October 14, 2024 • 35 mins
From the Buckeye State of Ohio, former NFL Player Will Allen talks about the Steelers season thus far, Which NBA coach would he compare Mike Tomlin to, his thoughts on his alma mater Ohio State, and the " New Big 10" and Explains an inside look to what is the " Steeler Way"
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
To one once again. Jerald Brown back here on Heavy
into Paint.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Don't forget you can catch me obviously on serious sex.
Sam And you know what, just have the honor and
privilege to have a gentleman. He's always doing something and
you know what, he continues to stay busy. But his
very positive brother, former NFL player Will Allen, joining me
heavy in the paint.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Will.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I got to ask you this, starting off with college,
do you realize that you if you were playing at
Ohio State right now, would you have ever imagined that
you would have ucla USC all a part of the
Big Ten? And do you have any concerns about the
(00:43):
just how packed the Big Ten is now featuring all
these teams on the West coast?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Man twenty years ago, twenty five years ago, I'm telling
my age. When I started college football, you know, the
AAA controlled everything, you know, they controlled It was so
many leagues. You know, you think about even the Atlantic Ten.
You know, you think about how the ACC was, like
(01:13):
there was teams in the ACC that weren't in that
were in the Big East, like you still had your
Big East and then like you know, you know, it
was like all these different leagues, the Conference usas, like
you know what I mean. Like, so you start towards
the end of the twenty tens, you start seeing these
(01:34):
these small leagues and conferences deteriorate, and you know, you
know how big the Atlantic ten was, Like it was
Catholic University USA, and that was like basketball heaven for
East Coast basketball, like that's where you went, Like that
was the dream. And along with ACC basketball, like that's
(01:55):
where everybody went. And it's just you know, you start
seeing that shift, first with men's men's basketball, women's basketball,
and then football took some time, but we all knew
it was gonna happen because the TV contracts start getting bigger.
(02:16):
You started to see recruiting, more money being recruit being
invested in recruiting, and the big teams needed more control. Alabama, Texas, Ohio, State, Michigan, USC,
you know, Oregon is up there, like there is no
(02:38):
PAC twelve no more, you know, and you like, well,
where's Arizona, Who's where's Stanford? Stanfords in the ACC? Like
you know, I.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Turned on the TV, I see a big AC. I said,
that is wild to me. Atlantic Coast Conference. I mean,
pitt was in the big East. They moved to the ACC.
Like you know, you just start seeing these teams migrate.
Now all of a sudden, it's four super leagues now,
and it's probably gonna be two in the next ten years,
(03:09):
you know, and they're gonna figure out how to make
that happen.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
But I think it's good for recruiting. I think it's
good because every year, like I played against USC Washington
in college, you know, as non league games, you know, UCLA,
Texas Tech. You know, we played against those teams, and
(03:36):
so you always played them. You either travel or they
came to you. It was a two year agreement. So
it's only fitting now that the rich history between the
Big Ten and the Pac twelve playing in the Rose
Bowl Championship, the type of players from both conferences now
are one. I'm actually pretty excited about it. I think
(04:00):
the Michigan USC game was everything you wanted it to be,
you know, and I think, you know, however, this conference,
however the scheduling plays out, is gonna play a big
role and it's gonna make the Big Ten championship and
the other championship. I mean, Texas is an SEC and
they they they eat and I wouldn't imagine that. I
(04:23):
wouldn't imagine that fifteen twenty years ago. I wouldn't imagine
them going in the SEC and being able to compete
against Alabama like you know what I mean, Like ten
years ago, I wouldn't like they're a good team, but
they even with Vince Young, like, I still think they
would have had problems against Nick Saban's Alabama's teams. You know.
So it's good to see that they compete. Texas, A
(04:46):
and M can compete. You know, all these teams is
competing now in the SEC. Missouri they can compete, like
you know, don't forget about Missouri. They they was a
what was a they was an up well twelve, I
think they're Big twelve. Yeah, which was the Big eight
back in the year. Yeah, you gotta go back like
(05:07):
nineties and eighties it was the Big Eight.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Then you're throwing a lot of basketball out there.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I'm seeing this your college basketball history.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
I'm noticing that.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Oh, it's always been this evolution in college sports of
the dynamics and the shift based on TV money and
based on exposure, you know, and the big the best
teams came to the Big ten. It was only fitting Oregon,
you know, Oregon, usc U, c l A, Washington. You
(05:41):
know they had to come over.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
But you know, the only drawback that I have with
that will is the fact is that now there is
an even small margin for ERA. So think about you know,
obviously you're playing in the Big Ten, and you know
the head coach of your manor Ryan Day, he has
to beat.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Michigan every year.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
On top of that, you gotta be sure you try
to win national championships, so there is no more time
to develop players because you're reaching in the transfer portal,
and I think it's magnified even more. So you have
to win now because think about Notre Dame and the
head coach Freeman that's down there at Notre Dame. Think
(06:25):
about Billy Napier who's over at the University of Florida.
You're automatically on the hot seat after two to three games.
Mike Norvel the same way where there's so much pressure
and you just mentioned it, those conferences like the Big
Ten is loaded. I don't know why they just don't
change the name because you know there's more than ten
(06:46):
teams in there, but it's so much more pressure. That's
the thing where I think it takes away the development
and the ability to develop kids over the course of time,
because it's a win now mentality each and every single year.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
I agree. I agree with you on the development part.
I think they augmented the win now by adding extra
teams into the playoffs, which I think they'll continue to
do because of the Super League, to get more excitement
and more money, more investment into the championship playoffs. Now.
(07:21):
Coaches may not like it, but it augments that win
now because you could probably make it with two losses now,
you know, like you know what I mean, So that helps.
But the development part is critical, and Tom Brady said it,
said it eloquently, is that there they were called I'm
(07:42):
going to a program to be developed. I'm going to
a college program to be developed. Now it's I'm on
a team. I'm an individual on a team, and the
coaches aren't. Whatever constraints the coaches are having to develop
the players, whether it be transfer a port, or whether
it be more recruiting, or whether this win now mentality.
(08:02):
I gotta pay these my first and second stream, which
are five stars. I gotta pay them because I need
to keep them. They're gonna be out, you know whatever
those constraints are only they know in the outside world
US and everybody else. Can you know, ponder on But
you know, it's I think if you start developing players
more intentionally, I'm not saying that they're not, but it's
(08:24):
not the same intensity as it was twenty fifteen years ago,
even maybe even ten years ago, like as it is today.
And you can see it. You can see it on
the NFL level. You can see it on the NFL
level and how it's changed, and you can start to
see the disparity from the teams that are developing talent
(08:46):
and drafting players that are developed or that want to
be developed, right you know what I mean? Like that's
it's It's the reason why the Steelers defense is as
good as it is right now, this early in the season.
