WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>In the NFL Draft starting today in Green Bay. And

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<v Speaker 1>we're talking with the guy right now that knows about

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<v Speaker 1>this process leading up to it. He is former University

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<v Speaker 1>of Houston linebacker seven lakes product out of the Katie area,

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<v Speaker 1>Michael Batton. Michael, what's going on? Man, appreciate your time.

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<v Speaker 1>You got me, Dan Matthews, you got Sean Salisbury here

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<v Speaker 1>with you, And I mean, you're a guy that knows

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<v Speaker 1>anything but a straight path in this game in terms

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<v Speaker 1>of having to switch positions, playing at different schools, all

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<v Speaker 1>of those different things. How do you feel like all

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<v Speaker 1>going through all that entire process prepared you for possibly

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<v Speaker 1>having a pro career.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey, guys and Sean, thank you, thank you for having

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<v Speaker 2>me on the show. Yeah, my path definitely hasn't been

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<v Speaker 2>a straight line. It's been quite a winding road. But

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<v Speaker 2>like you said, it definitely prepared prepared me for the

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<v Speaker 2>next level. You know, it's not going to be easy

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<v Speaker 2>at the next level, and it definitely wasn't easy taking

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<v Speaker 2>this path, and I think all that adversity kind of

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<v Speaker 2>created a lot stronger person that's prepared for anything. And

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<v Speaker 2>I have the confidence now to take the next step

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<v Speaker 2>and take whatever is going to come my way at

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<v Speaker 2>the next level.

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<v Speaker 3>Michael, You when you came out of high school and

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<v Speaker 3>played quarterback and you've played wide receiver, you played lineback,

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<v Speaker 3>you played quarterback, and you were recruited, had no scholarship offers,

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<v Speaker 3>and so take me through that feeling. You know, you're

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<v Speaker 3>busting your ass in high school wanting an opportunity most people,

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<v Speaker 3>and they're no offers. Going to college, get your degree,

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<v Speaker 3>it's time to move on from football?

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<v Speaker 4>Why not you?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well, I actually thought, you know, that's what I

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<v Speaker 2>was going to do. You know, out of high school,

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<v Speaker 2>like you said, I didn't have many opportunities at all.

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<v Speaker 2>All I had was a walk on opportunity University Louisiana Lafayette.

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<v Speaker 2>I took that was only there for about a week

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<v Speaker 2>or two, and I just decided that maybe football wasn't

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<v Speaker 2>for me. I was lit upset, you know, I couldn't

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<v Speaker 2>play quarterback anymore, and so, yeah, away from the sport,

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<v Speaker 2>and I thought I'd never come back. And you know

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<v Speaker 2>that that year I took off back in twenty nineteen,

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<v Speaker 2>I was just living in College Station. I was going

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<v Speaker 2>to go to Blend Junior College up in Brian, which

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<v Speaker 2>didn't have the football team. It was just strictly a

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<v Speaker 2>school and I was going to go to A and M.

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<v Speaker 2>But I quickly realized, you know, I might have made

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<v Speaker 2>a mistake and kind of found my way back back

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<v Speaker 2>into football. And I think, you know, it was really

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<v Speaker 2>a blessing that they went that way, and I'm glad

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<v Speaker 2>I got back into it. It was it was that year,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I needed to take a break and kind

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<v Speaker 2>of put everything back into perspective, and it led me

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<v Speaker 2>back to the sport I love. And it's like like

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<v Speaker 2>we were saying, it's been a crazy ride, and I'm

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<v Speaker 2>glad I got back into it. And I'm glad I

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<v Speaker 2>took that year off. It's everything I needed to kind

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<v Speaker 2>of put thing back into perspective.

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<v Speaker 3>How did you keep yourself esteem intact? And I'm being

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<v Speaker 3>serid because a lot of you know, kids go through

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<v Speaker 3>and you've been beat down, you're not playing the position

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<v Speaker 3>you want. You go to school, you're only there for

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<v Speaker 3>a little bit, you know, Lafayette, and you're going somewhere else.

