October 4, 2024 • 39 mins
Tramaine Brock, a seasoned NFL veteran, and Jy Smith, a promising collegiate athlete, share their inspiring journeys from the heart of Mississippi to the world of professional and collegiate sports. Their stories are laced with grit and perseverance, highlighting Tramaine's strategic leap from running back to defensive back, and Jy's adept balancing act between academics and athletics. Their narratives are not just about individual triumphs, but also about the broader themes of motivation, resilience, and the unyielding pursuit of their dreams.
We explore the vital intersection of athletics and community involvement, where both guests reflect on their roles as mentors and role models for youth. They shed light on contemporary challenges, from managing stress through gym routines to the shift in children's activities away from outdoor play. The discussion extends to the evolving landscape of youth sports, examining the influence of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals and contrasting today's perks-driven motivations with the pure love of the game experienced by past generations.
Tramaine and Jy also offer insights into overcoming adversity, drawing from personal experiences with injuries and academic hurdles. They underscore the profound impact of sports medicine and the mental fortitude athletes develop beyond the field. As Tremaine envisions his post-NFL career with aspirations of coaching and participating in programs like Bill Walsh, the conversation circles back to the timeless values of motivation and work ethic. This episode provides a nuanced perspective on the decision-making processes young athletes face, and the enduring drive required to navigate both sports and life.
Thank you for tuning in to "Beyond the Game"! We hope you found valuable insights into the world of sports medicine and the importance of health and wellness in athletics. Remember, whether you're an athlete, a parent, or a sports enthusiast, this podcast is designed for you.
Stay connected with us! Subscribe to the podcast, share it with your friends, and don't forget to send in your questions and topics you'd like us to explore in future episodes.
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Keep pushing your limits, and see you next time!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (00:00):
Good morning everybody.
Dr Hardin, here at Beyond theGame podcast, I got two amazing
athletes with me this morning,Tramaine Brock and Jy Smith,
professional athlete andcollegiate athlete, and we're
going to talk about thedifferent paths they took to get
to Beyond the Game right.
So, Tramaine man, give us anintroduction of who you are,
where you're from and whatyou're doing now, of like, who
(00:22):
you are where you from and whatyou're doing now.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (00:24):
Like you said, Tramaine Brock, from Long
Beach, Mississippi, originally.
I went to high school there.
After Long Beach I went tojunior college in Mississippi,
Gulf Coast, and then I went toUniversity of Minnesota and then
I had a little issue there,transferred to Belle Haven
(00:46):
University in Jackson,Mississippi, nice, nice.
Then after that I was draftedto the San Francisco 49ers and
then kind of built my careerfrom there, so spent 11 years in
the league.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (00:55):
Yeah, absolutely, man.
That's awesome.
Such a good story too.
I definitely want to know moreabout that.
What about you, john?
Mr. Jy Smith (01:00):
Oh well, I'm Jy Smith from Gulfport, Mississippi
.
I played ball at Pearl RiverCommunity College and after that
I went to Tennessee State,played there for a year and I
didn't like my circumstances andI went the west side and
finished my career there as well.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (01:15):
Okay, man see, so you can.
You guys can see two differentpaths these guys took.
Let's talk about that.
So, john, what do think?
What motivated you to startpursuing a career in sports?
Mr. Jy Smith (01:28):
Well, seeing my older cousins play football and
basketball my whole life made mewant to do it.
So I guess, just seeing them doit, I'm like I want to be
better than them and then shoot.
We just started having fun withit and started loving the game,
so I wanted to be the best.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (01:43):
Jy, what made you want to attend college
and play football?
Mr. Jy Smith (01:45):
Well, I always had aspirations of attending
college with me playing sportsor without me playing sports.
So sports just helped me payfor it.
For real, for real.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (01:54):
Okay, so then that leads me into my next
question how did you balanceacademics and athletics?
Mr. Jy Smith (01:58):
Well, academics always come first with me, and
then football, just like on theside having fun with it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (02:10):
Having come first with me, and then football
, just like on the side.
Having fun with it.
Having fun with it, that's whatit's all about.
Right, all right.
What about you, tremaine?
What, what?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (02:13):
initially motivated you to continue and
did you think you would go tothe pro level?
Yes, uh, when I, um, after,after a while, when I started
playing and I went to collegejunior college for sure I
instantly, you know, just toldmyself that that's what I wanted
to do and and I just felt, Ifelt, I knew I was going to do
it, I kind of dominated juniorcollege and went to Minnesota
and did the same thing, playingagainst Ohio State and Michigan
(02:34):
and all you know, the top tierteams D1.
So I just, you know, I justfelt it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (02:39):
Nice man.
So what about that transitionfrom high school to college and
then college to professionalWere there.
I mean, I'm sure there are alot of differences there, but
talk about your high school tocollege experience, like how did
that look?
Were you recruited heavily?
How did that work?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (02:54):
Yeah, I was recruited nicely, it was.
So when I got to junior collegethey put me at defensive back.
So you know, in high school Ididn't play that position.
I was, you know, an athlete.
I played running back.
Running back was my mainposition.
So, turning that leaf over tohaving to play one position in a
(03:14):
position as like cornerback itwas, you know I had to learn.
I had to, you know, restartfootball to a degree.
So you know and I'm goingagainst, you know, all the top
guys from high school Right so Ihad to start over again.
So you know that was I'm notgoing to say that it was, you
know, something that was hard,but you know it's something that
(03:39):
you got to start over again andyou know it comes with the game
of football.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (03:43):
Yeah, and obviously it gets harder, right
to a degree, right, yeah,because your competition now is
as big as you are, if not bigger, right, yes, hits are a little
bit harder, yeah, okay.
Okay, what about any sacrificesyou made, like with family and,
uh, and friends, you know, I'msure, going to from the
(04:04):
collegiate level to theprofessional level?
You've had to make somesacrifices in your life.
Can you talk about those alittle bit?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (04:10):
yeah, the one that sticks out to me was,
uh, when I had to, you know, goto Belle Haven, like come, you
know, minnesota, like I said, Ihad got suspended for my grades,
my academics, yeah, so I wasn'ttaking that series.
So at that point, you know, itwas my, my last year going into
my senior year.
So I had to.
I had to sacrifice justeverything like far as just make
(04:31):
sure I'm going to my classestaking my grades, you know,
taking that serious Right, justwaking up in the morning, really
, you know, because I'm notgoing to put football first.
Sure, I had to sacrifice.
I was sacrificing mostly justthe hard work and training
getting up early in the morning,like 3 o'clock in the morning,
getting workouts in beforeschool and then getting workouts
(04:52):
in after school.
So that was really my main likesacrifice at the time, you know
.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (04:57):
I mean, do you think that if you weren't
spending a lot of time onfootball and you place your time
elsewhere you would have madeit to where you are today?
I don't think so.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (05:07):
Yeah, I don't either.
Right, I don't think so.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (05:09):
You had to sacrifice a lot for your career,
right?
Yeah, yeah, no, I canunderstand that.
What about you, john?
Did you sacrifice anything for?
Mr. Jy Smith (05:16):
college football.
I feel like I had to sacrificebeing like close to my family as
well, with me going toTennessee, which is seven and a
half, and as far as recruitmentas well.
I had a lot of places like far,like Coastal Carolina and
places like that yeah, 14 hours.
I'm like I'm willing to leave,but I'm not willing to go that
far.
You feel me Right, justsacrificing time, my family
sacrificing like seeing mybrother grow up and stuff like
(05:39):
that as well.
So that had an impact on me forsure.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (05:45):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
So what about like life on thefield for you?
What was your daily routine incollege Like?
What did it look like?
How would you tell somebody youknow, hey, you should play
football.
And these are the reasonsBecause I think a lot of people
shy away from football becausethey're like, oh, concussions,
oh broken bones, things likethat.
So what did you do to helpprevent that?
Mr. Jy Smith (06:09):
Like, what did you do to help prevent that?
Like, what did your dailyworkout look like?
My daily workout, well, Iworked out every day.
Other, like the team worked outlike three times was mandatory,
then it had some that wasn'tmandatory but still was
mandatory.
So I used to do workouts myselfafter um practice and stuff
like that, just to make sure I'mstill good, um, just making
sure I wake up in the morning,make sure I eat before practice.
A lot of people not eatingbefore practice and stuff like
that.
They're playing with theirnutrition, which I didn't play
with.
I'm like I got all this weighton me.
(06:31):
I got to make sure I eat Becauseat practice, if you're not full
or whatever, you don't got thenutrition in you, you're going
to feel every lick and I'm downin the trenches for real.
So, just making sure all that'sup to par as well.
Yeah, mentally, um, praying,I'm saying the bible as well as
uh, make sure I get enough sleep.
(06:52):
A lot of people don't getenough sleep, bro, I'm going to
sleep.
At like nine o'clock they tellme oh, you lame, you lame.
I'm like bro I have to go tosleep bro hey, look, it's okay
to be boring.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (07:00):
Hey, I had to go to sleep, bro.
Mr. Jy Smith (07:02):
I'm like man, I'm tired dude.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (07:04):
Yeah, yeah, I do no, and I can only imagine.
You know, you know athletics, Ithink beyond high school, like
we were just talking about.
The sacrifices you make have tobe personal too.
Exactly, Right, Exactly, youknow.
So you may lose a littlefriends over that Sure, and your
family may in the back end, butyou're placing more of your
importance on what's in front ofyou, not what's behind you.
(07:26):
Right, Exactly, right.
Yeah, I totally get that.
So what's the team culture likein the pros?
