1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Thucol Macknis So March is right around the corner and 2 00:00:03,319 --> 00:00:05,320 the Cougars are written the metal of it. 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:07,799 Speaker 2: It's time to talk to some college basketball, a lot 4 00:00:07,919 --> 00:00:09,880 Cougar sports with Ben Cripple. 5 00:00:11,359 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: We welcome back to Fugure Sports. Here on a three 6 00:00:13,199 --> 00:00:15,839 nine and ninety three ESP and the fan Ronald the 7 00:00:15,839 --> 00:00:17,839 three and nine. We were here holding it down for 8 00:00:17,879 --> 00:00:19,879 Ben Cripple, got Brett always bringing the hammer by my 9 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,719 side as well. Gonna get into a little basketball discussion, 10 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,480 going to discuss a lot of stuff about this BAYU 11 00:00:25,559 --> 00:00:29,399 men's basketball team. Gonna take a different approach. I look, 12 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,320 I love talking hoop. You guys know I love talking basketball. 13 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 2: I do. 14 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: I'm the basketball guy. Ben has given me that ropes. 15 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:39,560 I love talking about it. Getting Jonathan Tavnari on. You know, 16 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,479 we've had Anson Winder on former b AU greats. We've 17 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,679 had h Tyler before. Still trying to you know, uh 18 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:50,600 get TJ. Look, this BAU basketball program has has shocked 19 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,200 the world in my opinion, and they it started with 20 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:54,679 Mark Pope. I know a lot of people might look 21 00:00:54,679 --> 00:00:57,280 at that differently, but it started under Mark Pope when 22 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,640 no one thought that they would be be good. They went, 23 00:00:59,719 --> 00:01:01,439 I think was fifth or sixth in the Big twelve. 24 00:01:01,759 --> 00:01:04,680 And then Pope got hired and the staff dispersed, and 25 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,840 everyone thought the sky was falling. Chicken little who wasn't lying, 26 00:01:07,879 --> 00:01:09,799 and maybe for a second it wasn't. Then lo and 27 00:01:09,879 --> 00:01:13,319 behold here comes, you know, the bearded dragon who unfortunately 28 00:01:13,359 --> 00:01:15,840 had to shave his beard in Kevin Young and said, look, 29 00:01:15,879 --> 00:01:17,920 I'm preparing to develop young men for the NBA. And 30 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:20,879 that's what he did, the top ten lottery pick. And 31 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,920 now you got the number one recruit in the twenty 32 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:24,840 twenty five class. So you have the number one Euro, 33 00:01:25,159 --> 00:01:26,920 you got the number one high school guy who's going 34 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:28,640 to be the number one pick in the twenty twenty 35 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,239 six NBA class maybe excuse me, the NBA draft. And 36 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,120 then you also had the number one Juko. Just a 37 00:01:34,159 --> 00:01:36,840 phenomenal of that. But he's an even better person. And look, 38 00:01:36,879 --> 00:01:38,560 I know a lot of people feel sometimes that Kevin 39 00:01:38,599 --> 00:01:41,799 Young is just business. But this is why I tell you, guys, 40 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,280 watch the cut. You watch the cut. Kevin Young is 41 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,760 leading to the discussions, he's leading the prayer. It's like, 42 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:48,799 I love to see this from Kevin Young. And it 43 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,840 goes back to what President Rees announced. He says, Hey, 44 00:01:51,879 --> 00:01:54,599 we got a great man, but a great follower first 45 00:01:54,599 --> 00:01:57,239 and foremost of Jesus Christ. And sometimes that can get 46 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,159 overlooked when you know you have a very intense and 47 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,319 serious personality and you're about your business and your action. 48 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,560 But that doesn't take away and getting to know Kevin 49 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,639 Young just over these last two years, I see a 50 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:10,159 lot of Christ and that man more than I think 51 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:12,599 maybe some other people might not have the opportunity. So 52 00:02:12,599 --> 00:02:14,719 I'm just very grateful to be able to do that, 53 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,319 you know, and cover this team. And we're gonna break 54 00:02:17,319 --> 00:02:19,560 it down with the guy who does the fan experience 55 00:02:19,599 --> 00:02:21,159 for him. He gets to see the team a little 56 00:02:21,199 --> 00:02:23,400 bit more, maybe more than I do interact with them. 57 00:02:23,439 --> 00:02:28,439 But we're gonna discuss that Dawson Baker, you know, unfortunately 58 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,319 it will be out for the rest of the season 59 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,439 and has a decision to make on his future. But 60 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,199 it felt like, you know that fans and people forgot 61 00:02:35,199 --> 