April 20, 2022 • 36 mins
On episode 2 of WalkieTalkieZ podcast, host, Noah Buono, sits down with Mike Lukashewich, a 2-year walk-on for the Minnesota Gophers Men's Basketball team, under Head Coach Rich Pitino during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, who had to earn his walk-on stripes the hard way.
Mike wasn't a preferred walk-on, as he was never recruited by the program. He earned his stripes at the open tryout held during the Fall semester of his freshmen year.
Mike and Noah talk about:- Mike's journey in joining the team in the middle of the season as a freshmen- The appreciation of the relationships made with teammates and coaches (Rich Pitino)- Mike's stigma on walk-ons- The depth of understanding what the walk-on experience can be like for some - His takeaways from the walk-on role and the mentality it's given him
Mike has a degree in Sports Management and after some time working as a marketing coordinator at X-Games, he is now a digital marketing agent at Homestead Studio in his hometown of Wisconsin!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Walkie Talkies is a production of I Heart Radio and
the College Athletes Network. Hello, Hey, yeah, Well what's up
(00:23):
Walkie Talkies? Welcome back to episode two of Walkie Talkies
podcast here on the College Athletes Network, featured on I
Heart Radio with the googlest walk on in the country.
I'm your host, Noah Bono, and before we get into
today's episode, I do want to give the listeners just
a little bit of background about myself for those who
don't know me. So, I've been a college basketball walk
(00:44):
on for the last five years in two different Division
one programs, and I started off my career at a
low major Division one school, Writer University in New Jersey,
before coming to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in the summer
of The goal for me was always to get a scholarship,
and it turns out I didn't do enough of the
right stuff to put myself in that position to where
I could only get on a roster as a walk on.
(01:04):
No problem. I was willing to take anything I could get. However,
I took my first walk on role with not much
real understanding of what the role entailed or what it
would be like, and had someone at the time told
me it would be the way it was, I probably
would have backed out at the deal, no doubt about it.
But all in all, it led me through this five
year journey for a reason. And now I'm here with
the opportunity to continue telling my own walk On story
(01:26):
and all that it's done for me in such an
important time period of my life as I entered early adulthood,
all while I'm able to give other walk on the
same chance to tell their stories as well. So I'm
very excited to build the Walkie Talkies with the guests
that I have on this show and with the engaged
listeners out there who appreciate these stories and can find
meaning and purpose from the guests and hopefully from myself
(01:48):
as well. Um you know, as we continue to put
episodes out weekly and climb and climb and climb. So
before I do get to today's guests, because yes, we
will have a guest interview today as we always do.
Just remember you can follow me on Twitter at snow
dot three or follow Walkie Talkies Podcast on Instagram, Twitter
and TikTok at w t Z podcast for video highlights
and if you want to interact with the show and
(02:10):
talk about what guests you'd like to see, what other
questions you'd maybe like me to ask guests, so on
and so forth. Also, most importantly of them all is
to please subscribe to Walkie Talkies podcast on the I
Heart Radio app or whichever platform you listen to your
podcast on. I'd really appreciate it. All right, now, let's
get into it here. On episode two, i'd talk with
a former walk on from a Big Ten school, the
(02:30):
University of Minnesota. All right, so you know it's hard
enough being a walk on and a freshman. Take the
two separately, they're both hard things to do. Now combine
the two and you're a freshman walk on, that's got
to be even harder. But how about your freshman walk
on who joins the team in the middle of December
and you miss all the summer workouts, the entire preseason,
(02:51):
and the first few games. Now that's got to be hard.
And that's our guest today, Mike Lucas Savage, who became
a member of the Minnesota basketball team during the middle
of the two thousand fifth team season. So Mike was
not a preferred walk on, meaning he never got recruited
to come be a part of the team. He just
showed up to campus in the fall and went to
an open tryout. And if you don't know, all schools
are technically required to hold these type of tryouts for
(03:13):
students enrolled at the university, but it's normally very very
hard to separate yourself and make the team this way,
and in most cases it doesn't really happen. And for
a while it looked like it wasn't gonna happen for
Mike either, but after two and a half months, he
did end up getting the call and from there, Mike
spent two valuable years in the Minnesota basketball program before
eventually deciding to devote all of his time towards his
(03:33):
future and going full force at pursuing a degree in
sports management. During his last two years of school. When
he decided to leave the team, he actually did a
student exchange program in London, along with three internships before
he landed a job as a marketing coordinator with X Games.
He's now currently a digital marketing agent at Homestead Studio
back in his hometown of Wisconsin. So in this episode,
Mike and I talk about that experience of him trying
(03:55):
out for the team, not hearing back for a while
and then finally getting that call back and just what
it was like for him getting accustomed to the team,
to the coaches, to college basketball. Midway through the season,
Mike talks about his favorite bench moment when the Minnesota
fans stormed the court. He talks about his relationship with
head coach Rich Patino, son of the legend coach Rick Patino.
(04:15):
We talked about the stigma around walk on and what
he thinks of that, along with what advice he would
give to current college athletes with the new n i
L rules in place. You know, I really enjoyed hearing
Mike's perspective on what the walk on journey was like
through his lens in a big tent program like Minnesota
under the son of a legendary coach from the Patino family, uh,
and just what the dynamic was like for him and
(04:36):
what he thinks overall. You know, this role of being
a walk on did for him in his later stages
in life as he pursued his job with X Games
in his current role now as a digital marketing agent,
and just what some of those things were as a
walk on that he learned that ended up helping him
in these next couple of jobs. You get all right,
(04:56):
all right, you know what time it is, It's time
for me to shut the hell up and let's get
on with show. Get this interview rolling. So here's my
full conversation with former Minnesota basketball walk on Mike Lucas Savage. Yeah,
so let's start with, UM, you know your journey being
a little bit different. You weren't a preferred walk on.
You started off, you went to the open team tryout
that every Division one team is required to hold. Um,
(05:19):
how many weeks or months did it take after the
tryout that you like kind of heard back from them,
and it was a while. So I think, um, out
of like I had no intentions to play basketball in college,
like D two, D three, nothing. Um. I think when
I got to school in Minnesota, I just kept like
(05:39):
not training per se, just trying to stay in shape. Um.
And I think my staying in shape is like different
through like just like casually lifting weights, like I was
like running five miles at a time, like trying to
stay like really good shape. Um. So when the triouts
came around, my high school coach actually had some sort
of connection with coaching staff, So I went to an
open gym that they had like early summer or early
(06:03):
school year. I'd say, so I got to meet some
of these guys and like just hop in and play
with them. I think I was the only one like
coming from as being outsider. So that was my first
experience with them. That was probably September October. I think
we're tryouts and it was like eighteen minutes just scrimmage,
no breaks, Like it almost seemed like they kind of
had their mind made up there, just like like it's
(06:25):
an obligation to do this. UM. So we tried off
for eighteen minutes scrimmage and like, I don't think I
played extremely well. I think he just played like smart.
I don't think I scored a ton. I think I
had like two buckets. And I didn't hear back like
yea or nay until December. And even some of the
guys I tried out with i'd see him at the
gym and they had asked, like do you hear back,
(06:46):
Like no word. So UM went through like the whole
month of October, November, and December. I think it was
two days before Christmas break UM. I had my flights
booked home UM and I got a call back from
the team saying, hey, would you come for a second tryout.
I'm like, like I was, I was checked out at
this point, right, like I wasn't training as hard per
(07:07):
se um. But I came back and it was just
a practice, Like I just went through a practice with
some other guy that also tried out, and at the
end of there's two days of practice we came to
At the end of those two practices, we went through
like a little individual workout, um, which is more so
just to workoutld not even try out, And they just
asked about like to like to stay on the team,
(07:28):
and I was like, yeah, like sign me up, I'm
ready to go. Yeah. Well that's kind of a weird story, right,
like yeah, I mean, especially because they made you wait
so long, Like, yeah, I had to try out in
September October, and you know, I read that they had
some stuff come up, like they had some guys get
kicked off the team, a couple were ineligible, Like you
were kind of thrown into Yeah, you were thrown into
(07:48):
a little fire of like some toxicity going on over there.
And they're like, you know what, we need an extra body.
How's how's this guy sound that that is most likely?
Why likely? Why you know? So? I said in the
intro about how being a walk on is hard, being
a freshman walk on is even harder. But when you're
a freshman walk on who misses preseason, summer workouts and
(08:10):
the first couple of games, like how much harder was
that for you to kind of integrate yourself into that
that team situation all the way in December? Yeah it was.
It was difficult to guys are super committing, super kind,
um like they helped out a lot, so I jumped in.
I think we're like three games in a preseason or
any maybe two, it's pretty early on, but you're right
missing all like the preseason workouts, like understanding the playbook.
(08:32):
I got a CD of all the plays and stuff.
