September 16, 2025 • 18 mins
Amber Banda interviews Fernie Acosta.
The Senior movie synopsis:
"At 59, Mike Flynt may be too old to be on a college football field, but not too old to feel the weight of unfinished business. After nearly four decades, he returns to his alma mater to take the hit that changed everything. Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he pushes for one more game, not for glory, but for the teammates he lost, the family he fractured, and the ending he still believes is possible." *
.
Fernie Acosta grew up in El Paso, TX and was the football team captain at Sul Roll University in 2007 when 59 year old Mike Flynt decided to try out for the team. Little did he know that his character would be portrayed in a movie years later!
.
During this interview, Fernie talks about real life vs the movie, meeting tha actor who plays his characters, how the movie is about so much more than Texas football, how he still very much keeps in touch with Mike, going to the movie premiere, what he is up to now, how El Paso and is recieving the movie so far, and his wife Cristal shares some words with him at the end that may move you to tears.
.
Another person and movie to continue putting El Paso on the map! The Senior, in theatres Sept 19 2025. Make sure you look out for #33!
.
*Credit:
https://www.angel.com/tickets/senior?utm_source=bing-ads&msclkid=dc46ff953c4f19ba4686975c5395db10
The Senior movie synopsis:
"At 59, Mike Flynt may be too old to be on a college football field, but not too old to feel the weight of unfinished business. After nearly four decades, he returns to his alma mater to take the hit that changed everything. Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he pushes for one more game, not for glory, but for the teammates he lost, the family he fractured, and the ending he still believes is possible." *
.
Fernie Acosta grew up in El Paso, TX and was the football team captain at Sul Roll University in 2007 when 59 year old Mike Flynt decided to try out for the team. Little did he know that his character would be portrayed in a movie years later!
.
During this interview, Fernie talks about real life vs the movie, meeting tha actor who plays his characters, how the movie is about so much more than Texas football, how he still very much keeps in touch with Mike, going to the movie premiere, what he is up to now, how El Paso and is recieving the movie so far, and his wife Cristal shares some words with him at the end that may move you to tears.
.
Another person and movie to continue putting El Paso on the map! The Senior, in theatres Sept 19 2025. Make sure you look out for #33!
.
*Credit:
https://www.angel.com/tickets/senior?utm_source=bing-ads&msclkid=dc46ff953c4f19ba4686975c5395db10
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Amber Banda and right now I have Fernie Aquosta.
He is the head athletic trainer for America's High School
of Sports Medicine. That's all sports, but today we're going
to be focusing specifically on football. Fernie, thank you for
being here with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Oh, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Of course, his wife Crystal is here too. She is
a long term friend of mine as well. But she
may or may not get on the mic. We'll see.
But Fernie, I've known you for quite a while too.
And the senior this upcoming movie, it's coming out September nineteenth. Now,
your character is going to be portrayed in this movie.
Can you tell the listening audience a little bit of
(00:37):
what this movie is about?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Well, well, again, thank you for having me here. I'm
excited to talk about this. The movie is about a
fifty nine year old named Mike Flint who's going to
be played by Michael Chicklis, who comes back comes back
from well getting kicked. He gets kicked out from college
at Saul Ross. This is at Saul Ross State and
he comes back in two thousand and seven to play football,
(01:02):
but at fifty nine years old, so it comes back
because you know he has one more year of eligibility and.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Wait, the eligibility is sixty.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, he got kicked out as a senior who's at
Saul Ross. And then that was in sixty nine, nineteen
sixty nine when he played sixty nine to seventy one
around that time, and he got kicked out, and it
just came down to some friends of his about him
coming back to play, to play at back at Saul
(01:30):
Ross and to redeem himself. It was like a second
chance for him to play. So he was still on him.
He was fit, he was he still had a lot
of energy to play and at fifty nine years old,
so he decided to come back and try it out.
And and that's where he's at now. And for me,
(01:50):
now I'm playing. He came to the time when I
was how do you say? When I was a junior
junior In Saul Ross.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And Mike Flint, he is played again by what the
actor's name is, Michael Chickliss. And just for those that
have maybe watched the original Fantastic Four, he was Ben Grimm.
He was also Vic Mackie in the two thousand and
two series This Shield and This is based on a
true story, so just keep that in mind. So for Annie,
You're you're being portrayed by up and coming actor Chris Bessetas.
