Episode #214: Interview with Rudy Griffin, Former Alabama Football Player

Rudy Griffin, played for Alabama Football from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, he was the undisputed starter at DT (16 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Pick-6). Before Alabama, he played with Citadel. He currently is the head coach for Bessemer City High School.

Show Notes

Early Life:

-From Hepzibah, Georgia
-He was an ESPN Hometown Hero Award winner at Hepzibah High School
-Played at Citadel (2-year starter)
-Transferred to Alabama in 2003

Alabama:

-What made you choose Alabama?
-Came to Alabama as a walk-on when the program was coming off probation and in disarray
-Alabama was rebuilding under Mike Shula
-results were up and down
-He was redshirted in 2003
-Played on the scout team during spring practice and was awarded a scholarship
-Won the Billy Neighbors Most Improved Defensive Lineman Award in the spring
-In 2004, he started 10 of 12 games (17 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 fumble recovery)
-2004 Academic All-SEC
-In 2005, he was the undisputed starter at DT (16 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Pick-6)
-2005 SEC Player of the Week against Mississippi State
-Had a Pick-6 vs Mississippi State
-Coached by legendary defensive coordinator Joe Kines
-Coached by arguably the top strength and conditioning coach in the country, Ben Pollard
-Part of a star-studded defense: Mark Anderson, Demeco Ryans, Freddie Roach, Charlie Peprah, Wallace Gilberry, Roman Harper, and Simeon Castille
-Alabama defense was ranked No.1 in the country in total defense
-Received a call from Rudy Ruettiger before a game

Post-Alabama:

-Served as linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator at Idaho State University
-Served as quality control and recruiting coordinator at Washington State University
-Served as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Demopolis High School (Alabama)
-Served as defensive line and strength & conditioning coach at Wayne County High School (Georgia)
-Served as defensive line and strength & conditioning coach at Dakota State (South Dakota)
-Served as defensive coordinator and strength & conditioning coach at Navarro College (Texas)
-Served as defensive coordinator and school district community relations coordinator at Hewitt-Trussville High School (Alabama)
-Served as defensive line coach at East Central Community College (Mississippi)

Hewitt-Trussville:

-Hewitt-Trussville High School was always a good football school. However, during your tenure, the teams you produced reached heights the school hasn’t seen before. They ascended to being elite.
-You led them to 5 straight playoff appearances
-You reached the Class 7A State Quarterfinals 3 out of 5 seasons
-Produced 15 NCAA Division I Scholarship signees
-Produced 18 All-State selections in those 5 seasons. Your teams during those seasons produced more All-State selections than any previous coaching regime in the school’s 90+ year history. Tell me what these accomplishments mean to you and how you reached this level.

Bessemer City High School:

-Shortly after leaving East Central Community College, Rush Propst brought you on as defensive line coach of USA Academy; Alabama’s equivalent of IMG Academy.
-A unique opportunity presented itself for you with Bessemer City High School. Former Alabama quarterback and legend Andrew Zow left for another school. The position of head coach for the Tigers was available. What led you to accept this position?

Poll Question

Which is your favorite wholesale warehouse club to shop at?
Sam’s Club- 60%, Costco- 35%, BJ’s- 5%
Justin Riley: Costco
Rudy Griffin: Costco
https://twitter.com/thesportscast1/status/1271041154906230785?s=21

Who will succeed in the #NFL, Dwayne Haskins or Jalen Hurts? #Bama #rolltide
Dwayne Haskins- 29.4%, Jalen Hurts- 70.6%
Justin Riley: Hurts
Rudy Griffin: Hurts

Transcript

Santiago Leon
Sports cast June 2020 if you haven’t yet, please subscribe on all our channels YouTube, Periscope and iTunes. And if you’re an iTunes, please leave a rating and review it will help us out tremendously. And visit us on the sports cast dotnet the sports cast dotnet This episode is brought to you by Insta Bible app you can get the Insta Bible app via the iOS App Store. Today we have another back to back special episode but before we introduce this guest, we got Justin Riley on the line all the way from Mississippi

Justin Riley
all the way from Mississippi but Alabama was in my heart for sure. Glad to be here plant pulling double duty this way talk in more Alabama.

Santiago Leon
And more about Alabama some breaking news today which is broken. But when the news broke on Td alabama.com that three more players tested positive for Coronavirus leaving it to a total of eight. Justin, what have you heard?

Justin Riley
Same thing you have no nothing more released other than you know that it’s been discovered. You know, it’s kind of to be expected, you know, as everybody starts to gather back again and things are opening up like crazy. it’s to be expected but I have no doubt that it will be controlled and everybody’s gonna be all right and we’ll get back to normal pretty soon.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, the Crimson Tide coaching medical staff will continue to keep players quarantine and try to manage the situation as best as possible. The good news is all eight cases were asymptomatic, meaning that infected players are less likely to pass on the virus. Also, in the second round of testing, the University was able to control things a lot better. So Alabama, one of the biggest schools and college football Ball, which a lot of people are looking up to our managing well so far. Anyway, Justin, What is today’s entree?

Justin Riley
Today’s entree? Well first, let me give another shout out again to the farm folks at ramaa jammas. You look if you’re looking for a great tradition to go with alabama football, that’s the place to go visit. They’re conveniently located right by the stadium get one of those fried green tomato bill tees. I definitely want one. But if you’re in town swing by season out of season, they’ll be glad to see you. That sounds

Santiago Leon
like Furman sees a little bit from Pittsburgh

Justin Riley
ramaa jam was has a better tradition. Okay.

Santiago Leon
Okay, who was our special guest? special guests.

Justin Riley
I mean, I’m really excited about this, because this is one of my boys from back when I was at Alabama. He the ESPN hometown hero award winner, the Billy neighbors most improved defensive lineman award winner, the 2004 and 2500 Academic all sec 2005 sec Player of the Week against Mississippi State had a big six. Man I remember like it was yesterday 2006 Cabo Catan he was also on the coaching staff or democritus high school that went to five A state championship. And he’s just became the new tacos a better city. Hi. Welcome in my friend Rudy Griffin.

Rudy Griffin
Hey, man, thank you, man. Glad to man glad to be glad to be on here, man. And, man, it’s good to talk to you man. Long time no talk, man. I guess

Justin Riley
it has been way too long man. But even though it had been talking, I haven’t followed you along and I’ve been seeing how guys and blessing you man. It’s just a tremendous blessing, you know, for me to be able to see that and just see how he’s using you. And just the doors has been open to man. It’s just incredible.

