Suits & Scrubs: The Surgeon Sessions Podcast Episode #0022 Nate McPeek

should be good to go. should be good to go. >> Well, thanks for coming over, man. >> Well, thanks for coming over, man. >> I know you're busy and you just got >> I know you're busy and you just got finished with practice. You're heading finished with practice. You're heading over. We got Nate MP here today and u I over. We got Nate MP here today and u I guess we can say now Marshall Hall of guess we can say now Marshall Hall of Famer, how does that taste coming out of Famer, how does that taste coming out of your mouth?

your mouth? >> Uh, you know, a lot of great memories >> Uh, you know, a lot of great memories for it. First off, thanks for having me. for it. First off, thanks for having me.

Um, and yeah, it's uh it was a pretty Um, and yeah, it's uh it was a pretty surreal feeling last year. Um, you know, surreal feeling last year. Um, you know, Brewster Club kind of surprised me and Brewster Club kind of surprised me and took a lot of the kids to the game and took a lot of the kids to the game and they worked it out where they worked it out where >> a lot of those guys could see that um >> a lot of those guys could see that um happen in game at halftime.

happen in game at halftime. >> Uh, so that was really cool to have >> Uh, so that was really cool to have current players there. Um, current players there. Um, >> coach gets instant swag points for being >> coach gets instant swag points for being inducted to the Hall of Fame, but also inducted to the Hall of Fame, but also it's it's it's >> it's cool to see your current kids like >> it's cool to see your current kids like pouring into where you're pouring into where you're >> Yeah. Um, you know, just everything that >> Yeah. Um, you know, just everything that kind of leading up to that as a high kind of leading up to that as a high school player, everything the work that school player, everything the work that you put in, you know, just thinking back you put in, you know, just thinking back to all that leading up to when you to all that leading up to when you signed and then obviously go through signed and then obviously go through >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> you know, my whole career. Um, you know, >> you know, my whole career. Um, you know, when you look at playing offensive line, when you look at playing offensive line, you know, the mentality is is unless you know, the mentality is is unless you're, you know, there's difference you're, you know, there's difference between hurt and injured, right? So, one between hurt and injured, right? So, one thing that I'm really proud of, cuz you thing that I'm really proud of, cuz you know, when you include my sophomore know, when you include my sophomore through senior year of high school and through senior year of high school and then freshman year, I was able to start then freshman year, I was able to start as a true freshman. Through my senior as a true freshman. Through my senior year, I was able to start 92 straight year, I was able to start 92 straight football games.

football games. >> Yeah. Which is really unheard of >> Yeah. Which is really unheard of nowadays. nowadays. nowadays. >> Yes. Um, so when you look at college, I >> Yes. Um, so when you look at college, I started all four years, started all the started all four years, started all the bowl games. Um, so that's one thing I'm bowl games. Um, so that's one thing I'm really really proud of cuz you don't really really proud of cuz you don't feel good, you know? You don't. Um, now feel good, you know? You don't. Um, now I'm paying for it now with all these I'm paying for it now with all these neck surgeries.

neck surgeries. >> We just talked about you had a neck >> We just talked about you had a neck surgery. You had a couple plates in surgery. You had a couple plates in there. We were shouting out to your there. We were shouting out to your surgeon that surgeon that >> Oh, yeah.

>> Oh, yeah. >> who's, uh, who's also a Frederick >> who's, uh, who's also a Frederick Douglas fan. He's leaving now. So, Douglas fan. He's leaving now. So, >> yeah. Yeah. He's he was a UK, but he did >> yeah. Yeah. He's he was a UK, but he did a fix me at least. So, but, uh, yeah, I a fix me at least. So, but, uh, yeah, I mean, I'm really proud of that. Um, it's mean, I'm really proud of that. Um, it's it's awesome. Not a lot of offensive it's awesome. Not a lot of offensive linemen make the Hall of Fame at linemen make the Hall of Fame at Marshall. There's not a ton of them. Um, Marshall. There's not a ton of them. Um, so very very blessed uh to play with so very very blessed uh to play with great people, great teammates, great great people, great teammates, great coaches. Uh, my O line coach recently coaches. Uh, my O line coach recently passed away. He got cancer. Um, he's a passed away. He got cancer. Um, he's a guy that I learned a ton from. It really guy that I learned a ton from. It really helped me. I was a head coach at 25.

helped me. I was a head coach at 25. >> Um, so that's really young to handle >> Um, so that's really young to handle being a head coach. It was a being a head coach. It was a Fairview High School in Eastern Fairview High School in Eastern Kentucky. Um, and we were able to make Kentucky. Um, and we were able to make the state championship in 2012. um had a the state championship in 2012. um had a lot of success there. But what I'm lot of success there. But what I'm saying is I think playing for him, saying is I think playing for him, playing for coach Puit, going through playing for coach Puit, going through that Marshall, you know, program because that Marshall, you know, program because we won a lot. I kind of learned we won a lot. I kind of learned >> how to win the process that goes into >> how to win the process that goes into that.

that. that. >> Um played for a legendary coach at >> Um played for a legendary coach at Russell High School as well, Ivan Russell High School as well, Ivan Mcloone that's passed away, was there 30 Mcloone that's passed away, was there 30 plus years at Russell High School at plus years at Russell High School at Eastern Kentucky. Um so learned kind of Eastern Kentucky. Um so learned kind of the process of how to be a head coach, the process of how to be a head coach, what that looks like.

what that looks like. >> Sure. Uh, and then just the components >> Sure. Uh, and then just the components of winning. Um, you know, so when you of winning. Um, you know, so when you get inducted in the Hall of Fame, you get inducted in the Hall of Fame, you really think about, you know, your really think about, you know, your parents and your family and just parents and your family and just everybody involved to be able to achieve everybody involved to be able to achieve that. It's not just me, you know, it's a that. It's not just me, you know, it's a lot of parts in that.

lot of parts in that. >> Sure. Yeah. Starting very early. >> Sure. Yeah. Starting very early. >> Yes. Very two a day practices with your >> Yes. Very two a day practices with your parents and the whole thing. I heard you parents and the whole thing. I heard you tell someone uh before either on uh you tell someone uh before either on uh you know a Twitter or whatever it was that know a Twitter or whatever it was that you knew you wanted to coach really you knew you wanted to coach really early when you were young. Yep.

early when you were young. Yep. >> What was that about? How did you know >> What was that about? How did you know them? them? them? >> Well, my my uncle I grew up watching my >> Well, my my uncle I grew up watching my uncle coach Gary McPeek that was at EKU uncle coach Gary McPeek that was at EKU and uh he coached with us at Douglas was and uh he coached with us at Douglas was originally D at Douglas and I followed originally D at Douglas and I followed his career. Always went with my his career. Always went with my grandparents which both of them are grandparents which both of them are passed away now. Uh on my dad's side, passed away now. Uh on my dad's side, but I always grew up through middle but I always grew up through middle school and elementary school on a school and elementary school on a football field. Yeah. You know, I was football field. Yeah. You know, I was going to his games on Friday night. I going to his games on Friday night. I was traveling to college games on the was traveling to college games on the weekend with him or or somebody. So weekend with him or or somebody. So football was kind of kind of in the DNA.

football was kind of kind of in the DNA. If you were to ask just the McPeek name If you were to ask just the McPeek name back home where we're from, they would back home where we're from, they would associate it with football.

associate it with football. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> You know, so it's in that it's kind of >> You know, so it's in that it's kind of in my family's DNA. My grandfather was a in my family's DNA. My grandfather was a high school official. Okay. He was a high school official. Okay. He was a high school white hat. He actually high school white hat. He actually helped start our youth league back home helped start our youth league back home in in Russell in our JFL Junior Football in in Russell in our JFL Junior Football League. My grandfather was part of the League. My grandfather was part of the original founding fathers, I guess you original founding fathers, I guess you could say, of our youth league back in could say, of our youth league back in the 1970s. Uh, that was a really good the 1970s. Uh, that was a really good setup really all the way through my high setup really all the way through my high school career.

school career. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um, so, >> Um, so, >> so maybe you can tell me how the setup >> so maybe you can tell me how the setup is. How do you have Russell, Raceland, is. How do you have Russell, Raceland, and Greenup sitting on top of each and Greenup sitting on top of each other?

other? other? >> It's all right there. Uh, then you have >> It's all right there. Uh, then you have Fairview 2. Um, you know, which is a Fairview 2. Um, you know, which is a smaller independent school with smaller independent school with Raceland. Um, so it's all right there Raceland. Um, so it's all right there together. Boyd County is not far away.

together. Boyd County is not far away. So, you know, it's just kind of where So, you know, it's just kind of where your lines were and where you wanted to your lines were and where you wanted to go. Now, Raceland, you know, Bill Tom go. Now, Raceland, you know, Bill Tom Ross, which passed away when I was going Ross, which passed away when I was going in ninth grade, and I don't care to in ninth grade, and I don't care to admit this, he came to my house.

admit this, he came to my house. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, and and >> You know, and and >> he can't get in trouble now. >> he can't get in trouble now.

>> No, I know. So, he came to my house and, >> No, I know. So, he came to my house and, you know, he's like, you know, you can you know, he's like, you know, you can come play right now as a freshman.

come play right now as a freshman. >> He used to be a Ram. >> He used to be a Ram. >> Yes. So, you know, that there was a lot >> Yes. So, you know, that there was a lot of that that occurred even back in the of that that occurred even back in the day. you know, so I ended up, you know, day. you know, so I ended up, you know, I wanted to stay with my friends and, I wanted to stay with my friends and, you know, I played with a lot of those you know, I played with a lot of those guys through youth league and middle guys through youth league and middle school and school and >> um so just that whole process of all the >> um so just that whole process of all the all those teams um you know being part all those teams um you know being part of that is is a you know big deal is of that is is a you know big deal is kind of where that youth league is. But kind of where that youth league is. But >> you know back to your original question >> you know back to your original question as far as just I just kind of knew that as far as just I just kind of knew that was kind of the route I wanted to go.

was kind of the route I wanted to go. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh I wanted to always stay involved with >> Uh I wanted to always stay involved with the team aspect and you know I' I've the team aspect and you know I' I've been involved with football. I'm 43 now been involved with football. I'm 43 now but I've been involved with either but I've been involved with either playing or coaching since I was seven.

playing or coaching since I was seven. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know so you know being part of that >> You know so you know being part of that team and part of that football culture team and part of that football culture is something that is something that >> um you know you get to it's it's a >> um you know you get to it's it's a blessing you know to be able to do that.

blessing you know to be able to do that. >> But it's now wound in your DNA just like >> But it's now wound in your DNA just like you said you can't think about anything you said you can't think about anything but football when it comes to that time but football when it comes to that time of the year.

of the year. >> No doubt. Um, you know, and it's uh it >> No doubt. Um, you know, and it's uh it gets harder every year, you know, as you gets harder every year, you know, as you age. Obviously, kids change, but you age. Obviously, kids change, but you know, when it comes down, it's like last know, when it comes down, it's like last two days of practice cuz we have our two days of practice cuz we have our first scrimmage Friday, you know, it's a first scrimmage Friday, you know, it's a different feel in your body, different feel in your body, >> you know, for me in my mind and Okay.

>> you know, for me in my mind and Okay. >> You know, going through camp and now, >> You know, going through camp and now, you know, you have something every you know, you have something every Friday.

Friday. Friday. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, you have something to prepare >> You know, you have something to prepare for. You have a different color jersey for. You have a different color jersey at the end of each week. So, you kind of at the end of each week. So, you kind of get that buildup. Sure.

get that buildup. Sure. >> I've been coaching this year 22 for me. >> I've been coaching this year 22 for me. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And 12th as a head coach >> And 12th as a head coach >> and you still get that same feeling, >> and you still get that same feeling, >> you know? So, it's really cool to be >> you know? So, it's really cool to be able to kind of go through that with able to kind of go through that with your staff and your family. And um I'm your staff and your family. And um I'm big with God family football. Those are big with God family football. Those are really the three components. Uh I'm by really the three components. Uh I'm by far perfect by any means.

far perfect by any means. >> Um you know, I'm not, but you know, I >> Um you know, I'm not, but you know, I always want to make sure families are always want to make sure families are included.

included. included. >> Sure. you know, along with, you know, in >> Sure. you know, along with, you know, in our program because, you know, our our our program because, you know, our our staff spends a lot of time with each staff spends a lot of time with each other.

other. other. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um, you know, >> Um, you know, >> some of it's thankless hours, too, that >> some of it's thankless hours, too, that people underestimate how much time is people underestimate how much time is donated for high school staff.

donated for high school staff. >> Oh, you're definitely a volunteer. >> Oh, you're definitely a volunteer. >> Yeah. Well, worse than a volunteer, >> Yeah. Well, worse than a volunteer, you're negative equity you're negative equity >> on the amount of time that you put in.

>> on the amount of time that you put in. And And And >> sometimes the coach's paychecks uh are >> sometimes the coach's paychecks uh are not real paychecks, but it's uh it's not real paychecks, but it's uh it's simple as seeing a kid get a scholarship simple as seeing a kid get a scholarship and and playing for football. Sometimes and and playing for football. Sometimes it's Saturday morning when you get to it's Saturday morning when you get to turn on the TV and turn on the TV and >> and see your kids play. And then some >> and see your kids play. And then some coaches are lucky enough to turn their coaches are lucky enough to turn their TV on on Sundays and see their kiddos TV on on Sundays and see their kiddos playing in the NFL. And so playing in the NFL. And so >> Yep.

>> Yep. >> Yep. >> Um Kelly Wells is athletic director at >> Um Kelly Wells is athletic director at Morehead State. Uh he used to be at Morehead State. Uh he used to be at Upupike, so I'm a guy.

Upupike, so I'm a guy. >> Yep. and uh he says that's the coach's >> Yep. and uh he says that's the coach's paycheck is when one of his basketball paycheck is when one of his basketball players gets married or they have a kid players gets married or they have a kid or they become a head coach or and all or they become a head coach or and all those things. So your legacy starts those things. So your legacy starts getting uh your coaching tree starts getting uh your coaching tree starts getting uh spread out pretty wide getting uh spread out pretty wide especially when you've been in 20 years especially when you've been in 20 years like you have like you have >> 22 years you said >> 22 years you said >> y >> y >> y >> and uh yeah so you'll start feeling >> and uh yeah so you'll start feeling older when you start uh coaching like older when you start uh coaching like sons and and grandsons when you start sons and and grandsons when you start coaching grandsons of kids you know then coaching grandsons of kids you know then you're in trouble. Well, I'm s I'm you're in trouble. Well, I'm s I'm coaching. It's kind of a funny story.

coaching. It's kind of a funny story. I'm coaching triplets right now that are I'm coaching triplets right now that are all in the same grade. all in the same grade. >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, they're all juniors. And then their >> So, they're all juniors. And then their younger brother is an incoming freshman. younger brother is an incoming freshman.

So, I have four of them. So, I have four of them. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And then they have another brother >> And then they have another brother that's going to be a eighth grader at that's going to be a eighth grader at Hayes.

Hayes. Hayes. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> That plays football and basketball. >> That plays football and basketball. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, I'm g have a chance to have all five >> So, I'm g have a chance to have all five of them next year. So, that doesn't of them next year. So, that doesn't happen very often.

happen very often. >> No, not five at one time. >> No, not five at one time. >> So, that's pretty cool. And you're >> So, that's pretty cool. And you're right. Um I think right now we have over right. Um I think right now we have over 20 guys that are going to be on division 20 guys that are going to be on division one rosters this fall.

one rosters this fall. >> It's hard to get everywhere. I'm trying >> It's hard to get everywhere. I'm trying to work out, you know, Dane transfer to work out, you know, Dane transfer from UK to Nebraska.

from UK to Nebraska. >> So I'm trying to get out there and watch >> So I'm trying to get out there and watch a game. You know, Walker ended up he's a game. You know, Walker ended up he's an old man. He's been at Clemson six six an old man. He's been at Clemson six six years.

years. years. >> I've seen him play. I'm going to try my >> I've seen him play. I'm going to try my best to get down there. This is his last best to get down there. This is his last year. Um you know, I got um Devin Neil year. Um you know, I got um Devin Neil at Virginia. Um, you know, we have at Virginia. Um, you know, we have obviously two guys at UK. Yeah. Uh, we obviously two guys at UK. Yeah. Uh, we have a couple guys at Louisville. Um, have a couple guys at Louisville. Um, they're kind of all spread out. And then they're kind of all spread out. And then we have some really good players at we have some really good players at Georgetown. Really good guys at Lindsay Georgetown. Really good guys at Lindsay Wilson.

Wilson. Wilson. >> I mean, we have Terion Hicks at Nebraska >> I mean, we have Terion Hicks at Nebraska or at Northwestern. or at Northwestern. >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, in the Big 10, we have two >> You know, in the Big 10, we have two guys at Purdue. We have three at Ball guys at Purdue. We have three at Ball State. Purdue Ball State play week one.

State. Purdue Ball State play week one. So, me and my staff are going So, me and my staff are going >> I'm really Yeah, I'm really good uh >> I'm really Yeah, I'm really good uh friends with the family of Ball State's friends with the family of Ball State's quarterback, Kyle Kelly.

quarterback, Kyle Kelly. >> Okay. Uh, so they're Tampa Tampa kids. >> Okay. Uh, so they're Tampa Tampa kids. >> That's awesome. >> That's awesome. >> And, uh, I took care I took his, uh, his >> And, uh, I took care I took his, uh, his brother's surgery and we became friends brother's surgery and we became friends with the family there. So, and he's been with the family there. So, and he's been all around. He wasn't QB1 for a bit.

all around. He wasn't QB1 for a bit. They kind of put him out in the slot and They kind of put him out in the slot and did some stuff, but he's back now this did some stuff, but he's back now this year. So, we're excited about that, too.

year. So, we're excited about that, too. >> Yeah. So that game, you know, for me, me >> Yeah. So that game, you know, for me, me and a couple of our staff members that and a couple of our staff members that have been at Douglas several years, have been at Douglas several years, we're going to try to go up, you know, we're going to try to go up, you know, that's pretty cool, you know, and if that's pretty cool, you know, and if >> the kid that signed last year that >> the kid that signed last year that played receiver for us, Darion Talbert, played receiver for us, Darion Talbert, hopefully he gets on the dress list. And hopefully he gets on the dress list. And if he does, we'll have five guys in that if he does, we'll have five guys in that game.

game. game. >> That's awesome. >> That's awesome. >> So that's really cool. >> So that's really cool. >> Yeah, that's really cool. Really cool. >> Yeah, that's really cool. Really cool.

>> You'll be uh you'll be smiling the whole >> You'll be uh you'll be smiling the whole time. Doesn't matter the outcome on that time. Doesn't matter the outcome on that one.

one. one. >> No doubt. >> No doubt. >> Yeah, for sure. >> Yeah, for sure. >> So talk about uh Russell and uh going >> So talk about uh Russell and uh going back to where you were before. How many back to where you were before. How many how many kids do you say had aspirations how many kids do you say had aspirations to play college football in your high to play college football in your high school?

school? school? >> Not a whole lot. Um, you know, it's kind >> Not a whole lot. Um, you know, it's kind of different now obviously with the of different now obviously with the money and the revenue that's involved money and the revenue that's involved with high school. Um, with high school. Um, >> to my knowledge, I think I was the third >> to my knowledge, I think I was the third player uh that signed a division one player uh that signed a division one scholarship from Russell, you know, in scholarship from Russell, you know, in like 20 years, 30 years.

like 20 years, 30 years. >> So, it wasn't there's not a ton of >> So, it wasn't there's not a ton of division one kids from my area. division one kids from my area.

>> U, there's some good players, um, >> U, there's some good players, um, >> but not a ton. Um, you know, I was >> but not a ton. Um, you know, I was always a big guy. You know, I'm 6'5. You always a big guy. You know, I'm 6'5. You know, I was 317 lbs my senior year of know, I was 317 lbs my senior year of high school, but I could run. You know, high school, but I could run. You know, I mean, I was running 51, five flat 40, I mean, I was running 51, five flat 40, which is comparable to NFL.

which is comparable to NFL. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um, you know, so I knew that, you know, >> Um, you know, so I knew that, you know, once I um, you know, I ran track in high once I um, you know, I ran track in high school and um through shot disc, ended school and um through shot disc, ended up winning three state championships and up winning three state championships and that. So, I knew that, you know, I was that. So, I knew that, you know, I was going to get some looks really in both.

going to get some looks really in both. >> Sure. But I actually probably had more >> Sure. But I actually probably had more offers in track than I did college offers in track than I did college football.

football. football. >> Yeah, but you would have been kicked out >> Yeah, but you would have been kicked out of your family. of your family. >> I know >> I know >> if you play if you went through shop.

