speaker-0: you you
speaker-1: Hey, what's going on everybody? This is Deep Ball, Keenan Curran, Samuel Kim. We are joined by a very, very special guest, Mr. Patterson, Willie Patterson. How you doing, my man?
speaker-2: I'm doing great, man. Blessed.
speaker-0: Thank you.
speaker-1: Thank you for joining us, Willie. Really some good topics we're going to talk about today. And we're going to talk about many things in your football career. But I want to start off, know, Sam don't know because he's from Oklahoma. to Franklin, to Franklin Pierce, man, where you started as a quarterback. Talk about a little bit of like what being a Tacoma kid means to you.
speaker-0: So. We're going to take you all the way.
speaker-2: ⁓ it just means having grit. a little chip on your shoulder. All right, right? You have that Seattle ⁓ Big Brother vibe where it's like we're the town and they're the city. So you already have that match up there. So you kind of grow up knowing like, okay, we're a little undersized. We're also under looked. So that was kind of what made me growing up. And then also my stature when I grew up, I was never the big guy at any time in my life. know, you usually have some guys that were big in Little League and then they pan out by the time they get to college. I was little from the day I got know what I mean? So that kind of made me who I was just being that underdog and having that grit coming from the city.
speaker-1: Look, thank you. Thank you for showing that. I'm Acting like he man. I'm being that you play QB in high school, being that you play in high school and amassed over 8000 yards and 90 touchdowns on offense, 5k plus throwing and over 2k on the ground. Did you have aspirations of playing QB in college?
speaker-2: 100 % I I had PLU wanted me to play quarterback. But besides that, only had Central Washington wanted me to play receiver. And then Montana State had me as an athlete. They didn't really want me as a DB or receiver just yet. But yeah, I really that's one of my things I wish I could have done was maybe went Juco and probably just play quarterback and just have some fun with it, you know.
speaker-1: Would anybody look at you? You get any offers or anything?
speaker-0: Did you?
speaker-1: Was part of you like you looked at what Tommy did and you're like man like I've done that
speaker-2: My fourth year playing is Troy. Troy's my quarterback. Troy Anderson. like, yo, I can do this. I can do this. QB power. Not like him. I'm not saying I could have been what he did, but I'm just saying, literally, the three, four years of my whole college career, it's like I had a dual threat. And I'm like, man, I was out there dual threatened it up.
speaker-1: How was that? That was me right there.
speaker-2: I don't know if I would have, you know, I have no clue if I would have panned out to what they were, but man, I think if I would have gave myself a shot, I would have been able to play somewhere.
speaker-0: Absolutely, Take...
speaker-1: Yeah, and I was walking to I was like, yeah, you was getting out of there too. mean, those. It's like with a quarterback, they were like, man, he was a dual threat quarterback and I was doing the same things, if not more in high school. Yeah.
speaker-0: It's crazy.
speaker-2: this play Yeah. That's what hurt kind of cause I'm like, man, I'm over here just catching bubbles, just RPO in. And I'm like, man, watching this quarterback run, I'm like, man, I know I could do this, but it was something that I don't know. I think it was maybe a blessing in disguise because I was able to be, you know, used in a way different way that I had no idea I could be, you know, I didn't play receiver one lick until I got to Montana state. I didn't know how to block. didn't know how to really, I thought I had hands, but I really did not have.
speaker-1: Bye.
speaker-2: hands for real, you know, so I had to really change and kind of grow in that receiver realm, which kind of, you know, helped everything.
speaker-1: I never asked you this, Keenan, but did you ever like, did you want to play quarterback in college ever? Nah, I couldn't go to ball. Every before every pass play we used to call something that like there was a flat. The first pass I threw was going to be in the dirt.
speaker-0: because they knew. They just move, they're like, tell the fly, it's gonna hit the ground, it's gonna hit the ground, and then we'll be going. Anything intermediate.
speaker-1: No, sir. No, sir. So, so Willie, you talked about, you know, your first snaps at receiver were in college. What was that like? Like, what was those growing pains like when you first got to college? Like, how did you, what was those first couple years like?
speaker-2: Hey man, the hardest thing that I realized is like having to make guys miss that I don't see, right? Like I've never had to look at the ball and not see the defense. I've always been able to see all 11 where everybody at, where everybody going. Now I'm catching a curl. I got to know there's a linebacker right here. There's a safety coming down to take my hip off. Like I got to be able to, that was kind of the thing that I struggle with was like the Yak part of it. I was just possession catch, get down. That was kind of my thing. And then the blocking that was probably that, know, we ran the ball, baby. So I had to dig out some Sam backers, some ends, and I'm sitting here getting thrown. I'm getting pipped tossed. And I'm like, hold on. How do I block? But then that was one of the biggest things is he my coach told me it was 90 percent will 10 percent technique. And once I figured that out, I was like, OK, what if I just be like a bat out of hell and just put my forehead on his forehead?
speaker-1: You play in the Montana State. You play in Montana.
speaker-2: and just hope for the best. that honestly, that's all I really needed to do besides. Yeah.
speaker-1: Locking is just want to bro like it's just want to like it's just effort. really is. Coaches can coach it up and obviously there's technique with your hands and your feet and keep your feet moving but like bro you just gotta want to do it. You just gotta want to do it and that's the biggest thing.
speaker-2: I was thinking it's blocking and then yeah having to do something with the ball in my hands after I caught him, right? Playbook came easy, routes kind of came easy, but it was like okay, how can I now be that elite receiver rather than just like everybody else can come out here and catch, you know?
speaker-1: Absolutely. So then question after that, because he talks about like being able to see all 11. Do you feel like that's what made you dynamic in the return game? It's like, hey, I can catch the ball and see.
speaker-2: Yep, yep. When I got back there with a return, it felt like home in a sense of like, okay, I'm in control now. I can set it up. I can weave it and then hit it. Right? So like that helped in my return game. But besides that, it took me about maybe a maybe two, three years to really figure out how to maneuver through a defense after I get the ball in my hands for real.
speaker-1: I can see all 21 players. Yeah. Was there a moment that you feel like ⁓ at Montana State that you were like, Hey, I have some confidence in this now. Like I'm confident as a person, right? Especially I hope it's in high school, like playing receiver, was there a moment where you're like, okay, yeah, I could do this.
speaker-2: It was probably my freshman year. I know my sophomore year, my retro freshman year is where like I came into spring ball and I was balling out versus the ones I got to start as a retro freshman and I'm like, hold on. I might be kind of nice. And then my first five or six games, I'm getting like three, four catches, like 30, 40 yards. And I'm like, hold on, like little bubbles, little outs, little ends. I'm like, hold on now. Like I might get a little feel for this. And then yeah, unfortunately I got hurt, but it was like, man. Bro, being out there at receiver, didn't really realize like a four to five catch game is good. I'm used to touching the ball.
speaker-1: As a young kid for sure.
speaker-2: You know, like as a young dude, like three, four catches, I'm sitting there like, I wish I had more, but like, that's a good game. And it was hard for me to wrap my head around that. But once I kind of realized like, ⁓ that's my role, a couple of bubbles, maybe a dig, maybe out for a first down. And that's a good day because we're going to write the next 40 plays, you know, sorry, we're handing that thing off.
speaker-1: Yup.
speaker-0: Yeah.
speaker-1: So talk a little bit about that talk a little bit about that because I played I didn't play thank god I am playing a system like that in college But in high school I did we ran it 40 50 times a game And when we were gonna pass it it was gonna be play action and it was I was gonna get three to four catches a game What was that like how was that mindset shift of like, Even though i'm switching a receiver. I am not ever going to be the focal point of this offense What was that mentality? How's dealing with that?
speaker-2: It was selfless. Like I became real selfless with the game. I was figuring out how ways to like have that key block be the one. Like I wanted to show up on film running down the field trying to catch my running back or spring that 60 yard run. And like the cool thing was we were really detailed at receiver to where we could count the line of scrimmage and be like, oh, you guys are outnumbered. This QB counters me for 60 right now if I get this backer. And I'm looking like, uh-oh. Uh oh, and next thing you know, hike, and I'm just blocking, waiting to hear the crowd, and next thing you know, Tommy.
speaker-1: See, that's crazy. That's crazy for you to say that because even even even like I never thought about the game like that. Like I didn't start thinking about the game like that until I got out of the game, like counting the numbers in the box and knowing like where the like all of that, like for you as a receiver to see it like that. And it makes sense because of the offense you're playing in. But that is just that just shows how different offenses ask of different things of players, you know, like you need to know that to know that, hey, I am the spring block right here. Like I got to get this block on this counter. or this play ain't gonna be what it's supposed to be, man. That's crazy.
speaker-2: I've had a couple guys like when I come, ⁓ my bad, I come to like visits and stuff, I'd be like, yo, just so you know, if you're playing receiver here, like, just so you know, you ain't, like, I know you nice, but like, you're not gonna get what you want. Like if you really play receiver, don't like come here in a sense like.
speaker-1: Hey! This ain't bad.
speaker-2: It's a little different vibe here. You're going to have to kind of get it out the mud a little bit. Third down, go catch that play action deep ball, you know? So yeah, that's so. For about 30 yards, you good. Yeah.
speaker-1: But you're gonna win though, you're gonna win. Yeah, but there's something to that, right? Like in sand talk with many of the guests that we have from Montana, Montana state. We don't have a winning record against those guys. Right? You can say like, yeah, I put my mark on that. Right? And so, yeah, right. There's something to be said about like sacrificing a little bit, especially as a receiver for the greater good of the team, for the greater good of just like, yo, I had a great experience because I won. I'm a winner. Absolutely.
speaker-0: Me. you do yeah
speaker-2: And then now look, you got taco, you got all these receivers now that you're thinking of receivers when you think about Montana State a little bit now, you know, it's like, think we kind of bridge that gap of like, yo, yeah, these receivers can kind of go, you got Lance and then me and a couple guys that were kind of producing where it's like, hold on. And then now it's cool for the tacos to get loose. And you know, we're on third downs, first and second down, we're passing that thing now. We're singing it around. Come on. Money on the line. What's that? They stole on the rock. What? What? What? Come on,
speaker-1: So I've talked to a few I've talked to a few former players, did you ever play with Connor Sullivan? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I was in three forks with my job a couple of weeks ago. And he was just talking about the stress that he was going through during the game and about how like, you know, he thought that they were gonna, you know, fumble like not literally fumble the ball, but he just thought they were gonna fumble the game away. What were your emotions? Because you said you said you were in Nashville. ⁓
speaker-2: Yeah, silly. Yes. I prayed maybe 50 times during that thing. Because you know, man, you're sitting in the stands and you're watching this shit slip. You're like, hold on. can't do momentum's gone. We're over here, fall starting. You know, I'm sitting here like, yo, we're finna sell. We're finna sell. And I came here all the way. You know what mean? I'm sitting here like, I was a little salty that they won, but I'm also like, yeah, those are my bros. You know, but like, it's way, huh?
speaker-0: You better light it up.
speaker-2: Yeah, it was the funniest thing. I'm sitting there. praying. I'm with Lance and James Campbell. We're in the stands and I'm sitting there praying, praying. Everybody's standing. I'm praying and I have this dude next to me. Old dude. He taps me on the shoulder. ⁓ look, he's got a little crown, little bottle this big. He's like, here, take this. You good. And he gave me a little, he gave me a little shooter. I said, man, what's your name? He's like, ⁓ I played on the rodeo team. 1972 national champion ring. I'm like,
speaker-1: Show me some.
speaker-2: Thank you, brother. Boom, stand up. You know, and then we was back rolling, you know, it was like he me in that moment knowing, hey, you're good. I know you stress, but we got this. Believe. And that was my first time ever being in the stands for a football game, actually. So I'm sitting here like hearing the fans like, come on, throw it. Like, you know, they're like, I'm like, yo, relax. They got blitzed. know, like, man, I love being there. That was one of the best moments of my life, for real.
speaker-0: For sure. I can believe it,
speaker-1: On the flip side, you don't want to be the team that fumbles it because we talk about 2018 a lot. ⁓ Wild game when like we were up at half and then just fumbled it. So. On this call.
speaker-0: That's ⁓ I'm glad that at least one
speaker-1: feels the other side of not like, hey, we finished the deal, right? So. Junior was on last week and he was talking about how serious I was in 2021 when we won at home. And he came to me at halftime and we was up and all this and he's trying to have a party. I'm like, bro, you need to stay locked in. game is quarter football.
speaker-2: know how these games get. These games get crazy.
speaker-0: Sick.
speaker-2: I always tell people about Kenan's catch bro. That was a crazy ass bro. Your two catches you had them little sideline and then the one hander over buddy. I was like, oh my god. Oh my god. They going crazy and they could not stop yo ass up the seam. I'm like yo somebody get him. Oh man that was a crazy ass game and I was even playing and I felt like I played I was sweating.
speaker-1: That was fun. Until it wasn't. We can, no, the good thing, Willie, is we can laugh about it now. But at that time and in the next, like, two,
speaker-2: How long did it take for you to get to laugh about it?
speaker-1: ⁓ fan. So 2021 till I won till I won. It wasn't funny at all. wasn't funny at all. Like, yo, it hurt, bro. Because because, Willie, you got to understand, bro, like we literally watched it slowly. And it wasn't like you guys just ran over us in the second half. Like it was a competitive second half. Yeah, slowly watched it wrinkle away. And it hurts more. I know Keenan would agree with me here when you are you have you had you had a really good game.
speaker-0: It hurts.
speaker-1: Like you to play a really good game and it doesn't matter. It does not freaking matter when that score is 29, 25, whatever it was at the end. Like it doesn't matter anymore. Nobody cares. They're going to remember the fumble. And obviously people who watch really do remember the performances, but like, man, yo.
speaker-0: They're gonna remember the very things we said.
speaker-2: Yeah.
speaker-1: And that's what it's known for. like, it's great that you have some feeling of like, I had a good game, but I think it hurts because we felt like, the end of the game, you went to someone that was young and not proven. And we felt like, hey, we're having a good game. Like try. But all in all, think I started to get over it probably in 2023 when I went to the brawl and we won. Yeah, and it was like we just dominated. So that was the first time that I was like, okay, I'm over it. Like it is what it is. So shit, five years, that was crazy. ⁓
speaker-0: I'm embarrassed. Trying to stay on a little bit.
speaker-1: ⁓ We talked about why receivers such a detailed position. What part of your game did you work hardest to refine in college?
speaker-2: Yeah. Thanks I think my hands my hands in my route running for sure, but I think it was my hands. I think there were certain angles that I was uncomfortable with right like my left hand on top on a slant this way verse this way or my my shoulder on this side verse this side like I had different ⁓ like discrepancies to where I didn't feel comfortable and I would drop like I remember I dropped one in Western Illinois where was the left hand over the top. was a tough catch and I'm like yo this was on ESPN to that one hurt me. Like I heard the whole crowd go, you know, of them, that one hurts, bro. So like I had to get my hands completely like to the T to where that like my coach used to say, that's the easy part is the catch getting, the play, getting out the huddle, lining up right, knowing how to get open all that's hard. The catch though, that's something you do a million times. And I'm like, ⁓ shit, you know, and what like, I think that was detrimental to me because I never grew up playing receiver. So I didn't have that moment when I was little, maybe sixth grade and dropped that over the shoulder in the little league championship. My team, was, he won football. You need to be ready to catch the rock Willie. And I'm like, hold on, let me get on this jug machine. Right. I shout out to my older, you know, the older guys in my room, we, we stayed on that jug machine. We, we lived by it. I think that's what helped me.
speaker-0: you
speaker-1: It's like what coach peas used to say Keenan is like you got her on the date you took her home You got her on the date you took her out you did everything but then when you got to the doorstep you couldn't even get her get her into the house like
speaker-2: All this stuff before, that's my harm stuff, right?
speaker-1: Man, even getting the number, all of it. Go ahead, go ahead. No, you go ahead, Kenan. No, I was just going to ask that next question, but you got it. Yeah. Is there somebody or a few people that you point to as having a major impact on your development as an athlete in your time, both in high school and at Montana State? So like you can talk about somebody in high school who had a huge impact on you and then in college at Montana State who had a huge impact.
speaker-0: That is man.
speaker-2: ⁓ I think in high school, definitely FSP, ⁓ for sports performance, I think you guys talked about it already a little bit, but that was one of the biggest things that changed my career. ⁓ just being surrounded about guys that were either at that level and either higher in the NFL. And it was kind of, it kind of rose you to the occasion of like, ⁓ I'm kind of nice. Like I need to be working out like these dudes I need, like, you know, and that kind of helped me rise my game. But then I got to a very room. I don't know if you guys remember Mitch Herbert. and ⁓ Kevin Cassis those dudes are one the hardest working guys i've ever been around in my life so like when i got there it's like a thousand jugs a week like we're sitting there on the off season on the jug machine every day and i'm like no and that was one of the things that rose my because i'm like you know Kevin was a walk-on that was huge you know he was a walk-on turned
speaker-1: good best to have man.
speaker-2: all embarrassed, I think all conference receivers. it was like, was able to show me exactly how to work out and exactly how to fit in to this running program, but be ready on that third down, you know? So that was, think Kevin Cassis and Mitch Herbert were really huge. FSP was big. And then just, think that accountability system we had throughout Montana State of just like. Guys were working hard and you wanted to beat the guy next to you. And then the guy next to you wanted to beat him as well, right? So that was kind of, we were always trying to outdo one of another. If it was in the weight room, if it was in pull-ups, if it was in sprints after, we were trying to outwork everybody. So it kind of rose our level of play throughout the years I was there.
speaker-1: Absolutely. So I want to ask another question about that. You know, your time at Montana State, obviously, you know, you were there from the choke days to the vegan days. Talk a little bit about what was the differences between troating vegan and then also what was that transition like going from choke to vegan?
speaker-2: Okay, so first off, Chilt, play your coach through and through. He's gonna pull you aside and it don't even feel like a coach is talking to you, right? He's gonna ask you how your family is checking with you and it was more like you if you if you messed up you let him down like you let him down as a man, know with vegan It's like you let the team down like it was more just like he was just the guy up here watching everything and just making sure everything was smooth rather than pulling you aside and saying hey, how you doing Willie? It was more just You get your catches in today. Okay, bet. I'll see you at practice. You know, like it was more just like, what are you doing for me now? And how can you win foot business? And if you're not helping me win football games, why are we being cordial?
speaker-1: business.
speaker-2: Like, you know what I mean? In a sense, like, I don't really need to be buddy buddy with you if you're not the one producing for me out there. But was the complete opposite. He cared about you from your family to your cousins. He still texts me today. He like, I had a brother die in high school and he still texts me on that day like, hey, looking out man, praying for you, hope you're doing good. You know, like, that's the stuff that that's the difference between Choke. And then from the transition, think it was it was so smooth because vegan Already, I don't I think we're going to the Natty without vegan. Swear it did not matter We were going because what we felt that year would show and how he left us in a sense We were like, ⁓ bad like you want to leave? All right, watch this So like vegan just came in and rolled the coattails a little bit until now He's had his you know his class But I think we were really setting ourselves up already before vegan was there to do something special Because that culture was finally set in stone, you know what I mean?
speaker-1: Yeah. So go ahead, Keenan. I just feel like it's almost serendipitous, right? Like you have a coach that, especially after the Ash days, and like I'm a little bit aware of them, but like you have a coach that comes in and galvanizes a roster. And he's like, hey, these, we're going to fight for each other. We're brothers. I care about you guys. You guys care about me.
speaker-0: It was.
speaker-1: And then like elevates this team to this. then you have, leaves and a coach comes in who is coming from a program. That's like, it's all about the program, right? Like North Dakota state is who are letting the team down because we are a history of success. The perk choke to come in and like galvanize you guys as a unit. Vegan come in and say like, okay, I'm going to take this to the next level with like the program and the standard. like, now I can have these.
