Stay Tranquilo - PART 2: Roberto Aguayo Tells All | NFL Draft Hype, Adversity & the Comeback

Episode Date: September 24, 2025

From “can’t miss” FSU legend to second-round draft pick—and the public adversity that followed. In Part 2, Roberto Aguayo gives a raw, step-by-step breakdown of the NFL transition: the swing change he made right after college, why it hurt early, how he rebuilt his motion and confidence, and what it’s like dealing with expectations, media, and identity when the ball stops splitting the uprights. He also shares the Carolina 10-for-10 tryout, the candid Rams front-office conversation, and how those lessons now fuel his coaching and purpose beyond football.What you’ll learn (real, actionable takeaways)Draft Day → Reality: The gap between college dominance and NFL expectations for specialists.Mechanics Matter: Why he changed his swing (injury prevention & efficiency), what went wrong, and the exact cues that fixed it: “inside panel – smooth finish.”Mindset Under Fire: How to block out noise, stop chasing perfection, and return to process over outcome.Adversity Playbook: Missing on national TV, the Monday Night “just make it” kick, finishing the season strong, and dealing with a last-game long snapper injury.Right Place, Right Time: Panthers tryout (10/10), Rams decision (business vs performance), and the reality of veteran guarantees.Identity Beyond the Jersey: Navigating the post-NFL identity shift, finding purpose in coaching (Aguayo Kicking), and passing hard-won lessons to the next generation.Chapters00:00 The “surreal” turn in the story01:10 Second-round pick pressure & expectations04:45 Why change the swing? Mechanics, pain, and efficiency10:20 When misses pile up: media, fans, and the mental game15:40 Monday Night pressure kick & a midseason reset18:20 Building a repeatable process: inside panel → smooth finish22:40 Carolina tryout: 10/10 & earning trust27:50 Rams meeting: performance vs. guaranteed money33:10 Life after the league: identity, purpose, and coaching36:45 Lessons for young athletes (and anyone chasing excellence)#FSU #RobertoAguayo #NFLDraft #Kicking #SportsPsychology #Comeback #HardKnocks #Mindset #staytranquilo #tampabaybuccaneers #floridastatefootball #fsufootball #kicker Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

That's got to be one of the most surreal moments. Surreal moments because in the moment, we didn't know the history that we were making. So kind of before we wrap it up, I want to definitely talk about, obviously, the level of success that you had in college was probably one of the best college football kickers of all time. There's not even a question about it. And you kind of alluded to it, like the level of success with Florida State's offense provided that opportunity for you to have that many opportunities. obviously to succeed, but I mean, you were hitting everything. I think you finished close to 90% in your career at Florida State and obviously a ton of hype going into the next level, right?

And were you the highest drafted kicker of all time in the NFL? No. Highest drafted was Sebastian Genakowski. He was first round. He was a first round. I think 17th, the 18th overall. But obviously, a ton of hype going into it. Talk to me about that whole draft process, the hype going into the NFL.

and then, you know, just being in the NFL in general. Yeah. You know, now that I'm older, I've had conversations and interviews of this where, like, I've talked about it, but, like, as you get older and, like, you gain more knowledge and you look back and that you can reflect, you find different things that, you know, that you could have done differently or popped up

or, like, you know, could have done better here or understand like the reason of success. Maybe that's why the reason of success of why I'm so into it is like, you know, what success and what causes you not to have success and how quickly can you get out of that to get back to being on track.

I think transitioning from Florida State to the draft, there's also like a lot of other things that can go into it. I want to write a book one day. I've started the process, but I think it'd be good because I get a lot of questions about it and especially helping younger guys and guys going through the same situation. I've had questions about it and like just to pass on that knowledge where I think coming in, no expect, okay, so here's going back to the retro year. I think that was huge for me because small high school, like no real like going into

dope Campbell like I remember my freshman year I was kicking to the returners I was I was back up I was backing up Dustin but I was kicking to the returners and it was my first time walking out of dope I was so nervous I was like so I was kicking the returners from like our own 40 but I was hitting into the stadium like I couldn't like like I was too amped like I was like coach uh Eddie was like are you getting to the stands like calm down yeah I'm like I can't Like this is like crazy. Like I'm hype. Like I don't know.

