October 26, 2024 • 19 mins
What if the key to thriving as a young athlete lies not just in physical prowess, but in mastering one's mindset and finding joy amid setbacks? Join us as we explore the compelling stories of Jacob George and Jacob Lindahl, two standout middle linebackers for the Richmond Red Devils. Despite being sidelined by injuries, these remarkable student-athletes share how they've turned adversity into a learning experience, emphasizing the balance between dedication and enjoyment. Through their eyes, discover the evolution of the high school sports scene in 2023, where technology and social dynamics post-COVID are shaping new paths for students.
Beyond the sidelines, we dive into the broader high school experience, reflecting on the advantages and challenges of balancing multiple sports commitments and the critical role of mental health in youth sports. With personal anecdotes and insightful reflections, we highlight the importance of easing pressures on young athletes, encouraging them to pursue diverse experiences and personal growth. This episode is essential listening for parents and young athletes alike, offering a fresh perspective on creating a sports environment that prioritizes fulfillment and enjoyment over prestige and pressure.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Welcome to Out of the Mouth of Babes, the podcast for
our youth.
I have two exceptional youngmen with me, two student
athletes.
They are two individuals who dothe best in the classroom and
on the field.
I'm going to start off byhaving them introduce themselves
(00:42):
.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I'm Jacob George.
I'm a junior.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
My name is Jacob Lindo.
I'm going to start off byhaving them introduce themselves
.
I'm Jacob George.
I'm a junior.
My name is Jacob Lindahl.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
I'm a sophomore Now these young men are stud
athletes, but not only are theystud athletes, they're also stud
students.
Right now, both of them are thestarting middle linebackers for
the Richmond Red Devils and,unfortunately, both of them are
the starting middle linebackersfor the Richmond Red Devils and,
unfortunately, both of them areout.
I'm going to first let themtalk a little bit about who they
(01:10):
are, what they're interested in, and then we're going to get
into some specific questionsabout why they are out.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
So I'm Jacob George.
I started playing football inmy freshman year and since then
I've dealt with a lot ofinjuries.
I'm also into stuff like carsand cooking and lifting.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, my name is Jacob Lindo.
I don't have.
I haven't had many injuries inmy life.
This is pretty much my firstserious one.
When it comes to sports andathletics and with my hobbies,
I'm really into movies.
I love watching good movies, Ilove working out.
Still, I also throw track inthe spring, just living and
(01:53):
breathing.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
All right, so both of you gentlemen are currently out
.
You guys, as I mentioned, arethe starting middle linebacker
core.
You know, I used to play middlelinebacker back in the day you
know about some pounds ago.
But I to play middle linebackerback in the day you know about
some pounds ago, but I was amiddle linebacker, so I know the
intensity of that position.
And the middle linebackerposition is that you are
basically the general of thedefensive side of the football
(02:18):
team.
Would you guys agree with that?
Yeah, pretty much Nothinghappens unless you call it right
.
That's right.
Most of the big plays beingmade are by you two, right?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And that is what we've seen the first week when
they both played.
Unfortunately, both of themwere injured in our second game
and I want them to share alittle bit about their personal
journey and experience with theinjuries that they both face.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So I'm a two-way player as well.
So I caught a ball and I endedup spraining my ankle and I got
injured, and I'm going to tellthem about your injury too.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Yeah, it was horrible .
I just got an F7 from theschool.
Even our offensive coordinatorput in a whole play just for me
to get the ball.
And then I go in on offense ourthird drive of the game and I'm
pulling, I'm wrapping andsomeone just lands on my leg and
breaks it.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Wow, wow.
How did you initially bothreact to the news of your injury
, both mentally and emotionally?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Well, I knew immediately when I went down
that something wasn't right.
Just because it hurt a lot, Ihad to get helped off the field.
But I would say the large partof it is definitely mental, like
considering how much you giveto play football Like it's
really your.
I mean, it's really your lifeduring the season and in the
offseason.
So just knowing that like youcan't play and you've got to
(03:46):
watch your team without beingable to like contribute is
really difficult, I would say.
But I was still there tosupport as much as I could.