00:02:37,319 about Dawson and shout out to the top king, but 62 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,280 he was delivered a stack of letters. I don't know 63 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:40,479 how many it is, and I'm gonna have to have 64 00:02:40,479 --> 00:02:42,120 a guy on the line and tell me how many 65 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,919 letters that he got, but they wrote him love letters, 66 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:47,759 thank you message especially around the holidays. A great light 67 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,159 the world from the BYU Rockets. This is this was 68 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,120 great to do to be a to do that and 69 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,120 show Dawson some love, and I know Dawson definitely felt 70 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,719 the spirit and it blew up over social media as 71 00:02:57,719 --> 00:03:00,560 it should have. Guys, But this basketball segment, it's gonna 72 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,599 be brought to you by RGS Exteriors for five generations strong. 73 00:03:03,719 --> 00:03:07,080 Rgsix Seriors isn't just about the siding the gutters. It's 74 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,680 about relationships built on trust and quality. When you choose 75 00:03:10,759 --> 00:03:13,240 RGS six Tiers, you're joining a family legacy that's been 76 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,960 serving the Utah homeowners for over a century. They got quality, 77 00:03:17,199 --> 00:03:21,280 integrity and five generation legacy. That's the standard that they 78 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,319 set twenty one Best State Awards and counting. So please 79 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,960 give my opportunity to earn their business today at RGS 80 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,520 six Tiers. They got the ten year warranty as well. 81 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:32,960 Check it out today at RGS six tiers dot com. 82 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,439 Let's get out to the ESPN, the fan, the hotline. 83 00:03:35,439 --> 00:03:37,800 I don't want to make them wait anymore. I've made 84 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,360 them wait a little bit I have none other than 85 00:03:40,919 --> 00:03:44,080 Joel Marry, the manager of the fan Experience and Marketing 86 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,280 for the bou men's basketball team and manager of marketing analytics. Joel, 87 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:48,240 thanks for joining me today. 88 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 2: Brother. Hey, absolutely, Ron'm excited to chat with you and 89 00:03:51,639 --> 00:03:52,479 chat with Tigernation. 90 00:03:53,159 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: Tell me how all of this came about, because I 91 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,560 saw it a couple of weeks ago. I was very intrigued. 92 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,479 Great thought process by you and the rock board just 93 00:04:01,759 --> 00:04:04,840 who resually came up with this idea to write Dawson Baker. 94 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,800 And you're gonna have to tell me how many letters 95 00:04:06,919 --> 00:04:08,599 is that, because that's a thick stack of letters that 96 00:04:08,719 --> 00:04:09,719 dB got. 97 00:04:10,039 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: I was gonna say it was a healthy stack and 98 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,520 credit where it's due, because you know, Cougar Nation really 99 00:04:15,719 --> 00:04:18,920 is always excited to you know, share the love that 100 00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:20,759 they have with players. And in fact, that's where it 101 00:04:20,759 --> 00:04:24,759 started was the staff had been getting kind of fan mail, 102 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,680 which isn't very common. There's not like a mailbox necessarily 103 00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:32,079 for you know, players or staff, but they some people 104 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,240 seemingly found the address and started kind of sending some 105 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,240 some good wishes and well wishes to Dawson and so 106 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,480 they In fact, I was approached by the staff to say, hey, 107 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:44,439 can we make this, you know, bigger if we do 108 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,199 it all at once and kind of have all of 109 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,600 the fans you know, kind of the word I've been 110 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,839 using is love bomb Dawson, And so that's kind of 111 00:04:51,879 --> 00:04:54,399 the genesis of it was, hey, can we do this 112 00:04:54,439 --> 00:04:56,399 all at once? And we luckily had a great opportunity 113 00:04:56,399 --> 00:04:58,879 on the concourse at the Merritt Center what we call 114 00:04:58,959 --> 00:05:02,480 the fan zoned to kind of host that. So you know, 115 00:05:02,519 --> 00:05:04,360 we had fans just take a quarter sheet of a 116 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,279 piece of paper. So yeah, it had to have been 117 00:05:06,879 --> 00:05:11,000 easily four or five hundred of those little pieces of 118 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,279 paper that they were able to write a little note 119 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,879 to him and give him, as you know, their best 120 00:05:15,959 --> 00:05:19,480 wishes as