WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.560 And welcome in for the first time ever here on 2 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:06.719 the Morning Show, Matt Denny Grand Exalted pooh Bah, otherwise 3 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:10.119 known as General Manager for North Texas SC. Matt, Welcome 4 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:12.839 to the Morning Show. Thanks for dropping by, Thank you, 5 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:15.800 thanks for having me. All right, So, for those that 6 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:21.120 don't know your story, how did you end up there 7 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:24.160 at North Texas And it's a real interesting deal where 8 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:27.440 they brought you in specifically to be the GM for 9 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:28.679 that club. 10 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:30.120 How did all this break down for you? 11 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:35.359 I mean, it really all started. I joined the organization 12 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:39.759 in twenty ten and worked as a sales rep. I 13 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:43.640 really stumbled into it and enjoyed it, had some success 14 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:46.479 and kind of found success learning the organization, learning the 15 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:50.479 ropes and working with the different departments. And when they 16 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:53.079 started this team, I think I've had a lot of 17 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:56.240 interactions with the departments and ownership and they said, look, 18 00:00:56.439 --> 00:00:59.399 we think you'd be a good fit here to get 19 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:02.359 this opportune that he learned the ropes and has stead 20 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:05.280 his club in in the direction it's going. And I 21 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:08.200 interviewed for the job really not knowing if that's what 22 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:10.560 I wanted, if that was a good move, and it 23 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:12.680 was a jump because you know, at the time, we 24 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:14.879 didn't know if it would be something that would have 25 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:17.599 longevity or not. So I was leaving something that I've 26 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:21.079 been pretty stable at to this and never look back, 27 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:24.400 and just I'm a product of the club and organization 28 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:28.680 giving opportunities to homegowings and some talent. And I've had 29 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:31.519 so much, so much cool things that I've done during 30 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:33.760 this you know. Obviously twenty nineteen we won a championship, 31 00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:38.040 then we moved to a new stadium in Arlington, which 32 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:42.239 was away from our training site about forty five minutes away. 33 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:45.120 Then had to deal with COVID so much learning there 34 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:48.239 and joining an MLS nex Pro as a new league 35 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:50.480 now and then we've also got some some cool announcements 36 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:52.799 we'll have in the next few weeks which will really 37 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:54.439 kind of intriguing. 38 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:55.599 I can't say too much. 39 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:58.280 But come on, come on. 40 00:01:58.400 --> 00:01:59.959 I'll leave you leave you guessing. 41 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:02.120 But it's really exciting and really going to change the 42 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:03.879 trajectory of the club in a big way. 43 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:07.079 See, he's in no more than three minutes in. 44 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:10.199 He gives the tease to draw folks to continue to 45 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:12.240 pay attention to what's going on at North Texas over 46 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:15.639 the next little bit. How much have you learned about yourself? 47 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:19.840 You know, going from that first job title to where 48 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:21.840 you are now, how much have you learned about yourself 49 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:25.960 as as as a captain of Industry as a part 50 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:26.800 of that franchise. 51 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:29.879 Like, it's been immense. 52 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:32.520 It's like this year when we got to a championship, 53 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:34.680 I kind of reflect on and when we started in 54 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:37.599 twenty nineteen and how I really didn't I kind of 55 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:40.039 didn't know this was how much work went into it. 56 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:42.199 It was kind of stumbled into the first championship the 57 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:45.199 first year, but just seeing the amount of work that 58 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:47.840 goes into it. I've been surrounded with some great people, 59 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:50.680 but the work that goes into it behind the scenes 60 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:53.560 is just it's just immense, and it's stuff that people 61 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:57.319 don't see, you know, those our Aflect trainers turning up 62 00:02:57.319 --> 00:02:59.960 at six am to get players ready the late night, 63 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:01.560 and and the just the. 64 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:02.639 Hours that people put in. 65 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:06.080 It's it's really uh, it's really amazing to see the 66 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:08.319 good people and and that's I think the biggest thing 67 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:10.759 is if you surround yourself with good staff, good people, 68 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:14.120 there's so much opportunity and it's been it's been rewarding 69 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:17.639 to see people progress, staff and players and where they've gone. 70 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.039 It's it's just it's really a unique club and a 71 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:24.560 unique position because we we really stand by that that 72 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:27.400 homegrown development, but not just for players, for staff too, 73 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:29.960 and you've seen it throughout throughout the years. 