I've been coaching with Lindahlhere, the JV linebackers, and
helping out as much as we cangetting our backups right.
So it's definitely a difficultjourney but I would say it's
(04:08):
also like rewarding in that way,just trying to make light of it
at least.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Yeah, yeah.
So my injury experience is veryconfusing For one, like when it
happened, I didn't know it wasbroken.
It didn't feel like it wasbroken, Like it was hard to walk
on it, yes, but I honestlythought it was something like a
sprain, nothing too serious, butno, it ended up being broken
and my least favorite thing isslowing down, and that's what
(04:34):
I've noticed through.
This is just like I've realizedhow much more time I have and
with that time, like it's niceto have a break.
But then again, like now, likewith all this time that I got, I
just want to do more and moreand it just sucks that I can't.
So I'm just trying to help withthe football team, I'm getting
my schoolwork in and just tryingto chill out.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
So you guys have talked about kind of your
strategies and your positivemindsets.
Is there something that youwould tell some of your
teammates or people that aretaking this great sport of
football for granted?
What would you say to thosefolks?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I would definitely say like myself starting
freshman year year, I do wish Iplayed more like growing up in
middle school and I also wish Itook my freshman year more
serious.
I actually broke my armfreshman year, my first game so
I didn't get that.
So I've just missed a lot ofreps that I could have been
getting and I feel like I wouldbe like a way higher caliber
(05:34):
player today if I had taken itmore serious when I was younger,
definitely well, my advice toany like high school football
players is that many, many of usforget that it's a game.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Many, many of us forget that, like, we're
supposed to have fun whileplaying this.
Everybody makes football sostressful.
Even coaches are guilty.
Everybody's guilty of makingfootball so stressful.
You just got to realize that atthe end of the day, it's just
supposed to be fun.
It's meant to be a game formost high schoolers.
Like, you don't have to go D1.
Don't hold yourself to anythingwhen you're playing football.
You just got to have fun.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I think that is critical and, as a coach, I
think we do sometimes gooverboard in our stress of
student-athletes and I think, asI've gotten older, I have taken
some time to reflect on that,because it definitely affects
student-athletes.
I remember when I coached atEarlham I had a student-athlete
(06:29):
and I was pushing him so hardand he walked off the field and
for me that was a very definingmoment.
Because of my stress andyelling and jumping up and down,
I almost caused this studentathlete, who was actually in
college, to walk off the field.
So I think you're right.
I think coaches need to do abetter job of regulating their
(06:53):
emotions right, and so.
I think sometimes as coaches, wedon't do that, and you know one
of your teammates, kevin,always says that you know he
enjoys being coached by men whohave their emotions regulated
right.
And are able to communicatewith you at a level in which
(07:14):
it's not disrespectful orfrustrating, and so I'm glad you
brought that up.
That's a very good point.
Talk to me a little bit aboutschool.
I mean, how do you maintainjust the day-to-day being in
high?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I'd say for me it's helpful to have.
I have an AP resource periodfor so I'm in two AP classes,
one ACP college engineeringclass and then honors for the
rest.
So I think it's nice to havelike a period to get some work
(07:53):
done and have like resource timewith your teachers, um, like if
you're lost, just like, so youdon't have to go home after
practice and do it.
I think that's a big thing, isas much as it takes to like.
I usually won't get home tolike seven or eight um by the
time I get to my homework, soit's kind of nice to have that
during the day yeah, my schoolwork this year has been like a
(08:13):
whole 180 since last year.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Freshman year was the easiest thing ever.
Now I got AP classes and itjust gets super difficult and I
don't have an AP resource, so Ijust have to figure it out
pretty much.
So whenever I can, whenever Ican, even with, like the no
phone policy, I need to putreminders on my phone.
I need reminders on my phonebecause I will forget if I don't
(08:35):
put the reminders in.
And that's what sucks about thephone policies because I use my
phone for so much school workbut they just I can't do that
anymore.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
So let's get into it.
Let's get into it.
So a couple weeks ago I hadabout five students up here and
the topic of this discussion wasthe cell phone policy.