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<v Speaker 3>You're done with it, and it gets you know that

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<v Speaker 3>feeling of man, I don't want to get cut. I

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<v Speaker 3>want to I didn't get a scholarship. I just I'm

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<v Speaker 3>fascinated with your resilience, and I think you went to

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<v Speaker 3>what five schools? Ended up at Houston Aunible mentioned All

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<v Speaker 3>conference linebacker, finally found your position under coach Fritz.

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<v Speaker 4>But the journey to get there.

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<v Speaker 3>Most of us, your path is the one we'd say,

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<v Speaker 3>if we're sitting on a radio show, say five schools,

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<v Speaker 3>come on, man, when's it done right?

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<v Speaker 4>We would have tried to talk to you out of it.

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<v Speaker 3>How did you stay involved in it? There had to

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<v Speaker 3>be one deciding moment where you said, nah, I got

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<v Speaker 3>to continue to prove to these guys I'm resilient.

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<v Speaker 5>How'd you stick to well? You know, in the beginning,

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<v Speaker 5>it was more about getting my.

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<v Speaker 2>Life back together, right STUPA stepping away from football made

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<v Speaker 2>me realize just how good of an organization athletics really

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<v Speaker 2>is at keeping your life straight. And when I stepped

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<v Speaker 2>away from it, I saw that, you know, I struggled

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<v Speaker 2>with discipline and those kind of things. So you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I knew I was good at football, and that's kind

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<v Speaker 2>of all I knew up to that point in my life.

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<v Speaker 2>And I was like, I just want to get on

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<v Speaker 2>a team, get my life back together. And figure this

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<v Speaker 2>whole thing out, and you know, I'm gonna put my

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<v Speaker 2>best foot forward, and you know that's what I did.

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<v Speaker 2>I started at HBU, and you know, I didn't do

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<v Speaker 2>too well there. I kind of fell flat on my face.

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<v Speaker 2>I did end up getting into the quarterback room. But

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<v Speaker 2>when springball came around in twenty twenty one, I was

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<v Speaker 2>the only quarterback, you know, not getting any reps.

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<v Speaker 5>But I did learn two things. I realized I'm a

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<v Speaker 5>great athlete. I really am.

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<v Speaker 2>I can't compete at this college level on athletic level,

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<v Speaker 2>and I'm good enough to play quarterback. So you know,

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<v Speaker 2>that was kind of my rock bottom though, not getting

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<v Speaker 2>those reps. In spring practice, I was literally the only quarterback.

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<v Speaker 2>They wouldn't even let me throw routes on air. It

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<v Speaker 2>was it was kind of embarrassing, but it's funny. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>when you hit that rock bottom, you kind of I

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<v Speaker 2>guess it humbles you, but it gives you, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>a new perspective on things, and I kind of just

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<v Speaker 2>jump started from there.

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<v Speaker 5>I realized, you know, I can play this sport.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm athletic enough, and so at that route to JUCO

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<v Speaker 2>and I had a really good season up in New York,

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<v Speaker 2>which the Juco Nashau Community College was was in Long Island,

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<v Speaker 2>and I had one of my best years yet. And

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<v Speaker 2>you know, that's kind of how I kept myself with

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<v Speaker 2>steam up. I just took it one step at a time.

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<v Speaker 2>And you know, unfortunately after that, I didn't really have

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<v Speaker 2>any offers.

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<v Speaker 5>I had an offer to SCS School up in Wagner.

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<v Speaker 2>I was going to go there, but there's a great

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<v Speaker 2>situation that didn't work out, an eligibility situation. They took

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<v Speaker 2>me all for a way and I was left with nothing.

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<v Speaker 2>And obviously that that hurt me a lot too, and

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<v Speaker 2>I felt like I was just back in that same

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<v Speaker 2>situation I was after HBU. But at the same time,

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<v Speaker 2>I still had that confidence that I could play football.

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<v Speaker 2>I still had three years left. And one day a

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<v Speaker 2>coach came and calling from ULM saying they'd love to

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<v Speaker 2>have me as an athlete, special teams player and on defense.

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<v Speaker 5>And I kind of.