>> if you play if you went through shop. >> Well, and then a lot of people don't >> Well, and then a lot of people don't maybe not realize this, but they're not maybe not realize this, but they're not given full rides and track.

given full rides and track. >> Yeah, it's partial scholarship. >> Yeah, it's partial scholarship. >> Partials. So like the most I got was >> Partials. So like the most I got was like 40% pay versus, you know, 100 and like 40% pay versus, you know, 100 and all the meals and room and board and all the meals and room and board and everything else. And plus I wanted to everything else. And plus I wanted to play college football play college football >> for sure. Um, so yeah, it was a great >> for sure. Um, so yeah, it was a great time, great experience.

time, great experience. >> Plus, it was awesome that you're like so >> Plus, it was awesome that you're like so close to home. You're in Huntington, close to home. You're in Huntington, West Virginia from I mean, you can throw West Virginia from I mean, you can throw a stone a stone >> across the river and and get to >> across the river and and get to Huntington. And so I imagine your family Huntington. And so I imagine your family got to watch you play.

got to watch you play. >> Yeah. I had at least one family member >> Yeah. I had at least one family member at all 52 games I started. at all 52 games I started.

>> That's unbelievable. Yeah. That's a huge >> That's unbelievable. Yeah. That's a huge blessing. blessing. blessing. >> Yeah. So that was part of the reason >> Yeah. So that was part of the reason Marshall was really good at that time Marshall was really good at that time and they haven't you know they've been and they haven't you know they've been good for a while but we were top 20 in good for a while but we were top 20 in the country two or four years.

the country two or four years. >> Well people people know your >> Well people people know your quarterback. Yep. quarterback. Yep. >> You know they might have heard of him.

>> You know they might have heard of him. >> What do you think about coach prime? >> What do you think about coach prime? >> Yeah that's pretty cool. >> Yeah that's pretty cool.

>> Yeah he's making a transition to >> Yeah he's making a transition to Colorado now be the quarterback coach. Colorado now be the quarterback coach. >> I talked I talked to him the other day >> I talked I talked to him the other day and seems like it's going well.

and seems like it's going well. Obviously it's different than NFL Obviously it's different than NFL >> for sure. >> for sure. >> You know he was able to win a Super Bowl >> You know he was able to win a Super Bowl with Tom Brady with the Bucks. um you with Tom Brady with the Bucks. um you know kind of got a raw deal. That's how know kind of got a raw deal. That's how it happens in coaching with Todd BS. Um it happens in coaching with Todd BS. Um >> you know it's kind of a you know >> you know it's kind of a you know >> there's a trickle down that happens with >> there's a trickle down that happens with uh with the head coaches that and I tell uh with the head coaches that and I tell a lot of we get to see a lot of kids who a lot of we get to see a lot of kids who go play college football and uh for the go play college football and uh for the most part and it it's not there's most part and it it's not there's exceptions to the rule. Uh but your high exceptions to the rule. Uh but your high school coach is the last coach who school coach is the last coach who really is sold out and bought in for really is sold out and bought in for your success because it's such a your success because it's such a business. College coaches have to win business. College coaches have to win now the way it is because there's no now the way it is because there's no excuse. You have NIL budget. You need to excuse. You have NIL budget. You need to go make a team and be competitive or go make a team and be competitive or else, you know, the hot seat's already else, you know, the hot seat's already started.

started. started. >> For sure. >> For sure. >> And uh and so they they may love you. >> And uh and so they they may love you. They may recruit you hard, but it's They may recruit you hard, but it's going to be your high school coach is going to be your high school coach is the last coach who really is going to the last coach who really is going to put it down and be sold out for you put it down and be sold out for you because they have to run a business at because they have to run a business at the college level. And then obviously at the college level. And then obviously at the pro level, it's even worse. Mhm.

the pro level, it's even worse. Mhm. >> Um, you have to perform fast and and >> Um, you have to perform fast and and furious. And when you have Tom Brady furious. And when you have Tom Brady showing up in Tampa Bay, it kind of showing up in Tampa Bay, it kind of changes things for you in a good way.

changes things for you in a good way. >> Um, I was there before Tom Brady showed >> Um, I was there before Tom Brady showed up when I lived in Tampa. Okay. And then up when I lived in Tampa. Okay. And then we saw the circus come in when he came we saw the circus come in when he came in obviously with a lot of success and in obviously with a lot of success and >> it's exciting and um it's crazy the full >> it's exciting and um it's crazy the full circle thing that's happening with Dion circle thing that's happening with Dion in Tampa and um Shiloh being a an in Tampa and um Shiloh being a an undrafted uh free agent for the Bucks undrafted uh free agent for the Bucks who I think he's going to make the who I think he's going to make the squad. Uh and so Dion was down in Tampa squad. Uh and so Dion was down in Tampa looking at that and he's dealing with a looking at that and he's dealing with a lot of health stuff right now and no one lot of health stuff right now and no one knew he ended up having bladder cancer.

knew he ended up having bladder cancer. >> Yep. He's kind of kept it to himself and >> Yep. He's kind of kept it to himself and he kind of went to work and uh so it's he kind of went to work and uh so it's exciting. Uh but let's let's talk about exciting. Uh but let's let's talk about that because every coach I get here I that because every coach I get here I just try to get your opinion on how just try to get your opinion on how difficult it is now for a high school difficult it is now for a high school football player to be recruited at the football player to be recruited at the same level that used to be let's say 10 same level that used to be let's say 10 years ago before the transfer portal was years ago before the transfer portal was what it was.

what it was. >> It's really difficult. It's really hard >> It's really difficult. It's really hard and I'm trying to get our parents and and I'm trying to get our parents and our players to understand, you know, our players to understand, you know, number one, there's really only three number one, there's really only three things of recruiting and that's things of recruiting and that's measurables, your grades, and your tape.

measurables, your grades, and your tape. >> And it's Friday night tape. You know, >> And it's Friday night tape. You know, like you can post JV and freshman. It's like you can post JV and freshman. It's nothing wrong with that, nothing wrong with that, >> but a lot of college coaches are going >> but a lot of college coaches are going to see what you do on Friday night.

to see what you do on Friday night. >> And so really, it's those three things. >> And so really, it's those three things. So if I have an incoming freshman that So if I have an incoming freshman that has the measurables, I'm going to have has the measurables, I'm going to have that conversation.

that conversation. >> Sure. you know, with them and the >> Sure. you know, with them and the parent. If they don't, maybe they parent. If they don't, maybe they develop it later. Sure.

develop it later. Sure. >> But when they come in as a freshman, if >> But when they come in as a freshman, if they have the measurables and they have they have the measurables and they have the athleticism, I'm going to have that the athleticism, I'm going to have that discussion. Yeah. This is something discussion. Yeah. This is something >> Do they give the permission? Do you want >> Do they give the permission? Do you want to play college football? Can I push to play college football? Can I push you?

you? you? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Figure it out. >> Figure it out. >> So for them, like I'll have that >> So for them, like I'll have that discussion on, you know, you have to get discussion on, you know, you have to get your body set up to succeed. So when you your body set up to succeed. So when you talk about body weight, size, you know, talk about body weight, size, you know, speed, all those things, I think there's speed, all those things, I think there's more pressure on the high school coach more pressure on the high school coach and the high school staff to at least and the high school staff to at least give that information to the parent on give that information to the parent on there has to be some upfront investment there has to be some upfront investment now especially.

now especially. >> For sure. So that expectation bottom >> For sure. So that expectation bottom side, side, side, >> you know, like because for example, we >> you know, like because for example, we have a linebacker that has been offered have a linebacker that has been offered by Louisville and that offer may or may by Louisville and that offer may or may not be committable based upon his body not be committable based upon his body weight.

weight. weight. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, he's really good player, but >> You know, he's really good player, but if he doesn't get to 215, 220, they're if he doesn't get to 215, 220, they're probably not going to let him sign that.

probably not going to let him sign that. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, for sure. >> You know, so and I've told his mom and >> You know, so and I've told his mom and and him that, you know, like you have a and him that, you know, like you have a job to do, you know, he's about 2023 as job to do, you know, he's about 2023 as a junior right now. So, it's very a junior right now. So, it's very doable.

doable. doable. >> Yeah, you can get there if he puts the >> Yeah, you can get there if he puts the work in, work in, >> but it's got to be a job. >> but it's got to be a job.

>> So, I just use that as example for >> So, I just use that as example for there's not going to be a college coach there's not going to be a college coach at the power four level that takes a at the power four level that takes a chance on a high school kid anymore.

chance on a high school kid anymore. >> You don't have to. >> You don't have to. >> That's the That's the problem. No. >> That's the That's the problem. No.

>> Like they'll go and say, "Okay, >> Like they'll go and say, "Okay, somebody's just baldled out at Eastern. somebody's just baldled out at Eastern. We'll take that kid. We know he's been We'll take that kid. We know he's been in the weight room. We know he's been in the weight room. We know he's been through the trenches through the trenches >> and he spent two years there and it's >> and he spent two years there and it's shined. So, we'll come on over and move shined. So, we'll come on over and move on up." Y on up." Y >> and it's that way in every sport. Like >> and it's that way in every sport. Like baseball, you look at University of baseball, you look at University of Kentucky baseball, I've been I follow it Kentucky baseball, I've been I follow it really close. It's like we just don't really close. It's like we just don't take high school kids. No, take high school kids. No, >> we got two or three that we'd be willing >> we got two or three that we'd be willing to take, but to take, but >> it's like move over from the OVC, move >> it's like move over from the OVC, move over from the MAC, move over from Yeah.

over from the MAC, move over from Yeah. >> wherever you're coming from or even >> wherever you're coming from or even lateral moves, SEC moves. lateral moves, SEC moves.

>> Uh and so, yeah, it's really hard and >> Uh and so, yeah, it's really hard and and things have changed tremendously. I and things have changed tremendously. I was in was in >> like Tampa, Florida since 2017. And it's >> like Tampa, Florida since 2017. And it's a highly recruited area for high school a highly recruited area for high school football. And so coaches will land in football. And so coaches will land in Tampa and in any given Friday night you Tampa and in any given Friday night you can catch three really really can catch three really really competitive games with you know four and competitive games with you know four and five star kids who are in the city of five star kids who are in the city of Tampa. Uh they wouldn't necessarily make Tampa. Uh they wouldn't necessarily make the trip up to the next county up Pasco the trip up to the next county up Pasco or the next county over uh towards or the next county over uh towards Lakeland. Uh but they would stay in that Lakeland. Uh but they would stay in that Tampa area and then when the transport Tampa area and then when the transport portal hit they just quit coming. Mhm.

portal hit they just quit coming. Mhm. >> Like there was times where um a kid that >> Like there was times where um a kid that would have 25 coaches at their would have 25 coaches at their >> practice, preseason practice has five.

>> practice, preseason practice has five. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And that trickle down effect has >> And that trickle down effect has benefited programs who are below uh the benefited programs who are below uh the SEC level or ACC or power four.

SEC level or ACC or power four. >> Um and so now they're late though to the >> Um and so now they're late though to the game because they're waiting to see what game because they're waiting to see what comes their way. So, it's probably the comes their way. So, it's probably the hardest environment I can remember for a hardest environment I can remember for a high school kid.

high school kid. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Uh currently, especially if, and there's >> Uh currently, especially if, and there's nothing wrong with it, for sure, but nothing wrong with it, for sure, but especially if you have power four D1 especially if you have power four D1 dreams to be like, I I want to play at dreams to be like, I I want to play at the highest level possible. Sometimes the highest level possible. Sometimes those are getting passed on. Now, those are getting passed on. Now, >> uh there's a kid at I'll just say it, >> uh there's a kid at I'll just say it, I'll get in trouble, I don't care.

I'll get in trouble, I don't care. There's a kid that played at LCA named There's a kid that played at LCA named Kenyatta Harage who walked on at UK and Kenyatta Harage who walked on at UK and every coach that passed on him missed.

every coach that passed on him missed. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And there there's hundreds of coaches >> And there there's hundreds of coaches across the country who missed. They across the country who missed. They could have could have had that kid.

could have could have had that kid. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And he he's a a maniac of a player. >> And he he's a a maniac of a player. >> Y >> Y >> Y >> and >> and >> and everybody missed because they're looking everybody missed because they're looking for the transfer portal and looking for for the transfer portal and looking for the other stuff. And the other thing the other stuff. And the other thing that happened, I don't know how much you that happened, I don't know how much you see this, but the NI level stuff got see this, but the NI level stuff got messed up a little bit with the timing messed up a little bit with the timing of their financial aid. So their uh of their financial aid. So their uh faster reports and when it came in faster reports and when it came in before they could put a package out it before they could put a package out it was so late in the recruiting game that was so late in the recruiting game that they were even missing on some kids that they were even missing on some kids that were high level NI like talk about a were high level NI like talk about a Georgetown.

Georgetown. Georgetown. >> Y >> Y >> Y >> Georgetown's been playing >> Georgetown's been playing >> great NIA football for a long long time >> great NIA football for a long long time >> and they were missing on kids because >> and they were missing on kids because they couldn't get their financial aid they couldn't get their financial aid package in order because of just the package in order because of just the fastest stuff.

fastest stuff. >> Y >> Y >> Y >> um >> um >> um >> let's get So the high school recruiting >> let's get So the high school recruiting stuff if you have a kid is coming in.

stuff if you have a kid is coming in. You said you have the measurables. um do You said you have the measurables. um do you you sit down with them and the you you sit down with them and the parents and say do you want to play parents and say do you want to play college football or you just say or college football or you just say or would you drive them towards that? What would you drive them towards that? What what does that conversation sound like?

what does that conversation sound like? >> Yeah. So for me at Douglas and this >> Yeah. So for me at Douglas and this isn't the case for every high school isn't the case for every high school program and I don't mean this as a program and I don't mean this as a negative, you know, but every high negative, you know, but every high school program is not going to have year school program is not going to have year in and year out college prospects.

in and year out college prospects. >> We do. >> We do. >> You know, we do at Douglas. Um, and I >> You know, we do at Douglas. Um, and I feel like when I came, I'm not from feel like when I came, I'm not from Lexington, but I felt like when I came Lexington, but I felt like when I came here and I moved here in 2016, here and I moved here in 2016, I thought there was a lot of wasted I thought there was a lot of wasted talent in football around here. And I talent in football around here. And I just thought there wasn't a lot of just thought there wasn't a lot of attention to detail about it. And I'm attention to detail about it. And I'm not saying certain programs, I'm saying not saying certain programs, I'm saying generally.

generally. generally. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> I felt like there was a lot of kids that >> I felt like there was a lot of kids that are falling through the cracks.

are falling through the cracks. >> And one thing that I >> And one thing that I >> meaning they were playing but not >> meaning they were playing but not performing at this higher level or they performing at this higher level or they weren't even playing at all. No, they weren't even playing at all. No, they were playing, but they weren't, you were playing, but they weren't, you know, doing a lot in the offseason. It know, doing a lot in the offseason. It was kind of a hobby. Yeah. Uh lack of was kind of a hobby. Yeah. Uh lack of discipline, lack of commitment. Uh just discipline, lack of commitment. Uh just all the things. I just saw a lot of all the things. I just saw a lot of that.

that. that. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> And again, not placing blame, I just >> And again, not placing blame, I just think that was kind of a mentality think that was kind of a mentality amongst a lot of places.

amongst a lot of places. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I think since then, and and I'll be >> And I think since then, and and I'll be honest, I think since we've been at honest, I think since we've been at Douglas, we've kind of helped change Douglas, we've kind of helped change that in football.

that in football. >> Um you know, for for the better. I think >> Um you know, for for the better. I think there's better coaches at the other there's better coaches at the other programs. I think there's better programs. I think there's better players. Um, you know, but I feel like players. Um, you know, but I feel like my number one job at Douglas is if a kid my number one job at Douglas is if a kid wants to play college football, my goal wants to play college football, my goal is to help him do that.

is to help him do that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I know a lot of coaches say that and >> And I know a lot of coaches say that and cliche, but some places aren't going to cliche, but some places aren't going to have that year in and year out.

have that year in and year out. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> I'm talking about NI level players, D2, >> I'm talking about NI level players, D2, D3, group of four, or excuse me, group D3, group of four, or excuse me, group of five, power four, whatever. Um, so I of five, power four, whatever. Um, so I feel like that's my number one job at feel like that's my number one job at Douglas is the player develop, Douglas is the player develop, >> spend a lot of time in the weight room, >> spend a lot of time in the weight room, spend a lot of time on nutrition, spend a lot of time on nutrition, understanding that, you know, what their understanding that, you know, what their recruiting process is because not all recruiting process is because not all these kids have, you know, great these kids have, you know, great situations at home. It's their way out.

situations at home. It's their way out. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, so I coached in Atlanta, Georgia in >> Um, so I coached in Atlanta, Georgia in 20145 at Tucker High School, which is 20145 at Tucker High School, which is outside Atlanta.

outside Atlanta. >> Really rough area. Way rougher than here >> Really rough area. Way rougher than here in Lexington. in Lexington. >> Yeah. And the difference of those kids >> Yeah. And the difference of those kids versus a lot of kids in Lexington is versus a lot of kids in Lexington is they know that's their way out.

they know that's their way out. >> There's a sense of desperation that you >> There's a sense of desperation that you can't teach. can't teach. >> Correct.

>> Correct. >> Correct. >> Like if you have it, then you know, same >> Like if you have it, then you know, same Tampa, Florida. It's Tampa, Florida. Tampa, Florida. It's Tampa, Florida.

There's there's literally kids who There's there's literally kids who >> if they don't get a college scholarship >> if they don't get a college scholarship to play football, they're not going to to play football, they're not going to college, number one, college, number one, >> but also they're not going to change >> but also they're not going to change their family tree.

their family tree. >> And their family tree is not necessarily >> And their family tree is not necessarily something they want to continue in those something they want to continue in those footsteps for. Mhm.

footsteps for. Mhm. >> And so we had tons of kids who played >> And so we had tons of kids who played with I've said this many many times. If with I've said this many many times. If I could I could >> transport Lexington kids >> transport Lexington kids >> to Tampa, Florida at 4 a.m. before in >> to Tampa, Florida at 4 a.m. before in preeason when there's people out lifting preeason when there's people out lifting weights and grinding because they know weights and grinding because they know their only mechanism to change their their only mechanism to change their life is football.

life is football. >> Y >> Y >> Y >> um and that's how I got involved in a >> um and that's how I got involved in a lot of stuff because we made an effort lot of stuff because we made an effort to say because there's kids like that, to say because there's kids like that, we don't want an injury to to throw that we don't want an injury to to throw that off. So, we never want to let an injury off. So, we never want to let an injury prevent you from getting a college prevent you from getting a college scholarship if we can do anything about scholarship if we can do anything about it.

it. it. >> So, I got I had a really really good >> So, I got I had a really really good friend named Ricky Sailor who had a friend named Ricky Sailor who had a group called Unsigned Preps and he was group called Unsigned Preps and he was one of the first people ever to to do one of the first people ever to to do bus tours. So, he'd take a a group of bus tours. So, he'd take a a group of kids and go to a college camp. So, they kids and go to a college camp. So, they go to Clemson or they they came to UK go to Clemson or they they came to UK one year just just to show kids who've one year just just to show kids who've never left Tampa, never left the state never left Tampa, never left the state of Florida like there's another world of Florida like there's another world out here. First time some of them seen out here. First time some of them seen snow. It's the first time. Yeah. you snow. It's the first time. Yeah. you know, and go out and kind of say this is know, and go out and kind of say this is where it is. And then a lot of kids that where it is. And then a lot of kids that were on that bus tour play college were on that bus tour play college football kind of change.

football kind of change. >> For sure. >> For sure. >> Yeah. So, it's a big big deal and in >> Yeah. So, it's a big big deal and in many ways is a powerful ministry like many ways is a powerful ministry like you said, putting God in your program you said, putting God in your program like there's when you are able to like there's when you are able to advocate for someone advocate for someone >> and uh and I'm sure you do it when a >> and uh and I'm sure you do it when a college coach comes around. And now at college coach comes around. And now at Douglas, I I don't know this to be true, Douglas, I I don't know this to be true, but I imagine that you don't have any but I imagine that you don't have any trouble having college coaches come trouble having college coaches come around because they know that the tank around because they know that the tank is going to be full.

is going to be full. >> Even if it's not this year, they got >> Even if it's not this year, they got somebody coming. Y somebody coming. Y >> and that's that raises the the ship for >> and that's that raises the the ship for everybody because now all of a sudden everybody because now all of a sudden you have a really high level kid. Let's you have a really high level kid. Let's say the circus happens when Dane's say the circus happens when Dane's catching footballs. It helps everybody catching footballs. It helps everybody else in the program.

else in the program. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Because you get looks, you got coaches >> Because you get looks, you got coaches lining up and and it's going to raise lining up and and it's going to raise the bar. So, it's really to get a team the bar. So, it's really to get a team bought in and say, "We're not jealous bought in and say, "We're not jealous about that. We want a superstar." It's a about that. We want a superstar." It's a big deal.

big deal. >> Yeah. And like, uh, you're right. And my >> Yeah. And like, uh, you're right. And my thing is like, but our guys, whether thing is like, but our guys, whether it's Georgetown College or Kentucky, you it's Georgetown College or Kentucky, you know, our guys are going and performing.

know, our guys are going and performing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, like they're not going and >> You know, like they're not going and leaving.

leaving. leaving. >> Well, it's because they've already seen >> Well, it's because they've already seen a college program at the high school a college program at the high school level. You run your program. We try for level. You run your program. We try for what we can do.

what we can do. >> Yeah. For what whatever resources you >> Yeah. For what whatever resources you have. have. have. >> Obviously, we're a public school. You >> Obviously, we're a public school. You know, we're we're, you know, a public know, we're we're, you know, a public school and there's divided into six school and there's divided into six pieces. Yeah.

pieces. Yeah. >> You know, cuz there's six public schools >> You know, cuz there's six public schools here in Faget County and obviously the here in Faget County and obviously the three private schools.

three private schools. >> So, there's a lot of avenues and choices >> So, there's a lot of avenues and choices for kids. for kids. >> Um, so what we want to do in our >> Um, so what we want to do in our program, it's not for everybody. It's program, it's not for everybody. It's not I probably something that's not not I probably something that's not talked about a lot is I've probably had talked about a lot is I've probably had more kids leave me than I've had more kids leave me than I've had >> Well, let's let's talk about that >> Well, let's let's talk about that because and I don't know that I don't because and I don't know that I don't know that this is true, but this is my know that this is true, but this is my perception.

perception. perception. >> Douglas is kind of the place everybody >> Douglas is kind of the place everybody loves to hate. loves to hate. >> Oh, for sure.

