Two Penn State legends sit down as LaVar Arrington and Todd Blackledge chat about how the game of football has helped shape their lives, the College Football Playoff, Penn State in the 80s and being coached by Joe Paterno.
Takeaways
- Todd Blackledge is a Penn State legend and national champion.
- His journey from Ohio to Penn State was influenced by family and academics.
- Football teaches valuable life lessons such as teamwork and perseverance.
- Preparation for broadcasting mirrors the preparation for playing quarterback.
- Joe Paterno had a significant impact on Blackledge's life and career.
- The National Football Foundation fosters community and connection among players.
- The expanded college football playoff system increases access for more teams.
- Blackledge emphasizes the importance of attention to detail in both sports and academics.
- Longevity in broadcasting requires continuous improvement and adaptation.
- Blackledge values the relationships built through football and broadcasting.
#upongame #fsrweekends #2pros
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
All right, welcoming too, Yes, good in the game.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
It's a lot to talk about here. This one hit
right here. It hit in a very special place. Todd
black legs the Penn State legend. You see it on
the back, You see it on the back, you see.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Us up there. I'm a Penn Stater.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Now this is not a Penn State podcast, but this
one was personal. I got an opportunity to talk to
the nineteen eighties quarterback eighty two national champ over Georgia.
You might remember herschel Walker. Yeah, he was on that team.
Sugar Bowl, yep, the Georgia Dome. Come on, man, y'all
(00:50):
know about it.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Listen. We had a great conversation.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
We talked about coach Paterno, we talked about the National
Football Foundation, his career in the It's a lot that
we got to And I'll tell you what. You're going
to really enjoy this one. And if you are a
Penn Stater, if you are a football fan, and I
has listened to the way they call the games, you've
heard Todd black Ledge, You're going to enjoy this episode.
(01:15):
Sit back, kick your feet up, and enjoy this episode.
Here we go three two one.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Well, for some of us, this guy is a hero,
all right. And to me, let me tell you something.
The black shoes and that that white jersey with no name,
and the plane, just the plainness of what that Penn
State uniform represented.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
There were a.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Few names that came to mind, and I have a vivid,
vivid memory of what they look like. This next guest
of mine happens to be one of them, and that
would be one legendary black Ledge.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Welcome on to good in the game. Appreciate you coming on.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, my pleasure man. Great to be with you. I
got good, vivid memories of you in that same uniform.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
So well, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I certainly was influenced by the things that you guys
were able to do very formative.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Years for me.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I can remember where I was at a few times
during during your tenure at at at Penn State. I
was a little younger, but I definitely remember a few
different moments with you and Deep Doser and Blair Thomas.
I mean, just going back to Shane and all those
(02:45):
guys just formed me into a lot of what I
ended up becoming. You know, I had been accused of
being a flamboyant player, but every reality, I just liked
playing with passion. I think sometimes people may be confused
(03:05):
passion with flamboyance and that it is what it is.
But I'll tell you what, I love doing it in
a Penn State uniform and I live that and loved.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
That every day. Talk to me about your experience.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I mean, this is amazing to get an opportunity to
hear this for me. This this might be more of
the most personal interviews that I do and and for
for the podcast that that that I will do, but
I would love to hear you know this is called
good in the game.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
How did it come about? You're from Ohio.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Let me let me properly set the table for everybody,
because I'm fanboying out.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
For it with the moment here right. Todd black Ledge
is a quarterback. He's from Ohio.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Went to Hoover High I do believe, and that's uh,
you know, North Campton and and so you're you're an
Ohio guy, but you ended up going.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
To a PA school.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
That has been a lifelong thing for ages where guys.
Right now, we have a guy out Ohio that's our
quarterback and Drew Aler.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
And he came to PA.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
So you boast a thirty one and five record at
the at Penn State University, amazing national championship in eighty two,
and that was in the Georgia Dome, right, that was
the Sugar Bowl, I believe, And so that's correct. And
(04:36):
you were one of the most prolific passers and quarterbacks
for Penn State. So to everyone out there, yes, Todd
Blackledge is a Penn Stater, a quarterback great, a national
title holder, but more importantly, you are one of the
(04:58):
most esteemed, most accomplished Penn Staters and media and prominence
outside of our game and outside of our sports as
a letterman. And I just wonder what was what was
that journey for you to go from being the quarterback
(05:18):
the football player in Ohio to the football player and
at Penn State. I really don't even get into like
kind of you know, I know, you are seventh pick,
you went to the Chiefs. I don't get into kind
of the pro aspect of it. But we can't touch
on it quite a bit, if you like. I just
think that this show is more geared towards talking about
(05:40):
what that journey represents and why the good of the
game impacted you, or how it impacted you to be
able to accomplish at such a high level. So how
did how did that come about?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
What? What was the starting point for Todd black Legs.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Well, you know a couple of things.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
First of all, I grew up the son of a coach,
so I was always around the game. Loved the game,
but I also loved basketball and baseball.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
All through high school. I was a multi sport guy.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
My dad was a college coach at the time I
was being recruited, and you know, so it came down
to I mean, part of the reason, you know, I
was from Ohio and did go to Ohio State. They
didn't really recruit me that heavily as a quarterback. They
had signed Art Sleaster the year before, and he was
a real prominent player in the state of Ohio. And
(06:31):
you know, I wanted to play quarterback, and I didn't
want to go too far away. I wanted to go
somewhere my family could get to games and be a
part of that. I wanted to go where we'd have
a chance to win and go to bowl games and
throw the ball some because I was a throw I
wasn't a running quarterback, so you know, Penn State was
one of four schools that I ended up taking official
(06:52):
visits to. Loved it, and you know, made the decision
to go there, and there were a lot of facts.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
I mean, you know, Joe Paterno was a big factor.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
You know, I felt very comfortable with him and as
being the leader, and also comfortable that he wasn't going
to be leaving anytime soon. I was confident that he
was going to be there during my whole time. You know,
academics were really important to me and my family, and so,
you know, my goal all the way through college was,
(07:23):
you know, I wanted to keep whatever I accomplished on
the football field, I wanted to accomplish a similar level
of success in the classroom. And I felt like Penn
State was a place that not only fostered that, but
they kind of demanded it. Uh So that part of
it was it was a great fit. It was a
great balance, and you mentioned the record. I mean, I
was fortunate to play on some really, really good football
(07:46):
teams for the three years that I was a starter,
and we put a lot of guys in the NFL
in all positions linemen, backs, receivers, So it was a
it was a really great time to be a part
of Penn State football.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
We were not in the Big Ten at that time.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
We were independent independence, right, so we played a national schedule.