Rudy Griffin
And I appreciate that man is it has it’s been it’s been a blessing man. And you know, I’ve you know, I’ve kind of stayed to Course man and hopefully continue to continue to do God’s work and continue to get blessed man.

Santiago Leon
Rudy, can you tell us welcome to the show by the way? Tell us a brief bio of yourself.

Rudy Griffin
Oh, wow. Whoa. I of course everybody know I played a university Alabama was two years started there on the nation’s number one defense for 2005 to 2000 in May 2004 to 2005 when we won a Cotton Bowl finished and finished in the top top five in the country as a team but my career didn’t start there. My career started at Citadel which was a Military College in Charleston South Carolina. I had dreams and aspirations to to go play you know full body University Alabama and now is my you know, childhood dream but Man, like a lot of kids, when I wasn’t blessed with a lot of size and speed, had had zero had actually had negative stars and stars. And I was in the negative and far as ranking wise, but was blessed with the opportunity to go play at Citadel and really chose the Citadel which is my only offer. But in my mind, I felt like it was the best thing because two reasons one, the head coach at the time, that was the head coach at the Citadel was coached by Guy by name of coach Ellis Johnson, who, who was previously the previous year was that the before I signed was the defense coordinator, university Alabama. And so in my mind if I couldn’t go play at university Alabama and I could sit up in the Crimson Tide Crimson jersey, you know if I can go play for Coach Ellis Johnson, coastal Alabama, who won championships, their championships there, I felt like I had, you know, I’ve done that I was I was playing in Alabama and so I’ll in second reason lives I kill the Citadel is I wanted to be a millet I wanted to be in the military Yeah, I wanted to be a military officer my dad my dad who was was very very inspirational in my life and was kind of my is my role model he was a he was in the military for for we begun the military were to call it lifers, but he was in there for until we retire. I want to be a military officer. And so that’s kind of two reasons why I chose there. And I went there to the Citadel was a two year starter there. And I got to my sophomore year, and you know, that each stage came back man, I felt like I you know, I think it was like felt like it was an hour never if either I’m gonna go play University Alabama and follow my passion and my heart and my journey. Or I’m gonna say, you know, just stick where I’m at and you know, with the comfortable, you know, stuff that out you know, I was used to and but so I prayed about I talked to my family, my mom, my dad and my sister. And I said, we’re gonna we’re gonna move we’re gonna make a move I told me to move when I moved, and I want to talk to coach Johnson and Tony about one of the I want to transfer to us, Alabama, it isn’t going well, honestly. You know, you talk, you talk about a two year starter going by to go into his third year as a starter. And that’s trying to leave and transfer. And, you know, back then back in 2000, early 2000 because it was 2001 you know, people really have been transferred that much. And so I, you know, I told them I wanted to transfer and he said, Rudy, no, not transfer, you’re not leaving, you know, and, you know, he was reluctant to do that and kind of went back and forth on that and, and he eventually gave me my letter release. And, and, you know, getting my late and then I had to figure out where to go. Saw, you know, I went and I told my dad I said, Let’s go this ride Tuscaloosa, and see if I can, you know, get on the team. And of course, I didn’t know how the process worked at all, you know, I cuz I didn’t talk to a coach or anything. And so me my family we left, you know, Augusta, Georgia, which is my home, left Augusta, Georgia and drove all the way to Tuscaloosa. me my dad and my sister got there to the football facility. And I had my old my VHS tapes. And I have my v no highlight tapes from the Citadel and I walked in there and I talked to Secretary and I said, Hey, hey, I’m Rudy Griffin. I play football. And I’m trying to walk on here and transfer here to play here at university Alabama. And I said, Well, sir, Secretary said, Well, sir, there everybody’s gonna meet in here. And, you know, if you just leave your tapes, then you know, they’ll call you and get back in touch with you. And I said, Well, I have to wait until a certain sign. It’s gonna be it’s gonna be a long time. There. In order in recruiting meetings and all this stuff, other stuff, I saw my waiting. So me and my dad and my sister, you know, sat down and we waited, man. I mean, it was a long time. I mean, a really long time. I mean, we I think we got there like, eight o’clock in the morning, we sat, we sat there in the lobby to about leaves about 130 and 132 o’clock in. A coach finally walks out guy by the name of coach, Coach Randy Ross, who was the director of football operations. And he says, she says, hear her you want to walk on here? Got your tapes, and we’ll be in touch with Jeff that coaching. Can y’all watch him and tell me what you think? And he looked at me said, you know, we were busy. We got last time I said, coach, I don’t mind if I’ve been here eight o’clock. It’s a it’s gonna be a while until he takes the tape and and I said, he goes back there and he you know, it’s another four or five hours. You know, you’re still sitting there lobby and then you You know, he walked back out him and coach Randy Ralston and the defensive line coach was, were defensive. And coach, Coach, Paul Randolph walks out. And he said, and we watch the tape, and we think he can play and we probably want to invite you to the, you know, the 105, you know, which was, I guess the number that you can allow that, you know, to, you know, bring in the camp on the practice, summer camp. And so, I mean, I was fired up, you know, I was the opportunity and so I got there and I know got back you know, went back home and I came back for for camp for for fall camp started practicing was, uh, you know, did that whole year as a as a red shirt? racer Jr. Walk on, you know, no scholarship and knows is everything which think life of a walk on was, you know, you did all the dirty work. You know, I was, you know, practice, you know, practice player doing all that stuff on a walk on stuff, and did that and the good thing about it And I didn’t take it for granted, man I, I was happy and blessed us to be out there but I didn’t, I didn’t just relish just being out there, you know, went hard and won all the awards. But, you know, after the season, you know, came over, you know, you know, my, you know, my family, I didn’t come from a whole lot of money. And you know, I couldn’t afford school. You know, I left the full ride athletic scholarship at the Citadel, you know, was paying for school at University of Alabama and, and, you know, I couldn’t afford it, you know, so I, I went and sat down to meet and have a meet with Coach Shula, who was the head coach at the time Mike Shula and coach Randy Ross again, and I said, uh, coaches just want to you know, sit down and meet with you let you know, x if there’s any opportunity that I can earn a scholarship and he said, uh, you know, he put the board back, you know, our scholarships on there and they gave me the whole you know, whole spiel that you know, a Rudy you know, yeah, scholarship, you know, all this stuff reduction and, you know, we got so many numbers and and, and All that stuff. So we’re not we’re not gonna be able to do that really, you know, and I told him, I said, well, coaches want to thank you, you know, for a great opportunity that you gave me, man, you took a young boy who was childhood dream, it was a play for universe Alabama, and I did that I didn’t get in the game or anything. I just practiced re-assured, and I appreciate that. And I said, but I’m gonna have to withdraw because I can’t afford you know, school. And so and so they, you know, got up and you know, I shook their hand, they shook my hand. And they say, Rudy, you know, we thought you did a great job, but you want to practice Player of the Year, you know, and scouting player year and all that stuff. He did a great job, but you know, the same thing we can do to help you let me know. So man, I know I left the office and I went and went to my dorm room. My dad came back up and we packed up my dorm room and we went back to Augusta. And to kind of figure out a game plan what he’s gonna do now this was, you know, this was after the, after the first semester, so that was around, you know, you know, the holidays round December and I’m sitting there and house, you know, trying to figure out you know where I’m gonna go, you know, next, you know, cuz I left the waves I left waterway from a scholarship at Citadel and you know now I don’t know where I’m going to go. And so it gets it’s about a few days for Christmas, and I get a phone call. My phone’s ringing I was calling me from this number right here is Miami number. And so I pick it up. And he said, Hey, Rudy, what are you doing? I said, I’m just sitting here. I didn’t recognize the voice at first. So I was going on coaches called Shula. It’s a route I’m just checking in on I see what you’re doing. I said, Oh, yeah, coach him just, you know, get out figure out what I’m gonna do. And he says, Hey, Rudy, we we normally don’t normally don’t do this. I just want to give you the Christmas present. And Tate it we’re gonna give you all fuel for a full athletic scholarship, full ride scholarship to the University of Alabama. He said he You earned it. And now what we can’t do, Rudy is that we can’t, we ain’t we’re not gonna be able to announce it publicly. Because we normally don’t scholarship a kid. After one semester, you normally have to go 123 years but you earned it you came in for one semester to prove that you can play at this level. And so they scholarship and of course, I would like to say I went on to be a two year starter there at Alabama and and the funniest thing one of the biggest gains was my senior year, I think we was you know, we was on that run and just gonna remember this, who’s on that man on that championship run and, and, you know, was nice to know, and I was playing Mississippi State in Starkville. And we, of course, it was a tight game and kind of back and forth. And we get in there and you know, I’m out there on defense plan nose guard, and the quarterback drops back to Pass in a sub screenplay. And I mean, I read it man kind of did all my reads like I was posed to, you know, read, you know, read a guard and I getting this hit. pocket and the quarterback throws the ball and I’ve been quiet like yours like it’s meant to be. I catch it interception and I take it in I go score you know I go score man and the touchdown and email man it was unbelievable man unbelievable experience. But after the game you know I’m doing the media stuff you know with the media press and all that stuff about you know about the interception and scoring a touchdown as a defensive lineman and somebody comes to our locker room. This is a Rudy got a visitor here. I said no, no, nobody in and start. And so I goes outside. And what do you know, it’s my own football coach, Coach Ellis Johnson. He was the who was now the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. And he came and gave me a big hug him and his wife and came in big hug and just told me that he was proud of me, man, and man, I was a huge, a huge, huge honor man far as in my planning career. They are managed this kind of thing. icing on the cake man to kind of go full circle with Coach Johnson who are still in a relationship with now man for his friendship and he’s kind of my mentor to me in the profession. But far as coaching coaching wise I’ve been coaching men all over really, you know, I’ve coached high school football here in the state want to stay Championship at the mop list in 2009, with me and coach kasi, who’s who was the head coach, and and left there and went, coached at a Washington State University out there in the PAC 12 was there with some some former Alabama guys coach Chris ball. coach Dave Unger was on the staff there and then I left Washington State and took a coaching job at Idaho State and Idaho where another Alabama guy me and him was worked there together as a guy by name is Todd Bates, who’s not a decent line coach at Clemson, we work we work there together and While I left Idaho State and took a defensive job there at Navarro Junior College in Texas, from Navarro from the borrowing from the borrow to Birmingham Southern from Birmingham. So then I took a defensive coordinator job but he would trestle high school while I was there for a few years, and then East Central Community College, and then from essential Community College to where I’m at now at Bessemer. City High School. I forgot I did forget one place. I forgot. My very first coaching job was at South Dakota State in a very, very, very, very, very, very cold place that

