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00:00:02.986Welcome back to the show, everybody.
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00:00:06.115On today's episode we have Rex Sunohara.
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00:00:08.983Rex is the current long snapper for the Cleveland Browns.
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00:00:13.868He's full of resilience, fortitude and he's got many life lessons to share with us.
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00:00:25.251Today and this episode is brought to you by All Black, everything Performance Energy Drink, the official energy drink of the Athletic Fortitude Podcast, available in Walmart, meijer and select gnc franchise locations.
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00:00:36.862And on today's episode, rex sunahara, so you know, so you knew, trap our mutual friend sam, uh yeah, at bucknell, right yeah.
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00:00:37.301So what was?
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00:00:38.543What was he like at bucknell?
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00:00:50.612because like he was honestly that he was like pretty quiet, like quiet reserved, uh, just a good dude, yeah, I mean he's the best.
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00:01:09.042But like so, when we so I met Sam, when he, when he came to Morgantown and like didn't know anything about him, they were just like, hey, like this, this new dude's like going to come and kick, like he was a transfer from bucknell.
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00:01:10.424Okay, what, like you know, all right, like we'll see how it goes.
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00:01:20.471Dude, I like right off the bat, like me, sam, and then like my two other buddies, like we just hit it off and we have been friends ever since and like it's incredible, the best.
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00:01:25.655I then one of the nicest dudes, oh, my god, he's, he's the.
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00:01:27.219I mean, like I said, he's the man like I'm.
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00:01:30.688I'm like, so we're going to play pittsburgh this weekend.
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00:01:47.784Uh, we're playing steelers, and like I haven't seen sam now just because of, you know, life and stuff gets in the way, but I haven't seen him in, you know, maybe about a year, but like I am so excited to see strap, like it's gonna be great are you guys going out after the game or do you?
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00:01:48.790are you guys pretty strict?
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00:01:50.680yeah, we're pretty strict, we gotta leave right afterwards.
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00:01:52.890But uh, they'll come, you'll get to see him.
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00:01:53.954Yeah, I'll get to see him.
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00:01:57.346They'll come say hi after the game and stuff, and that'll be good, uh.
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00:02:03.966But no, I I wish we were able to go, you know, go go to the south side or something after the game.
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00:02:06.852Yeah, I feel that for sure.
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00:02:08.014Where are you originally from?
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00:02:10.225I'm from Cleveland.
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00:02:12.681Oh, that's right, I did know that.
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00:02:13.866Dumb calling.
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00:02:15.311I have that in my notes, actually.
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00:02:18.669Little town west of Cleveland called Bay Village.
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00:02:21.543You grew up a Browns fan, right?
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00:02:23.929Yeah, that's pretty cool.
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00:02:26.052I'm going to be honest I hate the Steelers.
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00:02:32.258So, I hope you guys beat the Steelers by a thousand.
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00:02:32.759There we go.
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00:02:38.006So, um, a couple, a couple like recording things.
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00:02:50.735Like if you're blurry or if I'm blurry, or even if you freeze, keep talking, doesn't matter, I can hear you, and the reason I use this platform is it like it records from your camera, so like you're going to be clear no matter what and I'll be clear no matter what.
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00:02:53.122So it's pretty cool, oh, sweet, nice, yeah, sounds good.
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00:02:56.168But uh, talk to me a little bit about the.
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00:02:59.675Uh, bare feet in the in the snow, what?
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00:03:00.381What are we doing?
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00:03:02.264here so it wasn't snowing yet.
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00:03:40.171Um, so I so my my dad is, is japanese, but he's from hawaii, and so he, like, when we were growing up, like we didn't really wear, like I mean we wore shoes, but like we didn't have, we weren't like playing out, like playing on like concrete or something, we were just like in the grass, like we were just not in shoes, and then also like I, so like that was the start of it, and then I also, when I was playing for the dolphins, I got the chance to be around matt collins a lot that was gonna be my next question.
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00:03:41.342Is this a matt collins?
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00:03:56.693yeah, so like I used to fish a lot with mac when we were living in miami and he would talk to me about, like, the whole barefoot thing and I was like, oh, like that kind of sounds a little bit like you know why my dad doesn't wear like what.
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00:04:17.259I mean, my dad wears sandals a lot, slippers in hawaii, but, like you know, it's very thin, very like you know, it's not a lot of padding and cushion and stuff, and I think that that has something to do with, like, people's feet getting weaker and then, you know, rolling ankles and stuff like that because there's so much padding on shoes.
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00:04:21.028So I try to not wear, like you know, whether it's slippers like I don't wear.
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00:04:26.750No, if I'm going out or if I'm, you know, obviously playing or working out or something like that, I need to wear something.
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00:04:27.632I'll wear them.
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00:04:34.033But if I don't have to, like I try to have as little, you know, cushion on my shoes as possible.
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00:04:49.367And you know, plus, I just like walking around bare feet before the game, just because it's, you know, I do think that the grounding thing is real and I think, you know, you get some type of energy from that and I just, you know, honestly too.
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00:04:50.228I just like the way it feels.
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00:04:52.213So it's, it's uh.
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00:05:07.915You know a little bit of both things is this something that you believed in before mac and he amplified it, or is it when you met mac, it it really took off so I believed it before Mac, but I didn't understand why.
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00:05:27.021But him talking about the cushion of the shoe and then after that type of stuff, I've learned more about it and you know there's a lot of people that like talk about like the zero drop shoes and just having like that small amount of cushion like before the ground, and so now it's like a bigger thing to wear.
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00:05:31.610Like you know, I, like I said, I try not to wear super cushiony shoes.
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00:05:37.391I mean, I will admit I do have a pair of hokas but like and they're super I'm wearing hokas right now.
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00:05:39.345So great, it's a great, oh, they're so comfortable.
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00:05:50.211But like I try not to, wear those if like, for like long periods of time, you know, and if I am wearing those I switch right back into my slippers and then we're, you know, then we're good to go doing that.
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00:05:58.165Now, is this like an anti sock thing too, like, do you actually feel the need to feel it against the skin on your feet, or would you wear socks as well?
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00:06:03.389I'm very I mean, I'm not anti sock, but uh, I don don't.
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00:06:19.992I think like just having your foot on the ground is what you know, is where you needed, where it needs to be it's funny because I've been seeing on my twitter feed this type of grounding effect come up more in terms of conversation, the science community.
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00:06:28.290I follow a lot of the science community and I see both sides where people say this is not scientific provable and then the other side's people say this is not scientific provable and then the other side's like no, it is scientifically provable.
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00:06:33.668How deep are you into like the science of it, or is it more of you just feel that innate benefit of it?
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00:06:47.045So I get both sides of it, like for me it's one of those things where, like you know, if it is a placebo, you know, okay, cool, like sometimes placebos work.
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00:06:49.427And if you think, it works.
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00:06:51.509Placebo is one hell of a drug, I'll tell you.
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00:06:54.468Like if you think it works, then it works and that's great.
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00:07:19.168But for me it's like the thing I do really believe in is like if your feet are weaker there are muscles in your foot and there's a lot of different things that you want to try to do with your feet and your ankles that you're going to be more prone to rolling an ankle, and then if you roll an ankle, then you're more prone to stuffing your knees and your hips and everything's connected in that way.
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00:07:25.492So that's where I kind of am trying to have my feet be as strong as possible, because that's where everything starts.
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00:07:29.709Is there a temperature where you won't do this?
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00:07:33.807I didn't.
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00:07:34.389I didn't.
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00:07:42.288So I really started doing it when I was in the XFL, so like two or three years ago.
