WEBVTT
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Excellent.
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Good morning, team.
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Welcome to the Standard Podcast, where we raise the bar, rebuild the culture, and call it the lies or misconceptions that nobody else will.
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This isn't motivation, this is a movement.
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I'm Thomas Rowe, joined by my host, Aaron Charles, and today I'm super stoked we're sitting down with Alex Molden, former NFL cornerback who overcame a devastating injury to become a first-round draft pick, played eight seasons in the league, and now serves as a motivational speaker, helping others overcome their own challenges.
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Alex's story is one of resilience, perseverance, and the power of refusing to let setbacks define you.
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He played college football for the University of Oregon, Go Ducks, where he was part of the team that reached the 95 Rose Bowl.
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But his path wasn't without obstacles.
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During the independence poll, Alex suffered a devastating knee injury, tearing his ACL and his MCL.
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And an injury that could have ended most careers.
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What happened next defines Alex's character.
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Instead of giving up, he committed to nine months of grueling rehabilitation.
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He came back to start nine games in 93 and was selected as an All-Pac-10 cornerback in 1994 and became an All-Pac-10 Football Coaches Association All-American in 95.
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That resilience paid off when Alex was drafted by the Saints with 11th overall pick of the first round in 1996.
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Well, we've come a long way with the draft, haven't we?
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He went on to play eight seasons in the NFL for the Saints, San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, accumulating 298 tackles, 12 interceptions, and eight sacks.
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Today, Alex is based in Portland as a motivational speaker, and he is the father of eight children, including Elijah Molden, who played college football at Washington and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 21.
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I believe he's playing for the Chargers now.
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We're driving into the truth.
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We're diving into the truth behind what it really takes to build identity, discipline, and legacy in sports and in life.
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Let's get into it.
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Alex, thanks so much for joining us.
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I'm super excited.
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Thomas, thank you for that long intro.
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But it's so cool, man.
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Aaron, it's always good to see you.
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You as well.
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Thanks for joining us today.
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Yeah.
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Awesome.
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Alex, you're a former first-round NFL draft pick who played eight seasons in the league.
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But before the success, you faced a devastating knee injury at Oregon that tore ligaments and could have ended your career.
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What does raising the standard mean to you after living through that kind of adversity?
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I think for me, it was all about I needed to turn into somebody to be able to overcome this and to use this in the way that I wanted to.
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I didn't want this to be like the end all for me.
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And I was, and I was very fearful of that because you know, you hear about knee injuries and you hear about guys, especially back then, guys never coming back.
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Right.
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And so I was just, I was very fearful of being a statistic.
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And not on the not on the the good side of it, but on the bad side of it.
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So I'll never forget, man, the doctor after he performed the surgery, and I'm, you know, I'm scared to death.
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I'm worried.
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I've never had surgery before.
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And I asked him, I said, will I be able to bounce back?
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Will I be the same?
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And he looked at me and he he kind of laughed.
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And he said, Alex, I did everything I did.
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You have a brand new light, you have two brand new ligaments.
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Wow.
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Now it now it's all up to you.
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And I was like, that's all I needed to hear because we're talking about raising the standard or setting the standard.
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It was when I heard that, I knew I mean I had the foundation.
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Right.
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Meaning I knew what hard work was.
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My dad was a drill sergeant.
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It's something that was, you know, I wasn't the smartest when it comes to football IQ.
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I wasn't the strongest.
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I wasn't the fastest, but man, I knew what hard work meant.
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Right.
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And so once I heard that, I was like, okay, that's all I needed to know.
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And then I didn't, I was very disciplined.
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I was uh I worked my butt off, but I was very disciplined.
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And I didn't do anything extra that my my PT or my strength and conditioning coach at Oregon.
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I didn't do anything extra outside what the program meant.
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And a lot of time it was very boring.
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You know what I'm saying?
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It's like Danielson, wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off.
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And so I just I just really dove into the process.
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Yeah.
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Love it.
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And what do you think is the biggest lie that you feel the culture of the sports industry has sold athletes about setbacks and injuries and what it really takes to come back stronger from life's biggest challenges?
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I think the biggest lie is that that is going to be it's going to be easy.
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Right.
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You know, like it is so it was so incredibly difficult.
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And not just from a physical standpoint, but also like a mental.
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I think that's the biggest thing is like the mental aspect that you have to be willing to go through.
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You know, there were so many times, especially early on, where I I wanted to uh I wanted to go out.
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I was feeling a little bit better.
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I was feeling more like myself, and I wanted to go out and run.
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I want to do what the other guys were doing.
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But that was the what that would have been the worst thing for me.
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That would have set me back.
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And so I just had to just stay in the pocket, you know, just do just building blocks, building blocks.
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And and then the whole time, you can be able to use that as game.
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Like for me, when I was going through that whole process, and I started off feeling sorry for myself, and that lasted for like a week or two.
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But then I said, okay, how can I use this this setback, this, this, this injury?
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What can it, what type of fruit can it produce for me?
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Right.
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I said, okay, I'm not the smartest in terms of football IQ because I started late.
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I started in eighth grade.
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And so what can I do to up-level my football IQ?
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Because I can't go out there and I can't play right now.
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So I started watching film and I stopped watching film like a high school player or even a college player.
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I started watching it like a professional.
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Right.
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Meaning I started breaking down things, I started taking notes, writing things down, I started paying more attention to alignments instead of just like just watching film.
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Oh, that's a that's a tough receiver.
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Why is he tough?
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When is he tough?
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Right.
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You know what I'm saying?
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So it just really, I just used that as a tool to help me get better in something that I I knew I wasn't that that that wasn't my strength.
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Yeah, you talk about your father being in the military, and it's so interesting.
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My dad was in the military as well.
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I think we may have talked about that 26 years as a career marine.
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And we were talking, he was asking me one time, you know what discipline feels like?
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And I didn't understand the question, and he responded with boring.
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Discipline is boring.
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It's the details.
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Little by little, you can't deviate.
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And that's it sounds exactly like what you did.
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You you suffered that devastating knee injury in the independence bowl when we're told you you needed nine months to a year for rehabilitation.
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What was going on in your mind at that moment?
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Uh, and what made you decide to fight through it instead of giving up?
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I mean, you touched on it a little bit, but I I'm more interested in like the initial injury.
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Like, no one knows your body better than you.
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You knew something was wrong.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, no, no, I knew something was wrong.
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And when when it happened, it was like there's no other way I could fight it because I I'm smart enough to know like when I can't, you know, when something's wrong.
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So when it happened, I was just okay, I gotta get the surgery.
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I gotta get the surgery, I gotta get it done.
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And it was just okay, I was process oriented.
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And so, okay, let's get it done as quick as possible.
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There's gonna be different issues that's gonna come up because of you know what they did to my knee in terms of taking a third of the patella tendon.
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I was gonna have tendonitis, and there's different ways you can mitigate that.
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I got to get stronger, especially single leg strength, you know, with with deadlifts and you know, your hamstring strength and your your you know, quad strength, all this type of stuff.
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And so I was like, I was I was patient.
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I didn't really put a timetable on it, and neither did they, thank goodness.
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It was just like, hey, when you're ready, you're ready.
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Okay.
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Love it.
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On that one, we're gonna turn it over to Aaron for segment two, which is identity and legacy.
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Aaron, take it away.
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Awesome, Alex.
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I love this section.
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I love what I get to ask you about.
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Those are great questions from Thomas, but I want to get to know who Alex is beyond all the accolades that Thomas poured out on you, all that you've accomplished.
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Just who is Alex?
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You have eight kids.
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Like, we just want to know who you are.
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Oh, yeah.
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Okay.
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Well, well, first and foremost, I'm a believer.
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I'm a Christian man who uh who started my walk with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, probably my my second year in the NFL.
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You know, and and I I wasn't raised in the church.
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I mean, the only time we really went to church is anytime I went back home to Detroit with my grandmothers.
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That was the only time we would go to church.
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And so, yeah, I got got saved and and just started walking with with the Lord.
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So I like to start off with that, like with my faith first.
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And then I'm a you know, I'm a husband.
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I'm a husband of almost 28 years, and we have eight beautiful children.
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And but before all that, I was a football player, and that really kind of it started like this identity type of piece because I fell into the trap, because it is a a trap.
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When you when you do something, no matter if it's football, baseball, being a stay-at-home mother, you know, working as a lawyer, whatever, if you do something for for a long time and you have success and it starts to bring you fruit, if you're not careful, it can become who you are instead of just what you do.
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And so I I came across that when I retired, and I didn't want to retire, I wanted to keep playing, but you know, it was it was a conversation I had that really shone a light on that of me being instead of being Alex, I was a football player, and it's it shouldn't be like that.
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I was Alex who happened to play football.
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So I love that.
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I think a lot of athletes, I think you hit on something very important, struggled with that.
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And you might have to tell the story.
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I think you told Thomas and I that really stuck with me when we first met you about that lesson that you learned there.
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So do you want do you mind sharing that?
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Yeah, no, no, not a problem.
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And you know, before I just like to preface it is like there's a there's a thin line when you're trying to do something and you're trying to do it at a high level consistently, like there's part of you, and the sacrif that that's the sacrifice, right?
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Of you pouring into this thing for so long, and you have so much is detail-oriented, there's a lot of time that's spent.
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You have to do that if you want to make it to different levels, but you still need to understand like who you are, what you like, what you don't like, what you hate, what do you love?
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You know what I'm saying?
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Like, and having people next to you that that you can that you trust and that can tell you the truth.
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You need to have people in your life that can tell you the truth.
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And you need to be willing to, hey, am I am I coming off like this?
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How am I going?
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So they can be able to tell, yeah, man, that's yeah, that the way you did that interview or the way you treated that waitress, that ain't right, that ain't cool.
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Right.
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So I just wanted to, you know, kind of tell people that there is it's a it's uh it's a balance pouring into whatever that is that you're gonna do, and then still mean knowing who you are.
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But yeah, so so I went on a job interview, right?
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I just retired and uh we was chilling.
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I was in San Diego, love San Diego, sunny blue skies, and I thought that when you retire, I mean, I did, I kicked, I played lots of golf, I worked out when I wanted to, and I just I was just taking kids to school, coming back, and just hanging out, right?
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That gets boring, right?
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I did that for like seven, eight months, and I said, okay, I gotta do something.
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And lo and behold, my our neighbor was a uh CEO of a nonprofit, so she asked me if I if I would like to be a development consultant.
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I was like, Yeah, I would love that.
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What is that?
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And so she told me, and it was cool, and so I did that for about six months, and then we moved up to Portland.
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So got up here and I said, Okay, I have a little bit of experience now in the nonprofit world.
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I did a lot of work when I was playing ball, but let me just go on monster.com, right?
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That was the old school ND, I guess.
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And so I looked up nonprofit, entry level, and and so I ended up getting this interview.
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And I got this interview, and I did my homework, I did my research.
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I know that because I know how to do research.
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That's what I did.
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That's one of the things that helped me last eight years, is I know how to dig dig deep and find things that can help me, right?
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So I did that and I went on this interview, and I was thinking that man, this is an easy win.
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I got this.
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It was an entry-level position.
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Plus, if you hire a a vetted NFL veteran, the NFL will donate$5,000 per year to that nonprofit organization.
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Oh, wow.
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Yeah, right.
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And so I'm like, oh, I'm I got this.
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This this interview is just a formality.
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Right.
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And I went in there and she started asking me questions about about the the organization.