Do you think it's the same, ifnot better?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (07:39):
than college or high school.
It could be the same.
It depends, I feel like everyyear and every team or whatever,
wherever you're at, it'sdifferent because you get a
different group of guys Rightand you get a different head
coach.
So it just goes by the years,like I had fun these years to
whatever years, and then someyears it was like, you know, it
(08:00):
wasn't that fun, you know,because of the camaraderie of
the whole team and the playersRight.
It differs for sure.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (08:07):
Yeah.
So what about the challengesyou faced?
You know from, like I say,college to the pro level.
You know, as far as meeting upwith expectations, you know, I'm
sure expectations were higher,and at the professional level,
than they were at college.
What can you say about that,jermaine?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (08:28):
I mean, just looking back at my career and
my college career, like I've metthem.
I wanted to.
Of course I wanted to be ableto do more in the NFL, like who
don't want to go, you know, bean All-Pro and do those?
I didn't meet those, but I hadgood years in the NFL.
So you know, like you, just you, just you just work for me.
(08:52):
I was just working and I just,you know I was always on the top
of, you know, my positions,right wherever I was at.
You know it, just you know, panout that way.
You know, pan out that way youknow, do the hard work and God
giving me opportunities, youknow, because a lot of things
happen, like injuries, you know.
So you know that right there,just alone, just helped out in
(09:15):
many ways.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (09:15):
Yeah, I mean , I think you know, being in the
top 1% of the United States togo to the professional level
already tells me you know that'sa challenge, that a challenge
that you face, right.
I mean you have to be good atthat point, right.
But then you face injuries andyou face pressure from family,
or hey, if you've got a wife andkids or a girlfriend or
(09:36):
whatever, you know, I understand, you know those are challenges
too, right, I don't know.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (09:43):
Maybe not, I don't think so.
I think it just came with it.
For me it came with it.
Mr. Jy Smith (09:47):
Yeah.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (09:49):
It just came with it, like certain things
came with the game, because Idid it my whole life, like
outside of you know peewee, sure, sure, Getting you know high
school, college, college.
Right now you're in aprofessional.
It's just everything amps upmore.
Yeah, really okay, in everyaspect.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (10:09):
What?
What about the coaching man?
Like I can't imagine being infront of you.
Know my professional team ofcoaches and and you know how
does that change from highschool you know where
everybody's screaming down yourthroat to professional, is it.
Do you feel like your coach ismore of a friend, a confidant,
or like a consultant, like, hey,we need you to do this If you
(10:29):
can do this and you get thatposition.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (10:31):
My rookie year was, you know, as your
rookie, you still get yelled at.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (10:35):
Yeah.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (10:36):
But you got to make that transition of, like
understanding that you're a man.
So once you do that andunderstand that, the coaches
will too, because they you knowI'm not gonna say they're gonna
respect who they feel like Iwon't respect but right some
people will treat you, how youwalk around and how you move and
how you operate.
so, yeah, yeah, you know, youknow my first, my first is my
(10:58):
what?
My first, my rookie year.
My second year, yeah, I was.
It was still being treated likeyou were in college to a degree
.
But once you understand, andyou understand like man, I'm a
grown man, like I could have akid any day, right, right.
So you, you know, and so itgets to that.
So now you into, you know, likeyou could say, I guess, a
(11:19):
friendship, but it's a coach anda player situation.
So y'all respect each other andthat's how you know, that's how
I pan out and go.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (11:26):
Okay, okay.
So basically you're saying likeyou earn respect as a rookie
and then moving forward.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (11:32):
It's like everyday life, right?
Yeah, yeah, you got to you gotto Absolutely Okay.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (11:36):
Well, that's awesome man, awesome man.
So, um, jai, I know you talkedabout some, uh, the mental
strategies you use.
You know, like uh with god andthe bible and kind of keeping up
on you.
Um, how are you motivated, likeself-motivated, and how did
your mental game, um, outside orbeyond the game, help you, uh,
(11:59):
become who you are today?
Mr. Jy Smith (12:01):
well, I believe, with me growing up single mom,
just seeing how she had thestruggle and the heart it took
for her to get me and mybrothers to school and stuff
like that and her to get throughnursing school, that brought
the dog out of me as well,knowing I can't go back home
empty-handed.
So just that pressure rightthere alone every night saying
(12:24):
my why, what's my why, what's mywhy it's making sure I'm on my
P's and Q's, not being like alot of people be having that, oh
, I don't want to be here,mindset, I'm like I would love
being here.
I remember them days I waspraying to get here.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (12:37):
So now I'm here, let me go and work, yeah,
absolutely you know, again, likea lot of people don't make it
to college athletics, exactlyJust like a lot of people don't
make it to the professionallevel.
You know what I'm saying.
So your chances of getting upthere against you know Alabama
and you know their SEC schoolsyes, sir, you know that's what
the talk is.
(12:57):
Oh, everybody's playing SECfootball is where it's at.
Look man, you get to thecollege level, that's where it's
at period.
Mr. Jy Smith (13:04):
You know what I'm saying?
Yeah, because I didn't playlike the same Juco and then the
bigger D1s or whatever.
Man, the same amount of talentin the Juco is over there.
It might not be as many, buthey, man, you got some people
out there to get you going.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (13:16):
Everybody's playing the same game, right,
you love the game.
Mr. Jy Smith (13:20):
You love the game.
You love the game.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (13:22):
you love the game.
Yeah, absolutely, man.
What about, like, managingstress levels and how did that
affect your performance?
I know you talked about somenutrition.
Throw that in there, like whatdid the morning look like?
Were you doing two-a-days?
What was?
Mr. Jy Smith (13:38):
your lift like I was doing two-a-days even, like
when I was dealing with stufflike that.
I always put it like I'm glad Ihad that gym before football.
So I already had in my mindlike I can relieve stress when I
go to the gym so if I had a badday I would take it out on the
gym like heavy weight, eventhough we're not just living in
the middle of the season.
I'm going as heavy as I can.
(13:58):
I'm pushing the O-line, I'mwith the O-linemen and stuff.
It's tight end and stuff likethat.
I'm making sure I get all thestress out I need so I can be
relaxed.
Yeah.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (14:06):
Yeah, no, absolutely man.
So, tremaine, what about theimportance of like community
involvement and camaraderieamong your other teammates?
I know I see a lot inprofessional athletics that you
guys do a lot for the communityin which you live.
Can you voice on that?
Can you tell us a little bitabout that?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (14:25):
I mean it's big, it's more bigger, Like some
guys take it more serious thanother guys, but you know it's
big, it's just for the youth,yeah, because we were once the
youth.
Yeah, and it just you know theyneed people to look up to
outside of their parents or, youknow, their brothers or sisters
(14:45):
or whatever.
So sure, everybody need thatteaching and learning in
different areas.
So we, you know they alwaysmade it a big deal for us to to
reach out to the youth inwhatever area, and they gave us
the you know, the opportunity toto choose and pick what we
wanted to do, sure you know.
So I feel like it's anindividual thing to you know
that you want to choose and helpwhat kids that you want to help
(15:08):
, which is, you know, going tothe school reading with them.
Yeah, you know flag football oranything in that area.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (15:15):
You know what, and that brings up a good
point.
You know, I see, like, maybelike Nike trying to do some flag
football stuff, nfl trying tocome into some communities which
is good to do some flagfootball, both of you, what do
you guys think the importance of?
That is Like starting at anearly age, you know to not one,
just develop you know anathletic mindset, but two, let's
(15:37):
say, you know communityinvolvement and staying out of
trouble, and you know used towhen your parents were like hey,
get home before the streetlight, you know, comes on.
Now it's like everybody's ontheir iPads or their phones or
playing games.
Do you think athletics haschanged because of what's in
front of us?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (15:55):
I'm not sure , but like change for as what.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (15:58):
Like do you think kids are out there playing
like we used to?
Oh?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (16:03):
no, not at all, not at all, not at all.
But you know, you still havesome of those kids that are.
I mean, life changes and youknow the world changes, but some
kids are, you know, I think.
I feel like motivated more now.
Because of what?
From the game, yeah, you know,especially with the NILs, and
not saying that it's not kidsthat love the game.
(16:23):
You still have those kids thatlove the game, yeah, but some of
them just hey, I just want todo it because of the perks that
comes with it.
Yeah, you know, compared to backin the day where we was always
outside.
You know playing, or playingany sport you know.
So, yeah, I think it's a bigdifference in that area.
But, like you said on the flagfootball, I think it'll bring a
(16:48):
lot of people out, because a lotof people love the game.
Oh yeah, flag football youain't got to.
It's not too physical, you know.
You just got to have fun, youknow.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (16:56):
Yeah, do you think there's more technique in
flag football than there istraditional tackle football?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (17:01):
Oh, it's a difference of course.
Yeah, because flag movingaround you can.
I've seen one dude that wascomparing himself.
He said he's better thanPatrick Mahomes.
Mr. Jy Smith (17:10):
I've seen him dip to the ground.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (17:12):
Yeah, because you know it's a
technique that they're using.
So, yeah, it's differenttechniques out there.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (17:17):
Yeah, Speed and agility for sure.
Right For sure.
Yeah, yeah, Jai, what do youthink?
I mean?
Do you think our youth does agood job of getting out there?
Can we do a better?
Mr. Jy Smith (17:26):
job.
We can do a better job, forsure, but I feel like that comes
with the adults, them seeingthe adults do it.
Okay, yeah, that's the mainthing for sure.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (17:34):
What do you think life's like when you guys
walk around?
Do you know that younger peopleare looking up to you guys
still?
