, him 515 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: coming back from the injury and doing all those things 516 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: and finding out who he was. How nerve rocking was 517 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: it to make the pick? You know, we gathered all 518 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: the information and then having the stuff from the doctor's helped. 519 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 1: And I think the biggest thing was learning who the 520 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 1: guy was and then Jerry being invested in it and 521 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: being you know, making the call, because at the end 522 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 1: of the day, Jerry makes the call and you know, 523 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 1: in the second round without ability, and then who he 524 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: was and then having the information medically that we had 525 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 1: made him feel safe enough to pick a kid like 526 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: like Jaymen. I had no doubt that I was going 527 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: to come back. The main reason why is because of 528 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 1: my clear eye view since I was seven years old. 529 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: I knew I was going to play in the National 530 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:52,480 Speaker 1: Football League, and he put a lot of time, a 531 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 1: lot of sweat equally into what you want to accomplish 532 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: in life. And this was my main pillar growing up. 533 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:00,720 Speaker 1: Now we all know it's human beings. Had to have 534 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: been moments of doubt for Jalen, even if they were fleeting, 535 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 1: because when a doctor says to you nerve damage, well 536 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: that's not ligament damage. That's a bigger deal. But he 537 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,720 Speaker 1: got drafted by his dad's favorite team, the team his 538 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:13,959 Speaker 1: brother was on. It was great, and he came to Dallas, 539 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 1: but he couldn't play. To be able to get drafted 540 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 1: at twenty, but did not be able to play right away. 541 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 1: That's when you and I met, Yes, that's when we met. 542 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 1: That's when we met. Definitely humbling experience. They'd held me 543 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 1: grow into the man I am today. In between, Jalen's 544 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 1: hard work to even be considered as a draftable player 545 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 1: for the league was countless hours of whatever rehabit he 546 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: was allowed to do, upper bodywork and mind work, remaining 547 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: mentally tough and limiting his circle of friends to reduce 548 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: any negativity, and staying with his faith in his focus. 549 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,760 Speaker 1: He was never going to perform with the combine. But amazingly, 550 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: he did show up for Notre Dame's pro day and 551 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 1: do the only thing he could possibly do. He laid 552 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 1: down on that bench and he pressed two hundred and 553 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 1: twenty five pounds without putting too much stress on his legs, 554 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: and he pushed that weight up twenty four times in 555 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 1: front of NFL scouts, and those that were there knew, somehow, 556 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:15,560 Speaker 1: some way, this kid was going to play in the NFL. 557 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 1: Now it was up to teams to decide how early 558 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 1: they were willing to pick a great talent with a 559 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: terrible injury. The Cowboys knew the most about his leg 560 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: because their doctor coincidentally did the surgery. Here's vice president 561 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,959 Speaker 1: of Player Personnel, Will McClay. What we're doing when we 562 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,479 Speaker 1: do this is we're betting on people, and so you know, 563 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:36,880 Speaker 1: you have to have things in place to kind of 564 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 1: have checks and balances to kind of help you understand 565 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 1: who the guy is and what they're all about. But 566 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 1: it's extremely rewarding when you know you have a guy 567 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: that checks all the boxes physically, that's been through some challenges, 568 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 1: that's overcome those Because we all have to do those 569 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 1: as we grow. The biggest thing with these college guys 570 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: is we're taking them from one environment that they've been 571 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 1: in for three to four years in there and you're 572 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: putting him into a completely different environment. So you have to, 573 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: you know, concern yourself with the emotional intelligency IQ, the 574 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: emotional IQ and all that stuff during that red shirt 575 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 1: ye our rookie year. Definitely maximize my time on not 576 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: only rehab and training to be able to return to 577 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:21,240 Speaker 1: the game, but it just mind my whole mental aspect 578 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:25,040 Speaker 1: on understanding different things that may have taken a little 579 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:27,680 Speaker 1: longer had I been thrown right into the fire of 580 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:30,560 Speaker 1: a plan as a rookie. Once again, Jalen had the 581 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 1: right frame of mind, He found the positive in his 582 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 1: rehab and made the most of his time physically and mentally. 