1 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: It was a dad. I just don't think that's my 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: job is to make them a college baseball player. My 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,399 Speaker 1: job is to give them the opportunities to pursue what 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: they want. If that sports great, if it's um non, 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: if it's in the arts, um that's important too. I 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: think that's my job has provide them opportunities, and the 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: more opportunities at an early age, the more exposure, and 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: I think it helps their development as they grow. This 9 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: is the Reformed Sports Project, a podcast about restoring healthy 10 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: balance and perspective in all areas of sports through education 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: and advocacy. Hi, this is Nick Bonacoor from the Reformed 12 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: Sports Project podcast. Today, I'm speaking with Braxton Harris, associate 13 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: head football coach, linebackers coach, and recruiting coordinator at Campbell University. 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: Prior to joining the Campbell program in the spring of one, 15 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: Braxton served as a head coach at Howard Payne University 16 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: for three seasons. Coach Harris and I discussed the value 17 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: and parents providing teachable moments for their kids, how multi 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: sport athletes benefit from competing your and what it means 19 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: to be a great teammate. Let's go. I am so 20 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: fired up. I got another awesome guest, fellow North Carolinian 21 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: here on the pod today. Associate head coach, recruiting coordinary 22 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 1: linebackers coach, sports parents, guys in the weeds four kids 23 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: coach and I love it. Braxton Harris, Campbell University coach. 24 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for hopping on. Coach Harris. Hey, man, 25 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: I appreciate you opportunity to be on here, and I 26 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:26,759 Speaker 1: gotta be honest, that was that was the first for me. Um. 27 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: We've been here eighteen months in North Carolina, and so 28 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: that's the first time I've been introduced in North Carolinian. 29 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: So I appreciate that. Man. I'm all about that. I 30 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: gotta tell you the first time I actually said North 31 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: Carolinian without stuttering. So I'm a couple of first there. 32 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: So thank you man. I'm pumped to have you and 33 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: we just talked real quick off and we also are 34 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: were cut from the same division three cloth. You know, 35 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: I will say, you know you're a national finalist, but 36 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: I got my team North Carolina got the national title. Though. 37 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: What happened in the finals? How did you guys not 38 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: get it done? I don't know the whole story. Seven 39 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: points away against Lynnfield College. Um, we we can go 40 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: through that another day, but at some points away that's all. 41 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: We were right there at it, that's for sure. Oh man, 42 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: I love it. I love D three man because it 43 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: meant just as much to us as watching the Rose 44 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: Bowl or watching the BCS National Title and watching the 45 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: Major League College watching Omaha. It all feels the same 46 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: at every level. So I know you understand that absolutely, 47 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: you know. And that's something I've been very blessed is 48 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: you know, you don't always know the path that God's 49 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: got for you. Um, but I know this, I would 50 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: not be the man. I wouldn't be the coach that 51 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: I am today if it wouldn't for my experience at 52 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: University of Mary Harden Baylor and being able to play 53 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 1: it under and then work for Pete Frindbergh, who was 54 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: a you know, Hall of Famer and uh, a lot 55 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 1: of things you know we're talking about today, and the 56 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: staff meet and talk about where you come from as 57 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: far as your mindset, and it comes back to him 58 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: and what he taught me there Mary Harden Baylor, and man, 59 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: I just wouldn't be the same. I wouldn't have it 60 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 1: any other way, that's for sure. I love it, man, 61 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: I love that stuff. Coaching. We just kind of went 62 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: into it. I know that you're the associate head coach 63 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: Campbell University. Um, you know you're you're at You're a 64 00:02:57,880 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: very very high level. But where I want to start 65 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: with here, I want to get into that perspective. You've 66 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 1: got four kids. You got a ten year old, twin 67 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: boys at seven, then you got a new a younger one. 68 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: So we were just talking about this, what's it like 69 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: being a sports parent now with these little kids. Well, uh, 70 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: I'll tell you what. You know. You you as an 71 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: athlete yourself, you know, and you get to that you 72 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: start to grow and you get married and you start 73 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: to have kids, and you know, I'll be honest, when 74 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: we found out we're having you know, brooks are first 75 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: as was a boy, the thoughts of getting to play 76 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: catch in the backyard, you know, and and getting to 77 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: beat him up at the field like I was up 78 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: at the field. My dad was a high school football 79 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: coach in Texas, so I lived at the field house, man, 80 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: and uh, the thoughts of being able to have him 81 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: up there with me. Um, you know, that kind of 82 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: goes through your mind and you get excited about those things. 