They got a good mix of younger players and a
good mix of veteran players that know how to be
(09:07):
pros and know what it takes. And they're all playing
with a certain mentality and a certain urgency and a
certain care about the shield and playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They understand what that means. Some of these guys like man,
I'm just here to get a check. I just made
a million dollars last year in college. I'm just gonna
keep getting my bread like that's different versus I made
(09:29):
a million dollars. But it don't matter because I'm trying
to help this franchise win and I want to be developed.
I want to learn how to be a pro. That's
important to me, you know.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
And I think that the essence of that is on
certain NFL teams are missing, whether it be the quarterback position,
the defensive back position, and even the wide receiver position.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
You're starting to see not as many technical receivers, not
saying that they don't have the ability, but they're not
demonstrating it weekend and week out, you know, And it
costs you when it's thirty five thirty seven and you
need you need an extra yard and you don't get it.
Now you're just hoping for a big play, just hoping
(10:13):
for a big play or pass interference, and it's just
like you know, so we'll see, we'll see what happens.
But your point is well taken, man, and yeah, it's
just transformed so much.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I want to ask you this before we move on,
because you touched on the Steelers and that definitely got
to make sure you shout them out.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
You know, you started off talking about basketball in the
correlation in Atlantic ten ACC and your knowledge of college
basketball and the history of it. You know, I want
to ask you this because you would be able to
answer this because this is something that myself and my
co host on Serious Exit, Rick Mahan, we always talked about,
why has it the NCAA, Why have they been so
(10:55):
reluctant to adapt a model that that's similar or replicate
what you have in college basketball? Because what's happening now,
Will is that you're seeing kids that.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Are top flight guys that's going to be drafted.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
They're devaluing those non playoff bowls. So now a Gator
Bowl doesn't have any you know, it doesn't carry any luster,
it doesn't have any type of connection whatsoever. It's playoff
bowls and that's it. Why not really implement all of
those smaller bowals, expand the playoff market and the playoff field,
(11:33):
and now allow those bowls in these teams and these
players to now be invested because they're going after a
one goal. Why do you think the NCAA has been
so reluctant to incorporate something like.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
That jeralis a great question. I just think it's timing.
I think it's they got to do it in a
phased approach, you know. You know, twenty fourteen was the
first year of the college playoffs. We're now ten years
in and now we just expanded the n C Double
A had just expanded to like an eighteen playoff. Now
it may take another team years to expand another another
(12:07):
four or five teams, four to eight teams. We don't know, right,
So I just think they want to understand, look at
the data, look at the TV contracts, understand that the
product is still healthy. The product is still a great
product people. You know, college football is still growing year
over year incredibly, much like the NFL game is. So
I just thinking for them, they just they need to
(12:29):
know that if they expanded, it's going to stick. It's
a business decision, and how quickly can they do they
need to make that business decision. I think it I
don't think it'll get to you know, sixty four, you know,
like like you know, like the NC Double A is.
But I think it'll get to like, you know, maybe twelve.
I think it'll get to twelve, and they'll have regions,
(12:52):
you know, where everybody like just like n C double A,
you know four different regions and those regions play against
each other, you know, four on each side, you know,
eight on each side for in each region, and they
come down and play to a championship. Well that's that's sixteen,
not twelve. So might get to sixteen, Mike, sixteen for
each region and just kind of get it down that way.
(13:14):
And I think that'll be good, you know, and you
keep the season the same, you play an extra three
games and.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Yeah, will Allen joining me here heavy in the pay,
Will you have an opportunity to do two stints with
the Pittsburgh Steelers. I've already said earlier that hands down,
we're witnessing why the Pittsburgh Steelers topped the bottom are
the best franchise in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
And it's not like it's something new that the.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Job that Mike Tomlin is doing with this current team,
but it's just really it stands out more than ever.
What has been your biggest takeaway from, first of all,
being on the inside of that Steelers franchise and playing
there and having successful What has been your takeaway from it? Man?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
That's great, that's another great question. And I'm you know,
Mike T's my guy, man. I've known it for twenty years.
He drafted me at Tampa, your squad, you know, yes,
you know, you know I know Mike T and John
Gruden and Minie Kiffen. You know, God bless his soul, seriously.
(14:22):
He passed away a few months ago. Yes, great decordinator man.
You know, championship guy, championship you know team Mike Team
drafted me, man. And that that you know, He's been
the same person then that he is now. He just
figured out how to get a little better every day.
(14:43):
And and he knows. He knows how to draw the
best out of players and his coaches. He is a
master of his craft, evaluating talent, evaluating people, and making
sure he can pull the best out of them as
a position coach, as a defensive coordinator, and as a
head coach. It's hard to do it as a head
(15:04):
coach because a lot of times the head coaches run around,
let's go Ben, let's go block Ron Rock, and then
behind the scenes they're working with their staff. He knows
exactly what to say to each player, whether they're undrafted
free agent or whether they're Minka Fitzpatrick on what they
need to do and how to motivate them, you know,
and what he expects out of them. And that's his
(15:25):
unique skill set, that's his unique ability. You know. I
still go to the facility, you know, every now and
then just to like say hi and speak to him
and see how he's coaching and see how he's motivating players.
And man, it's incredible. It's incredible. Man Like, he just
knows what to do and it's his way. And I
(15:47):
think that one thing that's unique about it all is
that the the guys are stealers. Mike t understands and
Stiller way, and he lets that permeate through the whole facility.
You know, Omar Khan has been there twenty years. He
(16:09):
understands the Steller way, and it's like they want players
who understand that value and know how to align with
that value system going back fifty years, you know what
I mean. So it's not Mike is just enhancing it.
Omar Kan is just enhancing it. They understand their roles
(16:30):
and they understand their leadership position. And I think you
keep doing that over and over and over and over
and over again, and you love it. You love to
master your craft. That way, you see the outcomes and
you see what it produces.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
What is it still a way?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Man? That's a good question, man, I mean, what does
it mean to be a stealer? I think it's I
think it's a selfless commitment to give everything you have
every day. It's a self was a commitment to remember
the past, but to move forward. The Steller the Steller
(17:07):
the Steller mentality, and that mentality is man, come to work,
put your hard hat on, you know, give it your
all every single every single time. And you bring your
you bring your brother along with you.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
You know.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I give a great story when I when I went
to I came from Tampa, and I had a great
time at Tampa. I played with some OJ's and some
Hall of famers, wonderful dudes. They blessed me, man, they
loved on me, They cared about me. Team was great.
I think the I think, you know, I think the
ownership and management was a little in you know. But
(17:40):
when I got to the Steelers, I was used to
like yelling and like screaming and like thinking that was
a way to get stuff out of people, because that's
what I was taught there. You know, they yelled at you.