(02:19):
So you were saying you're you're uh when you were
at Soul Ross, what was your You were there when
this was happening. So what were you thinking when this
fifty nine year old man comes and is trying out
for the team. What were you doing at that time?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Well, for uh, when I was playing, I just really
got promoted as team captain my sophomore year, junior year.
I had made some big plays that time. I got
I got a football helmet, I actually got a football,
you know, showing that I'm going to be the team
captain of that year.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
So you were team captain that year that this man
tries out.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Yes, wow, yeah, it was it was It was exciting
to get that and then after that just finding out, Uh,
we actually were in a room. We had a team
meeting and we had the coach talking about, Hey, just
want to give you guys a heads up, We're going
to have a fifty nine year old play football. So,
you know, after that, we all looked at each other.
Not nice to remember it. We you looked at each
(03:13):
other like what do you what do you do?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah? How do you act?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Or how do you respond to this?
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
So you had some people were like, oh, is this
a publicity stunt? Or hey, well who is he or
what is he trying to do? Yeah, So it came
to a point where it's like a lot of questions.
But myself, I was more like, all right, well, I
don't know what to expect. I haven't met the person
yet at that time when we were when they told
us about it. But when it came to that first day,
(03:41):
that was a different story.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
At that time. Then when they announced that too, had
he already gone through the training and made the team
or did they announce that? And then he still had
to go through the training to make the team.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So he had to prove himself with the coach with
a group of players first. And and I guess when
he did that, I didn't know about it yet. When
he did that, he had him come out to practice
to you know, to come out to meet with the team.
And and that was the first time I met him.
And you know, when you see Mike after when I
first saw him and met him, like shaking his hand
(04:13):
because he came back. He's he was a linebacker. He
was a defensive linebacker. So he came back and playing
in my position, I was the outside lannebacker. And you know,
there we go. He's gonna be my group. And that
was like the other reason why I'm going to be
a little bit part of that movie because we became
good friends after that. But once once I first met him,
(04:34):
you know, once you first shake his hand or you
see him, he's he's stockey guy. He looks fit for
his age. You're just looking him like, whoa, who is
this guy? This guy? This guy looks like can he
can hit? Yeah, he can really hit.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
But and what'd you think when you saw him practice
and he was really doing it.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
He can Uh, he can run, Yeah, you can run.
He can play. I remember we're doing the warm ups
and you know, everybody was trying to look at him.
But Mike, Mike a great guy. I mean, he's a great,
great friend. We became great friends. He was he was
more focused on keeping everybody away, publicity, everything. He wanted
to focus on the team. Oh wow, Like he was
there to like support. He wanted us to focus and
(05:14):
of course our main thing was to win. Yeah, like
we wanted to win some championship. Like for sure, he
was just guys, don't worry about anything outside. Let's focus
on the game. Focus on what you guys have to do.
I'm just here because I need to you know, I
need to finish what I started.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, he did it more for him And again you're
gonna have to watch the movie to see if they
do win some championships to see how it all played out.
But that being said, you have real life and then
you have the movie. So when you you've already seen
the movie ahead of us, of course, when you watch
it and you lived it, how do you feel it
kind of compares like the reality versus the movie.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Well, I can say this I want to give any
spoilers still, but for sure, the uniforms, everything that they
wore was exactly spot on. Okay, I just knowing Chris
Passeta is going to be worrying. Number thirty three.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
That was your number.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
That was my number also and also at America's High
school were that So it was great, great great guy,
great great person. I'll talk about a little bit more,
but regarding comparison between them both, it's going to be
half and half half and half about the likeness and
and of course Hollywood. But again it's going to be
like one of those those family family like more.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
It's not just football Texas football, because you know Texas
loves their football, but it's from the trailer that I've
seen and what you've told me so far, it's about
the relationships you have with your teammates, so no matter
what sport you're on or what group you're in, it's
going to target that. And familial relationships, specifically father son,
(06:47):
So that's you know, the producers they produce the Rookie
and the Secretariat, so they're very good at making those
movies that are inspirational. They feel good, they motivate you.
It's one of those movies you walk out and you
either want to join a sport team, you want to
work out, or you want to better yourself. So those,
you know, one of the things. And of course it
has that all Passo connection thanks to you, you know,
putting al Paso on the map. So Chris Besra, did
(07:10):
you guys like talk before the movie or do it
like did he try and pick your brain? Or how
close did you guys get you know, the actor that's
actually portraying you in the film.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, we didn't talk so much at the beginning when
they first started doing production. Production was actually in two
thousand and twenty twenty one, usually after the after during
the pandemic. Yeah, they called me to go over. But
so I didn't meet I didn't meet Chris yet. I
met him like a little bit about like last year.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Okay, would you think when you first met him?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Actually, we didn't meet. We just started talking social media actually,
so we're just going back and forth. And then my wife,
my wife Crystal, she was busy like, oh, you guys
are buddies. Now your guys best time?
