Alright Mom, You Win

Sometimes, to understand our journey, we have to take it back to the very very beginning. Little did I know how much has happened leading up to this new chapter of my life. Welcome to my world. Welcome to the Clifford Show.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, Mom, you win. You told me to start
using my voice on my content years ago. I never
did it until last year. Did not think it was
gonna work out. Well it's worked out, so, ladies and gentlemen,
my name is Cliver Taylor of the Fourth and welcome
to the Cliver Show. And that beautiful song you hear,

(00:25):
ladies and gentlemen, is none other than Cherry Blossom by
two of my best friends, Khalil Garcia and Tracy Jackson.
Much love and thank you to you guys for giving
me the blessing to use it as the theme song
for this show. And ladies and gentlemen, make sure you
guys check it out. It is an incredible song. I
was singing here, but I'm gonna leave.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
That to them.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Cherry Blossom, Woman through my mind, baby picking talk of fower,
say your mind, yeah, all your vi. Also, Mom, your
consolation prize for being right. You gotta listen to your
son YAP for an hour at a time every week
for fifty two weeks straight. Congratulations, Mom, you're a winner.
So this is so surreal. Huge thank you to the

(01:05):
TikTok podcast Network, the iHeart podcast Network. Hold on, I
got to do a spin. Hold on, I'm too big
to do a spin. I'm sorry, y'all, but I mean,
where did we even begin? I think we got to
start from the beginning, right. My name is Cliver Taylor,

(01:26):
the Fourth. Yes, there's four of us. I was born
in Raleigh, North Carolina, raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, North
Carolina through and through. I'm an only child. My mom
and dad are still here with me. I love you
guys so much. My mom's name is Claire, my dad's
name is Cliff. I'm pretty sure y'all could have guessed
that growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina, I loved the drums,

(01:46):
instantly fell in love with musicians like Michael Jackson and
Earth Wind and Fire. I can vividly remember Reasons being
one of the first songs that I ever heard. The
first MJ song I ever heard was The Way You
Make Me Feel, and I've been hooked ever since. I
was also a huge, huge, huge Kirk Franklin fan. Still
love him to this day. But yes, I'm an old soul, y'all.

(02:06):
I like my seventies, eighties, nineties R and B and soul.
I like today's R and B two. But something about
the nineties and early thousands, they just I don't know, y'all,
it just doesn't for me. So kind of going back
into like the elementary school days, middle school days, I
was always a pretty shy guy. I was always one
of the bigger sized guys like in my class. So
I was always kind of viewed as just like this

(02:26):
giant teddy bear, but I was realistically, I was very,
very shy. I'm definitely an introvert. I also understand that
with this show that's gonna seem far from the truth,
but yeah, in reality, I'm an introvert.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
And so Riley was great.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
A lot of sweet memories there, and then we moved
to Charlotte when I was six years old. And when
I first moved to Charlotte, I was nervous. Honestly, I
was petrified, pretty much like how I am right now.
But around that time, my favorite NBA team, now known
as the Charlotte Hornets, well at the time, the Charlotte
Bobcash just came into the phrase. So growing up, I
was a huge ARLT bobcast fan. I can name you

(03:01):
every player from every playoff team because well, frankly, there's
only two and we got swept both times. So I
was a huge bobcast fan growing up, still to this
day a lifelong diehard Carolina Panthers fan. I'm sure you
guys have seen in my videos, but when I was
growing up, there wasn't a thing on this earth that
I didn't want to be. At one point, I wanted
to be a doctor. At one point, I wanted to
be a pastor. At one point I wanted to be

(03:23):
a drummer boy. But more than anything, growing up, I
wanted to be a basketball player, like that was the
cream of the crop. Basketball was pretty much everything. And
fortunately I made both of my middle school teams, so
that was kind of like an early early flex. And
then once I got to high school and made my
high school teams, and actually I got a crazy story
about my freshman year. Freshman year of high school. So

(03:44):
first of all, shout out Olympic Class of twenty seventeen. Yeah,
shout out of the oh not King Vonn's, Oh Olympics,
Oh not King Voon's. But we had a coach at
the time, so I think he was real, real, real
inspired by U and C. Because one of the requirements
that we had to do in order to play was
we had to run an under six minute mile. I'm

(04:04):
not gonna lie. I ain't make it once, so I
ain't see the court now one time. My freshman year,
it was it was tough. I think the closest time
I had was like six twenty something like that. But
you know, got our wors mysterious ways because I'm thinking, like,
am I ever gonna play? But months later, after the
season was over, those coaches left, so I was like, oh, okay,
clean slate. So my sophomore, junior, senior year was team captain, this,

(04:28):
that and the third you know, the whole all conference
thing and things like that. But also ironically enough, because
I would say, a good, good, good chunk of my
audience knows me for the Lakers need a center. Well,
I was at the time was six four six' five playing, yeah,
Center and EVEN i knew at that time playing as
a center six six in college that's just not gonna

(04:48):
it's just not gonna. Correlate SO i was, like you know,
What i'm just gonna stick to my Academic so that
kind of pulls it back To. Florida how DID i
become A Florida? Gator, well we got to go back
to like, oh, four oh five or, six grew up
a Diehard gator. Fan my dad went To, florida my aunt's, uncles.
Cousins like in my, family there's there's no, seminoles there's no,
hurricanes there's no, nights there's no, owls there's no what

(05:10):
is fi the pant, like there is none of. That
it is Strictly. Gators, FORTUNATELY i grew up in an
era Called Gator. Slam all My gator fans about what that?
Is national championships in football and basketball from like six o,
Seven oh, wait like that was just a crazy time
to be A gator. Fan like at that, Time i'm
not gonna lie any time The gators. Lost around that,
TIME i was. CRYING i was balling my eyes, out

(05:31):
Like i'll never forget old NINE Sec. Championship WHEN i
Saw Mark ingram hit That gator, trump that was the
first TIME i ever punched THE tv in my, life
the first and only. Time Because i'm not gonna. LIE
i THINK i broke my broke my hand after that.
One but, yeah now that was that was a tough.
Night but it was just a, magical magical time to
be A Florida gator. Fan at that point and grew
up a Diehard gator. FAN i was a Huge Chris leegue.

(05:52):
Guy funny, enough so WHEN i was playing. Basketball it's
really ironic THAT i didn't play football till. Later but
back then used to have like arm bands on his,
elbows on his. WRISTS i used to do that in.
BASKETBALL i used to look like an absolute. GOOFBALL i
would wear like a, headband double arm, bands wristman. LIKE
i looked like an absolute. Goofball but, Nonetheless Chris lee

(06:13):
was one of my guys growing, up so no shame in.
That and then, also of course after him Came Tim.
Tebo so Fortunately i'm a, lefty but ironically, ENOUGH i
throw with my. Right how that, HAPPENED i have no.
Idea ACTUALLY i know how that, Happened Jake delone but
but but, yeah So i'm a, lefty so When Tim
tebow took, OVER i tried to throw at my, left you,

(06:33):
know run like, him celebrate like. Him but one thing about,
it WHENEVER i would play, sports my mom used to
hate it WHEN i. CELEBRATED i mean it could be
something light like one of, these my mom would just
be in the crowd like SO i was sneaking in
there from time to. Time but, yeah, no my. Mom
my mom was not having. It my dad was all for,
it but my mom, Was, yeah she was not having.
It so so that's HOW i became A. Gator so,

(06:56):
fortunately growing UP i, WAS i was book. Smart SO
i applied back in twenty. Sixteen dang ten years. Ago
oh my. Gosh SO i applied in the follow of
my senior year in twenty. SIXTEEN i was so. NERVOUS
i was so. NERVOUS i didn't THINK i was going
to get. In SO i vividly, REMEMBER i vividly remember
the prompt THAT uf gave me for my admissions of.
Application it was talk about a story or talk about

(07:19):
a time in your life that helped shift your. Character,
well this was a no brainer for me because one,
thing you, KNOW i went to a public school growing,
up so bad influences. Everywhere so growing, up if y'all remember,
nik elite socks were. Crazy that was the, wave and
so something with my, homeboys they would from time to

(07:39):
time they would lift elite socks AND i would just be, Like,
yo how are y'all doing? This and SO i never
went that route because elite, socks they were, like, what
ten dollars at a, time then they went to, twelve
then they went to, fourteen and sixteen and. Eighteen don't
even want to know how much they cost, now don't
even want to. Know so it was, LIKE i want to,

(07:59):
say twenty twenty fourteen something like. That and so and
this was after church, too by the, way which is.
Crazy this is on A. Sunday so my mom AND
i went To. Marshalls i'm not GONNA i used to
Love marshalls growing. Up and at the, TIME i THINK
i needed a charger from my iPod or iPhone at the,
time and you, know At, marshalls they were like five,
Dollars So i'm thinking five dollars won't hurt. Him SO

(08:22):
i opened the, box pulled it, out and put it
in my. Pocket and so my Mom i'm walking around
like lah blah blah lah. Lah my mom's buying her.
Stuff not even fifty feet out of the, door this
tall guy, goes excuse, me, ma'am AND i was, like
my eyeballs just like just went like. THIS i was
like CAUSE i just knew. IT i knew what it.