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00:07:54.468And the thing about that is is like everywhere we play is either indoors or it was a spring league so it was nice out, so I've never really had to go through the whole winter of doing this.
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00:08:10.314But I don't know, I'll probably do it Because I just like, when I do it, I just I walk around the field, I sit at the goalposts, call my people and then I go back inside.
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00:08:17.168So I'm really out there for like 20 minutes, 20, 30 minutes at the most, and I think I mean, I don't know, I probably wouldn't.
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00:08:22.968There's probably not a temperature I wouldn't do it at, because I mean you don't really play in like super, super, super cold.
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00:08:25.458It's funny because when I saw it I thought it, you don't really play in like super, super, super cold.
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00:08:31.406It's funny because when I saw it I thought it was like a mental toughness type thing, like people come out, warm it up without shirts on and things so.
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00:08:34.147No, that I Believe me.
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00:08:36.784I, I was.
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00:08:42.109I mean, I'm sure you've seen that picture where it's like I'm wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
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00:08:47.307I want to be warm, but I do believe in grounding and stuff like that.
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00:08:51.628No, it was not a mental toughness thing.
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00:08:55.285Do you have a pregame routine that you typically go through?
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00:09:33.410Yeah, for the most part, like I said, I'll normally go on the first bus to the stadium and then the first thing I do when I get there is I'll normally like go, you know, whether it's I'll go on the first bus to the stadium and then the first thing I do when I get there is I'll change into my gear and then I'll just walk like you know, go, walk on the field, walk around the outside, just kind of like take in the sights and the sounds and everything, and just kind of like you know, lock in that way, and then I'll go and sit at the goalpost, call, you know, call my family, call my girlfriend, call my people, and then just sit.
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00:09:41.304Then after that I'll like turn my music off, I'll keep my headphones on and then I'll just visualize like the different things that I'm thinking are going to happen.
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00:09:58.662So if it's a certain type of rush that the other department return team's going to run, I'll visualize, you know, a certain type of rush that the other return team is going to run, I'll visualize at different parts of the field, like that type of thing, visualize the field goal snaps and just visualize perfect stuff, visualize just a lot of.
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00:10:14.734So I sit there and just try to visualize the whole game To where it's like, okay, if it's this down in distance or if it's this time in the game, this is how I'm going to go out there, this is how it's going to feel, this is how it's going to look on the backend, this is where those people are going to be.
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00:10:30.392And I just try to, you know, and that's probably five, 10 minutes of me, just you know, sitting there, thinking and like mapping it out, and then I'll go back inside, I'll have peanut butter and jelly and ready to go.
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00:10:31.535How'd you get to this routine?
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00:10:32.498Was it trial and error?
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00:10:33.541Did someone point you to it?
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00:11:06.989um, so it was a lot of trial and error because, like before, I would like get to the stadium as quick as I could and start like snapping right away, just because I wanted, you know, whatever if I was nervous, just wanted to get that out or I don't really know what it was, but kind of the older that I got, like the more things like you have to, just like I just want to, if I can see it, I can do it, you know, and I just wanted to like the more I see it.
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00:11:21.129So like, even if it's like watching more, a little bit more film, like if I get to the locker room like a little bit earlier before I go out, like I'll watch a little bit of film or just read my notes one more time, just to get that type of stuff together.
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00:11:24.227And that's really really helped.
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00:11:44.124And you know, like I said, it's it it's been a lot of trial and error of it just getting older and you know, doing this more because you know, even in the xfl, like I would have these, I would try different things and stuff like that, but I really like this routine that I have going right now for these past seven weeks.
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00:11:47.947I'm very similar Super visual.
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00:11:49.748If I can see it, I can do it.
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00:12:00.554And like a distinct memory that I have is like at Bucknell we ran a very similar defense to the Michigan State defense when Pat Narduzzi was there.
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00:12:02.937Ultimately pretty cool, I ended up playing with him or for him.
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00:12:12.288But Darquez Denard, trey, waynesnes okay, those were the two corners on that michigan state defense, both the first round picks.
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00:12:23.926We watched so much of their film and before the spring game my freshman year going into my sophomore year I just like watched their film over and over again and then when I went out and played it was spring.
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00:12:27.724I had three interceptions, two pick sixes, like just went crazy.
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00:12:33.514But like I targeted specifically because I watched their film.
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00:12:37.187We ran the same play call and I got the same routes.
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00:12:43.788Like just out of coincidence but because I saw and repeated it, like I was able then to go out and do it.
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00:12:47.241And that was when I really first learned how visual I was.
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00:12:53.600Was there like a point where you learned that you were visual or did it just happen over time?
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00:13:02.869I think it was really like this year where it was like, okay, I can't just go out there and just like kind of do it, like I have to watch it and I have to.
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00:13:05.774You know you have to see it.
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00:13:14.260And you have to see it a lot of times because then the more you see it, like they you know everyone has their tells, everyone has.
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00:13:24.208You know they might be disguising, doing something, but they're really trying to set this up or there's a little bit of space here or a speeder this way, or you know it's.
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00:13:31.328So that was kind of I knew I was visual, like I and I was better when I was, when I saw it.
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00:13:42.019But like this year was really when I like honed into doing that and I think it's helped so much how rigid is your pre-game routine?
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00:13:47.306so I think sometimes we can get trapped in our routines to the point where if we can't hit our routine we can't function.
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00:13:55.211So I think there's a balance between rigid and flexibility.
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00:13:57.664So it's like where do you fall on that?
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00:14:02.589So I'm probably more on the side of like it's.
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00:14:29.346You know, like it is like I go and I do this and then I stretch and then, uh, you know, if it's like, maybe I'll get, like, I mean, maybe there's like some variance to it, but for the most part it's like I roll out the same, I band stretch the same way, I do the same like t-spine stuff, I do the same shoulder mobility stuff, um, and then, like I've added, I've added some things in.
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00:14:34.807I don't really take stuff out if I like it, um, but for the most part it's been, it's been the same.
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00:14:51.607For a lot of times it's like, I don't know, I think maybe just because, like it's, it's better for me to be a creature of habit that way, but I don't know, I haven't, I've never not done it one way it's.
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00:15:04.182You know, I've had the same kind of routine that way since college, because we've always worked the same way in college, and then I just took that to wherever I went and I are you superstitious at all?
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00:15:06.927Very, Tell me more.
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00:15:13.245So like I sit in the same place like dirt, like.
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00:15:20.461So my teammate in the XFL, brad Wing, was like he was the first one, that kind of like noticed it.
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00:15:30.163But like I am, like I sit in the same place on the bench, I only I stand up after the defense gets to stop.
00:15:30.163 -->
00:15:35.280Like if I'm standing up and defense doesn't get a stop, like I think it's my fault because I wasn't sitting down.
00:15:35.280 -->
00:15:45.596Okay, it was like I, I'm, I am that way, but like I also don't like to say things, and then I'm like, oh shoot, I jinxed it.
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00:15:53.374Uh, you know, just I don't know why I am that way, but I am like I knock on wood all the time.
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00:16:06.447I, you know, if you still salt throw it over the left shoulder like got it, I don't know, maybe that's just protect, like I just gotta, if there's already a lot of stuff out there that's gonna hurt you, you might as well just have a little luck on your side.
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00:16:15.287How do you manage that with the nature of your position being a long snapper, kind of needing everything to go perfect?
00:16:15.287 -->
00:16:17.567How do you balance that superstition with that?
00:16:18.942 -->
00:16:22.087Uh, I don't know, it's just kind of been the way that I've done it.