Mr. Jy Smith (17:40):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Yeah For sure, because whenthey see you all by, or they
know your accolades and stufflike that they look at you a
whole different way than theylook at the regular person,
right?
Dr. Brandon Hardin (17:50):
right.
And then they see you guys fitwalking in, they're like, oh, I
want to look like that guyExactly.
You know, I want to play in theNFL, like Tremaine did, right.
So, yeah, I think it makes abig difference too.
What about failure?
Have you guys ever failed inathletics, and how did that make
you feel?
And did that make you feel likeman, I gotta go harder, or were
(18:14):
you down on yourself?
What do you think, john?
You first.
Mr. Jy Smith (18:18):
Okay, my first time, I believe, failure came to
me was when I got hurt.
I feel like I failed myselfbecause I didn't do what I
needed to do.
But after learning from it, itwas like there wasn't nothing I
could really do about it.
It was going to happen.
It was going to happen.
It's getting back and bouncingback and seeing how I can
recover from that.
I feel like when I got backfrom my injuries, I feel like
(18:40):
nothing can hurt me because Ifeel like I've been through it
all.
Because when you get hurt, it'ssuch a mental game than it is
physical because you're going toget back.
Now, how quick you get back isgoing to be on you.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (18:51):
Yeah, it's harder, so that for real that,
and you know, like your workethic.
But the health care team thatsurrounds you, right, yes, sir,
as well, which, of course, youknow, that's what we do here at
Harden Sports Medicine, right,yeah, for sure.
Mr. Jy Smith (19:04):
Yeah, you have a lot.
Yeah, that's the game right.
We got to get you back on thefield.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (19:07):
That's the difference between you know
sports medicine and just familymedicine or whatever Exactly
that's.
Our job is to make sure you youback out there if you're going
to do the same thing over andover again right, exactly.
So what about you?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (19:27):
Have you had any setbacks?
Tremaine, I feel like when Iwas speaking to him earlier,
when I was at the University ofMinnesota with my grades, I felt
like that was because, you know, I got suspended and you know I
was just back here figuring itout and I had to, you know, go
get my GPA levels back up and Idid it and I had to choose the
(19:52):
colleges that I you know whichone I wanted to go to.
And you know, going to BelleHaven in AI, it's like, hey, you
know what, what's now, Likewhat's next.
But you know, I had, you know Ihad I brought a lot of scouts
and you know, to Belle Haven, soit was that helped out, of
(20:16):
course, so they still was behindme, so I still had that urgent
feeling of that.
I knew I still was going to getto the NFL, but that did.
It was a downfall mentally forme, getting suspended, and it's
basically starting over again,really.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (20:32):
Yeah, you know, starting over again at
another school, you know yeah,but beyond that, you were still
motivated and that's why youmade it to the NFL.
Of course, yeah, see, that'swhat I think is so awesome,
especially about athletics,because typically an athlete's
mindset is going to be differentthan the layperson.
You know what I'm saying.
You can go sit in a classroomwith everybody else, but you're
(20:54):
challenged even outside there todo better and better and better
every day.
Yes, right, so that's why Ilike treating athletes as the
mindset is there.
I think it's awesome, man.
So what's life like beyondathletics, jermaine, what are
your future plans?
You know, career outside ofsports.
Are you doing anything now?
Are you getting ready, gearedup to do something?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (21:16):
Yeah, I'm getting ready.
I started with I was trying todo personal training and I was
getting my certificate, but Ihad surgery on my arm and so
then I kind of just fell backand now I'm starting up coaching
, finishing my degree.
I got 18 hours so I finished mydegree and then I'm getting to
(21:37):
the Bill Walsh program next year, march 2025.
And just starting my careerwith coaching.
So I get to choose differentNFL teams, like five.
I get to pick five to where Iwould want to start.
Yeah, so I'm waiting on that.
I'm very excited for thatbecause I love the game.
(21:58):
Sure, that's a way for me to beback around the game and it
excites me to be able to teachwhat I know, you know to, to
anybody you know to anybody thatwants to learn the game,
because I I learned from somegreat coaches and my skill set
that I have with NFL, you know Icould, you know, branch off and
(22:20):
teach people.
You know, sure, like I said,I'm excited I'm excited for you,
man.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (22:24):
Now that's that's super exciting.
I think uh, like the podcast uhis beyond the game, right?
That's your way of giving backto where you were, right, you
know, I think that's that's veryinspiring for sure.
So what about you, jai?
Any uh opportunities you havecoming up?
Mr. Jy Smith (22:40):
you uh get some businesses yes, the personal
training, for sure.
I'm really trying to get moreinto the athletes as well.
That's where I like learn forreal from, as well as getting
into real estate as well too.
With the market going down anda few, I'm gonna get into that
yeah, yeah, that's a brave roleright there.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (22:59):
yeah, man, for sure man you know.
Yeah, man, for sure man youknow that's intimidating right.
Mr. Jy Smith (23:04):
Yeah, man that's good that you're doing that.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (23:07):
Everything's a challenge yes, sir, that's
right, that's exactly right.
So do you all think thatopportunities opened up after
athletics because of athletics?
Does that make sense?
Yes, yeah, yeah, that makessense, yes, for sure.
So, like you say, you know inhigh school, tell us a little
about high school to college.
You know, you were telling methe other day which, by the way,
(23:28):
jyterius is my trainer now too.
Mr. Jy Smith (23:32):
Man, well, my high school experience like if I was
going back to what we weretalking about yeah, well, I was
bullied earlier in my middleschool late middle school, early
high school because of myweight and things.
So people seeing me now it'slike whoa, you a bully, like
dude, you're huge, like no, butlike the mindset it was two
(23:53):
different mindsets.
Yeah, it was two different,like my confidence, my ego, as
well as working out, helped mebuild that and I feel like me
telling other people about mystory as well will help them and
people who are dealing withthat will help them as well
further in life.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (24:11):
Yeah, absolutely, you know.
I agree with that.
That's why we're here, right totell our stories.
Yes, sir, I think it's superimportant for other people who
may be in that situation to sortof lean on you for some advice.
Yes, sir, you know you can't gothrough life on your own.
He didn't make it toprofessional athletics because
of him.
He made it because of histeammates.
He made it because of his drive.
But he didn't get that drivefrom just sitting around, you
(24:32):
know, reading the newspaper,right?
You know what I'm saying.
So, yeah, no, I appreciate thatfrom you guys, especially
coming on our shows, because Iwant other people, especially
young people, to realize thatyou can be in that top 1%.
You got to have the mindset,you got to have the want, you
got to have the drive.
You know what I'm sayingExactly.
And so, knowing what lifelooked like prior to what it
(24:55):
looks like now, beyond the game,I think it's super important
for other people to hear youguys talk about this and give
them advice and keep them aspireto do more and more and more
Right, yes, sir.
So, jermaine, what can you giveyoung people now?
What the value of hard work andperseverance looks like you
(25:16):
know like.
What did you do personally toget where you are today?
Would you, could you give thema piece of advice on that?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (25:23):
In the beginning.
You know I love the game andlike what we was talking about
earlier, like how the kidsnowadays are not outside.
You know I was always outside,like, but it was natural, you
know, because our parents madeus go outside.
But while I'm outside I'mworking quote unquote, so to say
I'm riding bikes everywhere,I'm swimming, I'm playing
(25:46):
basketball, like you know, withall my friends I'm doing all
those things.
So that's work, right there,absolutely that we took it as
just playing, but it's work.
So as I got older and, like Isaid, the competition went up.
You have to continue to workand out.
You know I got to outwork thenext guy.
That's right, because it'sgoing to correlate into your.
(26:08):
You know everything.
So you know, if you've gotskills, if you've got talent,
that hard work is going tocorrelate into that and that
gets you out of.
You know what puts you in the1%, so to say.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (26:22):
Right, so you're out of the norm and
you're some of the elite, yeah.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (26:25):
Yeah.
So you know, just dedication,really hard work and, like I
said, man, you got to love thegame Right To a degree.
You have to love the game to adegree because that's what gets
you your mind, your mental focuson.
You know making it or you knowdoing whatever you feel like you
want to do at any level.
(26:45):
Like he said, everything is achallenge.
Like you said, too, as well,you got to do it.
You can't just sit around andnot do anything if you want to
become whoever you want tobecome.
Can't wait for somebody to placeyou in that position, so just
hard work dedication prayers yes, and, like I said, the love of
(27:08):
the game or love whatever youwant to do and put, put it all
into that.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (27:13):
Do you guys think and I know this is kind of
a touchy topic but do you guysthink NIL has sort of I mean,
it's obviously changed the game,like you were just saying?
You know you got to want tolove the game to get to the next
level.
You guys think a lot of thecollegiate athletes may get
burnt out because of NILexperience?
(27:35):
You know they're able to dowhat they want make money here.
You know name, image, likeness.
Do you think that that's goingto bring down that 1%?
Like you're going to have to bethe top dog to get up into the
NFL now.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (27:49):
Yeah, it can .
It can trigger a lot of youngathletes, you know, because it's
just like now you're a kid, ateenager, still some of them and
you're making good money, yeah,and that might just, oh, I'm
good, you know, they don't know,they might not know about money
management, they might not knowabout certain things that comes
(28:10):
with money.
So they might be like, oh, I'mgood, so the level of play goes
down, right, and you know, nowit trickles into oh, I'm not
going to get drafted or anything.
It's so many differentvariables to that.
And then I seen one guy Iforgot what school he was at the
NIL promised him money and theydidn't give it to him, so he
(28:31):
left the school.