(08:42):
Was he, said he, said, ma'am we got your son
on camera stealing a.

Speaker 2 (08:47):
Charger she, goes what AND i was just, like oh,
god oh. God and then he just looked at.

Speaker 1 (08:52):
Me he, goes, sir and he just pulled his hand
out like, this AND i was just, like.

Speaker 2 (08:59):
Oh my.

Speaker 1 (08:59):
Mom mom was, furious and then she said those words
that no kid ever wants to. Hear wait till your
father hears about. This and SO i get, Home mom
tells him what. Happened ALL i hear is come, here
And i'm, LIKE i walk in. Here and you know
how growing, up whenever we will get in trouble or
we sense, trouble we would kind of like scrap our,

(09:21):
bodies like on the. Wall it's just kind of move
like just like with the. Wall he's, like get in, here.
Man it was one of those one of those whoopings
that that you just hold near and dear for the
rest of your.

Speaker 2 (09:31):
Life AND i just remember that.

Speaker 1 (09:33):
Day i'm, like this, whole this whole incident that happened
will never ever happen. AGAIN i was, like you know,
WHAT i don't EVEN i don't even know WHY i
did it to begin. With, well, YES i do bad.
Influence i'm blaming the public schools on this. One, Yes
i'm blaming the public, schools but, yeah that MOMENT i was,
honestly and honestly kind of gave ME. Pcsd looking back

(09:55):
at it WHILE i was typing that, essay BUT i was,
like you know, What i'm gonna tell truth, SAY i
learned so much from, it AND i haven't been in trouble.
Since i'm gonna WOULD i have not been in trouble.
Since SO i, was, honestly looking back at it, NOW
i was thankful for that experience because it's one of
those things where it's, like IF i didn't get, caught
who knows how many TIMES i would have done, It

(10:16):
because at that, TIME i was like, thirteen, fourteen, FIFTEEN
i was still JUST i was still a. Kid but,
yeah that's a moment that helped shift my character and,
yeah don't shoplift.

Speaker 2 (10:25):
Kids it's not worth. It it is not worth, it.

Speaker 1 (10:26):
Y'all SO i wrote about, it and then fast forward
to senior day of all, days and my best, friend
who ironically, enough is a, seminal my best Friend. Jared
he texts, me he, goes, hey, man and missions are,
out And i'm, like, YEAH i, know they come out later.
Tonight he's, like, no, no, no they're out right. Now but
we had a game that, night So i'm thinking, like,
Okay i'm gonna wait till after the game to find

(10:47):
out IF i got in or. Not but he kept
tempting me and tempting, me, yo like check. It i'm, Like,
Jared i'm, Like i'm not checking this right. Now soon,
ENOUGH i was just, like, okay you know, What i'm
just gonna do. It so pull out my little iPhone
well five seed the, Blueing, yeah shout out the bluing
the iPhone five. Sea i'm, Like, lord if you love,
me if you love, me so open it up saw

(11:09):
orange little screen and, say, hey, clever you're A. GATOR
i sprinted to this. DAY i don't Think i've ever
sprinted that fast in my. LIFE i sprinted to the locker.
ROOM i called my parents AND i was like my,
Mom dad, Like i'm A, gator and whenever something good,
happens my mom is always like what but my. Dad
my dad has this evil laugh that he does anytime

(11:29):
something good happens or something that he expects, happens he
goes like so he just did, That and he was
like all, right all, right my, man and so my,
mom she was kind of an. Educator she was, like
you still got to do your visits To davidson wait for.
Us i'm, Like, mom what all? Thers BUT i don't
care about none of, that because, hey remember y'all only,
CHILD i could be, spoiled you know What i'm.

Speaker 2 (11:48):
Saying grew up in The. Palisas SO i was, Like,
MOM i ain't trying to hear none of.

Speaker 1 (11:51):
That, LIKE i ain't going to Know, DAVIDSON i ain't
going to no wait FOR i ain't gonna be no blue.
Dot we live in The, palisas y'all got. It i'm A, gator,
Y'all LIKE i am A. Gator that was just like
seventeen year old me. Talking but, YEAH i could not believe.
It that was one of the greatest nights of my.
Life and THEN i ended up dropping like fifteen or
twenty that night, Too so it was a really good.

Speaker 2 (12:08):
Night and one of the cool things about it was
two things. Happened so.

Speaker 1 (12:13):
WHEN i walked out the whole student, SECTION i just
did left over right the whole student, section and all
my teammates did the gator trump AS i walked, Out
and if you could see in the, video there's like
a three or. Four so my, girlfriend who was a
cheerleader at the, time and so she brought me balloons
a three and a four because My chersey number was
thirty four and my dad love, him but he's clumsy.

(12:34):
Sometimes so we're in the back warming, up taking Senior
day pictures and things like. That, well she gets the
balloons to my. Dad he lets go of like the
three and it goes up to the sky And i'm, Like,
Dad i'm, like what are you? Doing SO i walked
out there like a goof with only one, number And
i'm just LIKE i looked up my girlfriend at the
time And i'm like. Rush So i'm so, Sorry, Like

(12:55):
i'm so. Sorry we got a whole bunch of stories
With pops on A father'sday episode coming. Soon but, yeah
that was an incredible night and more than, anything, MAN
i want to give a huge shout out to my
Teammate Aaron. Barker so anybody In charlotte Knows Aaron barkers
Or Aaron barker was my teammate At olympic and, sadly

(13:16):
In January january of twenty, seventeen he tragically passed away
just hours after. Practice and so that's SOMETHING i still
hold to this, day near and dear in my. Heart
so to the Whole barker, family you, know tearing my.
BROTHER i love you guys so. Much so just wanted
to give a huge shout out TO ab thirty. Three
we love you to. Death, so LIKE i, said It's.
OLYMPIC i love all my. TEAMMATES i still hit him,

(13:39):
up you, know to this.

Speaker 2 (13:40):
Day oh.

Speaker 1 (13:41):
Man so the rest of that, year the rest of
my senior, YEAR i MEAN i was cooling.

Speaker 2 (13:44):
IT i Mean i'm talking about like feet.

Speaker 1 (13:46):
Up, Also Terry, RIDDS i heart touch by talking feet,
up you know What i'm. Saying i'd be in class
with Shays on with My gator, Gear, like, Yeah i'm A.

Speaker 2 (13:56):
Gator what's? Happening, well you.

Speaker 1 (13:58):
Said you was going you said you was going to
go on a, dude wait for. Us no, no, no, no,
no, no no. No but those are phenomenal schools by the.
Way but but, YEAH i was, like, Shoot i'm A.
Gator SO i tried reaching out To florida coaches who
were on the basketball team BECAUSE i wanted to try
to walk. On i'm, LIKE i got. HANDLES i can
get up. There i'm, bouncy MAYBE i can get a

(14:19):
walk on. Spot and one of those coaches is the
head coach of The Michigan wolverines right, Now Dusty.

Speaker 2 (14:25):
May.

Speaker 1 (14:26):
Yeah so there was a social account back in the
day called The Gator Chump shout out The Gator, chump
so they had a whole lot of motion back in the.
Day and SO i DMed them AND i was, like,
HEY i have some basketball. CLIPS i don't know how
much plug you have With Florida, basketball but if you
could send this to, them that'll be. Great Dusty may
came back and was, Like, yo send me an, email
AND i was like. Okay so that whole SUMMER i was,

(14:47):
TRAINING i was, hooping getting in basketball, shape at LEAST i.
Thought and then by the TIME i enrolled At florida
started my first few, CLASSES i find out that they
gave the spots to the team, managers which of course
is a pretty tradition no thing in, basketball especially if
you're like a senior or grad. Student they get they
give the last couple walk on spots to the, managers
and to their, credit they were.

