December 17, 2024 • 49 mins
Kendric Maple, a three-time Big 12 champion and three-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, discussed his high school and collegiate wrestling career. He highlighted his high school state titles and the impact of his coach. Maple detailed his recruiting process, including visits to Oklahoma and Iowa State, and his decision to attend Oklahoma.
He recounted his national title win in 2014 and the challenges of being a returning champion. Maple emphasized the importance of mental preparation, team support, and the influence of coaches like Mark Cody and Brian Smith. He also shared personal anecdotes and his love for football and wrestling.
He recounted his national title win in 2014 and the challenges of being a returning champion. Maple emphasized the importance of mental preparation, team support, and the influence of coaches like Mark Cody and Brian Smith. He also shared personal anecdotes and his love for football and wrestling.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to the Go Earn It Podcast, where we bring
you stories each week of people who have battled through adversity,
overcame the obstacles, and earned their dream. You were born
for greatness and our mission is to bring you the
stories that will inspire you to dream big and go
earn it.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
And welcome to episode number thirty nine of the Go
Orded Podcast. Today we are joined by three time Big
twelve champion, the twenty fifth all time three time All
American at the University of Oklahoma. He won a national
title as well in twenty thirteen. Successful freestyle career and
now he's coaching at the University of Missouri. Enter head
(00:47):
coach Brian Smith, one of the chillest guys I've ever
met in wrestling in the last fifteen years covering the sport,
Kendrick Maple.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Kendrick, it is great to see you.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
How you been I've been great. Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
So you won two high school state titles.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Give me your favorite memories of being a state champion
and accomplishing that goal.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Ah, I mean, the memories always go back to just
who you're with. Man.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
I had some special special teammates and special coach truly coaches,
so you know, just being able to hang out with
those guys, and and my freshman year, we actually my
freshman year, I think I was the only guy whosides
there was one other guy in my team.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
That qualified for States, so we weren't very good at all.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
And flash forward we got to my senior year where
when we were beating down the door on some trophies,
and then when I graduated, of course they win it.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
So I was a little salty about that that.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
We didn't get done in my high school career. But
amazing my high school coach, coach Mike Church, was truly
one of my most inspirational people I've ever met, and
he passed away recently from cancer and so man, his
legacy lives on, and he was someone who really changed
who I was as a man.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
What was it specifically that he did that made such
a big impact act.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I would say he met us at a personal level.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
We had a lot of uh at which we went
to witch Tall Heights, and we had a lot of
inner city kids mixed with different kinds of other kids,
and it was it was would have been tough for
anybody to coach because it I mean I got one
of my best buds, Chase Nelson.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
He was a handful of coach.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
I mean he would just constantly talking and constantly you know,
showing up late when you did when you didn't stay
on him. And so Coach Church met us at where
we were at. He could talk to each individual like
a like a man and be able to really inspire
us without having to beat over our head and anything
like that. And so, uh, I think that really helped
me become the coach I am today too.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
When you won a couple of state titles in Kansas,
what was the recruiting process.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Like for you?
Speaker 5 (02:47):
So it's it's funny, especially because now I get to
see the other side of it and I get to
see just all the amazing things and all the hard
work that goes into this side.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
For me, I wasn't highly ranked. I mean I wasn't right.
You couldn't have found me in a ranking.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
And so because with Witch Dah we really just stayed
around our area. We didn't travel to wrestle or anything.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
So it got to my I think the end of my.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
Junior year maybe senior year, and you know, I was
telling my coach, I I'm just going to go play football,
and I was soaking wet, like one hundred and thirty
five pounds, and so finally he convinced me, He's like,
you need to go to High School Nationals in Virginia Beach.
And so I went to that tournament, took third, and
that's when I finally started getting some calls. And so
before that, the only call I had was Nebraska Omaha
(03:30):
with coach Denny and he was amazing.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
I took my recruiting trip there. It was awesome.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
And then all the D one schools finally started calling
after that tournament, and so didn't get a whole lot
of crazy offers. But OHU was just that special place
that I felt like.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Home when I went on a visit there.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
So Oklahoma, was that the only Division one visit that
you went on?
Speaker 5 (03:52):
No, so my visits were Oklahoma Iowa State. But funny enough,
the trip on Iowa stayed. Cale made his decision to
go to Penn State the day I went to the trip,
and so I remember having outside the doors watching him
tell his team he's leaving to Penn State. We had
a backdoor, yeah, because the inner the press was everywhere.
(04:15):
And so we went to Casey Cunningham's house, and you know,
it was just a very awkward and they stayed made
it great. It was still a really cool visit, but
it was, uh, you know, kind of checked it off
the box because the coaches were leaving.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
So it's a very weird visit.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I'll say that, Wow, anybody else besides Ou or iwa state.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
I was in Northern Illinois Boston College, and I think
that was it.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
And I bust Coach Smith's.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
Balls all the time because they called and then they
end up stopped talking to me.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
It kind of just faded away. So I was like,
hey man, you used to be terrible at recruiting. You
couldn't see talent. Ever.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Ou that was with with coach Spates.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Yes, it was coach Spates.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
So Coach Spates did a home visit everything, and and
he was just he was He seemed like a leader.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I could follow.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
What was it that he said or did that put
you over the top to be side to become a sooner.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
It's actually funny because he during he came on a
home visit and he comes downstairs and I don't see
anything in his hands, right, And we go downstairs. He's
sitting on the autumn and talking to me and my
parents out of nowhere like a magician. He goes like this, well,
would you like to hear a song? And I was
like what And he reaches back and grabs a guitar.
No idea how he got it in, no clue where
(05:32):
it came from. Just has a guitar and starts singing
a song. He would make songs for all his national champions.
He had the personal written songs and he was I
think he sing maybe Mike Leitner's songs. And after he's like,
I'm gonna write a song about you one day. No,
I was like, oh man, that's pretty sweet, and so
I ended up committing and I tell you he wrote
(05:53):
a song about me.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
He was cool. It came to fruition.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
What uh, I mean do you remember what the song was,
what the lyrics were? When when you won a national title?
I mean you have the like is this on video?
When he plays?
Speaker 5 (06:05):
I think I do have it on my phone. You're
talking about my song or the other one that lightner?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Your song when you when you ultimately did win the title.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Yeah, so my song he sung a little bit about
the past.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
He sung about you know when I when I did win,
and I looked up and pointed, you know, because I
was thanking God. And so he added some of those
lyrics in it. So he makes a very personal touch
in the song. So yeah, if you ever get if
you ever see him, I know you'll see him again.
So I ask him about his songs, tell him to
sing you one on the spot.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I have never It's one one thing I love about
these these podcasts is it doesn't matter what kind of
interview it is. I mean, even when I'm doing a broadcast, Kendrick,
my goal is one of them is I just want
somebody to listen to this and walk away and say
never knew that, Like you never knew that. So we've
(06:51):
we we've we've reached this moment just minutes into.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
This podcast, State's.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Right Songs for the National Champs.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Yes he does.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
That is a great story. That is a great story.
What's sticking with with Coach Spates? What was the most
impactful conversation you and him ever had?
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Man, I don't know if I could point to one conversation,
but I know for a fact it was the multiple, multiple,
multiple small conversations. And this is why I hold Coach
Spates dearly to my heart is you know, when you
get to college and I grew up, you know, a
believer in my faith, but when college is different.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
You don't have your parents telling you.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Hey, you got to go to church, you got to
go do this, and so it's a challenging time for
college to especially with so many distractions. And it was
those subtle conversations after a hard practice, you're sitting on
the wall and he just comes and sits by, and
you say, hey, how's your walk going, Hey, how's your
faith going? And it was those things that at the
time it was just kind of like, you know, I
kind of brush it off and it was short conversation.
(07:51):
But looking back, man, that was some of the most
meaningful conversations because it kept me focus on what really
mattered to me and that I you know, oh so
much to them.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
For these are great conversations in my mind. Is spitting
it when it comes to your faith and how it
works in conjunction with wrestling.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Do you have a moment or two that that will
always resonate with you when it came to your wrestling
and your faith.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
Yeah, I mean one of the biggest moments that I'll
ever stand out is. I believe it was my sophomore year.
I guess red shirt sophomore year, and I had I
was having a good year. It was at nationals and
I have I think I think it was Montel Marian
or someone in the quarters or Semis and I lose
the match, and I'm talking that year, I felt like
(08:40):
I did everything right.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
I felt like I.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Was, you know, reading my scripture, I was going to church,
and it was almost like I was thought I was
entitled to it and that I was promised it. And
so I remember losing that match and I had beaten
them before and I lost that match and went back
to locker room just devastated, like I put winning an
national title so high on my pedestal that it took
the place in front of so many other things. And
(09:05):
so I had a moment there where I was just
like crying and just blaming everybody but me and just
like why God would you let this happen? And I
remember having like a just the aha moment people always
talk about where I felt like God was just like, Hey,
did I promise that I or did I promise something else?
And so I remember like having that just surreal moment
(09:28):
where I had to take some breasts and be like, man,
life is so much bigger than this. This doesn't define me.
And I got up, pulled my singlet back up and
was like, you know what, We're gonna go finish this
tournament out.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Uh. And it kind of changed how.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
I approached wrestling because it no longer became I. No
longer was my identity. It was just something that, you know,
a jacket I could put on. And so I remember
finishing that tournament and going into summer workouts.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Just feeling so free.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
I like the weight had been lifting, like I didn't
have to put all that pressure on myself, feeling like
everything had me walk right, and I have to win
this national title. It was like, I'm going to win
this national title. I had a very big confidence about it,
but it was something I held with my hand wide open, like,
you know, if it happens, it happens. And a lot
of that was through the encouraging of you know, my
mentors like Jack Spates and Mike Kleitner and my dad
(10:16):
and all those guys.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
You have a favorite putting you on the spot here
a little bit you have like a favorite Bible verse
or part of scripture that really you cling to.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Yeah, so my grandma actually it was heard by favorite
Bible verse and then my dad. So Matthew six thirty three,
seek you first the Kingdom of God, and everything else
shall be added to under you and his righteousness. So
I think that really is one I try to live by.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
I have a lot of them.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
I actually have a list that I'm trying to memorize
right now. It's not going too well. I keep messing up.
But that's kind of the main one that almost like
a family verse, that man, if you seek God in
his kingdom first, like everything else, it'll be taken care of.
And it doesn't promise that you won't go through struggles,
but that's to be the ultimate goal goal.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
So your dad, I read just doing some research in
one of the bios when you were at Oklahoma that
your dad, it said, was your childhood hero. Yeah, what
you know, What can you tell me about your dad?
What made him so special?
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Uh, it's gonna it's gonna sound weird, but it was
almost that, not saying my dad isn't special.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
It was almost that he could do.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
The special while not being special, like just being able
to go to work every day. Take care of his family.
We didn't come from big beginnings. I remember sharing rooms
with my siblings in the small apartments growing up, and
h man, it was it wasn't always easy, and I
just remember, like the best thing, the most special thing
I could say about him.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Is that he stayed steadfast through it all. It was
always he was.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
He was leading with such a quiet strength that that
was really really like.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Good for me to see because I could be able
to see.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
That I don't have to react and respond to every
emotion that I that comes about. You know, when I'm angry,
I don't have to go out and take it out
on some buddy. And uh So it was you know
the fact that he was so steadfast and watching him
grow through his experience and he was humble enough to
admit when he was wrong, and that was something that
really showed me how to, you know, live my life.