00:16:22.087 -->
00:16:52.664It's, you know, I have been very blessed and lucky to been, you know, been doing well at my position and it wasn't like it wasn't super, you know, easy to get to that, and I don't know it's been one of those things where it's just I just went, once the game like the, once the flow of the game starts going like it, just, it just works.
00:16:53.407 -->
00:17:06.976It's a wide change if it works, you know I don't think people really understand how difficult it is to be a long or short snapper and how meticulous the details are.
00:17:06.976 -->
00:17:10.528What is your off-season routine like?
00:17:10.528 -->
00:17:12.271How frequently are you snapping the ball?
00:17:12.271 -->
00:17:17.873And if you were to guess, how many snaps do you think you've taken over the course of your life?
00:17:18.520 -->
00:17:25.655of my life, I don't know way more than, but we used to snap so much in college like ask trap about it.
00:17:25.655 -->
00:17:29.263We would snap like all like for probably like four hours straight.
00:17:29.263 -->
00:17:31.969It was a long time, like after practice.
00:17:31.969 -->
00:17:48.723For like it was a lot, I would say over my life, 50, 000, and that might be on the low end, maybe more, maybe closer to 100, I have no idea like, but it's a lot.
00:17:48.723 -->
00:17:53.614Um, but it was.
00:17:53.614 -->
00:17:59.348It's it's hard, but it's like it's so fun.
00:18:00.771 -->
00:18:03.423You know, like there are a lot of things like I mean, you know you played.
00:18:03.423 -->
00:18:05.057Like there's a lot of things like I mean, and you know you played.
00:18:05.057 -->
00:18:17.105Like there's a lot of misconceptions about like specialists where it's like, oh, they don't really do anything, they're just sitting in there, you know, twiddling their thumbs, but like there is a craft to it where it's like you know everyone's got to be on the same page.
00:18:17.105 -->
00:18:30.202You know kickers got to be on the same page as you.
00:18:30.202 -->
00:18:32.167And then you know, at this level we're matching laces and we're trying to make sure that.
00:18:32.188 -->
00:18:35.637You know I'm trying to make sure the older to spin the ball on field goals, and you know, and then in the pros, like college was all you had to do was snap it run.
00:18:35.637 -->
00:18:42.609You know, in the pros now we're talking about eight man boxes, seven man boxes, rolling corners.
00:18:42.609 -->
00:18:45.733You know waves, loops, everything like it's.
00:18:45.733 -->
00:19:14.592You know you really gotta be detailed and take good notes and, uh, just really be on your shit, cause you know, like, if you're not, that is a, that's a way to not have a job, and it's, you know, it is a, uh, it's something that, like you know, you have to not take for granted how difficult is it when you have to interchange between different positions?
00:19:14.772 -->
00:19:16.000injuries right, you have a new holder.
00:19:16.000 -->
00:19:16.762You have a new kicker.
00:19:16.762 -->
00:19:19.048How hard is it to reset that timing?
00:19:19.869 -->
00:19:23.949um, so it's, it's, it's not, it's not fun.
00:19:23.949 -->
00:19:29.847Uh, it not fun, it's not easy, but like you, just the more you do it.
00:19:29.847 -->
00:19:33.365So, like I mean, for me that was my situation this year.
00:19:33.365 -->
00:19:48.983Like the guy that was here, you know, has been a staple on the Browns for as long as I can remember, even being a fan, and him and the holder and the kicker, like they were, they're on their stuff.
00:19:48.983 -->
00:20:02.665And then, you know, they got me this new guy coming in here who snap, like you know, I snap it differently than Charlie, I do a lot of different, different things, and so for them, I'm sure it was not hard, or I'm sure it was hard for them to like, adjust to me.
00:20:02.665 -->
00:20:09.729But you know, for me it's like I just got to snap a good ball and then just keep doing the same thing over and over and over and over again.
00:20:09.729 -->
00:20:18.641Uh, just so they know there's no like difference in anything, and then they can adjust off of that how do you actually make changes?
00:20:18.842 -->
00:20:24.030because, like it's repetition over and, over and over again?
00:20:24.030 -->
00:20:27.201How do you analyze what you're doing well and what you need to improve on?
00:20:28.684 -->
00:20:31.832so, on field goal, like it's field goal, it's like miniscule things.
00:20:31.832 -->
00:20:44.564Because, like I want the kicker to see the ball as long as he can, so I don't want to push the ball inside, but I also don't want to push it outside to where you know he thinks it's going to be long or it's just going to be outside and older, not going to get there.
00:20:44.564 -->
00:20:48.232Like I don't want, I don't want the kicker to have to worry about anything.
00:20:48.232 -->
00:20:54.632Like I want it to just be right down the pipe, catch it, put it down, boom, we're going um.
00:20:54.772 -->
00:20:58.367On pun, it's a little different because you know, like I said, there's blocking involved with it too.
00:20:59.210 -->
00:21:07.194So and then you know, on blocking, it's, you know, it's like playing off, that's fine, you get beat, you get beat, and you know you, you gotta get your head up.
00:21:07.434 -->
00:21:08.317I'm sure you gotta.
00:21:08.317 -->
00:21:09.499You gotta move a little quicker.
00:21:09.499 -->
00:21:33.288You gotta, you know, uh, get your feet going, because I mean it's it's chaos in there once when there's everyone's moving around, but it's just work, like you said, it's just working and doing the same thing every day, every day, every day, every day, and that's like I had a coach in the xfl tell me that that's what like being a pro is is making sure, like, even if you don't feel like it, like you have to do the same thing every single day.
00:21:33.288 -->
00:21:43.142And you know, being a young guy like you were like oh, okay, like whatever, like you know, uh, but like now that is like so true.
00:21:43.142 -->
00:21:47.663Like you see, the vets that are have been there forever, like they do the same thing every day.
00:21:47.663 -->
00:21:56.057They do the same recovery to do the same pre-practice, they do the same thing post-practice and it's like, oh, that's why they played 14 years in the league.
00:21:56.057 -->
00:22:02.067It's because they have their routine down to a science, and it's not even a routine, it's just part of their life.
00:22:03.210 -->
00:22:04.672What keeps you disciplined like that?
00:22:10.960 -->
00:22:14.705I guess it's the fear of not wanting to, you know, lose a job and it's, you know.
00:22:14.705 -->
00:22:16.627But it's also like it's the fear of that.
00:22:16.627 -->
00:22:25.936But it's also like you, I love this, like I love playing football, I love doing what I'm doing, so like, why would I not?
00:22:25.936 -->
00:22:31.847Well, why would I not do like every single thing that I can see, you know it's it's not work.
00:22:31.847 -->
00:22:35.573You know people, people say, well, you know, we got to work.
00:22:35.573 -->
00:22:36.074I do the work.
00:22:36.074 -->
00:22:37.255Like it's this isn't work.
00:22:49.140 -->
00:22:50.403This is us playing a kid's game for money.
00:22:50.403 -->
00:22:51.246We used to do this for fun.
00:22:51.246 -->
00:22:51.887It's, it's, it's the best.
00:22:51.887 -->
00:23:04.353Your story's so fascinating because you go from two sport athlete to then walking on at west virginia to earning a scholarship, to getting cut by yeah, you know the steelers, the dolphins going to the xfl, ufl, and then finally, at 28, you're the guy.
00:23:12.991 -->
00:23:14.817What kept you going throughout all the ups and downs?
00:23:14.817 -->
00:23:19.318Honestly, it was like so no one could say that I didn't Like it was.
00:23:19.318 -->
00:23:32.029You know, I just, I just didn't want to have anyone be like oh yeah, like you almost made it, he almost did it, he was almost there, you know.