So it's a lot of pros and consto the NIL man, yeah too many
variables, right yeah?
Dr. Brandon Hardin (28:39):
Overall, do you all think it has changed the
game?
Oh, yes, yeah.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (28:45):
I think so too.
Like yeah, just with some ofthe things I was just saying.
Like yeah, it changes.
Like is are these kids tryingto just go to college to get
that, oh, and then they stop?
Is that they quit?
Well, you know what I'm saying.
Mr. Jy Smith (29:02):
Absolutely.
You know.
You just never know how it goes.
Some college players makingmore than NFL players, and
that's gonna be the difference.
Now they're getting held to thesame magnitude as some cert Cuz
.
A college coach gonna yell atyou on you all day and then
people be like I'm making morethan you.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (29:18):
So what are you gonna tell me what to do?
For real, for real.
Mr. Jy Smith (29:20):
And then I gotta go to school too.
Man, you gay man.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (29:23):
Yeah, yeah, what to do forever?
Mr. Jy Smith (29:23):
and then I gotta go to school too.
Oh man, hey, man, yeah.
So it's like it's a lot ofaspects for it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (29:25):
It's a lot of different aspects yeah, no, I
can totally see that.
So what about, um,encouragement to remain
adaptable and open-minded aboutopportunities?
You know, like jive for you ifyou have five different schools
looking at you, um, and and likewe're just talking about
money's there, scholarshipsthere, do you follow your heart
(29:47):
and still get to play the gameor do you follow and this may be
a tough question but or do youfollow the money because things
are being paid for and you knowtoday, you know changes are made
, things are more expensive,things like that.
What would you tell a collegekid right now, like being
recruited to play in college?
That?
What would you tell a collegekid right now, like being being
recruited to play in college?
What would you tell them notfollow their heart and go to the
(30:09):
school you want to go to, orfollow the program that's going
to outfit you with a new car andmoney?
Mr. Jy Smith (30:14):
I feel like most of the programs that are looking
to give you a lot of money,most of the time they're giving
you a lot of money.
You're going to play, so it'sreally about getting your film
on the screen for real.
Yeah, but to me, just knowinghow like injuries can happen
anytime life happens at any timelike that, I'm gonna tell them
and personally myself, I'm gonnaget that money and take my
(30:35):
chances on that and following myheart with a good coach, just
because it's just like the timeswe live in today like,
literally, like.
But really I want to say followyour heart, but at the same
time, you can't turn down$500,000.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (30:49):
It's hard right.
Mr. Jy Smith (30:51):
Nobody turns it down.
You shouldn't turn down.
No money.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (30:54):
I just be honest with you.
Mr. Jy Smith (30:56):
In college, if you're 18, 19, and you get
$500,000, hey man, go get thatmoney For real though you can't
leave it on the table.
No, you cannot leave it on thetable.
That's going to be the worstdecision.
You wind up getting hurt atanother school and you be like,
oh, I should have, I told you.
I just told you.
You never know what can happen,right?
You never know it might be yourlast.
That's why I tell my athletesthat I train I to be you.
(31:20):
Give your all, because younever know when it's going to be
your last.
Play your last snap.
That's right.
You never know.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (31:25):
No, I like that.
Yeah, I like that.
What about you, Tremaine?
What can you say about theimportance of following your
heart versus, you know, findingthe right fit for you if you're
being recruited to play incollege today?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (31:38):
I think what he said.
I mean I feel that too.
Yeah, I mean you got to followyour heart, because everybody
got different paths and roadsyou got to follow.
Yes, you got to follow yourheart and, yes, you got to make
that right decision.
But what really is the rightdecision we never know, because
life goes on, that's right.
I mean it's a hard decision,but you got to.
(31:58):
I feel, like you, what to do.
You do it yourself, so youdon't look back and be mad at
somebody else and say you toldme to make that choice.
Yeah, so you do what you wantto do, and because even life
after the game you got to haveone, and then life after college
(32:19):
football, if you're going tothe pros, you have another
opportunity to make that moneyback More.
You know, right, double, triple.
So, man, you know, going intocollege after high school, just
follow your heart and don't dowhat somebody tells you to do.
Don't necessarily, like he said, though, man, you know
everybody come up different andraise different.
(32:41):
So some people need that moneyfor their family.
So people got to do what theygot to do.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (32:47):
Yeah, I'd say most people need it these
days.
I mean, yeah, it's gotten tough, man, and you know, college
isn't getting any cheaper.
No at all.
You know what I'm saying?
Cost of living isn't going toget any cheaper, you know.
So, yeah, I agree with you guys.
That's hard to balance right.
It's hard to figure out, can I?
Mr. Jy Smith (33:03):
piggyback on what Jermaine was saying.
As far as the recruitment andstuff like that.
Like when I was gettingrecruited I'm listening to
different people because I'm injunior college, so coming out of
JUCO I only had one offer going.
I was almost like a walk-on forreal because my shoulders
messed up coming out of highschool.
So I've never been recruitedbefore.
So coaches so I've never beenrecruited before.
So coaches telling me differentthings and stuff like that, man
(33:24):
, do what you feel like you needto do on your heart, which I
did myself.
So I can't be like, oh, I'm madat nobody, because everybody
telling you different stuff andfeeling like because they, you
the one putting all the work in,so nobody can't tell you where
you need to go, you the onedoing this.
That's right, yeah, happy.
So whatever makes you happy forreal man, not listening to
nobody else or what they got tosay because they ain't put all
(33:44):
the work in, because they wouldhave been there if they did it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (33:48):
Hey, no, that's right, they would have
been there.
Mr. Jy Smith (33:49):
If they did it, I lost a friend over there.
People come to me all day andbe like man.
Why you ain't do it?
Dr. Brandon Hardin (33:55):
For real dude, you got all the ideas and
stuff.
Mr. Jy Smith (33:58):
You do it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (34:04):
Yeah, for real, though it made me so mad.
No, that's awesome man.
Yeah, well, I encourageeverybody to think about like
these life decisions and I'm soblessed to have these guys on
our show today to talk abouttheir journeys in sports and now
in life beyond the game.
I think it's important,especially for young listeners
today, to realize you know whatlife is like beyond the game.
Athletics is one thing, and thenyou come out and you're like,
(34:24):
okay, well, what's next?
Well, the aspirations you guyshave, you know to be a
professional coach, to coach atthe college level, over here at
Vajay.
You know to train people, tomake people better.
That's what it's all about andI love that.
So I appreciate you guys forthat.
I appreciate you, yeah, yeah.
So you know, do you all thinkthat?
(34:45):
In closing, do you all thinkthat in any professional setting
that you have like, you havemoney, you have heart, you have
drive, you have motivation, doyou think any of that will
change over the next 10 years?
Do you think the drive to bebetter will change, you know,
over the next 10 years?
Do you think the drive to bebetter will change over the next
(35:07):
10 years?
Mr. Jy Smith (35:08):
Me personally, I don't think it's gonna change.
I feel like, with anything asfar as with the money, I think
everything goes up.
It might not go up as fast forreal, but history repeats itself
, no matter what.
Yeah so no, I really don't.
If you got a good work ethic,that's going to show up in every
aspect of life, um, just themindset mindset over anything
(35:29):
for real, yeah, might nevermatter for real yeah, what about
you train?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (35:33):
yeah, no, it won't change at all.
Like my, my mindset, like hesaid, my mindset is is there and
it's here to stay until the end.
So, so, and I have outside ofmyself I have people like my
kids, I have kids that look upto me, so and I want to give
them, like my daughter shewatches me and she, dad, I want
to work out my oldest daughter's11.
(35:54):
Dad, I want to work out.
She's seen that, she's been tomy games.
So I, you know, I got to do itfor them.
You know to do it for them, youknow.
So that drive is it's never,it's never ending, it's never
stopping in any area or aspect.
You know, mentally, just ineveryday life, you know it's
forward, it's forward, right,yeah, Even if two steps got to
(36:15):
take, two steps back on, ifanything happened, I'm getting
them two steps back.
You know, move forward.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (36:21):
Yeah, because you learn from those
backward steps, right, to thenmove forward, right, right, yeah
, no, I love that.
Motivation is key, man.
Motivation is key.
You know, it's kind of like atranslation and I'm just going
to plug this in right quick.
Not a lot of people know, but,um, I am the only sports med, um
chiropractor in the state ofmississippi who actually
(36:41):
practice it day in and day outand I see athletes come in here
and feel like injuries are goingto stop them or they feel like
their career is over and theymay be at the top of their game
right now, or they may just be,you know, getting there, you
know they could be the next probowler or NFL star, right, you
never know.
So when I treat patients, Itreat them all with the same
(37:02):
respect that they need to getback out there.
Their motivation and mindsetare key.
I think the psychology ofathletics, unlike you guys say,
the mindset is there, butsometimes you have setbacks.
Those setbacks aren't careerending right.
We have to be able to moveforward and live in, like you
said, tremaine, the nextfootstep.
We have other people looking upto us, my kids especially.
(37:26):
You know Jai comes to my houseand trains me and I'm going to
tell you something.
My kids walk out and they getexcited after he leaves.
They say where did you livetoday?
And I hit what?
345 on the squat the other day.
I'm old man, I'm 38, right.
And so what?
We hit on bench yesterday 245.
Yeah, 245.
Right.
So you know, the motivation isthere.
The motivation to do better isthere because, you never know,
(37:48):
somebody's always watching and,like Tremaine said, it's our
kids.
It's our kids, our young people, so it's about them.
I want to thank everybody fortheir time.
Tremaine, josh, I reallyappreciate you guys coming on
the show.
