Episode #246: Interview w/Marquis Maze, Former Bama Player, & BIG 10/PAC-12 Fall Sports Cancellation Reaction

The Big Ten and the PAC-12 have cancelled the college football this season, and potentially postponed for the Spring. What’s with the SEC? Will they play no matter what

Guest
Marquiz Maze – @mazeboy4

Contributors
Justin Riley @JustinRiley7
Santiago Leon @sleon

College football’s first Power 5 hammer came down Tuesday after the Big Ten announced it was postponing the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns and issues with player safety. The Big Ten is looking at the logistics of a possible spring season, according to commissioner Kevin Warren, who spoke Tuesday with the Big Ten Network.

“One of the things we promised ourselves was this was going to be fluid, day to day situation and we’d be on a perpetual state of observing and gathering information,” Warren said. “The over-arching reason and the over-arching issue we had to always keep at the top of our mind was the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes was at the top of my list.
“Cases are spiking. Deaths, not only in our country but our states where our schools are located. All the decisions we make during my tenure here in the Big Ten will always put our student-athletes in the center. We believe collectively there’s too much uncertainty at this point and time to encourage our athletes to participate in fall sports. These are not professionals. There are amateurs and should participate in a healthy and safe manner.”

Marquis Maze Intro:

-2-Time BCS National Champion
-2-Time SEC Champion
-2010 SEC Special Teams Player of the Week vs Ole Miss
-2011 SEC Player of the Week vs Arkansas
-Member of the Pittsburgh Steelers
-Member of the Arizona Rattlers (Arena Football League)

High School:

-Played at Tarrant High School
-Played QB, RB, WR, KR, and PR
-During 2005 & 2006, he had almost 3K all-purpose yards and over 30 TDs
-3-Star prospect
-Recruited by Alabama, Michigan, and Tennessee
-Originally committed to Michigan

Alabama:

-Member of Nick Saban’s first recruiting class
-Red-shirted in 2007
-Labeled as the fasted player on the team

• • The Saban era was just beginning at Alabama and the landscape was about to change greatly. What was the atmosphere like during those early days and was everyone buying in?
• • What did you learn during your first season as a red-shirt? Who really helped your development?
  -First full season in 2008
  -Alabama, after finishing 7-5 the previous season, was given little to no chance in their season opener vs No. 9 Clemson.
  -They shocked the world and thumped Clemson 34-10
  -Had an amazing one-handed catch that was wiped away due to a false start penalty
• • Approaching the 2008 season, not many were expecting much out of Alabama. As the first game against Clemson drew near, no one was giving us chance. We shocked the world and demolished the Tigers 34-10. In the post-game, Kirk Herbstreit was at a loss for words. Can you guide us through what happened during that off season that led to this big victory?
• • We had quite the WR squad coming into that season: you, Julio Jones, Mike McCoy, and Nikita Stover. What were your goals as a unit and you personally?
  -Alabama shocked the world again against No. 3 Georgia in Athens in the famous “blackout” game.
• • We defeated the No. 3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs 41-30 in Athens in the famous “blackout” game. What kind of formula were you guys putting together that placed Alabama back atop the college football world so early?

-No. 1 Alabama wouldn’t disappoint in their next big contest against No. 16 LSU in Baton Rouge. They defeated the Tigers 27-21 in overtime to capture the SEC Western Division Title for the first time since 1999.

• • It seems that every time the media called you guys out for “prove it” games, Alabama showed up. This was no different in Baton Rouge that season. We won a thriller in overtime 27-21 to capture the SEC West Title. Usually, a team that hasn’t been used to that type of success folds during pressure games. What was different about y’all?
  -Beat Auburn 36-0 in Tuscaloosa
  -First victory against Auburn since 2001
  -Caught one pass from Greg McElroy for a touchdown
• • You closed the magical season with a win against Auburn, who we hadn’t beaten since 2001, and a beautiful touchdown catch on a fade route. What did both of those things mean to you?