74 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:31.800 In that twenty nineteen roster. 75 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:34.599 Uh, there are a couple of names that folks immediately 76 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:38.560 gravitate toward. One obviously, Ricardo Peppy. Ronaldo Damis is another 77 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:41.599 one who's done really well and in other levels, and 78 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:43.479 Brandon Servenia, I know, is a part of that one. 79 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:43.719 There. 80 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:46.159 There's also a guy that shares a name with me, 81 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:49.240 but his has an age where mine does not, and 82 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:51.080 he got his first goal in Major League Soccer and 83 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:53.280 my social media lit up. There's like, oh, you just 84 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:56.800 got No, it wasn't me. What's it like for for 85 00:03:56.919 --> 00:03:59.400 you and for the organization, both North Texas and NFC 86 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:02.639 Dallas to see the investments that you make in those 87 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:07.080 young academy players and be able to invest in them 88 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:09.639 and then you get to have them spread their wings 89 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:11.520 and go into other places. What's it like to see 90 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:13.759 that growth and get to see them either move up 91 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:14.879 or move up and move on. 92 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:15.639 Yeah? 93 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:17.800 I think you know that's that's how bread and butter. 94 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:21.720 That's what only shitts. That's what organizations really the foundation 95 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:26.040 and to see them. Obviously you've got the big names, 96 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:28.839 right Peppy. People still stop me and say, I was 97 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.879 at that first game in twenty nineteen when he scored 98 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:34.839 a hat trick and people didn't know and didn't know 99 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:37.920 what his trajectory would be. But even the names you mentioned, 100 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:41.480 there's Tan of Testament, Brian Reynolds, you know, there's so many, 101 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:45.519 But take those those huge names out of there. What's 102 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:48.839 really cool as well is there's players that have careers now. 103 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:51.920 You know, there's players that you see and I'm watching 104 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:56.000 the playoffs now of you know, every league that's playing 105 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:58.800 in the United States, and you see names in almost 106 00:04:58.839 --> 00:05:01.519 every team, and it's really just to see that if 107 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:03.879 you had a heat map of where players are now, 108 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:08.120 it's just the opportunity with the lower leagues, it's really 109 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:10.920 it's created the opportunity not just for the higher names, 110 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:13.439 but for other people to have a career in soccer 111 00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:15.040 that they wouldn't have had years ago. 112 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:17.480 And I think that gets lost on folks a lot 113 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:22.600 of the time, where even if you aren't moved on 114 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:25.480 on the eight figure transfer or what have you, and 115 00:05:25.480 --> 00:05:27.720 you get to move on to Europe, you still have 116 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:31.439 the opportunity to do really well and make a career 117 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:33.920 for yourself on a bunch of different levels and a 118 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:36.720 bunch of different leagues, really in around the plane. And 119 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:40.560 I think that gets lost on folks. Development means capital 120 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:43.759 D development, not just moving folks on for that big payday. 121 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.319 No, that's exactly right, and you'll see it with Steph, 122 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:48.360 and I think you'll see it. You know, in ten 123 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:50.839 twenty years, you'll see these former players be coaches and 124 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:53.720 again they wouldn't have had that opportunity. 125 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:56.160 But the cool thing is is we're. 126 00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:58.439 Known for our academy and bringing those homegoing players through 127 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:02.240 and this club really is about bridging that gap. And 128 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:03.920 it's a cliche, I know a lot of club's used, 129 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:06.519 but we're not just doing that. We're doing you know, 130 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:09.319 we signed international players, we signed international players on loan. 131 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:13.240 We've had college players, We've had players leave college and 132 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:16.519 have success. And you know, we've had open tryouts and 133 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:20.000 we have Banal Comungo's obviously our great story, but Thomas 134 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.600 Pondecca came from open tryouts, and you know, we're having 135 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:27.800 