1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: You're listening to Seahawks Stories, taking you behind the scenes 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: with your favorite current and former Seahawks. Russell play fake 3 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: drops back, go to frowde kind of man. It's metcap 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: hits out down town Sayhawks powered by Seahawks dot Com. 5 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: Turbin in the backfield with Wilson, who goes out of 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: the shotgun. Look out, here comes from laff. Russell steps up. 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: Now he's got a scramble. Now he talks to Turbine. 8 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: Midfield forty five, forty down here sideline thirty twenty five, 9 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: puts his head down. Want to run by Turbin. He's 10 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 1: all the way down to the Chargers twenty one yard line, 11 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: a thirty two yard pickup. Now, here's your host, super 12 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: Bowl forty eight champion, Robert Turbin. What's up? What's up? 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: What's up? Everybody? Welcome to another episode of Seahawks Stories, 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: our second episode of Seahawks Stories. We got a special 15 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: guest with us. I'll get to that in a second. 16 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: Welcome everybody to the show. This is a show based 17 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: on all of our Seattle family coming back hopping on 18 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: the show with me talking about their stories, their Seahawks stories, 19 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: specifically today we've got a Washington State legend. All right, 20 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: former Monroe High School coach Hope I said that correctly 21 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: and obviously former Seahawk and new teammate for me in 22 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: the booth, the Seahawks broadcast booth. He's doing some Pack 23 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 1: twelve stuff. He's doing some stuff with Root Sports, none 24 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: other than Michael Bumpus. But what's up man, Bump and 25 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: Run was happening it herbo was good. Man, Thanks for 26 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: having me on your podcast. Listen to the first episode. 27 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: I'm feeling it and I'm glad to be a part 28 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 1: of this. Yes, sir, Yes, sir Man listen, I'm honored, 29 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: really grateful for you taking the time out to come 30 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: on to the show, Man, as we continue to grow 31 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: this thing and build it into something major. Man, what's 32 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: going on with you today? What's what's What's what's good? 33 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: What's what's the normal day in the life? From Michael 34 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: bumps ah Man, normal day in the life? Wake up? 35 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: The wife will help the wife with getting the kids 36 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: to school. I'm self employed, so I'm able to I'm 37 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: able to see the kids off in the morning. I 38 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: drop them off. There are two separate locations drop them off. 39 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: I come home, getting the office for a few hours, 40 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: handle what I gotta handle, hit the gym, and uh 41 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: then I'm off running after that, making sure I'm prepared 42 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: for business for Seahawks, for Pac twelve, all that good 43 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 1: stuff there. It is, man, when we know you're from 44 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: Culver City, California. And we'll get to that in a 45 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: little bit. But you got you came to Washington right 46 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 1: uh through on scholarship. Correct, h Washington State. All I 47 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: did a lot of great things there. Uh Man, you 48 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 1: were there from two thousand and four to two thousand 49 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: and seven. Talk about that experience, you know, from from 50 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: the beginning, like what led you to go to Washington 51 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 1: State and then your experience through through the years. Well, yo, Well, 52 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: obviously football took me to Washington State. I was originally 53 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,119 Speaker 1: a first I was committed to LSU to play ball. 54 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: Then Mom said, yeah, Mom said, Noah, that's too far man, 55 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 1: You're not You're not going down stock get to those games. 56 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: So then I said, I'm gonna stay home. Then I'm 57 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: gonna go to USC. Went to USC. Pete Carroll was there. 58 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: That's when they have the squad, right they had, But 59 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: we had an offer to go to USC. Yeah, oh yeah, 60 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: from Culver City. That's the hometown. Yeah, about fifteen minutes 61 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: down from from where I grew up. And uh, Pete 62 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: Carroll offered me, and after I d committed fm LSU, 63 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: I took it. I wanted my trip. My trip was crazy. 64 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm hanging out with LA's football team at 65 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: the time, because there were no old Chargers, there were 66 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: no old Rams, like this is LA's team, and the 67 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: trip was so great, I committed on the spot. And 68 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: then hey, okay, before you go on, not to interrupt you, okay, 69 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: because I know you're telling the story about how you 70 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: got the Washington State, but I got to hear about 71 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: this trip because some of these recruiting trips now go crazy. 72 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: Tell me about the recruiting ship before you move on 73 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: to going to Washington State. The trip was crazy, right, 74 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: I had dudes like Ted Ginn was there on my trip. 75 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: That had Keith Rivers, who played linebacker in the league 76 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: for a while. I was a marcher by all these 77 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: big names in my class was there. And you know what, 78 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: we probably did some things that you probably you can't 79 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: do these days, you know what I'm saying. We went out, 80 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: We had a good time, they showed us Hollywood and 81 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: they drove us around a big SUVs. You know, it 82 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: was just it was just a lot of love. It 83 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,919 Speaker 1: was so much love. I'm getting to know Jesus Shuttlesworth type. No, no, 84 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: Jesus Shuttle's Worth. And if I did, I would not 85 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: say I did hear that's the show. But it was 86 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: just cool, man. It was just it was fun being 87 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 1: around young guys who had a lot of influence on 88 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: the city. You know, Reggie and Lindell and Matt and 89 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: all that stuff. So it was just hanging out, man, 90 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: hanging out and just being boys and kicking it. That's 91 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: what's up, man. So for whatever reason, so you so 92 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: you committed to USC after that. I don't know who wouldn't, 93 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: but then you d committed. He ended up at Washington State. 