Like it's just so but I think traveling with the team understanding like how everything was operating. Right. Like what you should do. Like when should I do my home or when should I complete my school? Like can I do it on the road? Can I not? Like oh like what should I eat before bed before the game to make me like you know. So I got to work all those kinks out that freshman year.

were coming into that my red shirt freshman year. You were already comfortable with that. I was already comfortable. I had a year under my belt. The only thing I didn't do was actually play in a game. But I was on the sidelines. I was kick pregame. I was at the NC State game when we lost to,

when Mike Glennon beat us 17 to 16. I remember that game. I remember Terrence Brooks came in there to the locker. Pissed. Pissed throwing his helmet, like crying. And like I didn't play. So like, I was just like in the corner.

I didn't do it. Yeah, it wasn't my fault. But like, it was kind of like, yeah. Yeah. They could get intense. Yeah. This is in high school, you know what I mean? So that, I think, helped transitioning to that next year.

Now, from college being drafted, I was projected to go. My agents were saying second to fourth. I was like, okay. I was like, I don't even know the last kicker. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mike Nugent in 2005 was the last kicker to go on the second round. So draft day comes. Tampa never really spoke to me.

They came to my pro day. The coach asked me to kick some kickoffs to the side. That was about it. I didn't really know who. I didn't really have an idea. Yeah. kind of like back to the college offers like whatever happens happens you know whatever city I go to I just wanted to be in a warm city like group of Florida like kicking in the cold

kicking in the cold sucks yeah but that's really it I end up getting I can tell the draft the draft day story but I'll speed it up but anyways I get a call I get drafted and Florida Tampa Okay. You know, you get drafted, but the biggest thing that many people don't know, and like I would say I wouldn't put all the blame on this, but this was partially why I think it was a lot of things that came together. I was going through a swing change after my last game at Florida State, like the Atlanta, when we played in Atlanta, we lost to Houston.

And after that game, like I was already, like my groin was, like my groin would hurt, my lower back would hurt, and it was the way I kicked. This was over time, like, through Florida State. Right. I would try to, like, you know, cold tub, you know, contrast, like, roll out. But I'm like, there has to be an easier way. Like, there has to be a more efficient way. And I would watch a lot of film and, like, guys that would swing it.

In golf, like, my swing was very wedgy, very, very wedgy, scoopy. a lot of groin, smaller muscle, and a lot of the guys that ended up kicking like that would end up getting hurt. Because Dustin would kick like that. So watching him for a year, you kind of like... You almost gravitate to the same mannerism. Of course, yeah, yeah.

He ends up tearing his groin when he's at Buffalo. Caleb Sturgis also toured his groin. He kicked the same way. There's like a pattern of that kicking style. Cairo Santos toward the same way. Wow. And then you would see the guys that didn't hit it that way and hit it more with using more of their quad. Staying up taller.

They're not scrunching. Right. They're very, it looks like they don't even try and it goes far. You know what I mean? So I was like, it's kind of like Tiger in 2000 when he switched his swing. He was very across the line, very long. Like he was wanting to get better, right? An injury, you know.

So I was like, I can do this. Like, let me just, like, you know what I mean? Like, let me just stand taller. Let me, you know. I wasn't completely ready after I got drafted. I was like, it's still like, it feels weird, you know. You're completely changing something in your body. And like, and as going into spring ball, like, OTAs, it was fine.

There wasn't that many pressure, like, how much pressure, like, after getting drafted or whatever. And, like, I was like, all right, I got the summer to, to, you know. I got OTAs to kind of figure it out. It was okay. Like I ended up like 85, 85, 88% during OTAs. And then going into camp, like, I was like not completely as confident. You play golf. Yeah, exactly.

I just went through this with my swing change. Like, I lost all confidence in my golf swing because started from, you know, a more out to, you know, into out swing, right, to a more like, I got to remove this over the topness and I got to come more into out. Yes, yes, yes. And it was just like, I have no feel for this. No feel, no confidence. None.

I don't know where the ball's going to go. 100%. So part of it is like a concoction of being drafted that high. I remember sitting in preseason and we had hard knocks. Or no, no, no. Hard knocks is the next year. But we, the first year, um, um, I sat next to Gerald McCoy.

And Coach Cutter goes over, like, the goals of this year. Like, one of the big goals was, like, our field goal percentage needs to go up. And this was last year. This is what we want to be, like, this year. And Gerald McCoy gets up. And he's like, oh, coach, like, we're good. He's like, we got this guy. This guy's not going to miss.

Yeah. He's the second round. I want to be like, bro, Joe. Yeah. Yeah. I like, I appreciate it. But, like, we're going to put me up that high. Yeah.

