Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
And we have a very special gueston the line. And not just because
he's my favorite special teams player inthe league a full disclosure, Not just
because he plays for a team thatwe cover extensively on ninety nine point seven
the Fox up in Charlotte, theCarolina Panthers, but because he's got a
great story behind the Prisma Health Children'sHospital story. It's Johnny Hecker from the
Carolina Panthers. Johnny, how youdoing. Man, Hey, you guys,
(00:23):
I am I am blessed and honoredto be on with you. I
mean, it means a lot forus to take this time and talk some
shop and also just be able toraise awareness for an amazing children's hospital in
the area and just raising the levelof care for children in the Upstate area
with Greenville leading the way. It'sgreat, it's it's awesome to have you
(00:43):
on this air. And again,the football can always wait, and we'll
get to that here momentarily should wehave some time. But Johnny Hecker,
you're one of the best punters you'llever see on a football field. Is
doing some great work here partnering withPrisma Health Children's Hospital, bringing awareness and
community support. How did that comeabout talk up the steps that led to
your partnership with this fine organization.Yeah, I mean it was it was
(01:04):
a talk with UM, one ofmy friends that kind of helps with off
the field kind of bookings and stufffor me. I said, you know
what, UM, I think it'sit's an amazing opportunity for athletes to get
involved and with children's hospitals in thearea because UM, you know, I
remember when I was a kid.I was I was blessed beyond belief when
just the mascot came from from ourfrom the Seattle Maritors standing in my elementary
(01:27):
school. Nice. And to knowthat the impact that you can have as
an athlete on UM on a youngchild, UM is something that's not lost
on me and certainly not on manyof my teammates. So it's meant a
lot for us to be able justto go represent in the Carolinas and represent
the Panthers well, and just beable to shine some light on people doing
amazing work for the lives of children, especially in in Greenville and the surrounding
(01:53):
you know, upstate area. Theyprovide you know, world class care for
for children and families that really needa helping hand. So the match was
really just just me be showing upand saying I would love to be of
youth in any way possible to getbehind what you all are doing in Greenville,
and here we are. It's it'sgreat to have you on board again,
just for the notoriety you bring,your household name in terms of what
(02:15):
you've done in the league at thatposition. And I told Trade during the
break, and Tray's a big footballfan, but I don't think he's aware
of your quarterback actum. And therehave been times in the past, way
back when I was a kid,we could have used a Johnny Ecker in
some of these years. But youboom that ball man. You got Sam
Franklin out there down in it foryou and the whole team. We'll talk
about that in a minute, butI'm glad you mentioned the Upstate because you
(02:37):
know part of what you know,this organization with Carolina was all about for
so many years, and the founder, Jerry Richardson, of course, passed
away not too long ago. DavidTepper is of course doing I think a
great job pivoting here and revitalizing witha great coaching staff. If you could
just for a minute share with us, and not from a football perspectives earily,
but how you've settled into this area, the Charlotte Mettrier. I was
(02:59):
a Charlotte Nate even Dilworth, andnow I'm in the upstate. But it
really is two states, one team, right, Yeah, absolutely, And
that's something that um. I growingup on the West coast, um,
you know, playing in Saint Louis, and then I haven't had much time
in the South. I didn't fullyunderstand that, you know. I thought,
you know, you know, theteam's in Charlotte. But then now
(03:19):
being here for a little over ayear now, it has been something that
I have fully embraced and realizes thatour you know, our allegiance and our
reach is much more than just theyou know Charlotte Mecklemburg County, but much
more far reaching into you know,Raleigh, Durham, South into Greenville,
you know, all the way toCharleston and beyond. So I think it's
been something where we feel the love. You know. My family has gone
(03:42):
on trips all over both states andyou see you see the bumper stickers,
you see the window decals and cars, you see people in in T shirts
and hats all over the place,and I think this area has a lot
of pride in Carolina Panther football andand that means a lot to us.
And we feel that it's our dutyand kind of honor to be able to
give back in any ways that wecan so to um, yeah, partner
(04:04):
with many of the amazing organizations inboth North and South Carolina, and really
do our best to unify this.You know, we are the Carolina Panthers,
So there's the North and the South, but really it's you know,
one Carolina is the mentality, andwe're really doing our best to just be
a team that's unified in that approach. And um, you know, we're
really blessed to have two amazing areasto the kind of call home. See
(04:28):
Panther fans on Twitter and Twitter can'tbe real life sometimes sometimes it's not Listen
to this man, Johnny Hecker,and quit fighting over the states. North
Carolina is not better. South Carolinais not better. In the words of
Johnny Hecker, we're all one statehere, one one big region. Johnny
Hecker, Special Team's Ace, thepunter for the Carolina Panthers, is our
guest here on Game on right hereon the Prisma Health Children's Hospital Radio thon
(04:49):
and look, I'm hearing you've gotthis video project coming up with Prisma.