I mean, we played Nebraska, we played Texas, A and M.
We played Missouri, we played Alabama. We played a lot
of different people in addition to those Eastern schools that
we kind of played on a consistent basis.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
So it was a great experience all the way around.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
You know, Academically, I had a lot of success there
as well, and I majored in speech communications with an
emphasis in broadcasting, and kind of what I'm doing now
is what I thought I wanted to do, but I
wasn't sure until I got done playing and actually tried it,
and I figured, I'm gonna do one of two things, though,
either be a broadcast or I'll be a coach.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Like my dad.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
And I think I could have been happy doing either one.
But the broadcasting has turned out to be even better
than I could have hoped for. You know, I've been
doing that, you know, a lot longer than a number
of years that I was able to play the game.
So it's been a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
That's called longevity, and you learn longevity in the game. Now,
let me let me ask you this.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
You talked about the academics, you talked about the idea
of being able to play play quarterback, and you brought
up Joe.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
It's funny, we were joking.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I came on four minutes, four minutes before it was
time to start, and I knew in my mind when
I was walking in, I knew when I clicked in,
you would be here. Did you get the ten minutes
is on time speech? Was that a part of what?
Was that a part of your your h your training
as well? Ten minutes is on time? Anything beyond that
(09:41):
you're late?
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Yeah, well I definitely knew that.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
But I knew that going in because again I was
raised by Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
I mean I knew that. I mean knew how that
kind of timing worked.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
And I just know I know some teammates that that
got shut out of a team meeting. You know that
we're late, and that door was shut. I didn't ever
want to be anywhere close to experiencing that. So, yeah,
I was always.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Early and learning those those life lessons, like the little lessons.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
How much did that apply? You know?
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Sometimes maybe it could be overstated, Sometimes it could be understated.
How much did the structure that you learned playing the game.
Did it play a major part in how you were
structured and how you approach what you were doing in
the academic space.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Well, I think it goes hand in hand, you know,
in a lot of ways, and any in my career
now because I think that, you know, so often we
we get bored, you know, easily with the mundane, with
the simple things, with the basic things, and yet those
are the building blocks of success, you know, I mean
paying attention to the little things, paying attention to the details,
(10:51):
the fundamentals, the basics you know, as a football player,
as a quarterback, footwork and ball handling and you know,
all the basic things those.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Lead to success.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
And if you allow those things to kind of deteriorate
or don't pay attention to them, sooner or later, it's
going to come back and bite you, you know, and
it's going to create a problem for you. So I
just think the carryover of you know, practicing football and
the fact that you practice way more than you play,
and you work on those basics and fundamentals, and then
(11:23):
you know, having that same work ethic in the classroom
and then the same work ethic out in the real
world when you leave Penn State or whatever school you're in.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
It pays dividends.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
And I think the things that you learn as an
athlete definitely carry over in the real world in any
profession that you're in.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And I think just I mean simple things.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
I mean obviously work, ethic and discipline, you know, perseverance,
learning that you know that you play for four quarters,
no matter what happened in the first half, no matter
what's happened for the first three quarters, the game is
not over till it's there's no time left, you know,
And so I think athletes have a better appreciation understanding
of that and hanging in there and even in tough times,
(12:07):
you know, not giving in, not giving up, and then
just the whole value and necessity of teamwork, you know,
and just how important your brothers are, the guy on
your left and guy and your right, and that you
know you're only going to be as good as everybody
is good together. And I think that that's one of
the great lessons, and football, maybe more than any sport,
(12:28):
teaches that because you got eleven guys that have to
be pulling in the same direction.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Now you're in television.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
You're in broadcasting and you have been a juggernaut for years.
In fact, I always say, for me when when I
went into media, my ultimate goal is to do so
well for so long at what it is that I
do that people don't even remember that I even played ball.
(12:55):
It's just that's the media guy. You have called some
phenomenal game. You have been a part of some phenomenal
games that have been played.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
How much how much does that preparation.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
And that approach to how you get through the hard
times and be that good teammate to your other teammates.
How much does that play a part in what it
is that you do now, because, like you said, the
longevity of doing.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Media is much further.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
It's a much further distance away from you know, from
just like two three years, like two three years or
four years. It can go for a really long time.
And you've been in it for it's over twenty years.
It's got to be I was about to say easily
over twenty. So being in your industry for over thirty years,
(13:49):
first and foremost, you gotta be good to have had
to been in for over thirty years. That's one for
two to continue to elevate, you know, because you got
a new opportunity just what maybe a year or so ago,
I believe you have continued to progress and elevate. How
(14:10):
much does that How much does that discipline and what
you've learned playing the game, if any at this point,
how much does that live with you? And how you
prepare for your calls or prepare for your shows and
prepare your day and map out how you're going to
live your day.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
How much of that plays a part a lot, LeVar,
I mean, you know, I'll tell you I mean in
several ways. First of all, you know, my preparation for
games is very similar to the way I used to
prepare as a quarterback. I watch a ton of film,
you know, I watch a lot of game film, and
(14:47):
you know, I try to go back two or three
games and watch a lot of cutups and breakdowns of
situational football and get a good feel for personnel and
matchups and those kind of things. So I I put
a lot of work into it before the game actually
arrives on a Saturday. And then you know, the teamwork aspect,
(15:09):
I mean, I you know, I look at my broadcast
crew and we have about fifty to sixty people that
travel every week that are a part of our core group. Uh,
and I'm the quarterback of that group, you know. And
that's the way I approach it, and I approach it
with you know, I want to I want to know
everybody's name. I want to say hi to the camera guys,
say hi to the tape guys, because everybody's in it together,
(15:31):
you know, and we're only going to be as good
as a product as if everybody is good and everybody
feels valued and everybody feels significant. And so I try
to really make it a point to be that kind
of a leader of our group. And then just again,
it's the work ethic. I know what my level of
preparation needs to be to where I'm comfortable going into
(15:53):
a game, and I try to prepare the same no
matter if it's you know, an Oregon Ohio State like
this year was the biggest game on our schedule, or
if it's just any game. You know, I'm going to
treat each game the same way because I think each
game deserves that same level of preparation. And that's fun,
(16:13):
you know. I mean, it's it's live TV. You're doing
it for three and a half hours. It's exciting, it's challenging,
and you know, I'm still having a lot of fun
at doing it.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I've learned a lot of lessons doing broadcasting and doing media,
especially live media, and it's.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
It's much like for me. It's like the game. And
you mentioned it a little earlier.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
You get into the game and it's four quarters that
have to be played, and I found it to be very,
very relatable. You have a game, it doesn't go as
well as it could be going. At some point in
the game. We can stop if you want, We could
redo it if you want.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Good. I got a dog too. And you learned in
the background mister sticks opened the door. He opened the
door while we were doing so we could stop.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I could I could read you know, frame the question.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
It's no problem. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're good.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Okay, So all right, so I'll I'll restate it. So
and doing broadcasting and doing the games and preparing for
the games you talked about earlier being able to make
it through the four quarters, and being able to make
it through the four quarters, and and knowing that everything
(17:29):
that you prepare for something is going to go wrong.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Something isn't going to go.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
The way that you would like for it to go,
but you have four quarters to continue to push through it,
you know, adjust, adapt, That's happened with me and in
media and then broadcasts.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
How much does it play a part in what you do?
