1 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: Welcome into the Penn State paulse I'm your host, Dylan Dawson, 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:11,159 Speaker 1: and we're kicking things off in a big way in 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: episode one. Joining me today is Penn State legend LeVar Arrington, 4 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: one of the best to do it in the Blue 5 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: and White. 6 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 2: LeVar was the. 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: Most of your linebacker in college football in the late 8 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: nineties and racked up a lengthy list of accomplishments along 9 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: the way, including College Football Hall of Fame inductee, two 10 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: time All American, two time First Team All Big Ten 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: Buckets Award winner Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, 12 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: and second overall pick in the two thousand NFL Draft, 13 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: actually behind your teammate Courtney Brown. 14 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 2: Thank you for joining me today, LeVar. 15 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 3: How you doing, I'm happy to be here man, sir. 16 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: All right, so you can now add CEO to that 17 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: list as well as you're the founder of the up 18 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: on Game Media network, and I'm honored to say that 19 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: I'm now working with you as well with the disrupt 20 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: UPSU branch in particular. 21 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: Could you tell us a little bit about that. 22 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 3: So up on Game Dylan was a a brainch out 23 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 3: of me and my partner Ricardo Dickerson and then we 24 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 3: brought on our other partner, Steven Blanco. We felt like 25 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 3: we could create a blueprint for building a brand that 26 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 3: would ultimately be able to you be ultimately able to 27 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,279 Speaker 3: build what it is that you want to do within 28 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 3: media or within other sectors of other categories, and we 29 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 3: wanted to set out to prove that it was possible 30 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 3: to take a concept from nothing. 31 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 4: To a radio show, to a podcast, to a visual 32 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 4: podcast to whatever else it was going to be. 33 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 3: And so that's what we did. We actually created a 34 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 3: program we didn't like the name. It was an interesting 35 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 3: name called Warrior Woke Love the warrior part, hate the 36 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 3: woke part. It's not into the whole woke thing. But 37 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 3: it was basically a program where we taught young athletes 38 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 3: and young aspiring people that wanted to be within like media, 39 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 3: social media digital spaces, creating content and giving an understanding 40 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 3: and awareness of how to prepare to how to project, 41 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 3: how to conduct yourself in front of the camera, how 42 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 3: to put yourself and present yourself the best way that 43 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 3: you possibly could could present yourself. So that ultimately led 44 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 3: to us going to the next phase of that, which 45 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 3: was creating a show, and we created a podcast show 46 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:51,239 Speaker 3: called Up on Game. We eventually got that show taken 47 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 3: on board for a nationally syndicated radio show on weekends 48 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 3: for Fox Sports Radio that ultimately lad to me progressing 49 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 3: and getting a five day a week morning drive show 50 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 3: called Two Pros and a Cup of Joe. So Up 51 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 3: on Game is with t J. Hushman, Zada and Plexico Burs. 52 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 3: Two Pros and a Cup of Joe is with Jonas 53 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 3: Knox and Brady Quinn. Three of the three of the 54 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 3: four hosts are former football greats that now are in 55 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 3: media as well. So we just felt as though there's 56 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 3: a blueprint to understanding how to build and grow your 57 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,679 Speaker 3: brand and being able to do it in this new 58 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 3: world of technology and where the digital age has taken 59 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 3: us to. And so that was kind of the catalyst 60 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 3: for why we did what we did and how we 61 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 3: got here in the first place. And so here we are. 62 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 3: We created Disrupt You PSU, which is our agency, our 63 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 3: agency arm that now basically helps to guide develop INCY 64 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 3: eight talent in business and product within the Penn State community. 65 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 3: And I'm proud to be a part of you, being 66 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 3: our first signee to the brand and ultimately what I 67 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: believe will be an anchor show for what it is 68 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 3: that we're doing in an anchor talent. I believe that 69 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 3: you are an amazing talent at what you do, and 70 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 3: so you're very welcome and so to have the opportunity 71 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 3: to work with you and to bring you on board 72 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 3: to what it is that we're doing, to contribute to 73 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 3: what we're doing in building for what it's worth. I 74 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 3: do believe he may be the first NIL non athlete 75 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 3: to be getting an NIL deal for college, which is 76 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 3: I think pretty dope. Yeah, we'll see pretty exciting. 77 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: I mean I remember hearing about you growing up as 78 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: I was watching football Brady, I mean Plastico Buris on 79 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: the Steelers. So it's definitely cool to see for athletes, 80 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: current athletes get involved with media. It just provides a 81 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: really cool different perspective and it's always something that people 82 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 1: want to tune into as far as like long term 83 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: goals expectations, what are you thinking for this? 84 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 3: You know, long term goals is to build a successful 85 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 3: production house, a successful brand, almost along the lines of 86 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 3: iteration two point zero of like what a barstool would be. 87 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:31,479 Speaker 3: Having tremendous personalities like yourself, who are in the community 88 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 3: connected with the community and creating not only funny and 89 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 3: provocative content, but also purpose driven content. You know, I 90 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 3: believe in giving back to your community, being a positive 91 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 3: contributor to what it is that you do in your community. 92 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: I'm one that represents first responders and military service members, 93 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 3: also passionate about youth. So for me, those are the 94 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 3: things that I will rep present and have represented on 95 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 3: our platform. And as it grows, there will be different 96 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 3: different things that people are passionate about. With our student 97 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 3: athletes of Penn State that come on and are a 98 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:17,919 Speaker 3: part of what we're doing, that I believe will be 99 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 3: pretty pretty cool to hear. The stories, connect the interviews, 100 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 3: connect the content, and connect the purpose to what it 101 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 3: is that we're doing here and ultimately shine a light 102 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 3: on our Penn State athletes and our Penn State community 103 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 3: on not only the great leaders that we have in 104 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,239 Speaker 3: our athletics, but also the bright minds and the great 105 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 3: leaders that we have within the academic community of Penn State. 