Quest for Success
Bear Pascoe | From the Super Bowl to Rodeo: The Unyielding Spirit and Athletic Journey of Bear Pascoe
From the gridiron to the rodeo arena, former Super Bowl champion and rodeo athlete Bear Pasco's journey is a testament to the unyielding resolve of the human spirit. Our conversation delves into the role of quality coaching in the world of sport and how it has been a cornerstone of Bear's successful athletic career. Through the lens of his personal experiences, Bear highlights the critical importance of technique, fairness, respect, and integrity in coaching, reiterating the profound impact his own mentors had on his development as an athlete.
Embark on this riveting journey as Bear takes us through his childhood, growing up in a ranching family in Terra Bella. He shares how this experience fostered his strong work ethic and discipline, characteristics that propelled him to achieve the coveted Super Bowl champion title and later transition into a successful rodeo career. As we delve deeper into his narrative, Bear sheds light on the critical role of supportive systems in overcoming adversity, underscoring the importance of mental and emotional resilience in the face of challenges.
As the conversation progresses, Bear opens up about the intricate dynamics of rodeo events and the paramount importance of physical fitness to excel in this challenging sport. His inspiring insights into the power of work, love, confidence, and full-speed decision-making serve as a roadmap to achieving success in any walk of life. As we wrap up, Bear pays homage to his support system, expressing heartfelt gratitude for those who have been instrumental in his journey and emphasizing the indomitable power of quality coaching and hard work. Tune in to this compelling episode to draw inspiration from Bear Pasco's extraordinary life journey and gather invaluable insights into the world of sports and beyond.
Quest for Success Links | https://linktr.ee/questforsuccess
Bear Pascoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearpascoe/?hl=en
Quest for Success Links | https://linktr.ee/questforsuccess
From the gridiron to the rodeo arena, former Super Bowl champion and rodeo athlete Bear Pasco's journey is a testament to the unyielding resolve of the human spirit. Our conversation delves into the role of quality coaching in the world of sport and how it has been a cornerstone of Bear's successful athletic career. Through the lens of his personal experiences, Bear highlights the critical importance of technique, fairness, respect, and integrity in coaching, reiterating the profound impact his own mentors had on his development as an athlete.
Embark on this riveting journey as Bear takes us through his childhood, growing up in a ranching family in Terra Bella. He shares how this experience fostered his strong work ethic and discipline, characteristics that propelled him to achieve the coveted Super Bowl champion title and later transition into a successful rodeo career. As we delve deeper into his narrative, Bear sheds light on the critical role of supportive systems in overcoming adversity, underscoring the importance of mental and emotional resilience in the face of challenges.
As the conversation progresses, Bear opens up about the intricate dynamics of rodeo events and the paramount importance of physical fitness to excel in this challenging sport. His inspiring insights into the power of work, love, confidence, and full-speed decision-making serve as a roadmap to achieving success in any walk of life. As we wrap up, Bear pays homage to his support system, expressing heartfelt gratitude for those who have been instrumental in his journey and emphasizing the indomitable power of quality coaching and hard work. Tune in to this compelling episode to draw inspiration from Bear Pasco's extraordinary life journey and gather invaluable insights into the world of sports and beyond.
Quest for Success Links | https://linktr.ee/questforsuccess
Bear Pascoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearpascoe/?hl=en
Quest for Success Links | https://linktr.ee/questforsuccess
Alright, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Quest for Success podcast. We're on season two now, first episode, and so blessed and honored for our guest today. They came all the way from Moribay and I mean just an outstanding athlete, one of the best ever to leave Porteville in this area, former Super Bowl champion with the Giants, played for many different teams and now he's in the rodeo, um steer wrestling and he's killing it, and that um and you know he grew up in the rodeo lifestyle, so I'm so excited to talk about his upbringing, all the accomplishments he's had. I mean this guy's played at the highest level. He caught a touchdown in the Super Bowl and it's just an honor to have you on. So please welcome, mr Bear Pasco.
Speaker 2:Hey, thank you guys for having me For sure man glad to have you here, man.
Speaker 3:We're kicking this first, this first episode off with a bang right here with Bear.
Speaker 2:This is episode one of season two. Oh, man with a banger.
Speaker 1:So, um, yeah, I mean we've had, you know, legends on that, you know um Steve Brown, and it's just gonna be an honor to kind of add your name to this um collection of roster of legends on the podcast, so that's awesome To kind of kick it off. We always like to get the juices flowing and everything and so we have a little segment called the mental minute and I'm gonna let Zach kind of hit it off with a first question and just kind of get a start off and get us flowing here.
Speaker 2:Get that cerebral cortex.
Speaker 1:Yep, yeah, yeah get warmed up right.
Speaker 2:I got chills already to be honest with you.
Speaker 1:I'm excited to be back, man.
Speaker 3:So, to start off this mental minute, I'm gonna ask you a question. Okay, what do you believe is the biggest challenge that athletes are facing today?
Speaker 2:Biggest challenge, I would say, is quality coaching, quality coaching, quality coaching. You know, I just had a mom message me on Instagram the other day, said her son is having a hard time learning the playbook. And you know, he's trying to do good and then he, when he messes up, he gets yelled at, but the coaches aren't taking the time to actually teach him the playbook and teach him how to do his job. So that's one of the reasons I've got into coaching is because I want to be able to give back to those young athletes and bring them along the right way.
Speaker 3:Yeah, man, it's a big responsibility taking on the coach title. Exactly it's not something you could take lightly.
Speaker 2:Don't take it lightly and Darren should don't disrespect it. I've had a lot of great coaches in my life and I'm working with some great coaches over on the coast and you know I'm learning from them every day and you know I'm trying to do my part to bring, like I said, bring these young athletes along and teach them the proper technique and teach them how to use all their weapons.
Speaker 1:Right, yep, you've worked with, obviously, a lot of great coaches. You know you've played for great coaches Pat Hill and I mean. The list goes on and on. What are some of the qualities that you look for in not just a great coach, but a great leader?
Speaker 2:I would say fairness. You know. You know where you stand with them. You know they have respect and integrity. You know they treat everybody the same, that they're not picking out their favorites or anything like that. Best player plays yes, exactly, it doesn't matter who you are. If you're, you know a first round draft pick or a sixth round draft pick, you know if you can help them win a game, you're going to be on the field, right, you know. If you're the best one at that position, you're going to play. You know so. I've had a lot of great coaches. Like I said, great coaches, great leaders. You know from, like you said, tom Coughlin to Bill Billichick, down to Pat Hill to Pat Johnson on the, you know, with slow tigers over on the coast, you know.
Speaker 1:So it's who who not to interrupt here, but who was like? Obviously, everyone has an impact on you in different levels, but if you had to like, choose one person that had the greatest impact on you, coaching wise, who would that be?
Speaker 2:It'd be two guys. It'd be two guys. First, at Fresno State, John Baxter. He was our special teams coach and our receivers coach. While I was there. He actually coached coaches tight ends but during my time there they switched team to receivers so I never got to play for him as a player, but he's been a big part of my life, ever from Fresno State on, like him, and I still talk you know twice, three times a month you know, about everything about life.
Speaker 3:Yeah, the mentorship went beyond the game of football, exactly.
Speaker 2:You know, and and that's kind of where, like me, taking on this role of being a coach now is a lot because of him, you know, he's been such a big, had a big role in my life and you know I want to pass that on.
Speaker 2:And then, at the NFL level, my tight ends coach at New York the Giants, mike Pope. I really credit him for keeping me in the league, you know, because I was drafted by the Niners in 09 and went through training camp, got cut and at that point I was kind of in a dark spot in my life because I was like here's it, here I am. This, you know, alpha athlete never been cut before in my life and this is really the first time I've been told I'm not good enough and it's a shock. It's a shock to your system and to your ego and your. For me, it was a big shock to my confidence. And when I got to New York, mike Pope, you know, he saw something in me and really turned me around and kept me wanting to play in the NFL because I really wasn't. I was at a point where I was like I'm going to play out this rookie contract and I'll be done.
Speaker 3:Check out.
Speaker 2:I'm going to go do something else and be happy. And he knew how to just hit those right buttons and kind of turn me around and change my way of thinking. And you know it was worked out.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it was perfect. Yeah, yeah, I mean, that to me is a, it's a huge deal, I mean even if you don't even make it to the pro level right, because if you got somewhat of talent and athleticism, especially in Porteville, you're treated like royalty here. And it's not necessarily the best thing ever, because the moment you get a taste of a humble pie, some people just don't know how to respond to it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Exactly and they, like you said. It becomes really dark.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's. You know, praise and compliments are great until you. They're like poison they taste great until you swallow it and then they bite you in the butt, right, you know. And I think growing up in Porteville was probably the best thing for me, because I had a lot of people looking out for me and then not like I was a, you know, a bad kid growing up or anything like that. I just had I had great teachers and I had great counselors and some really good coaches. That set me on the right path.
Speaker 3:You had a good circle.
Speaker 2:I had a great circle.
Speaker 3:You know. And then um well, to continue to moving on, um next question would be how important is an athlete's public image?