>> Oh, for sure. >> And because of that, when a kid leaves >> And because of that, when a kid leaves Douglas who's a very high level kid, you Douglas who's a very high level kid, you don't hear all this rattle at the KHSA.

don't hear all this rattle at the KHSA. Like there's it's quiet. the kid's going Like there's it's quiet. the kid's going on to another opportunity and you on to another opportunity and you probably celebrate that in some ways in probably celebrate that in some ways in a quiet way.

a quiet way. >> But if a kid comes to Douglas from >> But if a kid comes to Douglas from somewhere else, all of a sudden there's somewhere else, all of a sudden there's red flags flying everywhere. What What's red flags flying everywhere. What What's that all about?

that all about? >> Yeah, I mean, you're right. I mean, I >> Yeah, I mean, you're right. I mean, I can't necessarily speak to each can't necessarily speak to each individual kid. Um, but I think winning individual kid. Um, but I think winning does, you know, we have won. Um, we've, does, you know, we have won. Um, we've, you know, won obviously a lot of games.

you know, won obviously a lot of games. Um, you know, I don't, me personally, Um, you know, I don't, me personally, I'm proud of what we've done because I I'm proud of what we've done because I think you'd be hardressed to start a think you'd be hardressed to start a program from scratch.

program from scratch. >> Is this year seven or eight? >> Is this year seven or eight? >> This is year nine. >> This is year nine. >> Year nine. >> Year nine.

>> Yeah. Go fast. So, this is year nine. >> Yeah. Go fast. So, this is year nine. And I've been I was the OC for the first And I've been I was the OC for the first three years in 17, 18, 19, and then three years in 17, 18, 19, and then coach Landis left and went back to coach Landis left and went back to college football and I took over in the college football and I took over in the lovely year of the co year in 2020. That lovely year of the co year in 2020. That was not fun.

was not fun. Um but you know since then I've just Um but you know since then I've just tried to tried to kind of change the narrative on kind of kind of change the narrative on kind of who we're playing. Um you know it's who we're playing. Um you know it's going to be really hard for us to go going to be really hard for us to go undefeated with the people we're undefeated with the people we're playing.

playing. playing. >> Well yeah let's talk about that. You >> Well yeah let's talk about that. You play the number one team play the number one team >> eight of our team.

>> eight of our team. >> You play the number two team >> You play the number two team >> three team in preeason. You are the >> three team in preeason. You are the number four team then number five number four team then number five highlands. Yep.

highlands. Yep. >> And then >> And then >> there please >> there please >> Louisville Male is on your schedule. So >> Louisville Male is on your schedule. So you're playing Trinity St. X preseason you're playing Trinity St. X preseason >> St. X we're playing at Highlands at >> St. X we're playing at Highlands at Trinity to open the season. All right.

Trinity to open the season. All right. Then we're at we'll play manual at home. Then we're at we'll play manual at home. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So I mean I don't want to be 0 and three >> So I mean I don't want to be 0 and three but it's not our expectation.

but it's not our expectation. >> But I'm just saying like if we don't >> But I'm just saying like if we don't play really good football play really good football >> that could easily happen. But to me that >> that could easily happen. But to me that don't have anything to do with November.

don't have anything to do with November. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um you know I'm kind of there's really >> Um you know I'm kind of there's really two-edged stories to that. Like for us two-edged stories to that. Like for us being 6A, you only have three guaranteed being 6A, you only have three guaranteed games.

games. games. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Cuz everybody in 6A makes the playoffs. >> Cuz everybody in 6A makes the playoffs. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.

>> So it you got to find seven games, >> So it you got to find seven games, that's hard when you're been pretty that's hard when you're been pretty good.

good. good. >> Nobody wants to cuz if a Well, it goes >> Nobody wants to cuz if a Well, it goes both ways cuz at a 6A level. Um you you both ways cuz at a 6A level. Um you you don't necessarily want to play a 1A don't necessarily want to play a 1A school because the RPI will kill you if school because the RPI will kill you if you murder them. And it doesn't matter you murder them. And it doesn't matter how good. If let's say Pikeel for how good. If let's say Pikeel for example, example, example, >> unbelievable program, wins state >> unbelievable program, wins state championship all the time. If you beat championship all the time. If you beat them, you don't get any credit for that.

them, you don't get any credit for that. Like it's but if they beat you, Like it's but if they beat you, >> you know, it's a big of course. >> you know, it's a big of course.

>> Same thing with playing out of state >> Same thing with playing out of state people, you know. So like two years ago, people, you know. So like two years ago, we played Akan Hovind, which finished we played Akan Hovind, which finished 14-2 in Ohio, got beat in the finals by 14-2 in Ohio, got beat in the finals by Masson. Yeah, Masson. Yeah, >> that was the best high school team I've >> that was the best high school team I've ever coached against.

ever coached against. >> And then we played Cathedral Indiana out >> And then we played Cathedral Indiana out of Indianapolis. of Indianapolis. >> They went 10 and three.

>> They went 10 and three. >> Yeah. So my point is is RPI wise those >> Yeah. So my point is is RPI wise those two teams go in as five and five. two teams go in as five and five.

>> Yeah. They're washed. Yeah. >> Yeah. They're washed. Yeah. >> So they're not five and five teams. >> So they're not five and five teams. >> No doubt.

>> No doubt. >> So that's the reason that I tried to go >> So that's the reason that I tried to go away from that if I could just to try to away from that if I could just to try to schedule instate regardless how hard it schedule instate regardless how hard it is.

is. is. >> Man, you're And boy, we didn't mention >> Man, you're And boy, we didn't mention Boil County. You end the season with Boil County. You end the season with boys. You play Corbin.

boys. You play Corbin. >> Yep. We play we play all the top 4. >> Yep. We play we play all the top 4. >> Is this the hardest schedule you've ever >> Is this the hardest schedule you've ever had?

had? had? >> Uh I think so. in state for sure. Um I >> Uh I think so. in state for sure. Um I think personally we have the hardest think personally we have the hardest public school schedule in the whole public school schedule in the whole state of Kentucky.

state of Kentucky. >> Yeah, >> Yeah, >> Yeah, >> I really do. Um you know there's not any >> I really do. Um you know there's not any breaks. Um breaks. Um >> I didn't see any.

>> I didn't see any. >> There's none. And then you know our our >> There's none. And then you know our our district is very competitive. It's district is very competitive. It's definitely better than our cross definitely better than our cross district.

district. district. >> So the district is Brian Station. >> So the district is Brian Station. >> Brian Station. No US Brian Station. >> Brian Station. No US Brian Station.

Madison Central and GRC. Madison Central and GRC. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. >> And then the other one that we cross >> And then the other one that we cross with is the other four Lexington high with is the other four Lexington high schools. Yeah.

schools. Yeah. >> Um, so for example, last year our four >> Um, so for example, last year our four seed running clock the one seed. seed running clock the one seed. >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, our our four seed in our >> You know, our our four seed in our district, district, district, >> right? >> right? >> right?

>> You know, so it's a very competitive >> You know, so it's a very competitive district uh to play in. It's not easy. district uh to play in. It's not easy.

Um, and you know, you finish the season Um, and you know, you finish the season with Boil. So like our five road games with Boil. So like our five road games are at Highlands, at Trinity, at Corbin, are at Highlands, at Trinity, at Corbin, at Mayo, at Brian Station.

at Mayo, at Brian Station. >> Are there years where your kids can't >> Are there years where your kids can't handle that? Oh, it's definitely a handle that? Oh, it's definitely a pressure program. Uh, this is a year pressure program. Uh, this is a year that, you know, our expectations the that, you know, our expectations the same. I think we have a really good same. I think we have a really good group of players.

group of players. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But we're not as deep as we've been >> But we're not as deep as we've been because we graduated 29 seniors last because we graduated 29 seniors last year.

year. year. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And it's a huge class. >> And it's a huge class. >> That's a big class. >> That's a big class. >> And we only have 12 seniors this year.

>> And we only have 12 seniors this year. It's a smaller group. It's a smaller group. >> Uh, but we have 30 some juniors, 30 some >> Uh, but we have 30 some juniors, 30 some sophomores.

sophomores. sophomores. >> So, we're going to be junior and >> So, we're going to be junior and sophomore dominant uh on both sides of sophomore dominant uh on both sides of the ball. So when you're playing those the ball. So when you're playing those teams early, that concerns me.

teams early, that concerns me. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Um >> Um >> because it may like break their >> because it may like break their confidence. Like if you're confidence. Like if you're >> could, you know, I think that goes back >> could, you know, I think that goes back to me and our coaches of being to me and our coaches of being processoriented.

processoriented. processoriented. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Uh you can't listen to outside noise. >> Uh you can't listen to outside noise. You have to, and I know that's easier You have to, and I know that's easier said than done with all the distractions said than done with all the distractions we have now, we have now, >> but you really can't. You got to be >> but you really can't. You got to be processoriented. You kind of see what processoriented. You kind of see what kind of leadership you have on your kind of leadership you have on your team. And that's different every year, team. And that's different every year, right? So some years we have really good right? So some years we have really good no matter what leadership studies you do no matter what leadership studies you do which I do stuff all year long.

which I do stuff all year long. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> But some years are player le, you know, >> But some years are player le, you know, I don't have to deal with much.

I don't have to deal with much. >> Sometimes you got to drag them along. >> Sometimes you got to drag them along. >> Like our 22 team that won the state >> Like our 22 team that won the state championship, we had good players and it championship, we had good players and it was a great team.

was a great team. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But the 21 team to me was probably >> But the 21 team to me was probably better. That was Dane senior year. We better. That was Dane senior year. We got beat by South Lauren in the finals.

got beat by South Lauren in the finals. >> But the kids that came back the next >> But the kids that came back the next year, I didn't have to do anything. They year, I didn't have to do anything. They were they knew what was up. They knew were they knew what was up. They knew what was up.

what was up. >> They had a bad taste in their mouth. >> They had a bad taste in their mouth. >> And you know, >> And you know, >> after you win one, I'm not complacent.

>> after you win one, I'm not complacent. I'm not not hungry. I'm not not hungry. >> But you have that in kids, right? So we >> But you have that in kids, right? So we come back in 23 and 24, our schedule is come back in 23 and 24, our schedule is much harder.

much harder. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Cuz we don't have to play the other >> Cuz we don't have to play the other Faget County schools anymore. So our Faget County schools anymore. So our schedule opens up where we have to schedule opens up where we have to schedule all these good teams. So it's schedule all these good teams. So it's been for me it's kind of taken that been for me it's kind of taken that program through the next phase you know program through the next phase you know of kind of where you need to go. Um of kind of where you need to go. Um Trinity's dealt with it for 20 years Trinity's dealt with it for 20 years being a private school obviously but being a private school obviously but they've dealt with it being you know they've dealt with it being you know what they are what they are >> bullseye wherever >> bullseye wherever >> with X for sure. Um, so that's my thing >> with X for sure. Um, so that's my thing is like I'm trying to take us through is like I'm trying to take us through that phase whether you know we don't that phase whether you know we don't want to lose as many games but want to lose as many games but >> you got to go through that process of >> you got to go through that process of adversity and playing those people adversity and playing those people >> if you want to get on the other side.

>> if you want to get on the other side. >> Yeah. The other side means when December >> Yeah. The other side means when December rolls around you want to play in Kroger rolls around you want to play in Kroger like that. You want to be that last game like that. You want to be that last game >> and you want to be in the running. And I >> and you want to be in the running. And I don't know, in my opinion, I don't know don't know, in my opinion, I don't know if you can if you don't plan those if you can if you don't plan those games, it's really hard to win weeks 13, games, it's really hard to win weeks 13, 14, and 15.

14, and 15. >> Yeah, for sure. You know, >> Yeah, for sure. You know, >> you don't want to see your best >> you don't want to see your best competition in the third round of the competition in the third round of the playoffs.

playoffs. playoffs. >> No, >> No, >> No, >> because you're going to be in trouble at >> because you're going to be in trouble at that point. that point. >> Yes.

>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Even if you make it to the through the >> Even if you make it to the through the quarters and to the semis, there's going quarters and to the semis, there's going to be four teams that are unbelievable to be four teams that are unbelievable >> in 6A level, >> in 6A level, >> especially six for sure. you're going to >> especially six for sure. you're going to you can sometimes flip a coin on how the you can sometimes flip a coin on how the game goes on who's going to be sometimes game goes on who's going to be sometimes one of the the quarter I mean the semi one of the the quarter I mean the semi matches the winner of that game is going matches the winner of that game is going to be the state champion.

to be the state champion. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And so >> And so >> well I mean Trinity's beat us the last >> well I mean Trinity's beat us the last two years and they've won you know the two years and they've won you know the state games pretty handily.

state games pretty handily. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So for sure and that >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So for sure and that cycle of going through uh like you said cycle of going through uh like you said 22 win the state championship and then 22 win the state championship and then you have to reset. What was that like you have to reset. What was that like for you? I mean that obviously that's a for you? I mean that obviously that's a that's a coaching high to to win a that's a coaching high to to win a >> um I tell people this all the time true >> um I tell people this all the time true story um you know we we were the late story um you know we we were the late game beating Green played really well game beating Green played really well and I'm you know those kids those and I'm you know those kids those seniors are always going to be state seniors are always going to be state champions you know on that team and champions you know on that team and every time I see them and a lot of them every time I see them and a lot of them still come around our program I call still come around our program I call them state champs them state champs >> you know and the ring is signified of >> you know and the ring is signified of what that team did.

what that team did. >> Sure. But I had our entire staff over to >> Sure. But I had our entire staff over to my house that late that night because my house that late that night because everything was kind of closed. So you everything was kind of closed. So you know we had pizza and had a good time know we had pizza and had a good time and you know all that at my house and and you know all that at my house and you know we finished up late in the you know we finished up late in the evening took pictures you know all that evening took pictures you know all that stuff with the trophy and that was stuff stuff with the trophy and that was stuff I'll always remember.

I'll always remember. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But I always tell this story. I had a >> But I always tell this story. I had a defensive tackle Jamarian Harkas that's defensive tackle Jamarian Harkas that's at Purdue now. He was committed to at Purdue now. He was committed to Auburn.

Auburn. Auburn. >> Yeah. and he was supposed to sign early >> Yeah. and he was supposed to sign early to go to Auburn and they called me a to go to Auburn and they called me a Saturday. So, we won the state Saturday. So, we won the state championship on that Saturday night.

championship on that Saturday night. Excuse me. We're the last game on Excuse me. We're the last game on Saturday. And on Sunday at 11:00 in the Saturday. And on Sunday at 11:00 in the morning, I get a call from Auburn and morning, I get a call from Auburn and they're like, "Coach, I, you know, I they're like, "Coach, I, you know, I have some bad news. We're not going to have some bad news. We're not going to take him. You know, we're not going to take him. You know, we're not going to take him in this class." take him in this class." >> So, you go from the highest high you can >> So, you go from the highest high you can have as a player to the lowest low have as a player to the lowest low >> in in 12 hours.

>> in in 12 hours. >> Yeah. you know, and not only that, um, I >> Yeah. you know, and not only that, um, I had to call and tell the kid, had to call and tell the kid, >> you know, and that Auburn was his dream >> you know, and that Auburn was his dream school.

school. school. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, so I had to deal with that the >> You know, so I had to deal with that the next morning after winning the state next morning after winning the state championship championship championship >> that if you don't have to tell me, but >> that if you don't have to tell me, but does that conversation for you sometimes does that conversation for you sometimes say like say like God has a different plan for you?

God has a different plan for you? >> For sure. And but at the time I was >> For sure. And but at the time I was upset because the reasoning behind them upset because the reasoning behind them dropping him was kind of on field stuff dropping him was kind of on field stuff which is fine. They're that's their which is fine. They're that's their prerogative as as a college program.

prerogative as as a college program. >> But I didn't like the fact that they >> But I didn't like the fact that they want it already done. want it already done.

>> I see. >> I see. >> You know, so my thing is like why are >> You know, so my thing is like why are you making $300 or $400,000 as a college you making $300 or $400,000 as a college coach? That's your job to teach them.

coach? That's your job to teach them. >> For sure. >> For sure. >> You know, and we run into a lot of that >> You know, and we run into a lot of that and that's no offense to college and that's no offense to college coaches. I mean, but if you're at the coaches. I mean, but if you're at the division one power four level making division one power four level making that type of money, you know, when you that type of money, you know, when you get kids, you got to get them better.

get kids, you got to get them better. >> Here's again, like I said, if anything's >> Here's again, like I said, if anything's out of the way, you'll feel comfortable out of the way, you'll feel comfortable with it. But here's the deal. And Auburn with it. But here's the deal. And Auburn Sums cart starts calling for your next Sums cart starts calling for your next superstar. It's not going to be an easy superstar. It's not going to be an easy >> It's not going to be easy.

>> It's not going to be easy. >> It's not an easy path for them. >> It's not an easy path for them. >> I would never I would never back them in >> I would never I would never back them in a corner as a player if they wanted to a corner as a player if they wanted to go there. I'm not that type of guy.

go there. I'm not that type of guy. >> If they knew, right? But, you know, it >> If they knew, right? But, you know, it is the same current staff that's there.

is the same current staff that's there. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, so like it's just, you know, >> You know, so like it's just, you know, it was not a good thing to do that. We it was not a good thing to do that. We ended up finding him something. He ended ended up finding him something. He ended up at Purdue. He's probably going to get up at Purdue. He's probably going to get a lot of reps this year a lot of reps this year >> as a DTackle and he's happy.

>> as a DTackle and he's happy. >> Good. >> Good. >> Good. >> So, that's the biggest thing. >> So, that's the biggest thing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.