I would watch for like weeks on end, just trying
to get these things down. Granted I never really ran
these plays ever, but I knew like the back of
my hand, right, So yeah, it was tough. I think
the first couple of weeks of practice too. Like I
didn't have shoes. I had like my old AU basketball
shoes and they were purple and like didn't didn't clash
(08:54):
well with the Minnesota colors. But Um, yeah, so it was.
It was a good adjustment to like everybody's accomboating, coaching staff,
trainers and stuff like that. But the I think it's
like the second or third day that I was officially
on the team, Um, we had a game, like it
was yeah, it was game time. So like I got
to experience that right away, probably like two practices and
(09:16):
by then, um, but so yeah, it's throw into the
fire like to put it. So, I mean, was that
team was it? It had to be different because there
was all that drama going on on the team. And
then I know your second year is when that incident happened.
You know, some of the guys were supposedly posted a
sex video online and ultimately I'm not sure the validity
of that, but it ended up, you know, getting suspended
(09:38):
for it for the rest of the year. What do
you remember about that whole situation and just like that
whole team vibe, So from your perspective, like, what was
that like? Yeah, I think, like, especially being in a
big city of Minneapolis, a lot of things going outside
of basketball, like like you're going out, you're having fun.
But I think my first year, a couple of transfers
and I think there's some like stuff outside of basketball
that happened to some people are I'm exactly sure what happened.
(10:01):
I just like focused on myself the most part. But
the team by wasn't affected by that per se, Like
there wasn't any hostility locker room, like there was anything
bad going on internally. UM second year, I know, like
some of that step off the court. I don't believe
it was like our players that posted it. Again, I'm
out too deep into it because I just know like
(10:21):
they kept it pretty pretty tightly knit UM. And I
don't know the guys like mal intentions of anything, but
I don't think it was them. I think its something
got leaked and they were kind of like on the
back end of it. UM. So all unfortunate for them,
but yeah, nothing, nothing was affected in terms of the
team wise, like camaraderie and the family feeling. UM didn't
(10:42):
really get impacted. That's good because obviously as a Division
one athlete, something comes out like that. Even if someone
leaked it and there's nothing they could do about it,
they were obviously going to be the ones that took
the fall from it. Unfortunately, as shitty as that is,
exactly how was it being around coach Bridge Pettino like
son of legend Rick, but you know, like just another
version of him, Like what was that Like? Yeah, it
(11:03):
was cool. Um, it's cool. Rick came in and talked
to us quite a few times, which like the Big
Ten tournaments are like preseason heed to come in and
speak to us. Uh, he always has some good Um.
Other speakers come in, like NBA scouts or NBA trainers
come in and speak to the team. So I was
always I was a cool aspect of paving him as
a coach because he had a really strong connection from
his dad and even who he made friends with, so
(11:26):
that that was really cool experience him as a guy.
He is, like, he's funny, he'd be cool to hang
out with. Um. I only saw him in like a
basketball sense, right, but I think like him as a
friend would be would be a cool guy. Yeah exactly.
He just like makes funny but like you can just
back to him kind of thing. Um, he's good in
that sense. Yeah. I think he's got the Italian roots
(11:46):
to him, so I relate to it because that's what
I see Pattino. I'm like, these guys are obviously Italian,
like they're probably exactly. That's awesome. You know, I've been
yelled at so many times in my life that at
this point, just for the fun of it, I'd love
to be on the other end of a crazy, possessed
Patino ramp. That'd be sick. All right. When we come back,
(12:09):
Mike's gonna tell us if Coach Patino laid out the
role of a walk on for him or not when
he got onto the team again. You are listening to
Walkie Talkies podcast with the coolest walk on in the country, myself,
Noah Bano here on the College Athletes Network on I
Heart Radio. You can subscribe to the podcast on the
I Heart Radio app or whichever platform you listen to
(12:30):
your podcast on. You can also follow the podcast social
media pages at w t Z podcast on Twitter, Instagram,
and TikTok, and you can follow myself on Twitter and
Instagram at snow dot three. Alright, folks, day with us.
We'll be right back. I know, I know, I know
you're tired of the ad. You hated the ad. Whatever,
(12:50):
Walkie Talkies podcast on the College Athletes Network is back.
You've got nothing to worry about. Your host, me, Noah Bono,
I'm back. We're back. Please make sure you subscribe to
the show so you don't miss any episodes. And let's
bring back in my guest Mike, former walk on for
the Minnesota basketball team. Um, you know, so being a
walk on and you know, being on that Minnesota team,
I'm sure Coach Pettino kind of made you aware of
(13:13):
what essentially your role was going to kind of be like.
And obviously that comes with bringing the energy, having a
lot of juice, putting the other guys first, making sure
you're selfless. You know, did you make it a priority
every game to always have that positive energy and that
attitude for the rest of the guys to kind of
feed off of. Yeah. That A's a really good point.
When I when I first joined, like we're kind of
like in season mode, so I didn't get a talking
(13:35):
to it like hey, this is the expectations, like don't
expect this, expect this, Like this will we expect from you? Um,
there wasn't like clear guideline step, but I knew I understood,
Like listen, I'm not not here to try to take
over a starting spot. I'm not I'm trying to make
it so better. I'm trying I'm trying to push someone else. Um,
And I wanted to be that one guy like on
ESP and a tell Waiver, right like, I don't known
(13:55):
be that hype guy. Um, So I try to bring
that energy in that sense. I'll just try to. I
also try to like set not set standards, but like
help out outside of basketball, whether it be like school
or just like showing up on time, like I don't know,
just keeping keeping things in a straight line. Um. I
don't think it was difficult by any means, Like the
guys made it pretty easy, but there's times like everybody
(14:17):
needs to hold hold themselves and others accountable. I mean
that's the other like kind of component to being a
walk on is we are the team g P a booster.
Uh you know, so getting some guys on on board
with that and not having the coaches having to bitch
at them and just hearing it from another player is
probably easier. But like, yo, come on, sit down to
your homework with me for twenty minutes. Yeah, it's a
really good point. And it's kind of like it's kind
(14:38):
of gour role, right Like, Yeah, whether it be like
on the basketball card now in the basketball court, we
all have our certain roles and that's that's part of ours.
I feel like, what was the craziest moment you remember
from a game, like on the bench, mid game, you
and your team just something happened on the court and
you guys just went absolutely insane. I think the one
memory that pops out as we beat Maryland. I think
they're ranked like dot top five at the time. I
(14:59):
think there two or four. I should remember this, um
but uh, we didn't have like a great season going
and they came to our place. We beat him on
our court and everybody rushed the rush the course. That
was really cool experience. Um so because like jump around
with everybody party there, dude, there was there was like
the first year, we haven't won money games, so there
weren't many like big big moments. Second year, like we
(15:22):
were much better, but there weren't like many many big
games with us. But we could compete a competed times,
and I know, like the Minnesota vibe there is like
you know, big party school. There was a lot to do,
a lot going on after games and stuff. So you know, yeah,
I mean the place was you guys were probably so
fucked up after that. Yeah, it was, Yeah, that was
(15:43):
that was a fun one. Do you think as a
walk on there's any sort of negative stigma that kind
of comes with the title being a walk on? You
know what, I don't know. I don't know, like and
from my point of view, everybody said anything like I
tries trash it. It's like, pist off, whatever you say,
does that matter to me? Like I, I've been through it,
You've been through it, Like we put in the work
at the time, so um, we deserve to be here
(16:06):
in that sense. But if there is a negive stigma,
it's like what are you gonna do about it? Right?
And I feel like that's that Ship's for the birds,
like what you're saying, like what that happened? I'm gonna
do my own thing. Like I'm sure you're the same
way your team. You and your team are just like this.
So yeah, the elside always we don't really let seep in,
but I just you know, there there's always a commentary
(16:27):
of like, well, you know, walk ons are just practice players,
and some you know pretty much just stand there standing around.
They're not really doing ship, and it's like, well, you
know what, you're not in the building, so how the
hell do you know exactly exactly, like you're not gonna
not gonna tell my story. So I always think that's funny.
But I always like to ask that question just because,
like I think that generally there is just a negative
(16:48):
stigma surrounded by it, and not because of us, just
because kind of what the general consensus is of a
walk on. So you know, hopefully walkie talkies here will
help change that by hearing your guys perspective and stuff,
because it's you know, it's not Yes, it's hard and
there's a lot of that comes with it with little reward.
But like we wouldn't have chose it if we didn't
think we could get something out of it and if
(17:09):
there wasn't good that came with it. So you hit
that nail or in the head, Like that's totally true.
And I think that the main thing is too as
you can't take everything so seriously, Like I joke around,
like I said, I'm a teleflavor, right, like I would
jokingly say, like, you know, I'm on the bench to
hype people up. That's my role, I know it. Um.