So that's why he would be my hero.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
And your dad's name is Jeff. It also said that
your favorite movie was Rocky. Yeah, are you like a
big fan of all the you know, all the Rocky movies.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Yeah, I'd say so.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
I just said the training montage when they get that
going against me fired up.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Yeah, I would say that's a good one.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
That's what is your favorite scene in any Rocky movie?
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Uh man?
Speaker 5 (12:40):
I So either either any of them training montages because
I just love that, like getting back, getting too the grind,
Like that's the stuff that's fun for me. That's when
we get in the rest room here, it's just like
I feel like it's.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
A montage the whole time.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Either that or i'd say I when when they're just
in that last scene, like just straight slugging it out
the whistle finally it finally blows and both fighters win
or lose, are just fans going crazy, I'd tell our
guys all the time, like wrestle like that, Like if
you watch those MMA fights, even when it's just two
guys just going hands leaving everything out there at the
(13:15):
end of the match, it really doesn't even matter who won,
Like these guys are just the fans are excided.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
You did exactly what you're supposed to do.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
And I think when you can focus on that instead
of focusing about the outcome, that's when you really can fight,
wrestle do whatever you want with freedom.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
So you are not heavily recruited.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
You end up at Oklahoma they're a Norman and as
a true freshman, you're the guy you went over thirty matches.
I think you were third of the big twelves two
and two at the NCAA tournaments. Pretty successful campaign. Like like,
why did it work for you?
Speaker 5 (13:51):
I don't know if there's one reason why. But so
they pulled my redshirt after Christmas. Actually, so I was
red shirting that year, and I remember during Chris break,
coach Space coming over is like, hey, like, I think
I think the team needs you down at thirty three,
and I'm like, whoh one thirty three, all right, I
can do it, knowing dang well, like it was gonna
(14:11):
be a tough cut. So I remember Sammy Hinson I
think was there at the time, and he would just
take me at night and we just have to do
extra workouts. Me and Mike Lydon would have to do
extra workouts to get my way down. And I remember
they tested us out at this open tournament and I
was just dead the whole time.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
I think I got second.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
I think I lost at one of the Mangoes in
the finals, but they were like, oh man, you can
make it. You got it, And so they pulled the
red shirt. And I end up my first match as
a starter. I'm going out in Oklahoma State and I'll
never never forget this. It's at Oklahoma State. And before this,
I hadn't really watched too much college wrestling. My first
college wrestling match that I had seen was when I
(14:52):
was in it, So I had had no idea who
was coming out there. And I remember being on the mat.
They had already caught my name, and all of a sudden,
I hear, don't doom the.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
Champ is here. Don't the doom the champ is here.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
I'm like, man, who's coming out? And then all of
a sudden, Jordan Oliver walks out and they're like right
number one or two in the country, Jordan, And I'm like,
who's this guy? And I had no clue and so
I that was my first match down at one thirty three.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
And it was and it was wild.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
I mean it was a wild match and it would
end up being I think I was winning by three
at with like thirty seconds or eighteen seconds left, and
he ended up coming back and beating me, and I
was just like.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
I blacked out. I was so tired. Uh.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
And so that was like my first like big time
college match, and you know, I think it was good
that I was thrown to the Wolves though, like it
was kind of got me like ready right away, and
so went out the rest of the season and just
really had nothing to lose, just had fun.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
That is crazy.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
I mean your first match in Gallagher, IBA against Jordan
Oliver and you really didn't know who he was.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yeah, so.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
I did, had no clue. So I found out afterwards.
They're like, yeah, he's he's pretty good. I was like, yeah,
I'd say so.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
You know what, It's so interesting, Kendrick, because I've always
thought in high school, and I want you to speak
to this, I've always thought in high school most kids.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Are beat at the weigh in, like, oh I got
the number one rank.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
It's like it's I mean I can and I've been
out of high school for over thirty years, but I
remember being in high school wrestling like I knew how
I was gonna beat and I knew who I wasn't,
which to this day it ticks me off because it's
like you can't think like that. How did you were
you always like that in college programming your mind because
everybody in college is good, Like it's you're not ever
(16:40):
getting a freebie, like you know, like in high school,
in college, everybody's there to win. How do you get
yourself ready consistently, you know, through the ups and downs,
preparing mentally that when you toe the line, you really
believe you're gonna win.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Yeah, And I think it's exactly that. It's preparing.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
I think having structures where you have your routine so
that you can get yourself back when the chaos does
get going. And we talk about all the time eliminating
those mental distractions, right, I mean, anything that is out
of your control, there's no point in thinking about.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
It because of the day.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Like outside that wrestling circle, nothing really matters right right
not there the crowd doesn't actually play effect if you
don't let it. And all these are kind of mental
barriers we can put on up and they only exist
in our own mind. And so I think I was
lucky in that aspect that I had great people around
me that kind of helped me understand stand that. And
I mean really early on my career, I was just
(17:33):
pretty much clueless.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
I was just like, you know, I don't really care
who you are.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
It was something that I hadn't been exposed enough to
that high level because in high school I never really
got a chance to go to those big tournaments, so
I didn't know what the highest level looked like.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
So in my mind, it was me and I.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
Think it helped me because once I learned that, I
kind of carried that on with the rest of my career,
even when I did start seeing those high level guys.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Take fourth place in twenty thirteen after going to and
two the year before. What you know, what was the
difference there to get on that stand.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
I think it goes back to what I was talking
about earlier. I was I was wrestling with freedom. I
remember going to practice every day just enjoying it. I
remember wrestling Cody Brewer and we just have fun every day.
I didn't put the pressure on myself like I had
to be a national champion. Was that I'm just going
to be, and I know I was able to trust,
(18:30):
you know, my coaches. I remember Mike Leitner just had
he had plans for me right. He was detailed enough
to know what I needed. He knew I could ride
most guys, and so he started making me cut everybody
that year, and by the end of the year at
my conditioning had gotten to a point where I was
comfortable going, you know, however long the match.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Needed to go, just because he would make me out.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
You gotta take down, cut him, cut them, cut them,
cut him instead of taking time on top, and so
little things like that in my training I think really
helped me out and by the by the end of
the year, it was just let's go have fun.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
What's your favorite thing about Michael Lightner?
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Oh, man, there's so many good ones. Man. The way
he can keep it light was awesome. You know.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
He he knew that he could see when people are
stressed out and he'd come make a crack a joke
and he'd always just have that little smirk on his
face that that you knew it was time to go. So,
you know, it was the fact that he was I
think kind of similar to my dad.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
He was consistently there. He wasn't going to be ever
too high, too low. You knew when you look back
in the corner.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
You know, if things, no matter how chaotic, in the match,
I got you look back in the corner.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
Man, you had the guy who run through a wall
for you. So that that was that was special to me.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
You mentioned before Sammy Henson at least from my standpoint.
And I don't know him well, but I I mean
the ball I mean, I remember he was he was
getting it done when I was in high school.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
I mean he was, he was a stud what U
you know, what's it like training with him?
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Ah? Man, I tell you what.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
He is amazing at getting you to buy in and
push yourself over those limits, right. I remember just plenty
of times like it was just I knew how how
he was going to be able to push me. As
soon as the day got started. He walked in the room,
he'd have some little paper rolled up and he's all right,
let's get started, and you're like, yep, we're about to
(20:19):
go through some hell. But it was a good kind
of pressure.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Man. We I know we needed it.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
I mean, so much of his I owe a lot
to him, just with his you know, the psychological battles
we had to get through, you know. I remember going
and doing a hard grind match and then he'd say, oh,
you know, winner this, you gotta you'll be done. Other
guy's got a stadium And we'd be like, oh, so
you put a whole lot of pressure on this one
takedown and if you lost, you'd have to go run
(20:45):
a whole stadium, and so that's the kind of stuff
that you know, he made you go and compete, and
that was really cool to me.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
You win the national title in twenty fourteen, believe that
was Oklahoma City. I love that venue, but it was
what do you recall?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
What do you recall from that tournament?
Speaker 4 (21:06):
I mean, I don't want to get in trouble with
my wife because after it, I proposed to my wife,
and so I got to mention that first, so I
don't get in trouble when she hears this. But that's
what I recall most. I won it and then I
reproposed her.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
But you know, it's those little moments, little moments with
your teammates back in the locker room, the little moments.
I remember right before we walked out to go get
on the map for the Nationals finals and just I
was a little nervous obviously, as you expect. And the
hardest part that about that day is the wait.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
It just takes so long.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
You're in your hotel room and just and I remember
just my my trainer and lighter coming over to me
and just kind of start joking around with me and
started making cracking jokes and everything kind of just calm down,
and that's when I knew it it was time that
we go handle business.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
So at that time, did you get to choose your music?
Speaker 4 (21:56):
Uh? I can't even remember. That's a good remember.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Music played when you went the run of the match.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
Nope, it was at that point and you.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Would have you would a tough guy.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
I mean Mitchell Port for Edtonborough right in the finals,
I mean he was a he's a stud. What uh
what from a technical or strategic standpoint in that match?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
I believe it was because I'm going off a memory
looking at some brackets. You really dominated, I mean, you
dominated that tournament and then I think.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
He'd beat Port four to three. You know what? What
he what was the key to win that match?
Speaker 4 (22:33):
I think the key? What? And I went away from
the key?
Speaker 5 (22:36):
If I'm being honest, that match, I don't feel like
I wrestled my best.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
I know I wrestled enough to win.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
That's why even coaching now, I'm like, man, you can't
allow yourself to make the same mistakes I did. And
I feel like I truly like kind of tightened up
during that match. But the key we knew he was
gonna come hard. We knew like he was just an
absolute go or. He had heavy hands, he was tough
to ride, I mean in every position, and you were
gonna have to wrestle the whole time. And it was
(23:02):
so it's about doing those multiple attacks, riding when I
need to ride, and trying to get a turn. And
I just remember the match kind of going like that.
I think I got a reattack and got on top
and roaded and and you know it came down to
the very end you got to escape and was almost
in on a leg at the very end, and so.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Uh, it was. It was intense.
Speaker 5 (23:21):
But I think that that's something that I really want
my guys to learn from, Like really like, if you
just open up and allow yourself to do what you
know you're capable of doing, you don't have to take
the chance of it being a close match, right if
you're if you believe in you're the better wrestler, really
open up, regardless of it's the finals, the first round,
the second round. Because up until that point, yeah, I
(23:42):
had I had some good success.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
What do you remember being in the tunnel getting ready
for your match. They're gonna call your name, You're gonna,
you know, rush up onto the mat on the race
stage like I always think my dad has got to
be the absolute coolest feeling.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
I mean, what what are you thinking at that time?
Speaker 5 (24:01):
It's hard to think at that time, honestly because it
for me, I was just trying to enjoy it, and
I think that helped. I just put a smile on
my face, let the smoke kind of clear out, and
run out there. And I didn't put much thought into
it before, but it was like, my only hope is
I didn't fall down that staircase when you gotta get
up on this stage.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
That would have been a little embarrassing.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
You recall being on top of the podium. What what
you were thinking?
Speaker 2 (24:28):
You know, standing there as a national champion. I mean
that's another like not a lot of guys get.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
To do that. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
I remember just at that moment just trying to find
my family in the stands and really just soaking the moment.
I you know, it was actually funny because I was
planning on like my route. When I was on the
on the stand holding out the bracket, I was like,
all right, I'm gonna run because you always see that
that was one thing that I really love seeing at Nationals.