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And so I did all my homework, so I was killing it.
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I knew who they served, I know when they started, I knew all that type of stuff.
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But then she started asking me questions about me.
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Alex, what do you, what do you enjoy?
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What do you hate?
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What type of, you know, what are the things that wake you up in the morning?
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She started asking me all these different questions that was like pointed towards me, and I couldn't answer.
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And finally, she said, Why do you want this job?
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And I said, I need to get out the house.
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Let me think about that.
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Let me and so I told the truth.
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That's what, and she said, she said, she put her hand on my hand, she said, honey, sweetie, you ain't gonna get this job.
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She said, and let me give you a bit of advice.
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Before you go on any more job interviews, you need to find out exactly who you are.
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Because right now, I'm asking you questions about you, and you can't answer them.
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Or everything sounds like football.
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She said, Sweetie, football is what you did, right?
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It's not who you are.
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Right.
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Got up, walked me to the front door, shook my hand, wished me good luck.
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And I went to my car and I cried, my I bawled.
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I I wept.
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That's what I did.
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I wept.
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Wow.
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And that was one of the most painful, embarrassing moments in my life.
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Somebody who just who just met me told me I didn't know who I was.
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Wow.
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God, that's such a powerful story.
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And I love that story because I also see her as an angel, because she really then, I think, probably created the fuel that you see today that's well beyond the field to be the motivational speaker that speaks to organizations, and I think probably helps a lot of people encapsulate what she gave to you.
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So, what did I just say, right?
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You need people in your life that can tell you the truth.
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Right.
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I thought I need people who are close to me who've known me since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, right?
00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:02.480
No, some of those people they have nothing to do, they they don't want anything from you.
00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:08.400
Yep, and sometimes you don't even get to choose to allow them to tell you the truth.
00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:13.279
So that taught me something very deep.
00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:19.440
And and because of that conversation, that conversation that one conversation changed the trajectory of my life.
00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:19.759
Right.
00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:26.720
I don't think I would be here, you know, on you guys' dope podcast if it wasn't for her.
00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.359
That's right.
00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.400
You know what I'm saying?
00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:40.480
So you need somebody to sometimes just come in with no, you know, they don't want anything out of it, just to kind of look and just listen and watch you and be like, hey, you need to know this about yourself.
00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:40.960
Yeah.
00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.519
And that changed everything.
00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:50.400
It made me really start looking in the mirror and like, okay, Alex, not just what do you want to do, man?
00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.359
Who are you?
00:18:51.680 --> 00:19:01.359
Because from you gaining more introspect of who you are and what drives you, what you're passionate about, now there's opportunity for fruit.
00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:07.920
And for and for me, it was like, okay, I don't think I really want to do this nonprofit work.
00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:18.960
Now that I'm starting to look into the mirror and look what drives me, I want to be that person that helped me when I was 13, 12, 13 years old.
00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:23.359
I want to be that because that person helped shape me and develop me.
00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.839
I want to do that for other athletes.
00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.039
I love that.
00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:39.759
And I the other thing I really want to shout out to you in that whole thing that I think a lot of people oftentimes miss is the your willingness to be open and receive that.
00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:43.759
Because sometimes people will also gift you that feedback.
00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:54.480
But if you're closed off and not willing to do the look in the mirror and the introspection, you know, you don't have the profound change that that was just gifted to you.
00:19:54.559 --> 00:20:04.720
You're gonna probably struggle and it'll keep coming up, but it's like that says a lot about you and who you are, because that's where the transformation really took place.
00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.599
Yeah.
00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.319
You know what?
00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:18.799
I think emotional intelligence is one of the things that when I'm talking to different organizations and helping develop their leaders when I'm consulting, that's one of the key things.
00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:26.799
And that was a that was a moment for me because of course, like I went to the car and I was crying, I got angry.
00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:34.480
But why would I get angry at this at this lady who I just met who really told me the truth?
00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:42.400
She wasn't trying to hurt my feelings, she wasn't having something against me, you know, even if she was an Oregon State beaver, you know what I'm saying?
00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:49.519
But but you know, it so I had to regulate, but okay, I'm not gonna get angry.
00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:52.319
If anything, I'm gonna get angry at me, right?
00:20:53.119 --> 00:21:00.960
And so instead of just living in that emotion, because emotions is just data, it's not like an action plan, right?
00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:04.559
So it was data, and I was like, okay, I never want to feel like this again.
00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:07.279
What if I just listen to her words?
00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.680
You need to find out who you are.
00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:12.000
Okay, what does that look like?
00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.279
That's so good.
00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.400
I love that.
00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:20.000
So, how do you carry that in, or what's one truth?
00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:34.400
I think both into your motivational speaking and the work that you do now, like, what's the one truth you wish young athletes, parents, because you're also the parent of an athlete that's playing at the highest level in the NFL?
00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:46.079
Like, what's one truth that you wish coaches, parents, athletes understood about building resilience, taking in that feedback, growing?
00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:48.960
Which what do you want them to understand?
00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:58.000
I think the character that it takes to do those things.
00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:02.799
We we We look at like the end result, right?
00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:04.240
We look at the platform.
00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:10.079
We look at all the things that come along with doing something at a high level, right?
00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:13.279
If I do this, man, I can get a scholarship.
00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:16.559
It can be academic or it can be athletic.
00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:24.880
If I get that, then the end goal is to, you know, play professionally, get paid to do this type of stuff.
00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.480
And that looks great.
00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:30.240
You got to have those different deals and you have to be realistic.
00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:30.960
All right.
00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:34.720
And sometimes you have to be just like, I'm going to put this up there.
00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.519
All right.
00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:43.759
Now understand I need to, I need to act like somebody who is there.
00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.079
How do I act like that?
00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:53.519
And a lot of us, like for me, I didn't have any friends or their dads who played in the NFL.
00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.640
You know what I'm saying?
00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:56.720
Like I didn't, what does that mean?
00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.960
Like, how do you how do you adapt that?
00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:08.079
But one of the things that really helped me out is I went to when I was in high school, I went to a football camp.
00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.960
And it was CU Boulder.
00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.279
Yeah.
00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.119
Hey, let's go.
00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.640
I love CU.
00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.839
I was so close to being a being a buffalo.
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:23.200
But you know, I so I went there, right?
00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:29.759
And so there was a lot of other kids there, but we got a chance to watch their practice.
00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:41.680
And so when I went there, I wasn't like all the other kids, all the other cats, they was they was trying to position themselves to see who was the alpha among the high school kids.
00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:47.359
And you know, a lot of kids, I'm from Colorado Springs, so they was from Denver, and you know, a lot of the coaches knew them and stuff.
00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:49.440
I wasn't, I didn't, I can care less.
00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:52.799
I was looking at the intensity of how they practiced.
00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:56.400
And I was like, oh, that's how it's like.
00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:02.160
Man, so that's not just how what it looks like, but what does it feel like?
00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:07.680
What does it sound like when they practice the communication, the grunts when they hit somebody?
00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:12.160
I was like, oh, that's what it say less.
00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:18.880
So I took that, that was information that, man, okay, I'm going to start to act like this.
00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.400
I looked at their DBs.
00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:22.160
Damn, they look strong.
00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:25.599
I got a chance to talk to the to the uh strength coach.
00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.880
Hey, how strong are they?
00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.000
Like, how much do they score?
00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.119
How much do they bench?
00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:31.279
What is the what does that look like?
00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:34.000
And he told me, I was like, oh, okay.
00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:38.000
Okay, I gotta get, I gotta spend a little bit more time in the weight room then.
00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:51.519
So it was just to practice that character.
00:24:51.839 --> 00:25:01.200
And so I started to become somebody different than where I was because I want I wanted to go and I wanted to play college football.
00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:05.440
If I didn't, I was gonna go to the army, just like my dad.
00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:07.599
Nothing bad about it, anything like that.
00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:12.960
That was just in my mind, that's why like I don't want to, I don't want to go into the army.
00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:13.759
Right.
00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:21.920
I want to, I wanna, I don't know a whole bunch about this football thing, but I saw something and it it was like something touched my heart.
00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:23.359
I want to do that.
00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:30.000
And so me going and see at another level, that was like information.
00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:32.960
I was like, okay, I need to start acting different.
00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.839
And so that's within character, right?
00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:39.599
I need to start man being consistent.
00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:45.599
I need to start training more, and then I want to hang around people who want the same things as I.
00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.079
Right.
00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:48.000
And there wasn't a whole bunch of people.
00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.039
They said it.
00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:51.759
Oh, yeah, man, I'll work out with you at six o'clock in the morning.
00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:54.720
They said it, but when push comes to show, they wasn't there.
00:25:54.799 --> 00:26:01.039
Yeah, so I understood the it was going to be lonely.
00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:03.680
Yeah, it was going to be lonely.
00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:07.359
And so, you know, going through that, it was lonely.
00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:09.519
Lonely, it was very lonely.
00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:22.480
And I still get emotional about it, but I share that to my sons, I share that also to my daughters when they're going off and doing something that you know that's like, man, that's that's elevated.
00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.640
Just understand it's gonna be lonely.
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:26.160
Are you okay with it?
00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.000
No doubt.
00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.960
Okay, with that, I'm gonna turn it back over to Thomas.
00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:33.519
Wow, that is that lands.
00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.039
Yep, that's indeed.
00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:38.559
All right, so we're gonna get into segment three advice across all stages.
00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:42.720
So you you just shared the story with us about going to Boulder, going to that camp.
00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:45.200
One of the questions we get a lot is about recruiting.
00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:51.279
So if you knew then what you know now, you're you're a senior, you're getting recruited, and you picked Oregon.
00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:58.559
But when you narrowed it down to three teams, take us through that process on those three teams and how you picked Oregon.
00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.240
Okay.
00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:04.720
I could I could share that with you, but I gotta tell you what I would do different.
00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:07.039
Right, right, absolutely.
00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:13.839
So, so so I had a trip, so I went to Colorado and they had just won the national championship.
00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.319
Wow.
00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.400
I went to Tennessee.
00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:29.039
They recruited me, which they typically don't come out, you know, to the mountains in Colorado, but one of their old coach, one of their coaches was from the Denver area, and so my name kept coming up.
00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:31.680
And so when he recruited me, I was like, oh, Tennessee.
00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:39.039
So I went there and I went to Colorado State, and I was gonna go to USC, but I canceled that trip.
00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.559
I was just, I was done.
00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:46.160
But the my top three was Tennessee, Colorado, and Oregon.
00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:52.559
Okay, and so for me, I was like, okay, first of all, how they treat you.
00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.359
Right.
00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.960
How they treat you.
00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:57.680
Do they come out and they visit you?
00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:00.880
Does the head coach come out and visit you?
00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:02.000
You know what I'm saying?
00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:09.759
So I was smart enough to understand these things, like, I mean, how they treat you, who who comes out and visits you?
00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.240
Because when you go out there, yeah, you they're gonna treat you the best, right?
00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:22.400
But who comes and and into your into your living room and they talk to you and your parents?
00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:29.599
So Oregon, the coach Zoom, who we who recruited me, he came out many times.
00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:36.160
He could he would call all the time, and he was always, hey man, Alex, how's your mother?
00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.680
How's your brother?
00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.960
How you doing?
00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.319
Always, right?
00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:43.039
And it's crazy, still to this day.
00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:46.319
He'll see me, how's your mom?
00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.440
How's your brother?
00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.240
How you doing?
00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.200
How's the family?