he goes through a pretty grueling process right 121 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,600 with his knee injury and a lot of isolation, I'm 122 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,079 sure is what it feels like. Obviously he's got a 123 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,160 great support team and good professionals to help him get 124 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:29,920 back on his feet, but you know, I'm sure that 125 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:31,759 that's the lonely process. And so the thought was, hey, 126 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:33,879 how can we you know, kind of give Dawson a 127 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,040 love bomb? And in fact, we did do it over 128 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,839 two different games up on the concourse. Pregame is where 129 00:05:39,879 --> 00:05:41,519 we did it and when we did it. But it 130 00:05:41,519 --> 00:05:43,319 was an awesome opportunity just to kind of say, hey, 131 00:05:43,399 --> 00:05:45,759 here's a big stack in that hour that you know, 132 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,480 the rocks waiting for the game to start, and for 133 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,319 general fans who are you know, walking the concourse, give 134 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,360 him a chance to you know, share some love to 135 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,079 Dawson directly. And it was especially good. I thought to, 136 00:05:58,319 --> 00:06:00,800 you know, have it captured, you know, show the reaction, 137 00:06:00,959 --> 00:06:04,000 because sometimes we'll have things like that that are you know, 138 00:06:04,079 --> 00:06:07,720 fan facing, but are intended for the players that sometimes 139 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,199 it's like is he going to ever really see the 140 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,319 output of this? You know, is he going to really 141 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,279 read my letter? And so it was really fun to 142 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,000 see that, like you said, kind of blow up and 143 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,480 you know, have people realize, hey, that actually made it 144 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,360 to him and it made a big difference for him 145 00:06:22,879 --> 00:06:25,600 and for his family that's supporting him and help him 146 00:06:25,639 --> 00:06:28,600 not feel as lonely in the in the recovery process. 147 00:06:28,639 --> 00:06:30,439 Speaker 1: Man, you guys hit out of the park for sure. 148 00:06:30,519 --> 00:06:32,759 I swear I feel like you guys, you don't miss 149 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,040 a beat down there. Ay BYU Athletics. That's for sure. No, 150 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,120 his reaction was. It caught my attention, honestly, and I 151 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:40,959 mean my wife was the one that pointed out, was like, 152 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,120 did you see this? And I said, see what she's like? 153 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,399 Did you see that? She's like Dawson Baker like got notes? 154 00:06:46,399 --> 00:06:48,040 And I said, no, how did I miss that? And 155 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:49,480 then I went to social media. I was like, oh, 156 00:06:49,519 --> 00:06:53,600 my goodness, like and just his reaction. I know he 157 00:06:53,639 --> 00:06:56,040 gave the reaction, Hey, thanks to rock, you know, but 158 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:57,480 take me a little bit more behind the sly. I 159 00:06:57,480 --> 00:06:59,360 don't know if you've had a chance to talk with 160 00:06:59,759 --> 00:07:02,759 Dawn of how he felt, because the reaction was genuine, 161 00:07:02,879 --> 00:07:04,839 just like the one of him in the locker room, right, 162 00:07:04,879 --> 00:07:06,240 he didn't know that. I feel like he's been on 163 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:10,319 the highlight of these these videos, which is awesome. But 164 00:07:10,639 --> 00:07:12,439 just take me behind the scenes of how Dawson was 165 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,519 because I feel like that made me emotional in a 166 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,800 moment as just a person, right and just a fan 167 00:07:16,839 --> 00:07:19,360 of the game of basketball, and I know that probably 168 00:07:19,399 --> 00:07:20,920 had to make Dawson emotional as well. 169 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know. In fact, I very fortunately had the 170 00:07:24,879 --> 00:07:27,879 chance to take the elevator with him outside of the 171 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,079 Merritt Center that day, and it wasn't you know, I 172 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,480 wasn't like, you know, cherry bombing them waiting to say 173 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:35,920 hi to him on the way out, But it just 174 00:07:35,959 --> 00:07:37,959 worked out, which again was really fortunate for me. I 175 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,800 don't always see the payoff of, you know, those kind 176 00:07:41,839 --> 00:07:45,920 of interactions that we try to prepare for. But I 177 00:07:45,959 --> 00:07:48,439 was really humble to be in the elevator with him, 178 00:07:48,439 --> 00:07:50,560 and you know, he's got his crutches, had some nice 179 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,480 shoes on. In fact, President Reese was in the elevator 180 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,600 and gave him a shout out for a shoe game, 181 