that access to the community and the hopeful plays. It's, 136 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:30.600 you know, this opportunity out which is really cool as well. 137 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:33.360 I would I would recommend that folks read up on 138 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:37.240 Bernard's story. It is fantastic and how he has been 139 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:39.560 able to become a part of the fabric there in 140 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:43.439 the under the FC Dallas umbrella. Expectations I know are 141 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:47.360 always high for North Texas there in whatever league they're in, 142 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:50.360 and now that we're talking about MLS next Pro. When 143 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:55.120 you came into this season, expectations were there, but as 144 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:58.240 the season evolved, everyone was gunning for you in. 145 00:06:58.160 --> 00:06:59.160 The Western Conference. 146 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:02.240 What was it like to see the guys and the 147 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:04.519 staff respond in that way to sit there, It's like, 148 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:06.279 all right, fine, you guys want to come at us. 149 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:08.000 You you kind of sit there and it's like, all right, 150 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:09.240 bring up, We're still going to be at the top 151 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:10.959 of the table in the West by the time we're done. 152 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:11.480 Yeah. 153 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.639 I think it's something it's something we embraced and I 154 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.319 got to be honest with you. Every year when we 155 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:18.199 build a roster, we're like, this is a good roster, 156 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:20.879 and it's like, you know, you always think this is it, 157 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:23.279 this is our year. 158 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:26.079 And our successful you know, group of players. 159 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:28.560 That we've got, and we went into this season kind 160 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:29.720 of just just flying. 161 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:33.240 We had a coaching change in the middle of the season. 162 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.639 But one thing we've done all season, regardless of what 163 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:38.680 else has gone on behind the scenes, is we've really 164 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:41.519 stayed humble to that and we've taken it one game 165 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:43.399 at a time, and it's to the point where we're 166 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:45.279 in the championship now and it's like, you look back 167 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:47.839 and it just went so quick. But we were literally, 168 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:50.720 let's go one game at a time and it's just 169 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:53.079 take care of business step by step, and we've really 170 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:54.519 kind of embraced that fort a year. 171 00:07:55.519 --> 00:08:00.959 How difficult is it for young men or young front 172 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:04.959 office personnel to sit there and navigate a coaching change 173 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:07.720 in the middle of a season where you have an expectation, 174 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:10.439 you want to be more successful, you want to continue 175 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:13.240 to be successful. How difficult is it for those young 176 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:15.000 men to navigate it? And what was it like for 177 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:18.319 you as the general manager to see everyone navigate it 178 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:19.480 as well as they have. 179 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:22.800 Yeah, I think it really comes down to just a 180 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:26.319 whole mentality, and we've got that next man up or 181 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:31.000 next person up mentality here that if something comes up. 182 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:31.680 We deal with it. 183 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:33.759 And if it's hey, we're not getting first team players 184 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:37.679 this week, or you know, there's a big MLS tournament 185 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:40.120 for MS next and we don't have access to as 186 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:44.080 many places, we just deal with it. And really it's 187 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:47.279 one of those things that it's a machine we've built, 188 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:49.360 so we're not surprised when it happens. Right when we 189 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:52.159 lose players to the first team and they go up, Yeah, 190 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:53.840 we would like to have them still at North Texas, 191 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:56.840 but that's the machine we're building and we're not surprised 192 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:59.360 when that happens. And just like the coaching change, you know, 193 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:02.320 John moved to the first team, it was great and 194 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:05.080 Michelle Garbini, he's someone that's been here since we started, 195 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:09.919 one of the original staff, and he's grown, He's taken 196 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.399 his license and he's on his his B license, he's 197 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:15.120 doing his A now, completing it. And I'm really happy 198 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:17.120 for him because he's he's learned a lot and grown 199 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:19.919 so much. And when he stepped in as the head 200 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:22.759 coach from the middle of the season to now, the 201 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:25.240 amount of growth he's seen as well has been remarkable. 