00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:57.759
Right, so and then and then Coach Brooks, he came out and he he visited me, and that meant a lot, right?
00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:01.599
Tennessee, they never came out, right?
00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:06.880
Colorado, their head coach came down, Coach McCartney, he came down, right?
00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:09.359
But I'm in their backyard, right?
00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:13.920
And I was one of the you know, the top recruits in the in the in the state at the time.
00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:18.799
So that really started to eliminate Tennessee.
00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:42.319
But I did take a trip out there, and I took a trip out there, and I knew, I mean, I was like, if if the head coach, and if the head coach, if he would have, first of all, if he would have came and saw me at my house, and when I met him, when I sat down one-on-one with him on Sunday, right?
00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:56.720
Because you would fly out Friday, and then you would be with the team, you they, you know, whine you and dine you on Saturday, and then Sunday morning, you get, you know, a little more tour-y type stuff, and then you would sit down with the head coach.
00:29:56.880 --> 00:30:10.319
Well, I sat down with the head coach, he started off saying, Alex, we're thinking about offering you a scholarship, and then he kept talking, but I couldn't hear anything.
00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:14.640
It sounded like Charlie Brown, womp, womp, womp, his teacher, womp, womb, womp, womp.
00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:19.839
I was like, you're thinking about offering me a scholarship.
00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:24.799
I was ranked fourth safety in the country.
00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:27.839
I'm a I'm an all-American, I'm a five-star.
00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.559
You know what I'm saying?
00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:32.240
I'm like, right, you're thinking about offering, you didn't do your homework.
00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:34.160
So he didn't do his homework on me.
00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.319
Yeah.
00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:38.640
So all of my, I was like, okay, boom, they're out the they're out the picture.
00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:43.119
And so, and then when I went to Oregon, man, it was raining, it was wet.
00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:48.240
But the culture that they had, it wasn't, they wasn't like a powerhouse.
00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:52.400
It was, I think they've that year they went to uh the Freedom Bowl.
00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:55.440
I think they went six and five or something like that.
00:30:55.759 --> 00:31:02.720
But the but the culture that I saw and how the teams, I mean, how they treated each other with respect.
00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:07.519
When I was at Tennessee, with two of the two of the guys on the team were gonna fight.
00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:09.759
I was gonna witness a fight.
00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:17.279
Oregon, it was like, man, there was just a lot of love, and there was like cultural, it was like that's what I wanted.
00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:20.079
And I wanted to get out of the state of Colorado.
00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:28.079
And they played in the Pac-10, which was more of a pro-style offense instead of Colorado, who was in the Big Eight.
00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:38.000
So that, and then the academics, you know, it's I well, I didn't really, that wasn't a big deal for me, to be honest.
00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:48.559
But Oregon was somewhere who I, you know, I saw the culture, the change of scenery, the conference, the coaches.
00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:50.319
That was it for me.
00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.319
Love it.
00:31:52.559 --> 00:32:02.079
So clearly you made the right choice, and you went on to have a decorated career, and uh you overcame an injury that you talked about, overcoming the adversity, the road back.
00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:04.319
Now you're about to get recruited.
00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:08.160
So you check the boxes of high school football, you check the boxes of college.
00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:12.400
Now you get about tell us your mindset when you're about to get drafted.
00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:17.119
You're sitting there, whether it's with your family, your teammates, your coach, and the draft, it's draft day.
00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.240
Take us through that.
00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.519
Oh man.
00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:26.079
Well, I tell you one thing it's about understanding you don't have a choice.
00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.039
Got it.
00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:31.279
You had a choice when you're going from high school to college.
00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:31.759
Right.
00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:35.119
When you're getting drafted, you don't have a choice.
00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:38.720
So you have to understand like the landscape.
00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:43.759
And then the the second thing is, man, being prepared, right?
00:32:44.480 --> 00:33:03.759
Because you can run a fast forward, you can kill it at the combine, you can show everybody how athletic you are, and that carries weight, but nothing carries as much weight as when a coach presses play, and not about highlights.
00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:08.720
He's gonna press play and he's gonna watch everything.
00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:13.039
Their job is to figure out who you are, right?
00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:15.599
They're looking for character.
00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.559
That's it.
00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:23.119
They're looking for character, and the the biggest part is the character that you show on the field, right?
00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:30.400
Hey, when you play against these type of receivers, you lower your, you know, how you perform.
00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:37.119
But I see when you're at when you play up a tier, you you play guys who are studs, man, you step it up.
00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:41.039
I can I can I watch, I see your energy, you know.
00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:48.720
So they watch, man, every little part of it, how you tackle, how you celebrate with your teammates.
00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:52.559
They they watch everything, they are professionals.
00:33:53.440 --> 00:34:00.960
So, and the good, and the cool thing is like when you don't think about all these things, you just go out there and you play.
00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.440
Right.
00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:02.559
And that's what I did.
00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:04.720
I played and I loved it.
00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:21.199
You know, so for whether you're going from high school, you're trying to get into college or college trying to make it into pros, you have to understand they are watching everything, everything, and the biggest question that they ask is do they love this game?
00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.960
Right, do they love it?
00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:25.599
Because it's gonna be times when you ain't gonna love it.
00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:28.400
That's I didn't like training camp after my fifth year.
00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.920
I hated training camp.
00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.440
I just want to get to the season.
00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:34.639
So it's about like, do you love it?
00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:35.920
Right, right.
00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:40.400
So, and I just like, man, because you can't fake that.
00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:40.960
Right.
00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:43.920
You really can't fake love, no doubt.
00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:44.559
Yeah.
00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:52.559
So I would say just understanding the landscape and then and you know what you're going into, knowing that you you don't get to choose, right?
00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.280
You know what I'm saying?
00:34:53.440 --> 00:35:01.519
Unless you're a undrafted free agent and you have all these teams calling you, and then you get to choose, but you're on the bubble when it's like that.
00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.159
No doubt.
00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:04.960
You're not gonna try to get in at that point.
00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:06.320
Yeah, you get a choice.
00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:11.440
So, Alex, back in the day we didn't have the transfer portal and we didn't have NIL.
00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:19.840
We, I mean, we knew about the hundred dollar handshakes and so forth, but how do you feel that the NIL and the transfer portal has changed the landscape of college football?
00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:22.960
Good and bad.
00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:23.840
Yeah.
00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.119
Right.
00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:37.440
It's good that you are being treated fairly and you're getting rewarded for the work that that you will be doing, right?
00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:40.239
Because I'm speaking from experience from now.
00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:44.559
We have a junior son who just committed to the University of Oregon.
00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:49.360
And, you know, so next year he'll be he'll be a duck.
00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:53.519
And, you know, we hired an agent because I'm not gonna do it.
00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:56.000
I know I'm not, you know what I'm saying?
00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:57.840
I don't know, I don't understand that world.
00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.159
Yeah.
00:35:58.320 --> 00:36:03.360
So we get somebody who does understand that world, and then their job is to find out what's fair.
00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:10.800
And so it's it's great, like, you know, you're getting paid for your name, image, and likeness.
00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:17.760
But what it does in terms of transfer is now they're making the decisions.
00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:30.800
If you're not, if you're not, you know, if you come from different circumstances, it starts to turn the decision, not just what's the best fit, what's the best culture, what's the best system.
00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.960
It comes down who pays the most.
00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:33.760
That's it.
00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:38.559
And it could be a good thing, it could be a terrible thing.
00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:46.000
It could be a good thing if, man, this is your you're getting money right now.
00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:51.360
And I always tell I I tell people, I tell my kids, not all money is good money.
00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:52.320
That's it.
00:36:52.639 --> 00:37:01.599
So you're making decisions based off this thing, this one thing, and it's money instead of like relationships, instead of like alumni base.
00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:02.480
There you go.
00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:05.679
Um, I still I still have doors open for me.
00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.320
That's right.
00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:17.760
And Oregon, an alumni, like doors that, you know, I get paid a lot of money because of the things that I did on and off the field and what I'm doing now.
00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:18.400
That's right.
00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:23.199
But if I were to transfer, I've bounced around from school to school to school, I don't think that would be there.
00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:26.480
So, you know, not all money is good money.
00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:37.039
And then they start that they start to see like you can get paid more at a place that has a terrible fit, a terrible system for you.
00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:47.599
And so they're just not is starting to, you're making decisions off of it's like you're building your house on with sticks instead of bricks.
00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:48.559
Right.
00:37:49.840 --> 00:38:01.840
So, and and and and with the money with the NIL, if you're not prepared, I I wasn't prepared for as much money as I got when I was the first round draft pick, and I was 22.
00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:04.719
Right now, this happens at 18.
00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:05.760
That's right.
00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:13.360
And so, you know, if you're not careful, you get this money, and then you start to you do this, you lose focus.
00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.320
That's it.
00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:16.320
And it's not, that's just that man.
00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:17.599
That's that's part of it.
00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:18.960
Man, treat that, man.
00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:22.480
This is something that that I can it's my nest egg.
00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:23.840
It can be my nest egg.
00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:24.880
Let me put this over here.
00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:26.079
I ain't gonna worry about that.
00:38:26.159 --> 00:38:29.679
I'm just gonna go off of you know, my like what I need.
00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:33.440
I'm gonna, you know, I'm gonna live at this level, even though I got this one.
00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.320
I'm gonna put that away.
00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.440
I'm gonna live at this level.
00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:36.400
That's right.
00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:38.800
That's easier said than done, that's for sure.
00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:47.519
You know, one of the things that Aaron and I have dealt with with his whole NIL transfer portal is we've talked to the NCAA athletic directors and coaches, and it was very profound.
00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:52.719
He said to me, he's like, you know, T, you know the difference between a 4-4 and a 4-7 is character.
00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.920
And I was like, wow.
00:38:54.079 --> 00:39:00.400
And he said, you know, if you're running a 4-4, you bench 300, squat 600, but if you're a distraction, I don't want you on my team.
00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:01.920
I do not want you on my team.
00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:03.760
We're, you know, we're building a culture here.
00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:05.599
So you're right about habits.
00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:07.920
People are watching, you know, they're definitely watching.
00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:12.559
And on that one, we're gonna turn it over to Aaron, which is segment four, the rapid fire round.
00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:14.159
Aaron, it's all yours.
00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:17.360
Okay, this is my favorite little section too.
00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:18.320
I like all my sections.
00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:20.000
I like to what Thomas does too.
00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:25.599
But this is I'm gonna start my at the sentence, and you're just gonna finish my sentence for me, okay?
00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:26.159
Okay.
00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:35.199
So discipline equals discipline equals production.
00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:39.840
Leadership equals influence.
00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:44.320
Faith equals foundation.
00:39:45.119 --> 00:40:03.519
Legacy equals legacy legacy equals say legacy equals principles.
00:40:03.840 --> 00:40:08.320
Ooh, what is one thing that you would never compromise on?
00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:14.719
I would never compromise on my identity.
00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:16.400
I love that.
00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.199
I love that.
00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:23.280
And if you could put a billboard up for the next generation of athletes, what would your message to those athletes be?
00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:26.719
Oh, oh, that would be.
00:40:32.719 --> 00:40:34.719
Man, you give me one, okay.
00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:45.840
One would be understand that who you are trumps what you do.
00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:48.159
That's gold.
00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:48.960
No doubt.
00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:51.280
Kids take that to the bank.
00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:54.880
It's so true.
00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:56.559
And I think it gets so lost.
00:40:56.960 --> 00:41:00.719
So I think it's one thing that people need to hold on to.
