WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:57.600 Be following is a presentation of play Fly Sports properties. So they're going to 2 00:00:57.640 --> 00:01:00.640 go for this. On fourth and fifteen, Kenneth Walker off the left shoulder, 3 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:04.400 Peyton Thwart now Connor Heyward starts in motion left, snap back to Pete. 4 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:10.680 Here's the throw to the end zone. Single come ratch he come my 5 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:17.120 goodness, touchdown by Jayden Range. Jayden Reach made some sensational plays this year. 6 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:22.920 Penn State with a gutty gutty drive bringing it within three points. So 7 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:26.760 here comes an on site kick try and falling on the ball is Jayden Reed. 8 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:30.040 Here is the greatest play in football, the Spartan's taking knee and the 9 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:34.640 Spartan to win the ball game. Snow Angels all around, the snow Angels 10 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:45.519 here to celebrate hard fought game. Well, welcome to the show. This 11 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:49.040 is Spartan. I'm your host, Jason Strayhorn along with my co host Otis 12 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:56.840 Wiley. Today today is a great day. Otis. Get the Socials right 13 00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:01.239 follow us, click on the Lincoln the bye oh anywhere, Facebook, Instagram, 14 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:07.519 YouTube, Twitter, even TikTok. Go to that link tree and you 15 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:12.319 can find us where we can get tickets in hand. I know it's hot 16 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.639 now for the basketball season. Everybody wants to be inside, stay out of 17 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:21.879 that cold weather and getting that Breslin follow us and we'll get those tickets to 18 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:24.000 you. We've got a lot of good things to cover today, man, 19 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:30.319 and we have some very special guests. One very very very special guest that 20 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:35.919 we're going to get to right now. We're talking about a Super Bowl champion 21 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:43.719 winner from Michigan State Rose Bowl champion. Benny Fowler joins, this is Sparta. 22 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.719 How you doing, Benny. I'm good, I'm good. Appreciate you 23 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:50.800 guys for having me, Man. It's always good to see you talk about 24 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:54.240 a school that we love, the school that we love so much, and 25 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:58.080 you know, it's just good to you know, be here with you guys 26 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:00.400 and sharing in this good conversation. And so I appreciate you guys for having 27 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:06.759 me on the show. Yeah, Manny, how's the feeling if people introduce 28 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:10.879 you every time with Rose Bowl champ and Super Bowl champ, Like, does 29 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:15.039 it get older? You still kind of get like little little goosebumps when they 30 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:21.120 do the intro. I do get I do get a lot of goosebumps when 31 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:24.879 I hear the intro, just because it is such a It shows the blessings 32 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:28.439 that I had in terms of the teams that I was on, the teammates 33 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:31.319 that I had, uh, the incredible moments that I was a part of 34 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:37.159 as a player. So no, I get goosebumps every time. I mean, 35 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.159 that's an incredible feat. Man. I don't know how many Spartans that 36 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:45.360 we know that that in history have both the Rose Bowl championship and a Super 37 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:53.680 Bowl championship. They can't be that many. I'm not sure one Andre Rising. 38 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:59.840 I believe these highlights right here, Baby, that boy getting it run 39 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:04.159 to get him last game as a Spartan. Man, it's you know, 40 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:09.560 it's incredible these moments right here. I mean, good quarterbacks, great defenses. 41 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:14.039 Both the teams I won championships had the best the best defenses in the 42 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:17.920 country or league that year. Yeah, and we let's let's talk about like 43 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:25.800 you caught the last touchdown pass of a Hall of Famer in Peyton Manning. 44 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:28.519 Man, Like let's talk about also, we're gonna we're gonna talk about that 45 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:32.920 dance too. But let's talk about, man, just your your relationship with 46 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:38.399 the quarterbacks you know in college, but then getting into the pros and you 47 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:44.319 played with some great quarterbacks. We'll talk about Peyton Manning himself and just the 48 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:48.240 pro he was, but also a great standout guy that we all know and 49 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:51.360 love. You know what he's doing now, But just talk about your relationship 50 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:57.079 with Peyton Manning. Man Peyton is just one of the most incredible people that 51 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:00.040 I've ever been around, one of the most incredible people teammates that you can 52 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:03.560 have. I actually just saw him last Thursday. He was speaking at a 53 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:06.959 YPO event at the Stadium and I was at that event, and it was 54 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:11.920 just good to when I'm in the same room as him that you know, 55 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.560 not only that he acknowledges me, but he also acknowledges that I caught his 56 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:19.680 last pass and that, you know, we had an incredible relationship as teammates. 57 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:23.519 And you know, Peyton's sixteen years older than I am, so it 58 00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:26.360 was incredible to play with a guy like that. And I'll never forget the 59 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:30.360 first time that I actually walked into the facility after the draft and as an 60 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:31.800 undrafted free agent. You know, we're all we all got there on the 61 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.079 same day, and he came up and he introduced himself. I was like, 62 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:36.079 Hey, my name is Peyton. You know I'm super happy to have 63 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:39.839 you here and you know, looking forward to working with you. I'm like, 64 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:43.680 this guy is introducing himself, but that's how humble he is. Like 65 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.439 obviously I knew who he was, and everybody knows who he is if you're 66 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:48.920 walking into an NFL locker room, but that just spoke to him as a 67 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:53.800 person and how he was raising the guy that in the teammate that he was, 68 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:58.279 and best quarterback of one of the best quarterbacks of all time, best 69 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:02.079 quarterback that I definitely got a chance to see, and I've seen and played 70 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:05.639 with a lot of them, so it was incredible to be around it. 71 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:09.720 You know. It was crazy, you know, because you've got a chance 72 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:12.639 to grow up and watch guys like that, and then you go out there 73 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:16.120 and you're playing with them. You just never you just get a front row 74 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:19.560 seat to it every day. Talk about that a little bit, Benny, 75 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:25.759 when you talk about Peyton Manny and his practices, those are legendary around the 76 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:29.920 league and the circles of people who've played with him. You know, how 77 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:33.639 was it on a normal daily like just a normal routine, weekly practice with 78 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:39.120 Peyton Manning running things? Yeah, it was. It was a lot different 79 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:42.920 compared to Well, I had Peyton my first couple of years in the league, 80 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:45.439 and then when he left, and then I played I played with Eli 81 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:47.439 Manning for two years and then Drew Brees, so I've gotten a chance to 82 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:50.879 see all of those quarterbacks and how they prepare. Peyton's practices are a little 83 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:57.040 bit different because of how detailed and his preparation is just like on another level, 84 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:00.639 I would say Drew is the same way Eli. Definitely his preparation was 85 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:03.120 up there. But I think, you know, Payton was such a stickler 86 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:08.839 on just like super super small details and before practice we would have a walk 87 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:11.480 through, and when I was playing with Payton, we would have a walk 88 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:15.480 through before the walkthrough, and that was what it would like to play with 89 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:20.199 him. He was always on board. He was always talking about things and 90 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:25.639 making sure people were up to speed. We had code words for cold words 91 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:31.279 just because of the TV copies. People would pick up the TV copy because 92 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:36.399 the quarterbacks had their the mics on and people would try to pick up the 93 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:41.480 cold words. So we had code words for those code words to confuse the 94 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:46.600 defense. But his preparation level and just is competitiveness in practice and then in 95 