Have you?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Is there a specific you know, time that you can
remember where it was like, man like I started off
slow or you know, something caught me off guard. But
my ability to adapt and adjust and understanding that adverse
situation led to me being able to call a really
you know, a really fine game.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Yeah, yeah, that happens.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
I mean, you know, there are sometimes, you know, there's
sometimes where I'll feel like when the game starts, I
feel like I got a really good beat on it,
and I feel like I'm a step ahead, you know,
which is a great feeling. But there are other times
where I feel like, you know, I'm reacting too much,
I'm a step behind, you know.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
And so in those cases, I don't panic.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
I just try to relax and kind of, you know,
get myself back to where I feel comfortable where I
need to be in doing the game. But there's also
stuff that happens it's completely out of your control. I'll
give you a perfect example, and this was many years ago.
But Alabama was playing Texas in a national championship game
and it was a great matchup. It was an evenly
(18:58):
matched game and Alabama would go on to win. But
Colt McCoy, the quarterback for Texas, got hurt.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
He got hurt early in the first court.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Yeah, and it changed the whole dynamic of the So
now that changes your course as a Broncat.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
You got to know, you got to approach.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
It completely different because the game dramatically changed when he
got hurt and went out of the game, you know.
And so uh, those are things that happened that you
just have to kind of deal with and react to
and hopefully your preparation is good enough to where you
can kind of pick up the slack and keep going.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
What's do you have a favorite game that you've called?
Speaker 4 (19:37):
Oh man, I've had so many good ones, fun ones
up until a couple of the two two that stand
out to me the most. Now, this Oregon Ohio State
game I did this year was great. I mean it
went down to the last play and that was an
incredible atmosphere and Eugene. But prior to that, the first
(19:57):
year of the college football Playoffs twenty fourteen, we did.
We did Ohio State and Alabama, and Ohio State won
on their way to a national championship. And that was
an incredible show in the Sugar Bowl. First year of
the playoff, two blue blood programs and our whole production crew.
It was just one of the best shows I was
(20:18):
ever a part of. And then the last year, my
last game I.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Did with the ESPN.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I didn't know what the time was gonna be my
last game, but it was was the semi final game
in Arlington, Texas between TCU and Michigan, and TCU ended
up beating Michigan as a back and forth, high scoring thing,
lots of big plays, and that was a great show
as well and a really.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Fun game to be a part of.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
So I've had the opportunity to call a lot of
big games, a lot of big Bowl games, semi final games,
national championship games, and I will say this probably the
most one of the most enjoyable games that I've ever
gotten to, and I did it three times, once at
ABC and twice at CBS was the Army Navy game
(21:05):
because it was just unlike any other game. It just
was such a unique atmosphere and setting and feel and
really didn't matter if the teams were good or not.
You know this, this this past week, they were both
really good. There a lot of years where neither team
had a good record, but the game was still really
meaningful to all the guys involved, so that that was
(21:28):
a special game to be a part of as well.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Give me a fond memory of Joe Paterno, you got
a story. Everybody has a story. Everybody has at least
one story if they've played for Joe. I'm certain you
have at least one good one on Joe.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Oh yeah, yeah, I have. I had several.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
I mean the first story and the first impression. I mean,
I remember when he came to my house and this
was towards the end of.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
You gotta come, you gotta come this, you don't play
for me.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Top he sat in the recliner, he'd had his shoes off,
he sat in a recliner, and then, you know, at
just the right moment, he kind of brought the recliner
up and he and he looked at me and said,
you know, I think you're the guy that.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Can lead us to a national championship. And I remember
him saying that to me in my living room wow.
And uh, you know, my mom.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Is Italian, her dad Warren Sacucci. I mean, there was
no way he wasn't gonna let me go to PennState.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
I was locked in there, right, you know, yeah, I
was locked in with the pies on so.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
But yeah, that was that was my first real memory
of him. And then he and I had kind of
a running deal. And I kind of liked my hair
a little bit long, and he was constantly on me,
you know, my hair was coming out of my helmet
or whatever, you know about.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
My about that. But uh, but I had a great
relationship with him.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Again, I you know, was the son of a coach,
so you know a lot of people thought maybe he
was too hard. He was never too hard to me,
you know, or on me, and that by the time
I got to be a senior, you know, he really
trusted me.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
I mean, I felt like we had a good relationship.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
He trusted me, allowed me to make some checks at
the line of scrimmage, audible in and out of some things.
And then when I left Penn State, that relationship changed,
you know, I mean it became a much different than
player coach, and you know, he was very interested in
my career and.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
My development and you know all of that as well,
for you know, as long as he was alive.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
That was when my relationship changed with Joe. Me and
Joe didn't like each other when I played there. I
think we're both both bull hitted and and you know,
I appreciate it. I think we always respected one another,
but I think we we butted hits because at times,
(23:51):
you know, I wanted to be me and at times
he wanted me to not be me. And it was like, well,
I don't know, my parents told me that being me
was okay all the way up to this point.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Now you're telling me something totally different. I don't you know.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
I think I think I'm gonna go with my parents
on this one, but I don't know that I should.
