The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast - Cooper Kupp on McVay, Stafford Chemistry, OBJ Impact

Episode Date: May 26, 2022

Rams Super Bowl MVP Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp joins - fellow Eastern Washington alum - Colin to discuss his mindset when he arrived at Eastern as a zero star recruit (3:00), when he believed he could ...be a pro (7:00), what he saw at his first NFL practice (10:00), what it’s like playing for Sean McVay (18:00), what immediately wowed him about Matt Stafford (20:00), what happened on the famous Stafford no-look pass in the Super Bowl (22:00), his toughest blocking assignment (25:00), what impressed him with OBJ (26:00), if he likes living in L.A. (28:00), Stafford's best leadership qualities (33:00), his honest thoughts about Eastern’s red turf (37:00). Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates and check out FanDuel for the best wagering and daily fantasy action! #herdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. 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.
Starting point is 00:00:23 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.
Starting point is 00:00:42 Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.
Starting point is 00:01:07 I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I Heart Radio app,
Starting point is 00:01:32 Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English.
Starting point is 00:01:47 Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:02:10 The Volume. The Colin Coward podcast presented by Fandul Sportsbook, no better place to make every moment more than with Fandul. Basketball, football, they have awesome new and existing user promotions. It's easy to use. It's safe and secure. You can get your winnings back in two hours. My favorite, the same game parlay's. You can bet five or ten bucks in one, $150 or more.
Starting point is 00:02:40 If you are new, just download the Fandul Sportsbook app. Get started now. Sign up promo code Colin so they know we and I sent you. The Colin Coward podcast presented by the Fandul's Sportsbook. In the history of Eastern Washington University, Cooper Cup, without question, is the most famous alum. Oh, there are some really talented people that also went there. We don't need to talk about them. But the MVP offensively of the league last year, the Super Bowl MVP, and the fourth player ever to lead the NFL in receiving, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Starting point is 00:03:33 the most notable Eastern Washington University alum of all time Cooper Cup. So, Coop, I know Washington State High School football pretty well. You were a no-star recruit, and I was a no-star broadcasting recruit that went to Eastern. But I look back at Eastern, and I was a small-town kid, and I couldn't have handled a big school. I just wasn't ready to go to a Texas, you know, whatever, you know, Ohio State. I think back on my Eastern days so fondly, I was in Dressler, one of those circular. Yep, yep. I was on a great intramural football team.
Starting point is 00:04:25 I remember every player on that team. And I think for a lot of people, they look at Eastern out in the middle of nowhere, but it's got great spring, summer. fall weather. It's really good football. And that's where I want to start with you. Like, you didn't get recruited by anybody, even though you had some lineage in your family. Did you go to Eastern thinking, I'm lucky, I'm going to prove people wrong? Do you remember your first month on campus? Yeah, I do. I definitely remember that first. I got up there in June. I got there as soon as I possibly could want to be involved in the summer program and learning the
Starting point is 00:05:01 offense and doing all the different stuff. So I got up there real early afterwards. And I definitely, I had an attitude, I was very grateful for the opportunity. You go from this place where, you know, I walked off the football field, my senior year, the last game, we got absolutely stomped by a team out there in Spokane, not far away from eastern Washington, and get absolutely stomped by them. I walk off that field, having just gotten a stumped and having no scholarship offers. I don't, my last football game, I had put it all out there. I didn't have anywhere. I didn't know if I was going to play in college. So for me, I was grateful for the opportunity that Eastern provided. I was also stepping into a place. So there were three All-American receivers in front of me. So I was also very
Starting point is 00:05:40 excited about the opportunity to learn from some guys that had done some really good stuff as well. So I got up there. That was really my heart moving up there and moving into that place, moving into Cheney and being a part of that stuff. There's nothing to do. There's not a whole lot to do up there except you get to play football and be a part of a really good program. Yeah, there was Zips. There's Zips. Exactly. There was Zips. I wasn't old enough to go to like, was it Shonys or there was some bar, but I couldn't go to it until I was like a senior. And I felt really comfortable there because I came, my high school football team had 29 players.