94 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 1: What happened? So like a week before I'm supposed to sign, 95 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: Pete Carroll hits me up. He goes, hey, man, we're 96 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: gonna ask you the red shirt. And my whole mental 97 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: going into college was, look, I'm top ten twelve in 98 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 1: my position. You know, I want to play right now. 99 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: And he told me he kept to one hundred with me. 100 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: Though I respect Pete that he goes, look, man, we're 101 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: bringing a guy in who we think is a little 102 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: more further long than you. We want you to red 103 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: shirt develop a little bit. The dude was Dwayne Jared, 104 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: so it worked out for him. Dwayne jaredd was a 105 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: monster in New Jersey. Came over balled out and I 106 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: even told Pete Man, no love loss, but I just 107 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: want to go somewhere where I can play right now. 108 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: And my trip to Wazoo was so much fun and 109 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: so different than what I was used to. I was 110 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: always my Plan C. I just never thought I was 111 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: gonna get to Plan C. So I got I got 112 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 1: to Plan C. And probably the best decision I ever 113 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 1: made was go to Washington State. So what was different 114 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: about the trip? When he went to Washington State? It 115 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: was you know, I'm a city boy, or I wasn't 116 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: a city boy, and there was no city out There 117 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: was a small town in the middle of nowhewhere and 118 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: where I grew up. Man, you gotta worry about certain 119 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: things like what colors am I wearing, Where neighborhood am 120 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: I going to, who am I gonna be with? And 121 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 1: I remember going to Washington State and thinking, man, I 122 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: don't feel none of that. Even even my trip to 123 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: SC I still felt some of that. All right, whenever 124 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: you will be going to I gotta make sure where 125 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: we're cool and um. And they were winning at the time, 126 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 1: three back to back ten win seasons. They threw the 127 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: football a lot. Thirty five times was a lot. Back 128 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: in my day, thirty five forty times was a lot. 129 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: And and I just felt like, look, let's switch the 130 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: game up and try to shift powers in the Pac 131 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: ten at the time and go to Washington State. Man. 132 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 1: So you went to Washington State, and you had an 133 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: immediate impact. You had an immedia impact. I think your 134 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: freshman year you were number one in per return yards 135 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: as a freshman in the Pac ten, which is you know, 136 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: I mean there's a lot of phenomenal athletes in the 137 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: Pac ten, you know, so to do that as a freshman, 138 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: it's pretty phenomenal. I think it was your your senior 139 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: year or really over the course of your career one 140 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: hundred and ninety five catches, which at the time was 141 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: a school record. Now I think it's fifth all time. 142 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: You had sixty catches your junior year, seventy r senior year, 143 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: which was second in the Pac ten and so you 144 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: definitely did damage there. What about going to Washington State? 145 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: That coaching staff, those teammates led you to be so successful. 146 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: I think one was my relationship with my quarterback. Man. 147 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: I mean, you got as a receiver, you gotta be 148 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,239 Speaker 1: tight with your quarterback. We ended up being really close. 149 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: We're still close to this day. Alex Brink he held 150 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: every record there for about ten years. I held a 151 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: bunch of records for ten years. And then you know, 152 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: the offensive changing things happen, and then just having a 153 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: staff that believed in me. Man, they threw me out there. 154 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: You know, they waited till my third game my freshman 155 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: year to really kind of let me loose. And I 156 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: once they did that, man, there was no hope me back. 157 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: You know, I knew the playbook, I knew every position. 158 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: I stayed out of trouble. You know, I was on time. 159 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: I did all the things that you're supposed to do. 160 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: So when they put me on the field, they just 161 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: trusted me. And I believed in myself. You know, as 162 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: an athlete, if you don't believe in yourself, you ain't 163 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: got nothing. Um I was. I was just prepared for 164 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: the moment and I appreciate that. They held me back. 165 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: Really into my third game against Oregon, my first start, um, 166 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: I scored a two point conversion and I took a 167 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: punt to the house and after that, I'm like, look, 168 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: i'm here, let's go. Was that like the Okay, I'm good, 169 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: I'm here, I can do this. That was like the 170 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: roment for you right there. Yeah, that was that was validation. 171 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: You know. What happened was crazy. So in UH that 172 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: week that had this this local newspaper on campus, newspaper 173 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 1: called The Evergreen. This is my first time really dealing 174 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: with media, and I told him, I go, yeah, I 175 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: just want to back up all the hype I came 176 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: up here with this casual then think it's gonna be nothing. 177 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: Crazy man. They blew that thing up all over campus, 178 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: people telling me you better back it up. Ba ba 179 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,319 Speaker 1: ba bone. So then when I when I did back 180 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: it up, man, it was validation. It felt good. Yeah, yeah, 181 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: that's what's up. Man. You know, I want to I 182 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: want to ask you about something, because it's not always 183 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: easy to leave home. You know, you had the school, 184 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: you had USC, you were committed to USC. Right there 185 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: in the backyard, he go up to Washington and some 186 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: different it's low key. You know, what was that transition 187 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: like for you? And was there some homesickness for lack 188 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,719 Speaker 1: of a better word when you first got to Washington. Yeah, 189 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: it was definitely a transition. You go from West La 190 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: where I mean, I tell people I can visit seven 191 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: continents by walking four blocks, you know what I mean. 192 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 1: There's so many different types of people, and you go 193 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: to Washington State. Man, it's you see pretty much the 194 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 1: same type of people everywhere you go. So initially I'm like, Okay, 195 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,599 Speaker 1: what did I get myself into? But I had a 196 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: guy on the team who went to the same high 197 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: school as I did, Carl Payma. He was a senior 198 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: at Washington State. We didn't go to high school at 199 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: the same time, but we both went to the same 200 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: high school. So I got to lean on him a bit. Man. 201 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: He took me under his wing. He let me borrow 202 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 1: his car, I say to night at the spot, you 203 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: know what I mean. He was like a big brother 204 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: to me, so he kind of showed me the way, 205 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: and he was like a four point of old student. 