speaker-0: It's all perfect to give. And then.
speaker-1: standards of, you're letting the team down because now we are this. This is our new standard.
speaker-0: And it seemed to work.
speaker-2: Like we were super big on like you know accountability toughness and stuff like that but when vegan came in he's like yo middle eight you know he's like turnover ratio red zone percentage we're sitting there like yo if we're not hitting these numbers we're not gonna win so we were focused literally on winning how to win games simple a simple product of how to win football games rather than all this culture building all this y'all did that already now how can we now put this product on the field to win so it was like straight like black and white how to play football and win you know i mean
speaker-1: When you talked about when you talked about the transition of Cho leaving and how you guys as players kind of took that Was part of the reason that you guys felt the way you did was because of the way coach Cho was so like he did take the time to develop Relationships he did take the time to care about you He did take the time like all that mattered to him to him for you guys So when he left was it kind of just like man like you you're like a father figure to me Like how are you just gonna like do us like that?
speaker-2: 100 % I remember like for like the first couple months we were like horns down because we was going to Texas, you know, but then eventually we were like, you know what we thank you for what you did, you know, you definitely helped us as a team and as a culture because before Cho man, I heard it was some real bad stuff going on at Montana State. He gets there and literally cuts the whole team in half like yo, I need dudes that want to be here, you know, and then sets the standard brought a bunch of dudes in from the, you know, Pacific Northwest starts bringing some Texas dudes in And you start building that group, a little Florida kids. You're like, ⁓ okay. And that kind of thing. Once Choke kind of brought us, cause like we wouldn't want to let Choke down, but also our teammates in a sense, like, cause we were so tight. We focused on team building almost every other week. Like we knew each other from the back of our hands. like that what kind of helped us propel. So when vegan came in and we just needed somebody to guide the boat, was already going to be shipped somewhere, you know?
speaker-1: So you go ahead Kenan. So this is kind of more on like, probably is in the same vein of all of this, but we heard from Lance who just actually congrats to Lance, unretired today. Congratulations. That's huge. But how instrumental you were in his development as a receiver. You feel like being a leader was something that was just ingrained in you from your days as a quarterback or something that you maybe got from like, I'm not saying FSP. I would say probably being a quarterback more than FSP, but like.
speaker-0: .
speaker-1: Talk through that a little bit, like how you kind of lean into that role in your receiver room.
speaker-2: think that was one of the biggest things was me being a quarterback from third grade. I knew I had to be the commander of the offense. My dad was my coach. So he's telling me, you know, everything's on you. Bad throws on you, good throws on you. You know what mean? We lose, it's on you. We win, it's on you. So like, I kind of built that up throughout high school. And then also in my high school, I was kind of that guy. So I kind of needed to be that. leadership group but then I get to Montana State and I got you know a linebacker maybe be the captain of the team and you got these captains and older guys that are leaders but you don't just lose that leadership so I just started to lead in certain other areas maybe through extra conditioning or extra work after or maybe extra time in the ⁓ you know in the in the room going through plays stuff like that I think that's kind of where I showed my leadership until I had my own room right once Lance left it was like Oh wow, this is my room now. Like these are my guys. I'm the senior. I got to bring these guys up to this level of standard of play that I've been taught from Mitch, Kevin, you know what I mean? So it's like, oh, now I get to be that guy that can be like, Hey guys, let's go, you know. But now I'm like, Hey, come on y'all, let's get on this line. Let's do this stuff. Right? Yeah. Yeah. little bit more accountable. So yeah, I would definitely attribute to being a quarterback growing up.
speaker-1: was kinda quiet. So you talk, yeah, absolutely. You talked about the transition going from quarterback to receiver, going to college of like the physical transition of learning the position and the nuances. But what was that like? You just talked about it as a quarterback. You're meant you're used to being the leader. What was that like going to college? And then now you're listening to the quarterback. You're not the leader. You're not, you know, you're not the voice, you know,
speaker-2: That was hard. It was hard. also too, like I've been, like you said, I had 50 something touch, something touching as my senior year to go into where like, I don't need that production here for us to win games. And I'm sitting here like, yo, how do I not be the guy? And we win it. You know that stuff that was mentally hard for me to check out in a sense and be ready for those three to four plays out of 60 plays I needed to be ready. So mentally it was really tough for me to be like locked in running guys off run off run off run off here go. Like you know like I'm sitting here working releases all day finally for that third down and seven you know man I'm telling you that was
speaker-1: Mm. Run off every- Think about that piece of it man like I'm working on these releases. I'm only gonna use it motherfucking like three four times in a game
speaker-2: What I already knew coach and literally coach our coach beauty at the time was like guys I know you guys understand we're going to run the ball But when you're when our numbers called the red And I'm like damn the next you know, you feel it is third and five. They're running eight man in the box It's a cover zero willy win, you know
speaker-1: Be ready. ⁓ Willie that makes the drops way worse because it's like only throwing it to me three four times
speaker-2: Imagine like or just a bad rep, you know, he got you on that release and you're like, ⁓ you know, I could have had a better rep there, you
speaker-1: ⁓ my god, so much more mental toughness and like not to discredit our system in Montana when we were there, but it's like ⁓
speaker-0: Thanks for We knew he was getting 50 pounds.
speaker-2: At least seven to ten.
speaker-0: Like I vividly remember the first half
speaker-1: against Montana State in 2017, I probably had.
speaker-0: four drops, you know what saying? It's cool. I'll come back in a second half. So who goes?
speaker-1: to you man like literally hats off to you. But like that just mental adversity that you you were resilient through and just I don't know just being ready man like there there's some kudos to that because I don't think enough young players have that mentality of just being ready all the time. yeah. Question for you so you talk about adversity.
speaker-2: have to be made.
speaker-1: How did you handle adversity, whether it be injuries, depth chart battles or tough losses, although there were few during your time at Montana State?
speaker-2: Um, honestly, I leaned on my brothers out there, man. We were really close. Um, I broke both of my collarbones in college. So 2018, I snapped my right one playing against Weber, got back six weeks healthy, uh, six weeks. And then we're playing NDSU first round, Trey Lance, Trey Lance, Christian Watson. You guys know what happened, right? So the next year, the next year I'm going into 2018. What is that? 2018?
speaker-1: ⁓ my goodness. 19?
speaker-2: 2019 yeah, you're 19. ⁓ Yeah 2019 play Texas Tech got like four catches 60 yards. I'm like, ⁓ This is it week to play CMO. I'm catching a little we're run mesh. I'm the under ⁓ The quarterback throws it behind me So like I reach back and then next, know, I'm facing the dude that's trailing and I kind of get torqued like torqued bang That's my left one and I'm like no way
speaker-1: feeling good
speaker-0: You
speaker-2: And I was done. I was done. I swear to God, I was done. I was in the field house like I'm over this. I'm over this. And then my family was there and my dad was like, you're not done yet. You're not done yet. Your story's not over. You know? And we're coming from where everywhere I've every level I've been at, I've been kind of the guy. I've been good. I've been and I haven't done that yet. I had a little stint 2018 got hurt. A little stint 2019 got hurt. So I'm like ⁓ like I know I'm about to break out, but I don't know when or where like I was over it. And then some of the guys were like, yo, Willie, continue to work, bro. Like we love you. You know what I mean? Continue to work out. They were supporting me. They were trying to, you know, just get me back on the field as soon as I can. The staff was great. Everybody believed in my abilities. Maybe even if I didn't believe in them and that kind of helped me get back to where like, you know what, if I get stronger and faster because like after the first one, they said, get stronger and faster, you'll be good. I did that exact thing.
speaker-0: Thank
speaker-2: and broke the other one and I'm like what what do y'all tell what am I not doing you know what I mean so then like that kind of I reloaded the whole path the little program did it again and then now I was bulletproof I was like I can't break them again you know
speaker-1: The hardware in there, we good now.
speaker-2: Six screws in a play, both sides, brother. We are good. So that's the only thing holding me back. And, you know, you know, I feel like I receive a worse susceptible to those little injuries in the shoulders and stuff. So I kind of realized, hold on, I need a beef up up here a little bit. I need to get a little stronger up here. You know, be a little core, get a little more tighter when I and you fall, you know, brace that thing. So I kind of elevated my game even more, taking that time off. And then, yeah, that kind of helped me get through that adversity for sure.
speaker-1: Man shoulder injuries, man. Do you have a favorite memory from your time in Montana State game or moment that stands out? I may be a big play or a big game that you guys want anything.
speaker-2: I would say my highlight game probably NAU that one was fun had like seven for 150 three tubs or something like that three tubs okay I know it wasn't NAU it was northern Colorado so it was like ah you know it was like
speaker-1: Hey! want know who it is. Yeah, you're right. ⁓
speaker-2: Right, was probably one of my favorite games, like, as a like, actually me balling out, but one of my actual favorite games was Sam Houston Playoff 2021.
speaker-1: the national championship champ.
speaker-2: Crazy story about this game. We get there we get to the ⁓ airport. There's something wrong with our plane, right? So they delay us so we're there for like four hours next you know, they're like, okay, we're gonna have to find you guys out way later in the day. So we're like, okay, so they take us back to the school. Right? We get there we get back to the airport. They're saying okay, we got another delay. So we blew out a Bozeman at like, maybe 10.
speaker-1: ⁓ damn. Was it weather? Like 11 o'clock?
speaker-2: Look at Friday night. Huh?
speaker-1: Was it weather like snow and stuff?
speaker-2: No, it was something with the plane door or something. I swear, bro, like something crazy. And we were flying, you know, a Legion or some random little flight like that. Like, come on, MCs don't even go back. know? But so then we're sitting there, we got the bands out, we're working out in the the terminal trying to get it in. So we get to Sam Houston or Houston at like 1 a.m., 2 a.m. But we have a night game. So we're like, OK, cool.
speaker-1: We used to do like Sun Country or something.
speaker-2: We get out there, we go up there, we're defending national champions, right? They're number one in the country at this time. And we go up there 21-0 like that. I throw the little Philly special. I had a little slot fade early after a pick, like first possession, they throw a pick. I roll out there, it's slot fade. Man. Shit. You know, so.
speaker-1: I'm smiling. Good. Crazy.
speaker-2: Once I kind of that game and then we played an absolute team game and it was the one of the funnest games ever because offense defense special teams we all were hoping and was like, ⁓ yeah, and this was right after Matt left. This is right after Matt left. like we all
speaker-1: Okay, I forgot about
speaker-2: Yeah, our quarterback left and Tommy we're like, all right, freshman Tommy, let's go and he goes out there and goes nuts and we're like, ⁓ we're going all the way. We're going all the way.
speaker-1: gonna be special. That was 16 number 16 Tommy Malone. So wait a minute though don't gloss over that because I've never really gotten the background story on that. was that like did McKay have a conversation with y'all? What happened?
speaker-2: 16 Tommy No combo. No combo. He just left. combo. Yes, he just left. Him and the OC were kind of beefing because he thought he should have been doing this and he thought he could be making him better here and there, right? But like they had a little beef. don't know, really kind of, I really don't know the details. I wish I really did, but I just know he wasn't really happy and confident in his situation and that Montana loss. That Montana loss versus y'all.
speaker-1: man this is some badass shit man
speaker-2: hit our program so hard, because that was the first time in history we could have went five in a row. Yo, we are the Gristlayers at this point.
speaker-1: That was huge for us, bro. It detrimental for y'all. Huge for us. were all, yo.
speaker-2: one and then you know you're gonna have to answer to some people why we couldn't complete a damn pass you know we couldn't complete a pass out there they were blitz in the house couldn't block nobody we running wrong routes he's throwing the wrong ball here and there it's like yo what's going on and he was already kind of tapering down in his play because we got in the close game with Idaho that wait before like down to the wire and then I think we Eastern pretty tight as well so it's like yep yo yep come on you know
speaker-1: Absolutely, absolutely. You saw the signs. You saw the signs.
speaker-2: A little bit, but like when he left we were like,
speaker-1: What are we supposed to do? Here's a question. Do you guys get to the Natty if McKay stays?
speaker-2: I has to be
speaker-1: Tommy's special bro, I we know what Tommy's career is look like now.
speaker-2: Honestly, no, because no one had film on Tommy. So they didn't really know what to do. No one knew. It was like, do you want to put a spy? Do you want to, you know, stay in coverage? Right. And then Lance was already at a thousand before the get season was even up. So it was like, yo, how are we going to double team here? What are we going to do? And I was in the slot. It was like, we had some dudes, Isaiah Fonsi was hitting it. So we were like, yo.
speaker-1: He put us by, he gonna outrun him anyway.
speaker-2: We had a little squad with Tommy back there for sure. So I don't know, but I think we would have competed in the natty if he stayed.
speaker-1: Mmm, because
speaker-2: Tommy breaks his ankle. Matt McKay could have came in and saved the day. Save the day, you know, maybe maybe you bench him. Maybe coach you bench him. Put Tommy in and then next thing that Tommy get hurt you go boom Matt go save the day and he goes out and goes crazy and we win the Nattie verse and I don't know.
speaker-1: So so what did what did vegan and what did the OC say when mckay left like did they have a team meeting and hey guys like yeah
speaker-2: ⁓ We had an offensive meeting and we were talking about how Tommy's gonna now be the guy we're gonna cuz we had Tucker Rovick at the time But we were like, you know what? I think it's better for us to use Tommy because then we can have that dual threaded bike Okay, cool. And at the time I was kind of cool with it because they brought Tommy over to our receiver room and I'm like, yo
speaker-1: ability.
speaker-2: I'm like yo, let's get about 10. I'm getting three or four. So I don't know where Tommy gonna get these.
speaker-1: There's of to go around anyway.
speaker-0: You
speaker-1: You start doing the math like hey, there is not enough passes in this office to go around
speaker-2: ⁓ you want to him the jet sweep now? I'm the jet sweep. okay. Okay. You know what mean? So ⁓ I'm like, Tommy, let me know. I knew he had a deep on him too. So I'm like, let me go deep.
speaker-1: you
speaker-0: Yeah, that's dope, ⁓
speaker-1: So then kind of moving forward, ⁓ was playing professionally always a goal yours when you got to Montana State? And what did the process look like for you when college football was coming to an end?
speaker-2: I think, yeah, I think it became real kind of once my senior year started going well, right? Because I had two injuries, man. And I'm sitting here like, yo, come on, man. Like, I know I'm seeing dudes that I came out with in high school that are league. know, Weddington, Savon, I'm sitting here watching dudes like, yo, these are guys in my class, and they're signing contracts. And I still got I got a whole year left. I'm like, hold on, Willie. Let me lock in. And I think that was kind of where I saw myself be able to, after literally after that Northern Colorado game, I had two agents hit me up like, yo, what's up? We're gonna go to the NFL. And I'm like, ⁓ yeah, yeah, I think I think you know, and that was that was Saying I wanted to go to NFL definitely out of high school, you know, everybody wants to dream for it. But reality hit when these injuries started stacking and I'm like, ⁓ I got two years to my name rather than some of these dudes I see that got a plethora of career.
speaker-1: And you start to think about the offense you're in. Am I gonna get the passes that I need to even have the resume to get there?
speaker-2: See, so I'm sitting here like, how can I do this and reality sticking in and I'm like, okay, I know. Ooh, so I knew I needed to have a really good pro day if I had a chance. But ⁓ it was like, I knew it was gonna be a slim undrafted maybe maybe CFL for sure. But I didn't want to play professional.
speaker-1: Did you ever think about transferring or anything? You know, in those times? ⁓ Because obviously the portal started when you got into college. that ever an opportunity?
speaker-2: man like we looked at like i'm going to say we looked at transverse border shit as like you're weird like we have literally the best facilities fans we thought like where are you going to go that you're going to get something better than this
speaker-1: Unless you're going P4, G6. ⁓
speaker-0: Who's?
speaker-1: I 8,000 Kids could use your mentality. A lot of kids could use your mentality.
speaker-2: Like I'm sitting here and getting it in bro. I think I'm gonna just build something for that'll last a lifetime, right? So that was my that was kind of my goal.
speaker-0: You know what? We are
speaker-1: some more of this you had to feel somewhat slighted by like the Idaho states and the Portland states like the northern because you're like bro y'all not good you get an offer like what's good hello yeah I guess at the time Eastern was pretty nice Eastern was pretty nice at the time
speaker-2: Eastern actually Eastern Bro, they, I was the best player in the state at that time, if not top five. And I'm like, yo, Eastern, no. And then at Central, D2 offered me a 50. And if y'all don't dad, my dad at Central is the all time leading rusher there. All time. From 1984, that shit ain't been broke. Wow years he's got like 4 000 yards in two years russian damn, know what mean? I'm crazy. So like i'm sitting here like my dad is in the hall of fame twice And y'all ain't gonna give me no money and i'm the i'm the kin folk of them like Yo, felt disrespected when central said 50 i'm like, ⁓ yeah i'm going to montana state because montana state only offered me a 50 when I got there
speaker-1: was toy. New lights. That's D1 though. D1. D1. in Central Washington. **** What's up, Look that at 4,002 years? Oh my goodness. He was getting Yeah, like that, Hold up. We're not going to gloss over this fact that Montana State's out here getting bargains, bro. What's going on? Yeah. What is going on a 75, Max 75 his whole career. You on a 50? Like, yo. Can't **** on. Like, yo. What is going on? Yeah.
speaker-2: Be right, right. ⁓ yeah. 100 % bro like it was so crazy when they broke down my deal. I'm like, hold on what I'm 50 % I gotta pay for books but not for this but I gotta pay for this but not for this but alright I'll come shoot ⁓ it sounds good you know they're the money down some crazy Choke was doing it like yeah
speaker-1: He was finding a way. was finding a way. So one thing I want to cut in here, I want to get into your pro career, but I do want to touch on you were during the NIL era, 21 and 22. Did you get anything? Did you make any? Yeah.
speaker-2: I had two different deals. had one with our bar and then I had this other one. I can't remember. Where was it at some like chiropractors or where I was able to get these chiropractor appointments this and that. Yeah. The biggest one was I was on the our bar commercial. So I was able to do I did it two years in a row in like the second year I was paid more money for it as well. So like that was one of the coolest things man. I was getting money for just being you know rocking the number 11 on the shirt. You know like come on. Yeah, I was kind of cool. Yeah, but it was like to see the money that I was getting and then hearing what these kids are getting now, I'm like, boy, what's with some of that bread?
speaker-1: ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ my go- I'm not a pocket counter, like, mean, these taco gotta be getting some bread, bro. Hey, good, bro.
speaker-2: ⁓ Hey, right. ⁓ yeah, he's really good. And it's funny. He came in and I'm like, he's ready. Yeah, ready right now. He's ready right now.
speaker-0: you
speaker-1: Out of a player of the year.
speaker-2: Yeah, he was ready right now. So that when he came in, he had hands, he had separation at the top of his routes. He knew the playbook. I'm like, okay. And he was quiet, humble, no, didn't say a word. It was just ready to just soak it up.
speaker-1: like that no more. I'm gonna just say that. ain't like that no more. He was humble. He was humble then. He ain't humble no more. Which all credit to him. He's the national champion. mean, that boy got that shit done. But he is not that no more. He's- So we gotta get the back story. Sam is an analyst and he can be critical. He can be critical in taco.
speaker-2: See you.
speaker-1: when he won the national championship said, yeah motherfucker and what? And what? What was that? What was that? What was that shit you said? Yeah. Say that now. So I can't, Hey, I can't say nothing to him, You got it. Big. You got it, big bro. You got it.