You know, like internally, like, I'm going through this. You know, you don't want to be like, I'm going through this. You know, right? You don't want to, like, make excuses or anything like that. But you know internally like shit. Like, I am doing this right now and I don't feel great about it. Exactly. Like, you know, second round on your back.

Like, half the fan base probably didn't like me getting picked that high. They're like, you know, we could have picked another. You know, and like I go out to my first preseason game and I miss. hit it off the upright. And I'm kind of like, all right, whatever. And then I missed a couple, but I never really had the confidence. And like the same, like, as is Florida State coming in and like kind of like, you know, when things are grooving and like, and first pre-serer, first going into the game or going

into the season, I miss, I make my first kick in Atlanta. that I remember. I don't know if I missed one there, but I missed a couple. And I could never just get on a groove of like confidence. I was like my swing isn't ready. Tampa or when we went to go play Monday night in Carolina that year. At that point, it was like the sixth or seventh game.

I don't know if you can look at the when the schedule was, but dude, we go, I missed, I want to say two field goals. I was two for four, and we had a drive to win the game for a field goal. And at that moment, like, after missing, like, two kicks, you're kind of like, and I had never, keep in mind, I never went through adversity like this. Florida State was like... Yeah, you were in cruise control out there. Cruise control, never missed.

So one, going to the swing change was one whole thing. And then two, I had never dealt with this much adversity where, like, I didn't know how to deal with it of like, what, like, how do I got to do to, like, mentally prepare myself to be, like, forget up, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's easier said than done, be like, oh, man, like, you miss a kick. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I just bounce back from it. Yeah, yeah. Like, in golf where they're like, oh, just hit the ball. Like, you know, just be smooth. You know what I mean? Like, it can be easy to say those. And like, yeah, like, oh, like, yeah, I get it.

One thing to end the moment actually execute that. And one, it's unfamiliar. You never been to this. You know, like, and like, two, you don't want, I've always been looked at. I wouldn't call myself this. But, like, it was almost like I was Superman. And like, you, I lost my powers.

And you know in the movies where he's kind of like gets hit and he's like, I don't know. I don't know. So it was kind of that like in that moment where like I don't know. Like I've never been through it and like missing. And like when I would go out to in Tampa to like, he would be like, oh like that's the, you know what I mean? Like you get the stairs. And like I never went through that either. So I was like, oh.

All that stuff just kind of starts messing with your head. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And you're like, I don't want to miss. People don't know I'm going through a swing change. Also, like, yeah, I'd have missed, but like, I'm struggling to, like, not not be liked,

but, like, never be the person that, like, oh, like, he's not doing his job. You know what I mean? It's very similar when you see these guys of any position, right? High draft pick, the reputation and kind of the, the, what's the word? like the expectation yeah the expectation of these guys is so high that the moment you don't match this expectation that's placed on you it's like yeah holy cow i'm a failure holy cow this you know you just start getting in your head and reality is it's it's probably furthest from the truth but like this expectation that other people have placed on you has now created this illusion in

your head yeah and i think i worried too much about what other people Right, of course, yeah. And not only, you know, fans or, then you start thinking about your family, you're letting your family down, like you're letting your parents, yeah. You feel like you're letting your teammates down, like, you're letting your coaches down, like your coach is probably like, you know, so then you start like, but then that takes you away from the focus of what you really need to do. Right, and the youth proportion of it.

Yeah, like what do I need to do to work at this to get better? if I'm focused on what is so-and-so fan in the stands thinking about me. What are my own teammates thinking about me? Oh, like, I need to make all my kicks today because, you know, I don't want to be, you know, go home and be like. And there you've given your power completely away. Exactly. Exactly. You're thinking about things that don't.

And like, I had never gone through that. And it's like being away from Florida State, you're on a brand new team. You're at the bottom of the totem pole. Like you're a rookie. So, like, it was a new punter. I was a new kicker, the starting kicker. There was a snapper there, but, like, you don't want to, like, admit, like, yo, like, I really, like, I'm kind of like, you know what I mean?

Like, you don't want to admit that, and I probably should have opened up a little bit. You have been more transparent about it. You have been more transparent, like, you know what I mean? But, like, like I said, I had never been through that. I didn't really want to expose weakness in myself. I didn't want to be the Superman that didn't feel like Superman. anymore and say, like, yo, I got my pat. So I think it was a buildup

of a lot of things. And that Monday night came, back to the drive to win the game. I literally was like, like, that's the probably lowest moment of my career and a mental point of like walking out.