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:49.720 games was just was crazy to see and it was cool to be a part 96 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:56.199 of. I'm gonna ask what everybody probably wondered right now. I don't know 97 00:07:56.199 --> 00:08:03.879 if you're allowed to divulge this, Benny, but what the hill is Omaha 98 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:09.759 Omaha Omaha Omaha means it's we're getting ready to audible. So like, hey, 99 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:15.079 Omaha, the defense has changed, say either the safeties have rotated or 100 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.800 they've split, whatever it may be. But Omaha like, okay, we're 101 00:08:16.839 --> 00:08:22.720 audible ing. And then the other omaha omaha Omaha said hut means, Okay, 102 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:24.759 the play clock is getting ready to run down. We're about to hike 103 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:28.040 the ball. So omaha was an audible check. But then also, hey, 104 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:31.919 it's signaling to everybody else the play clock is running down and we have 105 00:08:31.960 --> 00:08:37.600 to snap the ball. Oh So it wasn't a specific play, no, 106 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:41.519 no, no, it was. It was it was like our ice cream 107 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:43.799 cadence. So we we would line up, we got omaha Omaha said hut. 108 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:48.360 The defense would actually show what they're getting ready to be in blitchers would 109 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:50.960 kind of show, and then we'd twitch the play or we'd keep the same 110 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:54.360 play or keep the same play on and then we hiked the ball and then 111 00:08:54.399 --> 00:09:00.559 the next omaha was Okay, we're getting ready to snap the ball. So 112 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:03.840 so what you're saying is we need to we need to instill that omaha right 113 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:11.200 now the current current team right now. You know, it's one of those 114 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:16.679 it's one of those unique things is that you know, it's easier said than 115 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:22.440 done. Like Peyton's knowledge of the game was so crazy that like you can 116 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:24.720 do that, and you you always wonder why, like other teams didn't do 117 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:30.159 that. Like he's really the only quarterback who would kind of go no huddle 118 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:33.120 and he we had we had a success, We had a lot of success, 119 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:35.600 and he had a tremendous amount of success as a quarterback in going no 120 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:43.200 huddle. Most qbs and in the NFL don't do no huddle unless they're in 121 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:46.120 a two minute situation. You know, Peyton was pretty much always no huddle 122 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:50.879 at least when I played with him, and we never switched sides and that 123 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:54.399 made it super unique and then we always got to see what the defense was 124 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:58.559 going to be in you know, so it was it was very beneficial for 125 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:03.600 us. Yeah, so we know we have another uh, you know, 126 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:07.879 stud receiver who played with Peyton, Manny and Blair White, you know, 127 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:13.279 before when you were drafted with there any conversation with Blair, you know, 128 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:18.559 to kind of prep you prepare you for how to handle Peyton, because I 129 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:22.759 know when Blair was playing there have been times where it's caught on screen where 130 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:26.559 on TV on the game that Peyton's Peyton's ripping Blair or a new one right, 131 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:31.759 like he's going after him. But it almost felt like he demanded excellence, 132 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:35.159 and hey, you need to know what you're supposed to be doing. 133 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:39.600 But like, was there any conversation pre context before you truly like stepped foot 134 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:43.679 into playing with Bayden. No, I've never reached out to Blair about it, 135 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:48.559 you know, I think it was a totally different situation in scenario. 136 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:54.639 You know, even just knowing Peyton now and hearing him talk about the person 137 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:58.879 and leader he was in Indianapolis is totally different than the guy that I saw 138 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:03.159 in Denver. And I never reached out to Blair about it because I got 139 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:07.879 the chance to see it like live and in person, like literally from day 140 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.840 one, the first meeting that we actually had as a team, we were 141 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:16.279 rewatching the first half in the first quarter of the Seattle Game, which is 142 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:18.720 the Super Bowl that got blown out in So I came following that year and 143 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:22.799 that's the first actual meeting we had, and I got to see him interact 144 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:24.759 with people right then and there, like Hey, what's the protection here? 145 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:28.039 And nobody answered him and he's like, hey, what is the protection here? 146 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:31.759 And I the only idiot who messed this up? And I was like, 147 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:35.799 Oh, is this the league? This is the NFL now? And 148 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:41.200 I was like, okay, like now like we are we are, we 149 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:43.519 are up and running. So that was like the first time I actually got 150 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:48.039 a chance to see that. So I never reached out to Blair because I 151 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:52.399 was like super nervous after that. I was scared to like didn't do anything. 152 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:58.919 Yeah, go ahead, sir, No, I'll be just I'm listening. 153 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:01.759 No, go ahead, I mean, let's listen. I mean you're 154 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:07.039 you're ah your your state Michigan, Michigan born, born and raised guy, 155 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:13.639 right state of Michigan. Uh. You went to the luxury I would say, 156 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:16.679 luxurious Detroit Country Day because y'all had y'all had it all. Man, 157 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:20.840 you had it all. But obviously guys that came out of that that that 158 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:26.960 that the school you know, people forget you was also all state hooper like 159 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:31.200 people forget Man. You know, to my opinion, you could hoop better 160 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:33.759 than what you can do a receiver. But you might say something different. 161 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:39.639 But you know, talk about when you're you're recruiting process with you know, 162 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:43.320 Coach D coming and coming and recruiting you and then you making that that decision 163 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:48.120 to go to the Green and White. I'm sure you had other choices to 164 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:50.320 go to as well, but you know, talk about your process and you 165 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:54.120 know why you chose Michigan State coming out of Detroit Country Day and you know 166 00:12:54.120 --> 00:13:00.720 what you put on the board and a high school career leading into college Man, 167 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:05.799 I chose Michigan State because it aligned with who coach d. Their staff, 168 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:09.759 aligned their values, aligned with my family's value in terms of discipline the 169 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:15.679 jerseys earned Coach Manny, coach Treadwell at the time, and then it eventually 170 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:20.840 Coach Samuel later on in my career. Those are people like who pushed me 171 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:26.080 to be a better person, be a better man, and helped me understand 172 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:30.080 and navigate life. And I think, you know, as I was coming 173 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:31.519 out of Country Day, that's what my parents were looking for, and that's 174 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:37.440 what I was looking for, Where's a place that I can succeed and why 175 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:41.879 Michigan State. Mandy Chandler always asked me there says that when I when I 176 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:45.679 do come back to Michigan State, she said, I asked her that on 177 00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:50.480 my visit. I was like, why should I come here? And you 178 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:54.320 know, she gave me an incredible answer. And I think it's just who 179 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:58.320 coach d was, you know, And that's one of the most important things 180 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:03.320 is he was authentic. He wasn't hiding anything. He never promised me anything. 181 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.039 He did say, this is gonna be your class, is going to 182 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:11.120 be the class that takes us to the Rose Bowl. But he never promised 183 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:15.000 me playing time, and he never promised me. You know, you'll get 184 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:18.320 this, you'll get that. And I appreciated that, like you're gonna come 185 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:22.200 here and you're gonna have to work in order to get on this field. 186 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:24.799 And you know, it just speaks to who he was as a leader. 187 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:31.080 The staff he put together and the continuity and the staff and it was it 188 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:35.039 was off and running from there. You know. I think that's just one 189 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:39.159 of the most important things coming out of out of Detroit Country Day. You 190 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:45.200 do have your options in terms of academics. I was a three sport athlete. 