00:23:32.029 -->
00:23:50.990So, like I hope I get to play for a lot longer, but you know, if it's, if it's a year, if it's the next five games, and that's it, like I can look back on it and be like okay, like I did it, I was, you know, I gave it everything I had, I and I, I did it.
00:23:50.990 -->
00:23:52.614So you know when.
00:23:52.653 -->
00:24:07.042Then, if it puts me into the next phase of life, where it's like hey, like I can do, I could do whatever I put my mind to because it's, I mean it's, it was hard, I mean it was, it was not easy, there were, there were people being like hey, like, why don't you just get a normal job?
00:24:07.042 -->
00:24:08.867Like, why don't you just start coaching?
00:24:08.867 -->
00:24:12.125You know, why don't you just, you know, do this, that or the third?
00:24:12.125 -->
00:24:19.029And it's like well, no, because, like, this is what I, this is the dream, this is what I want to do and it's.
00:24:19.029 -->
00:24:21.717You know, like I said, that was like what it was.
00:24:21.717 -->
00:24:22.520I just didn't want.
00:24:22.520 -->
00:24:31.703I didn't want to look back in 30 years or come back to you know, come back to my hometown and have people be like, oh, like, he almost did it, he almost made it.
00:24:31.703 -->
00:24:38.483So I don't, I don't know, maybe that's petty, but still yeah, no, that's the the.
00:24:38.683 -->
00:24:47.423the part I love is the being able to respond to everybody that said do this or do that, or you know why?
00:24:47.423 -->
00:24:49.410Why are you chasing this impossible dream?
00:24:49.410 -->
00:24:52.128And you're like no, like this is what I'm doing.
00:24:52.128 -->
00:25:03.751That's the part I love, because that is the hard part, where it's not only are you chasing something impossible, but it's everybody around you telling you you're crazy and telling you how impossible it is.
00:25:03.751 -->
00:25:06.769And for some people, they hear that and they're like you know what?
00:25:06.769 -->
00:25:07.560You're right, I'm done.
00:25:07.560 -->
00:25:22.483And then there's other people like yourself who's like no, I'm gonna dig my feet in deeper and I'm gonna go how much of that is innate to you versus was that taught to you or where did that come so?
00:25:23.286 -->
00:25:23.886So it was.
00:25:23.886 -->
00:25:39.165It came a lot from from my parents, where it was like you know, my mom was very supportive of it and she, you know, she always was like okay, like you know, you're going to do this, You're going to.
00:25:39.165 -->
00:25:43.144Like she always was very, very, very supportive of my dad.
00:25:43.144 -->
00:25:58.011The same way, Like he would always say like if you're gonna do it, like don't don't have, like, don't be half into it, like snap a little bit, do this, do that, like you do it, and so that was really great.
00:25:58.031 -->
00:26:14.752And then also, like I have like great friends, you know, like my, like I, like I have, I have, you know, like Sam and our other, my other three buddies from college, my brother and then like my buddies from high school, like every time I would see them, they're like, oh, like, why would you ever?
00:26:14.752 -->
00:26:17.615You know, why would you ever not?
00:26:17.615 -->
00:26:22.461You know we're working nine to five jobs, we're doing this, this and this.
00:26:22.461 -->
00:26:24.586Like why would you ever, ever not do it?
00:26:24.586 -->
00:26:27.270So I think, like having a great support system helped.
00:26:28.051 -->
00:26:43.763But then also, like I've seen, like I, I see my brother my brother was playing basketball and like I didn't and I was like he just looked like he's still in college or he was in college, he's out now, but like seeing him playoffs, I just I miss that.
00:26:43.763 -->
00:26:49.669Like being part of the team doing all that stuff, where it's like you just want to be back doing that.
00:26:49.669 -->
00:27:21.756So, seeing him do it all the time like my dad was, my dad is a coach or was the volleyball coach at West Virginia, so like he always got to be part, like he was always doing stuff and like they were just busy being a part of the team, it's just like okay, well, like I like that was the thing that always felt like I was missing, you know, on those couple years where I wasn't and so you know, seeing it and then also it being taught to me by my parents like it was.
00:27:21.776 -->
00:27:22.640I think it was a little bit of both.
00:27:22.640 -->
00:27:23.765What enabled you to maintain?
00:27:23.785 -->
00:27:24.894belief in yourself when things weren't going your way.
00:27:24.894 -->
00:27:25.579Well, I mean it was hard.
00:27:25.579 -->
00:27:34.651It was hard because, like you know, it's Because you were on teams before right.
00:27:36.462 -->
00:27:38.710Yes, I was with the Bills for four days and got cut.
00:27:38.710 -->
00:27:39.865That's my famous story.
00:27:40.221 -->
00:27:44.469I mean so same with me in my first stint in Miami, was there for two days.
00:27:44.469 -->
00:27:51.571I got caught like it and and that that is like the worst feeling in the world is.
00:27:51.571 -->
00:27:54.924You're like oh, my god, I am, I've made it.
00:27:54.924 -->
00:28:00.300I'm gonna like now, we're good, I can take care of people, everything's gonna be fine.
00:28:00.300 -->
00:28:05.413Like people are texting you telling you how great you are, it's everything's like, everything's great.
00:28:05.413 -->
00:28:10.172And then, like the next day you're back home and it's like well, what happened?
00:28:10.172 -->
00:28:14.555You know you're going to the supermarket and everyone's like well, I thought you were here.
00:28:14.555 -->
00:28:20.484I thought you were here, I thought you were here and that was like my.
00:28:20.484 -->
00:28:22.788That was the worst.
00:28:22.988 -->
00:28:36.362When I got released from miami the last time, it was like after, like right before training, like right before the first preseason game in like 20, 21 or 22 I forget what the year was.
00:28:36.362 -->
00:28:38.974So I came home and like didn't want to leave my house.
00:28:38.974 -->
00:28:42.683I was like I don't want to see people, I don't want to like I don't even want to see my friends.
00:28:42.683 -->
00:28:50.315Like I was just like, and that was like probably the lowest where I was like, oh, maybe this isn't for me, maybe I just can't, maybe I can't do it.
00:28:50.315 -->
00:28:58.772But, like I said, you got to have a great support system where it's like, you know some people are going to say like, oh, are you doing this?
00:28:58.772 -->
00:29:19.189And then you know you gotta listen to the people that are like, sometimes you gotta listen to the people that feed the crazy delusional dream, where it's like, hey, like, come on, I'll come, I'll catch snaps for you, like, let's go work out, let's go do this, let's go do this, and that was what kept me going and that was like what was, because that's what got me through.
00:29:19.230 -->
00:29:22.528Like those darker days where you know, then that happens.
00:29:22.528 -->
00:29:24.839Then I have, you know, then that happens.
00:29:24.839 -->
00:29:31.761Then I have you know five or six workouts that next year, you know don't get signed, but you know that's fine, your name's in the wire.
00:29:31.761 -->
00:29:33.748Go to the XFL, play great.
00:29:33.748 -->
00:29:39.390Go to Pittsburgh, have a great preseason Um, you know it doesn't work out there, which is fine.
00:29:39.390 -->
00:29:57.308Uh, go to go back to the XFL, have another great year, a couple more workouts in the offseason and then, boom, here I am now going on my 8th week with the Browns and it's, you know it's cliche, but like it's the journey and I really wouldn't have it any other way.
00:29:59.813 -->
00:30:01.539It's when you're in those like dark moments.
00:30:01.539 -->
00:30:12.131It's the voice in your head that doubt creeps in, that tells you maybe this isn't for me, maybe I can't do this, maybe I'm not good enough.