206 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: He was one of our best athletes on the team, 207 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: so he pretty much gave me the blueprint was like, look, bump, 208 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,439 Speaker 1: you do this and you'll be good. But the great 209 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: thing about football, as man, you got eighty brothers on 210 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: the team. You know, I don't have to go out 211 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:12,599 Speaker 1: and really look for friends. All I gotta do is 212 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: show up to practice and I'm gonna make connections with people. 213 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: So outside of school, there was a bit of a transition. 214 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: That's getting us to the environment and a small town 215 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,439 Speaker 1: and everybody knowing who you are and stuff. But man, 216 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: when it came to ball, that's what we're bred to do. 217 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: I mean, you're forgetting about one big adjustment. And I 218 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: know this had to be a big one for you 219 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: coming from LA because it was a big one for me. 220 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: And I came from the Bay Area, which is a 221 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: little colder, all right, But I did go to school 222 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:41,839 Speaker 1: and Utah and all of a sudden, I'm living in 223 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: the snow. I gotta straight my front window every morning. 224 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: What was it? What was that transition like for you? Man? 225 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,599 Speaker 1: My mom she goes before I left, she bought me 226 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: this big jacket. I'm like, I've never had a jacket 227 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: this big. I had to puff daddy fur on the hood, 228 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. I'm my mama, I'm gonna 229 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: use this. And I woke up one morning and it 230 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:04,599 Speaker 1: was so bright outside. I'm like, damn, why is this 231 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: so bright? I opened up my curses' number of white 232 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,679 Speaker 1: snow just everywhere, and I looked at the Beasley. They 233 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: got a little thermometer up there because of a temperature. 234 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 1: It said negative seven. I've never been anything colder than 235 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: like thirty or something like that. And uh, that was 236 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: a transition. Practicing in that too was tough because now 237 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 1: I don't want to I don't want to. I don't 238 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:24,079 Speaker 1: want to get hit. I don't want to go down 239 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: on the ground because now I'm cold the rest of practice, 240 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: so I'm avoiding cats and stuff, and I layered up. 241 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: I must turbuf must have had like four layers my 242 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: first practice when it when it was cold like that, 243 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: So it took some getting used to. We had a 244 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,719 Speaker 1: bubble that we never used too that coach, can we 245 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,319 Speaker 1: go practice indoors because why we don't playing this? You know, 246 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:43,599 Speaker 1: might as well get used to it. So, yes, the 247 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: cold was a transition. I had a four runner though, 248 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: four car, so that helped me out. Okay, yeah, and 249 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: sometimes the bubble is more cold than being outside, you know, 250 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: because it's because but then you did had I had 251 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: a Cadillac, you know, old school, so it actually did 252 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 1: more well in the snow then then you might have thought. 253 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: But I know, for me, I've got some interesting like 254 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: snow stories. Do you do you like sliding or yeah, 255 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: slipping on black ice. I didn't even know what black 256 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: ice was when back there, Like, were there any moments 257 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: like that for you when when when you know, first 258 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: started living in the snow like that? Yeah, so I 259 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: probabe myself. I have never slipped in front of anybody. Now. 260 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: I slipped on my own and looked around and anybody 261 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: got me. Oh but a boy he had a he 262 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 1: had an accurate right on low pros. You know, it 263 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: looked all good. And he's trying to drive in the snow. 264 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 1: My boy, Greg Prator, he was on my team with me, 265 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: and we get we get stuck on this hill and 266 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: then pullman. People get stuck all the time. So people 267 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:46,719 Speaker 1: are just coming out of the woods. Is helping you 268 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 1: trying to push your car up the hill and get 269 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:50,719 Speaker 1: it situated. And I'll never forget. He's in the front, 270 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: push him and he slips and he starts sliding down 271 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: the hill, just taking dudes out. Boom boom boom, taking 272 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: dudes out. Man. I jumped, I jumped over from landing 273 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 1: on top of him and just roll roll down with him. So, yeah, 274 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: the ice is real, the code is real. Do not 275 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:09,839 Speaker 1: bring low profile tires to the police, right, That's what's up. Man. 276 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: So you have a great career in Washington State. You 277 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:18,079 Speaker 1: move on. You go undrafted to Seattle. Now, before we 278 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: talk about, you know, your experience with Seattle, let's go 279 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: through the process a little bit. You know, here you 280 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: are your senior year, you ball out seventy catches, Ryan 281 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: your second, and the pack ten all these you got 282 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: the catching record. You know this all time at the school. 283 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 1: You know, all of these great things. You're a top 284 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 1: fifteen prospect coming out of high school. And then you know, 285 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: here you are getting prepared for the draft. What was 286 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: that process like for you? And where did you think 287 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: you would go in the draft? Yeah? Well, you know, 288 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: I thought I was one of the best in the country, 289 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 1: you know, and I believe that to this day that 290 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: I was. But I lived in y'all. I had an 291 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: agent who just kept the rill with me. He goes, Look, man, 292 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 1: the feedback that I'm getting is that you're gonna be 293 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: a last day guy or free agent. So thankfully I 294 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: had a guy keeping the rill with me, so my 295 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: expectations were real. I didn't even watch the draft the 296 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: first couple of days. I'm like, I'm not gonna get drafted, 297 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: so I'm just gonna go out. I would and played golf, 298 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: I wouldn't did other stuff like I'm I'm not gonna 299 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: stress out. Last day comes around and we're getting towards 300 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: the end of it, and I'm starting to get phone calls, 301 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: phone calls. I got phone calls from New England, Atlanta, Cleveland, Cincinnati, 302 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 1: and the Seahawks, and they're like, look, we're thinking about 303 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: taking you, but if we don't take you, we want 304 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: you as an undrafted free agent. So right there, I 305 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: got to relax a little bits. I'm like, all right, 306 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: I don't get drafted. I'm at least it's gonna have 307 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: an opportunity. Just give me, get me, get me there, 308 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: and I'll take care of the rest. And the draft concludes, 309 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: I talked to my agent and he goes, all right, 310 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: here are your options. Where do you want to go? 311 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: Off top of I'm like, man, I'm gonna go New England. 