The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast - Gus Johnson on his broadcasting journey and going back to school at Harvard

Episode Date: February 16, 2023

FOX Sports’ lead college football analyst Joel Klatt welcomes in his on-air partner on FOX BIG NOON broadcasts, Gus Johnson. Joel and Gus discuss a wide range of topics from their beginnings as broadcasters, their favorite moments from their years together and what it’s like in the booth when Gus gives one of his signature calls. Then, the guys discuss Gus’ decision to return to school and attend Harvard University ahead of the release of FOX Sports Films latest documentary: BACK TO SCHOOL WITH GUS JOHNSON which premieres Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7:00 PM ET on FOX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome into a very special edition of the Joel Clatt show. I'm Joel Clatt. Thank you for tuning in. Remember, subscribe to the show, rate review us. But I'm going to jump right into it because today is the day that we have our very first guest ever in the history of the Joel Clatt show on. And there was never any debate about who that guest was going to be. And that is my partner, my friend, my brother, Gus Johnson, joins the show. What's going on, man? What up, man? I'm the first guest? You're the very first guest. In fact, I'm honored. Some of the people on the show are like, all right, who could we have on this and this? And I was like, no, no, no. First guest is Gus. It's got to be Gus. It better be.

How have you been? I'm good, man. Just college basketball season. We've seen some good games, some very competitive teams as we head into the Biggie's tournament and then eventually the NCAA tournament. And I've been enjoying that. that travel, but... Honestly, I don't know how you do it because I know how tired I am when we get done, right?

We call that holiday bowl and I'm like, oh, and I'll go and I take a big break, you know, and you dive right into basketball. See, how do you do it? I think that I just, first of all, it's my job. Secondly, I love sports. You know it. I mean, it's funny you're sitting here interviewing me.

This is so weird. Normally you ask me to which question. I'm usually asking you the questions. You always introduce me as my quarterback. I should introduce you as my head coach, Gus Johnson. Nah, man, you know, we have a good time. We've had a good time. Eight years now, right?

Yes, we just finished our eighth season, heading for our ninth season. I would love to go, you know, because we've talked about this at times over the last eight years. But I would love for you to tell, you know, my listeners about a couple, you know, one or two of your mentors or the people that inspired you the most, the young Gus Johnson, as you were coming up and inspired you to get into this industry. Well, first of all, my number one mentor was my father. He was the smartest man that I ever met. And he never went past the third grade. So he always tried to impart upon me core, fundamental ways of conducting my life. And that really helped me over time as I grew up.

Looking back on it, one of my great mentors was a man by the name of Ray Peters, you know, Ray Peters, who was my first sports director in Waco, Texas. and I remember I was 21 years old, making $16,000 a year, and I was overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed by the technology, meaning having to shoot my own stuff, edit my own stuff, set up my own live shots, set up my own stand-ups, I got overwhelmed. And one day, I pulled him into the, into, to an edit bay. And edit bay is, I don't know if you know, but they used to be really small.

Really small. Intimate. And I broke down. I was like, man, I think I'm blowing this. I don't know what to do. And he said, I'm going to help you. So one day when, and he said this, this is my first job. He said, I'm going to help you.

Because one day when you're at the next. network, those big time producers and directors won't be able to tell you nothing. And he helped me. I mean, we went fundamentals, shooting, editing, producing my shows, timing everything out. And I improved. And I think he was one of the biggest mentors because he didn't have to do that. You know, sometimes we get competitive with each other. He didn't have to help me. And he did. And he did. And I'll never forget that. And I love him for it to this day. And he's one of the big reasons that I've had success in this industry. When I was in college, I had a professor named Dr. Lee Thornton. She used to be a television anchor in D.C. And she was like my mother for broadcasting.

