Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to the Especially for Athletes podcast, where we explore essential principles that empower athletes to learn life's most valuable lessons through sports.
Speaker: Welcome back to the Especially for Athletes podcast. This is part two of our discussion with Ty Detmer, Jeremiah Jensen, and Jaron Hall. We're jumping right in where we left off as Dustin asks Jaron about his time in the NFL, football career, and dealing with injuries.
Speaker: Let's get into it. Jaron, when you... When you went to the NFL, I remember the day you were drafted. I came by your house shortly after. We talked and in your room and there with your parents. It was a great day for you.
Speaker: You went to Minnesota and you had something similar to what happened to you, your first start at BYU, which was up at Utah State when you got hurt. Almost an an ideal, or I mean, an identical situation, right? Running in at the end zone kind of took a weird hit.
Speaker: You got hurt at Utah State with a concussion. And then when you were, you got your first start in the NFL, you were playing in Atlanta. remember, I remember, I was out of town, going everywhere to try to find a ah a bar or something that had that TV, that station on, so I could watch the game. I found it. And then you have this great drive. You're just doing everything. I mean, you're red hot.
Speaker: And then you got hurt. um And it was never really the same for you. How did you deal with that, Jaren? Because that had to have been... I think the highest of the highs to immediately the weight, was that it, right? How did you come out of that and deal with that? And is it still something that you, it's still probably fairly fresh. It hasn't been that long.
Speaker: Yeah, um it took me a little while. um I think, honestly, after the injury, was fine. it was It was disappointment just because of, you know, how good things are going. I'm this close to scoring my first NFL touchdown in a regular season game and ended up getting knocked out trying to run for it. But, you know, rehab was good after and I eventually ended up playing again. But, know,
Speaker: It wasn't until the next opportunity I had to play against, it was against Green Bay. You know, Ty's old team there. um And it was a game for the playoff berth on the line for us or a chance at it. And I only played a half, you know, it it was rough.
Speaker: and And I realized after that last Atlanta start and that last concussion, I'd never really felt the same. The weeks leading up to it, it took me three or four weeks to get healthy. and you know, my brain just... Just wasn't quite ready, was feeling weird, and and it was just never the same again. And then I came back from that. The next offseason had a great preseason. I think I had one of the most efficient preseasons of all the quarterbacks and played well, and I made the roster.
Speaker: And then two days later, a day later, they cut me after all waivers go through with the hopes of putting on practice squad. And so I ended up leaving there and go to Seattle where they picked me up um And I never got a chance to really play again. And then, you know, you get released for new draft picks the next year. And that's just the NFL. And so I think it took me more so longer to get over my last, you know, start at Minnesota that went poorly than, you know, the frustration of getting hurt.
Speaker: And so just a lot of stuff. But as I look back, I realize, you know, once I got out of myself and my situation, i have a one wonderful and beautiful wife and two children who helped me get through that because every single day I was home, I wasn't, you know, just thinking about, man, what opportunity I lost or,
Speaker: how it finished, but man, I can be home. I can be here with my kids every day. I can get ready to take my daughter to preschool and and be there for my son when he wakes up. And so I just kind of shift my perspective to the positive things, but still kept that competitive nature inside of me. im still trained at BYU every day and was waiting for a call, but You know, like a lot of things, it just takes time.
Speaker: um You know, I can say today now i think I'm officially past it. I got a call from a team potentially to go play, you know, this preseason and it's been a year and I turned it down. I just I was through it. You know, I did committed to moving on and doing something better in my life.
Speaker: I'm a building this family here with my wife and in our life here and in American Fork where we are. um But it took time and it took a focus on new things and better things. But I still reflect on some of those moments. And, you know, I don't I used to get a pit in my stomach when I think about it and how poorly it finished. You know, the opportunity I always felt like I left on the table and didn't accomplish. And, you know, my wife would tell you, I always talk about how I i never thought it was a success or my career was a flop.
