Former Iowa OL
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SportsTranscript
00:00 It's great, you know, it's always great to be back.
00:03 Obviously a lot of good memories here and come back and see people and obviously for
00:07 this honor, you know, is kind of an accumulation of a lot of years and it's pretty humbling
00:18 to be going up in the stadium, obviously with all those other great names and to be going
00:23 into the College Football Hall of Fame.
00:24 Take us back to that moment where you got that call that you were going to be inducted
00:27 into the Hall, what was that like for you?
00:28 It was great, you know, it's typical fashion, we live up in the mountains and it was a rough
00:33 winter so you're supposed to get a football in the mail, but I got a call from somebody
00:38 here and was like, "Hey, just a heads up, we saw that the weather's bad, you're not
00:42 going to get your football, but we wanted to let you know before you saw it in the news."
00:45 But I kind of pulled over and, you know, I hadn't really thought about it, you know,
00:48 I knew I'd been on the ballot, it's not something you sit around and think about, and then it
00:53 really hit me later that day, you know, just the magnitude of it, the few number of guys
00:58 who have gone in, into the Hall of Fame, and then, you know, for me, being on the Ring
01:05 of Honor, for me, is so humbling with the other guys that are out, the other 10 guys,
01:10 11 total, you know, with the coach on there, but I think that hit me the most, it's like
01:15 that's something that will, you know, be up there when I'm far gone, you know, my kids
01:19 can see, and just here in the state, you know, how proud I am to be from Iowa to have played
01:25 here, and, you know, now you get to enjoy it, you know, all my years of playing, you
01:30 know, college pros, all that, you never really sit and enjoy, or bask in it, I should say,
01:37 but now it's like, okay, wow, you think about it, and, you know, you don't have to move
01:41 on to something else, it's like, oh wow, that's, like this is for real, and then they send
01:45 a picture of it up there, so, you know, obviously a great honor.
01:48 Could you imagine this coming in from East Buchanan, a little skinny tight end, which
01:53 wouldn't be game?
01:54 Yeah, no, that's, you don't, you know, and I wasn't, you know, whether the times are
01:59 different now, but I wasn't that kid, you know, in high school thinking about going
02:03 to the pros, right, it was, you know, it's high school football, it was the biggest thing
02:07 there was, and then the opportunity to play in college, and, you know, I never, you know,
02:12 you never think ahead of these things, you know, I don't, you know, I didn't set out
02:16 as a, you know, starting college to want to be in the Hall of Fame, you know, I wanted
02:20 to be the best I could be, I wanted to push myself to accomplish, you know, everything
02:27 and anything, but to think about it now, obviously it's very humbling, and, you know, it's hard
02:35 to believe, until you see your name up there, you know, you don't really believe it, it's,
02:40 you know, a lot of great memories, but it's, you know, I'm honored, you know, I played
02:44 with a lot of great guys, there's a lot of great guys before me, decades before me, and
02:50 my name's up there, so, obviously very humbled, very thankful for the situation here, I mean,
02:55 because the reality is, you don't, those things don't happen if you don't have good teams,
02:59 good coaches, good teammates, you know, that's all the linemen I played with, you know, the
03:02 teams we had, that's the reality of making those things happen, so I'm very thankful
03:07 for all those guys that were a part of my career.
03:09 How'd you go from a little skinny tight end to 325 pounds by the time you graduated?
03:15 You know, it's funny to look back on, because it was, you know, I had the frame, obviously
03:20 I wasn't a big, highly recruited guy, I sent out my own VHS tapes in high school, you know,
03:26 after my brother Nick had gotten a scholarship here, and I wanted to do this, you know, I
03:30 want a chance to, if I'm good enough, and sent my own tapes out, and, you know, you
03:34 just work, you come in, and a lot of it is, you know, the situation too, you know, luckily
03:40 I was, I think it was fate that came in with, you know, Coach Ferenc, Coach Doyle, that
03:45 first year we built the program, you know, the new group, the right people in my life
03:50 coaching me, and just, you know, just the never-ending want to be as good as you could,
03:56 that's, you know, you look back about what you did, and now you think about it, you know,
04:01 it's just the, it was instilled, you know, as a, from my parents, and then seeing my
04:06 brothers and sisters have athletic success, to, I want to be as good as I can be, now
04:10 what is that?
04:11 I have no idea, right, but every day it was just the, you know, the grind of every single
04:15 day, and, you know, told some people, the reality is, I wasn't that talented, you know,
04:21 like, I mean, there's guys, you know, that can get out of bed, walk on the field, and
04:25 they're just technicians, right, they're just, their athletic ability is through the roof.