Speaker 2:You know I it's different nowadays. Uh, during my time I didn't really care about, uh, my image growing up, you know, and just. But you are, as a young athlete growing up in in smaller towns such as Porteville and San Luis, and you know stuff like that. Everybody knows who, who you are, you know. And so it's your responsibility to be a role model for that next generation. So I think having a positive image, you know, on and off the field, is always, always a good thing and I think it's extremely important that kids take that seriously, you know, because the the I guess their role model is for the next generation. And you know those youth programs are looking up to them going. Oh, I want to be like that kid, right, you know, and you know that's a huge responsibility and and you know, so they need to take that into account.
Speaker 2:And we have a great saying on the coaches or on the coast as always fly with a wingman. You know. So if you, we go play a game Friday night and guys decide to go out, and you know we've all been in high school and gone out, so you kind of know what they're going to go do, but it's like we tell them fly with a wingman. So you got. You always got a brother watching your back right.
Speaker 2:You know, and the two minds are always better than one, I guess, and you know, always looking out for each other. So to you know, at the end of the day, the name on the front is way, way more important than the name on the back.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, you know. So you've played, obviously, professional football. You are now still wrestling professionally. Are there any like pre game or like pre run rituals that you have before you go compete?
Speaker 2:Every athlete. As much as they say, they're not superstitious, they are, it's true.
Speaker 2:I've seen it, like you said, at the highest level. So when I would play in football, I always had the same pre game routine as far as getting ready for the game, Like I'd come in, change out of my suit, suit and tie, I'd go sit on the field and just kind of relax, maybe run some routes, catch some balls, come back, get my playbook, last minute checks and then I'd get dressed the same way every time. You know, put on some clothes, go get my ankles taped, put on my socks, my pants and so on and so on, and last last thing to get put on was my jersey and helmet. And you know that was the same way every time Clockwork yeah.
Speaker 1:You don't even think about it, it's just.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and if I did something out of out of the routine, like put my pants on and then went and got taped, it was, it was all out of whack.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:And so. But that really hasn't carried over into the rodeo world. You know rodeo is a difference, you know it's a different monster. You know, it's a sport that you can actually kind of goof off and laugh and have fun, you know, and kind of relax a lot more. You know, it's not at nearest tents.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've seen some of like the locker rooms and stuff with like PBR or even like NFR.
Speaker 3:I know like a couple of guys like Lefty Holman and.
Speaker 1:Clayton, sellers and some of those guys. Like you know, they have a, they have a good time before, after, whatever. So it's kind of like that camaraderie, all those guys you know like you're not, you're competing against a lot of those guys, but you're in the same locker room before you go out and compete and they're all friends and you travel together.
Speaker 2:So Exactly, and being a steer wrestler, too, is like we're. We're like the tight ends and linebackers of the group, so we're we're constantly helping each other. We ride a lot of the same horses and stuff and we haze for each other, so we're a we're a tight knit group of guys.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's awesome. So I kind of just want to go back. I mean, you grew up you know your family in a ranching, ranch, hands and whatnot, in Terabella, and how, how did that kind of mindset growing up like that Cause it's hard work you got to get up early. You know you're watching, you know your, your family, getting up early, staying out. You know staying up late and working and you're doing that as well, especially when you're not playing football and going to school on the weekends. That's what you're doing, right, oh yeah. So how did that kind of work ethic and growing up in that lifestyle carry on to your daily life, football and everything? I get all the, all the reasons that you've had success you know what I'm saying so like how did that create a foundation of success and mold you?
Speaker 2:It. Just it taught me, like how to work hard, you know, at a job or at a profession. You know, like, do high school and stuff. Like we go play a game Friday night and it didn't matter if we won, lost, tied or whatever. Like the next day I wasn't sleeping until, you know, 10 noon o'clock I was up, you know, we were working, we were, you know, depending on the time of year, if we were gathering cows to brand or or whatever, and and I loved it, you know it's. But it created that foundation of learning how to work hard and knowing how to get a job done. So when I stepped in the Fresno State, it was, it was something I could take from that life to apply to the field. Like I'm going to work hard at this, I'm going to give it everything I got, you know.
Speaker 2:then, that way, at the end of the day, you know I have nothing to hang my head about you know if, for some reason, if it doesn't work out, but it gives you, you understand how to complete a task. Discipline, discipline, discipline of going through the steps of you know completing a task and getting getting the job done and as you get older, that that just develops more and more. And more you get more. What's the word? I'm looking for? A little more more discipline, more in in in, in, in in detail in your in, in, in detail, in your sport.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:You know, like when I left Granite and went to Fresno I knew how to work hard. But then when I got to Fresno they taught me okay, this is how you study, this is how you learn an offense, you know you, you take these different plays and group them together and you know you might run the same route but they're called different. So kind of like a work smarter, not harder, type of thing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:You learn how to break things down and get more detailed in your in the aspects of your position. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:So you know, talking about your upcoming, how you grew up and stuff like that what kind of parents did you have? Did they? Did they push you a lot? Did they just all right, better do it or don't do it, but if you don't do it we're going to have problems, or what? How was that Like? What was the relationship between you and your parents growing up?
Speaker 2:Oh, it was outstanding, like I had the best mom and dad in the world. You know they they were there to support me. I don't think my dad missed a high school practice or game. I know they didn't miss a college game. So they were there to support me and I was going to be in whatever I decided to do. You know, but if, when I decided to play football, it was like, okay, you better put everything into it, you know, and they were like that with all three of us, you know, it didn't matter what it was. But if we're going to do it, do it to the best of your ability.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:You know, and they wouldn't let us quit. We had to lease, finish a season, you know, and and then next, next year, you can, you could decide to, to or not play a sport, or you know work, or whatever.
Speaker 3:Yeah, re-evaluate what you want to do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but you're not going to quit the middle of the season. You know you're not going to leave a coach hanging or something like that. For sure. Yeah, but no, they're great yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean. So you played quarterback at Granite and I mean I guess in the NFL like I felt like a lot of guys that are successful and played quarterback or one of those like running back at premier position in high school, and so you were the same way You're going to get recruited to Fresno State. Did you have other offers on the table as well, yeah. So what made you choose Fresno?
Speaker 2:It was. It felt Fresno was the only place I went on an actual recruiting visit. You know, and you know ranch kid growing up agriculture based and stuff, and so going to Fresno it just really felt like home. You know, I was on a. I was scheduled to go to Oregon State the next week and go visit them. They called me the night before and said a blizzard blew in and shut down the airport so they had to cancel all the flights.
Speaker 2:And I was like no, I'm not going to do that. No, thank you, made your decision easier Right.
Speaker 2:It did and like I actually made the decision right then. And there is after I got off the phone with the coach and I was like California kid rarely seen snow. You know Fresno is an hour and a half up the road like very family oriented and stuff and great support system. You know mom and dad can make it to all the games and brother and sister and everything. So it's like it just made sense and it felt right. Do you grow up a bulldog fair? I did. I liked the bulldogs. You know I grew up watching David Carr and Trent.
Speaker 1:Dillford and you know.
Speaker 2:David was just right before you. He was right before me.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And I had dreams of being like them, but then I got there and realized I couldn't read the field.
Speaker 1:And so they recruited you to play quarterback. Is that correct?
Speaker 2:They recruited me to play it as an athlete athlete and a term and later kind of they always had plans as. I found out later in life, they always had plans to move me to tight end.
Speaker 3:They get your ass over here and we'll figure it out. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Cause I was listening to, I think, another podcast you're on and you had broke your finger or something like that going into your freshman year or the spring of my red shirt year, or my red shirt sophomore year, I broke my ring finger on my right hand and my throwing hand.
Speaker 1:Okay, so then right after that. But it was already kind of determined yeah, you're on the tight end.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's hard to throw a ball with three fingers, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I don't only imagine. Yeah, I mean. You've had a large amount of success in your career very early on high school, college Super Bowl champ, I mean, and even outside that, probably on the rodeo field too, right yeah?
Speaker 2:Been very lucky yeah.
Speaker 3:So, but I always like asking this question because it comes in a lot of different ways. What would you say? How would you measure success?
Speaker 2:Man, yeah, a lot of people. I would say a lot of people, measured in what they've done. You know and I guess that's a good way to look at it I try to look at. You know the people I've inspired. You know the younger athletes you know in. You know, winning Super Bowl was always a dream of mine and goal and stuff and so to accomplish that was a great accomplishment and great milestone and stuff and so that's always something that's going to be with me.
Speaker 2:You know. But you know, at some point people forget. You know they. I bet if you asked some of the younger kids who won the Super Bowl in 2012 or 2011, 2012, they might not even know.
Speaker 3:You could let them know right now, put up that ring yeah.
Speaker 2:When I show up to practice wearing that. They all know that's for sure.