If you don't mind give us aquick word on what's going on with that
and your part in that. Yeah, So the video project is going to
be, um, just a littleseries of videos, are you know,
just some just some media that wecan get out to the children that are
(05:10):
at the Children's hospital for their summercamps. Um, you know, some
of the some of the residents thathave been there for extended stays. You
know, every kid looks for asummer pick me up, you know,
whether they're they're sick in the hospitalor healthy, you know, out and
about on town. So I thinkanything that we can do, uh,
to just be there, be apositive influence, you know, be of
encouragement, let them know that we'rethinking of them, praying for them,
(05:31):
UM, that that I love them. You know that anything I can do
to bring a smile to their face, um is what I would be more
than happy happy to do because Iknow that it means a lot for us
to just just have the time andthe ability, um, you know,
to show up and media teams needto do a great job of putting together
these videos to to go out toall these kids for their summer camps.
(05:53):
You know, in concordance with thechildren's hospital. Johnny Hackers our guest from
the Carolina Panthers, and he's partneringwith Prisma Health Children's Hospital like so many
of us here and doing just atremendous job raising awareness for this. Just
great operation, so many good people, Alicia Parsons among others that has helped
us coordinate all this, and soglad to have you. I'd be remiss
if I didn't sneak in one footballquestion. I'm going to keep it to
(06:14):
a level that has a human elementto it. My first quarterback that I
ever saw throw a pass for thisfranchise as your head coach now, Frank
Reich. I was at that game. It was in the Georgia Dome now
defunct. You opened the season inAtlanta. It's like come full circle.
I don't know how close you've beenable to get to Frank, how much
you knew him before this season.Obviously OTA's are going on you getting to
know him a little more now,but I know him his story well enough
(06:38):
to know you're getting one of thebest men on the planet. We talk
about, you know the fact thatwe're raising awareness for a great cause here,
not just from a football perspective,but just a little culture check on
that organization right now. With somany great names, too many a name
Caldwell, Tom Capers, and ofcourse Chris Tabor, your guy, I
imagine it feels pretty good to bea Carolina Panther right now, at least
(06:58):
in terms of the leadership factor inthat locker room. Yeah, there's no
guessing going on. You know thatthe information that you're getting is um vetted,
tested, UM, you know,coming from reliable sources. I mean
really generational coaching lines have have startedwith some of the coaches on our staff,
and there are some that are upand comers from other kind of coaching
(07:20):
trees that are on staff too.So UM Coach Reich has been an incredible
leader thus far and just a realclear communicator of what he expects from us,
what what he wants from his coachingstaff, how he wants us to
collaborate and really um approach this seasonof growth together because he just he realizes
(07:41):
just like any good any good teamor organization or company, UM, you
know, in order for you tobe a success, everyone has to be
communicating clearly, openly and honestly.And so I think that, um,
that's what we're doing moving forward.And Frank's brought guys that are, you
know, seasons ahead of him,seasons you know, to the to the
side of him, season's equal,and guys that are up and coming.
(08:01):
So I think that really, nomatter what way you look at it,
players aren't guessing, you know,you know, as this coach, I
really know what he's talking about anddoes he really have my best interest in
mind. I think that we're allvery excited to be with this coaching staff,
and the enthusiasm has definitely showed onthe field on these first few OTAs
well. He's bona fides precede himhere, He's in multiple time this in
(08:24):
that Pro Bowl, Pro what doyou want to call it. He's got
the awards, doesn't matter today becausehe's all about helping Prisma Health Children's Hospital
and that's what really count today.But he is Johnny Hicker, the all
world punter for the Carolina Panthers.Lastly, sixty seconds here, I'm told
we got with you. Here isFrank dialing up something in the passing game
for you. Come on, let'sspill the beans. Johnny, He's got
(08:45):
you right. Come on, Bryceneeds a little guidance. Can you be
the guy? Let's go. Ifif, if he doesn't draw something up,
he's doing myself and the Carolinas theHughes dis service. So I think
I I'll be beaten down a doorif my offensive package doesn't come in soon.