Speaker: And she and my dad and my mom would tell me otherwise. And now I've accepted that all the work that went into it. um But it took a while to get to that point. and It took a lot of good people around me, people like yourself and Justin, the people I, you know, the kids I help train and I'm i'm around the kids I coach and, you know, being around BYU. It just is so took me getting back to my roots and remembering who I am and what got me to that position as a great football player to realize, you know what, I did a lot of good stuff. It was a success, um but it took some time and it and it took the right people around me.
Speaker: there's there's a very valuable lesson in that Jaron for everybody, not just, this isn't just a sports reference here, but life is full of times where we have to come to the the realization that that chapter has ended and it's time to start a new chapter and that's okay. And you you take the lessons and the things you learned and you refocus and, you know, you turn the page and now there's this new chapter to be written. And rather than, you know, living our life,
Speaker: backwards, looking through the rear view mirror all the time and wondering what if and what I did wrong and everything. learn from the lessons. I know, Ty, and I'm going turn this to you. you I took a quote from you. You know that. We've used it many times. The one play in clear or play the next play is something that you always would say that we teach the quarterbacks. And I think that's the same thing in life, that it's, you know, it's one day in clear. It's one year in clear. it's It's one chapter in clear. And Ty, you've had several of those chapters. I want to kind of and You don't have to go go in as much detail or depth as you want here, but maybe talk about what it was like. You know you were traded several times, and and you know and and and so you've moved all over the place. You've been in football your whole life. um Did you ever go through any of those same?
Speaker: i mean, we all think of Ty as, you know, i've I've been public on this. Ty's the greatest. He's it's the best. Like, he's the goat of quarterbacks in my mind, and and and and and just dudes. But... um But did you ever go through doubting yourself, Ty, during that time? And how do how do quarterbacks or just people in general – What would be your advice to somebody who's dealing with what Jaren just – I mean, Jaren, I can't believe – hearing you say you thought your career was a flop, I want to, like, jump through the screen and, like, grab you. Like, come on. no what But anyway, Ty, what I mean, what are your thoughts? Yeah, um for sure. i think most most guys do. it You know, Jeremiah talked about the 1%. You know, the 1% are the guys that get to have –
Speaker: you know, 10, 12, 15 year career, you know, that's the 1%. Everybody else, the rest of us are backups and you're trying to scratch your way out. And I was fortunate just to have opportunities to kind of hang in there and, and, uh, had a place to go almost every year, you know? So, um But yeah, you know, John Gruden, was on with him ah before he has a podcast, before Philly played Carolina last week, and he had me on. He was talking about, you threw for 300 yards, you did this. You know, we were we were leading the league in offense, and I got benched, you know. We're... We were two and four and in Philly, that's not good.
Speaker: But we were leading the league in ah offense at the time. And it's like, man, we fumbled some pump returns. We botched a field goal attempt to win a game in Dallas. If we win that one, you know, maybe things are different. And yeah, you, You know, you go through that season, you get pulled and benched and then, uh, we're going to put you back in against the Niners because Bobby Hoy, that's going to be a rough one for him. And it's a rough night. He gets sacked eight times and then, uh, they start Bobby the next week and you're like, man, all right. You know, like, yeah, you start doubting yourself. Like, all right, you know, what's, what's coming next. And, uh,
Speaker: And so you got to kind of, you know, pick yourself up and, and like you said, play the next play, you know, go to the next place and, and try to make it better and, and just do your part. So, um you know, I had a similar deal coaching at BYU not too long ago, you know, where you feel like, man, I would have loved to have had an opportunity to turn things around the next year. And it already kind of started formulating things in my head for next year. I'll need to do things differently. And, and then,
Speaker: get the plug pulled on you and, it, that's coaching, you know, at the same time. So it's like, all right, we're moving to Arizona. Let's find out what's next and let's make the most of that. So, um, you know, I think, I think most athletes at some point, we're all going to doubt ourselves in, in our ability or situation that we're in, uh, and, and you starts making you realize how little control you actually have of things, uh, So you control the controllables, you know, attitude and effort. You hear that all the time. and But it's it's a real thing. And I think athletics helps you go through those things and then learn those lessons that can help you in life so that when you get down the road and you have a job and and the business fails and you get let go in in that whole transaction, you're
Speaker: Control the controllables. You know, that's that's whatever comes next. Control what happens then. So, yeah, I mean, both these guys, Justin played at a high level of Southern Utah, goes to Europe, plays at a high level, never got an opportunity. You know, we all have our stories, um the 99% of us. we have We all have our stories where we think it could have been better. But then, you know, if you get five years down the road like Jaren now and you look back and you're like, man, that was a fun time, man, not – Very few people even get that opportunity. And and what a great career, BYU, and something be proud of. Justin is Southern Utah. And, man, there's tons to be proud of. And the work that you put in, it wasn't for not, you know. So we all have those moments and and things that we go through. and And I really feel like athletics helps you get over those things and not just stew on it and stew. be bitter the rest of your life, you know, that does you no good either. So you move on, you make the most of the next one.