Now I want to be clear intelling you I agree with the
cell phone policy, right, but Iwant to hear your perspectives
(09:02):
on it, and then I'll tell youmine.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Well, I think, like I think there's a limit to it,
like I know there's a lot ofkids that will just like be on
it and not take anything, but Ialso think there's an aspect
where, like, the phone can beuseful in a school environment.
Um, if you just don'tcompletely remove it, um, I
don't know I'll just know you'refor it.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Here's my thing when it comes to kids who don't want
to do work, they will not dowork any way possible not just
being on their phone they willthey will put their heads down
and fall asleep, they will playon their laptops.
If you're going to implement nophones, then people still
aren't going to get work done.
But now you're just giving awayall the great tools that a
(09:44):
phone can bring to you.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
What I hear you saying is don't punish me for
the people that aren't doing theright things.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yes, because either way, phones or not, they're
still not going to do their workCorrect, I agree.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
I can understand that Now from a school official.
You know I was a schoolofficial for many years and I've
seen the negative effects ofkids being on phones.
Now I will agree with you onthis.
If it is used to aid you inyour educational journey, I'm
all for it because I'm a techieand I know that there are
(10:21):
creative ways that schoolleaders and teachers can
communicate with you all.
That makes the job easier.
But I'm not for kids watchingmovies on their phones all day
in class.
Those are the things that Idon't like to see when I'm in a
school, right, and I'm sure youguys don't like to see it either
, because I know you guys neverdid any of that kind of stuff,
right.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Unless I had the time .
Unless you've been givenpermission right, so talk to me
a little bit.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I've been out of high school for a long time.
Talk to me a little bit aboutwhat is it like to be in high
school in 2023, post a lot ofstuff, post COVID, post just a
lot of things that have happenedin this world.
Tell me what it's like to be inhigh school, oh.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I don't know.
Did you have a COVID year inhigh school?
I had a.
COVID year in eighth grade, Ithink, yeah, I did not, I had my
COVID year in seventh grade andthen when it was in eighth
grade, it was just eighth gradewas pretty normal, and then once
I got to high school,everything was pretty much back
to normal.
Now, what happened last year isa whole different story, with
the flood in our school and withthe fire in our town.
(11:23):
That was pretty crazy and ourtown that was.
That was pretty crazy.
And then it was just like wewent right back to just like
COVID online school and likeonline school made things so
much easier for me.
I I'm like one of the fewpeople who really like the
hybrid schedule, because like Iwould get to sleep in and still
get all my homework done andstuff like that made it made
like my eighth grade year likethe easiest year I've ever had.
(11:44):
So you'll like college collegethen.
Yeah, I'll definitely likecollege, you know it.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
So what is high school like?
I mean, you guys have a lot offriends.
Like you know, back in the daywe used to have a little place
where everybody went to.
It was called a surge area andwe would go and just hang out at
lunchtime, eat lunch then goand hang out.
Do you guys have places likethat or do you just stay in the
cafeteria?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
They actually like keep us in the cafeteria now so
you have to have a pass to goeat lunch, like with a teacher
or like in the library orsomething.
They're pretty strict on that.
But I'd say like overall it'spretty chill, like in general
with like I mean, you get freetime in class, even with no
phones.
Like you can like talk withpeople, work with people.
(12:29):
A lot of my classes are kind ofopen and like a lot of group
work type stuff and like groupdiscussions, especially this
year.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
So, yeah, when it comes to me, I'll pretty much
talk to anybody, because I haveclasses with like pretty much
everybody, and then I gotfootball with the opposite
people in my like AP classes.
So I've just learned thatyou've got to be able to talk to
anybody.
You can't just exclude people,because you're always going to
have these people around you.
They're not just going to goaway.
You need to be able to talk topeople.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
My mother used to tell me, the same people you
meet going up will be the samepeople you meet coming down, and
so that was always her way ofletting me know that you got to
treat everybody with respect.
Yeah, um, you guys alsomentioned the fact that you play
other sports.
Right, and you have playedother sports.
Talk to me a little bit aboutthe adjustment of playing
additional sports uh well, likefor me.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I would definitely say football is the hardest
sport I play like, as far asboth physically intensive,
mental and just like thecommitment aspect.