She worked with me on my writing back then when I was in college. And we put together shows, and I was on TV in college at our television station at Howard. We got WHUR. I forget the name of the station. But anyway, Howard University had its own station. And, you know, just Dr. Thornton and some of the things he taught me. and confidence. Everything is confidence in this business because you know when this red light goes on, it's like a gun pointing at you. And they see everything. That's right. And they hear everything.

And no one can help you at that point. You know, once that light is on, and we talk about this a lot, and you've helped me. I mean, when I get asked that question about my mentors, you have become one of those for me in my career. And one of the things amongst many, that you've taught me is, you know, when that red light comes on, all you have is each other. That's right. And it doesn't matter what's going on in the truck or anywhere else, your personal life, anything. There's that camera and there's your partner. Right.

And the microphone. And obviously, Jenny being an extension of our partnership, you know, down on the sideline. But that helped me immensely. And so for me, it's so fascinating to hear you. talk about those people in your life and what they taught you because I see the fruition of that mentorship every single week. Yeah. Your timing is impeccable. You know, and I believe that that was because of Ray. Your writing is always good. I always see you jotting things out and you'll talk through with either Scott or myself, you know, how are we getting into it? How are we getting into

the show and setting the story? And, and, and so, So I see those fruits all the time, which is really fun. I got to tell you, man, and I got to tell your listeners that you're unbelievable. I really appreciate you. Oh, go on. No, come on, my. You've got to take it. You're unbelievable.

You're too good. He works. I'm never seen. I used to work with Mike Mayock. Yeah. Mayock was my partner. We did the Canadian Football League together. Two gray cups, 94, 94.

we did college football at CBS. He was the hardest working dude that I'd ever seen. He was sick about it. And then came you. You are the hardest working, most detail-oriented person that I think I've ever met in my life. And I really admire that because I'm a scatterbrain. You know, I'm a emotional humanities kind of guy. Right, but you in terms of your detail, maybe that was because your dad was in the military.

Yeah, he was a Marine. And he must have had, you know. Process. Process. Yeah. And I think that for me, Joel, going back to sports, I'm a point guard. Yeah. I know if I keep your hands full, you're going to make it better for me.

And I know that when I put it on a dime for you and you jam it, you feel good. and not only do you feel good, you feel good about me. So all of a sudden now we're working together. Yeah. You know, we're passing. I mean, if you think about it, when you think about our broadcast now, it's almost like, you know, usually the play by playman is the host, but it's almost like we're hosting it together,

which I really find a lot of safety in. Yeah. It's interesting. You say safety. I explain it as joy. Yeah. I experience a lot of joy calling games with you, because of, and some things that I want to get into right now, which is style.

You know, you were instrumental in teaching me about style and rhythm and not trying to shape my style, but find your own style, be yourself within the rhythm of the broadcast. And you talked about rhythm with me a lot. And it was the first time I'd ever heard about it in terms of within a broadcast. Normally I just thought like, I'm there to give information, you know, the process-oriented side of me and give information. But you talked about rhythm and you made an analogy, I remember in our very first year, I don't remember exactly the week or the game, but you made an analogy to, hey, hey, man,

we're doing a double dutch here. Don't trip the rope. And, you know, you said it as only you can't. But it lasted for, and it's, and now I use that analogy as well. And so every single broadcast, what I'm trying to do initially, other than just like inform the viewer and everything, is find the pocket. Yeah. You know, like where is the pocket today? Because some games are a little bigger than others, you know, and the pocket can be a little bit different.

And you taught me that. So where did you learn that? I would love to, like that style, the rhythm. Where did that come from? I study this, man. I've been, when I found sports casting, I just knew. Nothing else mattered. I knew that this is what I was going to do, and this is, you know, who I want to be.

So I studied it, I looked at it, I watched it. I would go do games when I was working in D.C. I would go do games, inner high games. By myself, I would take my tape recorder. I had a microphone, and I would just work on calling. I would prepare for the game, even though I'm sitting in the stands with parents. I remember what time this kid broke down the sideline on this big run. And I'm getting ready to yell, oh, it's going to be a touchdown.