00:30:12.131 -->
00:30:16.236I got cut after two days, four days, whatever it is, how do I have a chance?
00:30:16.236 -->
00:30:24.840How to communicate with yourself?
00:30:24.840 -->
00:30:28.589It's learning how to talk through that and have that support system and how important that support system can be.
00:30:28.609 -->
00:30:46.953I don't think it can be stated enough, really, how you need people in your corner and you have to learn how to communicate through that doubt and I think, at the end of the day, with the people like yourself who make it in, the ones who don't, is there really isn't an option to quit.
00:30:46.953 -->
00:31:01.864Even when you're in those low periods, or it's not going your way, or the extreme self-doubt, it's the little voice in the back of your head that's still saying but well, I'm not gonna quit, right, right, I'm gonna figure it out, I'm gonna do the next step.
00:31:01.864 -->
00:31:07.724And sometimes it takes a little bit for that voice to come back where it's like I'm not going to quit, but eventually it does.
00:31:07.724 -->
00:31:10.711And then you go and you get it rolling.
00:31:10.711 -->
00:31:17.132Yeah, how do you maintain that perspective now with things kind of going your way.
00:31:19.260 -->
00:31:19.701I always.
00:31:19.701 -->
00:31:20.663So I kept.
00:31:20.663 -->
00:31:30.607I don't know where it is right now, but I kept a letter from the Dolphins and like, do you remember what that letter like when they cut you?
00:31:30.607 -->
00:31:39.319And there's like three options where it's like, oh, you got hurt, or you were like overweight, or like, oh, you just weren't Like.
00:31:39.319 -->
00:31:44.211It literally just says like conduct, like insufficient, whatever it is.
00:31:44.211 -->
00:31:59.961So I keep, I kept that, I've kept every one of those from when I've been cut and so like I'll just periodically look at that and be like, okay, like I do not want to ever see one of these again and the life of a specialist probably will at some point.
00:32:00.102 -->
00:32:09.711Like I know that we've, we go all these different places and it's, you know, just the business of, of our, our, our, our position.
00:32:09.711 -->
00:32:14.305But like I look at those and I'm like, okay, I never want to see that again.
00:32:14.305 -->
00:32:17.002And that's the one thing where it's like that can happen.
00:32:17.002 -->
00:32:24.626Like I was, you can be on cloud nine one day, and the next thing you know you're getting that letter at your parents' house and's like, ah, here we are again.
00:32:24.626 -->
00:32:26.589So like you, just never like I.
00:32:26.589 -->
00:32:37.993That's the way I kind of keep myself, grounded a bit of it to where it's like okay, like let me just let me not even think about what else is going on.
00:32:37.993 -->
00:32:55.067Like you know we can be doing, I could be here, I could be doing well, but like gotta keep the phone, gotta keep the blinders on and just keep going, because you know that letter is right around the corner if you don't how do you block out distractions?
00:32:57.070 -->
00:33:02.585oh, it's, it's hard, uh, especially like you know being from being from the town you play in.
00:33:02.585 -->
00:33:04.679You know that's a that's a hard, especially like you know being from the town you play in.
00:33:04.679 -->
00:33:09.932You know that's a hard thing because, like everyone wants to ask what's going on.
00:33:09.932 -->
00:33:27.852But for me it's just, you know, I just try to keep, you know, doing my thing, like if I'm just, if I'm doing my job, I don't have time to entertain the distractions that you know.
00:33:27.852 -->
00:33:35.942So as long as I'm just, I just try to stay as busy as possible, you know, and if I don't, maybe that's not right, maybe that's not.
00:33:35.942 -->
00:33:43.432You know I relax when I'm home, I relax when I, you know, on my off days, you know that's that's great.
00:33:43.432 -->
00:33:56.548You know, on my off days, you know that's that's great, but it's, you know, whether it's just study film or just hanging out, like you know, just being at the facility, it's, you know, if you're aware, if you're where you're supposed to be, like there's no, there are no distractions in that way.
00:33:57.550 -->
00:34:03.547so that's kind of what I try to do how different is it from locker room to locker room in the nfl?
00:34:06.411 -->
00:34:23.867I, you know, I try to talk to everybody, so like I don't, you know, I don't that's such a specialist thing, though it's funny when I was training uh, to play um terrell prior is someone who I trained with all the time and he would tell me any organization you get into.
00:34:23.867 -->
00:34:27.266He's like go to the kicker, go to the long snapper, go to the punter.
00:34:27.266 -->
00:34:31.088Those are the first people you talk to in every organization and it's so funny.
00:34:31.088 -->
00:34:39.402Every time I talk to a specialist and they're just like yeah, I don't try and talk to everybody, what is it about you specialists that you guys are just so friendly?
00:34:39.824 -->
00:34:42.429I think it's just because we have such a small group.
00:34:42.429 -->
00:34:45.052Our group is only three people.
00:34:45.052 -->
00:34:57.876Maybe there's a I've always been that extra guy in the group on the practice squad or whatever, just there for camp, but there's really just three or four of you at the most.
00:34:57.876 -->
00:35:04.248So you've got to go and talk to people or you're just going to end up talking to the same people for the whole time.
00:35:04.248 -->
00:35:13.577But I think I don't't know, we just try to, we, I don't know, I just try to try to talk to as many people as I can, but that's kind of how I am anyways.
00:35:13.577 -->
00:35:16.465I mean, I'm sure sam would tell you I'd talk to a brick wall if I could.
00:35:16.465 -->
00:35:18.929You know like it's.
00:35:19.891 -->
00:35:21.561It's uh, just the way I am.
00:35:21.561 -->
00:35:24.548How seriously do you take yourself like?
00:35:24.548 -->
00:35:25.552Are you serious all the time?
00:35:25.552 -->
00:35:26.802Are you goofy most of the time?
00:35:27.463 -->
00:35:28.226I'm goofy.
00:35:28.226 -->
00:35:30.251For the most part I don't like.
00:35:30.251 -->
00:35:35.389I think I take myself like, I take my job seriously.
00:35:35.389 -->
00:35:43.371I take my, my craft seriously and I understand the magnitude of what I do like.
00:35:43.371 -->
00:35:53.981So, like you know, during a game, during stuff, like when I'm, when it's time to go, it's time to go, but like other than that, I try to be as loose as possible.
00:35:54.682 -->
00:35:57.088You know I try how do you flip that switch to lock in?
00:35:57.628 -->
00:35:57.929what is that?
00:35:58.952 -->
00:36:02.244how do you flip that switch to lock in um?
00:36:04.588 -->
00:36:30.764I just remember where I like you gotta remember where you are, and for me it's like, so, like art, like for me it's you look like when I, when I'm like, okay, like I gotta go, like I'll look up and be like, oh, like you remember where you like like the whole being where your feet are, you kind of just like, like you remember, you're like, oh, I'm at practice with the cleveland browns right now, like I, okay, let's, let's lock this back in.
00:36:30.764 -->
00:36:39.788Or you look up, you're like, oh crap, okay, I'm at, like you know, I'm at mile high stadium, like some great people have played here.
00:36:39.788 -->
00:36:42.742Like I better, just I gotta lock this back in.
00:36:43.222 -->
00:36:59.068And then you kind of, and then it all just kind of comes back and then you're good to go what I love about athletics football in particular, I think, more so than than any other sport is when you're a competitor, you're a totally different person on the field than you are off the field.
00:36:59.068 -->
00:37:10.175I think that's a hard thing for people, or fans in general, to understand, is like that competitive nature, the, the seriousness of the job and just that competitive energy that just comes out.