Speaker 2 (15:08):
Snipers they were actual.

Speaker 1 (15:09):
Snipers SO i was not EVEN i was not even
mad at it going in believe it or, not. Y'ALL
i was low key and emotional wreck because about a
month or so prior me and my girl at the,
time we broke. Up and so one thing about, ME
i do not handle breakups. Well to this, DAY i
don't handle them. Well so it happened while we were
on vacation In, guyana which is my mom's home. Country

(15:29):
sat Out, guyana shout Out georgetown that whole. TRIP i
was just like drained and my dad. Minded my dad
went To, florida so he already knew what it. Was
so he would just sit there laughing and just, laughing
And i'm, Like i'm, Like, dad what is?

Speaker 2 (15:42):
Funny? Like what is?

Speaker 1 (15:43):
Funny and he would just tell me time and time
and time. Again BUT i didn't get the clue, because
LIKE i, WAS i was a. NERD i was a
goofball growing growing, up SO i didn't really get. It
but he was, like, son where are you about to
go to? School i'm, Like. Florida i'm, like what did?
That why does that? Matter he's, like, son where are
you going to?

Speaker 2 (16:00):
School i'm, Like. Florida So i'm gonna say it again And.

Speaker 1 (16:05):
I'm, like, like where are you getting with? This and he's,
like you don't know Where i'm getting? At And i'm like,
no and he's, Like, Okay you'll just figure it. Out
all it took was. Orientation my mom AND I we got,
there you know What i'm. SAYING i had my shaves,
on my coolches on five seconds out the.

Speaker 2 (16:20):
CAR i was, like.

Speaker 1 (16:24):
It was like it was like the Craziest eureka in my.
Life i'm, like, oh is this What dad? MEANT i?
Mean it was just, beautiful beautiful women everywhere AND i was,
like oh my. God so so, yeah from that, point,
MAN i WAS i was in. Heaven so first couple
of years Of, FLORIDA i was just you, know a regular,
student just you, know living a, dream you, know being

(16:45):
part of the ninety thousand in the. Swamp it was
like there was nothing like. It my first my first
game as a, student twenty, seventeen it was a week
After Hurricane irma and we Played we Played.

Speaker 2 (16:56):
Tennessee it was a blue out.

Speaker 1 (16:57):
Game that was When felipe threw that hell Merited tyree
for the game and it was, like this is my first.
Game it can only go up from, here, right so,
yeah that season we were like four and eight or
something like. That so, yeah it was it was an.
Ideal so, yeah that whole, YEAR i, mean freshman fifteen
got to.

Speaker 2 (17:15):
Me, honestly it might have been freshman.

Speaker 1 (17:17):
THIRTY i MEAN i was eating like, crazy and so
freshman YEAR i just did intermeal basketball and called it.
TODAY i was never in a frat or anything like.
That that wasn't my. STYLE i would just go to you,
know house. Parties shout OUT, dcm you, know shout out
the parties At midtown and. Downtown some of y'all are too,
young and some of y'all might not believe this before
all My gator, fans Especially gator. Alum, yeah, man back

(17:38):
in the. Day it's gonna sound crazy coming from me,
now but, yeah after, Games simons used to be the,
place if you can believe. That, Yeah simons, NOWADAYS i
don't know what is it Like White BUFFALO CANTEENA i
don't know, now but, Yeah simons was the, spot if
you can believe. That, so so my freshman, YEAR i
was just a. Student and then my sophomore, year me
and my buddies decided to give, uh you, know in

(17:59):
a real flag football, Try and at that, POINT i
ain't never played football at. ALL i was, like, YEAH
i played At recess growing, up but that was about.
It so we played The innermural flag football and we
were torching future engineers and doctors on a weekly week.

Speaker 2 (18:14):
Basis.

Speaker 1 (18:14):
Yeah our games were Like tuesday at like ten. O'clock
why they were so, LATE i have no. Idea but
one day something happened that day BECAUSE i went off this.
GAME i had like five. TOUCHDOWNS i MEAN i was going. Crazy,
granted everybody was like five ten five of, that like
and HERE i am six, five six, six just like torching,
everybody just just. Everything and so after the, GAME i

(18:37):
noticed A florida player was, there and you could tell
because he had all The florida pe.

Speaker 2 (18:41):
Gear SO i was, like, huh that's pretty. Cool The gators.

Speaker 1 (18:45):
Here and so just like a, movie he pulled up
to me and he was, like hey, man you ever
thought about playing? Football SO i was, like, NAH i
never thought about playing, Football like, ever you're kidding. Me
BECAUSE i wasn't going to tell this. Story i'm gonna
tell it now because my homeboys would be disappointed IF

(19:07):
i didn't tell this. STORY i did try football one
time one time as a, kid AND i never did it.
Again SO i was like ten and there was like
this tackling dummy AND i had to go full charge
AND i had to tackle it in a. Nutshell it tackled.
ME i was the one that got ran. OVER i
ran into it AND i got ran. Back that's WHEN

(19:29):
i knew football was not for me at the. Time so,
yeah there was. That so backtrack to When Robert, clay
who was the player who asked me IF i ever
thought about playing. FOOTBALL i was, like, NO i will
never play. Football so he was talking about the whole
walk on process AND i was, like, YEAH i kind
of dealt with this whole walk on disappointment thing already with.
Basketball but the thing that stood out to me was

(19:52):
when he told me how much muscle he put.

Speaker 2 (19:53):
On when he said, MUSCLE i.

Speaker 1 (19:54):
Was, like, okay Now i'm Now i'm. Listening he told
me how much muscle he put, on AND i was,
Like i'll think about. It to be honest with, YOU
i wasn't really gonna think about. It but that week
led up To florida PLAYING. Lsu that was twenty, eighteen
the year Before Joe burrow Was Joe. Burrow that was
the same Day Tim tebell got putting The ring Of.

(20:15):
Honor it was the first blue out game of the. Season,
like the atmosphere was. Rocking we ended up winning that,
game AND i start just doing looks around the, stadium
And i'm just kind of, like you know, what you
only live college one? Time why?

Speaker 2 (20:30):
Not?

Speaker 1 (20:30):
Right why? Not So i'm gonna give it a shot
because if it, works it'll be a hell of a.
Story if, not at LEAST i can say THAT i.
Tried so from that point, ON i was, Like, okay
now THAT i know That i'm gonna do, IT i
gotta come up with a. Plan so FORTUNATELY i was
friends with some of the players on the, team SO
i would ask. Him i'm, like, yo like you, like
how CAN i get in contact with some personnel? Guys
how CAN i get in contact with some? Coaches so

(20:52):
they all put me in the right. Direction and that's
WHY i, say, y'all connections are. Everything connections are. Important
handshakes are. Important we'll talk about that a lot on this.
Show and that's what led to me getting a spot
on the. Team Because Burnell, brown who's funny, enough his
SON vb three shout OUT eb three for just getting
the number one At, florida which is a big deal.

Speaker 2 (21:09):
THERE.

Speaker 1 (21:10):
Vb he was one of the student athlete development guys
FOR Fulla Florida.

Speaker 2 (21:14):
FOOTBALL i texted.

Speaker 1 (21:15):
HIM i was, Like, hey my name Is, clifford and
you Know i'm thinking about walking on the first thing
he said to, me he was, like, great do you
have any? Film another one of those, dilemmas, Y'all another
one of those. Dilemmas i'm, Like, okay DO i lie
and say, YEAH i got some, FILM i just ain't
had the cameras on shout out flight reacts or DO

(21:35):
i show him some basketball clips and just kind of
hope for the. Best we're gonna go with OPTION. B
so showed him some clips and he was, like, oh,
yeah you're. Athletic he's, like we could like definitely use
you for a. Tryout So i'm, like, okay. Great so
from that point on the next three or four months
found local trainers In. Gainesville was going absolutely crazy from
them three to four, MONTHS i, mean putting on, muscles

(21:57):
drinking protein, shakes, man. Y'all that was the first TIME
i was drinking protein shakes in my. Life so just
seeing the instant, PROGRESS i was, like, okay we got something.
Here so fast forward In, february we have a meeting
and the personnel guys shout Out John. Clark at the,
time he told us straight, up he was, like don't
come in here and thinking you're gonna be a. STAR
i knew that he didn't have to tell me, that

(22:18):
but some of the other people that were in that
meeting it broke their. Heart so get my physical. Ekg
the same thing we did in high. School, this, that
and the.