312 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: Man shot he went in over there, like I want 313 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: to do that. He goes, yeah, that's a good move. 314 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: But I think you should go with the Seahawk just 315 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: because you're local and they've seen what you can do. 316 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: Like you're not a mystery to these guys. These other 317 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: teams have done their researchers, but there's nothing like staying home. 318 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: So I remember I called up Keith Gilbertson at the time, 319 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: was a receiver coach. He coached that you did for while. 320 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: He's a legend out here in Washington. And I was 321 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 1: all right, man, I'm gonna signed with you guys. And 322 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: the next day I was on a flight. I was 323 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: out of there. So you had New England Seattle. Was 324 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: there another team that you could have chose, Atlanta, Cleveland 325 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: or Cincinnati. I was not going to Cincinnati. Already knew 326 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: the reputation since he had right Atlanta looks good the 327 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: offense that they ran, but I wasn't too familiar with 328 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: the South. You know what I'm saying, in my eyes 329 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: is a different Yeah, you know what I mean, I'm 330 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: west west all day. Cleveland wasn't doing well at the time, 331 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: so I'm like, nah, I don't want to go there. 332 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: And Seattle was coming off a Super Bowl run in 333 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: two thousand and five, so they weren't too far removed 334 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: from playing good football. And they were local, easy four 335 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: hour ride from east to Washington, Western Washington. All right, 336 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: So you go to Seattle undrafted free agent. Here you 337 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: are training camp, all of these things, trying to prove yourself. 338 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: You know, what was that? What was that like for you? 339 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: You know, because sometimes when you come in as a rookie, 340 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: you I mean there's good vets in your room, right 341 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: that are willing to teach you things and show you things. 342 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: And then on the other side there's like, yo, you know, 343 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: you're on your own. You know, I got I got 344 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: my own family to feed. So what was that experience 345 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: like for you coming in as a as a rook 346 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: And I was lucky, man. I had Bobby Ingram, who 347 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: was in the league at the time for at least 348 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: twelve thirteen years. He was a well established we're the 349 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: same type of players, smaller slot receiver, and I mean 350 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: he laced me with so much game. It was so 351 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: much love, man. And then I had Nate Burlison, who 352 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 1: had been there for a few years. He was cool. 353 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: Dion Brand who was a super Bowl in VP, he 354 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: was established, So I think to them, I wasn't really 355 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: a threat, you know what I mean. So they were 356 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 1: like they were teaching me all the stuff. Courtney Taylor 357 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: was there for a while, but it was number love. Man. 358 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: I think I was fortunate with Seattle because I heard 359 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: stories of my buddies who got to other programs and 360 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 1: it was just different, like there's hazing, um veterans didn't 361 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: take you under their wings, they running their mouth to you. 362 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: In Seattle, it was like all of man, as long 363 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: as you go out there and compete and they respect 364 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 1: your work at the year good So I was blessed. 365 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 1: Man Loaf of Totopo was there, he went to usc 366 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:37,640 Speaker 1: our girl watching him play. Easy transition as far as 367 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 1: being welcomed into the organization and how many seasons were 368 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: you with Seattle, I was only suited up for like 369 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: eight or nine games. Um. I got cut my second 370 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: year at Seattle. Then I went to Canada, went to 371 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 1: cana So before we're gonna get to that too. But 372 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 1: before we get to that, who did you bond with? 373 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: You know, like who was who? Who kind of became 374 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 1: like you know your boy that you connected with once 375 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: you got to the Seahawks man, Corney Taylor, receiver out 376 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: of Auburn. He's a local trainer right now. Receivers, you 377 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: want some training, If you ain't going to my company, 378 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: you gotta go to Courtney Taylor. Man. This dude, solid individual. 379 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 1: He was there. I believe he was with the Hawks 380 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: for three or four years. Then he went up to 381 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: Canada and played another three or four years. Me and 382 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: CT man after practice, he's either coming to my spot, 383 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to his spot and we're playing video games 384 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: where we're training. Yeah, Courtney Taylor, Big eighty six is 385 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: my dude. That's what's up. That's what's up man. Those 386 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: bonds and those relationships, man, people don't understand how important 387 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: those really are, especially when you get to the league. 388 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: You know, obviously like his business and it's all about 389 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 1: winning games, but those relationships for when whenever you are finished, 390 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: are the things that matter the most. You would agree 391 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: with that, definitely, Yeah, most definitely too. I mean CT 392 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: is still one of my good friends. We met in 393 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight, was that thirteen fourteen years ago? 394 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: Still in it and you, hey, you played for Mike Honrin, Yes, 395 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: I did. Head coach Matt Hasselback was your quarterback, right, 396 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: I'm not sure who the office the coordinator was. Um 397 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: did you have a good relationship with coach Honer? How? Like? 398 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: How was it playing for, you know, for coach Mike 399 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: man Homegren. So he was towards the end of his career. 