So I'm gonna try to do it your way. And
you know, we got through it. But when I left,
it was when.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
I realized the value, the true value.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Of who Joe Paterno was and what he represented, I mean,
the development he was developing us all along, Like I
look at the things that I learned while I was there,
and why I'm able to do the things that I'm
able to do.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
At such a high level.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
My competency is always in mind, and it's always something
that I can recall, the little things always being such
big things, right, take care of the little things. The
big things take care of themselves. So Joe was pretty awesome.
I'll tell you another awesome And it's a segue that
(24:59):
the National for Foundation a ton of awesome people. They
do a lot of great things in the community. They
stand on education, they stand on community service. What's your
what's been your involvement, what's been your your relationship with
the National Football Foundation.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Yeah, well it's kind of personal end business. So, I mean,
I've known Steve Hassel for a long time. And then
Matt Sign is a very good friend.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Of mine, and that was a spotder for me when
I was at CBS and I did not know that.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Yeah, he was in the booth with me for a
years and nice we developed our relationship and we've been
friends ever since. And uh, and then aside from that,
you know, I've been to the dinner when I was
in New York several times. I've not been yet since
it's been in Vegas, but I got a cow. I
do look forward to going back to it because you know,
the thing I loved about that dinner. Being in the
(25:53):
business and being and broadcasting is that was one of
the few times where you would see coaches and could
mingle with coaches and they weren't so uptight like it
was it relaxed and having a good time and commiserating
and it's really a fun atmosphere to talk to coaches
and to mingle in that in that setting, it is.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I mean, it's it's very it's it's I don't know,
it's just super humbling. You know, I walked out this
is so before I went out, they introduced us coming
out the alumni, I would sit with Barry Switzer, Ronnie Lott,
and Marcus Allen like that's in what other setting am
(26:40):
I able to be an equal to guys like that?
And that's to me, the National Football Foundation has created
such a a safe environment, like what you're you're alluding
to and being able to talk to one another and
and you know, here's a good.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Here's a good story. I haven't even told this story
publicly yet.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Steve Hutchinson just got inducted into the Hall of Fame
play at Michigan Hall of Famer. At for the Seattle Seahawks,
we hated each other. Todd hate like real, real hate,
not like the fake hate, like real, real hate. And
it goes back to when we were going up. We
(27:24):
were we were going against each other in the game,
and I can recall, you know, the way he was
blocking me, and I can recall the things I was
doing to him. We developed and then it continued on
into the league, so i'd see him, we'd see each
other a place, never talk, never say anything, and we
gave each other a big embrace, a big hug.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Sit.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
We're teammates now, and that's what's most important. The rest
of it. We can bury that and and let that.
Let that be. None of us are putting on any
pads and helmets and and cleats anymore any way. So
whatever that was going to be, it's did and gone.
But to be in a place where the environment kind
of breeds that type of energy, Todd is, it's been.
(28:12):
It's been something that I kind of feel like outside
of going back, which I know you're so busy, but
you're one of the guys I love to see back.
When I see you at Penn State, I love when
I see you there. But it's one of those things
that I really needed. I really needed to have an
outlet like the National Football Foundation and their dinners to
(28:33):
have that ability to be able to talk to people
who understand, you know, what I may be going through
and you know what I'm trying to do, so you.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Know, I also I really appreciate and applaud the the
big academic Heisman Award that they get as well, because
I think Trophy, yeah, you know, is a wonderful award
and you know, really recognizes not just the winner, but
all the people that are nominated are phenomenal stories. And
(29:04):
the fact that it crosses all levels of the game,
you know, not just the powerful conferences, you know, it
takes into account, you know, all levels of college football,
which I think is wonderful as well.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Before I let you go, what's your take on on
the playoff? What what you've gone through a season?
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Now?
Speaker 2 (29:22):
With the expanded field, I feel like it's created a
ton of excitement. It looks as though it's going to
get way more exciting. I'm hitting up the state college.
What's your take on it? Are you excited about it?
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I think it's gonna be I think it's gonna be awesome.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
I think the expanded to twelve teams, you know, obviously
gives more teams access, which is good. And I think
the the having home games on campus in December is phenomenal,
you know, And and that's more like what it should
be like the NFL. If you if you deserve to
(30:01):
host a playoff game, you should have that home field advantage,
whether it's weather, crowd, whatever, And so I think we'll
see that in this opening weekend. I'll be paying attention
to the Penn State game. Unfortunately, I'll be calling a game.
I'm doing the Chiefs Texans game in Kansas City at
the same time as the Penn State SMU game, so
(30:22):
I'll have to kind of keep tabs on that. But
I'm looking forward to watching the playoffs and all the
way around. And you know, as far as a Penn stater,
I mean, I kind of like like where they're sitting
right now, you know, having a home game against SMU
and then if they win, a chance to go to
the Fiesta Bowl, where Penn State has had a lot
(30:43):
of great success in the Fiesta Bowl historically, so it'd
be kind of fun to see him get out there
as well.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Always a pleasure, super humble when I get an opportunity
to talk to you. Man, it's like the first time
every time I see my admiration for you is so
far and beyond the realm of reasoning and being able
to even figure it out. I just I think the
world of you, man is it's guys like you that
(31:11):
have given guys like me a trail. You blaze the trail,
and you know, as you can see, I'm interviewing you
right now, I do media and so that impact. Believe
you me continue to live in that excellence. We are
the grand experiment and you know what, like you, you
are one of the crown jewels of what Penn State
(31:33):
really represents.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
Man.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
So I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to
get a chance to sit down and talk with you.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
This was awesome, man.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
I enjoyed being with you, and enjoy your time up
at State College. And good luck to your son when
he gets up there as well. Are here to have
a legacy there.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
So here we go, Here we go, we are, we.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
Are Penn State.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
That's all I need it, That's all I need it.
Appreciate you, Appreciate you, good sir. Why blown away?
Speaker 2 (32:02):
That was the man, the myth, the legend, himself, Todd
Blackledge of Penn State, now an acclaim and revered media personality,
calls games, does media for NBC now, did it for
ESPN for many, many years. What an amazing man. I
(32:24):
was humbled to have the opportunity to talk with him
and listen to them and share some stories on common
ground from where we came from, talking about not only
Penn State, but even our connection with the National Football Foundation.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Really enjoyed it and listen.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Yeah, these interviews are going to keep coming, So make
sure you subscribe, make sure you look us up wherever
it is that you get your podcast from. Check us
out on the YouTube channel. It's good in the game,
all right, So make sure you search for it, rate it,
review it, and subscribe to it, all right. And we
don't keep this thing going on the train continues on,
(33:03):
we will have more guests to talk to about good
in the game. The game is impacting lives from young
to old, and I love having the conversations about them.