202 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:26.279 So I'm really happy for him. 203 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:29.200 And he's he's someone that's put in so much work 204 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:30.639 and passion towards the club. 205 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:32.720 It's it's just really great to see. 206 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:35.759 But again, we're just when something happens, we know that's 207 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:37.799 that's the reality of this club. 208 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:41.120 Halftime with Matt Danny here GM at North Texas s 209 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:42.759 C as they get ready for the MLS Next Pro 210 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:46.200 title game this weekend up against the Philadelphia Union Too. 211 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:48.879 Time to brag on your players a little bit for 212 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:51.120 those that haven't seen you this year. If you and 213 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:52.759 I were sitting in a TV booth and we were 214 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:56.000 getting ready to call a match, you know it's North 215 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:59.559 Texas s C against you know, sdh's B team or whatever. 216 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:02.279 You and I are in the booth, I turn to you. 217 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:04.200 You know they run the title card up. It's in 218 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:07.440 North Texases. He's playing so and so, and the Voice 219 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:09.360 of God does the voiceover you and I are sitting 220 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:12.519 there doing the stuff in the booth. If I was 221 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.600 to sit there and say, Okay, who are some of 222 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:19.559 those folks that folks need to pay attention to when 223 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:22.279 they drift in and watch this championship game for the 224 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:24.159 first time, if they haven't seen them LS Next Pro, 225 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:27.639 who would be some of those instant faces that folks 226 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:31.000 would recognize and gravitate toward. From your perspective, Okay, I 227 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:33.000 need to keep an eye on this person. I need 228 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:35.240 to keep an eye on this person for North Texas 229 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:37.519 to be successful and to get them to this point. 230 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:39.159 Who am I gravitating toward here? 231 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:42.879 Yes, a tough one because it really is the depth 232 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:45.399 we've got. I could name everyone right, it's a great team. 233 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.759 We got time. We got time. Man, it's good. 234 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:49.759 So what I'm going to tell you is like from 235 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:52.600 from goalkeeper to the bench, even our bench when we 236 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:54.600 bring them in, we're not we're not dropping a level. 237 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:57.919 We're adding and we're creating some diversity in the way 238 00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:58.360 we play. 239 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:00.120 But our goalkeeper, my co. 240 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:05.200 Colode, is having a phenomenal year one that we you know, 241 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:07.879 we know he's capable of, we didn't expect. You know, 242 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.799 he competed in Goalie Wars this year Goalkeeper of the Year. 243 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:14.159 So it's not many times where you can say, watch 244 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:17.879 that goalkeeper. He's phenomenal. And we've got that the. 245 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:18.440 Top to bottom. 246 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:20.840 I think you know, one exciting player that you see 247 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:25.159 is just some some magical stuff. Is Petrinio just just 248 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:28.519 phenomenal player and he does some some stuff on the field, 249 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:30.799 but in practice, if you watch him, it's it's mind blowing. 250 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:35.279 And then one of our really really exciting young talents 251 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:39.200 is Diego Garcia and and he's had a phenomenal year. 252 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.080 You know, we bought him in. 253 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:45.360 Last season and he's he's played a lot of minutes 254 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:49.320 and and he's only just turned eighteen, but he's come 255 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:52.639 to North Texas and within a short amount of time, 256 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:54.360 in less than two years, he got a call up 257 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:57.080 to the US national team, went to Brazil and played 258 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:59.399 some games. He got to do preseason with the first team. 259 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:01.759 We played Miami at the Cotton Bowl and he got 260 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:03.759 to play against Messi and it was you know, just 261 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:07.559 it happens so quick, and those things are great stories too. 262 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:10.480 But he's one to watch. And you know, i'd say 263 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:13.399 right now, just on form is Anthony Ramirez. You know, 264 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:18.000 he comes in from games and he's changing games. So again, 265 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:21.480 I could list a ton of players, and I feel 266 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:23.519 bad not mentioned everybody. 