106 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 2: And how long have you been involved with media and 107 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:49,239 Speaker 2: all that stuff? 108 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 3: Now it's been over a decade. I started off in Washington, DC. 109 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 3: My first job was with CBS Radio. Is one of 110 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 3: six to seven a fan had to show called the 111 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 3: Leavar Arrington Show, which had Dukes, was the number one 112 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 3: rated morning draft show or afternoon excuse an afternoon draft 113 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 3: show in the market. We did very well. I actually 114 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 3: was a writer, a blogger, and a video blogger for 115 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 3: the Washington Post. I did a column called hard Knocks. 116 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 3: It was interesting because at that point I was writing, 117 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 3: and I was doing radio, and I was doing television, 118 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 3: and that was when all of that that s the 119 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 3: proverbial s of the Penn State scandal hit the fan. 120 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 3: So I'm all in media when our darkest time as 121 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 3: an institution and a university hit, And so for me, 122 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:52,239 Speaker 3: I felt like it was perfect timing in an honor 123 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 3: and a duty for me to be a beacon of light, 124 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 3: a person of support during those those dark times. A 125 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 3: lot of people really really turned their backs on us 126 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 3: as a school in an institution. Thought there was a 127 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 3: whole lot of unnecessary, unjust, unfair judgments that was passed 128 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 3: on all of us, as if all of us had 129 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 3: done something wrong, like we were this wicked, evil cult 130 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 3: that condoned doing all of these crazy things, and that 131 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 3: wasn't the case. And I wanted to make sure that 132 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 3: me having a voice in media, that I used my 133 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 3: voice in my platform to the better good of representing 134 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 3: our community and the best way that I possibly could. 135 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: Can you tell me about your high school recruitment? And 136 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: then when did you know it's gonna be pensate? 137 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 3: Who? So I was a senior in ninety seven and 138 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 3: I was highly recruited. I was actually highly recruited while 139 00:08:54,840 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 3: I was in the eighth grade, as the stores told 140 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 3: I was. Actually I grew to six ' three in 141 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 3: the sixth grade. I was dunking a basketball in the 142 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 3: sixth grade, So I was pretty I was pretty freakishly athletic. 143 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 3: I continue to kind of, you know, develop. I had 144 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 3: this love and passion for sports. I was a basketball 145 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: player first, but I'm from Pittsburgh, so I love football. 146 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 3: I played football. My family played football, uncles played football. 147 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 3: I grew up in football culture, and I was I 148 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 3: was what you would say someone who enjoyed athletics and competition. 149 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 3: Really it was really about competition. I was very competitive 150 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 3: and it ultimately led let me down the road being 151 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 3: a tailback and a linebacker playing football. So while I 152 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 3: was playing basketball and playing track, I really was garnering 153 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 3: a lot of attention playing playing football. I actually got 154 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 3: a letter from Miami. Miami was the first school that 155 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 3: sent me a letter. I was in eighth grade. Notre 156 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 3: Dame sent me a letter, Michigan sent me a letter. 157 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 3: It was some crazy school sending me letters. I mean, 158 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,839 Speaker 3: my eighth grade year. But what happened was I was 159 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,959 Speaker 3: playing ninth grade football because at school I went to, 160 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 3: they had a ninth grade team, they had a JV team, 161 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 3: they had a varsity team. So when I was in 162 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 3: the eighth grade, I was playing ninth grade ball. Somebody 163 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: sent my film out and you know, asked my measurables 164 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 3: and stuff like that, and they saw the footage of 165 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 3: what I was doing, and they were sending me letters. 166 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 3: Now they weren't offering me scholarships, but they were sending 167 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 3: a ton of letters. And so that was pretty cool 168 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 3: to kind of feel that relevance, cause you know, I 169 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 3: kind of was like one of those like, you know, 170 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 3: the black duck type of deal where you know, you 171 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 3: got all these pretty ducks, like my older brother was 172 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 3: straight a student, you know, super super well liked and 173 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 3: all that stuff, while I was like really rough around 174 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 3: the edges. I wasn't popular, you know, nobody really wanted 175 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 3: me around. I kind of got on people's nerves stuff 176 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,199 Speaker 3: like that, Right, So I was like one of them 177 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 3: revenge type dudes, Like I'm in the gym. Started working 178 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 3: out because I couldn't beat up my older brother, Like 179 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 3: I was jealous of my older brother. He was great 180 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 3: at everything, including beating my ass. Right, So I started lifting, 181 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:36,679 Speaker 3: and my whole motivation for lifting was to beat my 182 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 3: brother up at some point in my life, right, But 183 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 3: it turned into kind of like a salvation for me. 184 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 3: Exercise and working out started getting recruited, and so that 185 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 3: catalyst led to me being like ultimately competitive and very 186 00:11:55,480 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 3: very very in tune with what my accomplishments were achievements 187 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 3: were because nobody really wanted me around them for a 188 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 3: long time, right, So I started getting a lot of 189 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 3: great results on the field and another arenas I ran 190 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 3: a ten six ten seven one hundred meters. At one 191 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 3: point when I came to Penn State for camp, I 192 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 3: ran a four to three to eight electric clock time 193 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 3: forty at six three. So I was like doing some 194 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 3: like freakishly typed stuff while I was in high school. 