Bussin' With The Boys - SPRING TOUR: Mike Norvell Talks National Championship SNUB & If He Would Ever Coach In The NFL

Episode Date: April 17, 2024

Recorded: March 27, 2024 | In this episode from our 2024 Bussin' Spring Tour Will and Delanie sit down with the head coach of the Florida State Seminoles, Mike Norvell. Will dives right into it and asks about what it was like receiving the unfortunate news that FSU would not be in the College Football Playoff. Norvell responds in the most football way ever and carries that gritty aura throughout the whole interview. After listening to Coach Norvell's story, the culture he wants to build, and his passion for coaching it's hard not to want to pull for the Seminoles. 0:00 Intro 1:30 Reaction to not making the CFB Playoff 13:40 Journey from Central Arkansas to Florida State 18:30 Mentors in his coaching journey 23:00 Best and worst parts about being a head coach 28:00 NFL Coaching Aspirations??For more, visit barstool.link/bussinwtbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey guys, it's us The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Joey Dardano, and on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know.

Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome to another episode. Jesus, fuck. Cut that. Ready? Yep. Welcome to another episode of the Busted Spring Tour 2024. If you're a tier one joining us, you guys know what to do. Welcome to Florida State fans with Open R's. If you're a Florida State fan just tuning in, make sure you're subscribed and leaving comments. What we do on the spring tour is we go to different stops. We just released the Nebraska interviews. Now we're doing Florida State. We're going to have Oregon and then Alabama. But what we need you to do is make sure you're subscribed because we sit down, we interview a couple players and the head coach talked to them about the previous year,

the expectations of the upcoming year, because let's face it, when we're in the offseason, we all have the best expectations. We've all won the national title, so the conversations are a lot more fun. You're about to watch Braden Fisk and Coach Norville, and then tomorrow you will be watching Patrick Payton and DJ, I don't want to butcher your last name, but DJ, the quarterback that went from Clemson to Oregon State, and now his final stop at Florida State. Again, thank you so much for your support. fan it's your first time tuning in welcome to bust with the boys make sure you're subscribe make sure you're leaving comments you can follow us at bussen wtb enjoy this episode big hugs tiny kisses solid coach norvel thank you for joining us this is a pleasure

my first question if you're in the college football playoff do you guys win and second question two-part question do you think kirk herb street would agree with your answer You know, I mean, last year's team was a special team, and, you know, I put nothing past what that team would have accomplished. I know there's a lot of adversity, you know, obviously losing the quarterback, you know, having to go through the things we went through. But, you know, defense wins championships. And, you know, you look at that championship game and, you know, it was a really explosive and quality Louisville team. And, you know, our defense rose to the occasion. We did what was necessary.

So I put nothing past what that team, you did a – could have accomplished. but also really proud of all the things they did accomplish. And that's what, you know, from the choices and all the things that were made, you know, we couldn't control all that. But, you know, they did what they needed to do for 13 weeks. And, you know, forever, you believe that that was one of the great teams, you know, in college football, you know, one of the great teams of Florida State history, one of the great teams in college football history.

You look back, how many teams had an opportunity to go 13 and 0 in today's age of, you know, college athletics playing a very good schedule. and, you know, so I'm grateful for what they did, but put no boundaries to what they would have accomplished. Can you take us to the day where the selection, the committee, they made their choices? You going into it, are you thinking like, you probably thought through all the different angles,

we might not get in, we might get in? No, I didn't think that, actually. You were, without a shadow of a doubt, we're getting chosen. I was, you know, ultimately, that's what I believe. You know, it had never happened before in history of Congress. athletics. It's never been a power five team that went undefeated that did not get a chance to compete for a championship in today's age. And so, you know, you sit there and you look at it. I was, I believe, do what you got to do. And it's all going to all going to play out. But, you know,

obviously that was not the case. Right, right. Did they give you any explanation on why? Or it was just, this is what it is. We don't have to give you no reason why it happened. Because around the world, we heard it was because y'all didn't have a starting quarterback. It's all TV stuff that we're hearing. Yeah, what we're hearing. So we heard, oh, since they haven't started quarterback, why put them in a national championship game without a star quarterback?