I also played baseball my wholelife.
Growing up was my main thingwas baseball, and then I played
freshman year last year.
I did track in the springthough, and that was different
too, but I think sports kind ofpiggyback off each other,
(13:46):
especially with stuff like trackand field.
If you run, like cross country,really anything, though it'll
boost your performance.
I definitely got a lot fastersince last year, so that's nice.
So what?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
I like to say is that my two sports that I play are
completely opposite from eachother.
Like, I have football that'spretty much all year round, and
then I have track, which is justthree months during the spring,
and even during those threemonths we still have spring ball
practice.
So I would leave my trackpractice a little bit early to
go to spring ball practiceduring football and like the
(14:20):
differences in football andtrack is insane.
Like track is completely 180from football.
There's nothing similar inthere.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
So I remember back in the day.
So you guys may not know this,but I went to Gary Roosevelt
High School in Gary, indiana,home of Michael Jackson and the
Jackson Five.
Did you know?
Speaker 2 (14:40):
that Pretty cool fact right.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
So my high school is right here and right behind our
high school is the house thatthey grew up in.
So, you guys get a chance to dosome research.
But we're also home of GlennBig Dog Robinson.
Glenn Robinson played forPurdue back in the 90s and he
actually went to the same highschool.
So I had the chance of watchinghim perform while I was in high
(15:04):
school.
That was pretty cool.
Our high school won statechampionship my freshman year.
But I had the opportunity ofwrestling a couple years and I
played baseball.
Did he give me the womp womp?
I thought he usually gives methe womp womp sometimes.
But I also played baseball upuntil high school, decided that
(15:25):
I didn't want to play in highschool because I just wanted to
focus on football and ROTC.
Then had the opportunity of youguys aren't going to believe
this played baseball in collegefor one year.
Can you believe that?
No, really.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
What'd you play?
I was outfielder.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I was an outfielder yeah, hey, man, don't let this
size fool you.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I ain't always been this big man.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
I was about to say I keep on forgetting this.
Hey, I had a friend of mine, agood friend of mine.
She said you know, with thelogo, she said why you fooling
them people?
You know you bigger than thaton that picture.
So that's a shout out to myhomegirl, nicole Hamilton Inslee
, but anyway.
So I think it's important toplay multiple sports.
I think one of the challengesthat we face in Richmond, with
(16:12):
our low numbers in football, isthat kids don't want to play
multiple sports.
They want to focus in on onesport, and I think that does
small schools, because we'rebecoming relatively small.
A disservice, right.
So I always challenge kids todo that.
Now talk to me a little bitabout is there anything you want
to leave?
(16:32):
With the listening voice, youguys are going to get a chance
to come back on, but talk tothem, tell them anything that
you want to leave and any otherthoughts.
Comments.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
It's just because when you're in high school, you
just got to learn and justremember to have fun.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Have fun.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
You can't just like have a straight path that you
want to hit and like not expectanything else to happen in it.
You need to remember to justembrace, having fun for a little
bit.
Because I feel like everybodywants to stress during this time
when, like this is the time tohave like the most fun you could
have.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
We did a podcast.
One of the first ones was onmental health and you fun you
could have.
We did a podcast.
One of the first ones was onmental health.
You guys know my son.
You guys have spent a lot oftime with him as a father.
It is often hard for me becauseI was one of those guys that
would put a lot of pressure onhim early on.
Then, when he got older, he wasable to communicate how
(17:27):
stressful certain things were,and so I had to completely back
all the way off because we don'trealize as adults how much we
affect kids mental health, andthat's the purpose of this
podcast too is to give kids anopportunity to express some of
those things.
So I appreciate you saying havefun, because that is something
that's missing in all sports.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
It has become almost a business or a job yes, that's
what I was about to say, thatyeah yeah, don't feel the need
to like go d1 with everything Ifeel like that's like I have to
tell people that yeah, like justbecause of that, like that's
crazy.
I have people like quittingother sports because they want
to go d1 in this sport and I'mlike you don't have to do that,
you don't have to go d1, youknow that right and I didn't,
(18:06):
just so you know.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
I went, I played division three for 44 years and
I had the best, absolutely bestexperience in the world.