Speaker 2 (22:26):
THIRD i go to the.

Speaker 1 (22:27):
Tryout it's only four of, us So i'm, like is
a tryout?

Speaker 2 (22:33):
Today is it like a Private like what's going?

Speaker 1 (22:35):
On so this worked in my favor BECAUSE i was
doing a whole bunch of training with, footballs jug, machines
working on my catching and endurance things like. That, well
it was during a time called the dead, period which
meant you can't train with the, football you can't do
any of, that so it was just straight agility and.
Conditioning well that's all you're doing basketball a whole bunch
of running back and. Forth So i'm, like, okay this is,

(22:58):
good this is. Great and they even told us a
trial was gonna be like what thirty forty five? Minutes
SO i was, like, yo AM i about to callton
my way to this floor to the football team right,
Now like is this really about to? Happen so trial.
HAPPENS i ain't. GONNA i was going with so extra
in that. TRY i was, like, oh just like just
like doing a whole bunch of. Rolls meanwhile the other
guys they were just gas AND i was just.

Speaker 2 (23:18):
Like this is.

Speaker 1 (23:20):
Easy so the trial. HAPPENS i go to my. Car
john he, goes, hey, Man he's, like, uh we would
love to have you on the, team but your schedule kills.
You And i'm, like why does there always have to
be a butt with every good? Situation he's, like but
your schedule kills. You So i'm, like what does that?
Mean he, goes, well that means you're gonna have to
wait until the summer to join the. Team And i'm,
like y'all ain't gonna remember my walk on self during the.

(23:43):
Summer y'all gonna forget. Me they didn't forget. Me so
fast forward To. June got a call and there was,
like are you ready to? GO i was just about
to close my eyes to take a, Nap i'll never forget.

Speaker 2 (23:53):
It he's, like, hey you're ready to.

Speaker 1 (23:55):
Go i'm like, yeah like, yeah of, Course and SO
i go to the facility do all the. Tests next
THING i, know boom on the team straight like.

Speaker 2 (24:03):
That So i'm on the.

Speaker 1 (24:25):
Team one of the FIRST stab members THAT i Meet Nick,
savage one of the greatest strength and conditioning coaches out.
THERE i think he's an old miss now shout Out Coach.
Savage he's, like, hey big, god you ready to. TRAIN
i was, like, yes, sir like, yes sir LIKE i
was just like so. Excited SO i get in there
and min you some of the GUYS i already. Knew
so they were, like clar what you doing in? Here
And i'm, like, oh, yeah, RIGHT i ain't tell y'all

(24:47):
Like i'm on the squad. Now he's, like all, right right.
On so it was Like Trey, Grohns Freddie, Sway Kyle,
Pitts Lucas crow already knew. THEM i was just thrown
in the, fire you, know right. Away SO i was, like,
oh this is this is. Surreal So i'm not gonna
lie looking back at it. NOW i was very very
Like twitter finger friendly because WHEN i first got on the. Team,
MAN i was posting like every day like this is.

Speaker 2 (25:07):
A dream and this is a dream.

Speaker 1 (25:08):
Coach, true there is a clip out. THERE i don't
know if it's still out. There there was a clip
of me using The jim.

Speaker 2 (25:14):
MACHINE i think the.

Speaker 1 (25:15):
CASH i think the cashing was like first one, in
last one, out mind. You it was like skills and,
drill so what even like football practice at the. Time
i'll never forget our our assistant tight end, coach Coach Julian,
alonzo shout, Out, julian love you to.

Speaker 2 (25:30):
Death.

Speaker 1 (25:31):
Man he was, like, Man he's, like, ea just chill
out with the post AND i was, like, okay my,
bad my. Bad and then we had we had a
guy at the, Time Lucas, crow who we all called
on the Team Thor and it was crazy because LIKE
i was cool with him BEFORE i was on the,
team but, man as soon AS i doing the, squad
it was like it was like a, flip just like
switch because he was like he's, like, hey, man you

(25:53):
gotta come in, here lock. In AND i stopped posting
them like bs on sol AND i was like part
of me was, like wait a, Minute i'm just as
big as this, Guy who's? Who this guy feeling? Like
BUT i was like, whatever LIKE i just got. Here so,
yeah that was that was a that was a Crazy lucas.
Story shout Out. Lucas he plays for The. Broncos now
there's there's no, beef, y'all like, relaxed there's no. BEEF

(26:15):
i Love, lucas but uh, YEAH i needed. THAT i
needed that because like WHEN i first got, THERE i
WAS i thought it was. SWEET i thought it was
peaches and. Rainbows so obviously most people know forty five
was my jersey number At florida and so E. Q
i think like a week or so, prior they were, like,
yo you got to text Coach mullen about a jersey.
Number and, Actually i'm gonna pull that text up right

(26:35):
now BECAUSE i KNOW i still have.

Speaker 2 (26:36):
It oh where is? It here we, Go here we,
go found, It here we.

Speaker 1 (26:41):
Go july, eighth twenty, nineteen at one, TWENTY i, said,
Hey Coach Mullet's clivertaylor the fourth like he knew me.

Speaker 2 (26:47):
Already he ain't know? Me parentheses walked on tight.

Speaker 1 (26:50):
END i just got told by the equipment guys THAT
i had to go grab a jersey number from you
and Or John clark is fourteen walk? On now it's
fourteen or thirty four available by. CHANCE i only want
at thirty four because that was my high school, number
but fourteen as a walk, On, LIKE i was just
lucky to be.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
There so why text coach smiling, THIS i have no.
IDEA i was, bold.

Speaker 1 (27:16):
Y'all IF i wanted something bad, ENOUGH i was gonna
reach out do WHATEVER i had to. Do it Is
april of twenty twenty, six And i'm still waitting on
a responsible so, yeah he he let me all read
respectfully so and deservedly.

Speaker 2 (27:30):
SO a bout a week, LATER i finally picked.

Speaker 1 (27:33):
One they let me pick forty, five and our janitor
at the, time AND i think he's still there, now
but he was, like you gotta go with full five
because the options they gave me it was like forty,
one forty, two like forty five and forty, seven like
it's just some other. Numbers he's, like you gotta go
with full five And i'll never forget. IT i was, like,
yo it was like white, White why he's saying forty?

(27:54):
Five he, goes that's your, birthday isn't. It.

Speaker 2 (27:58):
YO i didn't.

Speaker 1 (27:58):
EVEN i didn't even even put that. TOGETHER i was, like,
okay forty five at. It, yeah forty five it sounds.
Good four five yeah it sounds. Good, okay we'll stick
with forty. Five so that's HOW i got my. Numbers
so we go to media. Day it was my first media.
DAY i had a whole lot of fun. THERE eq
gave me the biggest pads they could find. Mine, Y'ALL

(28:19):
i looked like a generic TWO k, player but As
i'm maden, PLAYERS i, mean there was like no, gear no.
SLEEP i, mean my socks were literally up like basketball elite.
Socks Like i'll show y'all a picture like it's and
they had me pointing like this they were talking about.
SON i was, LIKE i cannot believe y'all made me
poss like, that looking back at it. Now BUT i
went to a lot of those media STATIONS i was

(28:39):
not supposed to go. TO i know that now because
on Media, day especially for like THE sec, teams they
have designated spots for like the walk on the, starters
the reserve, place and the.

Speaker 2 (28:49):
STARS i, said, No i'm going.

Speaker 1 (28:51):
With the white, backdrop the black, backdrop And i'm gonna
get my videos And i'm gonna get my clips talk about.

Speaker 2 (28:55):
Song, YEAH i was doing it. ALL i did it, all.

Speaker 1 (28:59):
So i'm not gonna lie y'all as soon AS i
got them picks min.

Speaker 2 (29:03):
Y'all this Is probabs me talking right. Now.

Speaker 1 (29:06):
YEAH i could not put my media photos on tender fast.
Enough yeah, yeah, yeah, YEAH i Was, yeah BECAUSE i
think before it was just like me and just regular
pictures like. Something so, well, yeah man WHEN i put,
MAN i think at one point every photo was from
me to day at one, point If i'm not. Mistaken so,

(29:27):
YEAH i couldn't put it on there fast. Enough, Man
i'm saying without saying a. Lot it was LIKE i
caught every infinity stone and in the snap of a
finger just just, yeah.

Speaker 2 (29:40):
Real, estate real. Estate so, yeah that was. Fun that was.
GREAT i saw the shift. Immediately mind.