They screamed at you, and there's nothing wrong with that.
That's that was their way back then. You know, yell
at you, cuss at you do that. But when I
got to the Steelers, nobody did that. Only time somebody
(18:03):
yell at you if you really did something wrong. I
was yelling at one of the players. Now, let's go,
man with in practice spring practice, Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor,
and Troy palamlo back there sitting on their helmets. I've
never seen the star players sitting on their helmets before
in practice. Or see patiently, Ryan Clark patiently comes by me,
(18:28):
puts his arm around me and said, man, let me
talk to you real quick. He said, man, you came here.
You come here to help the team. I got here
in two thousand and six. You see that guy right
there at Troy Polamalu. You see that guy like Taylor.
They were drafted here. They got two super Bowls. I
got one. I said, we treat we treat everybody here
as men, but everybody here with respect. We don't yell
(18:51):
at our brothers. We don't. We don't. We don't put
our brothers down. He's like, that may have worked for you.
At Tampa. He said, but you ain't got no Super
Bowl rings. They man wanted an old two, but those
guys got two of them. And that's a Hall of Famer.
And he said, man, we respect each other around here, man,
and we're gonna go hard for each other. And the
way we do that is encouraging uplift each other, and
we lay it all out on the line for each other.
(19:13):
He said, he said, he said, I ain't here to
tell you to do anything wrong, but I'm just telling
you that's how we do it. I said, okay, I said,
say less. And that that really to me was like
I can still be myself because I am an intense person,
but also need to know that dude is here to
(19:34):
help me. I gotta encourage him. There ain't no ego,
you know what I'm saying. We're gonna we in the
trenches together and we're gonna give it up together, and
we're gonna make sure we we we we enforce our
will on our opponent. That's that. That's that's that's who
were yelling and screaming at. We encouraging each other, and
we're gonna come to the sideline. We're gonna talk about it.
As men and man. That taught me so much, man,
(19:56):
just about locker room culture, about uh personalities, about respect,
and that didn't come the players police that, you know
what I mean. And then the coaches you know, they
do the same, you know, and that's just still their way, bro.
That's that's the best way for me to illustrate that
(20:18):
with that example, but also describe it in the words
and adjective that I've used. But man's and that's why
they that's where they are what they are. Guys like
Cam Hayward, guys like Minka Fitzpatrick, even the rookies that
they drive drafted like, these guys are serious dudes, man,
you know, and they just they just they play hard
and they want to win for the franchise and they
(20:39):
want to win for each other. And it ain't cliche.
It ain't something that you just got to talk about.
You just do it with your actions. And that's what
that's what RC and you know, Casey Hampton and Brett
Keysl and James Harrison and Larry Foot, you know, and
James Ferrier and Troy That's you know, Ike Taylor, all
(20:59):
those guys showed me that, man, it was it was
a beautiful thing to play play in that environment. It's
beautiful to go back and see the legacy like they
left and I was blessed enough to be a part
of and see it still continue with great talent like
you know, you see t J. Watt and Cam and Minka,
you know some of the some of the free agent
guys coming in adopting that and realizing, yeah, man, this
(21:21):
is I gotta I gotta these my guys. And now
you get to come back when you're done and talk
about the investment you made into the franchise. That's a
different that's a different type of love. Bro. Yeah, they
and the owners respect that, Bro. The owners respect that.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
You know, that's why they have all the success.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
And you know, definitely miss you with the templay Buccaneers
and I root for me either or you see the helmet.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Because of Todd Bowles. You know, got to support the brother.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
I love Todd Man. He got that team running, man,
he building a great culture. Man. I love what he's
doing down there.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Many Yeah, I do.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
If I want to go, And before going, you and
I know you obviously definitely appreciate the time you talked
about obviously basketball and I want to make this court
of correlation.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
And it's funny. I was talking to bj Armstrong, great
friend of mine, and we were.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
Talking and I said, is it safe to say if
you had to compare Mike Tomlin to a not even
compare them, but if there was a comparable match in
the NBA in terms of sort of that that that
pedigree of coaches, who would it be? I said, it
might have to be Phil Jackson because of the level
(22:36):
of success. And the thing about it is the words
to be able to gather what they need out of you,
And that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
And I mean, yeah, granted, you.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Know, championships all that stuff, but in terms of coaching,
to be able to communicate, get the most.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Out of you and also have that level of stability.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I don't know Phil Field or og like I like
the more the comparison of feel and and uh and
uh Belichick Bell Belichick mm hmm, and and they may
be contrastically different in their approaches, but their approaches were
(23:18):
so like effective, super effective. And I think in my
mind Mike t is like more like a Steve Kerr
or Eric Sposter, you know what I mean, Like that's
like you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
I don't know, I might say, I might say Greg Popovich,
I there you go.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, longevity really stands out to me. Kurk Kurk, Kurt,
you're right, and no current, but.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Now now you're right, pop popping piping Mike t are
probably the same.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Yeah, because when I look at the Surs, you're talking
about a level of organization that has that's really very
little turnover at the coaching Like you know who the
head coach is going to be. You know, I wouldn't
say power, but the influence he has on the organization
and what Mike Tomlin has been able to do, Yeah,
(24:15):
it shouldn't stand out because I mean he's been able
to do it so often, but I think of more
than ever, you know, I said earlier, Look the mindset,
it just really seems that they have a recipe for
success for justin fields is look, we don't need you
to win the game, just don't lose it for us.
And that really just stands out. But I would say,
(24:35):
perhaps maybe not Phiel, maybe Greg prop and stuff. You
walked away from the game and you've stayed busy and stuff.
Have you ever had any desire to maybe get into
that coaching aspect?
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Or what does Will Allen do right now to really
again to sort of in a sense, you know, still
have that competitive nature and stuff.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
That's an excellent question. I think one of the biggest
things for me. Nothing can compare to professional sports and
the competitive nature and the high performance nature that it
requires and the demands that it requires a view, I
had a fantastic time playing and learning about myself. I
(25:21):
think transitioning out was probably one of the most challenging
and difficult things that I've experienced and still experiencing. And
it's been eight seasons now, you know. But I think
for me, it's like reflecting back on those moments and
gleaning information and gleaning that was experiences and tools that
(25:43):
I've developed and learned and learning how to make those
better and translate those into business and translate those into
supporting the community, translate that into developing people that are
around me. The way that I was developed, the way
that I was invested in, and so I take I
take that as a platform. I take that that platform
in sports, and I just transitioned into like business community
(26:08):
and still have my foot you know, in sports and
entertainment because I love it. You know, it's always been
a part of me since I was four years old,
you know, And so if I create a vent diagram,
I'm just a bridge to like all three of those sectors.
