1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to another edition of School Stories. Tonight's guest had 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: a thirteen year NFL career, including an eight year run 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: with your Minnesota Vikings. Please enjoy tonight's conversation with legendary 4 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: safety one of my favorites, Robert Griffith. 5 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 2: Well, hey, Robert, welcome back to the show. It's great 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 2: to hear from you again, and once more, do you 7 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 2: get the fans kind of an update? And I know 8 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 2: there's always a lot going on in Robert Griffith's life 9 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,279 Speaker 2: and how you're doing these days. And I know we've 10 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: been traveling a lot and working on a lot of 11 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 2: different projects. 12 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 3: Yes, indeed, it's Look, it's good to be on with 13 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 3: you guys. Always a pleasure. But yeah, you know, I've 14 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 3: I've gotten my hands on a few things, you know, Pete, 15 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 3: you know the saying that we have everybody knows, so 16 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 3: the more. 17 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: You can do, right, Yeah, exactly. 18 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 3: So I'm in that same mindset. Just I won't call 19 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,319 Speaker 3: myself semi retired, but just really changing the way I'm 20 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 3: looking at how I want to spend the next half 21 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 3: of my life. I guess, for lack of better words, 22 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 3: and I got into fashion. Lack of better words, I 23 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,839 Speaker 3: designed the backpack with a partner mine. We started ten 24 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 3: years ago, believe it or not, and we did it 25 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 3: by way of believing that we were going to be 26 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 3: this household brand, just by way of our relationships, and 27 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 3: we realized that, no, it doesn't work like that. It 28 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 3: takes a lot of money and a lot of effort 29 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 3: to become a household brand. So we decided that just 30 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 3: by walking around that people really enjoyed our backpack and 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 3: the way it looked, and I got an NFL license 32 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 3: and it garnered a lot of admiration by my friends 33 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 3: and family, and so I decided this was something I 34 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 3: wanted to do, and so I've retooled everything. I made 35 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 3: it even more lux I've been in China a couple 36 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 3: of times just making sure all the manufacturing and stuff's 37 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 3: handled been handled. And this is more of we're in 38 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 3: the veins of an exclusive limited edition product. We're starting 39 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 3: with two hundred and fifty units per team, So our 40 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 3: first run is eight thousand units. Man, that's it. And 41 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 3: you know, luxuried up all the way to the gills. 42 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 3: Johnny Randall is getting one. You know, all my neighbors, 43 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 3: you know, I guess my favorite heroes of the sports 44 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 3: era in the NFL, Ronnie Glaive and Marcus Allen, all 45 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 3: these guys will have them because I admire what they 46 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 3: gave back to me. But more importantly, this is more 47 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 3: of a jewelry piece of the NFL. Right, do you 48 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 3: want to on a piece of legacy and legends that 49 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 3: are wearing the same units as as you as a 50 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 3: fan and a collector. 51 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: So so when you were in China, did you get 52 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: many pointers on how to make stuff? 53 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 3: Yeah? Yeah, what you realize is that, you know, some 54 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 3: of the things that we really covert are just really comtemplates, right, 55 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 3: and you know, you get My eyes were opened up 56 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 3: on what I really can do. And so I decided 57 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 3: to take this route. And I'm hoping everybody enjoys it, right, 58 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 3: enjoys when I'm putting out, but I believe they will. 59 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: It comes from an artisan kind of approach, but also 60 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 3: really acknowledging not our legends, but like the the the 61 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 3: men that shaped each team in their sport, and how 62 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 3: the fans will appreciate that value. 63 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: Hey, Griff, what did you learn playing this game that's 64 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: allowed you to do this? Just because a lot of guys, 65 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: you know, once they're done. The transition into something that 66 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: they have passed for is tough because there's just you know, 67 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: you can't throw yourself into things like you do with football. 68 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: But what what what did you learn playing a game 69 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: that you've applied to life now that you've that's been successful, 70 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: or that you would share. 71 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 3: I think that's a great question. So I'm an underdog 72 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 3: and I don't know, you know, everybody knows my story, 73 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 3: but I pulled a lot from how I was raised, 74 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 3: but more importantly on how I've been forged in that 75 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 3: fire of stepping out there without the next step in 76 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 3: front of you. Right. So I walked on in college 77 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 3: without a scholarship, got a scholarship my fourth semester. You know, 78 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 3: I didn't get drafted. I had to go to Canada 79 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 3: and then I finally made a team and I played 80 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 3: thirteen years. And it was just because I would take 81 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 3: that step that I could not see it's all on 82 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 3: belief and Zekes my company Zukes xox is in that 83 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 3: same thread. I just had some interest because of you know, 84 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 3: my partnership with my friend that had this manufacturing background, 85 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 3: and I just took a step that said, you know 86 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 3: what I think I can do this, but I'm not sure, 87 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 3: but I'm going to put it out there because I 88 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 3: believe in my work, ethic and learning, et cetera, et cetera. 89 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 3: And that comes to the mindset of the more you 90 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 3: can do. Right. So, as a player on the Vikings, 91 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:24,799 Speaker 3: I didn't know how I was going to make the team, 92 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 3: but I knew that on special teams that I was 93 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 3: going to be let loose. And if I can make 94 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 3: a couple of plays there, then I can get another 95 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 3: you know, another day, another you know, another week to 96 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 3: show more stuff that I can do. And this is 97 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 3: the same way this is. I made five hundred backpacks. 98 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 3: I put them on my friends and families. They were like, 99 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 3: oh man, this is actually nice. And so I took 100 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 3: the step that nobody else would take. Is you know what, 101 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 3: I can put a logo on this. I can actually 102 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 3: sell this to the fans and make it very attractive 103 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 3: for people. I can win, right, I can win at 104 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 3: this part of the game, And so I do life 105 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 3: in the game. Right. I respect it. I respect the 106 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 3: hard work it took to get in the NFL and 107 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 3: all that, and so quietly, behind the scenes, I put 108 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 3: in the hard work. Right. I went to China. I 109 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 3: understand how things are made, you know, I know how 110 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 3: products are marketed, et cetera. I went back and got 111 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 3: my NBA at twenty twenty three just to make sure 112 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 3: I was talking the same language and being able to expand, 113 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 3: et cetera. So I've done all the work. So now 114 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 3: it's like it's time for me to make a play. 115 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 3: It's time for me to perform. And that's what this 116 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 3: launch is really for me is it's just a launch. 117 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 3: And when I say just to launch, it's a launch 118 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 3: mean that I'm here to be great. I'm here to 119 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 3: make the Pro Bowl. I'm here to be an All 120 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 3: Pro player. I believe I can do that with this business, 121 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 3: given the pattern and the work ethics that I'm willing 122 00:06:59,960 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 3: to put behind it. 123 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 2: Well, Griffin, you were here like every other player. You're 124 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 2: so immersed in the day to day minutia of being 125 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 2: an NFL player, meetings, film, study, you know, games, everything, 126 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: you know, staying healthy. When did the light go off? 127 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: Kind of that you said to, well, look at I 128 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 2: have to start kickstarting my next phase of my life. 129 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 2: Was it after your career was done or were you 130 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 2: in the midst of playing here and going I got 131 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: to I'm going to try to figure out what I'm 132 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 2: going to do next? Was that always on your mind? 133 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 2: Cause a lot of players don't know about that and 134 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: don't have that in their mindset until sometimes it's too late. 135 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 3: True, And I'll be honest, man, it is whack a 136 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 3: mole right for you to find out what's the next thing. 137 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 3: You're going to be passionate about what's going to get 138 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 3: you out of bed, and a lot of guys can't 139 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 3: find it right. And for me, I had put so 140 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 3: much effort and time into preparing and being ready for 141 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 3: a game and football in general for twenty eight thirty 142 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 3: years straight. I just I got burned out. I didn't 143 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 3: want to do TV. I'm not even sure if I 144 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 3: was great at TV, but I didn't want to do TV. Uh. 145 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 3: I just felt like I was studying players and learning 146 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 3: all this stuff to not perform right. I didn't fill 147 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 3: TV with a performance like, Uh, it didn't. It didn't 148 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 3: ground me and send me into that I want to 149 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 3: get up and do it every morning. But uh, to 150 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 3: say that is that you I did. I tried a 151 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 3: bunch of stuff my first couple of years out. I 152 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 3: didn't know what I wanted to do. Oh, you know, 153 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 3: I have some business interests I had, you know, a 154 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 3: restaurant I had not you know, some of these other 155 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 3: things that just were not going to feed me. So 156 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 3: it was more of how do I want my you know, 157 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 3: my daily life to be. You know, am I'm married? 158 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 3: You know, all those little things that you look for 159 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 3: in happiness really come from shedding out what you don't 160 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 3: want to do and uh and you know what you 161 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 3: want your life to be. And I think guys have that. 162 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 3: I'm no different guys. It's a tough process to figure 163 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 3: out that next thing that is positive that and or 164 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 3: can make you money and or give you that that feeling, 165 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 3: that that drive. Right, And so I can't I can 166 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 3: honestly say this is just something that's kind of found 167 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 3: me and just in doing business with and meeting friends. 168 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 3: I don't really have a real answer other than it 169 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 3: is a trial and error error. But it also is 170 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 3: more figuring out how many different things you can can do, 171 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 3: possibly want to do, and just cutting cutting out the 172 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 3: things and cutting out the fat. Right. So when I 173 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 3: was when I was getting ready for the season or 174 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 3: during the season, everything else took a back seat, Like 175 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 3: even my Mom wouldn't call me after ten o'clock. You know, 176 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,839 Speaker 3: I was asleep. You know, there was there was this 177 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 3: certain thing that I put around football. Well, I believe 178 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 3: if guys can do that for their next endeavor, they'll 179 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:10,359 Speaker 3: win because they have to drive. They know when they're slacking. 180 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 3: That's the other thing about as a player. You know 181 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 3: when you're given your off you have that self innate 182 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 3: awareness that comes from being an NFL player, which is 183 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 3: goes back to all the sayings that we have Pete. 184 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 3: The eye and this guy don't lie right. The eye 185 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 3: and this guy don't lie right. The means the film 186 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 3: is on all the time, which means that you're slacking 187 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 3: a practice in a game, if you're lacking, you know, 188 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 3: if you're not running towards the tackle, it's on film. 189 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 3: And so I believe if the same men can do 190 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 3: that with any other endeavor that they have interest in, 191 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 3: they're going to win. And so that's I just try 192 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 3: to take all those when you ask Pete that question, 193 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 3: I just try to take the dedication part of it, 194 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 3: the commitment part of what you have to do to 195 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 3: play NFL football, and apply it to business or anything else. 196 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: Gri if you used to use the word there happiness 197 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: right and in this in this day and age, it's 198 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: I mean, it's something everybody's looking for, but it seems 199 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 1: harder and harder to find. What is it to you? 200 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 1: How do you find it? How would you define it? 201 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: Because I know so many people are looking for it 202 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: and looking for it, maybe in the wrong places or 203 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: assuming it's one thing and it's something else. I mean, 204 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: I have I have some guesses as to as to 205 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 1: how you would define it. But what is it about 206 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 1: life right now where you could say that you're happy 207 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: right because everyone's gonna look at you and say, well, 208 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: you played in the NFL for you know, twelve years, 209 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: thirteen years and you know you were an underdog story 210 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 1: and but that doesn't I just don't get the feeling 211 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: that sustains you right now. 212 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 3: No, that that's that's in the past. You know, it's 213 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 3: you know, like I had to say, it's it's a 214 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 3: plaque on the wall, it's a feather in your cap, 215 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 3: you know, it's a quiber in your vest. Right, it's 216 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 3: just something you've done that you have. I'll say, excellent that. 217 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 3: But I can't go out there and get out there 218 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 3: and put on cleats on third down and make a 219 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 3: play right now, right, So it's in the past, but 220 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 3: it also forges your future because you know that you 221 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 3: have done it, but you also know what you're made 222 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 3: out of. And I think that's the main thing. It's like, 223 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 3: I don't think I know that guys don't test themselves 224 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,959 Speaker 3: once they get out like they should and they did 225 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 3: when they were a player on something else, and this 226 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 3: is just a test. Like, look, I don't know. I 227 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 3: might sell all eight thousand tomorrow, you know when I 228 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,680 Speaker 3: jump out there, but I might just sell a few, right. 229 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 3: So that happiness to me is taking on another task 230 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,959 Speaker 3: and seeing it through, regardless of what happens. Right, It's 231 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 3: stepping out there and proving that I can conquer something else. Uh, 232 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:10,679 Speaker 3: you know, you're you're going to hike, right, you get 233 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 3: to the summit and you look down, you go, you 234 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 3: know what. It was a little tough, but I got there, right. 235 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 3: It's that's to me is the part of that's that 236 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:25,079 Speaker 3: happiness that I have to be working towards something. I know. 237 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 2: The word relationships come up a lot, and I think 238 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 2: with successful people and how important is building those relationships 239 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 2: been both personally and professionally as you look back, not 240 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,839 Speaker 2: only where you are now, but even going back to 241 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 2: you know, getting the impact that coach, late, the late 242 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 2: coach Denny Green made on you in your life. 243 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 3: And your future. 244 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know you hear his I know you hear 245 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: his voice in your head a lot. 246 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 3: Oh man, Right, you know it's funny. Uh he's like 247 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 3: the guy that pops up on my shoulder more than anybody. 248 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 3: And you know, my dad's on one, he's on the other, 249 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 3: maybe my moms in the middle there a little bit. 250 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 3: But uh, you know then was just so call it poetic, 251 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 3: but just down to earth poetic, right, you know. Uh, 252 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 3: you know that here's the math. You know, all those 253 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 3: kind of different things kind of pop up, and one 254 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 3: of the ones that stands out the most of me 255 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 3: is and you notice, Pete, we're on the road. The 256 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 3: bed might be hard, the food might be cold, the 257 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 3: shower might be you know, like, everything might go wrong, 258 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 3: but we got to go out here and beat these guys. 259 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 3: Don't expect anything to be right, right, And so with 260 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 3: that mindset, I celebrate all the small victories you know 261 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 3: that that I get, you know, when and I got 262 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 3: my approval for my life and so I was like, oh, 263 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 3: I kind of like it's okay, now I can do this, 264 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 3: and uh, you know my bags are in production, right, 265 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 3: you know, we're four weeks away now, all these little 266 00:14:55,640 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 3: things because believe it or not, I'm expecting something and 267 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 3: to go along and something I have to deal with 268 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 3: in the process, right, And nothing runs smooth that is 269 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 3: done of significance. And so that's the way I look 270 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 3: at it, Like, if I'm going to do this, I'm 271 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 3: jumping into this backpack, you know, this carry blugget whatever 272 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 3: you want to call it. Business. There's gonna be some 273 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 3: bombs here or some some issues i'mnna have to handle 274 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 3: and put out. So in saying that, I would say 275 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 3: that Danny is in a lot of my thoughts, the 276 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 3: relationships that I have have, being able to forge, being 277 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 3: able to even accomplish something like this. And if I 278 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 3: can talk to the younger Griff, I would say the 279 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 3: same thing that all those guys say when they get out, 280 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 3: build more relationships, do more sign more autographs, be more 281 00:15:55,440 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 3: available because those relationship it's mean everything. And but you 282 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 3: get somewhere really fast that way. So it's the reason 283 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 3: why I can actually pull this off. I you know, 284 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 3: my manufacturer is made TJ Max, Carl Lagerfield. You know, 285 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 3: they're very established, They've been around thirty years or more. 286 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 3: And so I'm able to move in this fashion because 287 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 3: of this relationship that I made ten years ago, right, 288 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 3: And so it's it's also the same reason why you know, 289 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 3: guys like relationships that are built in the past, that 290 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 3: are developed, that are curated through time always will serve you. 291 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 3: It doesn't matter if it's your grandma and you're helping 292 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 3: up the steps, or if it's Ray Lewis and you know, 293 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 3: I got raised a deal ten years ago that made 294 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 3: him some money. Right, Well, maybe we raised some money. 295 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 3: We're friends, We've seen each other throughout the years, and 296 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 3: so now when I go, hey, Ray, here's my bag. 297 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 3: I need for you to take me in in boxing video. 298 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 3: It happened. Yeah, you know, but but but but who 299 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 3: can get to Ray Lewis like that just by a 300 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 3: phone call and sending him a unit house? Right? So 301 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 3: that's why I'm here for it all. It's like I 302 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 3: think I've done the right things over the years. I 303 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 3: believe that I've been you know, who knows a stand 304 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 3: up guy in respects to all these relationships and even 305 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 3: when they're not curated and they just have been left 306 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 3: in a good spot, you can always come back to 307 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 3: and go, hey man, this is what I'm doing. And 308 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 3: I hope you're well, you know it's it's there for me. 309 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 3: So that's what I'm that's the uh, that's the veins 310 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 3: of why I did this. And I'm jumping in this 311 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 3: with a in a big way. Guys, I'm not just dipping. 312 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 1: My tongue right Well, what what you don't ever do that? 313 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 3: Never? 314 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: Never halfway? 315 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 3: I got. 316 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:58,959 Speaker 1: Let me ask you this question, Grip, if you can 317 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,360 Speaker 1: go back in time, go back the Winter Park, eaton Prairie, Yes, 318 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: what I get? Who would you who would you want 319 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 1: to go see? Right you walk in the facility, would 320 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 1: you want to go? 321 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 3: Like? 322 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 1: Just what players do you miss the most? Is Chuck Barter? 323 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 1: Is it going to see Dennis Ryan? Is it hanging 324 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: out with Sally? I mean, what would what would you do? 325 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 3: Okay, Winter Parts. There's a couple of people that I 326 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 3: just did treated me so well that I love to 327 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 3: this day and that they I'm almost mad that they 328 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 3: don't get a Christmas gifts every year? Uh from me? 329 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 3: It's Chuck Barter right train and then yeah, Chuck Barter right, 330 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 3: our our former trainer. Obviously, Freddie rest in peace, but 331 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 3: Freddy was so good to me. Freddie Chuck Barter. And 332 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 3: then you got Dennis right, and notot uh Dennis Ryan 333 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 3: probably he's won a one b whoever right Dennis? And 334 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 3: then I keep forgetting it was his number two? What's 335 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 3: his name? 336 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: You're talking about? Aaron Newman or Sammy Castolina? Aaron Yah? 337 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 3: You got to put Dennis and Aaron right next to 338 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 3: his other. Okay, So Aaron Newman is the reason why 339 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 3: I felt so good playing on Thanksgiving against Dallas when 340 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 3: we put him and out the game, because when I 341 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 3: went in at halftime, it was raining that day. I 342 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 3: went in at halftime and he had a whole new 343 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 3: uniform ready for me to put on a brand new, 344 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 3: spanking dry uniform in a halftime. So when I went in, 345 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 3: I took off my web to put on a whole 346 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,880 Speaker 3: new uniform. Like I was soaking wet. So I took 347 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 3: off my uniform, dried off, put on new socks. We 348 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 3: got tate all of it. So when I went out 349 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 3: there third quarter, I felt like a game had just started. 350 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 3: I felt so good. I was like man so Aaron Newman, 351 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 3: Dennis run and Doug Barta Freddy and then obviously Denny. 352 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 3: But there's another person. Kelly Wilsky was a personal assistant 353 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 3: or an administrative assistant. 354 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, would studwell up and up in personnel, yes, but 355 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: she was. 356 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 3: She was a couple of places, if I'm not mistaken, 357 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,640 Speaker 3: But she handled our travel yep and all that other 358 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 3: kind of indy. You know, you go to Kelly if 359 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 3: you need something, she make it happen. So I would 360 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 3: say those five really speak out to making my life 361 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 3: really easy, comfortable and all the above at Winter Park. 362 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 2: Man, Griff, how do you think you would have handled 363 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 2: if you were playing today? The the you know, the 364 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 2: social media aspect of the game, the way that players 365 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,680 Speaker 2: connect with fans and pro and con I guess you 366 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,360 Speaker 2: look at it that way, media access, the money that's involved, 367 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 2: and I don't know, how do you think this helps 368 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 2: an hinders a young players development because of the access 369 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 2: that people have to their accounts and how they use 370 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 2: social media. 371 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 3: That's the only part of the game that I would 372 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 3: not like because I'm well, I'm a private guy, but 373 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 3: more importantly, I don't want the outside interference when I'm focused, right, Like, 374 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 3: I don't have to deal with somebody saying something about 375 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 3: me on social media that is going to affect how 376 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 3: everybody else is viewing what I'm doing or and or 377 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 3: the game that I'm going to put out. Right, it's 378 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 3: more of that to me should be sacred, and that's 379 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 3: what I don't like about the game. But I also 380 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 3: understand there's money going back and forth. There's you know, 381 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 3: it's a whole other window. It's night and day from 382 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 3: when we played, right, But I would probably be the 383 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 3: guys that posted once a week kind of thing maybe. 384 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 3: But during the season, man, I was so locked in. 385 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,959 Speaker 3: I just didn't want any distractions. I just didn't want 386 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 3: to handle anything during the season, right. It didn't matter 387 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 3: if it was something with the family or I was 388 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 3: just like, hey, my my sister could trainer, and my 389 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 3: mom was just like, look keep everything. You know, you 390 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:14,680 Speaker 3: guys handle everything during the season. In off season, you know, 391 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 3: I'll take on the more. But I like I like 392 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 3: the other side of it though. I like the fact 393 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 3: that you could you can market yourself. You can market 394 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 3: your you know, whatever you're involved in, whether it's you know, 395 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 3: the companies you know, product services, whatever you're involved in. 396 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 3: But uh so, I don't want to take that away. 397 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 3: We fought so hard to get in this spot. It's 398 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 3: just that now I think that there should be a 399 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 3: couple of little buckles buffers on. I'm going back to 400 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,919 Speaker 3: the nil a little bit more college more than anything else. 401 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:51,119 Speaker 3: I think there should just be a little bit of 402 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 3: a window uh on college. But the pros do what 403 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 3: you do, but the college. The only reason why I 404 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 3: say that is because I think that they should just 405 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 3: limit the amount of transfers per student per you know, 406 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 3: college experience. Right, So you can switch schools twice, maybe 407 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 3: three times, but the fourth time, come on, man, you 408 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 3: know what I'm saying, Like, like, I think it should 409 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 3: just be twice. Like you can switch schools twice. You 410 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:21,719 Speaker 3: go somewhere you don't like it there, Okay, you got 411 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 3: one more place to go land and love it and 412 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 3: enjoy it, and that's it. Yeah, because I'm tired of 413 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 3: seeing kids there in San Diego State, Texas And oh 414 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 3: yeah he graduated from Louisville, right, what Like this guy 415 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:41,400 Speaker 3: played at Louisville? Like what, like, you know what I mean? 416 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 3: I just wish that they could have to have that 417 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 3: commitment part of it a little bit more. So that's 418 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 3: the only Maybe I'm just an old guy and that's 419 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 3: my two cents, but I think there should be a 420 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 3: little bit more of a limit on how you should 421 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 3: switch to that point. 422 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 1: Sometimes sometimes when you don't have a choice is when 423 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: you have to make the decision on whether you're going 424 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: to quit or commit. Right, I mean, it wasn't an 425 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: option when we were I mean, I know when I 426 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 1: play it. I mean, as miserable as I was at 427 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: times in my college career, there's quinton wasn't It wasn't 428 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: an option. 429 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 3: You had to sit out a year, right, it was 430 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:24,719 Speaker 3: a penalty. 431 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so you don't. 432 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 3: You're not going to just go from USC to u 433 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 3: c l A next year, right, you know what I mean? 434 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 3: Like there was a penalty, man, So I think that 435 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 3: there should be something like that in there. That's just 436 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 3: me as an old guy looking back. 437 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: But no, that's why I want to hear. I want 438 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 1: to hear all the old guys stuff. 439 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 3: Like that. I do like the free I like the 440 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 3: free market, though. I do like it. Man, Like you 441 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 3: can't I mean, tell somebody where they can play and 442 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 3: all that. I like the fact that you can leave. 443 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: But she be man, it's a tough road to navigate 444 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: because you know, there's a lot of money being made 445 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,119 Speaker 1: and you'd love to see the players get it right, 446 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: the guys that are out there other than wherever else 447 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 1: it goes, I mean, who knows where it's going. But 448 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 1: at the same time, I mean eighteen nineteen years old, 449 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 1: I mean it's it's kind of like, you know, they're 450 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:28,159 Speaker 1: driving them cars and yeah, it's it's it's just a 451 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: different but it's like it's the cart in front of 452 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: the horse, like you got to earn that. 453 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 3: But here's the problem is the parents. I'm seeing the 454 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 3: parents be the main problem is the reason why these 455 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 3: kids are going switching so much. Oh they're going to 456 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 3: offer you more money. Oh, they're going to offer you 457 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 3: money here. Oh you can go. You got to go 458 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:49,680 Speaker 3: there to get the money. And so I get it, 459 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 3: don't get me wrong. Look, you got an eighteen year 460 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 3: old kid that's making a million bucks, like he said, 461 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 3: he's set right, Like he get a million bucks at 462 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:02,680 Speaker 3: eighteen years old, you're set or even more right that. 463 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 3: I get it. But the parents are saying, okay, go 464 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,880 Speaker 3: get the million. Okay, that's really not the right place 465 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 3: for you. But just go get the money and then 466 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 3: I want you to transferred the next year to go 467 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 3: where you really want to go, where you actually make 468 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 3: the NFL or whatever. It's just I get it. It's 469 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:24,879 Speaker 3: just I don't A lot of the parents are seeing 470 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 3: it as it's their job to navigate. So there's a 471 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 3: lot of that. Man, there's a lot of for lack 472 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 3: of a better word, exploitation of said player right their 473 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 3: own kids. And that's what I don't like of it. 474 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, we could go on and on about that subject 475 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 2: with parents now, even at a young age, you're twelve, 476 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:48,719 Speaker 2: thirteen years old, and their eyes they see dollar signs 477 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 2: already for their son or daughter and the idea that 478 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 2: you know, five six years from now, we're going to 479 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 2: be millionaires because my kid. The pressure that my kid 480 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 2: is under to getting out of the scholarship to get 481 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:04,399 Speaker 2: this nil money is off the charts right now. Man, 482 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:06,240 Speaker 2: it's the scariest a scary. 483 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 1: Slope as in college and playing football at the same 484 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 1: time and hard enough, right you have all that going 485 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 1: on in the background, Oh my. 486 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:15,120 Speaker 3: God, I mean, and that's the thing. It's like, first 487 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 3: of all, you know, Look, we got degrees. We had 488 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 3: to study all the time. You know, you're studying your playbook, 489 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,679 Speaker 3: but then you know you're believe it or not. I mean, 490 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 3: obviously your school was coming second on some of these 491 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 3: big weeks, these big games, Penn State versus. Come on, man, 492 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 3: some of these big you weren't studying. You were studying 493 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 3: that playbook. I can't get beat this week, right, So 494 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 3: so we know that. So now you match that with 495 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 3: the money, and it's how do you study? You know, 496 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 3: how do you take this degree that's going to make 497 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 3: you one hundred thousand dollars a year? Seriously, right, I'm 498 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 3: making two fifty plan ball and I'm not even going 499 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 3: to school, right, I'm just going to practice. How does 500 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 3: that work? I just think it does not work. And 501 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 3: we just need to get rid of the amateur status 502 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:15,719 Speaker 3: as it is. We just got younger. We just got 503 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 3: younger professional players that are getting paid. They want to 504 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 3: go to school, then cool. If they don't, then that's 505 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 3: what it is. But you can't keep sugarcoating this. 506 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:29,880 Speaker 2: Well, Griffin, sounds like the backpack industry is going well. 507 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 2: Can't wait to hear more and and see this come 508 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 2: to fruition no is the one more time? Is this 509 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:37,680 Speaker 2: going to be available to the public and how can 510 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 2: they find out about it? 511 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 3: So? Our our site is zeukes Bags x O O 512 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 3: x B A G dot com. We're at zoukes Bags 513 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 3: plural on Instagram and uh but yeah, man, I'm excited. 514 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 3: Thanks for giving me the time to talk about absolutely. 515 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 2: It's always great catching up with you, Griff, and great 516 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 2: memories of Viking fans have of you here at the 517 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 2: Metrodome and playing with some of those great teams and 518 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 2: class guy. Thanks for catching up with us and for 519 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 2: coming on the show and sharing your school stories with us, 520 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:11,960 Speaker 2: and take care and best of luck. 521 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 3: My friend awesome. 522 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 1: Likewise, thanks again to Robert. 523 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 2: For joining the show today, and thank you fans of 524 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 2: course for tuning into another edition of Skulls Stories. Be 525 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 2: sure to check out all of our content via the 526 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:30,440 Speaker 2: audio tab on Vikings dot com, our iHeartMedia feed, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, 527 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 2: and more. We'll see you all again next week.