83 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: And now you know he's he's getting into it, and 84 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: that I got twins that are seven, they're getting into it, 85 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: and so it's been a lot of fun just to 86 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,119 Speaker 1: see their passion, how excited they are about it. Um. 87 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: But then you know, I mean to be honest with you, Nick, 88 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: the coolest thing that's been for me is to be 89 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: able to show them work ethic, what it takes to successful. Um. 90 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: And you get, sports gives us such an opportunity, UM 91 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: with seven year old even too. Hey, if you want something, 92 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: you gotta work for it, you know, and it doesn't 93 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: just happen in that butt, and sports gives you such 94 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: a it's right there in front of you. It either 95 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: it is or it isn't. It's not opinion, you know. 96 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: And man, it's just been so good for my wife 97 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: Jennifer and I M to be able to teach and 98 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: mold and guide our our little boys into hopefully men 99 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: one day that are able to take those things and 100 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: carry them over. You know, you were talking about how beforehand, 101 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: before we get online, you were mentioned how the boys 102 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: are now playing kind of the all stars right there 103 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: doing summer ball and play baseball, and we're kind of 104 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: you know, as someone who played sports yourself and now coaching, 105 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 1: are you starting to feel a little bit that push, 106 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: like you know, when's the because listen, you can play 107 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: a hundred summer games if you want. I mean, you 108 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: you get this. There's enough baseball to go around all 109 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: year long, specially where we are in the South. Baseball 110 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: weather all year round, and there is a market for it. 111 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: But no matter what sport it is, how do you 112 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: know when the when the fine line is and DM 113 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 1: monitor that where you know maybe it's time to take 114 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 1: a break. Yeah, I mean, I think that's a great question. 115 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: I think if if I had the answer, I'd write 116 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: a book And I've spent a lot less time at 117 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: work because I had my book selling my book at 118 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: that point. But um, you know, for us, I mean, 119 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: just to be honest with the nick, I mean, that's 120 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 1: the that's the search that we're being able to look for, 121 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: is what is the balance of what's best for our 122 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: boys individually, but then ultimately that's important, but the most 123 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: important thing is what's in what's best for our family 124 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: unit as a whole um. And that includes Jennifer, my wife, 125 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: being a coach's wife. On top of that, UM, you know, 126 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: the support that I can give her in the fall 127 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: is is non existent. UM. I mean, just be honest 128 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,679 Speaker 1: with you, um. And so that's the balance were always 129 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: looking for because you want to give your kids the 130 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: opportunities and you don't want them to miss opportunities because 131 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: of decisions you make as a parent. I think that's 132 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: probably one of the biggest beers we all have in 133 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: this thing as a parent. UM. But there's also at 134 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: the end of the day, it's got to be best 135 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: with for the family as a whole. And when you 136 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: have a big family, um, you know, like I do, 137 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 1: like you do, everybody's got to be on board with that. 138 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: You know, it can't just be about one kid. It 139 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: can't just be about what he wants. It's got to 140 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: be best for the whole family unit in this But 141 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: so you know, be honest with you, nicked me. I 142 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: ask a lot of people to get their opinions. Doesn't 143 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: mean that that's what's best for your family, but it's 144 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: nice to have some guiden factors in that. You know, 145 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: you you touched on the family piece of and I 146 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: think that's something that at times gets lost because I've 147 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: seen it. I've actually lived it, you know, And it's 148 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: funny having six kids, we've actually been kind of forced, 149 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: you know, ever since we started over and you know, 150 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: decide to have the three younger ones, and we we 151 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: were forced to not put as much emphasis on our 152 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: older kids because we just couldn't. We didn't have enough 153 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: time to allocate. So in a way, it actually made 154 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: us like, hey, tell our older kids like, hey, you're 155 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: you're not you. You have to choose one or the 156 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: other or this or that, And I think it was 157 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,679 Speaker 1: very healthy. We want our older kids to have jobs. 158 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: Um now again, their sophomores, juniors are going to be 159 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: a senior here, and there's other things. So how do 160 00:06:58,160 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: you find that, I think you said the word balance. 161 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: There's it's important to keep everyone busy. But at the 162 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: same time, do you find it as your family to 163 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: keep you know, free play, like have us structured things 164 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: in the backyard or do you want everything to be 165 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: revolving around kind of like a sport or you want 166 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: to make sure that there's time for other activities as well. Yeah, 167 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: I mean, I think there's gotta be both. I mean, 168 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: just to be completely honest with you, I think there's 169 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: two ways that we look at it. We we will 170 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: spend time together as a family. We may be all 171 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: at the ballpark, we're all gonna be there together. You know. 172 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: My wife does a phenomenal job. That we got an 173 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: eight month old, and she'll be sitting with her over 174 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: in the side, you know, watching them practice baseball. Um. 175 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: And so I think one of the pieces that I'm 176 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: very fortunate enough is to have my wife that when 177 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: we go to the ball field, even if I'm taking 178 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: the boys to practice at the ball field, we're all 179 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: together in that spot, you know. And I think there's 180 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: a time and a place to your point that, hey, 181 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: everybody needs to be at home. You know, there's some 182 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: nights it's good to sit at the dinner table with 183 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: everybody together. And we we strive for as many nights 184 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: like that as we possibly can. And getting closer to 185 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: football season, that's those you know that those nights are 186 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: getting fewer and fewer, and so they're precious to our family. Um. 187 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: But I think there's gotta be a balance between those 188 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: two things. Like, for instance, tonight I came home and 189 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: I got a nine nine year old boyd Brooks I 190 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: was telling you about, and he some lady in the 191 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: neighborhood asked him to mode her yard for him. And 192 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: so I got home at five dirty and we went 193 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: mode mode that lady's yard, you know. And I think 194 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: that's important for him to do those things, you know, Um, 195 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: to be able to see those things, to see that 196 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: balance and so um. You know, to me, that's the 197 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: big pieces That family is wherever we are, you know, 198 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: in those spots. Um, I think you gotta judge as 199 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: far as what's best for your kids, but I think 200 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 1: your kids will tell you those things. Um. But I 201 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: think sometimes, you know, I see some families and I'm 202 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: not saying it's right or it's wrong, but you know, 203 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: you go to the baseball field and everybody else stays 204 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: at home. Well, families where we are, you know, and 205 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: we can make that family time wherever we are in 206 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: that spot. What does you know? You mentioned hard working, 207 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,079 Speaker 1: and I'm I'm a big proponent of the life lessons 208 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: and the things that sport takes or or you know, 209 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 1: can set kids up to learn, you know, from a 210 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: life standpoint, they carry with them. What is when you 211 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: talk about hard work, you mentioned your son Brooks nine 212 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: years old. You know, what does hard work look like? 213 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: For him, and more importantly, what does that look like 214 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: from an age appropriate standpoint, like like as he progresses on? 215 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: You know, because listen, you can't have a nine year 216 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 1: old working out like he's gonna go train with Campbell 217 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: University football team, right. But I mean some people think that, 218 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: like I want my ten year old to practice like 219 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,679 Speaker 1: a like a twenty year old. What's the nine year 220 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: old age appropriate hard work versus you know, as they 221 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: get older and progress? Well, you