583 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 1: I think it's just a testament to who he is. 584 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 1: It all started with, you know, seeing him come back 585 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 1: from that injury and the dedication that he showed getting 586 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:47,760 Speaker 1: through that. I mean, and you know most people would 587 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 1: have quit and said that, you know, I can't do 588 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: this and tried to find excuses, and he didn't. He 589 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 1: has never wavered, never missed a workout and he's never quit, 590 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 1: not one time coming through that, and then the way 591 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 1: that he played made us feel like we picked the 592 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:17,960 Speaker 1: right guy that made Jerry feel like it was definitely 593 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 1: worthy of making that investment. Will McClay and his team 594 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 1: were proved right in their assessment of Jalen Smith, both 595 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: as a person and a player. And Jerry Jones had 596 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 1: another great Dallas Cowboys story and as usual, Jalen sees 597 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: the big picture better than most. Had I not got hurt, 598 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,960 Speaker 1: I probably wouldn't be playing for the Dallas Cowboys because 599 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 1: of my success and you know, rejected would be a 600 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:44,120 Speaker 1: top three pick. Is the blessing and that so many 601 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: blessing and learning lessons come from that experience. That has 602 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 1: just shaped me into the man I am today and 603 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 1: a story to be able to inspire others. That's the 604 00:33:52,880 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 1: guy had called for me, man. So Jalen, take me 605 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 1: through draft day at home with your family and your friends. 606 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 1: What's going through your mind. I talked to Bill Priacas 607 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:13,160 Speaker 1: maybe the week before, and a guy that knows everything 608 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 1: that's going on in the league and the draft process. 609 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:20,000 Speaker 1: Everybody knows his legendary status. Man. We had a conversation 610 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:23,479 Speaker 1: and He pretty much told me that probably not gonna 611 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:26,440 Speaker 1: get drafted in the first round because of a nerve. However, 612 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: you're gonna get an opportunity early that next day, and 613 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:31,000 Speaker 1: all you need is one team to believe in you. 614 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 1: I'm not sure at that moment if he if he knew, 615 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: you know, that the Cowboys were gonna select me. But 616 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:40,280 Speaker 1: I kind of found out during Draft Day Day two 617 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:46,759 Speaker 1: that it would probably be the Cowboys or the Patriots. 618 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:50,279 Speaker 1: The New England Patriots selected an Alabama cornerback who has 619 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: mostly returned kicks for two different teams since two thousand 620 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:57,359 Speaker 1: and sixteen. I'd say advantage Cowboys. So tell me about 621 00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 1: when that phone rang and Jerry Jones was on the 622 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:02,880 Speaker 1: other on Draft Day on that day we got that 623 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 1: call to two one four number. It was just such 624 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:08,280 Speaker 1: a coincidence because I was sitting right by my brother, 625 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 1: who at the time, you know, he was going into 626 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:13,080 Speaker 1: year or two in the league and you know, on 627 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:16,239 Speaker 1: a Dallas Cowboys roster. So it was just like it 628 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:18,879 Speaker 1: was perfect, definitely a blessing be able to play three 629 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:22,239 Speaker 1: years with him for the Dallas Cowboys. He's a free 630 00:35:22,239 --> 00:35:25,799 Speaker 1: agent right now. Training we we both still live in 631 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:28,239 Speaker 1: in the DFW area. He's one of my idols though, 632 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 1: and steady pushing each other. Our dad is a diehard 633 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:39,240 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys fan, so it's all in the family. Jalen 634 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:41,120 Speaker 1: thought it would be Day two, and if you were 635 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,719 Speaker 1: watching the NFL Draft coverage, well they thought it might 636 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:47,000 Speaker 1: be round two, or it might be later. Who would 637 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,720 Speaker 1: have the insight and the nerve to pull the trigger? 