00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:04.639
So with that, I'm gonna try to I like this.
00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:09.039
Awesome.
00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:18.239
Alex, Alex, before we close it out, we'd like to spend this last couple minutes to just kind of open up the floor to you, kind of like uh an open call.
00:41:18.320 --> 00:41:29.360
And before we wrap up, is there something we didn't touch on today that you feel athletes' parents or anyone facing major major challenges need to hear about overcoming adversity and building lasting resilience?
00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:50.800
Well, I I think parents need to, and athletes need to understand that your setbacks, your failures, is that is one of the things that can help you get to the highest level of what you of who you are and even what you want to do.
00:41:51.039 --> 00:41:53.280
A lot of us we run away from those.
00:41:53.440 --> 00:41:53.679
Right.
00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:55.199
And we shy away from it.
00:41:55.360 --> 00:42:04.159
Like if you have weaknesses, those are the things that can, when you can focus on it, man, it can help you get to another level, right?
00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:06.960
And you need to own them though, yeah.
00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:20.559
Because when you own them, whatever setbacks, the failures, the and you know, the uh when you understand like the the flaws in your character, you control the narrative.
00:42:21.360 --> 00:42:32.320
When you bury them, when you try to hide them, you try to cover them up, one day somebody's gonna do some research on you, yeah, and they're gonna find it.
00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:34.079
Yeah, and then guess what?
00:42:34.239 --> 00:42:38.000
You don't own the narrative, they own the narrative.
00:42:38.480 --> 00:42:44.800
So, like really understanding like those those setbacks and and whatnot, just own it.
00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:47.199
When you make mistakes, own up to it, right?
00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:55.519
Own up to it, and then you know, who do you need to become to to change it and flip it and make that a strength?
00:42:55.760 --> 00:43:16.239
And this is and this is whether it's you know on a football field or in sport or in life, is like understanding owning those those those falls, earning or learning from them and then moving forward instead of staying stuck.
00:43:16.320 --> 00:43:18.719
A lot of people stay stuck, no doubt.
00:43:18.880 --> 00:43:19.360
No doubt.
00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:23.360
And you know, and what you I want to give you guys, you guys is flowers.
00:43:23.519 --> 00:43:28.960
You know, you your podcast, the standard, it it is hard work.
00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:35.760
This is hard work, and who you're serving, like that I think they really need, they really need this.
00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:42.800
They need people like like you all to be able to have other folks who've kind of been through that, right?
00:43:42.880 --> 00:43:46.400
Whatever that journey is, and then you can pull insights from it.
00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:49.360
So keep doing what you guys are doing.
00:43:49.599 --> 00:43:57.519
And you know, I'm a fan, I've just hope known you guys for a couple of months, but I love what you guys are doing, and and it's needed.
00:43:57.840 --> 00:43:58.559
That's awesome.
00:43:58.800 --> 00:43:59.760
Alex, that means the world comes.
00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:00.639
From you.
00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:06.400
And we we definitely it's this relationship has definitely grown into a friendship, it's something that we cherish.
00:44:06.639 --> 00:44:10.000
So you went from the from the rapid fire, now you're in the hot seat.
00:44:10.159 --> 00:44:11.519
Art imitating life.
00:44:11.599 --> 00:44:13.920
I always love to ask this question of former athletes.
00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:17.360
What are your top three sports movies of all time?
00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:20.159
Oh, okay.
00:44:20.559 --> 00:44:22.639
No, well, number one is Rocky III.
00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:23.280
Okay.
00:44:23.519 --> 00:44:24.639
That's the thing that got me.
00:44:24.960 --> 00:44:25.199
Mr.
00:44:25.360 --> 00:44:25.599
T.
00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:26.400
Mr.
00:44:26.559 --> 00:44:27.440
Clever Lang.
00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:27.840
That's it.
00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:29.360
That was the thing that's serious.
00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:31.280
Now we get you.
00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:33.760
I'm always looking for inspiration.
00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:34.480
Right.
00:44:34.719 --> 00:44:38.480
When I was back then, I really didn't know what that was or what to call it.
00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:42.000
But even like today, I look for in I look to be inspired.
00:44:42.079 --> 00:44:43.280
I know I'm inspiring.
00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:46.800
I know I and I look to inspire people every day.
00:44:47.599 --> 00:44:52.639
But that movie inspired me to start lifting weights.
00:44:52.719 --> 00:44:54.719
I want to look like Clever Lane.
00:44:55.119 --> 00:44:56.800
I was like, man, that dude is jacked.
00:44:57.440 --> 00:44:58.400
Man, what is he doing?
00:44:58.559 --> 00:45:02.400
And I started doing workouts that he was doing on the pull-ups.
00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:05.440
You know, so but I have to go with that.
00:45:05.679 --> 00:45:06.800
That's number one.
00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:11.519
Number two will probably be remembering the Titans.
00:45:11.840 --> 00:45:12.159
Okay.
00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:13.760
All right.
00:45:14.079 --> 00:45:20.079
And then probably, oh man, there's so many good ones.
00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:20.400
Yeah.
00:45:20.559 --> 00:45:20.880
Yeah.
00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:26.079
Probably number three would be Hoossiers.
00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:27.280
Pinko.
00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:35.360
I'm probably telling people my age, but that's that's awesome because that my top one is miracle.
00:45:35.440 --> 00:45:41.039
I never played hockey, but I just love how these all these athletes, these misfits, came together to win a gold.
00:45:41.199 --> 00:45:43.199
Number two for me is the first Rocky.
00:45:43.280 --> 00:45:44.719
Big shout out to Carl Weathers.
00:45:44.800 --> 00:45:46.960
He's a San Diego State Aztec, so we gotta love.
00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:48.239
Oh, I didn't know that.
00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:50.559
Yeah, that the original Rocky was awesome.
00:45:50.719 --> 00:45:53.519
And then for me, also, Alex, number three is Hoosier's.
00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:55.039
I mean, just epic.
00:45:55.119 --> 00:45:58.480
And then everything else underneath that is an honorable mention for me because you're right.
00:45:58.559 --> 00:46:00.400
There are so many great movies.
00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:02.719
Alex, where can people get a hold of you?
00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:11.119
Whether it's your website, whether it's an email, whether it's your social media, shout it out to everybody's our audience so they know where to get a hold of you.
00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:12.079
Absolutely.
00:46:12.239 --> 00:46:12.960
Thank you very much.
00:46:13.119 --> 00:46:14.320
So I keep it easy.
00:46:14.639 --> 00:46:16.639
Alex Molden everywhere.
00:46:16.800 --> 00:46:20.960
You know, I do that everywhere when it comes to social media.
00:46:21.199 --> 00:46:23.840
My website is alexmolden.com.
00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:26.239
Once again, I try to keep it simple.
00:46:26.480 --> 00:46:32.079
I also have a book that could be, you know, it's relatable.
00:46:32.159 --> 00:46:34.480
It's called The Ultimate Playbook for Athletes.
00:46:34.559 --> 00:46:44.960
It's it's a book on personal development and leadership, where I break down the 10 influencers of why white people follow you or they run away from you.
00:46:45.119 --> 00:46:46.639
Okay it doesn't, it doesn't matter.
00:46:46.719 --> 00:46:47.840
It's still leadership.
00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:52.000
It helps people understand, like, you know, what the essence of leadership is.
00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:55.119
People think it's just like, hey, you follow me, or I follow you.
00:46:55.920 --> 00:47:02.000
No, if I step in a room and everybody runs, I'm still leading.
00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:05.679
It just not being the way that I might want, right?
00:47:06.159 --> 00:47:07.280
So I have that.
00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:12.960
I have a I have a brand new website out, and it's called The Next Arena.
00:47:13.039 --> 00:47:20.639
And this is for former elite level athletes, and if they're being feeling stuck after the game.
00:47:20.880 --> 00:47:26.719
And so I give different, I have different programs available for for those folks.
00:47:26.960 --> 00:47:29.519
So yeah, that's that's all I got.
00:47:29.760 --> 00:47:30.400
I love it.
00:47:30.480 --> 00:47:31.679
That is awesome.
00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:34.480
Team, thank you so much for joining us.
00:47:34.559 --> 00:47:40.239
Alex, thank you for showing us what it takes to turn a devastating setback into a first-round success.
00:47:40.400 --> 00:47:43.440
And team, with this conversation, it you we need you to do two things.
00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:55.280
One, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it: an athlete dealing with an injury or a setback, a young person facing their own challenges, a parent helping their child out, their child navigate adversity.
00:47:55.440 --> 00:47:57.119
And two, it's a must.
00:47:57.360 --> 00:47:58.480
Connect with Alex.
00:47:58.639 --> 00:48:02.960
We're gonna definitely have all his handles in the show notes, but we want you to reach out to Alex.
00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:09.360
For someone who understands what it takes to overcome major adversity and overcome a hell of a start setback.
00:48:09.519 --> 00:48:15.280
Alex brings the real experience of a devastating injury, grueling recovery, and ultimate success.
00:48:15.519 --> 00:48:21.599
And if you're ready to get clear on what it takes to get beyond the game, check Aaron and I out at blueprintbluechip.com.
00:48:21.760 --> 00:48:26.159
We work with athletes and families and coaches to help get them to the next level.
00:48:26.320 --> 00:48:30.960
This is the standard podcast, and this movement only grows when we raise the standard together.
00:48:31.119 --> 00:48:33.119
Talent fades, but truth endures.
00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:36.320
Let's raise the bar, rebuild the culture, and become the standard.
00:48:36.480 --> 00:48:38.079
Alex, Aaron, thanks so much for joining us.
00:48:38.239 --> 00:48:39.840
Team, we'll see you next time.
00:48:41.440 --> 00:48:42.159
Thank you.
00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:03.040
Excellent.
00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:04.160
Good morning, team.
00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:11.439
Welcome to the Standard Podcast, where we raise the bar, rebuild the culture, and call it the lies or misconceptions that nobody else will.
00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:13.839
This isn't motivation, this is a movement.
00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:31.839
I'm Thomas Rowe, joined by my host, Aaron Charles, and today I'm super stoked we're sitting down with Alex Molden, former NFL cornerback who overcame a devastating injury to become a first-round draft pick, played eight seasons in the league, and now serves as a motivational speaker, helping others overcome their own challenges.
00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:39.759
Alex's story is one of resilience, perseverance, and the power of refusing to let setbacks define you.
00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:46.640
He played college football for the University of Oregon, Go Ducks, where he was part of the team that reached the 95 Rose Bowl.
00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:48.880
But his path wasn't without obstacles.
00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:55.280
During the independence poll, Alex suffered a devastating knee injury, tearing his ACL and his MCL.
00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:58.640
And an injury that could have ended most careers.
00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:01.840
What happened next defines Alex's character.
00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:06.239
Instead of giving up, he committed to nine months of grueling rehabilitation.
00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:18.480
He came back to start nine games in 93 and was selected as an All-Pac-10 cornerback in 1994 and became an All-Pac-10 Football Coaches Association All-American in 95.
00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:26.079
That resilience paid off when Alex was drafted by the Saints with 11th overall pick of the first round in 1996.
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:28.719
Well, we've come a long way with the draft, haven't we?
00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:40.239
He went on to play eight seasons in the NFL for the Saints, San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, accumulating 298 tackles, 12 interceptions, and eight sacks.
00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:52.719
Today, Alex is based in Portland as a motivational speaker, and he is the father of eight children, including Elijah Molden, who played college football at Washington and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 21.