And there's a mom standing right next, sitting right next to me. She grabbed my mic and said, that's my baby. That's my baby. Well, I grabbed the bike back. I said, hey, yo baby, just scored a touchdown. So, but I just, I've been doing it for a long time. And I just, I see everything in it. Because it's a passion and its obsession of mine.

But what I do notice is, what I do notice is the game has its own rhythm. The game is like the musical piece. So what we have to do is be that top note on top of it, that note on top of it, the human voice. And there's a flow to it. And the flows, as you said, are different. Some games are defensive games. Some games are big time offensive games. Some games are neither offense or defense.

It's just awful. Yeah. So you got to find, right. You got to find a pocket. to communicate with your audience. Because the great thing about our jobs, Joel, and we have a lot of responsibility in terms of people let us in their houses, man. During their leisure time, their downtime, when they want to root for their team.

So we have to always give our best, even though some days, you know it is with me. Some days I'll come in and be like, partner Greenlight, I don't got it today. that's what I say to him. I'll give him the green light. I ain't got it today, man. And then that's why I love him so much because he protects me. It's my quarterback.

So, you know, I think that's where, you know, just little things over the years, I mean, 30 years. Yeah. It's, I'd love to take what you just said. And it's one of the things that I have grown to understand and really love about you. And that is, well, let me start with this. I think in our industry, way too many broadcasters broadcast for each other and for Twitter elites.

And not enough broadcasters remember a guy on the couch who just had a tough week of work. Right. And this is his outlet. Right. And, you know, I've heard some people say, like, okay, like, Who are you broadcasting to? Who are you speaking to? And you've got to try to envision the person that you're communicating to and toward.

And you're one of the only people that talks about that guy. I think it's what makes you so great. You mean that guy on the couch? That's right. You know, the, I don't even know how to describe him. It's the guy that's making ends meet, you know, that is doing his best as a husband and father or a wife and a mother or whatever it is. And they're working hard and their job probably is really tough.

Maybe they got two of them. And now they get to watch their Buckeyes or their Wolverines or their badgers. And you broadcast for that person and not for the executive, you know, sitting at his desk. And I've grown to love that about you. and I think that's one of the reasons why every, why you're so popular and why people gravitate towards the games that you call is because they can hear that almost the empathy and the, the recognition of them, you know, when you call a game. You know, my mom and my dad, we loved sports.

My mother was an athlete. Yeah. and we will come home, just like you said, that guy you were talking about. That was my dad. My dad worked two jobs, trying to make ends meet, you know, back then, sending a kid to private school. It was hard for him, you know, and my mother. But we would sit down, you know, one of the fondest, the fondest memories of my childhood was watching sports. with my mom and my dad.

We will watch number one Michigan football. Sure. Bo Schen Beckler and Rick Leach and Anthony Carter and Ron Simpkins. We will watch Tigers Baseball. George Kell, Ernie Harwell calling it in 1984. We won it all. Kirk Gibson. Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell,

and then Detroit Pistons basketball. Isaiah Thomas is all I got to say. We would watch the Red Wings. I remember Reed Larson and Bob Probert. We would watch Hockey Night in Canada when Gila Fleur was playing in Montreal and Daryl Sittler was playing in Toronto. But those are the fondest memories that I have. Some of the fondest memories that I have as a child, my dad would be tired.

Yeah. You know? When he sat down, my mother was. make sure that he had his food. And when he sat down, we will watch games. And I always remembered how happy he was, not only to watch the game, but also to be watching the game with his son and his wife and our family.

So when I call games, that's who I'm thinking about. thinking about that guy that was like my dad, that, you know, he's going to make sure he got his beer. Mama going to cook something to eat. You know, my dad used to smoke cigars, exceptionalis, El Producto. El Producto Exceptionelis. So he'd have his cigar and his beers and his food,

and we're watching the game, and we're yelling at the TV. And Mama would always, you know, we were all Michigan, Detroit fans. So Mama would always, just to give us a hard time, root for the other team. I was like, Ma, why are you rooting for Ohio State? Well, I just think that they got a better team to Michigan this year. Mama, the game is on right now. Like, we, Daddy.