speaker-2: What was that shit you said? I Right? was a guy when he was a freshman. like that's kind of my little that's my dude. I took out in the wing. So seeing him do this right what he's doing. I'm like, that's what I wanted. ⁓ You see you go to MSU you see the receivers like that's what I really wanted to leave behind where it's like yo, it's cool to be a receiver at Montana State now like fun like that's it.
speaker-1: Mm-hmm. Yeah, man. Yeah, also too. think I think the offense is way more balanced now the system you played in with chote definitely and then even the early vegan days was like heavy heavy run with stir big I feel like they're a super balance a lot of drop back They're passing a lot of rpo like they're doing their offense is sick, man I feel like the system was a little different than what you guys have
speaker-2: Oh, 100 % bro. Like, but you got to think we had probably like the best running back to come through Montana State. Like Isaiah Fonte literally has the career rushing record. like you got to, to bro. like, honestly too, you got Tommy running for a thousand and then the year before that you have Troy running for a thousand. You Sean Chambers. It's like as
speaker-1: You gotta feed him. You gotta feed Sean, or Chambers 2, you guys had Chambers 2?
speaker-2: As a coach now that I see through high school football, QB run game is probably the hardest thing to guard in all.
speaker-1: Yeah, plus one run game in
speaker-2: ⁓ my God. So might as well run QB power and follow that running day. I'm with you know, I see why they did it now.
speaker-1: Yep. Put that defense man in conflict that reads out that zone read option. Hey, he's been better better be athletic or he's he's swimming
speaker-2: Yeah.
speaker-1: And I'll talk about this after. We'll actually know that we're on the top of you talk about high school football. I'd imagine maybe at some point we'll see you rocking Navy with the cross with the big B. I don't know. I've seen a change. I see a change down there into the Tacoma coaching community that you coached last year. The coach has moved on to Bellarmine. So yeah, I figured, hey.
speaker-2: Yes!
speaker-1: We'll talk about your pro career now. You began your professional career playing for the Rain Fire where you helped your team win the European League of Football, ⁓ the league title. What was the first season like playing football overseas and was it everything you imagined it would be?
speaker-2: Honestly, I had no clue what it was gonna be, right? I had no idea they even played football over there. So once I got over there, I'm like, ⁓ wow. Like I thought I had to try out and their first practice are like, Willie, you with the ones? I'm like, huh? They're like, yeah, you wanna find it up? I'm like, ⁓ okay, like, all right. Like, and the dudes in line with me, the little German dudes like, yeah, yeah, go, go. You know what mean? Like, yeah, you the guy. And I'm like, ⁓ shoot, like.
speaker-1: They looking at Americans like, they know what they do.
speaker-2: Exactly. But a detriment, his name is a Nathaniel Robita. I go out there, right? He's the talk of Europe, man. He's been over at Europe for maybe three, four years before me. And he told me that one of biggest advice he said, you got to be ready for 70 plays straight on the bike, ready to go. There's no time you can be off because there's only four Americans out here. You want offense and two on defense, right? So if I don't have one of those Americans, I am at a disadvantage. A lot of guys go over to Europe and think it's sweet, right? And they're like, ⁓ I can tap my helmet and come off after a fable. No, now you'll a your a quarterback does not have an American receiver out there. And now you your next European getting locked up by an American corner. So like, realized, ⁓ shoot, I gotta be guy all times at all plays. Like I gotta be open every time. Like there's no reason to not be. So like that was one of the biggest adjustments to me. I'm sitting here like I've been able to, you know, maybe have a guy back me up. That's good. not good enough to, there's no drop off I would say.
speaker-1: It's a precipitous drop off when you go out, ⁓
speaker-2: speed agility just went boom for the whole team right so it's like oh hold on i gotta be ready so like that was one of the coolest things i get over there and man like being able to be the guy again that was what i was looking for that was i was looking for you know i've been grinding it out blocking all this no will you getting 15 touches i'm like oh thank you
speaker-1: You heard my prayers.
speaker-2: Give me the rock. Let's go. Let's spin that thing, bro. So like, I loved it. My first and we had a freaking squad. Like I walked in. I got so that the day Robo tie. He got hurt week six. I come in week seven and I have seven games left. I had maybe 10 touchdowns bro in seven games. I'm going absolutely nuts. Have like 500 yards going crazy. 400 yards brush and almost a thousand all purpose in Seven games. I'm sitting here like ⁓ bro. I was getting jet sweeps everything. I was getting bubbles I was getting the handoffs it was lit So like it was over there, but like but my experience was blessed because I came into a team They were seven and up They were already set or six and ⁓ so I'm like, ⁓ yeah And then we just rode it all the way went undefeated and won the whole thing and I'm sitting here like whoa I just went from Montana State pro day Germany
speaker-1: Can you run the box?
speaker-2: And I'm like, yo, and now we're undefeated. I'm like my first game. I flew it on a Thursday, practiced on Friday, bus to Paris, bus to Paris. Ten hours on that thing. I'm sitting here. They're sitting here like, are we going to meet at the bus on Saturday? I'm like, okay, we're to go to airport. They're like, no. I'm like, I haven't bussed to a football game since high school.
speaker-1: How long is that truth? What y'all talking about? It's like what?
speaker-2: So I'm sitting here like, okay, whatever. And then we go there and next thing you know, I'm playing under the Eiffel Tower. I was just in Bozeman three months, two months ago, I was in Bozeman, Montana. Now I'm in Paris playing it. I'm like, yo, this is crazy. it matured me so much as like a man just going over to Europe and just being able to experience life, but also play football. Like, man, it was such a blessing being able to do this.
speaker-1: Yeah, man. Yeah, man. That's special, man. What was what was the what was what was it like trying to get used like, do you know any German? Like, no, do people speak a of English over there?
speaker-0: So.
speaker-2: Thank you and please I
speaker-1: They speak lot of English or is it all German over there?
speaker-2: with almost everyone in Europe, their schooling system, they have to know three languages by the time they're done with technically high school, right? So they learn their home language and then they learn English and then they learn, they get to pick in high school, whether it's French or Spanish or whatever they're at, right? So when I get over there, I'm speaking English and they're speaking it right back, right? So that was a really cool thing. But then the next year I go to Spain and it's They're like, nope. No English, we don't want...
speaker-1: You're learn our language.
speaker-2: Yep, so I had to learn some Spanish to get my Google Translate out and really get to it. So that was one of the big adjustments to going to Spain from Germany.
speaker-1: What was it like ⁓ culturally? Because I mean, everybody talks about Spain, Madrid a little bit. What was it like for you and your experience?
speaker-2: think coming from Germany is more just like a little buzz of the town like your head down focused on work like people are working and doing like not really smiling. I guess you could say Spain man everybody laid back chill. They called siesta where it's like literally from like 11 to 2 you go to sleep. businesses will close from about 12 to 2 and their workers will go home rest.
speaker-1: Fine.
speaker-2: come back around three o'clock reopen the coffee shop and have coffee for the rest of the day. Right in the schedule of the every day. So like and then Sunday and Europe in general like Sundays everything's closed. most likely all your grocery stores are closed. All your bakeries are closed. So like if you don't get your groceries by Saturday, you're not going to get them Sunday unless you go to like a little little corner store and get you a little something. So like that life out in Spain, there was no rush to do anything. There was no rush. No one ever buzzing around trying to get somewhere. It was just like relaxed chill vibes the entire time and the weather was just beautiful.
speaker-1: ⁓ I bet. So I used to be posting, used to be posting a pool and some sunshine. I used be like, boy, Willie's out there living his best life.
speaker-2: Out there touching touchdowns touching touchdowns man sitting by the pool. Ain't too bad, brother
speaker-1: So obviously, obviously, ⁓ soccer is the main sport in Europe. How is football received out there like from the fans and from the people like how was all that go?
speaker-2: So like, like you said, it's similar to soccer in a sense of like the fans are cheering the entire time, like offense or defense. do not care. They're cheering. So like, I need them to be quiet. They're banging the drums every time I'm like, yo chill, but they're having fun. They don't know. They have no clue. Right. But then I think the skills are where you'll see the correlation a little bit where you're able to see maybe a good soccer player turns into a good little slaughter DB. but people they don't have big people in europe it's just not a thing they literally fat shame over there so you're not going to get literally literally bro like you don't see that people walk around so like just imagine you're trying to get a left tackle that's not been big he's just been bigger than most he's exactly so i'm here like that's probably the hardest thing you'll see in europe is to develop lineman
speaker-1: Yeah, quick feet.
speaker-0: You Yeah.
speaker-1: He's a stick. He's a stick.
speaker-2: because and that's the freaking game that's our game it starts in the trenches right like they're trying to make it this flashy fun it's like no bro i need some big linemen up here so that's why you always see like the germans and the austrians usually kill the leagues because those are bigger body people and the french guys ⁓ you know the spanish ⁓ They're kind of skinny, they're fast, they're not really big people, you know? It's just a culture. So you always see like big linemen, even if you see like, like, they do like these international pathways where guys are able to come from Germany and play in the NFL. Most likely every time there's some type of D and linebacker or even O lineman. There's never a German receiver come over here and do something like,
speaker-1: and everybody out there.
speaker-2: You're just not better than Buddy from Florida. I'm sorry. Nothing you could do to be having them knees like they got.
speaker-1: Absolutely. Are the rules the same? the rules the same?
speaker-2: Yeah, NFL rules, right? But the only thing is, like, they're trying to make it European because NFL Europe back in the day, I don't know if you remember NFL Europe, right?
speaker-1: for my time. I hear about it all the time.
speaker-2: When you could switch over those teams and they were random back in the day and it was random teams like those were the NFL Europe teams like Frankfurt Galaxy, Ryan Firewood.
speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Coach Peece played in NFL Europe. Keenan? What? Coach Peece played in NFL Europe.
speaker-2: Right. So that was 98 % Americans and then one or two Germans. So now they flipped it and said, okay, we're going to make it 95 % Europeans and then the four Americans. But that has now kind of hurt it because you know, if you kind of miss on an American and this guy's nice, hey, yo, you're out of luck. You know, like you're not gonna you're not gonna succeed and then you have certain cultures to where like you're playing Switzerland. They're not having any big people at all. They have no idea what football is and they're trying to play against some big hunky Germans that had NFL Europe. They've had American football in their culture, at least from the 90s. Where now these teams like even for my team that I'm at Prague now, like it wasn't really big back then. So now it's like you're trying to influx this fan group and all these players to play football. But they're like, I don't really know how to play, but I watching it. Yeah. You know, I would say the physicality is probably the one thing that I could compare it to maybe be like, honestly, like high school ball, bro. Like it's it's. not to put no shame on it but it's a little glorified semi-pro just a little bit because i'm able to travel the world and do all that cool stuff but like it's german on willy ⁓ throw it up i don't care what he's doing i don't care right but american american okay let me tighten up let me give him like a relief yeah it's like other times you can kind of get away that's why sometimes usually i see my highlights it's like yo
speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah.
speaker-2: Why was he doing this at Montana State? It's like, yeah, these dudes was taking angles in college, tackling. They do not want to hit me.
speaker-1: These dudes are not Also, like, there's no development. There's no development. Like we're playing football from from elementary school, bro, like out there. Like me and my wife, we were on our honeymoon and there was this guy who plays soccer, professional soccer, but he's like in the fourth. It's like it's like triple A baseball bases like he's in the fourth league in soccer and they don't have high school sports out there. They don't have like that's not a thing. So it's like they're not developing all these years. They're getting into it. Like these guys are going to their day job and then going to play football. It's like it's like
speaker-2: They're paying to play. Yeah, it's crazy. Some of the dudes on my team pay to play. I'm like, got me. No, I was there. What? And you're showing up to every practice on time. They love it.
speaker-0: Power!
speaker-1: Thank
speaker-2: I don't even think I paid in pop water pops was the code But like like the development they don't start until I think 14 13 14 years old That's when they start flag. Yeah, okay Okay, but you know flag ain't gonna translate no, no, you gotta smack somebody in the thing is like the physicality bro, you'll see like ah He's kind of timid. He's got a little
speaker-1: You know Okay. Absolutely. Absolutely. I got him. I can get him.
speaker-2: I see them eyes get all wide and you trying to hit me and I'm used to I'm used to Tayo kind of coming off this hip. Yeah. And now you looking at me chopping your feet. I'm like, oh, you ain't trying to hit. You ain't trying to hit. You trying to grab. I'm going to do that.
speaker-1: With the heads out, like... Oh, man. I'm glad that you're having a good time and like, I don't know. It's just cool. I always think and I tell people that, you know, played in college and I've seen you have success doing it. I've seen I know Connor went out there for a little bit. I see me just won the championship. Malik Flowers is one championship.
speaker-2: I saw him leaked out there. Yeah, I did see him. He was playing with my boy Nate Stewart.
speaker-1: Yeah, there we go. Mitch Feddick's been out there for years. Riley Hennessy was out there playing and always tell people again, if nothing else, like just the experience to travel the world, right? And just to play something you've been doing like you could, you could work forever, but we need to play football. As you know, it's like your window is so short. So absolutely. And kudos to you for being able to do that. Cause that's just a unique experience. I think a lot of college football players don't think about. and they're not even open to it. And it's like, man, to see your experience has been, has been awesome.
speaker-2: Yeah, and I think too, like one of the big things is I had no clue if I would have knew like known coming out of college, like I could go play in Japan, like Japan's paying bread. Japan.
speaker-1: You're not for fun.
speaker-2: You know, even the Italian leagues are paying bread. The Mexican leagues paying real money, like real good money. You can get off over there. Like you're good. like I think if there was some type of way to be maybe I was thinking too, like maybe an avenue for me is like be a liaison for this league to where I can bridge the gap between. But I'm like, yo, anybody of these like I'm coming to these colleges, maybe Montana say, hey, if you guys.
speaker-1: Scout talent.
speaker-2: are aspiring to play next level and don't think the NFL is your way. Hey, I have these 10 different leagues. Go ahead and apply. me your film. I can get it through the book and then they pay me. I pay them. And then now we got a little business going right. So I'm seeing that I can now make my connections from what I just did over plan and maybe have something lifelonging over in Europe. know,
speaker-1: So for the league you're in right now, what does it look for you to get to like Japan or like a Mexico? Like what does that whole process look like?
speaker-2: It's honestly word of mouth, just trying to get somebody to know somebody, right? And like, what I tell people, I have guys in my DMs all the time like, hey bro, how do I get in your league? How do I get in your league? And it's honestly, find their Instagrams, find these coaches, find these players and do what they just did to me. Hit them up like hey, I got film. Here's here I am right or it's like, you know, like you said like you got Malik flowers out there. So like you want to play you hit Malik like yo Malik tell your dudes about me man. I'm nice right next. You know, you need it. But the thing is there's only four American spots. Yeah, so do the math for Americans bots on 12 different teams. There's only what what is the I can't what is that? And Americans out of 300
speaker-1: Yeah. Get it? Dang, that's kinda crazy,
speaker-2: athletes so that's a slim chance for you to get in there really you know so i get it
speaker-1: Yeah. That's kind of crazy. there a rule against a guy playing both ways?
speaker-2: Nope. Yeah. Okay. I definitely would want to. That was my next goal was like I played running back. I played quarterback. I played receiver. Now I want to play a little DB get a little pick or something. That'd be hard. Is it out there?
speaker-0: Travis, kind of self.
speaker-1: Is it like that only two Americans are you said there's only two Americans on each side of the ball, right?
speaker-2: Yeah, so that's the rule, right? And then there's six. So you have 10 imports on your team. Four of those imports can be American. The rest can be outsourced through different countries.
speaker-1: ⁓ anywhere in Europe, basically.
speaker-2: Yep. So we had a couple guys from the UK. We had a dude from like Brazil. We had a dude from Germany that came and played for us in the Czech Republic. Right. So you can now mix match your teams. And that's the funnest thing about the league is where some teams like, all right, for instance, I'm gonna ask you guys this. You got four spots. Where are you using them?
speaker-0: You
speaker-1: If I was a coach in Europe
speaker-2: You're coaching Europe, right? You got your two on offense. Where are you putting your two on offense?
speaker-1: Probably.
speaker-0: Dang.
speaker-1: I'm probably going a I'm probably going to a quarterback. I think I need a quarterback and a receiver.
speaker-2: Right? Have to. Have to. Now defense is where we can get a little tricky.
speaker-1: I need a pass rusher. need a pass rusher. Yep. Somebody gets your quarterback. No, you're right. I need a pass rusher and a nickel. Yeah. Because you got to get to the corner. You to be able to have someone like a Trent Mcduffy. Trent Mcduffy, But then you can place on, yeah, Trent Mcduffy, you know, I get it. But someone that you could place on their best player. But that's why I asked if you could play both ways because like you can be Trent Mcduffy on the other side.
speaker-2: Yeah, right. That would be cool. But then that's a lot of snaps. That's a lot of snaps for my body, right? now you're sitting here like, okay, will you? Yep, right. I play drive on defense and now you want me to go run these deep balls? Yeah, right. Right. But like, for instance, I think the double corner at American locks the whole thing down. Right.
speaker-1: Absolutely. Is it a lot of passing? it running or what? does that look like?
speaker-2: Yeah, the league the league is very pass heavy, right? And there's some good European German like the next best guy on each team is probably D3 maybe NAIA type five of a receiver not saying I'll know American D3 but like he can probably play over here maybe. It's not trash, but he's good. Right? We just got to do he just signed a mind on state out of my team. He's a little young.
speaker-1: So he's not gay.
speaker-2: 20 year old, but he's, he's nice. He's nice. He's going to be good if he kind of gets people, right? He's got some upside to him. So like he got a little offer from mine on state, right? But like, for instance, being able to play receiver out there is probably the easiest transition for all these soccer players, right? So the next best DB you have better be able to guard that guy or it's going to be bad. So like you say you got your password for cool, but this guy European over here is kind of nice. I receive him. You're locking up Willie cool, but this guy's nice. Who's going to go to him? I might as well put my American out there, but like we had a team that had a mic.
speaker-1: Wow, an American mic?
speaker-2: He was going out there calling out our plays. No run. He was seeing power and trap, right? And he's up. You know what I mean? He's calling out the defense. He's got that leadership and he was kind of a tough guard. You're going against now Mike in a corner, but then we played it like you said, Hamburg. They had a nasty D end and a safety. Now that's a whole different team. You kind of got a game plan.
speaker-1: ⁓ my god
speaker-0: Yeah.
speaker-2: Then you play against Frankfurt. had two corners. Now you got to play a Mavilla different. like each team, kind of got to see their matchup. It's like 2K a little bit. Like where's your archetypes at? Right?
speaker-1: Okay, you got two quarters? He's a stretch four. Exactly. What about the playbook and like the coaches? Are the coaching staffs all Europeans? Are they Americans? then what is like the plays? Okay.
speaker-2: Yep, American, 100%. Because it's like, it's our game at the end of the day. It's our game. So like, we're trying to go over there and spread the love of our game and to have a European try to tell me how to run a go route. Come on, bro.
speaker-1: Well. Is your coach asking you, is your coach like, you show us the drill. Like you do this. Yeah.
speaker-2: My last team I was the receiver coach for sure ⁓
speaker-1: ⁓ Bill Russell
speaker-2: Indy I'm seeing stuff on film. I yell coach. We need to put this in he's like, oh, yeah, I like that I'm like, all right, let's game plan that on 37 I like this slam on the right side verse man, like let me get that I'm gonna give you some rack after that, you know, we're trying to game plan and then just even like special teams We were huge at Montana State with special teams. So like yeah, I'm setting up some returns that I remember I'm setting up this raw return that I like they're like, oh, yeah
speaker-1: It probably makes you a better coach too, like when you come back and coach like.
speaker-2: I had a receiver room that didn't know English. I get them to get out their curl in three steps.