00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:54.560
I believe he's playing for the Chargers now.
00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:56.000
We're driving into the truth.
00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:02.000
We're diving into the truth behind what it really takes to build identity, discipline, and legacy in sports and in life.
00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:02.640
Let's get into it.
00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:04.079
Alex, thanks so much for joining us.
00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:05.040
I'm super excited.
00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:09.360
Thomas, thank you for that long intro.
00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:12.000
But it's so cool, man.
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:14.479
Aaron, it's always good to see you.
00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:15.680
You as well.
00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:17.520
Thanks for joining us today.
00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:18.080
Yeah.
00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:18.960
Awesome.
00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:24.159
Alex, you're a former first-round NFL draft pick who played eight seasons in the league.
00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:31.360
But before the success, you faced a devastating knee injury at Oregon that tore ligaments and could have ended your career.
00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:36.000
What does raising the standard mean to you after living through that kind of adversity?
00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:50.479
I think for me, it was all about I needed to turn into somebody to be able to overcome this and to use this in the way that I wanted to.
00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:55.120
I didn't want this to be like the end all for me.
00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:05.120
And I was, and I was very fearful of that because you know, you hear about knee injuries and you hear about guys, especially back then, guys never coming back.
00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:05.599
Right.
00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:11.840
And so I was just, I was very fearful of being a statistic.
00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:15.840
And not on the not on the the good side of it, but on the bad side of it.
00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:22.479
So I'll never forget, man, the doctor after he performed the surgery, and I'm, you know, I'm scared to death.
00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:23.039
I'm worried.
00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:24.800
I've never had surgery before.
00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:28.560
And I asked him, I said, will I be able to bounce back?
00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:30.319
Will I be the same?
00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:33.520
And he looked at me and he he kind of laughed.
00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:36.000
And he said, Alex, I did everything I did.
00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:40.240
You have a brand new light, you have two brand new ligaments.
00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:40.639
Wow.
00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:42.560
Now it now it's all up to you.
00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:50.159
And I was like, that's all I needed to hear because we're talking about raising the standard or setting the standard.
00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:55.120
It was when I heard that, I knew I mean I had the foundation.
00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:55.520
Right.
00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:58.400
Meaning I knew what hard work was.
00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.479
My dad was a drill sergeant.
00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:07.039
It's something that was, you know, I wasn't the smartest when it comes to football IQ.
00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:09.599
I wasn't the strongest.
00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:13.520
I wasn't the fastest, but man, I knew what hard work meant.
00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:13.759
Right.
00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:17.279
And so once I heard that, I was like, okay, that's all I needed to know.
00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:21.920
And then I didn't, I was very disciplined.
00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:25.360
I was uh I worked my butt off, but I was very disciplined.
00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:32.800
And I didn't do anything extra that my my PT or my strength and conditioning coach at Oregon.
00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:37.360
I didn't do anything extra outside what the program meant.
00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:40.079
And a lot of time it was very boring.
00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:40.959
You know what I'm saying?
00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:45.199
It's like Danielson, wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off.
00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:51.839
And so I just I just really dove into the process.
00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:52.959
Yeah.
00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:54.240
Love it.
00:04:54.480 --> 00:05:07.439
And what do you think is the biggest lie that you feel the culture of the sports industry has sold athletes about setbacks and injuries and what it really takes to come back stronger from life's biggest challenges?
00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:18.160
I think the biggest lie is that that is going to be it's going to be easy.
00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:18.800
Right.
00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:24.800
You know, like it is so it was so incredibly difficult.
00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:28.560
And not just from a physical standpoint, but also like a mental.
00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:36.000
I think that's the biggest thing is like the mental aspect that you have to be willing to go through.
00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:42.079
You know, there were so many times, especially early on, where I I wanted to uh I wanted to go out.
00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:43.759
I was feeling a little bit better.
00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:47.199
I was feeling more like myself, and I wanted to go out and run.
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.839
I want to do what the other guys were doing.
00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:53.040
But that was the what that would have been the worst thing for me.
00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:54.879
That would have set me back.
00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:01.680
And so I just had to just stay in the pocket, you know, just do just building blocks, building blocks.
00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:07.839
And and then the whole time, you can be able to use that as game.
00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:15.920
Like for me, when I was going through that whole process, and I started off feeling sorry for myself, and that lasted for like a week or two.
00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:23.759
But then I said, okay, how can I use this this setback, this, this, this injury?
00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:26.959
What can it, what type of fruit can it produce for me?
00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:27.279
Right.
00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:33.759
I said, okay, I'm not the smartest in terms of football IQ because I started late.
00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:35.600
I started in eighth grade.
00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:40.560
And so what can I do to up-level my football IQ?
00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:43.920
Because I can't go out there and I can't play right now.
00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:50.959
So I started watching film and I stopped watching film like a high school player or even a college player.
00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:53.120
I started watching it like a professional.
00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:53.680
Right.
00:06:53.839 --> 00:07:04.160
Meaning I started breaking down things, I started taking notes, writing things down, I started paying more attention to alignments instead of just like just watching film.
00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:06.240
Oh, that's a that's a tough receiver.
00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:07.279
Why is he tough?
00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:08.319
When is he tough?
00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:08.639
Right.
00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:09.519
You know what I'm saying?
00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:19.519
So it just really, I just used that as a tool to help me get better in something that I I knew I wasn't that that that wasn't my strength.
00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:24.319
Yeah, you talk about your father being in the military, and it's so interesting.
00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:25.759
My dad was in the military as well.
00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:29.360
I think we may have talked about that 26 years as a career marine.
00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:33.120
And we were talking, he was asking me one time, you know what discipline feels like?
00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:36.399
And I didn't understand the question, and he responded with boring.
00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:38.000
Discipline is boring.
00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:39.199
It's the details.
00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:41.360
Little by little, you can't deviate.
00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:43.600
And that's it sounds exactly like what you did.
00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:50.959
You you suffered that devastating knee injury in the independence bowl when we're told you you needed nine months to a year for rehabilitation.
00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:53.279
What was going on in your mind at that moment?
00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:56.399
Uh, and what made you decide to fight through it instead of giving up?
00:07:56.480 --> 00:08:01.680
I mean, you touched on it a little bit, but I I'm more interested in like the initial injury.
00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.600
Like, no one knows your body better than you.
00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:05.360
You knew something was wrong.
00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:06.000
Yeah.
00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.720
Yeah, no, no, I knew something was wrong.
00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:22.160
And when when it happened, it was like there's no other way I could fight it because I I'm smart enough to know like when I can't, you know, when something's wrong.
00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:28.079
So when it happened, I was just okay, I gotta get the surgery.
00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:31.120
I gotta get the surgery, I gotta get it done.
00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:37.279
And it was just okay, I was process oriented.
00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:40.639
And so, okay, let's get it done as quick as possible.
00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:49.279
There's gonna be different issues that's gonna come up because of you know what they did to my knee in terms of taking a third of the patella tendon.
00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:53.600
I was gonna have tendonitis, and there's different ways you can mitigate that.
00:08:53.759 --> 00:09:04.879
I got to get stronger, especially single leg strength, you know, with with deadlifts and you know, your hamstring strength and your your you know, quad strength, all this type of stuff.
00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:07.360
And so I was like, I was I was patient.
00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:12.320
I didn't really put a timetable on it, and neither did they, thank goodness.
00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:15.200
It was just like, hey, when you're ready, you're ready.
00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:15.759
Okay.
00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:17.840
Love it.
00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:22.240
On that one, we're gonna turn it over to Aaron for segment two, which is identity and legacy.
00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:23.759
Aaron, take it away.
00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:26.240
Awesome, Alex.
00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:27.440
I love this section.
00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:29.360
I love what I get to ask you about.
00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:39.279
Those are great questions from Thomas, but I want to get to know who Alex is beyond all the accolades that Thomas poured out on you, all that you've accomplished.
00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:40.480
Just who is Alex?
00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:41.840
You have eight kids.
00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.000
Like, we just want to know who you are.
00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:45.440
Oh, yeah.
00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:46.080
Okay.
00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:49.440
Well, well, first and foremost, I'm a believer.
00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:58.879
I'm a Christian man who uh who started my walk with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, probably my my second year in the NFL.
00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:02.320
You know, and and I I wasn't raised in the church.
00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:08.639
I mean, the only time we really went to church is anytime I went back home to Detroit with my grandmothers.
00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:10.879
That was the only time we would go to church.
00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:17.519
And so, yeah, I got got saved and and just started walking with with the Lord.
00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:21.519
So I like to start off with that, like with my faith first.
00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:23.519
And then I'm a you know, I'm a husband.
00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:30.720
I'm a husband of almost 28 years, and we have eight beautiful children.
00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:48.720
And but before all that, I was a football player, and that really kind of it started like this identity type of piece because I fell into the trap, because it is a a trap.
00:10:48.879 --> 00:11:09.759
When you when you do something, no matter if it's football, baseball, being a stay-at-home mother, you know, working as a lawyer, whatever, if you do something for for a long time and you have success and it starts to bring you fruit, if you're not careful, it can become who you are instead of just what you do.
00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:36.960
And so I I came across that when I retired, and I didn't want to retire, I wanted to keep playing, but you know, it was it was a conversation I had that really shone a light on that of me being instead of being Alex, I was a football player, and it's it shouldn't be like that.
00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:40.480
I was Alex who happened to play football.
00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:43.200
So I love that.
00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:47.600
I think a lot of athletes, I think you hit on something very important, struggled with that.
00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:49.759
And you might have to tell the story.
00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:57.840
I think you told Thomas and I that really stuck with me when we first met you about that lesson that you learned there.
00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.679
So do you want do you mind sharing that?
00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:01.440
Yeah, no, no, not a problem.
00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:20.559
And you know, before I just like to preface it is like there's a there's a thin line when you're trying to do something and you're trying to do it at a high level consistently, like there's part of you, and the sacrif that that's the sacrifice, right?
00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:30.879
Of you pouring into this thing for so long, and you have so much is detail-oriented, there's a lot of time that's spent.
00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:42.879
You have to do that if you want to make it to different levels, but you still need to understand like who you are, what you like, what you don't like, what you hate, what do you love?
00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.000
You know what I'm saying?
00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:53.679
Like, and having people next to you that that you can that you trust and that can tell you the truth.
00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.799
You need to have people in your life that can tell you the truth.
00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:00.159
And you need to be willing to, hey, am I am I coming off like this?
00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:00.799
How am I going?
00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:09.360
So they can be able to tell, yeah, man, that's yeah, that the way you did that interview or the way you treated that waitress, that ain't right, that ain't cool.
00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:10.720
Right.
00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:24.000
So I just wanted to, you know, kind of tell people that there is it's a it's uh it's a balance pouring into whatever that is that you're gonna do, and then still mean knowing who you are.
00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:28.000
But yeah, so so I went on a job interview, right?
00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:31.840
I just retired and uh we was chilling.
00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:51.039
I was in San Diego, love San Diego, sunny blue skies, and I thought that when you retire, I mean, I did, I kicked, I played lots of golf, I worked out when I wanted to, and I just I was just taking kids to school, coming back, and just hanging out, right?
00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:53.200
That gets boring, right?
00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:58.559
I did that for like seven, eight months, and I said, okay, I gotta do something.
00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:08.639
And lo and behold, my our neighbor was a uh CEO of a nonprofit, so she asked me if I if I would like to be a development consultant.
00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:10.879
I was like, Yeah, I would love that.