400 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: My year I was with him. We all knew he 401 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 1: was done after this and he was going to pass 402 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: the torch drown at Jim Moore. Um So, he was 403 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: kind of like he was like the Godfather when he 404 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: walked in the room, you know what I mean, Like 405 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: you don't even have to see him. You could just 406 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: feel his presence. And he coached us tough and and 407 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: he's kept a real with us. Man. I remember one 408 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: day I dropped the ball. He comes up to me, 409 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: he goes, it was in practice. He goes, you know 410 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: you're undrafted free agent, right. I'm like yeah, he goes, 411 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: you ain't gonna make the club dropping footballs like that, 412 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:50,959 Speaker 1: and I'm like, hey, I appreciate it. And then when 413 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: I but when I scored my touchdown, man, he came 414 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: over and, uh sat down, put his arm around me. 415 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 1: And showed me love. So he was tough, but he 416 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 1: was Let's talk about I have to touchdown because there's 417 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: a little there's a little story behind how all of 418 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: that went down. Uh you know, was that your first 419 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: touchdown person only touchdown in the league? How how did 420 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: it come to beat so um Day Bronson got hurt 421 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: and Buffalo Hey Bronson got hurt and Dion Branch got hurt. 422 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: I was on the practice squad at the time. I 423 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: was actually at Washington stayed visiting my now wife than girlfriend, 424 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: and I saw those two dudes go down. I'm like, 425 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get a call. Man, They're gonna have to 426 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: bump me up. So I get the call. They say, look, 427 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 1: we're gonna bring in Sammy Parker to compete with you 428 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: to see, you know who's gonna do it. And Sammy 429 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: comes in. He doesn't know the playbook. That's what I 430 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: got on him. He's probably faster than me, more experienced. 431 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: But I'm like, look, I know this offense. I'm good 432 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: to go. So we compete for like two days and 433 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: they bring me in. They say, look, man, all are 434 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 1: you gonna get the start? So I got to start. 435 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: I'll probably only play like thirty snaps. It was crazy. 436 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: I knew I got paid like seven hundred dollars a snap, 437 00:20:57,359 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: so I'm counting my snap. So I'm like, oh, extra money, Okay, 438 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: that a hundred US fourteen hundred. That's where my head's acts. 439 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 1: I don't know if I'm gonna get this chance again. 440 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 1: And we get down into the red zone and we've 441 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 1: been practicing this play all week. They starting on the 442 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: left side of formation, motioned me over. Then I have 443 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: like a shallow cross and I knew it said we 444 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: run this and within the ten yard line. I'm gonna 445 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: get this football. So they called my my personnel unit out. 446 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: It was e I get out there. They when they 447 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 1: called a play, I look at Madam. I'm mad I 448 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: got you, Matt, I got you. But when he calls 449 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: the players, who many things going like in the NFL, 450 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,120 Speaker 1: these players are long right, it's like E right green 451 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: motion left three jet boom boom, boom boom, And all 452 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: I hear is my part of the play. I'm like, 453 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 1: all right, there we go. All this other stuff don't 454 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: mean nothing to me, and me focusing on my part 455 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: of the play. He calls it a motion across the formation, 456 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: did he say anything to you in the huddle like 457 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: be ready, Like hey, I told him, you got to know. 458 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 1: I told him I got you, and he was like, yep, 459 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: that was it. Okay. So he motions me over Boom. 460 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 1: I get sat and I'm dragging across the field and 461 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: I'm open right away, and I swear to you, turbo. 462 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 1: He looks at me. He goes, rookie, let me look, 463 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: let me look somewhere else real quick. Let me see, 464 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: let me see in the last minute. Man, I'm keep 465 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: working across the field, and he throws it low because 466 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 1: it was a backer screaming down hill nice and low. Man. 467 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: I get up, I grab it. I celebrate my boy trench. Sheellen, 468 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:21,679 Speaker 1: who was on the practice squad with me. We had 469 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: a dance that we did that practice. Every time we 470 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: made a place, I did the dance and I left 471 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 1: the football on the field my person only touchdown. Julius 472 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: Jones grabbed it for me. I was like, bum man, 473 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: you gotta keep this is your first one. So it 474 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: was a it was a cool moment. Man, that's what's 475 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 1: up man. I you know, I remember my first touchdown too, 476 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: But it ain't about me. It's about you. But yeah, 477 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: that's dope, man, that's dope. And I know you know 478 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: Matt Hasselback, right, all the experience that he had, you know, 479 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:52,120 Speaker 1: playing quarterback had to be somebody, you know, really cool 480 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 1: to be able to catch a touchdown pass from and 481 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: a really cool teammate to have. Yeah, Matt, Matt with 482 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 1: solid Matt would make sure he spoke to everybody at 483 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: every practice like he was a true leader. It was 484 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:04,640 Speaker 1: towards the end of his career he was having back 485 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 1: issues and stuff, but he would tough it out every week, 486 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: always showed me a love, true to me, like man, 487 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,439 Speaker 1: I was a starter. Man, I always got love for man. 488 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 1: All right, before we get to the CFL, because I 489 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 1: do want to talk about that a little bit. Everybody 490 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: has like a welcome to the NFL moment Yeah, what 491 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:27,719 Speaker 1: was yours? My welcome to the NFL momentum. But as 492 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: far as like practice, it was when um the receivers 493 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: they made me like carre the pass. They're like it 494 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: was Nate beyond Uh, They're like, look, we're not gonna 495 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: hage you, man, but you gotta do this at least once. 496 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 1: So I cared about my eye. I can shoot. I've 497 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:45,640 Speaker 1: heard worse stories. Carry your pass. I got you. Look Meal, 498 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:48,120 Speaker 1: I wouldn't making enough money. They knew I wasn't making 499 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: no money. They would invite me to go eat with 500 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: them and they would pay for me. I wasn't. I 501 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: wasn't making money like that, but not practice was just 502 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: a pass. The NFL Welcome to the NFL moment was 503 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: we played the forty nine Ers and I remember playing Madden. 