I think a lot of listeners needto hear what you have to say
because, again, that's going tohelp drive them forward and be a
(38:09):
better person, a better athleteand better all around.
I want to relay this and say,hey guys, stay connected with us
.
You can subscribe to thepodcast, share it with your
friends and don't forget to sendus your questions and topics
you'd like us to explore in thefuture, especially future
episodes.
To tease the next episode,again, it is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, may and October.
(38:30):
So go pink, save the boobs.
We're going to have a specialguest on next time to talk about
her journey beyond dealing withstage four breast cancer and
she is now in remission andshe's loving life and she would
love to explore the podcast tolet you guys know what life
(38:50):
looks like beyond that.
So definitely stay tuned forthat and remember, you know, in
sports the journey truly neverends.
So keep pushing your limits andwe'll see you next time.
Good morning everybody.
Dr Hardin, here at Beyond theGame podcast, I got two amazing
athletes with me this morning,Tramaine Brock and Jy Smith,
professional athlete andcollegiate athlete, and we're
going to talk about thedifferent paths they took to get
to Beyond the Game right.
So, Tramaine man, give us anintroduction of who you are,
where you're from and whatyou're doing now, of like, who
(00:22):
you are where you from and whatyou're doing now.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (00:24):
Like you said, Tramaine Brock, from Long
Beach, Mississippi, originally.
I went to high school there.
After Long Beach I went tojunior college in Mississippi,
Gulf Coast, and then I went toUniversity of Minnesota and then
I had a little issue there,transferred to Belle Haven
(00:46):
University in Jackson,Mississippi, nice, nice.
Then after that I was draftedto the San Francisco 49ers and
then kind of built my careerfrom there, so spent 11 years in
the league.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (00:55):
Yeah, absolutely, man.
That's awesome.
Such a good story too.
I definitely want to know moreabout that.
What about you, john?
Mr. Jy Smith (01:00):
Oh well, I'm Jy Smith from Gulfport, Mississippi
.
I played ball at Pearl RiverCommunity College and after that
I went to Tennessee State,played there for a year and I
didn't like my circumstances andI went the west side and
finished my career there as well.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (01:15):
Okay, man see, so you can.
You guys can see two differentpaths these guys took.
Let's talk about that.
So, john, what do think?
What motivated you to startpursuing a career in sports?
Mr. Jy Smith (01:28):
Well, seeing my older cousins play football and
basketball my whole life made mewant to do it.
So I guess, just seeing them doit, I'm like I want to be
better than them and then shoot.
We just started having fun withit and started loving the game,
so I wanted to be the best.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (01:43):
Jy, what made you want to attend college
and play football?
Mr. Jy Smith (01:45):
Well, I always had aspirations of attending
college with me playing sportsor without me playing sports.
So sports just helped me payfor it.
For real, for real.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (01:54):
Okay, so then that leads me into my next
question how did you balanceacademics and athletics?
Mr. Jy Smith (01:58):
Well, academics always come first with me, and
then football, just like on theside having fun with it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (02:10):
Having come first with me, and then football
, just like on the side.
Having fun with it.
Having fun with it, that's whatit's all about.
Right, all right.
What about you, tremaine?
What, what?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (02:13):
initially motivated you to continue and
did you think you would go tothe pro level?
Yes, uh, when I, um, after,after a while, when I started
playing and I went to collegejunior college for sure I
instantly, you know, just toldmyself that that's what I wanted
to do and and I just felt, Ifelt, I knew I was going to do
it, I kind of dominated juniorcollege and went to Minnesota
and did the same thing, playingagainst Ohio State and Michigan
(02:34):
and all you know, the top tierteams D1.
So I just, you know, I justfelt it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (02:39):
Nice man.
So what about that transitionfrom high school to college and
then college to professionalWere there.
I mean, I'm sure there are alot of differences there, but
talk about your high school tocollege experience, like how did
that look?
Were you recruited heavily?
How did that work?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (02:54):
Yeah, I was recruited nicely, it was.
So when I got to junior collegethey put me at defensive back.
So you know, in high school Ididn't play that position.
I was, you know, an athlete.
I played running back.
Running back was my mainposition.
So, turning that leaf over tohaving to play one position in a
(03:14):
position as like cornerback itwas, you know I had to learn.
I had to, you know, restartfootball to a degree.
So you know and I'm goingagainst, you know, all the top
guys from high school Right so Ihad to start over again.
So you know that was I'm notgoing to say that it was, you
know, something that was hard,but you know it's something that
(03:39):
you got to start over again andyou know it comes with the game
of football.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (03:43):
Yeah, and obviously it gets harder, right
to a degree, right, yeah,because your competition now is
as big as you are, if not bigger, right, yes, hits are a little
bit harder, yeah, okay.
Okay, what about any sacrificesyou made, like with family and,
uh, and friends, you know, I'msure, going to from the
(04:04):
collegiate level to theprofessional level?
You've had to make somesacrifices in your life.
Can you talk about those alittle bit?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (04:10):
yeah, the one that sticks out to me was,
uh, when I had to, you know, goto Belle Haven, like come, you
know, minnesota, like I said, Ihad got suspended for my grades,
my academics, yeah, so I wasn'ttaking that series.
So at that point, you know, itwas my, my last year going into
my senior year.
So I had to.
I had to sacrifice justeverything like far as just make
(04:31):
sure I'm going to my classestaking my grades, you know,
taking that serious Right, justwaking up in the morning, really
, you know, because I'm notgoing to put football first.
Sure, I had to sacrifice.
I was sacrificing mostly justthe hard work and training
getting up early in the morning,like 3 o'clock in the morning,
getting workouts in beforeschool and then getting workouts
(04:52):
in after school.
So that was really my main likesacrifice at the time, you know
.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (04:57):
I mean, do you think that if you weren't
spending a lot of time onfootball and you place your time
elsewhere you would have madeit to where you are today?
I don't think so.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (05:07):
Yeah, I don't either.
Right, I don't think so.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (05:09):
You had to sacrifice a lot for your career,
right?
Yeah, yeah, no, I canunderstand that.
What about you, john?
Did you sacrifice anything for?
Mr. Jy Smith (05:16):
college football.
I feel like I had to sacrificebeing like close to my family as
well, with me going toTennessee, which is seven and a
half, and as far as recruitmentas well.
I had a lot of places like far,like Coastal Carolina and
places like that yeah, 14 hours.
I'm like I'm willing to leave,but I'm not willing to go that
far.
You feel me Right, justsacrificing time, my family
sacrificing like seeing mybrother grow up and stuff like
(05:39):
that as well.
So that had an impact on me forsure.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (05:45):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
So what about like life on thefield for you?
What was your daily routine incollege Like?
What did it look like?
How would you tell somebody youknow, hey, you should play
football.
And these are the reasonsBecause I think a lot of people
shy away from football becausethey're like, oh, concussions,
oh broken bones, things likethat.
So what did you do to helpprevent that?
Mr. Jy Smith (06:09):
Like, what did you do to help prevent that?
Like, what did your dailyworkout look like?
My daily workout, well, Iworked out every day.
Other, like the team worked outlike three times was mandatory,
then it had some that wasn'tmandatory but still was
mandatory.
So I used to do workouts myselfafter um practice and stuff
like that, just to make sure I'mstill good, um, just making
sure I wake up in the morning,make sure I eat before practice.
A lot of people not eatingbefore practice and stuff like
that.
They're playing with theirnutrition, which I didn't play
with.
I'm like I got all this weighton me.
(06:31):
I got to make sure I eat Becauseat practice, if you're not full
or whatever, you don't got thenutrition in you, you're going
to feel every lick and I'm downin the trenches for real.
So, just making sure all that'sup to par as well.
Yeah, mentally, um, praying,I'm saying the bible as well as
uh, make sure I get enough sleep.
(06:52):
A lot of people don't getenough sleep, bro, I'm going to
sleep.
At like nine o'clock they tellme oh, you lame, you lame.
I'm like bro I have to go tosleep bro hey, look, it's okay
to be boring.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (07:00):
Hey, I had to go to sleep, bro.
Mr. Jy Smith (07:02):
I'm like man, I'm tired dude.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (07:04):
Yeah, yeah, I do no, and I can only imagine.
You know, you know athletics, Ithink beyond high school, like
we were just talking about.
The sacrifices you make have tobe personal too.
Exactly, Right, Exactly, youknow.
So you may lose a littlefriends over that Sure, and your
family may in the back end, butyou're placing more of your
importance on what's in front ofyou, not what's behind you.
(07:26):
Right, Exactly, right.
Yeah, I totally get that.
So what's the team culture likein the pros?
Do you think it's the same, ifnot better?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (07:39):
than college or high school.
It could be the same.
It depends, I feel like everyyear and every team or whatever,
wherever you're at, it'sdifferent because you get a
different group of guys Rightand you get a different head
coach.
So it just goes by the years,like I had fun these years to
whatever years, and then someyears it was like, you know, it
(08:00):
wasn't that fun, you know,because of the camaraderie of
the whole team and the playersRight.
It differs for sure.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (08:07):
Yeah.
So what about the challengesyou faced?
You know from, like I say,college to the pro level.
You know, as far as meeting upwith expectations, you know, I'm
sure expectations were higher,and at the professional level,
than they were at college.
What can you say about that,jermaine?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (08:28):
I mean, just looking back at my career and
my college career, like I've metthem.
I wanted to.
Of course I wanted to be ableto do more in the NFL, like who
don't want to go, you know, bean All-Pro and do those?
I didn't meet those, but I hadgood years in the NFL.