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Well yeah, I mean I would think so.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
So every time he'll message me, she's like, oh, it's
your Besti's best is coming up, and she'll be funny
about it. But we've and that's when we started getting,
you know, talking a lot more. And he would actually
tell me. He's like, hey, what did you wear? What
did you wear?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
What did you do? Uh?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Did you wear gloves?
Speaker 1 (08:08):
She'd ask you, Yes.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
He did ask me about it.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
And then he felt a little bad at first because
he was like, oh, man, you didn't wear gloves. Because
he saw my pictures, my original pictures.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
He's like, oh man, I thought there were gloves and
there were actually tape. I actually had tape in my house.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Oh okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
So he's like, oh man, I'm sorry I didn't have
the tape instead of gloves. I was like, you know what,
you already have the number and you're already performing. You're
good man. Yeah, it's fine. You know, it's it's exciting
to see it.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Yeah, you're and you know, I assume that you're just
grateful and happy to be a part of this. Did
you ever think at any time before you were you
were told about this movie that was going to be made,
that this would becoming a movie.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
It was talk it actually came out to be first
a book. Mike Flint, really Mike Flint he after after
you graduate, after it was over, he was like, hey, Frennie,
I'm going to be looking at making a book. And
he actually talked about it and told me about you know,
I'm gonna have some information about you too, and how
you impacted my life as well while we played. Uh,
(09:08):
and he had a lot of good things to say,
and he would always tell me for any you were
you were, I was you were just like me when
I played. Just know that, and that's why I want
you to be part of all this, in this experience.
So we're good friends and we're still we're still talking
and we're still keeping contact. And yeah, uh great in
him and his wife. Uh and then they were they're awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
So before I ask you about your experience at the
world premiere, you know, walk in the red carpet. Hopefully
Crystal maybe she'll jump in and talk about her experience.
If not, it's all right, but you will. I have
never met someone whose character was portrayed on the big
screen like a big movie. So my question is do
you get paid, Like, is there any compensation for for
(09:50):
your character, like, uh, being a part of this.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
No.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I talked to Mike about that. He was just like, no,
U right now, it's it's not about being like he
actually asked me, like, you know, I wanted you to
have a character in there, having your name in there
because you were a big part.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
It was nothing about you know, getting paid for it.
And me, I, you know, I didn't want any money.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Me.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
I was just like, hey, you have my name out there,
you have my you know me how I was. And
that's all I actually really cared about more.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, and then again, you're putting out pass you're part
of putting El Paso on the map, you know, making
giving a good name to our community and of course
Texas football. It's gonna it's going to be a huge
hit in the city and within Texas. That being said,
you already saw the movie. I saw some of the
pictures from the red carpet event. Tell us about your
experience at the at the premiere, Where was it, when
(10:42):
was it, what happened, like how did it go? And
then afterward I'll ask you about your feelings towards the movie,
like when you finally saw it. But tell us about
the world the premiere.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Well, before I go to the premiere, big, big thank
you for the nine to five Lobos for sure, because
they supported us first to get my name out more out.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
They're the nine one five Lobos. Who are they?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
The alumni the alumni for the saw roster here at
El Paso. So big shout out to them because they
actually helped also promote a little bit with uh, you know,
getting saying we have local players that played too, Yeah,
and they they really helped out a lot with that
and especially coming from Saul Ross. Al Paso has a big,
(11:24):
big community of graduates.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
From because it's all like three hours from here, right.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
About three year and a half three from where is it. It's
in Alpine Texts.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Alpine, Texas. That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yeah, So it's we have a lot of great, great
school for education. We had a lot of you know,
administration that people teachers like, and it was it was
a big, big follow through, so big thank you for
them for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And also America's right, that's where you're at now.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Now I'm at America's, America's High School. A big shout
out to my you know, my princevill mist Otis and
and her team of admin and even the coaches. Everybody
has been very supportive. I mean, the biggest, my biggest
support is all right there at America's without them. Who
am I? That's what I felt like, my.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Biggest outside support, right Crystal sitting there like what am I? Chopoliver,
I'm gonna be talking about you right now. America's High
School nine one five Lobos, which is the Soul Ross alumni,
and of course Soul Ross themselves, I'm sure that they've
been helping to promote promote themselves.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
And yeah, trying to get El Paso on the map
in America's on the map, you know, getting some good
I want to get some good you know, good good
media for us. And it's great, it's exciting, it's a
it's a great story, especially in the movie. I'm telling
you it's it's a great feeling. Especially of course, uh,
their media tech mister Valencia out there, he's helping me out,
especially putting on the billboards on the and the football games,
(12:44):
just to get just to get it recognized. And I
appreciate all that they've they've done.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
So the world premiere, How did you guys, you know,
real quick, how did you guys choose what to wear?