Speaker 2:You know. So it's just like I try to measure it by. You know the type of player I was and the type of person I am, and you know the impact I made while I was in that moment. And you know one thing about it is since I switched over to the rodeo world. You know my father-in-law, john Debbia, and my dad too. My dad rodeoed for a number of years and stuff, and both those guys have such great reputations in the rodeo world. You know I've been down in Texas rodeoing in North Dakota and South Dakota and somebody comes up and goes. You know your father-in-law was the nicest guy you know nobody is. I haven't met one person that's ever had to say a bad word about Johnny and my dad and you know it's like I want somebody to say that about me someday.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know it's like man, he's the nicest guy, always treated me with respect, always tried to help. You know, and you know that's, I guess, anybody's goal in life.
Speaker 1:Yeah, those are the biggest. You know, when people could say those things about you. Yeah, you could say you're a super cool champa, when they're saying that about your father-in-law. Those are role models you're looking up to right, exactly. So I mean that's super cool and, like anyone wants you know, like they talk about those guys, like that guy would give the shirt off his back, like yeah. Like that's like I want to be like that guy right.
Speaker 1:Or the nice guy I want to be like that. I think, like John Wooden would always talk about, like they would ask him what's success and he had that whole pyramid of success, whatever it was, or all the building blocks of that. And it goes back to if you do your best and you know that you've done your best, that's success. But only you know if you've actually truly done your best. And I think your your testament to that, because I think a lot of people probably when you got drafted into the NFL, thought he's not going to last very long and you go on the. You know you go on the play several years and I kind of want to talk about that Like you get drafted and you get waived and it's not an easy start to your NFL career.
Speaker 1:So I mean it's kind of feeding to that, like you know, mindset of like he didn't get last very long but you didn't give up. So like I'm assuming that mindset was built in early on, like with just waking up early, you know, ranching your, your parents and things like that.
Speaker 1:So what was that dynamic kind of like? I mean, you didn't quit, you didn't give up? Were you kind of like? Did that motivate you when those people are saying anything, saying those types of things Like he's not going to make it or like you know what I'm saying?
Speaker 2:Like what was that?
Speaker 1:whole dynamic like.
Speaker 2:You know, and like I heard it very early on, like through high school and stuff, because I was always very vocal about, you know, if somebody asked me what I was going to do with my life, and it's like, I'm going to go play in the NFL, nice, I'm going to go play in the NFL and we win a Super Bowl, and so I, what I never, you know, ran from that question.
Speaker 2:Or you know, oh, I'm going to do this. If I don't do this, I never had a backup plan. I had one plan and that was it. And so I, like I had people tell me all the way back in high school that you know, oh, you don't have what it takes, and it was always a driving force to be like, okay, watch me, watch you, just wait. And then, once I got there and then, like I had a, like you said, I had a very rocky start to my professional career and got to see the very, the very brutal side of business, of the, of the NFL, and where you realize, okay, I am just a number you know, I don't have that personal relationship with that coach anymore.
Speaker 2:They don't, they really don't care.
Speaker 3:It's a business.
Speaker 2:It's a business you know, and so, and I'll be honest with you guys, like when I left San Francisco and I got to New York like I was about ready to quit, I was. I was like, okay, like I'm going to play out this year and then, like I said, I'll go do something else and I'll figure it out. And I was very blessed and very lucky to have those coaches in my life at the time. You know, all the way from the top, from Tom Coughlin all the way down to Mike Pope, and you know, like I said, it started slowly turning my thought process around and you know, and then at that point it was like when I was able to work my way up off the practice squad onto the active roster, that rookie year game time for those last five games.
Speaker 2:it's like, okay, I can play here, I can play at this level. And you know what? All those naysayers back in the day, I'm not going to let them have their have the last word right, you know.
Speaker 1:So it was that kind of those, those specific coaches, when you went to New York, that kind of turned it around for you.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because I mean, if you look, at the statistics what is it like? Three years is the average, like NFL career or something like that right At the time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for tight ends, it was three years.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and so you look at these guys like it's kind of like luck, a little bit Like where you kind of land. I mean it might be over for you or you might get another chance practice squad, get the work your way up, but if you don't kind of get somebody to kind of believe in you, a good coaching staff you could be done. But for you it kind of worked out okay.
Speaker 2:And I was very blessed to land where I did in New York and just because they at the time, like you know, with with Kevin Gilbride's offense, you know the kind of pro style running shoot, you know he had a good mix of everything and the the special teams coach, thomas Quinn, that was there who played for John Baxter, arizona State, and I just got done playing for John Baxter at Fresno State. So when I walked in day one at New York and sat in the front row and Thomas Quinn's up there and talking kickoff, return and leverage and stuff and I'm just, I'm at, I'm already day one, I'm already answering questions and he's like, oh, you play for John Baxter.
Speaker 1:And I was like yes, I did yeah.
Speaker 2:And I go. I know everything you're talking about right now.
Speaker 3:All the doctors are starting to connect now.
Speaker 2:Exactly, it was just like I was meant to go play there, right? You know I was very blessed to land where I did and you know there was a lot you know, David Carr was there.
Speaker 2:You know there was a couple other guys that just that I met from San Francisco, wound up there too, got cut from San Fernando, went to New York and then, you know, with the coaches from, you know, like I said, right, I remember one day came out of practice and I was on the it was like middle of the season Tom Coughlin stopped me in the middle of the lunch lounge and was like hey, you're getting a lot better. You're, you're, you're, you're, you're growing, you're growing as a player, like keep going Right.
Speaker 1:And it was like all right, they're seeing it. The motivation, yeah. It gives that motivation to confidence. Exactly yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, cause, like one of the like with the right perspective, one of the best things that can happen to us is a door being shut on your face. You just can't maybe see it at that time and at that moment, but if you keep trucking forward, god's going to open up another door for you. Exactly, you just got to stay on the course.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and at the time it like, like you said, you can't see it at the time cause it's it's too close. But if you take a step back and you see the bigger picture and reassess. You know, make a new plan. There we go.
Speaker 3:You know, you get these little reminders from, from particular people in your life and it's like all right, yeah, this, this is what was really meant to happen right here.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean.
Speaker 3:Exactly, and this is one of my opinions. It's like one of the best, depending on who's saying it to the other individual one of the best and worst things you could tell somebody is you can't you know so it's awesome that you have this type of story to share now as a coach, as a mentor, and you know that that, to me, that's experience.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Not everybody has certain levels of experience to share to the youth, but you do Exactly and it's been fun, I've enjoyed it.
Speaker 2:I've been doing this last year, you know, coaching on my own, like I've been in Idaho and up and down California putting on football camps and stuff, and it's fun to come in and meet these young athletes and hear, hear what they want to do and hear what they want to accomplish. And you know I don't, I only get to spend a couple of days with them, but I can. I can tell them little. You know, little golden nuggets golden nuggets yes.
Speaker 2:That's such a good way to put it and give them these little tips here and there, like hey, you know, hey, eyes, feet and hands, you know, create a base, yeah, so yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean I had a couple of questions. So when, when you kind of get into the NFL, you have players that we just kind of talked about that make it and players that that don't know, what type of player or I guess, what does it take to consistently stay on an active roster and also be able to compete for those starting spots or pick yourself in positions to, you know, maybe take advantage of someone you know gets injured?
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:With a 17 week season. Nowadays, it's you guys get injured. So yeah, what does it take to pick yourself in positions, to stay active and also to take advantage of those opportunities?
Speaker 2:I always looked at it and was expressed to me. It was like what's your value? You know you got these young, young players coming in in the league and you know those, the high round players. You know they're going to be there for at least three or four years, depending on what their rookie contract is. You know they're going to hold on to their first, third, fourth round draft picks just to see what they can develop. But it's the drop picks under that. You know, fourth down to seventh, that they need to create that value somewhere on the team, whether it's special teams, you know, or as a bat in a backup role or you know, come in and just really light it up and, yeah, be a spark and and create like a victor cruise Right.
Speaker 2:You know somebody that kind of came in and really had a great training camp and made great plays during the preseason and the next thing, you know he's in a starting lineup you know, but then you got a guy like me who was a six round draft pick, got released, you know, and then came back and got cut again from New York's and after playing there for a whole season and stuff. So you, you create that value with what. What can you do on the for that team, you know, and that was a great. What kept me in New York for so long Eventually was I was extremely valuable to Kevin Gilbride because he could plug me into that offense in so many different positions and I could play special teams.
Speaker 1:I've a quit kind of you talked about. You were kind of in a weird place at that time getting cut. You know you're come out of high school college, you know in starting positions and you know, holding different records at Fresno State. But then you go through these kind of Tribulations, you go through these struggles adversity, baby adversity.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know you're able to kind of find a great coaching staff In New York, but when you were going home, what was your kind of mental thought process? What was the mentality, what was? What were the emotions like when you're kind of going home at night and like you know, because we always see the movies and we see these guys like and they're struggling, but what was it like for you?
Speaker 2:I had it well. I had a good support system outside of the coaching staff, you know, with my family and my now wife, katie. You know her and I were just date, just had just started dating at the time and and stuff. So I'd come home, talk with her and Talk with my dad. And then I had an outstanding agent at the time as well, ken Staniser, and he. He called me at least two or three times a week that rookie year just to check on say how you doing. You know what your mental status you know. Yeah, you're, are you working? Are you getting those extra reps after practice? Just just checking on me, and that's a lot though. Yeah, and he came, he became a lot more than just an agent.