504 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: I used to use that lanting a lot because Mike 505 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: Vick was playing and they had a returner last name 506 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: Ross Them and I used to love. I used to 507 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: move You know, when you cheat Madden, you put returners 508 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 1: at running back and you're moving around. And I go 509 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 1: out to warm ups and Rossam is on the forty 510 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: nine ers. Man. I went up to him, like, man, 511 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: I've watched your career for so long. Man, I appreciate 512 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: what you do. And it was crazy. He goes yeah, yeah, 513 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 1: bump and congratulations being moved up. I'm like, how like 514 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: this this man, that's a true vs professional right there. 515 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: This man knew that I was getting an opportunity right there. 516 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,360 Speaker 1: So that that was dope man playing against the forty 517 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: nine Ers, a team that I watched grown up. I 518 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 1: know you did. Being in the Bay and then having 519 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 1: to dude that you watched growing up know who you are. 520 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: I'm like, damn, I'm really in this. Yeah. That was 521 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: kind of leading into my next question. I love to 522 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: ask this question because I think it just happens for everybody. 523 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,719 Speaker 1: It happened with me, you know what, Adrian Peterson being 524 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: one of my favorite running backs, you know, and just man, 525 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 1: my rookie year, he went off on us. Yeah, you 526 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: know what I mean, Like, I think he went for 527 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: like one hundred and eighty two yards or something like that. 528 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: But to just be able to meet up, you know, 529 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: it was like, man, yo, I just should cancer eight P. 530 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,360 Speaker 1: Was there a player like that for other than ross them? 531 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: Was there a player that you grew up watching and 532 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: then you got the opportunity to share the field with him? Man, 533 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 1: I would say, yeah, honestly, it was the dudes of 534 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:30,360 Speaker 1: my team, Dion Branch. Like I watched Dion Branch catch 535 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: twelve catches, one hundred something yards and two touchdowns in 536 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. He started the New England Pages run 537 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: and I remember watching him be like, man, he's a 538 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 1: smaller dude, He's nice. And when I got to meet him. 539 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 1: I wasn't star struck, but I was like, hey, this 540 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 1: is real. And then after talking to him, I'm like, 541 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 1: these dudes are just regular dudes. Man, they're just super talented. 542 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: But end of the day, there are men you know, 543 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 1: just like you and die. So me and Dion Branch 544 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: was was crazy because my grandma loved My grandma put 545 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: me on a football. Without her, I wouldn't be playing football. 546 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 1: And she she's she's having me read the newspaper every morning, 547 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: like here here's the sports section. And um she told 548 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: me like that Don Branch. Watched that Don Branch. He's 549 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 1: something special. So I got to meet him. I told 550 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: about my grandma. So so that was cool. Grandma got 551 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:19,159 Speaker 1: you in the football. Yeah, that's rare. Um Man. So 552 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: when did you go to the BC Lions because you 553 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: played in Seattle, O way right the nine season? Ye. 554 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: When did you decide to go up to Canada? Was 555 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: it the very next year? Yeah? So hey, you don't 556 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 1: decide to go to Canada? Well here but that but 557 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: that's my that's my thing. That's my question, Like what 558 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:42,360 Speaker 1: made you go to Canada instead of, you know, at 559 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 1: least going through the NFL season to see if you 560 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: get picked up. Yeah. So, um, going into my second year, 561 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: I broke a bone in my foot, my fifth metator 562 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:53,680 Speaker 1: so I still got a screw in there to this day. 563 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: And it was the worst time and ever right, it 564 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 1: was right before a fall came started and it was 565 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 1: it was like going on air. I didn't even do 566 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: nothing crazy. I was put im putting it around. Boom. 567 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 1: I felt a snap and uh so they can't cut me, 568 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 1: you know, they gotta wait until I get healthy. And 569 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:10,479 Speaker 1: they're bringing all these receivers in. Man, I'm looking at 570 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: them and they're bringing in receivers like me. They already 571 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,120 Speaker 1: got their big dudes, like they need that small slot guy, 572 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: and they keep bringing guys in. I'm talking to my agent. 573 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: I'm like, man, I'm gonna have like two weeks to 574 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 1: try to climb this depth chart. And uh I did it. 575 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,399 Speaker 1: I got so I got into like the fifth you know, 576 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 1: like the fifth of the fifth guy on the roster. 577 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 1: My cool, I'm gonna make this team and then pullm 578 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: I tweeked it again. Once I tweeted it again, I'm like, 579 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 1: I'm gone, like they're gonna cut me, and I got 580 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:38,640 Speaker 1: they already brought all these guys in so they cut 581 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,880 Speaker 1: me and then I'm sitting. I'm waiting around for maybe 582 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 1: two or three weeks. I'm getting a bunch of nibbles. 583 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: I go work out for a couple of teams. Nothing 584 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: really happens. But I have a son on the way. 585 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: My now fiance's pregnant, and I'm like, I just need 586 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: to make some money right now, you know. And I 587 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:56,200 Speaker 1: started to talk to my agent and try to understand 588 00:27:56,240 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 1: how the CFL works. My contract was pretty much, look, 589 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: you can sign a deal here, but if an NFL 590 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 1: team wants you, you can leave. You don't have to 591 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 1: finish out your contracts. I'm like, cool, let me go 592 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 1: make this eighty ninety thousand real quick, just to you know, 593 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 1: make sure the lights are still on, and then I'll 594 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,360 Speaker 1: get back. And I went up to Canada, and Canada's 595 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: is just a different game, that feels wider, that feels longer. 596 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: As an extra player on the field, you're gonna have 597 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 1: X amount of American players. And I did my thing, honestly, man, 598 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: I made like top ESPN Top ten on a touchdown 599 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 1: and then I'm feeling it. But my my fiance is 600 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,960 Speaker 1: away from me, and this is where I had to 601 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: figure out what I really wanted to do. I'm like, 602 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: all right, do I want to chase this dream. I 603 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: got some money in the bank, I've done a great 604 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 1: job saving money. I can start a new career, or 605 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: I can or I can chase this and um I 606 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: got I got back and my son I got back, 607 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 1: and then uh, I was just spending some time with 608 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: my with my fiance and I told her, I go, 609 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm just gonna I'm just gonna start 610 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: my business. My my dream was to build a facility 611 00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: for athletes to train. And I'm like, we saved up enough. 