191 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:50.200 I didn't have that many offers in basketball, but coaches he talked about 192 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:54.320 the opportunity to play in front of seventy five thousand people every Saturday, and 193 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:58.759 you know, I couldn't pass that up. And then I also had Chris 194 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:01.720 Rucker and Andre Bufort, who were Country Day grads already on the team. 195 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:05.320 So it was cool, cool to have people that I had, you know, 196 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:11.360 relationships with in high school, you know, speak very highly of the 197 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:13.000 program and what was going on there. So it was one of the most 198 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:18.559 incredible things that ever happened to me. And I wanted to beat the school 199 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:20.320 down the road with the way they treated me in the recruiting process, and 200 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:24.279 you know that happened in my time there. Four and one against them, 201 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:28.799 so and then two and one against Ohio State. I think, beat every 202 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:31.799 team in the Big Ten, or have a winning record against every Big Ten 203 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:41.240 team, and able to dominate h as a team my entire tenure there. 204 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:46.799 He said, He said, he said that, He said that, so 205 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:50.159 so humbly about you know, beating a team down the road an Ohio State, 206 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:54.799 because not that many few of us in Spartany in our Spartans career can 207 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:58.440 can say that, right, and so, uh, you know that's good 208 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:03.240 man. As you know, I know Chris Ruckman a little ruck ruck got 209 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:07.879 after that. But I want to know about the recruiting process. What happened 210 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:15.120 with Michigan down the road? Would they do? Uh? They? Uh? 211 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:18.639 So I went to I came to Michigan State camp and ran a forty 212 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:22.279 and Coach d said, uh, you know, he was gonna call me 213 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:25.440 tomorrow. I told him that I was visiting the school down the road and 214 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:27.919 he's gonna call me in the morning. I ran a super fast forty. 215 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:33.919 He offered Dana Dixon that day. Do work Dana Doword Dixon. He offered 216 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:37.399 Dana that day. And then he said he was gonna call me tomorrow and 217 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:40.480 he's gonna offer me a scholarship. And he offered me a scholarship when I 218 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.080 was on the way up there, and he said, hey, you know, 219 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:47.000 take your time. He definitely didn't want me to commit there, but 220 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.519 I was going on the visit there and this is the way they were just 221 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:52.440 uh kind of treat me on the visit in terms of, you know, 222 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:56.159 if you don't come here to be a mistake and you know, our alumni 223 00:16:56.240 --> 00:17:00.360 base and what we can do for you life after football, as if I 224 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:04.119 didn't have my own connections or personal network, as if I needed a handout 225 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:10.039 or something from them to like be successful. So I committed to and the 226 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.240 shoot right after that, like leaving the canvas. It's like, yeah, 227 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:19.640 so you know, it's just crazy. So arrogance and recruiting is what you're 228 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:22.720 saying A little bit sounds a lot. Yeah, it was just it was 229 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:27.319 crazy, and you know, like they were going to give me a platform 230 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:30.559 to be successful, as if my parents didn't already give me that, you 231 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:34.880 know, and as if I as if you can't build that, Uh, 232 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:38.400 regardless of where you go to school, it's more about who you are as 233 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:45.920 a person that you're actual where they say you went to school. So yeah, 234 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:48.559 it makes a lot of sense. You're talking about Detroit Country Day. 235 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:51.440 You know Jayu, who's our co host, who's not with us today. 236 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:55.960 You know he's a Buffalo Bill alumni. They were in town on Sunday. 237 00:17:55.960 --> 00:18:00.680 They have a game on Thursday today, and he said that they couldn't find 238 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:03.799 an indoor facility to practice that I said he needed to call Benny. You 239 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:07.599 could have hooked him up with Detroit Country Day. Maybe y'all got the indoor 240 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:12.000 facilities over there. He just yeah, we did. He could have They 241 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:15.720 could have stayed in town. They have to go back and forth and rack 242 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:18.799 up those airline miles. But you know, talking about there's a rumor about 243 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:26.920 you benning around campus after your your Rose Bowl season that when rings were distributed 244 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:30.960 that there was one teammate of yours that did not have a ring. Is 245 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:33.839 this true that that you gave up your ring? Uh? I believe it 246 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:41.680 was John Jacoby. Jacoby, John Jacoby, It wasn't. It wasn't it 247 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:47.759 was Uh it was out back, either his out back or yeah, it 248 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:55.039 was out back. You got a lot of rings, which ring, and 249 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:57.559 he didn't. He didn't get one, And you know, they're just one 250 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.319 of those things with those transfer rum So I wanted to give him mine, 251 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:03.599 and and he deserved that, you know, for all the hard work that 252 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:07.480 he had put in. And I was hurt that year and didn't do it 253 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:11.799 much playing or practicing, And I think John deserved it with the work that 254 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:15.559 he put in and giving an incredible look and just who he was as a 255 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:18.799 person. So he just he deserved that. So I gave him my ring 256 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:22.160 because he deserved it. I want him to feel a part of the team. 257 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:26.960 And that's who we are a Michigan State. So you know, that's 258 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:30.519 that's what a team is all about, and helping people feel a part of 259 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:34.680 the team. Yeah, that speaks a lot to your character, Benny. 260 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:38.200 I mean that, that's that's incredible. You know, that's a selfless act. 261 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:41.720 A lot of guys you know that are in the same position, I'm 262 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:45.680 sure would pass up on a situation like that, and it really speaks to 263 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:48.519 your character. I want to talk about the background of where you are right 264 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:57.039 now. I see a nice little Lombardi trophy behind you, and yes, 265 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:02.759 sir, hey look we we had Drew standing on here. He brought out 266 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:04.759 the ring. We gotta see the trophy up close. Can you just hold 267 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:08.079 the trophy? Is that possible? Oh yeah, I can grab it real 268 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:15.240 quick. I like that. I can grab it just real quick. Look 269 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:23.640 at that and then man, it's incredible. Man, that's a picture perfect 270 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:27.920 that never that age as well, doesn't it? It does? It does. 271 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:33.839 One of the best, one of the best trophies in sports. I 272 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:41.319 remember holding it on the way back from UH from San Francisco and just crying. 273 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:44.000 You know, I couldn't start crying because it's like, you know, 274 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:48.319 people, as an undrafted player, you read the articles of why you weren't 275 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:51.440 draft or things that people said about your even some of the struggles that I 276 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:55.599 had at Michigan State and catching passage and dropping balls and you know, in 277 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:59.319 some big moments and sometimes not playing at the best of my ability, and 278 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:03.480 people would have never thought that I would have got there, you know, 279 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:07.200 And to hold on to that thing and then catch Peyton's last pass and like, 280 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:11.759 you know, you don't just get that, like you have to work 281 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:15.359 for all of that, and to achieve that was incredible. Oh, there's 282 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:19.039 no question you gotta work for. So that happy dance when you caught that 283 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:22.279 pass is that? Is that? What that was? That was like a 284 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:30.119 mixture of the roll that was actually that was actually planned out so as you 285 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:33.599 could see, mostly everybody on the field has a little bit of blue in 286 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:37.359 their shoes. It has blue soots on. I have on white socks. 