04:32 I had to work for it, you know, not that everybody doesn't work for it, but I was not a guy,
04:35 I mean, I had to rep after rep, I remember in college, even into my senior year, you
04:40 know, before games, just taking steps and hand placement, and it was every day, because
04:45 that's, you know, that's who I was, I wasn't a guy that could just, nope, you know, I'm
04:49 not going to practice for a week, and then I'm just going to go out there, and it'll
04:51 be flawless, so I think that part of it is the most meaningful for me, is, you know,
04:59 the work that you went into, you know, I was very, I'm very thankful, and yes, I had some
05:03 athletic ability, but the work I had to put in is the things I remember the most.
05:08 You've kind of gotten back to being a skinny tight end right now, do Hawkeye fans even
05:11 recognize you when they see you out here?
05:12 Yeah, not a lot, you know, it's a haircut and 60 pounds of weight loss, but, you know,
05:18 same thing, you don't lose, that's what I tell my kids, you don't lose that grind, that
05:24 stuff you learned, right, all these things, and I'm sure they get tired of me talking,
05:28 but it's like eating right, and working out, and like feeling good, and being at your best,
05:33 right, my, you know, my job now is to be at my best as a parent, as, you know, physically,
05:38 mentally, and you don't lose those things you learned in college, especially, and even
05:44 before that, but that work ethic, you know, not late for, you know, those things that
05:49 you can't get rid of, right, I never missed a meeting in my life, was never late, you
05:54 know, and I know my kids think I'm crazy, but it's the same thing, right, whether we're
05:57 going to the school bus, or what, you are early, and I think it's great stuff, right,
06:02 it's life lessons, so it's a lot of things I took from, you know, all those years of
06:07 playing that are still with me.
06:09 When you committed, was it Hayden or Kirk the head coach when you committed?
06:12 Hayden was, yeah.
06:13 Hayden was.
06:14 He recruited me.
06:15 Yep.
06:16 And then, obviously, Hayden retired, and I was, you know, for a little bit there, I
06:20 was wondering what was going to happen, but then got a call from Coach Ferentz' staff,
06:24 and so it was, you know, they kept the scholarship offer, but I was definitely recruited before
06:31 Coach had been hired.
06:32 Do you think much about the move from tight end off, and how it changed your life?
06:36 Yeah, I mean, I think I knew it was coming, I mean.
06:41 So when you committed, you thought eventually you'd end up being an offensive lineman?
06:44 I think I was smart enough at that point, not that I was that smart, that I was 6'7",
06:47 had a huge frame, and was not, you know, I was fast for, you know, for who I was, but
06:54 I knew, you know, with my frame and build, and then the strength staff, and then when
06:59 I started putting weight on and muscle, I figured at some point, I didn't really think
07:03 about it, I didn't know when's this going to happen, because obviously it happened three
07:06 games into that, my freshman year, and I was, you know, scared, you know what, because it
07:13 was, you know, I'm going in, Illinois is my first game as a lineman against, you know,
07:19 Fred Wakefield, who's the All-American defensive end, so I don't think I was ready for it,
07:23 but I figured at some point it might happen, but I was also just like, tell me what to
07:26 do, you know, it was, you know, when I got the opportunity at tight end, and then, you
07:31 know, the weight was coming on, and, you know, I think the writing was a little bit on the
07:35 wall, but I didn't really think about it until they asked, and I was like, yes sir, let's
07:38 get it done.
07:39 So three games into the 2000 season is when they asked?
07:40 Correct.
07:41 Okay.
07:42 And they made the switch.
07:43 And you remember the Buick LeSabre and driving that around in '84, and what you do for a
07:48 living now is kind of unique, huh?
07:50 Yeah, no, you know, I've always loved the old cars, and that car, you know, kind of
07:53 took on a life of its own, you know, when I was here, and I actually drove it in Oakland
07:58 for a while, until it was laid to rest.
08:01 What did your teammates say in Oakland?
08:03 Well, you know, they figured out that's who I was, right, like that was like, it wasn't
08:07 flashy, it wasn't, you know, that's the type of guy it was, and I still love it, I love
08:12 the old classic car stuff, you know, I've got to obviously doing some stuff with those
08:17 now, but it was fun, it was like part of like the little bit of the, you know, being able
08:24 to show who you were, a little bit of your personality.
08:26 So it was obviously fond memories of all that.
08:29 Do you remember the nickname of the car?
08:32 We called it the Hooptie, I don't know what everybody else called it.
08:34 The seat was all bent back, had some hubcaps on it, yeah, that thing took on a life of
08:39 its own.
08:41 How do you view your pro career?