Before I had won, it was that the national champ
wild go run and give all his family hugs, and
(24:56):
you know, cameras prechased them all that stuff. Uh, And
so I I was like, I'm planning my route to
go and run and hug my dad, hug my mom and.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
All these people.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
And as soon as I got out the stage, the
people I can forget what they're called, who have to
do the drug testing okay, came over and no one
told me that I could tell them I can wait,
and so they were like, hey, we need you to
do the drug testing, and so I was like trying
to leave, but I was like, okay, I have to
do this. So I go back to do the drug testing.
And it was the worst decision because I couldn't go
to the bathroom. I didn't have to use the bathroom.
(25:26):
And I end up spending the rest of the finals
from forty one all the way until Heavyweight in the
back small little cubicle room watching on a TV because
I couldn't go to the bathroom. I'm like, and I
hadn't hugged my parents yet.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
I was so upset.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
What was it like those first initial moments when you
did see them.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
Man, it's hard to describe just because you know all
the work that they put in and taking you to
kids clubs tournaments from the very start. No one in
my family had wrestled before, and so it was truly
a special thing to see, like, you know, me and
my dad trying to learn wrestling together and so they
had been there through the thick and thin and so
and seeing all the other people from you know, my teammates,
(26:08):
my parents, their parents that had helped me along.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
The way, and you know, it was it was a
joyful moment.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
I'll say that how did you get involved in wrestling?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
A flyer? A school flyer?
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Really?
Speaker 4 (26:21):
How old were you?
Speaker 5 (26:22):
I was six years old, super hyperactive where you know,
I was getting fouled out of every basketball game and
kicked out of soccer games just because I was rough
and had a lot of energy, always getting in trouble
at school. And finally someone from the local kids club
in Hutson, Kansas brought home. They gave us a flyer,
and I brought it home, was like, I want to
try this, and so luckily we had some school friends,
(26:45):
the Cottons, that also had it also were already in wrestling,
and so jumped in it and was terrible at first,
but somehow I loved it.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
I got pinned a lot.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
The flyer at school. I mean, you'll just never know.
I mean you never know.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Uh you know what a flyer is going going to
lead to your national championship trophy and the bracket?
Speaker 3 (27:08):
Where do you keep it?
Speaker 5 (27:10):
I believe all that stuff is at my dad's house.
My dad's house in the basement, you know. He that's
always anytime I ever got a trophy or a metal,
just like, hey, here you go, and he would take it.
So it was, you know, trophies are cool, but it
was never something like I need to be hanging up
for me. It was it was more about the memory.
So he has most of that stuff at his house.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
You've alluded to some of this a little bit.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
But if you had to have a conversation today with
an eighteen year old Kendrick Maple that's getting ready to
go to Norman, Oklahoma and to wrestle, what are you
gonna tell that young kid?
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Oh man, that's tough because honestly, if I I think
I enjoy this, mistakes I made because I wouldn't be
who I am today. You know, I would say, slow
down those little moments a little bit more. Uh, just
I would tell myself the journal a little bit more,
just to kind of provide those memories. It's hard now,
you know, you've had so many years of wrestling to
(28:11):
kind of remember all those small details. I remember, I
was talking to my buddy the other day trying to
remember just some small things back from you know, Hey,
what was you know this guy like or this practice like,
just because all that's kind of a blur now that
I've been you know, coaching so long. But I think,
you know, the big memory still stands strong. You know,
who was there for me when I was down? Who
(28:32):
was there for me when times were good or bad?
And that's the kind of stuff that stick with sticks
with me.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
I'm going to put you in a tight front headlock
right now, all right in the top position. Who's the
best teammate, the best teammate you ever had?
Speaker 4 (28:48):
Oh man, you're gonna get me beat up.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
By Don't let me score here, Kendrick. Don't let me
score here, because I will tell you this. I get
behind you. You're not going anywhere. I mean, I'm to
ride you. Matt reach probably till you and that was points. Yeah,
no choice but to answer this and get out of
this front headline.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
Okay, okay, when I get out, I'm shooting and I'm snaking.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Hey, I'll tell you what I will say this, Kendrick
and La answer the question. When I think about you, Kendrick,
it's one of my favorite sports cliches. It's it's one
of my favorites, and you fit it. Speed never slumps
like your speed. You'd you'd be so deep by my
legs before I had any clue what happened.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
I mean your speed was you could get to legs quick.
I mean like don't blink speed speed speed. So who
was your favorite teammate?
Speaker 4 (29:42):
Favorite teammate? Oh, man, that's tough.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
I'm gonna say it's got to be broken out of
categories I can't pick up.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Okay, that's fair. I'll give you that.
Speaker 5 (29:51):
I think one of the most inspirational teammates I had
was Andrew Howe Man. His first like month end up
being at OU. He transferred from Wisconsin and he had
knee surgery and we're roommates and he had knee surgery.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
The next day.
Speaker 5 (30:09):
I see this guy hobble outside of the backyard. He's
got this full like brayce On. He just got off
ice and he throws a rope around a bungee cord
around the little pole we had outside and just starts
going to town snaps for like an hour and it's
hot outside and I'm like, what are you doing? You
just had surgery, Like you just acl surgery or something,
(30:29):
And man, he became very quickly the guy. I had
to say, you know what, I got to outwork you.
I like, I can't. You've won a national title before,
like obviously you've done something right. I got to try
to do what you do and more. And that might
have been my hardest challenge that year, just out the
work back guy. Because if anyone anyone's ever met Andrew
how they know he is an absolute hammer, so inspirational
(30:53):
it be him. Man. One of the guys I was
close to, obviously was Cody Brewer on our team, and
you know, we were like brothers and he he he
was one of those guys that was with me through
the ups and the downs. We always used to joke
because at Nationals if he lost, he was right before
me I would lose. It was just like a weird
thing where and so there was like two or three
(31:14):
times the nast term where he'd lose and I'd lose,
and I'd blame him, like, man, that was your fault,
you should have got it done so and then I say, lastly,
Josh Durham, He's he was a kid who maybe never
made the lineup maybe once or twice, but he I
mean to this day where we were doing Bible studies
today together and you know he those are the kids
(31:36):
that really bring a team together, and he was that
guy for us.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Do you have a match that stands out It may
have been a win, it maybe maybe it was a loss.
A match that stands out where you learned the most
whatever whatever learning whatever that was that you learned, But
was there a match that really like it was like, wow,
didn't didn't know this?
Speaker 4 (32:00):
Ooh?
Speaker 5 (32:04):
I know one recently? So when I lost that bet
to Keegan, I had to wrestle again. We preach all
the time, you know, so many things for our guys.
We preach, you know, just going that extra mile, doing
your one mores, being locked in a match, staying focused,
(32:24):
being able to go through the tough times right.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
And so I was wrestling and I was.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
I had a couple of really good matches at the
US Open, and then I go against Pat Lugo and
the match he was way stronger than I expected. He
was squeezing my head and shutting everything down. And I
just remember in the middle of the match like saying, like, man,
I've been here before. I preach to the guys like
you got to push these through these moments, because it's
(32:51):
what I tell a lot of our guys who have
really good, high offensive offensive skills, and you get what happens.
Usually the higher offensive skills you got, the more people
start to shut down on you.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
And you kind of have two responses.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
Some guys say, well, if you're not gonna shoot, I
won't do anything, and I don't want to just get
tired and waste my energy. And then there's that next
mindset where it's you know, like you guys like Burroughs
who just say, you know what, you may stop one too,
but you can't stop all of them. I'm gonna keep attacking.
And so that was kind of the it kind of
clicked in my head where like I'm like, you know what,
he's he's strong. I don't want to just sit here
(33:22):
and not do anything. Then I don't want to take
a cop out shot either, and just let him spend
behind me. So I'm gonna stay locked in my stance longer,
and he's going.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
To mess up at some point.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
And he took a step forward, caught his foot and
was able to take him down. And I just remember,
like you know, you say, practice what you preach all
the time. That was one of those things that I
was able to put in practice of what we've been
working on. And so it was still a close match,
but it was a match that, you know, a younger
myself would have lost, just because I would have panicked
and felt like I can't get to a leg and
(33:51):
I either would have stopped wrestling or I would have
just you know, tried to shoot my way out of
it and made a bad mistake, you know, instead of
staying in great position and keep attacking, but in a
good you know, a good position.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
You start at one thirty three, you go up to
one forty one place a couple of times, win the
national title. Then you bump up to one forty nine
and you take eighth place, and that brackets, I mean,
ultimately you took eighth You won a national title.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Drake Howdieschell was in there.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
He won a national title, but that had Jason Sertzis
from Northwestern Freshman.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
He beat Josh Kendig.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
I don't even know if Kindig was you know, I
mean both those guys were not high seeds. I know
that Eric were Allison Michigan took third. You Russell English
from Penn State. He was a great story that year.
I mean that bracket was, like, I don't think many
people had that bracket picked correctly. With that being said,
was it was it difficult being at a returning national champ?
(34:52):
I know you were up aweight, But I talk to
guys that win national titles and they will say it
is different, Like.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
What was it really different?
Speaker 5 (35:01):
I definitely think so. I mean it's and that's something
that like we we have to. I'm glad I experienced
because now I can guide. I can guide when Keegan
won his, Like, hey, this next year is actually going
to be harder, like to start planning for that. I'm
preparing because it definitely you have a target on your back.
Everybody wrestles you different when you're when you're in the champ,
everybody wrestles you thinking it's their big moment and so
(35:22):
you get everybody's best, right, and so you have to
be day and day out focused, you know, going up
with that year, it was it was really tough because
I was trying to gain weight. I remember at National's
we stepped on the scale and it you know, usually
they readjurinate you're way out loud, and so he sees
it and he's like, he looks back up at me
and he looks back down. He's like one forty four
(35:43):
and I'm like, don't say that out loud.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
And so I was a.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Little bit for the day of your national final.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
Yeah, so we right it wait in two or three times,
I weighed forty four, forty five and I think forty
five again.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
So I was the whole year trying to.
Speaker 5 (35:57):
Gain weight, had some some issues with the stomach, so
it was that was more of a distraction for me
than you know, I think the target on my back
that year, and it's it's something that you know, it's
I wish I would have, you know, figured out something
a little sooner with my nutrition to maybe help it out.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
But you know, it was still it was still one
of those years.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
That I learned more than I ever could if I
would have just won another national title. So I learned
more that I'm able to use now coaching than I
think I ever would have.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
Why did you go up to one forty nine?
Speaker 5 (36:29):
So me and are so he was a forty nine
d pounder of the year before. His name was Nick Lester,
and we both in the summer, I think weighed the
exact same, So we were both like one forty five
or something, and I remember I started trying to get
bigger and we were. They were just like, you should switch,
And it started kind of as a joke, and then
they were like, you know, we should do this because
we were confident he could do better below and I
(36:50):
could do better up top. And so it was a
decision we made early on and we committed to it,
and you know, it was one of those things that
you know, it was trying to make our team the
best it was supposed to be. And I think it,
I don't think it. I wouldn't change the thing. It
was one of those things you gotta do what you
gotta do.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
So if you could re wrestle one match in your career,
you get one match back, what match would it be?
Speaker 5 (37:16):
Oh? Man, that's a tough one. I would, I would
that's it is a tough one. Maybe one of the
Steber matches. I never got that match against Steeber, so
that that was that was a tough one for me
because I always really enjoyed wrestling him. He was always
one of he was a guy who would wrestle me back.