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,560 which Dust's always had a strong shoe game. But we 182 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,000 were able to take the elevator up and on the 183 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,439 way out, I said, hey, I heard you got some notes, 184 00:08:01,439 --> 00:08:03,600 which again I tried to play it off a little bit, 185 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,120 you know, almost play dumb for a moment, but I said, hey, 186 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,439 you got some some fun notes from the fans, and 187 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:11,160 he goes he kind of had a little tear in 188 00:08:11,199 --> 00:08:12,839 his eye and was just said, hey, you know that 189 00:08:12,959 --> 00:08:14,879 really really means a lot. It's a it's a long 190 00:08:14,959 --> 00:08:18,480 road ahead, but it was really cool to see individuals 191 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,120 with their names on a little piece of paper saying 192 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,839 something to me. As an individual because you know, I'm 193 00:08:23,879 --> 00:08:27,519 sure he knows that there's you know, there's support, and 194 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,959 you know, social media can certainly you know, people post 195 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,879 and comment on the post rather that say hey, you know, 196 00:08:33,919 --> 00:08:35,519 we wish you the best. But it's really fun to 197 00:08:35,519 --> 00:08:37,759 see it in the handwriting of a you know, six 198 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,639 year old kid or a longtime Cougar club member that's 199 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,559 been at games forever. So he was really grateful and 200 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:46,879 in fact, his wife was there as well, and you 201 00:08:46,879 --> 00:08:49,519 could kind of tell that she was grateful as well, 202 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:52,720 which is a really cool interaction. So you know, can 203 00:08:52,759 --> 00:08:54,600 be able to see the interaction in the moment when 204 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:56,720 you know, Richie walks up and says, hey, these are 205 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,519 from the rock and from the fans was its own 206 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,759 payoff moment for sure. But then again being able to 207 00:09:02,759 --> 00:09:05,039 walk out with him and just wish them the best 208 00:09:05,039 --> 00:09:07,279 myself and say, hey, it's the least we could do 209 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,720 on our staff from the fan experience side, to just 210 00:09:10,799 --> 00:09:13,600 express our gratitude and use the platform that we have 211 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,519 to you know, make a personal touch for him, which 212 00:09:17,519 --> 00:09:20,480 is really humbling. Again, he was very emotional and you 213 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,840 could tell as a very genuine, uh gratitude moment for him. 214 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,039 So again really humbled to even experience that and kind 215 00:09:27,039 --> 00:09:29,440 of get lucky on the way out that that I 216 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:30,480 got to walk out with him. 217 00:09:30,799 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, and look, Joe, we talked and we talked about 218 00:09:33,399 --> 00:09:35,320 the interview and prep you. I I didn't think I 219 00:09:35,399 --> 00:09:37,519 was going to get that response. I had no idea 220 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,720 you had the opportunity to be on the elevator, you know, 221 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:42,279 you know with him, I was shooting in a dark 222 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,279 hoping you would and that that that's very touching that 223 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:47,679 you are to experience that, And thank you for sharing that. 224 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,799 Of the behind the scenes always you know are important 225 00:09:50,799 --> 00:09:52,799 to me. We only see things that face value. Social 226 00:09:52,879 --> 00:09:54,960 media can only tell us so much, but we really 227 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,840 don't know what's going on behind the scenes. So thank 228 00:09:57,879 --> 00:10:00,960 you for that. That moment you get b yu, you guys, 229 00:10:01,039 --> 00:10:03,720 and you guys were able to light the world, you know, 230 00:10:03,759 --> 00:10:05,559 for Dawson Baker and his family. I know that he 231 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,679 will he will cherish that. But I want to go 232 00:10:07,759 --> 00:10:09,320 back to behind the scenes. Get to know you a 233 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:11,399 little bit better. Tell us about you know, your role. 234 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,600 You're the manager of the fan experience in marketing for 235 00:10:13,919 --> 00:10:16,120 men's basketball. You're the behind the scenes guy I see 236 00:10:16,159 --> 00:10:18,679 you all the time. I know you're busy. I don't 237 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,360 get to talk to you as much, but you got 238 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:20,960 a lot going on. 239 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 2: Just take us through. 240 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:23,919 Speaker 1: What did the day in the life is like for 241 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,440 you for a normal game day for bou basketball. 