June 16, 2023 • 18 mins
Anthony Hill played tight end for the Texans in 2009 and 2010, and is now a successful businessman in the Houston area. He and Drew Dougherty of Texans TV talked about getting drafted in 2009, joining a team with DeMeco Ryans, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels and a host of others, and much more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Where are they now? This is Drew Doherty. I'm here
in Houston at NRG Stadium and this where are they now?
Deals with former tight end Anthony Hill. He was a
two thousand and nine draft pick out of NC State,
but he's a Houstonian well by way of Clearbrook High School,
so he grew up in the area, went away to
(00:21):
college in North Carolina, and then was drafted back in
two thousand and nine by Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith,
the general manager of the Texans. He joined a tight
ends group that included really the two best in franchise history.
You knowwhen Daniels and Joel Dresen and he immediately was
on a winner nine to seven were those Texans his
(00:42):
rookie year, and he has turned his post football career
into a big time success. Like many of the guys
that we've talked to on this podcast, he's doing well
in his retirement and really he's not retired. He just
retired from the game of football. He's not retired at
all from the world world. But without further ado, please
(01:03):
enjoy this brief conversation with Anthony Hill. Where are going
to these das?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Right? Ronan? What's going on?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Man Hey, First of all, thanks for having me on.
Definitely has been a been an awesome time right now.
I'm currently I actually own a construction company here today.
Got into constructions soon as I finished planned back in
twenty twelve is twenty thirteen. Got into construction, buying homes,
flipping homes, buying apartment complexes, got into concrete with my
(01:33):
dad and that kind of took off, and have been
a part of some pretty decent sized projects throughout the city.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Mister modesty here, I've been around you a time or
two because we go out and we do events and
we speak at various groups and whatnot. You have been
involved in some pretty major projects. You're you're not just
flipping houses, which is a big deal in and of itself.
You're doing a lot more than that.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Anthony, Yes, sir, yes, there.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
You know, I was given a few chances by the
the you know, definitely, the connections through the Texans has
definitely helped me out throughout the city. And I see
the Tellipson family had a friend, Trent Tellips, and he
gave me a chance on the project over at Memorial
Park where they put the two tunnels in those really
large tunnels and so that was one of our larger
(02:18):
projects Port of Houston.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
We were at United Airlines.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
For about about five six years, and so, yeah, those
are kind of our staples that kind of was able
to help us grow significantly in the concrete slash construction world.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah. I knew about the United Airlines one because I
think the last time you and I were at a
specific event, you know, speaking and doing a Q and A,
that's what you were kind of immersed in. But I
did not know about the Memorial Park one. I'm a
former runner. I don't run as much anymore, but I
used to run around that loop a lot in late nine,
mid nineties, late nineties. Every time I come back, that's
(02:53):
just an entirely transformed area. You guys are a big
part of that. How exciting was that to see that
just go from start to finish and it's not really
finished ever, is it?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
No? I don't. I don't think it'll be finished for
some time.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I mean, technically it's finished, but I think it'll continue
to grow over the years.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
That was awesome. That was a project that I got.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
With me and my dad and then actually about just
about as we were completing, my dad he actually ended
up passing away. So me finishing that project was a
It was a huge accomplishment for me just to say, okay, hey,
look I finished a project. I know, I really made
him proud. And just to just to see the project
start as trees and woods and you know, those guys
(03:38):
were like, you know, hey, look we are We're tired
of people getting smacked by cars from crossing the streets
and different.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Things like that. So we're going to have this huge
tunnel and land bridges.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
And I didn't know that it would turn out so nice,
but it's definitely a piece of work over there. So
it was it was a huge blessing to be able
to be a part of that one.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, I mainly stayed on the trail, so I didn't
I didn't run run the risk too often getting smacked
by car. Way back in high school, every once in
a while, we'd veer off and go to basically Sabine
Bridge from Amoral Park and turn around. Okay, so you're
from this area, Clearbrook, you know, down sort of south
in between Houston and Galveston. You grew up, You go
to the NC State, you play there. Fourth rounder in
(04:20):
two thousand and nine, what was it like when you
find out you get the call from the hometown team.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Oh man, it was crazy. I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I actually, quote unquote, I got sick during the draft,
and so you know, I had this huge fishing trip
plan before the draft because I was like, you know,
I don't want to be around people.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
I'm going to go fishing. I'm want to do all
these other things.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I'm going to go out to Galveston Bay and just
kind of go catch some red fish and get away
and I'll just have my phone handy.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You know. Whatever. That didn't happen, that didn't go as planned.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I think it was It could have been anxiety, but
I don't but I don't want to say it. But yeah,
I was in a hotel room sick, and then I
got the phone call from a Houston I'm like, you know,
you know who is this call? And it was coach Kobiak.