Speaker: And we call that get your eyes up and get back to work. Right. And, and, and you mentioned Justin of all the quarterbacks that I've worked with, they've all gone through stuff, but Justin is one of, if not the most who just gritty.
Speaker: I mean, Justin real quick, just, Talk about your, nothing was easy for you, right? You had this from hype from moving here, right? Your freshman year from California to Utah, trying to simulate into a new high school and be a quarterback to a junior college to Southern Utah, not being the starter when you got there. I mean, what was your mindset like during that? Because it seemed like you were always scratching. And then when you did get your chance, you always seemed to capitalize on it.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, a lot of my motivation kind of came from the story of Tom Brady. So growing up, that was always what I was looking up to was it was the BYU quarterbacks, the John Becks, the Max Halls. And then as soon as I was old enough to realize who Tom Brady was, that's who I fell in love with. And so I would listen to the the documentaries. I'd fall asleep to them. Just... as much as I could get of that story, because I felt like it resonated with me and and my journey was going to be tough and and it never seemed like it was easy. And so for me, it was just kind of what he had said of when I get my chance, I'm never going to let it go and I'm never going to come off the field. And so
Speaker: In high school, that happened here and there. And then in junior college, that's how I felt. And then when I got over to Southern Utah, it was as soon as I get to play, I'm never coming back out because I have to play so well and I'm going to play so well that they won't be able to replace me. And so that was that was the mindset going into it year after year. But I think I mean, looking back for me as well, as it's always the journey that kind of reminds you of of the fun times and and why you did it. and And it's never going to be the destination that gives you the fulfillment. It's how you got there. And I think that's that's kind of what we lose sometimes while we're in it, but also when we're looking at
Speaker: the wrong things when when all we're focused on, like we've talked about earlier, is is the financial side of sports or all we're worried about is the next step.
Speaker: How am I going to get to college? How how am I going to be the starter? Things like that, where Instead of just focusing on how can I get better and how can I improve? How can i be 1% better this week or or today? It turns into, no, I should be playing and you start comparing yourself. And that that was certainly something that i threw I went through in high school where I feel like I had to compare myself to everybody else that was getting offers. I mean, for sure, compared myself to Jaron all the time because he had the BYU offer. And so it was, okay, how can i how can I improve? So, so I'm better than Jaron and other teams will see me. yeah,
Speaker: it just wasn't the right way to go about it. And so once once I kind of figured that out, it was, no, i I'm not Jaren. I play differently than Jaren, first of all. um We don't have exact same skill sets and ways of playing football. And so how can I lean into my strengths and start to stand out differently and separate myself? And so I think all of those things kind of played a factor. But once I realized that Hey, let me, let me focus on how I can improve and and not worry so much about all of the external factors, kind of like Ty just talked about. What can I control and and what can I do to make it happen? And then I think it depends for everybody. They're all on their own journey. But for me, it was kind of the right doors were there for me. And, and when I knew I put in the work and I was confident that Everything seemed to open up or sometimes I had to kind of push the door down and and knock it in. But it was there for the door was there. it it wasn't that it wasn't there at all. and And I was just kind of spinning in circles. There was always a ah direction for me. and And when you want it bad enough, you just kind of make it happen in that way.