Hey, man, I ain't got nothing to say. So, that's hilarious. That's the guy I'm really, that's in my mind. I think that joy comes out, you know, in your style and in your calls, which have become iconic. This one might be a little bit more difficult. Do you have pet peeves of the industry? Pet peeves, like what? And again, you and I would never, like, throw stones and glass houses, but just like what you hear out there, which has become, you know, like, there's so many sports on television.

or when you listen, you know, do you have any pet peeves of what's going on? I just like to hear the guys tell more stories. I'm not a numbers guy. And it seems like one of my pet peeves now is that everything is too numbers oriented. Analytics. And I understand that there's a place for that. But to me is Root Arledge, the legendary. legendary ABC president, ABC sports president once said,

the key to sports broadcasting is to get up close and personal. Who are these people? Who are these young men? You know, who is this kid? Where did he come from? What did you say? Well, I said he's a junior college transfer. Right, right.

I think it was College of the Canyon. Right, right. Hollywood Brown. That's what makes, yeah, Hollywood. Brown puts up in college big numbers. But who is he? The guy was working out an amusement park. Why do you have to go to junior college? Right. How did he get to Oklahoma? He will walk to practice from the amusement park in his uniform. That kind of hustle and passion. It's something like a testament to the human spirit. Yeah. So pet peeves, I just, I just want to hear more about the

people. And, but you know, everybody's at different levels and, you know, I see a lot of young guys out there that are doing great, trying hard, trying to fit in. But you know, what I have to realize is that society is changing. And I am getting older. And I am, you know, I am getting older. And I remember how I used to be. But how it used to be ain't how it is. Now, I mean, look at you. You got a podcast, you got

Twitter, you got Instagram and Facebook and all this kind of stuff, which drives me insane. Yeah. You know me. You're not on it. No. No social media. Social media will get me unsociable. But

yeah, man. Sports, though. All right, here's what I think will be a fun one. Okay. What's your biggest pet peeve about me? How much time we got? I was going to say, I was going to say, only one. How much time we got?

Only one. That's a good question. I think my biggest pet peeve about you is your greatest strength. You work so damn hard. Sometimes, folks, I'll be hungry in the middle of the night or thirsty, so I'll go down to the conference room and, you know, try to grab some chips or some tea, iced tea. And it could be one in the morning and you're still there. That's like, what else do you not know? I just don't, my pet peeve is I don't like it. And you've gotten better at this over the years. There was a time

where you were putting so much pressure on yourself. Yeah. So much pressure on yourself. And I I understand preparation is key, especially for your role. And I just wanted to see you enjoy it and be confident that you're there because you're supposed to be there. You're there because you're great at what you do. And everybody knew that you were going to continue to grow, except for you. You know? That's exactly the answer I actually thought you would give. Right.

is you used to tell me like, relax. You're like, it'll be like, take the boulder off your shoulder. Yeah, please. Relax. You're here. You're here. And I'd be like, whoa, blah, I've got to be great, got to be great.

You'd be like, hey, man, you got the job. You're with me. Relax. You were with me, yo, I'm not going to let you fail. Right. And you're not going to fail because you're too doggone good, but you got to, you know, how old are you? You're 40, right?

41. You know, I got socks older than you. Oh, man. What I realized about you is that you're hard on yourself. Yeah. Like really hard on yourself, dude. And you're so good. It's scary, man.