>> But I'm just I tell you that story >> But I'm just I tell you that story because life goes on. because life goes on. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You want to win, you win or lose. It was >> You want to win, you win or lose. It was a cool moment.

a cool moment. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But it didn't change my life per se. I >> But it didn't change my life per se. I get asked that a lot, get asked that a lot, >> you know, like how did you feel? I mean, >> you know, like how did you feel? I mean, yeah, I'm always going to be a state yeah, I'm always going to be a state champion as a as a head coach.

champion as a as a head coach. >> I think if you ever get to look back, >> I think if you ever get to look back, obviously it's going to be way more obviously it's going to be way more special then for sure.

special then for sure. >> You can pause just like the Hall of Fame >> You can pause just like the Hall of Fame thing and like just look back and that thing and like just look back and that all everything flies and you're like, all everything flies and you're like, you see that ring, you understand you see that ring, you understand experience right now, you're you just experience right now, you're you just want the next one.

want the next one. >> Yep. That's really what you're judged >> Yep. That's really what you're judged upon. upon. upon. >> That's what it is. Yeah. >> That's what it is. Yeah.

>> You know, and once you do it once, >> You know, and once you do it once, people expect you to do it again. And I people expect you to do it again. And I like that. And I tell our players and like that. And I tell our players and families this.

families this. >> Douglas is a pressure program. >> Douglas is a pressure program. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, it makes diamonds or it bust >> You know, it makes diamonds or it bust pipes.

pipes. pipes. >> Fair enough. >> Fair enough. >> I mean, one of the two, you know, and >> I mean, one of the two, you know, and >> and it's probably made a few diamonds >> and it's probably made a few diamonds and busted a few pipes through the and busted a few pipes through the years.

years. years. >> Correct. And, you know, and I I tell my >> Correct. And, you know, and I I tell my kids all the time, I appreciate what kids all the time, I appreciate what they do cuz it's not easy playing here.

they do cuz it's not easy playing here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> You know, we demand a lot. We have a lot >> You know, we demand a lot. We have a lot of preparation. We support multiports.

of preparation. We support multiports. Yeah. Like we have a lot of guys that Yeah. Like we have a lot of guys that play basketball. We have some guys that play basketball. We have some guys that run track and do baseball.

run track and do baseball. >> Yeah, >> Yeah, >> Yeah, >> we have a ton. I think out of the 22 >> we have a ton. I think out of the 22 baseball or basketball kids they kept baseball or basketball kids they kept last year, 16 play football.

last year, 16 play football. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, so my point is is like but if >> You know, so my point is is like but if you're not doing anything, you're in you're not doing anything, you're in that weight room.

that weight room. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, you're in with your coaches >> You know, you're in with your coaches doing stuff and we're going to prep you doing stuff and we're going to prep you for that. And one of the biggest things for that. And one of the biggest things that I like as a coach is when our guys that I like as a coach is when our guys go to college, if that's something that go to college, if that's something that happens for them, and it's not for happens for them, and it's not for everybody.

everybody. everybody. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But they call me and they finally get >> But they call me and they finally get it. it. it. >> Yeah. You know, like, "Coach, I get what >> Yeah. You know, like, "Coach, I get what you were saying where, coach, I felt you were saying where, coach, I felt ahead of these other incoming freshmen." ahead of these other incoming freshmen." >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, cuz I'm always asking feedback >> You know, cuz I'm always asking feedback from them from them >> cuz you want to adjust >> cuz you want to adjust >> what I can do better.

>> what I can do better. >> You know, what can I do to help prepare >> You know, what can I do to help prepare you better? you better? >> Whether that's mental health, whether >> Whether that's mental health, whether that's in the weight room or whether that's in the weight room or whether that's playbook installs.

that's playbook installs. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, all those things. You I can't >> You know, all those things. You I can't simulate everything, simulate everything, >> but like did you feel behind or did you >> but like did you feel behind or did you feel ahead?

feel ahead? >> Yeah. And most of the feedback I'm >> Yeah. And most of the feedback I'm getting, so I know we're doing stuff getting, so I know we're doing stuff right, is very positive.

right, is very positive. >> Yeah. They feel like they're in spot. >> Yeah. They feel like they're in spot. Yes. You know, there's some guys that Yes. You know, there's some guys that are coming in, they're athletic, but are coming in, they're athletic, but they may have never done a snatch or a they may have never done a snatch or a power clean in the weight room or, power clean in the weight room or, >> you know, there's some programs that >> you know, there's some programs that don't do it.

don't do it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, so like we try to transition >> You know, so like we try to transition them into knowing how to do a meeting, them into knowing how to do a meeting, how to take notes.

how to take notes. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, we can't simulate. Like I have >> You know, we can't simulate. Like I have a kid that's at Western right now.

a kid that's at Western right now. called me the other night, played for me called me the other night, played for me on the O line. He's like, "Coach, we on the O line. He's like, "Coach, we just had a 3-hour offensive meeting." I just had a 3-hour offensive meeting." I said, "Yes, that's camp." said, "Yes, that's camp." >> Yeah. Welcome to camp.

>> Yeah. Welcome to camp. >> You know, like it's 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 >> You know, like it's 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., p.m., p.m., >> you know, it's a job. It's a jo o. It's >> you know, it's a job. It's a jo o. It's not high school football.

not high school football. >> You know, and he's he's getting it, but >> You know, and he's he's getting it, but he's also like, "Coach, you he's also like, "Coach, you >> is this right? Are they supposed to do >> is this right? Are they supposed to do this?" this?" this?" >> You told the truth. Like, I'm trying to >> You told the truth. Like, I'm trying to get them prepared for that.

get them prepared for that. >> You know, then they have a 45minute >> You know, then they have a 45minute install signal drill. like the whole install signal drill. like the whole offense is in there going over all the offense is in there going over all the signals, signals, signals, >> you know. So, just using those examples, >> you know. So, just using those examples, I'm trying to, you know, get them better I'm trying to, you know, get them better with that aspect.

with that aspect. >> What did you think when Dane went to >> What did you think when Dane went to Nebraska? Nebraska? Nebraska? >> Um, I wasn't surprised just because, >> Um, I wasn't surprised just because, you know, he he's been through three you know, he he's been through three offensive coordinators. Um, you know, offensive coordinators. Um, you know, he's been through a lot of quarterbacks.

he's been through a lot of quarterbacks. >> Yeah. Obviously has a dream to play in >> Yeah. Obviously has a dream to play in the NFL. the NFL. >> Dream to play in the NFL. And, you know, >> Dream to play in the NFL. And, you know, it's just based upon, you know, the it's just based upon, you know, the system. And you know, I think with system. And you know, I think with Hersonson and his old wide out coach Hersonson and his old wide out coach that went out to Nebraska, that went out to Nebraska, >> that was really too much for him to pass >> that was really too much for him to pass up. Now, I am surprised he didn't go to up. Now, I am surprised he didn't go to an SEC school.

an SEC school. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um, you know, he just he's a great >> Um, you know, he just he's a great player. Um, you know, I hope he has a player. Um, you know, I hope he has a great year. I hope he stays healthy.

great year. I hope he stays healthy. >> Um, because he definitely he's >> Um, because he definitely he's definitely when you watch him bodywise, definitely when you watch him bodywise, he's an NFL body receiver.

he's an NFL body receiver. >> Sure. Um, you know, so definitely I >> Sure. Um, you know, so definitely I could see him, you know, being a day could see him, you know, being a day one, day two draft pick, uh, if he has a one, day two draft pick, uh, if he has a good year this year. But yeah, good year this year. But yeah, >> super proud of him. He's got a great >> super proud of him. He's got a great family. His dad coached with me for five family. His dad coached with me for five years. I played at UK.

years. I played at UK. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, and I'm sure that, you know, >> You know, and I'm sure that, you know, as a family when he's Kentucky alumnist.

as a family when he's Kentucky alumnist. >> Well, I mean, even not just a Kentucky >> Well, I mean, even not just a Kentucky alumnist, like Big Blue Nation's losing alumnist, like Big Blue Nation's losing their brain.

their brain. >> Sure. because like if we're losing a kid >> Sure. because like if we're losing a kid who's from Lexington whose dad played at who's from Lexington whose dad played at UK, like we got problems. And so that UK, like we got problems. And so that was the whole, you know, the whole was the whole, you know, the whole banter like we've lost the locker room, banter like we've lost the locker room, we've lost something we've lost something >> uh when Dne leaves. But uh the the truth >> uh when Dne leaves. But uh the the truth is is that opportunities are abound now is is that opportunities are abound now for athletes if it looks both ways. Like for athletes if it looks both ways. Like I I see it as an opportunity for a lot I I see it as an opportunity for a lot of people. We complain a lot about it, of people. We complain a lot about it, like you're not going to have the same like you're not going to have the same kids, the same place, and if they don't kids, the same place, and if they don't like it, they'll just transfer. But we like it, they'll just transfer. But we might as well get used to that. It's not might as well get used to that. It's not going away. Like the transfer portal is going away. Like the transfer portal is what it is. And what it is. And >> and so being able to keep the core of >> and so being able to keep the core of your team together, uh if you look at your team together, uh if you look at the hits and misses on how you hit the the hits and misses on how you hit the transfer portal, it's going to look transfer portal, it's going to look different for everybody. But I'm I'm a different for everybody. But I'm I'm a big advocate for kids doing whatever is big advocate for kids doing whatever is best for them.

best for them. >> Yeah, I am, too. Uh, but I do there's a >> Yeah, I am, too. Uh, but I do there's a couple things to that I think just couple things to that I think just speaking with college coaches because I speaking with college coaches because I haven't met too many that are happy, you haven't met too many that are happy, you know, so they need to go to one window know, so they need to go to one window and then there's already been and then there's already been discussions of that instead of two.

discussions of that instead of two. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um, they need to do that, I think. Um, >> Um, they need to do that, I think. Um, >> well, it really like Michigan when >> well, it really like Michigan when they're playing, you know, deep in the they're playing, you know, deep in the playoffs and you're like, playoffs and you're like, >> yeah, >> yeah, >> yeah, >> who's going to be on the squad?

>> who's going to be on the squad? >> And it devalues bowl games >> And it devalues bowl games >> for sure. >> for sure. >> Um, you know, I think there needs to be >> Um, you know, I think there needs to be a spring window. you know, if you're not a spring window. you know, if you're not going to be in that too deep in the going to be in that too deep in the spring, you can, you know, go play spring, you can, you know, go play somewhere else. So, somewhere else. So, >> um, but a lot of stuff is, you know, >> um, but a lot of stuff is, you know, that doesn't get talked about, too, is that doesn't get talked about, too, is if you're not if you're not >> doing what you're supposed to do, you're >> doing what you're supposed to do, you're not producing.

not producing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> There's going to be coaches, hey, get in >> There's going to be coaches, hey, get in the portal. It's the portal. It's >> not just getting the portal. You can do >> not just getting the portal. You can do whatever you want. You just can't come whatever you want. You just can't come back.

back. back. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Because we got somebody taking your >> Because we got somebody taking your >> A lot of people don't talk about that.

>> A lot of people don't talk about that. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, for sure. >> But it's a dirty dirty business. >> But it's a dirty dirty business. >> It is. Bruce, >> It is. Bruce, >> it goes both ways. Uh, for sure. Like >> it goes both ways. Uh, for sure. Like you have a huge advantage. They have as you have a huge advantage. They have as athletes have more power than they've athletes have more power than they've ever had if you want to call it power.

ever had if you want to call it power. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Uh, but coaches have to keep their job. >> Uh, but coaches have to keep their job. >> Yep.

>> Yep. >> Yep. >> So, you know, you might have recruited >> So, you know, you might have recruited the kid who shows up late to practice or the kid who shows up late to practice or or meetings and that doesn't that or meetings and that doesn't that doesn't last very long anymore.

doesn't last very long anymore. >> Yeah. And I get asked, you know, >> Yeah. And I get asked, you know, everybody asked me, well, what do all everybody asked me, well, what do all these college coaches ask? you know, cuz these college coaches ask? you know, cuz we've we're over $15 million in we've we're over $15 million in scholarships the first eight years, scholarships the first eight years, which that's more important to me than which that's more important to me than anything.

anything. anything. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um, but my thing is is like, you know, >> Um, but my thing is is like, you know, what are they doing once they get there, what are they doing once they get there, >> you know? So, >> you know? So, >> you know, just having those >> you know, just having those conversations on being able to do that, conversations on being able to do that, but also like understanding now you may but also like understanding now you may have to go to a lower level and produce.

have to go to a lower level and produce. >> Yeah. Just go kill it. There's nothing >> Yeah. Just go kill it. There's nothing wrong with that. be the best version of wrong with that. be the best version of yourself, yourself, yourself, >> you know, as long as you're going to >> you know, as long as you're going to school for free.

school for free. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, and then that's up to you. >> You know, and then that's up to you. >> It's like we had a receiver sign at >> It's like we had a receiver sign at Western Michigan that athletically is Western Michigan that athletically is probably power four.

probably power four. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But, you know, he's going to have to go >> But, you know, he's going to have to go and do what he needs to do at Western and do what he needs to do at Western Michigan. There's nothing wrong with Michigan. There's nothing wrong with that.

that. that. >> Well, everybody's going to be watching. >> Well, everybody's going to be watching. I mean, they're going to try to recruit I mean, they're going to try to recruit you away if you go kill it for sure.

you away if you go kill it for sure. >> Yeah. And if you're an allmack player, >> Yeah. And if you're an allmack player, year two, year two, >> probably are going to go power four.

>> probably are going to go power four. >> Probably can, >> Probably can, >> you So I view it as that parents and >> you So I view it as that parents and players need to understand it's not, you players need to understand it's not, you know, all this and none of that.

know, all this and none of that. >> Well, if we but if we look at the >> Well, if we but if we look at the statistics and of like your ability to statistics and of like your ability to go be a high school player and play at a go be a high school player and play at a division one level, that's a very low division one level, that's a very low percentage. So we lose perspective on percentage. So we lose perspective on that, that, that, >> especially in a program like Douglas >> especially in a program like Douglas where you got kids going to division one where you got kids going to division one all the time.

all the time. >> The percentages just are not in your >> The percentages just are not in your favor. If you go to I'm not going to favor. If you go to I'm not going to pick on any county in Kentucky, but pick on any county in Kentucky, but let's go to Noville, Nebraska. There's let's go to Noville, Nebraska. There's just not kids here just not kids here >> that are going to be division one >> that are going to be division one football players. I I don't know. I pick football players. I I don't know. I pick on Nebraska, but on Nebraska, but >> Right. Right.

>> Right. Right. >> Uh just any state that you can say and >> Uh just any state that you can say and you can look at, okay, what percentage you can look at, okay, what percentage of these kids end up playing college of these kids end up playing college football? And it's a low percentage.

football? And it's a low percentage. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Um >> Um >> but then when you start talking about a >> but then when you start talking about a team versus a program, that's what you team versus a program, that's what you build at Douglas. Now you have a program build at Douglas. Now you have a program and so the expectations are and so the expectations are >> you're going to play college football if >> you're going to play college football if you if you have the measurable like we you if you have the measurable like we just just just >> like the 29 seniors we had last year 18 >> like the 29 seniors we had last year 18 signed.

signed. signed. >> Yeah. It's crazy. >> Yeah. It's crazy. >> You know had some type of football >> You know had some type of football scholarship. scholarship.

scholarship. >> 18 of 29. >> 18 of 29. >> 18 of 29 >> 18 of 29 >> and it could have probably been more but >> and it could have probably been more but some kids just kind of didn't want just some kids just kind of didn't want just wanted to go to school or go in the wanted to go to school or go in the military which there's nothing wrong military which there's nothing wrong with that.

with that. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> But you know 18 guys at least got >> But you know 18 guys at least got something you know. So like two of my something you know. So like two of my guys, you know, that are going they're guys, you know, that are going they're they're at center, you know, which is a they're at center, you know, which is a high academic school. When you look at high academic school. When you look at and they had good grades, they're not and they had good grades, they're not getting into center with bad grades. But getting into center with bad grades. But when you look at comboing their football when you look at comboing their football money and their academic money, they're money and their academic money, they're going to make $2,000 going to center by going to make $2,000 going to center by doing a work stud.

doing a work stud. >> And that doesn't happen for your regular >> And that doesn't happen for your regular person who gets 36 on their ACT. And person who gets 36 on their ACT. And >> yeah, I mean, you're talking about 70 >> yeah, I mean, you're talking about 70 grand a year to go to center.

grand a year to go to center. >> Yeah. So my point is is if you play >> Yeah. So my point is is if you play football for those four years and football for those four years and produce, I mean that's a lot of money.

produce, I mean that's a lot of money. >> Oh my gosh. Yeah. And then plus I mean >> Oh my gosh. Yeah. And then plus I mean it's a valuable thing to have. If you're it's a valuable thing to have. If you're going to start the job process interview going to start the job process interview and you went to center, it's a big deal and you went to center, it's a big deal >> for sure.

>> for sure. >> Not every kid, you know, that comes in >> Not every kid, you know, that comes in our program, they just want the high our program, they just want the high school experience and want to be part of school experience and want to be part of the team. Nothing wrong with that.

the team. Nothing wrong with that. That's high school football at its core. That's high school football at its core. >> But if you want these things, we're >> But if you want these things, we're going to offer them to you.

going to offer them to you. >> Sure. you know, and guys are going to >> Sure. you know, and guys are going to stick out when they don't do those stick out when they don't do those things.

things. things. >> And you don't have to blaze the trails >> And you don't have to blaze the trails that you had to blaze at at, you know, that you had to blaze at at, you know, at your high school because you didn't at your high school because you didn't have 18 kids the year before you who have 18 kids the year before you who decided to decided to >> play college football or had the talent >> play college football or had the talent to play college football. So, really, to play college football. So, really, it's a blessing to be in a program like it's a blessing to be in a program like that because the trails have already that because the trails have already been blazed and the pavement's already been blazed and the pavement's already been laid. Now, you just have to run as been laid. Now, you just have to run as fast as you can on that on that track.

fast as you can on that on that track. If you're good enough, you're they're If you're good enough, you're they're going to notice you, especially in our going to notice you, especially in our program because we've had guys program because we've had guys >> I mean, you probably have play game of >> I mean, you probably have play game of the week every week, right?

the week every week, right? >> I think right now eight of the 10 are up >> I think right now eight of the 10 are up for games of the week. for games of the week.

>> Oh my gosh. >> Oh my gosh. >> So, that's >> So, that's >> I mean, you want you want to be on TV. >> I mean, you want you want to be on TV. You want you want highlights. And so, You want you want highlights. And so, well, well, well, >> you be careful what you ask for, but I I >> you be careful what you ask for, but I I don't have any question that you're don't have any question that you're going to handle that the way that you've going to handle that the way that you've always handled it. And it's going to be always handled it. And it's going to be uh uh uh >> it's going to be a building process. I >> it's going to be a building process. I mean, mean, mean, >> for sure. I think that the hunger I >> for sure. I think that the hunger I don't know how many I talked to Justin don't know how many I talked to Justin Haddock you know he won four of his Haddock you know he won four of his first four years of state championships first four years of state championships at boil didn't win it last year.

at boil didn't win it last year. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And I was like >> And I was like >> we I mean that honestly that was the >> we I mean that honestly that was the best team we played all year.

best team we played all year. >> Yeah. Like Tavy was one of the best >> Yeah. Like Tavy was one of the best players that that has been around in a players that that has been around in a long time. Y long time. Y >> and u I was messing with him. I was like >> and u I was messing with him. I was like I called you DJ Khaled for a little bit I called you DJ Khaled for a little bit cuz all you did was win. Now what cuz all you did was win. Now what happens?

happens? happens? >> I like is camp going to be a little bit >> I like is camp going to be a little bit harder and he's like leave me alone. you harder and he's like leave me alone. you know, we're going to do the same thing know, we're going to do the same thing we've been doing all along.

we've been doing all along. >> And u talk about that. How much how many >> And u talk about that. How much how many head coaches in head coaches in >> in Kentucky do you know are friendly >> in Kentucky do you know are friendly with? Is that a pretty Is that a pretty with? Is that a pretty Is that a pretty tight-knit group? How do you guys uh tight-knit group? How do you guys uh >> Yeah, I mean I respect everybody. I feel >> Yeah, I mean I respect everybody. I feel like I had a good relationship with like I had a good relationship with everybody. I feel like if you were to everybody. I feel like if you were to truly ask high school coaches that know truly ask high school coaches that know me how I run things and what I do at its me how I run things and what I do at its core, I think they would be very core, I think they would be very complimentary. Yeah.

complimentary. Yeah. >> Um and I can't speak to everybody. I >> Um and I can't speak to everybody. I wouldn't say that, especially here wouldn't say that, especially here locally, I'm I'm cordial with everybody.

locally, I'm I'm cordial with everybody. I feel like I get along with everybody, I feel like I get along with everybody, but I don't get a lot of phone calls.

but I don't get a lot of phone calls. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> You know, I don't get like everyday >> You know, I don't get like everyday phone calls from a lot of guys.

phone calls from a lot of guys. >> I'm telling you, there's some there's >> I'm telling you, there's some there's some weird Douglas hate that I don't some weird Douglas hate that I don't understand, but understand, but >> I understand. Um >> I understand. Um >> uh it's a weird thing.