And I've been able to, you know, have my nonprofit,
the with Alan Foundation, where we help and serve you know,
youth with career, mobility and community with resources and tools
(26:32):
so they can be better and they can achieve their success,
and creating more access and exposure for people, uh so
they can see themselves where they want to go. And
then on the business side, you know, coming out, I
really didn't know what I wanted to do. I was like, man,
what am I gonna do? How am I gonna do this?
Like I don't have much experience. It's all foreign to me.
(26:53):
And it's the same you don't. You don't you don't
start with middle school ball and go straight to the pros, Like, right,
you got to you gotta be good in middle school.
Then you got to go to high school. And then
you're fourteen, you going against eighteen year olds. You gotta
figure out how to make that work. And then and
then you go to college. Then you eighteen playing with
twenty two, twenty three year olds. Now you gotta figure
(27:13):
out how to make that work. It's like this curve man,
and it's a process. So what I've learned coming out
is I don't have to be a microwave. I have
to build the ocean. You know. It's a process, bro,
It's a process, and you gotta be stay committed to
that process. You got to you gotta stay on that
grind you gotta have. You got to set your short
term and long term goals. And it's gonna be some
(27:35):
volatility and some turbulence along the way and adversity. You're
gonna fail. So now I get to valuate talent, you know,
I get to valuate talent. Now I get to valuate
just like I was evaluated. I get to invest in
people in their dreams and their hopes. It's like I
was invested in, you know, a general manager, and the
owner said, well, An's good enough to play. He has
his talent ability. Let's see if he can go to distance.
(27:57):
Le's see if he can get a return on our investment.
And so I get to support founders and almost be
a coach in a way based on my business acumen,
my business experience, you know. And I've also invested in
real estate so it's been I had to synthesize all
this information, all this data. It's always been a process
to get to this point where you know, I can
(28:18):
see myself and experience the life that I want to
that I want to live, and I'm having fun doing it.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
I get to meet incredible people. I get to talk
about these stories and experiences with you and others. And
when I first came out, I was a lost little puppy.
I didn't know what I was gonna do. I was,
you know, trying to do everything. And now I have
a more centralized focus man in the true North, around
business community and sports, entertainment and how I connect all
(28:52):
those together. And it's just been a it's been a
good ride learning that and I'm just scratching the surface.
I'm just scratching the surface on where it could go
and helping building teams. That's what I love to do.
So if I ever like, yes, I could have went
back and coached, you know, and it would have been great.
(29:12):
It would have been a phenomenal and I would have
been building teams, you know, thinking about strategy, thinking about
how to win games. And I'm thinking I'm doing the
same thing right now.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Uh, I don't know if you touched on sports entertainment
any broadcast aspirations.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Are you doing that and stuff like that?
Speaker 3 (29:31):
No, I think more it's just like being involved in sports,
leaning in all my sports relationships. You know, I am
going to start. I'm gonna start like a like kind
of like a mini series, kind of like a mini
series slash just you know, like show if you will,
(29:56):
because I want to. I want to share my experiences,
want to share other people's experiences in a in a
unique format of unscripted format. I don't want it to
be a podcast. I don't want to just Q and A.
I think it's cool. I think it's great content, but
I want to go layers deep, you know. I want to.
I want to tell these stories. It's almost like reading
a novel of people's lives. And I think we need
(30:18):
more of that unfiltered, unscripted content in a mini series
slash show type form that brings out, you know, these
truisms in life and we just we're just dropping gyms
and dropping nuggets. So I've been I've been thinking about
that for some time now. With with the right people
(30:41):
in the right group, you know, where we just share
So that's on the that's on the horizon everything in
this timing because I got a business to run, I
got nonprofits to run. I serve on boards like and
it's fun. So it's it's it's in me. I got
to get it out, you know, because I got a lot,
a lot of things I want to share, and I
also want to share other people's experiences and people that
(31:03):
I mean. I mean, I love art, man, you know,
I'm into art. I'm into golf. You know, it's like
so many things. Man, there's so many great people through
this life journey of sports that I've been able to
get access to and people access to me, and we've
been able to build some incredible things together, and I
want to keep doing that. You know.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Well, well you know what, man, as we wrap up, Man,
I will say that I'm going definitely as they say,
give you your flowers. I remember many years ago before
even serious sexim and starting out, and I remember you
were coming from the movie theater and you were still
with you just with the buccaneers and did the interview.
(31:43):
And one thing that in this time of our communication,
I've always said, and I've always walked away saying and
having the impression that you're very very knowledgeable brother, very
committed to supporting and helping people and those in need,
which will Allen Foundation, which you've done a tremendous, tremendous
(32:05):
amount of good and continue to do. But also you're
not just an athlete. You're a very very intelligent brother.
And one thing that always still stands out. I remember
you were the first person to me that showed me
how the difference of the Instagram videos pictures and how
(32:27):
much the movie images, how it would sort of and
that when you did that and said that, it let
me know that you're very very intelligent and being able to,
you know, look at things like that.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Evaluated that was just like wow.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
And like obviously following you still on Instagram, it's not
just always about you know, sports, it's many, so many
things that you touch on. And I always look at
you as a renaissance man, and I definitely want to
say thank you so much for obviously the time, the
information that you have provided and communication with me over
(33:06):
there man, and I'm still disappointed. I and followed through
going to see you play with the Stealers against them
Ravens and towards the tailing the career.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
It was like, yo's good, we'll figure it out. Man.
But you know, and I appreciate you too. Man, You've
always been you know, good to me. Like you've always
been mastering your craft man and media. Uh you know
how to build relationships. Uh, and they're authentic man, and
you you you just been Man, You've been really a
unique person in this game that deserves a lot more
(33:38):
flowers than you've already been given.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Man.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
And uh, you know, one day, man, you're gonna you're
gonna sit back, You're gonna be getting awards. All your
colleagues and friends are gonna be celebrating you. They already do,
but doing it even more. It's just because you you're
a real person. You know, you handle your business, you
know what I'm saying, and people respect that. And you
just you love what you do, like you know, you've
been doing this for a minute it bro and got
real good content. Uh. And you're figuring out a way
(34:05):
to do different do some things differently and uniquely in
the in the sports in the sports entertainment space. So man,
just keep keep doing what you're doings. Stay encouraged on
that on that journey, and it's beautiful to see man,
from where we come from to where where we are today.
So it's beautiful man. In fact, we played in golf
tournaments together. Like all the things we were not we
(34:25):
did bro.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
In fact, Man, you got to make sure when you
do that, and we'll talk about to Sofia.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
I got a couple individuals definitely for that sports content
when you get it going. But listen, man, and wrapping up,
continue success in all that you do, you and your family, man,
nothing but success. Appreciate you brother, and continue to be
that shining light that is inspiring so many people out
there that you probably don't even know because I am
(34:55):
one and just looking at the things that you're doing,
my brother, it is truly truly up lifted.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
All the best in you and us, blessed brother.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
All right, peace, legendary will allen right here, heavy in
the pain. Peace,
To one once again. Jerald Brown back here on Heavy
into Paint.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Don't forget you can catch me obviously on serious sex.