He was giving me a call. He said, hey, man,
I want you to come and play here. Family went nuts,
you know, Uh, you know we have a family divided.
(05:12):
So I have half Cowboy fans, yeah boo, yeah, then
uh we have half Texans fans, and so my aunt
and my dad actually they were they were hidden hidden hands,
and they were in church actually, and so and so
they were in church, and they came back and they
were like, you know, they've made a huge announcement of
(05:34):
a church, and you know, they all celebrated as the
Cowboy fans were like, god, dang it, you know, you know,
they were all pissed off. So but it was it
was amazing, man, it was. It was amazing to come
back home. I had been gone for six years going
to to n C State and so it was just.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Hard grave before that the military count.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Yeah, definitely definitely went to the military and so just just
a lot of structure and so was really away from
home for yeah, six years, and then to just be
able to come back and be with my mother and
blisters and really my whole family.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
So it was just it was great.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, you come to a team with Owen Daniels at
tight end old reason, really good tight end as well.
You come in the mix there too. What was that like,
you get to rookie minicamp what's that like rookie minicamp
Ota is kind of getting your feet wet as a professional.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
It was you know, honestly, it was intimidating to start.
I mean, od I definitely had already known about him.
Joel Dresen was a super solid player, came in.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Me and James Casey we get drafted in the.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Same draft, so some really good guys, and so, you know,
I was just kind of like very much so humbled
to go from being the man at NC State to
kind of being the last man on the totem pole,
really trying to fight for a spot to actually play
on Sundays.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
So it was just a very humbling experience. And I
want to say, to start.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
I want to say, we have like like seven or
eight guys, you know, like seven or eight tight ends,
and so it was like it was just a tank,
you know. I mean we went from having two and
three to having you know, five and six. They had
seven and eight, and it was it was a ton
of guys.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
In the room.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Yeah, and you would you joined the team that had
been gone eight to eight the previous two seasons. You
get there and you're in that that class with Cushing
the first rounder, Barwin had a nice rookie season, Glover
Quinn would go on to do fantastic things. You're in there.
Bryce McCain I mean everybody kind of contributed, and then
he had two rookie free agents in Arian and Tim Jamison.
(07:34):
I mean everybody on that rot, not roster, but on
that rookie roster really wound up doing something at some
point or another, didn't they.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, definitely, definitely, And you know, I actually still communicate
with a lot of those guys. Actually text Cushion like
a couple of weeks ago, asking about his kids and.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Little league football.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I did an event with Tim Jamison last week, a
taste testing where we ate way too much dessert.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
So James Casey is coaching now, so he's always busy,
so like, well we'll shoot each other text messages.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Here and there.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
But a lot of those guys, we definitely still keep
in contact. I see Cushing all the time. I think
it was a close knit group. I think those those
are bonds that will have from probably from here on.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
What was that rookie season? Like it was a weird year.