So if you go into this saying like I'm gonna
take over a starting spot, you're gonna really disappointed and
you're not gonna have fun being a walk on for
(17:31):
sec Yeah, because I would say your stereotypical walk on
is the guy just like knows he's never going to
get a scholarship, and yeah, he's a tower boy. Like
there are other people in positions where they do want
to maybe they're out of higher school, they want to
come to a lower school and get that scholarship, which
we've seen like that happens. It's you know, it's a
little bit more rare in the basketball world and the
football world just because there's less spots. But yeah, generally
(17:53):
being a walk on, that's the territory. And I don't
think people would accept the role or it would even
be a role on teams. There weren't people who wanted
to fill that position, and obviously it's reoccurring that people
want to take it. So you only did it for
two years, but it's long enough to think of a
time or maybe there's the worst part about being a
walk on overall that if you could change, you would
try to change it. Uh. Yeah, like I said, only
(18:16):
being there for two years, Like, I'm sure people have
many different experiences in terms of long term being hard
of team. But I think the main thing is is
like I knew I could play with whomever, right, Like
I know my ability. Um never getting a shot wasn't
like I wasn't like upset about it, but I feel
like I just wanted to play basketball, right. So there
(18:36):
are some times where as a practice, like I sat
on sidelines for a very long time, like you didn't
touch a basketball for a very long time, and someone's like,
I just want I just want to want to play,
like give me, give me a chance just to play
and even proved myself right. So um, that probably the
only like things like you're part of basketball team, you
don't play basketball sometimes for a very long time. Um.
(18:57):
The other the other side of that is you're putting
in all that working heard that some of the starters do.
I mean they put in a lot of time, right, um,
and you you are expected this to the bench, which
is a okay, know your roll, right, But the early
mornings they're often like the workouts are tough, practices are long, right,
Like you know, it's a lot of times it's a
full time job. I think it's funny when people say,
(19:18):
you know, you pay for your own tuition blah, blah blah,
like you should go get a job to help you out,
And it's like, I don't think you understand that I
already have a little full time I have a non
paying full time job. But yeah, I know I've been
in the same position where a lot of it was
just standing around, just itching to get on the court
and play, you know, and I and I came and
kind of misled on the like what a walk on
(19:39):
was thinking I'd have like at least an opportunity to
practice and get better, and it turned into kind of
just like yeah, and just like what you know what
it is about all the scholarship guys, I get that,
but like why bring us there if there wasn't a
real chance to get better? So that itch to play
and standing on the sidelines and your feet start going
numb in your shoes and just like, bro, we have
(20:01):
been going for three hours right now, like are we
almost done? Coach? Yeah, dude, I know, I know what
you mean. So you know with that, like obviously there
were some moments at Minnesota where you weren't getting to
practice and for you, your role was kind of limited.
What was the walk on experience, like specifically at Minnesota
was it more of you not participating than participating? Was
(20:22):
it more of a fifty Like what was it like
with that? Yeah, I would say, I mean they weren't
like trying to exclude the walk on first. Today I
would just play two or three of us at a time.
They're on the sidelines, but we would participate heavy in
like weight room and conditioning, and then come basketball would
be like a lot of like scrimmaging or like practicing
play sets or scout scouting kind of stuff like that.
(20:45):
So we would be again heavy weight room, heavy training,
and then come to basketball like maybe you get thrown
them for a couple of plays um or you do
like some of the drills like shooting drills and stuff
like that. But I would say you, I would I
sat on the sidelines a lot for practices and yeah,
you're right, like your feet go numb, like you sit
insidelm for an hour, then do the shooting drill and
it's like two might get a basketball for an hour,
(21:08):
Like I don't know, I don't know how to shoot
forgot Yeah, no, So so you would actually say, like
the for the walk ons, it was kind of the
same where you were mainly on the sideline. I mean,
did you get to did you get to play in
scout team a few times? A few times? But usually
it'd be like top five or like the next five
that would be like our scout right, so not bench players,
like the people who were behind the starting five would
(21:29):
be our scout team and we get thrown in occasional
like which again like it wasn't bad, but it wasn't
basketball for me. Yeah, you're going in there, you you know,
you what player running and you know you're not touching
the ball, which again it's finally let me do my
job and let me help the starters learn. But we
want to play basketball when you're Hooper, like you just
want to play. You just want to play. And I
just think, like the scout team, that's our game, you know,
(21:52):
I feel like we got if we're on the team
in like let us say at least beyond the scout team.
Because you you know, you had a good high school career,
like you obviously obviously a good basketball player. You made
the Minnesota team in an open tryout. They saw something.
They were like, this kid can play. So I look
at it as like if you know he can play,
and you asked him to be on the team. Let's
just let him get some wreck in in practice. Obviously. Yeah,
(22:14):
he's not going to be as good as what we're
preparing for in the games. But like he's a body,
he's healthy, he's athletic, he's in shape. My mindsets always
just like if you have him there, why aren't we
using them? So I don't know that that's the thing
that bugs me. Yeah, I think you're spot on there.
I think it's also if you don't give walk On
is a chance just once, right, like you never know.
(22:34):
And for an example, I don't know if you've seen
like step sharp As it was a walk on for
walk On from Minnesota. He was like a year after me,
and he got he got one chance, and he took
advantage of it, and he like he bawled out right
and like like ship, like let's start incorporating. It's like
that's all takes, is that one chance? Yeah, you know
these guys are good, just like incorporated a little bit um. Yeah.
(22:56):
I think opportunity, it's key. You need some sort of
opportunity to assert yourself. I feel personally that I didn't
put myself based on my decisions in the best situation
for an opportunity. But regardless, I don't know. I just
look at it from this angle of like I would
want to give a kid who is pursuing a dream
a real opportunity, and if he if he flunks and
(23:17):
he doesn't do good, then fuck it. He's got to
live with the fact that, you know, he didn't take
care of his opportunity. But I think you at least
got to give him one chance, you know, right, I'll
take So yeah, Like with that, what would you say
those two years of being a walk on? Did they
help shape your perspective in any different way about yourself
for life in general? They shaped in the sense of like,
first of all, I met some really good people and
(23:37):
they helped shape my perspective. Like my teammates were really
good dudes. Um I got along with all of them. Um,
I hope, I hope they, like me, were still stay
in touch a little bit, like went through Instagram DM
with maybe a few occasional texts, but like, those are
lifelong friends and they've helped shape like the way I
look at a basketball but life too, because you all
came from different upbringing. So um, that was cool to
see in terms of the coaching staff. I think the
(24:00):
impactful coach I had was our strength coach. So he
wasn't he wasn't a big favorite by the players, Like
you'd kick our ask, but like we'd come to practice
and you have a weight goal, right, So like my
I was. I came in a one seventy five weight
goal was one nine. I got the two hundred. But
it was like if you didn't make your weight, you
had a punishment, right, So I actually remember, yeah JR.
(24:23):
To lose weight, he was he was running in between
plays or in practice. I mean he would he would
kick your ass, right, but like he got the most
out of you, and JR lost his weight, like he
had a bye transformation. Granted I don't know. I don't
know Minnes when he got the rider, he put all
that ship right back the first to tell you, I
(24:46):
don't think it was difficult for him to gain weight.
But that's funny. Yeah, but that's exactly right, Like your
your strength coach needs to have a needs to have
an important role in your life, and you look back
at it, you hate him in the moment, but he
got the most that every single player, like you'd a
shot to the brink of like your breaking point and
at the time you're like this guy, like this guy stinks,
but looking back, like this, this guy got the most
(25:07):
out of me, and I was in the best shape
of my life and I needed him. I need him
to be like who I was. So that's cool. You
have you experienced that in your role? Like which which part? Yeah,
you're right, there's a lot of parts to it. Like
have you felt like someone made an impact that your
on your life, like has changed a perspective on life
(25:28):
in general, not only like hard work wise, not not
like put me on the spot on my own show.
I don't, I don't, I don't know. I'd have to
step on this one. No, no no, no, it's a it's
a good question because there's definitely a yes, and I
just would need to think about long and hard, because
you know, there's so many people that have influenced me,
and like, I've had great experiences and I've had a
(25:48):
lot of bad experiences, but I wouldn't trade any of them.
I always say that, like, my experiences have shaped what
I'm doing right now, where I'm at right now. So
you know, there's been I would say, way more bad
ones than good ones. But you take them for what
they are, and I've just tried to learn a lesson
from every single one. But I've definitely been around some
good people. Okay, okay, yes, it's that time for another ad,
(26:09):
but please don't go anywhere so you can hear the
pen ultimum of the episode, which is what Mike learned
overall from those two years as a walk on and
what he's taken with him into his everyday job. Again,
you were listening to Walkie Talkies podcast with the coolest
walk on in the country. I'm your host, Noah Bono
here on the College Athletes Network, featured on I Heart Radio.
You can subscribe to the podcast on the I Heart
(26:31):
Radio app or whichever platform you listen to your podcast on.