Sam And you know what, just have the honor and
privilege to have a gentleman. He's always doing something and
you know what, he continues to stay busy. But his
very positive brother, former NFL player Will Allen, joining me
heavy in the paint.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Will.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I got to ask you this, starting off with college,
do you realize that you if you were playing at
Ohio State right now, would you have ever imagined that
you would have ucla USC all a part of the
Big Ten? And do you have any concerns about the
(00:43):
just how packed the Big Ten is now featuring all
these teams on the West coast?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Man twenty years ago, twenty five years ago, I'm telling
my age. When I started college football, you know, the
AAA controlled everything, you know, they controlled It was so
many leagues. You know, you think about even the Atlantic Ten.
You know, you think about how the ACC was, like
(01:13):
there was teams in the ACC that weren't in that
were in the Big East, like you still had your
Big East and then like you know, you know, it
was like all these different leagues, the Conference usas, like
you know what I mean. Like, so you start towards
the end of the twenty tens, you start seeing these
(01:34):
these small leagues and conferences deteriorate, and you know, you
know how big the Atlantic ten was, Like it was
Catholic University USA, and that was like basketball heaven for
East Coast basketball, like that's where you went, Like that
was the dream. And along with ACC basketball, like that's
(01:55):
where everybody went. And it's just you know, you start
seeing that shift, first with men's men's basketball, women's basketball,
and then football took some time, but we all knew
it was gonna happen because the TV contracts start getting bigger.
(02:16):
You started to see recruiting, more money being recruit being
invested in recruiting, and the big teams needed more control. Alabama, Texas, Ohio, State, Michigan, USC,
you know, Oregon is up there, like there is no
(02:38):
PAC twelve no more, you know, and you like, well,
where's Arizona, Who's where's Stanford? Stanfords in the ACC? Like
you know, I.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Turned on the TV, I see a big AC. I said,
that is wild to me. Atlantic Coast Conference. I mean,
pitt was in the big East. They moved to the ACC.
Like you know, you just start seeing these teams migrate.
Now all of a sudden, it's four super leagues now,
and it's probably gonna be two in the next ten years,
(03:09):
you know, and they're gonna figure out how to make
that happen.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
But I think it's good for recruiting. I think it's
good because every year, like I played against USC Washington
in college, you know, as non league games, you know, UCLA,
Texas Tech. You know, we played against those teams, and
(03:36):
so you always played them. You either travel or they
came to you. It was a two year agreement. So
it's only fitting now that the rich history between the
Big Ten and the Pac twelve playing in the Rose
Bowl Championship, the type of players from both conferences now
are one. I'm actually pretty excited about it. I think
(04:00):
the Michigan USC game was everything you wanted it to be,
you know, and I think, you know, however, this conference,
however the scheduling plays out, is gonna play a big
role and it's gonna make the Big Ten championship and
the other championship. I mean, Texas is an SEC and
they they they eat and I wouldn't imagine that. I
(04:23):
wouldn't imagine that fifteen twenty years ago. I wouldn't imagine
them going in the SEC and being able to compete
against Alabama like you know what I mean, Like ten
years ago, I wouldn't like they're a good team, but
they even with Vince Young, like, I still think they
would have had problems against Nick Saban's Alabama's teams. You know.
So it's good to see that they compete. Texas, A
(04:46):
and M can compete. You know, all these teams is
competing now in the SEC. Missouri they can compete, like
you know, don't forget about Missouri. They they was a
what was a they was an up well twelve, I
think they're Big twelve. Yeah, which was the Big eight
back in the year. Yeah, you gotta go back like
(05:07):
nineties and eighties it was the Big Eight.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Then you're throwing a lot of basketball out there.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I'm seeing this your college basketball history.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
I'm noticing that.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Oh, it's always been this evolution in college sports of
the dynamics and the shift based on TV money and
based on exposure, you know, and the big the best
teams came to the Big ten. It was only fitting Oregon,
you know, Oregon, usc U, c l A, Washington. You
(05:41):
know they had to come over.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
But you know, the only drawback that I have with
that will is the fact is that now there is
an even small margin for ERA. So think about you know,
obviously you're playing in the Big Ten, and you know
the head coach of your manor Ryan Day, he has
to beat.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Michigan every year.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
On top of that, you gotta be sure you try
to win national championships, so there is no more time
to develop players because you're reaching in the transfer portal,
and I think it's magnified even more. So you have
to win now because think about Notre Dame and the
head coach Freeman that's down there at Notre Dame. Think
(06:25):
about Billy Napier who's over at the University of Florida.
You're automatically on the hot seat after two to three games.
Mike Norvel the same way where there's so much pressure
and you just mentioned it, those conferences like the Big
Ten is loaded. I don't know why they just don't
change the name because you know there's more than ten
(06:46):
teams in there, but it's so much more pressure. That's
the thing where I think it takes away the development
and the ability to develop kids over the course of time,
because it's a win now mentality each and every single year.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
I agree. I agree with you on the development part.
I think they augmented the win now by adding extra
teams into the playoffs, which I think they'll continue to
do because of the Super League, to get more excitement
and more money, more investment into the championship playoffs. Now.
(07:21):
Coaches may not like it, but it augments that win
now because you could probably make it with two losses now,
you know, like you know what I mean, So that helps.
But the development part is critical, and Tom Brady said it,
said it eloquently, is that there they were called I'm
(07:42):
going to a program to be developed. I'm going to
a college program to be developed. Now it's I'm on
a team. I'm an individual on a team, and the
coaches aren't. Whatever constraints the coaches are having to develop
the players, whether it be transfer a port, or whether
it be more recruiting, or whether this win now mentality.
(08:02):
I gotta pay these my first and second stream, which
are five stars. I gotta pay them because I need
to keep them. They're gonna be out, you know whatever
those constraints are only they know in the outside world
US and everybody else. Can you know, ponder on But
you know, it's I think if you start developing players
more intentionally, I'm not saying that they're not, but it's
(08:24):
not the same intensity as it was twenty fifteen years ago,
even maybe even ten years ago, like as it is today.
And you can see it. You can see it on
the NFL level. You can see it on the NFL
level and how it's changed, and you can start to
see the disparity from the teams that are developing talent
(08:46):
and drafting players that are developed or that want to
be developed, right you know what I mean? Like that's
it's It's the reason why the Steelers defense is as
good as it is right now, this early in the season.