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<v Speaker 2>Laughed at the idea at first, but something in my

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<v Speaker 2>heart was telling me that this was a good opportunity.

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<v Speaker 2>I go play Division one football. I get, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>continue pursuing my degree, being a good program with the

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<v Speaker 2>Brotherhood and that's what was most important to me still

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<v Speaker 2>at that time, and so I took that chance and

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<v Speaker 2>I went and you know, right off the bat on

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<v Speaker 2>four stream, and of course I'm a little upset with that,

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<v Speaker 2>but it is what it is. I know, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm a former quarterback. The dude the're probably like, who

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<v Speaker 2>the hell is this guy?

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<v Speaker 5>You know whatever.

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<v Speaker 2>But luckily for me, the second team guy ended up

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<v Speaker 2>quitting two weeks into me getting there, and the third

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<v Speaker 2>screen guy was another walk on like me, And first

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<v Speaker 2>week in the fall camp, I moved up to the

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<v Speaker 2>second string spot. And throughout that year I was just

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<v Speaker 2>the twelfth man guy special teams. But by the ten

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<v Speaker 2>game of the season, I finally got my opportunity.

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<v Speaker 5>The starter got hurt and had that game.

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<v Speaker 2>I finished with sixteen tackles fifteen so it was past

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<v Speaker 2>deflection and a forced fumble. And then the last two

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<v Speaker 2>games and at the last two games I also led

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<v Speaker 2>the team and tackles both those games, and I finished

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<v Speaker 2>the season with forty five tackles, which was fifth on

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<v Speaker 2>the team in pretty much three games. So when you

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<v Speaker 2>talk about self esteem, at that point it started to coming.

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<v Speaker 4>Along, went right right. Your production was off the charts.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, sir, and you know, stepping into that next season,

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<v Speaker 2>I got put on scholarship right after the season, started

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<v Speaker 2>feeling real good about myself and real confident in my capabilities.

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<v Speaker 2>Led the team and tackles. That next year at ULM,

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<v Speaker 2>was defensive player of the year, was a captain. Unfortunately,

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<v Speaker 2>a team did real bad, you know, and that's kind

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<v Speaker 2>of when you know, me and my father kind of

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<v Speaker 2>had some conversations about hitting the portal.

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<v Speaker 5>And obviously that led me to Houston. I didn't think

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<v Speaker 5>I would get any of these these big offers, but.

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<v Speaker 2>They kind of started coming in and I was very blessed,

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<v Speaker 2>and Houston just made sense, you know, close to home

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<v Speaker 2>and an opportunity to rewrite my history and my failures

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<v Speaker 2>that were at HBU.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>Michael Batton again, former UH linebacker joining us here getting

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<v Speaker 1>ready for the draft, and Michael part of that process.

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<v Speaker 1>You go the Big twelve Pro Day, you run a

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<v Speaker 1>four five three forty. You also broad jump ten feet

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<v Speaker 1>two inches best among the linebackers there at Big twelve

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<v Speaker 1>Pro Day, ninety tackles last year on the field. I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, you throw all that together when you're talking

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<v Speaker 1>with teams. I mean, is it just as simple as

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<v Speaker 1>you tell them? Hey, watch my tape. It shows you know.

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<v Speaker 5>I wish it was that simple, but unfortunately it's not.

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<v Speaker 5>You know, I'm fighting.

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<v Speaker 2>Fighting different things, you know, with my size, and you

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<v Speaker 2>know how that goes. Sean, you know you're a former

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<v Speaker 2>NFL player. But I think you know, at the end

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<v Speaker 2>of the day, my film it is the end all

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<v Speaker 2>be all, and I have really good film. I think

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<v Speaker 2>I have some of the best film in this draft class. Thankfully.

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<v Speaker 2>At the prodaate, like you mentioned, I ran really fast

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<v Speaker 2>four or five three, and that's was a big question

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<v Speaker 2>about me. They knew I was quick, they could see

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<v Speaker 2>it on film. They wanted to know just how fast

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<v Speaker 2>it was. And I needed to be as quick and

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<v Speaker 2>as fast as possible because there is a.

