Allsooners
  • 2 years ago
Danny Stutsman Alamo Bowl Preview (12-12-23)
Transcript
00:00 ready to leave this program, all that we built, going into year three with Coach
00:03 Venables, I wasn't ready to leave just yet.
00:05 >> Can you talk about just the last week of thinking you might leave and
00:10 then saying you're gonna come back and take us through that process?
00:12 >> Yeah, it was a headache, man.
00:13 It was probably one of the most stressful weeks of my life.
00:16 I was pretty much fully committed to, they already cleaned out my locker,
00:20 everything was ready to go.
00:22 And Coach V called me on Friday, really just sat down and
00:26 talked it through with him again.
00:28 Like I said before, I didn't feel like I was ready to leave yet.
00:31 I didn't wanna rush that.
00:33 You never have this time to go back to college.
00:35 I really just wanna finish out my senior year and everything comes with that.
00:38 >> How tough was that?
00:39 >> How much of that conversation did you have with Coach Venables?
00:43 >> I mean, quite a bit.
00:44 Coach V's invested so much into me, he's given me so much.
00:47 I think it's the least I can do is come back for one more season.
00:50 >> How tough was that first conversation you had with him when you told him that
00:53 you were thinking about leaving?
00:55 >> I mean, when I first talked to him, I told him I was fully decided.
00:58 If you're talking to Coach V, you can't really have any doubt,
01:00 because he's gonna talk to you for hours and try and convince you to stay.
01:03 So I knew when I called him that first time I had to be 100% committed.
01:07 And he gave me his fuel and I said, look, Coach, this is the best for my family.
01:11 And he had my back 100%.
01:13 He's like, if that's really what you think, I'm gonna support you no matter what.
01:16 You've done so much for this university,
01:18 you've given so much to the University of Oklahoma.
01:20 And obviously that didn't stick.
01:22 So we talked again, it was on his mind, he wanted to reach back out.
01:27 I'm glad he did.
01:27 >> What kind of draft feedback did you get back?
01:31 >> I mean, I haven't got my grade back.
01:33 It wasn't really about where I was gonna get drafted.
01:35 I know I can compete at that level.
01:38 If it was for money, I would have left, man.
01:40 I love the university.
01:42 It's much more money, man.
01:43 So it was all about getting my guys, being with the team,
01:45 putting on that jersey one more time.
01:47 >> Go ahead.
01:48 >> How much of this opportunity, playing the SEC for you,
01:51 did that kind of play into that decision too?
01:53 >> I mean, quite a bit.
01:54 We're gonna be playing against the best, man.
01:56 I'm excited for that.
01:56 All those games, I can't wait to get announced Wednesday.
01:59 I'm excited for that, man.
02:00 Looking forward to it.
02:01 >> Talk about the social media post with Bryan.
02:04 I know you and Brian have become very close.
02:06 He's talked about how much he really enjoys watching you play,
02:09 how he's gotten to know you and everything.
02:11 Talk about that video and how it got put together and
02:13 how much fun that had to be for you.
02:15 >> Yeah, that video was in the works for a while.
02:17 It was gonna be a late season Budkis campaign, but
02:20 obviously we had to reuse some footage.
02:22 So we took advantage of that.
02:23 For everyone that was saying that I took the weekend to shoot that video is not
02:27 true.
02:28 The weekend was very tough for me.
02:29 I was kind of locked up in my rooms, had the phone down just thinking and praying.
02:34 But, you know, Boz has been amazing, man.
02:36 Just for him to go out and we shot that video.
02:38 It was a great experience, everything that has going into it.
02:41 I got some cool pics and we're gonna release right after this.
02:43 So it was a great experience.
02:45 >> Now that's Barry's fur coat though, right?
02:47 >> Yeah, there's some lore behind that jacket.
02:50 It was the same fur coat, the mink fur coat that Barry Switzer wore when he
02:55 recruited the Boz, went to his high school and yelled at him.
02:57 So the Boz had to make a few phone calls.