>> uh it's a weird thing. >> Yeah. And I don't I think though, if you >> Yeah. And I don't I think though, if you were really sat down with those guys were really sat down with those guys one-on-one and they really look at the one-on-one and they really look at the process of what we do, they respect it.

process of what we do, they respect it. >> Yeah. I guarantee it a thousand% they >> Yeah. I guarantee it a thousand% they would. would. would. >> So it doesn't mean that we're best >> So it doesn't mean that we're best friends. It doesn't mean that we talk friends. It doesn't mean that we talk every day.

every day. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> And I'll be honest, I don't have that I >> And I'll be honest, I don't have that I don't have that type of personality don't have that type of personality where and I'm nice to everybody. I'm where and I'm nice to everybody. I'm cordial professional.

cordial professional. >> But being a head coach, especially at a >> But being a head coach, especially at a program like ours, it it's very hard to program like ours, it it's very hard to have a plethora amount of friends.

have a plethora amount of friends. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, it's very hard. Do you have a >> You know, it's very hard. Do you have a coaching friend that you like?

coaching friend that you like? >> I do. Yeah, I have a few and I'm >> I do. Yeah, I have a few and I'm actually really close with some head actually really close with some head coaches in other states.

coaches in other states. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Um because they're head coaches. I'm >> Um because they're head coaches. I'm really good friends with a coach in San really good friends with a coach in San Francisco, California. We vacation Francisco, California. We vacation together. Okay.

together. Okay. >> We vacation in Cabo together. >> We vacation in Cabo together. >> Uh we have very similar interest. Um we >> Uh we have very similar interest. Um we both have O line backgrounds. We talk both have O line backgrounds. We talk every day.

every day. >> Yeah. Awesome. >> Yeah. Awesome. >> Um I'm real good friends with a head >> Um I'm real good friends with a head coach in Illinois and I'm really good coach in Illinois and I'm really good friends with a head coach in Kansas.

friends with a head coach in Kansas. >> Gotcha. We got to know one another >> Gotcha. We got to know one another during the co. during the co. >> Okay.

>> Okay. >> Okay. >> You know, because coaches were bored and >> You know, because coaches were bored and we did Zooms and Yeah. Zoom. we did Zooms and Yeah. Zoom.

>> You know, you get on them chat rooms. >> You know, you get on them chat rooms. It's kind of funny story, but I've been It's kind of funny story, but I've been really close with those guys since then.

really close with those guys since then. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And we're in a group text with each >> And we're in a group text with each other. We video chat with each other. We other. We video chat with each other. We bounce ideas off each other.

bounce ideas off each other. >> Yeah. I think it's important to have at >> Yeah. I think it's important to have at least one least one >> for sure. So you can go even in my world >> for sure. So you can go even in my world uh you know it's great to have a uh you know it's great to have a colleague that you can send a message to colleague that you can send a message to or call cuz they it's it's unique and or call cuz they it's it's unique and you have to have somebody understands you have to have somebody understands what it is like you you can talk to your what it is like you you can talk to your wife wife wife >> she knows it. I'm sure your wife >> she knows it. I'm sure your wife understands football better than most understands football better than most people people people >> way better way better than uh she used >> way better way better than uh she used to. That's for sure.

to. That's for sure. >> But also like you're not going to ask >> But also like you're not going to ask her the same things that you're going to her the same things that you're going to ask your coaching friends when it's like ask your coaching friends when it's like okay I'm in a rut or how do I get out of okay I'm in a rut or how do I get out of this rut? stuff that you don't really this rut? stuff that you don't really you're not going to do in an interview.

you're not going to do in an interview. You're not going to tell people like I You're not going to tell people like I feel like I'm in a rut. feel like I'm in a rut. >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But you may call your buddy >> But you may call your buddy >> and be like, "All right, what do you do >> and be like, "All right, what do you do when this happens? What do you do when when this happens? What do you do when that happens?" that happens?" >> Oh, for sure. And you know, I've been >> Oh, for sure. And you know, I've been in, you know, before my neck surgery, in, you know, before my neck surgery, you know, the last two years I've been you know, the last two years I've been in physical pain and that wears on you in physical pain and that wears on you mentally.

mentally. mentally. >> Um, you know, I don't care to, you know, >> Um, you know, I don't care to, you know, and I've told coaches this, you know, I and I've told coaches this, you know, I was ready to walk away.

was ready to walk away. >> Um, you know, because I felt that bad. >> Um, you know, because I felt that bad. Um, I felt that poor because it's really Um, I felt that poor because it's really hard to feel that way and also coach, hard to feel that way and also coach, especially being a head coach.

especially being a head coach. >> You also went through and I I think you >> You also went through and I I think you did like you lost a bunch of weight.

did like you lost a bunch of weight. >> I lost 85 lbs. >> I lost 85 lbs. >> 85 lbs. That was that a game changer? >> 85 lbs. That was that a game changer?

>> It was. And I actually I did it because >> It was. And I actually I did it because I was trying to avoid the neck surgery I was trying to avoid the neck surgery cuz they were I was told cuz I did the cuz they were I was told cuz I did the shots and I did all that. Ended up not shots and I did all that. Ended up not helping.

helping. helping. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, I ended up having to have it >> You know, I ended up having to have it done. Yeah. Uh but definitely, you know, done. Yeah. Uh but definitely, you know, cuz I was over 300 lb since I was senior cuz I was over 300 lb since I was senior year in high school.

year in high school. >> Yeah. And it's it's hard for offensive >> Yeah. And it's it's hard for offensive lineman to take it off. lineman to take it off.

>> It is cuz you go even in the physical >> It is cuz you go even in the physical effort that you give effort that you give >> at the highest level, you're still >> at the highest level, you're still maintaining. You're you got to eat the maintaining. You're you got to eat the calories. So you're used to it. Yeah, calories. So you're used to it. Yeah, that's right. Appetite doesn't go away.

that's right. Appetite doesn't go away. >> No. And your mind used to that. So, you >> No. And your mind used to that. So, you know, I went I lost the weight and I know, I went I lost the weight and I felt really good. But, you know, going felt really good. But, you know, going through that process, you know, my wife through that process, you know, my wife and my close friends knew that something and my close friends knew that something wasn't right. So, I knew like I had to wasn't right. So, I knew like I had to get something done.

get something done. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Uh, I do feel a lot better now. But, >> Uh, I do feel a lot better now. But, >> you know, all of us go through those >> you know, all of us go through those things. You know, you all you you have things. You know, you all you you have those moments and you have those, you those moments and you have those, you know, when you're going through all know, when you're going through all that. Um, you know, and this job is that. Um, you know, and this job is really hard because, you know, there's really hard because, you know, there's not a lot of appreciation for what you not a lot of appreciation for what you do.

do. do. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um, especially with social media. Well, >> Um, especially with social media. Well, it's thankless most of the time until it's thankless most of the time until you win the state championship.

you win the state championship. >> Ben is a lot of thankfuls >> Ben is a lot of thankfuls >> for sure >> for sure >> at that time. But lots of times it's a >> at that time. But lots of times it's a thankless job for sure.

thankless job for sure. >> And that it's great to have high >> And that it's great to have high expectations. You set it yourself. You expectations. You set it yourself. You want the expectations to be high and so want the expectations to be high and so >> you set those on yourself and you set it >> you set those on yourself and you set it on your program.

on your program. >> Yeah. There's some uh and I know lots of >> Yeah. There's some uh and I know lots of coaches there's some lonely nights where coaches there's some lonely nights where you're staring at the ceiling.

you're staring at the ceiling. >> Mhm. And uh >> Mhm. And uh >> I I'll say it like secondguessing your >> I I'll say it like secondguessing your career choice.

career choice. >> There's there's times when that happens >> There's there's times when that happens and sometimes it's in stuff you can't and sometimes it's in stuff you can't control and that's what makes it hard.

control and that's what makes it hard. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> The stuff you can control, you can >> The stuff you can control, you can control. control.

control. >> Yeah. And the thing about my job in >> Yeah. And the thing about my job in education and coaching and you know, education and coaching and you know, like you said, you know, a lot of like you said, you know, a lot of coaches, you know, every day is so coaches, you know, every day is so different.

different. different. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, it is Groundhog Day. >> You know, it is Groundhog Day. >> You know, you get involved, boom, boom, >> You know, you get involved, boom, boom, boom. You get into a schedule, but you boom. You get into a schedule, but you never know dayto day what's going to pop never know dayto day what's going to pop up.

up. up. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And that's in education. That's in >> And that's in education. That's in coaching. coaching. coaching. >> Yeah. That's in a football game.

>> Yeah. That's in a football game. >> That's in a football game. It's >> That's in a football game. It's organized chaos. organized chaos. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> And you know, like for me, I want music >> And you know, like for me, I want music blaring in practice. I want our kids blaring in practice. I want our kids chirping. I want, you know, it's chirping. I want, you know, it's controlled. I don't want to be controlled. I don't want to be undisiplined, undisiplined, undisiplined, >> but I want that type of environment >> but I want that type of environment because that's what we're going to be because that's what we're going to be playing in. Yeah.

playing in. Yeah. >> You know, when you go to Highlands, >> You know, when you go to Highlands, they're going to say some choice words they're going to say some choice words to you for sure. When you go to Trinity, to you for sure. When you go to Trinity, those Catholic kids are nasty, you know, those Catholic kids are nasty, you know, just being honest. Smart, too.

just being honest. Smart, too. >> They're smart. They know what they're >> They're smart. They know what they're doing. doing. doing. >> They know exactly how to get through.

>> They know exactly how to get through. >> Correct. Um, so like I want our kids to >> Correct. Um, so like I want our kids to experience that in practice.

experience that in practice. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, cuz it's organized chaos. I >> You know, cuz it's organized chaos. I want to create as much of that. You want to create as much of that. You know, I have a music box. I'll wheel it know, I have a music box. I'll wheel it out and put it behind the offensive out and put it behind the offensive huddle.

huddle. huddle. >> How much? >> How much? >> So, a little bit. You know, we try to >> So, a little bit. You know, we try to let the kids, you know, deal with some let the kids, you know, deal with some stuff. It's obviously as clean as stuff. It's obviously as clean as possible.

possible. possible. >> Sure. but what they're used to listening >> Sure. but what they're used to listening to. But my point is like I'll drag it to. But my point is like I'll drag it right behind the huddle just to create right behind the huddle just to create more and more communication, a lack of more and more communication, a lack of communication because if they can do it communication because if they can do it then you can do it in a game then you can do it in a game >> for sure.

>> for sure. >> Um and sometimes we fail at that and >> Um and sometimes we fail at that and sometimes I leave practice going sometimes I leave practice going >> are we going to get a first down this >> are we going to get a first down this year?

year? year? >> Well, I think I have an idea though. So >> Well, I think I have an idea though. So if you have uh two twins and a couple if you have uh two twins and a couple like five siblings coming in, they like five siblings coming in, they should be able to speak without should be able to speak without speaking. So, we're going to set the speaking. So, we're going to set the expectations that you would think expectations that you would think >> we're going to be able to talk to each >> we're going to be able to talk to each other without other without >> You would think.

>> You would think. >> Yeah, that's for sure. What positions do >> Yeah, that's for sure. What positions do they play? they play? >> Uh, one of them will probably be our >> Uh, one of them will probably be our starting quarterback. The other one's a starting quarterback. The other one's a receiver. The other one will be in the receiver. The other one will be in the mix to play running back.

mix to play running back. >> And then the other ones that are >> And then the other ones that are younger, tight end type guys. So, younger, tight end type guys. So, >> yeah, it's kind of a plethora amount of >> yeah, it's kind of a plethora amount of different positions they play.

different positions they play. >> What uh >> What uh >> if you had to write the playbook, let >> if you had to write the playbook, let let's go back to let's go back to 1990. What year did you graduate high 1990. What year did you graduate high school? 2000.

school? 2000. >> Let's go back to 1999. You knew at that >> Let's go back to 1999. You knew at that time already you're you're going to be a time already you're you're going to be a coach.

coach. coach. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> It was in your blood. >> It was in your blood. >> If you could have written down the >> If you could have written down the playbook, and maybe you did, a lot of playbook, and maybe you did, a lot of athletes would do that. If you could athletes would do that. If you could have written your playbook on what 2025 have written your playbook on what 2025 would have looked like, what would you would have looked like, what would you have said then in 99?

have said then in 99? >> Uh, that's a great question. Um, >> Uh, that's a great question. Um, you know, I didn't really have at that you know, I didn't really have at that time. I didn't know that I would, time. I didn't know that I would, >> I guess, kind of move around as much as >> I guess, kind of move around as much as and I haven't been at a ton of jobs, but and I haven't been at a ton of jobs, but like going from spending most of my like going from spending most of my career near home and going to college career near home and going to college near home, near home, >> you know, and then all of a sudden going >> you know, and then all of a sudden going to Atlanta, Georgia to Atlanta, Georgia >> and then going from Atlanta, Georgia up >> and then going from Atlanta, Georgia up here to Lexington, here to Lexington, >> I didn't necessarily >> I didn't necessarily >> different than county.

>> different than county. >> Yeah, for sure. And >> Yeah, for sure. And >> you know, I tell people all the time, my >> you know, I tell people all the time, my experience in Georgia helped me for this experience in Georgia helped me for this job. Yeah, job. Yeah, >> cuz it's very similar inner city urban, >> cuz it's very similar inner city urban, you know, public school.

you know, public school. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, if I went from Greenup County to >> So, if I went from Greenup County to Douglas, I would probably struggled Douglas, I would probably struggled more.

more. more. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> You know, just with the type of >> You know, just with the type of environment you're in, not that they're environment you're in, not that they're bad kids, they're not, it's just bad kids, they're not, it's just different.

different. different. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, and it's not a bad different, >> You know, and it's not a bad different, it's just different.

it's just different. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, so like getting used to that >> You know, so like getting used to that aspect, I think, helped prepare me for aspect, I think, helped prepare me for that.

that. that. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um, and give me perspective on it. So, I >> Um, and give me perspective on it. So, I guess I probably wouldn't have had that guess I probably wouldn't have had that type of rotation within our my coaching type of rotation within our my coaching career. I didn't know that it would be career. I didn't know that it would be like that. So, but like that. So, but >> you know, it is what it is. You know, >> you know, it is what it is. You know, coaching is, you know, it is a mobile coaching is, you know, it is a mobile profession, especially at the college profession, especially at the college level. You know, you got to if you got level. You know, you got to if you got an opportunity here and it's more money an opportunity here and it's more money and it's a better situation, you got to and it's a better situation, you got to look at it.

look at it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, and it's obviously, you know, >> You know, and it's obviously, you know, something that you always have to look something that you always have to look at. But, you know, I felt like I was at. But, you know, I felt like I was going to be an educator. Felt like I was going to be an educator. Felt like I was going to coach and be in that realm.

going to coach and be in that realm. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Pretty young. >> Pretty young. >> Um, I knew I didn't want to be a doctor. >> Um, I knew I didn't want to be a doctor.

I don't like blood. No offense. I don't I don't like blood. No offense. I don't like blood and all that stuff. I don't like blood and all that stuff. I don't do well with all that stuff, you know, do well with all that stuff, you know, and even being a football player as long and even being a football player as long as I have. And dealing with injuries.

as I have. And dealing with injuries. Um, it's just not something I knew I Um, it's just not something I knew I didn't want to do. didn't want to do. >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, I didn't know how to go into >> You know, I didn't know how to go into like financial stuff. I don't know like financial stuff. I don't know enough about it. I'm not interested enough about it. I'm not interested enough. I really respect people that do enough. I really respect people that do because they they do a good job.

because they they do a good job. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I'll value their opinion with my >> And I'll value their opinion with my money money money >> for sure.

>> for sure. >> You know, but I'm not I'm not into that >> You know, but I'm not I'm not into that realm. Um realm. Um >> so I knew kind of where I wanted to to >> so I knew kind of where I wanted to to be and go to and you know that's kind of be and go to and you know that's kind of it really. I mean it really. I mean >> yeah you never like you said you never >> yeah you never like you said you never dream that you would you know senior dream that you would you know senior junior in high school that you're going junior in high school that you're going to up in Atlanta Georgia or that uh to up in Atlanta Georgia or that uh you're going to be in Lex Kentucky and you're going to be in Lex Kentucky and win a state championship. Um but what win a state championship. Um but what about playing aspirations? Did you had about playing aspirations? Did you had aspirations to be a professional aspirations to be a professional football player when you football player when you >> Yeah, I was with the Packers in 2004.

>> Yeah, I was with the Packers in 2004. Um, you know, I was a three-time AllMac Um, you know, I was a three-time AllMac player, obviously. You know, you don't player, obviously. You know, you don't get in the Hall of Fame and have a great get in the Hall of Fame and have a great college career.

college career. >> Um, but I'll be honest, like when I went >> Um, but I'll be honest, like when I went to the Packers, my back blew out on me to the Packers, my back blew out on me in L4, in L4, >> L5 >> L5 >> L5 >> and I had surgery. Um, you know, I that >> and I had surgery. Um, you know, I that was very painful, but I had to get it was very painful, but I had to get it done. Um, and to be quite blunt, I just done. Um, and to be quite blunt, I just I never felt like the same player after I never felt like the same player after that.

that. that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um, I didn't >> Um, I didn't >> Meaning mobility wise or wise, >> Meaning mobility wise or wise, >> speed, feet, >> speed, feet, >> cuz that was one of your advantages.

>> cuz that was one of your advantages. Like you said, you're big, but you could Like you said, you're big, but you could fly. fly. fly. >> I could move. Um, you know, I was a big >> I could move. Um, you know, I was a big heavy weight lifter. I was strong.

heavy weight lifter. I was strong. >> You know, obviously that's part of the >> You know, obviously that's part of the reason I've had spine surgeries, uh, is reason I've had spine surgeries, uh, is because of that. Training is a lot because of that. Training is a lot different now than back then. um you different now than back then. um you lift as much weight as you can pretty lift as much weight as you can pretty much every time you're in there, much every time you're in there, >> you know, and we don't train like that >> you know, and we don't train like that anymore. Um anymore. Um >> so that that aspect's a lot different.

>> so that that aspect's a lot different. >> Um but you know, I had an opportunity. I >> Um but you know, I had an opportunity. I was there. Um was there. Um >> but I knew when I practiced and cuz it's >> but I knew when I practiced and cuz it's so fast.

so fast. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> People think college football's fast >> People think college football's fast >> even more. >> even more. >> Sure. like going from high school in >> Sure. like going from high school in Eastern Kentucky to Marshall in the MAC Eastern Kentucky to Marshall in the MAC and we got to play a lot of division one and we got to play a lot of division one schools like we played schools like we played >> Kansas State, Tennessee, Florida, >> Kansas State, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia Tech, you know, we played in Virginia Tech, you know, we played in all those, you know, but all those, you know, but >> my thing about when I went to NFL was >> my thing about when I went to NFL was like that's the top 8% in the world.

like that's the top 8% in the world. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, and even in practice, I'm not >> You know, and even in practice, I'm not even talking about postseason to go to even talking about postseason to go to the Super Bowl.

the Super Bowl. >> You're just talking about camp in the >> You're just talking about camp in the summer. summer. summer. >> Sure. you know, like it was so fast.

>> Sure. you know, like it was so fast. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, and you're just it's >> You know, and you're just it's incredible how fast the speed of the incredible how fast the speed of the game is at that level.

game is at that level. >> Yeah. So, you can't really afford to >> Yeah. So, you can't really afford to lose a step. That's what you're saying. lose a step. That's what you're saying.

>> And bend mobility. >> And bend mobility. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um >> Um >> Um >> I just couldn't do it. And you know, I >> I just couldn't do it. And you know, I had some opportunities to go play in had some opportunities to go play in Canada. Um I ended up playing a couple Canada. Um I ended up playing a couple years of arena later after a couple years of arena later after a couple years.

years. years. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um so I played arena football for a >> Um so I played arena football for a couple years after that. Um but I just couple years after that. Um but I just never felt like the same player after never felt like the same player after that. Um you know NFL is not just about that. Um you know NFL is not just about talent. You got to have luck too.

talent. You got to have luck too. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You got it stands for not for long. >> You got it stands for not for long. >> Correct.