Speaker: Well, i it was ah that's awesome, Justin. And it it it really was fun to watch, see you, like I've told you before, and when I think in a podcast, you really did just bust the door open like you you had to, and you did. um We'll start wrapping up here, guys. It's been a great discussion. I do want to talk about one or two other things. And Jeremiah, if you have any questions, yeah and I know when you get a chance to have two questions,
Speaker: There's three, really, you know college and big-time professional quarterbacks on here, two starting quarterbacks at BYU with the environment of sports right now in Utah, particularly college sports. Maybe you have something for Ty or Jerem, but I want to talk a little. um I'll give you guys just a minute to maybe think about this while I tell a quick story of either a coach that really made an impact on you and and why, you know, what it was um or a mentor, maybe it's not even a coach, it's a mentor.
Speaker: um And I'll i'll turn to you guys for maybe some thoughts on that, but I'll talk about, and Ty and I have experience with with coaching and Jeremiah, you had a, and I'm not going to get overly personal here, but a little bit, I guess, Jeremiah, you had a front row seat for what for me You know, it was, it and I had some hard things in high school and I ruptured a disc in my back and had to kind of pivot a little bit on my dreams. I was able to play some college baseball, but, you know, football was in really basketball were my favorite and what I thought I was better at.
Speaker: So that's a whole other story. But for me, the hardest thing, honestly, in my whole career is playing, coaching business, coaching, you know Outside of some family stuff, the hardest thing for me, you had a front row seat for. And that was when we i was a head coach and had a team get to a state championship game that's not common in this community the community that I live.
Speaker: It's only happened twice in 107 years, and that was the second time. And you were calling the game when we had a 21-point lead with about seven minutes left.
Speaker: and ended up ah going into what triple overtime before we finally lost. And um it was especially hard because the kids playing in it were kids I'd coached since they were little. My son was the quarterback. So it was hard to see them. I told them their whole life they were going to have that opportunity if they just, you know, stayed focused. And here we were. I mean, I even told them the exact...
Speaker: I said, late late November in 2024, you guys are going to be playing at Rice Eccles Stadium. And this was when they were in fifth grade. And here we were in it, and they couldn't have played any better. It was just unbelievable. And we got to the end of that third overtime where there was a misunderstanding on my part on the rules.
Speaker: And the way it was ah explained to me and the other head coach at midfield, I didn't quite understand what was going on. And I made a call, at not that it's lost us the game, but it it haunts me. I think about it all the time. I need to move on from It's been two years, but...
Speaker: I made a call in third overtime to run a play that I never would ever run if I had known where we were on the field and the timeout situation. And all of it was confusing at the time. So I learned a lot about maybe not being prepared or reading a rule book, I guess, before the season. um Anyway, so that was hard for me, but I'll tell this quick story. At the end of that game, it just, everything happened so fast. And I remember...
Speaker: having ah us it was was almost a almost a spiritual experience in that I saw all these boys just devastated. And one of em was my son and his best friends who were like sons to me and even coaches.
Speaker: Half my staff were guys who played at that high school, Spanish Fork High School. And, you know, it was, this was a big deal to them. The whole whole city was at the game and everything.
Speaker: But I remember having this thought come to my mind as these boys were kind of sitting there confused. this will be the most important coaching that you ever do the next 10 minutes.
Speaker: And it was almost like, it really, it was almost like I heard it. Like what you do the next 10 minutes will be you your real test of you as a coach. And I had, what in other words, I had to stop feeling sorry for myself and stop feeling sorry for the boys. And I had to talk to these boys about the reality of what just happened and what they're going to learn from this. And maybe they would remember this uh, this next five minutes. And so we got the boys together and we had a talk and, you know, and and, and what, what I found is that the sun came up the next day and the boys went on and the next week they had a dance and then they were all into their winter sports. And, you know, it's still stings for all those boys, but they're out doing all these awesome things now. And they learned a lesson that they never otherwise would have the experience to learn at 17 or 18 years old by losing that game.