612 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna just give back because the fire, I just said, 613 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:02,959 Speaker 1: I didn't have to fire no more. I'm like, man, 614 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 1: I just don't want it no more, you know what 615 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: I mean. And that's what I decided made the move. 616 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 1: Told told the BC lines like, look, man, I'm just 617 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: gonna move on and do my thing. But I regretted 618 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: it for two years. I wish I would have kept 619 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: it going. After two years, I was good just because 620 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 1: you know, I'm watching football and I'm like, I'm better 621 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 1: than that dude. I'm better than that dude. He's still 622 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: in there getting in and football is what I've done 623 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: for the majority of my life, and I decided to 624 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: stop doing it, and I regretted it for a while, 625 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 1: but were brought me back was fantasy football. My boys, IY, 626 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 1: may're gonna play fantasy football. I'm like, all right, try. 627 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 1: I couldn't turbo, I could not watch football. It made 628 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 1: me sick, like it made me sick. Yeah, I did 629 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: fantasy and then I started coaching high school football. And once, 630 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: once I put those two together, I'm like, all right, 631 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 1: I'm okay with where I'm at. I'm building my business, 632 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,360 Speaker 1: I'm at peace with all this. Did you for a 633 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: moment talk to the fiance about, hey, moving to Canada, 634 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 1: you know, so that you could could continue to play? 635 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 1: But she down with that? Was that kind of like 636 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: did that play important to your decision as well? My 637 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: fiance then fiance now wife as a soldier, she was 638 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: down for whatever. She's like, all right, man, like she understood. 639 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 1: She's like, look, you're young. Your window is so small 640 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 1: when it comes to this football thing. Whatever you want 641 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 1: to do, I'm down to do. So. When I told her, hey, 642 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna I'm just gonna move on to do 643 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 1: something else, she was like, are you sure you want 644 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 1: to do that? You know, I know who you are 645 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: and how competitive you are. To this day, she says, 646 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:32,880 Speaker 1: I wish I would have pushed you a bit mortal, 647 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: but I didn't want to force you to do nothing 648 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: you didn't want to do. But now she was down 649 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: for whatever I wanted. All right? Well, yeah, Man, was like, 650 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: he said, you you transition into coaching. You did start 651 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 1: your business, the elite training academy that you have in Monroe. 652 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 1: You actually coach that Monroe High school from twenty fifteen 653 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 1: to twenty nineteen. What was that experience like, man, coaching 654 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: those high schoolers. Man, it's it's fun because you see 655 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:01,400 Speaker 1: a lot of your self in these young cats, like 656 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 1: the mistakes they make, the successes that they have, And 657 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 1: it was just rewarding because I'm I didn't have a 658 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 1: coach like me when I was growing up. I had 659 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: good coaches, you know, coaches who loved us, who knew 660 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:16,440 Speaker 1: the game. But I didn't have coaches who played college 661 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 1: at a high level, who went to the NFL and 662 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 1: got had a cup of coffee and got to experience that. 663 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: So I had my kids May it was fun watching 664 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,360 Speaker 1: them learn the game. On a different level and having 665 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 1: them execute against a basic high school defense and they're 666 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,960 Speaker 1: just they're understanding coverages. Man, they're moving players with their releases, 667 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 1: they're they're talking football exes and those And it was 668 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:40,520 Speaker 1: so rewarding to being this small town one row When 669 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 1: I got to mon row Man, they didn't win no games. 670 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 1: It was it was bad. And then I got here 671 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 1: and we turned it around. We went to state state 672 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 1: playoffs four out of the five years I was there, 673 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:53,280 Speaker 1: made a run, got to the Simmons and the quarters. Like. 674 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:56,280 Speaker 1: It was nice to kind of change the perception of 675 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: a program. And then having I helped like dirty kids 676 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: get into college and play college football. That was probably 677 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:05,479 Speaker 1: the most warning. One of them is balling right now 678 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:07,720 Speaker 1: for Eastern Washington FT and chiseling. This kid, he's gonna 679 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: go to the league. It's credit but okay, all right, 680 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 1: give credit to Mike Bumpus, all right for that kid 681 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:17,520 Speaker 1: over there. Um Man, you went to Monroe. Did you 682 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: have opportunities to coach at different high school? Did you 683 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 1: think about going maybe back to Washington State and coaching there. 684 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 1: What dialed you win to coaching that Monroe? Well, my 685 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: wife is from here, so when I was done playing. 686 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 1: She wants to go back home, so took her back 687 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 1: home to Monroe. I had opportunities to coach in college, 688 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: but I just don't like the college drive at the recruiting. 689 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: I just I'm just not with that. I'm not I 690 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: don't want to go to a seventeen year old house 691 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 1: and tell him how grad he is. And I want 692 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:46,720 Speaker 1: to keep it real, like, yeah, you're good, but you 693 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:48,040 Speaker 1: can work on this, and you can work on that. 694 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 1: But recruiting, this life, it's a game you gotta play. 695 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 1: It's a game that I just didn't want to do. 696 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 1: Had opportunities to start coaching in the NFL, but my 697 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 1: thing was I just wanted to be around for my son. 698 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: I just wanted every single moment, I just wanted to 699 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:03,960 Speaker 1: be there. So I figured my best bet was to 700 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 1: grow my business and getting the getting the high school 701 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: game nice. Nice. So you coached Monroe until twenty nineteen, 702 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:17,120 Speaker 1: and then you moved on. What played into that decision? 