You know, he didn't shut.
Speaker 3 (37:36):
You're talking about Logan, I'm assuming.
Speaker 5 (37:38):
Yes, yep, So that was that was one that I
think that could have been really fun if we could
have if I could have had what I knew now
and go back and do it, I think it would
have been a much better match.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
So because we wrestled one time in folk style at the.
Speaker 5 (37:54):
All Star Classic, and then we wrestled a few times
and uh at freestyle, So it's good.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Hunter or Logan stever. Okay, that's that's a good one.
You said you're a football guy, played football. Who's your uh,
who's your favorite football team?
Speaker 4 (38:10):
Football Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Yeah, that's that's not a bad It's not a bad
time to like the Chiefs. Although, uh, yesterday Mahomes I saw,
you know, got got hurt in some capacity.
Speaker 4 (38:20):
So we'll see what He's always got some kind of
ankle injury.
Speaker 5 (38:22):
He's I think I think he starts to bake it now.
He just wants to people to start doubt him more.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
Who was your favorite chief growing up?
Speaker 5 (38:32):
I would say Priest Holmes, but I actually wasn't a
Chiefs fan, and you're double. People say they're gonna say
I Bandwagon, But I was a fan of players and coaches.
Speaker 4 (38:41):
So I was a big Ed Reid fan.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
I was a big uh uh Andy Reid fan actually,
so I would follow all different players. I love defense,
so I would always you know, Ray Lewis and all
those guys. And then because I was never really tied
to a place that was close to me, so you know,
I lived in Indiana for a little bit, and I
didn't really like the Colts too much. I always wanted
to pick a team, but never really felt a connection
(39:03):
to any. So when I moved back here, I was like, Okay,
I'm near the Chiefs. I could actually go to a game.
I'd never been to an NFL game until this year,
and so I went to my first NFL game there,
which awesome. So about five years ago, I was like,
you know what, Big Don Bradley was a Chiefs fan.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
I was like I'm close. You're a Chiefs fan.
Speaker 5 (39:20):
Let's do this. I'm gonna be a on probation Chiefs fan.
And if I can spend five years being a fan
no matter what happens, then I can get off probation.
Speaker 4 (39:29):
I could be a true fan.
Speaker 5 (39:30):
And so this year was my finally final year alpha probation,
and so I'm finally official.
Speaker 3 (39:35):
Nice, that's great.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
I asked you that because I think about I liked
Walter Peyton Farris quarter or running back and night a
Walter Peyton poster.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
Okay, so I'm gonna ask you this, who who posterized you?
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Like who hit something on you that it's a poster
you're getting posterized? And then who did you posterize.
Speaker 3 (40:00):
In football specifically or in wrestling. In wrestling, oh.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
Man, I don't know posterized me? I meaning I got whooped.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Yeah, like like somebody hit like maybe it was just
a great technique or maybe even won the match that
he hit something on you.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
And you're like, I did get ducked.
Speaker 5 (40:18):
I got ducked by Reese Humphrey in freestyle one time,
and I don't know if I've ever been ducked. And
so that was that was impressive, and I think he
danced on me afterwards too, so.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
It was probably yeah, probably, yeah.
Speaker 4 (40:32):
He's a great guy.
Speaker 5 (40:33):
So I think that one was a big shocker because
I was more one of more athletic moves and I
felt like I don't get hit in athletic moves.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
Exactly exactly was a good one.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
I don't know the as posterized moves. I don't know.
That's uh, I'd have to go.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
So, what's the best movie you ever hit on somebody?
Speaker 5 (40:52):
Either ankle pick or a snake? Those are my two
go tos that I really love to hit. So uh,
Me and Brewer used to always joke all the time
about those because I hit him in practice in it.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
And so you got one that stands out in the
match that you just hit perfect?
Speaker 4 (41:07):
Uh, probably a snake.
Speaker 5 (41:08):
I don't know which match, but snakes are kind of
the go to they Keagan likes to call it a
cow or a honey badger, and that's not near.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
What's when you say snake? What is that?
Speaker 5 (41:18):
So a cow catcher or brands or whatever. There's a
bunch of names for there. I'm gonna say talking.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
About you get the front headlock and he whoop, them
over yes, yeah, Wisconsin guy.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
Yeah, you got some Wisconsin over there.
Speaker 5 (41:30):
Cow catcher, catcher, So I would accept cow catcher as
the second tier name for the week. But I'm gonna
say here on this podcast, snake is the factual name
for that move.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Well with with with uh with names of moves coming up.
And you got some Wisconsin guys in that room. You
guys saw buy coffee grinder, I would assume, I mean,
some people call it a head lever, it's a coffee grinder.
Grab the wrist. I mean it sounds great, I mean
better the coffee grider I got. I was doing North
(42:04):
Dakota States and Iowa State yesterday and I went into
the North Dakota State room to talk to Obie Blanc
and Obie brings up. He's like, oh man, I love
what you're talking about. These coffee griders, you know, cracks
me up. And I saw somebody in my periphial villain vision,
you know, on the side, and in my mind I
immediately went to Gavin Drexler is from Wisconsin. Please God
(42:28):
have it be Gavin Drexler, you know, And and sure
enough was Gavin Drexeler.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
I'm like, Davin coffee grider. He's like rider I was.
It was great.
Speaker 2 (42:37):
So a snake I've never I've never heard it called
a snake. Just for you, Kendrick, what are these times
on a broadcast, I'll bump. I'll put that in a snake.
Speaker 5 (42:49):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
Name of the podcast is go on It, Give me
a give me in your career, your go on it
moment back against the wall circumstances for whatever reason not
going your way, you have one that stands out where
you had to really gut check and find something out
about yourself.
Speaker 5 (43:07):
Let's see, I'll actually take it to football in high school.
Speaker 4 (43:12):
I'll take it to that.
Speaker 3 (43:13):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
It was kind of that we were playing this team
and it was I was a young kid, not supposed
to be like right on the edge of starting and
not Saturday.
Speaker 4 (43:22):
I think it was my freshman or sophomore year, probably.
Speaker 5 (43:24):
Sophomore year, and I got I was out there with
on an island with a receiver. I was defense, and
it was one of those things I just kind of
had a nut up because they I knew their pass
and they had to go to was their best receiver,
and I had to kind of go and actually shut
him down. And it was one of those things where
we were we need in the moment, and I got
it done. I got I think I batted that one down.
(43:47):
But I tell you what, because I the very next
play they ran the same thing and it was to
the other side and they actually scored the touchdown.
Speaker 4 (43:54):
So but in that moment, it was when I earned.
Speaker 5 (43:56):
My spot for football. So I was really happy because
after that I was starter.
Speaker 3 (44:00):
So they called you Maple Island. Yeah, Maple Island.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
There on the edge, I saw that your nickname Maple Syrup.
Where who gave you that?
Speaker 5 (44:13):
I don't know who it originally gave me that name.
I'm actually I haven't called that in a while.
Speaker 4 (44:17):
It was more in college. I had someboddies that I
like that.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
I saw it at the bio. I'm like, I mean,
obviously makes sense. I like that, Yeah, exactly, I like that.
Speaker 2 (44:29):
What but before I let you go looking at you know,
you've been You've coached with some great guys. You're at
Purdue Tony Urslin, then you go to you know, Nebraska
with with coach Manning and now obviously with with coach Smith.
What you know, what are some things you took from
those guys individually that that you'll always remember.
Speaker 5 (44:50):
Man, It's like you said, some great guys. That's a
thing I don't take light. Those were some special experiences
for me. I got a coach under Mark Cody two
and I think every one of them I can write
down at the list would go along on stuff I
would pick up and learn from them. You know from
Mark Cody how he was always very constructive with his criticism, right.
(45:11):
He was able to point out the things you need
to work on without you know, hurting any like not
hurting feelings. But he was able to keep the stuff
that didn't matter out of it and just focus on
the exact stuff. And he actually cared for his athletes.
And the same thing with Ursula man he was a
very personable coach. It was one of those times where
he would really encourage that, you know, be the coach
(45:33):
you want to be, you know, be the coach that
you know is let me have an autonomy with that
kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (45:38):
And so he was great. Same thing with Manning.
Speaker 5 (45:41):
Man we had a we had a great staff there
with Snyder and all those guys. And Snyder I call
him Princess because he's he's a little uh prima donna.
But you know, I had a great time and learn
so much from them. Watch how you know Manning would
coach with JB and just being able to study that
relationship was a special thing and how they could bring
the intent and get the most out the guys.
Speaker 4 (46:02):
And then here was coach smith Man.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
It's I'm every day, I got my notepad out just
sitting here because I truly believe he's such a Hall
of fame coach and for me to be able to
study from him every day and to like see how
he's still growing even though he's got twenty plus years coaching,
he's still trying to grow. Ever your day as a coach,
he's constantly reading bucks, he's constantly trying to pick our brains,
(46:25):
and he's not afraid to learn. He's not one of
those coaches that you know, stand over say this is
the way to do it.
Speaker 4 (46:30):
No, he's he's like, he's come up and say, hey,
where did you pick that drill up? How'd you learn that?
Speaker 5 (46:35):
And started really like caring about who we are and
then also knowing that you know, it's such a respectful relationship,
and so man, it's I I'm thankful, I'm blessed to
be where I'm at.
Speaker 3 (46:49):
Christmas time coming up? What is the best Christmas present
that you got when you were a little kid?
Speaker 4 (46:54):
Who best Christmas gift? Ah, that's a tough one. I'll
be a football.
Speaker 5 (47:01):
It sounds plain, Jamee, But man, I got a football,
and I what'd spent hours just throwing it up byby
So I have two sisters.
Speaker 4 (47:07):
So they wouldn't play football with me.
Speaker 5 (47:08):
So I just go in my backyard and play by
myself if the other neighborhood kids went around. So uh,
that was I spent a lot of time with that football.
Speaker 3 (47:17):
It's it's the simple stuff. It's it's like watch a
two year old kid with a balloon.
Speaker 2 (47:21):
Yeah, I mean it's like yeah, I mean, the simple
stuff wins and and that stuff stands the test of time.
Like if football was popular one hundred years ago, I
will promise you in a thousand years it's still gonna
be popular. So football, But it's absolutely last question for you,
Kendrick didn't mean I got I'm gonna give you two more. Actually,
(47:43):
how would you finish this sentence? I believe how would
you finish that?
Speaker 4 (47:49):
I believe we're gonna win national titles here.
Speaker 2 (47:53):
I wouldn't bet against you. You guys are doing a
great job there. Last question, cross country trip. You and
three people that you've never met, dead or alive. Who
are you taking on that cross country trip that I've
never met that you've never met dead or alive, but
(48:15):
you've never met him, you get you get three of them?
Speaker 4 (48:20):
Okay, all right, that's a good one. I'm taking Jesus,
I'm taking.
Speaker 5 (48:30):
Cy Robertson from Duck Dynasty and uh, maybe Muhammad ali.
Speaker 3 (48:38):
At be a fun trip that Dendrick.