>> Correct. >> Correct. >> So >> So >> So >> and you know you got to get I have some >> and you know you got to get I have some buddies I played with. You know you got buddies I played with. You know you got to get four years and four names to get to get four years and four names to get your pension. And don't and those owners your pension. And don't and those owners know.

know. know. >> Yeah. That's not by happen stance. They >> Yeah. That's not by happen stance. They know that you're not going to make it by know that you're not going to make it by percentage wise percentage wise >> cuz they got to pay it the rest of your >> cuz they got to pay it the rest of your life.

life. life. >> Yeah. For sure. >> Yeah. For sure. >> So they know. So if you're not if you're >> So they know. So if you're not if you're not really good not really good >> and you're four years, you're not gonna >> and you're four years, you're not gonna get on a team for those contractors.

get on a team for those contractors. >> That's right. >> That's right. >> It's not gonna happen for sure. >> It's not gonna happen for sure. >> So if you're a backup or you know you're >> So if you're a backup or you know you're a guy that's a marginal guy on your a guy that's a marginal guy on your roster, those owners are not going to roster, those owners are not going to keep you. It's very cutthroat.

keep you. It's very cutthroat. >> Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Um so go back and >> Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Um so go back and talk about making the transition from talk about making the transition from Marshall and then like you said where Marshall and then like you said where you are coaching now. Um, you are coaching now. Um, from a player standpoint, what do you from a player standpoint, what do you think it is about offensive linemen that think it is about offensive linemen that draw them to be head coaches?

draw them to be head coaches? >> I think for a while there wasn't as much >> I think for a while there wasn't as much of it. I think you're seeing a lot of of it. I think you're seeing a lot of successful guys that are O line successful guys that are O line background guys because you have to background guys because you have to piece so much together.

piece so much together. >> To me, playing and coaching offensive >> To me, playing and coaching offensive line is one of the hardest jobs because line is one of the hardest jobs because you have to get five guys on the same you have to get five guys on the same page. They have to communicate. And then page. They have to communicate. And then when you start adding tight ends to when you start adding tight ends to that, you have six and seven that, you have six and seven communications.

communications. communications. >> Cuz when you have an inline tight end, >> Cuz when you have an inline tight end, Yeah. they can go out for a pass, but Yeah. they can go out for a pass, but they're part of the blocking scheme.

they're part of the blocking scheme. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, so then they got to be false >> You know, so then they got to be false start.

start. start. >> Yeah. Um so but I think the organization >> Yeah. Um so but I think the organization skills of O line coaches cuz if you're skills of O line coaches cuz if you're unorganized, it's really hard to be unorganized, it's really hard to be successful. So I think that's an easy successful. So I think that's an easy transition from that to being a head transition from that to being a head coach. Personally, I don't know how coach. Personally, I don't know how anybody can be unorganized and be a anybody can be unorganized and be a successful head coach. That's just my successful head coach. That's just my opinion. I'm not saying it can't be opinion. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you better have some very done, but you better have some very organized OCD type assistants.

organized OCD type assistants. >> Sure. Now, that's what I was going to >> Sure. Now, that's what I was going to ask you. Are you more a CEO type ask you. Are you more a CEO type delegate stuff or you're way more delegate stuff or you're way more hands-on?

hands-on? hands-on? >> I mean, I'm still coaching O line >> I mean, I'm still coaching O line because it's really hard to find O line because it's really hard to find O line coaches. Um, you know, it just really coaches. Um, you know, it just really is. It's really hard to find them. They is. It's really hard to find them. They don't grow on trees. Um, a lot of people don't grow on trees. Um, a lot of people don't want to coach it because it don't want to coach it because it doesn't involve the ball.

doesn't involve the ball. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um, just being honest. >> Um, just being honest. A lot of people don't know a lot about A lot of people don't know a lot about it it it >> and I think it's important enough for >> and I think it's important enough for for us, you know, for me to coach it for us, you know, for me to coach it because if they're not any good, we have because if they're not any good, we have no shock.

no shock. >> So, evolution of evolution of the game >> So, evolution of evolution of the game of football, if you look at um college of football, if you look at um college football through the years, professional football through the years, professional football, like you throw the ball now.

football, like you throw the ball now. So, what is that evolution of offensive So, what is that evolution of offensive line look like through the years? For line look like through the years? For >> it's a it's definitely a skill set. Um, >> it's a it's definitely a skill set. Um, you know, and I tell our guys this all you know, and I tell our guys this all the time, you know, you can't be big, the time, you know, you can't be big, fat, and slow anymore. He might have got fat, and slow anymore. He might have got away with that back in the 70s and 80s away with that back in the 70s and 80s on defense to lay on somebody.

on defense to lay on somebody. >> Defenses just played straight 43, you >> Defenses just played straight 43, you know, not to get too simp, you know, X's know, not to get too simp, you know, X's and O's, but they weren't asking guys to and O's, but they weren't asking guys to move as D lineman as much, you know, move as D lineman as much, you know, like refrigerator Perry, like great like refrigerator Perry, like great player, Hall of Fame guys.

player, Hall of Fame guys. >> Those guys probably aren't going to make >> Those guys probably aren't going to make it as long in the current game. Yeah.

it as long in the current game. Yeah. >> You know, it just is what it is. I'm not >> You know, it just is what it is. I'm not saying you don't want a big human in saying you don't want a big human in there, there, there, >> but he's probably only going to play >> but he's probably only going to play first.

first. first. >> A big human that runs. Yeah. Yeah. So, >> A big human that runs. Yeah. Yeah. So, the games change as far as speed goes. the games change as far as speed goes.

Um, what guys are able to learn, the Um, what guys are able to learn, the game's evolved with, you know, from game's evolved with, you know, from then. So, the speed of the game and what then. So, the speed of the game and what that that aspect of it is, uh, has that that aspect of it is, uh, has changed a lot. Um, you got to be able to changed a lot. Um, you got to be able to move, you know. So, like I like guys move, you know. So, like I like guys like I have two offensive linemen right like I have two offensive linemen right now that I've moved from linebacker, now that I've moved from linebacker, >> you know, >> you know, >> because of their feet, >> because of their feet, >> because of how athletic they are. They >> because of how athletic they are. They run five flats, 51s, which for us that's run five flats, 51s, which for us that's not fast enough to play linebacker for not fast enough to play linebacker for us, us, us, >> you know, with our skill set, >> you know, with our skill set, >> you know. So, okay, not being mean, but >> you know. So, okay, not being mean, but you could be a scholarship guy over you could be a scholarship guy over here. Yeah.

here. Yeah. >> You know, as a center or a guard. >> You know, as a center or a guard. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, if you get to 240, 250, 260 >> You know, if you get to 240, 250, 260 and you can move.

and you can move. >> You know, guys are going to invest money >> You know, guys are going to invest money because that's the number one thing because that's the number one thing everybody always asks me about. Do you everybody always asks me about. Do you have any alignment?

have any alignment? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Do you have any linemen? Do you have any >> Do you have any linemen? Do you have any lineman? Because there's not a lot. not lineman? Because there's not a lot. not enough of, enough of, >> you know, and it's football's hard, >> you know, and it's football's hard, right? But a lot of big guys at a young right? But a lot of big guys at a young age, they don't want to do that much age, they don't want to do that much hard.

hard. hard. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, it's got to be, you know, >> You know, it's got to be, you know, developed that. And that's just developed that. And that's just something in talking with coaches that something in talking with coaches that I've noticed in football, too.

I've noticed in football, too. >> There is a lot of there is a lack of >> There is a lot of there is a lack of bigs because it is hard. bigs because it is hard. >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, they're not out doing what we >> You know, they're not out doing what we did as kids. did as kids. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.

>> You know, they're playing video games or >> You know, they're playing video games or on their phones. Um, it's hard to be in on their phones. Um, it's hard to be in 95 degrees.

95 degrees. >> Um, especially bigger guys. >> Um, especially bigger guys. Um, so you're seeing, I think, a Um, so you're seeing, I think, a decrease in that in a lot of states.

decrease in that in a lot of states. >> So maybe just some kids roaming the the >> So maybe just some kids roaming the the hallways who not playing. hallways who not playing.

>> Yes. A lot. That happens a lot. Um, >> Yes. A lot. That happens a lot. Um, >> but you know, I feel like the game has >> but you know, I feel like the game has changed as far as that aspect goes.

changed as far as that aspect goes. You're seeing a lot of like tight end You're seeing a lot of like tight end guys go to O line that had that skilled guys go to O line that had that skilled background.

background. background. >> Yeah. pretty much a lot of division one >> Yeah. pretty much a lot of division one kids I've coached and I've been blessed kids I've coached and I've been blessed to coach a lot of division one offensive to coach a lot of division one offensive linemen in my career linemen in my career >> um started out that way. You know, they >> um started out that way. You know, they were a ski or a fullback or a tight end.

were a ski or a fullback or a tight end. Okay. Okay. Okay. >> You know, they weren't always offensive >> You know, they weren't always offensive linemen. Sure. You know, so I feel like linemen. Sure. You know, so I feel like those type of athletes that can move those type of athletes that can move >> that translates to the college game. But >> that translates to the college game. But to finish up your question about, you to finish up your question about, you know, I'm really happy the offensive know, I'm really happy the offensive line background guys uh are getting line background guys uh are getting opportunities at the college, NFL, and opportunities at the college, NFL, and high school levels now because I think a high school levels now because I think a lot of administrators, if you're serious lot of administrators, if you're serious about ball, if you're serious about about ball, if you're serious about football, they're going to take a hard football, they're going to take a hard look at the background of everything look at the background of everything that goes into what you have to do as an that goes into what you have to do as an O guy. Um, I think O guy. Um, I think >> the perception is that quarterback is a >> the perception is that quarterback is a leader and they're going to understand leader and they're going to understand the the nuances of the game, but uh the the nuances of the game, but uh that's not always true.

that's not always true. >> Uh there's tons of great quarterback >> Uh there's tons of great quarterback minds and but there's also certain minds and but there's also certain you're coming up in in uh lower level you're coming up in in uh lower level ball. If you're the best athlete, you ball. If you're the best athlete, you may play the quarterback.

may play the quarterback. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And some people who are have god-given >> And some people who are have god-given talent don't necessarily have to work as talent don't necessarily have to work as hard. they don't necessarily have to be hard. they don't necessarily have to be as on point as an offensive lineman as on point as an offensive lineman would have to be.

would have to be. >> Somebody may see the back of your number >> Somebody may see the back of your number but don't know your name but don't know your name >> uh and all that stuff. So they >> uh and all that stuff. So they there's examples of kids are just uber there's examples of kids are just uber talented so they end up being the talented so they end up being the quarterback.

quarterback. quarterback. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And so they may not be the best head >> And so they may not be the best head coach. coach. coach. >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Because God gave them something he can >> Because God gave them something he can give somebody else. give somebody else. >> For sure.

>> For sure. >> Um >> Um >> Um >> and I do think quarterback and I I say >> and I do think quarterback and I I say this publicly all the time on my Twitter this publicly all the time on my Twitter and Facebook and all my social media. I and Facebook and all my social media. I think quarterback is the hardest think quarterback is the hardest position to play in all sports. Um, in position to play in all sports. Um, in any sport and I believe that you'll any sport and I believe that you'll never convince me otherwise. That's the never convince me otherwise. That's the reason why guys are making four and $500 reason why guys are making four and $500 million.

million. million. >> Yeah. And then it's it's so uh it's a >> Yeah. And then it's it's so uh it's a you have a quarterback room like in New you have a quarterback room like in New York where you're looking at Russell York where you're looking at Russell Wilson all everybody names everybody Wilson all everybody names everybody knows Russell Wilson and Jackson Dart knows Russell Wilson and Jackson Dart and Jameus Winston and and Jameus Winston and >> somebody else. You're like >> somebody else. You're like >> how's it that deep >> how's it that deep >> and where it's at. So yeah, >> and where it's at. So yeah, >> start to look at four quarterbacks that >> start to look at four quarterbacks that >> it's a very hard position. And me >> it's a very hard position. And me personally, and I tell like Walker Woods personally, and I tell like Walker Woods got his quarterback reign school here in got his quarterback reign school here in Lexington. Um, you know, I just, and Lexington. Um, you know, I just, and I've shared this with him, too. I think I've shared this with him, too. I think a lot of kids, if they're going to be a a lot of kids, if they're going to be a good quarterback, you got to start in good quarterback, you got to start in that third, fourth, fifth grade. You got that third, fourth, fifth grade. You got to understand coverages. You understand to understand coverages. You understand how to throw the ball. In my experience, how to throw the ball. In my experience, kids that pick it up late in ninth and kids that pick it up late in ninth and tth grade tth grade >> aren't very good.

>> aren't very good. >> Quarterbacks, you mean? >> Quarterbacks, you mean? >> Quarterbacks. >> Quarterbacks. >> Quarterbacks. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.

>> It's just hard, >> It's just hard, >> you know, cuz we do in the game of >> you know, cuz we do in the game of football, you know, as a head coach, you football, you know, as a head coach, you got to give the keys to the vehicle to a got to give the keys to the vehicle to a quarterback.

quarterback. quarterback. >> Yeah. Plus, on the other side, your >> Yeah. Plus, on the other side, your defensive coaches are are tricking you. defensive coaches are are tricking you. >> Correct.

>> Correct. >> Correct. >> That's a different story. Like if you're >> That's a different story. Like if you're coming in late, there could be there's coming in late, there could be there's coaches who already know your coaches who already know your weaknesses, already know your weaknesses, already know your tendencies.

tendencies. tendencies. >> And so if you come late, it's hard. >> And so if you come late, it's hard. >> And if you don't understand like >> And if you don't understand like coverages and where the ball needs to go coverages and where the ball needs to go and you know, you can coach feet, you and you know, you can coach feet, you can coach, you know, how to throw the can coach, you know, how to throw the ball, I'm not saying that can't be ball, I'm not saying that can't be developed.

developed. developed. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> But mentally, if you don't understand >> But mentally, if you don't understand stuff by 9th, 10th grade, it's very stuff by 9th, 10th grade, it's very difficult.

difficult. difficult. >> Yeah. Very. So, you think you could walk >> Yeah. Very. So, you think you could walk uh do you have your hand in some of the uh do you have your hand in some of the youth football and the kids who youth football and the kids who >> not as much here just because, you know, >> not as much here just because, you know, they're kind of everywhere, you know, they're kind of everywhere, you know, cuz I don't know, honestly, I don't know cuz I don't know, honestly, I don't know every year who I get as a ninth grader.

every year who I get as a ninth grader. They come from They come from >> So, it's not really necessarily a feeder >> So, it's not really necessarily a feeder school. Like in East Kentucky, correct?

school. Like in East Kentucky, correct? If you look at Belelfrey, for example, If you look at Belelfrey, for example, Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> you know, all the middle schools that >> you know, all the middle schools that are coming to your high school, there's are coming to your high school, there's no secrets. You've seen those kids.

no secrets. You've seen those kids. >> You can run the same system. >> You can run the same system. >> Can run the same system and and all >> Can run the same system and and all through the top and bottom, but you through the top and bottom, but you don't know who shows up.

don't know who shows up. >> No. And with the new middle school >> No. And with the new middle school opening up, Mary Britain over by Baptist opening up, Mary Britain over by Baptist Health here in Hamburg. Um, we'll get Health here in Hamburg. Um, we'll get probably 95% of those kids. So, you probably 95% of those kids. So, you know, Coach Hollerin that got hired know, Coach Hollerin that got hired there, you know, I talked to him a lot, there, you know, I talked to him a lot, you know, about some of our system.

you know, about some of our system. Sure. Crawford, which we get a lot of Sure. Crawford, which we get a lot of Crawford kids with coach Bryant. Tai's Crawford kids with coach Bryant. Tai's obviously at UK. His dad, he's the head obviously at UK. His dad, he's the head coach. So, we do some of the defense and coach. So, we do some of the defense and offense. They do some of our stuff.

offense. They do some of our stuff. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, but then they'll have some >> You know, but then they'll have some kids that got to go to Henry Clay. So, kids that got to go to Henry Clay. So, you got to be careful on you got to be careful on >> your team. It is what it is. Coaches are >> your team. It is what it is. Coaches are going to know kind of what going to know kind of what >> Well, I mean, huddle is huddle. I mean, >> Well, I mean, huddle is huddle. I mean, correct.

correct. correct. >> There's no surprises. You've been >> There's no surprises. You've been scouted at this point, right? You kind scouted at this point, right? You kind of know. But I heard you also telling of know. But I heard you also telling somebody that you may run some uh same somebody that you may run some uh same sets but run different uh you may play sets but run different uh you may play somebody early and see them in the somebody early and see them in the playoffs. They may see think you're playoffs. They may see think you're running something you're going to run running something you're going to run something different.

something different. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. You definitely have counters, you >> Yeah. You definitely have counters, you know, off your run game. You better know, off your run game. You better have, have, have, >> you know, back alignment changes. You >> you know, back alignment changes. You better have screens off of the same better have screens off of the same action. You better have play action pass action. You better have play action pass off of it. You know, like for us who off of it. You know, like for us who we're playing week in and week out, we're playing week in and week out, we're not playing any bad defensive we're not playing any bad defensive coordinators, offensive coordinators, coordinators, offensive coordinators, and head coach.

and head coach. >> They're prepared. >> They're prepared. >> They're going to be prepared. Their kids >> They're going to be prepared. Their kids are going to know what they're doing.

are going to know what they're doing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, they're not going to have a >> You know, they're not going to have a lack of execution. Um so that puts more lack of execution. Um so that puts more pressure on us, but like I said earlier, pressure on us, but like I said earlier, I like that.

I like that. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um cuz you know, you're in a battle >> Um cuz you know, you're in a battle every week. every week. >> Yep. And you're going to know, it's not >> Yep. And you're going to know, it's not going to be any surprise when November going to be any surprise when November rolls around. No.

rolls around. No. >> Who you are. No. >> Who you are. No. >> As a team and what your weaknesses are. >> As a team and what your weaknesses are. Your opponent's going to know your Your opponent's going to know your weakness, but you are too. Yep.

weakness, but you are too. Yep. >> And then you got to figure out how to >> And then you got to figure out how to hide them. hide them. >> Exactly. >> Exactly.

>> Exactly. >> How to do something different. >> How to do something different. >> Got to try to do something different. >> Got to try to do something different.

>> Yeah. Would does that change for you? Do >> Yeah. Would does that change for you? Do you have a philosophy where you come in you have a philosophy where you come in and said, "We're going to we're going to and said, "We're going to we're going to make it this or you'll be kind of fluid make it this or you'll be kind of fluid when it comes to when it comes to >> I've never been a coach to like, all >> I've never been a coach to like, all right, say it goes really bad early in right, say it goes really bad early in the season." Coach, some coaches may the season." Coach, some coaches may panic, you know, and be like, "Oh, we're panic, you know, and be like, "Oh, we're scrapping the whole thing. We're scrapping the whole thing. We're rebuilding this." rebuilding this." >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I would never do that. >> I would never do that. >> Well, I meant class to class. Yeah, you >> Well, I meant class to class. Yeah, you lost a senior class of, you know, 30 lost a senior class of, you know, 30 kids kids kids >> and you get, you know, that they're >> and you get, you know, that they're coming up. Would you change your coming up. Would you change your offensive philosophy? And offensive philosophy? And >> yeah, I mean, I think you got to get set >> yeah, I mean, I think you got to get set up for and that's high school football, up for and that's high school football, right? So, like every year you're a right? So, like every year you're a little bit different. So, you know, little bit different. So, you know, whether that's in your sets that you're whether that's in your sets that you're doing, uh, what you're doing on defense, doing, uh, what you're doing on defense, for example, our defense, and people for example, our defense, and people will see it, we're not as big on the will see it, we're not as big on the Dline as we've been.