I wouldn't trade it foranything and coming out of high
school I felt that I could playdivision one.
I felt that I could play higher, but I chose a small school
that I could learn and meet newpeople and people from other
(18:27):
countries, but it also gave methe opportunity of playing
college football.
So I agree with what you guysare saying.
I appreciate your time.
Thank you for coming out to Outof the Mouth, to Babe, the
podcast for our youth.
These gentlemen will be back onAppreciate you.
We out, ciao you.
Welcome to Out of the Mouth of Babes, the podcast for
our youth.
I have two exceptional youngmen with me, two student
athletes.
They are two individuals who dothe best in the classroom and
on the field.
I'm going to start off byhaving them introduce themselves
(00:42):
.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I'm Jacob George.
I'm a junior.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
My name is Jacob Lindo.
I'm going to start off byhaving them introduce themselves
.
I'm Jacob George.
I'm a junior.
My name is Jacob Lindahl.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
I'm a sophomore Now these young men are stud
athletes, but not only are theystud athletes, they're also stud
students.
Right now, both of them are thestarting middle linebackers for
the Richmond Red Devils and,unfortunately, both of them are
the starting middle linebackersfor the Richmond Red Devils and,
unfortunately, both of them areout.
I'm going to first let themtalk a little bit about who they
(01:10):
are, what they're interested in, and then we're going to get
into some specific questionsabout why they are out.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
So I'm Jacob George.
I started playing football inmy freshman year and since then
I've dealt with a lot ofinjuries.
I'm also into stuff like carsand cooking and lifting.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, my name is Jacob Lindo.
I don't have.
I haven't had many injuries inmy life.
This is pretty much my firstserious one.
When it comes to sports andathletics and with my hobbies,
I'm really into movies.
I love watching good movies, Ilove working out.
Still, I also throw track inthe spring, just living and
(01:53):
breathing.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
All right, so both of you gentlemen are currently out
.
You guys, as I mentioned, arethe starting middle linebacker
core.
You know, I used to play middlelinebacker back in the day you
know about some pounds ago.
But I to play middle linebackerback in the day you know about
some pounds ago, but I was amiddle linebacker, so I know the
intensity of that position.
And the middle linebackerposition is that you are
basically the general of thedefensive side of the football
(02:18):
team.
Would you guys agree with that?
Yeah, pretty much Nothinghappens unless you call it right
.
That's right.
Most of the big plays beingmade are by you two, right?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And that is what we've seen the first week when
they both played.
Unfortunately, both of themwere injured in our second game
and I want them to share alittle bit about their personal
journey and experience with theinjuries that they both face.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So I'm a two-way player as well.
So I caught a ball and I endedup spraining my ankle and I got
injured, and I'm going to tellthem about your injury too.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Yeah, it was horrible .
I just got an F7 from theschool.
Even our offensive coordinatorput in a whole play just for me
to get the ball.
And then I go in on offense ourthird drive of the game and I'm
pulling, I'm wrapping andsomeone just lands on my leg and
breaks it.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Wow, wow.
How did you initially bothreact to the news of your injury
, both mentally and emotionally?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Well, I knew immediately when I went down
that something wasn't right.
Just because it hurt a lot, Ihad to get helped off the field.
But I would say the large partof it is definitely mental, like
considering how much you giveto play football Like it's
really your.
I mean, it's really your lifeduring the season and in the
offseason.
So just knowing that like youcan't play and you've got to
(03:46):
watch your team without beingable to like contribute is
really difficult, I would say.
But I was still there tosupport as much as I could.
I've been coaching with Lindahlhere, the JV linebackers, and
helping out as much as we cangetting our backups right.
So it's definitely a difficultjourney but I would say it's
(04:08):
also like rewarding in that way,just trying to make light of it
at least.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Yeah, yeah.
So my injury experience is veryconfusing For one, like when it
happened, I didn't know it wasbroken.
It didn't feel like it wasbroken, Like it was hard to walk
on it, yes, but I honestlythought it was something like a
sprain, nothing too serious, butno, it ended up being broken
and my least favorite thing isslowing down, and that's what
(04:34):
I've noticed through.