Now, the Johnny Special, that'swhat we'll call it. When it
does happen, we'll get you backout of the air. Is our good
(09:05):
friend, Johnny Hector putting putting thatball for the Carolina Panthers. Wish you
everybody well man, We'll see yousoon. And thanks for all you do,
my friend. Thank you guys somuch got left
And we have a very special gueston the line. And not just because
he's my favorite special teams player inthe league a full disclosure, Not just
because he plays for a team thatwe cover extensively on ninety nine point seven
the Fox up in Charlotte, theCarolina Panthers, but because he's got a
great story behind the Prisma Health Children'sHospital story. It's Johnny Hecker from the
Carolina Panthers. Johnny, how youdoing. Man, Hey, you guys,
(00:23):
I am I am blessed and honoredto be on with you. I
mean, it means a lot forus to take this time and talk some
shop and also just be able toraise awareness for an amazing children's hospital in
the area and just raising the levelof care for children in the Upstate area
with Greenville leading the way. It'sgreat, it's it's awesome to have you
(00:43):
on this air. And again,the football can always wait, and we'll
get to that here momentarily should wehave some time. But Johnny Hecker,
you're one of the best punters you'llever see on a football field. Is
doing some great work here partnering withPrisma Health Children's Hospital, bringing awareness and
community support. How did that comeabout talk up the steps that led to
your partnership with this fine organization.Yeah, I mean it was it was
(01:04):
a talk with UM, one ofmy friends that kind of helps with off
the field kind of bookings and stufffor me. I said, you know
what, UM, I think it'sit's an amazing opportunity for athletes to get
involved and with children's hospitals in thearea because UM, you know, I
remember when I was a kid.I was I was blessed beyond belief when
just the mascot came from from ourfrom the Seattle Maritors standing in my elementary
(01:27):
school. Nice. And to knowthat the impact that you can have as
an athlete on UM on a youngchild, UM is something that's not lost
on me and certainly not on manyof my teammates. So it's meant a
lot for us to be able justto go represent in the Carolinas and represent
the Panthers well, and just beable to shine some light on people doing
amazing work for the lives of children, especially in in Greenville and the surrounding
(01:53):
you know, upstate area. Theyprovide you know, world class care for
for children and families that really needa helping hand. So the match was
really just just me be showing upand saying I would love to be of
youth in any way possible to getbehind what you all are doing in Greenville,
and here we are. It's it'sgreat to have you on board again,
just for the notoriety you bring,your household name in terms of what
(02:15):
you've done in the league at thatposition. And I told Trade during the
break, and Tray's a big footballfan, but I don't think he's aware
of your quarterback actum. And therehave been times in the past, way
back when I was a kid,we could have used a Johnny Ecker in
some of these years. But youboom that ball man. You got Sam
Franklin out there down in it foryou and the whole team. We'll talk
about that in a minute, butI'm glad you mentioned the Upstate because you
(02:37):
know part of what you know,this organization with Carolina was all about for
so many years, and the founder, Jerry Richardson, of course, passed
away not too long ago. DavidTepper is of course doing I think a
great job pivoting here and revitalizing witha great coaching staff. If you could
just for a minute share with us, and not from a football perspectives earily,
but how you've settled into this area, the Charlotte Mettrier. I was
(02:59):
a Charlotte Nate even Dilworth, andnow I'm in the upstate. But it
really is two states, one team, right, Yeah, absolutely, And
that's something that um. I growingup on the West coast, um,
you know, playing in Saint Louis, and then I haven't had much time
in the South. I didn't fullyunderstand that, you know. I thought,
you know, you know, theteam's in Charlotte. But then now
(03:19):
being here for a little over ayear now, it has been something that
I have fully embraced and realizes thatour you know, our allegiance and our
reach is much more than just theyou know Charlotte Mecklemburg County, but much
more far reaching into you know,Raleigh, Durham, South into Greenville,
you know, all the way toCharleston and beyond. So I think it's
been something where we feel the love. You know. My family has gone
(03:42):
on trips all over both states andyou see you see the bumper stickers,
you see the window decals and cars, you see people in in T shirts
and hats all over the place,and I think this area has a lot
of pride in Carolina Panther football andand that means a lot to us.
And we feel that it's our dutyand kind of honor to be able to
give back in any ways that wecan so to um, yeah, partner
(04:04):
with many of the amazing organizations inboth North and South Carolina, and really
do our best to unify this.You know, we are the Carolina Panthers,
So there's the North and the South, but really it's you know,
one Carolina is the mentality, andwe're really doing our best to just be
a team that's unified in that approach. And um, you know, we're
really blessed to have two amazing areasto the kind of call home. See
(04:28):
Panther fans on Twitter and Twitter can'tbe real life sometimes sometimes it's not Listen
to this man, Johnny Hecker,and quit fighting over the states. North
Carolina is not better. South Carolinais not better. In the words of
Johnny Hecker, we're all one statehere, one one big region. Johnny
Hecker, Special Team's Ace, thepunter for the Carolina Panthers, is our
guest here on Game on right hereon the Prisma Health Children's Hospital Radio thon
(04:49):
and look, I'm hearing you've gotthis video project coming up with Prisma.