I mean, it's, you know, obviously there's a group that was in a room and they made a decision based off what they, whatever those conversations were. You know, what people saw on national TV from a selection show, I mean, that's what was real. And, you know, as I found out when that logo came up and it wasn't ours.

And so, you know, it is, like I said, it is what it is. You know, there's nothing that they can never, you know, and really no explanations can never, you know, you know, impact what happened for us. I mean, we had to live it. And but, you know, just like I told the team after that happened, you know, I mean, it doesn't take away from what that team accomplished. And did the circumstances affect, you know,

things moving forward, you know, for art for that team? Yes. And, you know, ultimately it was, you know, it was a shame that we didn't get to finish out with a chance to compete for a national championship. But, you know, I'm definitely you're forever grateful for that team in the season that we did have. So you do, you think that's the decision why some of the players chose to go to the draft and not actually playing the Georgia game? Absolutely. And I know you can have, you know, for whatever people's beliefs are. You know, I've told people that I think we would have,

lost the ACC championship, we probably would have had, I'm pretty certain we'd have had a majority of those guys would have played based off how to finish and to finish and right, because we would have earned the loss, you know, and that's ultimately, you know, when you look at this game, I mean, you know, our guys, they put a lot into it. And, you know, when you see, I mean, it's a, with a very talented team and a bunch of guys that are making decision for their future. And right wrong or indifferent, you know, just the, thought processes, you know, we did everything that we could to put ourselves in position, and we were told that it wasn't good enough. And, you know, when that, when guys are trying

to make a decision on their future, that's what, that was probably the biggest challenge for me in, and, you know, going back and forth with, with that and talking about options and things of choices of what guys were trying to make, you know, it was, it was difficult. And I still say it was the hardest month of my coaching career, you know, from, you know, winning that championship, you know, the way that we won it was probably one of those gratifying wins I've ever been a part of, but really only having 12 hours to celebrate that. And then, you know, that next day, you know, everything from that point was really heartbreak. I mean, to be honest, like it was a heartbreaking moment to have to go through and live through.

And, you know, to be there four-year players that, you know, gave so much. And, you know, just that disappointment was difficult. And, you know, you got guys that are making, you know, their multi-million dollar decisions on, you know, if they go and they play and they get hurt, then what does that look like? Or, you know, I mean, obviously dealing with the emotional and physical hurt of something happening to them that had never happened before. But, you know, I also told them was like, you know, my opinion, I didn't think it was right. I didn't think it was fair, whatever all those words are. But also in life, there's going to be plenty of things that happened in their life that might not be right or might not be fair.

So make sure that, you know, as we work through that, that we stay true to who we are. You really try to understand that everything that you say, all that you do, it's going to have an impact. And it is, you know, that was a special team. And it's one that is going to be celebrated, one that's going to be remembered. But, you know, obviously, I hate how it all finished. Yeah. You know, through that. When you're, how are you having those conversations?

Because you're obviously going to the pain and the disappointment, just like the players are. But when they are making those decisions, either go to the draft or sit out for health reasons or whatever the case may be, versus when you were talking about if we were to lose the championship game, you earn that loss and then you're excited to almost go prove people wrong or whatever the case may be. But going against a team like Georgia, how are you having those conversations about trying to have those guys motivated that, like, hey, we have another opportunity to still go out here

and prove it against a team who's been, number one. They just had a lapse, a lull against Alabama. If we go out and beat this team, like you're basically, you know, not that you want to make fake rings or anything else, but you're out there able to kind of claim a title. Yeah, you know, I mean, it's, it was the, you know, it was a two-fold challenge because, one, you know, those conversations and, you know, the opportunity and all those things that are out there. But also, you know, the selection committee was at 12, 15. By 4.30, I was in a home visit because we had basically two weeks of recruiting.