Speaker 2 (48:41):
This has been a lot of fun. I just appreciate
the insight. It's just fun to talk to two guys
who had great success in this sport as athletes and
and uh and now what you're doing as a coach,
great program. As you said, you guys are doing a
great job at Missouri. And obviously being from Wisconsin, we
get some of those Gonso guys there, and uh so
I know a lot of people pulling for for Missouri,
(49:04):
but really appreciate it. And uh when I find coach Spates,
I want I'm definitely gonna I'm definitely gonna hear a
couple of songs. But uh, Merry Christmas to you. And
your family, Kendrick and looking forward to crossing paths soon.
Speaker 4 (49:16):
Thank you so much, thanks for having me
Welcome to the Go Earn It Podcast, where we bring
you stories each week of people who have battled through adversity,
overcame the obstacles, and earned their dream. You were born
for greatness and our mission is to bring you the
stories that will inspire you to dream big and go
earn it.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
And welcome to episode number thirty nine of the Go
Orded Podcast. Today we are joined by three time Big
twelve champion, the twenty fifth all time three time All
American at the University of Oklahoma. He won a national
title as well in twenty thirteen. Successful freestyle career and
now he's coaching at the University of Missouri. Enter head
(00:47):
coach Brian Smith, one of the chillest guys I've ever
met in wrestling in the last fifteen years covering the sport,
Kendrick Maple.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Kendrick, it is great to see you.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
How you been I've been great. Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
So you won two high school state titles.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Give me your favorite memories of being a state champion
and accomplishing that goal.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Ah, I mean, the memories always go back to just
who you're with. Man.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
I had some special special teammates and special coach truly coaches,
so you know, just being able to hang out with
those guys, and and my freshman year, we actually my
freshman year, I think I was the only guy whosides
there was one other guy in my team.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
That qualified for States, so we weren't very good at all.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
And flash forward we got to my senior year where
when we were beating down the door on some trophies,
and then when I graduated, of course they win it.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
So I was a little salty about that that.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
We didn't get done in my high school career. But
amazing my high school coach, coach Mike Church, was truly
one of my most inspirational people I've ever met, and
he passed away recently from cancer and so man, his
legacy lives on, and he was someone who really changed
who I was as a man.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
What was it specifically that he did that made such
a big impact act.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I would say he met us at a personal level.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
We had a lot of uh at which we went
to witch Tall Heights, and we had a lot of
inner city kids mixed with different kinds of other kids,
and it was it was would have been tough for
anybody to coach because it I mean I got one
of my best buds, Chase Nelson.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
He was a handful of coach.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
I mean he would just constantly talking and constantly you know,
showing up late when you did when you didn't stay
on him. And so Coach Church met us at where
we were at. He could talk to each individual like
a like a man and be able to really inspire
us without having to beat over our head and anything
like that. And so, uh, I think that really helped
me become the coach I am today too.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
When you won a couple of state titles in Kansas,
what was the recruiting process.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Like for you?
Speaker 5 (02:47):
So it's it's funny, especially because now I get to
see the other side of it and I get to
see just all the amazing things and all the hard
work that goes into this side.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
For me, I wasn't highly ranked. I mean I wasn't right.
You couldn't have found me in a ranking.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
And so because with Witch Dah we really just stayed
around our area. We didn't travel to wrestle or anything.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
So it got to my I think the end of my.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
Junior year maybe senior year, and you know, I was
telling my coach, I I'm just going to go play football,
and I was soaking wet, like one hundred and thirty
five pounds, and so finally he convinced me, He's like,
you need to go to High School Nationals in Virginia Beach.
And so I went to that tournament, took third, and
that's when I finally started getting some calls. And so
before that, the only call I had was Nebraska Omaha
(03:30):
with coach Denny and he was amazing.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
I took my recruiting trip there. It was awesome.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
And then all the D one schools finally started calling
after that tournament, and so didn't get a whole lot
of crazy offers. But OHU was just that special place
that I felt like.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Home when I went on a visit there.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
So Oklahoma, was that the only Division one visit that
you went on?
Speaker 5 (03:52):
No, so my visits were Oklahoma Iowa State. But funny enough,
the trip on Iowa stayed. Cale made his decision to
go to Penn State the day I went to the trip,
and so I remember having outside the doors watching him
tell his team he's leaving to Penn State. We had
a backdoor, yeah, because the inner the press was everywhere.
(04:15):
And so we went to Casey Cunningham's house, and you know,
it was just a very awkward and they stayed made
it great. It was still a really cool visit, but
it was, uh, you know, kind of checked it off
the box because the coaches were leaving.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
So it's a very weird visit.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I'll say that, Wow, anybody else besides Ou or iwa state.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
I was in Northern Illinois Boston College, and I think
that was it.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
And I bust Coach Smith's.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
Balls all the time because they called and then they
end up stopped talking to me.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
It kind of just faded away. So I was like,
hey man, you used to be terrible at recruiting. You
couldn't see talent. Ever.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Ou that was with with coach Spates.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Yes, it was coach Spates.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
So Coach Spates did a home visit everything, and and
he was just he was He seemed like a leader.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I could follow.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
What was it that he said or did that put
you over the top to be side to become a sooner.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
It's actually funny because he during he came on a
home visit and he comes downstairs and I don't see
anything in his hands, right, And we go downstairs. He's
sitting on the autumn and talking to me and my
parents out of nowhere like a magician. He goes like this, well,
would you like to hear a song? And I was
like what And he reaches back and grabs a guitar.
No idea how he got it in, no clue where
(05:32):
it came from. Just has a guitar and starts singing
a song. He would make songs for all his national champions.
He had the personal written songs and he was I
think he sing maybe Mike Leitner's songs. And after he's like,
I'm gonna write a song about you one day. No,
I was like, oh man, that's pretty sweet, and so
I ended up committing and I tell you he wrote
(05:53):
a song about me.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
He was cool. It came to fruition.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
What uh, I mean do you remember what the song was,
what the lyrics were? When when you won a national title?
I mean you have the like is this on video?
When he plays?
Speaker 5 (06:05):
I think I do have it on my phone. You're
talking about my song or the other one that lightner?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Your song when you when you ultimately did win the title.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Yeah, so my song he sung a little bit about
the past.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
He sung about you know when I when I did win,
and I looked up and pointed, you know, because I
was thanking God. And so he added some of those
lyrics in it. So he makes a very personal touch
in the song. So yeah, if you ever get if
you ever see him, I know you'll see him again.
So I ask him about his songs, tell him to
sing you one on the spot.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I have never It's one one thing I love about
these these podcasts is it doesn't matter what kind of
interview it is. I mean, even when I'm doing a broadcast, Kendrick,
my goal is one of them is I just want
somebody to listen to this and walk away and say
never knew that, Like you never knew that. So we've
(06:51):
we we've we've reached this moment just minutes into.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
This podcast, State's.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Right Songs for the National Champs.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Yes he does.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
That is a great story. That is a great story.
What's sticking with with Coach Spates? What was the most
impactful conversation you and him ever had?
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Man, I don't know if I could point to one conversation,
but I know for a fact it was the multiple, multiple,
multiple small conversations. And this is why I hold Coach
Spates dearly to my heart is you know, when you
get to college and I grew up, you know, a
believer in my faith, but when college is different.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
You don't have your parents telling you.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Hey, you got to go to church, you got to
go do this, and so it's a challenging time for
college to especially with so many distractions. And it was
those subtle conversations after a hard practice, you're sitting on
the wall and he just comes and sits by, and
you say, hey, how's your walk going, Hey, how's your
faith going? And it was those things that at the
time it was just kind of like, you know, I
kind of brush it off and it was short conversation.
(07:51):
But looking back, man, that was some of the most
meaningful conversations because it kept me focus on what really
mattered to me and that I you know, oh so
much to them.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
For these are great conversations in my mind. Is spitting
it when it comes to your faith and how it
works in conjunction with wrestling.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Do you have a moment or two that that will
always resonate with you when it came to your wrestling
and your faith.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
Yeah, I mean one of the biggest moments that I'll
ever stand out is. I believe it was my sophomore year.
I guess red shirt sophomore year, and I had I
was having a good year. It was at nationals and
I have I think I think it was Montel Marian
or someone in the quarters or Semis and I lose
the match, and I'm talking that year, I felt like
(08:40):
I did everything right.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
I felt like I.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Was, you know, reading my scripture, I was going to church,
and it was almost like I was thought I was
entitled to it and that I was promised it. And
so I remember losing that match and I had beaten
them before and I lost that match and went back
to locker room just devastated, like I put winning an
national title so high on my pedestal that it took
the place in front of so many other things. And
(09:05):
so I had a moment there where I was just
like crying and just blaming everybody but me and just
like why God would you let this happen? And I
remember having like a just the aha moment people always
talk about where I felt like God was just like, Hey,
did I promise that I or did I promise something else?
And so I remember like having that just surreal moment
(09:28):
where I had to take some breasts and be like, man,
life is so much bigger than this. This doesn't define me.
And I got up, pulled my singlet back up and
was like, you know what, We're gonna go finish this
tournament out.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Uh. And it kind of changed how.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
I approached wrestling because it no longer became I. No
longer was my identity. It was just something that, you know,
a jacket I could put on. And so I remember
finishing that tournament and going into summer workouts.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Just feeling so free.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
I like the weight had been lifting, like I didn't
have to put all that pressure on myself, feeling like
everything had me walk right, and I have to win
this national title. It was like, I'm going to win
this national title. I had a very big confidence about it,
but it was something I held with my hand wide open, like,
you know, if it happens, it happens. And a lot
of that was through the encouraging of you know, my
mentors like Jack Spates and Mike Kleitner and my dad
(10:16):
and all those guys.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
You have a favorite putting you on the spot here
a little bit you have like a favorite Bible verse
or part of scripture that really you cling to.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Yeah, so my grandma actually it was heard by favorite
Bible verse and then my dad. So Matthew six thirty three,
seek you first the Kingdom of God, and everything else
shall be added to under you and his righteousness. So
I think that really is one I try to live by.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
I have a lot of them.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
I actually have a list that I'm trying to memorize
right now. It's not going too well. I keep messing up.
But that's kind of the main one that almost like
a family verse, that man, if you seek God in
his kingdom first, like everything else, it'll be taken care of.
And it doesn't promise that you won't go through struggles,
but that's to be the ultimate goal goal.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
So your dad, I read just doing some research in
one of the bios when you were at Oklahoma that
your dad, it said, was your childhood hero. Yeah, what
you know, What can you tell me about your dad?
What made him so special?
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Uh, it's gonna it's gonna sound weird, but it was
almost that, not saying my dad isn't special.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
It was almost that he could do.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
The special while not being special, like just being able
to go to work every day. Take care of his family.
We didn't come from big beginnings. I remember sharing rooms
with my siblings in the small apartments growing up, and
h man, it was it wasn't always easy, and I
just remember, like the best thing, the most special thing
I could say about him.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Is that he stayed steadfast through it all. It was
always he was.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
He was leading with such a quiet strength that that
was really really like.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Good for me to see because I could be able
to see.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
That I don't have to react and respond to every
emotion that I that comes about. You know, when I'm angry,
I don't have to go out and take it out
on some buddy. And uh So it was you know
the fact that he was so steadfast and watching him
grow through his experience and he was humble enough to
admit when he was wrong, and that was something that
really showed me how to, you know, live my life.
So that's why he would be my hero.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
And your dad's name is Jeff. It also said that
your favorite movie was Rocky. Yeah, are you like a
big fan of all the you know, all the Rocky movies.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Yeah, I'd say so.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
I just said the training montage when they get that
going against me fired up.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Yeah, I would say that's a good one.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
That's what is your favorite scene in any Rocky movie?