I know I would have been you know, Crystal is
probably a little bit more manic about it. I'm not sure,
Like how how did that process go?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
And coming down to my wife, my fantastic wife that's
right here that I can, trying to get her to
talk in a little bit, but coming to her, uh
regarding we were back and forth about figuring out what
we're gonna wear. Yeah, I didn't I didn't hire anybody.
The one that I hired was my wife, Chrystal She
(13:19):
was the one that came in and we went to
go look for some clothes and whatever you found on
that on social. She wanted me to stand out and
and you know she did perfect.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Yeah, you guys look awesome.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
She hit it and I appreciate.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Her for Where was it? Where was the premiere?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
The premiere was in fort Worth, Texas? And Bedford Okay, Godford, Texas.
It's in fort Worth.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
So how was that like? Meeting all the actors and
having your wife there to support you and be a
part of it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I was very grateful for my wife to be there,
just because you know, once we first got it was
something totally new, like like we don't do this, you
walk get on the red carpet. Well at first at
first when we got there and my wife got her
makeup done, So that was the awesome part of that.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I know, your make looked awesome.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
So thanks thanks to the group that did it, Cosmetic
Paramedic over there and fort Worth shout out. So we
uh so the first thing we did is actually we
got a limo. We actually when we got registered and
they were like, all right, here's here's the limo. Here's
your limo. You're going to be heading out, we rerive
and you just see it. There's a band, there's media,
we're already walking like we are literally in the red carpet.
(14:23):
Yeah yeah, that's literally how we felt it was. It
was exciting experience. And then just you know, having meeting actors,
I mean seeing actors just walking by and just oh wow,
we're here.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Yeah yeah. So and so you actually saw the movie
with the actors, especially you know, the actor that's portraying you,
And after you saw the movie, what did you think?
What did you feel all honesty.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
After seeing the movie, I oh, man, I was crying
the whole time, almost like not not crying, because it's
like it was it brought me back home, brought me
back home to Alpine, brought me back home on you
know memories when I played, and I had a lot
of fun when I played. Uh you know, we had
a we had a great year. We had a great team.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
And I love my teammates, uh, great, great friends. We're
still don't having contact. But it took me home. And
I even told my wife, like I feel like crying
or I'm crying, So okay, I'll give you a hug.
Don't worry. Real hucked loose it. It felt very emotional. Yeah,
and and then even better after we meet the we
(15:31):
met the actors. I still felt very emotional after that,
just because they were playing it, you know, reliving what
I did.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yeah, in that time.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
So it was great.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
That's definitely a very unique experience that not many people will,
you know, get to be a part of. And it's
all things to football, Texas football and going to college
and hitting your goals. For Anie, I'm going to force
Crystal to come say something when you're done. But is
there anything else that you would like to tell the
listening audience?
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Uh, well, just adding to it. With the meeting the actors,
they were very very they're a great acting group. We
met actually everybody after we met our actor for the
first time, Chris past I mean, tall guy, great guy,
very humble, very you know, his family, met his family.
But each of those actors have we have a lot
of respect fro him because they were they were awesome, They.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Were really nice, they did their research.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Oh yeah, they were actually more excited to see us.
That was the trip part.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Yeah, well I met Yeah, I never thought of the
roles reversed, but that's really interesting. That's cool. Well, thank
you for any and Crystal, if you want to go
up to the mic, don't where. I'm not going to
ask you a hard question. I actually, uh, if you
want to bring the mic up like two fingertips away
from you, is there anything you want to tell your husband? Oh?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Yeah, definitely, don't be scared. I think that you deserve
the recognition. I think because I know how hard you
worked when you were at Soul Ross and your teammates
respected you a lot. And then also I think what
was cool is that you attended America's High School and
(17:06):
now you're back there as an athletic trainer, and I
know that that means a lot to you. And then
Mike Flint including you in the book and in the movie.