00:37:10.175 -->
00:37:13.208Some people there's like a physical switch, they have to do things.
00:37:13.208 -->
00:37:18.293Other people, like yourself, which I love, is like that be where your feet are, recognize where I'm at, put myself in the moment.
00:37:18.293 -->
00:37:28.166And then some people it's just an emotional, internal sense of emotion that just comes out of your body and it's different for everyone.
00:37:28.527 -->
00:37:47.231Um, and I get different answers every time I ask and it's, it's such a cool part about athletics yeah, I mean you like there were guys like I'm sure you've seen this video on social media like I had a teammate in college who literally had to beat his head in with it, with his helmet, to like lock himself in yep, it was, and I look, and.
00:37:47.231 -->
00:37:58.666But the thing is not like if you were like, okay, this dude is a crazy person, the nicest, the nicest like one of my best friends, the nicest guy you've ever met like talking to he's great.
00:37:58.666 -->
00:38:10.568But then you have other guys that, just like you know, they kind of just sit there and they meditate for a little bit and then they go out there and then they just like take someone's head off and you know it's like, well, where was where was that?
00:38:10.568 -->
00:38:11.971Like, where'd that come from?
00:38:11.971 -->
00:38:15.927It's wild, it's one of the funnier things.
00:38:16.027 -->
00:38:47.304They're not funny but, like you said, it's like the most interesting thing ever about football because it's so violent and it's so many different walks of life that come in and play this game and it's crazy and I know this is fresh but the Aziz hit like on Trevor Lawrence anyone you talk to in that Texans organization nicest human, yeah, like exactly just unbelievable guy and it's like he wasn't trying to hurt Trevor Lawrence.
00:38:47.304 -->
00:38:56.809The hit was clearly not okay, but like it's a different element of your personality that comes out in the game.
00:38:57.826 -->
00:39:05.317It is such a violent game that you have to be violent doing it, or you're going to get hurt like it is, that's exactly right, or you're going to get hurt.
00:39:05.360 -->
00:39:05.961That's exactly right.
00:39:05.961 -->
00:39:06.965Or you're going to get hurt.
00:39:07.266 -->
00:39:10.489It's like it's yeah, it is just a.
00:39:10.489 -->
00:39:14.907Yeah, it's a crazy, crazy thing.
00:39:14.907 -->
00:39:16.422I don't know.
00:39:16.422 -->
00:39:19.983I mean, it's you just never like.
00:39:19.983 -->
00:39:20.686You just never know.
00:39:20.686 -->
00:39:22.905You never know with some of those guys.
00:39:22.905 -->
00:39:32.001Yeah, I mean, I've never met his knees before but, like you said, I've been reading on Twitter and everything.
00:39:32.001 -->
00:39:39.025Nicest guy, you know, you never know, it's just the game man.
00:39:39.286 -->
00:39:39.527Crazy.
00:39:39.527 -->
00:39:43.269What separates you from other long snappers?
00:39:43.269 -->
00:39:45.748Why are you one of 32 people in the world?
00:39:49.005 -->
00:39:55.755so, honestly, like I, I think I've just, I think I'm just really blessed to be there like I'm.
00:39:55.755 -->
00:39:57.061I work my ass off.
00:39:57.061 -->
00:40:02.427I come in every day with the mindset of trying to get better.
00:40:02.427 -->
00:40:11.990And I think that you know, and I think I, when I was younger, I hated hearing like, oh, you just got to show up and keep doing it and it'll, and it'll all work out.
00:40:11.990 -->
00:40:16.110Because, like you and I both know that that's not, that just is not the case.
00:40:16.110 -->
00:40:23.048Sometimes, like you can do all of the right things and you can be the be a great human, and sometimes it doesn't work out.
00:40:23.048 -->
00:40:33.152And I think that, like I, I'm, like I said, I'm just really blessed that it has worked out and I've, I've done it the right way.
00:40:33.152 -->
00:40:34.940I, I've done it the hard way.
00:40:34.940 -->
00:40:54.824I, you know, I went to, you know, camps, workouts, everything finally got in, finally got the ability to play, get some film in the XFL doesn't work out in other places, go back to the XFL, keep doing it the same way and then finally get my opportunity.
00:40:54.844 -->
00:41:07.655And I think that maybe just the determination is what you know, because there are like and I always tell this story like the guy that was and I'm not guy, that was Nick had a different path.
00:41:07.655 -->
00:41:12.342The guy who was ahead of me at West Virginia was the best long snapper I've ever seen.
00:41:12.342 -->
00:41:15.010The dude was unbelievable.
00:41:15.010 -->
00:41:19.012But the XFL didn't exist back then.
00:41:19.012 -->
00:41:21.186He would have played a year in the XFL.
00:41:21.186 -->
00:41:41.365He'd be playing right now, but now he's a strength coach and he's going to have a head job here in the next however many years and he's going to, you know, he's going to mold the next generation of athletes forever and it's what I think like just, and he's the one who really taught me how to work.
00:41:41.365 -->
00:41:43.445So I really thank Nick for that.
00:41:43.445 -->
00:41:56.451That was where I'm like, okay, I just got to keep showing up and I think that's kind of what puts me a part of a lot of guys.
00:42:00.400 -->
00:42:02.809How much gratitude do you have on a day-to-day basis?
00:42:03.679 -->
00:42:04.391I have to have a lot.
00:42:04.411 -->
00:42:04.958I have to have a lot.
00:42:06.061 -->
00:42:33.353I have to have a lot of gratitude to, especially for me, where it's like there are a lot of people that have helped, a lot of people that have done right by me and you know, can't you have to pay that back.
00:42:33.353 -->
00:42:38.224It's not a monetary thing, it's not a something else.
00:42:38.224 -->
00:43:04.969It's just like you have to be grateful to those people or to whatever it is, because, like it is, like when you're like, when I see people that are like, genuinely grateful for like, or even when I'm showing gratitude that way, it is like it is such a better feeling than anything that you can receive.
00:43:04.969 -->
00:43:19.688So, like I try to make sure that I am that way because I know how great, like I know it's a great feeling, so you have to show that to whoever it is, or whatever it is that has helped you along the way.
00:43:22.567 -->
00:43:24.646Do you have a process for dealing with failure?
00:43:34.239 -->
00:43:50.873I mean, yeah, like it used to not be as good as it is now, to where, like I said, like it used to be like, okay, hold up for a couple of days, like, wallow in your own self-pity, and then finally get back on the horse.
00:43:50.873 -->
00:43:55.547But now it's like, you know, I can't, I, I can't control that.
00:43:55.547 -->
00:44:02.726And now it's like, okay, I, I get ripped in practice because I've screwed up.
00:44:02.726 -->
00:44:04.048Okay, like, like, it's your fault.
00:44:04.048 -->
00:44:05.351You were the one that screwed up.
00:44:05.351 -->
00:44:07.545Why did you screw up?
00:44:07.545 -->
00:44:10.893Go watch it and then work on why.
00:44:10.893 -->
00:44:13.510So like, okay, I didn't get my head up fast enough.
00:44:13.510 -->
00:44:16.407Okay, let's go, and let's go and work on doing that.
00:44:16.407 -->
00:44:19.684Okay, I didn't, my feet weren't quick enough.
00:44:19.684 -->
00:44:26.581Okay, let's get on the ladders enough.
00:44:26.581 -->
00:44:27.202Okay, let's get on the ladders.
00:44:27.202 -->
00:44:27.422Okay, let's.
00:44:27.442 -->
00:44:30.989You know there's that balance of like, okay, like, lick your wounds a little bit, but we gotta go like.