And I appreciate the National Football Foundation every every single
day for me getting the opportunities to do these types
(33:26):
of interviews. So until next time, I'm LeVar Arrington. This
is the National Football Foundation's Good in the Game podcast
Signing Out, Talk to you soon.
All right, welcoming too, Yes, good in the game.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
It's a lot to talk about here. This one hit
right here. It hit in a very special place. Todd
black legs the Penn State legend. You see it on
the back, You see it on the back, you see.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Us up there. I'm a Penn Stater.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Now this is not a Penn State podcast, but this
one was personal. I got an opportunity to talk to
the nineteen eighties quarterback eighty two national champ over Georgia.
You might remember herschel Walker. Yeah, he was on that team.
Sugar Bowl, yep, the Georgia Dome. Come on, man, y'all
(00:50):
know about it.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Listen. We had a great conversation.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
We talked about coach Paterno, we talked about the National
Football Foundation, his career in the It's a lot that
we got to And I'll tell you what. You're going
to really enjoy this one. And if you are a
Penn Stater, if you are a football fan, and I
has listened to the way they call the games, you've
heard Todd black Ledge, You're going to enjoy this episode.
(01:15):
Sit back, kick your feet up, and enjoy this episode.
Here we go three two one.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Well, for some of us, this guy is a hero,
all right. And to me, let me tell you something.
The black shoes and that that white jersey with no name,
and the plane, just the plainness of what that Penn
State uniform represented.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
There were a.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Few names that came to mind, and I have a vivid,
vivid memory of what they look like. This next guest
of mine happens to be one of them, and that
would be one legendary black Ledge.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Welcome on to good in the game. Appreciate you coming on.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, my pleasure man. Great to be with you. I
got good, vivid memories of you in that same uniform.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
So well, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I certainly was influenced by the things that you guys
were able to do very formative.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Years for me.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I can remember where I was at a few times
during during your tenure at at at Penn State. I
was a little younger, but I definitely remember a few
different moments with you and Deep Doser and Blair Thomas.
I mean, just going back to Shane and all those
(02:45):
guys just formed me into a lot of what I
ended up becoming. You know, I had been accused of
being a flamboyant player, but every reality, I just liked
playing with passion. I think sometimes people may be confused
(03:05):
passion with flamboyance and that it is what it is.
But I'll tell you what, I love doing it in
a Penn State uniform and I live that and loved.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
That every day. Talk to me about your experience.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I mean, this is amazing to get an opportunity to
hear this for me. This this might be more of
the most personal interviews that I do and and for
for the podcast that that that I will do, but
I would love to hear you know this is called
good in the game.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
How did it come about? You're from Ohio.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Let me let me properly set the table for everybody,
because I'm fanboying out.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
For it with the moment here right. Todd black Ledge
is a quarterback. He's from Ohio.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Went to Hoover High I do believe, and that's uh,
you know, North Campton and and so you're you're an
Ohio guy, but you ended up going.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
To a PA school.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
That has been a lifelong thing for ages where guys.
Right now, we have a guy out Ohio that's our
quarterback and Drew Aler.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
And he came to PA.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
So you boast a thirty one and five record at
the at Penn State University, amazing national championship in eighty two,
and that was in the Georgia Dome, right, that was
the Sugar Bowl, I believe, And so that's correct. And
(04:36):
you were one of the most prolific passers and quarterbacks
for Penn State. So to everyone out there, yes, Todd
Blackledge is a Penn Stater, a quarterback great, a national
title holder, but more importantly, you are one of the
(04:58):
most esteemed, most accomplished Penn Staters and media and prominence
outside of our game and outside of our sports as
a letterman. And I just wonder what was what was
that journey for you to go from being the quarterback
(05:18):
the football player in Ohio to the football player and
at Penn State. I really don't even get into like
kind of you know, I know, you are seventh pick,
you went to the Chiefs. I don't get into kind
of the pro aspect of it. But we can't touch
on it quite a bit, if you like. I just
think that this show is more geared towards talking about
(05:40):
what that journey represents and why the good of the
game impacted you, or how it impacted you to be
able to accomplish at such a high level. So how
did how did that come about?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
What? What was the starting point for Todd black Legs.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Well, you know a couple of things.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
First of all, I grew up the son of a coach,
so I was always around the game. Loved the game,
but I also loved basketball and baseball.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
All through high school. I was a multi sport guy.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
My dad was a college coach at the time I
was being recruited, and you know, so it came down
to I mean, part of the reason, you know, I
was from Ohio and did go to Ohio State. They
didn't really recruit me that heavily as a quarterback. They
had signed Art Sleaster the year before, and he was
a real prominent player in the state of Ohio. And
(06:31):
you know, I wanted to play quarterback, and I didn't
want to go too far away. I wanted to go
somewhere my family could get to games and be a
part of that. I wanted to go where we'd have
a chance to win and go to bowl games and
throw the ball some because I was a throw I
wasn't a running quarterback, so you know, Penn State was
one of four schools that I ended up taking official
(06:52):
visits to. Loved it, and you know, made the decision
to go there, and there were a lot of facts.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
I mean, you know, Joe Paterno was a big factor.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
You know, I felt very comfortable with him and as
being the leader, and also comfortable that he wasn't going
to be leaving anytime soon. I was confident that he
was going to be there during my whole time. You know,
academics were really important to me and my family, and so,
you know, my goal all the way through college was,
(07:23):
you know, I wanted to keep whatever I accomplished on
the football field, I wanted to accomplish a similar level
of success in the classroom. And I felt like Penn
State was a place that not only fostered that, but
they kind of demanded it. Uh So that part of
it was it was a great fit. It was a
great balance, and you mentioned the record. I mean, I
was fortunate to play on some really, really good football
(07:46):
teams for the three years that I was a starter,
and we put a lot of guys in the NFL
in all positions linemen, backs, receivers, So it was a
it was a really great time to be a part
of Penn State football.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
We were not in the Big Ten at that time.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
We were independent independence, right, so we played a national schedule.
I mean, we played Nebraska, we played Texas, A and M.