00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:11.919
What is that?
00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:19.120
And so she told me, and it was cool, and so I did that for about six months, and then we moved up to Portland.
00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:26.240
So got up here and I said, Okay, I have a little bit of experience now in the nonprofit world.
00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:32.080
I did a lot of work when I was playing ball, but let me just go on monster.com, right?
00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:35.120
That was the old school ND, I guess.
00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:42.240
And so I looked up nonprofit, entry level, and and so I ended up getting this interview.
00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:46.399
And I got this interview, and I did my homework, I did my research.
00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.639
I know that because I know how to do research.
00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.600
That's what I did.
00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:56.799
That's one of the things that helped me last eight years, is I know how to dig dig deep and find things that can help me, right?
00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:05.360
So I did that and I went on this interview, and I was thinking that man, this is an easy win.
00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.559
I got this.
00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:09.840
It was an entry-level position.
00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:21.360
Plus, if you hire a a vetted NFL veteran, the NFL will donate$5,000 per year to that nonprofit organization.
00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:22.639
Oh, wow.
00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.440
Yeah, right.
00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:26.080
And so I'm like, oh, I'm I got this.
00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:28.559
This this interview is just a formality.
00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.200
Right.
00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:36.879
And I went in there and she started asking me questions about about the the organization.
00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:39.600
And so I did all my homework, so I was killing it.
00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:44.559
I knew who they served, I know when they started, I knew all that type of stuff.
00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.200
But then she started asking me questions about me.
00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.799
Alex, what do you, what do you enjoy?
00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:53.120
What do you hate?
00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:57.840
What type of, you know, what are the things that wake you up in the morning?
00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:03.360
She started asking me all these different questions that was like pointed towards me, and I couldn't answer.
00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:07.679
And finally, she said, Why do you want this job?
00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:12.720
And I said, I need to get out the house.
00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:18.320
Let me think about that.
00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:21.120
Let me and so I told the truth.
00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:29.440
That's what, and she said, she said, she put her hand on my hand, she said, honey, sweetie, you ain't gonna get this job.
00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:33.360
She said, and let me give you a bit of advice.
00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:39.759
Before you go on any more job interviews, you need to find out exactly who you are.
00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:45.440
Because right now, I'm asking you questions about you, and you can't answer them.
00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:48.240
Or everything sounds like football.
00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.279
She said, Sweetie, football is what you did, right?
00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:52.720
It's not who you are.
00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.519
Right.
00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:58.080
Got up, walked me to the front door, shook my hand, wished me good luck.
00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:03.200
And I went to my car and I cried, my I bawled.
00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:05.039
I I wept.
00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.920
That's what I did.
00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.720
I wept.
00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.359
Wow.
00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:12.079
And that was one of the most painful, embarrassing moments in my life.
00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:16.960
Somebody who just who just met me told me I didn't know who I was.
00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:18.000
Wow.
00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:21.839
God, that's such a powerful story.
00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:43.039
And I love that story because I also see her as an angel, because she really then, I think, probably created the fuel that you see today that's well beyond the field to be the motivational speaker that speaks to organizations, and I think probably helps a lot of people encapsulate what she gave to you.
00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:46.400
So, what did I just say, right?
00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:49.359
You need people in your life that can tell you the truth.
00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.079
Right.
00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:55.839
I thought I need people who are close to me who've known me since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, right?
00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:02.480
No, some of those people they have nothing to do, they they don't want anything from you.
00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:08.400
Yep, and sometimes you don't even get to choose to allow them to tell you the truth.
00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:13.279
So that taught me something very deep.
00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:19.440
And and because of that conversation, that conversation that one conversation changed the trajectory of my life.
00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:19.759
Right.
00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:26.720
I don't think I would be here, you know, on you guys' dope podcast if it wasn't for her.
00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.359
That's right.
00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.400
You know what I'm saying?
00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:40.480
So you need somebody to sometimes just come in with no, you know, they don't want anything out of it, just to kind of look and just listen and watch you and be like, hey, you need to know this about yourself.
00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:40.960
Yeah.
00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.519
And that changed everything.
00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:50.400
It made me really start looking in the mirror and like, okay, Alex, not just what do you want to do, man?
00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.359
Who are you?
00:18:51.680 --> 00:19:01.359
Because from you gaining more introspect of who you are and what drives you, what you're passionate about, now there's opportunity for fruit.
00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:07.920
And for and for me, it was like, okay, I don't think I really want to do this nonprofit work.
00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:18.960
Now that I'm starting to look into the mirror and look what drives me, I want to be that person that helped me when I was 13, 12, 13 years old.
00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:23.359
I want to be that because that person helped shape me and develop me.
00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.839
I want to do that for other athletes.
00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.039
I love that.
00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:39.759
And I the other thing I really want to shout out to you in that whole thing that I think a lot of people oftentimes miss is the your willingness to be open and receive that.
00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:43.759
Because sometimes people will also gift you that feedback.
00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:54.480
But if you're closed off and not willing to do the look in the mirror and the introspection, you know, you don't have the profound change that that was just gifted to you.
00:19:54.559 --> 00:20:04.720
You're gonna probably struggle and it'll keep coming up, but it's like that says a lot about you and who you are, because that's where the transformation really took place.
00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.599
Yeah.
00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.319
You know what?
00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:18.799
I think emotional intelligence is one of the things that when I'm talking to different organizations and helping develop their leaders when I'm consulting, that's one of the key things.
00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:26.799
And that was a that was a moment for me because of course, like I went to the car and I was crying, I got angry.
00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:34.480
But why would I get angry at this at this lady who I just met who really told me the truth?
00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:42.400
She wasn't trying to hurt my feelings, she wasn't having something against me, you know, even if she was an Oregon State beaver, you know what I'm saying?
00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:49.519
But but you know, it so I had to regulate, but okay, I'm not gonna get angry.
00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:52.319
If anything, I'm gonna get angry at me, right?
00:20:53.119 --> 00:21:00.960
And so instead of just living in that emotion, because emotions is just data, it's not like an action plan, right?
00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:04.559
So it was data, and I was like, okay, I never want to feel like this again.
00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:07.279
What if I just listen to her words?
00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.680
You need to find out who you are.
00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:12.000
Okay, what does that look like?
00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.279
That's so good.
00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.400
I love that.
00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:20.000
So, how do you carry that in, or what's one truth?
00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:34.400
I think both into your motivational speaking and the work that you do now, like, what's the one truth you wish young athletes, parents, because you're also the parent of an athlete that's playing at the highest level in the NFL?
00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:46.079
Like, what's one truth that you wish coaches, parents, athletes understood about building resilience, taking in that feedback, growing?
00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:48.960
Which what do you want them to understand?
00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:58.000
I think the character that it takes to do those things.
00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:02.799
We we We look at like the end result, right?
00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:04.240
We look at the platform.
00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:10.079
We look at all the things that come along with doing something at a high level, right?
00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:13.279
If I do this, man, I can get a scholarship.
00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:16.559
It can be academic or it can be athletic.
00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:24.880
If I get that, then the end goal is to, you know, play professionally, get paid to do this type of stuff.
00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.480
And that looks great.
00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:30.240
You got to have those different deals and you have to be realistic.
00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:30.960
All right.
00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:34.720
And sometimes you have to be just like, I'm going to put this up there.
00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.519
All right.
00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:43.759
Now understand I need to, I need to act like somebody who is there.
00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.079
How do I act like that?
00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:53.519
And a lot of us, like for me, I didn't have any friends or their dads who played in the NFL.
00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.640
You know what I'm saying?
00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:56.720
Like I didn't, what does that mean?
00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.960
Like, how do you how do you adapt that?
00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:08.079
But one of the things that really helped me out is I went to when I was in high school, I went to a football camp.
00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.960
And it was CU Boulder.
00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.279
Yeah.
00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.119
Hey, let's go.
00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.640
I love CU.
00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.839
I was so close to being a being a buffalo.
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:23.200
But you know, I so I went there, right?
00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:29.759
And so there was a lot of other kids there, but we got a chance to watch their practice.
00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:41.680
And so when I went there, I wasn't like all the other kids, all the other cats, they was they was trying to position themselves to see who was the alpha among the high school kids.
00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:47.359
And you know, a lot of kids, I'm from Colorado Springs, so they was from Denver, and you know, a lot of the coaches knew them and stuff.
00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:49.440
I wasn't, I didn't, I can care less.
00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:52.799
I was looking at the intensity of how they practiced.
00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:56.400
And I was like, oh, that's how it's like.
00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:02.160
Man, so that's not just how what it looks like, but what does it feel like?
00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:07.680
What does it sound like when they practice the communication, the grunts when they hit somebody?
00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:12.160
I was like, oh, that's what it say less.
00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:18.880
So I took that, that was information that, man, okay, I'm going to start to act like this.
00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.400
I looked at their DBs.
00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:22.160
Damn, they look strong.
00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:25.599
I got a chance to talk to the to the uh strength coach.
00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.880
Hey, how strong are they?
00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.000
Like, how much do they score?
00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.119
How much do they bench?
00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:31.279
What is the what does that look like?
00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:34.000
And he told me, I was like, oh, okay.
00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:38.000
Okay, I gotta get, I gotta spend a little bit more time in the weight room then.
00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:51.519
So it was just to practice that character.
00:24:51.839 --> 00:25:01.200
And so I started to become somebody different than where I was because I want I wanted to go and I wanted to play college football.
00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:05.440
If I didn't, I was gonna go to the army, just like my dad.
00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:07.599
Nothing bad about it, anything like that.
00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:12.960
That was just in my mind, that's why like I don't want to, I don't want to go into the army.
00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:13.759
Right.
00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:21.920
I want to, I wanna, I don't know a whole bunch about this football thing, but I saw something and it it was like something touched my heart.
00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:23.359
I want to do that.
00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:30.000
And so me going and see at another level, that was like information.
00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:32.960
I was like, okay, I need to start acting different.
00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.839
And so that's within character, right?
00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:39.599
I need to start man being consistent.
00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:45.599
I need to start training more, and then I want to hang around people who want the same things as I.
00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.079
Right.
00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:48.000
And there wasn't a whole bunch of people.
00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.039
They said it.
00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:51.759
Oh, yeah, man, I'll work out with you at six o'clock in the morning.
00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:54.720
They said it, but when push comes to show, they wasn't there.
00:25:54.799 --> 00:26:01.039
Yeah, so I understood the it was going to be lonely.
00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:03.680
Yeah, it was going to be lonely.
00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:07.359
And so, you know, going through that, it was lonely.
00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:09.519
Lonely, it was very lonely.
00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:22.480
And I still get emotional about it, but I share that to my sons, I share that also to my daughters when they're going off and doing something that you know that's like, man, that's that's elevated.
00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.640
Just understand it's gonna be lonely.
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:26.160
Are you okay with it?
00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.000
No doubt.
00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.960
Okay, with that, I'm gonna turn it back over to Thomas.
00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:33.519
Wow, that is that lands.
00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.039
Yep, that's indeed.
00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:38.559
All right, so we're gonna get into segment three advice across all stages.
00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:42.720
So you you just shared the story with us about going to Boulder, going to that camp.
00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:45.200
One of the questions we get a lot is about recruiting.
00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:51.279
So if you knew then what you know now, you're you're a senior, you're getting recruited, and you picked Oregon.
00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:58.559
But when you narrowed it down to three teams, take us through that process on those three teams and how you picked Oregon.
00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.240
Okay.