I'm scared because I hope they never take you away. You know, they always come and take my partners. Charles Davis goes to CBS Jimmy Jackson works at CBS and at Turner I taught him we've been working Jimmy told me the other day

we've been working together for 17 years have you going back to our days the Big East I mean the Big Ten Network they come and take wrath I just don't want them to I might have to you know what I might have to go get my Rosco if somebody come trying to get you out

that's too funny You know? That's too funny. We, um, Gus and I have such, you know, different backgrounds and styles and, and it's a lot of what makes it work, you know, and, and because the sound is, and we, that's all we ever talk about is the rhythm and the sound and something that I certainly, uh, enjoy and, and appreciate about, but I'm interested, like, what are some of your favorite calls of the last eight years? Do you remember, you know, because I, I got a couple. Let me give you a couple. Let me give you a couple. couple of mine. I got to just tell you something. And I don't know if you notice. I don't really pay attention to what I say. I do know that. It just kind of comes out of my mouth. That's right. And I'll tell you sometimes, I'm like, man, that was such a, that's such a good call. You said, and you look at me with almost a look of shocking, be like, I said that? I'm like, yes, to millions of people. Right, right. Because my whole thing is, I want to just be engaged. Yes. It's plugged in.

You know, sports for me, especially sports broadcasting, it's my sanctum sanctoryum. Yeah. Even when I was a kid and I will play ball, you know this. Yeah. You go out on that, you know, field or court. I used to play hockey as a kid on the ice. And I would like, I used to love to practice.

Because I would practice by myself. So sports, I felt, was a safe place. The safe tree, I think that's what they, the term they use now. So when it comes to the call, you know, when I first started, Joel, and I started getting traction about my work, and they would say, to call this, the call that, and I was like, what's the big deal? Because we can't see ourselves.

I can't have the experience that the viewer or the fan is having watching myself call the game. So I don't really know what they've experienced. But I do remember people, certain people. Like Hollywood Brown, man, J.K. Dobbins, DJ Graham. Yeah, I remember that. Martinez steps up. Can I tell you a quick story about that?

What? About DJ Graham? What? This is the yin and yang that you're going to get from you and I. So DJ Graham is a defensive back for OU. They're playing Nebraska. He makes one of the most incredible interceptions either of us have ever seen.

Ever seen. You lose your mind. Appropriately so. I think Hollywood was actually on the sideline sitting right there. And Trey Young, remember? Oh, yeah, yeah. like watching, they're losing their minds. And all I'm doing is cringing because it's fourth down.

I should have batted it down. But that's why I love you. But it's like, I can't say that. I can't say that. You know, and so I was just like, ah, this is great. That was amazing. But that's why I like where your mind is always, the voice of reason. That's funny.

I wrote down the Hollywood Brown. I remember the moment that you said it, the first time. it was a game at Kansas State, actually. And then he really exploded against Oklahoma State. But then the next season with Kyler Murray and their first game against UCLA,

you had what I thought was one of the best calls I've ever heard, period. Third down in 14 to the 42, Kyler Murray delivers. And it's caught. Hollywood! Hollywood breaks on a little

slant. And from our view up in the terrible Oklahoma a booth. Oklahoma, you've got to fix your booth, although you guys are leaving conferences, so whatever, pound sand. He breaks a little slant and Hollywood catches the ball. And from R.C., you can tell it's like, no one's going to get it. But he's like at the 50, right? So it's, and he's kind of in the middle of the field and people might have an angle. And you just came with it right away at the 50. You said, Hollywood. And then you just said, lights, camera, action. And it's like you didn't wait till he was near the end zone you didn't wait till he was near the red zone it

was like mid play you came with lights camera action and i remember like the hair on my arms rose just because of i was like that's brilliance and greatness right there your timing everything about it that was one of my favorite moments that we've had together right there man we've had some moments we have i used to love j k dominance yeah when jk k day when jk left, I was like, man, maybe I should just start calling Joel J.K. all day. But then JK, the real J.K., he would be like, come on, Gus, that's mine. Yeah, that's right. You know, oh, man, I love that kid. I love that kid. What a story. Yeah, it was a great, he's got a wonderful story. And then obviously a wonderful career. Hollywood was similar to that.

last thing I and then I want to get into to what's going on this weekend because you've got an unbelievable documentary about you and your fall and I'm going to get into that in just a moment but before we get done talking about just kind of like our relationship broadcasting in general the first game we ever broadcasted together was Jim Harbaugh's first game at Michigan It was at Utah. Oh yeah. I remember that. And it was a big deal. You know, remember we had that we, Fox did the khaki bus, you know, like the whole promotional deal. And I was terrified because I didn't know if I could be next to you. You know what I mean? Like, that's the level that I had just thought.