Justin Riley
you like to go home. Yeah.

Rudy Griffin
It seems like

Justin Riley
now, because yes,

Santiago Leon
the coal loves

Rudy Griffin
exactly the code. The code loves me and I close it every cold place that you could think of it. It was a no I’m a southern I’ma say On boarded that went out there and had to get back to the hot states

Justin Riley
don’t blame me and definitely the Southern Cooking.

Rudy Griffin
Oh man, like Rama jam was out. No doubt. Well, Rama Jama.

Santiago Leon
What’s your favorite dish from average? jammas

Rudy Griffin
man I love on any any breakfast item from there, man. But

Justin Riley
did you ever conquer the national championship BLT

Rudy Griffin
plenty times.

Justin Riley
Oh, that’s what I’m talking about

Santiago Leon
easy money.

Justin Riley
Although, I want to kind of go back a little bit, you know, back at our time in Alabama, you know, for the modern day fan, and even the modern day Alabama fans. They have a different view now of what we experienced back at that time. It was a pretty interesting time. A lot of people have forgotten about it. And those of us that went through a definitely appreciate the good years. You know, we were a program that was an incomplete disarray. We had we were going on our fourth coach when I was there before you got there. I went through four coaches in four years and one of those coaches was there probably 20 minutes before coach Shula got hired. Yeah, but yeah, you came into a situation where it just wasn’t ideal. And I felt like at the Alabama kind of lost its way and they’re working with you guys. You know, the red shirts and the wall calls and I just saw something special from you guys, you and Wallace Gill berry especially. I just felt like there was a hunger there and your group that wasn’t necessarily there from the the upperclassmen. I felt like they forgot what it meant to play for Alabama. And I remember one day, I’m not sure if he were around or not, but Cornelius wore them was sitting there just he was really disappointed about the way things were going and you know, back in the weight room Then we had across all the walls all the former all Americans and former award winners from Alabama. And he’s looking at all that he said, Man, why don’t we have that anymore? I don’t understand what’s happened to us. I felt like an add to that point you and the rest of the guys in your class just kind of took it upon yourselves to be that change that Alabama needed. You know, I was I was in there 430 in the morning with you guys. I mean, it was tough getting out of bed. But you over the big the biggest smile on your face, no matter what was going on. having a great time, but yet they’re just still loving Merlin. Yes. There’s an unrelenting focus in your eyes. And I was like, This guy gets it. But at what point in your mind you feel like we started being Alabama again?