00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:04.720
I could I could share that with you, but I gotta tell you what I would do different.
00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:07.039
Right, right, absolutely.
00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:13.839
So, so so I had a trip, so I went to Colorado and they had just won the national championship.
00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.319
Wow.
00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.400
I went to Tennessee.
00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:29.039
They recruited me, which they typically don't come out, you know, to the mountains in Colorado, but one of their old coach, one of their coaches was from the Denver area, and so my name kept coming up.
00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:31.680
And so when he recruited me, I was like, oh, Tennessee.
00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:39.039
So I went there and I went to Colorado State, and I was gonna go to USC, but I canceled that trip.
00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.559
I was just, I was done.
00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:46.160
But the my top three was Tennessee, Colorado, and Oregon.
00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:52.559
Okay, and so for me, I was like, okay, first of all, how they treat you.
00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.359
Right.
00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.960
How they treat you.
00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:57.680
Do they come out and they visit you?
00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:00.880
Does the head coach come out and visit you?
00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:02.000
You know what I'm saying?
00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:09.759
So I was smart enough to understand these things, like, I mean, how they treat you, who who comes out and visits you?
00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.240
Because when you go out there, yeah, you they're gonna treat you the best, right?
00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:22.400
But who comes and and into your into your living room and they talk to you and your parents?
00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:29.599
So Oregon, the coach Zoom, who we who recruited me, he came out many times.
00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:36.160
He could he would call all the time, and he was always, hey man, Alex, how's your mother?
00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.680
How's your brother?
00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.960
How you doing?
00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.319
Always, right?
00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:43.039
And it's crazy, still to this day.
00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:46.319
He'll see me, how's your mom?
00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.440
How's your brother?
00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.240
How you doing?
00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.200
How's the family?
00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:57.759
Right, so and then and then Coach Brooks, he came out and he he visited me, and that meant a lot, right?
00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:01.599
Tennessee, they never came out, right?
00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:06.880
Colorado, their head coach came down, Coach McCartney, he came down, right?
00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:09.359
But I'm in their backyard, right?
00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:13.920
And I was one of the you know, the top recruits in the in the in the state at the time.
00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:18.799
So that really started to eliminate Tennessee.
00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:42.319
But I did take a trip out there, and I took a trip out there, and I knew, I mean, I was like, if if the head coach, and if the head coach, if he would have, first of all, if he would have came and saw me at my house, and when I met him, when I sat down one-on-one with him on Sunday, right?
00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:56.720
Because you would fly out Friday, and then you would be with the team, you they, you know, whine you and dine you on Saturday, and then Sunday morning, you get, you know, a little more tour-y type stuff, and then you would sit down with the head coach.
00:29:56.880 --> 00:30:10.319
Well, I sat down with the head coach, he started off saying, Alex, we're thinking about offering you a scholarship, and then he kept talking, but I couldn't hear anything.
00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:14.640
It sounded like Charlie Brown, womp, womp, womp, his teacher, womp, womb, womp, womp.
00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:19.839
I was like, you're thinking about offering me a scholarship.
00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:24.799
I was ranked fourth safety in the country.
00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:27.839
I'm a I'm an all-American, I'm a five-star.
00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.559
You know what I'm saying?
00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:32.240
I'm like, right, you're thinking about offering, you didn't do your homework.
00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:34.160
So he didn't do his homework on me.
00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.319
Yeah.
00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:38.640
So all of my, I was like, okay, boom, they're out the they're out the picture.
00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:43.119
And so, and then when I went to Oregon, man, it was raining, it was wet.
00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:48.240
But the culture that they had, it wasn't, they wasn't like a powerhouse.
00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:52.400
It was, I think they've that year they went to uh the Freedom Bowl.
00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:55.440
I think they went six and five or something like that.
00:30:55.759 --> 00:31:02.720
But the but the culture that I saw and how the teams, I mean, how they treated each other with respect.
00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:07.519
When I was at Tennessee, with two of the two of the guys on the team were gonna fight.
00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:09.759
I was gonna witness a fight.
00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:17.279
Oregon, it was like, man, there was just a lot of love, and there was like cultural, it was like that's what I wanted.
00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:20.079
And I wanted to get out of the state of Colorado.
00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:28.079
And they played in the Pac-10, which was more of a pro-style offense instead of Colorado, who was in the Big Eight.
00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:38.000
So that, and then the academics, you know, it's I well, I didn't really, that wasn't a big deal for me, to be honest.
00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:48.559
But Oregon was somewhere who I, you know, I saw the culture, the change of scenery, the conference, the coaches.
00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:50.319
That was it for me.
00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.319
Love it.
00:31:52.559 --> 00:32:02.079
So clearly you made the right choice, and you went on to have a decorated career, and uh you overcame an injury that you talked about, overcoming the adversity, the road back.
00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:04.319
Now you're about to get recruited.
00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:08.160
So you check the boxes of high school football, you check the boxes of college.
00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:12.400
Now you get about tell us your mindset when you're about to get drafted.
00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:17.119
You're sitting there, whether it's with your family, your teammates, your coach, and the draft, it's draft day.
00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.240
Take us through that.
00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.519
Oh man.
00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:26.079
Well, I tell you one thing it's about understanding you don't have a choice.
00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.039
Got it.
00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:31.279
You had a choice when you're going from high school to college.
00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:31.759
Right.
00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:35.119
When you're getting drafted, you don't have a choice.
00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:38.720
So you have to understand like the landscape.
00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:43.759
And then the the second thing is, man, being prepared, right?
00:32:44.480 --> 00:33:03.759
Because you can run a fast forward, you can kill it at the combine, you can show everybody how athletic you are, and that carries weight, but nothing carries as much weight as when a coach presses play, and not about highlights.
00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:08.720
He's gonna press play and he's gonna watch everything.
00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:13.039
Their job is to figure out who you are, right?
00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:15.599
They're looking for character.
00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.559
That's it.
00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:23.119
They're looking for character, and the the biggest part is the character that you show on the field, right?
00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:30.400
Hey, when you play against these type of receivers, you lower your, you know, how you perform.
00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:37.119
But I see when you're at when you play up a tier, you you play guys who are studs, man, you step it up.
00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:41.039
I can I can I watch, I see your energy, you know.
00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:48.720
So they watch, man, every little part of it, how you tackle, how you celebrate with your teammates.
00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:52.559
They they watch everything, they are professionals.
00:33:53.440 --> 00:34:00.960
So, and the good, and the cool thing is like when you don't think about all these things, you just go out there and you play.
00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.440
Right.
00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:02.559
And that's what I did.
00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:04.720
I played and I loved it.
00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:21.199
You know, so for whether you're going from high school, you're trying to get into college or college trying to make it into pros, you have to understand they are watching everything, everything, and the biggest question that they ask is do they love this game?
00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.960
Right, do they love it?
00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:25.599
Because it's gonna be times when you ain't gonna love it.
00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:28.400
That's I didn't like training camp after my fifth year.
00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.920
I hated training camp.
00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.440
I just want to get to the season.
00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:34.639
So it's about like, do you love it?
00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:35.920
Right, right.
00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:40.400
So, and I just like, man, because you can't fake that.
00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:40.960
Right.
00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:43.920
You really can't fake love, no doubt.
00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:44.559
Yeah.
00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:52.559
So I would say just understanding the landscape and then and you know what you're going into, knowing that you you don't get to choose, right?
00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.280
You know what I'm saying?
00:34:53.440 --> 00:35:01.519
Unless you're a undrafted free agent and you have all these teams calling you, and then you get to choose, but you're on the bubble when it's like that.
00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.159
No doubt.
00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:04.960
You're not gonna try to get in at that point.
00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:06.320
Yeah, you get a choice.
00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:11.440
So, Alex, back in the day we didn't have the transfer portal and we didn't have NIL.
00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:19.840
We, I mean, we knew about the hundred dollar handshakes and so forth, but how do you feel that the NIL and the transfer portal has changed the landscape of college football?
00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:22.960
Good and bad.
00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:23.840
Yeah.
00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.119
Right.
00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:37.440
It's good that you are being treated fairly and you're getting rewarded for the work that that you will be doing, right?
00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:40.239
Because I'm speaking from experience from now.
00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:44.559
We have a junior son who just committed to the University of Oregon.
00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:49.360
And, you know, so next year he'll be he'll be a duck.
00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:53.519
And, you know, we hired an agent because I'm not gonna do it.
00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:56.000
I know I'm not, you know what I'm saying?
00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:57.840
I don't know, I don't understand that world.
00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.159
Yeah.
00:35:58.320 --> 00:36:03.360
So we get somebody who does understand that world, and then their job is to find out what's fair.
00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:10.800
And so it's it's great, like, you know, you're getting paid for your name, image, and likeness.
00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:17.760
But what it does in terms of transfer is now they're making the decisions.
00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:30.800
If you're not, if you're not, you know, if you come from different circumstances, it starts to turn the decision, not just what's the best fit, what's the best culture, what's the best system.
00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.960
It comes down who pays the most.
00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:33.760
That's it.
00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:38.559
And it could be a good thing, it could be a terrible thing.
00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:46.000
It could be a good thing if, man, this is your you're getting money right now.
00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:51.360
And I always tell I I tell people, I tell my kids, not all money is good money.
00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:52.320
That's it.
00:36:52.639 --> 00:37:01.599
So you're making decisions based off this thing, this one thing, and it's money instead of like relationships, instead of like alumni base.
00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:02.480
There you go.
00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:05.679
Um, I still I still have doors open for me.
00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.320
That's right.
00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:17.760
And Oregon, an alumni, like doors that, you know, I get paid a lot of money because of the things that I did on and off the field and what I'm doing now.
00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:18.400
That's right.
00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:23.199
But if I were to transfer, I've bounced around from school to school to school, I don't think that would be there.
00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:26.480
So, you know, not all money is good money.
00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:37.039
And then they start that they start to see like you can get paid more at a place that has a terrible fit, a terrible system for you.
00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:47.599
And so they're just not is starting to, you're making decisions off of it's like you're building your house on with sticks instead of bricks.
00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:48.559
Right.
00:37:49.840 --> 00:38:01.840
So, and and and and with the money with the NIL, if you're not prepared, I I wasn't prepared for as much money as I got when I was the first round draft pick, and I was 22.
00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:04.719
Right now, this happens at 18.
00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:05.760
That's right.
00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:13.360
And so, you know, if you're not careful, you get this money, and then you start to you do this, you lose focus.
00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.320
That's it.
00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:16.320
And it's not, that's just that man.
00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:17.599
That's that's part of it.
00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:18.960
Man, treat that, man.
00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:22.480
This is something that that I can it's my nest egg.
00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:23.840
It can be my nest egg.
00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:24.880
Let me put this over here.
00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:26.079
I ain't gonna worry about that.
00:38:26.159 --> 00:38:29.679
I'm just gonna go off of you know, my like what I need.
00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:33.440
I'm gonna, you know, I'm gonna live at this level, even though I got this one.
00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.320
I'm gonna put that away.
00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.440
I'm gonna live at this level.
00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:36.400
That's right.
00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:38.800
That's easier said than done, that's for sure.
00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:47.519
You know, one of the things that Aaron and I have dealt with with his whole NIL transfer portal is we've talked to the NCAA athletic directors and coaches, and it was very profound.
00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:52.719
He said to me, he's like, you know, T, you know the difference between a 4-4 and a 4-7 is character.
00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.920
And I was like, wow.