And you were very gracious, but then you said something to me that I'll never forget, and I love telling this story. And it was about maybe like 10 minutes to kick, five minutes to kick. And you kind of grabbed my arm. And you said, and remember, remember. And I thought, like, this is it. Like, this is the one piece of advice that, and you said, you hit the singles, but I hit the home runs.

Hopefully that loosens you up a little bit, right? It did. And I kind of chuckled and I thought to myself, he's exactly right. There's no reason I need to be nervous. I think the reason, I know we're good. I know we're good. Yeah.

Because we got a sound. And the reason that we have a sound, and that we're good is because we share. And I think that's really what it's all about. I want you to be great. I want you to fulfill all your dreams and make all the money and enjoy your life. You are a great ambassador for us.

I really appreciate all the things you do going to the National Football Foundation Bank which is like still going on somewhere in some dimension around the world in the universe. That thing goes on forever, right? It does. It does. They shortened it up. It was only like a little over three and a half hours this year. You see the coaches at the bar. Yeah, that's right. In the middle of it. But, you know, you do such a great job and we got a sound and we got a friendship. Yes. And I think, you know, I told you, when we first started working together, right now they say we're partners. Now, hopefully,

hopefully will become friends. But the true magic comes when we're brothers. And that's what we are now. That's right. Yeah. It only took eight years. No. No, it didn't.

It didn't. It didn't take eight years. It's been an incredible ride so far. And, I mean, you say you don't want him to take me. How do you think I feel? I'm like, don't take my man. Don't take my man, Frank. He is, you've taught me so much, not just about the

industry and broadcasting, but also as a father, you know, and as a son. Last thing I'll say before we get into that is you talked about your dad and how much he meant to you and all the conversations that you used to have with him. And so one of the things that Gus always asks me, every single week, every single Thursday night, usually sometimes Friday morning when we first see each other for the week, he says, two questions. How's your dad and have you talk to him? And I really appreciate that because, you know, you have reframed even the way I view my relationship with my own father. And thankfully, he's still around for me to enjoy that. So thank you. Yeah, man. I lost both my parents.

Yeah. My dad died in 2009. Mama died in 2014. And there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss them. Even if I could just hear their voice and just hear my dad yelling at me or telling me I was a knucklehead. So we have to love our parents for all of their warts and their wonders

because Joel as I tell you when they're gone, they're gone. He ain't coming back. Not that we know of. So enjoy them while they're here because they have so much wisdom and they've taught you so much.

They've made so many sacrifices for you. Let's think about the sacrifices that your parents have made and they're unsung. Just so you could have a great life. You can have, Daddy used to always say, the number one universal law is self-preservation. Just so you can have a chance to survive in this world. And I miss my mom,

I miss my dad every day, but they live on in my heart and in my mind and what they taught me. So that's why I'm always asking you, man, how let you, oh, man, you know, let bygones be bygones. You know, there's no manual on raising children. I know that. You learn, right? Well, I'm learning that in a big way. So this weekend show as I'm as excited about this show as I've been excited about anything in a long time. The documentary about Gus back to school, Gus Johnson goes back to school, is going to drop.

It drops Saturday night, 7 p.m. on Fox right before Gus calls the Michigan, Michigan State game. More on that in just a moment. But first, why did you want to go back to school? Man, when we remember COVID? Oh, yeah. We were really locked in the house. Yep. I mean, really locked in the house.