Rudy Griffin
Well, I think it was, you know, and man, it was like you said, Man, it was tough times, man. And, you know, you had it, you had a coach that that deserved this. And, you know, thought the grass was greener and took a job in the big 12 and found out the grass one greener then you had, you know, coach, price wise thought would have been very successful there, you know, just you know, he did his deal and everybody knows that. I’m not gonna go and all that in then, but I thought Shula was the right hire for the time. Because, you know, losing this array we needed we needed somebody that was, you know, a Bama guy that, you know, that get that got it. And I thought I thought once things kind of settle down after you know, he was first year. I thought, especially that 2004 season, I thought that’s kind of that was kind of the starting point. because believe it or not, man, we would joke all the time. We thought that our scout tables, I scout team could play Nancy Because we had on our scout team we had Todd Bates who’s on the scout team because he’s redshirt next year. Todd Bates. Wallace Gill Berry, myself. corneas were them. You mentioned him. He was redshirting because he had got a medical or something. Yeah. He’s redshirted her. Yeah. So we had a bunch of starters on that scout team and we kind of came together you know, just with that group in the 2003 season, and then that 2004 season I think that was kind of where we kind of just put it to ourself and just kind of you know, started going man and in 2005 that came to a head You know, I fell in everybody in that whole era understands that, you know, yes, we have some key injuries man, you know, one band title and throw throw. If you don’t get hurt, it’s a different story. I think that we bring we’d be we kind of bring that that national championship, I think, or at least play for it. Well, it’s been a it’s been a great ride now. Man what Nick Saban and those guys have done man it’s man it’s not even finished. Nobody could have pictured that.

Santiago Leon
I haven’t closed Rudy How was the recruiting department? Back net I mean um back then was the class pretty good and like the like the recruiting rankings But how was it back then

Rudy Griffin
man we man we joke man about all these things man we felt like three stars and unranked guy and you know all of us we felt like and so defensively man that’s that’s what gave us a chip on our shoulder it’s because we felt like we was a bunch of overlooked guys and if you look at it man that defense went on man we had a bunch of guys win Super Bowls and play a long time in the NFL and and done really, really great for themselves professionally. But recruiting wise man we feel that we you know, and I think that that’s something I think coach cons kind of play to to be as weird as a bunch of guys that were just overlooked. And guys Do we didn’t really respect this because you know we would maybe when fascist call us whatever, but it’s not like a as a day, man. I mean, you know, we don’t get the number, right it’s not that they’re like the recruits. But we outplayed we just outplayed people because we wanted it more and we worked harder and we believed

Justin Riley
you know, and you mentioned that defense man, that was one heck of a defense. Right number one in the country total defense and in case they might forgotten, let me read out the names that were on that defense yourself. Mark Anderson, who runs Freddie Roach is now a coach Alabama, Charlie PEPRA. won a Super Bowl. Wallace Gill Berry, Roman Harper and Simeon Castiel. Just to name a few. Man Those are some dudes. I mean, yo, oh, yeah, this squad. Oh, yeah.

Rudy Griffin
Oh yeah. Randy Robison Why do you Why would you want to well on a play forever in a CFL. One one a Grey Cup was a player of the year. There are many We have and I want to forget nobody but we all my all my brothers know I love them and that group was a special group man and we we all came together man and believed it and they’re like we play with a chip on our shoulder in America like that we you know, and we will what the coach what Coach kind really instilled in us is this is that and we believe demand we do our job. Just do our job, one job, whatever it is. We don’t win and we don’t be successful man and we bought into it man wholeheartedly. And so that’s something that you know, attached to nose, diagnose Cutler coast count in the defensive staff their mandate. We all believe in it.

Santiago Leon
You guys

Justin Riley
do want to?

Santiago Leon
Yeah,

Justin Riley
sorry. I gotta bring this up before we forget. And this is something we definitely cannot forget. You know, sticking with your years Alabama. Well, a lot of people may not No, of course. You are the modern day version of you know, the famous radio Notre Dame. Well, people don’t know was you got a phone call from Rudy ruettiger can you tell us a little bit about that?

Rudy Griffin
Man I did, man it was, you know, Rudy, and I say the other Rudy, not the rarity. But the

Justin Riley
other brother.

Rudy Griffin
He, his his story was motivated me, man and, man, I used to watch that thing. Every day in my room, my college roommate should tell you that and that’s no lie. I will watch that thing every night. You know, before I go to bed just to hear your story, and how he let you know overcame every obstacle. And you know, didn’t make any excuses about it. But I did and somehow somehow the media caught wind of it. My my first year starting there at 2004 I was getting ready to play University of Arkansas and I’m walking off the field and You know, you’re doing the media stuff. And one of the media personnel comes to us, hey, we got to get somebody on the phone, I want to talk to you. So I’m okay. And I pick up the phone and answer it. And it’s a router, a router, this is Rudy ruettiger Oh, man, it was, it was it was very, very unexpected and curse me him had a conversation there and it was cousins broadcast live on ESPN and on game day and all that stuff. But since then, we meet him still had you know, we had a relationship for a while afterwards and of course he would he would, you know, text me and you know, send little motivational stuff and, and but yeah, you know, I still watch this doctor Actually, I still watch the movie now. And try to incorporate some of my his his beliefs and to my life and my programs, no coaching.

Santiago Leon
Still with that, you know, like that, will we still want the best, um, transition into your post Alabama days. Actually, before we got into coaching, was there a chance for you go to pro Why it? Um, yeah, like like, like the whole process like, like the whole process with that after Alabama

Rudy Griffin
well after after Alabama course I would love I wanted to play professionally. It didn’t work out I you know, I had no few tryouts, you know, a couple of trials Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins just cup of trials you know, because I didn’t make team or anything like that. But honestly, I was I never pictured myself playing in the NFL. You know, I wanted to do it you know, once I got there and got on that level, but my whole thing as a kid and even when I got there was to play University Alabama, and you know, run out of that tunnel at Bryant, Denny Stadium, you know how my dad and my family and you know, see me decked out and don’t adorn and crimson and even though that was my whole as a kid, and so I never envisioned myself playing in sale. Not close once I got there. You know, I wanted to do it, but I wasn’t hurt at all that I Didn’t, because I felt like I accomplished everything that I set out to do as a player. And, you know, so once I finished playing I, you know, jump straight into coaching.