You can also follow the podcast social media is on Twitter, Instagram,
and TikTok at w t Z podcast, and you can
follow me myself and I on Twitter and Instagram at
snow dot three. Alright, folks, will be right back. So
just like that, we're back Walkie Talkies podcast here on
(26:52):
the College Athletes Network. We didn't go anywhere, didn't take
that long. The ad couldn't have been that bad, alright, alright, alright,
please make sure you do. Subscribe to the show on
the radio, app or wherever you get your podcast. And
as we approached the end of the show, let's bring
back in Mike Lucas Savage. So, Mike, overall, what what
would you say you learned from those two years being
a walk on in that role? Like what have you
(27:13):
taken with you some key takeaways and lessons you learn
from it, you know, into your everyday job now. Um.
I think that's the biggest thing that I took away
was that if I put my mind to something it's
so cliche, but I can get there. I can do it.
So if I just put in that time, whether it
be training first sport or like a marathon something something
(27:34):
like that, I can do it. If I want to
be really good at my job, want to be like
dive deep into digital marketing, like I can do it,
I'm going to do it. Um. But I think it's
that mentality of like being a walk on isn't easy,
Like getting to that goal, be able to be preferred
or actually trying out it's not easy. You had to
really head first dive into it right, like you know,
like it's like a full time job. You to dive
(27:55):
head first into it and if you have any any
like quarrels of can't do this or I don't know
if I can do this, you're not gonna make it
like so I think I think it's the mentality for
me that's awesome. How to being around coach Patino and
that team environment and seeing it firsthand, like being a
part of what those teams are like. And then also
the entire Minnesota you know sports environment with all the
(28:17):
proteins are how did how did it help you get
into the current field you're in now? Yeah? So I
I did sport management, I wanted to do sports law,
took a couple of law classes, like law it's not
for me. So being a part of the team and stuff.
Um A I knew had a ton of connections, right
if I wanted to reach out to him, can you
help me out, like I want to go to this path,
I knew he would. Um in the whole coaching staff,
(28:38):
I knew they would. And then being in Minnesota. That's
why I chose Minnesota just because like all the forts companies,
all the sports teams, like so many opportunities there. So um,
I think also when you say like you're on the
Minnesota go for basketball team. Like that that resonates with
people in that city. Right, that's only major D one
school in Minneapolis, millions of people. So that that's another
(28:59):
cool respect. Um, how did it help me get into
the role I was in? So I into sports sports
marketing and X games. ESPN was in town interview with them. Um,
and that's how I got my first internship in our
second internship in job. So I don't know if like
probably like my work ethic. That's by the only way
it helped me in um, because this is a whole
different sports sports world, like extreme extreme action sports basketball,
(29:23):
very different, but um, it helped in sense of like
work ethic and like being able to say you were
part of you on basketball team like people know Buster balls.
Yeah for sure. So for the new athlete in today's era,
they get to profit off their name, image and likeness
just got passeng uly, what do you what do you
think about that? And then what would be some advice
(29:44):
that you'd recommend to your younger self if you were
a college athlete now that maybe you could pass along
to current college athletes. Uh So for like the name,
image and like this all that stuff, I think like
it had to happen in due time, right, Like, these
these athletes do need something for how much money they're generating.
Granted I know from being a part of Minnesota, Like
we got treated really well, whether it be like the
(30:06):
food we got, the food we got delivered to us
late at night, like we never went hungry. So that
there's like pros and construct you're getting You're not getting
paid cash, but you're getting paid way different ways. Um,
but for the amount of work that they put in
and again the money they generate, Like I hope these
athletes can take advantage of some of that stuff, um
(30:27):
looking back or like for the new era, what I
would do, Like you got to take advantage of social media, right,
Like I never saw the core, but I would be
posting so much social media and hopes that some brand
would want to work with me. Right, So I think
there's huge opportunity there. Again, if you're a superstar, even
if you're not, Like, if you can if you can
really work on your social media and uh and build
(30:50):
your own brand, yeah, I bet you can make a
lot of money, a lot absolutely, and then long term
for yourself, do you have any bigger goals? Um? In
the sports business, feel that you want to kind of
achieve or look at doing. Honestly, now I feel I
feel like I'm out of it now. I haven't touched
a basketball very very long time, so like, I don't
know if I could ever coach. I feel like I
(31:11):
have a very good outlook on the game of basketball
and a a very different outlook in terms of like how
I would coach players. I think that that's an old,
older school style. So I think that's coming gone. Um,
those those old school coaches are still in the world
right now. I feel like I don't have a higher
goal in terms of like my my sports career, my
(31:35):
even post career, like the sports in general, um, which
is which is okay with me? Like I'm okay, okay,
not something basketball anymore. I'm okay not doing this. Like
my main thing is I don't want to get hurt.
I don't want to. I don't want to want to
be able to ski in the winter. I want to
be able to go surfer in the summer. Like I
don't want to. I want to be laid up because
it torm a c I'll playing an old man's directly,
I don't know that's that's my point here right now.
(31:57):
But I miss the team. That's that's probably the main thing,
right Yeah, I feel like That's what I hear a
lot when guys, you know, finally hang it up, is
they're just like, yeah, I just missed like the team
part of it. Not I don't care about the sport.
I just miss being around like the team. So I'm
you know, I'm trying to stay involved in the coaching
thing as well, and probably for that main reason. I
just love the you know, the environment it brings and
(32:18):
the camaraderie you build with so many different guys, like
because the relationships are always the coolest thing to me.
I was saying this to the guy I had on
he's a little younger, he's like nineteen. I just was
telling him, like, the relationships are key and like long
term because you don't know who you're gonna meet. But also,
you said you mentioned it earlier, just like you all
come from different backgrounds and like you don't know who
(32:39):
the hell you're really going to run into and what
that person went through when they were growing up that
made them who they are right now, And I don't know,
I just love that component to it. Like I've met
so many cool people from so many random places. That's
just like, well that makes sense why you do that
or there's just there's so many cool components to it.
It's why in relationships is one of those things that like,
that's the best part with that basketball brought me with
(33:01):
my friends, with my teammates. Um, it's so cool. It's
so cool with this game with a little orange ball
can whether be money or just friends the rest of
your life. Okay, so quick hitters for you, just to
finish it off. Who in your opinion is the best
player in the NBA? I know you're you're out of
the basketball thing. I don't even know if you even
are watching anymore. I do, yeah, I do enjoy watching.
(33:22):
I I'm a big Lebron fan. Loved Kobe yeah, oh yeah,
look to the hoodie. I love it. Yeah, I mean
this was a freak freak. Yeah he's different. And yeah,
until he's done, I'm not giving the reins to anyone else.
I don't care. I don't care exactly. So, okay, who's
(33:45):
the best young player in the NBA in your opinion? Gosh,
I like I like miranch Or, like Trey Young. I
like Trey Young because I think, like play against the Bucks.
He just hasn't slaggered to him right like he does.
I don't know. I mean, I don't know how young
is either, but I think he's my age. It's honestly sick.
It makes me sick to my stomach to think sometimes
that Lucas twenty two and Trey youngs and that Devin
(34:09):
Booker has been in the league for like six years
and he's only twenty four. I'm like, what am I
doing with myself? Young player? Right? Like these guys are
young but in the league for a little bit. Yeah, Luca, Luca,
Luca is nice to Luca doesn't really count as a
young player, honestly because he is just like you know, like, yeah, yeah,
he's only been in the league for three years, but
he is he's on a different stratosphere. Yeah, yeah, that's true.
(34:30):
All right, Well that's a rap. I appreciate you coming
on the show man. This was awesome here in your
perspective to year journey over at Minnesota. Hopefully some Gopher
fans will tune in. I'm sure a couple of people
remember you when you got in against Seattle. You had
that little block shot and the crowd wind nuts. Um.
But yeah, man, I appreciate you coming on, and uh,
best of luck to you, good day. I appreciate you,
(34:52):
thanks for having me. I think what's do is really cool.
I thinks a lot of really cool stories out there,
walk on there from all mall walks of life. So
what you're doing, and I'll be happy to share your
message on your podcast. Thank you me. I appreciate it already, folks.
That's a rap for episode two of Walkie Talkies Podcast
here on the College Athletes Network, featured on I Heart Radio.
(35:12):
I'm your host Noah Buno, and man, I really enjoyed
this episode, so I hope that you all did as well.