242 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,799 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, it's a really it's crazy that I get 243 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,080 to call us my job. I'll admit it's really fun 244 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,639 because I prepare, you know, as early as I can 245 00:10:36,799 --> 00:10:40,480 for a given game. And what's interesting is the two 246 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:43,480 kind of parts of my job are marketing and fan experience. 247 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:45,360 And some people may say, well, isn't it the easiest 248 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,320 job ever to market a team like this? And in fact, 249 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,039 I tell the guys in the once kind of the 250 00:10:51,039 --> 00:10:53,840 first meeting of the year, I'm invited in to kind 251 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:55,679 of describe what I do, and I just say, hey, 252 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,519 you guys make selling tickets really easy, so thank you. 253 00:10:59,279 --> 00:11:02,360 And in the market sitting side, my mindset pivots a 254 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,639 lot to you know, how do we now have season 255 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,320 ticket holders using their tickets? So that's kind of at 256 00:11:07,399 --> 00:11:10,159 least one thing that is heavy on my mind, and 257 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,440 you know, improving the usage of tickets, So that's a 258 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,639 big part of what I do. But the true game 259 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:22,679 to game preparation that we do is really regimented on 260 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:25,399 some sould. Inventory is a big part of things that 261 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,159 we do. So in fact, even as listeners here, you know, 262 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:29,840 a quick shout out at the stat of the day 263 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,279 was brought to you by a blank In fact, I 264 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,159 run through the same things. So I prepare for the 265 00:11:35,159 --> 00:11:39,039 in game entertainment portion of the game from you know, 266 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,039 doors open till about fifteen twenty minutes or so after 267 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:47,480 the game concludes. Basically, anything that's between the whistles or 268 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:49,639 really outside of the whistles is what I get to 269 00:11:50,039 --> 00:11:53,039 work towards. So that's the you know, the timing of 270 00:11:53,159 --> 00:11:56,000 the intro video with the sheet falling and the music 271 00:11:56,039 --> 00:11:58,679 and the lights and all those sorts of things, in 272 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,519 addition to during timeouts, the breaks where we have a 273 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,879 chance to you know, run a half court shot by 274 00:12:03,879 --> 00:12:08,360 a sponsor or, you know, do a Light the World initiative, 275 00:12:08,399 --> 00:12:13,159 which we did technically unsponsored but certainly aligned with BUYU, 276 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,440 which is a big thing I wanted to push over 277 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,360 the last few years. But so yeah, my entire job 278 00:12:18,399 --> 00:12:21,559 is to entertain the fans and particularly do that in 279 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,360 a way that helps the environment of the game be 280 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,159 conducive to that home court advantage that everyone wants and 281 00:12:28,159 --> 00:12:30,600 everyone luckily talks about when they think about the Merritt Center. 282 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:33,600 So you know, trying to think, Okay, we have, you know, 283 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:35,759 handful of things that we have to do before the 284 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:37,639 end of the game, and we just went on a 285 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:39,519 ten oh run, and so what I'm going to do 286 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,639 is actually let the energy you ride a little bit 287 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,679 longer and kind of push my script aside and you know, 288 00:12:45,879 --> 00:12:48,399 kind of mold things as they go, which is a 289 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,120 really fun part of it. So, you know, I know, 290 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,679 Coach Young says all the time that each game has 291 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,720 a new life or a new story behind it, which 292 00:12:55,759 --> 00:12:58,840 is surprisingly very true of what I do, because there's 293 00:12:58,879 --> 00:13:02,279 different times where can those runs that we go on 294 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:04,279 or I just want to live in those moments and 295 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,240 still get the things done that are paid for, but 296 00:13:07,279 --> 00:13:10,559 then allow you know, kind of flexibility for that and 297 00:13:10,879 --> 00:13:14,120 realize too that I have the kind of the levers 298 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:18,159 if you will, to help kind of squash the energy 299 00:13:18,159 --> 00:13:19,679 of the other team if they go on a quick 300 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:21,720 six