Santiago Leon
Yeah. And how was the whole transition from playing to coaching was a whole different level that you’ve never thought would be, but how was that experience like the first couple years?

Rudy Griffin
When I, it was, it was different. But you know, I had, I had already mentioned that to my coaches when I was there at Alabama that I wanted to coach. And, you know, one coach in particular, I mentioned it to coach who’s our secondary coach, Coach, Chris ball. And I tell him, I say, you know, once I finish playing, I would love to coach and he said, Well, you know, I think you’d be a good one and let me know you know, whenever you you know, get out of doing it, we’ll you know, stay in touch or whatnot. And so, it wasn’t too too big of a transition because I was kind of a Kind of a coach as a player, you know, because again, I had to do stuff, you know, to play to my skill set, you know, because I wasn’t like some of those guys athletically and I’m just being just being honest. But, you know, and I mentioned coach ball, because he’s been a mentor to me too, as well coach Chris ball and, and, you know, he actually he actually hired me and gave me my first, I guess, job in college. Because he hired me at Washington State. He hired me there at Washington State University when he was there. And so he was he’s kind of been influential of mine and my coaching path and coaching direction to as well. Coach ball, who’s not a head coach in northern Arizona, by the way, well,

Justin Riley
all along. You’ve obviously you know, since I was there with you, too, had some great coaches around you that really just made a big difference in your life and then also, now your coaching career. You already mentioned his name Several times and it’s a guy that I love. And it was Joe cons. But not only Joe cons, but you also have served as a strength conditioning coach at several schools, you had the opportunity to work with as a player, arguably the top strength conditioning coach in the country. And Coach Ben Pollard. And I’ll argue that fact with anyone I don’t think anyone was older than him. Oh, what aspects from Coach Khan and then coach Pollard. And then coach ball Did you bring into your coaching style?

Rudy Griffin
Well, a lot of those guys were honestly all those guys. And I took a lot of stuff from my position coach to man who I think, you know, arguably is one of the best defense coaches out there. Coach, buddy, why, and, you know, he helped, you know, he has mentioned he mentored me too, just from playing the position. And, you know, one of the things he told me to is, is having a relationship with the players, you know, because it wasn’t, you know, wasn’t all Bought ball with him which I know he knows a lot of ball and knows a lot of football and extra nose and all that stuff but he had a relationship. You know he would joke and jive and you know, make a shirt let us know that listen, it’s not just about the game and buy something I took from Coach buddy Wyatt, who was my position coach who I think now is the D line coach of Kansas. But we had a bunch of good strength coaches, man, we had coach Coach Pollard. And Coach I can’t remember his name the problem started blank. They lost strength coach followed him. I remember hearing a second way away we had a bunch of them and all those guys i’ve i’ve talked a little piece there. And one thing about myself is, you know, I’ve you know, I’ve created some stuff myself, but the majority of stuff that I’ve got, I’ve kind of took a hodgepodge as all the other coaches that I’ve been, you know, I’ve been impacted with and they’ve, they’ve had they’ve helped me just with my career, you know, Coach Shula and Coach Collins and my coast coach Randolph and coach buddy wyrick and coach ball all of them honestly, and, and I just been blessed to be around a bunch of good a good group of guys, as far as I know, plan also even coaching Coach Tom Causey who’s whose head coach at Pelham high school that I that we want to play Championship at the mapless high school but I took a lot of stuff from them too. So, I just been blessed man to be around a bunch of a bunch of great coaches and great people and, and, you know, there’s really kind of poured into me coach Ellis Johnson forgetting him because you know, so, you know, and all the other coaches that I’ve been impacted with man I’m forgetting the name.

Santiago Leon
Rudy, how was he? So now you’re you’re coaching High School How is that like compared to coaching to college?

Rudy Griffin
It’s a different it’s a different you know, cuz that I’ve got a chance. I’ve been blessed to be able to coach At all levels, far as the division one level, junior college level, the division, even division three. And the difference is this is that, you know, when you’re coaching college when you’re coaching your coaches in the elitist meaning that you’re coaching, you know, the elite football players, you know, so those guys, we talked about coaching and teaching makes it a lot easier to implement your stuff because those guys can do what you want to do in high school is a little bit different. And because a lot of the guys actually the majority of the guys on your team are not gonna play football after high school. And so your plan schematically has to adjust to what your players can do. And I think some of the best coaches in the country or in the world, I think, at the high school level, because you can’t recruit a go out and get the stuff that you need. You got to be able to adjust and go on the fly man and I really do I really do believe that Matter of fact, I know that the best High School for the best coaches in the country high school coaches.

Justin Riley
I want to go back a little bit with your time and he would. That’s when I kind of got reconnected with you. But, you know, before you were there, of course you would trust Phil was known as a pretty good football school. But during your tenure there, man, what an amazing tenure you just gonna read off a couple times. You know, you let him the five straight playoff appearances three out of those five season the class seven a state quarterfinals. You know y’all went from being just a good football school to being an elite school. you produce 15 NCAA Division One scholarship signings, and he produced 18 Allstate selections and those five seasons. He’s amazing. You know your teams during those. Those seasons produce more Allstate selections than any previous Coach marzin regime in the schools 90 plus year history. Can you can’t tell me about when that change turn that corner from being just you at trustful to being arguably one of the best teams in the state while you were there.

Rudy Griffin
I want to I want to first give You thanks man to coach Josh Floyd who gave me the opportunity to be the defensive coordinator there. And I think it was just all of us collectively coming together man and I know that staff that that original staff he would trust when we all came there man, we had a bunch of great coaches. And you know, now guys have gone on to be head coaches, you got coaches in college now, but that original group that came in man it was it was you know, it was a great group man and we turned the corner actually the first year I mean cuz I think nobody predicted everybody projectors to go you know, the last really cuz we all got hired in August. And that 2014 year and you got to go play Seven, eight, you know, the newly formed seven eight football which is a bit higher. classification in the state of Alabama, and we made the playoffs and we continue to do that man, you know, just continue to, you know, the win and and get guys recruited and the buzz just kept going man and and I tell you what man at that those times was fun was really fun and exciting.