It just showed me how impactful you were during that time,
and also how much of a difference you made even
(17:26):
back then like you do now. You've always been very
helpful and you have a big heart, and I think
that they capture that in the movie. It's so cute too,
the way that they portray him in the movie. So
I think they got your essence of being like very
respectful and being humble and a hard worker. So I
(17:48):
think that when people see it, they're going to see
a little glimpse of who you are. But I'm very
proud of you, and I think that you definitely deserve
the recognition because you worked very hard and you still
do work very hard.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Awesome. So again, this senior September nineteenth with a very
special connection to all pass So thanks to Ferny Acosta
and Crystal Martinez Agosta. So thank you both for being
here with me today.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
That's just now I'm going to be crying for a
little bit after this, after her talking about it, that's
for sure, But now it's thank you for that. And
then of course, don't forget athletic training is going to
be a big, big key for especially to keep athletes going,
to motivationally keep going regardless of your age.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Awesome, but thank you you
This is Amber Banda and right now I have Fernie Aquosta.
He is the head athletic trainer for America's High School
of Sports Medicine. That's all sports, but today we're going
to be focusing specifically on football. Fernie, thank you for
being here with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Oh, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Of course, his wife Crystal is here too. She is
a long term friend of mine as well. But she
may or may not get on the mic. We'll see.
But Fernie, I've known you for quite a while too.
And the senior this upcoming movie, it's coming out September nineteenth. Now,
your character is going to be portrayed in this movie.
Can you tell the listening audience a little bit of
(00:37):
what this movie is about?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Well, well, again, thank you for having me here. I'm
excited to talk about this. The movie is about a
fifty nine year old named Mike Flint who's going to
be played by Michael Chicklis, who comes back comes back
from well getting kicked. He gets kicked out from college
at Saul Ross. This is at Saul Ross State and
he comes back in two thousand and seven to play football,
(01:02):
but at fifty nine years old, so it comes back
because you know he has one more year of eligibility and.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Wait, the eligibility is sixty.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, he got kicked out as a senior who's at
Saul Ross. And then that was in sixty nine, nineteen
sixty nine when he played sixty nine to seventy one
around that time, and he got kicked out, and it
just came down to some friends of his about him
coming back to play, to play at back at Saul
(01:30):
Ross and to redeem himself. It was like a second
chance for him to play. So he was still on him.
He was fit, he was he still had a lot
of energy to play and at fifty nine years old,
so he decided to come back and try it out.
And and that's where he's at now. And for me,
(01:50):
now I'm playing. He came to the time when I
was how do you say? When I was a junior
junior In Saul Ross.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And Mike Flint, he is played again by what the
actor's name is, Michael Chickliss. And just for those that
have maybe watched the original Fantastic Four, he was Ben Grimm.
He was also Vic Mackie in the two thousand and
two series This Shield and This is based on a
true story, so just keep that in mind. So for Annie,
You're you're being portrayed by up and coming actor Chris Bessetas.
(02:19):
So you were saying you're you're uh when you were
at Soul Ross, what was your You were there when
this was happening. So what were you thinking when this
fifty nine year old man comes and is trying out
for the team. What were you doing at that time?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Well, for uh, when I was playing, I just really
got promoted as team captain my sophomore year, junior year.
I had made some big plays that time. I got
I got a football helmet, I actually got a football,
you know, showing that I'm going to be the team
captain of that year.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
So you were team captain that year that this man
tries out.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Yes, wow, yeah, it was it was It was exciting
to get that and then after that just finding out, Uh,
we actually were in a room. We had a team
meeting and we had the coach talking about, Hey, just
want to give you guys a heads up, We're going
to have a fifty nine year old play football. So,
you know, after that, we all looked at each other.
Not nice to remember it. We you looked at each
(03:13):
other like what do you what do you do?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah? How do you act?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Or how do you respond to this?
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
So you had some people were like, oh, is this
a publicity stunt? Or hey, well who is he or
what is he trying to do? Yeah, So it came
to a point where it's like a lot of questions.