You start out at home and you get Mark Sanchez
in his first start against the Jets, and then everyone's thinking, oh,
you got this, Texans will win this and they blow
the Texans doors off. But then you go to Tennessee
and you literally all get in a fist fight with
the Titans on the bench. But it's a fist fight
of a game, just going back and forth. But Houston
(08:42):
comes out victoria. It was a great game, one of
the best games I've ever seen, and it was that
whole year.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Like for you, it was a roller coaster. I remember it.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
I definitely remember it, just you know, just trying to
fight just to get on the field and just kind
of seeing, you know, the ups and downs of you know, preseason,
we're like, oh man, we're gonna be pretty good.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
And then, like you say, we came in, we took
a we took a hard l burst the.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Jets, and then kind of had our ups and downs
where we showed like just hey look we're really really good,
and then we kind of we stunk it up a
few times. I was able to learn that the NFL
wasn't promised that hey, look anybody can win it, you know,
any given Sunday, just kind of learning. I think OD
ended up getting injured or something like that that season,
and I ended up getting some more playing time. Then
(09:24):
I got injured, and so it was you know, it
was just a just a roller coaster. So I was
able to kind of learn, like, Okay, this is what
the NFL is. You know what all these guys have
been talking about.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Five and three at the buy and then you come
out of the buy, you lose four straight You're you
guys are five and seven? Yeah, and then you end
with four straight wins and in the process, Arian Foster
kind of comes out of the woodwork. Now it wasn't
you know, he didn't just get the job and he
wasn't the anointed the guy for the next season, but
you saw some things down the stretcher. You also beat
(09:53):
the Patriots to end the season, and for a few
hours there was like Texans might be getting in the
playoffs depending on what happens. It didn't. Yeah, that was finish,
wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
That really was. It was awesome to see Foster kind
of come out of nowhere. He was always a really
humble guy and I actually played with him in the
All Star Game and he tore his hamstring on the
first play. I think it was Pat maybe Pat White
fumbled the ball and he went to pick it up
and just kind of a freak accident. He just he
just snapped his hamstring or something like that. So I was,
you know, I didn't you know, I didn't think to
(10:24):
see him again or anything like that. And then next
thing you know, we were on the team again together.
It's like, okay, well that was the guy that snapped
his hamstring and then he for him to bounce back
and just come out of nowhere. I thought that was awesome.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So you come to that team, Andre Johnson is on
the offense with you.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Now.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
I know you think Andre Johnson belongs in the Hall
of Fame. I do too. Most people listening to this
also do. But explain to the morons out there that
don't think Andre Johnson belongs to why does he belong
in the Hall of Fame? Oh?
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Man, I think he. I definitely think he does.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I mean, he kind of carried a team whenever, you know,
I mean we were we were struggling, he'd always come
through with that great catch, with that Turkis catch that
you never thought that anybody would be able to come
through with. You have three guys on him, still still
come catch the ball. I think I think he did
a great job. He definitely deserves to be there. I
do think that he'll end up there. I just don't
(11:13):
know when or what the heck is taking so long
for him to get in there, So everybody's rooting for him.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
At least all the players are rooting for him. I
know that much.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
You're you're so diplomatic and you didn't call.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Hey, look I might I might need those guys.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
So he was one leader on that team, another guy
leadership wise who was massive. Damiko Ryans. Yeah, how excited
were you to see when he got hired here as
the head.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Was definitely excited to see. It's so excited.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
He was actually a guy that I really looked up
to when I played. I would almost say he was
the leader of the team when he was there, you know,
the leader of the offense and the defense almost, to
see just the way he would work and the way
he put it together, the way he was consistent from
the first day I met him till we were to
practice what was that Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, he was the same guy.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
So to see that even just going to church and hey,
look I'm going to church early on Sunday and then
going to the game, or I'm doing this, I'm doing that,
you know, just just he was so strategic and just
so consistent that I really did appreciate the friendship that
we actually had, and so to see him come back
and to see him still be the same guy, still
that big old smile, but still you can tell that
(12:32):
he's about to get after someone's ass.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
And so yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Definitely want to just try and you know, I mean
us as former players, we just want to support him
as much as possible. It seems like he supports the
guys that are played and he's I mean, he's still
the same guy. So definitely, I think everyone's excited about that,
ready for the season to actually get here, you know,
(12:56):
I mean, now we basketball is almost over with all
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
You know, we're really eager, you know, like, hell, man,
come on, let's get this same.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Well, I know he said publicly right after that that
day that you all were out there. It was you
and probably twenty five thirty other guys that used to
play here, some with most with him, some before, some
after it. But he really appreciated it, he said that publicly,
And then I was at an event with him yesterday
and he reiterated that meant a lot to him. What
did you see, not just with Demiko, but looking at practice,
(13:28):
what did you see that kind of stood out to
you earlier this week about these twenty twenty three texts
here in June. I know, you got to put that
asterisk by things because there's no paths, there's no hitting.
But what stood out to you so far, it just seems.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Like there's a chip. There's a chip on the guy's shoulder.