So you know, like you, just you, just you just work for me.
(08:52):
I was just working and I just,you know I was always on the top
of, you know, my positions,right wherever I was at.
You know it, just you know, panout that way.
You know, pan out that way youknow, do the hard work and God
giving me opportunities, youknow, because a lot of things
happen, like injuries, you know.
So you know that right there,just alone, just helped out in
(09:15):
many ways.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (09:15):
Yeah, I mean , I think you know, being in the
top 1% of the United States togo to the professional level
already tells me you know that'sa challenge, that a challenge
that you face, right.
I mean you have to be good atthat point, right.
But then you face injuries andyou face pressure from family,
or hey, if you've got a wife andkids or a girlfriend or
(09:36):
whatever, you know, I understand, you know those are challenges
too, right, I don't know.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (09:43):
Maybe not, I don't think so.
I think it just came with it.
For me it came with it.
Mr. Jy Smith (09:47):
Yeah.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (09:49):
It just came with it, like certain things
came with the game, because Idid it my whole life, like
outside of you know peewee, sure, sure, Getting you know high
school, college, college.
Right now you're in aprofessional.
It's just everything amps upmore.
Yeah, really okay, in everyaspect.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (10:09):
What?
What about the coaching man?
Like I can't imagine being infront of you.
Know my professional team ofcoaches and and you know how
does that change from highschool you know where
everybody's screaming down yourthroat to professional, is it.
Do you feel like your coach ismore of a friend, a confidant,
or like a consultant, like, hey,we need you to do this If you
(10:29):
can do this and you get thatposition.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (10:31):
My rookie year was, you know, as your
rookie, you still get yelled at.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (10:35):
Yeah.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (10:36):
But you got to make that transition of, like
understanding that you're a man.
So once you do that andunderstand that, the coaches
will too, because they you knowI'm not gonna say they're gonna
respect who they feel like Iwon't respect but right some
people will treat you, how youwalk around and how you move and
how you operate.
so, yeah, yeah, you know, youknow my first, my first is my
(10:58):
what?
My first, my rookie year.
My second year, yeah, I was.
It was still being treated likeyou were in college to a degree
.
But once you understand, andyou understand like man, I'm a
grown man, like I could have akid any day, right, right.
So you, you know, and so itgets to that.
So now you into, you know, likeyou could say, I guess, a
(11:19):
friendship, but it's a coach anda player situation.
So y'all respect each other andthat's how you know, that's how
I pan out and go.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (11:26):
Okay, okay.
So basically you're saying likeyou earn respect as a rookie
and then moving forward.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (11:32):
It's like everyday life, right?
Yeah, yeah, you got to you gotto Absolutely Okay.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (11:36):
Well, that's awesome man, awesome man.
So, um, jai, I know you talkedabout some, uh, the mental
strategies you use.
You know, like uh with god andthe bible and kind of keeping up
on you.
Um, how are you motivated, likeself-motivated, and how did
your mental game, um, outside orbeyond the game, help you, uh,
(11:59):
become who you are today?
Mr. Jy Smith (12:01):
well, I believe, with me growing up single mom,
just seeing how she had thestruggle and the heart it took
for her to get me and mybrothers to school and stuff
like that and her to get throughnursing school, that brought
the dog out of me as well,knowing I can't go back home
empty-handed.
So just that pressure rightthere alone every night saying
(12:24):
my why, what's my why, what's mywhy it's making sure I'm on my
P's and Q's, not being like alot of people be having that, oh
, I don't want to be here,mindset, I'm like I would love
being here.
I remember them days I waspraying to get here.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (12:37):
So now I'm here, let me go and work, yeah,
absolutely you know, again, likea lot of people don't make it
to college athletics, exactlyJust like a lot of people don't
make it to the professionallevel.
You know what I'm saying.
So your chances of getting upthere against you know Alabama
and you know their SEC schoolsyes, sir, you know that's what
the talk is.
(12:57):
Oh, everybody's playing SECfootball is where it's at.
Look man, you get to thecollege level, that's where it's
at period.
Mr. Jy Smith (13:04):
You know what I'm saying?
Yeah, because I didn't playlike the same Juco and then the
bigger D1s or whatever.
Man, the same amount of talentin the Juco is over there.
It might not be as many, buthey, man, you got some people
out there to get you going.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (13:16):
Everybody's playing the same game, right,
you love the game.
Mr. Jy Smith (13:20):
You love the game.
You love the game.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (13:22):
you love the game.
Yeah, absolutely, man.
What about, like, managingstress levels and how did that
affect your performance?
I know you talked about somenutrition.
Throw that in there, like whatdid the morning look like?
Were you doing two-a-days?
What was?
Mr. Jy Smith (13:38):
your lift like I was doing two-a-days even, like
when I was dealing with stufflike that.
I always put it like I'm glad Ihad that gym before football.
So I already had in my mindlike I can relieve stress when I
go to the gym so if I had a badday I would take it out on the
gym like heavy weight, eventhough we're not just living in
the middle of the season.
I'm going as heavy as I can.
(13:58):
I'm pushing the O-line, I'mwith the O-linemen and stuff.
It's tight end and stuff likethat.
I'm making sure I get all thestress out I need so I can be
relaxed.
Yeah.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (14:06):
Yeah, no, absolutely man.
So, tremaine, what about theimportance of like community
involvement and camaraderieamong your other teammates?
I know I see a lot inprofessional athletics that you
guys do a lot for the communityin which you live.
Can you voice on that?
Can you tell us a little bitabout that?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (14:25):
I mean it's big, it's more bigger, Like some
guys take it more serious thanother guys, but you know it's
big, it's just for the youth,yeah, because we were once the
youth.
Yeah, and it just you know theyneed people to look up to
outside of their parents or, youknow, their brothers or sisters
(14:45):
or whatever.
So sure, everybody need thatteaching and learning in
different areas.
So we, you know they alwaysmade it a big deal for us to to
reach out to the youth inwhatever area, and they gave us
the you know, the opportunity toto choose and pick what we
wanted to do, sure you know.
So I feel like it's anindividual thing to you know
that you want to choose and helpwhat kids that you want to help
(15:08):
, which is, you know, going tothe school reading with them.
Yeah, you know flag football oranything in that area.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (15:15):
You know what, and that brings up a good
point.
You know, I see, like, maybelike Nike trying to do some flag
football stuff, nfl trying tocome into some communities which
is good to do some flagfootball, both of you, what do
you guys think the importance of?
That is Like starting at anearly age, you know to not one,
just develop you know anathletic mindset, but two, let's
(15:37):
say, you know communityinvolvement and staying out of
trouble, and you know used towhen your parents were like hey,
get home before the streetlight, you know, comes on.
Now it's like everybody's ontheir iPads or their phones or
playing games.
Do you think athletics haschanged because of what's in
front of us?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (15:55):
I'm not sure , but like change for as what.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (15:58):
Like do you think kids are out there playing
like we used to?
Oh?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (16:03):
no, not at all, not at all, not at all.
But you know, you still havesome of those kids that are.
I mean, life changes and youknow the world changes, but some
kids are, you know, I think.
I feel like motivated more now.
Because of what?
From the game, yeah, you know,especially with the NILs, and
not saying that it's not kidsthat love the game.
(16:23):
You still have those kids thatlove the game, yeah, but some of
them just hey, I just want todo it because of the perks that
comes with it.
Yeah, you know, compared to backin the day where we was always
outside.
You know playing, or playingany sport you know.
So, yeah, I think it's a bigdifference in that area.
But, like you said on the flagfootball, I think it'll bring a
(16:48):
lot of people out, because a lotof people love the game.
Oh yeah, flag football youain't got to.
It's not too physical, you know.
You just got to have fun, youknow.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (16:56):
Yeah, do you think there's more technique in
flag football than there istraditional tackle football?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (17:01):
Oh, it's a difference of course.
Yeah, because flag movingaround you can.
I've seen one dude that wascomparing himself.
He said he's better thanPatrick Mahomes.
Mr. Jy Smith (17:10):
I've seen him dip to the ground.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (17:12):
Yeah, because you know it's a
technique that they're using.
So, yeah, it's differenttechniques out there.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (17:17):
Yeah, Speed and agility for sure.
Right For sure.
Yeah, yeah, Jai, what do youthink?
I mean?
Do you think our youth does agood job of getting out there?
Can we do a better?
Mr. Jy Smith (17:26):
job.
We can do a better job, forsure, but I feel like that comes
with the adults, them seeingthe adults do it.
Okay, yeah, that's the mainthing for sure.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (17:34):
What do you think life's like when you guys
walk around?
Do you know that younger peopleare looking up to you guys
still?
Mr. Jy Smith (17:40):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Yeah For sure, because whenthey see you all by, or they
know your accolades and stufflike that they look at you a
whole different way than theylook at the regular person,
right?
Dr. Brandon Hardin (17:50):
right.
And then they see you guys fitwalking in, they're like, oh, I
want to look like that guyExactly.
You know, I want to play in theNFL, like Tremaine did, right.
So, yeah, I think it makes abig difference too.
What about failure?
Have you guys ever failed inathletics, and how did that make
you feel?
And did that make you feel likeman, I gotta go harder, or were
(18:14):
you down on yourself?
What do you think, john?
You first.
Mr. Jy Smith (18:18):
Okay, my first time, I believe, failure came to
me was when I got hurt.
I feel like I failed myselfbecause I didn't do what I
needed to do.
But after learning from it, itwas like there wasn't nothing I
could really do about it.
It was going to happen.
It was going to happen.