But myself, I was more like, all right, well, I
don't know what to expect. I haven't met the person
yet at that time when we were when they told
us about it. But when it came to that first day,
(03:41):
that was a different story.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
At that time. Then when they announced that too, had
he already gone through the training and made the team
or did they announce that? And then he still had
to go through the training to make the team.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So he had to prove himself with the coach with
a group of players first. And and I guess when
he did that, I didn't know about it yet. When
he did that, he had him come out to practice
to you know, to come out to meet with the team.
And and that was the first time I met him.
And you know, when you see Mike after when I
first saw him and met him, like shaking his hand
(04:13):
because he came back. He's he was a linebacker. He
was a defensive linebacker. So he came back and playing
in my position, I was the outside lannebacker. And you know,
there we go. He's gonna be my group. And that
was like the other reason why I'm going to be
a little bit part of that movie because we became
good friends after that. But once once I first met him,
(04:34):
you know, once you first shake his hand or you
see him, he's he's stockey guy. He looks fit for
his age. You're just looking him like, whoa, who is
this guy? This guy? This guy looks like can he
can hit? Yeah, he can really hit.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
But and what'd you think when you saw him practice
and he was really doing it.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
He can Uh, he can run, Yeah, you can run.
He can play. I remember we're doing the warm ups
and you know, everybody was trying to look at him.
But Mike, Mike a great guy. I mean, he's a great,
great friend. We became great friends. He was he was
more focused on keeping everybody away, publicity, everything. He wanted
to focus on the team. Oh wow, Like he was
there to like support. He wanted us to focus and
(05:14):
of course our main thing was to win. Yeah, like
we wanted to win some championship. Like for sure, he
was just guys, don't worry about anything outside. Let's focus
on the game. Focus on what you guys have to do.
I'm just here because I need to you know, I
need to finish what I started.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, he did it more for him And again you're
gonna have to watch the movie to see if they
do win some championships to see how it all played out.
But that being said, you have real life and then
you have the movie. So when you you've already seen
the movie ahead of us, of course, when you watch
it and you lived it, how do you feel it
kind of compares like the reality versus the movie.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Well, I can say this I want to give any
spoilers still, but for sure, the uniforms, everything that they
wore was exactly spot on. Okay, I just knowing Chris
Passeta is going to be worrying. Number thirty three.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
That was your number.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
That was my number also and also at America's High
school were that So it was great, great great guy,
great great person. I'll talk about a little bit more,
but regarding comparison between them both, it's going to be
half and half half and half about the likeness and
and of course Hollywood. But again it's going to be
like one of those those family family like more.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
It's not just football Texas football, because you know Texas
loves their football, but it's from the trailer that I've
seen and what you've told me so far, it's about
the relationships you have with your teammates, so no matter
what sport you're on or what group you're in, it's
going to target that. And familial relationships, specifically father son,
(06:47):
So that's you know, the producers they produce the Rookie
and the Secretariat, so they're very good at making those
movies that are inspirational. They feel good, they motivate you.
It's one of those movies you walk out and you
either want to join a sport team, you want to
work out, or you want to better yourself. So those,
you know, one of the things. And of course it
has that all Passo connection thanks to you, you know,
putting al Paso on the map. So Chris Besra, did
(07:10):
you guys like talk before the movie or do it
like did he try and pick your brain? Or how
close did you guys get you know, the actor that's
actually portraying you in the film.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, we didn't talk so much at the beginning when
they first started doing production. Production was actually in two
thousand and twenty twenty one, usually after the after during
the pandemic. Yeah, they called me to go over. But
so I didn't meet I didn't meet Chris yet. I
met him like a little bit about like last year.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Okay, would you think when you first met him?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Actually, we didn't meet. We just started talking social media actually,
so we're just going back and forth. And then my wife,
my wife Crystal, she was busy like, oh, you guys
are buddies. Now your guys best time?
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Well yeah, I mean I would think so.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
So every time he'll message me, she's like, oh, it's
your Besti's best is coming up, and she'll be funny
about it. But we've and that's when we started getting,
you know, talking a lot more. And he would actually
tell me. He's like, hey, what did you wear? What
did you wear?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
What did you do? Uh?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Did you wear gloves?