Alabama 2009:

-Maze emerged as the “go-to” wide receiver in big situations
-Showed up big in big games; VA Tech, LSU, and Florida
-Killed any chance of an Arkansas comeback with an 80-yard touchdown on a “stop-and-go” route
-Labeled as a game-changer
-Led all WRs with a 16.9 yards per catch average
-Alabama avenged their loss to Florida in the previous SEC Championship Game and throttled the Gators to win their first SEC Championship since 1999
-Maze had 5 catches for 96 yards
-Alabama finished the season undefeated with a win over Texas in the Rose Bowl
-Won their first national championship since 1992

• • Going into the 2009 season, what was the atmosphere like? When did y’all know that this team could win it all?
• • Julio Jones did get a lot of attention, but you emerged as a game-changer, showing up big in key games. What led to you becoming such a big part of that offense in Year 2 of your college career?
• • You were a part of something Alabama hadn’t seen since 1992, a national championship. What did that mean to you and what was your mindset going into that game?

2010 & 2011:

-Continued to develop into an explosive option at WR, PR, KR, RB, and QB
-Became the SEC’s threat in all-purpose yards
-In 2011, it became his show after Julio Jones departed for the NFL
-2011, he had 253 all-purpose yards against Kent State, 165 yards against Arkansas, and 159 against Florida
-Had the big showdown vs LSU in 2011
-Labeled as the game of the century
-Maze went head to head with The Honey Badger
-Neither offense could score
-Threw a pass to Michael Williams that should have been ruled a catch. It would have placed in scoring position at the 1-yard line.

• • You became virtually unstoppable no matter when you were on the field. You reminded us of two other Alabama legends, David Palmer and Freddie Milons. What led to your rise in 2010 & 2011?
• • Finally, in 2011, Julio was in the NFL and it became your offense to run. What was it like to have the focus shift to you as the new leader of the offense?
• • One of the most exciting matchups of 2011 was not only both contests of Alabama vs LSU, but you vs Tyrann “The Honey Badger” Mathieu. You didn’t give in to all the hype. Can you tell us what the matchup was like between the both of you?
  -Alabama lost to LSU in the regular season 9-6 in overtime
  -They wouldn’t lose another game and got into the national title game for a rematch against LSU; which was very controversial
  -Came down to a last second vote by the committee
• • For the second time of your career, you were playing for a national championship. Not only that, but it was a rematch against LSU. What was your mindset going into this game and where does it rank in the championship games you’ve played in?
• You were having a great game. Then, on what appeared to be a punt return for a touchdown, you were injured and would not return. What exactly happened and how hard was it to come out of the game?
• We defeated LSU 21-0 and came away with Alabama’s second title in the Saban era. A lot of people say that was the best team ever in Alabama history. Do you agree with that?

NFL:

• What were scouts telling you leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft?
• What advantages did you feel like you had over other players at your positon in the draft?

-Went undrafted
-Signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers

• Surprisingly, you went undrafted; which is hard to believe considering you were one of the nation’s most electrifying players. What was your mindset going into camp?
• Who invested in you when it came to helping you transition to the next level?
• How did Mike Tomlin compare with Nick Saban?
• What led to your departure from the NFL; especially after there was so much positive buzz about you?

Arena Football League:

-Signed with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League in 2015
-Won the Arena Bowl the previous season

• • I’ve always enjoyed the Arena Football League. This is the type of league that fits well with someone of your skill set. What was your excitement level going in?
• • How was the level of competition?
• • What was your experience like in Arena Football and do you think it has the ability to launch the careers of NFL prospects?

Rapid Fire:

• Who was the tougher coach, Nick Saban or Mike Tomlin?
• Best BBQ spot in Tuscaloosa?
• Who would win a foot race, you or Henry Ruggs?
• What does Marquis Maze look like in a Steve Sarkisian offense with Tua at QB?
• Who wins head to head in AJ McCarron vs Tua Tagovailoa?
• On your Twitter account, it says “Legends never die, mainly because of the legacy you leave behind.” What is your legacy?