It's getting back and bouncingback and seeing how I can
recover from that.
I feel like when I got backfrom my injuries, I feel like
(18:40):
nothing can hurt me because Ifeel like I've been through it
all.
Because when you get hurt, it'ssuch a mental game than it is
physical because you're going toget back.
Now, how quick you get back isgoing to be on you.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (18:51):
Yeah, it's harder, so that for real that,
and you know, like your workethic.
But the health care team thatsurrounds you, right, yes, sir,
as well, which, of course, youknow, that's what we do here at
Harden Sports Medicine, right,yeah, for sure.
Mr. Jy Smith (19:04):
Yeah, you have a lot.
Yeah, that's the game right.
We got to get you back on thefield.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (19:07):
That's the difference between you know
sports medicine and just familymedicine or whatever Exactly
that's.
Our job is to make sure you youback out there if you're going
to do the same thing over andover again right, exactly.
So what about you?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (19:27):
Have you had any setbacks?
Tremaine, I feel like when Iwas speaking to him earlier,
when I was at the University ofMinnesota with my grades, I felt
like that was because, you know, I got suspended and you know I
was just back here figuring itout and I had to, you know, go
get my GPA levels back up and Idid it and I had to choose the
(19:52):
colleges that I you know whichone I wanted to go to.
And you know, going to BelleHaven in AI, it's like, hey, you
know what, what's now, Likewhat's next.
But you know, I had, you know Ihad I brought a lot of scouts
and you know, to Belle Haven, soit was that helped out, of
(20:16):
course, so they still was behindme, so I still had that urgent
feeling of that.
I knew I still was going to getto the NFL, but that did.
It was a downfall mentally forme, getting suspended, and it's
basically starting over again,really.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (20:32):
Yeah, you know, starting over again at
another school, you know yeah,but beyond that, you were still
motivated and that's why youmade it to the NFL.
Of course, yeah, see, that'swhat I think is so awesome,
especially about athletics,because typically an athlete's
mindset is going to be differentthan the layperson.
You know what I'm saying.
You can go sit in a classroomwith everybody else, but you're
(20:54):
challenged even outside there todo better and better and better
every day.
Yes, right, so that's why Ilike treating athletes as the
mindset is there.
I think it's awesome, man.
So what's life like beyondathletics, jermaine, what are
your future plans?
You know, career outside ofsports.
Are you doing anything now?
Are you getting ready, gearedup to do something?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (21:16):
Yeah, I'm getting ready.
I started with I was trying todo personal training and I was
getting my certificate, but Ihad surgery on my arm and so
then I kind of just fell backand now I'm starting up coaching
, finishing my degree.
I got 18 hours so I finished mydegree and then I'm getting to
(21:37):
the Bill Walsh program next year, march 2025.
And just starting my careerwith coaching.
So I get to choose differentNFL teams, like five.
I get to pick five to where Iwould want to start.
Yeah, so I'm waiting on that.
I'm very excited for thatbecause I love the game.
(21:58):
Sure, that's a way for me to beback around the game and it
excites me to be able to teachwhat I know, you know to, to
anybody you know to anybody thatwants to learn the game,
because I I learned from somegreat coaches and my skill set
that I have with NFL, you know Icould, you know, branch off and
(22:20):
teach people.
You know, sure, like I said,I'm excited I'm excited for you,
man.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (22:24):
Now that's that's super exciting.
I think uh, like the podcast uhis beyond the game, right?
That's your way of giving backto where you were, right, you
know, I think that's that's veryinspiring for sure.
So what about you, jai?
Any uh opportunities you havecoming up?
Mr. Jy Smith (22:40):
you uh get some businesses yes, the personal
training, for sure.
I'm really trying to get moreinto the athletes as well.
That's where I like learn forreal from, as well as getting
into real estate as well too.
With the market going down anda few, I'm gonna get into that
yeah, yeah, that's a brave roleright there.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (22:59):
yeah, man, for sure man you know.
Yeah, man, for sure man youknow that's intimidating right.
Mr. Jy Smith (23:04):
Yeah, man that's good that you're doing that.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (23:07):
Everything's a challenge yes, sir, that's
right, that's exactly right.
So do you all think thatopportunities opened up after
athletics because of athletics?
Does that make sense?
Yes, yeah, yeah, that makessense, yes, for sure.
So, like you say, you know inhigh school, tell us a little
about high school to college.
You know, you were telling methe other day which, by the way,
(23:28):
jyterius is my trainer now too.
Mr. Jy Smith (23:32):
Man, well, my high school experience like if I was
going back to what we weretalking about yeah, well, I was
bullied earlier in my middleschool late middle school, early
high school because of myweight and things.
So people seeing me now it'slike whoa, you a bully, like
dude, you're huge, like no, butlike the mindset it was two
(23:53):
different mindsets.
Yeah, it was two different,like my confidence, my ego, as
well as working out, helped mebuild that and I feel like me
telling other people about mystory as well will help them and
people who are dealing withthat will help them as well
further in life.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (24:11):
Yeah, absolutely, you know.
I agree with that.
That's why we're here, right totell our stories.
Yes, sir, I think it's superimportant for other people who
may be in that situation to sortof lean on you for some advice.
Yes, sir, you know you can't gothrough life on your own.
He didn't make it toprofessional athletics because
of him.
He made it because of histeammates.
He made it because of his drive.
But he didn't get that drivefrom just sitting around, you
(24:32):
know, reading the newspaper,right?
You know what I'm saying.
So, yeah, no, I appreciate thatfrom you guys, especially
coming on our shows, because Iwant other people, especially
young people, to realize thatyou can be in that top 1%.
You got to have the mindset,you got to have the want, you
got to have the drive.
You know what I'm sayingExactly.
And so, knowing what lifelooked like prior to what it
(24:55):
looks like now, beyond the game,I think it's super important
for other people to hear youguys talk about this and give
them advice and keep them aspireto do more and more and more
Right, yes, sir.
So, jermaine, what can you giveyoung people now?
What the value of hard work andperseverance looks like you
(25:16):
know like.
What did you do personally toget where you are today?
Would you, could you give thema piece of advice on that?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (25:23):
In the beginning.
You know I love the game andlike what we was talking about
earlier, like how the kidsnowadays are not outside.
You know I was always outside,like, but it was natural, you
know, because our parents madeus go outside.
But while I'm outside I'mworking quote unquote, so to say
I'm riding bikes everywhere,I'm swimming, I'm playing
(25:46):
basketball, like you know, withall my friends I'm doing all
those things.
So that's work, right there,absolutely that we took it as
just playing, but it's work.
So as I got older and, like Isaid, the competition went up.
You have to continue to workand out.
You know I got to outwork thenext guy.
That's right, because it'sgoing to correlate into your.
(26:08):
You know everything.
So you know, if you've gotskills, if you've got talent,
that hard work is going tocorrelate into that and that
gets you out of.
You know what puts you in the1%, so to say.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (26:22):
Right, so you're out of the norm and
you're some of the elite, yeah.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (26:25):
Yeah.
So you know, just dedication,really hard work and, like I
said, man, you got to love thegame Right To a degree.
You have to love the game to adegree because that's what gets
you your mind, your mental focuson.
You know making it or you knowdoing whatever you feel like you
want to do at any level.
(26:45):
Like he said, everything is achallenge.
Like you said, too, as well,you got to do it.
You can't just sit around andnot do anything if you want to
become whoever you want tobecome.
Can't wait for somebody to placeyou in that position, so just
hard work dedication prayers yes, and, like I said, the love of
(27:08):
the game or love whatever youwant to do and put, put it all
into that.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (27:13):
Do you guys think and I know this is kind of
a touchy topic but do you guysthink NIL has sort of I mean,
it's obviously changed the game,like you were just saying?
You know you got to want tolove the game to get to the next
level.
You guys think a lot of thecollegiate athletes may get
burnt out because of NILexperience?
(27:35):
You know they're able to dowhat they want make money here.
You know name, image, likeness.
Do you think that that's goingto bring down that 1%?
Like you're going to have to bethe top dog to get up into the
NFL now.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (27:49):
Yeah, it can .
It can trigger a lot of youngathletes, you know, because it's
just like now you're a kid, ateenager, still some of them and
you're making good money, yeah,and that might just, oh, I'm
good, you know, they don't know,they might not know about money
management, they might not knowabout certain things that comes
(28:10):
with money.
So they might be like, oh, I'mgood, so the level of play goes
down, right, and you know, nowit trickles into oh, I'm not
going to get drafted or anything.
It's so many differentvariables to that.
And then I seen one guy Iforgot what school he was at the
NIL promised him money and theydidn't give it to him, so he
(28:31):
left the school.
So it's a lot of pros and consto the NIL man, yeah too many
variables, right yeah?
Dr. Brandon Hardin (28:39):
Overall, do you all think it has changed the
game?
Oh, yes, yeah.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (28:45):
I think so too.
Like yeah, just with some ofthe things I was just saying.
Like yeah, it changes.
Like is are these kids tryingto just go to college to get
that, oh, and then they stop?
Is that they quit?
Well, you know what I'm saying.
Mr. Jy Smith (29:02):
Absolutely.
You know.
You just never know how it goes.
Some college players makingmore than NFL players, and
that's gonna be the difference.
Now they're getting held to thesame magnitude as some cert Cuz
.
A college coach gonna yell atyou on you all day and then
people be like I'm making morethan you.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (29:18):
So what are you gonna tell me what to do?
For real, for real.
Mr. Jy Smith (29:20):
And then I gotta go to school too.
Man, you gay man.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (29:23):
Yeah, yeah, what to do forever?