Starting point is 00:06:15 I was the quarterback, not very good. But when, so your dad, your dad was a quarterback in the NFL, Cowboys Cardinals. Your grandfather was an offensive lineman. So when I read your story, My guess is you were a late bloomer that you were athletic, but you like popped, put on 15, 20 pounds. That was my guess. When was the moment for you that as a skinny high school player that you kind of did think for yourself, think for yourself, yeah, I can make some waves in this sport and even think maybe Canadian football? I mean, seriously, like, was there a moment?
Starting point is 00:06:55 Do you remember thinking, I wonder if I could play professionally? Yeah, I do. And actually that moment, as crazy as it sounds, that moment came when I was nine years old. And I stepped on the football field for the first time, put the pads on. I was at my brother's coach pitch baseball game. There was a team practicing out in right field. I went and checked it out and said, I want to do this, Dad. Put the helmet and shoulder pads on for the first time.
Starting point is 00:07:18 First time playing, I said, this is what I'm going to do. From that moment on, there was never a doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional football. And I did. I weighed in my freshman year. I was 115 pounds. I was 5 foot 4. I put on 15 pounds consecutively. Every off season, it was put on 15 pounds, grew a little bit here and there.
Starting point is 00:07:37 It wasn't until really my freshman sophomore year in college that I really started to feel like I came into my body. But the doubt, in terms of my mindset, my mindset never changed. I got laughed at all the time. I wore ankle weights to school every day because that's just what I felt like I needed to do to make the leaps and bounds that needed to happen. but if you asked me, my freshman year, stepping on that scale, if you had asked me what I was going to do, I was going to go, I was going to play running back at USC and follow Reggie Bush, and I was going to go play in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:08:05 That was just, it was just in my mind, in my heart, it was setting something. So I have friends in some NFL offices, and I knew the Rams liked you, but I also knew the Chargers loved you. And so from two GMs I know, they asked me. They're like, you're an Eastern kid. Do you know this kid? And I'm like, listen, they love him. He's the hardest working guy on the team, totally focused.
Starting point is 00:08:31 So the Rams come up on the red field and McVeigh's up there. And so the day they're flying in, are you nervous as all get out knowing you're going to have to perform for Sean McVe? Yeah. So you're talking about like going to like pro day and like when like they came off the private workout. Yeah. So I got, I worked out with Tennessee Titans. I had a private workout with the Titans. and I had a private workout with the Rams.
Starting point is 00:08:58 And when the Rams came out, I was very excited about it. I don't know, good nerves, a good nervous. But you don't know what they're going to throw at you. You know, when I was with the Titans came out first, you know, John Robinson playing DB on me and I was releasing against the GM and doing stuff like that. So you never know what they're going to throw at you. But I was excited about it.
Starting point is 00:09:18 I knew that in my meeting with them at the, you know, at the combine and stuff, I knew that there was a, you know, a cerebral nature to the offense that Sean McVeigh was running with the ramps that he was bringing in. And I was excited about that. I was excited about me to step in and do some of the things that they were asking some of their guys to do. So when they came in, I just wanted to be able to be at my peak. I don't want to make sure that I could perform for him. But I also knew I actually had to trust in who I was and what I was as a player. And I knew that I was good enough to play in this league.
Starting point is 00:09:48 It was just about getting an opportunity. So you go from Eastern and then you go to your. your first camp and that's a big leap. I mean, it's, it's, it's, Carson Wentz has had to make it from that level. Trey Lance now, you make that leap. So it's hard enough to make the leap from Ohio State to the NFL. Do you remember your first NFL practice? Yeah, no, I do. I do. Luckily, we were able to go through a little bit of a mini camp first, the rookie mini camp. But I remember coming out here that first day. And there is an uptick in the speed and the intensity. Certainly, there's not room for, there's not much room for error.
Starting point is 00:10:28 And quickly, it was the realization of how important the details are the details and your technique were going to set you free in this league. And I love that, though I love the challenge that that presented, the opportunity presented for me, people will dial into those things. Those are all things that were under my control. Technique, being able to be intentional with how I wanted to run my routes, being able to understand the game, those are all things that were completely under my control. I knew I could dive into those details and get to the point where I'm processing things quicker and I'm taking advantage of those of those aspects.