Speaker 1 (29:48):
YOU i, KNOW i Know i'm not the best looking
guy out, there but like there were some women THAT
i was hanging WITH i had no business hanging, with
like like, None AND i know that the only way
it gets better than this is If i'm a starter
and IF i have a first team All american brick
outside the. STADIUM i did none of those, Things So,
yeah that Was that was cool going into. Camp WHEN

(30:09):
i tell, y'all that was. Humbling that was that was
very humbling because that first, day mind, YOU i haven't
learned to play. Yet that first day of, camp we
had like an install, quiz and you, KNOW i knew
someone like the 's in ounce of, Football LIKE i
knew it was eleven on. ELEVEN i knew, THAT i
knew some of the person the el was, LIKE i knew,
That but when it came to like the formations and the,

(30:30):
names AND i was, like, yo these look like PlayStation cheat.
Codes like what AM i looking? At So i'm answering
these questions to the best of my ability because that's
What mom taught. Me So i'm, like, okay skinny skinny?
Drag what what a po? OH i know what a post? Is,
OKAY i know what a post. Is, okay a?

Speaker 2 (30:49):
DIG i know what the dig?

Speaker 1 (30:50):
Is?

Speaker 2 (30:50):
Okay what the hell is eighty two?

Speaker 1 (30:53):
Feet what what is? Fourteen? Crunchback Like i'm just looking
at this And i'm like. Okay, so LIKE i, said
answer this to the best of my. Abilities you want
to know WHAT i got on that first, QUIZ i
got a thirty seven not out of, fifty not out
of fifty out of one. Hundred, yeah that was.

Speaker 2 (31:11):
Embarrassing that was, very very.

Speaker 1 (31:14):
EMBARRASSING i told myself from that, day this will never happen,
again AND i gotta figure out how to study and
understand this. Play but BECAUSE i KNEW i wasn't gonna
PLAY i, LOOK i knew, that BUT i didn't want
to be the reason that the tight end room looked, stupid,
LIKE i did not want to do. That so from
that day on again Shotout Coach. Junian he showed me.

(31:35):
Everything SO i was, like, okay oh that's eighty two,
phoenix that's crunched.

Speaker 2 (31:40):
Back why didn't you say that in the.

Speaker 1 (31:42):
Beginning SO i figured it out after a, while and
then it became second edtric BECAUSE i will say this
football is a lot more fun when you know what's going.
On but, yeah that first practice was. Hell to, Y'ALL
i it ain't gonna. Lie we had seven or seven.
DRILLS i, had like the first the first THROW i
had as A, gator it was like an easy ten yard.
Comeback it's an easy. Comeback it was, raining but it
was an easy comeback drop first, Day, jita, y'all it

(32:06):
was just first day. Jitis so, yeah that first day
was real. Humbling that whole camp was just like just
a learning curve Because i'm, like, okay football is a
different beast AND i, still AND i still to this,
day don't know how did we even end up. Here
i'm thankful for, it but it's, like how do we
end up? Here so going into that, season there was
a lot of excitement around us twenty, nineteen as y'all,

(32:29):
remember it was a magical. Year we had college game
day there for, homecoming WHICH i will say this homecoming
was the best weekend of my life In.

Speaker 2 (32:37):
Florida it was so much fun.

Speaker 1 (32:38):
And just as the season went on AND i got
to dress out and run out of the, tunnel it
was just. Magical the coolest thing about it my first
game as A gator was In. Orlando at that, point
it was like twenty minutes from my parents. Case i'm,
like this is kind of like a homecoming. ALREADY i
wasn't dressing out or, anything but there's pictures of me
smack dab in the, front LIKE i couldn't wait to
run out that. TUNNEL i, MEAN i was so. EXCITED

(33:01):
i jumped in the, air did like a whole.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
Thing it.

Speaker 1 (33:03):
Was it was so just so so. Magical we Played,
miami we beat. Them how's it? Feel but we beat?
Them and that next week was my first game running
out of the out of the. SWAMP i dressed out that,
game And i'm telling, Y'all i'm so glad there aren't
pictures out. There but WHEN i ran out that, TUNNEL
i mean just tears were just like just rolling AS

(33:23):
i ran out that. TONNAL i, mean it was just
like like.

Speaker 2 (33:27):
We were just in the.

Speaker 1 (33:28):
Stands we were just part of the ninety thousand a year,
ago and now we're running out of the. Tunnel like
it don't get no better than. That so that was
that was, really really really. Special and LIKE i, Said
homecoming college game day was. There we ended up Beating.
Auburn that whole season was, good but then we ran
into twenty NINETEEN. Lsu you, Know Jamar chay's Justin, Jefferson Joe,

(33:48):
burrow they were. Cheating but, yeah twenty, NINETEEN i think
we ended up eleven and, two and my personal favorite
part of that. Season so you'll learn as this show
goes on how MUCH i hate for the. State and
it's not because of my best. FRIEND i just genuinely
have a, natural just unhealthy, hatred AND i KNOW i
have an unhealthy hatred For Florida. State but, yeah we

(34:09):
ended up beating them at The swamp for the first
time Since tebow was. There we're talking like ten years.
Ago so just being a part of that was like,
okay like. Great so then of course we go to
The Orange. Bowl and at The Orange bowl is one
of my most memorable pictures as A gator. Ever it's
a picture of me running out of the tunnel with
all the smoke in my teammates and it's me pretty

(34:29):
much posing like, this like are you not entertained or
something like. THAT i have that framed everywhere in my,
home in my, house my parents', house like it's a
photo that will live in The taylor household.

Speaker 2 (34:41):
Forever one of my favorite pictures. Ever and then.

Speaker 1 (34:46):
Around that, TIME i did a little thing called make
my First. TikTok all, Right november, eighteenth twenty, NINETEEN i
opened a little app that we like to call tick.
Top even before, that days before, that the specialists on the,
team they would show us videos on TikTok and believe
it or, NOT i wasn't even the biggest fan of

(35:08):
it at, first Because i'm, like.

Speaker 2 (35:10):
This is just like a dancing.

Speaker 1 (35:11):
App but THEN i started seeing sports videos and basketball
skits and football skis And i'm, like, oh this is pretty.
Cool SO i was, like you know, What i'm still young.
ENOUGH i might as well jump on the wave. Now why? Not?
Right so make a TikTok account And i'm, like, EH
i got nothing going on to. Night let me just
just make a video about being a walk.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
On just something.

Speaker 1 (35:29):
Silly SO i make a video about the stereotypes of
being a walk. On did the whole like counterclockwise, thing
pretty much breaking down every walk on. Stereotype And i'm thinking, like,
okay like just a silly. VIDEO i could SAY i
was on The wave for a.

Speaker 2 (35:42):
Video. Cool leave it at.

Speaker 1 (35:43):
That, well that next, morning you would have THOUGHT i
left my phone in the hot floor the, sun BECAUSE
i pick it up and for like five minutes just notification,
notification And i'm, like did my phone get hacked or
something like.

Speaker 2 (35:56):
That i'm just like, like what happened?

Speaker 1 (35:58):
Here AND i open it. Up four hundred thousand, Views
SO i was LIKE i didn't even know what that.
MEANT i was, LIKE i guess this is pretty. COOL i,
guess but but, yeah four hundred thousand views straight like,
that and funny, enough soon AS i got back to
the locker, room everybody on the team was like mimicking the,
gesture LIKE i never get.

Speaker 2 (36:18):
Freddy'swae he was.

Speaker 1 (36:19):
Like it's a, clip, man what's that thing you? Did
And i'm, like what are you talking? About and he
was like the whole, thing And i'm, like red you saw.
That he was like, Yeah i've seen, that AND i
was like hmm. Okay SO i let that video sit
for like almost a, month and then the next VIDEO
i did it was like the stereotypes of being A

(36:40):
d one player During bowl prep when everyone's gone for
win to break that blew. Up THEN i did a
video at The Orange bowl that blew. Up and then
my fourth video it was on like Overtime house Of HIGHLIGHTS,
espn AND i was, LIKE i don't want to jinx,
it but we might we might have something here off.
SEASON i was, just you, Know January, FEBRUARY i was
just making videos for. Fun it cast some, traction BUT

(37:00):
i was, like, yeah this would just be like a little,
hobby nothing more than. THAT i wanted to be a
grapid designer growing.

Speaker 2 (37:05):
Up that was my.

Speaker 1 (37:06):
Major so my dream was to do creative media for
a big brand LIKE I heart The, Gators, panthers you name.