They got a good mix of younger players and a
good mix of veteran players that know how to be
(09:07):
pros and know what it takes. And they're all playing
with a certain mentality and a certain urgency and a
certain care about the shield and playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They understand what that means. Some of these guys like man,
I'm just here to get a check. I just made
a million dollars last year in college. I'm just gonna
keep getting my bread like that's different versus I made
(09:29):
a million dollars. But it don't matter because I'm trying
to help this franchise win and I want to be developed.
I want to learn how to be a pro. That's
important to me, you know.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
And I think that the essence of that is on
certain NFL teams are missing, whether it be the quarterback position,
the defensive back position, and even the wide receiver position.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
You're starting to see not as many technical receivers, not
saying that they don't have the ability, but they're not
demonstrating it weekend and week out, you know, And it
costs you when it's thirty five thirty seven and you
need you need an extra yard and you don't get it.
Now you're just hoping for a big play, just hoping
(10:13):
for a big play or pass interference, and it's just
like you know, so we'll see, we'll see what happens.
But your point is well taken, man, and yeah, it's
just transformed so much.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I want to ask you this before we move on,
because you touched on the Steelers and that definitely got
to make sure you shout them out.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
You know, you started off talking about basketball in the
correlation in Atlantic ten ACC and your knowledge of college
basketball and the history of it. You know, I want
to ask you this because you would be able to
answer this because this is something that myself and my
co host on Serious Exit, Rick Mahan, we always talked about,
why has it the NCAA, Why have they been so
(10:55):
reluctant to adapt a model that that's similar or replicate
what you have in college basketball? Because what's happening now,
Will is that you're seeing kids that.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Are top flight guys that's going to be drafted.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
They're devaluing those non playoff bowls. So now a Gator
Bowl doesn't have any you know, it doesn't carry any luster,
it doesn't have any type of connection whatsoever. It's playoff
bowls and that's it. Why not really implement all of
those smaller bowals, expand the playoff market and the playoff field,
(11:33):
and now allow those bowls in these teams and these
players to now be invested because they're going after a
one goal. Why do you think the NCAA has been
so reluctant to incorporate something like.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
That jeralis a great question. I just think it's timing.
I think it's they got to do it in a
phased approach, you know. You know, twenty fourteen was the
first year of the college playoffs. We're now ten years
in and now we just expanded the n C Double
A had just expanded to like an eighteen playoff. Now
it may take another team years to expand another another
(12:07):
four or five teams, four to eight teams. We don't know, right,
So I just think they want to understand, look at
the data, look at the TV contracts, understand that the
product is still healthy. The product is still a great
product people. You know, college football is still growing year
over year incredibly, much like the NFL game is. So
I just thinking for them, they just they need to
(12:29):
know that if they expanded, it's going to stick. It's
a business decision, and how quickly can they do they
need to make that business decision. I think it I
don't think it'll get to you know, sixty four, you know,
like like you know, like the NC Double A is.
But I think it'll get to like, you know, maybe twelve.
I think it'll get to twelve, and they'll have regions,
(12:52):
you know, where everybody like just like n C double A,
you know four different regions and those regions play against
each other, you know, four on each side, you know,
eight on each side for in each region, and they
come down and play to a championship. Well that's that's sixteen,
not twelve. So might get to sixteen, Mike, sixteen for
each region and just kind of get it down that way.
(13:14):
And I think that'll be good, you know, and you
keep the season the same, you play an extra three
games and.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Yeah, will Allen joining me here heavy in the pay,
Will you have an opportunity to do two stints with
the Pittsburgh Steelers. I've already said earlier that hands down,
we're witnessing why the Pittsburgh Steelers topped the bottom are
the best franchise in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
And it's not like it's something new that the.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Job that Mike Tomlin is doing with this current team,
but it's just really it stands out more than ever.
What has been your biggest takeaway from, first of all,
being on the inside of that Steelers franchise and playing
there and having successful What has been your takeaway from it? Man?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
That's great, that's another great question. And I'm you know,
Mike T's my guy, man. I've known it for twenty years.
He drafted me at Tampa, your squad, you know, yes,
you know, you know I know Mike T and John
Gruden and Minie Kiffen. You know, God bless his soul, seriously.
(14:22):
He passed away a few months ago. Yes, great decordinator man.
You know, championship guy, championship you know team Mike Team
drafted me, man. And that that you know, He's been
the same person then that he is now. He just
figured out how to get a little better every day.
(14:43):
And and he knows. He knows how to draw the
best out of players and his coaches. He is a
master of his craft, evaluating talent, evaluating people, and making
sure he can pull the best out of them as
a position coach, as a defensive coordinator, and as a
head coach. It's hard to do it as a head
(15:04):
coach because a lot of times the head coaches run around,
let's go Ben, let's go block Ron Rock, and then
behind the scenes they're working with their staff. He knows
exactly what to say to each player, whether they're undrafted
free agent or whether they're Minka Fitzpatrick on what they
need to do and how to motivate them, you know,
and what he expects out of them. And that's his
(15:25):
unique skill set, that's his unique ability. You know. I
still go to the facility, you know, every now and
then just to like say hi and speak to him
and see how he's coaching and see how he's motivating players.
And man, it's incredible. It's incredible. Man Like, he just
knows what to do and it's his way. And I
(15:47):
think that one thing that's unique about it all is
that the the guys are stealers. Mike t understands and
Stiller way, and he lets that permeate through the whole facility.
You know, Omar Khan has been there twenty years. He
(16:09):
understands the Steller way, and it's like they want players
who understand that value and know how to align with
that value system going back fifty years, you know what
I mean. So it's not Mike is just enhancing it.
Omar Kan is just enhancing it. They understand their roles
(16:30):
and they understand their leadership position. And I think you
keep doing that over and over and over and over
and over again, and you love it. You love to
master your craft. That way, you see the outcomes and
you see what it produces.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
What is it still a way?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Man? That's a good question, man, I mean, what does
it mean to be a stealer? I think it's I
think it's a selfless commitment to give everything you have
every day. It's a self was a commitment to remember
the past, but to move forward. The Steller the Steller
(17:07):
the Steller mentality, and that mentality is man, come to work,
put your hard hat on, you know, give it your
all every single every single time. And you bring your
you bring your brother along with you.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
You know.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I give a great story when I when I went
to I came from Tampa, and I had a great
time at Tampa. I played with some OJ's and some
Hall of famers, wonderful dudes. They blessed me, man, they
loved on me, They cared about me. Team was great.
I think the I think, you know, I think the
ownership and management was a little in you know. But
(17:40):
when I got to the Steelers, I was used to
like yelling and like screaming and like thinking that was
a way to get stuff out of people, because that's
what I was taught there. You know, they yelled at you.
They screamed at you, and there's nothing wrong with that.