It looks like they have some proof. I know, everyone's
coming off of a season where we're kind of saying,
I could just win a couple more games. We just
kind of there's not huge expectations, and he that's not this,
that's not that. But I don't think that's what Demiko
is going for. I don't think he's going for, well,
if we win two or three more games than we
won last year, then that's a successful season.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think he's in hell. No, I want to win.
I want to win. Now. You guys are gonna.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Have to play with the same focus that he played with.
And you know, I mean he's coming from the forty
nine ers. They had a wining season. They were actually
very successful while he was there, So I think he
has seen what needs to be done. And you know,
you know the type of guys that you need to
be on that team, and so it seems like everyone
is clicking, everyone's trying their damness to make the team be,
(14:30):
you know, be on the field on Sundays. And so
even the alumni guys are eager about this season, where
let's just say last season they weren't as eager. Guys
are like, man, I'm ready for the season to actually
get really get going. So I think that looking at
the players, I think, you know, I really do think
that those guys are they're really playing aggressively and I
mean just kind of got a chip on the shoulders.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Can you tell much at this point early June about
the tight ends. Were you watching much of Dalton Schultz
and Teaing, coutur Riano and Brevin Jordan, some of those
guys keep tell a whole heck of a lotters. Is
still a little too early to get a gauge.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
I mean, it's earlier to see those guys here, I guess.
I mean, we know that that guy was. I mean,
he's a he's a damn good player. You know, I'm
believe he was at the Cowboys, right yep, Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I mean he's I mean, we already know that he's
a damn good player. So it looks like a really
solid group. I know, he looks really good. When I
heard he was here on like a one year deal,
I was like, I was like okay. I was like, well,
(15:27):
hopefully comes and proves itself and he's there for a
lot longer, you know. Yeah, yeah, we'll see.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
I had a fun conversation with him too. He's he's
a little different. He was pretty fun. I don't know
if you got a chance to catch up with him
at all.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
But yeah I did. I didn't get to catch up
with him today.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I got you. I got you. Besides those guys from
the two thousand and nine class, who are some other
Texans that you've either either befriended or you still keep
in touch with from your playing days.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
So one of the main guys is probably Moran Norris. Yeah,
me and him, we damn there talked too much throughout
the day time.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
We talked all day long.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I mean, he heck, we we've already probably talked an
hour for today.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
So I got to get him on one of these
suit he hasn't been right.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Oh yeah he will, he'll, he'll, he'll definitely do it.
He'll for me. If Yeah, I promise you he'll do
it all right.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Fred Rury really good guy. Me and him hang out
talk often. Those are kind of two of the main
guys that I really hang out with. I mean, there's
a few other guys, but those are kind of the
main guys. And I mean we stayed pretty close.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
E Brown. Just some really good guys overall.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
And so they love being around the team, love being here,
So me personally, I love being here also.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
So we're all a pretty tight group.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
That's really cool because you didn't play with those guys.
They were before you, but you've you've become friends with
them afterwards. That's awesome. That's really you share something even
though you didn't play together.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Right, And I can call them all old and all
that stuff, you know, I kind of it kind of
makes me feel younger a little bit.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, yeah, right, awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Well, Hey, what's next for you currently?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
I'm in the process of just trying to start some
new businesses. I kind of want my concrete business to
continue to grow. My son actually lives with me currently.
He'll be here twenty four to seven now, so I'm
trying to room him up and you know, make sure
that if he wants to play football, that he is
able to play it at the you know, you know
that he's ever played.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
How old is he's eight? He thinks he's about eighteen.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
So yeah, so I'm yeah, so he's he's trying to learn.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
And everything else. And I mean he looks like a
tight end already.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
So I'm trying to just you know, just trying to
bring him up the right way and keep on going.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Awesome. Well, Anthony Hill, it's always good to catch up
with you. Good to see it here on the zoom screen.
I can't wait to see out and about it in
another Texans Legends event where we're you know, talking about
financial literacy or uh, you know, fighting bully or something.