Speaker 2 (37:13):
It so that was my.

Speaker 1 (37:14):
Dream kept making videos for fun while maintaining my, major
and then off season off. Season of, course off season
training was. CRAZY i saw my body transforming WAYS i
never thought it. WOULD i, mean we put a picture right.
HERE i MEAN i never THOUGHT i would see my
body looking like. THAT i MEAN i was Like, chisel
WHAT i was, Like i'm looking like my dad when

(37:35):
he was in school right.

Speaker 2 (37:35):
Now so it was.

Speaker 1 (37:36):
Great fast forward To march and that's WHEN covid. Happened and,
so believe it or, not, Y'ALL i might be. HUH
i might be the Only gator in history to walk
on and never experience spring. FOOTBALL i never had a spring,
game never had spring, practice never had any of. That

(37:57):
now THAT i think about, it it's, YEAH i never
got to experience, it which is. Crazy but, YEAH, covid
ALL i had was, time SO i would spend time
at home and my best friend's house In tallahassee BECAUSE
i was not going Home mom and.

Speaker 2 (38:10):
DAD i love.

Speaker 1 (38:11):
Y'all BUT i had one summer with y'all after, college
after my freshman.

Speaker 2 (38:14):
YEAR i wasn't doing that. Again not a.

Speaker 1 (38:17):
Chance i'd have a better chance fight an alligator than
doing that again. Again still love, Y'all just play. Y'all but,
yeah SO covid. Was it was just a wild time
AND i was just making. Videos next THING i, KNOW
i met one hundred thousand, followers then two hundred thousand.
Followers by the, time you, know all season workouts began

(38:39):
back in like Junior july in twenty, TWENTY i was
at like maybe three hundred, thousand SO i was, Like,
okay this is this is something. Else that season for me,
personally was so much. FUN i was said that my
tight end coach the year, Before Larry scott left for
a head coaching job At, however But i'm, like he's
gonna be a head, Coach like, ABSOLUTELY i would take that.
Too AND i don't mean a, brat BUT i THINK

(38:59):
i had two of the best tight end coaches in the.
GAME i Had Larry, scott who's a tight end coach
At auburn now you, Know, ego And Tim, brewster who
Coached Antonio.

Speaker 2 (39:10):
GATES i, mean it don't get much better than.

Speaker 1 (39:12):
That so one THING i loved about both of them
was That Coach scott in a lot of, ways he
was kind of like my. Dad so like back in the,
day WHENEVER i would do like, homework my dad will
always make me explain WHY i got certain things right
or WHY i got certain. Answers Coach scott was the same.
Way he's, Like, okay why are we running this? Depth
why are the? Receiver like we had to learn our

(39:33):
assignments and the receiver's, Assignment so it was almost like
we were a. Quarterback and so looking back at it,
NOW i really really do appreciate. That so shout Out Coach.
Scott and then When Coach brewster came, in it was, Like,
okay he knows that we all know our. Stuff as
long as we do our, job we're. Golden plus we
had the best tight end in the. Country wasn't even
that good for No like he was Elite Coyle. PITS i,
mean he was Unanimous Mackie award. Winner All americans got

(39:55):
a break outside the swamp Like kyle made practice so
so much easier for all of. Us that's the only
falcon on the planet THAT i would root for him And.
Philippe No Felipe francis signed with My. Panthers shout Out,
felipe but yeah non not shout Out. Kyle he's doing
this thing out there was just An All pro this.
Year but, yeah that senior year practice was a lot more.

(40:17):
Fun walked out with a lot more. Swag walk out
to practice with like a, sleeve a cut down, shirt
you know What i'm, saying the hot. Sauce like the
year BEFORE i HAD i had no, DRIP i had
no swag BECAUSE i wasn't worried about. That but senior,
Year i'm, Like, Okay i'm having. Fun let me just
have some fun with the. Gear SO i would be
dripped out ever practiced because it was, Like, okay now
That i'm, stronger more, physical LIKE i understand the, game

(40:38):
like this is this is second nature to me. Now
so twenty twenty was just a wild just, wild, wild wild.
Time and our offense that, year and my, eyes is
the best offense to ever Grace florida football besides nineteen
ninety SIX o six And. No, eight of, course but,
yeah that offense was ran Through Kyle, Trash Kyle. Pitts
we Had, Kadarius Tony Trey, grimes and we had just

(40:59):
a shorter came From Penn.

Speaker 2 (41:00):
State you.

Speaker 1 (41:01):
Know we Had Camorrow, gamble another tight end Zip. Old
we Had we had some, guys, man can't forget my.
Guys you, Know Dennis, Gross Trey syle who was my big.
Bro we had some, guys, Man we had some. Guys
in twenty twenty was was, great and you know it's.
Great at the TIME i had, finally you know What i'm.
Saying FINALLY i had a little girlfriend at the. Time
so twenty twenty was senior year was. Great senior year

(41:22):
was dope and plus at that time because See. FLORIDA
i ain't gonna hold Y'all florida when it came TO
covid and they were a little like man. Whatever so
while classes were, remote the parties were not So the,
clubs the bars and all that were. Open and that
was the one THING i learned. Too it was, like,
okay getting in with the, players that's cool and. All

(41:44):
but once people started noticing me for my, VIDEOS i
didn't need my team to get into the clubs. ANYMORE
i could just go in there by. MYSELF i kind
of preferred that at the time, anyway Because i'm, Like,
OKAY i ain't gotta, wait no fat line or anything like.
That So i'm, like, okay TikTok motion and. Football this
is double trouble right. Here so, yeah twenty, two and
we finally Beat georgia that year because, MAN i JUST

(42:06):
i could not imagine going on and four Against. GEORGIA
i Just and the crazy thing, is NOW i think about,
it we ain't beat them. Since So i'm GLAD i
was part of.

Speaker 2 (42:16):
That i'm GLAD i was part of.

Speaker 1 (42:17):
That AND i know a lot Of gator fans are
wondering about the shoot throw WHAT i think about, it
because that was Senior day and, honestly, REALISTICALLY i Wish
gator fans got over. IT i know y'all don't like hearing,
that BUT i kind of wish y'all got over it
BECAUSE i Love. MARCO i Love marco to this, day

(42:39):
will never have anything bad to say about. Him wasn't
a mistake at the, time, sure but it's, like at
the end of the, day, man were, kids Man, like
we just we're just kids playing, football and SO i
never really held that against. Them so, yeah that's those
were my only two cents about, that but not gonna.
Lie my last game is A Gator. Boy we got
smacked like fifty piece By. Oklahoma it was like fifty
something like, fourteen you, know something like. That was not

(43:01):
a game to. Remember but during that, time it was
still making videos and all. That and then once once
college was, OVER i thought my content career was over.
TOO i was, like it's been a good. Run ed
at about three hundred and fifty thousand signing, out it
was a good, Run sayonara gigs until agency started reaching

(43:22):
out to.

Speaker 2 (43:22):
Me i'll never forget.

Speaker 1 (43:43):
This the first time an agent reached out to, ME i, said,
LOOK i don't, know it's nice to meet, you But
i'm not going to the. Draft and he, goes oh, no, no, no, no, no,
NO i, KNOW i want to represent you as a.
CREATOR i was, like look like you mean it like an.
Influencer he was like, yes And i'm, like influencers have.

(44:03):
REPRESENTATION i was, like, Really i'm like people make money
like that for.

Speaker 2 (44:07):
Real he was like.

Speaker 1 (44:08):
Yes and so the first few guys THAT i met
with they were, great but then it was that third
the Guy i'm currently signed with, Now Michael raymond framing.
Representation one thing that stood out to. Me he SAID
i was going to be the FIRST i was going
to be the first. Creator instead of just being another
fish in the, OCEAN i was going to be number.

(44:29):
One and that stood out to. ME i was, like,
OKAY i like how you. Talking so from that point,
on in Like march Or april of twenty twenty, ONE
i signed With raymond and then from there it was
on and. Popping and that's WHAT i think really propelled
my sports media career because at that, time The, gators
they were gracious enough to allow me to take over

(44:50):
the social media page FOR i think it was like
a week or something like, that and it did numbers
AND i was so. EXCITED i was, like, okay LIKE
i can, REALLY i can really do. That and so
SOME nba people had. Noticed and THEN i went on
x Or twitter at the time AND i saw this
lady post something about an opening with D La. Rams

(45:10):
it was like a social media. Job it was a
social media coordator. Job SO i was, LIKE i Know
i'm not, qualified But i'll just throw the throw the
eye emoji on there just for you, know just for
a good. Laugh and one of my reps at The
gators And wilson AND i had an, internship a little
internship With wilson. Too they were, like you want us

(45:30):
to put in the good. WORD i was, like, absolutely
are you are you kidding? ME i KNEW i wasn't
gonna get the job, still BUT i was, like any connection,
Helps and AGAIN i say the second time on the,
show connections and handshakes.