195 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 3: And so for the longest time, I thought I was 196 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 3: going to either go to Florida State or go to 197 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 3: Miami because I was a big fan of linebackers. Wanted 198 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 3: to play linebacker, and I liked Ray Lewis and Derek Brooks. 199 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 3: Those were my favorite two linebackers in college. And Greg 200 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 3: Lloyd was obviously Pittsburgh Steeler. He was my favorite pro linebacker. 201 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 3: So I kind of patterned my style after that physical, violent, 202 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 3: type of mean type of type dude playing playing the game. 203 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 3: And a lot of schools were attracted to the way 204 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 3: I played the game because I was fast, and I 205 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 3: was physical and I was mean, and for the most part, 206 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,079 Speaker 3: I felt like people acknowledged the fact that I had 207 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 3: a very, very high football IQ. So so my recruitment 208 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 3: was was pretty intense. You know, at some point, I 209 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 3: think I had about four packing boxes worth of letters, 210 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 3: like four like packing boxes, like tall packing boxes, like 211 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 3: full of letters, like if you'd have dumped them out 212 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 3: as crazy. How many people had you know, who knows 213 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 3: what they you know, if they wrote it or somebody 214 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 3: else wrote it, who knows. But I had offers from 215 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 3: everybody by probably my sophomore year into my sophomore year, 216 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 3: and and for me, the recruitment process was it was. 217 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 3: It was fairly simple because I kind of felt like, 218 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 3: in my mind I wanted to go to Miami. Some 219 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 3: stuff happened at Miami. They were going on probation by 220 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 3: the time I was going there, So I kind of 221 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 3: decided that Florida State recruited me, but they didn't recruit 222 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 3: me as hard as other schools. So it was kind 223 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 3: of like, if I go out of state and I 224 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 3: go play for a school like Florida State, they had 225 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 3: recruited and offered a few guys that were in state. 226 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 3: God by the name of Jamal Reynolds is one of 227 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 3: the names that sticks out to me that got recruited 228 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 3: to go there the same year as me, and I 229 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 3: just recalled myself thinking, if I'm going to play linebacker, 230 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 3: why would I not go to the school that's deemed 231 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 3: linebacker you And so that was when I started kind 232 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 3: of looking at Penn State a little bit harder. I 233 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 3: was already a fan because of the Fiesta Bowl. I 234 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 3: can remember the time and place where I was at 235 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 3: when they played the game with DJ Dozer and Shane 236 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 3: Conlin and all those guys, Ray Aisom and Bob White, 237 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 3: and it's just a host of amazing football players on 238 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 3: that team, and so I started like kind of really 239 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 3: really getting into Penn State football and fell in love 240 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 3: with it, and so I actually committed my junior year 241 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 3: of high school, got a tattoo on my arm and 242 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 3: everything of Penn State, and that was kind of That 243 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 3: was how the recruiting process went for me. I never 244 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 3: I took one official visit. It was to Penn State. 245 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 3: I honored my commitment to Penn State. Tom Bradley scrap 246 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 3: they called him. He recruited me, and you know, I 247 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 3: guess the rest is history. 248 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: So two things stemmed from that. One, you say you 249 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: grew up in Pittsburgh. Are you Steelers fan or I am? Okay, 250 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: I'm as well. So second, you said Miami was the 251 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: first school to reach out to you. Who was your 252 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: first offer was at Miami or a different school? 253 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 3: You know, I don't remember who the first offer was. 254 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 3: I really don't because at the point in time, like 255 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 3: I said, at the end of my eighth grade year, 256 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 3: I got so many letters that I just kind of 257 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 3: stopped paying attention to the letters. So I don't even 258 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 3: really know who was offering me when, but it was 259 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 3: a lot of them. It was there was a ton 260 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 3: of offers. And you know, this was pre digital age, 261 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 3: So imagine your house phone just ringing non stop and 262 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 3: so and then obviously receiving letters at school, receiving mail 263 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 3: at your house. There was no in boxing like slide 264 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 3: into DMS as a coach or anything like that. 265 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 2: No pusting offers on Twitter. 266 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 3: They was sending letters. Dog, It's the only way they 267 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 3: could get to you. I guess it's the only way 268 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 3: they could get to you or come see you. So 269 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 3: it was, you know, and I guess that makes me old. 270 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 3: But yet I don't recall who the first offer was. 271 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 3: I don't even recall what it sounded like or what 272 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:19,959 Speaker 3: it felt like. I just remember I ended up building 273 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 3: a really really strong relationship with coach Bradley, and he 274 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 3: really really captured my imagination. He's actually the reason behind 275 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 3: me getting number eleven and starting the trend and the 276 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 3: tradition connected to eleven at Penn State. So we created 277 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 3: a super super dope relationship and it just kind of 278 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 3: went from there and I committed my junior year and 279 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 3: just never looked back. 280 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: So your son, LaVar Arrington Junior is actually a the 281 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 1: second Yes, the class of twenty twenty five linebacker recruit 282 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: just ovd UCLA his official visits coming up at Penn 283 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: State June twenty. First, what are your thoughts on his recruitment, 284 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: how it might compare to yours, and where he may 285 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 1: end up. 286 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 3: I went to a was considered a big school, a 287 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 3: power school. In high school. We were Quada and Western Pa, 288 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 3: and back then that was the highest level of competition, 289 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 3: and it was pretty high profile conference and a lot 290 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 3: of big talent came from where I was playing. So 291 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 3: the amount of attention and the amount of scrutiny and 292 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 3: just recruitment was was pretty high. My son goes to 293 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 3: a school named Charter Oak. It's not a modern day 294 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 3: It's not a D one school in the California area. 295 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 