Santiago Leon
Rudy obviously you know, being a high school coach, how much do you get questions or you know we have parents or even like your players ask you Hey, can you put in a good word to Alabama or to other college? How often do you get that and how many players that you coach went to Alabama?

Rudy Griffin
Well, I think I think it’s, I think it’s the job of a high school coach to get your players recruited. I mean, if you, you know that those days are those times where, if you’re good, they will find your statement. And that’s don’t exist. Your high school coach your high Scoop coach has to do his due diligence in his work to get you help to help you get recruited. I mean, so that’s my job. And I relish that I mean, that’s one of the things that I take pride in doing and I will call in you can call I will call coaches non stop to get players recruited. And you know, just they’re here Trust me. We had we’ve got I got we see what I think is five guys I got that Alabama right now. Paul Tyson was the quarterback Pierce quick offensive lineman Malika Moore No, it’s only 333 at one time those we have four guys committed in universe Alabama. But there’s three guys right now the university Alabama and many many more guys planned power five football has just had he was for sure.

Justin Riley
That’s awesome. I’m so excited to hear all this. Of course now. You’re a Bessemer ha, you’re replacing the former Alabama legend this Andrew Zell after just one year, so now you’re the head coach. So what’s what’s what’s Lifeline now How is everything changed? Is your team

Rudy Griffin
Well, I tell you what, it’s a think things change because the buck The buck stops and starts with you. And you know and you know, I’ve been I’ve been a life I’ve been a lifelong assistant and I love being assisted. And you know, I wasn’t I wasn’t something I was really passionate and seeking out to be a head football coach because I I enjoy being a defensive coordinator defensive line coach and coach my guys up man, but the opportunity presented itself and and but yeah, it’s uh, you know, that’s fine that learning curve on that because you never really know or what Push back until you actually thrown in that position, but it’s fun oh man we’ve got we’ve got great talent here here best Merman and great people you know and our superintendents been great autumn Jeter and she’s been great. And our athletic director whose co staff is Packer has been great in in our new prints what has been our he’s been he’s been great. He’s been here Mr. Riley. So everybody’s been great here man. And you know, I’m just anxious to get started. But you know, we want to make sure you know, we’ll make sure that we’re safe and doing stuff cautionary that you know, we want to keep the kids safe and then you know, coaches and in our family says,

Santiago Leon
obviously, you’re in an area where the great Bo Jackson is that and of course next door where the great James Winston came from. Can you reveal any talent in your squad has potential for the future

Rudy Griffin
man, we leave I think we got a chance to have to be one of the most recruited high schools in the state of Alabama. The talent is rich here. It is really, really rich here. And what we got to do man just continue to do what we got to do as far as in the classroom and on the football field. And but I think in a couple years time, the country wouldn’t know about Bessemer City High School nationally. And we will have players coming out of here and going all over and, and having helicopters fly in from Nick Saban. And you know, and all of them coming in all brand new you name it, they will be coming here and best wishes high school because talent is rich here. I walked in the door the first time when I took the job, and I saw somebody guide them and they’re standing there standing four to five inches taller than me. And I’m like goodness gracious. And I say we’re recruiting you know, nobody knows nobody’s recruiting me as a godly. And so now they have players here and whenever There’s no there’s no question about it.

Santiago Leon
There’s abundance of the talent. Just one or two more questions.

Justin Riley
Well, I gotta ask, you know, course you know, up until now all the hype, of course is going towards Hoover because I mean, it’s been Hoover and they’ve been the premier school in Alabama for a long time, but getting there and I guess going to these schools that aren’t quite as height or the student or the kids being told thought to about playing in colleges, but I’ve been in some areas where it hasn’t been height as well or I’ve been in areas where I guess it’s lower income and what I found that no one’s really pouring into these youth and make them believe that they’re going to go to college, they’re going to you know, do great things are gonna play football in college or it’s just not talked about. So if you run into any of that,

Rudy Griffin
well, I think I think it’s it’s all about in one of the models out They wanted something a mother taught me is that you got to speak things into existence and guess what you know you never had you never had a guy’s fine and die plan the USA army all American game never and I’m all American guy. Guess what we don’t speak it into existence. And I know a lot of guys think I talk big and you know, thank God just had these, you know these crazy ideas but guess what as a player when I wasn’t recruited the I had zero offers, I was a 207 pounds senior that play defense alive. And I said I looked at my coach and I tell him I want to play a university Alabama, he said the same thing to me. So you got to speak it into existence. And I believe that it’s something that’s in my DNA and that’s what we’re gonna do here at Bessemer City High School. You know, it’s we’re gonna we’re gonna speak it into existence. We’re gonna be we’re gonna be we’re going to be the best high school in the state of Alabama, flowers, plants. football and doing things the right way and become become a national brand. That’s what we’re going to do. And I believe it, I wholeheartedly believe in it. And my coaches, you know, since I’ve been here, my coaches believe that and we’re harping on that we’re, you know, we’re going to do everything in our power to get make sure our kids and our families, you know, give them an opportunity to play that next level.

Santiago Leon
Really, that’s pretty awesome. And that’s the same mindset that I have, you know, speak into existence, have faith had that leap of faith.

Rudy Griffin
Well, amen.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, that

Justin Riley
was that

Santiago Leon
this was needed, right Justin?

Justin Riley
I will say this, you know, a lot of these kids before, haven’t had people who are pouring life into them and telling them that they can be more than, you know, what their area is like are they’re not being told that they’re not gonna be more than what everybody in their family has done generation after generation. And just from personal experience, I’ve spoke with kids like this before, where they they’ve experienced that And I’ve talked to them about college, and that what they’re going to do, what are their plans once they got to high school, where they gonna go, what colleges they looking at? And it’s like, their mind is just blown. Because nobody ever taught them about those things. And they look at me and they’re saying, whoa, you think I’d go to college? I said, Yeah, absolutely. Tell me why you came out. He said, and they say, well, nobody’s ever told me this before. And I want to tie this into I read something about you, that you got into coaching because you felt like God was calling you into ministry by serving as a coach. I think Yeah, going into the coaching game from that aspect. It completely changes the game, because what you go from coaching to get titles, wins. Accolades, so on so forth to your investing in players first, your porn life. into them. you’re breathing life into them. And your point you’re loving them. And that’s the first foremost thing. And I think that that’s not talked about enough. I think that we go we breezed past that. And I think there’s a very important element in success. A couple days ago, we have coach Bill curry legendary coach. He was at Alabama and coached all over the place, won two Super Bowls when he played and, and that was his reason for coaching. That was priority number one, building young men. And Yep, I see that present and you get Can you just kind of, I guess, add to that, and God tell me about the minister you’ve been called to?