267 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:26.759 Well that's why you go to FC Dallas dot com 268 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:28.879 and follow North Texas sc on all their social media 269 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:30.200 so you can keep an eye on what's going on. 270 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:33.879 But this adds to the dynamic that we're talking about 271 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:39.159 where Ramirez is an academy product, Colode comes to you 272 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:43.879 from Columbia University, and how does Padrino come to you 273 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:46.840 from Flamingo? How does something like that happen? 274 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:51.039 You know, this is one where we've got obviously great 275 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:56.840 connections through Andres and NATA and scouting staff. So our 276 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:59.600 scouting staff is scouting forsty Dallas, but we're also scouting 277 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:02.600 for Texas. We're trying to find young talent and he's 278 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:06.440 one that was breaking into first seament Flamingo and you know, 279 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:09.159 just I think he didn't see the opportunity and whether 280 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:12.960 that's players ahead of him, staff or whatever, but he 281 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:15.559 wanted to change his scenery. And people see this as 282 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:17.960 a real opportunity, which it is, to get in front 283 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:24.120 of the MLS organization, be involved here and have that shot. 284 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:26.519 And we've seen it with Padrino, We've seen it with 285 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:29.559 Nico Gordon, who you know, he's a guy that's played 286 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:33.399 I forgot how many games with twelve eighteen games for 287 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:37.320 Birmingham City in a championship, you know, and you know, 288 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:39.919 we're seeing this and people are seeing it as an opportunity, 289 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:43.080 which it really is. And we've again, you go back 290 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:45.960 four or five years, we didn't have examples to show them. 291 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.120 But now when we're going and we're. 292 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:50.279 We're talking with agents and we're talking with the families, 293 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:52.120 and we're saying, look, we've got this player, this player, 294 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:55.480 this player, this is their stories. You know, is it 295 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:58.840 is it an opportunity to come here or play fourth 296 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:01.399 division in England or well, you know, get loaned out 297 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:04.799 to a third division team in Brazil. There's definitely an 298 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:10.320 opportunity here. And I think that USA is just the 299 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:13.679 reputations growing for the sport and people want to get involved. 300 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:16.960 When it comes to these kinds of conversations, I mean, 301 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:20.240 I assume that you have international minutes on your phone. 302 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.639 I imagine that you probably have WhatsApp or something like that. 303 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:27.639 When it comes to having being a place that grants 304 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:29.679 an opportunity, we phrase. 305 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:29.960 It like that. 306 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:33.600 What are conversations like? I mean literally, you look at 307 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:36.039 you know, and I'm looking at just the transfer list 308 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:39.639 from October, so basically the last thirteen months of transfers. 309 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:45.200 It is Botafogo, it's the barsa residency here in the 310 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.080 United States. 311 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:46.799 Flamingo. 312 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:51.240 We talked about colleges Birmingham city you mentioned with Nico Gordon, 313 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:54.120 you have some other collegiate impacts as well, and then 314 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:57.600 the academy. I mean, what is it like fielding phone 315 00:14:57.639 --> 00:15:01.159 calls from Europe about being interest to be a part 316 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:05.120 of North Texas SC What is that like for you? 317 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:07.720 No, it's it's something really, It's just a really unique 318 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:10.320 position to be in. And every day when I kind 319 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:12.559 of look back, I'm like, wow, that's it's such a 320 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:13.440 cool opportunity. 321 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:15.919 But the more and more I see it, and. 322 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:18.000 The more and more I'm involved with it, you realize 323 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:21.919 that the gap and the difference between the infrastructure in 324 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:24.480 Europe and infrastructure in USA, it's really getting close. And 325 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:28.480 you know, people come here and Nico is a great 326 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:32.000 example and he just said, Matt, these facilities you have 327 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:35.080 are ridiculous. You know, as I what do you think 328 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.960 about the level? And he's like, there is some amazing 329 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:41.600 talented players here and he's like, you could put these 330 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.440 guys up against any Premier League U twenty three team, 331 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.840 you know, and it's sincere. 332 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.080 You know, he tell me if it's not. 333 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:52.960 But just it's really refreshing to see and obviously, you know, 334 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:55.600 Europe's a dream for everybody but I think that the 335 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:58.440 gap is getting, you know, so much closer. 