Speaker: Um, I was the one that keeps holding on to it and wishing they'd have, you know, the the winning. But I i do remember... what I said earlier about Ty talking about one play and clear and play the next play and kind of having to realize that as a coach, our job is to make sure these boys know what you said, Justin, about the the destination, the final result isn't what matters. It's the growth and the process of becoming what we say in QB elite, become elite, right? That becoming part of it is,
Speaker: where you really find value and what did you become in the process? And Jaren, you became great dad and a great man and a great leader and because of the stuff you went through in in college and in the NFL. And Ty's become such a you know such an inspiration to so many people because of his experiences. And so you know I wanna turn that back to you guys Do you have any experiences from either being coached or things maybe tie as a coach that you wish, you know, that, that you know, you maybe it handled a little bit differently or did Lavelle Edwards or any of the call NFL coaches, what was something that maybe they did or that you've come to the realization as a coach or as a parent or something that that's made, you know, you may be better as a dad or as ah as a coach?
Speaker: Yeah, I think I played for my dad in high school, played for Lavelle in college, and they were real similar. Like, just never raised their voice, never really got too worked up, good or bad, really, you know. ah And so... you know it It allowed you to play and and to be comfortable playing. and so i try to model lot of my coaching off of those two guys, where you get to know the kids on a personal level. You you have ah a relationship with your players. you know there's There's people like, you know, you hear, oh, he just wants to be the player's friend, you know, and he's not tough enough on him. Those kind of things you you hear from coaches. But I think they're, you know, in today's world, I think you have to have a relationship with the kids.
Speaker: there has to be a line of respect, you know, where when you say something, they're going to do it. And I feel like, you know, Lavelle had that. My dad had that with his players and, and that's who I enjoyed playing for those types of coaches. So try to model some of that, um keeping things in perspective, knowing that you lose a state championship.
Speaker: It's okay, man. What a ride to get there, you know? And, and yeah, You know, you you keep that in perspective. and And those two guys were the foundation for me, you know, coming out of high school, growing up, watching my dad coach and then having a chance to play for Lavelle for five years there BYU and and just seeing how he carried himself and and ran a program and treated people, players and coaches, fans, everybody um just carried himself the right way. So great examples.
Speaker: Jaron, what about you? Yeah, I think mine is probably similar to Ty's and Kalani and having him for five years as a head coach at BYU. And he credits a lot of the way he coaches and looked at us as players is how Lavelle looked at them. And so hearing him talk about Lavelle and kind of how he approached his players is a lot of how Kalani did through, you know his thing was love and learning.
Speaker: um building yourself up as a man off the field, as a husband and a father. He always started off saying, you know, share stories about how his wife would be there to to keep him in check, you know, and to help guide him through coaching decisions. And I just was always so impressed that he'd share those stories in big team meetings. And then we he'd go on and talk about football and the game plan and stuff, and he'd show real fire and passion for it. But, um you know, it just matched my personality and how I would want to be talked to and how I would talk to players if I was ever coached.
Speaker: But the the biggest thing is she never wanted you to feel shame as a player. When you make mistakes, don't ever feel shame. He's never yelling at you. um You know, he's he's quick to let you know that he believes in you and trusts you. And every player that's played with him has felt the same thing. And so that just sparked a lot of confidence in me. But, you know, Ty talks about coaches still have, you know, there's a relationship of of expectations and respect. There's two times I remember in my time as a starter in 21 against Washington State. We had a reverse throwback pass to me in the red zone. And I'm on the sideline, make a catch. I try to swim the dude with the ball back inside. And I end up fumbling it. and i get back on it And I just look to the sideline. And I just see him, hey, be smart. Hold on the ball.
Speaker: he says it so calmly, but it just pierced me like, okay, I'm not ever going to do that again. Like, I got know what to do. And then against USC, you know, I get hit late as I'm throwing the ball and ends up being a personal foul defense. But the guy picks it off. You know, luckily we keep the ball. But i look as as I'm getting him off the ground, I look at Kalani. He's like, dude, he's smart.
Speaker: Again, not screaming, not embarrassing me, but just says in a way that I know, hey, he means this and I got to respect that. got be better. So he just had a way of... first leading with love and you know, you know how he he feels about you as a player. And in return, you want to do the best off the field, in the weight room, in the film room so that you can go out there and, you know, be the best player for him as a coach. And so, you know, if I were to ever coach one day or get involved, I know that that's, you know, the same exact example I follow and the way I'd, you know, treat my players with love and, you know, compassion towards them.
Speaker: That's awesome. Justin. Yeah, I think kind of along with what Ty and Jaren said, i I feel like the best experiences I had with coaches were the coaches that were just really good people um on and off the field. So, I mean, the yelling ah or not yelling is is definitely debatable, I think, in that. But yeah.
Speaker: For me, it was always just the people that were good and that you felt like you could trust is where those bonds were created. And that that's where the trust comes from. And Jaren, I know you you had one of my coaches my junior year with Blair Peterson and just one of the most difficult good people and that was that was a huge impact for me on the field but also off of the field and I think I could go through probably every year that I've played of of finding at least a coach or two that I had that relationship with and and similar to what Jaren said it was it wasn't a screaming thing it was just
Speaker: hey, I'm trying to make sure that my coach looks good and that he's doing the right thing. and And he's doing the same for me because we trust each other and we have the same common goal here. And I remember going a few years ago now to a BYU volleyball game. And i was there with my parents and then with my wife. And my wife played ah college volleyball. And And she ran into one of her old coaches, her club coaches from when she was in high school. And she had always talked great about him. And and so i was I was glad to meet him.
Speaker: And when we talked to him just for a second, it was it was very clear of why she enjoyed playing for him so much. Just his demeanor. And and you could tell how good of a person he was.
Speaker: But she would tell the story of... Yeah, when when we would do something wrong, it was almost like we were disappointing our dad or something like that because he cared so much about us. and And you could tell how much he cared by his actions and how he coached that we did. We just didn't want to let him down. And so that was that was how we played better was because we cared so much about him and and his not necessarily his approval for us, but wanting to make him proud and and show that
Speaker: he's a really good coach and that he's, he's helping us a lot. And that was, that was something that always stood out to me from what Kenzie has said about some of her favorite coaches and that coach in particular. Yeah.
Speaker: Jeremiah, I'll let you address any of this. And if you have any you know questions you want to ask, and then we'll, we'll wrap it up. I'll give you kind of the last voice here. Yeah, I'm glad you guys shared all those thoughts because I think you you were all blessed with mentors and coaches in your life that did it the right way.
Speaker: um there's There's plenty of kids out there that don't have those same stories and same experiences and people that are adults now that didn't have those same experiences. I didn't have that when I was in high school. i played football in high school. I wonder what I could have been if I had a coach that lifted me up and made me feel like I was confident instead of putting me down all the time. But You know, those are things you have to deal with in five. three Like you mentioned, you can't control your coaches. You can't control your situation most most of the time.
Speaker: um But it is important to hear from you guys from these all time greats. Their demeanor, how they carry themselves was not as these dominating, controlling, yelling, screaming, you know, saying awful things all the time to people. but they They had a way of caring about and and it was it was a leadership quality that they had.
Speaker: that made you better and you respected them ah simply because of the way they carried themselves, not because they yelled and screamed at you. um I think that's important to note and and and it's important to see.
Speaker: um I also think it's it's great to see how you guys all handle pressure. And, you know, in my profession, I deal with pressure every day. We've got deadlines every day I got to meet. I got to, you know, we got a six and 10 o'clock newscast. We got a 45 minute show I got to have every day. You feel pressure every day. And I know everybody listening right now in different professions feels that same pressure.
Speaker: So last thing I would want to ask from you guys is to get your perspective on just real quick. How did you guys handle pressure? We watch people on the stage handle pressure. Well, all the time, some people don't and that's okay too. But like, how did you handle pressure in big moments?
Speaker: And i think it would help a lot of people watch, especially some young quarterbacks understand how to manage some of these things that can be a little overwhelming and a little scary. Cause if you want to accomplish anything in life, you've got to, you got to put yourself in those positions, right?
Speaker: you know, Dustin, to get to that state championship game, you had to put yourself out there. You and your players had to put yourself in a position where it was possible to lose that game. But imagine being afraid of losing and not having all the experiences you had before the week before beating the number one team. The Ridgeline was the the number one team of state. You guys beat them. i mean, that was a big upset. And you guys you guys took it to them.
Speaker: Imagine missing out on those, like on those experiences because you were too afraid to embrace the pressure moments. So last thing I want to hear from you guys is how do you embrace the pressure and how do you manage that pressure to be able to accomplish great things and not run and hide from some of those moments?
Speaker: I'll let Ty and Jaren, I'll, I'll answer that in 10 seconds for me. I, I've always felt like that, you know, you've heard that quote, pressure is a privilege. I, I've always enjoyed when I felt pressure, I always have felt like, all right, this is this is a chance to to show why you know i put in that time or that energy or that work. And it it didn't really, i I never thought of the worst case scenario. um And I didn't as a coach or as a player, it was always, oh, this is a chance to,
Speaker: to show out like to to, you know, I've earned this opportunity. And so that's helped me. um But Ty, I mean, I haven't been in nearly the pressure situations as an athlete as as these guys have been through. So, I mean, Ty, what do you think?
Speaker: Yeah, i think, um you know, the preparation you put in prepares you for those moments, right? It's it's putting yourself in that situation in practice, you know, whether you're in summer workouts. You know, we talk to the boys at QB Elite a lot about, you know, practice it like it's a game speed. You know, you can't show up in a game and have never made that throw before. You know, you've got to practice some of these off-balance movement throws, you know, some of those things that, know,
Speaker: when it is fourth and seven and you got to be able to move and make a play that you've done it before. Um, so the preparation, I think makes you feel like you're prepared for it and, and hopefully you've done it, you know, a time or two. Um, but you know, to Dustin's point, that's, that's why you play the game. I think, um,
Speaker: you do it, you know, you're in, in that position because you, you rely on having that opportunity and, and that's what you live for. You know, the guys that sit on the bed, I mean, I don't know. One of my favorite things is the the man in the arena, you know, the guy that puts himself out there and, and gives himself a chance to be great. That's why you do what you do. And so, Yeah, you know, not everybody feels comfortable in that situation, but um I always, you know, appreciated the opportunity and the fact that you had an opportunity to be in that moment. And so you got to you got to just put yourself out there and go for it and and see what happens and be afraid to fail. Exactly right.
Speaker: Exactly right. Jaron. Yeah, spot on. um' I'm going to piggyback off of Once again, my dad used to always say pressure is when preparation meets opportunity. And so that stuck with me since high school, that pressure is not a bad thing. It's something you should invite when you are prepared. And like Ty said, when you've done everything you need to, you've gone over each rep and I found it takes, you know, it takes ah an army to do that. It takes more people who have gone through those experiences before you ever have talking to people that have been in those shoes and gone through the experience in different ways because you can't always plan for every, you know, every experience or every a variation of what's going to be thrown at you and whatever it is that you're preparing for. So having people that you trust and people that you're humble enough to go and ask and
Speaker: you know, get their take on things so that you can, you know, prepare in different ways and and think about different, um you know, things you might be up against. So just, you know, seeing pressure is not not a negative thing, but something that you, that you cherish and something that makes the competitive aspect of sports so fun, because those are the moments where it's fourth and goal and you're at Boise state and, know, You got one, you know, seven or eight yards to go and you end up throwing a back shoulder to Puka Nakula on the last play.
Speaker: And it's just moments like that that you prepare for and that you rep over and over. And then you don't ever flinch. You don't ever think about it moment, Dustin. Like you said you don't worry about the outcomes. You just go enjoy it. Because, you know, Michael Jordan talks about Failure is a part of It's a part of the ah the journey. It's going to happen. But when you just visualize positive and you prepare for it, then it's something you can enjoy in that moment. And it's a and it's an experience that you'll look back and love forever.