Quick little fun fact for those that listen to last
week's episode with Matt Ferris from Wisconsin. Matt and Mike
are actually pretty good friends and having to play a
basketball way back when, and Mike's the reason that I
was able to get Matt on the show. So thank
you to him again for that and for coming on. Uh,
(35:34):
and again thank you to everyone listening. If you're enjoying
the pod and you want to be notified when every
episode drops, and please make sure you subscribe to Walkie
Talkies Podcast on the I Heart Radio app or wherever
you get your podcasts. Also, my personal request is if
you can make sure if you wouldn't mind to leave
the show rating on whichever platform you listen to your
podcasts on. It would be very helpful to me. It
(35:55):
would be very helpful to the algorithms. I know we
all are learning about the algorithms, but please give me
a favor. Click a couple of stars. You could click
one for all I care. I mean, if you hated it,
be honest. Alright, Okay, Talkies podcast. We'll be back next week,
so make sure you're subscribed and notified. Walkie Talkies is
a production of I Heart Radio and the College Athletes Network.
(36:16):
For more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the I
Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Walkie Talkies is a production of I Heart Radio and
the College Athletes Network. Hello, Hey, yeah, Well what's up
(00:23):
Walkie Talkies? Welcome back to episode two of Walkie Talkies
podcast here on the College Athletes Network, featured on I
Heart Radio with the googlest walk on in the country.
I'm your host, Noah Bono, and before we get into
today's episode, I do want to give the listeners just
a little bit of background about myself for those who
don't know me. So, I've been a college basketball walk
(00:44):
on for the last five years in two different Division
one programs, and I started off my career at a
low major Division one school, Writer University in New Jersey,
before coming to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in the summer
of The goal for me was always to get a scholarship,
and it turns out I didn't do enough of the
right stuff to put myself in that position to where
I could only get on a roster as a walk on.
(01:04):
No problem. I was willing to take anything I could get. However,
I took my first walk on role with not much
real understanding of what the role entailed or what it
would be like, and had someone at the time told
me it would be the way it was, I probably
would have backed out at the deal, no doubt about it.
But all in all, it led me through this five
year journey for a reason. And now I'm here with
the opportunity to continue telling my own walk On story
(01:26):
and all that it's done for me in such an
important time period of my life as I entered early adulthood,
all while I'm able to give other walk on the
same chance to tell their stories as well. So I'm
very excited to build the Walkie Talkies with the guests
that I have on this show and with the engaged
listeners out there who appreciate these stories and can find
meaning and purpose from the guests and hopefully from myself
(01:48):
as well. Um you know, as we continue to put
episodes out weekly and climb and climb and climb. So
before I do get to today's guests, because yes, we
will have a guest interview today as we always do.
Just remember you can follow me on Twitter at snow
dot three or follow Walkie Talkies Podcast on Instagram, Twitter
and TikTok at w t Z podcast for video highlights
and if you want to interact with the show and
(02:10):
talk about what guests you'd like to see, what other
questions you'd maybe like me to ask guests, so on
and so forth. Also, most importantly of them all is
to please subscribe to Walkie Talkies podcast on the I
Heart Radio app or whichever platform you listen to your
podcast on. I'd really appreciate it. All right, now, let's
get into it here. On episode two, i'd talk with
a former walk on from a Big Ten school, the
(02:30):
University of Minnesota. All right, so you know it's hard
enough being a walk on and a freshman. Take the
two separately, they're both hard things to do. Now combine
the two and you're a freshman walk on, that's got
to be even harder. But how about your freshman walk
on who joins the team in the middle of December
and you miss all the summer workouts, the entire preseason,
(02:51):
and the first few games. Now that's got to be hard.
And that's our guest today, Mike Lucas Savage, who became
a member of the Minnesota basketball team during the middle
of the two thousand fifth team season. So Mike was
not a preferred walk on, meaning he never got recruited
to come be a part of the team. He just
showed up to campus in the fall and went to
an open tryout. And if you don't know, all schools
are technically required to hold these type of tryouts for
(03:13):
students enrolled at the university, but it's normally very very
hard to separate yourself and make the team this way,
and in most cases it doesn't really happen. And for
a while it looked like it wasn't gonna happen for
Mike either, but after two and a half months, he
did end up getting the call and from there, Mike
spent two valuable years in the Minnesota basketball program before
eventually deciding to devote all of his time towards his
(03:33):
future and going full force at pursuing a degree in
sports management. During his last two years of school. When
he decided to leave the team, he actually did a
student exchange program in London, along with three internships before
he landed a job as a marketing coordinator with X Games.
He's now currently a digital marketing agent at Homestead Studio
back in his hometown of Wisconsin. So in this episode,
Mike and I talk about that experience of him trying
(03:55):
out for the team, not hearing back for a while
and then finally getting that call back and just what
it was like for him getting accustomed to the team,
to the coaches, to college basketball. Midway through the season,
Mike talks about his favorite bench moment when the Minnesota
fans stormed the court. He talks about his relationship with
head coach Rich Patino, son of the legend coach Rick Patino.
(04:15):
We talked about the stigma around walk on and what
he thinks of that, along with what advice he would
give to current college athletes with the new n i
L rules in place. You know, I really enjoyed hearing
Mike's perspective on what the walk on journey was like
through his lens in a big tent program like Minnesota
under the son of a legendary coach from the Patino family, uh,
and just what the dynamic was like for him and
(04:36):
what he thinks overall. You know, this role of being
a walk on did for him in his later stages
in life as he pursued his job with X Games
in his current role now as a digital marketing agent,
and just what some of those things were as a
walk on that he learned that ended up helping him
in these next couple of jobs. You get all right,
(04:56):
all right, you know what time it is, It's time
for me to shut the hell up and let's get
on with show. Get this interview rolling. So here's my
full conversation with former Minnesota basketball walk on Mike Lucas Savage. Yeah,
so let's start with, UM, you know your journey being
a little bit different. You weren't a preferred walk on.
You started off, you went to the open team tryout
that every Division one team is required to hold. Um,
(05:19):
how many weeks or months did it take after the
tryout that you like kind of heard back from them,
and it was a while. So I think, um, out
of like I had no intentions to play basketball in college,
like D two, D three, nothing. Um. I think when
I got to school in Minnesota, I just kept like
(05:39):
not training per se, just trying to stay in shape. Um.
And I think my staying in shape is like different
through like just like casually lifting weights, like I was
like running five miles at a time, like trying to
stay like really good shape. Um. So when the triouts
came around, my high school coach actually had some sort
of connection with coaching staff, So I went to an
open gym that they had like early summer or early
(06:03):
school year. I'd say, so I got to meet some
of these guys and like just hop in and play
with them. I think I was the only one like
coming from as being outsider. So that was my first
experience with them. That was probably September October. I think
we're tryouts and it was like eighteen minutes just scrimmage,
no breaks, Like it almost seemed like they kind of
had their mind made up there, just like like it's
(06:25):
an obligation to do this. UM. So we tried off
for eighteen minutes scrimmage and like, I don't think I
played extremely well. I think he just played like smart.
I don't think I scored a ton. I think I
had like two buckets. And I didn't hear back like
yea or nay until December. And even some of the
guys I tried out with i'd see him at the
gym and they had asked, like do you hear back,
(06:46):
Like no word. So UM went through like the whole
month of October, November, and December. I think it was
two days before Christmas break UM. I had my flights
booked home UM and I got a call back from
the team saying, hey, would you come for a second tryout.
I'm like, like I was, I was checked out at
this point, right, like I wasn't training as hard per
(07:07):
se um. But I came back and it was just
a practice, Like I just went through a practice with
some other guy that also tried out, and at the
end of there's two days of practice we came to
At the end of those two practices, we went through
like a little individual workout, um, which is more so
just to workoutld not even try out, And they just
asked about like to like to stay on the team,
(07:28):
and I was like, yeah, like sign me up, I'm
ready to go. Yeah. Well that's kind of a weird story, right,
like yeah, I mean, especially because they made you wait
so long, Like, yeah, I had to try out in
September October, and you know, I read that they had
some stuff come up, like they had some guys get
kicked off the team, a couple were ineligible, Like you
were kind of thrown into Yeah, you were thrown into
(07:48):
a little fire of like some toxicity going on over there.
And they're like, you know what, we need an extra body.
How's how's this guy sound that that is most likely?
Why likely? Why you know? So? I said in the
intro about how being a walk on is hard, being
a freshman walk on is even harder. But when you're
a freshman walk on who misses preseason, summer workouts and
(08:10):
the first couple of games, like how much harder was
that for you to kind of integrate yourself into that
that team situation all the way in December? Yeah it was.
It was difficult to guys are super committing, super kind,
um like they helped out a lot, so I jumped in.
I think we're like three games in a preseason or
any maybe two, it's pretty early on, but you're right
missing all like the preseason workouts, like understanding the playbook.
(08:32):
I got a CD of all the plays and stuff.
I would watch for like weeks on end, just trying
to get these things down. Granted I never really ran
these plays ever, but I knew like the back of
my hand, right, So yeah, it was tough. I think
the first couple of weeks of practice too. Like I
didn't have shoes. I had like my old AU basketball
shoes and they were purple and like didn't didn't clash
(08:54):
well with the Minnesota colors. But Um, yeah, so it was.