to zero run. You know, how can I help 301 00:13:21,799 --> 00:13:25,120 our fans and the team, you know, kind of let 302 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,279 that be a quick burn and then move on to 303 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,480 the next thing and reignite our fans in a positive way. 304 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,200 So that's at least kind of the high level of 305 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,279 what we do and what I get to do and 306 00:13:35,279 --> 00:13:37,120 I can call my job is to try to build 307 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,679 the environment such that the players can feel the energy 308 00:13:39,759 --> 00:13:42,639 at the right time. Perhaps the other team cannot feel 309 00:13:42,639 --> 00:13:44,840 the energy at the right time in hopes of having 310 00:13:44,879 --> 00:13:46,919 a great home court advantage in the Merritt Center. 311 00:13:47,879 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 1: And you just get a bou fans new life and 312 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,600 you might have put a name just target on your back. 313 00:13:53,639 --> 00:13:56,399 So if one of these teams Arizona comes up here 314 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,000 on atal run, they're gonna need you to kill the 315 00:13:58,039 --> 00:14:01,360 momentum to do that to Swim and Bye's favor. I'm 316 00:14:01,399 --> 00:14:04,039 totally I'm totally joking when I say that, But that's 317 00:14:04,759 --> 00:14:08,360 that's good to know about that I've experienced. Look, i'm 318 00:14:08,399 --> 00:14:11,000 a media member there, but I've enjoyed every part of 319 00:14:11,039 --> 00:14:13,759 the atmosphere from the sheet drop to the half court shot. 320 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,240 I do have to ask this, and I need to 321 00:14:16,279 --> 00:14:17,720 let you go in a little bit. But I was 322 00:14:17,759 --> 00:14:20,000 told by you know, the better three force, I need 323 00:14:20,039 --> 00:14:22,039 to ask this. I don't want to do this. I 324 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,399 told her. I said, I rather Joel hook up me 325 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,159 having a half court shot, you know, trying to bring 326 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,320 some money to the family. But I was told by 327 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:32,759 the Better three Force, you're ever gonna have that baby 328 00:14:32,799 --> 00:14:35,360 crawl again because we got a little one. And she's like, oh, 329 00:14:35,399 --> 00:14:37,399 that would be fun. And I was completely vetoing it. 330 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,639 But you know, sometimes you just stop arguing because you're 331 00:14:39,679 --> 00:14:40,200 not gonna win. 332 00:14:40,879 --> 00:14:42,759 Speaker 2: Hey, I feel that for sure, But yeah, in fact 333 00:14:42,799 --> 00:14:45,159 it is. It is one that we will have and 334 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,320 in factor's a kind of some new elements to it 335 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,279 that we're always trying to enhance those types of things too, right, 336 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,120 kind of make it feel a little bit more like 337 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,559 a broadcast for those kids and have a little bit 338 00:14:54,559 --> 00:14:56,919 more wow. So that, to my understanding, it actually has 339 00:14:56,919 --> 00:14:58,279 been sold, so we should have a few of those 340 00:14:58,279 --> 00:14:59,320 baby races coming up. 341 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: Well, I'm definitely gonna have to talk to you. She said, 342 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:03,200 you're gonna ask him about this and we're gonna make 343 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:04,879 that happen. It was like, I don't like to be 344 00:15:04,879 --> 00:15:06,440 in the light. I just want to sit up in 345 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,440 the seat. She's like, it's happening. We need to have 346 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,440 her do it. Just started crawling everywhere and she's giggdy 347 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:14,759 about it. So I'm like, okay, so I will get 348 00:15:14,799 --> 00:15:17,120 home safely tonight. I won't sleep on the couch because 349 00:15:17,159 --> 00:15:19,600 I asked the correct question in the right way. 350 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,679 Speaker 2: Uh, very well done, you know you. 351 00:15:22,679 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: Know all about that. I'll get you out of here 352 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,919 on this, Joel. Just take me through BYU Athletics and 353 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,120 BYU as a whole. What is meant to you as 354 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,720 a student. You know your job well when when you 355 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,519 were a student. Obviously Fu's just got baptized. I think 356 00:15:35,559 --> 00:15:38,440 that speaks proudly to what the BYU mission statement is. 357 00:15:38,639 --> 00:15:41,519 And it happened after he left BYU, not during his time, 358 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,600 and someone who is completely of a different faith, and 359 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:46,919 you know you felt like embodied the mission statement at 360 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:47,320 b YU. 361 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely. In fact, I was listening to the segment 362 00:15:51,879 --> 00:15:54,200 prior and I was humbled enough that in fact to 363 