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-0: What the fuck?
speaker-1: I gotta first get him to understand the American language that I'm trying to use.
speaker-2: before I get Exactly. So like I come back here and I gotta coach a little sophomore American like I can now relate so much better to be able to articulate my words and
speaker-1: you to be more creative to try to show them how to show it. got to show them example. You got to get on the field and actually show it and draw it up and make it very elementary to where they can understand it. So now when it's actually back into English, man, that's amazing.
speaker-2: Right. So that's kind of like my little niche in a sense of being able to coach over here now. It's like I'm starting to see how effective I am. Yeah. Bringing guys to their level of play or receiver where I'm like, ooh, I had a kid from Spain that had no idea how to run a post. Now he hits a boop boop at the top. Now he's rocker and stepping and winning. Like, here we go. Now it's translating. So.
speaker-1: That's dope. That's dope, man. We would be remiss, right? While we're on the topic of coaching, we would be remiss if we didn't shout out at proroutes.wp. Willie's coaching and route technician Instagram, right? And hopefully some of the guys overseas see it. So that way, you know, they're prepared when you get over there to already know some of the coaching points that you got, right? You're like, Hey, I need y'all to catch on a little quicker. Right? Yeah.
speaker-2: And it's honestly two for it's for people out here as well. Like I think a lot of the route God stuff I've watched I know you guys have watched certain stuff We're like, you know, I'd be like, oh I can take that from that game or I could take that from here So like I wanted to get more I've seen guys more like I've had kids pay me to watch their Tape over the phone rather than come to a workout. It's a little different generation now, right? They're rather, you know, they rather say hey coach Can you save me the workout rather than pull up the field to get this work? So I'm like, okay
speaker-1: Post these.
speaker-2: videos on instagram let y'all see what you need to do and let me know if you to it's it's it's cool to see this instagram stuff but like it's kind of weird i don't know if you guys know like the stuff that we did was kind of you know like i didn't want nobody to know my bag like that's like i ain't trying to you the sauce but i'll give it to you but it's kind of hard for me because like i ain't doing it for the gram
speaker-1: Different generation, man. ⁓ Yeah
speaker-2: But now I kind of kind of do it for the gram because that's kind of my avenue now. like this stuff is real work. Absolutely. I'm doing it for the gram now. I get it. But you know.
speaker-1: I've been doing this for years, you know, but... It's growing the game, right? And that's the way I view it is like, ⁓ I was big on YouTube, I was big on Instagram, and it's like cool that you could pour into people. And I'm sure you have people hit you up like, ⁓ man, this drill really worked for me, and you'll see it in real time. So like, we're kind of in this influx age of like, didn't want to be doing it for the gram. So it's a little cringy, but at the same time, if it's providing a service and it's providing like value to others, why not? You know what saying? Like do it to the fullest extent because you're helping people develop their game.
speaker-2: Absolutely. It's like hard for me to hear my voice in these voiceovers. I'm like, this is corny, bro. Post it, really post.
speaker-1: Yeah, we probably feel the same way with the pod. It's like weird, but it's like, hey, we get the thing that probably keeps us going. It's like people in the comments saying like, man, we really enjoyed this episode, right? I love this shit, Keenan. I don't feel, I love doing it for the gram. I love being on the camera. I love talking. He wanted him. wanted him. Yeah, but you know, wanted to give you that shout out because it really is cool to see you. Success to not having as well.
speaker-2: Not yet. We used to be training, you know them drills man. We used to be training. know me and Kenan was beefing for a little bit Sam. You'll know that.
speaker-1: What? Tell me the story. So Sam, so Sam, this is what it was Sam. It was me being sensitive, bro. I own it. own it. No, no, accountability. As long as y'all willing to take accountability. I appreciate it. So 2019, is, you know, Sam knows because I came in with that class, like Kobe, Jesse, all those guys, Jerm, Justin, but Jerm wasn't there. And they you guys bad.
speaker-2: I own it, no, it's me, bruh, it's me.
speaker-1: You guys were having a beer, but they beat the shit out of you guys. And I was hurt. I thought you guys were going to win, bro. And I posted something and Willie's like, y'all didn't beat shit.
speaker-2: you
speaker-1: I snapped back because I was like, no, fuck that, fuck that. But I was hurt.
speaker-2: Yeah, he was like, man, you ain't even playing like, you know, you're right. I have been hurt. I ain't played a lick in these games like. On the chin is like, if he's thinking that and I grew like we literally trained together since I was 16. So I'm like, he isn't respecting me in a sense of my game on the field yet.
speaker-1: What? But I was, I was sorry.
speaker-2: And that hurt me to the sense like, ⁓ let me turn up. Like, I'm not turning up right. Like, yeah, he's saying that about me. So like, I took it internally. Like, I did. was like, you know what I'm like? I you know what? Like, after sitting back and thinking about it, that helped me because I'm like, you know what? I need to be able to I can't be saying FDG FDG if I made a catch in
speaker-1: Absolutely, man.
speaker-2: Get it, it's cool. Like, that's the doings that shit for the gram. Like, I'm over here posting this about FDG and I can't even stay healthy a season, let alone make some flades and even score a touchdown. And I'm like, hold on, let me get right, Keenan, you.
speaker-1: Let me reevaluate some things. Let me reevaluate some things. I own this only because like as a older person that trained together that shouldn't have been that reaction. And I hope like I hope you know it's always love and I'm pretty sure I'll double back and apologize because I was like yo I was out of pocket for that but uh. man. Young bull.
speaker-2: That's like that's the stuff that would like separates why FSP and like what we do is like we have that accountability factor we're like if you're not balling bro people like yo what you doing? What you doing, bro? Like get off the gram get to work get you'll get on the lap
speaker-1: Yeah ⁓ That was the biggest thing for me in college was I wanted to have something to stand on bro like I wanted to be able to stand on my own too and I wanted a resume that was respectful respectable right I 100 % resonate with what you're saying like guys being on the ground being on social media it's like like bro do something
speaker-2: make no plays. You know it's like you ain't making no plays on Saturday and you want to say you're- What are we talking about? You want to your receiver stance and you ain't get-
speaker-1: about Willie. That's the crazy one, the dudes that post the warm up. Cause you see it too, you like, bro, like what? That jersey is fresh as hell. And it was the fourth quarter fam. What are you talking about? I was on the gram too. Like I was big on the gram, but I also felt like, I earned this shit. like, uh, but to that, that one, like that will always haunt me that interaction that we had, because it just felt like I was so damn sensitive that like I got outside of myself and I allowed, I allowed the game. to overshadow the brotherhood of like FSP. And I was just like, damn, like, bro, why you snap it, bro? Like he's just excited that his team won. You know what I'm saying? And so I had to correct myself because I was like, yo, as a grown man, and maybe I was unhappy with my position in life. Man, I'll be honest with you. I was checking somebody into the Nordstrom feeding room as an employee at Nordstrom, a year removed from playing in the Brawler a while.
speaker-2: It's all my
speaker-1: He's right, they beat our ass. I'm sitting here checking somebody into the fitting room. And I'm like, damn, I'm not happy with that life right now, dog. ⁓
speaker-0: At least not.
speaker-1: Hey, on break to 15 minute break. No, it's all good. It's all sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I appreciate your us just reconnecting and being cool. Boy, I was I was a salty, sad motherfucker.
speaker-2: 12.
speaker-0: I'm a beautiful person.
speaker-2: This one, oh man. People don't know like we coming from somewhere. We're like we have no idea what this Rivalry is and the next you know, it's like it'll turn your best friends to your enemies real quick Example of what that game really
speaker-1: Absolutely. I remember taking a picture after the 2018 game or maybe 2017 game with you and Isaiah and my face is so salty bro. Yeah, my face is so so I'm just like. It would have been 2018 because he got there in 2018 right?
speaker-2: bro like No, he, ⁓ that was when you guys were at home. That was 2017.
speaker-1: Yeah, 2017 was in in Bozeman. 2017 was in Bozeman. You guys were at home. Yeah, 2019 was in Bozeman. 2018 was at home. 2018 is the Miracle Mozilla.
speaker-2: Yeah, 2018, no, I couldn't find you. I couldn't find you after the miracle.
speaker-1: You couldn't find anybody. You couldn't find anybody after that game, brother. I was out of find anybody after that game. I was up in the locker room. I was up in the locker room. Where y'all was gone?
speaker-2: remember he had a catch on the sideline right in front of me. I'm like, that's incomplete. He like, that was a catch. I said, yeah, it was.
speaker-0: Yeah, yeah.
speaker-1: I was in the locker room pissed after that game. said, that one looking up, looking over Keenan, looking over at that receiver bay or that running back bay like, yo, sick, Get showered and get the fuck out. Sick. ⁓
speaker-0: I'm sure about that.
speaker-2: Did you guys even talk as a team after that? Like, did you guys come up together and say, all right, y'all.
speaker-1: ⁓ I could not tell you one I couldn't tell you one word from house speech after that game. I couldn't don't I could tell you what Justin Calhoun said to He was talking some hot shit to him in the locker room you're weak like
speaker-0: from you, bro.
speaker-2: Thank you.
speaker-1: He was hot, But I was a statesman. had to be like... Elder statesman. Yeah, I was like the captain. So I'm like, bro, it's cool. In my head, I'm like, I'm hot right now. I'm tight, bro.
speaker-0: to use.
speaker-2: That was how we were, Mero, when you guys beat us at home, I mean, at there, that was at 2021.
speaker-1: 21. But you guys had chance to win the championship, the ring. You guys had chance to win the ring right there.
speaker-2: So we and we, don't know, me and Isaiah almost got him up in the, in the bus. I swear bro, like, cause I didn't even complete a pass. Receivers weren't doing that. And so I'm sitting here, we gave the ball to and everybody. It wasn't working. You know, so I'm in the back, you know, chopping it up, maybe giggled a little bit. He get up. Why you laughing bro?
speaker-1: Man, I'm sitting there, we...
speaker-2: like you do nothing anyway. You're gonna get hit and he like what what and then we got you know you got the big senior in the front like hey guys you guys be quiet we got a whole season left I'm like nah. to my name
speaker-1: I got a story just like that, bro. But it's a little different. Like we I knew we weren't going to. Well, I don't even want to say that because we did win in 2021. But Eastern Washington and Kenan, not Eastern Washington, Washington in 2017, Washington in 2015. Kenan, remember this. So I'm on the but we lost. We got beat down, Willy. Sixty three to seven or like it was nasty. Like they had this right after Buddha had left. So they still had Byron Murphy. Uh, not Kevin King. had a Taylor, something Taylor. They had dogs. had dogs. keep the roster. Browning was still there. Jojo. Savon was still there.
speaker-2: Yeah.
speaker-0: You did better, we're still going.
speaker-1: Squash, squash. Anyway, we got beat down, Willie. And I'm having a good time on the back of the bus. Like, you know, I'm a freshman. I played a little bit. I actually was leading receiver if we want to be real. I had 34 years. For 20. Yeah. It wasn't crazy. It wasn't crazy at all. But I'm having a good time on the back of the bus. Like we all knew he was going to fucking move. And our coach stands up and comes back there and is like, shut the hell up.
speaker-2: three
speaker-1: What are you laughing about? What's funny? We got seniors on this bus who just played their who just who just like this is their last year of college football. I'm coach like bro you can't be can't be. I love coach Faraday. I love coach Faraday. He's at Central. But like bro what are we talking about? Like why are you coming at me like we we weren't going to win like come on. are we talking about? Yeah, think everybody knew we wasn't going to win that one. That was a one bro. Yeah.
speaker-2: We played wazoo that same year. We got blasted.
speaker-1: I remember but Keenan remember Sandry started with the pick six and we thought oh man we like we like fuck around and fuck around. That was amazing bro. I was at that game as a fan I said oh wow.
speaker-2: You got your lick back though.
speaker-1: Hey, I'd never forget. What's his name? Kyron the corner, you know, uh, what's was the name Keenan Kyler Kyler Gordon Kyler Kyler Gordon at the end of the game when we're kind of like kneeling it out and shit. He's standing there and he was just, you know, he's about to go to the league. Like he wasn't really tripping on that. He but he was like, he was like, damn bro, like we're really about to lose. I was like, I know bro. And I was like, damn, we're really about to win.
speaker-2: you
speaker-0: Bye!
speaker-1: I like, yo, he did not give a fuck, bro. I'm like, yo, y'all are about to lose to us, bro. Like, this should not be happening. Like, obviously, I thought we were a really good team, and we were. But, yo, crazy. He's now. He don't give a fuck about that, boy. He's pay paid. He does not care. does not Pockets deep. Yes. So.
speaker-2: Yeah, that was yeah. ⁓
speaker-1: ⁓ Okay, let's get a little bit on track. We probably have like just a couple questions left. So looking back, what's something you wish your younger self, maybe your freshman year at Montana State knew? Or actually, let's talk about after the injuries, right? You talked about that moment when you're in the field house and you're like, damn, like what's something that if now you would go back and tell yourself? ⁓
speaker-2: I would say probably dive more into some of the like the guys that I wasn't associated with right like you know you got your clique of friends right I think I should have got more out into like actually like some of them white boys where I'm like you know I should have went out and kind of went to maybe you know French town and hanged out with my boys or went to you know sunny side or whatever where it's like you know getting out and out from my circle because I had some really good friends man but I think there's some guys that I definitely didn't get close with as much as I wish I could have because you know man this life's short and I wish I could have got Elise to just talk to him still you know because there's some guys I still talk to but not really you know I so I think I wish I could have just spent in my horizon a little bit more in Montana and then honestly bro I wish I could have just Really dove in on just like pure pro day stuff like you know like pure pro day to where it's like I knew like my first time really truly running a 40 was almost pro day You know what I mean? Like I didn't really we didn't really train 40s as much as we think I should have done coming out I should have been working on that stance working on hold on. Let me close this. Oh
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-2: But yeah, I should have been just working on that stuff, think, just being able to, you know, working on my bench, working on my bra, just being able to be ready for that moment or just have a baseline of where I'm at, you know?
speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Absolutely. For college athletes hoping to play professionally, what's one piece of advice you think they don't hear enough?
speaker-2: confidence. confidence in yourself. ⁓
speaker-1: Absolutely, man.
speaker-2: That was probably one of the hardest things I had to realize that I didn't have as much until I kind of had a sports psychologist talk to me and figure out how to get my mind right. Because like I said, it was tough to be ready for those three to four plays. Working out and training for those three to four plays and I dropped a couple and I'm like, am I like that? And then we had a receiver coach that kinda didn't really help us develop
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-2: confidence wise he was really good on getting in and out of routes and stuff like that but he didn't instill that confidence in us right so he kind of put us down a little bit he was kind of tough on us where it was like damn am i good and that hurt me to where I think that's what helped me once I got my confidence. was like, oh, I don't care who's in front of me. I'm my work. I'm trusting my preparation and I don't care. It's going it's going to come the cream go rise to the top. Right. So like that kind of is the biggest thing I would say to kids is keep your confidence, man, because coaches are either going to tell you how good and or most likely are going to tell you what you did wrong or what you can't do. You drop that bar. You're short on that route or you miss that block. And that stuff gets in your head over and over and
speaker-1: stop.
speaker-2: over that stuff can you know be detrimental to somebody because I've seen the best guys come down to you know from different levels and it's like ⁓ you kind of you're mental you're struggling a little bit you know you don't have that grit that belief and once I've seen guys that maybe not good but believe in themselves like for instance like not even like saying Ty's not good but whoa you couldn't tell Ty was not good you couldn't tell him nothing He was out there like, what's up, Troy? Where you at? Where you at? Lance? Line it up. You know what I mean? Like that stuff builds confidence and just, you know, you start to succeed off of that. Once one good rep goes, you start stacking them. And then I think that's probably the biggest thing. Guys want to play pro. You're going to have to have confidence because no one's going to just... Come on, bring you along. You're going to believe in yourself regardless of anybody, what they say in the media, what people are saying, who you're going to go against. Because like I've had guys drop down or I go get the Bama corner out there in Europe. Came from Bama. That can either make you go, hey, ⁓ God, it's Bama. ⁓ I've been waiting for a Bama. Let me see what y'all about. know, let me see what this Bama about. Like, is that your mentor? Are you going to go like, ⁓ God, he must be good. Like, nah, bro, you got to have that mentor where you like, I don't know. think they, I read a little ⁓ something about like, you kind of have to have like a narcissistic mind in a sense of like, I'm better than this man. I'm a better human than you on this field.
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-2: Right. that doesn't lead into life. But on this field, I have to think that I am going to be better than you and I'm going to oppose my will. Right. And like, if you don't have those things, like you're going to struggle when you meet a dude that he he's like that and he's going to your gangster, you know, hold on, lock in, you know, advice.
speaker-1: It's the same thing with like a team mentality. Like when you're going from being a losing team to being a winning team, like shifting that mindset and becoming a winner and understanding that no matter when, like no matter what happens, no matter what they throw at us, we are going to win this game. Even if we get down by 21 points, that's like what happens when you're playing like a Mercyhurst or you're playing like a Portland state. They might score a couple of touchdowns, but we know, come on bro, like we're going to win. Like we all know how this is going to end. You got uncompromising sense of self-belief.
speaker-2: Yeah, right.
speaker-1: And that is like what's going to take you to where you're going to get to. And I think that carries into life too and some things. ⁓ When your football career is all said and done, how do you hope people describe Willie Patterson, both as a player and as a person?
speaker-2: Yeah, definitely. As a player, just want people to ⁓ realize like you could feel my energy while I played, right? You could just feel just the positive energy, the excitement when I played, the back flips, you know what I mean? Like you felt like you're smiling, you're happy seeing somebody run out there and run around and be fun and fast and stuff like that. And then just as like a person, I just want someone to really, you know. I was selfless. I wanted to serve others. was really big on leadership and then just with the kids, man. I loved after the game having kids run up and I wanted to make sure I took every picture. I gave them all my gloves. Like I just wanted to make sure that if because I once was that kid. I really was. was in my brother's games. was at the UW games. was at, you know, Central Washington games when I like I was that kid that was like, ⁓ my gosh, like you're so cool to be a college football player. So I want kids to realize, man, I helped that dream come true. Maybe one day where I was like, you know, you believe in yourself. Like I shook a kid's hand that maybe he needed or hugged a kid that needed a hug. You know, I think just being that big leader in a sense of just in that community of somebody they can look to that's doing right and serving, you know.
speaker-1: special. ⁓ Well, do you have anything you want to shout out? Anything? Anybody you want to show love to or anything like that?
speaker-2: Shout out my cats man, you know To my cats bro. Shout out to all my little bros going to get that big thing on that finger But ⁓ honestly, shout out to all my teammates that came in with me that 2017 class We had like Troy Anderson Lance Callahan that 2017 class I think really built something special at Montana State Yeah, and I just want to shout out to all those boys man because I think where Montana State's at it's gonna last for a long time because
speaker-1: Yeah
speaker-2: because of something that we built way back then. Guys, man, ⁓ honestly, the fans too, man. I go back and I get love every time. like that Bozeman, Montana changed me. My family wants to move there. My mom misses it. My dad misses it. You know, so like, I love that place with all my heart. So shout out Bozeman, Montana, man, my teammates. Yeah, man. Shout out to you guys. Let me come on here and share my story a little bit. out here and talk, you know, have a little conversation.
speaker-1: Started the foundation course. Yeah, appreciate you for coming on, man. We love it. We appreciate you, Yeah, even though it's even though he's a cat, we still appreciate it. We appreciate your time, man. We know we had a slot for an hour, but some of these stories like it's good that we had a little extra time to really chat and get to have the people our audience get to know you and why you are so beloved in Bozeman. Appreciate you, bro.