You know, there's always something interesting when you and I
are together at one of these events.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Yeah right, yeah, you are active with it.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
It's such a good thing.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
It's good for us.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
And do the grout all the people that helps me. Anthony,
thanks so much for the time, my friend. Have a
great summer and we'll see you again soon.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yeah, thank you a lot. And drought Brepare
Where are they now? This is Drew Doherty. I'm here
in Houston at NRG Stadium and this where are they now?
Deals with former tight end Anthony Hill. He was a
two thousand and nine draft pick out of NC State,
but he's a Houstonian well by way of Clearbrook High School,
so he grew up in the area, went away to
(00:21):
college in North Carolina, and then was drafted back in
two thousand and nine by Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith,
the general manager of the Texans. He joined a tight
ends group that included really the two best in franchise history.
You knowwhen Daniels and Joel Dresen and he immediately was
on a winner nine to seven were those Texans his
(00:42):
rookie year, and he has turned his post football career
into a big time success. Like many of the guys
that we've talked to on this podcast, he's doing well
in his retirement and really he's not retired. He just
retired from the game of football. He's not retired at
all from the world world. But without further ado, please
(01:03):
enjoy this brief conversation with Anthony Hill. Where are going
to these das?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Right? Ronan? What's going on?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Man Hey, First of all, thanks for having me on.
Definitely has been a been an awesome time right now.
I'm currently I actually own a construction company here today.
Got into constructions soon as I finished planned back in
twenty twelve is twenty thirteen. Got into construction, buying homes,
flipping homes, buying apartment complexes, got into concrete with my
(01:33):
dad and that kind of took off, and have been
a part of some pretty decent sized projects throughout the city.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Mister modesty here, I've been around you a time or
two because we go out and we do events and
we speak at various groups and whatnot. You have been
involved in some pretty major projects. You're you're not just
flipping houses, which is a big deal in and of itself.
You're doing a lot more than that.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Anthony, Yes, sir, yes, there.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
You know, I was given a few chances by the
the you know, definitely, the connections through the Texans has
definitely helped me out throughout the city. And I see
the Tellipson family had a friend, Trent Tellips, and he
gave me a chance on the project over at Memorial
Park where they put the two tunnels in those really
large tunnels and so that was one of our larger
(02:18):
projects Port of Houston.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
We were at United Airlines.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
For about about five six years, and so, yeah, those
are kind of our staples that kind of was able
to help us grow significantly in the concrete slash construction world.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah. I knew about the United Airlines one because I
think the last time you and I were at a
specific event, you know, speaking and doing a Q and A,
that's what you were kind of immersed in. But I
did not know about the Memorial Park one. I'm a
former runner. I don't run as much anymore, but I
used to run around that loop a lot in late nine,
mid nineties, late nineties. Every time I come back, that's
(02:53):
just an entirely transformed area. You guys are a big
part of that. How exciting was that to see that
just go from start to finish and it's not really
finished ever, is it?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
No? I don't. I don't think it'll be finished for
some time.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I mean, technically it's finished, but I think it'll continue
to grow over the years.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
That was awesome. That was a project that I got.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
With me and my dad and then actually about just
about as we were completing, my dad he actually ended
up passing away. So me finishing that project was a
It was a huge accomplishment for me just to say, okay, hey,
look I finished a project. I know, I really made
him proud. And just to just to see the project
start as trees and woods and you know, those guys
(03:38):
were like, you know, hey, look we are We're tired
of people getting smacked by cars from crossing the streets
and different.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Things like that. So we're going to have this huge
tunnel and land bridges.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
And I didn't know that it would turn out so nice,
but it's definitely a piece of work over there. So
it was it was a huge blessing to be able
to be a part of that one.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, I mainly stayed on the trail, so I didn't
I didn't run run the risk too often getting smacked
by car. Way back in high school, every once in
a while, we'd veer off and go to basically Sabine
Bridge from Amoral Park and turn around. Okay, so you're
from this area, Clearbrook, you know, down sort of south
in between Houston and Galveston. You grew up, You go
to the NC State, you play there. Fourth rounder in
(04:20):
two thousand and nine, what was it like when you
find out you get the call from the hometown team.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Oh man, it was crazy. I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I actually, quote unquote, I got sick during the draft,
and so you know, I had this huge fishing trip
plan before the draft because I was like, you know,
I don't want to be around people.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
I'm going to go fishing. I'm want to do all
these other things.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I'm going to go out to Galveston Bay and just
kind of go catch some red fish and get away
and I'll just have my phone handy.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You know. Whatever. That didn't happen, that didn't go as planned.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I think it was It could have been anxiety, but
I don't but I don't want to say it. But yeah,
I was in a hotel room sick, and then I
got the phone call from a Houston I'm like, you know,
you know who is this call? And it was coach Kobiak.