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<v Speaker 5>Concern about my size.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it's a little bs but that's just part

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<v Speaker 2>of the game and that's okay.

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<v Speaker 5>So but I checked all the boxes that I could

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<v Speaker 5>possibly check. My film is.

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<v Speaker 2>Really amazing and I'm excited to see where this will

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<v Speaker 2>take me.

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<v Speaker 3>Michael, think about this. Five schools didn't get recruited out

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<v Speaker 3>of high school. Come here, if you play great, go

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<v Speaker 3>to Juco. Find your way through the coach Fritz's team

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<v Speaker 3>of Houston. Now we're on the morning of the draft

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<v Speaker 3>and you're somehow, some way, regardless of the free agents

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<v Speaker 3>are getting drafted somewhere, you're going to be putting on

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<v Speaker 3>an NFL uniform training camp. The road you've been on,

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<v Speaker 3>you've got to be fired up. So thoughts today about

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<v Speaker 3>possible round, what they've told you, and where are your

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<v Speaker 3>emotions today heading into.

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<v Speaker 4>What right now?

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, for you, you've been through plenty of adversity, but

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<v Speaker 3>what a great reward to be able to anticipate this

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<v Speaker 3>day for you.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, certainly, it's still hard to believe. I think it's

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<v Speaker 2>still setting in that like the draft is today. But

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I got at least twelve teams interested. I

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<v Speaker 2>mean twelve teams have made contact with me and showed

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<v Speaker 2>some strong interests, So you know, things are looking pretty good.

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<v Speaker 5>I think early as our fall is the fifth.

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<v Speaker 2>Round, but you know, I think I'll be anywhere from

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<v Speaker 2>fifth round to seventh round to a priority free agent.

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<v Speaker 2>Should if I don't get drafted, I should be getting

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<v Speaker 2>that getting several calls right after the seventh round, and

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<v Speaker 2>so yeah, obviously I'm very excited. I feel very blessed.

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<v Speaker 2>Things are definitely coming full circle.

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<v Speaker 5>You know.

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<v Speaker 2>To be able to start in Houston, come all the

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<v Speaker 2>way back, play like I did.

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<v Speaker 5>And to be on this stage is it's it's really

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<v Speaker 5>a dream come true.

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<v Speaker 2>And I think it's just a lesson and just putting

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<v Speaker 2>your best foot forward and everything that you do and

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<v Speaker 2>God kind of leads you down a path that maybe

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<v Speaker 2>you didn't expect and sometimes it's a lot.

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<v Speaker 5>Better than what you had planned.

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<v Speaker 2>But you know, obviously I'm excited and I'm thankful, but

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<v Speaker 2>at the end of the day, I won't be pleased

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<v Speaker 2>until I make that fifty three man roster.

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<v Speaker 5>So this is really just step one of a long,

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<v Speaker 5>long process.

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<v Speaker 3>See Michael, the transfer portal was set up for stuff

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<v Speaker 3>like this. You know, when somebody says five schools, everybody,

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<v Speaker 3>oh my gosh, was he chasing nil money? Your whole

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<v Speaker 3>thing was chasing an opportunity and you had to switch

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<v Speaker 3>positions to do it. And these are the stories everybody

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<v Speaker 3>wants to hear. But for you, yeah, it's a feel good.

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<v Speaker 3>But the feel good is getting getting paid on Sundays

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<v Speaker 3>and going to knocking people around. So with that in mind,

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<v Speaker 3>were you given is there somebody, family member, coach, player,

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<v Speaker 3>advice you were given not just to get to this point,

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<v Speaker 3>but in your preparation and expectations, advice you were given

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<v Speaker 3>as you prepare to embrace a chance to play in

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<v Speaker 3>the NFL.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah. Absolutely.