Speaker 2:He was, he was family to me and I love that guy to death and so, but I think that's what helped me. It was like the support system outside of, because I'd come home and I was, I was staying in a residence in by myself, you know. So you have a lot of time by yourself to think right and stuff. And so when I started getting the out of boys on practice, you know I would come home and just immerse myself in the playbook. It's like, how well can I learn this? How I want to be that guy. When you talk about opportunities, somebody gets hurt. That's what helped me get on the field. My rookie year was we had Injuries on the defensive side of the ball, that, but those were guys that played key parts in special teams and right, it's like, okay, I can step in and Not lose a step right like we don't.
Speaker 2:We're not losing a step by right, bringing bear to the active roster and Plugging him in. He knows what to do. You know and that's what helped me. The next year, in 2010, come back, you know, go through training camp with New York. We have six tight ends on the roster, which is very rare. Five of them get hurt. So for two weeks I was the only tight end practicing Still get cut, still got cut. And then week one, kevin boss. They ended up cutting three or cutting Four of them and signed two of us back to the practice squad. So me and Jake Ballard.
Speaker 2:They started the season with Kevin boss and Travis Beckham playing Carolina. Kevin catches the diving, pass up the seam, gets hit in the head. So they got to finish out the game with just Travis. So I get activated back to that. They pull me up active roster, all right. So three weeks later we're playing Chicago and and Wednesday at practice, mike Pope's like hey, bear, look at the fullback stuff, just just Glance over it. You know, just make sure you know our base run plays. You know, because if you know Hedgecock Madison gets hurt or something like that, maybe you can step in, add value to yourself, get us out of the game.
Speaker 2:You know, let us keep, let the offense keep rolling right. And sure enough it was just like there you go. You know he had a crystal ball or something, I don't know. But yeah, we're opening kickoff. The second half Madison pulls a hamstring running down on kickoff and tries to go and Ends up he can't. So Kevin Gilbride scramble and trying to see what he can still call, and Mike Pope goes to him and goes put bear at fullback. Put bear in at fullback. He knows what to do, right. And so, yeah, we go three and out. They come to the sideline. Kevin asked me because, okay, what can I call what in our base run package, do you know? I said dial it up and I got it.
Speaker 3:I got it all. I don't prepare ready to go. I was ready to go. Hey, you stay ready.
Speaker 2:You don't have to get ready exactly and, like I didn't know that, the fine details of the position. But I knew who to block. I I didn't know, maybe maybe didn't know how to get there. You know what hold the hit or what gap to hit, but I knew. You know 34, 34, 35, bob, I had to get to that.
Speaker 1:Mike linebacker right, that backside backer you know or that will similar situation in the Super Bowl. Right, that's how you were able to play in the. Super Bowl and then end up catching the touchdown. Yeah and the Super Bowl against the Patriots. Someone got hurt and you were able to step up and be ready to go.
Speaker 2:Jake and Travis both got had knee injuries and those last you know quarter and a half.
Speaker 3:I was the only guy going, so it goes right back to what how this conversation started. You know, as if you're a young athlete listening to this. How do you add value to the team?
Speaker 2:Yeah, the more you can do right, and it's a kind of a double-edged sword because you know If you're only playing one position, you know you can really focus on that position and work at it and really develop and and become a master at it. Right, and I Was playing like I tell my kids at the oh you know, over on the coast, right, it's like we get in the huddle Eli would call play in five different positions, would snap through my head in about ten seconds and I was like, okay, what personnel are we in? Okay, what position am I full back? Am I the running back? Am I a Z?
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's like those boards at the, at the police station.
Speaker 2:They got all these things going here, here, here and here right yeah, and you got to be able to figure it out right there and then, right then and there, yeah and it was, you know, I could kind of as long when I knew the personnel, like if we were in two tights or you know three wide or whatever you know, and there towards the end of it we had we were in two tights but we called it cowboy.
Speaker 2:You know it was when we brought the running back out of the backfield and I came in and I would. I would pass block out of the backfield yeah you know, that's how I got you know, one carry for two yards against Detroit one year it works hey got the ball in your hand, you know what I mean exactly, but it was like I I had to focus on all these different positions I couldn't really focus on.
Speaker 2:I'm just just playing, tie in it, tight in and being the best tight in I could be. It's like I had to know Everything right, like outside of Eli, and you know Sean O'Hara and you know those guys that touch the ball every play, like I had to know just as much as they did say, to say there's a lot of studying back in your day then, huh yeah, a lot of studying and it's good because it takes up the, the downtime and that's.
Speaker 3:That leads to the, to the next question. You know, as you're in the, even it could just be in general speaking. You know you have, you're in the NFL it. Well, let's just make it specific, right here in the. Nfl. What's a day-to-day for you? Like you know what I mean, like you're in season.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3:You wake up, you do this, you go to practice your weight room blah blah blah. What is it like for you? What's a day-to-day look like for you for?
Speaker 2:for me it was wake up six in the weight room by seven, get a 45 minute workout and go eat breakfast. You're in the. Your first Team meeting starts at 830. Mm-hmm in there, from there right into special teams and then offensive install, then individual, then we're on the field for two and a half hours. Come in treatment.
Speaker 2:Just even if you, I wasn't hurt, you know, because I had a lot of high ankle injuries and high ankle sprains, ac sprains, the shoulders, but if I, even if I was feeling good like I'd still go Get in the sauna or right hot tub or cold tub, you know, and just little contrast Meetings or go have a quick lunch back in the meetings, watch practice. So we're normally done about four o'clock every day. Now it's now, it's on your own. Okay, can I leave? Yeah, yeah, we were all free to leave. No, no judgment. But a lot of us, like the whole, all of us in the tight end room, from Kevin Boss down to me, you know, at the time I was practice squad or you know, even when I was on the active roster.
Speaker 2:Okay, now we're gonna go watch film with Eli and David and those guys and we're gonna see, we're gonna Talk to him, we're gonna ask questions, we're gonna try to be on the same page so we're seeing exactly what they're seeing. So when we're in, we're running you know trips, right, 62 read special, and we see the defense that we were talking about them in the yeah, you know classroom.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we're both on the same page right, you know there's no, you're taking the guess at everything they're at least trying to right exactly yeah.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I mean I'm assuming, like you said, when you're free you have that free time. The guys that are gonna make it are gonna be there working out or pitting some type of work in yes. And so I think that's so important today, like when kids ask me, like what I need to do? Well, everyone's going to practice. We've talked about this before. Everyone's gonna practice. Yeah, everyone's doing this. But the kids that are having success, well, they're doing extra.
Speaker 1:Yeah they're putting the extra work. They're coming to exact to train. Yeah, they're training after practice. They're training, you know, they're working on the weekend, so they're separating themselves and putting themselves Apart from the rest of the crowd. Exactly, and I mean to make it. To just have success in high school, you gotta do that. But to have success in college, go to vision one. Yeah, gotta have some talent, you gotta have some size, you gotta also put in the work. But then to go to your level, it's, it's a whole different level.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's even more and it and it might not even be like Geared towards on the field stuff or in the classroom. That's what I was gonna get to it's going to the trip, the training room and doing treatment and in recovery.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, I work it because at that level our bodies are our temples and like that. This is if we're not feeling right, we can't go perform, you know, and so it's. It's doing the small things. You know. Go sit in the cold tubs, as much as you hate it and and stuff. I was never a big fan of it, but it's hey, there was purpose for it. You gotta do it you know.
Speaker 3:And to go back to what he was saying, you know, it's like you guys are proud that you're doing all the things that everybody else is doing across the country, across the world. You're trying to get to a certain place, you know. But to even take it a step further, I mean, when I always tell kids that I train, you got to look beyond Portaville. Mm-hmm because the moment you step out of Portaville and you see some competition down south, up north, oh yeah, it's a whole different ballgame.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3:So I like to take it a step further and some some understand it, some don't. I mean, I Try my best to educate them in this particular part. Being an athlete and just a better person is that there are people already getting the extra reps. Yeah, there are people that are also getting trainers. Mm-hmm but what now can separate you from those people sleep?
Speaker 1:Yeah, nutrition, nutrition.
Speaker 2:Yeah, stress management.
Speaker 3:And that's, to me, is where people find major success. Yeah, especially as a young athlete, I mean they love staying up and waking up with only three hours under their belt. Yeah, they love going to. I mean, to a certain point they're at the mercy of their parents as far as food goes. You know they're buying it and they're prepping and things like that. But, to me. Those are the type of things right there where you could really seriously gain an edge and it's hard to sell it because, you can't sell sleep in a bottle.
Speaker 3:No can't put it in a pill, can't put it in protein powder. No, it's up to you, exactly so, just to up one. You know, and I mean to me, that is where you could really take advantage of your full 24 hours in a day.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm. Yeah, I mean I think we're learning so much more and others, so many different scientists, and you look at, like Dr Andrews Huberman or Peter T, all these guys at Fullerton, stanford and stuff. They're doing all this free shirts on on sleep and stuff like that with performance yeah and now they're finding out like. I mean eight hours of sleep is more important than other training.