3: It was D four at one point. I think it 296 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 3: was D seven last year. It's like slight and scale, 297 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 3: but it's a smaller school, so the amount of attention 298 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 3: on him has not been as great. I brought him 299 00:18:55,880 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 3: along pretty slow, slowly. I didn't you know. He didn't 300 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 3: have the same path as me in playing the game. 301 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 3: He was more of a fan of the game. I 302 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 3: was a fan of the game, but I was more 303 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 3: so Trial by Fire, where I felt like we took 304 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 3: a really really educated approach and how he grew up 305 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 3: and how he developed, and so he didn't play football 306 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 3: for a while. I started at eight. I think he 307 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 3: started at like twelve thirteen, and so I think for 308 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 3: him it's definitely been an interesting journey. I got an 309 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 3: opportunity to coach him as his defensive coordinator as freshman year. 310 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 3: I saw a lot of potential in him, but I 311 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 3: didn't see him as being like an elite player. I 312 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 3: thought he could be, but I just didn't think that 313 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 3: he got it enough where I could actually stamp it 314 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 3: and be like dud dudes got it. And sophomore year 315 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 3: it was kind of much of the same. It was 316 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 3: like he gets to the ball really really quickly, Like 317 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:03,199 Speaker 3: he gets there quick, but he don't finish. It's like 318 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 3: you're not a finisher. It's like kind of like you 319 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 3: do all that work to get to where the ball is, 320 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 3: but why you're not getting to the ball carrier or 321 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,919 Speaker 3: taking them down is somebody else taking them down and 322 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 3: you're standing around the pal This last year, his junior year, 323 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,199 Speaker 3: it was kind of the same for most of the season, 324 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 3: but you could see that there was a progression in 325 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 3: how he was doing things, and then we get to 326 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 3: the end of the season and he just had one 327 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 3: game where he just snapped out, like it was almost 328 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 3: like everything kind of clicked for him, and he grew 329 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 3: up like overnight. Like for me, I was old, Like 330 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 3: I was a whole back kid. They helped me back, 331 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 3: you know. And that's a big thing now is hold 332 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 3: guys back so they're more mature. And they had that 333 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 3: click moment earlier than their senior year, you know. So 334 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 3: he's seventeen. I was eighteen at this point in his career. 335 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 3: I was turning nineteen going into my freshman year. He'll 336 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 3: be eighteen, you know. And in fact, wherever he ends 337 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 3: up going, he'll be an early in row league, so 338 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 3: he'll be seventeen in his freshman year of college. So 339 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 3: I don't really judge him based off of me. I 340 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 3: don't do the comparison deal because he's young, you know, 341 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 3: he's younger than what I was. But after he had 342 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 3: that click moment, he's been a movie. He's been a movie. 343 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 3: And I'm not one to be braggadocious about my kids, 344 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:40,400 Speaker 3: but he's actually he's developing and has turned into a 345 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 3: pretty special dude. Like he literally he tracks the ball 346 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 3: as fast and as quickly as as anyone I've seen 347 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 3: at the level, Like if I'm looking at everyone around 348 00:21:54,080 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 3: the country, he's in the top the top percentile of 349 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 3: guys with athletic ability and intelligence to diagnose. And he finishes. 350 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 3: Now that's been the biggest thing, will you finish? And 351 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 3: so he's now started to finish plays and it's taken 352 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 3: his game, like what it looks like, to a whole 353 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 3: entirely different level. So I'm pretty excited for him. As 354 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 3: you mentioned, we've been on these official visits and we're 355 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 3: seeing how all of that goes. He's narrowed down to 356 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 3: three schools, you know, Tennessee, UCLA, and Penn State. We're 357 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 3: just taking it day by day. But I think the 358 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 3: kid is pretty special. I'm certain that he is the 359 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 3: type of talent that if he just maintains a focus 360 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 3: and a level of hunger to continue to want to 361 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 3: learn and be better, I think his trajectory is pretty high. 362 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: And how do you handle that with obviously you guys 363 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: have as a family, have you ties Penn State? With 364 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: you going there having a ton of success. I mean, 365 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: Pen State's recruiting him now pretty heavy. So how do 366 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 1: you kind of balance that without being pushy. 367 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 3: It's a good question, Dylan, because it's hard to say 368 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:18,199 Speaker 3: that you can remove your emotions from it, Like for me, 369 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 3: the things that I was able to accomplish and the 370 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 3: things that I have experienced as LeVar Arrington, if you 371 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 3: can imagine, like why wouldn't you want to go to 372 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 3: the school where you come out if you make a 373 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 3: play the moment first of all, before you even come out, 374 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 3: make a play, the moment you commit to the school. 375 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 3: It's you've turned on the lights instantly, just based off 376 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 3: of your name. It's a blessing and possibly a curse 377 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:51,159 Speaker 3: at the same time, because he's probably going to be 378 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 3: unfairly judged on the type of player that he is 379 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:56,640 Speaker 3: and the type of plays that he makes and how 380 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 3: he makes them based off of what I did. But 381 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,400 Speaker 3: I always say, the society and the culture we live 382 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 3: in today, they remember names, they don't really remember anything else, 383 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,439 Speaker 3: you know. So I don't know that. I don't know 384 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 3: that he will have to deal with the intense scrutiny 385 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 3: the way I think or thought that he would have to, 386 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 3: because a lot of times people like there are a 387 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 3: lot of people like even with your video right like, 388 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,880 Speaker 3: people were cutting me from the team, you know, they 389 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 3: starting Micah, they bench and our duel, they cut LeVar 390 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 3: right like. So a lot of people don't even really 391 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 3: remember who I am. So I think he would have 392 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 3: an opportunity to go to Penn State and be able 393 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 3: to build his own reputation and build his own legacy 394 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 3: void of it being in my shadow. But at the 395 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:45,400 Speaker 3: same time, there are a lot of people that do 396 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 3: know who I am, and I think there will bring 397 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 3: a level of pressure. But for me, I feel like 398 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 3: he's been prepared for it. I mean, it's just kind 399 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 3: of something that he's always wanted to do. It's not 400 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 3: something that I put in front of him. So I 401 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 3: feel like whatever decision he makes, he's going to be 402 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 3: a pretty special dude wherever he goes. But if it 403 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 3: were to be Penn State, that would be pretty dope. 404 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's probably a really cool feeling, is dad? If 405 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 2: that does come. 406 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 3: To first, Yeah, yeah, it would be all right. 