know, I don't feel 222 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: like I got all the answers. But you know, what 223 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: I'm trying to do as a dad, not as a 224 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: football coach, not as anything else, just as a pure 225 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: dad is when I come home from work, you know, 226 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: Number one, I've got to play tired, you know. Um, 227 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: And so that means if I'm tired from work, it 228 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: doesn't matter when I walk in that door. I gotta 229 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: bring some energy from my family, you know. And so 230 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: I heard I heard a guy say that one time. 231 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: You know, Nick, Man, it's just really stuck with me 232 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: all these years. Man, we always as coaches, you drink 233 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: this red bull for practice, is to get juiced up 234 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: for practice. Well, man, I saved half of it, and 235 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: I drink it on the way home so that I 236 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: got some energy when I get home. Um, and so 237 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: you gotta play tired and um that's part of it. 238 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: And so one of the things that I do personally 239 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: is is I always want to provide those opportunities for 240 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: them to go work hard at their sport. So come 241 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: home and hey man, you want to go you wanna 242 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: go hit some baseball's doing health the team. Then it's 243 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: his choice. It's gotta be his choice. It can't be 244 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: Dad saying Brooks, you gotta go hit off the teed 245 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: or you're gonna stink it up on Saturday, you know, 246 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: when you're playing in this tournament. I gotta give him 247 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: the opportunity to say yes or no, and then I've 248 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: got to give him the opportunity to see the consequences 249 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: or rewards from his actions that he chose during that week. Uh. 250 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: Great example is I got seven year old and I 251 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: got twin boys, and I said, hey man, you want 252 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 1: to go ahead, you guys want to go hit. One 253 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: of them says yes, Daddy, I want to go hit. 254 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: And I was like, you know, I'm kind of tired. 255 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: Hey man, that's cool. I get it, hang out do 256 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: what you gotta do well. The other one on that 257 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: game day, he knocked the cover off the ball, and 258 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: the one that didn't go practice didn't hit the ball 259 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: very well. And what that gave me was an opportunist. 260 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: Hey why do you think you didn't hit the ball today? 261 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: I don't know, daddy. And hey, why do you think 262 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: you hit the ball well today? Well, you know, Dad, 263 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: I really feel like you got better from working this week. 264 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: Got it And I practiced a couple of times, and 265 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: I think that's a great example of it right there. 266 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: And so it gives me those teacherful moments. I always 267 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: want to provide them of those opportunities at seven and nine. 268 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: I don't want to make them do it, though. It's 269 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: gotta be their choice at this point. That's the key. 270 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: And and what do you do as far as navigating, 271 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: you know, the different sports? Like I'm a big proponent, 272 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: And I asked this question a lot because nowadays it's 273 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: such a I say it's a hot button topic, but 274 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: it is because you know, everywhere you look people are 275 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: gonna pressure. Especially I feel like the ones who really 276 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: get it the hardest, our parents who never really play 277 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: the sport themselves. I feel like they're almost like, you know, 278 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: for some of these organizations out there, they're almost like 279 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,079 Speaker 1: putty in their hands. They really like, you know, really 280 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: like they're getting that fair of missing out. Oh my god, 281 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: you can do this. You're not gonna you know, you 282 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: miss out, You miss out, and the kid's not gonna 283 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: make it fall. You're someone who's played, you played collegiately. 284 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:04,439 Speaker 1: I think you know the value. And I want to 285 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: put words in your mouth, but like kids playing different 286 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,359 Speaker 1: sports and what will you do from a parenting standpoint 287 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: and then give me the college perspective coach standpoint on 288 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 1: your kids and then other kids playing multiple sports versus 289 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: specializing at young ages. Yeah, I think the as a dad, Um, 290 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,559 Speaker 1: I want my kids to play. I mean in the 291 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: simplest form that word play, right, And the more things 292 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 1: that they get exposed to, whether it's sports, whether it's 293 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 1: you know, camping. You know, we've got a group at 294 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 1: our church that teaches kids how to do camping and 295 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: do things