Mr. Jy Smith (29:23):
and then I gotta go to school too.
Oh man, hey, man, yeah.
So it's like it's a lot ofaspects for it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (29:25):
It's a lot of different aspects yeah, no, I
can totally see that.
So what about, um,encouragement to remain
adaptable and open-minded aboutopportunities?
You know, like jive for you ifyou have five different schools
looking at you, um, and and likewe're just talking about
money's there, scholarshipsthere, do you follow your heart
(29:47):
and still get to play the gameor do you follow and this may be
a tough question but or do youfollow the money because things
are being paid for and you knowtoday, you know changes are made
, things are more expensive,things like that.
What would you tell a collegekid right now, like being
recruited to play in college?
That?
What would you tell a collegekid right now, like being being
recruited to play in college?
What would you tell them notfollow their heart and go to the
(30:09):
school you want to go to, orfollow the program that's going
to outfit you with a new car andmoney?
Mr. Jy Smith (30:14):
I feel like most of the programs that are looking
to give you a lot of money,most of the time they're giving
you a lot of money.
You're going to play, so it'sreally about getting your film
on the screen for real.
Yeah, but to me, just knowinghow like injuries can happen
anytime life happens at any timelike that, I'm gonna tell them
and personally myself, I'm gonnaget that money and take my
(30:35):
chances on that and following myheart with a good coach, just
because it's just like the timeswe live in today like,
literally, like.
But really I want to say followyour heart, but at the same
time, you can't turn down$500,000.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (30:49):
It's hard right.
Mr. Jy Smith (30:51):
Nobody turns it down.
You shouldn't turn down.
No money.
Mr. Tramaine Brock (30:54):
I just be honest with you.
Mr. Jy Smith (30:56):
In college, if you're 18, 19, and you get
$500,000, hey man, go get thatmoney For real though you can't
leave it on the table.
No, you cannot leave it on thetable.
That's going to be the worstdecision.
You wind up getting hurt atanother school and you be like,
oh, I should have, I told you.
I just told you.
You never know what can happen,right?
You never know it might be yourlast.
That's why I tell my athletesthat I train I to be you.
(31:20):
Give your all, because younever know when it's going to be
your last.
Play your last snap.
That's right.
You never know.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (31:25):
No, I like that.
Yeah, I like that.
What about you, Tremaine?
What can you say about theimportance of following your
heart versus, you know, findingthe right fit for you if you're
being recruited to play incollege today?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (31:38):
I think what he said.
I mean I feel that too.
Yeah, I mean you got to followyour heart, because everybody
got different paths and roadsyou got to follow.
Yes, you got to follow yourheart and, yes, you got to make
that right decision.
But what really is the rightdecision we never know, because
life goes on, that's right.
I mean it's a hard decision,but you got to.
(31:58):
I feel, like you, what to do.
You do it yourself, so youdon't look back and be mad at
somebody else and say you toldme to make that choice.
Yeah, so you do what you wantto do, and because even life
after the game you got to haveone, and then life after college
(32:19):
football, if you're going tothe pros, you have another
opportunity to make that moneyback More.
You know, right, double, triple.
So, man, you know, going intocollege after high school, just
follow your heart and don't dowhat somebody tells you to do.
Don't necessarily, like he said, though, man, you know
everybody come up different andraise different.
(32:41):
So some people need that moneyfor their family.
So people got to do what theygot to do.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (32:47):
Yeah, I'd say most people need it these
days.
I mean, yeah, it's gotten tough, man, and you know, college
isn't getting any cheaper.
No at all.
You know what I'm saying?
Cost of living isn't going toget any cheaper, you know.
So, yeah, I agree with you guys.
That's hard to balance right.
It's hard to figure out, can I?
Mr. Jy Smith (33:03):
piggyback on what Jermaine was saying.
As far as the recruitment andstuff like that.
Like when I was gettingrecruited I'm listening to
different people because I'm injunior college, so coming out of
JUCO I only had one offer going.
I was almost like a walk-on forreal because my shoulders
messed up coming out of highschool.
So I've never been recruitedbefore.
So coaches so I've never beenrecruited before.
So coaches telling me differentthings and stuff like that, man
(33:24):
, do what you feel like you needto do on your heart, which I
did myself.
So I can't be like, oh, I'm madat nobody, because everybody
telling you different stuff andfeeling like because they, you
the one putting all the work in,so nobody can't tell you where
you need to go, you the onedoing this.
That's right, yeah, happy.
So whatever makes you happy forreal man, not listening to
nobody else or what they got tosay because they ain't put all
(33:44):
the work in, because they wouldhave been there if they did it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (33:48):
Hey, no, that's right, they would have
been there.
Mr. Jy Smith (33:49):
If they did it, I lost a friend over there.
People come to me all day andbe like man.
Why you ain't do it?
Dr. Brandon Hardin (33:55):
For real dude, you got all the ideas and
stuff.
Mr. Jy Smith (33:58):
You do it.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (34:04):
Yeah, for real, though it made me so mad.
No, that's awesome man.
Yeah, well, I encourageeverybody to think about like
these life decisions and I'm soblessed to have these guys on
our show today to talk abouttheir journeys in sports and now
in life beyond the game.
I think it's important,especially for young listeners
today, to realize you know whatlife is like beyond the game.
Athletics is one thing, and thenyou come out and you're like,
(34:24):
okay, well, what's next?
Well, the aspirations you guyshave, you know to be a
professional coach, to coach atthe college level, over here at
Vajay.
You know to train people, tomake people better.
That's what it's all about andI love that.
So I appreciate you guys forthat.
I appreciate you, yeah, yeah.
So you know, do you all thinkthat?
(34:45):
In closing, do you all thinkthat in any professional setting
that you have like, you havemoney, you have heart, you have
drive, you have motivation, doyou think any of that will
change over the next 10 years?
Do you think the drive to bebetter will change, you know,
over the next 10 years?
Do you think the drive to bebetter will change over the next
(35:07):
10 years?
Mr. Jy Smith (35:08):
Me personally, I don't think it's gonna change.
I feel like, with anything asfar as with the money, I think
everything goes up.
It might not go up as fast forreal, but history repeats itself
, no matter what.
Yeah so no, I really don't.
If you got a good work ethic,that's going to show up in every
aspect of life, um, just themindset mindset over anything
(35:29):
for real, yeah, might nevermatter for real yeah, what about
you train?
Mr. Tramaine Brock (35:33):
yeah, no, it won't change at all.
Like my, my mindset, like hesaid, my mindset is is there and
it's here to stay until the end.
So, so, and I have outside ofmyself I have people like my
kids, I have kids that look upto me, so and I want to give
them, like my daughter shewatches me and she, dad, I want
to work out my oldest daughter's11.
(35:54):
Dad, I want to work out.
She's seen that, she's been tomy games.
So I, you know, I got to do itfor them.
You know to do it for them, youknow.
So that drive is it's never,it's never ending, it's never
stopping in any area or aspect.
You know, mentally, just ineveryday life, you know it's
forward, it's forward, right,yeah, Even if two steps got to
(36:15):
take, two steps back on, ifanything happened, I'm getting
them two steps back.
You know, move forward.
Dr. Brandon Hardin (36:21):
Yeah, because you learn from those
backward steps, right, to thenmove forward, right, right, yeah
, no, I love that.
Motivation is key, man.
Motivation is key.
You know, it's kind of like atranslation and I'm just going
to plug this in right quick.
Not a lot of people know, but,um, I am the only sports med, um
chiropractor in the state ofmississippi who actually
(36:41):
practice it day in and day outand I see athletes come in here
and feel like injuries are goingto stop them or they feel like
their career is over and theymay be at the top of their game
right now, or they may just be,you know, getting there, you
know they could be the next probowler or NFL star, right, you
never know.
So when I treat patients, Itreat them all with the same
(37:02):
respect that they need to getback out there.
Their motivation and mindsetare key.
I think the psychology ofathletics, unlike you guys say,
the mindset is there, butsometimes you have setbacks.
Those setbacks aren't careerending right.
We have to be able to moveforward and live in, like you
said, tremaine, the nextfootstep.
We have other people looking upto us, my kids especially.
(37:26):
You know Jai comes to my houseand trains me and I'm going to
tell you something.
My kids walk out and they getexcited after he leaves.
They say where did you livetoday?
And I hit what?
345 on the squat the other day.
I'm old man, I'm 38, right.
And so what?
We hit on bench yesterday 245.
Yeah, 245.
Right.
So you know, the motivation isthere.
The motivation to do better isthere because, you never know,
(37:48):
somebody's always watching and,like Tremaine said, it's our
kids.
It's our kids, our young people, so it's about them.
I want to thank everybody fortheir time.
Tremaine, josh, I reallyappreciate you guys coming on
the show.
I think a lot of listeners needto hear what you have to say
because, again, that's going tohelp drive them forward and be a
(38:09):
better person, a better athleteand better all around.
I want to relay this and say,hey guys, stay connected with us
.
You can subscribe to thepodcast, share it with your
friends and don't forget to sendus your questions and topics
you'd like us to explore in thefuture, especially future
episodes.
To tease the next episode,again, it is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, may and October.
(38:30):
So go pink, save the boobs.
We're going to have a specialguest on next time to talk about
her journey beyond dealing withstage four breast cancer and
she is now in remission andshe's loving life and she would
love to explore the podcast tolet you guys know what life
(38:50):
looks like beyond that.
So definitely stay tuned forthat and remember, you know, in
sports the journey truly neverends.
So keep pushing your limits andwe'll see you next time.
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