That's that was their way back then. You know, yell
at you, cuss at you do that. But when I
got to the Steelers, nobody did that. Only time somebody
(18:03):
yell at you if you really did something wrong. I
was yelling at one of the players. Now, let's go,
man with in practice spring practice, Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor,
and Troy palamlo back there sitting on their helmets. I've
never seen the star players sitting on their helmets before
in practice. Or see patiently, Ryan Clark patiently comes by me,
(18:28):
puts his arm around me and said, man, let me
talk to you real quick. He said, man, you came here.
You come here to help the team. I got here
in two thousand and six. You see that guy right
there at Troy Polamalu. You see that guy like Taylor.
They were drafted here. They got two super Bowls. I
got one. I said, we treat we treat everybody here
as men, but everybody here with respect. We don't yell
(18:51):
at our brothers. We don't. We don't. We don't put
our brothers down. He's like, that may have worked for you.
At Tampa. He said, but you ain't got no Super
Bowl rings. They man wanted an old two, but those
guys got two of them. And that's a Hall of Famer.
And he said, man, we respect each other around here, man,
and we're gonna go hard for each other. And the
way we do that is encouraging uplift each other, and
we lay it all out on the line for each other.
(19:13):
He said, he said, he said, I ain't here to
tell you to do anything wrong, but I'm just telling
you that's how we do it. I said, okay, I said,
say less. And that that really to me was like
I can still be myself because I am an intense person,
but also need to know that dude is here to
(19:34):
help me. I gotta encourage him. There ain't no ego,
you know what I'm saying. We're gonna we in the
trenches together and we're gonna give it up together, and
we're gonna make sure we we we we enforce our
will on our opponent. That's that. That's that's that's who
were yelling and screaming at. We encouraging each other, and
we're gonna come to the sideline. We're gonna talk about it.
As men and man. That taught me so much, man,
(19:56):
just about locker room culture, about uh personalities, about respect,
and that didn't come the players police that, you know
what I mean. And then the coaches you know, they
do the same, you know, and that's just still their way, bro.
That's that's the best way for me to illustrate that
(20:18):
with that example, but also describe it in the words
and adjective that I've used. But man's and that's why
they that's where they are what they are. Guys like
Cam Hayward, guys like Minka Fitzpatrick, even the rookies that
they drive drafted like, these guys are serious dudes, man,
you know, and they just they just they play hard
and they want to win for the franchise and they
(20:39):
want to win for each other. And it ain't cliche.
It ain't something that you just got to talk about.
You just do it with your actions. And that's what
that's what RC and you know, Casey Hampton and Brett
Keysl and James Harrison and Larry Foot, you know, and
James Ferrier and Troy That's you know, Ike Taylor, all
(20:59):
those guys showed me that, man, it was it was
a beautiful thing to play play in that environment. It's
beautiful to go back and see the legacy like they
left and I was blessed enough to be a part
of and see it still continue with great talent like
you know, you see t J. Watt and Cam and Minka,
you know some of the some of the free agent
guys coming in adopting that and realizing, yeah, man, this
(21:21):
is I gotta I gotta these my guys. And now
you get to come back when you're done and talk
about the investment you made into the franchise. That's a
different that's a different type of love. Bro. Yeah, they
and the owners respect that, Bro. The owners respect that.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
You know, that's why they have all the success.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
And you know, definitely miss you with the templay Buccaneers
and I root for me either or you see the helmet.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Because of Todd Bowles. You know, got to support the brother.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
I love Todd Man. He got that team running, man,
he building a great culture. Man. I love what he's
doing down there.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Many Yeah, I do.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
If I want to go, And before going, you and
I know you obviously definitely appreciate the time you talked
about obviously basketball and I want to make this court
of correlation.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
And it's funny. I was talking to bj Armstrong, great
friend of mine, and we were.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
Talking and I said, is it safe to say if
you had to compare Mike Tomlin to a not even
compare them, but if there was a comparable match in
the NBA in terms of sort of that that that
pedigree of coaches, who would it be? I said, it
might have to be Phil Jackson because of the level
(22:36):
of success. And the thing about it is the words
to be able to gather what they need out of you,
And that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
And I mean, yeah, granted, you.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Know, championships all that stuff, but in terms of coaching,
to be able to communicate, get the most.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Out of you and also have that level of stability.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I don't know Phil Field or og like I like
the more the comparison of feel and and uh and
uh Belichick Bell Belichick mm hmm, and and they may
be contrastically different in their approaches, but their approaches were
(23:18):
so like effective, super effective. And I think in my
mind Mike t is like more like a Steve Kerr
or Eric Sposter, you know what I mean, Like that's
like you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
I don't know, I might say, I might say Greg Popovich,
I there you go.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, longevity really stands out to me. Kurk Kurk, Kurt,
you're right, and no current, but.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Now now you're right, pop popping piping Mike t are
probably the same.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Yeah, because when I look at the Surs, you're talking
about a level of organization that has that's really very
little turnover at the coaching Like you know who the
head coach is going to be. You know, I wouldn't
say power, but the influence he has on the organization
and what Mike Tomlin has been able to do, Yeah,
(24:15):
it shouldn't stand out because I mean he's been able
to do it so often, but I think of more
than ever, you know, I said earlier, Look the mindset,
it just really seems that they have a recipe for
success for justin fields is look, we don't need you
to win the game, just don't lose it for us.
And that really just stands out. But I would say,
(24:35):
perhaps maybe not Phiel, maybe Greg prop and stuff. You
walked away from the game and you've stayed busy and stuff.
Have you ever had any desire to maybe get into
that coaching aspect?
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Or what does Will Allen do right now to really
again to sort of in a sense, you know, still
have that competitive nature and stuff.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
That's an excellent question. I think one of the biggest
things for me. Nothing can compare to professional sports and
the competitive nature and the high performance nature that it
requires and the demands that it requires a view, I
had a fantastic time playing and learning about myself. I
(25:21):
think transitioning out was probably one of the most challenging
and difficult things that I've experienced and still experiencing. And
it's been eight seasons now, you know. But I think
for me, it's like reflecting back on those moments and
gleaning information and gleaning that was experiences and tools that
(25:43):
I've developed and learned and learning how to make those
better and translate those into business and translate those into
supporting the community, translate that into developing people that are
around me. The way that I was developed, the way
that I was invested in, and so I take I
take that as a platform. I take that that platform
in sports, and I just transitioned into like business community
(26:08):
and still have my foot you know, in sports and
entertainment because I love it. You know, it's always been
a part of me since I was four years old,
you know, And so if I create a vent diagram,
I'm just a bridge to like all three of those sectors.
And I've been able to, you know, have my nonprofit,
the with Alan Foundation, where we help and serve you know,
youth with career, mobility and community with resources and tools
(26:32):
so they can be better and they can achieve their success,
and creating more access and exposure for people, uh so
they can see themselves where they want to go. And
then on the business side, you know, coming out, I
really didn't know what I wanted to do. I was like, man,
what am I gonna do? How am I gonna do this?