in the wilderness and and to start fires. Man, 296 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: I think that's important. They need to they need to 297 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: be exposed to those things. Um. But I wanted to 298 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: be exposed as many things as they can they're nine 299 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: and seven. How in the heck do they know what 300 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: God's plan is for them? And nine and seven in 301 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: the sport in which they want to play, you know? Um? 302 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: And do you never know that down the road? Uh, 303 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: my kids have never played lacrosse. They may pick up 304 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: all across when they're twelve and may fall in love 305 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: with it, you know. UM. And I want to provide 306 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: them that opportunity if they want that opportunity, UM in 307 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:08,839 Speaker 1: that spot. But if you can't do that, if you 308 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: just dig your head in the sand and say, hey, 309 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:13,079 Speaker 1: baseball is in, I'm gonna go play baseball and I'm 310 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: gonna go be a college baseball player, you know, as 311 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: a dad, I just don't think that's the that's the 312 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: My job is to make them a college baseball player. 313 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: My job is to give them the opportunities to pursue 314 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: what they want. If that sports great, if it's um not. 315 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: If it's in the arts, UM, that's important to My 316 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: kids love to draw. Well, we've talked about get them 317 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: in a drawing class so they can learn to do 318 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,679 Speaker 1: those things. And I think that's important. I think that's 319 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: my job is to provide them opportunities. UM. And the 320 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: more opportunities at an early age, the more exposure, and 321 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: I think it helps their development as they grow. So 322 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: you say the same thing as far as from a 323 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: college coach standpoint, where you're looking at a kid, do 324 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: you like the idea of them having that versatile background, 325 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: same type of thing as you would with your own kids. 326 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: I think as a college coach, this is Braxton Harrison's 327 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: This is not Campbell University's opinion. This is Braxon Harris's 328 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: opinion is in the game of football that you see 329 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,959 Speaker 1: guys that are so position specific that they cannot move 330 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: and make athletic movements in certain ways because they're being 331 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: trained so much and so specifically to do one job right, 332 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: and you're losing some of the athletic ability. And I 333 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: know it sounds crazy because you see these guys jumping 334 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: out of the gym and lifting all these weights, but 335 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: just a pure athlete change in direction, you're losing that 336 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: guy right because he's being trained to if he's a 337 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: big kid, he's an officers tackle, well, he's being trained 338 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: to pass that well. Why he may be an eighth grader, 339 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: How do you know there's there's a kid on our 340 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: team right now? That he was telling me today that 341 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: when he was an eighth grader he was an officive linement. Well, 342 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: he's a linebacker front at a Division one school right now. 343 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: That's a different movement in that spot. And so the 344 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: more sports that you can play as that I look at, man, 345 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: that's a positive. And here's the other thing about it 346 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: that I think is critical, critical, critical is that you 347 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: have guys that are competing here or sound not just training, right, 348 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: because the learning that you learn about yourself and you 349 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: gauge yourself based off the competition is way more valuable. 350 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: We all know that. I mean baseball places what a 351 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 1: fifty games on college baseball schedule? You know, Um, you 352 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: have to play those games. You have to get those 353 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: opportunities to learn. Um. So if a kid plays football 354 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: and and does wrestling and runs track, think about all 355 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: those extra opportunities as his development that he is learning 356 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: to compete. And at the end of the day, I 357 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: want football players that know how to win. And if 358 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: you know how to win in wrestling and you know 359 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: how to win in track, I bet you you're gonna 360 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: find a way to win in football too. Campbell University 361 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 1: has got a pretty legit wrestling program. As you know, 362 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: he has a phenomenal program here. Um. Matter of fact, 363 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: we talked the other day about a kid and use recruiting. Um, 364 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: you know, we we we like to work together as 365 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: best we can in those spots. When we come back, 366 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: Coach Harris and I discussed why seeking up oportunities to 367 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: compete is so important for student athletes. Welcome back where 368 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: we left off. Coach Harris and I were about to 369 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: talk about why choosing opportunities to compete is so valuable 370 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: and the qualities he looks for in a great teammate. 371 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: You know, as you talk about, you know, the recruiting 372 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: piece of it, and you talk about competition and competitors, 373 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: What does competitor mean to you? What does it mean 374 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: when you say, man, that kid loves to compete. Number one, 375 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: he's gonna do it. I mean, to the point we 376 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: just made, he's gotta he's gonna walk up and he's 377 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: got to choose the opportunity to compete, right because he 378 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: could be a football player and just play football, and 379 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: he may get if he has a really good football 380 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: team and then make a deep run in the playoffs. 381 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: They make get what fourteen fifteen games right, Um, I 382 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: want to see if he steps up to the line 383 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: in another four Hey, I want to go do this. 384 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: You know why because I can compete. So first off, 385 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: he's gonna be willing to put himself out there to compete. 386 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: That's a big piece of people miss that, you know, 387 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,159 Speaker 1: because a lot of people are afraid to fail in 388 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 1: this world, and we don't want athletes that are afraid 389 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: to fail. We want athletes that put it out there 390 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: every single day that when you say hey, on the line, 391 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: they run to the line. They don't walk away from it. 392 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: And you go, well, that's great, coach. How do you 393 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 1: know that in recruiting, Well, it's kind of goes back 394 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: to the question that's just a minute ago. Are they 395 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 1: competing in multiple opportunities? Are they running to the line 396 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: to compete? Um? That's a big piece of that puzzle. Um, 397 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: do they have that desire to do those things? That's 398 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: what you want to be able to see. You want 399 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: to see a kid that loves the game of football 400 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,160 Speaker 1: and they can't live without the game of football. I'll 401 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:43,719 Speaker 1: be honest with that. Learned a long time ago. When 402 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: you're recruiting a kid, look him in the eye and 403 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: ask them, do you want to play college football? You'd 404 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: be sucked by how many kids kind of squirm on 405 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: that question, and kids that you go, man, this kid 406 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:57,199 Speaker 1: is so talented, why would he not just jump up 407 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: and down and go coach, I can't live without college football? Well, 408 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: it tells you about him in those spots, and I 409 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: want guy that can't live without the game of football 410 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: in that spot. And so those are the competitive aspects 411 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: that I want to see. Is are they walk? Are 412 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:11,880 Speaker 1: they running into the line to go compete as many 413 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: times they can? And can they not live without it? 414 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 1: Can they just not imagine going to college and doing 415 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: anything else. So you you've got two kids that you're 416 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: looking at, both equally talented, UM from a physical standpoint, 417 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: um you see, you see all the intangibles, all the 418 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: things that you can only offer one of them. But 419 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 1: one of them has had to one of them struggled 420 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: a bit, you know, one of them had to fight 421 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: a little bit more. One of them has had, you know, nothing, 422 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: but one he's he's been a winner's whole life. The 423 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: other ones had success, but he's had to really struggle 424 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: a little bit and work through that. Which one are 425 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 1: you going with him? Why. Yeah, I love the kid 426 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:49,360 Speaker 1: that's been through some things. Um. I love I love 427 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: that aspect of it because I can promise you in 428 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: a game, the only thing I can promise you something 429 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: is good it's gonna happen, and I promise you something 430 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: bad's gonna happen. Um. I want to see a kid 431 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: that can pull himself through that up will be and 432 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: we all feel like we can. But until you've done it, 433 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 1: and you've done it multiple times, you really don't know 434 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,719 Speaker 1: how you're gonna respond to in the biggest environment. And 435 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: so I want the kid that's overcome some things. I 436 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:15,360 Speaker 1: want the kid that, uh, you know, may have struggled 437 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: academically his freshman year and then you look at his 438 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: transcripts his sophomore year. He got better his junior year. 439 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,120 Speaker 1: Now he's an A B student. A senior year, he's 440 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: trade A student. I love that. That shows me that 441 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: that kid responded in those times, um, and somebody got 442 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: a hold of him and he listened to somebody. UM. 443 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: And so I love the overcoming aspect. And I think 444 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: too many people, to your point, they devalue the struggle. 445 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 1: You know, we we we just want we just want 446 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: to talk about the guy at the top. We didn't 447 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,679 Speaker 1: want to talk about the guy that's competing every single 448 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: time spot. And I think that's just huge to your point, coach, 449 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 1: and I think we'll agree with this. You know, you've 450 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 1: been in the locker rooms. I've been in locker rooms, 451 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 1: and I've talked enough coaches that we all know great 452 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: teams comprised of of great individual who love each other, 453 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: seem to have a lot of success. I mean, I've 454 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: been in some rooms and some on some teams with 455 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 1: a lot of talent. I've been around talent and there 456 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: wasn't much camaraderie. And I've been around teams that might 457 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: not have had the most talent, but man, they love 458 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 1: to play and compete for each other, and there's so 459 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: much value and being a great teammate and and having 460 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: great teammates. What is a great teammate to you? Yeah, 461 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: I think that's I think that's the term in everybody 462 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 1: knows this and athletics, there's certain things that are just overused, right, 463 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: and uh, you know their terms that are used in 464 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 1: different ways. A great teammate is you care more about 465 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: that other guy's success than your success. You know, Um, 466 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 1: that's the key piece that you won't have enthusiasm. You know, 467 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: when you think about the word enthusiasm, I think the 468 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: word enthusiasm is something that we've twisted and turned because 469 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: a lot of people when they hear the word enthusiasm, 470 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 1: they think about the raw rod guy, right, the guy's 471 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: beating on his chest, he's the first out of the tunnels. 472 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: He's the guy right, he's the cheerleader on the stands right. 473 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: That's not what I think of enthusiasm. You know. When 474 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 1: I think of the word enthusiasm, I think of something 475 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: that brings out joy within you. If I look back 476 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 1: in my career the times that there's been just absolute 477 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: joy from the game, it's because I was a part 478 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 1: of something, or because I was a part of helping 479 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: somebody else achieve what they wanted to achieve in that spot. 480 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 1: That's what enthusiasm is. It's that care and concern about 481 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 1: somebody else. That man, Nick, you're on my team, and 482 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: who caught that pass? And I've seen you work all 483 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: week and you dropped it on Monday. You dropped it 484 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: on Tuesday, and on Wednesday you made it, and now 485 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 1: you made it on on Saturday, and I'm so excited 486 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 1: I'm sprinting down to the end zone to celebrate with you, 487 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:46,199 Speaker 1: not because of what I did, but because of what 488 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: I got to see you overcome to me. Those are 489 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: the key pieces of teammates. Is there a pure joy? 490 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: And is your motivation? How do I help him achieve 491 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 1: his best? And because I care enough about him, I 492 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: can't let him down. I gotta be my best because 493 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: he's counting on me in those pieces. So I think 494 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 1: there's it's kind of twofold, but it all goes back 495 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: to thinking of others, right, And it goes back to 496 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: I care more about your success, and I care more 497 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: about what you think of me than I think of 498 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: myself and what I think of my success. And that's 499 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: not something that our world, in our society tells us 500 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: is sexy, is cool, is premier um. But at the 501 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 1: end of the day, we all know this. You pick 502 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: which team that you would want to play with. I'd 503 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: rather have that guy that cares about me than that 504 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 1: guy who scored thirty that doesn't care anything about me. 505 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 1: In that spot, you got me fired up, coach, your 506 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: passionate h your enthusiasm is getting me fired up. But 507 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: you got you got, you got the mic Here coach 508 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: and in a couple of minutes, there's a lot of kids, 509 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: a lot of parents are gonna hang on the world. 510 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 1: I always like to end with this because I want 511 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: people to know firsthand what college coaches are saying. What 512 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 1: what are you looking for? If you're speaking to ninth, tenth, 513 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: eleventh graders, kids that want to play at the next level, 514 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: you know, what do they have to do to get 515 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 1: on your radar and to be able to get a 516 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 1: look from you know, coach Braxton Harris Campbell University. Well, 517 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: you know, I think the first thing that that everybody's 518 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: gotta be able to do is you've gotta handle your 519 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: business off the field. That was the first thing that 520 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: will disqualify you from even turning your tape on. You've 521 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: got to be a great person. When somebody brings up 522 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: your name, how do they speak of you? What's the 523 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: when I asked them, hey, Johnny Williams, tell me about him? 524 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: That person? When they I look in their eyes and 525 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: the look that they give me as soon as that 526 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: bring up your name tells me so much about who 527 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 1: you are, right And so it's got to be off 528 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 1: the field. It's got to be off the field as 529 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,160 Speaker 1: a person that's got to be off the field development 530 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 1: also academically. Those are the first two things that that 531 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: you don't do, those two things, you will disqualify yourself 532 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,719 Speaker 1: from even getting the opportunity to play college football in 533 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:52,479 Speaker 1: that spot, because in the world that we live in today, 534 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: the biggest thing that we have to look at is 535 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: bringing that kid and does he help our program advance? Okay? 536 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 1: Or does he provide a risk for us? If he 537 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,920 Speaker 1: provides a risk, we got enough risks, right. The game 538 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: of football is risk enough every Saturday, right, So I 539 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: don't want to bring in more into the locker room 540 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 1: in that spot. And those are two things that aren't sexy. 541 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: That to four seven doesn't rate that rivals doesn't rate 542 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: those things. But if you don't do those things, then 543 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: you just qualify yourself from us even opening up that 544 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:24,880 Speaker 1: that playbook and looking at you in that spot. You know. 545 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 1: And then the second thing is when I turn on 546 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 1: the film and are you playing like your hair's on fire? Right? 547 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: Do you play all over the field? Do you play 548 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 1: with passion? Do you play with that excitement? Do you 549 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 1: run to your teammates when good things happen? Or do 550 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 1: you stand off by yourself in those spots. Right, I 551 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 1: know you're athletic. I know you're athletic because I've turned 552 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 1: on your film. Right, Um, weren't very fortunate here at Campbell. Uh, 553 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 1: we're recruiting young men that are very talented. If we're 554 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 1: turning on your film, you're talented. We're looking for those 555 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: extra pieces that helps us know who you are in 556 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: those spots. So when you score touchdown or when somebody 557 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,439 Speaker 1: else scores a touchdown, what's your response. Is it to 558 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 1: run to the sideline because you did your job and 559 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 1: you checked off your box. Or is it to split 560 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 1: sixt yards down the field and go celebrate with another 561 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 1: teammate man. That's important to us when we come watch 562 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: you play. We want to see how you interact on 563 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: the sidelines. Are you a team guy? Are you off 564 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: by yourself in that spot? And so, at the end 565 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: of the day, all those things matter because the competition 566 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:28,440 Speaker 1: for the slots that that there are in college football 567 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: are getting fewer and fewer, and those things are the 568 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 1: things that people are looking at, and those things that 569 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: we want to bring into our locker room here at 570 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: Campbell University, and we want those guys on our team 571 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 1: because we know if we have those guys to your point, man, 572 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: we can go win the conference championship. We can build 573 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: a program that can compete nationally year in and year out. 574 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 1: And that's coach. Men are are head football coach. That's 575 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: his desire and that's his goal for this program, and 576 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: it's our charge as coaches to go bring those guys 577 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 1: into the locker room. That's Braxton Harris, Associate head football 578 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,439 Speaker 1: coach at Campbell University. Thanks for listen sending to the 579 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: Reform Sports Project podcast Dominick Boncourt and our goal is 580 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,880 Speaker 1: to restore a healthy balance and perspective in all areas 581 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 1: of sports through education and advocacy. For updates, please follow 582 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 1: us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or check out our 583 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 1: website by searching for the Reform Sports Project