638 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:52,680 Speaker 1: And then with a third pick in round number two 639 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:57,400 Speaker 1: of the twenty sixteen NFL Draft, it was the Dallas Cowboys. Hey, Jaylen, 640 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:01,239 Speaker 1: how's the ride been so far? And the ride has 641 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 1: been exquisite because it's like, at any given moment, something 642 00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:06,960 Speaker 1: can be thrown at you and you don't know what's 643 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:09,640 Speaker 1: going to happen next. But I rely on my clear 644 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:13,520 Speaker 1: views and just understanding that regardless of what situation that 645 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:15,799 Speaker 1: gets thrown at me, I'm gonna be okay, and I'm 646 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 1: gonna make it through and I'm gonna grow and I'm 647 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:20,239 Speaker 1: gonna learn from any of this. We've all probably heard 648 00:36:20,239 --> 00:36:23,760 Speaker 1: it a lot that it's like there's no sustinct as losses. 649 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 1: It's lessons in learning, having successful years, having some tough years, 650 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:31,640 Speaker 1: you know, as a team, it revising an opportunity for 651 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:34,839 Speaker 1: us to grow. Last year dealing with everything we all 652 00:36:34,880 --> 00:36:37,200 Speaker 1: deal with, there's still some good to take out of it, 653 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:40,360 Speaker 1: no doubt about it. Twenty was an upside down the 654 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:42,279 Speaker 1: year for so many of us in this world. The 655 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:45,399 Speaker 1: Cowboys were no exception. When your star quarterback goes down, 656 00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 1: very few teams were equipped to overcome that in the NFL. 657 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:51,000 Speaker 1: But the defense was not very good either. And Jalen 658 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 1: knows his role. His job is to be better, certainly 659 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,439 Speaker 1: himself and to help those around him be better too. 660 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:06,239 Speaker 1: I'm an employee for the Dallas Cowboys, and you know 661 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:08,880 Speaker 1: our job is to as experts in our position is 662 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:11,359 Speaker 1: to perform, and that's what I pride my cell phone, 663 00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:14,359 Speaker 1: just continuing to perform and being a leader here. Now, 664 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:16,960 Speaker 1: it's it's about how can you help others and continue 665 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:19,560 Speaker 1: to help others. That's what I'm focused on. We gotta winn. 666 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: It's been too long. It's time to stop talking about it, 667 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:25,840 Speaker 1: and we just got to do it. Jaalen is smart. 668 00:37:25,920 --> 00:37:29,040 Speaker 1: He understands everything that goes into the business of the 669 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:33,120 Speaker 1: NFL and working for the Dallas Cowboys and their fans. 670 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:36,919 Speaker 1: I'm excited, man, I'm excited for a Western store, but 671 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:39,840 Speaker 1: I had a lot more and I have still have 672 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:42,759 Speaker 1: a lot more to accomplish. Continuing to stay focused, man, 673 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:46,280 Speaker 1: and to appreciate life the peace. Should appreciate the beautiful 674 00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:49,040 Speaker 1: people that are around me. Appreciate you and your son 675 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:52,520 Speaker 1: for our relationship for almost five years now. Man, it's blessed. 676 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:56,000 Speaker 1: First five years down, four years planned, but five years 677 00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:58,680 Speaker 1: down and we're all going into year six. So still 678 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:00,920 Speaker 1: got a few of the draft class here, which is 679 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,279 Speaker 1: which is a blessing. It's with me, dak Zeke and 680 00:38:03,480 --> 00:38:05,600 Speaker 1: Anthony Brow. We're bringing it on, man. We just just 681 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:07,719 Speaker 1: got to keep going. I'm looking forward to getting some 682 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:10,040 Speaker 1: guys back, you know, healthy this year, and you get 683 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:12,640 Speaker 1: a chance to build our camaraderie a little earlier. COVID 684 00:38:12,760 --> 00:38:20,680 Speaker 1: nineteen protocols last year. I'm sorry, that's my dog barking, Achilles. 685 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,400 Speaker 1: Come on, man, you know how it is definitely looking 686 00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 1: forward to to what's in story, man, I'm embracing each 687 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:34,600 Speaker 1: moment with a clear eye view. And what a story 688 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,600 Speaker 1: it is. Jalen Smith getting picked by his father's favorite 689 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:40,640 Speaker 1: team because he had a catastrophic injury, and it turns 690 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:43,279 Speaker 1: out Dallas is the place that Jayalen was supposed to 691 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:47,239 Speaker 1: defy the odds, to overcome, and to flourish. Thank you 692 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:51,480 Speaker 1: very much, Dylen Smith for telling us about your cowboy life. 693 00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:01,600 Speaker 1: Thanks so much us for listening to Blue Star Media's 694 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:05,439 Speaker 1: new storytelling podcast, A Cowboy Life. There will be one 695 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:08,320 Speaker 1: story each week for you all the way through the playoffs. 696 00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:11,600 Speaker 1: This was episode one, and don't forget. Next week, Episode 697 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:13,640 Speaker 1: number two will be the first of a two part 698 00:39:13,719 --> 00:39:18,040 Speaker 1: story about Tony Romo and Jason Witton and their fantastic 699 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:21,759 Speaker 1: relationship over thirteen years in the NFL. All of this 700 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:24,000 Speaker 1: brought to you by our friends at Smoothie King, who, 701 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:27,960 Speaker 1: as you know, are blending goodness to bring out your greatness.