It was a good adjustment to like everybody's accomboating, coaching staff,
trainers and stuff like that. But the I think it's
like the second or third day that I was officially
on the team, Um, we had a game, like it
was yeah, it was game time. So like I got
to experience that right away, probably like two practices and
(09:16):
by then, um, but so yeah, it's throw into the
fire like to put it. So, I mean, was that
team was it? It had to be different because there
was all that drama going on on the team. And
then I know your second year is when that incident happened.
You know, some of the guys were supposedly posted a
sex video online and ultimately I'm not sure the validity
of that, but it ended up, you know, getting suspended
(09:38):
for it for the rest of the year. What do
you remember about that whole situation and just like that
whole team vibe, So from your perspective, like, what was
that like? Yeah, I think, like, especially being in a
big city of Minneapolis, a lot of things going outside
of basketball, like like you're going out, you're having fun.
But I think my first year, a couple of transfers
and I think there's some like stuff outside of basketball
that happened to some people are I'm exactly sure what happened.
(10:01):
I just like focused on myself the most part. But
the team by wasn't affected by that per se, Like
there wasn't any hostility locker room, like there was anything
bad going on internally. UM second year, I know, like
some of that step off the court. I don't believe
it was like our players that posted it. Again, I'm
out too deep into it because I just know like
(10:21):
they kept it pretty pretty tightly knit UM. And I
don't know the guys like mal intentions of anything, but
I don't think it was them. I think its something
got leaked and they were kind of like on the
back end of it. UM. So all unfortunate for them,
but yeah, nothing, nothing was affected in terms of the
team wise, like camaraderie and the family feeling. UM didn't
(10:42):
really get impacted. That's good because obviously as a Division
one athlete, something comes out like that. Even if someone
leaked it and there's nothing they could do about it,
they were obviously going to be the ones that took
the fall from it. Unfortunately, as shitty as that is,
exactly how was it being around coach Bridge Pettino like
son of legend Rick, but you know, like just another
version of him, Like what was that Like? Yeah, it
(11:03):
was cool. Um, it's cool. Rick came in and talked
to us quite a few times, which like the Big
Ten tournaments are like preseason heed to come in and
speak to us. Uh, he always has some good Um.
Other speakers come in, like NBA scouts or NBA trainers
come in and speak to the team. So I was
always I was a cool aspect of paving him as
a coach because he had a really strong connection from
his dad and even who he made friends with, so
(11:26):
that that was really cool experience him as a guy.
He is, like, he's funny, he'd be cool to hang
out with. Um. I only saw him in like a
basketball sense, right, but I think like him as a
friend would be would be a cool guy. Yeah exactly.
He just like makes funny but like you can just
back to him kind of thing. Um, he's good in
that sense. Yeah. I think he's got the Italian roots
(11:46):
to him, so I relate to it because that's what
I see Pattino. I'm like, these guys are obviously Italian,
like they're probably exactly. That's awesome. You know, I've been
yelled at so many times in my life that at
this point, just for the fun of it, I'd love
to be on the other end of a crazy, possessed
Patino ramp. That'd be sick. All right. When we come back,
(12:09):
Mike's gonna tell us if Coach Patino laid out the
role of a walk on for him or not when
he got onto the team again. You are listening to
Walkie Talkies podcast with the coolest walk on in the country, myself,
Noah Bano here on the College Athletes Network on I
Heart Radio. You can subscribe to the podcast on the
I Heart Radio app or whichever platform you listen to
(12:30):
your podcast on. You can also follow the podcast social
media pages at w t Z podcast on Twitter, Instagram,
and TikTok, and you can follow myself on Twitter and
Instagram at snow dot three. Alright, folks, day with us.
We'll be right back. I know, I know, I know
you're tired of the ad. You hated the ad. Whatever,
(12:50):
Walkie Talkies podcast on the College Athletes Network is back.
You've got nothing to worry about. Your host, me, Noah Bono,
I'm back. We're back. Please make sure you subscribe to
the show so you don't miss any episodes. And let's
bring back in my guest Mike, former walk on for
the Minnesota basketball team. Um, you know, so being a
walk on and you know, being on that Minnesota team,
I'm sure Coach Pettino kind of made you aware of
(13:13):
what essentially your role was going to kind of be like.
And obviously that comes with bringing the energy, having a
lot of juice, putting the other guys first, making sure
you're selfless. You know, did you make it a priority
every game to always have that positive energy and that
attitude for the rest of the guys to kind of
feed off of. Yeah. That A's a really good point.
When I when I first joined, like we're kind of
like in season mode, so I didn't get a talking
(13:35):
to it like hey, this is the expectations, like don't
expect this, expect this, Like this will we expect from you? Um,
there wasn't like clear guideline step, but I knew I understood,
Like listen, I'm not not here to try to take
over a starting spot. I'm not I'm trying to make
it so better. I'm trying I'm trying to push someone else. Um,
And I wanted to be that one guy like on
ESP and a tell Waiver, right like, I don't known
(13:55):
be that hype guy. Um, So I try to bring
that energy in that sense. I'll just try to. I
also try to like set not set standards, but like
help out outside of basketball, whether it be like school
or just like showing up on time, like I don't know,
just keeping keeping things in a straight line. Um. I
don't think it was difficult by any means, Like the
guys made it pretty easy, but there's times like everybody
(14:17):
needs to hold hold themselves and others accountable. I mean
that's the other like kind of component to being a
walk on is we are the team g P a booster.
Uh you know, so getting some guys on on board
with that and not having the coaches having to bitch
at them and just hearing it from another player is
probably easier. But like, yo, come on, sit down to
your homework with me for twenty minutes. Yeah, it's a
really good point. And it's kind of like it's kind
(14:38):
of gour role, right Like, Yeah, whether it be like
on the basketball card now in the basketball court, we
all have our certain roles and that's that's part of ours.
I feel like, what was the craziest moment you remember
from a game, like on the bench, mid game, you
and your team just something happened on the court and
you guys just went absolutely insane. I think the one
memory that pops out as we beat Maryland. I think
they're ranked like dot top five at the time. I
(14:59):
think there two or four. I should remember this, um
but uh, we didn't have like a great season going
and they came to our place. We beat him on
our court and everybody rushed the rush the course. That
was really cool experience. Um so because like jump around
with everybody party there, dude, there was there was like
the first year, we haven't won money games, so there
weren't many like big big moments. Second year, like we
(15:22):
were much better, but there weren't like many many big
games with us. But we could compete a competed times,
and I know, like the Minnesota vibe there is like
you know, big party school. There was a lot to do,
a lot going on after games and stuff. So you know, yeah,
I mean the place was you guys were probably so
fucked up after that. Yeah, it was, Yeah, that was
(15:43):
that was a fun one. Do you think as a
walk on there's any sort of negative stigma that kind
of comes with the title being a walk on? You
know what, I don't know. I don't know, like and
from my point of view, everybody said anything like I
tries trash it. It's like, pist off, whatever you say,
does that matter to me? Like I, I've been through it,
You've been through it, Like we put in the work
at the time, so um, we deserve to be here
(16:06):
in that sense. But if there is a negive stigma,
it's like what are you gonna do about it? Right?
And I feel like that's that Ship's for the birds,
like what you're saying, like what that happened? I'm gonna
do my own thing. Like I'm sure you're the same
way your team. You and your team are just like this.
So yeah, the elside always we don't really let seep in,
but I just you know, there there's always a commentary
(16:27):
of like, well, you know, walk ons are just practice players,
and some you know pretty much just stand there standing around.
They're not really doing ship, and it's like, well, you
know what, you're not in the building, so how the
hell do you know exactly exactly, like you're not gonna
not gonna tell my story. So I always think that's funny.
But I always like to ask that question just because,
like I think that generally there is just a negative
(16:48):
stigma surrounded by it, and not because of us, just
because kind of what the general consensus is of a
walk on. So you know, hopefully walkie talkies here will
help change that by hearing your guys perspective and stuff,
because it's you know, it's not Yes, it's hard and
there's a lot of that comes with it with little reward.
But like we wouldn't have chose it if we didn't
think we could get something out of it and if
(17:09):
there wasn't good that came with it. So you hit
that nail or in the head, Like that's totally true.
And I think that the main thing is too as
you can't take everything so seriously, Like I joke around,
like I said, I'm a teleflavor, right, like I would
jokingly say, like, you know, I'm on the bench to
hype people up. That's my role, I know it. Um.