This is just like I've realizedhow much more time I have and
with that time, like it's niceto have a break.
But then again, like now, likewith all this time that I got, I
just want to do more and moreand it just sucks that I can't.
So I'm just trying to help withthe football team, I'm getting
my schoolwork in and just tryingto chill out.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
So you guys have talked about kind of your
strategies and your positivemindsets.
Is there something that youwould tell some of your
teammates or people that aretaking this great sport of
football for granted?
What would you say to thosefolks?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I would definitely say like myself starting
freshman year year, I do wish Iplayed more like growing up in
middle school and I also wish Itook my freshman year more
serious.
I actually broke my armfreshman year, my first game so
I didn't get that.
So I've just missed a lot ofreps that I could have been
getting and I feel like I wouldbe like a way higher caliber
(05:34):
player today if I had taken itmore serious when I was younger,
definitely well, my advice toany like high school football
players is that many, many of usforget that it's a game.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Many, many of us forget that, like, we're
supposed to have fun whileplaying this.
Everybody makes football sostressful.
Even coaches are guilty.
Everybody's guilty of makingfootball so stressful.
You just got to realize that atthe end of the day, it's just
supposed to be fun.
It's meant to be a game formost high schoolers.
Like, you don't have to go D1.
Don't hold yourself to anythingwhen you're playing football.
You just got to have fun.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I think that is critical and, as a coach, I
think we do sometimes gooverboard in our stress of
student-athletes and I think, asI've gotten older, I have taken
some time to reflect on that,because it definitely affects
student-athletes.
I remember when I coached atEarlham I had a student-athlete
(06:29):
and I was pushing him so hardand he walked off the field and
for me that was a very definingmoment.
Because of my stress andyelling and jumping up and down,
I almost caused this studentathlete, who was actually in
college, to walk off the field.
So I think you're right.
I think coaches need to do abetter job of regulating their
(06:53):
emotions right, and so.
I think sometimes as coaches, wedon't do that, and you know one
of your teammates, kevin,always says that you know he
enjoys being coached by men whohave their emotions regulated
right.
And are able to communicatewith you at a level in which
(07:14):
it's not disrespectful orfrustrating, and so I'm glad you
brought that up.
That's a very good point.
Talk to me a little bit aboutschool.
I mean, how do you maintainjust the day-to-day being in
high?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I'd say for me it's helpful to have.
I have an AP resource periodfor so I'm in two AP classes,
one ACP college engineeringclass and then honors for the
rest.
So I think it's nice to havelike a period to get some work
(07:53):
done and have like resource timewith your teachers, um, like if
you're lost, just like, so youdon't have to go home after
practice and do it.
I think that's a big thing, isas much as it takes to like.
I usually won't get home tolike seven or eight um by the
time I get to my homework, soit's kind of nice to have that
during the day yeah, my schoolwork this year has been like a
(08:13):
whole 180 since last year.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Freshman year was the easiest thing ever.
Now I got AP classes and itjust gets super difficult and I
don't have an AP resource, so Ijust have to figure it out
pretty much.
So whenever I can, whenever Ican, even with, like the no
phone policy, I need to putreminders on my phone.
I need reminders on my phonebecause I will forget if I don't
(08:35):
put the reminders in.
And that's what sucks about thephone policies because I use my
phone for so much school workbut they just I can't do that
anymore.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
So let's get into it.
Let's get into it.
So a couple weeks ago I hadabout five students up here and
the topic of this discussion wasthe cell phone policy.
Now I want to be clear intelling you I agree with the
cell phone policy, right, but Iwant to hear your perspectives
(09:02):
on it, and then I'll tell youmine.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Well, I think, like I think there's a limit to it,
like I know there's a lot ofkids that will just like be on
it and not take anything, but Ialso think there's an aspect
where, like, the phone can beuseful in a school environment.
Um, if you just don'tcompletely remove it, um, I
don't know I'll just know you'refor it.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Here's my thing when it comes to kids who don't want
to do work, they will not dowork any way possible not just
being on their phone they willthey will put their heads down
and fall asleep, they will playon their laptops.