00:44:30.989 -->
00:44:36.146We can't just sit here and focus on the negatives of it or we won't.
00:44:36.146 -->
00:44:39.619You know, you'll never find the bottom of of that negativity.
00:44:39.619 -->
00:44:44.847And it's for me, like I, I've tried it.
00:44:44.847 -->
00:44:45.730It's you know, you can't.
00:44:45.730 -->
00:44:46.670And it's for me, like I, I've tried it.
00:44:46.670 -->
00:44:49.675It's you can't and it it's a lot.
00:44:49.675 -->
00:45:05.550You feel a lot better too, like when you find, like when you're working towards, why you fail, and I think that's been what's helped me a lot what's really hard is.
00:45:07.273 -->
00:45:08.074I don't care who you are.
00:45:08.074 -->
00:45:12.885If you fail, it sucks, it's the worst, like it, it's brutal.
00:45:12.885 -->
00:45:19.822And you think about tennis players losing it in a wimbledon final.
00:45:19.822 -->
00:45:27.052That sucks like there's, there's, there's maybe not a lesson learned, it's.
00:45:27.052 -->
00:45:29.461That person was better than me today.
00:45:29.461 -->
00:45:40.413I could overanalyze everything, but at the end of the day it's like I know I'll never get back here unless I just get back to work and get back to focusing on what's next.
00:45:40.413 -->
00:45:45.827That transition is really hard and different for everybody and at different periods of life you learn how to.
00:45:45.827 -->
00:45:48.211I hate the word cope, but cope with it differently.
00:45:48.211 -->
00:46:01.239People see athletes move on and it's not that it's easy, it's that it's necessary, and learning how to do that is just so challenging.
00:46:01.481 -->
00:46:10.346It's like it's one of those things that you'll, you don't even like understand, like it until it.
00:46:10.346 -->
00:46:11.800You don't even like.
00:46:11.800 -->
00:46:16.597You know, because you're sitting there one day, yeah, this is great, blah, blah, blah.
00:46:16.597 -->
00:46:23.019And then you're like just in the bottom and you're like holy crap, like how did like this?
00:46:23.019 -->
00:46:28.835You didn't even get a chance to like, you didn't even see it coming, it's it and it.
00:46:28.835 -->
00:46:40.661Yeah, like you said, like it's a necessity, because if you, if you don't, then the next opportunity may pass you by, and it just is, and that might even be worse.
00:46:40.681 -->
00:46:43.166The hard part is the acceptance, even pre-event.
00:46:43.166 -->
00:46:55.916I think it inherently, innately, why we love competition so much is because we subconsciously know that there's a chance we may fail, because if we knew we were going to win every time, to be honest, it probably wouldn't be as fun, right?
00:46:55.916 -->
00:47:03.855The problem becomes, as athletes, when we are too naive to the concept of failure.
00:47:03.855 -->
00:47:12.010We have to understand it's there and not fixate on it like there's a chance I'm gonna miss this.
00:47:12.010 -->
00:47:13.157There's a chance I'm gonna lose.
00:47:13.157 -->
00:47:14.842There's a chance I'm gonna get cut, whatever it is.
00:47:14.842 -->
00:47:15.724There's a chance I'm gonna miss this.
00:47:15.724 -->
00:47:16.726There's a chance I'm gonna lose.
00:47:16.726 -->
00:47:17.849There's a chance I'm gonna get cut, whatever it is.
00:47:17.869 -->
00:47:20.739There's a chance of this going absolutely poorly and I have to in advance prepare myself for that.
00:47:20.739 -->
00:47:22.585But I'm not gonna fixate on it.
00:47:22.585 -->
00:47:31.418I'm gonna deal with it if it comes here, because I've, you know, consciously prepared myself and then I'm gonna pour and focus my energy and everything that can and will go right.
00:47:31.418 -->
00:47:34.565Right, so that way I'm not totally cut off guard.
00:47:34.565 -->
00:47:46.036Right, like what you do, you have that letter, like you know what that's like, you have that reminder and you're like I'm not going back there, but if I do, I know how to deal with it and it's I'm gonna focus everything into what's gone, right?
00:47:46.858 -->
00:47:48.923yeah, I mean, that's like I mean.
00:47:48.923 -->
00:47:49.666So you said it perfectly.
00:47:49.666 -->
00:48:04.436That's the only way because you can, if you focus on the failure of it, say, okay, well, if I, then it might, then that's gonna happen, like because the more you think about it, the more you know, the more it's gonna happen, it's.
00:48:04.436 -->
00:48:31.356It's so that thing where you have to just work for like, work like, think like you said, think about it, have it in the back of your mind to be like, okay, this can happen, and if it does, this is how we deal with it, and then you gotta go if you were to give advice to any young specialist right now, what is the number one thing that they can do?
00:48:31.436 -->
00:48:36.288or it doesn't even have to be young anyone who's trying to play professionally and that's their aspirations.
00:48:36.288 -->
00:48:39.054What's the number one thing that they need to do as a specialist?
00:48:40.137 -->
00:48:41.217don't judge.
00:48:41.217 -->
00:49:21.128Don't judge your worth off of the other people or like the other people in that position, because, like that was a big thing for me, where it was like when I came out it seemed like the same five guys kept getting workouts, kept getting opportunities, kept going here, going there, and it was discouraging, but like you just have to, like don't think about that, you like just keep doing your own thing, stay in your lane and just go, and if you want it, you have to be all in about it.
00:49:21.128 -->
00:49:24.061You can't just halfway do it.
00:49:24.061 -->
00:49:32.980Train the same way you did in college Train, work out, eat, do all the right stuff.
00:49:33.059 -->
00:49:41.759Because one of the worst things that ever happened to me was I went to Denver for a workout and I had been.
00:49:41.759 -->
00:49:50.302It was one of those things where, like I hadn't snapped in a while, wasn't really trained in the right way, and I stepped on the scale.
00:49:50.302 -->
00:50:04.621It was light, like way more light than I should have been, and like I looked at the I forget if it was a scouter a strange coach that was weighing me and he kind of like looked back at me like what the fuck is this?
00:50:04.621 -->
00:50:13.427And snapped well, but I didn't get signed and like in the back of my mind, I'm like, all right, like I can't have that happen again.
00:50:13.427 -->
00:50:22.217So that you know, like you can't, you can't base it off of the other people.
00:50:22.498 -->
00:50:29.817And that's what I was doing where I was like, okay, I'm not going to get this call, it's going to be boom, boom, boom, these four people that are going to go.
00:50:29.817 -->
00:50:30.599It's not going to be me.
00:50:30.599 -->
00:50:39.400But then here you are, you get that call and you're not ready and it's that was a painful four-hour flight home.
00:50:39.400 -->
00:50:43.349So it's, you know, you just have to all.
00:50:43.349 -->
00:50:55.847And you know like, uh, this guy, like another snapper's named matt overton, like he, he kind of, is like coined the phrase of like stay ready in the specialist community and like it's that's the truth.
00:50:55.847 -->
00:50:58.717Because, like what, especially in our position?
00:50:58.717 -->
00:51:15.425I mean, you see it now there are how many guys this year came right off the street and are now like banging game lands, it's, it's crazy, like so, if you're not, like like that call could come at any moment and it's, you just have to be ready for it.
00:51:15.425 -->
00:51:23.577So, like I was just saying, like don't judge yourself off of the other people that are, you know, getting workouts or not getting workouts and then just stay.