You couldn't even go hit golf balls. That's right. Especially here. You were in L.A. at the time. Right. I was in Orange County and California. I mean, out here, they shut down the beach. Everything.

You couldn't go to the beach. Yeah, couldn't do anything. I remember almost getting a ticket because I snuck out and went to the beach. And the beach patrol came by and said, man, you got to go. I was like, gosh. So during the midst of that, I suffered, I got paranoid. You turn your TV on and, you know, I'm watching Dr. Anthony Fauci every day tell us it made it feel like it was hopeless, you know, at times. I got depressed. And I remember saying to myself, if, you know, and when things get back to normal, I'm going to do something.

So I can go be around people. Remember, Joel, they canceled Michigan, Ohio State. Remember, we were down in Champaign. They canceled Ohio State, Illinois. I'm like, what the heck is going on? This is weird. This is surreal. Nobody in the stands.

We called the whole year of football. Nobody in the stands. So I wanted to be around people. And I wanted to refresh my brain. I've been doing this for a long time, not 30 years. I know how to do my job. But I wanted to learn about other things. That's why I decided to go back and try to heal in a way.

Try to learn. It's a good way to put it. Yeah, I needed to. You know, after going through all that, I think we all needed some therapy. And what you have talked about. talked about with me about what you love about college athletics is the vibrance of and the youthfulness and the excitement of the campus, not even just the event, but the campus. Right. And so, you know, seeking that, you know, at Harvard, no less. How did you land on Harvard,

by the way? Tommy Amherker. Okay. Tommy Amherker and I go back 25 years to the time when he was an assistant at Duke for Coach K. And he's gone on to Seaton Hall, Michigan, now Harvard. We just have always stayed in contact with each other. We've always had a special relationship. So I reached out to a couple of schools, Harvard being one of them, Tommy. And I felt kind of good, y'all. He started recruiting me.

He's like, you come here. You ain't going nowhere else. I'm like, okay, I don't know who he's talking to. That's Harvard. Me? But, you know, I applied to the program, wrote my paper and, you know, faculty interviews and, you know, recommendation letters and stuff like that. And just it was divine.

Yeah. It was just the right place, right time. What was your favorite part? I haven't even asked you this yet. Because, I mean, listen, during the year, you were in it, you know, and busy and I could see it. Right. And there were weeks when you'd come in and be like, hey, man, green light. Right.

And so I didn't press you a lot on what was going on because I knew games were enough, you know, and I knew I needed to be prepared for my section of the game so that your burden would be light. But now in high-s-law, like, what was your favorite part? Was it a class or anything? My favorite part was the people. you know, 55 years old, you don't really make new friends. Yeah. But I have 48 people in my cohort who are my classmates, who I'm going to know for the rest of my life,

who come from all over the world. The Republic of Georgia, Chile, Bulgaria, Mexico, Ecuador, Singapore, India, um china oh brilliant people i mean brilliant people i mean brilliant people it's a 48 man roster your man came in at number 48 and i'm okay with that i'm all right with that as long as i make the team right that's right that's right you're in the team picture right i'm in the picture and that's what I like the most my professors. I have one professor in particular by the name of Dr. Professor David Carrasco. He's Mexican. We call him Profe. Out of the school of divinity, he specializes in divinity and anthropology, study of society and man and what man believes

in different cultures. And He turned out to be my mentor, and he's going to be in my life for the rest. He's the smartest. You know, Socrates said, the one thing I know is that I know nothing. When you're around these people, these, I mean, oh, rock star professors. Rock star professors. Now, you can teach yourself, you can educate yourself, but it's nice to have a curriculum for you. And then professors come in and explain it even more.