We played Missouri, we played Alabama. We played a lot
of different people in addition to those Eastern schools that
we kind of played on a consistent basis.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
So it was a great experience all the way around.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
You know, Academically, I had a lot of success there
as well, and I majored in speech communications with an
emphasis in broadcasting, and kind of what I'm doing now
is what I thought I wanted to do, but I
wasn't sure until I got done playing and actually tried it,
and I figured, I'm gonna do one of two things, though,
either be a broadcast or I'll be a coach.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Like my dad.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
And I think I could have been happy doing either one.
But the broadcasting has turned out to be even better
than I could have hoped for. You know, I've been
doing that, you know, a lot longer than a number
of years that I was able to play the game.
So it's been a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
That's called longevity, and you learn longevity in the game. Now,
let me let me ask you this.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
You talked about the academics, you talked about the idea
of being able to play play quarterback, and you brought
up Joe.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
It's funny, we were joking.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I came on four minutes, four minutes before it was
time to start, and I knew in my mind when
I was walking in, I knew when I clicked in,
you would be here. Did you get the ten minutes
is on time speech? Was that a part of what?
Was that a part of your your h your training
as well? Ten minutes is on time? Anything beyond that
(09:41):
you're late?
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Yeah, well I definitely knew that.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
But I knew that going in because again I was
raised by Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
I mean I knew that. I mean knew how that
kind of timing worked.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
And I just know I know some teammates that that
got shut out of a team meeting. You know that
we're late, and that door was shut. I didn't ever
want to be anywhere close to experiencing that. So, yeah,
I was always.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Early and learning those those life lessons, like the little lessons.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
How much did that apply? You know?
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Sometimes maybe it could be overstated, Sometimes it could be understated.
How much did the structure that you learned playing the game.
Did it play a major part in how you were
structured and how you approach what you were doing in
the academic space.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Well, I think it goes hand in hand, you know,
in a lot of ways, and any in my career
now because I think that, you know, so often we
we get bored, you know, easily with the mundane, with
the simple things, with the basic things, and yet those
are the building blocks of success, you know, I mean
paying attention to the little things, paying attention to the details,
(10:51):
the fundamentals, the basics you know, as a football player,
as a quarterback, footwork and ball handling and you know,
all the basic things those.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Lead to success.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
And if you allow those things to kind of deteriorate
or don't pay attention to them, sooner or later, it's
going to come back and bite you, you know, and
it's going to create a problem for you. So I
just think the carryover of you know, practicing football and
the fact that you practice way more than you play,
and you work on those basics and fundamentals, and then
(11:23):
you know, having that same work ethic in the classroom
and then the same work ethic out in the real
world when you leave Penn State or whatever school you're in.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
It pays dividends.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
And I think the things that you learn as an
athlete definitely carry over in the real world in any
profession that you're in.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And I think just I mean simple things.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
I mean obviously work, ethic and discipline, you know, perseverance,
learning that you know that you play for four quarters,
no matter what happened in the first half, no matter
what's happened for the first three quarters, the game is
not over till it's there's no time left, you know,
And so I think athletes have a better appreciation understanding
of that and hanging in there and even in tough times,
(12:07):
you know, not giving in, not giving up, and then
just the whole value and necessity of teamwork, you know,
and just how important your brothers are, the guy on
your left and guy and your right, and that you
know you're only going to be as good as everybody
is good together. And I think that that's one of
the great lessons, and football, maybe more than any sport,
(12:28):
teaches that because you got eleven guys that have to
be pulling in the same direction.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Now you're in television.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
You're in broadcasting and you have been a juggernaut for years.
In fact, I always say, for me when when I
went into media, my ultimate goal is to do so
well for so long at what it is that I
do that people don't even remember that I even played ball.
(12:55):
It's just that's the media guy. You have called some
phenomenal game. You have been a part of some phenomenal
games that have been played.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
How much how much does that preparation.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
And that approach to how you get through the hard
times and be that good teammate to your other teammates.
How much does that play a part in what it
is that you do now, because, like you said, the
longevity of doing.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Media is much further.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
It's a much further distance away from you know, from
just like two three years, like two three years or
four years. It can go for a really long time.
And you've been in it for it's over twenty years.
It's got to be I was about to say easily
over twenty. So being in your industry for over thirty years,
(13:49):
first and foremost, you gotta be good to have had
to been in for over thirty years. That's one for
two to continue to elevate, you know, because you got
a new opportunity just what maybe a year or so ago,
I believe you have continued to progress and elevate. How
(14:10):
much does that How much does that discipline and what
you've learned playing the game, if any at this point,
how much does that live with you? And how you
prepare for your calls or prepare for your shows and
prepare your day and map out how you're going to
live your day.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
How much of that plays a part a lot, LeVar,
I mean, you know, I'll tell you I mean in
several ways. First of all, you know, my preparation for
games is very similar to the way I used to
prepare as a quarterback. I watch a ton of film,
you know, I watch a lot of game film, and
(14:47):
you know, I try to go back two or three
games and watch a lot of cutups and breakdowns of
situational football and get a good feel for personnel and
matchups and those kind of things. So I I put
a lot of work into it before the game actually
arrives on a Saturday. And then you know, the teamwork aspect,
(15:09):
I mean, I you know, I look at my broadcast
crew and we have about fifty to sixty people that
travel every week that are a part of our core group. Uh,
and I'm the quarterback of that group, you know. And
that's the way I approach it, and I approach it
with you know, I want to I want to know
everybody's name. I want to say hi to the camera guys,
say hi to the tape guys, because everybody's in it together,
(15:31):
you know, and we're only going to be as good
as a product as if everybody is good and everybody
feels valued and everybody feels significant. And so I try
to really make it a point to be that kind
of a leader of our group. And then just again,
it's the work ethic. I know what my level of
preparation needs to be to where I'm comfortable going into
(15:53):
a game, and I try to prepare the same no
matter if it's you know, an Oregon Ohio State like
this year was the biggest game on our schedule, or
if it's just any game. You know, I'm going to
treat each game the same way because I think each
game deserves that same level of preparation. And that's fun,
(16:13):
you know. I mean, it's it's live TV. You're doing
it for three and a half hours. It's exciting, it's challenging,
and you know, I'm still having a lot of fun
at doing it.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I've learned a lot of lessons doing broadcasting and doing media,
especially live media, and it's.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
It's much like for me. It's like the game. And
you mentioned it a little earlier.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
You get into the game and it's four quarters that
have to be played, and I found it to be very,
very relatable. You have a game, it doesn't go as
well as it could be going. At some point in
the game. We can stop if you want, We could
redo it if you want.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Good. I got a dog too. And you learned in
the background mister sticks opened the door. He opened the
door while we were doing so we could stop.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I could I could read you know, frame the question.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
It's no problem. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're good.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Okay, So all right, so I'll I'll restate it. So
and doing broadcasting and doing the games and preparing for
the games you talked about earlier being able to make
it through the four quarters, and being able to make
it through the four quarters, and and knowing that everything
(17:29):
that you prepare for something is going to go wrong.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Something isn't going to go.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
The way that you would like for it to go,
but you have four quarters to continue to push through it,
you know, adjust, adapt, That's happened with me and in
media and then broadcasts.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
How much does it play a part in what you do?