So a lot of the messaging, you know, and that's where one of the things I reflect back to is, man, how could I have changed, you know, to be there, you know, even more, you know, and to be able to support guys and just such a, you know, it is a once in a life. Because it'll never happen again. I mean, there might be teams that get left out and think they should be in or out, but they would have earned whatever loss is, whatever the record is. I mean, if you're fighting for 12, 13, whatever that number is going to be eventually, you know, you still put yourself in that position. You know, we had a team that felt that it had earned. earned and played and done everything that was necessary to get, you know, the shot at it. And so, but then having, you know, going on the road and, you know, we're fighting, we got two weeks of signing day and you're fighting every, everything that you can fight, you know, for the class that's coming, you know, and being able to, like I said, I didn't, didn't go into it with a contingency plan of, oh, if we don't get in. Right. Yeah, I mean, that's, that was, that was, you know, never part of my thought process.

But, you know, being able to try to connect with guys when I'm on the road and, you know, We have our team communication and messaging, and so you tried to be able to communicate as much as possible, and our coaches did a great job of trying to touch base with that. But, I mean, it made all the challenges even that much more magnified just with how the schedule was. But, you know, it was, you know, you had an opportunity. And, you know, to be honest with you, and, like I said, this is, everybody can have their own perspective of it. You know, we had to live our reality to what it was. And, you know, there were guys that, you know, that felt that they put themselves in a position.

And, you know, coach, we can, yes, we put ourselves at risk when it comes to their, to their professional, you know, opportunities. You win that game, but what if, that's still not good enough. And that was the balance of trying to work through that was with guys. And we had some guys that played and, you know, we had a good number of guys that did not. And, you know, it was a hard choice for them, too. Like, yeah, that's what everybody said, oh, they're, just as they're making, man, they poured everything ahead into this team.

They put, I mean, you don't respond the way that you did when, you think about week 11, we lose our starting quarterback, right? Going on the road, one of our biggest rivals, you know, obviously in that game, to be able to, the resiliency, the response, the fight, I mean, all the things necessary. We go down with our third string quarterback, they're in the championship game. And to take all the steps that were necessary to win that game, and it's, that was, that was heart, that was character. I mean, it showed the culture of what we had here.

And, I mean, even throughout the course of the season, we had four games last year, we were down 10 points. And you saw a team that never got rattled. They just continued to respond, we continued to fight. But, you know, like I said, at the end of it, with that decision that was made, you know, it was a difficult, it was a difficult decision for the players. It was hard for fan base, everybody.

But it was also something never, that had never occurred before, too. And so that's what made it, you know, it was a, you were treading new waters when it came to that. Yeah, I think it shocked everyone. And ultimately, that's probably why they, it's 12 now. 12 teams are now going in because probably what happened to Florida State, would you say? Well, it was already going to go in motion. I mean, it was going to go in motion, but then that falls, this falls in, this falls.

Because this year, it would have been a, you know, but it's, I feel like it's going to, it happens every year. But this year, it's like, you look across the border like the top 10, 12 teams. You're like, you know, this would have been a great year for the playoff because, you know, obviously you have an unfortunate situation like Florida State. You're trying to choose out of one lost big, you know, Pact 12 and Big 10. But yeah, this would have been a great year for the playoffs. Yeah, definitely. Because you had, it was like, Missou was making a little noise. They would squeak out some little wins to where it would have just been fun to see the college football playoff this year.

Are you excited about the new, the transition to the playoff to the 12th team playoff? I am. And, you know, I think that, you know, when you get it. You get a chance to go and you compete, earn it on the field, get a chance to go, you'll fight for a championship. And the great thing about college football is every game does matter. And it doesn't matter where or when. But being able to, if you have a team that has either an early loss or have a team that, you know, look at the Georgia team last year.