Speaker 1:Getting the extra training in now and so all these studies are starting to come out. It's like how important that eight hours or seven, what nine, whatever it is for that individual person, because it might change a little bit.
Speaker 2:No, yeah.
Speaker 1:The sleep to nutrition. All that stuff's really coming out now. And then the cold plunges, the sauna, all that extra treatment Trition and the quality of that sleep.
Speaker 2:you know where you can.
Speaker 3:yeah, body actually gets into that realms Yep cycle and you know you allow that body to recover Yep, you know and even at the very end of all of that, you're still gonna run into somebody that might be just more talented in you. Yeah, yeah, but when you run up to that person, though, and if you could cross off all the boxes mm-hmm, it is what it is. You got you know you just got to accept that there is always gonna be somebody better than you.
Speaker 3:Yeah but why not let that person be? You don't leave that up to chance exactly.
Speaker 2:Do everything that you Possibly can put yourself in the best position right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's, success, right. You do everything you can and like you have no, no doubt, no regret. Like I did everything I could, hey, it is what it is. Yeah, that that's your success.
Speaker 3:I respect.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely. So, I kind of want to talk about, like obviously let's talk about, I guess, the end of your kind of career before going to the rodeo stuff. But you're gonna eventually play in a Super Bowl and you know you're gonna go on to. I guess you're lasting with with the New England, right? Yeah, with New England with Bella check and those guys. What was that kind of like? Did you see it coming to an end? Were you ready? I'm assuming you still wanted to play.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:What was that whole kind of feeling like? Did you kind of see the, the riding on the wall? Did you know some? Because you haven't had too many injuries really to like in your career. I know you had some high ankle sprains, but what was that kind of ending like? What was the emotions and how did all kind of come about?
Speaker 2:Um, I well, I really didn't see it coming to an end when I left New England. I just figured, you know, new being with New England wasn't a good fit. You know, as much as I really would have liked to stayed there and, sure you know, been a part of that team because it's they're always a Outstanding team better yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah and, but it wasn't a good fit and there was two weeks left in training camp. So it's like if I leave now, I still have two, two and a half weeks to go to find another team and get some film. You know, and I Was wrong.
Speaker 2:I was wrong, like when I left New England it was hard finding teams that they were wanting to take a chance on a guy that's been in the league for seven years and Hadn't been a full-time starter you know, was older and bounced around, had been bouncing around for a little bit, and it was financially better for them to Draft a rookie that they were gonna have for three or four years that they can mold, instead of take a chance on an old guy that had the experience. They could step right in and play.
Speaker 1:I was just gonna say because you're competing with all the the rookies coming in every single year.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and it had been a big, tight-in class that year. And so you know, you know, when I left New England, like my, my heart was, it was in it, but it wasn't. You know, gung-ho, let's go. Where's the next team? Let's-.
Speaker 3:It wasn't like year three yeah it wasn't what it had been.
Speaker 2:Like you said. You know that fire was starting to die and you know I think it was either Charles Way or Howard Cross, I can't remember which one Told me one time is like you know, when the day comes that you don't absolutely love it and crave it, it's time to step away. And so that's where my mind kind of shifted. It was like I'm not exactly craving this anymore. You know things are starting to hurt a little more. You know I'm not a big supporter on special teams, like I can, but you know I don't want to run down on kickoff anymore. That's right.
Speaker 2:You know. So there's things I really wasn't looking forward to doing. But you know it's like I can still play. I can still play. So if the opportunity presents itself, let's go Right. And by that time I'd already kind of started to dabble in the rodeo world a little bit and kind of developed my you know skills there and it was kind of looking more enticing. So I was good. When the decision came to step away, I was okay with it you know Were teams contacting, or were you or your agent?
Speaker 1:I'm assuming we're reaching out to teams tryouts or how did that whole, how does that process kind of work Cause?
Speaker 2:he, when I left, knew, when I stepped away from New England, like, yeah, my agent, uh no, he went to work, like he just went to calling teams and like, all right, who you guys bringing in? And you know, can we get Barry in there, let's go just to have you guys look at him. And so I went to a couple, I went to New Orleans and I think I went to Carolina and then after that it just went silent. You know teams weren't calling. You know cause normally all season long. You know cause our off days are on Mondays and or like a half days on Monday and then Tuesdays are off day.
Speaker 2:You know, usually Monday afternoon evening after everybody's gone they're bringing in players to try out. You know, and look at, in all day Tuesday they're bringing guys in. So they're constantly. Teams are constantly looking to see what's out there, what's, what else is available in the off chance that a guy gets hurt. You know, and they need to bring somebody in, you know, and those calls quit coming Like they just was like man. And finally I had to have a real conversation with my agent and Katie and like we all kind of sat down and was like what?
Speaker 2:is going on and he was like, well, it was a big tight in class and you gotta think about it. You're, you're 29,. You're 28, 29 years old now. You're an old guy, you're considered an old guy. You haven't been a full time starter, but you've been a contributor. I was like, yeah, I fit in everywhere. I like I can, I can go. You know, be that backup, tie it in, be that full back, whatever you guys need me to do, I can do, cause, yeah, but you know teams don't really look at that, and so that was kind of I was like well, I guess I'm done as, I guess it's time to step away and go start the next chapter.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right, and so you were already dabbling in rodeo. What was that transition like? And I know you've kind of you kind of compared, you know, being a steer wrestling to being a tight end, right. So what was that kind of transition like? And since you kind of grew up in it, your wife's family were just doing it, doing it, obviously, at a pretty high level. So what was that transition like?
Speaker 2:I thought it was going to be a lot easier than it actually was. No kidding, yeah, so I I teamrope growing up and so that wasn't a big deal. And now, as part of I grew up in the Western lifestyle, like you said. But the actual steer wrestling part like I was like you know years past and I was like, oh you know, when I get done I go steer wrestle Like I'm going to pick it up so fast. I'm an athlete Like it's just going to be like night and day, like I'm just going to just be a natural Right. No, like I never puked out of football practice Never, not once in my career, in my life. But the very first practice that I went and tried to steer wrestle I came the closest I've ever been to just yakking it, yakking it, yakking it Right in the middle of the arena.
Speaker 2:And I like I had to bite my tongue not to do that. So it's like I walked out of that practice so sore and just beat up and I'm just like, oh my God, this is way more in depth than I thought it was. You know Cause you watch it as a kid. Yeah, catch on slide. You know it's going to be easy. Nope, there's a lot more detail and a lot more technique to it than a guy thinks.
Speaker 3:Cause didn't you win a truck or something like that in high school?
Speaker 2:In high school. Yeah, team roping, team roping. I won it when I was 15.
Speaker 3:So have that truck. Yeah yeah, it's out of my mom and dad's house.
Speaker 2:Still got all the stickers on it and everything.
Speaker 3:Yes, I remember it.
Speaker 2:I guess now they can't take them off.
Speaker 3:They're like just just every yeah.
Speaker 1:So I guess for those that are in the Western or the rodeo kind of world, explain steer wrestling.
Speaker 2:So steer wrestling is a rodeo event. You know, I got two guys, one's. The one's the steer wrestler, the other one's the hazer. Your hazer is your helper, like he just helps keep that steer going straight and like if it gets wide he'll step into you, you know, and help you out to the best of his ability. But it's a event of physical strength and technique, you know, and slide off your horse, run up along the side of the steer, slide off your horse, catch his head like your feet, hit flat, slide shape, grab his nose and throw him to the ground.
Speaker 3:Are most people that do this your size?
Speaker 2:Most of us, yes, but there's some little guys in there that are pretty darn good at it, strong.
Speaker 3:A little crafty guys yeah.
Speaker 1:Technique, technique. There's technique, a big part of it.
Speaker 2:Like huge part of it.
Speaker 2:Like being a football player, exactly. And that's where, like my father-in-law, johnny Jones came into it, because, I mean, he won the world three times. You would never know that, but because he doesn't broadcast or anything, he's the most humble guy in the world, but he was the master of technique, was he? Yeah, and his dad taught him and he's tried to pass that down to me, because I, as big as I am and as strong as I am, like I get away with a lot more stuff than most guys, because I can physically make it happen.
Speaker 3:Yeah, right.
Speaker 2:You know. But if I learn the proper technique and learn how to bulldog like a little guy, you know, with great technique I can. It doesn't matter what I. If I got a big steer, I can use brute force. If I got a smaller steer that needs a little more finesse, I can still do that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so yeah, that's what they call you guys, bulldoggers yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, your wife's involved in rodeo too right. Yeah, she's a barrel racer.
Speaker 2:How does that work out? It works out great Because a lot of the times we get to go together.
Speaker 3:You guys competitive yeah.
Speaker 2:Oh, I am. I'm way more competitive than she is. She is. I mean, she's got an amazing horse and she is very talented. You know, the last two years prior to this. She's been in the top 20 in the last two years. So just right there knocking on the door.
Speaker 3:Wow.