08:43 I mean, I think first year, didn't you have like a torn groin ear trying to play and playing
08:47 on a system that was about 20 years too old?
08:51 Yeah, I mean, you know, that's the good and bad of being drafted where I was, you go to,
08:57 you know, organizations, obviously, from the year before that, you know, with the worst
09:01 records, but, you know, you're, yeah, would you, I like to have been in the playoffs and
09:07 won the Super Bowls and done a bunch of other things that I, you know, had my sights set
09:11 on?
09:12 Absolutely.
09:13 But the reality is, you know, I had five head coaches in seven years in Oakland.
09:20 And, you know, it's, that's the great thing about and why I think it's so reminiscent
09:25 here is, you know, the longevity of Coach Ferentz, like you're in one system and this
09:30 type of player was like the same system, working with the same guys.
09:35 And that's why I think it's such a big thing to have Coach Ferentz around so long.
09:41 And you know, the pro, it's a business, you know, and like you said, there's injuries,
09:46 there's things that happen.
09:47 So of course, we're all competitive.
09:50 We want to write the story all the way to the end.
09:52 But you know, I'm very blessed to have played as long as I did and learned things I did
09:56 and met the people I met.
09:58 So very proud of it.
09:59 Well, you know, I know when you played for what two Hall of Fame tackles, if I recall,
10:04 that Art Schoell was the head coach and then Jackie Slater.
10:10 And then here, you know, I guess does it equate that maybe if you're a great player, you're
10:15 not always a great coach and a great teacher the way maybe Kirk is?
10:18 Yeah, I mean, I think it goes, you know, for me, the system, the techniques that Coach
10:23 Ferentz taught.
10:24 Yeah, those guys were great players.
10:26 And you know, they were there for a year.
10:28 You know, it's hard.
10:29 Like I said, I'm that guy.
10:31 It's not just getting off the bus, getting out of bed, ready to play.
10:34 You know, like the longevity of being in a system and learning the finer techniques.
10:40 And then, you know, other guys come in, especially the pros come in, oh, do it this way.
10:44 You got to do it this way.
10:45 This is how we do it.
10:46 You know, so there's a lot goes into it.
10:49 Right.
10:50 And then there's, you know, it's team wise.
10:51 Right.
10:52 It's like good teams, good things happen.
10:53 It's easy when your team's good.
10:55 You know, you look good.
10:56 So it's yeah, it's all seems like so long ago.
11:01 How special is this to have your family here and to share this with everybody?
11:04 Well, you know, obviously it's huge with my kids here and, you know, back up being back
11:10 here with, you know, watching the women's basketball success they've had.
11:13 So my my siblings, you know, who have, you know, my brothers have played here.
11:18 My sister did track here.
11:19 So to have everybody here, it's obviously it means a lot.
11:23 Like it's time to enjoy it.
11:24 And I'm very proud to have everyone here with me.
11:26 Is there something you really appreciate about having a connection to both Hayden and Kirk?
11:30 I don't know how players can say that.
11:32 Yeah, no, it's you know, because of my brother Nick, you know, I got to know Coach Fry and
11:38 his staff.
11:39 So just to you know, it's pretty it's pretty crazy to think that that, you know, two coaches
11:45 since before, you know, I was here, you know, and that I have been here, you know, for that
11:52 many years.
11:54 So and two great coaches, you know, I've obviously a lot of great stuff to say about Coach Ferentz
11:59 and what Coach Fry obviously is legendary.
12:02 So it's yeah, very, very big honor.
12:03 With your three kids over there, any future athletes among that group?
12:06 Anybody starting to shine?
12:07 Yeah, basketball, anything?
12:08 Yeah, they love it all.
12:10 You know, they they love doing everything and we try not, you know, both of us being
12:14 ex-athletes, it's hard not to push them into something that we want them to do.
12:19 So we're letting them do it.
12:20 They love it.
12:21 They love everything.
12:22 We told them we'll give them every opportunity they want if they want to do it.
12:25 But it's it's hard, right?
12:26 Because you know too much as an athlete, as an ex-athlete.
12:28 Right.
12:29 So, you know, they're talking about nutrition, you know, or I'm sure they get like that.
12:33 I'm eight.
12:34 Like, right.
12:35 You know, but it's you know, you just you don't get rid of that stuff.
12:38 So we're excited if they it's something they want to do.
12:41 You better believe for all four.
12:43 Give them that opportunity.
12:44 There's another guy that's drawn some comparisons to you over at East Buchanan right now with
12:47 Cody Fox.
12:48 Have you had a chance to talk to him at all or, you know, teach him some things or tell
12:50 him about that transition to college level?