It's almost kind of like, I hope I make this. Like, you know, when you're at, when you're, Yeah, you just don't know what, yeah, here, you're standing up on the T-box and you're about to hit this drive and you're like, I have no idea where this is going to go. And I'm just like praying for the best right now. You're just like hoping, like you literally. Way more on the line, obviously, in your situation. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And but coming from missing two kicks, you made two, but you've missed two.

Right. You'd have made one of those two. You wouldn't be in the situation. But anyways, like, it's going to be on this line. Like, but I had already like missed in preseason and like, I wasn't living up to the second. round expectation. I needed to make all my kicks and go into the swing change. And it was almost everything happened so quick. And like I hit it. I looked up. It went through. It wasn't a pretty ball. It was an ex ball. Like it was very like, I kind of just like forced it through. Like,

just like, just get there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And after that, I was like, all right. I got to figure something out because I can't do this the rest of the season. Yeah. It's not the mindset you want going into it. It's not the motion you feel like you want to go into it. And I was like, all right, like I got to put, I can't do the complete new swing because it's not, I don't have enough confidence in it. Like my body's not used to it yet. It's a new feeling that doesn't bring confidence. So it was kind of like a hybrid between my old swing and then what I wanted to be at. And that allowed me to get a little bit more confidence, a little bit more consistency in practice.

And I said, I'm going to finish the rest of the season out. And I did. And from that moment, from the Monday night game, the next game on until the last game, I think I finished like 88% or higher. I went to Kansas City. I won special teams player of the week. Yeah.

I went four for four on field goals. And we won. We didn't score a touchdown. We scored one touchdown, and it was four field goals, and we ended up winning by, like, a field goal. But I won special teams player of the week. Like, I was like, all right, shit. Like, you know, things are going well?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And, like I said, from there till the end of the season, until my last game, going to my last game, and I'm like, all right, like, you know, just keep on doing the same thing, whatever. If I go in, my long snapper tears his ACS. in the game. He was running down on a punt.

Non-contact. Yeah. The backup is a linebacker. Adarius Glenn, I remember his name. Rhythm. My gosh, he looked so nervous. He was on the sidelines. He was on the sidest.

Because we would practice it during the week. Yeah, but it's a different one you're like, you don't think that's ever going to happen. And then all of a sudden it happens and you're like, oh, man, I wasn't actually thinking I was going to do this. Exactly. So then we go out on the field. We go to field.

He snaps it. and like doesn't get up to block. Oh, shit. They come in there, dude. Oh, no. So, you know, whatever. And then the next, we go another field goal. And this time, I'm like, you know, you're hoping he's not going to rush it.

Yeah, he blocks it. I kick it. It wasn't as a clean kick. It, like, stays, and it just started fading. The wind caught it. And it goes on to the right. I'm like, it's all good. like whatever.

Like, if I missed it, like, 0 for 2. So that hurt the stats, but like from the Monday night game. Until then. Yeah. I think if I would have made, if I would have finished that game, like made, I think overall I would have been mid-70s maybe or below or high 70s. And what was the goal going into that year? The goal was just to like being the average of all. all the kickers is 84%.

Okay. So trying to be somewhere in the high. Yeah, yeah. So to mid to high 80s. Mid to high 80s. Okay. High 80s, you're doing really good. Yeah.

Mid 80s, you're, your average. If you're low 80s, you're below average. High 70s, you're below average. So I was just trying to get to below 80s, you know, after that Monday night game. But up until the Monday night game, I think I was like five, 10, I don't know. I was like low. Yeah.

And, but after that, after that season, like, you know, they brought in Nick Folk. Harnox was there. I think after just going through that, I think, you know, there's other, there's other things that, that, you know, personal life, like, you know, things that you could have done differently. And, like, but obviously there's no excuse. You got to figure it out because it's a business. Like, you're doing your job. And, like, I knew, you know. And at a point where I think they were already, like the owners, the team wants consistency,

they want to know they're going to have someone there that can make the kicks. And Nick Falk was a veteran and, like, competing against an eight, nine, 10-year veteran and you're a second year. Like, you know what I mean? Yeah, it's like, he's doing things where, like, mentally, he knows physically I could outbeat him. Right. But mentally, like, and I knew, you know, yeah, yeah. And I was kind of like, damn, like, you know what I mean? And, like, he would kick, he wouldn't kick it as far or as high every time.