Rudy Griffin
Well, I didn’t I didn’t choose this profession, honestly. Care to make a whole lot of money. And I could go do the whole I can go do something else. If I want to get rich and many make a lot of money and get a lot of accolades. And, you know, yeah, I wanted to pour in the kids and which pour into kids and give them and give them hope. You know, I didn’t, I didn’t have a high school coach that poured into me. I didn’t, I didn’t have a high school coach that tried to help me get recruited, my dad did all my recruiting. You know, I didn’t have a high school coach that, you know, that loved me, or had a relationship with me outside of the football field. It was just football. You know, it was a strict disciplinary in my school coach and you know, I didn’t even know anyone you know, nothing I didn’t know nothing to bind or you know nothing about his family and nothing about his wife or anything like that. So, you know, I’ll change that I wanted to change that. I wanted to say Listen, you know, coach can know can coach you home. Can can be strict and and do all that stuff. But guess what we can love you. And I think that a lot of things times that us as coaches and even us as men, and we don’t say that Enough you know to young man so listen man, I love you and oh my god that stated I’ve coached and I’ve, I’ve had a chance to coach a lot of great players, a lot of guys are going to be a great fathers and have great professions and even, I even got a chance to hire one of my former players and allowed him to be able to get his first job in the college coaching. So that was a huge blessing to me to do that, but, you know, unless you tell my guys that I love them and actually see me and my coaches as husbands because, you know, we I hear a lot of times that coaches say they want to teach their kids to be, you know, good husbands, but how can they be a good husband, if they don’t see you interact with your wife, or your spouse? You know, so my family’s gonna be around. That’s kind of everywhere I’ve been, you know, my family’s gonna be there and, you know, we’re gonna, we’re gonna model and interact and do the things and show them how you post to conduct yourself as a young man and They’re gonna know that and they’re gonna know that I truly love them as my family, I believe that and, and help them any way I can and help them, you know, get out of the situation that there are for us getting recruited and showing how to, you know, what they got to do to get out and, you know, even if they don’t want to go play college football to the next the next steps. And I think that, you know, and that’s one of the that’s one of the reasons why I got into it. Really, and, you know, it’s like, it wasn’t, it wasn’t a break the bank, it wasn’t doing this, it had all the accolades or anything like that. I didn’t see it like that. And I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else, honestly. And I know a lot of people have different columns, and I felt like I was really called to, to be a coach.

Santiago Leon
Amen. Wow, that is very powerful. And that produces greatness. I mean, I’m telling you, I think I’m gonna speak this out probably you’re gonna you’re probably See the next Bo Jackson coming out of your high school?

Rudy Griffin
Oh yeah. Amen.

Santiago Leon
He receives it just

Justin Riley
absolutely. Wow.

Santiago Leon
Yeah

Rudy Griffin
I received I received it.

Santiago Leon
There you go. Well, we’re coming to the end of the show. Real quick. Where do you see alabama football right now? Are we at the I mean what what part of the Nick Saban era? ruin?

Rudy Griffin
I bet I don’t listen. What Nick Saban has done not only to the University of Alabama but just to the landscape of college football minute on man is unprecedented man and I mean, he changed the game not only at the collegiate level, even at the high school level, and where he goes from here, I don’t know but it mean you know, I don’t know how much the year long a year she’s gonna coach. And to me it seemed like he’s got he’s got a while and he still has that fire in him. We all see him doing you know, retiring and being an ESPN analyst, but to be the ball coach, but anybody you probably be successful at that if he did that is just the nature of who he is. But man, I tell you what I think Alabama is going I think Alabama’s gonna compete for championships man for and for at least for the next five, five to six years I think

Santiago Leon
just in any any closing word or question?

Justin Riley
Well, I just like everything you just said you know it’s funny is that people want to speak into existence that makes saving is slowing down. Just because we didn’t find it. We didn’t make the playoffs or just because we fell short against Clemson or, or this or that happened here they are now that doesn’t mean that we’re slowing down at all. You can’t will something to be and like you said rare. Yeah. I don’t think he’s slowing down and I Honestly, I don’t see him not not doing anything. I just don’t see him. He’s Go go go, even after he won a national championship each time, he’s already thinking about the recruiting class. He’s already thinking about hitting down running and get getting these new kids in. So I don’t I don’t see that ending anytime soon. I honestly don’t see him retiring until he at least surpasses bears record. But yeah,

Rudy Griffin
yeah, yes. Yeah. Well, yeah.

Justin Riley
And one of the things that I like about Nick Saban, and maybe not a lot of people know about this, and this goes back to us talking about, you know, investing in the young man as he actually has a program where he brings in different levels of executives and people of industry, and they meet with all the players to work with them, and to prepare them for life after football. And then Tommy just speaks volumes because yeah, he really He wants to see them succeed in life. And he’ll and he’ll tell you that and any conversation he has about his players. He’s gonna mention that and it’s a continual thing. So that to me a big deal.

Rudy Griffin
He truly, truly, truly has a relationship what is playing as Nick Saban does Listen, he he coached him hard is all get out and they hold him to a high standard, which a coach should but he truly has a relationship with his players and tries to seek the benefit beyond football for those guys. And you can see that man is evident and, and you can even do that the high school level which is what I I tried to implement everywhere that I go was, you know, give you options and help you and show you love outside of the game of football.

Justin Riley
Alright, well as far as my closing remarks, ready, I just want to say first of all, so glad to be able to reconnect with you and definitely speak To hear on air also to I just want to take this time to also say just how proud I am of you and what you’ve done not only on the field but as a coach and as a man of God you know it just so I worked with you as you know student assistant and your claim you acclaim Wallace and all the other guys and just I see the success y’all have man just fills my heart with pride man just swells up and I couldn’t be any happier for what you’ve done. And I just can’t wait to see what God’s gonna do to you next and especially from the standpoint of what you’re coaching. That just warms my heart. We need more of you out there. And man, just the success is coming. Bessemer city is about to be a household name across the nation.