Speaker 2:So this year her and I both have kind of taken a step back to kind of do some other stuff. And you know we're going to get back after it this next year and go full steam ahead. But it's a great thing, it's good Because there's a lot, like I said, a lot of time her and I get to travel together. We're in her rodeo and stuff and she's like well, I really want to perv this night, if it looks right, like her and I will do what they call buddy. It's where two people enter together and we can do it because she's my wife, if it was, you know a lot of steer wrestlers. Buddy. They enter together so they're all up at the same time and they can ride the same horse and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:But the ladies they're part of the WPRA, which is the Women's Professional Rodeo Association, so they're not part of the PRCA, which I am, but they still get to enter the PRCA rodeos and stuff. They've got a partnership and stuff. But like, if she needs a, I can drag her into that perf with me if she needs it, and so we get to enter together. That's convenient. Yeah, it's nice. We get to do it as a family. It's a lot of fun.
Speaker 1:So you kind of taken us back this year to do some of your own stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Is the goal to make the finals.
Speaker 2:The goal is to make the finals yes. I feel like I'm very similar to everybody else's. That's what I want to do. I want to make it to the NFR and, god willing, win the world, and then, after that, you guys won't see me ever again.
Speaker 3:Add to the resume, man. Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 1:That'd be cool. So for you, kind of just looking at where you've kind of done last year, what do you need to do to pitch yourself in contention, to qualify for the finals and be competitive?
Speaker 2:Just need to have a good go and just bulldog to the best of my ability, make the best run I can on every steer I draw, no matter if it's a good one or bad one, just go make the best run I can and let the chips fall where they may. I've been very fortunate to get on some really good horses, ride some very pretty amazing animals and I've been very lucky there. So if I can keep doing that getting on good horses go and making good runs and it'll all come into play, it'll all work itself out.
Speaker 1:So we could all picture NFL workouts and those types of things. So now in the PRCA competition and with what you're doing with steer wrestling, what's the workout regime? Are you still training? What are you doing to train for it and what's kind of the industry standards of training for that?
Speaker 2:I don't think there's been a whole years past. There hasn't been really a standard, maybe a 12 pack. Drinking 12 pack before or something throughout the week Put on that weight. But actually a lot of roadie guys are kind of seeing the benefits of getting in the gym and working out and being physically fit, because for myself, I mean, I can just speak for myself. When I'm physically fit, I'm mentally fit.
Speaker 2:When my body feels good, my mind is good. So my workouts have kind of changed. I'm not trying to push a ton of weight anymore because I don't have to block 300-pound defensive ends. So I've kind of lightened the weight up the reps a little bit, just trying to stay more mobile.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the agility stuff, Because I know a lot of the tie-down ropers. I've talked to Tyson Durfee and some of those guys. They have training regimes. But you look at some guys like I mean the bull riding. Stuff's changed too now, but a few years back you look at guys like JB Mooney and he would go drink whiskey and smoke cigarettes and then, do a couple of things during the week and jump on the bull and go win the world or whatever.
Speaker 1:But I mean, now you're starting to see a lot of those guys tie-down ropers and what steer wrestlers, and then even the bull riders salad bronc riders are in the gym, they're training and they're seeing the effects of the not just the training but the rehab process of ice baths and things like that, as well, the recovery side of it is amazing just because yeah we're getting on wild animals and throwing them to the ground and getting on bucking horses that don't want to be rode.
Speaker 2:So guys are starting to see that recovery process of ice tubs, stem stuff like that. It's like oh. I can recover faster and get on more stock and go to more rodeos and when my body feels better, I'm not gonna be a beat up old cowboy at the end of my career. I'm actually gonna be able to be mobile and go play with my kids, right?
Speaker 1:Absolutely, yeah, yeah, and I think it's tough, like when you're traveling on the roads most of the year. It's tough to stay in shape and find jams and all these types of things. Because, I mean, most of the guys are staying in trailers or some hotels, whatever, but that's a definitely a difficult part, where you don't have that base to go every single day.
Speaker 2:So you have to be creative a little bit. Definitely gotta be creative. Some days you might have to use a Bella Hay as a dumbbell bench press platform or something like that.
Speaker 3:That's cool man. Yeah, whatever it takes.
Speaker 2:Like last year. Last winter Katie and I were down in Texas rodeo and stuff. I had my TRX bands with me so we'd be posted up somewhere and you got more time during the winter just because there's not near as many rodeos and there's more time in between each rodeo to get to them. So we'd be at a friend's house and instead of going finding a gym like I just slap my TRX bands up in the barn or something like that and do a TRX workout and the way those are programmed.
Speaker 2:you're burning calories and breaking a sweat.
Speaker 3:Less is more sometimes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but you're still getting that movement. You're getting that functional movement of keeping that mobility and keeping the hips loosened up and the knees and you're not feeling stiff Right.
Speaker 1:Is a lot of the training just doing kind of like a even in like the motor cross world and stuff like that. A lot of those guys like old school mentality they would just go ride and they would just go ride. Some of that's kind of changed now. They're all crazy training regimes, but with you guys, I'm assuming repetition, just repetition training. So do you guys do a lot of that and are you training with other people as well?
Speaker 2:Exactly, yeah, and it like Steer Wrestling. Like I said, it's a different event because in rodeo in general, it's like you can't slow rodeo down. You know, like in football I can be like okay, today I'm gonna, after practice, I'm gonna work on my first step on this play. You know, I'm gonna create the muscle memory that I have to take a four inch step at a 45 degree angle and get my head outside.
Speaker 2:You know rodeo. You can't do that when you come out of the shoot like it's full speed every time. There's little aspects of it you can work on, like hey, I wanna work on my head catches Today, I wanna work on my feet placement, you know. So there's little things you gotta you can work on, but it's all still full speed Zero to 100.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're not slowing it down. You know where the rough stock guys. Yeah, they have bucket machines and stuff. They can get on. But like team roping, steer wrestling, calf roping, and like we do what we do we call shoot dogging, where we just run them on the ground you know we're not jumping a horse back or anything like that and smarty, they've come out with a new dummy called the Steersaver and stuff that kind of allows I guess you could say allows us to slow it down. You know, for the youth guys and stuff, and it's great for us too. So things are starting to change and stuff. But yeah, like you said, it's just even with that though it's still just repetition over and over and developing that good muscle memory and those good habits.
Speaker 3:If you know, as we kind of get to the end of this, you know what I mean. You're talking about a lot of physical. There's a lot of. You've done a lot of physical, you know in your upcoming. You know what I mean. What, how would I put this? I train a lot of young athletes, high school, college and even younger, you know, starting as young as six. You come in here.
Speaker 3:It's awesome, you know, because there's to me, there's never too young, as long as there's proper guidance. You know what I mean. Like this is no different than if you're on the ranch and you're picking up hay and you're moving this and you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:So exactly.
Speaker 3:So it's a completely safe environment if instructed correctly. But you know, at some times, you know when the physical gets hard and things like that what would you say to these young athletes to keep them coming when it gets a little bit tough? You know, you're talking about the soreness now after a grueling workout or practices, 110 degrees on pads and this and that. What type of encouragement would you give them? Just let them know hey, keep going, keep going.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would say you gotta love it, you gotta absolutely love what you're doing, because if you don't, then yeah, it's gonna get monogamous or redundant and. I'm monogamous redundant and you know you're gonna get bored with it and you're gonna get tired of it and it's gonna start to drain on you. And you know that soreness is gonna hurt a little more.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But at the end of the day, if you truly love it and you wake up thinking about it and you go to night dreaming about it, you know that it's not gonna hurt as bad and you're gonna get past it and it's gonna. You're gonna start, you're gonna start seeing the development and the improvement every day you step on that field. And that's what like drove me. It's like I had a goal and I loved playing football. It was so much fun, like at the high school level, college level, pro level, like it was just an absolute blast and a dream come true to get to do it. And like, yeah, it's gonna be hard, You're Thursdays, you're not gonna wanna do it, but go do it. Yeah, go do it, go. And kind of like in the Navy, seals and what they say embrace the suck.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Be comfortable being uncomfortable, right, you know. And then you know, yeah, it all becomes it all feel great, it all be great, and you're gonna be successful and you're gonna figure out what you can handle.
Speaker 3:Yeah, Journey gets long, sometimes man.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:The thing is what people you talk about. You gotta love it.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:But love works. Yeah, if you don't work, good luck, good luck.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Because, remember, we shouldn't focus on destination. Yeah Right, it's the journey, the process Focus on the process.
Speaker 1:That's where that love comes from. You know Exactly.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that love and that reward and that big picture doesn't come unless you keep trucking.
Speaker 1:It's like getting into that flow. State right Like that's the ultimate, like we talk about success, like when you're in that there's and like I'm sure you were kind of in that playing football at your highest point, like you're in that flow state, like you've put all the work in, you've studied and things are kind of flowing coming. You put the work in, so it's coming to you, it's coming. I don't wanna say easy, because that's not the right word, but it's flowing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and everything's in harmony and working in harmony and like yeah.