Speaker 1 (08:08):
She'd ask you, Yes.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
He did ask me about it.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
And then he felt a little bad at first because
he was like, oh, man, you didn't wear gloves. Because
he saw my pictures, my original pictures.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
He's like, oh man, I thought there were gloves and
there were actually tape. I actually had tape in my house.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Oh okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
So he's like, oh man, I'm sorry I didn't have
the tape instead of gloves. I was like, you know what,
you already have the number and you're already performing. You're
good man. Yeah, it's fine. You know, it's it's exciting
to see it.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Yeah, you're and you know, I assume that you're just
grateful and happy to be a part of this. Did
you ever think at any time before you were you
were told about this movie that was going to be made,
that this would becoming a movie.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
It was talk it actually came out to be first
a book. Mike Flint, really Mike Flint he after after
you graduate, after it was over, he was like, hey, Frennie,
I'm going to be looking at making a book. And
he actually talked about it and told me about you know,
I'm gonna have some information about you too, and how
you impacted my life as well while we played. Uh,
(09:08):
and he had a lot of good things to say,
and he would always tell me for any you were
you were, I was you were just like me when
I played. Just know that, and that's why I want
you to be part of all this, in this experience.
So we're good friends and we're still we're still talking
and we're still keeping contact. And yeah, uh great in
him and his wife. Uh and then they were they're awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
So before I ask you about your experience at the
world premiere, you know, walk in the red carpet. Hopefully
Crystal maybe she'll jump in and talk about her experience.
If not, it's all right, but you will. I have
never met someone whose character was portrayed on the big
screen like a big movie. So my question is do
you get paid, Like, is there any compensation for for
(09:50):
your character, like, uh, being a part of this.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
No.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I talked to Mike about that. He was just like, no,
U right now, it's it's not about being like he
actually asked me, like, you know, I wanted you to
have a character in there, having your name in there
because you were a big part.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
It was nothing about you know, getting paid for it.
And me, I, you know, I didn't want any money.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Me.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
I was just like, hey, you have my name out there,
you have my you know me how I was. And
that's all I actually really cared about more.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, and then again, you're putting out pass you're part
of putting El Paso on the map, you know, making
giving a good name to our community and of course
Texas football. It's gonna it's going to be a huge
hit in the city and within Texas. That being said,
you already saw the movie. I saw some of the
pictures from the red carpet event. Tell us about your
experience at the at the premiere, Where was it, when
(10:42):
was it, what happened, like how did it go? And
then afterward I'll ask you about your feelings towards the movie,
like when you finally saw it. But tell us about
the world the premiere.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Well, before I go to the premiere, big, big thank
you for the nine to five Lobos for sure, because
they supported us first to get my name out more out.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
They're the nine one five Lobos. Who are they?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
The alumni the alumni for the saw roster here at
El Paso. So big shout out to them because they
actually helped also promote a little bit with uh, you know,
getting saying we have local players that played too, Yeah,
and they they really helped out a lot with that
and especially coming from Saul Ross. Al Paso has a big,
(11:24):
big community of graduates.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
From because it's all like three hours from here, right.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
About three year and a half three from where is it. It's
in Alpine Texts.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Alpine, Texas. That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yeah, So it's we have a lot of great, great
school for education. We had a lot of you know,
administration that people teachers like, and it was it was
a big, big follow through, so big thank you for
them for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And also America's right, that's where you're at now.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Now I'm at America's, America's High School. A big shout
out to my you know, my princevill mist Otis and
and her team of admin and even the coaches. Everybody
has been very supportive. I mean, the biggest, my biggest
support is all right there at America's without them. Who
am I? That's what I felt like, my.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Biggest outside support, right Crystal sitting there like what am I? Chopoliver,
I'm gonna be talking about you right now. America's High
School nine one five Lobos, which is the Soul Ross alumni,
and of course Soul Ross themselves, I'm sure that they've
been helping to promote promote themselves.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
And yeah, trying to get El Paso on the map
in America's on the map, you know, getting some good
I want to get some good you know, good good
media for us. And it's great, it's exciting, it's a
it's a great story, especially in the movie. I'm telling
you it's it's a great feeling. Especially of course, uh,
their media tech mister Valencia out there, he's helping me out,
especially putting on the billboards on the and the football games,
(12:44):
just to get just to get it recognized. And I
appreciate all that they've they've done.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
So the world premiere, How did you guys, you know,
real quick, how did you guys choose what to wear?
I know I would have been you know, Crystal is
probably a little bit more manic about it. I'm not sure,
Like how how did that process go?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
And coming down to my wife, my fantastic wife that's
right here that I can, trying to get her to
talk in a little bit, but coming to her, uh
regarding we were back and forth about figuring out what
we're gonna wear. Yeah, I didn't I didn't hire anybody.