02:59 And it's a nice jacket, I might have to get myself one.
03:02 >> You have to give it back immediately?
03:03 >> Yeah, I could keep it, took a few pictures and
03:05 he made sure that was coming back to him.
03:07 >> Was the Corvette part of the deal, did you get it?
03:09 >> The Corvette was not part of the deal.
03:11 >> [LAUGH] >> I'll start putting money in the bank
03:13 to maybe get one one day.
03:15 >> When Billy made his announcement that he wouldn't play in East,
03:19 did he make a decision at all?
03:20 >> 200%, me and Billy came in here together, we've done everything together.
03:24 And we really tried to build this defense together.
03:26 When he came and said he was coming back,
03:28 we were talking right after the TCU game, everything that we've done,
03:31 we wanted to do it together.
03:32 And I kind of wanted to leave and he said he was staying.
03:35 Yes, it did sway my decision for sure.
03:37 >> I think you two, Jalil and Ethan, are the last guys standing from that 21 class.
03:42 What does it mean just for you four to come back and
03:44 kind of lead this program to the SEC next year?
03:46 >> Yeah, I mean, we've talked about this ever since we got on campus.
03:49 In our times now, it's crazy with the transfer portal, the turnaround.
03:53 I think we're probably the only four that probably played.
03:55 There's a few other guys, Isaiah Coe and Jake Head played in the Alabama Bowl.
03:58 But that was only two years ago.
03:59 So a lot of guys have experience in San Antonio's like,
04:02 I'm really excited to have the opportunity.
04:04 >> Transfer portal's nothing new, but you guys do have guys coming in and
04:07 out, like today with Kate.
04:09 How do you handle that in some way?
04:11 Do you guys talk about that at all?
04:13 >> I mean, people kinda talk about the money aspect.
04:15 I think how it is right now is insane.
04:18 Everything that's going on, I don't think it's, you guys know how it is.
04:22 It's crazy.
04:23 It's turning into a bit of a full business, which is insane.
04:27 Obviously, I think some stuff's gonna have to happen.
04:28 But I mean, everyone's happy for each other.
04:30 When a guy enters the portal and
04:32 wants a better opportunity somewhere else, there's nothing you can do.
04:35 We all love each other on this field.
04:36 We're not gonna bash a teammate.
04:38 At the end of the day, we break it down in family every single time.
04:40 >> Dan, you're a great player.
04:43 But coming back, obviously you're coming back to get better too.
04:46 If you look at yourself, what do you see as yourself as a player?
04:50 >> I feel like I've always scratched the surface.
04:51 Only with two years of Coach Fab was I've improved so much.
04:54 I still have such a long ways to go.
04:55 I mean, I talk about that with Coach V.
04:58 If I'm coming back, I don't wanna take this lightly.
05:00 There's still so much I have to do.
05:02 I only have one more year to do.
05:03 >> Tell me about that first conversation you had.
05:05 What was the conversation like when you talked to him in the mirror?
05:07 What was the first thing you did?
05:08 >> Yeah, so I talked to him on Friday.
05:10 I kinda sat down, made that decision.
05:12 And then my dad talked to him first on, I think, Sunday night.
05:16 And obviously Coach was very ecstatic.
05:18 And then he called me back like ten minutes later.
05:20 Said he had chill bumps for a while.
05:22 It was very, very easy.
05:24 That was probably the easier conversation we've had.
05:26 And then I told Coach Roof after I released the video.
05:29 [INAUDIBLE]
05:32 He never even got to get the news till after, but
05:34 it was a great little birthday present for him.
05:36 >> Danny, you were here obviously when Brent came along.
05:39 Going through this process,
05:41 good to see Brent the recruiter come out a little bit with you?
05:44 >> Maybe a little bit, but I kinda know where his heart was at.
05:47 He didn't really have to sell me on anything.
05:49 Everything he told me I already knew.
05:50 It was just a matter of what was best for me.
05:52 >> What do you think this does for the defense?
05:54 You and Billy coming back?
05:56 >> I think it gives a great foundation.