Speaker 2 (45:44):
Crucial so sent.

Speaker 1 (45:46):
Them my, resume sent them my cover, letter and it's
crazy saying, now But i'll never. Forget in the interview,
process they was, like, man we narrowed the list down
from like four hundred to like fourteen or something like.

Speaker 2 (45:58):
That mind.

Speaker 1 (45:59):
Y'all, AGAIN i was a graphic design, major did not
major in sports, management did not major in. COMMUNICATION i
was a graphic, Designer so HOW i was a part
of that Fourteen Besides connections is like beyond. Me interviews, go,
well don't get the coordinator, role but they open up

(46:19):
a new job called social media and. Design SO i was, like,
oh that sounds even better BECAUSE i get to do
social media AND i get to use my major while
working for AN nfl. Team right out of the. Gate
that sounds like a winner to. Me so funny. Enough my,
teammate My florida teammate who just got drapted to The
rams and you're, prior he was the one that spoiled.

(46:40):
It he was, like hey, man congrats AND i was,
like congrass on. What and then about five minutes, later
my boss at the, time she called. Me she was,
like we want to offer you the. Role i'm sitting
there And i'm just, like we going TO.

Speaker 2 (46:54):
La is this what's happening? Here, Yeah we're moving TO.

Speaker 1 (46:58):
La so after, graduation got thrown in the, fire moved
out there right, away started working AT rams training, camp
and it was.

Speaker 2 (47:05):
It was on and.

Speaker 1 (47:06):
Popping so, yeah that whole season was just like it's
so surreal because my mom jokingly jokingly said BEFORE i,
moved she was, like watch The rams win The Super,
bowl AND i was, like they have the team to do,
it but it's like they still got to go through the,
packers they still got to go through the, bucks the
cheese on the other. Side LIKE i like the, vision
but it's like it's not likely that.

Speaker 2 (47:29):
Happened.

Speaker 1 (47:29):
Y'all the YEAR i was, there they won the Flipping
Super bowl and it's like my mom called. This that
whole season and this is my biggest flex and we
can say this, now so my biggest flex on that.
Season so for about a good ten weeks of that,
SEASON Ram social was ran by a twenty one year,

(47:49):
old a twenty two year, old and a twenty three year. Old,
yeah it was three of. Us shout Out pee and
shout OUT. C i'm not gonna you know What i'm.
Saying i'm not gonna say your full, nance but shout
shout OUT, c shout Out, jay and shout OUT.

Speaker 2 (48:02):
K two Shout.

Speaker 1 (48:03):
Okay but, yeah now that was JUST i, mean it
was just a whole new ball. Game but it was, Like,
Yo i'm working in THE nfl right, now well At
Los ANGELES rams in this beautiful new stadium that they
just opened up to the crowd for the first.

Speaker 2 (48:19):
Time it's, Like, yo this is too good to be.

Speaker 1 (48:22):
True so that whole season was just, highs a lot of,
highs a couple. Lows they went on like a three
game losing, STREAK i think at one, point but then
we mess around and signed Von, miller we mess around
and SIGNED obj And i'm, like.

Speaker 2 (48:36):
Okay we really got a.

Speaker 1 (48:37):
Shot and funny, enough one of my goals so one
of my things was to run The rams TikTok. PAGE
i had a goal that season get them to a million.
FOLLOWERS i think at the time they were at like
four fifty four seventy something like. That we hit a
million On Super Bowl. Sunday On Super Bowl, Sunday i'll
never forget, it And i'm, like we gotta, win right,

(49:01):
like we gotta. Win sure, enough we, won And i'll
never forget it that fourth and one Because i'm not gonna.
LIE i Love Jayalen ramsey and he's a. SEMIN i
can talk about. This he was getting cooked By jamorarrow
that whole. Game so it's fourth to. One, Man it's, like,
Man jayleen was pressing And i'm, Like i'm watching him

(49:22):
the whole, time And i'm, like, wait Jam jamar passed.
Him and then i just See jamar just take his helmet,
off And i'm, like what? Happened THEN i saw the
Replay Aaron? Donald who? Else Aaron? Donald i'll never forget
P she was sitting right next to me AND i stood.
Up So you're not supposed to really stand up when
moments like that, happened BUT i couldn't help. MYSELF i

(49:44):
was like we just won The Super, bowl And i'm, Like,
babe we, Won like we.

Speaker 2 (49:48):
Won she's, like, no we did, It, no we did.
It i'm, like we.

Speaker 1 (49:51):
Won, sorry P i had to tell that, story which was,
crazy and, afterwards just being down there being in THAT
i just remember kind of just sitting there crying because
LIKE i just knew that it was like that it was.
OVER i knew it was. Over so and it's one
of those moments in my. Career and we'll talk a

(50:11):
lot about mental health on here as. Well, man there
was like one point where it was like there was a.
Low there was a. LOW i was just like certain
things were. Happening some of, them of course were my fault.
Too LIKE i, said it ain't none of us, Perfect
but at that, POINT i was, LIKE i just knew
it was. Over and walking out of THAT rams building

(50:32):
for the last, time it's one of those things where
it's like it honestly felt LIKE i was driving to
my funeral in a, sense because it was like one
of those questions THAT i never had to ask. Myself
it was like now what now? What so we have
a little going away bowling, party and by the grace Of,
GOD i get an email from some.

Speaker 2 (50:53):
People at THE.

Speaker 1 (50:53):
Nba they're, like, hey we saw you just left THE.
Rams do you want to come work for? Us come, on,
like are you kidding me to go from THE nfl
to THE nba in the span of like what two?
Months come, On, like you can't script it better than.
That so of COURSE i take that. JOB i Leave,

(51:15):
la moved To. Florida back To florida for it was
like not even like two, weeks and then packed my
stuff and we was up In jersey and we was
working for THE. Nba AND i got to see A
Super bowl that, year and months later working for THE,
NBA i got to see my favorite player win his fourth,
Championship Steph, Curry charlotte, native hometown. Hero SO i saw

(51:36):
the Super bowl and The finals in one, year which
looking back at.

Speaker 2 (51:40):
It now still it's just, like how is this?

Speaker 1 (51:43):
Happening and the best part about THE nba job because
with The, rams all my focus went to THE rams
content on tip. Top my personal brand at that point
it was just pushed to the. Side it had to
be one THING i loved about THE. Nba they encouraged
me from the jump just to be, myself just to be.
Myself so as long AS I i did my, job they
would let me do my thing on the personal.

Speaker 2 (52:03):
Side and that's WHAT i.

Speaker 1 (52:04):
Did SO i kept posting on TikTok and that's WHEN
i was bold enough to start posting On instagram and
it just like just took off from. There, man WHEN
i got my blue check On, instagram went straight to Ag.
Live that's another floor for another, day BECAUSE i was so.
Excited but, YEAH i was working for THE, nba doing,
tittalk Doing, snapchat doing my own, brand and then Around
december twenty twenty, two had an opportunity to do some,

(52:26):
stuff some content on my own and it was one
of those things WHERE i didn't want.

Speaker 2 (52:30):
To leave THE nba. Job LIKE i to, THIS i
loved that.

Speaker 1 (52:34):
JOB i still love those people to death and in
a lot of, ways And i've said this on shows,
before but like THE, nba they saved my career and
in ways they saved my life too BECAUSE i didn't.

Speaker 2 (52:45):
Know like where to go AFTER.

Speaker 1 (52:46):
LA i JUST i wasn't sure if anybody would would
take me because it was just LIKE I i was.
Stumped but THE nba came, calling and so things are going,
good things are going good that season and kind of
going back AND i hate That i'm. Backtracking sorry, everybody
but a story THAT i feel like deserves to be

(53:07):
told because it's a part of the. Journey so with
every YouTube group or you, know a, band anytime a
band member, leaves they have to drop a video or
a bombshell on why they, left whether it be good or.

Speaker 2 (53:19):
Bad, WELL.