Dline as we've been. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> But we're doing a lot of twisting. We're >> But we're doing a lot of twisting. We're doing a lot of movement because they're doing a lot of movement because they're fast.

fast. fast. >> Yeah. You know, so like Coach Poe does a >> Yeah. You know, so like Coach Poe does a really good job with our defense and I really good job with our defense and I trust him. He has a plan for we have a trust him. He has a plan for we have a lack of size at these positions, but lack of size at these positions, but let's play this way to be able to make let's play this way to be able to make some negative plays.

some negative plays. >> Yeah. Do you ever show up after that >> Yeah. Do you ever show up after that period's over and you show up to period's over and you show up to practice and practice and >> some kid just comes out of nowhere and >> some kid just comes out of nowhere and wows you?

wows you? >> Yeah, that always happens. Like right >> Yeah, that always happens. Like right now, I have a couple kids that are now, I have a couple kids that are performing at a high level we didn't performing at a high level we didn't really think would. Uh, but on the flip really think would. Uh, but on the flip side of that, you have some kids that side of that, you have some kids that disappoint you. Yeah. You know, that you disappoint you. Yeah. You know, that you think are going to be players and think are going to be players and they're not quite grown up yet. They're they're not quite grown up yet. They're too goofy, not mature enough.

too goofy, not mature enough. >> Fair enough. >> Fair enough. >> You know, so I mean, you have really >> You know, so I mean, you have really both. Um, you know, like right now we both. Um, you know, like right now we have a safety that's athletic as all get have a safety that's athletic as all get out, you know. I don't want to name his out, you know. I don't want to name his name, but he's very immature.

name, but he's very immature. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> He can't handle >> He can't handle >> the stage >> the stage >> the the stage yet. He can't handle >> the the stage yet. He can't handle everything that goes into being a everything that goes into being a starting varsity safety.

starting varsity safety. >> Yeah. And you know, you have that too. >> Yeah. And you know, you have that too. And you just hope that you have health And you just hope that you have health to where maybe that kid to where maybe that kid >> gets better throughout the year to where >> gets better throughout the year to where he can perform when he's needed.

he can perform when he's needed. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Um to me, that's going to be the key for >> Um to me, that's going to be the key for us this year is, you know, I hope it us this year is, you know, I hope it goes well, but we're going to have a lot goes well, but we're going to have a lot of down moments too with the people of down moments too with the people we're playing.

we're playing. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> So, how are those guys going to respond >> So, how are those guys going to respond and get better from week 1 2 3 to 8 n and get better from week 1 2 3 to 8 n 10?

10? 10? >> Sure. you know, so regardless of the >> Sure. you know, so regardless of the scoreboard for me, you know, we're going scoreboard for me, you know, we're going to expect to win every game. That's our to expect to win every game. That's our expectation. But, you know, with the expectation. But, you know, with the people we're playing, we're going to be people we're playing, we're going to be in battles in the second half. And it in battles in the second half. And it comes into execution.

comes into execution. >> Yeah. You spoke to it already, but like >> Yeah. You spoke to it already, but like your expectations as a program can't be your expectations as a program can't be set to win the state championship every set to win the state championship every year because if it is, then you're going year because if it is, then you're going to have years that were successful in to have years that were successful in many other ways that then you feel like many other ways that then you feel like you're a disappointment. Correct.

you're a disappointment. Correct. >> So, you can't set your program standards >> So, you can't set your program standards of you want to win a state championship of you want to win a state championship every year. Of course, you want to be every year. Of course, you want to be the last team playing.

the last team playing. >> Uh but if that's your standard of what >> Uh but if that's your standard of what success was, you're going to have a lot success was, you're going to have a lot of unsuccessful years of unsuccessful years >> when they were really successful, >> when they were really successful, actually.

actually. actually. >> For sure. >> For sure. >> Uh because you can't tell how the >> Uh because you can't tell how the football bounces sometimes. You can't football bounces sometimes. You can't tell what the weather's going to do and tell what the weather's going to do and you can't tell when the when the kicker you can't tell when the when the kicker >> slips. Yeah, it's a great it's a great >> slips. Yeah, it's a great it's a great point. And you know, obviously as a point. And you know, obviously as a coach, too, you look at each team that coach, too, you look at each team that you have and kind of what is the you have and kind of what is the ceiling?

ceiling? ceiling? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, like for me, I know I always >> You know, like for me, I know I always want this ceiling. You know, we always want this ceiling. You know, we always want to try our best to get there in the want to try our best to get there in the way we practice and the way we lift way we practice and the way we lift weights and our preparation, weights and our preparation, >> but some years, you know, have injuries.

>> but some years, you know, have injuries. You know, you have somebody that maybe You know, you have somebody that maybe performance and stuff. I mean, they're performance and stuff. I mean, they're kids, right? They're teenagers.

kids, right? They're teenagers. >> So, hopefully they play well, you >> So, hopefully they play well, you prepare them to play well, but they may prepare them to play well, but they may not.

not. not. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, so that's stuff that you can't >> You know, so that's stuff that you can't really control. Yeah. really control. Yeah.

>> You know, you can, but you can't. >> You know, you can, but you can't. >> What What's your quirks? What would your >> What What's your quirks? What would your assistant coaches behind your back make assistant coaches behind your back make fun of you about?

fun of you about? Uh, I probably don't have enough I Uh, I probably don't have enough I probably don't have enough fun, you probably don't have enough fun, you know. I'm pretty know. I'm pretty >> It's the NFL but no fun league.

>> It's the NFL but no fun league. >> I'm pretty straight laced. >> I'm pretty straight laced. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Uh, and and I tell my kids that like I >> Uh, and and I tell my kids that like I probably that's not a strong point of probably that's not a strong point of mine.

mine. mine. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I want to hire guys that can cut up with >> I want to hire guys that can cut up with the kids more. the kids more. >> Sure.

>> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, I'm not saying they may need >> You know, I'm not saying they may need that. Yeah. that. Yeah. >> Correct. Yeah. So, like my thing is like >> Correct. Yeah. So, like my thing is like I want to hire guys that are my I want to hire guys that are my weaknesses.

weaknesses. weaknesses. >> Sure. And I know that I'm, you know, A, >> Sure. And I know that I'm, you know, A, B, C, D. That's how I am. You know, it's B, C, D. That's how I am. You know, it's how I approach everything in life.

how I approach everything in life. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> It doesn't mean I don't have a good >> It doesn't mean I don't have a good time. It's just, you know, I'm kind of time. It's just, you know, I'm kind of on to, okay, what do we got to do next?

on to, okay, what do we got to do next? What we got to do next? Like, when we're What we got to do next? Like, when we're out there for that hour and 45 minute out there for that hour and 45 minute practice, there's not a lot of cutting practice, there's not a lot of cutting up with me.

up with me. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, and I'm not saying we don't >> You know, and I'm not saying we don't have a good time, but, have a good time, but, >> you know, I'm we have a job to do. Yeah.

>> you know, I'm we have a job to do. Yeah. >> You know, that's just how I was as a >> You know, that's just how I was as a player, too. Um, I was never a guy that player, too. Um, I was never a guy that would be over talking about 10 minutes would be over talking about 10 minutes of a different topic. I was always, you of a different topic. I was always, you know, very straight laced on how I know, very straight laced on how I prepped each game.

prepped each game. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I kind of do that as a coach, but I >> And I kind of do that as a coach, but I think a lot of kids, if they don't get think a lot of kids, if they don't get it in high school, I hear from a lot of it in high school, I hear from a lot of kids that say, "Man, you're I kids that say, "Man, you're I >> get tough on me, but I understand why >> get tough on me, but I understand why now." Yeah.

now." Yeah. >> Yeah. I get it. You know, and that's >> Yeah. I get it. You know, and that's that's more worth it to me than that's more worth it to me than anything. So, anything. So, >> plus the kids probably know this anyway.

>> plus the kids probably know this anyway. you'd take a bullet for them anyway. you'd take a bullet for them anyway. Sure. Sure. Sure. >> So, if they understand that first, I >> So, if they understand that first, I think that's the key of think that's the key of >> if building a program and not just a >> if building a program and not just a team is team is >> if you have permission to go hard on >> if you have permission to go hard on someone because they have your respect someone because they have your respect and that's a different story than just and that's a different story than just beat me down, beat me down for no beat me down, beat me down for no reason. Like if if they have the respect reason. Like if if they have the respect and they know that you have their best and they know that you have their best interest in mind interest in mind >> and not just your best interest in mind, >> and not just your best interest in mind, but they have their best interest in but they have their best interest in mind. I think they allow that to to be mind. I think they allow that to to be whatever you set it like.

whatever you set it like. >> Yeah. And like I'm really hard on >> Yeah. And like I'm really hard on offensive lineman because I played it offensive lineman because I played it for a long time. Yeah.

for a long time. Yeah. >> So like I told them today like today in >> So like I told them today like today in practice like you know we're doing a practice like you know we're doing a drill and I want them to be able to tell drill and I want them to be able to tell me why they weren't successful on that me why they weren't successful on that play.

play. play. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Like tell me before I even have to. I'm >> Like tell me before I even have to. I'm trying to give them p you know knowledge trying to give them p you know knowledge is power.

is power. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know and it is. >> You know and it is. >> So I want them to understand how >> So I want them to understand how important that is.

important that is. >> Yeah. And but also you have to >> Yeah. And but also you have to understand that we're at a position as understand that we're at a position as an offensive lineman where we're the an offensive lineman where we're the only position where our back is to the only position where our back is to the ball every time.

ball every time. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> People don't think about that whether >> People don't think about that whether it's a run or a pass, we don't know it's a run or a pass, we don't know where the ball is where the ball is >> exactly.

>> exactly. >> exactly. >> So you have to trust, you know, and that >> So you have to trust, you know, and that takes time. takes time. >> Sure. >> Sure.

>> Sure. >> You know, so if I'm a 10th grader or I'm >> You know, so if I'm a 10th grader or I'm an 11th grader or if I haven't been in an 11th grader or if I haven't been in that spot, like you got to be able to that spot, like you got to be able to understand when I'm putting you through understand when I'm putting you through these drills, these drills, >> knowledge is power. Yeah. You know, same >> knowledge is power. Yeah. You know, same thing with quarterbacks or DBs or they thing with quarterbacks or DBs or they need to understand why I'm moving this need to understand why I'm moving this way or why. That's the hard part for us, way or why. That's the hard part for us, you know, at Douglas is, you know, we you know, at Douglas is, you know, we have a lot of kids that are athletes, have a lot of kids that are athletes, but they don't understand that.

but they don't understand that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, we have to go back and it wears you >> So, we have to go back and it wears you out. out.

out. >> But that's why we've been successful. >> But that's why we've been successful. >> Yeah. For sure. >> Yeah. For sure. >> Because they need to understand the >> Because they need to understand the knowledge behind why we're doing this.

knowledge behind why we're doing this. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I'm not just talking about lifting >> And I'm not just talking about lifting weights. I'm talking about scheme. I'm weights. I'm talking about scheme. I'm talking about, you know, because again, talking about, you know, because again, we're getting all kinds of different we're getting all kinds of different incoming freshmen from all from all incoming freshmen from all from all levels.

levels. levels. >> And some of them are coming from good >> And some of them are coming from good middle school programs, some of them middle school programs, some of them aren't. Yeah.

aren't. Yeah. >> Just to be blunt. >> Just to be blunt. >> So, like some of them don't know how to >> So, like some of them don't know how to get in a stance. Some of them don't know get in a stance. Some of them don't know what the gaps are. They don't know what what the gaps are. They don't know what coverage is or, coverage is or, >> you know, not every program's deal with >> you know, not every program's deal with that. I'm not saying that, you know, that. I'm not saying that, you know, boohoo us, boohoo us, >> you know, but >> you know, but >> no one's going to feel sorry for you.

>> no one's going to feel sorry for you. >> No. and they'll be very happy if we >> No. and they'll be very happy if we don't win any balls. don't win any balls. >> Exactly.

>> Exactly. >> Exactly. >> So, it is what it is. >> So, it is what it is. >> It's gonna be fun. So, give me your uh >> It's gonna be fun. So, give me your uh give me your Twitter feed so people can give me your Twitter feed so people can listen and follow out. What what listen and follow out. What what >> it's coach Nate McPeek. Um you know, I'm >> it's coach Nate McPeek. Um you know, I'm blessed to have a lot of connections. Um blessed to have a lot of connections. Um you know, on social media, um you know, you know, on social media, um you know, I talk a lot on there. I post a lot. You I talk a lot on there. I post a lot. You know, obviously with this new Senate know, obviously with this new Senate bill, it's a little harder.

bill, it's a little harder. >> Let's talk about that just just briefly. >> Let's talk about that just just briefly. I said we would talk about that online.

I said we would talk about that online. >> It's I'll just say it's insane. >> It's I'll just say it's insane. >> Yep. Now, I understand you need >> Yep. Now, I understand you need safeguards for bad actors. I don't get safeguards for bad actors. I don't get me wrong when I say that there's not me wrong when I say that there's not dumb people doing dumb stuff and you dumb people doing dumb stuff and you need to protect our kids.

need to protect our kids. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> But the that's like saying an ant walks >> But the that's like saying an ant walks in here and I'm just going to get a in here and I'm just going to get a pistol and shoot the ant. I probably pistol and shoot the ant. I probably should just step on the thing first. And should just step on the thing first. And so we got a we got a bill that was a so we got a we got a bill that was a shotgun.

shotgun. shotgun. >> Mhm. And the idea that a college coach >> Mhm. And the idea that a college coach who follows you because they've been who follows you because they've been recruiting your program for so long y recruiting your program for so long y >> can't see you posting something about a >> can't see you posting something about a player who got an offer from somewhere player who got an offer from somewhere else. Let's just let's just say else. Let's just let's just say >> you got an old kid who got an old miss >> you got an old kid who got an old miss offer.

offer. offer. >> And when you retweet that or reexit or >> And when you retweet that or reexit or whatever it's called now, whatever it's called now, >> yeah, >> yeah, >> yeah, >> the Mississippi State coach is going to >> the Mississippi State coach is going to see that.

see that. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> The Kentucky coach is going to see that. >> The Kentucky coach is going to see that. And everyone knows that's how the how And everyone knows that's how the how the thing starts to roll down like wait the thing starts to roll down like wait a second I know their crew and if they a second I know their crew and if they offered what am I missing offered what am I missing >> and so those relationships you build >> and so those relationships you build it's really insanely important in it's really insanely important in college recruiting which is already college recruiting which is already difficult we already said this is the difficult we already said this is the most difficult time most difficult time >> y >> y >> y >> to be a high school kid and try to get a >> to be a high school kid and try to get a big time offer big time offer >> you can't cut people's legs out under >> you can't cut people's legs out under them like that and be off the social them like that and be off the social media media media >> personally I don't understand that rule >> personally I don't understand that rule because it's to me that's very traceable because it's to me that's very traceable like it's not private like it's not private >> that's right like if you're the bad >> that's right like if you're the bad actor, then let's just find out who that actor, then let's just find out who that is.

is. is. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Cuz you posted it, you sent it. It's not >> Cuz you posted it, you sent it. It's not going away. Even Snapchat snap, you can going away. Even Snapchat snap, you can find out what it is.

find out what it is. >> Um Yeah. So, it makes no sense to me. >> Um Yeah. So, it makes no sense to me. The problem is I think now uh it The problem is I think now uh it requires that the the legislators come requires that the the legislators come back to do something about it.

back to do something about it. >> That won't happen. It's not going to >> That won't happen. It's not going to happen this year. happen this year. >> I do think I do think they'll make some >> I do think I do think they'll make some changes. Um there needs to be.

changes. Um there needs to be. >> But we got January now, which is the >> But we got January now, which is the football season's over. Yep. We're going football season's over. Yep. We're going to have to deal with it. Um, you know, to have to deal with it. Um, you know, waiverss and paperwork and keeping up waiverss and paperwork and keeping up with all that. It's just throwing more with all that. It's just throwing more on the football coaches. Um, it is what on the football coaches. Um, it is what it is. Um, it's never ending.

it is. Um, it's never ending. >> But it came like it didn't come out of >> But it came like it didn't come out of nowhere, but it was a shock. nowhere, but it was a shock.

>> Yeah. I honestly I didn't know anything >> Yeah. I honestly I didn't know anything about it myself. Maybe I should have, about it myself. Maybe I should have, but you know, I but you know, I >> No, I don't think I don't think many >> No, I don't think I don't think many people knew.

people knew. >> I don't think any superintendent in the >> I don't think any superintendent in the state questioned the bill. Yeah. state questioned the bill. Yeah.

>> You know, so I don't know if it wasn't >> You know, so I don't know if it wasn't read properly, if they did it. I don't read properly, if they did it. I don't know. I can't answer that.

know. I can't answer that. >> Sure. I don't know the perspective >> Sure. I don't know the perspective either. either. either. >> But I know I know if I was a >> But I know I know if I was a superintendent, I would have questioned superintendent, I would have questioned it.

it. it. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> You know, if I knew about it. >> You know, if I knew about it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Because it's not well written.

>> Because it's not well written. >> So, >> So, >> So, >> I talked to uh talk about um that like >> I talked to uh talk about um that like funding and investment, how important it funding and investment, how important it is to invest in athletics and in high is to invest in athletics and in high school.

school. school. >> I'm pretty outspoken about it with >> I'm pretty outspoken about it with facilities and everything. And at facilities and everything. And at Douglas, we have a beautiful weight room Douglas, we have a beautiful weight room that we get a lot of work in. Um you that we get a lot of work in. Um you know, we have some nice facilities.

know, we have some nice facilities. Obviously, you know, we're in year 9. Obviously, you know, we're in year 9. Um, but I do think, you know, that's Um, but I do think, you know, that's something that something that doesn't happen as much in Kentucky as it doesn't happen as much in Kentucky as it needs to.

needs to. >> There's a $56 million facility in >> There's a $56 million facility in Georgia somewhere. I just saw Georgia somewhere. I just saw >> 62 >> 62 >> 62 >> $62 million.

>> $62 million. >> They got that through a levy. So, that >> They got that through a levy. So, that was all tax based. was all tax based. >> Fair enough.

>> Fair enough. >> Um, so, but my point is is like >> Um, so, but my point is is like everybody in Georgia has an indoor. everybody in Georgia has an indoor. >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, even the bad programs Yeah. >> You know, even the bad programs Yeah. >> You know, that aren't very good. They >> You know, that aren't very good. They have nice facilities. Do you think it's have nice facilities. Do you think it's because of the heat or what is that because of the heat or what is that about?

about? about? >> I would say that they play that card >> I would say that they play that card about it, but it's also important. about it, but it's also important.

>> It's important to them. Yeah. >> It's important to them. Yeah. >> You know, for me it's an, you know, >> You know, for me it's an, you know, talking for 22 years experience in talking for 22 years experience in education. I've taught for a lot of education. I've taught for a lot of years. I have my administrative degree years. I have my administrative degree as well. Like it has to be a 50/50 as well. Like it has to be a 50/50 split. It can't be 100% academic, zero split. It can't be 100% academic, zero athletic. Can't be 100% athletic, zero athletic. Can't be 100% athletic, zero academic.

academic. academic. >> It meshes. >> It meshes. >> Sure. You know, just like not every >> Sure. You know, just like not every >> I still think it raises the it raises >> I still think it raises the it raises the bar. Like success in athletics the bar. Like success in athletics >> affects everything.

>> affects everything. >> It does >> It does >> from the band to the chorus to name >> from the band to the chorus to name whatever program you want to name.

whatever program you want to name. >> Being successful in athletics makes a >> Being successful in athletics makes a difference. difference. difference.

>> It attracts >> It attracts the positives versus the negatives. the positives versus the negatives. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um you know, and we're going to do our >> Um you know, and we're going to do our school work. I'm gonna stay on our kids school work. I'm gonna stay on our kids about it. But we also have kids on our about it. But we also have kids on our team. If they didn't have football, they team. If they didn't have football, they didn't have us holding them accountable, didn't have us holding them accountable, I don't know if they' graduated.

I don't know if they' graduated. >> They'd be in trouble. >> They'd be in trouble. >> They just don't know. >> They just don't know. >> And we have quite a few kids like that.

>> And we have quite a few kids like that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> You know, they're good in school and >> You know, they're good in school and they do what they're supposed to do they do what they're supposed to do because they know that I'm there.

because they know that I'm there. >> Yeah. They have to take care of your >> Yeah. They have to take care of your business if you want to play on our business if you want to play on our team.

team. team. >> Correct. And then if you want to go to >> Correct. And then if you want to go to college, if that's a goal that you have, college, if that's a goal that you have, you can't have a 2.0 GPA.

you can't have a 2.0 GPA. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, you can't. It just closes >> You know, you can't. It just closes opportunities. opportunities.

opportunities. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, and not every kid is >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, and not every kid is going to be 4.0. Not every kid is going going to be 4.0. Not every kid is going to have a high ACT score. We understand to have a high ACT score. We understand that.

that. that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, and that's why, you know, you >> You know, and that's why, you know, you got to stay on them about it. But I do got to stay on them about it. But I do think there needs to be more investment think there needs to be more investment at especially at the public school level at especially at the public school level as well. I know you help at LCA and do as well. I know you help at LCA and do you're involved with that with your you're involved with that with your family and you know, private school to family and you know, private school to me, you know, it's just it's way me, you know, it's just it's way different.

different. different. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, and you know, private schools >> You know, and you know, private schools have their issues, public schools have have their issues, public schools have their issues. It is what it is. But I do their issues. It is what it is. But I do think to compare both of them to the think to compare both of them to the same is not it's not the same. You know, same is not it's not the same. You know, >> I would think through a cycle and maybe >> I would think through a cycle and maybe maybe it has been done. I think there maybe it has been done. I think there would be a cycle at some point. And would be a cycle at some point. And there's no studies that say this, but if there's no studies that say this, but if you're a college athlete, you're a college athlete, >> you're probably better at life.