287 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:41.359 I'm the only person with all white socks on. I took the fine, 288 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:48.079 but I wanted to do the billy white shoes Johnson dance. That's something that 289 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:51.680 I saw on the on the Cosby Show, and I know he was a 290 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:56.359 great receiver. So I wore I wore all white. Everybody else had all 291 00:21:56.599 --> 00:22:00.759 on blue stocks, and I wore all white socks just to kind of stand 292 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:03.880 out. You know, you're playing in the Super Bowl, so I wore 293 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:08.000 all white everything. And that's why I did that. Dad Man's love. 294 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:12.119 That's the mastermind of the signs behind you. Man, I see people, 295 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:19.400 you know that one the young boys see that's what the for the old Billy 296 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:23.359 White Hughes Johnson deal right there. I respect, I respect the game, 297 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:34.359 and I respect everybody and always stood out. Shout out to my dad for 298 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:47.079 sure. It's Billy Fallas Sr. Right, Junior. I'm the third leg, 299 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:52.240 so I think so this would be my last like little thought question for 300 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:56.440 you mind man. But uh, when we I was on the sideline broadcasting 301 00:22:56.440 --> 00:23:02.680 on the radio for the Rose Ball, straight was obviously color played by play 302 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:07.319 up there in the in the in the in the booth, and uh be 303 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:12.359 on that sideline was I was in a different light because clearly I was this 304 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:18.559 close to being a Rose Bowl like playing in the Rose Bowl and then fast 305 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:23.880 forward. I remember that year where Coach d took that trip out there and 306 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.799 it was a siphist or, it was vacation, but he wanted to go 307 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:33.279 visit the Granddaddy of Lama in the stadium in Pasadenia. He and he did 308 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:37.319 that video and it was you will be the ones, right and so like 309 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:41.960 we talked about this earlier in our podcast early in the season about I guess 310 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:48.799 speaking it into fruition, into existence and like the mastermind of Coach D of 311 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:56.119 like he honestly and truly believed that you will be the ones. Playing in 312 00:23:56.160 --> 00:24:00.480 the hundredth anniversary in that Rose Bowl in that season was like miraculous, right, 313 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:04.880 Like we had some struggles and quarterback and that was Connor Cook's a little 314 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:11.000 kind of coming out year right and gun slinging it. But the amount of 315 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:15.559 joy and amount of like feelings that came about in myself when we won that 316 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:19.720 game in that fashion, that fourth to one, but also seeing you take 317 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:23.640 it to their secondary in the Stanford and just grinding it out and you see 318 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:30.400 those two highlights, so you just that beautiful catch and also running at I 319 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:33.960 thought she was gonna score on that that one where you trucking everybody, but 320 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:37.359 like beautiful hand down there, cashing in this one too, where you know 321 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:41.000 you take it past there. I thought you was gone, man, but 322 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:47.079 I was. I was running with you though, right on that fourth and 323 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:49.599 one stop, Bennie, like and we knew we were winning the game. 324 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:55.200 I remember after the game just running around trying to interview as many guys as 325 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:59.599 I could, but like kind of take us behind the scenes of like that 326 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:03.880 was thing for not only for yourself and the team, but spartan nation is 327 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:07.960 like putting football on the map and where we already knew where we belonged, 328 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:12.599 but we always are that. You were always took us against the world type 329 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:18.279 of team, but we finally sold against everybody watching eyes that where we belong 330 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:22.839 here. But talk about just you and that journey ending it, ending it 331 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:27.680 at the hundredth year anniversary winning the Rose Bowl Championship, because I know I 332 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:32.799 have my own feelings, so talk about yours and how it propelled you for 333 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:37.799 the for the league. Man. Man, it was one of the most 334 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:41.720 incredible days, perfect day in terms of weather, most perfect grass you could 335 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:47.079 ever play on. For people who were down there and walking on it, 336 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:49.640 I mean the grass was just incredible. But I think it was just say 337 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:55.279 there is no substitute for experience. You know, I was the first time, 338 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:59.319 really a first time starter. The year before, we were having some 339 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:03.920 struggles with Maxwelle, Like QB Le'Veon was incredible and Dion Sims was incredible that 340 00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:10.920 year. But we gained a lot by losing those guys to the NFL because 341 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:14.640 we had to figure out our own identity and then you have a Jeremy Langford. 342 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.920 We're trying to figure out the running back position at the beginning of the 343 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:19.400 season. Jeremy Langford comes out of that, Connor Cut comes out as a 344 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:25.519 QB. And as we hit our big ten stride after Youngstown State and a 345 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:30.440 tough close loss to Another Day in which you know, we won't talk about 346 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:36.319 those pass interference calls that were insane, you know, you you we started 347 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:40.799 to gain our rhythm at Iowa and that is really where I had a conversation 348 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:42.440 with Coach d and Coach Deal was like, man, this is this is 349 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:45.599 your last year. Seniors have to have your best year, have to have 350 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:48.240 their best year. And he's like, you need to go out there and 351 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:51.240 cut loose because I was playing super uptight. I was having these incredible training 352 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:53.599 camps and then I would come into the season and I would trade, I 353 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:56.400 would try to play perfect games, and he was like, there is no 354 00:26:56.480 --> 00:27:00.480 perfect game, Like just be yourself, Like go out there, have fun 355 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:03.039 and have joy. And you can see myself in the Iowa game for the 356 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:07.960 first time, really letting my personality out in terms of who I am all 357 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:12.279 the time, like off the field and practicing in different environments and situations. 358 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:18.079 But that our defense is the one who really gave us a lot of confidence. 359 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:21.799 We knew they were gonna close people out or hold people to a certain 360 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:23.359 amount of points, so we could go out there we were gonna have plenty 361 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:30.839 of opportunities to score. And Connor was just such an incredible you need a 362 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:33.000 quarterback like that, who was just like, you know, Connor really didn't 363 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:40.279 care, like you know, like, okay, you know, if Connor 364 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:44.960 sees cover one, he's he's checking the play and you don't have many quarterbacks. 365 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:48.160 Who are you know, you have a quarterback you know who's gonna do 366 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.920 it things by the book. But Connor's like, oh, cover one, 367 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:53.119 like I'm throwing it up, like or I'm gonna run or I'm gonna throw 368 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:56.799 this, like, you know, look at this play right here against Leinois 369 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:59.759 where he rolls out. Oh, you gotta make a play, you know, 370 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:03.000 not necessarily the right throw. But you know, we had a lot 371 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:06.720 of luck on our side. And if I'm if I'm correct, this is 372 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:10.000 the most dominant team in Big ten history in terms of winning every Big ten 373 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:11.599 game by ten or more points. I mean, we won every Big Ten 374 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:17.119 game by double digits. So I think you know, that's what that spoke 375 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:19.839 to. And you could see us all having fun and handshakes and different things, 376 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:25.200 and Coach Alaen probably telling kind of like, hey, like what was 377 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:32.319 that right? I mean it too, like think about that, Like that 378 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:36.480 was Coach d talking about we will be the ones. I think that was 379 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:38.960 incredible. We lost a lot of close games. We weren't a bad team, 380 00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:42.039 but we lost a lot of close games. The year before. You 381 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:47.480 have to go through those tough times and sometimes, you know, those beautiful 382 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:52.559 things grow in the dark. And we had a lot of tough conversations and 383 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:56.240 we had to do a lot of work personally on ourselves and then as a 384 00:28:56.319 --> 00:29:00.359 team and caught that rhythm and that propelled Tony Lippett. You know, we 385 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:03.839 went from having I don't know how many drops a year before to win the 386 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:07.160 Rose Bowl, and then Tony Lippitt wins Big tim Receiver the Year, and 387 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:10.160 then Aaron Burber's written Big Cham Receiver the Year. Those are the same people 388 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:12.599 that were being questioned in terms of including myself of like Ken, these guys 389 00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:18.359 really play and we all go to the NFL so more than you know, 390 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:22.400 right up there with those Ohio State guys. Know they were first round picks, 391 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:25.960 but we're all still in the league. And you know that speaks to 392 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:30.920 who we were as people in our team. Talk about that Notre Dame game 393 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:34.400 when you said that we won't talk about the calls to me and a lot 394 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:40.279 of people watching, I know that that team was good enough should have been 395 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:44.720 the national championship team for Michigan State when you look at the overall body of 396 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:49.319 work in twenty thirteen going into that fourteen Rose Bowl if there was a playoff, 397 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:53.480 which there was not at that time, I like the odds that you 398 00:29:53.559 --> 00:30:00.480 guys had against Florida State team led by Jameis Winston. I think it was 399 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:03.960 a freshman at that time, right, yeah, Jamis, I think won 400 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:07.519 the Heisman that year, and Jamis is one of my quarterbacks in New Orleans 401 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:11.599 when I played, and we talk about that, and with the way our 402 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:15.160 defense stacked up and then the way and the rhythm that we had on offense, 403 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.880 I think we would have won. I think we would have won the 404 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:21.960 national championship that year. But at the same time saying that like it would 405 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:25.559 have been perfect for the college football playoffs, I don't think. I don't 406 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:30.400 think if we needed the Notre Dame game to bring us together so like we 407 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:34.960 needed the loss, I won't say that we didn't need a loss, because 408 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:38.359 that that brought a lot a lot of tough conversations and who we needed to 409 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:45.319 be offensively in our offensive scheme and our identity. So we needed that loss. 410 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:48.960 I think that helped propelled us forward. But if it's a college football 411 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:53.200 playoff, I definitely think we come out as number one. Yeah, definitely 412 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:56.880 gonna be in the top four in that situation. Man, we had a 413 00:30:56.920 --> 00:31:00.240 lot of fun. People love to hear from you, Benny, and have 414 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:03.519 a lot of the knowledge and experience Michigan State all way into the NFL, 415 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:07.000 especially when the Super Bowl with Peyton Manny, you know, right now, 416 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:11.279 what we need to do is break down the Penn State game that's coming up. 417 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:15.160 You have time to help us out with that. Take a look at 418 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:18.440 this, you know. And what we're gonna do is also bring on our 419 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:27.200 resident expert for Penn State and Pete. How you doing, pet I'm doing 420 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:33.119 great. Thanks for having me on. Yeah, what last three years over 421 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:36.279 in Happy Valley? Yeah, for sure, a great experience over there. 422 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:41.200 Yeah, A little no fact that you know, what you see in our 423 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:47.119 shows and our content and our creations and creative has been led by h. 424 00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:49.559 Pete himself, man, and so you know, we want to give him 425 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:53.240 some time to you know, he's already signing behind the scenes, but this 426 00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:59.039 is his name, you with us and discussing, you know, insider look 427 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:02.799 of the Nitney Lions, and we've all had a pleasure of playing against the 428 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:07.680 against that team. And you know, people don't know about this rivalry that 429 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:12.319 you know, it is a trophy rivalry game when we call it the Land 430 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:17.000 Grant Trophy. And here's some facts man about you know, the trophy itself. 431 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:22.519 So Penn State joined the Big Ten in nineteen ninety three, so you 432 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:24.200 always probably think that Penn State has always been in the Big Ten, but 433 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:29.240 that has not been the case, and when they did join it was an 434 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:36.359 immediate rivalry. And only because there's weird there's only two land grant universities at 435 00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:42.680 the time in the Big Ten, where the oldest land great agriculture schools in 436 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:47.160 the nation, So why not make it a rivalry trophy from a university standpoint. 437 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:52.480 So on the grid iron, George perlis actually, late great George Perliss 438 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:57.799 designed this trophy so little no fact. I don't know if you knew that 439 00:32:57.839 --> 00:33:00.240 stray, but oh, I know, you know, I mean coach perlis 440 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:05.599 Man. He was a man of many, many talents. But he talk 441 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:12.039 about talk about obviously being there at Penn State, Happy Valley is one of 442 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:19.039 the best venues to play, and we're always playing when it's either blizzard freezing 443 00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:24.880 coat freezer is never such side both sides when they come to East Lansing as 444 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:30.519 well, but talk about just the full atmosphere Penn State and what that football 445 00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:36.759 environment does for opposing fans and teams coming in there. Yeah. Thanks, 446 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:38.160 So I think you hit the nail on the head with with the environment. 447 00:33:38.359 --> 00:33:40.839 You know, if it's not the best, it's one of the best in 448 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:45.720 the country, and the white Out game especially is one that is on a 449 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:47.359 lot of sports fans bucket list for a reason. It's one of the best 450 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:53.039 shows in college sports and that you know that reputation is well deserved after having 451 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:57.519 seen that for a couple of years over the past few and you know, 452 00:33:57.559 --> 00:34:00.440 I think a lot of that that fan base is due to its location in 453 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:06.279 the state. It's centered between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and it provides a big 454 00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:09.079 area for fans to be able to go get there and have a great experience. 455 00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:13.719 The Tailgates scene is incredible as well, and they know how to do 456 00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:16.000 college football, that's for sure, and it makes a tough environment for teams 457 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:21.559 to travel to it sure does you know what you know? I know you 458 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:24.719 know a lot of these players very well since you were running the marketing department 459 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:28.800 there just a year ago. And what we want to do is show some 460 00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:31.599 highlights and stuff and see get Benny's opinion on these players that we're going to 461 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:37.960 be facing in a few days when the Spartans traveled a Happy Valley College station 462 00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:43.320 in Pennsylvania, and so we're going to break down the game day summary with 463 00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:49.760 statistics brought to you by eye hop twas a wintry day and at I hop 464 00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:53.079 quite soon hot cinnamon apples would be coached with a spoon on the fluffiest French 465 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:58.000 toast with red curtains on top. We wish you a happy holiday only at 466 00:34:58.039 --> 00:35:01.039 I Hop new Ginger's nat Apple for part of our new holiday menu. Try 467 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:05.320 all three flavors. But yeah, for Penn State, let's start on the 468 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:09.000 offensive side. They've got a lot of great skill players at the quarterback position. 469 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:14.360 They start Sean Clifford, who's a sixth year senior. This is actually, 470 00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:22.239 yeah, unbelievable pre COVID. You can't say that very often anymore. 471 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:27.599 This is actually his fourth year starting. He's holding off a true freshman quarterback, 472 00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:30.920 Drew Aller, who was one of the top QB recruits coming out of 473 00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:34.119 Ohio last year. Penn State was able to get him over Ohio State. 474 00:35:34.199 --> 00:35:37.400 He'll be someone to look out for. Hopefully not in this game in terms 475 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:40.079 of what I hope that we don't have to see him, but we'll definitely 476 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:44.199 be seeing him over the next few years. But as well, at the 477 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:47.840 running back position, they are trotting out to stud freshman running backs, so 478 00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:52.960 they have Nick Singleton and k Tron Allen, which I'll show you guys a 479 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:55.760 few highlights of that. Actually, Nick Singleton last week had a kickoff return 480 00:35:55.840 --> 00:36:02.239 touchdown against Rutgers, someone that has incredible speed coming out as a as a 481 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:06.679 true freshman. I don't think you would typically expect to see this, but 482 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:10.519 he put on the burners in this one. He reminds me, you returned 483 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:13.880 some kicks, Benny, And what what do you think about this speed right 484 00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:17.559 here? I think that's incredible speed. I didn't break away and score any 485 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:22.760 you know, so No, I think, uh, you know, if 486 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:27.199 you can return kicks in college consistently, that's definitely a short way to get 487 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:30.039 into to play at the next level when fill position is going to be key 488 00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:34.280 in this game. Yeah, and you look at I mean, he's a 489 00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:37.639 true freshman with the vision playing at that level, running fearlessly right. But 490 00:36:38.199 --> 00:36:43.239 kind of reminds you that that running back that playing for the Giants right now? 491 00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:46.840 Man, what y'all think about that? That comparison? Well, I 492 00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:51.079 won't, I wouldn't. I won't. I won't go there. You won't 493 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:59.239 go there yet yet. I played with I played with like I got some 494 00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:02.639 juice he ain't strong as Satan, but I mean he's running like with that 495 00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:12.599 aggressive abandon man, give him, give him a couple of years hit the 496 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:19.239 ground running well. And it's not only just just Nick Singleton too. They've 497 00:37:19.239 --> 00:37:22.639 also got k Tron Allen, who's another freshman running back. You know, 498 00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:24.199 I wanted to show one of the highlights of him last week against Rutgers as 499 00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:28.480 well, someone that can not only has the speed and burst, but pushes 500 00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:30.719 the pile I mean getting into the end zone on this one. Pretty incredible 501 00:37:30.719 --> 00:37:37.800 power from the freshman as well. Mm. Yeah, like how they play 502 00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:42.519 in the cold in the state college man. Like. One thing, one 503 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:45.320 thing that we talked about, uh, you know, as we were preparing 504 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:52.400 for this was his state historically always has a stud tight end committee. Like 505 00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:58.239 these guys always have guys that can run routes. They kind of give you 506 00:37:58.280 --> 00:38:02.320 that that uh mismatch exposure on the slot side. Uh, they also block 507 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:07.440 man like look, I mean, and then we talked about this and Pete 508 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:09.880 brought it up like this is the same player that you saw the Spartans try 509 00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:14.599 to do against Michigan, but then check to it. Then we try to 510 00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:19.840 do it against the following the following game of playing against them, and we 511 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:23.400 missed that target with with Peyton Thorn. But like, these guys look like 512 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:28.599 they can go play defensive end linebacker as well, and they always are nasty, 513 00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:32.599 you know, Stray, I mean you played against some studs on the 514 00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:37.360 bit Penn State Penn State side as well. I mean talk about your experience 515 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:40.679 when you played against the Nidney Lions. Well, you know, I have 516 00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:45.480 two experiences with the Nindney Lions. One, they were fourth ranked, come 517 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:50.719 in the Spartan Stadium undefeated, and we had an up and down season that 518 00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:52.039 year, and that's the year that we put it all them. Man, 519 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:55.599 we hit them. I think forty nine to fourteen had two running backs over 520 00:38:55.599 --> 00:39:00.519 two hundred yards. That's still an NCAA record for an offensive line because we 521 00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:02.639 take credit for that, but it just says two running backs over two hundred 522 00:39:02.679 --> 00:39:08.079 yards, Mark Ronade, Sedar Kurban both. We just we tossed him around 523 00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:13.320 that day. And then the next year they had guys by the name of 524 00:39:13.639 --> 00:39:20.280 LeVar Arrington and Fortney. Yeah, you know they had some guys, okay 525 00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:22.360 some I think they had like three players drafted in the top five. It 526 00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:27.119 was ridiculous, a lot of talent. We go down to college station at 527 00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:32.519 our state college, excuse me, and they handed they returned the favor for 528 00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:36.599 us. Right. It wasn't good. It wasn't good. So they always 529 00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:39.400 they always have athletes, man, you know they do. But it's been 530 00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:45.199 pretty even when you look at the series right now, it's eighteen seventeen and 531 00:39:45.280 --> 00:39:50.920 one for the thirty seven years. This is the thirty seventh game from Michigan 532 00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:55.199 State Penn State, and Michigan State holds a slight edge eighteen wins, seventeen 533 00:39:55.239 --> 00:40:00.360 losses in one tie. So this is this one of those pivotal games right 534 00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:06.840 here. A year ago we had our way in East Lansing against Penn State 535 00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:10.519 in the snow. You know, Jadeen Reid had a big day, back 536 00:40:10.599 --> 00:40:15.039 shoulder throws, you know, doing what he normally does. But he's gonna 537 00:40:15.079 --> 00:40:20.880 have to have a monumental feat just like that. And then some you need 538 00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:24.159 a lot of players from Kean Comb and all the receivers a step up, 539 00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:30.199 Trey Moseley, a guy who did decide to come back for his another senior 540 00:40:30.280 --> 00:40:34.800 year. We're gonna see a lot of that do this COVID era guys coming 541 00:40:34.840 --> 00:40:37.440 back, and you know, we just need to be able to run the 542 00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:40.760 ball. As we said before, it's got to be a complimentary game. 543 00:40:40.840 --> 00:40:45.280 We cannot have what happened in Indiana happened again. I think to Benny's point, 544 00:40:45.639 --> 00:40:50.440 sometimes losing can bring you together, misiters. Stint's had some losses and 545 00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:54.559 you just had a really bad loss a week ago against Indiana. So we 546 00:40:54.639 --> 00:41:00.320 look forward to them having a more complimentary football where offense and defense come hines 547 00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:04.559 with special teams in this one, because you're gonna need all three phases to 548 00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:08.800 come out of there with a W. Yeah, I'm interested being needs breakdown 549 00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:14.360 on the receivering corp Uh. You know, I know you're watching, and 550 00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:16.880 I know you're seeing it, but like talk talk to us, man about 551 00:41:17.159 --> 00:41:21.199 what you're seeing out there on the field with those guys, and you know, 552 00:41:21.280 --> 00:41:24.360 what is it going to take for us to go to state college and 553 00:41:25.079 --> 00:41:29.760 get a dub Because clearly we want to go to bowl game, we want 554 00:41:29.800 --> 00:41:34.119 to get the postseasons. What it's about, what's really what's about you know, 555 00:41:34.199 --> 00:41:37.280 having these guys and enjoy those experiences, but talk about what do you 556 00:41:37.400 --> 00:41:42.079 think we need to do or to go to State College and win this game. 557 00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:45.639 I think we need to play complementary football. I think we need to 558 00:41:47.800 --> 00:41:51.920 I think our receivers need to be special, which they have the talent to 559 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:57.760 be. Kean Coleman, Jayden Reid, Trade Mosley incredible talent. Trade Moseley 560 00:41:57.760 --> 00:42:00.119 reminds me a lot of DJ Cuttingham in terms of, like, you know, 561 00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:06.239 he's not dropping any any passes, just super strong hands and super consistent. 562 00:42:07.079 --> 00:42:09.320 Jade Reed, you know, she gotta gotta be you know who we 563 00:42:09.440 --> 00:42:13.760 know he can be, which is the leader of this team. So taking 564 00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:19.039 taking taking some of the plays that you don't think are going to go uh 565 00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:22.840 seventy eighty yards, making those big special plays. You know, players in 566 00:42:22.880 --> 00:42:25.000 this type of game, you gotta be special. You know. I think 567 00:42:25.039 --> 00:42:30.320 about the last time that you know, I played at UH State College and 568 00:42:30.360 --> 00:42:34.119 we played Pissate. You know, b J. Cunningham had two touchdowns in 569 00:42:34.159 --> 00:42:37.480 that game. He was special. Like Kirk Cousins hit him on a it 570 00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:39.440 was a corner blitz. Kirk Cousins hit him on a check and for a 571 00:42:39.480 --> 00:42:43.800 touchdown. And then we ran double posts and kirk Cousins hit him around the 572 00:42:43.800 --> 00:42:45.800 money for a touchdown. So you know, we're gonna have to have those 573 00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:51.880 type of special plays. You have to have complimentary football. I'm gonna have 574 00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:53.360 to run the ball up. It always starts up front, you know. 575 00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:57.440 And you know that's one of the things that you guys were just talking about, 576 00:42:57.440 --> 00:42:59.679 is that. Yeah, because they always does have some players and they 577 00:42:59.800 --> 00:43:01.320 do for their tight ends. They're going for their linebackers, you know. 578 00:43:02.679 --> 00:43:06.639 So we're gonna have to make some plays and we're gonna have to be special, 579 00:43:06.760 --> 00:43:08.679 especially if we want to play in the postseason and get to a bowl 580 00:43:08.760 --> 00:43:13.280 game. Yeah, talk about those big plays like then, he had a 581 00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:16.400 bunch of those. We had a lot of plays over twenty yards in your 582 00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:20.760 career at Michigan State. I don't know, I think you had like twenty 583 00:43:20.800 --> 00:43:23.039 plus catches for over twenty yards. I mean you were a big play man. 584 00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:27.480 Yeah, you gotta make plays, and I mean, shout out to 585 00:43:27.519 --> 00:43:30.440 my quarterbacks for making that making that happen. But yeah, that's what We're 586 00:43:30.440 --> 00:43:34.480 gonna need some of that this Saturday, and that's that's gonna be important. 587 00:43:34.559 --> 00:43:37.159 But you know, they should go enjoy that if they haven't played there. 588 00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:40.079 It's one of the best stadiums in the Big ten. It's like one of 589 00:43:40.119 --> 00:43:44.000 the first times that I actually got a chance to experience. From the outside, 590 00:43:44.039 --> 00:43:45.719 it looks like a pro stadium, how big it is. You know, 591 00:43:45.800 --> 00:43:49.840 you don't you have the typical big ten stadiums, which are you know, 592 00:43:50.199 --> 00:43:52.679 more vertical, like you know, similar to ours, But that actually 593 00:43:52.719 --> 00:43:57.559 looks like a pro stadium from the outside. And then when you're in there 594 00:43:57.599 --> 00:44:00.000 on the inside. So got to go out there, got to play together. 595 00:44:00.360 --> 00:44:02.960 You don't point the finger and just take it one play at the time. 596 00:44:04.280 --> 00:44:07.039 But you know, what do you want to be known for these seniors 597 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:12.719 is don't let this be your last game. That's right there, you go, 598 00:44:13.079 --> 00:44:15.280 don't let us. I think we have a couple of highlights on the 599 00:44:15.320 --> 00:44:20.199 defense, Yeah absolutely. I mean they had a couple of big plays in 600 00:44:20.239 --> 00:44:23.559 this past game against Rutgers. The first one, uh with a Fumbel recovery 601 00:44:23.559 --> 00:44:27.440 for a touchdown, and then we'll get to see one of their defensive playmakers 602 00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:34.079 in the next one as well. Man just scoop and score touchdown there after 603 00:44:34.159 --> 00:44:38.119 the big hit man. Poor Rutgers man. They compete man that first quarter 604 00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:44.039 and then it just falls apart. But you know, look at that pressure 605 00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:47.639 man like, that's what that's what I won't say fear. But for us 606 00:44:47.639 --> 00:44:52.679 in our offensive line, you know, you see Jahiel Brown safety who is 607 00:44:52.679 --> 00:44:57.039 their their main playmaker on the defensive side. But also they got they got 608 00:44:57.039 --> 00:45:00.400 a guy who's a legacy in Joey Porter, Junie Year, you know, 609 00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:07.360 are great Pittsburgh Hall of Famer Joey Porter linebacker slash d n you know, 610 00:45:07.480 --> 00:45:10.239 you know he's probably it's in his DNA. Just seaball eatball, right, 611 00:45:10.480 --> 00:45:17.199 seaballaball. But I wanted I wanted Pete to play. Well, everybody knows 612 00:45:17.280 --> 00:45:27.559 when we go to State college and they play this sound every chance, oh 613 00:45:27.719 --> 00:45:34.199 man man always the first down, so it's the third down. If it's 614 00:45:34.199 --> 00:45:37.000 a turnover, it goes like dreing time. It's just so much. They 615 00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:42.199 love that. They love that, right, they love that. They love 616 00:45:42.239 --> 00:45:45.400 it. Contract incentives for how many times you play it as a market number, 617 00:45:45.480 --> 00:45:52.800 you know, tell us the truth, Pete, that's that's really what's 618 00:45:52.840 --> 00:45:55.039 going No. I bet I bet they average you know, fifty line wars 619 00:45:55.039 --> 00:46:00.159 that football something like that. You know what that equivalent to whim We used 620 00:46:00.159 --> 00:46:07.840 to do the Spartan three hundred. You know what is your profession. Yeah, 621 00:46:07.920 --> 00:46:14.239 yeah, I had a bad We had a bad experience at State College. 622 00:46:14.239 --> 00:46:16.840 Man. This is before the Big Ten Championship was created, where you 623 00:46:16.880 --> 00:46:21.880 go down in Indianapolis and play, and you know, we were this is 624 00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:24.519 coach D's second year, so like after your first year coming and taking over 625 00:46:24.559 --> 00:46:30.199 a program, we become BO eligible. We beat Penn State to win to 626 00:46:30.280 --> 00:46:35.480 go to the Champs Bowl. Fast forward the next year, we're in the 627 00:46:35.519 --> 00:46:38.280 same position, but actually in better position where if we do win this game, 628 00:46:38.559 --> 00:46:43.599 which was the Big Ten Championship with US and Penn State, uh that 629 00:46:43.599 --> 00:46:47.119 that winner goes to the Rose Bowl. And we've never been in that place, 630 00:46:47.280 --> 00:46:51.239 never been in that situation. And you know, I look back on 631 00:46:51.320 --> 00:46:53.960 it as like we we fumbled that, right, We fumbled that opportunity, 632 00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:59.440 but never knew how to really understand the opportunity unless you went and go and 633 00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:02.719 went through it. I remember it was the blizzard, it was snowing. 634 00:47:04.400 --> 00:47:08.800 Pregame. You had all the people with the leaf blowers blowing the lines on 635 00:47:08.840 --> 00:47:13.840 the field and see them make sure like people the rest can see and spot 636 00:47:13.920 --> 00:47:19.159 the ball. And I remember I remember the first play or even the second 637 00:47:19.199 --> 00:47:23.039 series, man, where we got gassed on obviously being on the defensive side, 638 00:47:23.280 --> 00:47:28.280 got gassed for like a streak. And I remember Johnny Adams and us 639 00:47:28.360 --> 00:47:30.840 going on the sideline with those warm benches and it was just like, br 640 00:47:31.079 --> 00:47:36.000 it is extremely cold. Like we were we were thinking about the wrong things, 641 00:47:36.320 --> 00:47:38.599 the elements right. It was like I can't feel my toes, I 642 00:47:38.639 --> 00:47:43.599 can't fill my hands, and nothing was going for us. Man, we 643 00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:47.559 weren't playing complimentary football. To Ben these point is you gotta go in there 644 00:47:47.880 --> 00:47:53.039 and play complimentary football and mistake free football in order to even have a shot 645 00:47:53.719 --> 00:48:00.199 to play in because the atmosphere in itself is a disadvantage because I them, 646 00:48:00.199 --> 00:48:04.400 they're gonna go all white out. You're gonna see all the terrible tiles going, 647 00:48:04.679 --> 00:48:07.039 You're gonna see that mascot running up and down the field. The whole 648 00:48:07.119 --> 00:48:14.840 engagement of the atmosphere really is could be really scared. You could be scared 649 00:48:14.960 --> 00:48:17.639 when you run on that field. And so I think the opportunity for us 650 00:48:17.800 --> 00:48:22.079 is, let's play ball, Let's have fun. It's the last one win 651 00:48:22.199 --> 00:48:24.880 or lose. You know, we need to go out and give it our 652 00:48:24.880 --> 00:48:29.679 best. When we walk off the field, there's no there's no regrets and 653 00:48:29.719 --> 00:48:31.639 then we can go and get ready for all season, even if that's going 654 00:48:31.679 --> 00:48:37.719 to a bowl game or turn the page for for next season. Yeah, 655 00:48:37.800 --> 00:48:42.280 well said there you know otis? You know, and while you were on 656 00:48:42.320 --> 00:48:46.199 your your your your soap box that we did get breaking news that there has 657 00:48:46.280 --> 00:48:52.239 been seven players now charged in the tunnel incident at the University of Michigan, 658 00:48:52.320 --> 00:48:57.519 the game that happened a few weeks ago. It looks like prosecutors have charged 659 00:48:57.639 --> 00:49:02.960 seven players, including Kobe Winman, with like a felonious aggravated assault. We'll 660 00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:07.800 get more details to you. I know there's a tweet that has been sent 661 00:49:07.880 --> 00:49:13.840 out that we may be able to insert here to discuss this, you know 662 00:49:14.079 --> 00:49:15.400 further, you know, we have to be able to digest it. But 663 00:49:15.440 --> 00:49:19.719 we just want to make sure that everyone knows that the seven of the eight 664 00:49:19.800 --> 00:49:24.079 players have now been charged, two of them with a felonious level and then 665 00:49:24.320 --> 00:49:31.320 five more of the miss demeter level of assault for Michigan State. So that's 666 00:49:31.360 --> 00:49:36.400 been a question for everyone wants everyone wants to know what's gonna happen with those 667 00:49:36.400 --> 00:49:38.400 eight players and how are we going to move forward? And well, now, 668 00:49:38.440 --> 00:49:45.280 guys, we have something from the prosecutor that says, I mean on 669 00:49:45.320 --> 00:49:49.920 the eve of Thanksgiving, mind you, Uh, this is coming out. 670 00:49:50.039 --> 00:49:54.800 Uh so there's tough times for those for those players. Yeah, man, 671 00:49:55.960 --> 00:50:00.280 I think all I can once you told that news is I immediately just are 672 00:50:00.320 --> 00:50:05.920 praying for those guys, man, more so because you just you know the 673 00:50:06.159 --> 00:50:13.159 emotional rollercoaster that comes after the act and you can play this thing over and 674 00:50:13.199 --> 00:50:15.639 over again, and you know, you just just praying for the mental state 675 00:50:15.679 --> 00:50:22.239 and their health of just battling through because obviously it's a mistake that I'm pretty 676 00:50:22.239 --> 00:50:24.360 sure that they would would love to take back and not happened. And so 677 00:50:27.119 --> 00:50:30.119 praying for man, because yeah, right now, I probably can feel that 678 00:50:30.679 --> 00:50:34.679 they can feel at the lowest right now, and so you know, let's 679 00:50:34.719 --> 00:50:38.119 wrap our arms around them and supporting them and and getting them back to uh 680 00:50:38.400 --> 00:50:43.079 to the good graces. But you know, that's all I can really respond 681 00:50:43.119 --> 00:50:46.480 to when you said there was the news where one it all could have been 682 00:50:46.519 --> 00:50:52.079 avoided by operations and facilities. As you know, I'm very gun hole on 683 00:50:52.320 --> 00:50:59.239 and understanding that this could have been stopped right there, but our guys did 684 00:50:59.239 --> 00:51:02.840 it. And now it's the effect of the post effect, and so you 685 00:51:02.880 --> 00:51:06.119 know, obviously we'd like to turn the page on. I think the guys 686 00:51:06.119 --> 00:51:10.519 internally and the team has jailed together to kind of think I said, man 687 00:51:10.719 --> 00:51:15.679 next, man up mentality, and they would like to get over this now. 688 00:51:15.760 --> 00:51:21.119 But it's just it's disheartening, man to understand, like these guys now, 689 00:51:21.719 --> 00:51:24.159 you know, have a record because of stuff that truly could all been 690 00:51:24.199 --> 00:51:30.760 avoided in my opinion, well, definitely don't have a record yet. They 691 00:51:30.760 --> 00:51:34.880 haven't been convicted, but definitely charge is where they are right now, so 692 00:51:35.119 --> 00:51:40.480 there's more potentially my bad potentially charge yea, potentially have a record for this. 693 00:51:40.480 --> 00:51:44.800 This is it is heartbreaking to see it go to this level. And 694 00:51:44.920 --> 00:51:47.639 you you know that these young men were still everyone's still in uniform, crying 695 00:51:47.639 --> 00:51:51.800 out loud, everybody was still in uniform. This isn't a street fight. 