speaker-2: Sure, thank you guys,
speaker-1: Hey, what's going on everybody? This is Deep Ball, Keenan Curran, Samuel Kim. We are joined by a very, very special guest, Mr. Patterson, Willie Patterson. How you doing, my man?
speaker-2: I'm doing great, man. Blessed.
speaker-0: Thank you.
speaker-1: Thank you for joining us, Willie. Really some good topics we're going to talk about today. And we're going to talk about many things in your football career. But I want to start off, know, Sam don't know because he's from Oklahoma. to Franklin, to Franklin Pierce, man, where you started as a quarterback. Talk about a little bit of like what being a Tacoma kid means to you.
speaker-0: So. We're going to take you all the way.
speaker-2: ⁓ it just means having grit. a little chip on your shoulder. All right, right? You have that Seattle ⁓ Big Brother vibe where it's like we're the town and they're the city. So you already have that match up there. So you kind of grow up knowing like, okay, we're a little undersized. We're also under looked. So that was kind of what made me growing up. And then also my stature when I grew up, I was never the big guy at any time in my life. know, you usually have some guys that were big in Little League and then they pan out by the time they get to college. I was little from the day I got know what I mean? So that kind of made me who I was just being that underdog and having that grit coming from the city.
speaker-1: Look, thank you. Thank you for showing that. I'm Acting like he man. I'm being that you play QB in high school, being that you play in high school and amassed over 8000 yards and 90 touchdowns on offense, 5k plus throwing and over 2k on the ground. Did you have aspirations of playing QB in college?
speaker-2: 100 % I I had PLU wanted me to play quarterback. But besides that, only had Central Washington wanted me to play receiver. And then Montana State had me as an athlete. They didn't really want me as a DB or receiver just yet. But yeah, I really that's one of my things I wish I could have done was maybe went Juco and probably just play quarterback and just have some fun with it, you know.
speaker-1: Would anybody look at you? You get any offers or anything?
speaker-0: Did you?
speaker-1: Was part of you like you looked at what Tommy did and you're like man like I've done that
speaker-2: My fourth year playing is Troy. Troy's my quarterback. Troy Anderson. like, yo, I can do this. I can do this. QB power. Not like him. I'm not saying I could have been what he did, but I'm just saying, literally, the three, four years of my whole college career, it's like I had a dual threat. And I'm like, man, I was out there dual threatened it up.
speaker-1: How was that? That was me right there.
speaker-2: I don't know if I would have, you know, I have no clue if I would have panned out to what they were, but man, I think if I would have gave myself a shot, I would have been able to play somewhere.
speaker-0: Absolutely, Take...
speaker-1: Yeah, and I was walking to I was like, yeah, you was getting out of there too. mean, those. It's like with a quarterback, they were like, man, he was a dual threat quarterback and I was doing the same things, if not more in high school. Yeah.
speaker-0: It's crazy.
speaker-2: this play Yeah. That's what hurt kind of cause I'm like, man, I'm over here just catching bubbles, just RPO in. And I'm like, man, watching this quarterback run, I'm like, man, I know I could do this, but it was something that I don't know. I think it was maybe a blessing in disguise because I was able to be, you know, used in a way different way that I had no idea I could be, you know, I didn't play receiver one lick until I got to Montana state. I didn't know how to block. didn't know how to really, I thought I had hands, but I really did not have.
speaker-1: Bye.
speaker-2: hands for real, you know, so I had to really change and kind of grow in that receiver realm, which kind of, you know, helped everything.
speaker-1: I never asked you this, Keenan, but did you ever like, did you want to play quarterback in college ever? Nah, I couldn't go to ball. Every before every pass play we used to call something that like there was a flat. The first pass I threw was going to be in the dirt.
speaker-0: because they knew. They just move, they're like, tell the fly, it's gonna hit the ground, it's gonna hit the ground, and then we'll be going. Anything intermediate.
speaker-1: No, sir. No, sir. So, so Willie, you talked about, you know, your first snaps at receiver were in college. What was that like? Like, what was those growing pains like when you first got to college? Like, how did you, what was those first couple years like?
speaker-2: Hey man, the hardest thing that I realized is like having to make guys miss that I don't see, right? Like I've never had to look at the ball and not see the defense. I've always been able to see all 11 where everybody at, where everybody going. Now I'm catching a curl. I got to know there's a linebacker right here. There's a safety coming down to take my hip off. Like I got to be able to, that was kind of the thing that I struggle with was like the Yak part of it. I was just possession catch, get down. That was kind of my thing. And then the blocking that was probably that, know, we ran the ball, baby. So I had to dig out some Sam backers, some ends, and I'm sitting here getting thrown. I'm getting pipped tossed. And I'm like, hold on. How do I block? But then that was one of the biggest things is he my coach told me it was 90 percent will 10 percent technique. And once I figured that out, I was like, OK, what if I just be like a bat out of hell and just put my forehead on his forehead?
speaker-1: You play in the Montana State. You play in Montana.
speaker-2: and just hope for the best. that honestly, that's all I really needed to do besides. Yeah.
speaker-1: Locking is just want to bro like it's just want to like it's just effort. really is. Coaches can coach it up and obviously there's technique with your hands and your feet and keep your feet moving but like bro you just gotta want to do it. You just gotta want to do it and that's the biggest thing.
speaker-2: I was thinking it's blocking and then yeah having to do something with the ball in my hands after I caught him, right? Playbook came easy, routes kind of came easy, but it was like okay, how can I now be that elite receiver rather than just like everybody else can come out here and catch, you know?
speaker-1: Absolutely. So then question after that, because he talks about like being able to see all 11. Do you feel like that's what made you dynamic in the return game? It's like, hey, I can catch the ball and see.
speaker-2: Yep, yep. When I got back there with a return, it felt like home in a sense of like, okay, I'm in control now. I can set it up. I can weave it and then hit it. Right? So like that helped in my return game. But besides that, it took me about maybe a maybe two, three years to really figure out how to maneuver through a defense after I get the ball in my hands for real.
speaker-1: I can see all 21 players. Yeah. Was there a moment that you feel like ⁓ at Montana State that you were like, Hey, I have some confidence in this now. Like I'm confident as a person, right? Especially I hope it's in high school, like playing receiver, was there a moment where you're like, okay, yeah, I could do this.
speaker-2: It was probably my freshman year. I know my sophomore year, my retro freshman year is where like I came into spring ball and I was balling out versus the ones I got to start as a retro freshman and I'm like, hold on. I might be kind of nice. And then my first five or six games, I'm getting like three, four catches, like 30, 40 yards. And I'm like, hold on, like little bubbles, little outs, little ends. I'm like, hold on now. Like I might get a little feel for this. And then yeah, unfortunately I got hurt, but it was like, man. Bro, being out there at receiver, didn't really realize like a four to five catch game is good. I'm used to touching the ball.
speaker-1: As a young kid for sure.
speaker-2: You know, like as a young dude, like three, four catches, I'm sitting there like, I wish I had more, but like, that's a good game. And it was hard for me to wrap my head around that. But once I kind of realized like, ⁓ that's my role, a couple of bubbles, maybe a dig, maybe out for a first down. And that's a good day because we're going to write the next 40 plays, you know, sorry, we're handing that thing off.
speaker-1: Yup.
speaker-0: Yeah.
speaker-1: So talk a little bit about that talk a little bit about that because I played I didn't play thank god I am playing a system like that in college But in high school I did we ran it 40 50 times a game And when we were gonna pass it it was gonna be play action and it was I was gonna get three to four catches a game What was that like how was that mindset shift of like, Even though i'm switching a receiver. I am not ever going to be the focal point of this offense What was that mentality? How's dealing with that?
speaker-2: It was selfless. Like I became real selfless with the game. I was figuring out how ways to like have that key block be the one. Like I wanted to show up on film running down the field trying to catch my running back or spring that 60 yard run. And like the cool thing was we were really detailed at receiver to where we could count the line of scrimmage and be like, oh, you guys are outnumbered. This QB counters me for 60 right now if I get this backer. And I'm looking like, uh-oh. Uh oh, and next thing you know, hike, and I'm just blocking, waiting to hear the crowd, and next thing you know, Tommy.
speaker-1: See, that's crazy. That's crazy for you to say that because even even even like I never thought about the game like that. Like I didn't start thinking about the game like that until I got out of the game, like counting the numbers in the box and knowing like where the like all of that, like for you as a receiver to see it like that. And it makes sense because of the offense you're playing in. But that is just that just shows how different offenses ask of different things of players, you know, like you need to know that to know that, hey, I am the spring block right here. Like I got to get this block on this counter. or this play ain't gonna be what it's supposed to be, man. That's crazy.
speaker-2: I've had a couple guys like when I come, ⁓ my bad, I come to like visits and stuff, I'd be like, yo, just so you know, if you're playing receiver here, like, just so you know, you ain't, like, I know you nice, but like, you're not gonna get what you want. Like if you really play receiver, don't like come here in a sense like.
speaker-1: Hey! This ain't bad.
speaker-2: It's a little different vibe here. You're going to have to kind of get it out the mud a little bit. Third down, go catch that play action deep ball, you know? So yeah, that's so. For about 30 yards, you good. Yeah.
speaker-1: But you're gonna win though, you're gonna win. Yeah, but there's something to that, right? Like in sand talk with many of the guests that we have from Montana, Montana state. We don't have a winning record against those guys. Right? You can say like, yeah, I put my mark on that. Right? And so, yeah, right. There's something to be said about like sacrificing a little bit, especially as a receiver for the greater good of the team, for the greater good of just like, yo, I had a great experience because I won. I'm a winner. Absolutely.
speaker-0: Me. you do yeah
speaker-2: And then now look, you got taco, you got all these receivers now that you're thinking of receivers when you think about Montana State a little bit now, you know, it's like, think we kind of bridge that gap of like, yo, yeah, these receivers can kind of go, you got Lance and then me and a couple guys that were kind of producing where it's like, hold on. And then now it's cool for the tacos to get loose. And you know, we're on third downs, first and second down, we're passing that thing now. We're singing it around. Come on. Money on the line. What's that? They stole on the rock. What? What? What? Come on,
speaker-1: So I've talked to a few I've talked to a few former players, did you ever play with Connor Sullivan? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I was in three forks with my job a couple of weeks ago. And he was just talking about the stress that he was going through during the game and about how like, you know, he thought that they were gonna, you know, fumble like not literally fumble the ball, but he just thought they were gonna fumble the game away. What were your emotions? Because you said you said you were in Nashville. ⁓
speaker-2: Yeah, silly. Yes. I prayed maybe 50 times during that thing. Because you know, man, you're sitting in the stands and you're watching this shit slip. You're like, hold on. can't do momentum's gone. We're over here, fall starting. You know, I'm sitting here like, yo, we're finna sell. We're finna sell. And I came here all the way. You know what mean? I'm sitting here like, I was a little salty that they won, but I'm also like, yeah, those are my bros. You know, but like, it's way, huh?
speaker-0: You better light it up.
speaker-2: Yeah, it was the funniest thing. I'm sitting there. praying. I'm with Lance and James Campbell. We're in the stands and I'm sitting there praying, praying. Everybody's standing. I'm praying and I have this dude next to me. Old dude. He taps me on the shoulder. ⁓ look, he's got a little crown, little bottle this big. He's like, here, take this. You good. And he gave me a little, he gave me a little shooter. I said, man, what's your name? He's like, ⁓ I played on the rodeo team. 1972 national champion ring. I'm like,
speaker-1: Show me some.
speaker-2: Thank you, brother. Boom, stand up. You know, and then we was back rolling, you know, it was like he me in that moment knowing, hey, you're good. I know you stress, but we got this. Believe. And that was my first time ever being in the stands for a football game, actually. So I'm sitting here like hearing the fans like, come on, throw it. Like, you know, they're like, I'm like, yo, relax. They got blitzed. know, like, man, I love being there. That was one of the best moments of my life, for real.
speaker-0: For sure. I can believe it,
speaker-1: On the flip side, you don't want to be the team that fumbles it because we talk about 2018 a lot. ⁓ Wild game when like we were up at half and then just fumbled it. So. On this call.
speaker-0: That's ⁓ I'm glad that at least one
speaker-1: feels the other side of not like, hey, we finished the deal, right? So. Junior was on last week and he was talking about how serious I was in 2021 when we won at home. And he came to me at halftime and we was up and all this and he's trying to have a party. I'm like, bro, you need to stay locked in. game is quarter football.
speaker-2: know how these games get. These games get crazy.
speaker-0: Sick.
speaker-2: I always tell people about Kenan's catch bro. That was a crazy ass bro. Your two catches you had them little sideline and then the one hander over buddy. I was like, oh my god. Oh my god. They going crazy and they could not stop yo ass up the seam. I'm like yo somebody get him. Oh man that was a crazy ass game and I was even playing and I felt like I played I was sweating.
speaker-1: That was fun. Until it wasn't. We can, no, the good thing, Willie, is we can laugh about it now. But at that time and in the next, like, two,
speaker-2: How long did it take for you to get to laugh about it?
speaker-1: ⁓ fan. So 2021 till I won till I won. It wasn't funny at all. wasn't funny at all. Like, yo, it hurt, bro. Because because, Willie, you got to understand, bro, like we literally watched it slowly. And it wasn't like you guys just ran over us in the second half. Like it was a competitive second half. Yeah, slowly watched it wrinkle away. And it hurts more. I know Keenan would agree with me here when you are you have you had you had a really good game.
speaker-0: It hurts.
speaker-1: Like you to play a really good game and it doesn't matter. It does not freaking matter when that score is 29, 25, whatever it was at the end. Like it doesn't matter anymore. Nobody cares. They're going to remember the fumble. And obviously people who watch really do remember the performances, but like, man, yo.
speaker-0: They're gonna remember the very things we said.
speaker-2: Yeah.
speaker-1: And that's what it's known for. like, it's great that you have some feeling of like, I had a good game, but I think it hurts because we felt like, the end of the game, you went to someone that was young and not proven. And we felt like, hey, we're having a good game. Like try. But all in all, think I started to get over it probably in 2023 when I went to the brawl and we won. Yeah, and it was like we just dominated. So that was the first time that I was like, okay, I'm over it. Like it is what it is. So shit, five years, that was crazy. ⁓
speaker-0: I'm embarrassed. Trying to stay on a little bit.
speaker-1: ⁓ We talked about why receivers such a detailed position. What part of your game did you work hardest to refine in college?
speaker-2: Yeah. Thanks I think my hands my hands in my route running for sure, but I think it was my hands. I think there were certain angles that I was uncomfortable with right like my left hand on top on a slant this way verse this way or my my shoulder on this side verse this side like I had different ⁓ like discrepancies to where I didn't feel comfortable and I would drop like I remember I dropped one in Western Illinois where was the left hand over the top. was a tough catch and I'm like yo this was on ESPN to that one hurt me. Like I heard the whole crowd go, you know, of them, that one hurts, bro. So like I had to get my hands completely like to the T to where that like my coach used to say, that's the easy part is the catch getting, the play, getting out the huddle, lining up right, knowing how to get open all that's hard. The catch though, that's something you do a million times. And I'm like, ⁓ shit, you know, and what like, I think that was detrimental to me because I never grew up playing receiver. So I didn't have that moment when I was little, maybe sixth grade and dropped that over the shoulder in the little league championship. My team, was, he won football. You need to be ready to catch the rock Willie. And I'm like, hold on, let me get on this jug machine. Right. I shout out to my older, you know, the older guys in my room, we, we stayed on that jug machine. We, we lived by it. I think that's what helped me.
speaker-0: you
speaker-1: It's like what coach peas used to say Keenan is like you got her on the date you took her home You got her on the date you took her out you did everything but then when you got to the doorstep you couldn't even get her get her into the house like
speaker-2: All this stuff before, that's my harm stuff, right?
speaker-1: Man, even getting the number, all of it. Go ahead, go ahead. No, you go ahead, Kenan. No, I was just going to ask that next question, but you got it. Yeah. Is there somebody or a few people that you point to as having a major impact on your development as an athlete in your time, both in high school and at Montana State? So like you can talk about somebody in high school who had a huge impact on you and then in college at Montana State who had a huge impact.
speaker-0: That is man.
speaker-2: ⁓ I think in high school, definitely FSP, ⁓ for sports performance, I think you guys talked about it already a little bit, but that was one of the biggest things that changed my career. ⁓ just being surrounded about guys that were either at that level and either higher in the NFL. And it was kind of, it kind of rose you to the occasion of like, ⁓ I'm kind of nice. Like I need to be working out like these dudes I need, like, you know, and that kind of helped me rise my game. But then I got to a very room. I don't know if you guys remember Mitch Herbert. and ⁓ Kevin Cassis those dudes are one the hardest working guys i've ever been around in my life so like when i got there it's like a thousand jugs a week like we're sitting there on the off season on the jug machine every day and i'm like no and that was one of the things that rose my because i'm like you know Kevin was a walk-on that was huge you know he was a walk-on turned
speaker-1: good best to have man.
speaker-2: all embarrassed, I think all conference receivers. it was like, was able to show me exactly how to work out and exactly how to fit in to this running program, but be ready on that third down, you know? So that was, think Kevin Cassis and Mitch Herbert were really huge. FSP was big. And then just, think that accountability system we had throughout Montana State of just like. Guys were working hard and you wanted to beat the guy next to you. And then the guy next to you wanted to beat him as well, right? So that was kind of, we were always trying to outdo one of another. If it was in the weight room, if it was in pull-ups, if it was in sprints after, we were trying to outwork everybody. So it kind of rose our level of play throughout the years I was there.
speaker-1: Absolutely. So I want to ask another question about that. You know, your time at Montana State, obviously, you know, you were there from the choke days to the vegan days. Talk a little bit about what was the differences between troating vegan and then also what was that transition like going from choke to vegan?
speaker-2: Okay, so first off, Chilt, play your coach through and through. He's gonna pull you aside and it don't even feel like a coach is talking to you, right? He's gonna ask you how your family is checking with you and it was more like you if you if you messed up you let him down like you let him down as a man, know with vegan It's like you let the team down like it was more just like he was just the guy up here watching everything and just making sure everything was smooth rather than pulling you aside and saying hey, how you doing Willie? It was more just You get your catches in today. Okay, bet. I'll see you at practice. You know, like it was more just like, what are you doing for me now? And how can you win foot business? And if you're not helping me win football games, why are we being cordial?
speaker-1: business.
speaker-2: Like, you know what I mean? In a sense, like, I don't really need to be buddy buddy with you if you're not the one producing for me out there. But was the complete opposite. He cared about you from your family to your cousins. He still texts me today. He like, I had a brother die in high school and he still texts me on that day like, hey, looking out man, praying for you, hope you're doing good. You know, like, that's the stuff that that's the difference between Choke. And then from the transition, think it was it was so smooth because vegan Already, I don't I think we're going to the Natty without vegan. Swear it did not matter We were going because what we felt that year would show and how he left us in a sense We were like, ⁓ bad like you want to leave? All right, watch this So like vegan just came in and rolled the coattails a little bit until now He's had his you know his class But I think we were really setting ourselves up already before vegan was there to do something special Because that culture was finally set in stone, you know what I mean?
speaker-1: Yeah. So go ahead, Keenan. I just feel like it's almost serendipitous, right? Like you have a coach that, especially after the Ash days, and like I'm a little bit aware of them, but like you have a coach that comes in and galvanizes a roster. And he's like, hey, these, we're going to fight for each other. We're brothers. I care about you guys. You guys care about me.
speaker-0: It was.
speaker-1: And then like elevates this team to this. then you have, leaves and a coach comes in who is coming from a program. That's like, it's all about the program, right? Like North Dakota state is who are letting the team down because we are a history of success. The perk choke to come in and like galvanize you guys as a unit. Vegan come in and say like, okay, I'm going to take this to the next level with like the program and the standard. like, now I can have these.