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,919 be at the baptism just yesterday, which I was really 364 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,679 humbled for the chance to be there, and it was 365 00:15:59,759 --> 00:16:03,399 really to that point kind of encapsulate all that. You know, 366 00:16:03,679 --> 00:16:06,679 He's one of many examples of just people that live 367 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,200 life in a way that just like brings light to 368 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,399 other people. And it was you know, not surprising to 369 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,519 see that he would bring what he you know, his 370 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,039 experiences in life and his personality and just add that 371 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:22,320 to the light of the Gospel and what BUYU itself 372 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,320 and the church stand for. And so that's one thing that, Yeah, 373 00:16:25,519 --> 00:16:29,519 your main question is, you know, that alignment that I 374 00:16:29,559 --> 00:16:33,120 can have in my role is what I strive for, 375 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,679 you know, with the mission and aims of BUYU in 376 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,639 general as the university. Same with within athletics. You know, 377 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:41,399 we harp on it as a team a lot and 378 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,600 I kind of drive it into my team's head a 379 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,120 lot of you know, can we be aligned to the 380 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,840 best of our ability and really be honest with ourselves 381 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,799 because we want to just be the best version of 382 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,799 ourselves in what we do and the interactions that we 383 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:55,879 get to have with our fans. And again, you know, 384 00:16:55,879 --> 00:16:58,039 fous is a great example of that. Where from his 385 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:00,559 freshman year, which is actually my first year in this 386 00:17:00,679 --> 00:17:04,359 role working with basketball, you know, I've seen him grow 387 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,279 both as a basketball player but as a person even more, 388 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,119 which is why it was such a humbling opportunity to 389 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,920 see him, you know, dressed in white and being baptized 390 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:17,599 and then you know, directly after being confirmed a member 391 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:20,519 of the church and receiving the priesthood immediately in fact, 392 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,240 and just to think, hey, he's the light that he's 393 00:17:24,279 --> 00:17:26,720 already shared in my life and in even my wife's 394 00:17:26,759 --> 00:17:30,400 life and others that know him. It's the Gospel is 395 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,720 just going to add to the light that he already has. 396 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,920 And it's just so humbling to think that again, not 397 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,319 only am I doing this job that's fun and really 398 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:42,359 entertaining and engaging and dynamic, but I get to do 399 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:44,480 it at a place where if I align myself well 400 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,759 with the principles of the Gospel and the university, it's 401 00:17:47,759 --> 00:17:49,920 going to even have a bigger impact on those that 402 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:52,680 come into the arena, and it can hopefully leave having 403 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:54,920 a great experience, hopefully having seen a lot of wins, 404 00:17:55,279 --> 00:17:58,519 and hoping to come back at future times. So get 405 00:17:58,599 --> 00:18:00,240 humbled to have the chance to call this my job 406 00:18:00,279 --> 00:18:03,720 and think about it a lot, and and and try 407 00:18:03,759 --> 00:18:06,000 to just do my best to be my best and 408 00:18:06,079 --> 00:18:07,400 share that light the best that I can. 409 00:18:07,799 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 1: Well, you've been sharing that light. You do a great job, 410 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,880 and you're portion with the with the basketball team. I've 411 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,759 told Anna Metcalf, your colleague as well. Phenomenal job with football. 412 00:18:16,799 --> 00:18:20,519 I'm always in impressed. We'll have to talk of off record, 413 00:18:20,519 --> 00:18:23,319 but I love the new additions that were added, uh 414 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,799 you know that will be added for conference play for basketball. 415 00:18:25,799 --> 00:18:28,880 I love the new additions for football of the field. 