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Uh man?
Speaker 5 (12:40):
I So either either any of them training montages because
I just love that, like getting back, getting too the grind,
Like that's the stuff that's fun for me. That's when
we get in the rest room here, it's just like
I feel like it's.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
A montage the whole time.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Either that or i'd say I when when they're just
in that last scene, like just straight slugging it out
the whistle finally it finally blows and both fighters win
or lose, are just fans going crazy, I'd tell our
guys all the time, like wrestle like that, Like if
you watch those MMA fights, even when it's just two
guys just going hands leaving everything out there at the
(13:15):
end of the match, it really doesn't even matter who won,
Like these guys are just the fans are excided.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
You did exactly what you're supposed to do.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
And I think when you can focus on that instead
of focusing about the outcome, that's when you really can fight,
wrestle do whatever you want with freedom.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
So you are not heavily recruited.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
You end up at Oklahoma they're a Norman and as
a true freshman, you're the guy you went over thirty matches.
I think you were third of the big twelves two
and two at the NCAA tournaments. Pretty successful campaign. Like like,
why did it work for you?
Speaker 5 (13:51):
I don't know if there's one reason why. But so
they pulled my redshirt after Christmas. Actually, so I was
red shirting that year, and I remember during Chris break,
coach Space coming over is like, hey, like, I think
I think the team needs you down at thirty three,
and I'm like, whoh one thirty three, all right, I
can do it, knowing dang well, like it was gonna
(14:11):
be a tough cut. So I remember Sammy Hinson I
think was there at the time, and he would just
take me at night and we just have to do
extra workouts. Me and Mike Lydon would have to do
extra workouts to get my way down. And I remember
they tested us out at this open tournament and I
was just dead the whole time.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
I think I got second.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
I think I lost at one of the Mangoes in
the finals, but they were like, oh man, you can
make it. You got it, And so they pulled the
red shirt. And I end up my first match as
a starter. I'm going out in Oklahoma State and I'll
never never forget this. It's at Oklahoma State. And before this,
I hadn't really watched too much college wrestling. My first
college wrestling match that I had seen was when I
(14:52):
was in it, So I had had no idea who
was coming out there. And I remember being on the mat.
They had already caught my name, and all of a sudden,
I hear, don't doom the.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
Champ is here. Don't the doom the champ is here.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
I'm like, man, who's coming out? And then all of
a sudden, Jordan Oliver walks out and they're like right
number one or two in the country, Jordan, And I'm like,
who's this guy? And I had no clue and so
I that was my first match down at one thirty three.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
And it was and it was wild.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
I mean it was a wild match and it would
end up being I think I was winning by three
at with like thirty seconds or eighteen seconds left, and
he ended up coming back and beating me, and I
was just like.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
I blacked out. I was so tired. Uh.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
And so that was like my first like big time
college match, and you know, I think it was good
that I was thrown to the Wolves though, like it
was kind of got me like ready right away, and
so went out the rest of the season and just
really had nothing to lose, just had fun.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
That is crazy.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
I mean your first match in Gallagher, IBA against Jordan
Oliver and you really didn't know who he was.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yeah, so.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
I did, had no clue. So I found out afterwards.
They're like, yeah, he's he's pretty good. I was like, yeah,
I'd say so.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
You know what, It's so interesting, Kendrick, because I've always
thought in high school, and I want you to speak
to this, I've always thought in high school most kids.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Are beat at the weigh in, like, oh I got
the number one rank.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
It's like it's I mean I can and I've been
out of high school for over thirty years, but I
remember being in high school wrestling like I knew how
I was gonna beat and I knew who I wasn't,
which to this day it ticks me off because it's
like you can't think like that. How did you were
you always like that in college programming your mind because
everybody in college is good, Like it's you're not ever
(16:40):
getting a freebie, like you know, like in high school,
in college, everybody's there to win. How do you get
yourself ready consistently, you know, through the ups and downs,
preparing mentally that when you toe the line, you really
believe you're gonna win.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Yeah, And I think it's exactly that. It's preparing.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
I think having structures where you have your routine so
that you can get yourself back when the chaos does
get going. And we talk about all the time eliminating
those mental distractions, right, I mean, anything that is out
of your control, there's no point in thinking about.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
It because of the day.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Like outside that wrestling circle, nothing really matters right right
not there the crowd doesn't actually play effect if you
don't let it. And all these are kind of mental
barriers we can put on up and they only exist
in our own mind. And so I think I was
lucky in that aspect that I had great people around
me that kind of helped me understand stand that. And
I mean really early on my career, I was just
(17:33):
pretty much clueless.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
I was just like, you know, I don't really care
who you are.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
It was something that I hadn't been exposed enough to
that high level because in high school I never really
got a chance to go to those big tournaments, so
I didn't know what the highest level looked like.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
So in my mind, it was me and I.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
Think it helped me because once I learned that, I
kind of carried that on with the rest of my career,
even when I did start seeing those high level guys.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Take fourth place in twenty thirteen after going to and
two the year before. What you know, what was the
difference there to get on that stand.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
I think it goes back to what I was talking
about earlier. I was I was wrestling with freedom. I
remember going to practice every day just enjoying it. I
remember wrestling Cody Brewer and we just have fun every day.
I didn't put the pressure on myself like I had
to be a national champion. Was that I'm just going
to be, and I know I was able to trust,
(18:30):
you know, my coaches. I remember Mike Leitner just had
he had plans for me right. He was detailed enough
to know what I needed. He knew I could ride
most guys, and so he started making me cut everybody
that year, and by the end of the year at
my conditioning had gotten to a point where I was
comfortable going, you know, however long the match.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Needed to go, just because he would make me out.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
You gotta take down, cut him, cut them, cut them,
cut him instead of taking time on top, and so
little things like that in my training I think really
helped me out and by the by the end of
the year, it was just let's go have fun.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
What's your favorite thing about Michael Lightner?
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Oh, man, there's so many good ones. Man. The way
he can keep it light was awesome. You know.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
He he knew that he could see when people are
stressed out and he'd come make a crack a joke
and he'd always just have that little smirk on his
face that that you knew it was time to go. So,
you know, it was the fact that he was I
think kind of similar to my dad.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
He was consistently there. He wasn't going to be ever
too high, too low. You knew when you look back
in the corner.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
You know, if things, no matter how chaotic, in the match,
I got you look back in the corner.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
Man, you had the guy who run through a wall
for you. So that that was that was special to me.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
You mentioned before Sammy Henson at least from my standpoint.
And I don't know him well, but I I mean
the ball I mean, I remember he was he was
getting it done when I was in high school.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
I mean he was, he was a stud what U
you know, what's it like training with him?
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Ah? Man, I tell you what.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
He is amazing at getting you to buy in and
push yourself over those limits, right. I remember just plenty
of times like it was just I knew how how
he was going to be able to push me. As
soon as the day got started. He walked in the room,
he'd have some little paper rolled up and he's all right,
let's get started, and you're like, yep, we're about to
(20:19):
go through some hell. But it was a good kind
of pressure.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Man. We I know we needed it.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
I mean, so much of his I owe a lot
to him, just with his you know, the psychological battles
we had to get through, you know. I remember going
and doing a hard grind match and then he'd say, oh,
you know, winner this, you gotta you'll be done. Other
guy's got a stadium And we'd be like, oh, so
you put a whole lot of pressure on this one
takedown and if you lost, you'd have to go run
(20:45):
a whole stadium, and so that's the kind of stuff
that you know, he made you go and compete, and
that was really cool to me.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
You win the national title in twenty fourteen, believe that
was Oklahoma City. I love that venue, but it was
what do you recall?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
What do you recall from that tournament?
Speaker 4 (21:06):
I mean, I don't want to get in trouble with
my wife because after it, I proposed to my wife,
and so I got to mention that first, so I
don't get in trouble when she hears this. But that's
what I recall most. I won it and then I
reproposed her.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
But you know, it's those little moments, little moments with
your teammates back in the locker room, the little moments.
I remember right before we walked out to go get
on the map for the Nationals finals and just I
was a little nervous obviously, as you expect. And the
hardest part that about that day is the wait.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
It just takes so long.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
You're in your hotel room and just and I remember
just my my trainer and lighter coming over to me
and just kind of start joking around with me and
started making cracking jokes and everything kind of just calm down,
and that's when I knew it it was time that
we go handle business.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
So at that time, did you get to choose your music?
Speaker 4 (21:56):
Uh? I can't even remember. That's a good remember.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Music played when you went the run of the match.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
Nope, it was at that point and you.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Would have you would a tough guy.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
I mean Mitchell Port for Edtonborough right in the finals,
I mean he was a he's a stud. What uh
what from a technical or strategic standpoint in that match?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
I believe it was because I'm going off a memory
looking at some brackets. You really dominated, I mean, you
dominated that tournament and then I think.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
He'd beat Port four to three. You know what? What
he what was the key to win that match?
Speaker 4 (22:33):
I think the key? What? And I went away from
the key?
Speaker 5 (22:36):
If I'm being honest, that match, I don't feel like
I wrestled my best.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
I know I wrestled enough to win.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
That's why even coaching now, I'm like, man, you can't
allow yourself to make the same mistakes I did. And
I feel like I truly like kind of tightened up
during that match. But the key we knew he was
gonna come hard. We knew like he was just an
absolute go or. He had heavy hands, he was tough
to ride, I mean in every position, and you were
gonna have to wrestle the whole time. And it was
(23:02):
so it's about doing those multiple attacks, riding when I
need to ride, and trying to get a turn. And
I just remember the match kind of going like that.
I think I got a reattack and got on top
and roaded and and you know it came down to
the very end you got to escape and was almost
in on a leg at the very end, and so.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Uh, it was. It was intense.
Speaker 5 (23:21):
But I think that that's something that I really want
my guys to learn from, Like really like, if you
just open up and allow yourself to do what you
know you're capable of doing, you don't have to take
the chance of it being a close match, right if
you're if you believe in you're the better wrestler, really
open up, regardless of it's the finals, the first round,
the second round. Because up until that point, yeah, I
(23:42):
had I had some good success.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
What do you remember being in the tunnel getting ready
for your match. They're gonna call your name, You're gonna,
you know, rush up onto the mat on the race
stage like I always think my dad has got to
be the absolute coolest feeling.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
I mean, what what are you thinking at that time?
Speaker 5 (24:01):
It's hard to think at that time, honestly because it
for me, I was just trying to enjoy it, and
I think that helped. I just put a smile on
my face, let the smoke kind of clear out, and
run out there. And I didn't put much thought into
it before, but it was like, my only hope is
I didn't fall down that staircase when you gotta get
up on this stage.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
That would have been a little embarrassing.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
You recall being on top of the podium. What what
you were thinking?
Speaker 2 (24:28):
You know, standing there as a national champion. I mean
that's another like not a lot of guys get.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
To do that. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
I remember just at that moment just trying to find
my family in the stands and really just soaking the moment.
I you know, it was actually funny because I was
planning on like my route. When I was on the
on the stand holding out the bracket, I was like,
all right, I'm gonna run because you always see that
that was one thing that I really love seeing at Nationals.
Before I had won, it was that the national champ
wild go run and give all his family hugs, and
(24:56):
you know, cameras prechased them all that stuff. Uh, And
so I I was like, I'm planning my route to
go and run and hug my dad, hug my mom and.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
All these people.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
And as soon as I got out the stage, the
people I can forget what they're called, who have to
do the drug testing okay, came over and no one
told me that I could tell them I can wait,
and so they were like, hey, we need you to
do the drug testing, and so I was like trying
to leave, but I was like, okay, I have to
do this. So I go back to do the drug testing.