Starting point is 00:11:00 I knew that my body was going to follow along after that. So I love that challenge that was presented from day one. Just the importance of all those things and being able to step into that has been great. Can you name the six receivers drafted before you? I name the six of them. I'm probably going to mess up right near the end there, but I know, you know, you had, John Ross. You had Corey Davis go. I got Mike Williams go. You had Zay Jones. Went to Buffalo and say I was a big fan of Zays coming out. He had Juju.
Starting point is 00:11:32 Maybe you had Curtis Samuel. Boom. Six for six. You're like Brady. He can name every quarterback that got picked ahead of him. When in the route tree, one of the things I think, and if I'm wrong, tell me. But one of the things I notice with you, and it reminds me, little of Jerry Rice is that people always talked about it's kind of legendary that Jerry wasn't a burner but what Jerry did and you do you don't slow down off your routes like you just go the same speed and it's interesting because it seems like everybody would do that but it's not true did you copy emulate is it natural that you don't slow down off a route and I think that's harder than
Starting point is 00:12:19 people think where does that come from You know, I really think it comes down to this. I was very lucky my quarterback coach growing up, the quarterback that has to this day throw me the most passes that I've seen the most time with is my dad. And I had an NFL quarterback, be my receiver coach from the very beginning. That's who I learned to run routes from. When you're learning to run Ralph from a quarterback's perspective, you have no other option except to make the quarterback look good.
Starting point is 00:12:46 Because if you don't make the quarterback look good, he's going to tell you something about it. So, you know, everything I did, every route that I ran, ever growing up, everything that I've ever learned from the receiver position, I learned through the eyes of a quarterback and how to be friendly, how to be, be able to give indicator steps and be friendly to a quarterback versus the angles that you're coming out with, being a friendly target. All those things came from the fact that I had a quarterback teaching how to play the position. And, you know, I was thinking I was very lucky in that and just at a young, very young age, just became intrinsically, that's just how I understood the position. So having that as a
Starting point is 00:13:21 foundation was a huge blessing for me. The playoffs are here. You can make every game feel like game seven on Fandall's Sportsbook, an official partner of the NBA, Fandals hooking you up free bets through the playoffs. Free bets. Doesn't matter if you're a new customer or already have an account. Be sure to check out the app exclusive weekly same game parlay promos. Fandul's got so many ways to play.
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Starting point is 00:15:02 It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app,
Starting point is 00:15:24 Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,
Starting point is 00:15:38 or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard,
Starting point is 00:15:56 but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations,
Starting point is 00:16:10 stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,
Starting point is 00:16:25 Follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot,
Starting point is 00:16:49 or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at It podcast. I'm Sam Jette.
Starting point is 00:17:15 And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line.
Starting point is 00:17:39 We also have AIDS on the table right now, so... Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years. from black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app,
Starting point is 00:17:57 Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So then you go to Sean McVeigh. And, you know, McVeigh is, he's just, he's so intense. Like, he's like a ball of energy. And he says, like, he loves coaching Cooper Cup. Has Sean McVeigh ever yelled at you? Oh, yeah, I get yelled at all the time. I get yelled at all the time.
Starting point is 00:18:24 That's a great thing, too, though. You know, there's a, he is, he's very hard on the people around. He's also very hard on the people he has great expectations for. And so, certainly there's going to be ways we see the game in a very similar way. But there's also things that we see differently. You know, as a coach, as a receiver, you know, when I am, when he's watching the game from a bird's eye view from his angle, in his perspective, he might see things differently than I do. And this is a game, it's a game of, you know, playing in the gray.
Starting point is 00:18:52 that so much of what you have to do in this position, that what we do is playing in the gray and making decisions, you know, real quick processing. And, you know, we have to be decisive and you don't have time to sit there and think about it. You just have to make a decision and go.