So if you go into this saying like I'm gonna
take over a starting spot, you're gonna really disappointed and
you're not gonna have fun being a walk on for
(17:31):
sec Yeah, because I would say your stereotypical walk on
is the guy just like knows he's never going to
get a scholarship, and yeah, he's a tower boy. Like
there are other people in positions where they do want
to maybe they're out of higher school, they want to
come to a lower school and get that scholarship, which
we've seen like that happens. It's you know, it's a
little bit more rare in the basketball world and the
football world just because there's less spots. But yeah, generally
(17:53):
being a walk on, that's the territory. And I don't
think people would accept the role or it would even
be a role on teams. There weren't people who wanted
to fill that position, and obviously it's reoccurring that people
want to take it. So you only did it for
two years, but it's long enough to think of a
time or maybe there's the worst part about being a
walk on overall that if you could change, you would
try to change it. Uh. Yeah, like I said, only
(18:16):
being there for two years, Like, I'm sure people have
many different experiences in terms of long term being hard
of team. But I think the main thing is is
like I knew I could play with whomever, right, Like
I know my ability. Um never getting a shot wasn't
like I wasn't like upset about it, but I feel
like I just wanted to play basketball, right. So there
(18:36):
are some times where as a practice, like I sat
on sidelines for a very long time, like you didn't
touch a basketball for a very long time, and someone's like,
I just want I just want to want to play,
like give me, give me a chance just to play
and even proved myself right. So um, that probably the
only like things like you're part of basketball team, you
don't play basketball sometimes for a very long time. Um.
(18:57):
The other the other side of that is you're putting
in all that working heard that some of the starters do.
I mean they put in a lot of time, right, um,
and you you are expected this to the bench, which
is a okay, know your roll, right, But the early
mornings they're often like the workouts are tough, practices are long, right,
Like you know, it's a lot of times it's a
full time job. I think it's funny when people say,
(19:18):
you know, you pay for your own tuition blah, blah blah,
like you should go get a job to help you out,
And it's like, I don't think you understand that I
already have a little full time I have a non
paying full time job. But yeah, I know I've been
in the same position where a lot of it was
just standing around, just itching to get on the court
and play, you know, and I and I came and
kind of misled on the like what a walk on
(19:39):
was thinking I'd have like at least an opportunity to
practice and get better, and it turned into kind of
just like yeah, and just like what you know what
it is about all the scholarship guys, I get that,
but like why bring us there if there wasn't a
real chance to get better? So that itch to play
and standing on the sidelines and your feet start going
numb in your shoes and just like, bro, we have
(20:01):
been going for three hours right now, like are we
almost done? Coach? Yeah, dude, I know, I know what
you mean. So you know with that, like obviously there
were some moments at Minnesota where you weren't getting to
practice and for you, your role was kind of limited.
What was the walk on experience, like specifically at Minnesota
was it more of you not participating than participating? Was
(20:22):
it more of a fifty Like what was it like
with that? Yeah, I would say, I mean they weren't
like trying to exclude the walk on first. Today I
would just play two or three of us at a time.
They're on the sidelines, but we would participate heavy in
like weight room and conditioning, and then come basketball would
be like a lot of like scrimmaging or like practicing
play sets or scout scouting kind of stuff like that.
(20:45):
So we would be again heavy weight room, heavy training,
and then come to basketball like maybe you get thrown
them for a couple of plays um or you do
like some of the drills like shooting drills and stuff
like that. But I would say you, I would I
sat on the sidelines a lot for practices and yeah,
you're right, like your feet go numb, like you sit
insidelm for an hour, then do the shooting drill and
it's like two might get a basketball for an hour,
(21:08):
Like I don't know, I don't know how to shoot
forgot Yeah, no, So so you would actually say, like
the for the walk ons, it was kind of the
same where you were mainly on the sideline. I mean,
did you get to did you get to play in
scout team a few times? A few times? But usually
it'd be like top five or like the next five
that would be like our scout right, so not bench players,
like the people who were behind the starting five would
(21:29):
be our scout team and we get thrown in occasional
like which again like it wasn't bad, but it wasn't
basketball for me. Yeah, you're going in there, you you know,
you what player running and you know you're not touching
the ball, which again it's finally let me do my
job and let me help the starters learn. But we
want to play basketball when you're Hooper, like you just
want to play. You just want to play. And I
just think, like the scout team, that's our game, you know,
(21:52):
I feel like we got if we're on the team
in like let us say at least beyond the scout team.
Because you you know, you had a good high school career,
like you obviously obviously a good basketball player. You made
the Minnesota team in an open tryout. They saw something.
They were like, this kid can play. So I look
at it as like if you know he can play,
and you asked him to be on the team. Let's
just let him get some wreck in in practice. Obviously. Yeah,
(22:14):
he's not going to be as good as what we're
preparing for in the games. But like he's a body,
he's healthy, he's athletic, he's in shape. My mindsets always
just like if you have him there, why aren't we
using them? So I don't know that that's the thing
that bugs me. Yeah, I think you're spot on there.
I think it's also if you don't give walk On
is a chance just once, right, like you never know.
(22:34):
And for an example, I don't know if you've seen
like step sharp As it was a walk on for
walk On from Minnesota. He was like a year after me,
and he got he got one chance, and he took
advantage of it, and he like he bawled out right
and like like ship, like let's start incorporating. It's like
that's all takes, is that one chance? Yeah, you know
these guys are good, just like incorporated a little bit um. Yeah.
(22:56):
I think opportunity, it's key. You need some sort of
opportunity to assert yourself. I feel personally that I didn't
put myself based on my decisions in the best situation
for an opportunity. But regardless, I don't know. I just
look at it from this angle of like I would
want to give a kid who is pursuing a dream
a real opportunity, and if he if he flunks and
(23:17):
he doesn't do good, then fuck it. He's got to
live with the fact that, you know, he didn't take
care of his opportunity. But I think you at least
got to give him one chance, you know, right, I'll
take So yeah, Like with that, what would you say
those two years of being a walk on? Did they
help shape your perspective in any different way about yourself
for life in general? They shaped in the sense of like,
first of all, I met some really good people and
(23:37):
they helped shape my perspective. Like my teammates were really
good dudes. Um I got along with all of them. Um,
I hope, I hope they, like me, were still stay
in touch a little bit, like went through Instagram DM
with maybe a few occasional texts, but like, those are
lifelong friends and they've helped shape like the way I
look at a basketball but life too, because you all
came from different upbringing. So um, that was cool to
see in terms of the coaching staff. I think the
(24:00):
impactful coach I had was our strength coach. So he
wasn't he wasn't a big favorite by the players, Like
you'd kick our ask, but like we'd come to practice
and you have a weight goal, right, So like my
I was. I came in a one seventy five weight
goal was one nine. I got the two hundred. But
it was like if you didn't make your weight, you
had a punishment, right, So I actually remember, yeah JR.
(24:23):
To lose weight, he was he was running in between
plays or in practice. I mean he would he would
kick your ass, right, but like he got the most
out of you, and JR lost his weight, like he
had a bye transformation. Granted I don't know. I don't
know Minnes when he got the rider, he put all
that ship right back the first to tell you, I
(24:46):
don't think it was difficult for him to gain weight.
But that's funny. Yeah, but that's exactly right, Like your
your strength coach needs to have a needs to have
an important role in your life, and you look back
at it, you hate him in the moment, but he
got the most that every single player, like you'd a
shot to the brink of like your breaking point and
at the time you're like this guy, like this guy stinks,
but looking back, like this, this guy got the most
(25:07):
out of me, and I was in the best shape
of my life and I needed him. I need him
to be like who I was. So that's cool. You
have you experienced that in your role? Like which which part? Yeah,
you're right, there's a lot of parts to it. Like
have you felt like someone made an impact that your
on your life, like has changed a perspective on life
(25:28):
in general, not only like hard work wise, not not
like put me on the spot on my own show.
I don't, I don't, I don't know. I'd have to
step on this one. No, no no, no, it's a it's
a good question because there's definitely a yes, and I
just would need to think about long and hard, because
you know, there's so many people that have influenced me,
and like, I've had great experiences and I've had a
(25:48):
lot of bad experiences, but I wouldn't trade any of them.
I always say that, like, my experiences have shaped what
I'm doing right now, where I'm at right now. So
you know, there's been I would say, way more bad
ones than good ones. But you take them for what
they are, and I've just tried to learn a lesson
from every single one. But I've definitely been around some
good people. Okay, okay, yes, it's that time for another ad,
(26:09):
but please don't go anywhere so you can hear the
pen ultimum of the episode, which is what Mike learned
overall from those two years as a walk on and
what he's taken with him into his everyday job. Again,
you were listening to Walkie Talkies podcast with the coolest
walk on in the country. I'm your host, Noah Bono
here on the College Athletes Network, featured on I Heart Radio.
You can subscribe to the podcast on the I Heart
(26:31):
Radio app or whichever platform you listen to your podcast on.