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<v Speaker 2>One thing I've mentioned on several different radio shows and

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<v Speaker 2>some people that I've talked to about this journey. It's

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<v Speaker 2>something my father's with me. I think it's so simple,

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<v Speaker 2>but it really resonates me. Was he told me that

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<v Speaker 2>it's not about winning or losing, it's about trying. And

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<v Speaker 2>the reason that resonated with me so much is because

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<v Speaker 2>I think I was so paralyzed with fear of failure

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<v Speaker 2>in high school that held me back so much that

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<v Speaker 2>you know, it was more about, oh, I don't want

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<v Speaker 2>to look bad versus all. I want to go out

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<v Speaker 2>there and be the best I can be, and whatever

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<v Speaker 2>happens happening.

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<v Speaker 5>Because at the end of the day, if you give

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<v Speaker 5>it your all, if you try, you.

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<v Speaker 2>Prepared as much as possible, you can't lose it, no

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<v Speaker 2>matter the outcome. And so once I took that mentality

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<v Speaker 2>into this life and into this game, everything took off

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<v Speaker 2>for me. So that that would be the one thing

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<v Speaker 2>that really kept me going and it is keeping me going.

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<v Speaker 3>Now, all right, real quick and we'll let you go.

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<v Speaker 3>We can't thank you enough for coming on. Your story

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<v Speaker 3>is so fascinating and I hope it culminates in this

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<v Speaker 3>next few days of excitement for you. This approach to

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<v Speaker 3>it is, did you grow up a Texans fan?

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<v Speaker 4>Be honest?

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<v Speaker 3>Now, if you were putting a jersey on that, I said, hey, man,

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<v Speaker 3>you get to put a jersey on your team, who

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<v Speaker 3>would it.

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<v Speaker 5>Be well to tell you the truth?

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<v Speaker 2>I actually did grow up in Denver, Colorado during my

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<v Speaker 2>elementary days and been to Denver game.

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<v Speaker 5>So that's one team that would definitely be a blessing.

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<v Speaker 2>Unfortunately they haven't contacted me, but I have always been

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<v Speaker 2>a Denver fan. But of course I moved to Houston

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<v Speaker 2>here back in twenty eleven, and I've been a Houston

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<v Speaker 2>fan ever since. You know, how could you not wrap

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<v Speaker 2>your hometown team.

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<v Speaker 5>Putting on the Houston Texans.

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<v Speaker 2>Jersey would just really put things into full circle and

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<v Speaker 2>I think would really even be a cooler story.

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<v Speaker 5>And you know, I went to their local dad.

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<v Speaker 2>I got to meet Tamiko Ryans, the DC, the linebacker coach,

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<v Speaker 2>and walk around their facility and just super cool for

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<v Speaker 2>obvious reasons. Putting on the Texans Jersey wou definitely be

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<v Speaker 2>a blessing and hopefully they can give me an off

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<v Speaker 2>or or draft me. I think they'd be very pleased

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<v Speaker 2>what I can do for them as an organization.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, Man, what a fascinating story, and your resilience is

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<v Speaker 3>pretty damn special, So getting in that uniform I have.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't think any of us are going to question

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<v Speaker 3>the fact that you will finalize that goal of a

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<v Speaker 3>fifty three man roster. But we're so gratefully you spent

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<v Speaker 3>time with us. Man, I hope this weekend is a

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<v Speaker 3>life changer for you and and validates all the hard

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<v Speaker 3>work and time you've put in to continue to believe. Man,

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<v Speaker 3>it's great, and we were pulling for you, and now

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<v Speaker 3>now that we got you on, we would imagine that

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<v Speaker 3>when you're out there making Pro Bowls, that any time

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<v Speaker 3>we call, you are coming on the radio with us

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<v Speaker 3>without without saying no, I don't have time for you guys.

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<v Speaker 4>Fair enough.

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<v Speaker 2>Absolutely, I love doing this stuff and I really appreciate

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<v Speaker 2>y'all getting me on the show. So certainly I'm making

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<v Speaker 2>those Pro Bowls, getting in them super Bowls.

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<v Speaker 5>Just just give me a call, right.

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<v Speaker 3>We'll do that, Michael. Congratulations and good luck. We sure

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<v Speaker 3>appreciate you, brother, Thank you.

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<v Speaker 5>All right, guys, I appreciate it. Great.

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<v Speaker 4>What a great story.