Starting point is 00:19:08 And so certainly there's times that we see things differently and have to have a, you know, a spirited discussion about, you know, what the right way is to do it. But the greatest thing here is Sean's humility and his ability to understand that collaboration is at the end of the day,
Starting point is 00:19:21 if we can collaborate together and hear the voices that need to be heard and come to a solution, we're going to be at the right place. It's not about one person making decisions saying we're going this way. So figuring out together what's the best for us and then being able to be as efficient and effective as possible as an offense. Listen, you were good friends with Jared Goff, but it's a business. It happens. Mel Kuiper once told me that Matt Stafford was one of the only quarterbacks he'd ever seen
Starting point is 00:19:49 that could have gone high school to the pros. You could have put him on a roster, had him back up, grow up, mature. What was the first pass Stafford through to you in practice that you were like, whoa. I mean, it's Matt Scott, like he could be a starting pitcher in Major League baseball. Like, it's rare. It's top four or five in the league. Could you hear it? They hear the spin.
Starting point is 00:20:13 Was there a moment you were like, this dude's got an arm? Yeah. You know what's funny. You've put it up. I didn't thought about this, but probably the play. that happened during oTAs probably a year ago to the day almost that it was like the the light went on like oh that is what makes this guy great is it the exact same play that we ran that he'd no look in the super bowl was honestly the first that that was the first time where i went back i i felt
Starting point is 00:20:39 what he had done i i think he might have just no look that one and i went back and watched on film and seeing him manipulate people underneath and do what he did with his eyes and being able throw the ball that he did. It was literally on the exact same play that he know of in the Super Bowl, you know, when he had that great one on that last drive. It was literally the exact same play. But yeah, that was the moment where it's like this guy has something that is different. It's not, he's not a quarterback that's reactive. He, you know, the saying take what the defense gives you a lot of the times that's true. He also understands how to say, no, I'm going to dictate where this ball's going and move the people and make sure that I can make the throw that I want to
Starting point is 00:21:18 make, that's going to be the big play. That throw against Tampa, when, I mean, Cooper, like literally the boats losing water, like I'm sitting there watching going, guys, come on, get it together. It's like one of those NBA runs. Somebody hit a basket. I know. So you, on that play, was that take me, was that going to be, I'm throwing it to you, period, or was he watching the break?
Starting point is 00:21:46 Because that was really, that really was the play of the scene. season for you at that point. Yeah, so that play wasn't even called for me. That play was called for Van Jefferson running a little dagger route. I was going to try to occupy the deep safety trial pullout some guys running down the middle of the field. And Van Jefferson was running a little widened dagger in cut at like 20 yards. I was coming in there and the ball is going to be coming to him and we're going to try to get up there, spike the ball and get one more play. And they end up sliding into that zero late. Don't quite hit it how they want to. I feel a safety slide over and I just hit it and hope that Matthew was going to be able to get that thing up.
Starting point is 00:22:25 And I mean, what Matthew did was not appreciate on that play, Matthew be able to see zero by enough time. And he put the ball up when I was about 12, 13 yards down the field. But it wasn't caught until about 40 or 40 plus yards down the field. For him to put the air on it that he needed to, to allow me to, you know, catch that in stride. As long as I was running down the field, it was an incredible throw on his. far. You know, a lot of receivers are big personalities. And I've always theorized that you're the first to break the huddle.
Starting point is 00:22:56 It's sort of the only position in football that is a little individual. And I think to myself, Cooper Cup, you have like a linebacker personality. Is was there something that did attract you to the individual nature? Was it maybe your dad was a quarterback and you're making all the catches? because you said you wanted to be a running back at one point. Yeah, well, I did. I grew up playing running back. My body, obviously, I still had, I got in high school.
Starting point is 00:23:26 I still dreamed of playing running back, but the body just developed differently. Obviously, I kind of was limited in my options there. But I've always just thought, I've always appreciated about football, that it is a team sport, it is the greatest team sport in the entire world. And receiver, you're right.
Starting point is 00:23:43 Receiver is probably one of more individual positions, but it relies, secretly, it relies on 10 other guys to do their job to perfection. All five linemen have to pick up the blitz, have to pick up the rush. Quarterback's got to be great with his progression. Running back has to know if he's got any kind of pressure coming. He's got to be able to get back into his, you know, progress into his route to be able to pull coverage. The other receivers are on the field have to distribute the field the right way. All this has to happen before I get even an opportunity to.
Starting point is 00:24:15 to make a play. So, you know, I've got a great appreciation for me to be able to do what I do. There's 10 other guys that have to do their job at a very high level. And that's what makes this game so good. And so that's why I've got so much appreciation. When I'm asked to block and I'm asked to pass block, when I'm asked to run block, I'm just another cog in that machine for someone else. And so I've just got so much appreciation for what it takes to be effective as an offense and be able to make this thing go so we can put points up on the board and win games. Well, you are a blocking receiver as well. But there is a difference between blocking somebody from, you know, Fresno State and the NFC West.
Starting point is 00:24:56 Have you ever had a blocking assignment and thought, all right, this is not going great? Who's the strongest guy you've ever put your hands on? Oh, I've had to, you know, yeah, I've had to block the Davion County off the edge. I've had to block Khalil Mack. actually two years ago when he was with Chicago Cleole Mac I had to block him on the backside a couple times and there's one play where he grabbed me it was kind of a cut off block I wasn't like straight up with him
Starting point is 00:25:26 but I kind of had a cough I cut him off pretty good and he got me and he was a he was this close to choke slamming me and I was able to that last second I felt it he was about to come I just yelled and he luckily pulled off because he was using he was laughing afterwards but he had a chance to really do some damage to me. But there's been some guys. There's been some guys that I've had to block that are great in this league. But I've also learned some good stuff from our tackles and
Starting point is 00:25:51 the guys that have caught me a few little techniques to be able to, you know, weas on my way into losing with dignity in some situations. You know, it's interesting. When OBJ came to the Rams, he was really effective in that Super Bowl. He was also really effective immediately. Do you ever, whether it's Robert Woods or OBJ, Do you ever watch other guys on film, Coop, and you're just like, you know, I'm going to borrow that, like a footwork, an angle. Like, do you still, like OBJ, if I said to you, what do you see when you watch OBJ as a receiver? His patience at the top of the routes, his ability to, no matter what happens, if he loses his release, his ability to be patient enough and trust that the depth of his route and the timing in which he's going to come open within the progression of wherever the play is,
Starting point is 00:26:41 his ability to understand that and understand that the patience to the top of the route is going to allow him to win still. It's my biggest thing about Odell. He plays with such confidence and such patience. That's a great thing. That's the position. It is an art form because it's not about just how fast you can run. It's getting open at the right time as well, being in the right place of the right time. And, you know, his ability to get to the top of routes and, you know, understanding how to use his eyes to manipulate guys, face freezing guys.
Starting point is 00:27:08 He did an incredible job at that. So, and certainly, I want to grab things from guys as much as I possibly can. This is, I've said, receiver is an art form. I want to grab as much as I can from other people. It's not all going to work. I can't do the things that Calvin Johnson did. You know, there's some Andrew Hawkins has some stuff that he does that I couldn't do, but grabbing little pieces from each guy and being able to say,
Starting point is 00:27:28 what, how much, how many tools can I add to my utility belt? How many things can I have up, you know, week in and week out to be allowed me to win? I'm all about that. You have great religious conviction. a small town kid. Los Angeles is a big city with a Kardashian on every block. And you kind of hide. You kind of do your own thing.
Starting point is 00:27:51 And, you know, I would never say Cooper Cup, Los Angeles. That's where he's going to live the rest of his life. But yet I saw you in a tie-dye shirt somewhere on Instagram. And I'm like, you're living your best life. Like Yakima kid, Eastern Washington kid. I tell friends all the time. I'm like, listen, I've been in small towns. I've been in wet weather.
Starting point is 00:28:10 The sun in the city, it's fun. It's like a new chapter in my life. Has L.A. been easy for you. Has it been culture shock for you? How do you and your wife fit in? Yeah, well, you know, it's a thermometer, thermostat situation. You know, I am going to be who I am. We are about the things that we're about as a family.
Starting point is 00:28:30 We're going to be about what we're about. And, you know, I think no matter where you go, we're going to do the things that we like to do. and, you know, appreciate the things that we, you know, appreciate the things that we get to do here in this place. And the opportunities that L.A. provides, certainly. I mean, we love it here. We love the, we're foodies. We love the food scene.
Starting point is 00:28:50 We love being able to go out and do things. You know, usually around 10 o'clock, we start yawning and feel like we got to get into bed. We're past our bedtime. That's been a little different. But, yeah, we, I mean, we're normal people. And that's a great thing. I don't mean to quote the office. I feel like I quote the office all the time.
Starting point is 00:29:05 But there's beauty and ordinary things. I think that's kind of the point. Yeah. Now, I know Yakima. I know Ellensburg. I know Lake Shalan. I've been to all these places. You know, Wannatchee means something to me. I went to Boyce State at Central Washington. I went to Eastern Washington. So I kind of know your league. Was Eisenhower in your league? Yep. Yeah. See, look at that. That's a great job. Great job. Cross town rival. We don't talk about Eisenhower. But yeah, I know. Yeah. They're in the league. The fact I know that is embarrassing.
Starting point is 00:29:41 Cooper, nobody will ever know Eisenhower High School. So the summers, so your dad's played in the NFL, Summers, Yakima is hot. Does your dad put you on a farm? Did he put you on a tractor? Like, what did you do in the summer? No, I was so lucky. And I've told my parents this over and over how thankful I was that they allowed me to not have to work in the summer. they let me go work out.
Starting point is 00:30:09 I got to work out and do whatever I really wanted to do and didn't make me spend nine hours working somewhere. And not everyone gets that opportunity. That's not missed on me. I had the opportunity to spend the summer getting better at things that I wanted to do. I played in basketball tournaments. I played, you know, I organized seven-on-seven things. And just being a part of playing the game,
Starting point is 00:30:34 the things that I want to work on as a, as a football player as an athlete as a kid I got to do those things and I was so appreciative my parents for being able to like for allowing me to be able to do that stuff when I know certainly I could have they could have asked me you know hey we're like there's some things you have to do you have to work I did have to do one summer I had to re-roof our you know our house was so there's little things that came up that we had to do but I was very thankful and very grateful for my parents and allowing me to do that So you talk, you're known for talking in technical terms.
Starting point is 00:31:08 And I think it's great because most people give cliches and you'll talk in technical terms. So just for fun, and we don't know what play it is. I imagine McVeigh also loves technical terms. Like he just loves the game. Give me a Rams play, just the name of it. And let me try to figure out kind of what it is. Okay Let's go
Starting point is 00:31:38 Let's go to Why mo to Bumow to Bunchwright tight Why mode to bunch right tight Lamar Husker No Lamar Slacker Why mode a bunch right tight Lamar Slacker Okay timeout
Starting point is 00:31:58 Bunch right Lamar may mean Lamar Jackson Slacker that, okay, I'll tell you what it is. It's a jet sweep for you from right to left. No, it's not. That's not it. I can't tell you what it is, but that's not it.
Starting point is 00:32:19 I can't even really tell you that you're close either. So it was a fun exercise, but, you know, it's a good thing. It means that we're doing a good job with in terms of how we're naming things. It shouldn't be too clear for you. Now, who names them? Who gives them the names? Sean does. Sean, the coaching staff usually does. New things come up.
Starting point is 00:32:40 We get to collaborate a little bit. If we think there's a name for something that kind of hits our brain the right way, he kind of allows a little bit of freedom there. But typically most of the stuff is coaches usually have the best ideas. They're here the longest. They drink the most coffee. They get to have the best ideas. When they, when you're over the course of a season, it's a long season, you've got to get along.