If you're going to implement nophones, then people still
aren't going to get work done.
But now you're just giving awayall the great tools that a
(09:44):
phone can bring to you.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
What I hear you saying is don't punish me for
the people that aren't doing theright things.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yes, because either way, phones or not, they're
still not going to do their workCorrect, I agree.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
I can understand that Now from a school official.
You know I was a schoolofficial for many years and I've
seen the negative effects ofkids being on phones.
Now I will agree with you onthis.
If it is used to aid you inyour educational journey, I'm
all for it because I'm a techieand I know that there are
(10:21):
creative ways that schoolleaders and teachers can
communicate with you all.
That makes the job easier.
But I'm not for kids watchingmovies on their phones all day
in class.
Those are the things that Idon't like to see when I'm in a
school, right, and I'm sure youguys don't like to see it either
, because I know you guys neverdid any of that kind of stuff,
right.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Unless I had the time .
Unless you've been givenpermission right, so talk to me
a little bit.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I've been out of high school for a long time.
Talk to me a little bit aboutwhat is it like to be in high
school in 2023, post a lot ofstuff, post COVID, post just a
lot of things that have happenedin this world.
Tell me what it's like to be inhigh school, oh.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I don't know.
Did you have a COVID year inhigh school?
I had a.
COVID year in eighth grade, Ithink, yeah, I did not, I had my
COVID year in seventh grade andthen when it was in eighth
grade, it was just eighth gradewas pretty normal, and then once
I got to high school,everything was pretty much back
to normal.
Now, what happened last year isa whole different story, with
the flood in our school and withthe fire in our town.
(11:23):
That was pretty crazy and ourtown that was.
That was pretty crazy.
And then it was just like wewent right back to just like
COVID online school and likeonline school made things so
much easier for me.
I I'm like one of the fewpeople who really like the
hybrid schedule, because like Iwould get to sleep in and still
get all my homework done andstuff like that made it made
like my eighth grade year likethe easiest year I've ever had.
(11:44):
So you'll like college collegethen.
Yeah, I'll definitely likecollege, you know it.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
So what is high school like?
I mean, you guys have a lot offriends.
Like you know, back in the daywe used to have a little place
where everybody went to.
It was called a surge area andwe would go and just hang out at
lunchtime, eat lunch then goand hang out.
Do you guys have places likethat or do you just stay in the
cafeteria?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
They actually like keep us in the cafeteria now so
you have to have a pass to goeat lunch, like with a teacher
or like in the library orsomething.
They're pretty strict on that.
But I'd say like overall it'spretty chill, like in general
with like I mean, you get freetime in class, even with no
phones.
Like you can like talk withpeople, work with people.
(12:29):
A lot of my classes are kind ofopen and like a lot of group
work type stuff and like groupdiscussions, especially this
year.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
So, yeah, when it comes to me, I'll pretty much
talk to anybody, because I haveclasses with like pretty much
everybody, and then I gotfootball with the opposite
people in my like AP classes.
So I've just learned thatyou've got to be able to talk to
anybody.
You can't just exclude people,because you're always going to
have these people around you.
They're not just going to goaway.
You need to be able to talk topeople.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
My mother used to tell me, the same people you
meet going up will be the samepeople you meet coming down, and
so that was always her way ofletting me know that you got to
treat everybody with respect.
Yeah, um, you guys alsomentioned the fact that you play
other sports.
Right, and you have playedother sports.
Talk to me a little bit aboutthe adjustment of playing
additional sports uh well, likefor me.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I would definitely say football is the hardest
sport I play like, as far asboth physically intensive,
mental and just like thecommitment aspect.
I also played baseball my wholelife.
Growing up was my main thingwas baseball, and then I played
freshman year last year.
I did track in the springthough, and that was different
too, but I think sports kind ofpiggyback off each other,
(13:46):
especially with stuff like trackand field.
If you run, like cross country,really anything, though it'll
boost your performance.
I definitely got a lot fastersince last year, so that's nice.
So what?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
I like to say is that my two sports that I play are
completely opposite from eachother.