He was giving me a call. He said, hey, man,
I want you to come and play here. Family went nuts,
you know, Uh, you know we have a family divided.
(05:12):
So I have half Cowboy fans, yeah boo, yeah, then
uh we have half Texans fans, and so my aunt
and my dad actually they were they were hidden hidden hands,
and they were in church actually, and so and so
they were in church, and they came back and they
were like, you know, they've made a huge announcement of
(05:34):
a church, and you know, they all celebrated as the
Cowboy fans were like, god, dang it, you know, you know,
they were all pissed off. So but it was it
was amazing, man, it was. It was amazing to come
back home. I had been gone for six years going
to to n C State and so it was just.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Hard grave before that the military count.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Yeah, definitely definitely went to the military and so just just
a lot of structure and so was really away from
home for yeah, six years, and then to just be
able to come back and be with my mother and
blisters and really my whole family.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
So it was just it was great.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, you come to a team with Owen Daniels at
tight end old reason, really good tight end as well.
You come in the mix there too. What was that like,
you get to rookie minicamp what's that like rookie minicamp
Ota is kind of getting your feet wet as a professional.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
It was you know, honestly, it was intimidating to start.
I mean, od I definitely had already known about him.
Joel Dresen was a super solid player, came in.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Me and James Casey we get drafted in the.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Same draft, so some really good guys, and so, you know,
I was just kind of like very much so humbled
to go from being the man at NC State to
kind of being the last man on the totem pole,
really trying to fight for a spot to actually play
on Sundays.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
So it was just a very humbling experience. And I
want to say, to start.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
I want to say, we have like like seven or
eight guys, you know, like seven or eight tight ends,
and so it was like it was just a tank,
you know. I mean we went from having two and
three to having you know, five and six. They had
seven and eight, and it was it was a ton
of guys.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
In the room.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Yeah, and you would you joined the team that had
been gone eight to eight the previous two seasons. You
get there and you're in that that class with Cushing
the first rounder, Barwin had a nice rookie season, Glover
Quinn would go on to do fantastic things. You're in there.
Bryce McCain I mean everybody kind of contributed, and then
he had two rookie free agents in Arian and Tim Jamison.
(07:34):
I mean everybody on that rot, not roster, but on
that rookie roster really wound up doing something at some
point or another, didn't they.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, definitely, definitely, And you know, I actually still communicate
with a lot of those guys. Actually text Cushion like
a couple of weeks ago, asking about his kids and.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Little league football.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I did an event with Tim Jamison last week, a
taste testing where we ate way too much dessert.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
So James Casey is coaching now, so he's always busy,
so like, well we'll shoot each other text messages.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Here and there.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
But a lot of those guys, we definitely still keep
in contact. I see Cushing all the time. I think
it was a close knit group. I think those those
are bonds that will have from probably from here on.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
What was that rookie season? Like it was a weird year.