Sure. We're going to these deep dives, race, human rights, mental health, gun control, gun safety, climate change. And they would come bring in some of the most incredible speakers and professors that just knew it. Not only did they know it backwards and forwards, they wrote the book, right? Please go to the fifth chapter I wrote. I wrote exactly. So I just thought that that was so refreshing. And then having a chance to be around the undergrads,

it's so funny, man. That's why, you know, we're in college. I mean, we're in college sports. I would be in class with undergraduate students. And they would look at me and go, aren't you? I was like, yeah. Oh, what are you doing here? I was like, man, trying to learn me something.

But I saw that youth. Yeah. I saw kids trying. Trying so hard with pressure. Looking at you with those eyes, hopeful eyes, just wanting to be encouraged, wanting to know that they're on the right path. Just somebody confirm it. I remember this one young lady.

I spoke at Harvard. I spoke in front of Dr. Carrasco's class to the students. Class was called Interdimensions of the Human Experience Apocalypse, Divinity School class. And I remember after, during my speech, I think I told him about, talked about trying hard and just trying to move forward and setting goals for yourself.

And then this one young lady came down, Because after the class, they all went to, some of them wanted to come down and meet and shake hands and stuff. And one young lady said, you know, she's a medical school student, major pressure. She's in undergrad, getting ready to go to medical school. And a brilliant kid.

She said, you talked about goals. But what do I do when I set my goals? and I attain them. And I felt like a coach. I felt like coach, like coach Sabin. Well, when you attain your goals, you set new goals. Always have a goal. And she looked up at me and she smiled. And she said, thank you so much. I said, no, thank you. I can't wait to watch it. Yeah. Doc drops again, 7 p.m. on Saturday. Fox, February 18th, back to school with Gus Johnson. And it's going to air right before you call what has now become and will be an incredibly emotional night.

Obviously, you talked about being from Detroit. And with everything that just took place on the campus at Michigan State, Michigan State coming over and their basketball team playing the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. Man, there's no better person to call this game than you because you know who you're broadcasting two and four. You have empathy for that person and you understand those people. And it's certainly going to be an emotional night. It was already going to be emotional, obviously, for you with this, this, this show dropping, but now, you know, calling that game amidst this terrible tragedy.

And I know that you've probably thought about it a lot, but Saturday night for you, what are your hopes for that game and for what you can provide? Well, you know, my producer for basketball is Steve Shear. You know, Steve. His son goes to Michigan State. His son is actually a manager on Michigan State's basketball team. And, you know, Steve was in Chicago doing a college ball game when all this happened. And, you know, his son was shaking up.

I'm scared. And Steve was shaken up. I called Will, his son. And we talked. And, you know, man, you send your kid to college. It was just supposed to be a safe place. Yeah. And I don't know.

I don't know. I know it's going to be an emotional night, but I don't know how it's going to pan out. I don't have any idea what I'm going to say to start that broadcast. And Steve is going to be producing the broadcast. I think the silver lining in it for the boys is maybe they could take that two hours and just play some ball or get their minds off something. get their minds off those kind of things.

Yeah. So, well, I do know that there's no better broadcaster that could be on that game than you. Man, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you coming on, being my first guest. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your willingness to teach and help me. in so many ways. You are the absolute best. I still pinch myself every Saturday when we come on the air. Big noon Saturday.

There you go. And I'm just like, here we go. Here we go. And I know all of you at home feel the same way. So thank you for so much, obviously. You're going to cash at me. What's that? You're going to cash at me?

No. You got to pay me, right? No. Huh? What? I thought this was a pay gig. We were doing. this out of the bottom of our heart.

Like your dad said, you feel good when there's a dollar in your pocket. There you go. That's right. Oh, man, I love it. I appreciate you. It and you very much. Thank you. Thank you. No, thank you. You got it, man. You feel me just as much as I feel you. February 18th, Saturday night, back to school with Gus Johnson. Tune in 7 p.m. right before that Michigan, Michigan State broadcast. And I know I'm going to be all eyes and ears watching that show. Thank you for tuning in. We're going to be having

some more interviews during the course of the off season. And as we move into late February and March, a lot of draft content coming up. So thank you for listening, folks, and have a great week.