00:51:24.079 -->
00:51:34.485Stay ready as best as you can, because you never know what's coming how do you deal with that unknown piece because, like you said, it may never come, come Exactly and it may come tomorrow.
00:51:34.485 -->
00:51:36.307It's hard.
00:51:40.295 -->
00:51:46.342It definitely gets hard with like your loved ones because, like my girlfriend will always be trying to like plan something and I'm like, well, I don't know.
00:51:46.342 -->
00:52:05.858But she's like, well, but you could, I'm like I could, but that very slight chance that it doesn't like that I can't, like I don't want to tell you yes, and then like I can't, so like even my.
00:52:05.858 -->
00:52:09.175So my best friend from high school, he's getting married in January.
00:52:09.175 -->
00:52:13.764His bachelor party was on like the weekend of his bachelor party started on like it was like Friday to Sunday.
00:52:13.764 -->
00:52:18.583So I'm all excited to go.
00:52:20.211 -->
00:52:21.719That's when I got called by the Browns the first time.
00:52:21.719 -->
00:52:23.516They're like hey, we're going to work you out on Thursday.
00:52:23.516 -->
00:52:27.599I'm like, oh, shoot, here we go.
00:52:27.599 -->
00:52:39.715So then I go and I'm thinking to myself, okay, let's just go balls to the wall here, because if I get it, great, and if I don't, I don't, I won't have time to like be upset about it, because I'm just gonna go, I'm gonna go be with my friends.
00:52:39.715 -->
00:52:41.963Anyways, get the call.
00:52:41.963 -->
00:52:43.969They're like hey, we're gonna sign you.
00:52:44.210 -->
00:52:45.695So then I call my buddies.
00:52:45.695 -->
00:52:54.971They're like oh, like, because, like you know, and it's it's weird for the because they're like obviously we're happy for you, like because, like, and they're all browns fans too, so they're like hell, obviously we're happy for you, and they're all Browns fans too.
00:52:54.971 -->
00:52:55.914So they're like hell, yeah, that's great.
00:52:55.914 -->
00:52:57.639But then they're kind of like.
00:52:57.639 -->
00:53:01.362A day later they're like oh, wait a minute, that means you can't, we're not going to see you.
00:53:01.362 -->
00:53:03.876I'm like yeah, it is so.
00:53:03.876 -->
00:53:12.347It's just, you know, it's a weird thing, but it's so much fun.
00:53:12.347 -->
00:53:19.760It's like a lottery ticket waiting to happen, and I mean it's, it's, it's undeniable.
00:53:19.760 -->
00:53:21.865I guess it's weird, but it's cool.
00:53:21.865 -->
00:53:25.938I don't know it's.
00:53:26.619 -->
00:53:39.016When I got the call from the buffalo bills to come, I missed my sister's wedding and I just my mom, my mom was not even happy for me.
00:53:39.016 -->
00:53:44.496My mom just immediately starts crying knowing I'm not going to be at my sister's wedding.
00:53:44.496 -->
00:53:49.367My stepdad, too, getting nodding, nodding.
00:53:49.367 -->
00:53:52.539He's like, oh my gosh, your mother's going to be devastated Cause I called him.
00:53:52.539 -->
00:53:57.371First I was like man, I was like I can't get anyone to say congratulations.
00:53:57.371 -->
00:54:05.876But then I called my sister, and my sister and, uh, her husband now were unbelievably understandable and like that's, you know, awesome.
00:54:05.876 -->
00:54:07.481You've been working your whole life for this.
00:54:07.481 -->
00:54:12.860Uh, but that's, that's the part of it, though, too, like to your point, you will miss out on things.
00:54:12.860 -->
00:54:16.987There will be things that are really, really important that you will miss.
00:54:16.987 -->
00:54:24.126That's part of it, right, but like what else would you rather do, exactly?
00:54:26.016 -->
00:54:27.179That's what I always tell myself.
00:54:27.179 -->
00:54:32.119Where I'm like, oh, I'm missing this or I'm missing that, it's like, wait a minute, I'm not missing anything.
00:54:32.119 -->
00:54:38.177If I was there, all I'd be thinking about is doing this, so why would I even?
00:54:38.177 -->
00:54:46.489You know it's a crazy feeling, but it's so worth it.
00:54:48.635 -->
00:54:51.826To me, it's the perspective of commitment versus sacrifice.
00:54:51.826 -->
00:54:54.545It's I'm just committed to this, I'm all in.
00:54:54.545 -->
00:54:55.068This is what I'm doing.
00:54:55.068 -->
00:54:55.751Committed to this, I'm all in.
00:54:55.751 -->
00:54:56.514This is what I'm doing.
00:54:56.514 -->
00:54:58.844This is what I love above everything else.
00:54:58.844 -->
00:55:00.601So it doesn't really feel like sacrifice.
00:55:00.601 -->
00:55:04.724Even though it is sacrifice, it's I would rather do this.
00:55:04.724 -->
00:55:07.690It's like what TV show would I rather watch?
00:55:07.690 -->
00:55:14.340Right, I'm going to miss out on one to do the other, but I'm not thinking about the one I missed out on, I'm thinking about the one I'm watching, the one I'm living.
00:55:14.340 -->
00:55:29.126So just having that reframe, I think is important for athletes who are like I'm going to miss the party or the bachelor weekend or whatever, but it's like, but you get to do something that one of billions of people would be killing to do.
00:55:29.835 -->
00:55:35.079And that's the one thing that I always like, I always think of where you have to.
00:55:35.079 -->
00:55:46.048You have to understand that you know everyone, like every person, like you know maybe not everyone, but 90% of like the country, like when they were growing up.
00:55:46.048 -->
00:55:55.621They're like, oh yeah, like I would love to do that at some point, so like that's what you're doing and it is the best feeling ever.
00:55:55.641 -->
00:55:57.626I can't thank you enough for coming on today, rex.
00:55:57.626 -->
00:56:08.405Um, if people want to reach out to you, they, they want to get after you, or if you have anything to promote, uh, you know, take the next time to tell us right now oh, I mean, oh, yeah, I got you.
00:56:08.746 -->
00:56:15.786So my best friend from high school makes like the coolest shirts ever, named cole cow jack, he goes picnic.
00:56:15.786 -->
00:56:18.237I got, I got like a ton of them.
00:56:18.237 -->
00:56:18.940He's got a website.
00:56:18.940 -->
00:56:19.885It's on his instagram.
00:56:19.885 -->
00:56:22.175Let me see if I can get that a little closer for you.
00:56:22.175 -->
00:56:25.001He goes picnic, right, beautiful.
00:56:25.001 -->
00:56:28.148Yeah, that's that's all I got from him, that's.
00:56:28.148 -->
00:56:31.519He's been my best friend since I was a fourth grader.
00:56:31.519 -->
00:56:36.246He, the man, got a bunch of like cool different designs and stuff.
00:56:36.246 -->
00:56:40.516He sells posters, sells like all different types of clothing.
00:56:40.516 -->
00:56:42.920So, yeah, he goes picnic on Instagram.
00:56:42.920 -->
00:56:43.721Go follow it.
00:56:45.724 -->
00:56:46.985Heck, yeah, man, that's awesome.
00:56:46.985 -->
00:56:48.706Thanks so much for coming on, man.
00:56:48.746 -->
00:56:49.248Of course, Colin.
00:56:49.248 -->
00:56:49.768Thanks for having me.
00:56:49.788 -->
00:56:57.800Yeah, of course, and listeners, thank, of course, and listeners, thank you for tuning in.
00:56:57.800 -->
00:56:58.244Download the podcast.
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00:57:00.235 -->
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00:57:12.485See you guys next week you.