407 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: Do you have any particular memory or play or game 408 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: or anything that stands out about your college career as 409 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:20,960 Speaker 1: a favorite. 410 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 3: Any particular play that stands out for me from college 411 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 3: or game. I'd say my last game sticks out. I'll 412 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 3: say this my first bowl game, in my last game, 413 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 3: which was my bowl game, stick out. My first bowl 414 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 3: game sticks out because I was on the field with 415 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 3: Fred Taylor and Javon Curse. And if you know those 416 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 3: two names, you look him up. If you don't know him. 417 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 3: Fred Taylor is one of the most gifted running backs 418 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,639 Speaker 3: that I've ever faced in my entire life, probably the 419 00:25:55,760 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 3: most gifted running back that I've faced. And Javon Curse 420 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 3: is one of the most freakishly athletic dudes that you'll 421 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 3: ever see ever play the game as well. So I 422 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:13,640 Speaker 3: got an opportunity to experience what greatness looked like outside 423 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:15,679 Speaker 3: of my own team, because I had some greats on 424 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:18,400 Speaker 3: the team with me. But outside of that, I got 425 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 3: to see a Florida team that was ridiculously talented, and 426 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 3: Fred Taylor and Javon Curse were on that field playing 427 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 3: for that team. I say my last bowl game the 428 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 3: Alamo Bowl because it was things coming full circle. There's 429 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 3: probably a whole bunch of other dudes on the other 430 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 3: side of that ball that were looking at me and 431 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:43,120 Speaker 3: like that's LeVar Arrington, you know what I mean, Like dang, 432 00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 3: like that's LeVar Arrington, which is like, that's what you 433 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 3: do this for, right, If you're going to play the game, 434 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:55,160 Speaker 3: you play the game to have an impact where you 435 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 3: create something that's worth talking about, where you create something 436 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 3: that's worth and so that was that was probably the 437 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 3: most memorable because the performance that I put in for 438 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:14,359 Speaker 3: my last game was pretty it was pretty undeniable. I 439 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 3: think got forced three three interceptions, I had like three 440 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 3: or four sacks, had like eleven twelve, I don't know, 441 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:28,680 Speaker 3: thirteen tackles. It was something crazy. My stat line was crazy, 442 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 3: and I won MVP of the game. And I wanted 443 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:37,360 Speaker 3: over all the defenders on the field, which obviously Brandon 444 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 3: Short is an amazing linebacker that I played for for 445 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 3: Penn State. Courtney Brown an amazing defense in that played 446 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 3: for the team, amongst others, Dave Macklin, you know, Mac Morrison, 447 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 3: you know David fleishawer Amani Bell, you know Justin Kurpeikis. 448 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 3: I mean it was our team was littered with town 449 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 3: and so to be able to finish my college career 450 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 3: where I got the most Valuable Player award for the 451 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 3: bowl game definitely stands out the most out of most 452 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 3: of the games, most other games that I went. 453 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 2: Through and she went. 454 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 1: So a lot of people don't know about this, but 455 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: tell me a little bit about Adam Sandler and The 456 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:21,120 Speaker 1: water Boy. 457 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,360 Speaker 3: So it's interesting. I told people, like a long time 458 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 3: ago when I was on my first radio show in Washington, 459 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:36,320 Speaker 3: d C. That Adam Sandler came to Penn State, visited 460 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 3: with the team, visited with the managers, visited with coach. 461 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 3: He's a big, big Joe Paterno fan, and for his 462 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 3: time there, he actually studied me and what I was 463 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 3: doing for his role in The water Boy. And so 464 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 3: you know, he was sitting with me in the locker room, 465 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 3: asking me a ton of questions. Every other word was profanity. 466 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 3: He kept apologizing for cursing so much. It's kind of funny. 467 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 3: He's a funny dude in real life. And so yeah, 468 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 3: we had an opportunity to spend time. He wrote me 469 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 3: an autograph. And the coolest thing about it is a 470 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 3: lot of times celebrities are like very very disconnected, and 471 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 3: so I seen him like maybe like six seven years ago, 472 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 3: and it's maybe maybe even more. But I was at 473 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 3: the Super Bowl and he was on media row and 474 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 3: he came and sat down with us, and he told 475 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:38,880 Speaker 3: the story like, yeah, I was there to study LeVar 476 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 3: Arrington to become the water Boys. So it was a 477 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 3: cool distinction. I like to believe I'm not the base character. 478 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 3: You know, I'm not what Bobby Bouchet is as a person, 479 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 3: but I was certainly a Bobby Bouchet with the way 480 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 3: he was running the plays and the way he was 481 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 3: making his plays during during the course of the movie, 482 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 3: he came and studied your boy yours truly for his 483 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:10,719 Speaker 3: role as Bobby Bouchet, the water Boy, and I'm in 484 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 3: that ssence the water Boy. 485 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: Okay, So, as I previously mentioned, you were the second 486 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 1: overall pick in the two thousand NFL draft to the 487 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 1: Washington Redskins at the time, at one point in your career, 488 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: was it high school college. 