Starting point is 00:33:05 I mean, at some point, you've got to have some levity in a season because it's really intense. And is Stafford the kind of guy, like, you know, Tom Brady's told stories where he and Gronkel joked during a game or Joe Montana joked at a Super Bowl with John Taylor. He pointed out like a comedian John Candy in the stands. What is Stafford's personality in games? Yeah, he's, I mean, I think he's got a pretty calm demeanor most of the time. Um, he's competitive as can be, um, you know, I think he, he really feels himself. He starts, you know, if he tucks the ball and runs a little bit, like, you know, he's like, don't get up there and try talking to him. He's, he's kind of like feeling himself. You got to kind of
Starting point is 00:33:48 live in that moment a little bit. Um, he, uh, he's, he'll call you out. And I mean, it's, if you, if you're messing up, like, he's, he's on you about, you know, what's going on. And he's not afraid to ask you, like, to tell you that he needs you somewhere or needs something out of you. And, but that's great. It's great. It's what you want from a leader. You want someone who's going to talk straight, shoot straight with you.
Starting point is 00:34:11 That's competitive. That's going to be that wants to win. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that you know that Matthew Stafford wants to win the game as badly as anyone else on that field. So, you know, he's got a great demeanor about him. I get yelled at all the time by him. You know, there's a couple of times you can go back through games or he's, I took too long in a route and he's over there tapping his, tapping his wrist.
Starting point is 00:34:32 I'm like, I got you, I know, I know. This week's gold medal performance goes to a team whose dynasty isn't dead just yet. The Warriors on the brink of yet another trip to the finals. Golden State's older, a little more brittle, but they're still doing things the same way. They're not brand obsessed, no egos, willing to share and adapt. The Warriors have won nine straight conference final games. Think about that, and with one more, they'll be back on the big stage. I'm Colin Cowherd.
Starting point is 00:35:03 The uncertainty in the world is leading to market volatility. My good friends at Legacy Precious Metals are here to walk you through why gold is the way forward through these unsteady times. Legacy Precious Metals can advise you how to roll your existing retirement count into a gold IRA. Call Legacy Precious Metals at 866-674 Hurd or download your free investor's guide at Legacy, P.O., investment.com. Be honest, what did Eastern players think about the red turf, which I donated to? Honestly, when you're a part of it, when that's just all you know, we loved it. We loved it.
Starting point is 00:35:48 It was no different. I go back and look at it now, and it, I mean, it hits you on tape. It's like you got to scoot back away from your computer screen a little bit. But when we're on it, when we're, you know, when we're playing on that day after day, We love it. It's something you take pride in. And it's just home. It's just what you are used to.
Starting point is 00:36:06 So, you know, when we were at Eastern, we absolutely loved it. Yeah. You know what I remember about Eastern 2, the phase? Because I spent, I used to take my classes early in the morning. I do a 9, 10, 11. There'd be nobody in the phase. So I go work out from like noon to 2 before you guys got in at football. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:36:26 I always tell people this when the Seahawks used to host camp there. I was in the best shape of my. life in college, man. It was, people don't understand this open air facility that, like, people, there's a reason the Seahawks picked it. Like, people just don't understand. Eastern's got great workout facilities. Yeah, we got some good stuff. There's some stuff we can pre-won. Do you know the phase is called the phase because it's actually just the first phase of five that they were going to do? Like, it's a phase because there was actually five buildings they were going to do, but they just run out of money. So it's just phase one just became the phase.
Starting point is 00:37:01 By the way, Eastern running out of money, we never had any money. That's why I love Eastern. You're right. Yeah, they somehow, yeah, they were ambitious. We're big dreamers at Eastern. Big dreamers. We've always got big plans. The money's not always there, but they're working on it.
Starting point is 00:37:18 Hey, man, I appreciate it, Cooper. You're great. I love watching it play. You're all class. And good luck to you and your family, man. I'm really happy for you. Thank you. I really appreciate it, Colin.
Starting point is 00:37:27 Volume. Make sure to check out the Dremon on Green. show. I brought Draymond Green into the volume because one of the more entertaining voices in sports, unique perspective, understands behind the rope, also chops up with guests like Gary Peyton, Zach Levine, Tracy McGrady. Make sure download the Draymond Green Show wherever you get your podcast, only on the volume podcast network. 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,
Starting point is 00:38:20 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 banter.
Starting point is 00:38:34 Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,
Starting point is 00:38:54 embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me.
Starting point is 00:39:15 I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex Eagle. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:39:41 A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only
Starting point is 00:40:02 deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.

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