416 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:32,000 You know, the all of it is great, and you 417 00:18:32,039 --> 00:18:34,799 guys have truly earned by I think others and you know, 418 00:18:34,799 --> 00:18:37,519 I pull other media members of this day for football 419 00:18:37,559 --> 00:18:39,880 and basketball say those are some of the best. If not, 420 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,599 that's the best atmosphere to come to in the Big twelve, 421 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:45,359 number one and in college athletics that they enjoy their 422 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,599 time in provo. So you guys do a great job. 423 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,599 Please coop up the good work. But before I let 424 00:18:50,599 --> 00:18:52,319 you go, I got to give you the pitch. What's 425 00:18:52,319 --> 00:18:55,359 the best way? You know myself? The listeners, the people 426 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,119 that download the podcast and that are tuning into the 427 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,640 show right now can support you what you do, how 428 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,559 you do work, and they maybe follow you on social 429 00:19:01,599 --> 00:19:04,160 media ad to get all the updates. 430 00:19:04,519 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely well, thanks for the chance to do so. 431 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,759 Maybe even at a higher level, I'd encourage people to 432 00:19:09,799 --> 00:19:13,119 give BYU fan Experienced our team's account a follow that's 433 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,119 where you can learn about themes of a game or 434 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,119 giveaways or you know, fan zone related things, and that's 435 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:21,079 just BYU fan X, which is FA n e X 436 00:19:21,319 --> 00:19:24,680 short for experience, but then just personally on X. My 437 00:19:25,599 --> 00:19:28,799 handle I suppose as it's called is Marion m a 438 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:33,839 ar Io n Underscore Joel Underscore thirteen, product of twenty thirteen, 439 00:19:34,079 --> 00:19:36,960 Class of twenty thirteen. That is from high school, which 440 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,759 is where that came from, but yet available online. Always 441 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:44,079 open to feedback and experiences from fans, because again, if 442 00:19:44,079 --> 00:19:46,720 I can even understand one person's experience a little bit 443 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:49,240 better and improve that and multiply it time over time, 444 00:19:49,279 --> 00:19:51,559 over time, my job gets a lot better and everyone's 445 00:19:51,599 --> 00:19:53,799 experiences get better too. So be sure to drop me 446 00:19:53,839 --> 00:19:55,960 a line if there's ever any suggestions, and we take 447 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:58,559 them seriously too, so no hesitation. 448 00:19:59,039 --> 00:20:03,279 Speaker 1: Look, I graduated in April, Joel can my class last year. 449 00:20:03,559 --> 00:20:05,799 He does take the suggestion seriously. I've had a chance 450 00:20:05,799 --> 00:20:07,839 to talk to him, but now that I'm outside, I 451 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,079 see all of it coming to fruition, trust me, So 452 00:20:10,079 --> 00:20:12,279 give him a follow today on his personal account at 453 00:20:12,279 --> 00:20:15,759 marian Underschool Joel Underscore thirteen, and then also followed them 454 00:20:15,759 --> 00:20:18,880 at you know BYU fan X as well. Look, you 455 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,200 gotta follow this guy, the marketing and data nerd per him, 456 00:20:22,319 --> 00:20:24,720 not me. He was born in Colorado, but he was 457 00:20:24,799 --> 00:20:25,680 built in Provo. 458 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. It takes a chance to be on of. 459 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: Course, thanks Joe brother, I'll let you go, man and 460 00:20:31,759 --> 00:20:34,359 late Mary. Christmas to you and the family, and happy 461 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:35,240 New Year two year as well. 462 00:20:35,279 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 2: Man. Hey, likewise, thanks so much. Gokus, Okay, I'll let 463 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:38,640 you go. 464 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,599 Speaker 1: That was Joel Marion. Love to have Joel on discuss. 465 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,839 I wanted to take a different angle guys of bu 466 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:48,599 basketball and highlighting Dawson like the world. Happy holidays to everybody, 467 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:52,039 Merry Christmas. Look, I am a big advocacist the gospel. 468 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:55,599 Jesus Christ changed my life forever I am. I'm a 469 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:57,720 convert to the church, and I've seen how it's blessed me. 470 00:20:58,240 --> 00:20:59,599 One of the reasons I met by he was to 471 00:20:59,599 --> 00:21:01,799 surround my I sell by these people. So whenever I 472 00:21:01,799 --> 00:21:03,960 hear stories and see these things, I love to highlight them. 473 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:05,880 But we gotta go to break. We gotta get to 474 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:08,200 Jerem Jordan on the flip, don't go anywhere you touch 475 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,480 the am dollar. Might it might not be christ Like, 476 00:21:10,519 --> 00:21:11,960 it might not be like the word. I might Juda 477 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:13,839 chopp you in the throat, but it's only two minutes. 478 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:16,279 Two minutes a word from our sponsors. Don't go anywhere, 479 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,200 Jerem Jordan on the flip in the Little Cougar Beat. 480 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,680 You're listening to Cougar Sports one O three nine ninety 481 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:21,440 eight three ESP