I'd kick it high or I'd kick it. You know, I'd try to hit the camera guy up there in the, but like sometimes, like, I would miss. But I'm like, it's a miss. It looked pretty. It was high, but. But it wasn't going in. It wasn't going in. And it's just like, man, like, you know.

And Hard knocks was there. And I remember that's when I got released after. I missed in a game. It was like our first game, preseason game. And I missed. I still hadn't shaken off what happened last year. And like, you know, it's kind of like going this year. Like, I still kind of just wasn't fully confident.

It wasn't fully where I needed to be. And also it takes a toll on you, I think. emotional. Emotional. You know, you kind of like, you can't be the same. When you go out, you're still kind of like, and maybe I put more pressure

and more focus more on that than I needed to. Like, maybe I put that in my own head like where I can't go. Like, I can't go, you know, to the mall because, you know, someone's gonna ask for a picture. Like, you hear murmurs. Like, I don't want that.

Where it's like, maybe I should have just like, just really turn off all the noise and just. Whatever. Yeah. then I get cut on national TV, whatever. So then I go to the Bears. And being out of Tampa, it kind of helped, like, all right, new place, new city.

They ended up keeping Connor Barth. So I had time off from that 17. So from the end of August, so September, October. I had like seven, eight weeks. and I was like, all right, I'm going to figure out my stuff because I know I'm going to get a call and I need to go and be ready and be ready. So full-blown, like, new swing no matter what,

like, I'm burning the boats, like, worked, work, literally worked. I was at Florida State, like, training there. Like, it was a good time for, like, clarity, like, really figure out, like, my stuff because it was, I was just band-aids, you know, through those first, first year and a half of the league. And I finally got my opportunity, Carolina called Graham Ganoe's knee was hurting.

They didn't know if he was going to be ready. From me, Young Way Koo, Andrew Franks. Oh, wow. And me, I think another guy. I literally told myself, I had built the process, inside panel, smooth finish, of the three things I tell myself before.

And just go out there, like, reminded it like of Florida State Times, like relax, like, Bring back that same energy. And I went 10 for 10. Like I told you how Nick Folk was, I literally was. And I told myself,

if I trust inside panel, smooth, finish, 85% chance they're going to go in. And 85% chance is like the goal. Exactly. That's the number. That's what I focused on. That was the,

I had a process. I take my look. I take my stuff. You know what I mean? Like focused on what I need. Exactly. Not like what is Ron Rivera looking at. Like, what is Ron River?

You know what I mean? Like how am I, you know, I can't focus on that stuff. And went in there, boom, boom, boom. Like, I remember the special teams coach, like, all right, you have like your last kick, wherever you want to kick from. Kind of like. Let's see. Yeah.

I think I went back to like 59, 60. You know, you pick where it's like far enough. Like you don't want to miss, like not short enough. Like, show like, yeah. Yeah. You don't go kick a 40. Yeah. So, and I hit it and I made it.

He was like, all right. And, like, I think Young Way missed, like, one or two. Franks missed a little bit more. He was the Miami kicker. Yeah, I remember him. And he ended up signing me, man. And that was the first time where, like, this has worked. Yeah.

Like, I trusted the process. I focused on the right stuff. Like, it works. Like, it works. And that's just, like, a little snowball effect of the, of the, like, where I needed to be. And, like, for a split second, and I was like, I wish I had this, like, in Tampa. But I went through that to put me in, like, where I needed to be.

I fought through that adversity. Yep, exactly. And literally hit rock bottom and, like, you figured it out. And, like, I learned a lot from Graham and, like, being there. I backed him up. I never got to play in a game. He ended up being healthy or I would kick out practice and he would just kick in the game. And then I got released in December.

they needed some wide receivers for the playoffs. But they were like Roberta. He did great. I was there for like eight or nine weeks. And then I competed in L.A. They had already signed Caleb. They had already guaranteed him a million. I beat him out in competition. He was kind of hurt still from the groin.

I made all my kicks in preseason. I did what I had to do. Right. Yeah. You controlled what you control. I control what I control. The GM brings me in. I thought I was going to get signed.