489 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 2: Did you realize that you were going to make it 490 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 2: and go to the NFL. 491 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:32,200 Speaker 3: It's an interesting question because if I'm being honest, I 492 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:36,720 Speaker 3: think at eight years old, I looked at my mother 493 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 3: and I told her I was going to retire one 494 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 3: day and I was going to buy or her the 495 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 3: home of her dreams. Now I didn't, I guess, I 496 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 3: guess you could say it was it would be naive 497 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 3: to say I knew at eight years old, but I 498 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 3: just I believe in manifesting, and I just felt like 499 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 3: at that point in time, I played a couple of 500 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 3: games I had did really well, and I was just 501 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 3: confident in telling my mom that, you know, I'm gonna 502 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 3: retire you soon, and I'm gonna do all of these 503 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 3: things that are nice for you at some point in 504 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 3: the near future. And you know, that's that's kind of 505 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:19,600 Speaker 3: what happened. You know, it was a driving force and 506 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 3: that's what what ended up happening. 507 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 1: So right around when you retired, there was a motorcycle 508 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:26,480 Speaker 1: accident that you were involved in. Is that the reason 509 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 1: you retired or was it something else or what was 510 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 1: the situation there. 511 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 3: It's interesting because I don't really talk about it much 512 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 3: at all. I broke my arm, mangled my arm, my wrists, 513 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 3: like destroyed my wrists. They had to do a skin 514 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,760 Speaker 3: graph off of my leg. The bike went into my leg. 515 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 3: I don't even remember it. It happened so quickly. A 516 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 3: lot of people report and say that I retired because 517 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 3: I wrecked the motorcycle, But I had I had checked 518 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 3: that I had been released from the giants and I 519 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 3: hadn't even finished my rehab for Michalles Tendon. I broke 520 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 3: up out of New Jersey and went back to Maryland, 521 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:15,239 Speaker 3: back to where I felt like I belonged, and I 522 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 3: limped like I limped for like three years after I 523 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 3: blew my Achilles tendont and in my last season with 524 00:32:22,280 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 3: the New York Giants. So so for me, like I 525 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 3: was done playing football when I was sitting on the 526 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 3: turf in Texas Stadium looking around, smelling the popcorn and 527 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 3: you know, smelling everything. I took in the sites, I 528 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:42,160 Speaker 3: took in the sounds because I knew in my heart 529 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:44,240 Speaker 3: and in my mind that was the last time I'd 530 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 3: ever be on the football field this way. So but 531 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 3: you know, that's how the cookie crumbles sometime. And I'm 532 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 3: grateful for my time in the league. I'm also grateful 533 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:02,440 Speaker 3: for the opportunit unities that I had and I have 534 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 3: based upon the person that I was and the player 535 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 3: that I was when I played the game. 536 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 1: Right, So, would you say it was pretty tough for 537 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: you to walk away from it or was Were you 538 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: satisfied with your body of work at the time? 539 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:16,720 Speaker 3: You know, I was satisfied. I knew I was going 540 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 3: to be a Hall of Famer, but I was definitely 541 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 3: satisfied with my body or work. I feel like I 542 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 3: left I left some things on the table, but sometimes, 543 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:31,200 Speaker 3: you know, you leave things on the table, and you 544 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:33,960 Speaker 3: don't always finish everything that's on your plate, and you 545 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 3: don't always you know, you try to put your best 546 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:41,280 Speaker 3: foot forward, but it doesn't always happen that way. It 547 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 3: doesn't always play out the way that you had hoped, 548 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:48,480 Speaker 3: imagined or thought that it would. And I feel like, 549 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 3: for all the things that I'm doing now to accomplish 550 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,400 Speaker 3: and to be more in life, I don't know that 551 00:33:56,640 --> 00:34:00,880 Speaker 3: I would have been this motivated and this inspired for 552 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 3: this chapter of my life had I had the type 553 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 3: of career that I thought I was going to have 554 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:09,439 Speaker 3: as a pro. So it ultimately worked out the way 555 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:12,120 Speaker 3: that it was supposed to work out, because I'm so 556 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 3: inspired to be more in life, and I feel like, 557 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 3: ultimately the shortcomings of what took place when I was 558 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 3: in the league was a tremendous catalyst for me to 559 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:31,360 Speaker 3: actually want to approach what I do in life even 560 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 3: more so intensely than what I had ever done at 561 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:37,640 Speaker 3: any other point in my life. 562 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,359 Speaker 1: So switching gears looking at the current roster, it's the 563 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:44,320 Speaker 1: linebacker room in particular. Is there anyone that really stands 564 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 1: out to you that people aren't paying enough attention to 565 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:49,360 Speaker 1: or that you think could be due for a big season. 566 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 3: So there's two names, and listen, Abdul moved from linebacker 567 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:57,319 Speaker 3: and he's more of an age now and will be 568 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:03,520 Speaker 3: a positive tributor as an age as as a move 569 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:09,759 Speaker 3: around guy, but as a true linebacker. Kobe King has 570 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:13,840 Speaker 3: got to be the most underrated linebacker in the entire world. 571 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:22,919 Speaker 3: I mean, if you could carve out chisel up, put 572 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:27,680 Speaker 3: the description next to the carving in the in the 573 00:35:27,719 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 3: sculpture of a man that Kobe King is like, that's 574 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:37,719 Speaker 3: who would be the picture, the standard of the example. 575 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 3: I love his game. He plays physical, he plays fast, 576 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:45,160 Speaker 3: He's got a nose and a knack for the ball. 577 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 3: You can tell he's super smart. And how it is 578 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:54,440 Speaker 3: that he conducts the business and directs the players around. 579 00:35:56,680 --> 00:36:00,600 Speaker 3: I just think he's special. I really, really truly hope 580 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:05,880 Speaker 3: he gets his just dude this year because he he 581 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:11,759 Speaker 3: has been a guy for Penn State in college football. 582 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:14,080 Speaker 3: I say the second name I would give you is 583 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:19,080 Speaker 3: Tony Rojas. Everybody's buzzing about him, and they should be rightfully. 584 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 3: So he's athletic, he's big, he's strong, he's smart, and 585 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:31,520 Speaker 3: he does things the right way. You know. I was 586 00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:35,480 Speaker 3: talking to man my son about Tony Rojas not too 587 00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:38,120 Speaker 3: long ago, and he was like, Dad, Dad, he's just 588 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:41,279 Speaker 3: always in the gym. Like they had the spring game, 589 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:43,440 Speaker 3: he was in the gym. They're like, you got to 590 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:45,120 Speaker 3: get out of the gym. We got a game to play. 591 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:48,799 Speaker 3: Da da da, And He's just looked at him and laughed. Said, 592 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 3: I wish I had that time. I had work ethic 593 00:36:51,239 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 3: and I worked my ass off, but I wish I 594 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 3: had the type of work ethic where I lived in 595 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 3: the gym, you know, I lived, lived in the meeting 596 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:04,839 Speaker 3: rooms and did everything that I was required to do. 597 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,239 Speaker 3: And then some I wish that was the way that 598 00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:11,960 Speaker 3: I approached my college career. I ended up learning that 599 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:17,560 Speaker 3: later on in life. But I look at how he 600 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 3: prepares himself, and it's pretty second to none how he 601 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:29,280 Speaker 3: prepares himself. And ultimately, I think those are the reasons 602 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,960 Speaker 3: why guys like him ended up being so successful. 603 00:37:32,520 --> 00:37:34,560 Speaker 1: Right, I mean, you really saw the impact of that 604 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:36,480 Speaker 1: his freshman year. As soon as he got on campus, 605 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:38,719 Speaker 1: as soon as he was provided with those resources, the 606 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:41,799 Speaker 1: nutrition program, the weight room, all that he went from 607 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:45,719 Speaker 1: I think twenty five. Yeah, his weight in like one 608 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:48,880 Speaker 1: off season. So as soon as he got those resources 609 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:51,640 Speaker 1: provided to him, he was ready to go. Penn State 610 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 1: recently made a new hire at defensive coordinator then with 611 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:56,760 Speaker 1: former Indiana head coach Tom Allen. 612 00:37:57,080 --> 00:37:58,719 Speaker 2: Do you have any thoughts on him or what he 613 00:37:58,760 --> 00:37:59,600 Speaker 2: might bring to the table. 614 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:08,640 Speaker 3: Gonna bring an older an older feel like more of 615 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:12,160 Speaker 3: a more of a fatherly It seems like he has 616 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:16,440 Speaker 3: more of a fatherly feel, a fatherly vibe to him, 617 00:38:16,719 --> 00:38:20,919 Speaker 3: whereas like Manny and Pride, they were more like you've 618 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:26,520 Speaker 3: related to them. I think Alan is like an old head. 619 00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:30,359 Speaker 3: You're not gonna relate to him. But sometimes when you 620 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:35,960 Speaker 3: have coaches like Alan, guys gravitate to him and feel 621 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,279 Speaker 3: as though they can trust him and feel as though 622 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:43,480 Speaker 3: the things that he's saying are are accurate to the 623 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:46,160 Speaker 3: success that you're seeking and the little things that you 624 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:50,719 Speaker 3: need to do. And so I think their defense will 625 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:54,839 Speaker 3: be I think they'll be pretty good this year. I 626 00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:58,040 Speaker 3: know they lost you know the two ends. You know 627 00:38:58,080 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 3: you lose chop, you lose a da those are big losses. 628 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:06,920 Speaker 3: But Sutton and guys Devon on the inside, I mean, 629 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:09,520 Speaker 3: you have some really you know, ourbdual is going to 630 00:39:09,560 --> 00:39:11,759 Speaker 3: be out there on the d line this year. You 631 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:16,600 Speaker 3: have some really really special guys athletically and maturity wise 632 00:39:16,680 --> 00:39:19,720 Speaker 3: that are out there on the field. So I wouldn't 633 00:39:19,719 --> 00:39:23,200 Speaker 3: be surprised if this is a much more dominant defense 634 00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:26,279 Speaker 3: this year than what it has been in quite some time. 635 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:28,799 Speaker 2: Right, And what do you think is of the team 636 00:39:28,840 --> 00:39:30,719 Speaker 2: as a whole? Do you have a record prediction or 637 00:39:30,760 --> 00:39:31,759 Speaker 2: anything like that for the year. 638 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:33,560 Speaker 3: You know, I think the team's going to have a 639 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:37,120 Speaker 3: good year, but I always think they're going to have 640 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:41,680 Speaker 3: a good year, and so they're not having a good 641 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:44,919 Speaker 3: year until they're not having a good year, right. So 642 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 3: for me, I'm kind of a wait and see type 643 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:56,800 Speaker 3: of guy. I'm optimistic that they can win the better 644 00:39:57,040 --> 00:40:05,960 Speaker 3: vast majority of of their games, but I don't I'm 645 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:09,799 Speaker 3: a tad bit concern, maybe a tad bit nervous that 646 00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:14,480 Speaker 3: the scheduling and how hard the conferences are and everybody 647 00:40:14,560 --> 00:40:16,600 Speaker 3: loading up and gearing up to come to the Big 648 00:40:16,640 --> 00:40:22,640 Speaker 3: ten this year, and it's gonna be. I'm I'm concerned 649 00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:29,040 Speaker 3: if we lose. I'm concerned because there's there's all kinds 650 00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:34,520 Speaker 3: of crazy feelings circulating around about the head coach, and 651 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:37,840 Speaker 3: for good or for worse, for for bad or for better, 652 00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:43,200 Speaker 3: he's gotta he's got to do something that ultimately moves 653 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:46,719 Speaker 3: the needle in the right direction in terms of the 654 00:40:46,760 --> 00:40:51,919 Speaker 3: next level for for this team. And so we're gonna 655 00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:54,479 Speaker 3: have to wait and see how that all plays out. 656 00:40:54,640 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 3: But I'm I'm hopeful they st pawing the amount of 657 00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:06,040 Speaker 3: talent that we have on our roster that this new 658 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:11,640 Speaker 3: offensive coordinator you know, has has our quarterback, has Drew Aller, 659 00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:16,480 Speaker 3: loosen up and just play his game. Get your proper reads, 660 00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:20,360 Speaker 3: know what your proper reads are, get out there, throw 661 00:41:20,480 --> 00:41:23,440 Speaker 3: the ball, you know, play your game. Because I think 662 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 3: Drew Aller is the first franchise quarterback we've had since 663 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:31,200 Speaker 3: Carre Collins. And we've had a few good, good quarterbacks, 664 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:36,919 Speaker 3: like you know, obviously Mike Mike Robinson is a dope name, 665 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:40,920 Speaker 3: Daryl Clark is a dope name during that time period. 666 00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:46,160 Speaker 3: So we've had quarterbacks Hackenberg, you know, dope quarterbacks. So 667 00:41:47,360 --> 00:41:50,719 Speaker 3: but you know, you still got to get in there 668 00:41:50,760 --> 00:41:52,839 Speaker 3: and you still got to do it. And that's kind 669 00:41:52,840 --> 00:41:55,560 Speaker 3: of like the key to it, like get yourself prepared, 670 00:41:55,680 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 3: but you still got to get in there. You still 671 00:41:58,160 --> 00:41:59,319 Speaker 3: got to do it right. 672 00:41:59,560 --> 00:42:01,320 Speaker 2: I'm personally bullish on Aler. 673 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:04,200 Speaker 1: I think if he has the right offensive coordinator that 674 00:42:04,640 --> 00:42:06,160 Speaker 1: it could unleash his potential. 675 00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:07,880 Speaker 2: I mean the thing with Kyle Nikki. 676 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:10,880 Speaker 1: Instead of trying to get the players to fit his scheme, 677 00:42:10,920 --> 00:42:12,600 Speaker 1: I think he's going to build a scheme around the 678 00:42:12,640 --> 00:42:18,120 Speaker 1: talent and where the offense is strongest. From a roster standpoint, 679 00:42:18,320 --> 00:42:20,520 Speaker 1: I think I'll kind of play off that. So I 680 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:22,960 Speaker 1: think that could be a really positive thing. 