If you don't mind give us aquick word on what's going on with that
and your part in that. Yeah, So the video project is going to
be, um, just a littleseries of videos, are you know,
just some just some media that wecan get out to the children that are
(05:10):
at the Children's hospital for their summercamps. Um, you know, some
of the some of the residents thathave been there for extended stays. You
know, every kid looks for asummer pick me up, you know,
whether they're they're sick in the hospitalor healthy, you know, out and
about on town. So I thinkanything that we can do, uh,
to just be there, be apositive influence, you know, be of
encouragement, let them know that we'rethinking of them, praying for them,
(05:31):
UM, that that I love them. You know that anything I can do
to bring a smile to their face, um is what I would be more
than happy happy to do because Iknow that it means a lot for us
to just just have the time andthe ability, um, you know,
to show up and media teams needto do a great job of putting together
these videos to to go out toall these kids for their summer camps.
(05:53):
You know, in concordance with thechildren's hospital. Johnny Hackers our guest from
the Carolina Panthers, and he's partneringwith Prisma Health Children's Hospital like so many
of us here and doing just atremendous job raising awareness for this. Just
great operation, so many good people, Alicia Parsons among others that has helped
us coordinate all this, and soglad to have you. I'd be remiss
if I didn't sneak in one footballquestion. I'm going to keep it to
(06:14):
a level that has a human elementto it. My first quarterback that I
ever saw throw a pass for thisfranchise as your head coach now, Frank
Reich. I was at that game. It was in the Georgia Dome now
defunct. You opened the season inAtlanta. It's like come full circle.
I don't know how close you've beenable to get to Frank, how much
you knew him before this season.Obviously OTA's are going on you getting to
know him a little more now,but I know him his story well enough
(06:38):
to know you're getting one of thebest men on the planet. We talk
about, you know the fact thatwe're raising awareness for a great cause here,
not just from a football perspective,but just a little culture check on
that organization right now. With somany great names, too many a name
Caldwell, Tom Capers, and ofcourse Chris Tabor, your guy, I
imagine it feels pretty good to bea Carolina Panther right now, at least
(06:58):
in terms of the leadership factor inthat locker room. Yeah, there's no
guessing going on. You know thatthe information that you're getting is um vetted,
tested, UM, you know,coming from reliable sources. I mean
really generational coaching lines have have startedwith some of the coaches on our staff,
and there are some that are upand comers from other kind of coaching
(07:20):
trees that are on staff too.So UM Coach Reich has been an incredible
leader thus far and just a realclear communicator of what he expects from us,
what what he wants from his coachingstaff, how he wants us to
collaborate and really um approach this seasonof growth together because he just he realizes
(07:41):
just like any good any good teamor organization or company, UM, you
know, in order for you tobe a success, everyone has to be
communicating clearly, openly and honestly.And so I think that, um,
that's what we're doing moving forward.And Frank's brought guys that are, you
know, seasons ahead of him,seasons you know, to the to the
side of him, season's equal,and guys that are up and coming.
(08:01):
So I think that really, nomatter what way you look at it,
players aren't guessing, you know,you know, as this coach, I
really know what he's talking about anddoes he really have my best interest in
mind. I think that we're allvery excited to be with this coaching staff,
and the enthusiasm has definitely showed onthe field on these first few OTAs
well. He's bona fides precede himhere, He's in multiple time this in
(08:24):
that Pro Bowl, Pro what doyou want to call it. He's got
the awards, doesn't matter today becausehe's all about helping Prisma Health Children's Hospital
and that's what really count today.But he is Johnny Hicker, the all
world punter for the Carolina Panthers.Lastly, sixty seconds here, I'm told
we got with you. Here isFrank dialing up something in the passing game
for you. Come on, let'sspill the beans. Johnny, He's got
(08:45):
you right. Come on, Bryceneeds a little guidance. Can you be
the guy? Let's go. Ifif, if he doesn't draw something up,
he's doing myself and the Carolinas theHughes dis service. So I think
I I'll be beaten down a doorif my offensive package doesn't come in soon.
Now, the Johnny Special, that'swhat we'll call it. When it
does happen, we'll get you backout of the air. Is our good
(09:05):
friend, Johnny Hector putting putting thatball for the Carolina Panthers. Wish you
everybody well man, We'll see yousoon. And thanks for all you do,
my friend. Thank you guys somuch got left
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