Rudy Griffin
Hey, man, Hey, man, I truly believe it. And man I I really I really appreciate the opportunity to come on and speak to you guys. And man, I mean anytime, anytime. The gentleman Birmingham, y’all come on by man Come Come catch up Friday night.

Santiago Leon
We will before we go. Are you guys ready for poll questions?

Justin Riley
Go ahead.

Rudy Griffin
Oh yeah, come up,

Santiago Leon
which is which is your favorite wholesale warehouse club to shop at? Costco BJs or Sam’s Club?

Rudy Griffin
Man definitely Costco. Me and my wife go to Costco probably like five times a week. Just

Justin Riley
I gotta say it’s a man that that is the Disney World of host

Rudy Griffin
no doubt.

Justin Riley
I mean, it has literally everything in the entire world is like Amazon storefront almost. Well,

Rudy Griffin
yeah. And then and then back to back to India. You know, when they when you could least sample some of that some of the dishes too. I mean, I would take my kids in there where we went, we would have lunch in Costco.

Santiago Leon
I say all day, all day. Well Sam’s Club is winning by 60% Costco 35 and BJs. Add 1%

Rudy Griffin
now, I don’t know I never heard of BJ No. Well, actually,

Santiago Leon
um, he’s actually here in Florida, so maybe it’s just a Florida thing? I don’t know. I got to figure that one out. But that’s a good question. second poll question of the day who will succeed in the NFL, Dwayne Haskins, or Jalen hertz?

Rudy Griffin
Man Jalen Hurts hands down. easy question.

Santiago Leon
Justin.

Justin Riley
I’m right there with you. Ready? Jalen hertz. There’s something special about Jalen, and I’m gonna I’m gonna defend him until the end just because of,

Santiago Leon
you know, he chose he chose J. He’s, he chose Jalen hertz to win the Heisman. So let’s see how much Hey,

Rudy Griffin
he Jalen hertz, I’m telling you about Jalen hertz. But he he has he has all the intangibles, man, and he’s, you know, he’s a high character guy, man and good stuff happened to good people, man, he’s a good person. And, you know, we don’t have that we don’t have enough of those people like Jalen, that’s playing a game, especially at the concession especially at the professional level. That’s playing again, it could be a role model to these young kids. And man, I’m wishing you much success man and maybe, you know, promote him and, and, you know, maybe he can rise to be some one of the best players in the game. So our kids can, you know, you know, follow his lead.

Justin Riley
You know what he did? nobody’s doing he’s an anomaly because we’re in a generation of, if I don’t get my way, I’m taking my toys and I’m out. No, Jalen sat back, held a clipboard, learns worked on his craft, and got better. And then when when God said it was his time, he bawled I don’t think there’s anyone in the country who had a better work ethic than Jalen hertz and all that don’t carry over to the NFL

Rudy Griffin
deal. Here’s his magic magic. Just imagine this though. You know, he was came in, started freshman sophomore year, sophomore year he got he got benched by, you know, the two and two, you know in the national championship game, you know, after after winning the SEC and all that stuff a year before, and he’s 1819 years old. And after, you know after being benched, and two comes in a win national championship game, and walking off the field after winning that championship game, you’re 18 and 19 years old, and every camera every new station in the country in the world comes and sticks a microphone in your face on the field after you getting benched and the guy wins next championship in what he said after that man is unbelievable. I don’t think myself as an 18 or 19 year old kid could have a like that and no better honestly no better than he did. I mean, he’s the way he responded to me let you know what kind of heart he has, and his heart condition man and that he’s a good person, man. And so I’m wishing him much of the way you gamble that it wasn’t. I mean, you talked a lot about him as a person to me.

Santiago Leon
There you have a Jalen hertz can definitely still show at the sports cast at times. And it did today. With Jalen hertz is winning the poll at 70% to join hackings 29% so it’s definitely Jalen hertz is favorited in the Twitter poll, and you can go on to to our Twitter to vote. Rudy, what is the best way to reach you online?

Rudy Griffin
The best way to reach me online far is probably Facebook, Twitter, Facebook probably the best. But Twitter, Twitter or Facebook.

Santiago Leon
And what is your Twitter handle?

Rudy Griffin
Oh man is coach underscore R. underscore Griffin

Santiago Leon
and Justin, what is the best way to reach you online to talk to you about ramaa? jammas?

Justin Riley
Well,

Rudy Griffin
Rama Jamma,

Justin Riley
that’s it. Hey, I’m hoping they’ll send a couple of burgers and shakes our way I do this yeah, man. We

Santiago Leon
gotta refill. Yeah.

Justin Riley
I actually want to do is, uh, maybe a couple of weekends from now. I’m gonna have to run over there, Rudy, and we’re gonna have to meet up and go take care of this.

Rudy Griffin
Man. No doubt, man. Handle it down. Man spent spent a whole afternoon going through the menu around the gentleman.

Justin Riley
I can do it. I’ll commit a whole day for it for sure. But yeah, I’m on Twitter at Justin Riley seven. I’m also on Instagram. At Justin rally underscore seven. I also will help with the sports cast at the sports cast one. I also want to take this time to remind everybody, our podcast next week next Tuesday, we are going to have former Alabama player legend linebacker Marvin constant. So be sure to tune in for that.

Santiago Leon
And of course you can reach us at the sports cast dotnet the sports cast net for the latest and greatest in sports news. Tomorrow we have Ryan Krista and a special guest who has an insight of the Dallas Mavericks. The NBA is beginning next month on July 31 that all meaning that at the at the worldwide Disney of sports. So it should be pretty exciting to get ourselves ready for the NBA mini season they’re gonna have and on Monday we’ll have Sean from from England he’ll be off on Monday talk about the person the variable versus Anthony Joshua fight. That will happen next year. So it should be pretty exciting times and sports because sports is coming back. This weekend is La Liga next week Premier League. So more sports are coming in. And of course college football is still on for now. And of course the NFL. Anyways guys, Rudy, I really appreciate you coming on to the sports cast. I appreciate Justin to getting Rudy into the sports cast because it’s Rudy’s a hard man to get to

Rudy Griffin
know that I’m not that hard.

Santiago Leon
Well, guys,

Justin Riley
thank you so much, Rudy. Really enjoyed it. And we definitely love to have you back.

Rudy Griffin
Oh, yeah, no doubt. Man, we gotta go.

Santiago Leon
Thank you, Rudy. Appreciate it.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai