The following is a presentation of play Fly Sports properties in Michigan State Sports Properties.
Well, hello and good evening. It is Tuesday, July twenty fifth,
two thousand and twenty three. Welcome to the only show about Spartan Dogs
hosted by Spartan Dogs. This is Sparta ms you. I'm your host.
Jason Strayhorn played back in the Pearls and Saving eras as a center team captain.
I couldn't do this without my two dogs and the fight. The boss
otis Wiley hard hitting safety Paul Hawking, safety that played during the John L.
Smith and the D'Antonio areas, along with his counterpart here Ju Choo Choo
Caul Crept just a single season touchdown record holder. And look, if this
is your first time to the show, we welcome you. If this is
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forget to click like and subscribe buttons got to do that helps us a whole
lot, doesn't cost you a thing. Let us know where you're watching us
from and be sure to go into the chat on YouTube. So the parties
at so let's go into this special episode. We're talking Hall of Fame and
guys, how you doing. We're good. I'm excited. I want to
jump right in. Bring on our said, let's get it after, let's
get after it. Then I'm gonna up. Yeah, we're not gonna wait
on this. We're gonna bring on Javan ring of the guests of honor right
now. Who is the newly you know, well, we can induct it.
I guess he's getting there. Hall of Fame, ms U Sports Hall
of Fame. Remember Javan joins the show. There he goes. Here's a
graphic played back in five eight one hell of a running back in a better
person. Welcome to the show. Appreciate y'all man, thank welcome back.
Welcome back, though, we'll welcome back to the back brother. Yeah,
thank y'all man, Thank y'all again. Bro, Hey, Ray and that
freshman, that freshman profile thing with the John L Police. You know how,
I'll tell you though, that's why a lot of people learn the tie
ties. It's true, bro, but it's well. I did ask them,
like, yo, what picture are y'all on you? And they said,
hey, we'll find one. It'll probably be one that we already asked,
so I just kind of had to take that on the chat. But
that's funny that you brought that up, because I definitely asked that. Yeah,
everybody, everybody just came back from weight room, coach, Let's talk
about, like, you know, the moment that you got the call,
Like, how how did that go when you found out that you were going
to be immortalized in the Minisian State Hall of Fame. Okay, So first
things first out, I can't express how surprised I was because now Alan,
so Alan called me, and I've talked to Alan before. So when I
saw his number of problem on my phone and it was kind of just like
whatever, it was up and it was going on, I answered the phone
just cas or whatever, and he gave me the news and shocked. Just
just to say I was shocked as the understatement, because I truly thought,
now he'll tell you he thinks he told me like I think you're just trying
to be humble, but that wasn't the case. Like I just I genuinely
did not feel like one I did enough individually to get inducted. What I
did, I was never so this this was my thing. I was never
a part of like a big ten championship team. I was never part of
like a big old game winning team like so that's where my mind went,
like the winning part, Like I was never truly a part of something huge
like that. So that was one number two I thought about if I did
possibly have it, because I didn't. I did know I was number two
all time, rushing behind the reuss of White, and then I passed him
and I was number I'm number one in Michigan state history and all I did
have that, But in my mind, like I said, I never was
a part of what I just described. But then also I always thought like
if I did have any chance of getting in, it wouldn't be till like
freaking fifty years down. I'm like, we're old. I can, I
can bury you can barely because honestly, just it's being honest, Like I
just being honest. That's usually how that go, all right, Like usually
guys are like super old when they get in. And that's just kind of
what I thought, Like I felt like eventually fifty years later, they probably
like, yo, we need to fill a spot. So hey, hey
Ringer, Hey he's a good one to maybe put him and I was all
right to get in. Now I was completely shot my back. I'm kind
of rambler. I was super shock, was very surprised, and honestly,
I kind of had a sucker moment. I wasn't. I was in the
barber shop. I was getting I was getting cut by Michael Jordan. And
so Michael Jordan was a former player from Michigan State. I was getting cut
up by him, and I got the call and like, I'm not an
emotional guy, like I don't do that. I don't I don't do I
don't do emotions. It wasn't until I have my art where like that actually
started to come out of me a little bit more to tell us if anybody
guys who hear these girls and do that to you, you ever feel all
have them, Yes we are. I'm starting to get like choked up and
emotional. Like hold up. I had to Mike could tell you, like
because old as I know you go there too, you and Mike had to
say I had to walk out. I had to walk out the shop like,
y't be like getting like crying and shit like that. I'm good people
like hold up, bro like, But it was crazy because I was very
surprised. I was very shot. I was humbled by it, and it
was a man. It was. It was huge for me. Did you
even hear like his words or like as soon as you said, hey,
you're being inducted and there was like like you black out? Hey, so
oh so listen. So we had the conversation afterwards. When I'm driving,
I barely couldn't remember anything that we talked about because we we had a we
had a conversation, like even though I was emotional, we had a conversation.
But I told myself, I was like, Yo, I gotta call
him back because like half of that I don't remember remember what we want to
do. But I'm saying that because I'm not an emotional guy. I'm a
tough guy. I'm a warrior guy. Like this is my mindset. It
wasn't until I had my daughter where I don't know, things started to change
for me. So I feel like that's my guy gave me a girl.
Um and it was like yeah, like like oh, I really didn't remember.
I don't remember eighty percent of the conversation me and Alan has So I
did tell yo, I gotta call him back and kind of ask a man
what all did we like say during this conversation, But it was all because
yeah, I was. My emotions were. It was different type of emotions
that I never that I never felt before. And about my surprise just getting
that getting that news. Oh yeah, that's kind of how that was.
Like it was a surprise. Sounded like you we got that phone call from
Alan Haller the AB for those who are listening from Michigan State. You're getting
the haircut. You're surprised by this call, and you know, we want
to talk about a little bit like the running back situation that that's going on,
and you know, I can't help but think that we got to bring
on the guy who taught you how to run the ball, especially when you're
at Michigan State. These two guys didn't even know how to run. So
I got one foot in front of the other. Yall listen, y'all.
I tell to this day I was I was last at Toledo before I came
here, but was Michigan State. Then went to Toledo and being bad.
I tell everybody that my favorite coach was dead. You know, that was
my guy, like and it was all because it was just his personality.
I clicked with it. He was very he was very always brought you coffee.
That's why coffee they to this day, I still drink coffee because of
Coachino. It's saved me during him. Yeah, but this was my guy,
y'all. Y'all we started those We started those early morning meetings with coach
D'Antonio, and Javan would come in like just like barely even like I'm like,
dude, you're gonna have to like figure this out. So I brought
him a coffee one day. I made it super strong, a bunch of
sugar, a bunch of dreamer. Tastes like a milkshake probably more. He
was around the meeting room at the end of the meeting and I was like,
dang, we're gonna start doing this every day. So I had to
bring shoot you food every day, and I had to bring caffeine every day.
That's true story. Yeah, right, Well, we will go to
the meetings and whatever the coaches, you know, have like a lunch and
like I know, Tuesdays will be be dubs day, so Coachinos will have
a big plate of wings for me day ritos or something. And I used
to have to sneak it out because we weren't supposed to take it to you
guys back in the dread speech, You're like super remose rules, right,
So I'd be like coach d'antonia would be like, what are you doing,
Dan, like getting a lot of wings. I'm like, yeah, I'm
hungry then, and I bringing down to Joy because he wouldn't practice hard if
he wasn't full, wouldn't practice heard if he didn't have caffeine. So let
me tell you something. These two guys were like two of my favorite guys
ever coached. But I've been coaching quarterbacks almost my whole career, and then
I started coaching these guys and it just changed everything for it. I had
so much fun coaching these two guys. Awesome, Awesome, Hey, we're
learning that you had a different student athlete experience than most of the other guys.
Anybody. These two guys, we can't talk about a lot of stuff
we used to talk about. But these two guys were entertaining for the whole
room. But so dupe. It wasn't always about football, like we had
fun, like we had that was Michigan State, Like that's that's that was
my mind with Michigan State, like it wasn't always just about wall like having
coached Enos as a coach, having Ju was my as, my as my
partner, even my boy a J, my roommate AJ, like just that
whole collective unit. It was never just strictly about football. That's why I
love coach Enos because he was he was the head of the room and how
he ran his office like it was. I loved it. I loved the
meetings like I love that. Like, man, you j you what was
this? What was it the Purdue game when I told you guys, I
was gonna bett you guys, put in coach. Remember, yeah, I
was so kissing you guys. You guys game late for the Morty meeting.
It was like one of those eleven am kickoff games or something. Right we
were We came in and it started off like just like it was a blunder
of a day because Jamana and I were roommates on the road and I don't
know what was that. Let's get that ball game game? No, no,
this is my senior year. Yeah, we went, we go to
a ball game. Yeah, He's like, I'm gonna bet you guys.
You guys thinking Jan I looked at each other like who is gonna play Yeah,
and they were running too. That's what pissed me off. Oh gonna
play good today. You guys always did though, you know, j is
not saying like, I don't know if I did enough to get into the
whole when when you left Ju he was getting like sixty carries a game,
this guy. Yeah, yeah, I mean. And then and then the
other thing about Javans. You guys all know this about him, but uh,
your senior year, Ju, he was so unselfish because we've used you
for so much of that goal line short yardage stuff, you know what I'm
saying. And and I'd be like, hey, Javon one day, I
was like, you getting pissed because we take you out in the goal line,
and Javan's like, hell im now, he said, Ju's gotta eat
too. Mann. Yeah, I mean it was. It was so unselfish
the way he played. And both of you guys were like that. But
um, you guys were so much fun to coach man. Those were those
were good times. Those are some kind of years coaching. Yeah, And
you know, like even to that point that I've talked about this story,
I know it was senior day in Penn State and you know, I would
have the first aid play script and it was like a screen, a tunnel
screen or something like that. And Javan refused to start because it was senior
day and coachin was like, it's your ploy man, he's so it was,
and the Coachino's all right, let's do this. Let's put the game
away early and then Jay you can go wave to the crowd. Bro.
We we used to pet me and Jay You used to paper like That's why
I thought they haven't had like a one two punch since me and jay you
left. We used to like we didn't care who started. We would paper
rock scissors, but whoever got to play first, like whatever, like what
if you want this? Do you want to? I don't care, all
right whatever, whoever wins, they got it and they would get they would
get to play and like it was the best time, best time of my
life. Man. Yeah, you guys, I tell you what. And
the thing you guys did too is how hard you guys practice. And you
guys probably didn't even realize this when you were players, but as a coach,
how hard you guys worked every day. And the enthusiasm because again,
you had fun while you're out there. That's contagious for the rest of our
team, man, the rest of you know, the other guys. Um
then responded and practice that hard and everything. But man, I'll tell you
what it was. It was fun to coach you guys. But you guys
also were you get You made me scratch my head a lot of times too,
and some of the stuff you guys were talking about it there. Remember
remember the first time that Thursday I did a dance in practice and You're like,
Coach D, he's gonna kill you. But love key, Coach D
loved it. And the Thursday he comes, He's like, coach, he
wants you to do a dance again. I thought you were gonna get it.
Man, I did. I did, But you guys, I'd tell
you what was Uh? What was the one game too? Jay? You
remember me and you almost gone to it. We got our during pregame warm
ups? Yes it was uh? I think it was Kent State. Yeah,
yeah, because that's the game. I have like forty people from Africa,
you know, come to that game, and I'm there, you know,
getting after the country. Ye called me in souther and I was like,
I don't know what happened. Then he's like, you know what's throwing.
It's your senior years, so your people you do after and then so
we just go back and forth at it. And I knew Coach Genos was
because then I'm looking at me like, yo, what's going on? Because
thank your mom. He's like, chill, chill, chill, hugging again.
We're best friends again. Yeahs gives me a wig. And I was
just like, all right, we're good. Yea of a true story,
Yes, exactly. How so let's talk about coach. You know, you
coached us at Michigan State, but you will you're a spartan dog. Yeah,
I man, it's been it's been been a while since I've been back
there, but um, I played for five years. I was at GA
for three years, that's eight, and then I was a full time coach
for four So I was. I was there twelve years of my career in
my life, which is the obviously most I've been anywhere. And obviously I'm
I'm like you guys, man, I'm it's so fond of that place and
have so many great memories and um, you know, having played for for
George Perlis and you already mentioned Lorenzo White, Javan I played with Lorenzo and
UM, you guys had Tony mandrich on UM a while back and teammates with
him. I was very fortunate. I played on some really really good teams,
UM like you guys did as well. And uh, the experiences and
the fun and the bond that you have is uh, you know, obviously
stuff that you you know that you have for your entire lifetime and the memories
that you have. And UM and me, I've I've been so fortunate and
blessed that not only have I experienced it as a player, but I've been
able to experience it as a coach as well. UM there and and to
be around what a special place that is and UM special school and and and
so many so many good people that we had a chance to be involved with,
and and so many experiences that come along with it, as you guys
know. Yeah, yeah, and uh so with coach, I know you're
at Arkansas now the OC there. You know, you were Inabama and uh,
you know you coached in the Big you played in the Big Ten,
you coached in the Big Ten. Last season, you were coaching in the
Big Ten at Maryland. UM. I was a little pissed at you after
that game. But UM, so coaching and SEC coaching and the Big Ten,
what are the parallels and what are the differences of the two conferences?
You know, that's funny, Um that you asked that. I'm gonna say
this, there's probably a lot more similarities than there are differences in the two
leagues. Um, people ask me you know which league is best? I
don't think it's even fair to even to say which one's best. They're both
great conferences. Um, they both have great teams, great coaches, they
both have great venues. That's been something that's been really a blessing for me
is being being in the SEC West and obviously it'll be my fourth year and
then been haven't been in the the Big Ten for six years, being able
to experience coaching and all the great environments the Michigan States, the Michigan's,
the Alabama's, the LSUS, the Penn States, Um, all those different
places. But um, there's there's so much I think more comparable, meaning
that there's just each and every week you better be prepared mentally, physically,
and emotionally to play. Um, or if you're not, you're you're not
You're not gonna win. And uh, it's so competitive both leagues, and
the fine line that it is between winning and losing is so close that I
think that we're all what we're all trying to do is trying to find our
edge. What's our edge. As a coach, you got to find an
edge. You've got to try to give an edge to your players. And
as players, you're trying to find your edge, whether it's through strength and
conditioning or nutrition or how you know, how you take care of your body
during the week, or obviously from a schematic standpoint as well. But two
great leagues, um, and and and so, like I said, it's
just I said, it's an honor for me to have coached them, both
of the leagues. But a lot of comparisons, I think. I think
the big things is this, I know all four of you guys would have
made a lot of money if you're playing today. Yeah, you know,
all those times when I was trying to bring Jayu food and all that,
you would have been probably bringing me food because all the money you guys would
have been making, you know, if you're playing today, that's the big
difference, you see. And and and obviously the way the players are,
the way they're treated and all that, which I think is obviously so awesome.
That the players are the food we can give them and all the all
the things they get, and then obviously the nil money that they're able to
earn now and do all that. Man, I think that's great and it's
great for the for these young men. And again and um, you guys
would have made a lot of money, you guys would have been But Coach,
sure, you guys, I talked about that because you've been all over
the country and you've seen the transition over time, like you know, and
I know you have to get you got a meeting coming up here, and
we appreciate your time. But talk about like the difference now and recruiting now
getting specific than it was, you know, when you're recruiting guys like too
and Javan. I think it was, you know, it was so much
more in my opinion, you know, it was. It was about relationships
a lot more because if you were able to establish a relationship with the young
man, you had a chance to beat other schools based on just your relationship
with them. And now I think there's other things that get involved that may
give somebody an edge over you, like I always felt like the guys that
worked the hardest for the best recruiters, and it's still I think that's that's
true to some degree, but now with the amount of money that's been you
know, in play, sometimes you might be the best recruiter and the hardest
worker, but if someone's going to get something more going to another school,
you know you can't. There's there's nothing you can you can do about that.
But um, I think at the end of the day, UM,
it's still is a lot about you know, establishing relationships, and I think,
um, you know, the big thing is is, um, you
gotta be able to show the players like, hey, if you come here,
this is what we can do for you, you know what I mean.
We can develop you this way, we can help you when you leave
here, you know, in these areas maybe maybe other than football too,
which I think is very very important. You know, the thing about like
all four you guys and that I've known for a long time and obviously had
a chance to coach Ju and Javon from personal level, you guys are all
super bright guys, smart guys, and we're great players. But you know
that that's the thing about Kyle, that's The thing about Michigan State that I'm
so thankful for was the things I learned there that gave me the opportunities to
be able to do the things that we all we all do now yeah,
speaking of and I gotta bring it up before we let you go. So
at Maryland. We were there in Maryland and uh and Javan fably don't.
Javan don't know the story, but we wanted you and coach beat because Beat
Coach Barnett wanted to coach say what's up to you? And what your response
was? I don't Fratt and Eyes, Hey, you know, I said,
I'm not very good on game day, guys, I'm not very good
on game day. That's probably why me and shoot you got into a fight
before the game and right, you know, for due, I was gonna
bench the guys. But when you're a coach, you know, it's like
you know, and every game is like you gotta be ready to go.
So I just I just gotta tell the guys that I know, I'll say,
how you doing, good luck today? Stay healthy. I'm not very
good talking on games. I gotta go. Yeah, I got you,
I Yo. I really appreciate you, man. You were the best,
the best coach I've ever man, and it was it wasn't even so much
about the just the coaching part of it, but just you as a person.
Dog like, you're sarcasm, you're you're a humor like all of it.
Like, I appreciate you tremendously. Man, Well, I mean this
and all you guys. I appreciate you guys, all you guys, and
I appreciate this podcast. I've been following it on Twitter and stuff, I
seek clips and stuff. I'm like, this is awesome. I appreciate you
having me on. Shoot you you guys, but Jay Javann haven't coach you
guys. I mean this bad. I love you guys, and you guys
were two of them my favorites. I don't like to say that, so
I don't tell anybody said that, but ever if I rank them, like
every day of going in there, I was like, this is gonna be
a new experience going in that room. And you guys seriously made made my
life a lot a lot easier and I enjoyed and thoroughly enjoyed coaching you guys.
Thank you best to look all you guys. I appreciate you having me
on. Thank oh yeah, I have me back. I love to Yeah,
alright, damn enos, everybody know, y'all surprised me with that shit.
Man. They have to have something about sleeve, a little something.
You were talking to you like, yeah, coach, you know, message
me. He's like, did he message you? I was like, yeah,
that's what I'm like. Y'all just brought that up, like, Yo,
did you really say this? Oh my god, so you so you
need a coffee, your coffee the sweet like chocolate, you know, milkshake
coffee and she need a chicken wing yeah, or food whatever it was.
It was one of those that bro y'all know how kid like, especially back
in the day, these kids don't know shit about two of Days, Like
they don't know nothing about that stuff, Like they don't know they don't know
nothing about the two of days. The constant banging. It didn't like it
wasn't none of this science behind stuff like guys have their legs and make sure
they're not putting out x amount of altitude on the field and too many steps
and whatnot about that. We used to we had we had them hard coach
manning lifts like with just pounding the way on the legs and stuff. And
then at practice, and especially because we were there when Coach D, it
was Coach D and Coach Snardoozy just they were all about didy like we're ditty
liken. Oh yeah it was. It was on phases of like thud and
he'd be like in the middle of like random live you like, oh my
god, so hey, so Jason. So it was like so it was
one of those I'm I can say I was. I was dragging ass in
the morning, like I'm dragging and coach you know, was like, hey,
bro, you bugging, Like hold up, I'll be right back.
This big thing callfe they gonna think of coffee was out here like he was
after that. He was the first time though. It got me this time
I ever saw coffee, it's somebody because I've never had coffee in my life.
But he was like a little really like this. And then by the
end of that hugging, I's gonna ask chose, like were they bonus wings
or bone in did you see him? Yeah? Yeah, we're definitely boning
wings. Man. You see him, You witnessed him, you chicken,
right, man, he ain't witness there, He ain't witness Oh yeah,
it's a it's a national treat treasure for anyone to see you shoot you eat
chicken wings. It's incredible. We might do that, you know, because
you know, got some stuff going on. We're gonna be down at the
Big ten media days and then we'll you know, we we might have something
going on Friday night with some people and Chew can get some wings and stuff.
But man, Jiffan, no, let's let's talk about you. Man,
this is about you. You know, you didn't think that you'd have
served being in the hall because you felt like you you didn't do enough mission.
Say, well, you're just the all purpose leader in yards and you
know you you obviously had a great career. Talk about you know, the
things that you like to talk about off the field. You brought mentioned some
guys you know, mentioned Aj You're thinking roommate or yours? Yeah, right,
who what who do you remember? That kind of helps you get along
to the stage now as alas teammate. First things first, I mean these
two right here, Oldis and ju they were a huge part of just my
my joy with being a Michigan State spartan because we battled, we did our
things on the field, and then we also hung off, hung out off
the field, and then like I said, marm my boy man, my
dog aj. He was a good running back, but you know, I
guess, you know, you kind of just kind of how things go sometimes.
He's but even with that because he played running Like I said, he
played running back too. Man, this was my boy like he always had
him out back. He was always encouraging me and always keeping me up during
like you know, some of them hard times. Man, we maybe didn't
win a game, so that was things I remember. Like the football field
is one thing, but it was so much off to field with the brothers
that I had, Man, that just made my joy and my love for
Michigan State last forever. Like I can't yep even you know how God blessed
me to have some time in the NFL that like that doesn't that doesn't duplicate
the time you spend with your boys and in college, in college, you
know, in the locker room, like those are things that were always a
joy of me, man, which made all of this, you know,
my time in Michigan State. M Man. Yeah, man, it's it's
it's I'm just sitting and like I'm like this guy oldis and the oldest know
says he went oldest you know, and I really reconnected last year and you
know, there was all this and then there was the Hall of Fame last
year. You know, Greg Jones got in, another guy we played with,
and you know, and then oldis and I looked at me like,
damn, what what did you vin have to do to be getting to get
in here? Even like you and me, we let me say this.
So okay, So Greg, first off, big shout outs to Greg.
Yeah, when he got in, I was like, yo, I get
it. Think about Greg. Greg. Greg was all Big Ten, like
three years of the row. First he was part of the first Big Ten
championship. It's like back in the nineties that Michigan State is one. He
was defensive player of the Year in the Big Ten. Like these are all
things. I'm like, yo, wait, that's yeah. We think he
we I think he deserves to be and he should have been in last year
exactly. But I think you're you know, because because I see it.
I've been in the in the in the in the running backs room with you.
I've been in the hotel with you. I mean your your parents,
you know, my mom, your parents would come will say prayers Sat Friday
nights in the hotel room. You know, our families would get together and
see that I see the person you are. I see you know, the
athletic prowess that you bring, you know. And this is one of my
favorite games here, this Indiana game that was my senior day there and uh,
that's nice peel back who did that? Yeah, the unselfish moments this
game here when I fumbled and then you faked an injury so I could score
a touchdown and feel better about myself. So that's funny. I remember that,
like fumble, they brought it back and then we're in and it was
you know, usually we was tag team, but I stayed in and I
stayed in that whole drive. When we got down there, I remember I
got like I got, I got a selected two and I'm trying to get
myself out. Yeah, this is this is my dog j he want these
touchdowns an outside zone play too, Yeah, and they're like I remember they
were telling me like no staying there. And then I was like all right,
un I wasn't about to let that be the last time you touch the
ball. Oh my na, bro, you're my dog is six broke is
touchdowns. Then I'm running We do the thing. I'm running out, I'm
running into I was running out. We go do the hype. He looks
at me and gives me that smile and then it just hits me. I
was like that of a gun. Faith and injury and back to the village
and I'm sitting there. I was like, rings, did you thinking injury?
He's like, yeah, man, I couldn't let you go out like
that. You gotta store and you gotta feel good, you know. And
that's what I said, Like, especially in college football, we're all competing,
we all wanted to play at the next level. Ye and you have
a running mate that is willing to do something like that for you to make
me look good, to make me feel good, to elevate my stats.
That is something And it's off right there. And that's what I said.
Like a lot of people from the outside, they see number twenty three,
you know, Jivan running around this all. He's a great player. He's
a great player. But Otis knows this, Jason knows this. Every single
person that you played with. No, you're a better person than a football
player, thank you. I know. Before we get too emotional, you
know, we're gonna get into some front of stuff. We're gonna talk about,
you know, some of the top plays and you know, some photo
caption opportunities of what people have been saying about it on you know, the
Internet and all that. But we're gonna get to that after this message from
our friends over at Eyehop. Put a smile on your plate with new pancake
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All right, guys, So look, you know we're gonna let's let's talk
a little bit about the top plays. You know, we have like five
plays that everybody's been talking about, the Javin Ringer Top five. We have
any in that video for I fell Us in the Back. I want to
see if you you agree with all these two. Yeah. So the only
reason okay, so the well I agree with that one was because that was
I set the record of the and the you know, the touchdown record.
So I was all right, that's cool, all right, we can go
with that one. Um. It was honestly hard for me to kind of
like decide on some on on like a trap trap just got married, just
got married last weekend too, congratulations trass. So I think this crazy.
I think this one means a lot because we was down too, like we
needed that touchdown. So that one because I'm not even even when I'll be
talking with some of these recruits, I'm not a huge fan of like some
goal I wrong when it's just that easy. I was untouched. I was
untouched, Like that's not a highlight. But I agree with that because I
agree with that one because, like I said, that was I was able
to kind of set the record of the touchdowns in a single season that with
that touchdown. So it was like, all right, we could go with
that one, Like running backs can say that because you'll be crossing the goal
line all the time, like it was, we da catching that thing.
Take it to there. You're untouched, bro, you're talking good man.
I want the only guys on the line that touched the ball. We have
no shot at making of dace touchdown, right, you know, unless you
fall on it. So that play there, you didn't go were you on
field goal team? On a field goal team? Yeah. You wasn't on
paw, you know, I wasn't one. That's because we were I think
we're we had it went for two yeah, okay, okay, I was
like, hey, you got somebody. Look I remember. All I remember
is Jay used to be on that side. He used to be out here,
punch of life. Yeah. I did that for one year. Started
making plays and I was like, hey man, you know because some of
those plays, like even my Lord, like it's it's let's let's look at
another one. This one is my favorite. This is my favorite because this
was a turn up right here I had. I got a lot of so
that one. This is Michigan, so listen, listen. I picked it
was. It was a good run. Yes, yes, ken somebody at
the end of the day, I didn't finish. You got a score.
I got caught like And that's why I tell that's why I tell kids today,
run track right every because my hit fletchers, my hit fletchers were fatigued.
They weren't strong enough, like I wasn't everybody who were on the track,
y'all know about having a good knee drive and bring yourself. I didn't
have that. So now blame Mark Neal hedn't peeled back like Terry loved you.
My favorite thing is you patting him on the head. I was mor
Morse was a man, good shit man, like yo. I was mad
on this, like yo, I gotta finish that. But it was a
good run. But on a lot of my long runs, I wish I
would have run track more. But now I just used it as a teaching
lesson to like, hey, yo, all kids in high school run track
because you don't want to be like me and get caught. Like I had
great acceleration and explosion through the hole, but when it came to that long
speed, maintaining my top ends to me, I had weak hip flexers.
But that I would have gotten by the run track. So hey, kids,
don't be like me. Run track, run track. You might be
able to make it into all of fame. Maybe when you're in your twenties.
I don't know. But let's look at the other run against Northwestern here,
No Western, Yeah, man, appreciate that from rolling. Look that's
when you did that, just trying to hit it, man. Yeah that
I was lucky enough. I was lucky enough that my dog who fell off
my who fell off my shoulders he had a cast on, so he couldn't
really grab me completely. Oma. Maybe maybe that helped me out. You
know what, I helped you. You know what helped you? Call you
were fast? That's wrong. Guy could have had ten fingers, he can
and he's still wouldn't got I mean I was strong, just you know,
I could lift a lot and I was explosive, but I do with like,
I don't know. I wish I would a ran track. It would
have helped me out a lot with my long speed and not have been able
to get caught on something rous but ain't. At the end of the day,
God was good man, God bless me. Now this one here's my
favorite. This run here's my favorite because it's such a teaching moment with running
backs. What you're supposed to do. We practiced at those two hand shields
boom boom, boom, then spin off and spin off. Yeah, man,
I know what though, And when we were in the white unions,
you look real like leaner right, like it's like that's crazy, like you
feel a big tells the opposite. You know, that was a big game,
manly because that was that was my first time ever playing in Michigan Stadium.
Because I didn't play like my freshman or they were home, they came
to us. That's when we played them at overtime. Then my sophomore year
when y'all went there, I was hurt. So I didn't play in that
game. But uh, that was a that was a big one, finally
playing in the big house and finally getting that first because that was the first
win against Michigan at Michigan since like what they say, nineteen ninety Yeah,
so have been a part of that. Man, it was a huge It
was a blessing. Man, you talked about being a part of that.
I think you're a huge part of that. When you look at this,
so you want to hear so what's wild about that? I know my homeboys
were everybody. They were happy in the in the locker room. But I
actually, I don't even know if I should say this here, but what
I was kind of I wasn't. I was really kind of like, man,
yeah, we won this game, but we should have won this game.
The game I wanted to win was I don't give Michigan like f Michigan,
like I don't care nothing about But I will say, like in two
thousand and eight, they weren't that good like in two thousand and seven.
For me, that was when they were like, all right, hey,
Lloyd Card, Yeah, I do not like Michigan. I will never like
Michigan. I don't care nothing about them or their players, but I respect
tilent them boys were good like they were good in two thousand. That was
the game that I wanted us to win. We wanted two thousand and eight.
It was like, all right, I'm thankful, yes, but damn
I wish we could man, Like that was the game I wanted. But
yeah, that was cool though. I'm glad, I am factful that we
did get that. Oh boy, I got your finding trouble here. I
apologize you. Yeah, that's my fault, man, I'm sorry. You're
good. Oh, you're totally good. Because we want to get into the
captions here, let's look, let's do a little trip down that. Let's
see the picture of you in the middle of all the Michigan wolver rings here.
Hey what they say? That's a d laming what I know? You
remember it like it's yesterday, Will Yeah, it was after the run.
It was just you know, it was just like it was like a like
a two to three yard run it happened. I've got up. They talking
mess like I wasn't. I was. I'm doing my mind of my business.
I'm walking back to the huddle. I hear, I hear, I
hear my dogs say say some slick mess. So I turned back, like
what and then we just kind of start going at it. And now they
all around me like, bro, I ain't I ain't no punk, No,
that ain't. That ain't how spartans get down. So where where the
lot? We're the office of laming that usually supposed to coverage. No,
no, they hey, many it was on to the next play. That's
how our our model was like, on to the next one. But me,
I'm I don't know, Like, yeah, I don't know. While
you're wearing long sleeves, it was it's always. It was an October month,
it was little, it was a little cold. I wear my sleeves
and I still ain't going to the ball. So what do you remember exactly
what you said? No? I can't. I can't even pull nothing out
of my butt right now about what I might know. I don't remember exactly
what it was. I don't know. If you got a chance to read
with people, some some viewers said that they thought you said, bro a
few less trips to the buffet scoreboard boy time story our boy, what you
say A BYuT? My mama doing all this to y'all on one hamstring?
Yeah, I had again another lesson. I tell a lot of a lot
of guys, especially running backs, you have to play special teams. You
gotta know how to play. It ain't gonna it's not gonna just click for
you if you have that chance to go to the NFL. But yeah,
and it and it sucks because it's always like that last we were doing like
some kickoff a term that Thursday last period didn't Yeah, just fishing up.
I'm out there. Yeah, I got the ball. I ran like maybe
fifteen yards and I felt I felt like a pool and it like a big
strain in my hands. I fell and everything like yo what And yeah,
I like strained my hamstring that Thursday. And I'm not gonna say it was
a complete tear or nothing like that, but it was definitely like I pulled
my hamstring to the point to where I felt it and it made me fall
and then um, I remember I was with the trainers and they were looking
at my hair that they felt that he was like, not in my hand.
Well, coach Manning. Coach Manning came over to me, man,
yeah he was. They felt that not in there when they were trying to
We're trying to rub it out and rehabit that Thursday evening and night and all
of Friday and one in the Saturday. So I definitely had that thing wrapped
up. It is a It is a blessing that I was able to play
in that game. But yeah, I tweaked my ham during that Thursday,
but by the grace of God, I was able to still contribute, still
contribute during that game. You talked about the grace of God. Even the
earlier heard she was saying that, you know, part of the reason you
guys bonded so much was not only you got a roommates on the road.
You guys, your teammates, you're selfless, but there was prayer, your
parents come and your mom would come. Yeah, my mother, my mother
really loved Jay YouTube. She loved his story. She loved just even with
knowing his story, just how he was as a person, how he was
to me, would be an older older than me, and she loved the
brotherhood that we had together. With sharing that backfield. So my mother is
a praying woman. Man. She would come into our home. She would
come like, hold on, hold on, hold on, let's just ask
her about it. Let's bring her on the show for everybody anyway, Like
I was saying my class, my mother would come like she loved J's relationship
and every game, like we were in the hotel, she would come into
the room, man, and she would she would grab both our hands and
we would have our prayer movement. Man. It was something something that we
took serious, man, because I love God. Man. God has been
tremendous to me, which is something that I in my upbringing with my parents
and my late father. Yeah, that that was a huge part of I
felt like all my success at Michigan State and then me and Ju together,
Mam was definitely praying for Yeah. I know too. Even we did that
in the hotel room. I remember after warm up we go back to the
locker room, you and I would go off in the shower, yes,
and prayer before we get head back on the field again. You know,
it's one of those things. So talk about somna ring your darling, you
know, talk about I was supposed to tell you. I wasn't supposed to
say anything or you do this weekend. Uh, Jay, you called me
and so I knew when I was up there this past weekend. So I
wasn't supposed to say anything. That's why when you when you gave them when
you put her on FaceTime on Saturday, I was like, yeah, but
we're trying get up there every Friday before the game because I think, you
know, prayer covers the kids from injury, you know, and and prayer
is always in order. So every time we would, I would get off
from work because I was working, So we try and get up there before
nine o'clock before the coach shutting down the floor and I let it body you
know up there. You know. Ross Weaver, I think was another one
that we was prayed for at that time. So we had some that we're
really special and close to our heart that were praying. So we'd have prayer
in the room. And by the time the season ended, we had quite
a few people that was coming in the room for prayer and even ju your
parents came in the room and we always having prayer. So we was building
a little group up there, you know, for prayer. Special So how
did you feel, when did you get the news that Javine was going to
be in the Hall of Fame at Michigan State. Javine, was that the
day that they told you? When you told me? Or when did you?
When did you tell me? No? I knew like a day or
so before I told you here, Okay, So I was excited for him.
I'm just glad that, you know, he's alive to be able to
enjoy the event. And I do think that he is very deserving. He's
worked hard, he's played hard, and he is a humble person. I
mean, he got his ways, but he is a very humble person.
He is giving, so all those things that people are saying about him,
it's true. He's not one way out in public and another way at home.
He's He's a very very selfless and a very giving person. And I'm
proud to have him, you know, ask my son, Hey, Jason.
I actually I was very casual when I told my mother, like she
was here in my house here and I just said, hey, hey,
by the way, I'm getting inducted. I got to twenty three Hall of
Michigan State, all the fame. I said it very melo. I don't
know I didn't want it to be because I ain't want it to be over
the top. So she left that. I said it to a very casual
just kind of like it's a normal conversation, just because that's not what I
wanted. I didn't want it to be. I had time to calm myself
down. I wanted to keep everybody else right there too, Like, yo,
just be cool, man, b be relaxed, be chill. But
it's a big moment. It's okay to celebrate it. And this is not
something that happens every day. You know, basically, you know, inducted
into a Hall of fame like this, it's very I mean telling that the
kind of young man you were when you were at an an athlete that man
can say then now like you hear all these stories, man, I mean
it's good. Like you said, you thought you're gonna be fifty years old
or yeah, OUs being oldest and you you know, like you might get
in there and then old this then when I'm you know, about about one
hundred and twenty years, my great grandchildren, like you know, they had
just a jersey. You know this is good. You're healthy, you're young.
You know your daughter can witnesses too, you have. Yeah, that's
that's it's funny. As much as I didn't want a daughter, God knows,
I didn't want a daughter, having a daughter has been tremendous to me.
You know, I still deal with my own little stuff, but having
heard and having her be able to experience this with me, Like even though
I know she's only two, so of course she might not remember a lot
of it, but just being able to have those pictures with her, Man,
it's it's a I like you said, me and my wife we talked
about this before, like I didn't if I had any chance, and it's
happened. Like a lot of guys are super old by the time they get
in and right then I'm able to get this now, to be able to
experience this with my family and my friends. I talked with my dog,
coach d you know, he told me he was gonna be able to be
back for that coach Man. He texts me, I love coach Man.
I gotta I gotta make sure I make coaches manning back us being able to
experience that with them, and then uh, and then my daughter, my
family, Man, it means the world too, and we can't forget your
dash. You know, we did lose My husband was a year ago in
October, and I know if he was still alife, he'd be super proud,
a divine because he was one of his biggest fans. So I'm just
thankful that I'm still alive at least to be able to um, you know,
see this day, this moment. But he was Devin's biggest cheerleader,
biggest fan. Never missed any of the MSU games at all, even when
he had to go to church on Sunday. We get up at four eight
m in the morning just to drive back so he can preach his Sunday morning
services. But he was not going to miss any of the MSU games,
Uh, to make sure he was there to support Javan. So I know
if he was still here, he would just be tickle pink. Yeah,
it was one the one story we I forgot what year we went back to
Dayton and uh, we went to church service and I was trying to spegere
out, like, man, where's the vine get his athletic ability? Because
this man is a different he's he's a he's he's a different creature and he's
like he's on Gili guys like he has different powers, right, And so
I remember your dad was preaching and he got into that guy, into that
flow. The spirit started to move and he stood up on that little a
little real and I was like, man, I was like old, my
dad was older. Man, I know, you know exactly what I'm talking
about. He stood up on there, he started, Yeah, he started
up on the rail. Yeah, you know, I'm like, oh man,
that's I was like, you get it from that. But he also
getting from Mama ring or two something. I think, all right, I
guess I get him something. So Mama rings um. You know, we
we just played you know, some of the big plays by javan and everything.
You know, and you see highlights and everything. What was one of
your favorite you know moments for Javon on the field. Well, I kind
of liked the one where he was going like Superman, but you know,
they didn't do that one. And at the Michigan game where he was standing
in between all those guys, I told my husband, I said, they're
saying something to Javine and he's like, no, they ain't saying nothing,
and I said, yeah they are. And so when I seen Javine kind
of do his head like this to the guy, I said, I told
my husband, See, I know they was messing with them. So they
had been picking with him anyway, and you know, you picked with Javone
long enough, he get fed up, you know, and then you don't
have to deal with him. So they was kind of egging him, you
know. But I would say the one where he was flying like Superman,
he was number thirty nine then. And I also like the run where unfortunately
he got called making that long run because that was like one of his high
school runs where you think you got him locked up and he'll go around the
other way and come out, but he'd make it in then. So that
was one of them high school moments um when he was a running back then.
So that high that super Man one. She talking about Illinois. Yeah,
Illinois. I had that nasty number thirty nine when they just used to
give you compared to nowadays, he's kids getting he no, no, you
need to stop. You got his number though, yeah, you got his
number. Experience did we do one thing, Nick, But that moment,
that game, that Illinois momentum, that uh, that was a moment where
it hit me that Javon was a different breed. Of running backs because we're
staying on the side and he jumps from like that the five and seven.
Yeah, he takes off from the seven probably, and I was like,
I look, I think like Teague was still there. Yeah, Teague and
I look at each other and we're like, we can't do that. And
then uh, this is a great story about Tigue from taining. So we're
playing Iowa and Biscuit Bob was there and uh, Bob saying, there's Tigue
was running got hit and Tie you know how the waltzter Spartan stams close got
hit into the wall like from the field. He flew into the wall and
he comes out on the sideline. Then javan Go said, and I was
like, te you good. And then Tie you know how he had asthma,
so he's shaking and I wish Javon was in for that. Tea man,
I ain't talking due the years he's doing art man. He was,
man, just look how's the field. Man? You got surprised that you
got coachinos here. And then Mom's I mean, yeah, it's a good
day. It's been it's been dope. Man, I was, I was
more. I guess I'll say more surprised with coach because I see him,
I see my mother. I talked to my mom, and I knew that
had as jau that right there. But but Coach Enos was a huge surprise,
man, because like I said, I was like one of my They
ain't no one of my. He was my favorite coach that I've had throughout
my entire football career. Coachinos was my dog man like it was just and
it was more so his personality. Coachino is a very he's a super He's
a very sarcastic guy. He gotta you, gotta you gotta click with it
to enjoy that. And I loved it. I don't know that sarcast sarcastic,
a hole stuff. I don't know funny to me. I love that.
I love having cocinos. And then and my mom. That's that was
I got my mom on this man. But yes, yes, yes,
that's true. Yeah I got. I know I got. But it's like
I'm just sorry, like anybody one thing. I don't talk to my mom
alten or whatever. I don't see her. I just saw his weekend,
so I don't know, but that it's it's that's very surprising. But I
know that was ju that was a good one, Like, yes, complete
surprise. I definitely didn't expect cotinos in no way, I thought my mother,
like, I gotta let us all celebrate you man, that's what this
is about. And I'm greatly, greatly appreciative of it. Man like,
yeah, all of this, this whole thing, like with the whole Hall
of Fame stuff, this right here and all the Hall of Fame. So
it's been it's been a huge blessing for me, man, like I said,
a lot of the attention, I don't know, it's been a little
overwhelming. It's like I'm real, I'm I like being in the background,
like I like, I don't know, I like the chilling behind the scenes
of like and uplifting others. And it's it's a I don't know, it's
wild one as actually me and I said, Alan said, like when he
gave me the car, he felt like I was just trying to be humble,
but no dead as I don't know. I mean, yeah, but
you were always told that though I used to always tell you all the time,
made sure you stay humble, you know, and you know, don't
make your face the face of the program. So you know, you were
raised that way to always be humble. So you you've really been that way
all your life because that's what we've been telling you. Because no, no,
no, one person is the team. It takes the team effort.