The one that I hired was my wife, Chrystal She
(13:19):
was the one that came in and we went to
go look for some clothes and whatever you found on
that on social. She wanted me to stand out and
and you know she did perfect.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Yeah, you guys look awesome.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
She hit it and I appreciate.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Her for Where was it? Where was the premiere?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
The premiere was in fort Worth, Texas? And Bedford Okay, Godford, Texas.
It's in fort Worth.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
So how was that like? Meeting all the actors and
having your wife there to support you and be a
part of it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I was very grateful for my wife to be there,
just because you know, once we first got it was
something totally new, like like we don't do this, you
walk get on the red carpet. Well at first at
first when we got there and my wife got her
makeup done, So that was the awesome part of that.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I know, your make looked awesome.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
So thanks thanks to the group that did it, Cosmetic
Paramedic over there and fort Worth shout out. So we
uh so the first thing we did is actually we
got a limo. We actually when we got registered and
they were like, all right, here's here's the limo. Here's
your limo. You're going to be heading out, we rerive
and you just see it. There's a band, there's media,
we're already walking like we are literally in the red carpet.
(14:23):
Yeah yeah, that's literally how we felt it was. It
was exciting experience. And then just you know, having meeting actors,
I mean seeing actors just walking by and just oh wow,
we're here.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Yeah yeah. So and so you actually saw the movie
with the actors, especially you know, the actor that's portraying you,
And after you saw the movie, what did you think?
What did you feel all honesty.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
After seeing the movie, I oh, man, I was crying
the whole time, almost like not not crying, because it's
like it was it brought me back home, brought me
back home to Alpine, brought me back home on you
know memories when I played, and I had a lot
of fun when I played. Uh you know, we had
a we had a great year. We had a great team.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
And I love my teammates, uh, great, great friends. We're
still don't having contact. But it took me home. And
I even told my wife, like I feel like crying
or I'm crying, So okay, I'll give you a hug.
Don't worry. Real hucked loose it. It felt very emotional. Yeah,
and and then even better after we meet the we
(15:31):
met the actors. I still felt very emotional after that,
just because they were playing it, you know, reliving what
I did.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yeah, in that time.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
So it was great.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
That's definitely a very unique experience that not many people will,
you know, get to be a part of. And it's
all things to football, Texas football and going to college
and hitting your goals. For Anie, I'm going to force
Crystal to come say something when you're done. But is
there anything else that you would like to tell the
listening audience?
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Uh, well, just adding to it. With the meeting the actors,
they were very very they're a great acting group. We
met actually everybody after we met our actor for the
first time, Chris past I mean, tall guy, great guy,
very humble, very you know, his family, met his family.
But each of those actors have we have a lot
of respect fro him because they were they were awesome, They.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Were really nice, they did their research.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Oh yeah, they were actually more excited to see us.
That was the trip part.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Yeah, well I met Yeah, I never thought of the
roles reversed, but that's really interesting. That's cool. Well, thank
you for any and Crystal, if you want to go
up to the mic, don't where. I'm not going to
ask you a hard question. I actually, uh, if you
want to bring the mic up like two fingertips away
from you, is there anything you want to tell your husband? Oh?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Yeah, definitely, don't be scared. I think that you deserve
the recognition. I think because I know how hard you
worked when you were at Soul Ross and your teammates
respected you a lot. And then also I think what
was cool is that you attended America's High School and
(17:06):
now you're back there as an athletic trainer, and I
know that that means a lot to you. And then
Mike Flint including you in the book and in the movie.
It just showed me how impactful you were during that time,
and also how much of a difference you made even
(17:26):
back then like you do now. You've always been very
helpful and you have a big heart, and I think
that they capture that in the movie. It's so cute too,
the way that they portray him in the movie. So
I think they got your essence of being like very
respectful and being humble and a hard worker. So I
(17:48):
think that when people see it, they're going to see
a little glimpse of who you are. But I'm very
proud of you, and I think that you definitely deserve
the recognition because you worked very hard and you still
do work very hard.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Awesome. So again, this senior September nineteenth with a very
special connection to all pass So thanks to Ferny Acosta
and Crystal Martinez Agosta. So thank you both for being
here with me today.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
That's just now I'm going to be crying for a
little bit after this, after her talking about it, that's
for sure, But now it's thank you for that. And
then of course, don't forget athletic training is going to
be a big, big key for especially to keep athletes going,
to motivationally keep going regardless of your age.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Awesome, but thank you you
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