336 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:01.320 When it comes to MLS Next Pro and level of 337 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:04.039 competition across the board. I know, looking into the playoffs, 338 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:06.000 a lot of folks were sitting there and thinking, Okay, 339 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:10.960 it might be kind of chalkish on the eastern side 340 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:14.519 and then chaos on the western side, But it ended 341 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:18.720 up flipping when you look at the playoffs and the 342 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:21.679 postseason and the level of competition in MLS Next Pro. 343 00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:23.840 Has there been one thing that has stood out to 344 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:27.559 you about the level of play over time that that 345 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:30.399 has stood out as a part of your as a 346 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:32.240 part of your perch there at North Texas. 347 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:35.879 Yeah, I think it's it's just a again it's a cliche, 348 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:36.960 but there's no easy games. 349 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:38.840 There's no game we've walked out of there. 350 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:43.720 Well, you know, for the most part, there's no easy games, 351 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:45.799 and when it comes to playoffs, it's really any team 352 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:46.159 can win. 353 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:49.039 Home Field advantage has been so huge for us this. 354 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:52.720 Year playing out of Choctaw and and we've created an 355 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:57.159 environment that's that's really favoring us at home. But I 356 00:16:57.159 --> 00:17:00.279 think the thing that stands out is, you know, teams 357 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:03.000 are trying to play and you know, we've played other 358 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:06.440 over the years of the games, and when you get 359 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:09.119 to this level, both teams are trying to play the 360 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:13.440 right way and it translates. So when people are stepping 361 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:15.720 now onto the MLS field, it translates. You know, they're 362 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:18.440 trying to play the same style of soccer the same way. 363 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:21.519 You know, obviously there's difference with speed to play in physicality, 364 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.480 but it translates to MLS. And when our players are 365 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.640 stepping onto the training field with the first team, they're 366 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:30.720 really not skipping a beat. You know, it's it's preparing 367 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:33.039 them for MLS in a really good way. And I 368 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:35.720 think that they're playing against teams that are trying to 369 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:38.599 play the right way and that the same way is 370 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.519 really beneficial. 371 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:42.079 You've got a game coming up. 372 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:44.240 I don't know if you I don't know if you 373 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.160 know this, but you're playing in a championship game coming 374 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:49.920 up this weekend against Philadelphia Union two. They've got some 375 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:53.680 massive talent coming out of the Eastern Conference eight thirty 376 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:57.519 Eastern time at Toyota. So if anybody's going to Choctaw, 377 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.880 I imagine there's a sign ups like don't go here, 378 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:04.480 go to Toyota on Saturday. What are you looking forward 379 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:07.640 to the most about this match, and it can be 380 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:11.240 on the field or off, and then what work still 381 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:14.200 needs to be done on the field or off? Do 382 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:16.200 you think to make sure that this goes off without 383 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.880 a hitch and you guys come across as the great 384 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.000 hosts that you always are in situations like this. 385 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:24.000 Yeah, I think the thing I'm most excited for is 386 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:26.400 just it being here. It's at this point, it's a 387 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:28.960 celebration and I think you'll see that every team that 388 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:32.079 was looking to host over the last few weeks has 389 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:34.799 been planning for a Cup in the opportunity that happens. 390 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:37.599 In the last few games, it's been like, man, this 391 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:41.279 would really hurt if we didn't make the championship and host, 392 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:44.200 because you've been doing all this planning right, And at 393 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:46.920 this point it's just executing obviously working with a league 394 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:49.839 and making sure the presentation is good. But the team's 395 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:53.119 in such a good moment and they're playing well, they're 396 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:54.920 enjoying it, and I feel like this is just the 397 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:58.039 reward for the season. It's not there's so much the 398 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:00.200 pressure is going to happen, but the guys as have 399 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:02.799 got here, they deserve it, and it's about showcasing what 400 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:04.960 we can do as an organization and what the team 401 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:07.440