Speaker: Yeah. Just? yeah I think kind of three things come to my mind of um when pressure hits. The first was um kind of immediately I thought about just past successes. And so obviously you got to have one in there to kind of kick that one off. But I remember in high school, my sophomore year, when I was starting in California, we hadn't had great teams by any means in the last few years, we were okay. But winning ah the CIF or, or anything like that was, was a big deal. And even trying to win our region, or we had a, at that time we had a city championship too, of four different teams that were playing. And,
Speaker: so we won the city championship that year because we beat a rival team that our quarterback actually left and was playing at. And i got to throw the winning touchdown in it. And that had helped because a couple weeks before we had gone down and had a two minute drill and and had a touchdown to win the game. And so that helped.
Speaker: Past success, I mean, remembering those two carried me through the rest of my career because in my mind it was, oh, I've done it before. Like, it didn't matter if it was in Little League or in high school. Once I got to college and and professionally, it was, oh, I've done it before. It's no big deal. Like, you you start to believe a little bit, you believe your own hype of, no, this, this guy's clutch. You kind of get that label of it. Um, and this guy's a winner. He figures out how to do it. And so finding ways in your life to kind of build on that momentum and then lean back on it, I think is number one, number two,
Speaker: um Anytime I was getting into a big game, i know Jaren's talked about it before, is it kind of takes you a throw or a hit or something to to really get you going and get the get the butterflies out or the sensation out of any nervousness or anything like that. And so, I mean, in football, a little bit easier where you can kind of go seek out some contact and and hit somebody, maybe in basketball or or baseball or something like that. It's a little harder, but kind of just getting that one thing to get you going, whether it's a teammate just chest bumping you or or hitting you or or pinching you or whatever it is like.
Speaker: feel something and get all your blood flowing back into your body and, and feel like it's, it's live and it's real again, where it's not of an out of body experience and you're going to, you're going mess it up. It's all right. No, I'm, I'm back and I'm present. I can, I can feel and think again without it, it being too much. And then I think the third thing actually was a QB elite from Dustin. i I remember one of our workouts. I don't know if you've ever said it again, but I remember you telling us one time,
Speaker: If you're ever in a big game or or you're nervous or anything, just look up in the stands and find somebody. And doesn't matter who it is, you don't have to know them, but find them, look at them for a few seconds, and then just tell out out loud or in your head, that person's here to watch me today.
Speaker: And that was something that I used, I mean, throughout college and high school and and in Europe that it was it's a weird deal. Like they don't know who you are. You don't know who they are, but you find somebody and going to say, it yeah, they're going to watch a show today and they're here to watch me. And those are those are kind of the three things that I would lean back on when when pressure situations came up.
Speaker: That's good. all All of that is awesome, guys. And I'm going to end on what Ty just said, because it's right here. if you're watching, it's that. rectangular frame right there is the man in the arena. It's my favorite quote by ah Theodore Roosevelt.
Speaker: We'll end on this. I appreciate all you guys joining us, but Theodore Roosevelt said, it's not the critic who counts. It's not the man who points out where the strong man stumbles or where the doer of good deeds could have done better.
Speaker: The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes up short again and again, who knows at the best the end of of triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, that his place shall never be with those poor and timid souls who know nor victory nor defeat.
Speaker: It's awesome. And it's it's, you put yourself in the arena, And the only ones, opinions who count are those who are in the arena. and And when you play sports, especially if you play quarterback, I mean, I think it's a unique position, but all sports, you put yourself out there. And so parents that are listening to this or are athletes,
Speaker: Let's be careful to maybe not criticize as much. We don't know the whole story. Even people we see you know on social media may be overdoing it. Maybe they're they're hurting with something. and And let's just be slower to critique everybody and and be more willing to look for the things we have in common, which is a lot more things that we have in common and a lot more empathy could be shown for people and the way they act if I think if we really knew what they were dealing with, and that includes our kids um and and sports can be a great thing, but if we're not careful, it can actually do a lot of damage to them and later in life if if we don't you know let it be the healthy, hopefully you know building opportunity that should be. So thank you for joining us, everybody. Keep your eyes up, do the work.
Speaker: Thank you for joining the Especially for Athletes podcast. To learn more about Especially for Athletes organization, get a copy of our book, The Sport Light, or to bring our program to your team, school, business, or organization, visit us at especiallyforathletes.org.