681 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:23,440 Speaker 2: For the team. 682 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:24,600 Speaker 3: For sure. I like it. 683 00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:27,319 Speaker 2: And before we get out of here, I have to 684 00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:31,319 Speaker 2: ask about Serena Williams. What was your interaction with her? 685 00:42:31,560 --> 00:42:33,799 Speaker 2: How did that all play out? Like, what's the what's 686 00:42:33,840 --> 00:42:34,439 Speaker 2: the deal there? 687 00:42:34,760 --> 00:42:38,680 Speaker 3: You know, I never really talk about or discussed that 688 00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:42,920 Speaker 3: aspect that time, that that person I've been. I've always 689 00:42:42,920 --> 00:42:46,319 Speaker 3: felt like I need to be respectful of, you know, 690 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:52,239 Speaker 3: the privacy of knowing her. Yeah, you never want to 691 00:42:52,239 --> 00:42:54,359 Speaker 3: be a person that's like, yeah, yeah, I know her. 692 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:58,279 Speaker 3: You know that type of deal. Me and Serena at 693 00:42:58,280 --> 00:43:02,680 Speaker 3: one point were probably like friends. We ended up meeting 694 00:43:02,719 --> 00:43:08,239 Speaker 3: at an ESPN commercial shoot when they used to do 695 00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:11,600 Speaker 3: the commercial shoots that were like the you know, you're 696 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:14,880 Speaker 3: walking through the office and something's going on. There's a 697 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:17,640 Speaker 3: king chair and Lebron James is sitting in the chair 698 00:43:17,719 --> 00:43:21,280 Speaker 3: and like they were doing those funny, cool little little commercials. 699 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:25,000 Speaker 3: So we were at the video shoot and we met 700 00:43:25,520 --> 00:43:31,279 Speaker 3: and we were cool. Like we ended up talking like 701 00:43:31,360 --> 00:43:36,319 Speaker 3: I had a thing for I'll admit that, Like, I mean, 702 00:43:36,320 --> 00:43:39,120 Speaker 3: who didn't have a crush on Serena back then? And 703 00:43:39,320 --> 00:43:42,880 Speaker 3: if you know you, especially somebody like you know me, 704 00:43:43,520 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 3: you know you'd have a crush. So it was kind 705 00:43:46,040 --> 00:43:49,759 Speaker 3: of like a crush crush deal. I talked to talk 706 00:43:49,880 --> 00:43:53,879 Speaker 3: to her manager. We ended up meeting and hanging out 707 00:43:53,960 --> 00:43:56,239 Speaker 3: and we were like we were pretty close for like 708 00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:01,000 Speaker 3: it was a few years. We hung out with each 709 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:04,480 Speaker 3: other for a few years and some would say the 710 00:44:04,560 --> 00:44:09,120 Speaker 3: story would have it that we we I've never said 711 00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:15,279 Speaker 3: this out loud, but we actually dated. I'm saying I've 712 00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:17,200 Speaker 3: said it's like the first time I'm ever saying is 713 00:44:19,280 --> 00:44:25,080 Speaker 3: And we dated for a while. I went through I 714 00:44:25,120 --> 00:44:28,799 Speaker 3: went through a lot with her. We grew up a lot. 715 00:44:28,880 --> 00:44:39,640 Speaker 3: When she was transitioning from being a a star tennis 716 00:44:39,680 --> 00:44:46,640 Speaker 3: player to a superstar tennis player. I was there and 717 00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:50,080 Speaker 3: I got to see the rise of her going from 718 00:44:50,600 --> 00:44:53,520 Speaker 3: being a star with the beads in her hair, like 719 00:44:53,600 --> 00:44:57,560 Speaker 3: she was still wearing beads. This goes back to like 720 00:44:57,680 --> 00:45:03,960 Speaker 3: early two thousands, and then she transitioned into being a 721 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:08,960 Speaker 3: young woman, like being a woman and being like Serena, 722 00:45:09,440 --> 00:45:13,280 Speaker 3: you know, and you know that was it was pretty 723 00:45:13,360 --> 00:45:16,719 Speaker 3: pretty cool. It's pretty interesting because you're hanging out with 724 00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:20,000 Speaker 3: somebody they say you are the company that you keep, 725 00:45:20,360 --> 00:45:22,920 Speaker 3: you know, And so I was hanging out with somebody 726 00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:27,880 Speaker 3: who would eventually be the greatest, you know, one of 727 00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:30,919 Speaker 3: the greatest athletes. I won't even just put her under 728 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:35,120 Speaker 3: greatest woman athlete, female athlete, Like she's one of the 729 00:45:35,160 --> 00:45:42,600 Speaker 3: greatest athletes of all time and easily dominated this last 730 00:45:42,760 --> 00:45:48,919 Speaker 3: generation of athletics. So it's pretty cool to know that 731 00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:53,160 Speaker 3: someone who accomplished everything that I would have wanted to 732 00:45:53,200 --> 00:46:00,560 Speaker 3: accomplish was able to do it. And so I never 733 00:46:00,640 --> 00:46:03,319 Speaker 3: really talked about, you know, well, why didn't it work 734 00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:06,000 Speaker 3: out or you know, why didn't you guys stay together? 735 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:09,880 Speaker 3: And we were young. You know, we were like literally 736 00:46:09,960 --> 00:46:12,239 Speaker 3: we were we were young. I was just coming into 737 00:46:12,239 --> 00:46:15,960 Speaker 3: the league. There was just a lot of different things 738 00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:20,640 Speaker 3: going on, a lot of different powers pulling this way 739 00:46:20,760 --> 00:46:25,399 Speaker 3: that way, and it just it didn't it didn't kind 740 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:30,520 Speaker 3: of solidify itself that way. But yeah, I was always 741 00:46:30,560 --> 00:46:33,879 Speaker 3: a fan of her, continued to be a fan of her, 742 00:46:34,320 --> 00:46:37,319 Speaker 3: you know, and and and what her endeavors were in 743 00:46:37,360 --> 00:46:41,080 Speaker 3: her life was still to this day, keep up with 744 00:46:41,120 --> 00:46:43,680 Speaker 3: what she's got going on. And I am a fan 745 00:46:43,800 --> 00:46:47,560 Speaker 3: of you know, her accomplishments and and different things like that. 746 00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:52,560 Speaker 3: So but but yeah, I mean I may have I 747 00:46:52,600 --> 00:46:54,800 Speaker 3: don't know. I think there was a book that was written. 748 00:46:57,400 --> 00:47:00,440 Speaker 3: I don't know, as they say that, you know, I 749 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:03,439 Speaker 3: might have had a negative impact on her. I don't 750 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:06,399 Speaker 3: know why that would be, you know, but I felt 751 00:47:06,480 --> 00:47:08,600 Speaker 3: like we were always really cool. I got to know 752 00:47:08,680 --> 00:47:12,080 Speaker 3: the family really well. I was around when you know, 753 00:47:12,200 --> 00:47:16,480 Speaker 3: her sister, you know, tragically, you know, had her, you know, 754 00:47:16,640 --> 00:47:22,120 Speaker 3: lost her life. I was around, you know, I was around, 755 00:47:22,160 --> 00:47:27,719 Speaker 3: and and but you know, life, life went on. It's 756 00:47:27,800 --> 00:47:32,160 Speaker 3: kind of interesting, you know, every once in a while 757 00:47:32,200 --> 00:47:38,239 Speaker 3: you think about, like, you know, did I make the 758 00:47:38,320 --> 00:47:47,040 Speaker 3: right decisions? You know, definitely definitely did. I definitely did. Yeah, 759 00:47:47,080 --> 00:47:53,919 Speaker 3: I definitely did. But but nonetheless, it definitely was a 760 00:47:53,960 --> 00:47:58,840 Speaker 3: time where we were we were we were really close, 761 00:47:59,040 --> 00:48:02,160 Speaker 3: you know, we were close to one another, and I 762 00:48:02,239 --> 00:48:06,319 Speaker 3: went to to went to tennis matches, was a part 763 00:48:06,360 --> 00:48:10,400 Speaker 3: of the like the tennis community and stuff like that, 764 00:48:10,560 --> 00:48:14,760 Speaker 3: and you know, seeing a lot of stuff, man, seeing 765 00:48:14,760 --> 00:48:20,000 Speaker 3: a lot of stuff. So that's the Serena story. Super 766 00:48:20,040 --> 00:48:24,319 Speaker 3: proud of you, Serena, and super proud of what she's accomplished. 767 00:48:24,360 --> 00:48:29,040 Speaker 3: And yeah, like that was that was a long time ago, 768 00:48:29,160 --> 00:48:34,720 Speaker 3: but absolutely was something that was something at one point. 769 00:48:35,880 --> 00:48:37,719 Speaker 1: All right, Well, I think that's going to do it 770 00:48:37,760 --> 00:48:39,759 Speaker 1: for episode one of the Penn State Pulse. 771 00:48:40,680 --> 00:48:42,640 Speaker 2: Thank you guys so much for watching. Thank you LeVar 772 00:48:42,760 --> 00:48:43,399 Speaker 2: for hopping on. 773 00:48:43,640 --> 00:48:44,600 Speaker 3: Appreciate having me. 774 00:48:45,000 --> 00:48:46,920 Speaker 2: Sure you'll be on here again as we're working together. 775 00:48:47,760 --> 00:48:49,920 Speaker 3: I'm looking forward to seeing what you do, man, I 776 00:48:49,960 --> 00:48:52,960 Speaker 3: really am. I'm excited about what you bring to the table. 777 00:48:53,560 --> 00:48:55,799 Speaker 3: I think the stuff that you do as funny as hell. 778 00:48:56,600 --> 00:49:00,359 Speaker 3: I think you're you're pretty creative, and I'm really really 779 00:49:00,400 --> 00:49:04,200 Speaker 3: looking forward to seeing the content that you produce and 780 00:49:04,600 --> 00:49:07,440 Speaker 3: where it all goes. So appreciate you having me on 781 00:49:07,560 --> 00:49:12,360 Speaker 3: as the inaugural the first the first of the podcast 782 00:49:12,400 --> 00:49:17,120 Speaker 3: shows officially under disrupt U p s U. That you've 783 00:49:17,160 --> 00:49:19,320 Speaker 3: done so I appreciate you having me. Yeah. 784 00:49:19,360 --> 00:49:22,040 Speaker 1: Definitely a lot of fun and unique content on the way, 785 00:49:22,160 --> 00:49:23,319 Speaker 1: but for now signing off. 786 00:49:23,560 --> 00:49:24,920 Speaker 2: Thanks again for watching. Thanks