And it was the worst decision because I couldn't go
to the bathroom. I didn't have to use the bathroom.
(25:26):
And I end up spending the rest of the finals
from forty one all the way until Heavyweight in the
back small little cubicle room watching on a TV because
I couldn't go to the bathroom. I'm like, and I
hadn't hugged my parents yet.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
I was so upset.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
What was it like those first initial moments when you
did see them.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
Man, it's hard to describe just because you know all
the work that they put in and taking you to
kids clubs tournaments from the very start. No one in
my family had wrestled before, and so it was truly
a special thing to see, like, you know, me and
my dad trying to learn wrestling together and so they
had been there through the thick and thin and so
and seeing all the other people from you know, my teammates,
(26:08):
my parents, their parents that had helped me along.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
The way, and you know, it was it was a
joyful moment.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
I'll say that how did you get involved in wrestling?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
A flyer? A school flyer?
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Really?
Speaker 4 (26:21):
How old were you?
Speaker 5 (26:22):
I was six years old, super hyperactive where you know,
I was getting fouled out of every basketball game and
kicked out of soccer games just because I was rough
and had a lot of energy, always getting in trouble
at school. And finally someone from the local kids club
in Hutson, Kansas brought home. They gave us a flyer,
and I brought it home, was like, I want to
try this, and so luckily we had some school friends,
(26:45):
the Cottons, that also had it also were already in wrestling,
and so jumped in it and was terrible at first,
but somehow I loved it.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
I got pinned a lot.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
The flyer at school. I mean, you'll just never know.
I mean you never know.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Uh you know what a flyer is going going to
lead to your national championship trophy and the bracket?
Speaker 3 (27:08):
Where do you keep it?
Speaker 5 (27:10):
I believe all that stuff is at my dad's house.
My dad's house in the basement, you know. He that's
always anytime I ever got a trophy or a metal,
just like, hey, here you go, and he would take it.
So it was, you know, trophies are cool, but it
was never something like I need to be hanging up
for me. It was it was more about the memory.
So he has most of that stuff at his house.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
You've alluded to some of this a little bit.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
But if you had to have a conversation today with
an eighteen year old Kendrick Maple that's getting ready to
go to Norman, Oklahoma and to wrestle, what are you
gonna tell that young kid?
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Oh man, that's tough because honestly, if I I think
I enjoy this, mistakes I made because I wouldn't be
who I am today. You know, I would say, slow
down those little moments a little bit more. Uh, just
I would tell myself the journal a little bit more,
just to kind of provide those memories. It's hard now,
you know, you've had so many years of wrestling to
(28:11):
kind of remember all those small details. I remember, I
was talking to my buddy the other day trying to
remember just some small things back from you know, Hey,
what was you know this guy like or this practice like,
just because all that's kind of a blur now that
I've been you know, coaching so long. But I think,
you know, the big memory still stands strong. You know,
who was there for me when I was down? Who
(28:32):
was there for me when times were good or bad?
And that's the kind of stuff that stick with sticks
with me.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
I'm going to put you in a tight front headlock
right now, all right in the top position. Who's the
best teammate, the best teammate you ever had?
Speaker 4 (28:48):
Oh man, you're gonna get me beat up.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
By Don't let me score here, Kendrick. Don't let me
score here, because I will tell you this. I get
behind you. You're not going anywhere. I mean, I'm to
ride you. Matt reach probably till you and that was points. Yeah,
no choice but to answer this and get out of
this front headline.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
Okay, okay, when I get out, I'm shooting and I'm snaking.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Hey, I'll tell you what I will say this, Kendrick
and La answer the question. When I think about you, Kendrick,
it's one of my favorite sports cliches. It's it's one
of my favorites, and you fit it. Speed never slumps
like your speed. You'd you'd be so deep by my
legs before I had any clue what happened.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
I mean your speed was you could get to legs quick.
I mean like don't blink speed speed speed. So who
was your favorite teammate?
Speaker 4 (29:42):
Favorite teammate? Oh, man, that's tough.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
I'm gonna say it's got to be broken out of
categories I can't pick up.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Okay, that's fair. I'll give you that.
Speaker 5 (29:51):
I think one of the most inspirational teammates I had
was Andrew Howe Man. His first like month end up
being at OU. He transferred from Wisconsin and he had
knee surgery and we're roommates and he had knee surgery.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
The next day.
Speaker 5 (30:09):
I see this guy hobble outside of the backyard. He's
got this full like brayce On. He just got off
ice and he throws a rope around a bungee cord
around the little pole we had outside and just starts
going to town snaps for like an hour and it's
hot outside and I'm like, what are you doing? You
just had surgery, Like you just acl surgery or something,
(30:29):
And man, he became very quickly the guy. I had
to say, you know what, I got to outwork you.
I like, I can't. You've won a national title before,
like obviously you've done something right. I got to try
to do what you do and more. And that might
have been my hardest challenge that year, just out the
work back guy. Because if anyone anyone's ever met Andrew
how they know he is an absolute hammer, so inspirational
(30:53):
it be him. Man. One of the guys I was
close to, obviously was Cody Brewer on our team, and
you know, we were like brothers and he he he
was one of those guys that was with me through
the ups and the downs. We always used to joke
because at Nationals if he lost, he was right before
me I would lose. It was just like a weird
thing where and so there was like two or three
(31:14):
times the nast term where he'd lose and I'd lose,
and I'd blame him, like, man, that was your fault,
you should have got it done so and then I say, lastly,
Josh Durham, He's he was a kid who maybe never
made the lineup maybe once or twice, but he I
mean to this day where we were doing Bible studies
today together and you know he those are the kids
(31:36):
that really bring a team together, and he was that
guy for us.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Do you have a match that stands out It may
have been a win, it maybe maybe it was a loss.
A match that stands out where you learned the most
whatever whatever learning whatever that was that you learned, But
was there a match that really like it was like, wow,
didn't didn't know this?
Speaker 4 (32:00):
Ooh?
Speaker 5 (32:04):
I know one recently? So when I lost that bet
to Keegan, I had to wrestle again. We preach all
the time, you know, so many things for our guys.
We preach, you know, just going that extra mile, doing
your one mores, being locked in a match, staying focused,
(32:24):
being able to go through the tough times right.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
And so I was wrestling and I was.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
I had a couple of really good matches at the
US Open, and then I go against Pat Lugo and
the match he was way stronger than I expected. He
was squeezing my head and shutting everything down. And I
just remember in the middle of the match like saying, like, man,
I've been here before. I preach to the guys like
you got to push these through these moments, because it's
(32:51):
what I tell a lot of our guys who have
really good, high offensive offensive skills, and you get what happens.
Usually the higher offensive skills you got, the more people
start to shut down on you.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
And you kind of have two responses.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
Some guys say, well, if you're not gonna shoot, I
won't do anything, and I don't want to just get
tired and waste my energy. And then there's that next
mindset where it's you know, like you guys like Burroughs
who just say, you know what, you may stop one too,
but you can't stop all of them. I'm gonna keep attacking.
And so that was kind of the it kind of
clicked in my head where like I'm like, you know what,
he's he's strong. I don't want to just sit here
(33:22):
and not do anything. Then I don't want to take
a cop out shot either, and just let him spend
behind me. So I'm gonna stay locked in my stance longer,
and he's going.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
To mess up at some point.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
And he took a step forward, caught his foot and
was able to take him down. And I just remember,
like you know, you say, practice what you preach all
the time. That was one of those things that I
was able to put in practice of what we've been
working on. And so it was still a close match,
but it was a match that, you know, a younger
myself would have lost, just because I would have panicked
and felt like I can't get to a leg and
(33:51):
I either would have stopped wrestling or I would have
just you know, tried to shoot my way out of
it and made a bad mistake, you know, instead of
staying in great position and keep attacking, but in a
good you know, a good position.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
You start at one thirty three, you go up to
one forty one place a couple of times, win the
national title. Then you bump up to one forty nine
and you take eighth place, and that brackets, I mean,
ultimately you took eighth You won a national title.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Drake Howdieschell was in there.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
He won a national title, but that had Jason Sertzis
from Northwestern Freshman.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
He beat Josh Kendig.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
I don't even know if Kindig was you know, I
mean both those guys were not high seeds. I know
that Eric were Allison Michigan took third. You Russell English
from Penn State. He was a great story that year.
I mean that bracket was, like, I don't think many
people had that bracket picked correctly. With that being said,
was it was it difficult being at a returning national champ?
(34:52):
I know you were up aweight, But I talk to
guys that win national titles and they will say it
is different, Like.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
What was it really different?
Speaker 5 (35:01):
I definitely think so. I mean it's and that's something
that like we we have to. I'm glad I experienced
because now I can guide. I can guide when Keegan
won his, Like, hey, this next year is actually going
to be harder, like to start planning for that. I'm
preparing because it definitely you have a target on your back.
Everybody wrestles you different when you're when you're in the champ,
everybody wrestles you thinking it's their big moment and so
(35:22):
you get everybody's best, right, and so you have to
be day and day out focused, you know, going up
with that year, it was it was really tough because
I was trying to gain weight. I remember at National's
we stepped on the scale and it you know, usually
they readjurinate you're way out loud, and so he sees
it and he's like, he looks back up at me
and he looks back down. He's like one forty four
(35:43):
and I'm like, don't say that out loud.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
And so I was a.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Little bit for the day of your national final.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
Yeah, so we right it wait in two or three times,
I weighed forty four, forty five and I think forty
five again.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
So I was the whole year trying to.
Speaker 5 (35:57):
Gain weight, had some some issues with the stomach, so
it was that was more of a distraction for me
than you know, I think the target on my back
that year, and it's it's something that you know, it's
I wish I would have, you know, figured out something
a little sooner with my nutrition to maybe help it out.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
But you know, it was still it was still one
of those years.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
That I learned more than I ever could if I
would have just won another national title. So I learned
more that I'm able to use now coaching than I
think I ever would have.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
Why did you go up to one forty nine?
Speaker 5 (36:29):
So me and are so he was a forty nine
d pounder of the year before. His name was Nick Lester,
and we both in the summer, I think weighed the
exact same, So we were both like one forty five
or something, and I remember I started trying to get
bigger and we were. They were just like, you should switch,
And it started kind of as a joke, and then
they were like, you know, we should do this because
we were confident he could do better below and I
(36:50):
could do better up top. And so it was a
decision we made early on and we committed to it,
and you know, it was one of those things that
you know, it was trying to make our team the
best it was supposed to be. And I think it,
I don't think it. I wouldn't change the thing. It
was one of those things you gotta do what you
gotta do.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
So if you could re wrestle one match in your career,
you get one match back, what match would it be?
Speaker 5 (37:16):
Oh? Man, that's a tough one. I would, I would
that's it is a tough one. Maybe one of the
Steber matches. I never got that match against Steeber, so
that that was that was a tough one for me
because I always really enjoyed wrestling him. He was always
one of he was a guy who would wrestle me back.
You know, he didn't shut.
Speaker 3 (37:36):
You're talking about Logan, I'm assuming.
Speaker 5 (37:38):
Yes, yep, So that was that was one that I
think that could have been really fun if we could
have if I could have had what I knew now
and go back and do it, I think it would
have been a much better match.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
So because we wrestled one time in folk style at the.