You can also follow the podcast social media is on Twitter, Instagram,
and TikTok at w t Z podcast, and you can
follow me myself and I on Twitter and Instagram at
snow dot three. Alright, folks, will be right back. So
just like that, we're back Walkie Talkies podcast here on
(26:52):
the College Athletes Network. We didn't go anywhere, didn't take
that long. The ad couldn't have been that bad, alright, alright, alright,
please make sure you do. Subscribe to the show on
the radio, app or wherever you get your podcast. And
as we approached the end of the show, let's bring
back in Mike Lucas Savage. So, Mike, overall, what what
would you say you learned from those two years being
a walk on in that role? Like what have you
(27:13):
taken with you some key takeaways and lessons you learn
from it, you know, into your everyday job now. Um.
I think that's the biggest thing that I took away
was that if I put my mind to something it's
so cliche, but I can get there. I can do it.
So if I just put in that time, whether it
be training first sport or like a marathon something something
(27:34):
like that, I can do it. If I want to
be really good at my job, want to be like
dive deep into digital marketing, like I can do it,
I'm going to do it. Um. But I think it's
that mentality of like being a walk on isn't easy,
Like getting to that goal, be able to be preferred
or actually trying out it's not easy. You had to
really head first dive into it right, like you know,
like it's like a full time job. You to dive
(27:55):
head first into it and if you have any any
like quarrels of can't do this or I don't know
if I can do this, you're not gonna make it
like so I think I think it's the mentality for
me that's awesome. How to being around coach Patino and
that team environment and seeing it firsthand, like being a
part of what those teams are like. And then also
the entire Minnesota you know sports environment with all the
(28:17):
proteins are how did how did it help you get
into the current field you're in now? Yeah? So I
I did sport management, I wanted to do sports law,
took a couple of law classes, like law it's not
for me. So being a part of the team and stuff.
Um A I knew had a ton of connections, right
if I wanted to reach out to him, can you
help me out, like I want to go to this path,
I knew he would. Um in the whole coaching staff,
(28:38):
I knew they would. And then being in Minnesota. That's
why I chose Minnesota just because like all the forts companies,
all the sports teams, like so many opportunities there. So um,
I think also when you say like you're on the
Minnesota go for basketball team. Like that that resonates with
people in that city. Right, that's only major D one
school in Minneapolis, millions of people. So that that's another
(28:59):
cool respect. Um, how did it help me get into
the role I was in? So I into sports sports
marketing and X games. ESPN was in town interview with them. Um,
and that's how I got my first internship in our
second internship in job. So I don't know if like
probably like my work ethic. That's by the only way
it helped me in um, because this is a whole
different sports sports world, like extreme extreme action sports basketball,
(29:23):
very different, but um, it helped in sense of like
work ethic and like being able to say you were
part of you on basketball team like people know Buster balls.
Yeah for sure. So for the new athlete in today's era,
they get to profit off their name, image and likeness
just got passeng uly, what do you what do you
think about that? And then what would be some advice
(29:44):
that you'd recommend to your younger self if you were
a college athlete now that maybe you could pass along
to current college athletes. Uh So for like the name,
image and like this all that stuff, I think like
it had to happen in due time, right, Like, these
these athletes do need something for how much money they're generating.
Granted I know from being a part of Minnesota, Like
we got treated really well, whether it be like the
(30:06):
food we got, the food we got delivered to us
late at night, like we never went hungry. So that
there's like pros and construct you're getting You're not getting
paid cash, but you're getting paid way different ways. Um,
but for the amount of work that they put in
and again the money they generate, Like I hope these
athletes can take advantage of some of that stuff, um
(30:27):
looking back or like for the new era, what I
would do, Like you got to take advantage of social media, right,
Like I never saw the core, but I would be
posting so much social media and hopes that some brand
would want to work with me. Right, So I think
there's huge opportunity there. Again, if you're a superstar, even
if you're not, Like, if you can if you can
really work on your social media and uh and build
(30:50):
your own brand, yeah, I bet you can make a
lot of money, a lot absolutely, and then long term
for yourself, do you have any bigger goals? Um? In
the sports business, feel that you want to kind of
achieve or look at doing. Honestly, now I feel I
feel like I'm out of it now. I haven't touched
a basketball very very long time, so like, I don't
know if I could ever coach. I feel like I
(31:11):
have a very good outlook on the game of basketball
and a a very different outlook in terms of like how
I would coach players. I think that that's an old,
older school style. So I think that's coming gone. Um,
those those old school coaches are still in the world
right now. I feel like I don't have a higher
goal in terms of like my my sports career, my
(31:35):
even post career, like the sports in general, um, which
is which is okay with me? Like I'm okay, okay,
not something basketball anymore. I'm okay not doing this. Like
my main thing is I don't want to get hurt.
I don't want to. I don't want to want to
be able to ski in the winter. I want to
be able to go surfer in the summer. Like I
don't want to. I want to be laid up because
it torm a c I'll playing an old man's directly,
I don't know that's that's my point here right now.
(31:57):
But I miss the team. That's that's probably the main thing,
right Yeah, I feel like That's what I hear a
lot when guys, you know, finally hang it up, is
they're just like, yeah, I just missed like the team
part of it. Not I don't care about the sport.
I just miss being around like the team. So I'm
you know, I'm trying to stay involved in the coaching
thing as well, and probably for that main reason. I
just love the you know, the environment it brings and
(32:18):
the camaraderie you build with so many different guys, like
because the relationships are always the coolest thing to me.
I was saying this to the guy I had on
he's a little younger, he's like nineteen. I just was
telling him, like, the relationships are key and like long
term because you don't know who you're gonna meet. But also,
you said you mentioned it earlier, just like you all
come from different backgrounds and like you don't know who
(32:39):
the hell you're really going to run into and what
that person went through when they were growing up that
made them who they are right now, And I don't know,
I just love that component to it. Like I've met
so many cool people from so many random places. That's
just like, well that makes sense why you do that
or there's just there's so many cool components to it.
It's why in relationships is one of those things that like,
that's the best part with that basketball brought me with
(33:01):
my friends, with my teammates. Um, it's so cool. It's
so cool with this game with a little orange ball
can whether be money or just friends the rest of
your life. Okay, so quick hitters for you, just to
finish it off. Who in your opinion is the best
player in the NBA? I know you're you're out of
the basketball thing. I don't even know if you even
are watching anymore. I do, yeah, I do enjoy watching.
(33:22):
I I'm a big Lebron fan. Loved Kobe yeah, oh yeah,
look to the hoodie. I love it. Yeah, I mean
this was a freak freak. Yeah he's different. And yeah,
until he's done, I'm not giving the reins to anyone else.
I don't care. I don't care exactly. So, okay, who's
(33:45):
the best young player in the NBA in your opinion? Gosh,
I like I like miranch Or, like Trey Young. I
like Trey Young because I think, like play against the Bucks.
He just hasn't slaggered to him right like he does.
I don't know. I mean, I don't know how young
is either, but I think he's my age. It's honestly sick.
It makes me sick to my stomach to think sometimes
that Lucas twenty two and Trey youngs and that Devin
(34:09):
Booker has been in the league for like six years
and he's only twenty four. I'm like, what am I
doing with myself? Young player? Right? Like these guys are
young but in the league for a little bit. Yeah, Luca, Luca,
Luca is nice to Luca doesn't really count as a
young player, honestly because he is just like you know, like, yeah, yeah,
he's only been in the league for three years, but
he is he's on a different stratosphere. Yeah, yeah, that's true.
(34:30):
All right, Well that's a rap. I appreciate you coming
on the show man. This was awesome here in your
perspective to year journey over at Minnesota. Hopefully some Gopher
fans will tune in. I'm sure a couple of people
remember you when you got in against Seattle. You had
that little block shot and the crowd wind nuts. Um.
But yeah, man, I appreciate you coming on, and uh,
best of luck to you, good day. I appreciate you,
(34:52):
thanks for having me. I think what's do is really cool.
I thinks a lot of really cool stories out there,
walk on there from all mall walks of life. So
what you're doing, and I'll be happy to share your
message on your podcast. Thank you me. I appreciate it already, folks.
That's a rap for episode two of Walkie Talkies Podcast
here on the College Athletes Network, featured on I Heart Radio.
(35:12):
I'm your host Noah Buno, and man, I really enjoyed
this episode, so I hope that you all did as well.
Quick little fun fact for those that listen to last
week's episode with Matt Ferris from Wisconsin. Matt and Mike
are actually pretty good friends and having to play a
basketball way back when, and Mike's the reason that I
was able to get Matt on the show. So thank
you to him again for that and for coming on. Uh,
(35:34):
and again thank you to everyone listening. If you're enjoying
the pod and you want to be notified when every
episode drops, and please make sure you subscribe to Walkie
Talkies Podcast on the I Heart Radio app or wherever
you get your podcasts. Also, my personal request is if
you can make sure if you wouldn't mind to leave
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(35:55):
would be very helpful to the algorithms. I know we
all are learning about the algorithms, but please give me
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one for all I care. I mean, if you hated it,
be honest. Alright, Okay, Talkies podcast. We'll be back next week,
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Noah Buono
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