You don't know until you get signed. Brings me in and he's like, Ferto, he's like, be honest, I didn't think you were going to do as good as you did. He's like, you did very well. You did what you needed to do. Yeah. He's like, this is a hard decision

and this might be the wrong decision. We don't know how it's going to do. turn out, but we signed Caleb and we guaranteed him a million. He's a veteran. We're going to end up going with him, like sticking with him. I literally was, like, I didn't show it. I was professional. Of course. Yeah. But inside, I was like, what? Yeah. It's like, here I am. I had my opportunity. I did everything I could to control what I needed to control, and yet the outcome didn't pan out to be. But you know what? It goes back to like what you've been telling yourself your whole career like what is meant for you is meant for you and for whatever reason in those moments like it just never makes sense right because

it's like everything that you were working for was for that and god's like yeah you learn something in that moment but it ain't about playing football right now and it was about you figuring that out yeah and now hopefully a lesson that you can now carry to like next generations because that's one thing, like with adversity, is you're always not going to understand them in that moment, but when you look back at that moment, time will be the answer as to, like, why that happened.

And I'm sure you could look back at that now and be like, might not make sense, but it makes sense. Yeah, yeah, no. And there was a, there was a long time where I kind of, like, had bitterness or like, why or like, you know, that should have been me. Like, you know, I'll go more in detail and, you know, in a book, like, there's, like, you know, different things, like, going on through the season.

Like, they brought me back to work out. Like, yeah. I was like, for sure. Like, it's got to be an emotional roller coaster with all that, too. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And in the meantime, like, you're not getting paid. Yeah, exactly. So, like, and that's the point of, like, okay, I didn't get signed that.

They brought me back that year. They ended up signing Badgley because they didn't want me to come in there while Caleb was still there. Because I left my truck over there. The punter was like, yo. Caleb keeps asking, like, why is your truck still here? Like, he's like scared. Yeah. They ended up releasing Caleb, like, week six, week seven.

They signed Michael Badgeley. He kicked two games, made all his kicks. They brought Caleb back. They wanted to bring, like, Caleb was ready. Like, he was healed. Yeah, yeah. He went like two for four, two for five. They released him.

Brought Badgley back. Damn. And he stayed there the rest of the year. So it's like. Yeah, there's so much volatility. Right place right time. Like, you got to, you know, like things that are going to go your way.

So, like, you know, I worked out for a couple of teams that year, but, like, they ended up being fine. Like, their kickers ended up being good. Right. So at what point, like, you know, does you, like, do you, like, stop? Right. But it's a learning experience. I'm grateful for where I'm at.

It's made me the person that I am today. And it's just lessons, like you said, for the next generation, for the kids that I'm coaching now, man, it's, it's, you know, sometimes you tell them these, these stories and they're like, no way. Yeah. Because they're like, you know, I got to, you know, I didn't kick good. I'm like, dude, like, relax. Yeah.

Trust me. Like, trust me. Yeah. I know. Because you could go one or two ways there, right? Yeah, yeah. I know the feeling. Like that rabbit hole of like, shit, I can't do this.

Yeah, yeah. Then you start stacking that, that lack of, you know, confidence, essentially. And it's like, not just in sports, but like in anything. Anything. Yeah. Anything. Yeah. That's why I like golf so much.

And, like, I root for, like, Jordan Speed because, like, the thing that he had at the mat. It's kind of, like, the same, like, in front. Like, he probably never went through that. He'd probably, like, just duff through in the water. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah.

And, like, obviously, like, no one knows, like, I don't know personally what, like, he was going through or what deep down, like, the circumstances. But, like, it's kind of the same thing. And, like, kind of good to see him back. And, like, I always root for him because, like, you know, it's hard to go through those things. and sometimes you need good kicks. But in any facet of life, in any sports, personal world, you know what I mean? Like, you're going to have your ups and your downs.

You just got to focus on the process, focus on the task at hand. And, like, it's never going to be perfect. It's never going to have the right things. Exactly. You know, something might go wrong. And, like, you just got to have your own process. Trust it. You know, get through it.

Worry about what you got to do. Exactly. Worry about you. Don't worry about what other people are saying about you're thinking about. you. At the end of the day, everyone's trying to do their thing, provide for their children, provide for their family. And as long as you focus on yourself, do give the best that you can, try your best.

You know, you'll, you'll succeed. You'll, you know, good things will happen. Absolutely. So I know, I know this was a long conversation, but, you know. It's the truth of your story. It's a testament, obviously, to who you are today. and your journey made you, like you said, who you are today, and now you're able to give so much more because of it.