Speaker 5 (37:54):
All Star Classic, and then we wrestled a few times
and uh at freestyle, So it's good.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Hunter or Logan stever. Okay, that's that's a good one.
You said you're a football guy, played football. Who's your uh,
who's your favorite football team?
Speaker 4 (38:10):
Football Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Yeah, that's that's not a bad It's not a bad
time to like the Chiefs. Although, uh, yesterday Mahomes I saw,
you know, got got hurt in some capacity.
Speaker 4 (38:20):
So we'll see what He's always got some kind of
ankle injury.
Speaker 5 (38:22):
He's I think I think he starts to bake it now.
He just wants to people to start doubt him more.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
Who was your favorite chief growing up?
Speaker 5 (38:32):
I would say Priest Holmes, but I actually wasn't a
Chiefs fan, and you're double. People say they're gonna say
I Bandwagon, But I was a fan of players and coaches.
Speaker 4 (38:41):
So I was a big Ed Reid fan.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
I was a big uh uh Andy Reid fan actually,
so I would follow all different players. I love defense,
so I would always you know, Ray Lewis and all
those guys. And then because I was never really tied
to a place that was close to me, so you know,
I lived in Indiana for a little bit, and I
didn't really like the Colts too much. I always wanted
to pick a team, but never really felt a connection
(39:03):
to any. So when I moved back here, I was like, Okay,
I'm near the Chiefs. I could actually go to a game.
I'd never been to an NFL game until this year,
and so I went to my first NFL game there,
which awesome. So about five years ago, I was like,
you know what, Big Don Bradley was a Chiefs fan.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
I was like I'm close. You're a Chiefs fan.
Speaker 5 (39:20):
Let's do this. I'm gonna be a on probation Chiefs fan.
And if I can spend five years being a fan
no matter what happens, then I can get off probation.
Speaker 4 (39:29):
I could be a true fan.
Speaker 5 (39:30):
And so this year was my finally final year alpha probation,
and so I'm finally official.
Speaker 3 (39:35):
Nice, that's great.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
I asked you that because I think about I liked
Walter Peyton Farris quarter or running back and night a
Walter Peyton poster.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
Okay, so I'm gonna ask you this, who who posterized you?
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Like who hit something on you that it's a poster
you're getting posterized? And then who did you posterize.
Speaker 3 (40:00):
In football specifically or in wrestling. In wrestling, oh.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
Man, I don't know posterized me? I meaning I got whooped.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Yeah, like like somebody hit like maybe it was just
a great technique or maybe even won the match that
he hit something on you.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
And you're like, I did get ducked.
Speaker 5 (40:18):
I got ducked by Reese Humphrey in freestyle one time,
and I don't know if I've ever been ducked. And
so that was that was impressive, and I think he
danced on me afterwards too, so.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
It was probably yeah, probably, yeah.
Speaker 4 (40:32):
He's a great guy.
Speaker 5 (40:33):
So I think that one was a big shocker because
I was more one of more athletic moves and I
felt like I don't get hit in athletic moves.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
Exactly exactly was a good one.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
I don't know the as posterized moves. I don't know.
That's uh, I'd have to go.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
So, what's the best movie you ever hit on somebody?
Speaker 5 (40:52):
Either ankle pick or a snake? Those are my two
go tos that I really love to hit. So uh,
Me and Brewer used to always joke all the time
about those because I hit him in practice in it.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
And so you got one that stands out in the
match that you just hit perfect?
Speaker 4 (41:07):
Uh, probably a snake.
Speaker 5 (41:08):
I don't know which match, but snakes are kind of
the go to they Keagan likes to call it a
cow or a honey badger, and that's not near.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
What's when you say snake? What is that?
Speaker 5 (41:18):
So a cow catcher or brands or whatever. There's a
bunch of names for there. I'm gonna say talking.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
About you get the front headlock and he whoop, them
over yes, yeah, Wisconsin guy.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
Yeah, you got some Wisconsin over there.
Speaker 5 (41:30):
Cow catcher, catcher, So I would accept cow catcher as
the second tier name for the week. But I'm gonna
say here on this podcast, snake is the factual name
for that move.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Well with with with uh with names of moves coming up.
And you got some Wisconsin guys in that room. You
guys saw buy coffee grinder, I would assume, I mean,
some people call it a head lever, it's a coffee grinder.
Grab the wrist. I mean it sounds great, I mean
better the coffee grider I got. I was doing North
(42:04):
Dakota States and Iowa State yesterday and I went into
the North Dakota State room to talk to Obie Blanc
and Obie brings up. He's like, oh man, I love
what you're talking about. These coffee griders, you know, cracks
me up. And I saw somebody in my periphial villain vision,
you know, on the side, and in my mind I
immediately went to Gavin Drexler is from Wisconsin. Please God
(42:28):
have it be Gavin Drexler, you know, And and sure
enough was Gavin Drexeler.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
I'm like, Davin coffee grider. He's like rider I was.
It was great.
Speaker 2 (42:37):
So a snake I've never I've never heard it called
a snake. Just for you, Kendrick, what are these times
on a broadcast, I'll bump. I'll put that in a snake.
Speaker 5 (42:49):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
Name of the podcast is go on It, Give me
a give me in your career, your go on it
moment back against the wall circumstances for whatever reason not
going your way, you have one that stands out where
you had to really gut check and find something out
about yourself.
Speaker 5 (43:07):
Let's see, I'll actually take it to football in high school.
Speaker 4 (43:12):
I'll take it to that.
Speaker 3 (43:13):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
It was kind of that we were playing this team
and it was I was a young kid, not supposed
to be like right on the edge of starting and
not Saturday.
Speaker 4 (43:22):
I think it was my freshman or sophomore year, probably.
Speaker 5 (43:24):
Sophomore year, and I got I was out there with
on an island with a receiver. I was defense, and
it was one of those things I just kind of
had a nut up because they I knew their pass
and they had to go to was their best receiver,
and I had to kind of go and actually shut
him down. And it was one of those things where
we were we need in the moment, and I got
it done. I got I think I batted that one down.
(43:47):
But I tell you what, because I the very next
play they ran the same thing and it was to
the other side and they actually scored the touchdown.
Speaker 4 (43:54):
So but in that moment, it was when I earned.
Speaker 5 (43:56):
My spot for football. So I was really happy because
after that I was starter.
Speaker 3 (44:00):
So they called you Maple Island. Yeah, Maple Island.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
There on the edge, I saw that your nickname Maple Syrup.
Where who gave you that?
Speaker 5 (44:13):
I don't know who it originally gave me that name.
I'm actually I haven't called that in a while.
Speaker 4 (44:17):
It was more in college. I had someboddies that I
like that.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
I saw it at the bio. I'm like, I mean,
obviously makes sense. I like that, Yeah, exactly, I like that.
Speaker 2 (44:29):
What but before I let you go looking at you know,
you've been You've coached with some great guys. You're at
Purdue Tony Urslin, then you go to you know, Nebraska
with with coach Manning and now obviously with with coach Smith.
What you know, what are some things you took from
those guys individually that that you'll always remember.
Speaker 5 (44:50):
Man, It's like you said, some great guys. That's a
thing I don't take light. Those were some special experiences
for me. I got a coach under Mark Cody two
and I think every one of them I can write
down at the list would go along on stuff I
would pick up and learn from them. You know from
Mark Cody how he was always very constructive with his criticism, right.
(45:11):
He was able to point out the things you need
to work on without you know, hurting any like not
hurting feelings. But he was able to keep the stuff
that didn't matter out of it and just focus on
the exact stuff. And he actually cared for his athletes.
And the same thing with Ursula man he was a
very personable coach. It was one of those times where
he would really encourage that, you know, be the coach
(45:33):
you want to be, you know, be the coach that
you know is let me have an autonomy with that
kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (45:38):
And so he was great. Same thing with Manning.
Speaker 5 (45:41):
Man we had a we had a great staff there
with Snyder and all those guys. And Snyder I call
him Princess because he's he's a little uh prima donna.
But you know, I had a great time and learn
so much from them. Watch how you know Manning would
coach with JB and just being able to study that
relationship was a special thing and how they could bring
the intent and get the most out the guys.
Speaker 4 (46:02):
And then here was coach smith Man.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
It's I'm every day, I got my notepad out just
sitting here because I truly believe he's such a Hall
of fame coach and for me to be able to
study from him every day and to like see how
he's still growing even though he's got twenty plus years coaching,
he's still trying to grow. Ever your day as a coach,
he's constantly reading bucks, he's constantly trying to pick our brains,
(46:25):
and he's not afraid to learn. He's not one of
those coaches that you know, stand over say this is
the way to do it.
Speaker 4 (46:30):
No, he's he's like, he's come up and say, hey,
where did you pick that drill up? How'd you learn that?
Speaker 5 (46:35):
And started really like caring about who we are and
then also knowing that you know, it's such a respectful relationship,
and so man, it's I I'm thankful, I'm blessed to
be where I'm at.
Speaker 3 (46:49):
Christmas time coming up? What is the best Christmas present
that you got when you were a little kid?
Speaker 4 (46:54):
Who best Christmas gift? Ah, that's a tough one. I'll
be a football.
Speaker 5 (47:01):
It sounds plain, Jamee, But man, I got a football,
and I what'd spent hours just throwing it up byby
So I have two sisters.
Speaker 4 (47:07):
So they wouldn't play football with me.
Speaker 5 (47:08):
So I just go in my backyard and play by
myself if the other neighborhood kids went around. So uh,
that was I spent a lot of time with that football.
Speaker 3 (47:17):
It's it's the simple stuff. It's it's like watch a
two year old kid with a balloon.
Speaker 2 (47:21):
Yeah, I mean it's like yeah, I mean, the simple
stuff wins and and that stuff stands the test of time.
Like if football was popular one hundred years ago, I
will promise you in a thousand years it's still gonna
be popular. So football, But it's absolutely last question for you,
Kendrick didn't mean I got I'm gonna give you two more. Actually,
(47:43):
how would you finish this sentence? I believe how would
you finish that?
Speaker 4 (47:49):
I believe we're gonna win national titles here.
Speaker 2 (47:53):
I wouldn't bet against you. You guys are doing a
great job there. Last question, cross country trip. You and
three people that you've never met, dead or alive. Who
are you taking on that cross country trip that I've
never met that you've never met dead or alive, but
(48:15):
you've never met him, you get you get three of them?
Speaker 4 (48:20):
Okay, all right, that's a good one. I'm taking Jesus,
I'm taking.
Speaker 5 (48:30):
Cy Robertson from Duck Dynasty and uh, maybe Muhammad ali.
Speaker 3 (48:38):
At be a fun trip that Dendrick.
Speaker 2 (48:41):
This has been a lot of fun. I just appreciate
the insight. It's just fun to talk to two guys
who had great success in this sport as athletes and
and uh and now what you're doing as a coach,
great program. As you said, you guys are doing a
great job at Missouri. And obviously being from Wisconsin, we
get some of those Gonso guys there, and uh so
I know a lot of people pulling for for Missouri,
(49:04):
but really appreciate it. And uh when I find coach Spates,
I want I'm definitely gonna I'm definitely gonna hear a
couple of songs. But uh, Merry Christmas to you. And
your family, Kendrick and looking forward to crossing paths soon.
Speaker 4 (49:16):
Thank you so much, thanks for having me
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