Like I don't have much experience. It's all foreign to me.
(26:53):
And it's the same you don't. You don't you don't
start with middle school ball and go straight to the pros, Like, right,
you got to you gotta be good in middle school.
Then you got to go to high school. And then
you're fourteen, you going against eighteen year olds. You gotta
figure out how to make that work. And then and
then you go to college. Then you eighteen playing with
twenty two, twenty three year olds. Now you gotta figure
(27:13):
out how to make that work. It's like this curve man,
and it's a process. So what I've learned coming out
is I don't have to be a microwave. I have
to build the ocean. You know. It's a process, bro,
It's a process, and you gotta be stay committed to
that process. You got to you gotta stay on that
grind you gotta have. You got to set your short
term and long term goals. And it's gonna be some
(27:35):
volatility and some turbulence along the way and adversity. You're
gonna fail. So now I get to valuate talent, you know,
I get to valuate talent. Now I get to valuate
just like I was evaluated. I get to invest in
people in their dreams and their hopes. It's like I
was invested in, you know, a general manager, and the
owner said, well, An's good enough to play. He has
his talent ability. Let's see if he can go to distance.
(27:57):
Le's see if he can get a return on our investment.
And so I get to support founders and almost be
a coach in a way based on my business acumen,
my business experience, you know. And I've also invested in
real estate so it's been I had to synthesize all
this information, all this data. It's always been a process
to get to this point where you know, I can
(28:18):
see myself and experience the life that I want to
that I want to live, and I'm having fun doing it.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
I get to meet incredible people. I get to talk
about these stories and experiences with you and others. And
when I first came out, I was a lost little puppy.
I didn't know what I was gonna do. I was,
you know, trying to do everything. And now I have
a more centralized focus man in the true North, around
business community and sports, entertainment and how I connect all
(28:52):
those together. And it's just been a it's been a
good ride learning that and I'm just scratching the surface.
I'm just scratching the surface on where it could go
and helping building teams. That's what I love to do.
So if I ever like, yes, I could have went
back and coached, you know, and it would have been great.
(29:12):
It would have been a phenomenal and I would have
been building teams, you know, thinking about strategy, thinking about
how to win games. And I'm thinking I'm doing the
same thing right now.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Uh, I don't know if you touched on sports entertainment
any broadcast aspirations.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Are you doing that and stuff like that?
Speaker 3 (29:31):
No, I think more it's just like being involved in sports,
leaning in all my sports relationships. You know, I am
going to start. I'm gonna start like a like kind
of like a mini series, kind of like a mini
series slash just you know, like show if you will,
(29:56):
because I want to. I want to share my experiences,
want to share other people's experiences in a in a
unique format of unscripted format. I don't want it to
be a podcast. I don't want to just Q and A.
I think it's cool. I think it's great content, but
I want to go layers deep, you know. I want to.
I want to tell these stories. It's almost like reading
a novel of people's lives. And I think we need
(30:18):
more of that unfiltered, unscripted content in a mini series
slash show type form that brings out, you know, these
truisms in life and we just we're just dropping gyms
and dropping nuggets. So I've been I've been thinking about
that for some time now. With with the right people
(30:41):
in the right group, you know, where we just share
So that's on the that's on the horizon everything in
this timing because I got a business to run, I
got nonprofits to run. I serve on boards like and
it's fun. So it's it's it's in me. I got
to get it out, you know, because I got a lot,
a lot of things I want to share, and I
also want to share other people's experiences and people that
(31:03):
I mean. I mean, I love art, man, you know,
I'm into art. I'm into golf. You know, it's like
so many things. Man, there's so many great people through
this life journey of sports that I've been able to
get access to and people access to me, and we've
been able to build some incredible things together, and I
want to keep doing that. You know.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Well, well you know what, man, as we wrap up, Man,
I will say that I'm going definitely as they say,
give you your flowers. I remember many years ago before
even serious sexim and starting out, and I remember you
were coming from the movie theater and you were still
with you just with the buccaneers and did the interview.
(31:43):
And one thing that in this time of our communication,
I've always said, and I've always walked away saying and
having the impression that you're very very knowledgeable brother, very
committed to supporting and helping people and those in need,
which will Allen Foundation, which you've done a tremendous, tremendous
(32:05):
amount of good and continue to do. But also you're
not just an athlete. You're a very very intelligent brother.
And one thing that always still stands out. I remember
you were the first person to me that showed me
how the difference of the Instagram videos pictures and how
(32:27):
much the movie images, how it would sort of and
that when you did that and said that, it let
me know that you're very very intelligent and being able to,
you know, look at things like that.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Evaluated that was just like wow.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
And like obviously following you still on Instagram, it's not
just always about you know, sports, it's many, so many
things that you touch on. And I always look at
you as a renaissance man, and I definitely want to
say thank you so much for obviously the time, the
information that you have provided and communication with me over
(33:06):
there man, and I'm still disappointed. I and followed through
going to see you play with the Stealers against them
Ravens and towards the tailing the career.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
It was like, yo's good, we'll figure it out. Man.
But you know, and I appreciate you too. Man, You've
always been you know, good to me. Like you've always
been mastering your craft man and media. Uh you know
how to build relationships. Uh, and they're authentic man, and
you you you just been Man, You've been really a
unique person in this game that deserves a lot more
(33:38):
flowers than you've already been given.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Man.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
And uh, you know, one day, man, you're gonna you're
gonna sit back, You're gonna be getting awards. All your
colleagues and friends are gonna be celebrating you. They already do,
but doing it even more. It's just because you you're
a real person. You know, you handle your business, you
know what I'm saying, and people respect that. And you
just you love what you do, like you know, you've
been doing this for a minute it bro and got
real good content. Uh. And you're figuring out a way
(34:05):
to do different do some things differently and uniquely in
the in the sports in the sports entertainment space. So man,
just keep keep doing what you're doings. Stay encouraged on
that on that journey, and it's beautiful to see man,
from where we come from to where where we are today.
So it's beautiful man. In fact, we played in golf
tournaments together. Like all the things we were not we
(34:25):
did bro.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
In fact, Man, you got to make sure when you
do that, and we'll talk about to Sofia.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
I got a couple individuals definitely for that sports content
when you get it going. But listen, man, and wrapping up,
continue success in all that you do, you and your family, man,
nothing but success. Appreciate you brother, and continue to be
that shining light that is inspiring so many people out
there that you probably don't even know because I am
(34:55):
one and just looking at the things that you're doing,
my brother, it is truly truly up lifted.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
All the best in you and us, blessed brother.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
All right, peace, legendary will allen right here, heavy in
the pain. Peace,
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