12:52 I've talked to him a few times.
12:54 Yeah.
12:55 You know, it's it's cool to see young, you know, young guys now, you know, have success
12:58 and and kids come from your high school.
13:01 That's small little town back there that, you know, my I think my brother Nick put on
13:04 the map, you know, and then my sister and myself.
13:07 And now there's kids, you know, the Fox kids coming in here, get scholarships.
13:11 So it's great to go back and, you know, kind of share with those guys if they want to know.
13:16 And if not, it's like everybody learns their own thing.
13:18 How do you stay in shape?
13:20 You talked about working out.
13:21 Are you running?
13:22 How are you doing to maintain this weight?
13:23 It's pretty impressive.
13:24 Yeah, it's I mean, it's like when I was here, it's work for me.
13:29 It's eating right.
13:30 It's you know, it's a routine like you don't lose certain things of what you do.
13:34 Like, you know, I'm I figured out what works for me to be at my my peak health, you know,
13:39 and I'm a guy I get up four o'clock in the morning.
13:41 I do my workout.
13:42 I do my, you know, do my stuff.
13:45 And for me, it's really just, you know, you learn you can't eat certain things.
13:50 But I work out again, it's not just like, oh, I was done playing and it worked like
13:53 I do it every day.
13:54 Right.
13:55 I'm up at four, do my workout by 445.
13:57 I'm so you can't get rid of that routine, which is a blessing and a curse.
14:02 What do you weigh right now?
14:03 I'm about 270.
14:04 Yeah.
14:05 I wouldn't look back.
14:06 Do you still work on cars?
14:10 Is that still kind of your hobby?
14:11 Yeah, yeah, I enjoy it.
14:12 And at the time, a little time I have so the classic car stuff, you know, buying and selling
14:17 and finding stuff for guys and then doing a, you know, with all of our kids activities.
14:22 I've got some befriended over the years, some retired Navy SEALs, military special ops guys
14:29 that I'm doing some stuff with them for some organizations they have supporting them just
14:35 for so I met a lot of great people and then able to do a lot of that volunteer stuff.
14:41 And, you know, we're coaching the eighth grade girls basketball team in Tahoe and all those
14:47 things that it's fun to be a part of your kids life.
14:49 And then these organizations, like I said, that I like to support and be a part of and
14:54 have the time to do that.
14:56 As honorary captain, what's going to be your message to this year's team?
15:00 You know, I haven't thought of that yet.
15:01 You know, I'm not good at like preparing speeches or, you know, comments, you know, good at
15:05 them.
15:06 They, you know, they make me anxious.
15:10 You know, it's usually I go in there and figure it out, you know, whatever comes to mind.
15:15 There's been a lot going through my head, obviously.
15:17 There's a lot, you know, I think times have changed since I played and there's so much
15:21 more media and scrutiny and everybody has a comment and, you know, whether it's social
15:27 media and I think of what these kids go through.
15:29 So it's hard to get away from that, you know, having empathy for these kids because it's
15:35 a lot, right?
15:36 It's a lot for a grown man to deal with, you know, a professional player.
15:41 So I don't know.
15:42 You know, I think, you know, they put the work in and we'll see.
15:46 I could talk to them tomorrow, see them at practice tomorrow.
15:49 But it's, you know, they, it brings back memories of what we went through.
15:53 And like I said, the grind of all the scrutiny, you know, coming off a bad game or a good
15:59 game and it's, at the end of the day, they're kids, right?
16:03 Everybody wants to be good, right?
16:05 So I'm excited to see them and we'll see what comes up.
16:08 You're mentioning really being appreciative of Coach Ferens.
16:11 What's kind of your favorite?
16:13 What's the thing that you're most appreciative of him for?
16:15 I think that he's never wavered.
16:17 I mean, he is who he is.
16:19 He's been the same guy for 25 years.
16:21 I mean, I still talk to him.
16:22 He's the same guy and we have the same conversations or similar conversations as we did 15 years
16:28 ago.
16:29 And I think he's been consistent as a head coach.
16:32 You know, I owe a lot to him.
16:34 I owe a lot to Chris Doyle, Reese Morgan, these guys that coached me.
16:39 And they've never wavered, right?
16:40 There's been ups and downs like every one of us, right?
16:43 All of our careers has been ups and downs.
16:44 So I just think the consistency of who he is, he truly cares.
16:50 He's obviously, as he's gotten older, like myself, that stuff means more.
16:55 You show it a little bit more.
16:58 So I just think he's a great human being on top of a legendary coach and how he treats
17:03 people and the way he goes about his work.