Have you?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Is there a specific you know, time that you can
remember where it was like, man like I started off
slow or you know, something caught me off guard. But
my ability to adapt and adjust and understanding that adverse
situation led to me being able to call a really
you know, a really fine game.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Yeah, yeah, that happens.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
I mean, you know, there are sometimes, you know, there's
sometimes where I'll feel like when the game starts, I
feel like I got a really good beat on it,
and I feel like I'm a step ahead, you know,
which is a great feeling. But there are other times
where I feel like, you know, I'm reacting too much,
I'm a step behind, you know.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
And so in those cases, I don't panic.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
I just try to relax and kind of, you know,
get myself back to where I feel comfortable where I
need to be in doing the game. But there's also
stuff that happens it's completely out of your control. I'll
give you a perfect example, and this was many years ago.
But Alabama was playing Texas in a national championship game
and it was a great matchup. It was an evenly
(18:58):
matched game and Alabama would go on to win. But
Colt McCoy, the quarterback for Texas, got hurt.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
He got hurt early in the first court.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Yeah, and it changed the whole dynamic of the So
now that changes your course as a Broncat.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
You got to know, you got to approach.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
It completely different because the game dramatically changed when he
got hurt and went out of the game, you know.
And so uh, those are things that happened that you
just have to kind of deal with and react to
and hopefully your preparation is good enough to where you
can kind of pick up the slack and keep going.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
What's do you have a favorite game that you've called?
Speaker 4 (19:37):
Oh man, I've had so many good ones, fun ones
up until a couple of the two two that stand
out to me the most. Now, this Oregon Ohio State
game I did this year was great. I mean it
went down to the last play and that was an
incredible atmosphere and Eugene. But prior to that, the first
(19:57):
year of the college football Playoffs twenty fourteen, we did.
We did Ohio State and Alabama, and Ohio State won
on their way to a national championship. And that was
an incredible show in the Sugar Bowl. First year of
the playoff, two blue blood programs and our whole production crew.
It was just one of the best shows I was
(20:18):
ever a part of. And then the last year, my
last game I.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Did with the ESPN.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I didn't know what the time was gonna be my
last game, but it was was the semi final game
in Arlington, Texas between TCU and Michigan, and TCU ended
up beating Michigan as a back and forth, high scoring thing,
lots of big plays, and that was a great show
as well and a really.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Fun game to be a part of.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
So I've had the opportunity to call a lot of
big games, a lot of big Bowl games, semi final games,
national championship games, and I will say this probably the
most one of the most enjoyable games that I've ever
gotten to, and I did it three times, once at
ABC and twice at CBS was the Army Navy game
(21:05):
because it was just unlike any other game. It just
was such a unique atmosphere and setting and feel and
really didn't matter if the teams were good or not.
You know this, this this past week, they were both
really good. There a lot of years where neither team
had a good record, but the game was still really
meaningful to all the guys involved, so that that was
(21:28):
a special game to be a part of as well.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Give me a fond memory of Joe Paterno, you got
a story. Everybody has a story. Everybody has at least
one story if they've played for Joe. I'm certain you
have at least one good one on Joe.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Oh yeah, yeah, I have. I had several.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
I mean the first story and the first impression. I mean,
I remember when he came to my house and this
was towards the end of.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
You gotta come, you gotta come this, you don't play
for me.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Top he sat in the recliner, he'd had his shoes off,
he sat in a recliner, and then, you know, at
just the right moment, he kind of brought the recliner
up and he and he looked at me and said,
you know, I think you're the guy that.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Can lead us to a national championship. And I remember
him saying that to me in my living room wow.
And uh, you know, my mom.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Is Italian, her dad Warren Sacucci. I mean, there was
no way he wasn't gonna let me go to PennState.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
I was locked in there, right, you know, yeah, I
was locked in with the pies on so.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
But yeah, that was that was my first real memory
of him. And then he and I had kind of
a running deal. And I kind of liked my hair
a little bit long, and he was constantly on me,
you know, my hair was coming out of my helmet
or whatever, you know about.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
My about that. But uh, but I had a great
relationship with him.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Again, I you know, was the son of a coach,
so you know a lot of people thought maybe he
was too hard. He was never too hard to me,
you know, or on me, and that by the time
I got to be a senior, you know, he really
trusted me.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
I mean, I felt like we had a good relationship.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
He trusted me, allowed me to make some checks at
the line of scrimmage, audible in and out of some things.
And then when I left Penn State, that relationship changed,
you know, I mean it became a much different than
player coach, and you know, he was very interested in
my career and.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
My development and you know all of that as well,
for you know, as long as he was alive.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
That was when my relationship changed with Joe. Me and
Joe didn't like each other when I played there. I
think we're both both bull hitted and and you know,
I appreciate it. I think we always respected one another,
but I think we we butted hits because at times,
(23:51):
you know, I wanted to be me and at times
he wanted me to not be me. And it was like, well,
I don't know, my parents told me that being me
was okay all the way up to this point.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Now you're telling me something totally different. I don't you know.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
I think I think I'm gonna go with my parents
on this one, but I don't know that I should.
So I'm gonna try to do it your way. And
you know, we got through it. But when I left,
it was when.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
I realized the value, the true value.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Of who Joe Paterno was and what he represented, I mean,
the development he was developing us all along, Like I
look at the things that I learned while I was there,
and why I'm able to do the things that I'm
able to do.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
At such a high level.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
My competency is always in mind, and it's always something
that I can recall, the little things always being such
big things, right, take care of the little things. The
big things take care of themselves. So Joe was pretty awesome.