You start out at home and you get Mark Sanchez
in his first start against the Jets, and then everyone's thinking, oh,
you got this, Texans will win this and they blow
the Texans doors off. But then you go to Tennessee
and you literally all get in a fist fight with
the Titans on the bench. But it's a fist fight
of a game, just going back and forth. But Houston
(08:42):
comes out victoria. It was a great game, one of
the best games I've ever seen, and it was that
whole year.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Like for you, it was a roller coaster. I remember it.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
I definitely remember it, just you know, just trying to
fight just to get on the field and just kind
of seeing, you know, the ups and downs of you know, preseason,
we're like, oh man, we're gonna be pretty good.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
And then, like you say, we came in, we took
a we took a hard l burst the.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Jets, and then kind of had our ups and downs
where we showed like just hey look we're really really good,
and then we kind of we stunk it up a
few times. I was able to learn that the NFL
wasn't promised that hey, look anybody can win it, you know,
any given Sunday, just kind of learning. I think OD
ended up getting injured or something like that that season,
and I ended up getting some more playing time. Then
(09:24):
I got injured, and so it was you know, it
was just a just a roller coaster. So I was
able to kind of learn, like, Okay, this is what
the NFL is. You know what all these guys have
been talking about.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Five and three at the buy and then you come
out of the buy, you lose four straight You're you
guys are five and seven? Yeah, and then you end
with four straight wins and in the process, Arian Foster
kind of comes out of the woodwork. Now it wasn't
you know, he didn't just get the job and he
wasn't the anointed the guy for the next season, but
you saw some things down the stretcher. You also beat
(09:53):
the Patriots to end the season, and for a few
hours there was like Texans might be getting in the
playoffs depending on what happens. It didn't. Yeah, that was finish,
wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
That really was. It was awesome to see Foster kind
of come out of nowhere. He was always a really
humble guy and I actually played with him in the
All Star Game and he tore his hamstring on the
first play. I think it was Pat maybe Pat White
fumbled the ball and he went to pick it up
and just kind of a freak accident. He just he
just snapped his hamstring or something like that. So I was,
you know, I didn't you know, I didn't think to
(10:24):
see him again or anything like that. And then next
thing you know, we were on the team again together.
It's like, okay, well that was the guy that snapped
his hamstring and then he for him to bounce back
and just come out of nowhere. I thought that was awesome.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So you come to that team, Andre Johnson is on
the offense with you.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Now.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
I know you think Andre Johnson belongs in the Hall
of Fame. I do too. Most people listening to this
also do. But explain to the morons out there that
don't think Andre Johnson belongs to why does he belong
in the Hall of Fame? Oh?
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Man, I think he. I definitely think he does.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I mean, he kind of carried a team whenever, you know,
I mean we were we were struggling, he'd always come
through with that great catch, with that Turkis catch that
you never thought that anybody would be able to come
through with. You have three guys on him, still still
come catch the ball. I think I think he did
a great job. He definitely deserves to be there. I
do think that he'll end up there. I just don't
(11:13):
know when or what the heck is taking so long
for him to get in there, So everybody's rooting for him.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
At least all the players are rooting for him. I
know that much.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
You're you're so diplomatic and you didn't call.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Hey, look I might I might need those guys.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
So he was one leader on that team, another guy
leadership wise who was massive. Damiko Ryans. Yeah, how excited
were you to see when he got hired here as
the head.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Was definitely excited to see. It's so excited.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
He was actually a guy that I really looked up
to when I played. I would almost say he was
the leader of the team when he was there, you know,
the leader of the offense and the defense almost, to
see just the way he would work and the way
he put it together, the way he was consistent from
the first day I met him till we were to
practice what was that Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, he was the same guy.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
So to see that even just going to church and hey,
look I'm going to church early on Sunday and then
going to the game, or I'm doing this, I'm doing that,
you know, just just he was so strategic and just
so consistent that I really did appreciate the friendship that
we actually had, and so to see him come back
and to see him still be the same guy, still
that big old smile, but still you can tell that
(12:32):
he's about to get after someone's ass.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
And so yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Definitely want to just try and you know, I mean
us as former players, we just want to support him
as much as possible. It seems like he supports the
guys that are played and he's I mean, he's still
the same guy. So definitely, I think everyone's excited about that,
ready for the season to actually get here, you know,
(12:56):
I mean, now we basketball is almost over with all
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
You know, we're really eager, you know, like, hell, man,
come on, let's get this same.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Well, I know he said publicly right after that that
day that you all were out there. It was you
and probably twenty five thirty other guys that used to
play here, some with most with him, some before, some
after it. But he really appreciated it, he said that publicly,
And then I was at an event with him yesterday
and he reiterated that meant a lot to him. What
did you see, not just with Demiko, but looking at practice,
(13:28):
what did you see that kind of stood out to
you earlier this week about these twenty twenty three texts
here in June. I know, you got to put that
asterisk by things because there's no paths, there's no hitting.
But what stood out to you so far, it just seems.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Like there's a chip. There's a chip on the guy's shoulder.