696 00:51:52.599 --> 00:51:54.559 Uh this wasn't anything that you know, We've talked about this a lot. 697 00:51:55.559 --> 00:52:00.119 Obviously, mistakes were made on both sides. Uh So now it is in 698 00:52:00.199 --> 00:52:05.280 the hands of the authorities, and this is going to set president going forward 699 00:52:05.719 --> 00:52:09.760 for any other fights that happened in the course of a football game or in 700 00:52:09.800 --> 00:52:15.119 a basketball game. Then they have to have the same energy the sets precedent. 701 00:52:15.400 --> 00:52:20.199 You know, no one charged uh Juwan Howard a year ago with assault, 702 00:52:20.199 --> 00:52:23.440 which that was clearly assault, but now you know Washington County is doing 703 00:52:24.039 --> 00:52:29.519 that very thing. So this is where we are now. Guys, once 704 00:52:29.599 --> 00:52:34.360 that Pandora's box is opened, you cannot close it and go back. So 705 00:52:35.519 --> 00:52:42.679 sad day for for athletics in general, especially at the amateur level. Uh 706 00:52:42.760 --> 00:52:47.360 for for college football as a whole. Definitely. Well, I want to 707 00:52:47.400 --> 00:52:55.079 transition to a good note to end on. I have nothing that well, 708 00:52:55.480 --> 00:52:59.519 you know our guy, you know we always talk about when we bring guests 709 00:52:59.559 --> 00:53:06.320 on Benny former players, is letting spartanation know you know what you're currently doing 710 00:53:06.559 --> 00:53:13.280 now. And also we want to highlight your book that you have released as 711 00:53:13.320 --> 00:53:15.920 Silver Spoon and just kind of talk through that. But more so like lets 712 00:53:15.920 --> 00:53:22.039 Spartan Nation know and all the viewers what you're currently doing now and you know 713 00:53:22.079 --> 00:53:27.199 about the book and release. Yeah, I've released my book in twenty twenty, 714 00:53:27.239 --> 00:53:30.880 silver Spoon, The Imperfect Guy to Success. You know, I wanted 715 00:53:30.880 --> 00:53:34.559 to share I don't have the typical athlete story that we always hear, and 716 00:53:34.679 --> 00:53:37.199 I grew up in the suburbs and went to private school, but that doesn't 717 00:53:37.239 --> 00:53:40.840 mean I was going to get me given the scholarship to Michigan Stage or have 718 00:53:40.920 --> 00:53:44.360 a chance to play in the NFL. And I wanted to share my success 719 00:53:44.360 --> 00:53:47.360 principles that I thought led me to that moment or led me to the moments 720 00:53:47.360 --> 00:53:50.960 that I've had in my life in my career, but then also the stories 721 00:53:51.000 --> 00:53:54.320 of the Dark Wiz, the Draymond Greens, the friends that I have who 722 00:53:54.480 --> 00:53:59.880 didn't grow up like me but have reached incredible heights in people that I learned 723 00:54:00.159 --> 00:54:04.800 and what they and how they see success. So I wanted to write that 724 00:54:04.880 --> 00:54:12.519 book and currently right now advising entrepreneurs and C suite executives in terms of their 725 00:54:12.639 --> 00:54:17.119 leadership and then also how they show up in the world and plugging the gaps 726 00:54:17.119 --> 00:54:22.039 and creating the ecosystem for them to be successful. So advising business owners, 727 00:54:22.360 --> 00:54:28.800 advising entrepreneurs, and looking to be more involved in Michigan State and Michigan State 728 00:54:28.840 --> 00:54:35.320 Athletics and helping that program grow grow as well, because they Michigan State Athletics 729 00:54:35.480 --> 00:54:39.159 helped me grown into the person I am today, and my purpose is to 730 00:54:39.239 --> 00:54:45.559 help people live and lead into their full potential. Man. Yeah, hey, 731 00:54:46.119 --> 00:54:47.960 we got to ask you. How's day they doing. I know you 732 00:54:49.000 --> 00:54:52.440 have a great friendship with How's he doing? He just got elected into the 733 00:54:52.519 --> 00:54:57.039 Hall of Fame at Michigan State, came back and gave a beautiful speech, 734 00:54:57.360 --> 00:55:00.559 actually named you in the speech. Uh so, how are thingsful? Him? 735 00:55:00.760 --> 00:55:05.079 Things are good? You know when you're you're a four time NBA champion 736 00:55:07.360 --> 00:55:10.800 and doing incredible things, things are good. So he's good. We're actually 737 00:55:10.840 --> 00:55:15.239 just talking maybe thinking about flying out to l A and doing Thanksgiving with him 738 00:55:15.239 --> 00:55:21.639 at his house and uh in l A. But us he's good. You 739 00:55:21.679 --> 00:55:24.480 know, he's in a really good place in terms of his leadership and trying 740 00:55:24.480 --> 00:55:29.119 to lead this team to a fifth championship, which is crazy to say, 741 00:55:29.920 --> 00:55:32.639 but trying to lead a team to his fifth NBA their fifth NBA championship, 742 00:55:32.760 --> 00:55:38.039 So you know, it's it's a big feat this year. But you know 743 00:55:38.800 --> 00:55:45.559 I'm there to support him and he's he's doing good. Yeah that's and then 744 00:55:45.760 --> 00:55:47.719 I know we are coming up on our time here real quick. But uh, 745 00:55:49.239 --> 00:55:52.559 you know with n I L. Benny, and you know most of 746 00:55:52.039 --> 00:55:58.800 our players and student athletes are I mean they considered entrepreneurs when you know they're 747 00:55:58.800 --> 00:56:04.440 getting deals, but they may have their own businesses or own brands that they're 748 00:56:04.480 --> 00:56:08.039 trying to push out. You know, have you came across any student athletes 749 00:56:08.159 --> 00:56:14.599 that may need some help in coaching, you know through the NIL space or 750 00:56:14.679 --> 00:56:17.519 how they get their brand and become you know, a true entrepreneur wants the 751 00:56:19.239 --> 00:56:25.039 cleats or the jersey's hung and they're done. Yeah, I think I haven't 752 00:56:25.280 --> 00:56:30.840 talked to any current student athletes about it, but I know they definitely will 753 00:56:30.880 --> 00:56:32.599 need help. I know people who have been in business for twenty five years 754 00:56:32.639 --> 00:56:37.440 who still need help. We all need help, So I don't think that 755 00:56:37.519 --> 00:56:40.599 ever stops. And you know I heard Peyton Ever actually say that last week 756 00:56:42.360 --> 00:56:44.760 and the keynote that he was given, he said, the moment you stop 757 00:56:44.760 --> 00:56:46.559 getting coaches in most of the moment you stop getting better. He still has 758 00:56:46.760 --> 00:56:52.079 a coach when he was in the league, and even in eighteen years in 759 00:56:52.119 --> 00:56:53.480 the league, you know, he went back to the same coach and somebody 760 00:56:53.519 --> 00:56:59.800 who keeps you honest, keep you and guide you in the right direction. 761 00:57:00.119 --> 00:57:01.559 You know, they're not coaches, you know, aren't always telling you what 762 00:57:01.639 --> 00:57:04.719 to do, but they're just guiding you in the right direction. So I 763 00:57:04.760 --> 00:57:09.480 think people always need coaches around, whether it's financial planning, whether it's your 764 00:57:09.519 --> 00:57:15.639 brand, whether it's just navigating a new business. You have to have those 765 00:57:15.679 --> 00:57:22.320 coaches and advisors and create that for yourself. Absolutely. Man. Well, 766 00:57:22.440 --> 00:57:28.079 look we can talk for for for a long time. From a standpoint. 767 00:57:28.280 --> 00:57:31.760 We carved out some time for us, man, and I greatly appreciate you, 768 00:57:31.760 --> 00:57:37.599 know, you showing showing us what two spartans are about. You know 769 00:57:37.599 --> 00:57:40.679 what's we're hanging up the cleats and and get out to the community and become 770 00:57:42.000 --> 00:57:46.880 productive citizens, right And I always have my respect for my brother. Appreciate 771 00:57:47.199 --> 00:57:50.840 there. Just know, man, I always talk trash. Man, I'll 772 00:57:50.880 --> 00:57:57.639 take you off the line at right now. You can't you can't hit what 773 00:57:57.719 --> 00:58:04.960 you can't see. See we can still we can still get out there. 774 00:58:05.039 --> 00:58:08.239 That that would have been a lot of fun that had been. But no, 775 00:58:08.400 --> 00:58:12.440 I always always love to love talking joking with you, and we always 776 00:58:12.519 --> 00:58:15.360 we always joked about him when every was like, hey man, let's go 777 00:58:15.440 --> 00:58:24.400 line them up, let's go I get open in the phone book. I 778 00:58:24.679 --> 00:58:28.880 love it. No, appreciate the time, Benny, really do. Thank 779 00:58:28.960 --> 00:58:30.920 you for joining us. Man, I mean, yeah, this is an 780 00:58:30.960 --> 00:58:34.199 incredible story. Everybody's parting Nations is super proud of you. We are definitely 781 00:58:34.199 --> 00:58:36.599 proud of you. Keep doing what you're doing. And hey, man, 782 00:58:36.639 --> 00:58:38.360 I'm gonna have to talk to you about that Thanksgiving dinner. You're gonna be 783 00:58:38.440 --> 00:58:45.679 on my way. Yeah, well we'll wake up, no man. Appreciate 784 00:58:45.719 --> 00:58:52.679 your talk to you. You guys all right, Otis well, man, 785 00:58:52.880 --> 00:58:57.199 Hey, that wraps that something. It all up and a great great spartan 786 00:58:57.280 --> 00:59:01.760 right there. And Benny Fowler special thanks to him. Very hard goes out 787 00:59:01.800 --> 00:59:07.519 to the seven players who've been charged for this tunnel incident. Obviously, but 788 00:59:07.960 --> 00:59:09.719 hey, now we know what the facts are. We have to deal with 789 00:59:09.760 --> 00:59:13.920 it as it comes and move forward. That's the only thing we can do. 790 00:59:14.519 --> 00:59:20.440 Also special thanks to Pete Minez Okay, given his ampertise. Appreciate that, 791 00:59:20.519 --> 00:59:23.239 Pete, I think I think that's a regular segment. Now I'm moving 792 00:59:23.280 --> 00:59:30.719 forward, man, you got it doing it. Appreciate the time again, 793 00:59:30.760 --> 00:59:35.199 Otis, I know you've milked this thing pretty dry. As far as where 794 00:59:35.199 --> 00:59:37.719 we are with Penn State, we know what needs to be done. Five 795 00:59:37.760 --> 00:59:40.719 and six right now, need one more win in order to be Bowl eligible. 796 00:59:42.400 --> 00:59:45.960 Got to get there right, got to make it happen. Absolutely, 797 00:59:45.039 --> 00:59:49.599 got to make it happen. And even if even if it doesn't happen, 798 00:59:49.679 --> 00:59:54.440 right, we got to play these guys tough because there's still potential opportunities to 799 00:59:54.480 --> 00:59:59.199 get a bowl invite from some of these committees, right because of our strength 800 00:59:59.239 --> 01:00:01.559 of schedules. So, I mean there's some things out there right that you 801 01:00:01.559 --> 01:00:05.480 know, you see the numbers, and we had a tough schedule. Man, 802 01:00:05.480 --> 01:00:07.400 we had a gauntlet of the schedule. So but we also didn't win 803 01:00:07.440 --> 01:00:13.039 the ones we were supposed to win. So yeah, that's the tough part. 804 01:00:13.079 --> 01:00:17.079 But you know, want to plug our men's and women's basketball team who 805 01:00:17.079 --> 01:00:23.840 are at the PK Tournament in Oregon. You'll see the men's basketball night Invitational 806 01:00:24.239 --> 01:00:29.519 Night Invitational. So we played late. If you're on the Eastern inner time, 807 01:00:29.599 --> 01:00:34.880 we play at ten thirty on Thursday tomorrow. It's not actually it'll be 808 01:00:34.920 --> 01:00:39.599 tonight after this show, so get you know you're waking up from your your 809 01:00:39.599 --> 01:00:45.960 food coma right about now. You know you just watched straight and Otis and 810 01:00:45.159 --> 01:00:50.840 Benny Fowler a legend with Pete Manez making his debut. Now was time to 811 01:00:51.320 --> 01:00:59.880 get some leftovers, you know, co beverage. Right of your be respons 812 01:01:00.519 --> 01:01:05.920 responsible, no drinking and driving. We'll talk about those lines another time. 813 01:01:06.360 --> 01:01:09.599 All right, all right, that'll put a ball on this show for otis 814 01:01:09.639 --> 01:01:13.960 Wili. I'm Jason Strayhorn. This is Sparta. Have a good night, 815 01:01:14.079 --> 01:01:15.360 God bless him. Go green, Go right,