It takes everybody working together to make the team work, to make the dream
work. You know, you need you need another person. One person isn't
the team, it's everybody. And so that's the foundation that you know he
was raised on. So he just carried that going throughout his life. That's
just who he is. Solid foundation. You can't hire the candle underneath a
bushel. That's biblical. Here we go, it's not you. You know
what happened after that? Though? This is true? Is it true?
Every time she used to run in there like this elbow actually had he had
he had the arm bands on. He's like, I appreciate so the thing
too, like because the student section used to say you and I didn't catch
that. And this is one time Jowana are sitting there, He's like,
do you ever do you realize every time you go in they're saying you yeah,
So that take off one more time the super band before we like,
let me see where did he take off from? Man? It was right
there. I was a freshman man. I was young, stupid. Another
another quick selfless story, but like not selfless. But Javan talked about he
likes being in the background. I remember it was one time after practice and
they wanted to take a picture of him and I for like the big board
like in front of the stadium there and we it was some posed something in
a game that was running and they got the picture, but they wanted us
to recreated because I had an anchor injury, so I had my my shoes
spatted so like the Nike sign wasn't showing, so I practiced. That made
us try to run. Remember we're running and jumping kind of time this up
like yeah, we're doing all these takes and the guys like I can't get
this. I can't can't remember want to be up there. I was like,
oh, man, I kind of want to be. It's it's amazing
to me, like stuff like that. You don't you don't see a whole
lot of it nowadays. Man, A lot of these, like even what
coach was saying, a lot of these, a lot of it, and
not not like just here but like other programs, like it's a lot of
it's a lot about me. Me, Me and I get it, and
I and I get it. Kids want to get what they can get why
they can get it, because that next level I ain't promised to you.
But I'm truly thankful for my time in Michigan State, especially it was like
that two thousand and seventh year, like we were like that team that we
had, all of us. That's what I loved. Man. I never
wanted it. I never I never looked for it. I didn't want it
all just about me. I'm the one getting order to know, I loved
being a part of a team. And like Coach D's first year when he
got there, Man mad props to Coach D and that coaching staff and the
things they wanted to establish, and with the Michigan State culture and the toughness
and the crime they put us through. Like I appreciated all of that.
Like that. Yeah, man, it's it's a it's a a gift from
God that a lot I wish others can experience. But that but also that
I'm thankful that I was able to experience that because now, look, we
almost forty years old, and these are relationships that we still have to this
day. I'm very thankful. Yeah, and Coach D. He was a
great coach, and so he came from Cincinnati, and you know a lot
of times when the other coach come in, they bring their own stature on
running backster on team plates teammates. But for him to have the confidence in
Javan that when he came up there, you know, he didn't get another
running back. He's still stuck with Javon because you know what the coaches come,
they got their own players that they were recruiting and wanting to come in
to do this and do that. But he knew what Javon could do and
he always wanted him even when he was in Cincinnati. So I think they
were meant to team up and they were meant to be together. I still
still think that was prayer. That's powerful. Absolutely, absolutely absolutely, because
it was like there was that instant bond with Coach D and Givin and you
know when when Coach D first came in there, so definitely, you know,
Mama Ringer, thank you so much for joining the show and giving a
little surprise to your son. You know, it put a smile on our
face at least, you know, I know, I see my MoMA tip.
But it's good seeing you. Thanks for joining the show and we look
forward to you're gonna be at the ceremony. Are you gonna be when you
know, at the game when he's yeah, I'll be there. Well,
thank you guys for bting me. I appreciate it. Thank you. Javin
man Man I send his mom in the background. I was like, oh
lord, it's a locker room. It's a locker room ing right here.
You know, sometimes you might hear something man, hey, rings, it
was pleasure happening you on Man like, Look, you're gonna be a staple.
You a guy, You got a lot of energy and you know,
uh, your personality humble that shines through man that people just appreciate that.
But make you. You know, it looks like I said, you ain't
hiding no candle under a bushel, brother, So keep trying to be humble.
We're gonna keep putting you out there on on a pedestal, okay,
because your crowd jewel for us. We appreciate you. We're gonna were gonna
turn it all the way up for the food and have Papa Wiley ready for
it. Yeah. Everything the group, you know, the parents are really
close to then all the that fried chicken. Baby, we're gonna have a
right on deck. Brother got He's like, yeah, thank you, no
problem, see soon man, my club. Javon Ringer man, you did
at you hey, look to hey, it's gonna be an event episode to
gonna get the awards. And then like you're gonna still up there. I
was like, I want to thank God and my scene. Man, you
can really see that having Enos on there too, talking about you guys and
stories. You can tell how much he remembers those days. And it's different
now. Obviously we see it. Ain't bring no seedlings. Look clearly you
like, come on feeling back. I owe my man, I'm just playing,
but you are no. I ain't try to hear that voice. It's
PTSD man. Yeah, he appreciate you too. Hey, that man had
a producer mind like that. That was awesome that man executive producer. Yeah,
hear me out straight, hear me out like we're doing that. I
didn't go to straight like that. I was like, now hear me out
and then I read it all. He's like, oh, bringing absolutely,
absolutely absolutely yes, sir guys. Let's build a ball on this one.
Man. I know that the live chat had to be going crazy. You
know. We obviously this is a tape one, but we are on our
way down to Indianapolis. We're gonna be there tomorrow, which is Wednesday,
the twenty six, July twenty six is a cool day. It's Wednesday.
We're gonna be in any laps's gonna catch some stuff, might go live.
We're gonna see the obviously the interview with mel Tucker on stage there the big
ten media days. Maybe running to some NBC folks that are gonna be looking
at some of our games at the Ohio State game and Peacock you know,
Washington game, and we're just gonna have you know, we're gonna give you
some behind the scenes look at what goes on down there. All three of
us will be there, right, otis all right, chew you you you
in right? Yeah, all day and then and then we got all times
ready to go. Let's go baby, all right, So until we see
you guys again. I you know, So for otis Wiley ju Choo Choo,
Jason Strayhorn. This is Sparta ms You have a good night, God
bless you go Green. This is Sparta MSU as a combined presentation of play
by Sports Properties and Michigan State Sports Properties. The show is produced by Tony
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