And I think we all, you know, we walk this path of life and nothing's really guaranteed, right? Yeah. So you could do everything in your power to achieve these goals that we have in place, but there is a level of surrender that we need to have in this process of life as well to be able to say, hey, you know, I know I did everything I can to make. it happen. But if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be. And there's strength in that. And I don't think enough people are willing to accept that. And that's part of that process of

excellence. It's not like that's like there's a fine line to it. Right. It's like you don't want to just accept something because like it didn't work out. Exactly. Exactly. But there is like signs along the way. It's like, hey, yeah, this is going to be a tough decision for me to continue or not to continue. But at the end of the day, I know I gave it all I got. And that's the one thing for certain you know you can control. And no, you're right. I think it's not just like, oh, it didn't happen, whatever. Yeah. But it's also like identifying your, knowing who you are and keeping your identity as in yourself.

True. I identified myself as the football player. I grew up by the kicker. Yeah. When I was no longer a kicker, I, like, it was kind of like, identity crisis. Identity crisis. And like, like, I thought I was the only one that, but like a lot, like, a lot of guys. Most athletes.

Yeah. It doesn't even matter at what level they are and the level of success in their careers. You've devoted so much time and energy into it that that is your actual identity. Like, no, no one's going to recognize you for anything else but that. But reality is, we're all human at the end of the day. We're all human. Like, I'm Roberto Aguayo. I happen to play, I haven't to play football.

But I am not Roberto Aguio the kicker. I'm Roberto, Roberto Aguio, the person. Like, that happens to play football. Exactly. I'm a brother, I'm a son. Exactly. And at the end of the day, you never mean. Like, you got to really think, like, it's a sport.

Like, something that I did that I was really good at, you know, for one reason or another, I didn't end up playing. And, like, you know, you can't get caught up in, like, what other people say, good or bad, you know. True. You're never, like, Coach Fisher, you're never as good as they say you are. You're never as bad as they say you are. And, you know, you got to find internally who you are, what, you're never. what you identify, you know, who is the person, you know, who is Roberto Gwaha?

Yeah. And go about it. Like, you know, if you're a good attorney or if you're a good doctor, like, you know, you're a person. That's why when I meet people, like, I meet people for who they are. Like, who cares if they're, you know, if they're like so and so at the end of the day or like, like Coach Fisher would always be like, you know, you treat the janitor versus, you know, the head and coach the same way because you don't. You never know. 100%. At the end of the day, if you're a good person, you treat yourself, treat people with respect.

It'll always work itself out. Yeah, it'll always work itself no matter what you do, right? You have the work ethic. Like my parents, like at a young age, like, you didn't know it then, but like it was hard, you know, hard work. Exactly. You know, motivation. And like you learn along the way, like adversity. Like I'd never gone through that much of adversity.

I think it sounds sometimes wrong place, wrong time. But like, I learned, I came as a, yeah, timing is a. And I learned from it. And like, there was, like, I said, there was a time where I'm like, oh, I would, I would watch. And, like, you know, these guys are the same age as me. And I'm like, could easily be in there. And like, I could. But sometimes it doesn't go your way.

And you can't. What am I going to be? Like, oh, boohoo. Right. Like for the rest of the rest of your life. It's a chapter in my life. Yeah. Close it.

And, like, you, you take what you learn from it. Pass it on to the next generation in whatever way, you know, by lessons, by coaching, by writing, like by doing this. Like, you know, so happy to help you and excited for state. Drankilo. It's exciting. And, you know, I want to get more involved in the Hispanic community too. So I'm doing a couple things with some people that I've met.

These guys trying to transition international kickers and like, oh, nice. Maybe doing something in Mexico. Like, you know what I mean? Like so. At the end of the day, you built a platform. through your career and the success that you had in your career. Now, like that, like, that's your, like, it's finding that purpose now, right?

And living through that purpose, through the tools that you've been provided and the, and the career and, you know, persona that you've built over the year. And that's, that's one step ahead. Now it's like, what can I do with this for good? Yeah. No. I love it, man. You're definitely an inspiration.

Thanks, man. You know, you obviously very exciting career, you know, as a fan, but, you know, you know, also just like as a person, like just seeing how you've kind of overcome what you've, what you've dealt with in your life is a testament to who you are. And we're excited for you and in this new chapter of your life. And hope to, hope to do some more stuff together. Yeah, definitely, man. Appreciate it.

Yeah, enjoyed it. Absolutely. I appreciate it, bro. Thank you.