I mean, I've watched them all. Like that was probably the most talented group of any team that was in the country from last year's team. And, you know, they, for whatever reason, you know, they came up short in their championship game. And, you know, that group, even a lot of the guys that are going to the NFL, that, you know, they wanted to finish together and leave on a good note. And so you saw that. But if you put that team in a playoff last year, if you put us in a playoff last year, I mean, you're talking about, there's going to be a lot of fun games to watch.

And, you know, and everybody has their own situations. I mean, fighting their injuries are a part of it. You know, that's the part of the game. I mean, they don't stop a game in the middle of it if somebody goes down. It's about all the things we learned since we're kids and playing this game. How do you respond? You know, who's going to rise up? And that was what will forever be remembered when it comes to that team,

just the 13-week journey of all those situations and what they did. So, you know, I think it'll be fun when you see 12 teams getting a chance to compete for that because there's still going to be situations where somebody might be without a great player. But if they've earned the right in, then you get to see what they do with it. That's so true. I'm going to move away from that because I'm a D2 guy. You're a D2 guy, Central Arkansas.

I don't know if people on the team know that you play wide receiver. You still hold the record, I think, up there at Central Arkansas, right? Zone coverage beater, man. Yeah, you know, I think. He's first and fifth on the list. Yeah, I think he had like 213 receptions, 2,611 yards, 15 touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, two passing touchdowns, correct?

Sounds good. Yeah, yeah. Oh, hey, he knows. I know the 213, all the other stuff, yeah. I know the 213. So, like, is that what, you know, pretty much led you to being a GA right out of central Arkansas? You was just like, yo, I want to be, I want to coach. did you not see yourself going to the NFL?

What was the reason why you went straight to GA right out of college? Yeah, so, I mean, I've known I've wanted to coach since I was in the seventh grade. This was my passion. I've never had an option B. This is what I've always wanted to do. Some of the most influential people in my life were my coaches. From my Pop Warner coach, David Reese, he still comes to our games nowadays to, you know, I was so blessed to have great high school coaches, college coaches.

You know, this was my path. This was my journey. you know obviously every player has a dream of playing in the national football league right you know I made the most of my college career you know my senior year you know it was unfortunate and I dealt with a lot of injuries I'd have two surgeries right when the season was over I had knee and shoulder surgery you know I actually thought that my skill set would have probably been better in you know CFL or one of those one of those other leagues just but when I had the injuries and I knew the rehab and you know all the things I kind of played through that senior year

year, you know, I could chase the dream to continue to play or I could follow, you know, follow the passion of what I wanted to be, you know, for the long term. And so I immediately, you know, I had the surgeries, you know, jumped right into coaching. I got a chance to be a graduate assistant there my first year at UCA. And, you know, obviously had some, some doors open, you know, there those next couple years. And he was able to follow the passion of being a coach and been very fortunate for who I've been able to do it with. Yeah, because, well, you was Arizona State, Pittsburgh. Tulsa,

Memphis, that's where you got three AAC championships, correct? Yeah, we had the three divisional championships, and then obviously the one ACC championship. Okay, yeah, yeah. And so you accomplished it a lot then

to come to Florida State, change that program to be where you're all at now. Just tell us a little bit about that, leaving Memphis and then coming to Florida State. Well, you know, I mean, I love my time at Memphis, and so it was a great place, great opportunity. You know, when I, when I was, became the head coach there as the youngest head coach in, you know, Division I football at the time.

And so blessed with opportunity. And, you know, we were able to do some wonderful things in that program, get some great players. And then, you know, when the chance, you know, when the chance, you know, came and presented itself to come to Florida State, it was truly a special one. And, you know, this was a program. I grew up in Dallas, Texas. You know, I really didn't have any affiliations to a school. But, you know, the very first piece of college memorabilia I ever owned. It was a 1993 national championship license plate. And that was the only thing I actually had on my wall and had the great players, you know, Derek Brooks, work done, Charlie Ward,

their names are up all in this license plate. And it was something that, you know, I was a Florida state fan, even not having a tie to the program. But it was really, you know, you know, when we were all coming up, I mean, it was just how they played. It was a mentality. It was just the place. And so, man, I love that.