speaker-0: It's all perfect to give. And then.
speaker-1: standards of, you're letting the team down because now we are this. This is our new standard.
speaker-0: And it seemed to work.
speaker-2: Like we were super big on like you know accountability toughness and stuff like that but when vegan came in he's like yo middle eight you know he's like turnover ratio red zone percentage we're sitting there like yo if we're not hitting these numbers we're not gonna win so we were focused literally on winning how to win games simple a simple product of how to win football games rather than all this culture building all this y'all did that already now how can we now put this product on the field to win so it was like straight like black and white how to play football and win you know i mean
speaker-1: When you talked about when you talked about the transition of Cho leaving and how you guys as players kind of took that Was part of the reason that you guys felt the way you did was because of the way coach Cho was so like he did take the time to develop Relationships he did take the time to care about you He did take the time like all that mattered to him to him for you guys So when he left was it kind of just like man like you you're like a father figure to me Like how are you just gonna like do us like that?
speaker-2: 100 % I remember like for like the first couple months we were like horns down because we was going to Texas, you know, but then eventually we were like, you know what we thank you for what you did, you know, you definitely helped us as a team and as a culture because before Cho man, I heard it was some real bad stuff going on at Montana State. He gets there and literally cuts the whole team in half like yo, I need dudes that want to be here, you know, and then sets the standard brought a bunch of dudes in from the, you know, Pacific Northwest starts bringing some Texas dudes in And you start building that group, a little Florida kids. You're like, ⁓ okay. And that kind of thing. Once Choke kind of brought us, cause like we wouldn't want to let Choke down, but also our teammates in a sense, like, cause we were so tight. We focused on team building almost every other week. Like we knew each other from the back of our hands. like that what kind of helped us propel. So when vegan came in and we just needed somebody to guide the boat, was already going to be shipped somewhere, you know?
speaker-1: So you go ahead Kenan. So this is kind of more on like, probably is in the same vein of all of this, but we heard from Lance who just actually congrats to Lance, unretired today. Congratulations. That's huge. But how instrumental you were in his development as a receiver. You feel like being a leader was something that was just ingrained in you from your days as a quarterback or something that you maybe got from like, I'm not saying FSP. I would say probably being a quarterback more than FSP, but like.
speaker-0: .
speaker-1: Talk through that a little bit, like how you kind of lean into that role in your receiver room.
speaker-2: think that was one of the biggest things was me being a quarterback from third grade. I knew I had to be the commander of the offense. My dad was my coach. So he's telling me, you know, everything's on you. Bad throws on you, good throws on you. You know what mean? We lose, it's on you. We win, it's on you. So like, I kind of built that up throughout high school. And then also in my high school, I was kind of that guy. So I kind of needed to be that. leadership group but then I get to Montana State and I got you know a linebacker maybe be the captain of the team and you got these captains and older guys that are leaders but you don't just lose that leadership so I just started to lead in certain other areas maybe through extra conditioning or extra work after or maybe extra time in the ⁓ you know in the in the room going through plays stuff like that I think that's kind of where I showed my leadership until I had my own room right once Lance left it was like Oh wow, this is my room now. Like these are my guys. I'm the senior. I got to bring these guys up to this level of standard of play that I've been taught from Mitch, Kevin, you know what I mean? So it's like, oh, now I get to be that guy that can be like, Hey guys, let's go, you know. But now I'm like, Hey, come on y'all, let's get on this line. Let's do this stuff. Right? Yeah. Yeah. little bit more accountable. So yeah, I would definitely attribute to being a quarterback growing up.
speaker-1: was kinda quiet. So you talk, yeah, absolutely. You talked about the transition going from quarterback to receiver, going to college of like the physical transition of learning the position and the nuances. But what was that like? You just talked about it as a quarterback. You're meant you're used to being the leader. What was that like going to college? And then now you're listening to the quarterback. You're not the leader. You're not, you know, you're not the voice, you know,
speaker-2: That was hard. It was hard. also too, like I've been, like you said, I had 50 something touch, something touching as my senior year to go into where like, I don't need that production here for us to win games. And I'm sitting here like, yo, how do I not be the guy? And we win it. You know that stuff that was mentally hard for me to check out in a sense and be ready for those three to four plays out of 60 plays I needed to be ready. So mentally it was really tough for me to be like locked in running guys off run off run off run off here go. Like you know like I'm sitting here working releases all day finally for that third down and seven you know man I'm telling you that was
speaker-1: Mm. Run off every- Think about that piece of it man like I'm working on these releases. I'm only gonna use it motherfucking like three four times in a game
speaker-2: What I already knew coach and literally coach our coach beauty at the time was like guys I know you guys understand we're going to run the ball But when you're when our numbers called the red And I'm like damn the next you know, you feel it is third and five. They're running eight man in the box It's a cover zero willy win, you know
speaker-1: Be ready. ⁓ Willie that makes the drops way worse because it's like only throwing it to me three four times
speaker-2: Imagine like or just a bad rep, you know, he got you on that release and you're like, ⁓ you know, I could have had a better rep there, you
speaker-1: ⁓ my god, so much more mental toughness and like not to discredit our system in Montana when we were there, but it's like ⁓
speaker-0: Thanks for We knew he was getting 50 pounds.
speaker-2: At least seven to ten.
speaker-0: Like I vividly remember the first half
speaker-1: against Montana State in 2017, I probably had.
speaker-0: four drops, you know what saying? It's cool. I'll come back in a second half. So who goes?
speaker-1: to you man like literally hats off to you. But like that just mental adversity that you you were resilient through and just I don't know just being ready man like there there's some kudos to that because I don't think enough young players have that mentality of just being ready all the time. yeah. Question for you so you talk about adversity.
speaker-2: have to be made.
speaker-1: How did you handle adversity, whether it be injuries, depth chart battles or tough losses, although there were few during your time at Montana State?
speaker-2: Um, honestly, I leaned on my brothers out there, man. We were really close. Um, I broke both of my collarbones in college. So 2018, I snapped my right one playing against Weber, got back six weeks healthy, uh, six weeks. And then we're playing NDSU first round, Trey Lance, Trey Lance, Christian Watson. You guys know what happened, right? So the next year, the next year I'm going into 2018. What is that? 2018?
speaker-1: ⁓ my goodness. 19?
speaker-2: 2019 yeah, you're 19. ⁓ Yeah 2019 play Texas Tech got like four catches 60 yards. I'm like, ⁓ This is it week to play CMO. I'm catching a little we're run mesh. I'm the under ⁓ The quarterback throws it behind me So like I reach back and then next, know, I'm facing the dude that's trailing and I kind of get torqued like torqued bang That's my left one and I'm like no way
speaker-1: feeling good
speaker-0: You
speaker-2: And I was done. I was done. I swear to God, I was done. I was in the field house like I'm over this. I'm over this. And then my family was there and my dad was like, you're not done yet. You're not done yet. Your story's not over. You know? And we're coming from where everywhere I've every level I've been at, I've been kind of the guy. I've been good. I've been and I haven't done that yet. I had a little stint 2018 got hurt. A little stint 2019 got hurt. So I'm like ⁓ like I know I'm about to break out, but I don't know when or where like I was over it. And then some of the guys were like, yo, Willie, continue to work, bro. Like we love you. You know what I mean? Continue to work out. They were supporting me. They were trying to, you know, just get me back on the field as soon as I can. The staff was great. Everybody believed in my abilities. Maybe even if I didn't believe in them and that kind of helped me get back to where like, you know what, if I get stronger and faster because like after the first one, they said, get stronger and faster, you'll be good. I did that exact thing.
speaker-0: Thank
speaker-2: and broke the other one and I'm like what what do y'all tell what am I not doing you know what I mean so then like that kind of I reloaded the whole path the little program did it again and then now I was bulletproof I was like I can't break them again you know
speaker-1: The hardware in there, we good now.
speaker-2: Six screws in a play, both sides, brother. We are good. So that's the only thing holding me back. And, you know, you know, I feel like I receive a worse susceptible to those little injuries in the shoulders and stuff. So I kind of realized, hold on, I need a beef up up here a little bit. I need to get a little stronger up here. You know, be a little core, get a little more tighter when I and you fall, you know, brace that thing. So I kind of elevated my game even more, taking that time off. And then, yeah, that kind of helped me get through that adversity for sure.
speaker-1: Man shoulder injuries, man. Do you have a favorite memory from your time in Montana State game or moment that stands out? I may be a big play or a big game that you guys want anything.
speaker-2: I would say my highlight game probably NAU that one was fun had like seven for 150 three tubs or something like that three tubs okay I know it wasn't NAU it was northern Colorado so it was like ah you know it was like
speaker-1: Hey! want know who it is. Yeah, you're right. ⁓
speaker-2: Right, was probably one of my favorite games, like, as a like, actually me balling out, but one of my actual favorite games was Sam Houston Playoff 2021.
speaker-1: the national championship champ.
speaker-2: Crazy story about this game. We get there we get to the ⁓ airport. There's something wrong with our plane, right? So they delay us so we're there for like four hours next you know, they're like, okay, we're gonna have to find you guys out way later in the day. So we're like, okay, so they take us back to the school. Right? We get there we get back to the airport. They're saying okay, we got another delay. So we blew out a Bozeman at like, maybe 10.
speaker-1: ⁓ damn. Was it weather? Like 11 o'clock?
speaker-2: Look at Friday night. Huh?
speaker-1: Was it weather like snow and stuff?
speaker-2: No, it was something with the plane door or something. I swear, bro, like something crazy. And we were flying, you know, a Legion or some random little flight like that. Like, come on, MCs don't even go back. know? But so then we're sitting there, we got the bands out, we're working out in the the terminal trying to get it in. So we get to Sam Houston or Houston at like 1 a.m., 2 a.m. But we have a night game. So we're like, OK, cool.
speaker-1: We used to do like Sun Country or something.
speaker-2: We get out there, we go up there, we're defending national champions, right? They're number one in the country at this time. And we go up there 21-0 like that. I throw the little Philly special. I had a little slot fade early after a pick, like first possession, they throw a pick. I roll out there, it's slot fade. Man. Shit. You know, so.
speaker-1: I'm smiling. Good. Crazy.
speaker-2: Once I kind of that game and then we played an absolute team game and it was the one of the funnest games ever because offense defense special teams we all were hoping and was like, ⁓ yeah, and this was right after Matt left. This is right after Matt left. like we all
speaker-1: Okay, I forgot about
speaker-2: Yeah, our quarterback left and Tommy we're like, all right, freshman Tommy, let's go and he goes out there and goes nuts and we're like, ⁓ we're going all the way. We're going all the way.
speaker-1: gonna be special. That was 16 number 16 Tommy Malone. So wait a minute though don't gloss over that because I've never really gotten the background story on that. was that like did McKay have a conversation with y'all? What happened?
speaker-2: 16 Tommy No combo. No combo. He just left. combo. Yes, he just left. Him and the OC were kind of beefing because he thought he should have been doing this and he thought he could be making him better here and there, right? But like they had a little beef. don't know, really kind of, I really don't know the details. I wish I really did, but I just know he wasn't really happy and confident in his situation and that Montana loss. That Montana loss versus y'all.
speaker-1: man this is some badass shit man
speaker-2: hit our program so hard, because that was the first time in history we could have went five in a row. Yo, we are the Gristlayers at this point.
speaker-1: That was huge for us, bro. It detrimental for y'all. Huge for us. were all, yo.
speaker-2: one and then you know you're gonna have to answer to some people why we couldn't complete a damn pass you know we couldn't complete a pass out there they were blitz in the house couldn't block nobody we running wrong routes he's throwing the wrong ball here and there it's like yo what's going on and he was already kind of tapering down in his play because we got in the close game with Idaho that wait before like down to the wire and then I think we Eastern pretty tight as well so it's like yep yo yep come on you know
speaker-1: Absolutely, absolutely. You saw the signs. You saw the signs.
speaker-2: A little bit, but like when he left we were like,
speaker-1: What are we supposed to do? Here's a question. Do you guys get to the Natty if McKay stays?
speaker-2: I has to be
speaker-1: Tommy's special bro, I we know what Tommy's career is look like now.
speaker-2: Honestly, no, because no one had film on Tommy. So they didn't really know what to do. No one knew. It was like, do you want to put a spy? Do you want to, you know, stay in coverage? Right. And then Lance was already at a thousand before the get season was even up. So it was like, yo, how are we going to double team here? What are we going to do? And I was in the slot. It was like, we had some dudes, Isaiah Fonsi was hitting it. So we were like, yo.
speaker-1: He put us by, he gonna outrun him anyway.
speaker-2: We had a little squad with Tommy back there for sure. So I don't know, but I think we would have competed in the natty if he stayed.
speaker-1: Mmm, because
speaker-2: Tommy breaks his ankle. Matt McKay could have came in and saved the day. Save the day, you know, maybe maybe you bench him. Maybe coach you bench him. Put Tommy in and then next thing that Tommy get hurt you go boom Matt go save the day and he goes out and goes crazy and we win the Nattie verse and I don't know.
speaker-1: So so what did what did vegan and what did the OC say when mckay left like did they have a team meeting and hey guys like yeah
speaker-2: ⁓ We had an offensive meeting and we were talking about how Tommy's gonna now be the guy we're gonna cuz we had Tucker Rovick at the time But we were like, you know what? I think it's better for us to use Tommy because then we can have that dual threaded bike Okay, cool. And at the time I was kind of cool with it because they brought Tommy over to our receiver room and I'm like, yo
speaker-1: ability.
speaker-2: I'm like yo, let's get about 10. I'm getting three or four. So I don't know where Tommy gonna get these.
speaker-1: There's of to go around anyway.
speaker-0: You
speaker-1: You start doing the math like hey, there is not enough passes in this office to go around
speaker-2: ⁓ you want to him the jet sweep now? I'm the jet sweep. okay. Okay. You know what mean? So ⁓ I'm like, Tommy, let me know. I knew he had a deep on him too. So I'm like, let me go deep.
speaker-1: you
speaker-0: Yeah, that's dope, ⁓
speaker-1: So then kind of moving forward, ⁓ was playing professionally always a goal yours when you got to Montana State? And what did the process look like for you when college football was coming to an end?
speaker-2: I think, yeah, I think it became real kind of once my senior year started going well, right? Because I had two injuries, man. And I'm sitting here like, yo, come on, man. Like, I know I'm seeing dudes that I came out with in high school that are league. know, Weddington, Savon, I'm sitting here watching dudes like, yo, these are guys in my class, and they're signing contracts. And I still got I got a whole year left. I'm like, hold on, Willie. Let me lock in. And I think that was kind of where I saw myself be able to, after literally after that Northern Colorado game, I had two agents hit me up like, yo, what's up? We're gonna go to the NFL. And I'm like, ⁓ yeah, yeah, I think I think you know, and that was that was Saying I wanted to go to NFL definitely out of high school, you know, everybody wants to dream for it. But reality hit when these injuries started stacking and I'm like, ⁓ I got two years to my name rather than some of these dudes I see that got a plethora of career.
speaker-1: And you start to think about the offense you're in. Am I gonna get the passes that I need to even have the resume to get there?
speaker-2: See, so I'm sitting here like, how can I do this and reality sticking in and I'm like, okay, I know. Ooh, so I knew I needed to have a really good pro day if I had a chance. But ⁓ it was like, I knew it was gonna be a slim undrafted maybe maybe CFL for sure. But I didn't want to play professional.
speaker-1: Did you ever think about transferring or anything? You know, in those times? ⁓ Because obviously the portal started when you got into college. that ever an opportunity?
speaker-2: man like we looked at like i'm going to say we looked at transverse border shit as like you're weird like we have literally the best facilities fans we thought like where are you going to go that you're going to get something better than this
speaker-1: Unless you're going P4, G6. ⁓
speaker-0: Who's?
speaker-1: I 8,000 Kids could use your mentality. A lot of kids could use your mentality.
speaker-2: Like I'm sitting here and getting it in bro. I think I'm gonna just build something for that'll last a lifetime, right? So that was my that was kind of my goal.
speaker-0: You know what? We are
speaker-1: some more of this you had to feel somewhat slighted by like the Idaho states and the Portland states like the northern because you're like bro y'all not good you get an offer like what's good hello yeah I guess at the time Eastern was pretty nice Eastern was pretty nice at the time
speaker-2: Eastern actually Eastern Bro, they, I was the best player in the state at that time, if not top five. And I'm like, yo, Eastern, no. And then at Central, D2 offered me a 50. And if y'all don't dad, my dad at Central is the all time leading rusher there. All time. From 1984, that shit ain't been broke. Wow years he's got like 4 000 yards in two years russian damn, know what mean? I'm crazy. So like i'm sitting here like my dad is in the hall of fame twice And y'all ain't gonna give me no money and i'm the i'm the kin folk of them like Yo, felt disrespected when central said 50 i'm like, ⁓ yeah i'm going to montana state because montana state only offered me a 50 when I got there
speaker-1: was toy. New lights. That's D1 though. D1. D1. in Central Washington. **** What's up, Look that at 4,002 years? Oh my goodness. He was getting Yeah, like that, Hold up. We're not going to gloss over this fact that Montana State's out here getting bargains, bro. What's going on? Yeah. What is going on a 75, Max 75 his whole career. You on a 50? Like, yo. Can't **** on. Like, yo. What is going on? Yeah.
speaker-2: Be right, right. ⁓ yeah. 100 % bro like it was so crazy when they broke down my deal. I'm like, hold on what I'm 50 % I gotta pay for books but not for this but I gotta pay for this but not for this but alright I'll come shoot ⁓ it sounds good you know they're the money down some crazy Choke was doing it like yeah
speaker-1: He was finding a way. was finding a way. So one thing I want to cut in here, I want to get into your pro career, but I do want to touch on you were during the NIL era, 21 and 22. Did you get anything? Did you make any? Yeah.
speaker-2: I had two different deals. had one with our bar and then I had this other one. I can't remember. Where was it at some like chiropractors or where I was able to get these chiropractor appointments this and that. Yeah. The biggest one was I was on the our bar commercial. So I was able to do I did it two years in a row in like the second year I was paid more money for it as well. So like that was one of the coolest things man. I was getting money for just being you know rocking the number 11 on the shirt. You know like come on. Yeah, I was kind of cool. Yeah, but it was like to see the money that I was getting and then hearing what these kids are getting now, I'm like, boy, what's with some of that bread?
speaker-1: ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ my go- I'm not a pocket counter, like, mean, these taco gotta be getting some bread, bro. Hey, good, bro.
speaker-2: ⁓ Hey, right. ⁓ yeah, he's really good. And it's funny. He came in and I'm like, he's ready. Yeah, ready right now. He's ready right now.
speaker-0: you
speaker-1: Out of a player of the year.
speaker-2: Yeah, he was ready right now. So that when he came in, he had hands, he had separation at the top of his routes. He knew the playbook. I'm like, okay. And he was quiet, humble, no, didn't say a word. It was just ready to just soak it up.
speaker-1: like that no more. I'm gonna just say that. ain't like that no more. He was humble. He was humble then. He ain't humble no more. Which all credit to him. He's the national champion. mean, that boy got that shit done. But he is not that no more. He's- So we gotta get the back story. Sam is an analyst and he can be critical. He can be critical in taco.
speaker-2: See you.
speaker-1: when he won the national championship said, yeah motherfucker and what? And what? What was that? What was that? What was that shit you said? Yeah. Say that now. So I can't, Hey, I can't say nothing to him, You got it. Big. You got it, big bro. You got it.