Speaker 1:And that's all because of the work you've put in the trials and tribulations the suck the failures that you put in and it's all brought to that. So I think that's like that. They talk about that flow state and the special operations. They talk about it in football, and so I think that's like that's a cool state to be in you don't gotta think. It's automatic, just happens yeah.
Speaker 3:If you just remember, though, if you're gonna love something, understand love hurts, it does hurt. It hurts, just be ready to embrace it.
Speaker 2:Exactly, I love listening to oh gosh. Why is his name escaping me right now? I can see his face Coach Jordan and Kobe Gosh. What was his name?
Speaker 1:Oh, the book, the mentor, yeah.
Speaker 3:Tim Garp starts with a G Tim.
Speaker 2:Grover, grover, grover. Yeah, I love Tom, the guy's a mastermind oh, he's, a mastermind, so good. If I'm ever down, I just go watch one of his videos and picks me right back up.
Speaker 3:I'm giving chills man like that name.
Speaker 2:Just maybe I know, but he's got that same way. He talks about success. Success doesn't love you. It'll leave you just as quick as you accomplish it or you acquire it. And he talks about when Kobe and Jordan, as soon as the season was over, they're right back to square one, working, so they can go through that process, that process of development, and acquire and success, because they weren't going to let it get away from them.
Speaker 2:They had that mindset and that drive, they were going to be the. Nobody was going to outwork them. Success is a choice.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it really is.
Speaker 1:There's that story of it was on the Netflix. It was.
Speaker 3:The.
Speaker 1:Last.
Speaker 2:Dance.
Speaker 1:Not the redeem or the redeem team, I think it was something like that. So there's a story. I can't remember who exactly was telling it, but they were in Vegas training for the Olympic or the world championships.
Speaker 3:It was the Olympic team but they have their different steps to go.
Speaker 1:So they're all in Vegas staying at the hotel, because that's where they're playing and training and practicing for that month or whatever it is. And so, chris Paul, all these guys were on that team and I think LeBron was on that team as well and the first couple of nights they were going out to the club and they were coming into the hotel room at like five or six in the it might've been earlier and I might've been like four right Four.
Speaker 1:And they're getting in the hotel and Kobe is on the elevator. I think coming down he had already worked out or something right. So, like with the next, I think the next day someone else had joined him. Two days later, the whole team had joined him.
Speaker 3:Because they were like oh shit.
Speaker 1:Like yeah. So that's just like the mentality, right. And I mean, I remember like after Kobe had passed, there was just so many stories.
Speaker 2:Like.
Speaker 1:I think J Williams had the stories of Kobe. You know, I think I've mentioned it on this podcast before about like they were getting ready to play in a game that night and they were on the floor warming up a couple of hours before and he I think J Williams or Kobe had been warming up for like a while already. And J Williams gets out there and they were warming up and he'd J Williams is sweating. He's like damn, I've been warming up. I'm like almost like a workout, right, it's like this is just warming up for the game. And Kobe stayed until he left and then after like years later, he said yeah, dude, like I was already tired, but he's always gonna let your ass like outwork me or leave before I did, so he's already had won the game before we'd even played it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, playing chess. Yep, oh, playing those mind games, yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3:Competitive people are contagious man.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I mean to a certain extent, cause you could rub people off wrong the wrong way.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:If you know, not everybody's competitive in this life you know, not everybody has that trait instilled into them, yeah, so sometimes being around competitive people manic either be the best thing for you or it's just gonna rub you off the wrong way.
Speaker 2:Exactly and like I think you mentioned on it earlier, like you know, when we practice and stuff like that, you know, and then it fell out. I was always around people you know, on every team.
Speaker 2:That was gonna make me better you know, so I naturally surrounded myself around people that were better than I was, cause I wanted to be better than them and I was gonna. They were gonna challenge me and they're gonna make me work harder and stuff like that. And it's the same thing in the rodeo world. It's like when we practice, I try to get guys there that show up with a purpose, like they have a plan that day when they step in the practice pin of what they're gonna work on.
Speaker 2:And so and we iron sharpen, it's iron you know, it's like we're gonna push each other and we're gonna make each other better, right For darn sure, and it's, you know, like you said, I love that. You know it's contagious you know, and somebody's gonna drive somebody else and they're just gonna keep it and it's all in for a good reason.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's all it's healthy, it's completely healthy. Yeah, you know good, I mean that's survival to fittest. You know what I mean At the end of the day, you know, and, at the very least of it, if you're trying to be the top tier person in your particular profession, oh man, you better make sure you're in the right room, exactly Because if you're not.
Speaker 1:Yep. Well, there's those different types of people too, like whether it, and I think today, like some people get in that whole mindset like the social media comparing themselves. But like I think there's two mindsets with that. Like I see something that's working really hard, or like that has this incredible like physique or whatever I'm like okay, like I want that.
Speaker 1:But, some people are like, well, I'm not gonna ever, they don't have the confidence and they haven't built the confidence. Or like almost find a reason to beat somebody down right Because of the lack of the insecurity or lack of confidence in themselves.
Speaker 3:Exactly. And what's?
Speaker 1:that. Have you seen that quote? It's like you can't like beat somebody down or like when someone beats someone down, it's like the lack of insecurity or confidence in themselves. But there's like a quote. I can't remember the exact quote, but I just heard it the other day.
Speaker 2:I know exactly what you're talking about, and it was sort of like or like my.
Speaker 1:I think it's a Deon Sanders quote. Actually, I think he said my confidence, or don't mistake, my confidence for your insecurity. That's what it was. I think it was Deon Sanders said it, but it's true. I mean, there's a way to go about things.
Speaker 2:but Sure yeah.
Speaker 1:But yeah, I think that's what it was. It was. Don't mistake my confidence for your insecurity.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I have this. I would like to think I make it up. Maybe I didn't, but I have this saying that I tell people that truly want to be great, that want to be remembered and leave a legacy you can't be two great things at one time. Yeah, you just can't. If you choose to be great, you're either all in or you're all out, and if you're blessed and lucky enough, you'll be surrounded by people who love you and support you during that time and that temporary sacrifice that you're about to embark and go through. So I mean, maybe you could tell me I'm wrong, but you know, while you were being a professional athlete, that's what you were doing being a professional athlete and nothing else and nothing more. That was what Bear would locked in to do. Yeah, you know, if Bear wanted it to be a professional athlete and a rodeo guy, he may not have had seven years in the NFL, exactly, yeah. So I always like to tell people that is like look, you want to be great, it's going to require sacrifice somewhere.
Speaker 3:Just make sure you're around the right people and when that time does come, because you're going to need some love and you're going to need some support. Because you can't do anything alone Period. So I just, I always try to encourage and let people know that well before they take off into that journey. Right Because it gets a little dark and it gets a little scary sometimes.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, there's ups and downs. Yeah, there's definitely ups and downs, and you know what it's like. You got to have that great support system around you. You know life is a team sport. Yes, you know, and like I was very lucky, I just from a young age, I developed a great team.
Speaker 2:You know, I had a family that loved me and supported me, and then great coaches, and then, as life went on, was able to fall in love with a beautiful woman that has supported me from day one and right been a big part of it, and you know she's absolutely amazing. You know we're there for each other, so it's, you know I got a great team around me.
Speaker 3:It's awesome.
Speaker 2:To this day, it's outstanding.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's hard not to support somebody that has good intentions and a great worth of it you know you have those two, you'll find people that want to support you, that'll go out of their way to support you. God will align those stars up for you. That way, he can make sure that you fulfill your purpose.
Speaker 2:So yeah, but that's kind of one thing I like when you're saying like that's. You know, I try to tell the my young athletes and stuff at these camps and stuff. Like that is like you gotta have those people, those people around you that are not gonna bring you down but also not gonna tell you what you wanna hear. Enable you, you're gonna tell you what you need to hear. You know, and it's tough sometimes, like you don't wanna knock somebody's confidence or, you know, hurt their feelings or anything like that.
Speaker 1:But hey, sometimes you need to hear hey, that wasn't good enough.
Speaker 2:You're better than that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because not enough people tell people that. None of people are real with people either, right, yeah, yeah. So you've, obviously you've competed at the highest levels and you know, at football, and then you're still got some goals to try to make the finals in NFR. But for Bear Pascoe, what? Your young guys still in their 30s? What are the goals? I know you kind of mentioned some stuff. You have your FSD, full speed development, or full speed Decision, decision, yeah, performance. What's the goal? What's the kind of long-term goal for Bear Pascoe going forward?
Speaker 2:Well as of right now. You know it's really focusing on the FSD performance development and I think with that, the end goal would be having an awesome place like this. You know like we're sitting in right now, you know where I got a 30, 40 yard indoor field and an outdoor field and I can train athletes all day long you know, and just have a blast with it, and someday maybe I think the end goal with that was turning the central coast into like a sports mecca or something like that and start getting NFL players in there where they come and train.
Speaker 2:and we go to the beach, we do a sand workout, we go to the mountains and do a mountain workout, you know getting that elevation, and that ideally that would be the end deal. I think that would be a pretty cool, a lot of fun you know with it, and there's so much to do on the central coast from you know, beach hiking, wine tasting you know, Beautiful yeah.