And, you know, so much respect for Coach Bowden, just how we did it. The sustained success. over all the years. I mean, you could bank on a board of state was going to be in the national title hunt. They were going to be in the conversation, all the great players. And so when the opportunity to present itself, you know, the program had found, you know, some challenging times.

And, you know, I had an absolute passion and desire to want to be a part of getting this program back to where it deserves to be. And it's been a great joy, you know, being able to meet all the past players, you know, be able to, you know, you know, establish the culture that we desire and continue to grow. And, you know, like I said, get this program back, you know, in regards to not only what we're doing all in the field, but also, you know, how we represent it off the field.

And that's something that's really important us. And, you know, I'm proud of this team. I'm proud of the coaches. You know, everybody involved. We've got a wonderful administration. And so we're excited about continuing our climb to where we ultimately want to be. Who are a couple mentors along your journey that you reflect on that's gotten you to this point of being the head coach of full?

Florida State. Yeah, you know, I mean, no, it's funny, but like, I mentioned, you know, my pop corner coach. You know, I remember, you know, I'd stay with when I was eight, nine, 10 years old. I'm, I'd stay with, you know, him a couple nights a week, he had two younger kids, you know, of his own, but, you know, he started pouring in and caring about, you know, a young boy, you know, more than a position, more than a jersey, and just really trying to, just show all the great things that the game of football really are about, you know, wonderful high school coaches, you know, Mike Barber was my high school coach, you know, played in the NFL, you know, had somebody that, you know, had great success. And so I got to, you know, that perspective of it,

you know, going to college and, you know, having to, you know, you're playing, I would say, you play in the bus league. I mean, you played D2. I mean, you get to find out real life. Who loves the game? Yeah, yeah, obviously how we do it. But you know, you had a great, you know, great time there at Central Arkansas. And then, you know, as I transitioned into the college coaching. And, you know, when I went to Tulsa, you know, I got a chance to be under Gus Malzahn. He was the offensive coordinator, Todd Graham, was the head coach and, you know, just really being able to gain a lot from their perspective in program organization and, you know, different things, you know, schematically, you know,

obviously Gus, you know, has done wonderful jobs, you know, wonderful job. He had great, you know, success at high school ranks. And then what he was able to do in the college ranks has been really remarkable. But having those relationships and being able to learn ball from that, but also, you know, be able to kind of develop your own perspective, your own belief, your own values of of what if you get the opportunity to lead a program or lead a side of ball or lead a position group, what do you want it to look like? And so that's been a big part for me. You know, I remember, you know, Todd Graham was, you know, he was a head coach, but he was also, you know, he's got a defense coordinator in most respects of it. And just our conversations, I learned more, more about

what I wanted to do offensively, just from sitting in with him of what he didn't like to face defensively. And so it was really, you know, those conversations, I mean, those were, we're huge and just my thought process, and I think help give me a broad scope of understanding to a program. And, you know, when I did get a chance to be a head coach, I mean, I tried to implement a lot of those things, but, you know, stay true to who I am and what I believe. When you're chasing those ambitions as becoming a head coach one day, are you like collecting, are you journaling, are you writing things down? Like, how are you keeping some of these processes?