I'll tell you another awesome And it's a segue that
(24:59):
the National for Foundation a ton of awesome people. They
do a lot of great things in the community. They
stand on education, they stand on community service. What's your
what's been your involvement, what's been your your relationship with
the National Football Foundation.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Yeah, well it's kind of personal end business. So, I mean,
I've known Steve Hassel for a long time. And then
Matt Sign is a very good friend.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Of mine, and that was a spotder for me when
I was at CBS and I did not know that.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Yeah, he was in the booth with me for a
years and nice we developed our relationship and we've been
friends ever since. And uh, and then aside from that,
you know, I've been to the dinner when I was
in New York several times. I've not been yet since
it's been in Vegas, but I got a cow. I
do look forward to going back to it because you know,
the thing I loved about that dinner. Being in the
(25:53):
business and being and broadcasting is that was one of
the few times where you would see coaches and could
mingle with coaches and they weren't so uptight like it
was it relaxed and having a good time and commiserating
and it's really a fun atmosphere to talk to coaches
and to mingle in that in that setting, it is.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I mean, it's it's very it's it's I don't know,
it's just super humbling. You know, I walked out this
is so before I went out, they introduced us coming
out the alumni, I would sit with Barry Switzer, Ronnie Lott,
and Marcus Allen like that's in what other setting am
(26:40):
I able to be an equal to guys like that?
And that's to me, the National Football Foundation has created
such a a safe environment, like what you're you're alluding
to and being able to talk to one another and
and you know, here's a good.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Here's a good story. I haven't even told this story
publicly yet.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Steve Hutchinson just got inducted into the Hall of Fame
play at Michigan Hall of Famer. At for the Seattle Seahawks,
we hated each other. Todd hate like real, real hate,
not like the fake hate, like real, real hate. And
it goes back to when we were going up. We
(27:24):
were we were going against each other in the game,
and I can recall, you know, the way he was
blocking me, and I can recall the things I was
doing to him. We developed and then it continued on
into the league, so i'd see him, we'd see each
other a place, never talk, never say anything, and we
gave each other a big embrace, a big hug.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Sit.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
We're teammates now, and that's what's most important. The rest
of it. We can bury that and and let that.
Let that be. None of us are putting on any
pads and helmets and and cleats anymore any way. So
whatever that was going to be, it's did and gone.
But to be in a place where the environment kind
of breeds that type of energy, Todd is, it's been.
(28:12):
It's been something that I kind of feel like outside
of going back, which I know you're so busy, but
you're one of the guys I love to see back.
When I see you at Penn State, I love when
I see you there. But it's one of those things
that I really needed. I really needed to have an
outlet like the National Football Foundation and their dinners to
(28:33):
have that ability to be able to talk to people
who understand, you know, what I may be going through
and you know what I'm trying to do, so you.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Know, I also I really appreciate and applaud the the
big academic Heisman Award that they get as well, because
I think Trophy, yeah, you know, is a wonderful award
and you know, really recognizes not just the winner, but
all the people that are nominated are phenomenal stories. And
(29:04):
the fact that it crosses all levels of the game,
you know, not just the powerful conferences, you know, it
takes into account, you know, all levels of college football,
which I think is wonderful as well.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Before I let you go, what's your take on on
the playoff? What what you've gone through a season?
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Now?
Speaker 2 (29:22):
With the expanded field, I feel like it's created a
ton of excitement. It looks as though it's going to
get way more exciting. I'm hitting up the state college.
What's your take on it? Are you excited about it?
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I think it's gonna be I think it's gonna be awesome.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
I think the expanded to twelve teams, you know, obviously
gives more teams access, which is good. And I think
the the having home games on campus in December is phenomenal,
you know, And and that's more like what it should
be like the NFL. If you if you deserve to
(30:01):
host a playoff game, you should have that home field advantage,
whether it's weather, crowd, whatever, And so I think we'll
see that in this opening weekend. I'll be paying attention
to the Penn State game. Unfortunately, I'll be calling a game.
I'm doing the Chiefs Texans game in Kansas City at
the same time as the Penn State SMU game, so
(30:22):
I'll have to kind of keep tabs on that. But
I'm looking forward to watching the playoffs and all the
way around. And you know, as far as a Penn stater,
I mean, I kind of like like where they're sitting
right now, you know, having a home game against SMU
and then if they win, a chance to go to
the Fiesta Bowl, where Penn State has had a lot
(30:43):
of great success in the Fiesta Bowl historically, so it'd
be kind of fun to see him get out there
as well.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Always a pleasure, super humble when I get an opportunity
to talk to you. Man, it's like the first time
every time I see my admiration for you is so
far and beyond the realm of reasoning and being able
to even figure it out. I just I think the
world of you, man is it's guys like you that
(31:11):
have given guys like me a trail. You blaze the trail,
and you know, as you can see, I'm interviewing you
right now, I do media and so that impact. Believe
you me continue to live in that excellence. We are
the grand experiment and you know what, like you, you
are one of the crown jewels of what Penn State
(31:33):
really represents.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
Man.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
So I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to
get a chance to sit down and talk with you.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
This was awesome, man.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
I enjoyed being with you, and enjoy your time up
at State College. And good luck to your son when
he gets up there as well. Are here to have
a legacy there.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
So here we go, Here we go, we are, we.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
Are Penn State.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
That's all I need it, That's all I need it.
Appreciate you, Appreciate you, good sir. Why blown away?
Speaker 2 (32:02):
That was the man, the myth, the legend, himself, Todd
Blackledge of Penn State, now an acclaim and revered media personality,
calls games, does media for NBC now, did it for
ESPN for many, many years. What an amazing man. I
(32:24):
was humbled to have the opportunity to talk with him
and listen to them and share some stories on common
ground from where we came from, talking about not only
Penn State, but even our connection with the National Football Foundation.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Really enjoyed it and listen.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Yeah, these interviews are going to keep coming, So make
sure you subscribe, make sure you look us up wherever
it is that you get your podcast from. Check us
out on the YouTube channel. It's good in the game,
all right, So make sure you search for it, rate it,
review it, and subscribe to it, all right. And we
don't keep this thing going on the train continues on,
(33:03):
we will have more guests to talk to about good
in the game. The game is impacting lives from young
to old, and I love having the conversations about them.
And I appreciate the National Football Foundation every every single
day for me getting the opportunities to do these types
(33:26):
of interviews. So until next time, I'm LeVar Arrington. This
is the National Football Foundation's Good in the Game podcast
Signing Out, Talk to you soon.
Hosts And Creators
Brady Quinn
LaVar Arrington
Jonas Knox
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com