Like, I have football that'spretty much all year round, and
then I have track, which is justthree months during the spring,
and even during those threemonths we still have spring ball
practice.
So I would leave my trackpractice a little bit early to
go to spring ball practiceduring football and like the
(14:20):
differences in football andtrack is insane.
Like track is completely 180from football.
There's nothing similar inthere.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
So I remember back in the day.
So you guys may not know this,but I went to Gary Roosevelt
High School in Gary, indiana,home of Michael Jackson and the
Jackson Five.
Did you know?
Speaker 2 (14:40):
that Pretty cool fact right.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
So my high school is right here and right behind our
high school is the house thatthey grew up in.
So, you guys get a chance to dosome research.
But we're also home of GlennBig Dog Robinson.
Glenn Robinson played forPurdue back in the 90s and he
actually went to the same highschool.
So I had the chance of watchinghim perform while I was in high
(15:04):
school.
That was pretty cool.
Our high school won statechampionship my freshman year.
But I had the opportunity ofwrestling a couple years and I
played baseball.
Did he give me the womp womp?
I thought he usually gives methe womp womp sometimes.
But I also played baseball upuntil high school, decided that
(15:25):
I didn't want to play in highschool because I just wanted to
focus on football and ROTC.
Then had the opportunity of youguys aren't going to believe
this played baseball in collegefor one year.
Can you believe that?
No, really.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
What'd you play?
I was outfielder.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I was an outfielder yeah, hey, man, don't let this
size fool you.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I ain't always been this big man.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
I was about to say I keep on forgetting this.
Hey, I had a friend of mine, agood friend of mine.
She said you know, with thelogo, she said why you fooling
them people?
You know you bigger than thaton that picture.
So that's a shout out to myhomegirl, nicole Hamilton Inslee
, but anyway.
So I think it's important toplay multiple sports.
I think one of the challengesthat we face in Richmond, with
(16:12):
our low numbers in football, isthat kids don't want to play
multiple sports.
They want to focus in on onesport, and I think that does
small schools, because we'rebecoming relatively small.
A disservice, right.
So I always challenge kids todo that.
Now talk to me a little bitabout is there anything you want
to leave?
(16:32):
With the listening voice, youguys are going to get a chance
to come back on, but talk tothem, tell them anything that
you want to leave and any otherthoughts.
Comments.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
It's just because when you're in high school, you
just got to learn and justremember to have fun.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Have fun.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
You can't just like have a straight path that you
want to hit and like not expectanything else to happen in it.
You need to remember to justembrace, having fun for a little
bit.
Because I feel like everybodywants to stress during this time
when, like this is the time tohave like the most fun you could
have.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
We did a podcast.
One of the first ones was onmental health and you fun you
could have.
We did a podcast.
One of the first ones was onmental health.
You guys know my son.
You guys have spent a lot oftime with him as a father.
It is often hard for me becauseI was one of those guys that
would put a lot of pressure onhim early on.
Then, when he got older, he wasable to communicate how
(17:27):
stressful certain things were,and so I had to completely back
all the way off because we don'trealize as adults how much we
affect kids mental health, andthat's the purpose of this
podcast too is to give kids anopportunity to express some of
those things.
So I appreciate you saying havefun, because that is something
that's missing in all sports.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
It has become almost a business or a job yes, that's
what I was about to say, thatyeah yeah, don't feel the need
to like go d1 with everything Ifeel like that's like I have to
tell people that yeah, like justbecause of that, like that's
crazy.
I have people like quittingother sports because they want
to go d1 in this sport and I'mlike you don't have to do that,
you don't have to go d1, youknow that right and I didn't,
(18:06):
just so you know.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
I went, I played division three for 44 years and
I had the best, absolutely bestexperience in the world.
I wouldn't trade it foranything and coming out of high
school I felt that I could playdivision one.
I felt that I could play higher, but I chose a small school
that I could learn and meet newpeople and people from other
(18:27):
countries, but it also gave methe opportunity of playing
college football.
So I agree with what you guysare saying.
I appreciate your time.
Thank you for coming out to Outof the Mouth, to Babe, the
podcast for our youth.
These gentlemen will be back onAppreciate you.
We out, ciao you.
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