Or I really like this. I like this, core value. I like this from this coach. I like this from this coach. Are you like collecting all of this stuff so that way when one day you do have the shot, you're kind of trying to refer back to it? Well, I mean, I like,

I just remembering it all. I really, if I, if I, I wish I would have because there would probably be even some more detail things that I wouldn't have had to, you know, that I would have had maybe a little different perspective on as I made to transition. But, you know, and I encourage our coaches,

one thing I've always tried to do is, is regardless of what your job title is, or prepare for what you want to be. And when I was a GA, oh, I tried to prepare as if, I was a position coach. Now, I had a job and a responsibility, and I wanted to be the best in the United States of America,

whether it was getting a cup of coffee, whether it was breakdowns, whether it was whatever I had to do, I wanted that to be done at an elite level because that was my job, but also tried to prepare as if I was the position coach. And that's, I think that perspective, you know, because as you go through and you're coming up in a profession,

it can be football, it can be anything, right? You never know when your opinion is going to be asked. Right. but whatever that response to the question is, oh, that's going to be impactful to what, you know, somebody understands your perspective when they understand your knowledge. And so I always tried to be prepared for the question. When I became a position coach, I tried to always prepare as if I was a coordinator. And I would run things, I would run things through my mind as if I was already doing the job. When I became an office coordinator, I tried to prepare as if I was the head coach.

And so I always tried to prepare as if I was the next job. and you still have to do yours. But, you know, like, I even know as when I was a GA, I would not do any of my GA work, right, of that could be done for the next day. I would do that after everybody left because I didn't want to be out of the meeting room to miss out on the information. And, you know, there was a lot, part of the first, you know, five months of, you know, working for Coach Mileson, I don't know if he ever asked me a question. But during the middle of the season, I remember when he asked my opinion. And I thank God for all those meetings I had had, the offense, all that we were trying to accomplish, I actually gave him a response that was a value.

And how you build and earn trust in your perspective and your knowledge because you're willing to be a part of it. If I would have just gone in and just done the GA work, you know, I might have missed some of those opportunities. I might have missed that perspective and really the overall knowledge of what we were doing. So, you know, I always try to challenge you our young coaches. and even older coaches. I mean, the offensive coordinator, but you want to be a head coach. And to be honestly, like, that wasn't,

I didn't just have this dream, oh, I want to be the head coach. And I remember there's a lot of things I didn't know if I'd even like about being a head coach. But when the right opportunity presented itself, it was the right fit. And now, I love all elements of my job

that, you know, I didn't even know I would years back, but it's still preparing yourself for what could be ahead. I love that. And you appear to see it. I mean, ACC, coach at a year, year. Bobby Paul, Paul Bear Brian Award, Bobby Dodd Award, 2020. I mean, all your peers said, obviously, you put into work. We see it on the field. So, you know, I'm just thankful to be here

to talk to you just to watch what you have done to this program and also being a D2 guy and accomplish so much because I see myself doing that. The bus league. One day, you know, maybe being a coach and accomplishing some stuff like you did. Well, you know, you sit there and you go through it and everybody's got a different path. You know, but for me, it's who you get to do it with. And you've been able to try to make that impact for others. And, you know, I've been fortunate.

You talk about the Coach of the Year's Award. Those are staff awards, man, those are for our players. Those are, I mean, I'm grateful, you know, obviously when you have the title, a lot of attention goes to it. And, you know, I've got to, you know, make sure that I just continue to help and push us to the standard of what I know that we can accomplish and what we can do. But, you know, I'm grateful for who I get to do.

do it with. And, you know, we've got a wonderful group, great, you know, great players that buy in and allow us to coach them and to push them to, to, to, to that next level. And, you know, we're excited about where we're going and, you know, definitely, you know, fortunate for the opportunity. What are a couple things you don't like about the head coaching position? What are a couple things that I do? You say, like, as you were coming up, you're like, man, do I even want to be a head coach? Like, maybe when you're a coordinator, are there things about this job I might not like, like, like, what might be a couple, you know, Well, it might be a couple things that...