>> you're probably better at life. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> In general, like I don't think there's >> In general, like I don't think there's any study that's ever proven that. And any study that's ever proven that. And it doesn't mean you have to be a college it doesn't mean you have to be a college athlete to be good at life.

athlete to be good at life. >> For sure. >> For sure. >> You can go cure cancer. >> You can go cure cancer. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And be great at life. Mhm.

>> And be great at life. Mhm. >> But if you're a college athlete, the >> But if you're a college athlete, the amount of effort that it takes and amount of effort that it takes and discipline it takes and that's why these discipline it takes and that's why these companies want to hire college athletes.

companies want to hire college athletes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> When you're finished playing, if you're >> When you're finished playing, if you're not going to be a professional, not going to be a professional, >> companies are going to fight for you >> companies are going to fight for you because of the discipline that you had because of the discipline that you had to go through dur to to be successful.

to go through dur to to be successful. >> So, if that's the case, then why don't >> So, if that's the case, then why don't we have more people we have more people >> and why don't we push more people >> and why don't we push more people towards college athletics? If what we're towards college athletics? If what we're trying to do is just say we want the trying to do is just say we want the kids to be successful, kids to be successful, >> well, we have a mechanism. Yep.

>> well, we have a mechanism. Yep. >> Turn them into a college athlete. >> Turn them into a college athlete. >> And not only that, like our military >> And not only that, like our military leaders are former athletes.

leaders are former athletes. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, what I was getting >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, what I was getting ready to say, I forgot I was saying is ready to say, I forgot I was saying is you would think at some point somebody you would think at some point somebody comes through the state of Kentucky who comes through the state of Kentucky who was a college athlete.

was a college athlete. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And someone had paved the road for them >> And someone had paved the road for them and they just say, you know what, we're and they just say, you know what, we're flipping this whole thing on its head.

flipping this whole thing on its head. There's going to be Fundy. There's going There's going to be Fundy. There's going to be Or somebody comes to Lexington and to be Or somebody comes to Lexington and they're a former college athlete and they're a former college athlete and they're going to be like, they're going to be like, >> "This is not going to be popular. I >> "This is not going to be popular. I don't care. this is what we're doing for don't care. this is what we're doing for athletics.

athletics. athletics. >> You would think >> You would think >> we haven't had it yet. >> we haven't had it yet. >> I know. I agree. Um, >> I know. I agree. Um, >> you know, we start, you know, and I know >> you know, we start, you know, and I know funding is always an issue with public funding is always an issue with public school. Um, but you know, when you school. Um, but you know, when you start, you know, with a zero balanced start, you know, with a zero balanced budget every year, you know, and you got budget every year, you know, and you got to raise x amount of dollars, football's to raise x amount of dollars, football's expensive, right? It makes a lot of expensive, right? It makes a lot of money, but it spends a lot of money.

money, but it spends a lot of money. >> It's very difficult, you know, like last >> It's very difficult, you know, like last year in 14 games, uh, we spent $142,000.

year in 14 games, uh, we spent $142,000. >> Yeah. you know, when you're talking >> Yeah. you know, when you're talking about feeding kids, taking buses, all about feeding kids, taking buses, all the all the things that go in equipment, the all the things that go in equipment, you know, all that goes into it. I'm not you know, all that goes into it. I'm not saying anything that you don't know, but saying anything that you don't know, but >> you know, it's expensive. So, it >> you know, it's expensive. So, it requires a lot. There needs to be some requires a lot. There needs to be some front-end investment in that in my front-end investment in that in my opinion to be good. Um, opinion to be good. Um, >> you know, so definitely that's something >> you know, so definitely that's something that's got to that's got to >> I don't think we all have to have $62 >> I don't think we all have to have $62 million facilities. We'd like them million facilities. We'd like them >> for sure.

>> for sure. >> We can get them. That's for sure. >> We can get them. That's for sure. >> No doubt. But even if you look back and >> No doubt. But even if you look back and we I was talking to somebody else about we I was talking to somebody else about this. If we look back to 1995, Tim Couch this. If we look back to 1995, Tim Couch coming out of Leslie County, there were coming out of Leslie County, there were not 50 highlevel football players in the 50 highlevel football players in the state of Kentucky state of Kentucky >> who could be recruited at the level they >> who could be recruited at the level they are now. And that's changed over time are now. And that's changed over time >> for sure. Like currently, right now, you >> for sure. Like currently, right now, you can get some really high level quality can get some really high level quality football players in the state of football players in the state of Kentucky Kentucky Kentucky >> and you're it's not one kid from Leslie >> and you're it's not one kid from Leslie County anymore County anymore >> or one kid's from Highlands now or like >> or one kid's from Highlands now or like it like it used to be. And I I think it like it used to be. And I I think that that that >> that momentum needs to you push forward, >> that momentum needs to you push forward, not not hit the brakes. Like you need to not not hit the brakes. Like you need to double down on that and say, "Let's keep double down on that and say, "Let's keep raising the bar, raising the bar, raising the bar, raising the bar, raising the bar." And then what happens raising the bar." And then what happens is you start getting recruited more is you start getting recruited more >> and then the bar gets raised again. You >> and then the bar gets raised again. You start getting recruited and the bar start getting recruited and the bar raises again. But um inside Lexington's raises again. But um inside Lexington's really insane. The the numbers of kids really insane. The the numbers of kids who go to play college football inside who go to play college football inside of Faget County is really insane of Faget County is really insane >> compared to what it was before.

>> compared to what it was before. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> But it's really high right now. >> But it's really high right now. >> And so I think we just got to hammer >> And so I think we just got to hammer down.

down. down. >> I agree. Um you know Louisville >> I agree. Um you know Louisville obviously is bigger than Lexington. They obviously is bigger than Lexington. They get a lot too. But when you look at, you get a lot too. But when you look at, you know, those two avenues, I agree with know, those two avenues, I agree with you. Uh, we got to continue to grow the you. Uh, we got to continue to grow the game. I think we got to make it here in game. I think we got to make it here in Lexington. You got to make it, and I Lexington. You got to make it, and I know LCA's got a good youth program. You know LCA's got a good youth program. You know, Doug runs it and has her in it.

know, Doug runs it and has her in it. Now, Oakley's obviously the head coach, Now, Oakley's obviously the head coach, but they got a really good youth league.

but they got a really good youth league. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, cuz we've had players on our >> You know, cuz we've had players on our team that are freshman that played in team that are freshman that played in that league as youngsters.

that league as youngsters. >> So, I know it's ran well. I think we got >> So, I know it's ran well. I think we got to invest more on that end to invest more on that end >> in this city. But it would be helpful if >> in this city. But it would be helpful if you knew exactly where your kids were you knew exactly where your kids were coming from.

coming from. >> For sure. >> For sure. >> There was some mechanism that you can be >> There was some mechanism that you can be involved in like that. My buddy is a involved in like that. My buddy is a college roommate is the baseball coach college roommate is the baseball coach at Boyd County.

at Boyd County. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And he knows down to little league >> And he knows down to little league >> who he has coming up in, you know, in >> who he has coming up in, you know, in the deal and he has his hands or at the deal and he has his hands or at least his mind in all of that, least his mind in all of that, >> right?

>> right? >> right? >> Uh so you come up and you kind of know >> Uh so you come up and you kind of know this is the standard that we're setting. this is the standard that we're setting.

It's really hard and all the public head It's really hard and all the public head coaches I talked to in Lexon is like I coaches I talked to in Lexon is like I don't know who I'm going to get.

don't know who I'm going to get. >> I don't know who's going to show up >> I don't know who's going to show up freshman. It'd be so nice freshman. It'd be so nice >> if you had a mechanism where this feeds >> if you had a mechanism where this feeds here and this feeds there. And that's here and this feeds there. And that's how it is in East Kentucky.

how it is in East Kentucky. >> If you play at Pikeville High School, >> If you play at Pikeville High School, >> you play at Pikeville Middle School. >> you play at Pikeville Middle School.

Like that's just how it works, Like that's just how it works, >> right? >> right? >> right? >> Unless you get recruited. >> Unless you get recruited. Sits in your Sits in your >> You didn't back when you didn't hear me >> You didn't back when you didn't hear me say that. um you uh go through that say that. um you uh go through that whole process so you kind of know what whole process so you kind of know what it is and it's really hard for you guys.

it is and it's really hard for you guys. >> It is um you know like I said we're >> It is um you know like I said we're getting incoming freshman that you know getting incoming freshman that you know are pretty good. We're getting incoming are pretty good. We're getting incoming freshman that can't get in the stands.

freshman that can't get in the stands. >> Now I will say u you know I I follow you >> Now I will say u you know I I follow you very closely from afar. Um but if you're very closely from afar. Um but if you're starting to steal kids from LCA, we got starting to steal kids from LCA, we got to do something. No, I'm kidding. We got to do something. No, I'm kidding. We got to keep at LCA. They can't be coming to to keep at LCA. They can't be coming to your program. Um, your program. Um, great grateful that you came out. Really great grateful that you came out. Really happy to talk about. What do you want to happy to talk about. What do you want to highlight? What would you tell everybody highlight? What would you tell everybody who's listening about uh what to expect who's listening about uh what to expect on the field at Douglas this year? What on the field at Douglas this year? What do you what would you say to people who do you what would you say to people who are listening and say, "This is what are listening and say, "This is what we're going to try to do. This is what we're going to try to do. This is what you'll see if you come and see watch us you'll see if you come and see watch us play." play." play." >> Yeah, hopefully we have a good product.

>> Yeah, hopefully we have a good product. We play really hard. Um, I do think, you We play really hard. Um, I do think, you know, we're going to be in a lot of, you know, we're going to be in a lot of, you know, close games, second half games know, close games, second half games with the people we're playing.

with the people we're playing. Hopefully, we got an opportunity in the Hopefully, we got an opportunity in the fourth quarter, fourth quarter, >> but it's going to it's going to be a >> but it's going to it's going to be a challenge early because we're going to challenge early because we're going to have a lot of guys that haven't been in have a lot of guys that haven't been in those situations.

those situations. >> So, I'm trying to simulate that in >> So, I'm trying to simulate that in practice, but you can't. Um, you just practice, but you can't. Um, you just can't do it. Um, so I think, you know, can't do it. Um, so I think, you know, hopefully we can do some good things hopefully we can do some good things early in the year and build on it cuz, early in the year and build on it cuz, >> you know, it really matters for those >> you know, it really matters for those three district games and then obviously three district games and then obviously kind of the playoffs.

kind of the playoffs. >> Um, I do think we're playing pretty much >> Um, I do think we're playing pretty much anybody that could win our anybody that could win our classification in the regular season classification in the regular season >> 100%.

>> 100%. >> 100%. >> Or we're scrimmaging them. St. X is >> Or we're scrimmaging them. St. X is going to have a good team, too. going to have a good team, too.

>> Yeah. Um, so hopefully, you know, we >> Yeah. Um, so hopefully, you know, we come out, we battle, we play hard, you come out, we battle, we play hard, you know, we represent our school the right know, we represent our school the right way. Um, you know, and we're going to way. Um, you know, and we're going to try our best to do it that way. Uh, we try our best to do it that way. Uh, we have high expectations every year. So, have high expectations every year. So, uh, but I I can't sit here and say that, uh, but I I can't sit here and say that, you know, with the experience we have you know, with the experience we have coming back that I feel great early in coming back that I feel great early in the year, per se. Um, but I do think the year, per se. Um, but I do think that we can be in every game and then it that we can be in every game and then it turns into you know those moments of turns into you know those moments of experiences and you know what you can do experiences and you know what you can do and obviously health's a factor too cuz and obviously health's a factor too cuz we're not as deep as we've been we're not as deep as we've been >> uh in years past.

>> uh in years past. >> So like you know that's something that >> So like you know that's something that you can't really control that happens in you can't really control that happens in football. It's the nature of the game.

football. It's the nature of the game. >> So >> So >> So >> you know hopefully you get some good >> you know hopefully you get some good luck on that aspect and you know you luck on that aspect and you know you don't have to play kids before they're don't have to play kids before they're not ready because that's tough not ready because that's tough >> for sure. Um, you know, but at the end >> for sure. Um, you know, but at the end of the day, for me, it's about building of the day, for me, it's about building um, you know, and going through those um, you know, and going through those experiences and trying to make a run experiences and trying to make a run later in the year. Whether, you know, later in the year. Whether, you know, you win five, six, seven or you win you win five, six, seven or you win three or four. Yeah.

three or four. Yeah. >> Doesn't really matter. You know, >> Doesn't really matter. You know, >> it sure doesn't matter at the end. >> it sure doesn't matter at the end.

That's right. That's right. >> Um, >> Um, >> Um, >> you know, there's been plenty of teams >> you know, there's been plenty of teams that have made the finals going five and that have made the finals going five and five, four and six, you know, when five, four and six, you know, when they're playing dogs. And I mean that they're playing dogs. And I mean that we're playing dogs.

we're playing dogs. >> You, your schedule's unbelievable. Like >> You, your schedule's unbelievable. Like I look through it preparing for us to I look through it preparing for us to sit down and talk and I'm like, "Is this sit down and talk and I'm like, "Is this a joke?" a joke?" >> Mhm.

>> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> It's not a joke. >> It's not a joke. >> Funny story. I've had some coaches when >> Funny story. I've had some coaches when I had my neck surgery and they saw my I had my neck surgery and they saw my schedule and they said asked me if I was schedule and they said asked me if I was still on my pain medication when I made still on my pain medication when I made it.

it. it. >> No. No. I said I wasn't. So, >> No. No. I said I wasn't. So, >> what is that conversation? So, for >> what is that conversation? So, for people who don't know, if you want to people who don't know, if you want to play uh you know, Saint X and and mail play uh you know, Saint X and and mail and and when you're building your and and when you're building your schedule, does that require a phone schedule, does that require a phone call? Like how does that feel?

call? Like how does that feel? >> Yeah. Email, phone calls, and to be >> Yeah. Email, phone calls, and to be honest with you, because of our success, honest with you, because of our success, it's hard to find games.

it's hard to find games. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um, you know, really, like you said, >> Um, you know, really, like you said, single A, double A, AAA is kind of single A, double A, AAA is kind of non-existent. I don't even reach out, non-existent. I don't even reach out, >> right? Cuz they would love to play you, >> right? Cuz they would love to play you, but it doesn't help you.

but it doesn't help you. >> No. And and a lot of them, you know, I >> No. And and a lot of them, you know, I don't hear from don't hear from >> They may not want to play you. That's >> They may not want to play you. That's right.

right. right. >> Um, and then, you know, so you're really >> Um, and then, you know, so you're really looking at the top four 18s, which we looking at the top four 18s, which we play.

play. play. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Top five 18s, which we play. Yeah, >> Top five 18s, which we play. Yeah, >> top 6A teams, >> top 6A teams, >> you know, and that's just kind of where >> you know, and that's just kind of where we're at.

we're at. >> Is it always going to be that way as far >> Is it always going to be that way as far as long as long >> I think so. I mean, I don't I don't see >> I think so. I mean, I don't I don't see it whether I Exactly. I mean, I hope it whether I Exactly. I mean, I hope that we're competitive like that year in that we're competitive like that year in and year out. Um, and year out. Um, >> you know, it would be nice, you know, >> you know, it would be nice, you know, when you have a year where you don't when you have a year where you don't have as much experience. Like, it would have as much experience. Like, it would be nice to have a couple of warm-ups.

be nice to have a couple of warm-ups. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> As far as maybe teams that don't have a >> As far as maybe teams that don't have a bunch of division one guys, but we're bunch of division one guys, but we're not in that realm right now. Sure.

not in that realm right now. Sure. >> Um, so >> Um, so >> you think that's building on your >> you think that's building on your success that you've had already is what success that you've had already is what you're saying. Like you built a you're saying. Like you built a Frankenstein, now you have to feed it.

Frankenstein, now you have to feed it. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And it's a good thing, but it's also a >> And it's a good thing, but it's also a bad thing when you have years where you bad thing when you have years where you don't have as much experience coming don't have as much experience coming back. Um, back. Um, >> I understand.

>> I understand. >> You know, so I probably overscheduled, >> You know, so I probably overscheduled, per se, but I don't have a lot of per se, but I don't have a lot of choices.

choices. choices. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You know, so either that or you don't >> You know, so either that or you don't play 10 games. play 10 games.

>> If there's one kiddo and I I want to I >> If there's one kiddo and I I want to I would wish I give you opportunity to would wish I give you opportunity to talk about all your seniors and all the talk about all your seniors and all the other stuff. we can do that in some other stuff. we can do that in some form, but if there's somebody that a form, but if there's somebody that a coach needs to get after, give me give coach needs to get after, give me give me somebody who they need to to be me somebody who they need to to be listening for. I listening for. I >> mean, we have a really good junior >> mean, we have a really good junior class, but our seniors, um, you know, class, but our seniors, um, you know, Tim Jackson's having a great great fall Tim Jackson's having a great great fall camp, you know, and and he's a big kid.

camp, you know, and and he's a big kid. Uh, his brother plays at Kentucky State, Uh, his brother plays at Kentucky State, played for us. played for us.

>> You know, Tim is starting to figure it >> You know, Tim is starting to figure it out. He's 66, he's 330. Yeah. out. He's 66, he's 330. Yeah. >> He's got good movement skills. He hasn't >> He's got good movement skills. He hasn't played much varsity to this point. As played much varsity to this point. As crazy as that is to say his size and crazy as that is to say his size and >> he just he never quite put it together >> he just he never quite put it together and right now he's put together and right now he's put together >> um and he's going to be hopefully he >> um and he's going to be hopefully he stays healthy. I think he's going to stays healthy. I think he's going to have a big year. Um very very have a big year. Um very very >> he's been we haven't been able to block >> he's been we haven't been able to block him very well in camp.

him very well in camp. >> Nice. >> Nice. >> Nice. >> So he's been he's been really good. >> So he's been he's been really good. >> Awesome. >> Awesome.

>> Awesome. >> Um so and schools are going to ask about >> Um so and schools are going to ask about him because he's got the measure big. him because he's got the measure big.

>> Yeah. Um, so I think he's gonna have a >> Yeah. Um, so I think he's gonna have a great year. great year. >> We have a really good junior class. We >> We have a really good junior class. We have seven kids right now in that class have seven kids right now in that class with offers at group of four. Okay. Or with offers at group of four. Okay. Or or um group of five or power four.

or um group of five or power four. >> Um I think we have a Mr. Football >> Um I think we have a Mr. Football candidate at running back. Uh Dari candidate at running back. Uh Dari Talbert kid's really really good. He Talbert kid's really really good. He does some things you can't coach.

does some things you can't coach. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Um >> Um >> you know, he's not talked about a lot, >> you know, he's not talked about a lot, but I think he's one of those guys. I but I think he's one of those guys. I think he's going to have one of those think he's going to have one of those years if he stays healthy. Um he's years if he stays healthy. Um he's really good. So I know he's not a really good. So I know he's not a senior, but you know that junior class senior, but you know that junior class is really good. There's some really is really good. There's some really talented players in that group.

talented players in that group. >> Awesome, man. Well, thanks for coming >> Awesome, man. Well, thanks for coming out. It was awesome. I'm glad we can out. It was awesome. I'm glad we can come out and and chat. Really looking come out and and chat. Really looking forward to your season. It's the most forward to your season. It's the most grueling process that you've ever seen.

grueling process that you've ever seen. So, I'm sure you'll put your head down So, I'm sure you'll put your head down and and I'll count for you not to have and and I'll count for you not to have any fun during that time.

any fun during that time. >> Uh but at the end of the season, you >> Uh but at the end of the season, you know, you can when things are sitting know, you can when things are sitting down, hopefully you can look back and down, hopefully you can look back and say, "We did what we were trying to do." say, "We did what we were trying to do." That's the goal. So that's the goal.

That's the goal. So that's the goal. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it.