703 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:18,960 Speaker 1: You know, if you were enjoying you to flip the 704 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 1: program around. You went to state, You're getting guys going 705 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 1: to college. Why stop? I wanted to do something else, 706 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:31,800 Speaker 1: and I was fortunate enough to get on with Q 707 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 1: thirteen and do some Apple cut media stuff. And once 708 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 1: I got a taste of the media game, I'm like, yeah, 709 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 1: I think I can do this. And then then I 710 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:42,480 Speaker 1: got on with the Seahawks in twenty seventeen. Then my 711 00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 1: role started to grow there, and then I get on 712 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 1: with Roots Sports. Then PAC twelve starts showing interests, and 713 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:51,240 Speaker 1: I'm like, all right, I enjoyed coaching. I love coaching, 714 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: but this media gig is fun. I get to prepare 715 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:57,640 Speaker 1: for different teams, I get to travel. I still feel 716 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: like I'm in the game. So once the media stuff 717 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:02,640 Speaker 1: started picking up and I felt like I couldn't really 718 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 1: give a hundred to both, I decided, Man, let's turn 719 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: the page and try something else while I'm still young. 720 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 1: All right, you have the Elite Training Academy. Yep, you 721 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 1: said it was always your dream to have your own 722 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:19,120 Speaker 1: training facility. Why what you know, what was the inspiration 723 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: to one day have your own training facility? We didn't, man, 724 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 1: we didn't have stuff like that. We was growing up 725 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 1: to a roll, you know what I mean, Like we 726 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:29,400 Speaker 1: just we just went to the park with the boys 727 00:34:29,680 --> 00:34:31,800 Speaker 1: and did our own drills and threw the ball around 728 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:34,640 Speaker 1: and just compete it. Now. I remember I remember asking 729 00:34:34,719 --> 00:34:37,600 Speaker 1: my pe teachers drills, and I would just go to 730 00:34:37,680 --> 00:34:39,919 Speaker 1: the park and do like the drills that they told 731 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:42,800 Speaker 1: me to do on my own, yep, exactly. And I 732 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,040 Speaker 1: saw where the game was going, and my kids have 733 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 1: to do this stuff now. It's so competitive now they 734 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:50,719 Speaker 1: have to do it, and a lot of my competitors 735 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:52,360 Speaker 1: were doing it at a price where a lot of 736 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,839 Speaker 1: these kids couldn't afford it. So I was like, look, 737 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 1: I want to build something to where they can come 738 00:34:57,239 --> 00:35:00,920 Speaker 1: get this work. And it's not it's not wanna put 739 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,000 Speaker 1: them in major debt. You know, I never turn a 740 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 1: kid down because he can't afford it. There's something you 741 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:08,760 Speaker 1: can do. Look, you're gonna you're gonna claim our facility. 742 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 1: You're gonna, you know, gonna handle this yard in my backyard. 743 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:14,320 Speaker 1: You're gonna do something. I'm gonna make sure that we 744 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:16,160 Speaker 1: can help you in your journey, whether it's just for 745 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:18,719 Speaker 1: high school football or it's for college. So it was 746 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:21,800 Speaker 1: all about just helping kids develop because I know or 747 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,960 Speaker 1: I felt like if I had something like that, man, 748 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:27,120 Speaker 1: I could have been a better football player than you 749 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 1: know I ended up to be. So It was pretty 750 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:31,359 Speaker 1: much all about the community, man, and just giving back 751 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:35,799 Speaker 1: and helping kids develop. Awesome, man, that's what's up man. 752 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:39,320 Speaker 1: So we've talked about Man, your journey from Culver City 753 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:45,920 Speaker 1: to usc up psych Washington State one up there, Digit 754 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:52,399 Speaker 1: Thing went to Seattle, Digit Thing obviously Canada, Digit Thing. Man. 755 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:56,360 Speaker 1: All in these great memories, I want to kind of 756 00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:02,400 Speaker 1: get into, like, you know, your personal life just a 757 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:06,399 Speaker 1: little bit. You know, you talked about your grandmother kind 758 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:11,279 Speaker 1: of inspired you to watch you know, Dion Branch. He 759 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:14,520 Speaker 1: was kind of one of your idols. But you know 760 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:19,239 Speaker 1: what led you, you know, into playing football in the 761 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:23,400 Speaker 1: first place. Ah, Man, I grew up playing soccer. That 762 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 1: was my first sport, soccer because I once played football, 763 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:29,000 Speaker 1: but we didn't have insurance and mom was like, look, man, 764 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,480 Speaker 1: if you get hurt, that bill is gonna be something crazy. 765 00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:33,520 Speaker 1: I just I just can't afford it. So I grew 766 00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:36,000 Speaker 1: up in a Latin community, so all the Latin homes 767 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:37,640 Speaker 1: was playing soccer. So I'm like, all right, man, shoot, 768 00:36:37,640 --> 00:36:39,560 Speaker 1: I'm just play soccer. Sale all that goes. So I 769 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:43,320 Speaker 1: started playing soccer in basketball. But my mom told me 770 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:44,920 Speaker 1: when I was John, she goes, look when you get 771 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,240 Speaker 1: into high school, you can play football. So I remember 772 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 1: the summer going to my ninth or year. I didn't 773 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:51,680 Speaker 1: even tell her I was going out to try for 774 00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:53,960 Speaker 1: the football team. I just went and I came back 775 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:55,920 Speaker 1: with pat She's like, what is this. I'm like you 776 00:36:56,040 --> 00:36:58,040 Speaker 1: said when I was in ninth grade, I'm going I 777 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:01,440 Speaker 1: could play football. So boom. I started playing football. Once 778 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 1: I got a taste. I'm like, this is it right here, 779 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 1: this is it. I ain't doing nothing else. And you 780 00:37:06,719 --> 00:37:09,799 Speaker 1: a food for that. He showed up at the house 781 00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:13,560 Speaker 1: with the pass. Even though it might have been like 782 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:17,439 Speaker 1: six years ago, you never forgot. So you didn't start 783 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,759 Speaker 1: playing football to your freshman year high school ninth grade? 784 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:23,600 Speaker 1: Started playing football in the first position I played was quarterback. 785 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:26,759 Speaker 1: Like it was? It was crazy? Was you you know what? 786 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:29,840 Speaker 1: What you know? Did you like talented a quarterback? I 787 00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:32,960 Speaker 1: mean you know I was. So. I played football my 788 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:36,799 Speaker 1: freshman and my senior year of high school. My senior year, 789 00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:39,759 Speaker 1: I was Division Player of the Year league MVP. I 790 00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:42,280 Speaker 1: could have played quarterback in high school, I mean in college, 791 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:44,080 Speaker 1: but I didn't want all that. I might just throw 792 00:37:44,120 --> 00:37:47,200 Speaker 1: the rock up. Let me go get it right right, Well, 793 00:37:47,239 --> 00:37:49,440 Speaker 1: that's what's up man, that's that's a that's a that's 794 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 1: a funny story. Then obviously the rest is history. But man, 795 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:55,600 Speaker 1: I know you gotta go. I don't want to take 796 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:58,000 Speaker 1: up too much more of your time, Mike Man, but listen, 797 00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:02,240 Speaker 1: really appreciate you coming onto the show. Everybody who's listening, 798 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: thank you for listening to another episode of Seahawks Stories. 799 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:11,600 Speaker 1: More to come, more special guests to come. But until then, everybody, 800 00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:15,799 Speaker 1: have a blessed rest of your day and we'll see 801 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 1: you later.