Or let's just say hypothetically, hypothetically, in a different world. You sit there and you go through, like, coming up and, you know, some of the budgetary decisions have to be made. Because as a coach, you want, what, everything for your players? And I want to be able to help give them all the resources, everything I need. Well, you know, the path that I've had coming up, you've got to learn how to sometimes do more with less. And, you know, I'm grateful for some of those experiences

because now I get to prioritize what it's going to be. And, you know, there might be some flash. things that maybe we didn't have or we chose not to have to be able to get things that made a difference. And, you know, for me, you know, it's like being able to understand the identity of what we want a team to be and then make sure everything along the way points to the identity. And as you come to a place like Florida State and the resources and as we've continued, even as we've continued to grow and push over these last four years, I'm excited about, you know, the impact and the resources we've been able to provide for our players.

but that was something that I didn't necessarily enjoy early because when you have to choose not to do something because you just didn't have it into a budget, that's tough. But then it's also the things that I grew to level, well, how can we work to get things necessary to get the job done and provide our players with all that we can? And, you know, it's, it is, but on the flip side of it, the thing that what I love about my job,

and there's nothing, like every decision that I make, right, impact so many. and it's the importance of every decision. So you don't get to any of the throwaway decisions. I'll never forget my first day on being a head coach at Memphis. You know, you sit there and there's no like script out here, here, your head coach. You have to go do it, right? It's your program, go, right?

And do the press conference. You'll get a chance to meet with the team, all those things. I mean, I'm feeling it. It's ready. It's rolling, right? I remember coming back to my office. And, you know, my administrative assistant, Sherry Schwartz, wonderful woman.

I love her. Okay, she comes into my office. and she goes, coach, what time do you want me coming to work tomorrow? Because the previous staff, I got to do this. And this is a simple of a question as you can imagine. But whatever response I gave her was going to impact her life. Her life. When she comes to work, when she leaves work, whatever the things that she's used to,

whatever she needs, like that decision, you know, in the whole honesty at that moment, it's like, just make sure you show up. You know, I don't know what I don't care. But whatever I told her. was going to be impactful for her life experience. And that's what I love. Because you get asked a million questions as a leader, but do you understand that even the smallest answer

is going to have a monumental impact for those around you? And I love that because every day, I mean, you have to be on it. You've got to have a broad scope. The willingness to say no to certain things, kind of like as we talked about with the budget, you got the willingness to say no, that might not be pleasing to somebody in a moment, but it's better for the big picture of it.

Those are the fun experiences that you get to, because I've made plenty of mistakes in decisions. And you learn from those, you get better from those. And, you know, it's just, that's what I do love about the job in the role. That's awesome. You aspire to be in the NFL, NFL head coach one day? You know, I mean, you never know. I mean, never say never, never.

But, like, you know, I do love the opportunity I get to impact 18 to 22-year-olds in this time of their life, you know, to be able to help build and facilitate. habits that are going to hope them be successful there at the next level. You know, I love the relationship aspect of it. You know, the first time guys have to leave home and they're not going to see in their parents every day or their loved or their guardian, whoever that might be. You know, hoping build them in that moment is critical. And I get so much enjoyment out of that, you know, you get to be a true difference maker

for them, you know, to say that I'd never have any aspirations. And I'm not going to say that that would never be the case. but right now, I mean, I absolutely love getting to do what I do, and I can't see doing anything else. You got anything else for coach? He crushed it. Yeah. Hey, thank you so much.

This has been, this has been a pleasure. I appreciate you guys being here. It's a wonderful place, and enjoy the visit and go inoles. What game would you recommend us to come to this year? There's nothing like the last one we're going to have. The last regular season game here is going to be pretty live. I can promise you that. Okay.

All right. You might have to come to that one. Definitely. Coach, thank you, man. Thanks. You all have a great one. Yes, sir. Appreciate you.

Can we take a photo? Yeah, absolutely. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what?

We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it.

But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey, Jonas on the office. us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for band.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Joey Dardano, and on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, we rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people. people you know. Listen to help from Hippocrite Wednesdays on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.