Speaker 1 (53:22):
I shouldn't have been inspired BECAUSE i dropped like a
twenty minute bombshell on WHY i left The. Rams looking
back at it, NOW i wasn't one of my smartest.
IDEAS i dropped a twenty minute video on WHY i.
Left there was a lot of, support some people were
kind of holding their tongue about it and around what
was the ring? Ceremony like around ring ceremony time that,

(53:42):
year my mom called. Me she goes she goes, like,
hey are you? Okay And i'm, like, Yeah i'm. Good
i'm just Eating New york pieces In. Jersey what have you?
Heard she was, like we just got something from The
rams And i'm, like, ram So i'm just thinking, like, ooh.

Speaker 2 (53:57):
Is it my? Ring i'm, like is it a is
it a?

Speaker 1 (54:00):
Ringom he was, like, no.

Speaker 2 (54:02):
It's a cease and.

Speaker 1 (54:03):
Assist i'm, like, oh what this is like a cease and.
Assist SO i was, like And i'm reading it And i'm, like,
okay OOH i DID i did make a twenty minute
bound shell DIDN'T i shouldn't have done, that shouldn't have done,
that got hit with, that didn't get invited to the ring,

(54:23):
ceremony and, this that and the Third so that. Sucked but,
yeah during that whole time working for THE, NBA i
had that cease and assist pinned to my wall as,
motivation like, okay like learn from, this grow from, this
and never go back to that. Point so THAT nba
job was. Great and then WHEN i got an opportunity
to leave THAT nba, JOB i did not want to do.

(54:44):
It but at that POINT i had a few years
in the media. SPACE i was, like, OKAY i got
my feet. Wet NOW i know WHAT i want to,
do because going in you gotta have this like self
conversation with yourself after college because college and il and
all that college content. Is it's great for a period of,
time but after you gotta figure it. Out and SO

(55:04):
i had to look myself in the mirror and, say
AM i ready to do content full time after my
college football career is, over even WHEN i just signed
with management and the answer was absolutely. Not SO i was, Like,
Okay i'm gonna get my feet wait in sports media
and then we'll figure it. Out by twenty twenty, THREE
i figured it out because THEN i said five words
that just took off in the, stratosphere especially on.

Speaker 2 (55:26):
TikTok you might have heard. It i'm trying to do
it the same.

Speaker 1 (55:28):
WAY a win is a, WIN a win is a,
win is a, WIN i don't care.

Speaker 2 (55:36):
What y'all, say is a. Win and it blew up.
Everywhere that blew.

Speaker 1 (55:41):
Up and of course WHEN i said The lakers need a,
CENTER i MEAN i saw my following go from five
hundred k to a million in like a span of
three months something like. That like never in a million
years DID i Think i'd hit five hundred thousand a?

Speaker 2 (55:59):
Million are you kidding?

Speaker 1 (56:01):
Me like that's that's, Crazy but, Yes SO i would
say Around december of twenty twenty, two that's when the
hashstack of the clip show was really really. Born my
personal brand had no idea what that was gonna look
like down the, line but that's when it started and
sell from. There it was making a whole bunch of,
skits was doing a whole bunch of running. Around i'm telling,
y'all if you scroll down long, ENOUGH i was a

(56:23):
Damn Looney tunes character with my. CONTENT i, MEAN i
was just doing a whole bunch of scrambling running around
wearing football jerseys helmet's just like doing a whole bunch of.
Skits did that for. YEARS i was fortunate enough to
do things with, brands and so now we fast forward
twenty twenty, three twenty twenty, four twenty twenty, five AND
i feel like twenty twenty five is WHEN i felt
LIKE i had the most fun with my, content because

(56:46):
getting invited to all these events.

Speaker 2 (56:47):
As a creator is.

Speaker 1 (56:48):
Amazing movie, Premieres All Star, weekend you, Know Pro bowl
and things like. That BUT i had a moment last
year At All Star weekend WHERE i look myself in
the mirror AND i was, LIKE i don't want to
do skits.

Speaker 2 (56:59):
FOREVER i can't do skits.

Speaker 1 (57:01):
Forever are they fun to, do, Absolutely but it just
got to a point Where i'm, LIKE i need to
do something. Different and that's when that little voice reminded
me in my head something my mom, said start using your.

Speaker 2 (57:13):
Voice she, said you got a good.

Speaker 1 (57:14):
Voice and you, know sometimes moms tell you things that
you want to, hear but it was honestly one of
those things THAT i needed to hear at that point
because it's, like.

Speaker 2 (57:23):
Maybe IF i do, this this will.

Speaker 1 (57:25):
Work so if y'all go back to my first video
talking and the, mic it's so Like monotona is, Like,
Okay i'm gonna break a fear and talk like it.
Was it was So James Earl jones, ASKED i was, like, okay,
Y'all i'm gonna face a fear And i'm gonna talk on.
CAMERA i was petrified because it was a career, shift
but lo and, behold it was the best Decision i've

(57:46):
ever made because not only what WAS i getting more
comfortable talking on, CAMERA i was able to do skits
in a more organic real way because BEFORE i was
just doing skits to get a, reaction to get a,
brand to be be honest with, you but like now
there's like, purpose there's like, dedication and there's commitment to
the craft and. Everything THEN i started getting in contact
with people at these different companies like of Course tiktoks

(58:08):
and you, know the others Like, Instagram, snapchat you name, It,
Facebook AND i was, Like, okay now we're starting to
kick things in the high. Gear and so this past
season was probably the most Fun i've had BECAUSE i
was doing skits about The, panthers whether they want or.
LOST i was doing reactions about The, gators WHETHER i
was at the game or. Not and THEN i was
just relearning to have fun again with social, media and

(58:29):
SO i garnered a whole new appreciation for. It and
then we fast forward To december of last year AND
i remember getting emails about potentially doing stuff With, iHeart
AND i was, like talking About, iHeart i heard, PODCASTS
i heard.

Speaker 2 (58:44):
Radio are you?

Speaker 1 (58:45):
Serious And they're like, Yeah and So i'll never forget
that first call THAT i had and they asked me my.
Vision they asked me my vision for the, show AND i, Said,
INITIALLY i was just like the idea of having a
show was. Great but then WHEN i really sat, down
thought and prayed about, IT i was, Like, okay looking

(59:09):
back in my career when it came to brand deals,
Opportunities i've always viewed myself as a late bloomer and
there were times WHERE i would, think why AM i
not getting certain brand?

Speaker 2 (59:20):
Deals why AM i not getting certain?

Speaker 1 (59:22):
Opportunities But i'm, like, NOW i feel like with this,
platform that is my. Vision this show is a, celebration
an open altar and everything in. Between IF i can
have a show where there's, voices, athletes, creators media personalities
THAT i feel deserve to be, celebrated and IF i
can be the reason that the ball can keep bouncing

(59:44):
in the sports creator space and really in the creator
space in, general that's going to be the vision for this.

Speaker 2 (59:49):
Show get a lot.

Speaker 1 (59:51):
Of inspo from shows you, know Like Club, Shayshay The,
Pivot CLUB fi twenty just to name a, few but it's,
like IF i can.

Speaker 2 (59:59):
Think of a way to do, that but for, creators that's.

Speaker 1 (01:00:03):
Magical so we fast forward now To april of twenty
twenty six and just being in this, situation being in
this moment like right, now Like i'm way more comfortable
now THAN i was when this episode, started And i'm
so so thankful for.

Speaker 2 (01:00:20):
That but that's.

Speaker 1 (01:00:21):
Reps that's, learning understanding, criticism accepting, feedback and just taking
that ball and running with. It so that's how we got. Here,
mom you were, right you, Win and now we have a.
Show so with that, said ladies and, gentlemen my name
Is Cliver. Taylor welcome To The Cliver. Show if you

(01:00:44):
want to hear some incredible inspirational, stories hopefully like this,
one this is the show for. You so that Is
The Cliver. Show episode. One let's, go, y'all it's. Magical,
now what can you expect an episode? Two, well ladies and,
Gentlemen you've seen him miked up at high school football.

(01:01:04):
Game you've seen him miked up at the under Armored
All American. Game Jeremy barnes aka The young ref one
of my best friends in this creator. Space scratched that
he is my best friend in this creator. Space episode
two is going to be a whole lot of, fun
a whole lot of. Excitement we're going to talk about
his journey from growing up In Kansas, City, missouri to
being a referee to being a content, creator, legend all

(01:01:26):
that and everything in.

Speaker 2 (01:01:26):
Between we are, home, Baby let's do.

Speaker 1 (01:01:29):
It