00:38:54.079 --> 00:39:00.400
And he said, you know, if you're running a 4-4, you bench 300, squat 600, but if you're a distraction, I don't want you on my team.
00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:01.920
I do not want you on my team.
00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:03.760
We're, you know, we're building a culture here.
00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:05.599
So you're right about habits.
00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:07.920
People are watching, you know, they're definitely watching.
00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:12.559
And on that one, we're gonna turn it over to Aaron, which is segment four, the rapid fire round.
00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:14.159
Aaron, it's all yours.
00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:17.360
Okay, this is my favorite little section too.
00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:18.320
I like all my sections.
00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:20.000
I like to what Thomas does too.
00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:25.599
But this is I'm gonna start my at the sentence, and you're just gonna finish my sentence for me, okay?
00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:26.159
Okay.
00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:35.199
So discipline equals discipline equals production.
00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:39.840
Leadership equals influence.
00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:44.320
Faith equals foundation.
00:39:45.119 --> 00:40:03.519
Legacy equals legacy legacy equals say legacy equals principles.
00:40:03.840 --> 00:40:08.320
Ooh, what is one thing that you would never compromise on?
00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:14.719
I would never compromise on my identity.
00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:16.400
I love that.
00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.199
I love that.
00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:23.280
And if you could put a billboard up for the next generation of athletes, what would your message to those athletes be?
00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:26.719
Oh, oh, that would be.
00:40:32.719 --> 00:40:34.719
Man, you give me one, okay.
00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:45.840
One would be understand that who you are trumps what you do.
00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:48.159
That's gold.
00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:48.960
No doubt.
00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:51.280
Kids take that to the bank.
00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:54.880
It's so true.
00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:56.559
And I think it gets so lost.
00:40:56.960 --> 00:41:00.719
So I think it's one thing that people need to hold on to.
00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:04.639
So with that, I'm gonna try to I like this.
00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:09.039
Awesome.
00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:18.239
Alex, Alex, before we close it out, we'd like to spend this last couple minutes to just kind of open up the floor to you, kind of like uh an open call.
00:41:18.320 --> 00:41:29.360
And before we wrap up, is there something we didn't touch on today that you feel athletes' parents or anyone facing major major challenges need to hear about overcoming adversity and building lasting resilience?
00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:50.800
Well, I I think parents need to, and athletes need to understand that your setbacks, your failures, is that is one of the things that can help you get to the highest level of what you of who you are and even what you want to do.
00:41:51.039 --> 00:41:53.280
A lot of us we run away from those.
00:41:53.440 --> 00:41:53.679
Right.
00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:55.199
And we shy away from it.
00:41:55.360 --> 00:42:04.159
Like if you have weaknesses, those are the things that can, when you can focus on it, man, it can help you get to another level, right?
00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:06.960
And you need to own them though, yeah.
00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:20.559
Because when you own them, whatever setbacks, the failures, the and you know, the uh when you understand like the the flaws in your character, you control the narrative.
00:42:21.360 --> 00:42:32.320
When you bury them, when you try to hide them, you try to cover them up, one day somebody's gonna do some research on you, yeah, and they're gonna find it.
00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:34.079
Yeah, and then guess what?
00:42:34.239 --> 00:42:38.000
You don't own the narrative, they own the narrative.
00:42:38.480 --> 00:42:44.800
So, like really understanding like those those setbacks and and whatnot, just own it.
00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:47.199
When you make mistakes, own up to it, right?
00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:55.519
Own up to it, and then you know, who do you need to become to to change it and flip it and make that a strength?
00:42:55.760 --> 00:43:16.239
And this is and this is whether it's you know on a football field or in sport or in life, is like understanding owning those those those falls, earning or learning from them and then moving forward instead of staying stuck.
00:43:16.320 --> 00:43:18.719
A lot of people stay stuck, no doubt.
00:43:18.880 --> 00:43:19.360
No doubt.
00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:23.360
And you know, and what you I want to give you guys, you guys is flowers.
00:43:23.519 --> 00:43:28.960
You know, you your podcast, the standard, it it is hard work.
00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:35.760
This is hard work, and who you're serving, like that I think they really need, they really need this.
00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:42.800
They need people like like you all to be able to have other folks who've kind of been through that, right?
00:43:42.880 --> 00:43:46.400
Whatever that journey is, and then you can pull insights from it.
00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:49.360
So keep doing what you guys are doing.
00:43:49.599 --> 00:43:57.519
And you know, I'm a fan, I've just hope known you guys for a couple of months, but I love what you guys are doing, and and it's needed.
00:43:57.840 --> 00:43:58.559
That's awesome.
00:43:58.800 --> 00:43:59.760
Alex, that means the world comes.
00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:00.639
From you.
00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:06.400
And we we definitely it's this relationship has definitely grown into a friendship, it's something that we cherish.
00:44:06.639 --> 00:44:10.000
So you went from the from the rapid fire, now you're in the hot seat.
00:44:10.159 --> 00:44:11.519
Art imitating life.
00:44:11.599 --> 00:44:13.920
I always love to ask this question of former athletes.
00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:17.360
What are your top three sports movies of all time?
00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:20.159
Oh, okay.
00:44:20.559 --> 00:44:22.639
No, well, number one is Rocky III.
00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:23.280
Okay.
00:44:23.519 --> 00:44:24.639
That's the thing that got me.
00:44:24.960 --> 00:44:25.199
Mr.
00:44:25.360 --> 00:44:25.599
T.
00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:26.400
Mr.
00:44:26.559 --> 00:44:27.440
Clever Lang.
00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:27.840
That's it.
00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:29.360
That was the thing that's serious.
00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:31.280
Now we get you.
00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:33.760
I'm always looking for inspiration.
00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:34.480
Right.
00:44:34.719 --> 00:44:38.480
When I was back then, I really didn't know what that was or what to call it.
00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:42.000
But even like today, I look for in I look to be inspired.
00:44:42.079 --> 00:44:43.280
I know I'm inspiring.
00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:46.800
I know I and I look to inspire people every day.
00:44:47.599 --> 00:44:52.639
But that movie inspired me to start lifting weights.
00:44:52.719 --> 00:44:54.719
I want to look like Clever Lane.
00:44:55.119 --> 00:44:56.800
I was like, man, that dude is jacked.
00:44:57.440 --> 00:44:58.400
Man, what is he doing?
00:44:58.559 --> 00:45:02.400
And I started doing workouts that he was doing on the pull-ups.
00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:05.440
You know, so but I have to go with that.
00:45:05.679 --> 00:45:06.800
That's number one.
00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:11.519
Number two will probably be remembering the Titans.
00:45:11.840 --> 00:45:12.159
Okay.
00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:13.760
All right.
00:45:14.079 --> 00:45:20.079
And then probably, oh man, there's so many good ones.
00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:20.400
Yeah.
00:45:20.559 --> 00:45:20.880
Yeah.
00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:26.079
Probably number three would be Hoossiers.
00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:27.280
Pinko.
00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:35.360
I'm probably telling people my age, but that's that's awesome because that my top one is miracle.
00:45:35.440 --> 00:45:41.039
I never played hockey, but I just love how these all these athletes, these misfits, came together to win a gold.
00:45:41.199 --> 00:45:43.199
Number two for me is the first Rocky.
00:45:43.280 --> 00:45:44.719
Big shout out to Carl Weathers.
00:45:44.800 --> 00:45:46.960
He's a San Diego State Aztec, so we gotta love.
00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:48.239
Oh, I didn't know that.
00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:50.559
Yeah, that the original Rocky was awesome.
00:45:50.719 --> 00:45:53.519
And then for me, also, Alex, number three is Hoosier's.
00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:55.039
I mean, just epic.
00:45:55.119 --> 00:45:58.480
And then everything else underneath that is an honorable mention for me because you're right.
00:45:58.559 --> 00:46:00.400
There are so many great movies.
00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:02.719
Alex, where can people get a hold of you?
00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:11.119
Whether it's your website, whether it's an email, whether it's your social media, shout it out to everybody's our audience so they know where to get a hold of you.
00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:12.079
Absolutely.
00:46:12.239 --> 00:46:12.960
Thank you very much.
00:46:13.119 --> 00:46:14.320
So I keep it easy.
00:46:14.639 --> 00:46:16.639
Alex Molden everywhere.
00:46:16.800 --> 00:46:20.960
You know, I do that everywhere when it comes to social media.
00:46:21.199 --> 00:46:23.840
My website is alexmolden.com.
00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:26.239
Once again, I try to keep it simple.
00:46:26.480 --> 00:46:32.079
I also have a book that could be, you know, it's relatable.
00:46:32.159 --> 00:46:34.480
It's called The Ultimate Playbook for Athletes.
00:46:34.559 --> 00:46:44.960
It's it's a book on personal development and leadership, where I break down the 10 influencers of why white people follow you or they run away from you.
00:46:45.119 --> 00:46:46.639
Okay it doesn't, it doesn't matter.
00:46:46.719 --> 00:46:47.840
It's still leadership.
00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:52.000
It helps people understand, like, you know, what the essence of leadership is.
00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:55.119
People think it's just like, hey, you follow me, or I follow you.
00:46:55.920 --> 00:47:02.000
No, if I step in a room and everybody runs, I'm still leading.
00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:05.679
It just not being the way that I might want, right?
00:47:06.159 --> 00:47:07.280
So I have that.
00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:12.960
I have a I have a brand new website out, and it's called The Next Arena.
00:47:13.039 --> 00:47:20.639
And this is for former elite level athletes, and if they're being feeling stuck after the game.
00:47:20.880 --> 00:47:26.719
And so I give different, I have different programs available for for those folks.
00:47:26.960 --> 00:47:29.519
So yeah, that's that's all I got.
00:47:29.760 --> 00:47:30.400
I love it.
00:47:30.480 --> 00:47:31.679
That is awesome.
00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:34.480
Team, thank you so much for joining us.
00:47:34.559 --> 00:47:40.239
Alex, thank you for showing us what it takes to turn a devastating setback into a first-round success.
00:47:40.400 --> 00:47:43.440
And team, with this conversation, it you we need you to do two things.
00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:55.280
One, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it: an athlete dealing with an injury or a setback, a young person facing their own challenges, a parent helping their child out, their child navigate adversity.
00:47:55.440 --> 00:47:57.119
And two, it's a must.
00:47:57.360 --> 00:47:58.480
Connect with Alex.
00:47:58.639 --> 00:48:02.960
We're gonna definitely have all his handles in the show notes, but we want you to reach out to Alex.
00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:09.360
For someone who understands what it takes to overcome major adversity and overcome a hell of a start setback.
00:48:09.519 --> 00:48:15.280
Alex brings the real experience of a devastating injury, grueling recovery, and ultimate success.
00:48:15.519 --> 00:48:21.599
And if you're ready to get clear on what it takes to get beyond the game, check Aaron and I out at blueprintbluechip.com.
00:48:21.760 --> 00:48:26.159
We work with athletes and families and coaches to help get them to the next level.
00:48:26.320 --> 00:48:30.960
This is the standard podcast, and this movement only grows when we raise the standard together.
00:48:31.119 --> 00:48:33.119
Talent fades, but truth endures.
00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:36.320
Let's raise the bar, rebuild the culture, and become the standard.
00:48:36.480 --> 00:48:38.079
Alex, Aaron, thanks so much for joining us.
00:48:38.239 --> 00:48:39.840
Team, we'll see you next time.
00:48:41.440 --> 00:48:42.159
Thank you.