05:58 Between me, Billy, and Ethan,
05:59 those are veteran guys at all three levels of that defense.
06:02 They really have a lot of experience, a lot of play time that can help lead
06:04 the younger guys that are coming in.
06:06 And the guys have already been here established themselves.
06:08 >> Danny, getting back out here, actually putting the uniform back on,
06:11 practicing, did it kinda make you feel like, yeah, this was the right decision?
06:15 >> Absolutely, being out with my guys, going through another practice,
06:18 having those team-separate periods with everyone, kinda getting back into it.
06:21 It was a great experience, man.
06:22 I love it out here.
06:23 I couldn't leave just yet.
06:24 >> Did the equipment guys have your stuff in the back room somewhere?
06:27 I mean, did they have it in the internment room, put it back?
06:29 >> Well, I mean, I came into my locker room after my final.
06:32 I see my katana just in the middle of the floor.
06:34 And I was like, what is this thing?
06:35 This stays in my locker.
06:37 And I was a little upset.
06:38 I had some nice shoes and all my stuff in a trash bag.
06:42 Like, this is ridiculous.
06:43 I didn't even release anything before I said I was leaving.
06:46 They cut me off the red card.
06:47 My fingerprint didn't work.
06:49 I was a little upset.
06:50 I told Code V, I just need the weekend.
06:52 And then they took it and ran and cut me off everything.
06:55 >> Tough place.
06:57 >> You guys are quick to replace you around here, right?
06:59 It is how it is.
06:59 It's just a business.
07:01 >> Glad you got all that stuff back.
07:02 I hope you got some new stuff, right?
07:05 >> Yeah, I had to get new gloves.
07:06 I found my old cleats, but it's great to be back.
07:10 >> And what have you seen from Jackson Arnold just throughout spring,
07:13 the season, everything that makes you feel like, yeah,
07:15 he's gonna be the guy of the future?
07:17 >> I mean, his elite ball placement, elite instincts.
07:20 You see the BYU game when he made that adjustment to DeLeon for that pass.
07:23 It was a critical, that sealed the game off.
07:26 He's a competitor, man.
07:27 His instincts are second to none.
07:28 He's a great player.
07:29 I mean, we already know what he does.
07:30 We've seen the film.
07:31 He's a great, great leader.
07:32 He's gonna step into that role, starting with this bowl game,
07:35 which is a great opportunity for him.
07:37 There's no one better I'd like to lead this camp.
07:38 >> And he's ready?
07:39 >> Absolutely.
07:40 >> I know it's the offensive side of the ball, but with Joe John,
07:42 seeing an elevated role with Seth Lachelle, seeing an elevated role,
07:45 what has been maybe your reaction?
07:48 >> I'm extremely happy.
07:50 I haven't really seen too much of Coach Seth Lachrelle, but
07:53 I know Joe John, he's always coaching special teams.
07:56 He's a great coach, a great leader, a great family man.
07:58 And there's no one better I'd see for that role.
08:00 >> Danny, leadership is such a big deal.
08:02 You and Billy being back in the offense, that sets that up.
08:06 It's gonna be all new on the offensive side.
08:07 You worried about that, or
08:08 do you feel like Jackson had just stepped into that role, or somebody else?
08:12 >> I mean, Jackson, like I said before, he's a great leader.
08:14 I mean, he's gonna fit right in.
08:15 I think he can lead even better than Dylan did.
08:17 Just who he is.
08:18 >> What do you think of the Sooner Nation's reaction to your video,
08:22 and how much they were just eating it up?
08:24 >> I kinda knew I was gonna get a pretty good response.
08:27 I kinda had to throw a little smoke screen out there with the locker,
08:30 which was genuine.
08:31 I saw my locker getting cleaned out, it was a little sad.
08:33 I was listening to the ref, and he literally said,
08:36 I know he's sitting back and laughing, which I was.
08:38 I literally, you guys fell for the bait, just how I wanted it.
08:41 So I kinda got you guys on that.
08:42 >> [LAUGH]