It looks like they have some proof. I know, everyone's
coming off of a season where we're kind of saying,
I could just win a couple more games. We just
kind of there's not huge expectations, and he that's not this,
that's not that. But I don't think that's what Demiko
is going for. I don't think he's going for, well,
if we win two or three more games than we
won last year, then that's a successful season.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think he's in hell. No, I want to win.
I want to win. Now. You guys are gonna.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Have to play with the same focus that he played with.
And you know, I mean he's coming from the forty
nine ers. They had a wining season. They were actually
very successful while he was there, So I think he
has seen what needs to be done. And you know,
you know the type of guys that you need to
be on that team, and so it seems like everyone
is clicking, everyone's trying their damness to make the team be,
(14:30):
you know, be on the field on Sundays. And so
even the alumni guys are eager about this season, where
let's just say last season they weren't as eager. Guys
are like, man, I'm ready for the season to actually
get really get going. So I think that looking at
the players, I think, you know, I really do think
that those guys are they're really playing aggressively and I
mean just kind of got a chip on the shoulders.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Can you tell much at this point early June about
the tight ends. Were you watching much of Dalton Schultz
and Teaing, coutur Riano and Brevin Jordan, some of those
guys keep tell a whole heck of a lotters. Is
still a little too early to get a gauge.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
I mean, it's earlier to see those guys here, I guess.
I mean, we know that that guy was. I mean,
he's a he's a damn good player. You know, I'm
believe he was at the Cowboys, right yep, Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I mean he's I mean, we already know that he's
a damn good player. So it looks like a really
solid group. I know, he looks really good. When I
heard he was here on like a one year deal,
I was like, I was like okay. I was like, well,
(15:27):
hopefully comes and proves itself and he's there for a
lot longer, you know. Yeah, yeah, we'll see.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
I had a fun conversation with him too. He's he's
a little different. He was pretty fun. I don't know
if you got a chance to catch up with him
at all.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
But yeah I did. I didn't get to catch up
with him today.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I got you. I got you. Besides those guys from
the two thousand and nine class, who are some other
Texans that you've either either befriended or you still keep
in touch with from your playing days.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
So one of the main guys is probably Moran Norris. Yeah,
me and him, we damn there talked too much throughout
the day time.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
We talked all day long.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I mean, he heck, we we've already probably talked an
hour for today.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
So I got to get him on one of these
suit he hasn't been right.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Oh yeah he will, he'll, he'll, he'll definitely do it.
He'll for me. If Yeah, I promise you he'll do
it all right.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Fred Rury really good guy. Me and him hang out
talk often. Those are kind of two of the main
guys that I really hang out with. I mean, there's
a few other guys, but those are kind of the
main guys. And I mean we stayed pretty close.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
E Brown. Just some really good guys overall.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
And so they love being around the team, love being here,
So me personally, I love being here also.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
So we're all a pretty tight group.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
That's really cool because you didn't play with those guys.
They were before you, but you've you've become friends with
them afterwards. That's awesome. That's really you share something even
though you didn't play together.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Right, And I can call them all old and all
that stuff, you know, I kind of it kind of
makes me feel younger a little bit.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, yeah, right, awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Well, Hey, what's next for you currently?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
I'm in the process of just trying to start some
new businesses. I kind of want my concrete business to
continue to grow. My son actually lives with me currently.
He'll be here twenty four to seven now, so I'm
trying to room him up and you know, make sure
that if he wants to play football, that he is
able to play it at the you know, you know
that he's ever played.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
How old is he's eight? He thinks he's about eighteen.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
So yeah, so I'm yeah, so he's he's trying to learn.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
And everything else. And I mean he looks like a
tight end already.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
So I'm trying to just you know, just trying to
bring him up the right way and keep on going.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Awesome. Well, Anthony Hill, it's always good to catch up
with you. Good to see it here on the zoom screen.
I can't wait to see out and about it in
another Texans Legends event where we're you know, talking about
financial literacy or uh, you know, fighting bully or something.
You know, there's always something interesting when you and I
are together at one of these events.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Yeah right, yeah, you are active with it.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
It's such a good thing.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
It's good for us.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
And do the grout all the people that helps me. Anthony,
thanks so much for the time, my friend. Have a
great summer and we'll see you again soon.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yeah, thank you a lot. And drought Brepare
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