speaker-2: What was that shit you said? I Right? was a guy when he was a freshman. like that's kind of my little that's my dude. I took out in the wing. So seeing him do this right what he's doing. I'm like, that's what I wanted. ⁓ You see you go to MSU you see the receivers like that's what I really wanted to leave behind where it's like yo, it's cool to be a receiver at Montana State now like fun like that's it.
speaker-1: Mm-hmm. Yeah, man. Yeah, also too. think I think the offense is way more balanced now the system you played in with chote definitely and then even the early vegan days was like heavy heavy run with stir big I feel like they're a super balance a lot of drop back They're passing a lot of rpo like they're doing their offense is sick, man I feel like the system was a little different than what you guys have
speaker-2: Oh, 100 % bro. Like, but you got to think we had probably like the best running back to come through Montana State. Like Isaiah Fonte literally has the career rushing record. like you got to, to bro. like, honestly too, you got Tommy running for a thousand and then the year before that you have Troy running for a thousand. You Sean Chambers. It's like as
speaker-1: You gotta feed him. You gotta feed Sean, or Chambers 2, you guys had Chambers 2?
speaker-2: As a coach now that I see through high school football, QB run game is probably the hardest thing to guard in all.
speaker-1: Yeah, plus one run game in
speaker-2: ⁓ my God. So might as well run QB power and follow that running day. I'm with you know, I see why they did it now.
speaker-1: Yep. Put that defense man in conflict that reads out that zone read option. Hey, he's been better better be athletic or he's he's swimming
speaker-2: Yeah.
speaker-1: And I'll talk about this after. We'll actually know that we're on the top of you talk about high school football. I'd imagine maybe at some point we'll see you rocking Navy with the cross with the big B. I don't know. I've seen a change. I see a change down there into the Tacoma coaching community that you coached last year. The coach has moved on to Bellarmine. So yeah, I figured, hey.
speaker-2: Yes!
speaker-1: We'll talk about your pro career now. You began your professional career playing for the Rain Fire where you helped your team win the European League of Football, ⁓ the league title. What was the first season like playing football overseas and was it everything you imagined it would be?
speaker-2: Honestly, I had no clue what it was gonna be, right? I had no idea they even played football over there. So once I got over there, I'm like, ⁓ wow. Like I thought I had to try out and their first practice are like, Willie, you with the ones? I'm like, huh? They're like, yeah, you wanna find it up? I'm like, ⁓ okay, like, all right. Like, and the dudes in line with me, the little German dudes like, yeah, yeah, go, go. You know what mean? Like, yeah, you the guy. And I'm like, ⁓ shoot, like.
speaker-1: They looking at Americans like, they know what they do.
speaker-2: Exactly. But a detriment, his name is a Nathaniel Robita. I go out there, right? He's the talk of Europe, man. He's been over at Europe for maybe three, four years before me. And he told me that one of biggest advice he said, you got to be ready for 70 plays straight on the bike, ready to go. There's no time you can be off because there's only four Americans out here. You want offense and two on defense, right? So if I don't have one of those Americans, I am at a disadvantage. A lot of guys go over to Europe and think it's sweet, right? And they're like, ⁓ I can tap my helmet and come off after a fable. No, now you'll a your a quarterback does not have an American receiver out there. And now you your next European getting locked up by an American corner. So like, realized, ⁓ shoot, I gotta be guy all times at all plays. Like I gotta be open every time. Like there's no reason to not be. So like that was one of the biggest adjustments to me. I'm sitting here like I've been able to, you know, maybe have a guy back me up. That's good. not good enough to, there's no drop off I would say.
speaker-1: It's a precipitous drop off when you go out, ⁓
speaker-2: speed agility just went boom for the whole team right so it's like oh hold on i gotta be ready so like that was one of the coolest things i get over there and man like being able to be the guy again that was what i was looking for that was i was looking for you know i've been grinding it out blocking all this no will you getting 15 touches i'm like oh thank you
speaker-1: You heard my prayers.
speaker-2: Give me the rock. Let's go. Let's spin that thing, bro. So like, I loved it. My first and we had a freaking squad. Like I walked in. I got so that the day Robo tie. He got hurt week six. I come in week seven and I have seven games left. I had maybe 10 touchdowns bro in seven games. I'm going absolutely nuts. Have like 500 yards going crazy. 400 yards brush and almost a thousand all purpose in Seven games. I'm sitting here like ⁓ bro. I was getting jet sweeps everything. I was getting bubbles I was getting the handoffs it was lit So like it was over there, but like but my experience was blessed because I came into a team They were seven and up They were already set or six and ⁓ so I'm like, ⁓ yeah And then we just rode it all the way went undefeated and won the whole thing and I'm sitting here like whoa I just went from Montana State pro day Germany
speaker-1: Can you run the box?
speaker-2: And I'm like, yo, and now we're undefeated. I'm like my first game. I flew it on a Thursday, practiced on Friday, bus to Paris, bus to Paris. Ten hours on that thing. I'm sitting here. They're sitting here like, are we going to meet at the bus on Saturday? I'm like, okay, we're to go to airport. They're like, no. I'm like, I haven't bussed to a football game since high school.
speaker-1: How long is that truth? What y'all talking about? It's like what?
speaker-2: So I'm sitting here like, okay, whatever. And then we go there and next thing you know, I'm playing under the Eiffel Tower. I was just in Bozeman three months, two months ago, I was in Bozeman, Montana. Now I'm in Paris playing it. I'm like, yo, this is crazy. it matured me so much as like a man just going over to Europe and just being able to experience life, but also play football. Like, man, it was such a blessing being able to do this.
speaker-1: Yeah, man. Yeah, man. That's special, man. What was what was the what was what was it like trying to get used like, do you know any German? Like, no, do people speak a of English over there?
speaker-0: So.
speaker-2: Thank you and please I
speaker-1: They speak lot of English or is it all German over there?
speaker-2: with almost everyone in Europe, their schooling system, they have to know three languages by the time they're done with technically high school, right? So they learn their home language and then they learn English and then they learn, they get to pick in high school, whether it's French or Spanish or whatever they're at, right? So when I get over there, I'm speaking English and they're speaking it right back, right? So that was a really cool thing. But then the next year I go to Spain and it's They're like, nope. No English, we don't want...
speaker-1: You're learn our language.
speaker-2: Yep, so I had to learn some Spanish to get my Google Translate out and really get to it. So that was one of the big adjustments to going to Spain from Germany.
speaker-1: What was it like ⁓ culturally? Because I mean, everybody talks about Spain, Madrid a little bit. What was it like for you and your experience?
speaker-2: think coming from Germany is more just like a little buzz of the town like your head down focused on work like people are working and doing like not really smiling. I guess you could say Spain man everybody laid back chill. They called siesta where it's like literally from like 11 to 2 you go to sleep. businesses will close from about 12 to 2 and their workers will go home rest.
speaker-1: Fine.
speaker-2: come back around three o'clock reopen the coffee shop and have coffee for the rest of the day. Right in the schedule of the every day. So like and then Sunday and Europe in general like Sundays everything's closed. most likely all your grocery stores are closed. All your bakeries are closed. So like if you don't get your groceries by Saturday, you're not going to get them Sunday unless you go to like a little little corner store and get you a little something. So like that life out in Spain, there was no rush to do anything. There was no rush. No one ever buzzing around trying to get somewhere. It was just like relaxed chill vibes the entire time and the weather was just beautiful.
speaker-1: ⁓ I bet. So I used to be posting, used to be posting a pool and some sunshine. I used be like, boy, Willie's out there living his best life.
speaker-2: Out there touching touchdowns touching touchdowns man sitting by the pool. Ain't too bad, brother
speaker-1: So obviously, obviously, ⁓ soccer is the main sport in Europe. How is football received out there like from the fans and from the people like how was all that go?
speaker-2: So like, like you said, it's similar to soccer in a sense of like the fans are cheering the entire time, like offense or defense. do not care. They're cheering. So like, I need them to be quiet. They're banging the drums every time I'm like, yo chill, but they're having fun. They don't know. They have no clue. Right. But then I think the skills are where you'll see the correlation a little bit where you're able to see maybe a good soccer player turns into a good little slaughter DB. but people they don't have big people in europe it's just not a thing they literally fat shame over there so you're not going to get literally literally bro like you don't see that people walk around so like just imagine you're trying to get a left tackle that's not been big he's just been bigger than most he's exactly so i'm here like that's probably the hardest thing you'll see in europe is to develop lineman
speaker-1: Yeah, quick feet.
speaker-0: You Yeah.
speaker-1: He's a stick. He's a stick.
speaker-2: because and that's the freaking game that's our game it starts in the trenches right like they're trying to make it this flashy fun it's like no bro i need some big linemen up here so that's why you always see like the germans and the austrians usually kill the leagues because those are bigger body people and the french guys ⁓ you know the spanish ⁓ They're kind of skinny, they're fast, they're not really big people, you know? It's just a culture. So you always see like big linemen, even if you see like, like, they do like these international pathways where guys are able to come from Germany and play in the NFL. Most likely every time there's some type of D and linebacker or even O lineman. There's never a German receiver come over here and do something like,
speaker-1: and everybody out there.
speaker-2: You're just not better than Buddy from Florida. I'm sorry. Nothing you could do to be having them knees like they got.
speaker-1: Absolutely. Are the rules the same? the rules the same?
speaker-2: Yeah, NFL rules, right? But the only thing is, like, they're trying to make it European because NFL Europe back in the day, I don't know if you remember NFL Europe, right?
speaker-1: for my time. I hear about it all the time.
speaker-2: When you could switch over those teams and they were random back in the day and it was random teams like those were the NFL Europe teams like Frankfurt Galaxy, Ryan Firewood.
speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Coach Peece played in NFL Europe. Keenan? What? Coach Peece played in NFL Europe.
speaker-2: Right. So that was 98 % Americans and then one or two Germans. So now they flipped it and said, okay, we're going to make it 95 % Europeans and then the four Americans. But that has now kind of hurt it because you know, if you kind of miss on an American and this guy's nice, hey, yo, you're out of luck. You know, like you're not gonna you're not gonna succeed and then you have certain cultures to where like you're playing Switzerland. They're not having any big people at all. They have no idea what football is and they're trying to play against some big hunky Germans that had NFL Europe. They've had American football in their culture, at least from the 90s. Where now these teams like even for my team that I'm at Prague now, like it wasn't really big back then. So now it's like you're trying to influx this fan group and all these players to play football. But they're like, I don't really know how to play, but I watching it. Yeah. You know, I would say the physicality is probably the one thing that I could compare it to maybe be like, honestly, like high school ball, bro. Like it's it's. not to put no shame on it but it's a little glorified semi-pro just a little bit because i'm able to travel the world and do all that cool stuff but like it's german on willy ⁓ throw it up i don't care what he's doing i don't care right but american american okay let me tighten up let me give him like a relief yeah it's like other times you can kind of get away that's why sometimes usually i see my highlights it's like yo
speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah.
speaker-2: Why was he doing this at Montana State? It's like, yeah, these dudes was taking angles in college, tackling. They do not want to hit me.
speaker-1: These dudes are not Also, like, there's no development. There's no development. Like we're playing football from from elementary school, bro, like out there. Like me and my wife, we were on our honeymoon and there was this guy who plays soccer, professional soccer, but he's like in the fourth. It's like it's like triple A baseball bases like he's in the fourth league in soccer and they don't have high school sports out there. They don't have like that's not a thing. So it's like they're not developing all these years. They're getting into it. Like these guys are going to their day job and then going to play football. It's like it's like
speaker-2: They're paying to play. Yeah, it's crazy. Some of the dudes on my team pay to play. I'm like, got me. No, I was there. What? And you're showing up to every practice on time. They love it.
speaker-0: Power!
speaker-1: Thank
speaker-2: I don't even think I paid in pop water pops was the code But like like the development they don't start until I think 14 13 14 years old That's when they start flag. Yeah, okay Okay, but you know flag ain't gonna translate no, no, you gotta smack somebody in the thing is like the physicality bro, you'll see like ah He's kind of timid. He's got a little
speaker-1: You know Okay. Absolutely. Absolutely. I got him. I can get him.
speaker-2: I see them eyes get all wide and you trying to hit me and I'm used to I'm used to Tayo kind of coming off this hip. Yeah. And now you looking at me chopping your feet. I'm like, oh, you ain't trying to hit. You ain't trying to hit. You trying to grab. I'm going to do that.
speaker-1: With the heads out, like... Oh, man. I'm glad that you're having a good time and like, I don't know. It's just cool. I always think and I tell people that, you know, played in college and I've seen you have success doing it. I've seen I know Connor went out there for a little bit. I see me just won the championship. Malik Flowers is one championship.
speaker-2: I saw him leaked out there. Yeah, I did see him. He was playing with my boy Nate Stewart.
speaker-1: Yeah, there we go. Mitch Feddick's been out there for years. Riley Hennessy was out there playing and always tell people again, if nothing else, like just the experience to travel the world, right? And just to play something you've been doing like you could, you could work forever, but we need to play football. As you know, it's like your window is so short. So absolutely. And kudos to you for being able to do that. Cause that's just a unique experience. I think a lot of college football players don't think about. and they're not even open to it. And it's like, man, to see your experience has been, has been awesome.
speaker-2: Yeah, and I think too, like one of the big things is I had no clue if I would have knew like known coming out of college, like I could go play in Japan, like Japan's paying bread. Japan.
speaker-1: You're not for fun.
speaker-2: You know, even the Italian leagues are paying bread. The Mexican leagues paying real money, like real good money. You can get off over there. Like you're good. like I think if there was some type of way to be maybe I was thinking too, like maybe an avenue for me is like be a liaison for this league to where I can bridge the gap between. But I'm like, yo, anybody of these like I'm coming to these colleges, maybe Montana say, hey, if you guys.
speaker-1: Scout talent.
speaker-2: are aspiring to play next level and don't think the NFL is your way. Hey, I have these 10 different leagues. Go ahead and apply. me your film. I can get it through the book and then they pay me. I pay them. And then now we got a little business going right. So I'm seeing that I can now make my connections from what I just did over plan and maybe have something lifelonging over in Europe. know,
speaker-1: So for the league you're in right now, what does it look for you to get to like Japan or like a Mexico? Like what does that whole process look like?
speaker-2: It's honestly word of mouth, just trying to get somebody to know somebody, right? And like, what I tell people, I have guys in my DMs all the time like, hey bro, how do I get in your league? How do I get in your league? And it's honestly, find their Instagrams, find these coaches, find these players and do what they just did to me. Hit them up like hey, I got film. Here's here I am right or it's like, you know, like you said like you got Malik flowers out there. So like you want to play you hit Malik like yo Malik tell your dudes about me man. I'm nice right next. You know, you need it. But the thing is there's only four American spots. Yeah, so do the math for Americans bots on 12 different teams. There's only what what is the I can't what is that? And Americans out of 300
speaker-1: Yeah. Get it? Dang, that's kinda crazy,
speaker-2: athletes so that's a slim chance for you to get in there really you know so i get it
speaker-1: Yeah. That's kind of crazy. there a rule against a guy playing both ways?
speaker-2: Nope. Yeah. Okay. I definitely would want to. That was my next goal was like I played running back. I played quarterback. I played receiver. Now I want to play a little DB get a little pick or something. That'd be hard. Is it out there?
speaker-0: Travis, kind of self.
speaker-1: Is it like that only two Americans are you said there's only two Americans on each side of the ball, right?
speaker-2: Yeah, so that's the rule, right? And then there's six. So you have 10 imports on your team. Four of those imports can be American. The rest can be outsourced through different countries.
speaker-1: ⁓ anywhere in Europe, basically.
speaker-2: Yep. So we had a couple guys from the UK. We had a dude from like Brazil. We had a dude from Germany that came and played for us in the Czech Republic. Right. So you can now mix match your teams. And that's the funnest thing about the league is where some teams like, all right, for instance, I'm gonna ask you guys this. You got four spots. Where are you using them?
speaker-0: You
speaker-1: If I was a coach in Europe
speaker-2: You're coaching Europe, right? You got your two on offense. Where are you putting your two on offense?
speaker-1: Probably.
speaker-0: Dang.
speaker-1: I'm probably going a I'm probably going to a quarterback. I think I need a quarterback and a receiver.
speaker-2: Right? Have to. Have to. Now defense is where we can get a little tricky.
speaker-1: I need a pass rusher. need a pass rusher. Yep. Somebody gets your quarterback. No, you're right. I need a pass rusher and a nickel. Yeah. Because you got to get to the corner. You to be able to have someone like a Trent Mcduffy. Trent Mcduffy, But then you can place on, yeah, Trent Mcduffy, you know, I get it. But someone that you could place on their best player. But that's why I asked if you could play both ways because like you can be Trent Mcduffy on the other side.
speaker-2: Yeah, right. That would be cool. But then that's a lot of snaps. That's a lot of snaps for my body, right? now you're sitting here like, okay, will you? Yep, right. I play drive on defense and now you want me to go run these deep balls? Yeah, right. Right. But like, for instance, I think the double corner at American locks the whole thing down. Right.
speaker-1: Absolutely. Is it a lot of passing? it running or what? does that look like?
speaker-2: Yeah, the league the league is very pass heavy, right? And there's some good European German like the next best guy on each team is probably D3 maybe NAIA type five of a receiver not saying I'll know American D3 but like he can probably play over here maybe. It's not trash, but he's good. Right? We just got to do he just signed a mind on state out of my team. He's a little young.
speaker-1: So he's not gay.
speaker-2: 20 year old, but he's, he's nice. He's nice. He's going to be good if he kind of gets people, right? He's got some upside to him. So like he got a little offer from mine on state, right? But like, for instance, being able to play receiver out there is probably the easiest transition for all these soccer players, right? So the next best DB you have better be able to guard that guy or it's going to be bad. So like you say you got your password for cool, but this guy European over here is kind of nice. I receive him. You're locking up Willie cool, but this guy's nice. Who's going to go to him? I might as well put my American out there, but like we had a team that had a mic.
speaker-1: Wow, an American mic?
speaker-2: He was going out there calling out our plays. No run. He was seeing power and trap, right? And he's up. You know what I mean? He's calling out the defense. He's got that leadership and he was kind of a tough guard. You're going against now Mike in a corner, but then we played it like you said, Hamburg. They had a nasty D end and a safety. Now that's a whole different team. You kind of got a game plan.
speaker-1: ⁓ my god
speaker-0: Yeah.
speaker-2: Then you play against Frankfurt. had two corners. Now you got to play a Mavilla different. like each team, kind of got to see their matchup. It's like 2K a little bit. Like where's your archetypes at? Right?
speaker-1: Okay, you got two quarters? He's a stretch four. Exactly. What about the playbook and like the coaches? Are the coaching staffs all Europeans? Are they Americans? then what is like the plays? Okay.
speaker-2: Yep, American, 100%. Because it's like, it's our game at the end of the day. It's our game. So like, we're trying to go over there and spread the love of our game and to have a European try to tell me how to run a go route. Come on, bro.
speaker-1: Well. Is your coach asking you, is your coach like, you show us the drill. Like you do this. Yeah.
speaker-2: My last team I was the receiver coach for sure ⁓
speaker-1: ⁓ Bill Russell
speaker-2: Indy I'm seeing stuff on film. I yell coach. We need to put this in he's like, oh, yeah, I like that I'm like, all right, let's game plan that on 37 I like this slam on the right side verse man, like let me get that I'm gonna give you some rack after that, you know, we're trying to game plan and then just even like special teams We were huge at Montana State with special teams. So like yeah, I'm setting up some returns that I remember I'm setting up this raw return that I like they're like, oh, yeah
speaker-1: It probably makes you a better coach too, like when you come back and coach like.
speaker-2: I had a receiver room that didn't know English. I get them to get out their curl in three steps.