Speaker 2:We're kind of centrally located, you know. But as of right now it's developing the FSD. And I call it FSD is because, you know, as coaches, we tell our players you know, hey, I want you to go out there and play fast, make full-speed decisions, and play fast. Well, being able to make full-speed decisions is having confidence in your technique. So, you know, doing that repetition, and you know confidence in your technique comes from repetition over and over and over, until you develop that muscle memory where you don't have to think about it and it just goes Right. You know, and when you on the field, when you do hesitate, when you stop to make a decision, that's when you get hurt.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So if you can get on there and make, I'm gonna back. You know, speed or backdoor, oh, backdoor, I'm going Right. You know, and you know, that's when you're successful, when you make plays.
Speaker 3:Yeah, being able to operate in chaos is Exactly. It's much needed.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's why I call it full-speed decision performance.
Speaker 1:I like that.
Speaker 2:You know it's the same thing in life, because you got to make a decision and go Make a decision, go with it, live with it, live with the consequences, good or bad, you know. If they're bad, readjust, make a new plan. That's all right. You can always make a new plan. Right you know, and if it's, the outcome is good, fantastic, awesome, keep it going.
Speaker 1:And kind of going back to that flow state or like full speed right decision.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 1:When you put the work in and you go through those repetitions and repeat over and over again, it's a flow you don't even think about, it's automatic. So you're making those decisions at full speed because of the work you put in, because of the repetitions you put in. Exactly so it all kind of cycles and comes together. Yep, I love it.
Speaker 2:But yeah, that's my goal right now Just developing that, keep that growing, you know, and then let it get as big as it wants to Just take off from there.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean, we've been lucky enough to have him at our other facility. It's been such a blessing and a great thing.
Speaker 2:I know I need to get back.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Get back over and come hang out with you guys. No, it's a good time over there. Such a good cool spot.
Speaker 3:Appreciate that. Yeah, george outdid himself on that one right there, for sure, yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 2:Thank, you guys, for letting me use that though. Oh, absolutely Let me, come in and hang out there and train some kids.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you guys stay tuned for the next one. Yeah, hopefully, like Bear said, it's sooner than later. It's a great, great thing that he does out there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think we had some kids that went to our school, that went to your training. They're all talking about at school, so posting about it. A parent are posting about it, so goes back to an impact.
Speaker 3:Yeah, the impact.
Speaker 1:Sometimes you don't even see it all, but it goes out in more to mouth and at school.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Right, so that's awesome. So, as we kind of start to come to the end of this podcast, what are some things you would, I guess, tell athletes and parents of athletes, kind of what it takes to be successful, but just to kind of let the kids develop and that whole process, because we see it all today, both sides of it parents pushing too hard, but some maybe need more push to reach their full potential but what would you kind of tell athletes and parents? What does it take to be successful? I mean, you've played at the highest level, so you've been there, you've seen it, and now you're training kids as well. So what does it take?
Speaker 2:I would say initially I mean obviously number one you got to work hard, you got to put in that time, you know, because at the end of the day, hard work will outdo talent when talent doesn't want to work hard. You know, and then have a plan. Have a plan, have an idea for every practice you know and for your life, and how to accomplish your targets and your dreams, because targets are just short term goals you know, that are timely and, you know, measurable.
Speaker 2:Their insight, yep, their insight, you're going to within a month, you're going to hit that target, you know, if you keep with this plan you know.
Speaker 2:And so just have a plan, work hard, you know, take the coaching on the field and off the field and, like we said earlier in the podcast, be a good role model, be a good you know, a good image for you know, the group coming behind you and as far as the parents go, I would say, just be involved, be involved in your kids' lives, you know, and I mean and that's not saying push them, you know, because I mean my dad was great. He was there when I needed a sounding board or asked his advice, but he never pushed me or like forced his thoughts you know like you need to do this, you need to do this.
Speaker 2:You know, he was very. He let the coaches coach. He was a very good father. He was a good.
Speaker 2:He was a good he was a fan, yeah, and father is just letting the coaches coach. But if I came to him and I was like dad, where could I have done better than here? He'd tell me. He'd tell me, and he still still like that today. You know in the rodeo world like I'll send him videos and stuff. And you know, he's a great, my dad's a great horseman with with head horses and stuff like that. And so if I got a young one that I'm having trouble with, I'll send him videos and be like hey, how do I correct this?
Speaker 2:You know, and so, but for the parents out there, I mean support your athletes, you know, give them, give them every opportunity to be successful. Don't be overbearing, but let them. Let them go, find their, find their way. They're going to make mistakes, you know. They're going to learn from them. Learn from those mistakes, hopefully you know and you know, and and be there for them. Just go be supportive, you know, and don't rag on your coach or on the coach, because they're doing the best they can.
Speaker 3:There's a time and a place for everything.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's awesome, you got anything else.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I think the only other thing I had was kind of what you're most proud of. So like you've, you know your wife. You and your wife are rodeoing together now. You've won a Super Bowl, caught a touchdown in a Super Bowl, you played for some amazing coaches. You got a division one scholarship. You've successful high school career EYL player of the year in high school.
Speaker 2:I think so. Yeah, I saw me like, even though things are yeah, you know those things are small, but it's like.
Speaker 1:Those are like the cool moments too, yeah, with your high school buddies, but like you've done a lot. So what are you most proud of?
Speaker 2:I don't, like I said, I've been very blessed. You know, I don't think a lot of people didn't really expect me to go as far as I did, and that's all right. Not a not a big deal, but I've been very blessed with the career and the life I've had and the people I've had been fortunate to have in it and I think all, just all of it. I'm proud to be where I'm at in life right now and constantly moving forward and Perseverance, man, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And moving forward and developing and constantly getting better and, you know, better today than I was yesterday and I'm going to be better tomorrow than I was today, you know and constantly improving and I'm just proud that, you know, had the parents I had to establish that foundation and, you know, and proud to have found an amazing life and who's not only a main supporter but just my, my main partner in life and she's my best friend and, you know, been very, very lucky there and you know we have the same views and stuff and so it's just all life in general.
Speaker 3:There's a lot to be proud of. Exactly, I don't think I can name this one. That's wrong with that man. Yeah, yeah, the.
Speaker 2:Super Bowl was great. The you know that was. College was great is all so yeah but it's just all been one big blessed event.
Speaker 3:Proud of the last moment, but ready for the next.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's a great one, yeah, I love that. The cool thing about you, I mean you're, you're 37.
Speaker 2:37. 37.
Speaker 1:And you accomplished a lot. I mean, I think when we're all growing up like 37, you kind of seem old, but now, like, as we get older, it's like that's so young, especially today with, I mean, you see guys that are like 80 years old doing, or 90 years old doing, marathons and stuff that have taken care of themselves. So yeah. I mean lots of stuff left and I'm excited to kind of see your all your goals and kind of missions and visions come into fruition.
Speaker 1:Yeah so cool to see all that kind of come together and coming from Portaville, california and I know now you're on the central coast over there with do you guys live on you know your wife's family's ranch over there.
Speaker 2:Yep, her family has a ranch right there in Morro Bay and you know we run some cows and grow some hay and you know the summers are way nicer over there than I am, especially right now.
Speaker 3:And with that being said, man, we can't thank you enough for making the trip down here.
Speaker 2:Seriously, man, I'm always going to be a Valley boy you know like this is where yeah, valley pride right yeah. You know, this is where it all just all began. You know, always got to remember where it came from.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you can see that green V Yep Back in trucks. The bread basket of the world right.
Speaker 2:I know this year at Clovis I went over to the Fresno State equipment guy. He gave me some green V stickers and I got it on the back of my cowboy head.
Speaker 1:There you go, there you go.
Speaker 2:I always got to represent. That's cool man, that's real cool.
Speaker 1:So, Bear, I know you're doing your FSD performance training. You got your own personal page when can people kind of follow you or can they reach out to you for all of that.
Speaker 2:I got on my Twitter account. It's just at Bear Pasco. I kind of always I try to pair that with my Instagram. So anytime I post anything on Instagram it goes right to Twitter. Right and so Facebook Bear Pasco is my page and then on Instagram is at underscore FSD performance. I haven't posted in a while, just working on stuff.
Speaker 3:And just good content on there, though.
Speaker 2:Just been busy with camps and stuff like that. Like I need to let everybody know how those are all going, so they don't think I'm full of it.
Speaker 1:No, we could link those in all the description and all that stuff too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's my training page, and then I have my personal page at Bear. Pasco. So there you go. You can see more of the rodeo stuff on that one.
Speaker 1:Sweet. Yeah. Well, good luck with everything and anything you need. We're always here to support and look forward to all the great things happening in the Bear Pasco world.
Speaker 2:Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thanks, bear. Thanks, guys, for letting me come and hang out today. Yeah, no thanks for coming.
Speaker 1:I mean, you can travel all the way from Orabay, so we can't thank you enough, oh man that was nothing, just a nice drive. Yes, sir.
Speaker 2:Cool deal.
Speaker 3:Thank you, you bet, thank you.