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-0: What the fuck?
speaker-1: I gotta first get him to understand the American language that I'm trying to use.
speaker-2: before I get Exactly. So like I come back here and I gotta coach a little sophomore American like I can now relate so much better to be able to articulate my words and
speaker-1: you to be more creative to try to show them how to show it. got to show them example. You got to get on the field and actually show it and draw it up and make it very elementary to where they can understand it. So now when it's actually back into English, man, that's amazing.
speaker-2: Right. So that's kind of like my little niche in a sense of being able to coach over here now. It's like I'm starting to see how effective I am. Yeah. Bringing guys to their level of play or receiver where I'm like, ooh, I had a kid from Spain that had no idea how to run a post. Now he hits a boop boop at the top. Now he's rocker and stepping and winning. Like, here we go. Now it's translating. So.
speaker-1: That's dope. That's dope, man. We would be remiss, right? While we're on the topic of coaching, we would be remiss if we didn't shout out at proroutes.wp. Willie's coaching and route technician Instagram, right? And hopefully some of the guys overseas see it. So that way, you know, they're prepared when you get over there to already know some of the coaching points that you got, right? You're like, Hey, I need y'all to catch on a little quicker. Right? Yeah.
speaker-2: And it's honestly two for it's for people out here as well. Like I think a lot of the route God stuff I've watched I know you guys have watched certain stuff We're like, you know, I'd be like, oh I can take that from that game or I could take that from here So like I wanted to get more I've seen guys more like I've had kids pay me to watch their Tape over the phone rather than come to a workout. It's a little different generation now, right? They're rather, you know, they rather say hey coach Can you save me the workout rather than pull up the field to get this work? So I'm like, okay
speaker-1: Post these.
speaker-2: videos on instagram let y'all see what you need to do and let me know if you to it's it's it's cool to see this instagram stuff but like it's kind of weird i don't know if you guys know like the stuff that we did was kind of you know like i didn't want nobody to know my bag like that's like i ain't trying to you the sauce but i'll give it to you but it's kind of hard for me because like i ain't doing it for the gram
speaker-1: Different generation, man. ⁓ Yeah
speaker-2: But now I kind of kind of do it for the gram because that's kind of my avenue now. like this stuff is real work. Absolutely. I'm doing it for the gram now. I get it. But you know.
speaker-1: I've been doing this for years, you know, but... It's growing the game, right? And that's the way I view it is like, ⁓ I was big on YouTube, I was big on Instagram, and it's like cool that you could pour into people. And I'm sure you have people hit you up like, ⁓ man, this drill really worked for me, and you'll see it in real time. So like, we're kind of in this influx age of like, didn't want to be doing it for the gram. So it's a little cringy, but at the same time, if it's providing a service and it's providing like value to others, why not? You know what saying? Like do it to the fullest extent because you're helping people develop their game.
speaker-2: Absolutely. It's like hard for me to hear my voice in these voiceovers. I'm like, this is corny, bro. Post it, really post.
speaker-1: Yeah, we probably feel the same way with the pod. It's like weird, but it's like, hey, we get the thing that probably keeps us going. It's like people in the comments saying like, man, we really enjoyed this episode, right? I love this shit, Keenan. I don't feel, I love doing it for the gram. I love being on the camera. I love talking. He wanted him. wanted him. Yeah, but you know, wanted to give you that shout out because it really is cool to see you. Success to not having as well.
speaker-2: Not yet. We used to be training, you know them drills man. We used to be training. know me and Kenan was beefing for a little bit Sam. You'll know that.
speaker-1: What? Tell me the story. So Sam, so Sam, this is what it was Sam. It was me being sensitive, bro. I own it. own it. No, no, accountability. As long as y'all willing to take accountability. I appreciate it. So 2019, is, you know, Sam knows because I came in with that class, like Kobe, Jesse, all those guys, Jerm, Justin, but Jerm wasn't there. And they you guys bad.
speaker-2: I own it, no, it's me, bruh, it's me.
speaker-1: You guys were having a beer, but they beat the shit out of you guys. And I was hurt. I thought you guys were going to win, bro. And I posted something and Willie's like, y'all didn't beat shit.
speaker-2: you
speaker-1: I snapped back because I was like, no, fuck that, fuck that. But I was hurt.
speaker-2: Yeah, he was like, man, you ain't even playing like, you know, you're right. I have been hurt. I ain't played a lick in these games like. On the chin is like, if he's thinking that and I grew like we literally trained together since I was 16. So I'm like, he isn't respecting me in a sense of my game on the field yet.
speaker-1: What? But I was, I was sorry.
speaker-2: And that hurt me to the sense like, ⁓ let me turn up. Like, I'm not turning up right. Like, yeah, he's saying that about me. So like, I took it internally. Like, I did. was like, you know what I'm like? I you know what? Like, after sitting back and thinking about it, that helped me because I'm like, you know what? I need to be able to I can't be saying FDG FDG if I made a catch in
speaker-1: Absolutely, man.
speaker-2: Get it, it's cool. Like, that's the doings that shit for the gram. Like, I'm over here posting this about FDG and I can't even stay healthy a season, let alone make some flades and even score a touchdown. And I'm like, hold on, let me get right, Keenan, you.
speaker-1: Let me reevaluate some things. Let me reevaluate some things. I own this only because like as a older person that trained together that shouldn't have been that reaction. And I hope like I hope you know it's always love and I'm pretty sure I'll double back and apologize because I was like yo I was out of pocket for that but uh. man. Young bull.
speaker-2: That's like that's the stuff that would like separates why FSP and like what we do is like we have that accountability factor we're like if you're not balling bro people like yo what you doing? What you doing, bro? Like get off the gram get to work get you'll get on the lap
speaker-1: Yeah ⁓ That was the biggest thing for me in college was I wanted to have something to stand on bro like I wanted to be able to stand on my own too and I wanted a resume that was respectful respectable right I 100 % resonate with what you're saying like guys being on the ground being on social media it's like like bro do something
speaker-2: make no plays. You know it's like you ain't making no plays on Saturday and you want to say you're- What are we talking about? You want to your receiver stance and you ain't get-
speaker-1: about Willie. That's the crazy one, the dudes that post the warm up. Cause you see it too, you like, bro, like what? That jersey is fresh as hell. And it was the fourth quarter fam. What are you talking about? I was on the gram too. Like I was big on the gram, but I also felt like, I earned this shit. like, uh, but to that, that one, like that will always haunt me that interaction that we had, because it just felt like I was so damn sensitive that like I got outside of myself and I allowed, I allowed the game. to overshadow the brotherhood of like FSP. And I was just like, damn, like, bro, why you snap it, bro? Like he's just excited that his team won. You know what I'm saying? And so I had to correct myself because I was like, yo, as a grown man, and maybe I was unhappy with my position in life. Man, I'll be honest with you. I was checking somebody into the Nordstrom feeding room as an employee at Nordstrom, a year removed from playing in the Brawler a while.
speaker-2: It's all my
speaker-1: He's right, they beat our ass. I'm sitting here checking somebody into the fitting room. And I'm like, damn, I'm not happy with that life right now, dog. ⁓
speaker-0: At least not.
speaker-1: Hey, on break to 15 minute break. No, it's all good. It's all sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I appreciate your us just reconnecting and being cool. Boy, I was I was a salty, sad motherfucker.
speaker-2: 12.
speaker-0: I'm a beautiful person.
speaker-2: This one, oh man. People don't know like we coming from somewhere. We're like we have no idea what this Rivalry is and the next you know, it's like it'll turn your best friends to your enemies real quick Example of what that game really
speaker-1: Absolutely. I remember taking a picture after the 2018 game or maybe 2017 game with you and Isaiah and my face is so salty bro. Yeah, my face is so so I'm just like. It would have been 2018 because he got there in 2018 right?
speaker-2: bro like No, he, ⁓ that was when you guys were at home. That was 2017.
speaker-1: Yeah, 2017 was in in Bozeman. 2017 was in Bozeman. You guys were at home. Yeah, 2019 was in Bozeman. 2018 was at home. 2018 is the Miracle Mozilla.
speaker-2: Yeah, 2018, no, I couldn't find you. I couldn't find you after the miracle.
speaker-1: You couldn't find anybody. You couldn't find anybody after that game, brother. I was out of find anybody after that game. I was up in the locker room. I was up in the locker room. Where y'all was gone?
speaker-2: remember he had a catch on the sideline right in front of me. I'm like, that's incomplete. He like, that was a catch. I said, yeah, it was.
speaker-0: Yeah, yeah.
speaker-1: I was in the locker room pissed after that game. said, that one looking up, looking over Keenan, looking over at that receiver bay or that running back bay like, yo, sick, Get showered and get the fuck out. Sick. ⁓
speaker-0: I'm sure about that.
speaker-2: Did you guys even talk as a team after that? Like, did you guys come up together and say, all right, y'all.
speaker-1: ⁓ I could not tell you one I couldn't tell you one word from house speech after that game. I couldn't don't I could tell you what Justin Calhoun said to He was talking some hot shit to him in the locker room you're weak like
speaker-0: from you, bro.
speaker-2: Thank you.
speaker-1: He was hot, But I was a statesman. had to be like... Elder statesman. Yeah, I was like the captain. So I'm like, bro, it's cool. In my head, I'm like, I'm hot right now. I'm tight, bro.
speaker-0: to use.
speaker-2: That was how we were, Mero, when you guys beat us at home, I mean, at there, that was at 2021.
speaker-1: 21. But you guys had chance to win the championship, the ring. You guys had chance to win the ring right there.
speaker-2: So we and we, don't know, me and Isaiah almost got him up in the, in the bus. I swear bro, like, cause I didn't even complete a pass. Receivers weren't doing that. And so I'm sitting here, we gave the ball to and everybody. It wasn't working. You know, so I'm in the back, you know, chopping it up, maybe giggled a little bit. He get up. Why you laughing bro?
speaker-1: Man, I'm sitting there, we...
speaker-2: like you do nothing anyway. You're gonna get hit and he like what what and then we got you know you got the big senior in the front like hey guys you guys be quiet we got a whole season left I'm like nah. to my name
speaker-1: I got a story just like that, bro. But it's a little different. Like we I knew we weren't going to. Well, I don't even want to say that because we did win in 2021. But Eastern Washington and Kenan, not Eastern Washington, Washington in 2017, Washington in 2015. Kenan, remember this. So I'm on the but we lost. We got beat down, Willy. Sixty three to seven or like it was nasty. Like they had this right after Buddha had left. So they still had Byron Murphy. Uh, not Kevin King. had a Taylor, something Taylor. They had dogs. had dogs. keep the roster. Browning was still there. Jojo. Savon was still there.
speaker-2: Yeah.
speaker-0: You did better, we're still going.
speaker-1: Squash, squash. Anyway, we got beat down, Willie. And I'm having a good time on the back of the bus. Like, you know, I'm a freshman. I played a little bit. I actually was leading receiver if we want to be real. I had 34 years. For 20. Yeah. It wasn't crazy. It wasn't crazy at all. But I'm having a good time on the back of the bus. Like we all knew he was going to fucking move. And our coach stands up and comes back there and is like, shut the hell up.
speaker-2: three
speaker-1: What are you laughing about? What's funny? We got seniors on this bus who just played their who just who just like this is their last year of college football. I'm coach like bro you can't be can't be. I love coach Faraday. I love coach Faraday. He's at Central. But like bro what are we talking about? Like why are you coming at me like we we weren't going to win like come on. are we talking about? Yeah, think everybody knew we wasn't going to win that one. That was a one bro. Yeah.
speaker-2: We played wazoo that same year. We got blasted.
speaker-1: I remember but Keenan remember Sandry started with the pick six and we thought oh man we like we like fuck around and fuck around. That was amazing bro. I was at that game as a fan I said oh wow.
speaker-2: You got your lick back though.
speaker-1: Hey, I'd never forget. What's his name? Kyron the corner, you know, uh, what's was the name Keenan Kyler Kyler Gordon Kyler Kyler Gordon at the end of the game when we're kind of like kneeling it out and shit. He's standing there and he was just, you know, he's about to go to the league. Like he wasn't really tripping on that. He but he was like, he was like, damn bro, like we're really about to lose. I was like, I know bro. And I was like, damn, we're really about to win.
speaker-2: you
speaker-0: Bye!
speaker-1: I like, yo, he did not give a fuck, bro. I'm like, yo, y'all are about to lose to us, bro. Like, this should not be happening. Like, obviously, I thought we were a really good team, and we were. But, yo, crazy. He's now. He don't give a fuck about that, boy. He's pay paid. He does not care. does not Pockets deep. Yes. So.
speaker-2: Yeah, that was yeah. ⁓
speaker-1: ⁓ Okay, let's get a little bit on track. We probably have like just a couple questions left. So looking back, what's something you wish your younger self, maybe your freshman year at Montana State knew? Or actually, let's talk about after the injuries, right? You talked about that moment when you're in the field house and you're like, damn, like what's something that if now you would go back and tell yourself? ⁓
speaker-2: I would say probably dive more into some of the like the guys that I wasn't associated with right like you know you got your clique of friends right I think I should have got more out into like actually like some of them white boys where I'm like you know I should have went out and kind of went to maybe you know French town and hanged out with my boys or went to you know sunny side or whatever where it's like you know getting out and out from my circle because I had some really good friends man but I think there's some guys that I definitely didn't get close with as much as I wish I could have because you know man this life's short and I wish I could have got Elise to just talk to him still you know because there's some guys I still talk to but not really you know I so I think I wish I could have just spent in my horizon a little bit more in Montana and then honestly bro I wish I could have just Really dove in on just like pure pro day stuff like you know like pure pro day to where it's like I knew like my first time really truly running a 40 was almost pro day You know what I mean? Like I didn't really we didn't really train 40s as much as we think I should have done coming out I should have been working on that stance working on hold on. Let me close this. Oh
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-2: But yeah, I should have been just working on that stuff, think, just being able to, you know, working on my bench, working on my bra, just being able to be ready for that moment or just have a baseline of where I'm at, you know?
speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Absolutely. For college athletes hoping to play professionally, what's one piece of advice you think they don't hear enough?
speaker-2: confidence. confidence in yourself. ⁓
speaker-1: Absolutely, man.
speaker-2: That was probably one of the hardest things I had to realize that I didn't have as much until I kind of had a sports psychologist talk to me and figure out how to get my mind right. Because like I said, it was tough to be ready for those three to four plays. Working out and training for those three to four plays and I dropped a couple and I'm like, am I like that? And then we had a receiver coach that kinda didn't really help us develop
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-2: confidence wise he was really good on getting in and out of routes and stuff like that but he didn't instill that confidence in us right so he kind of put us down a little bit he was kind of tough on us where it was like damn am i good and that hurt me to where I think that's what helped me once I got my confidence. was like, oh, I don't care who's in front of me. I'm my work. I'm trusting my preparation and I don't care. It's going it's going to come the cream go rise to the top. Right. So like that kind of is the biggest thing I would say to kids is keep your confidence, man, because coaches are either going to tell you how good and or most likely are going to tell you what you did wrong or what you can't do. You drop that bar. You're short on that route or you miss that block. And that stuff gets in your head over and over and
speaker-1: stop.
speaker-2: over that stuff can you know be detrimental to somebody because I've seen the best guys come down to you know from different levels and it's like ⁓ you kind of you're mental you're struggling a little bit you know you don't have that grit that belief and once I've seen guys that maybe not good but believe in themselves like for instance like not even like saying Ty's not good but whoa you couldn't tell Ty was not good you couldn't tell him nothing He was out there like, what's up, Troy? Where you at? Where you at? Lance? Line it up. You know what I mean? Like that stuff builds confidence and just, you know, you start to succeed off of that. Once one good rep goes, you start stacking them. And then I think that's probably the biggest thing. Guys want to play pro. You're going to have to have confidence because no one's going to just... Come on, bring you along. You're going to believe in yourself regardless of anybody, what they say in the media, what people are saying, who you're going to go against. Because like I've had guys drop down or I go get the Bama corner out there in Europe. Came from Bama. That can either make you go, hey, ⁓ God, it's Bama. ⁓ I've been waiting for a Bama. Let me see what y'all about. know, let me see what this Bama about. Like, is that your mentor? Are you going to go like, ⁓ God, he must be good. Like, nah, bro, you got to have that mentor where you like, I don't know. think they, I read a little ⁓ something about like, you kind of have to have like a narcissistic mind in a sense of like, I'm better than this man. I'm a better human than you on this field.
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-2: Right. that doesn't lead into life. But on this field, I have to think that I am going to be better than you and I'm going to oppose my will. Right. And like, if you don't have those things, like you're going to struggle when you meet a dude that he he's like that and he's going to your gangster, you know, hold on, lock in, you know, advice.
speaker-1: It's the same thing with like a team mentality. Like when you're going from being a losing team to being a winning team, like shifting that mindset and becoming a winner and understanding that no matter when, like no matter what happens, no matter what they throw at us, we are going to win this game. Even if we get down by 21 points, that's like what happens when you're playing like a Mercyhurst or you're playing like a Portland state. They might score a couple of touchdowns, but we know, come on bro, like we're going to win. Like we all know how this is going to end. You got uncompromising sense of self-belief.
speaker-2: Yeah, right.
speaker-1: And that is like what's going to take you to where you're going to get to. And I think that carries into life too and some things. ⁓ When your football career is all said and done, how do you hope people describe Willie Patterson, both as a player and as a person?
speaker-2: Yeah, definitely. As a player, just want people to ⁓ realize like you could feel my energy while I played, right? You could just feel just the positive energy, the excitement when I played, the back flips, you know what I mean? Like you felt like you're smiling, you're happy seeing somebody run out there and run around and be fun and fast and stuff like that. And then just as like a person, I just want someone to really, you know. I was selfless. I wanted to serve others. was really big on leadership and then just with the kids, man. I loved after the game having kids run up and I wanted to make sure I took every picture. I gave them all my gloves. Like I just wanted to make sure that if because I once was that kid. I really was. was in my brother's games. was at the UW games. was at, you know, Central Washington games when I like I was that kid that was like, ⁓ my gosh, like you're so cool to be a college football player. So I want kids to realize, man, I helped that dream come true. Maybe one day where I was like, you know, you believe in yourself. Like I shook a kid's hand that maybe he needed or hugged a kid that needed a hug. You know, I think just being that big leader in a sense of just in that community of somebody they can look to that's doing right and serving, you know.
speaker-1: special. ⁓ Well, do you have anything you want to shout out? Anything? Anybody you want to show love to or anything like that?
speaker-2: Shout out my cats man, you know To my cats bro. Shout out to all my little bros going to get that big thing on that finger But ⁓ honestly, shout out to all my teammates that came in with me that 2017 class We had like Troy Anderson Lance Callahan that 2017 class I think really built something special at Montana State Yeah, and I just want to shout out to all those boys man because I think where Montana State's at it's gonna last for a long time because
speaker-1: Yeah
speaker-2: because of something that we built way back then. Guys, man, ⁓ honestly, the fans too, man. I go back and I get love every time. like that Bozeman, Montana changed me. My family wants to move there. My mom misses it. My dad misses it. You know, so like, I love that place with all my heart. So shout out Bozeman, Montana, man, my teammates. Yeah, man. Shout out to you guys. Let me come on here and share my story a little bit. out here and talk, you know, have a little conversation.
speaker-1: Started the foundation course. Yeah, appreciate you for coming on, man. We love it. We appreciate you, Yeah, even though it's even though he's a cat, we still appreciate it. We appreciate your time, man. We know we had a slot for an hour, but some of these stories like it's good that we had a little extra time to really chat and get to have the people our audience get to know you and why you are so beloved in Bozeman. Appreciate you, bro.
speaker-2: Sure, thank you guys,