Poll Question
What’s the best part of s’mores? #NationalSmoresDay
Chocolate – 58.3%, Marshmello – 25%, Graham Cracker- 16.7 %

Marquis- Graham Cracker
Justin Riley

Stephen: Graham Cracker
https://twitter.com/thesportscast1/status/1292779367546916864

Transcript

Santiago Leon
It’s gonna be crazy, but we’re here live on the sports cast August 11 2020. If you haven’t yet please subscribe and all our channels Periscope, iTunes. But if you’re an iTunes like some people listen to like Justin Riley, go in and give us a rating and review it will help us out tremendously. Of course visit us on the sports cast net you’ll see all the links there are the the latest and greatest and cancellation of weeks whoever thought that says that some conferences will be canceled and college football. But this episode is brought to you by instant Bible advocate download Insta Bible app via the App Store. The big 10 and the PAC 12 have canceled The college football season for them this season and potentially postponed for the spring. What’s up with the SEC will they do their thing? stand their ground. Anyways, joining us all the way from Central Mississippi. Justin Riley, welcome back to the sports cast.

Justin Riley
Hey, glad to be here, man. You signed a not the way that we really anticipated to be.

Santiago Leon
You know, it’s funny. It all started this past weekend when the big 10 was saying no pass for practice. That was a big red flag. Even our contributor Tyler Turner said is going to be canceled. What are your thoughts about the big 10? canceling they announced it today? This afternoon Pac 12 follow because they were because they’re waiting for one conference to cancel so they can’t do they won’t be like the lone birds. But what are your first thoughts when big 10 canceled a big player of the power of five and college football

Justin Riley
Be honest with you, like you and I discussed before my first question is why what happened or what was so detrimental that all of a sudden cause them to stop all operations just didn’t get I had a feeling the PAC 12 was going to make this decision. But honestly, they are waiting on someone else to make the decision. First is I didn’t want to be against the loan. conferences who made that decision, but you kind of had to feel based on the way things were trending out west. It was going to happen the big 10 you still had a little bit of faith that they were going to stick around. Boom, completely changed today.

Santiago Leon
Something that definitely we’ll be looking at closely. Here’s what the Commissioner of the big 10 said today. His name is Kevin Warren. He said he spoke to the big 10 network of all people, a lot of networks. One of the things we promised ourselves, was this going to be fluid data In a situation and we’ll be on a perpetual state of observing and gathering information. The overarching reason and the overarching issue we had to always keep at the top of our mind was the health, safety and wellness of our student athletes was at the top of my list. cases are spiking. The mortality deaths not only in our country, but our states where our schools are located. All the decisions we make during the tenure here in the big 10 will always put our student athletes in the center. We believe collectively, there’s too much uncertainty at this point in time to encourage our athletes to participate in Fall sports. These are not professionals, these are amateurs and should participate in a healthy and safe manner. Or do you thoughts about what Mr. Warren said today?

Justin Riley
Well, I understand everything he’s saying. I get where he’s coming from my first Question is, why weren’t the players allowed to have any say so and what they chose to do what they wanted to do? Seems like their voice was just obsolete. They’re just bypassed and they weren’t really given the opportunity to just truly stage what they wanted. So,

Santiago Leon
but keep in mind that most of the college football players are not in a union there’s no union when it comes to college football sports.

Justin Riley
No, no that but everybody was collectively coming together. As college athletes were calm uniting in one unofficial front saying we understand the risk. We know what’s going on, but we still want to play give us this chance. Let our voice be heard.

Santiago Leon
something to definitely look at the PAC 12 follow through afterwards. Justin Of course they’ve been kind of tilting towards that his past couple weeks. Were you surprised at the PAC 12 and They’re

Justin Riley
not at all just because the way things have been going on out there and I think just there was so much controversy with this player’s union or whatever you want to call it, making their demands won’t be paid one, all these different things be given to them. I just think there was so much controversy and they’re hot spots all over the West. So you just kind of had a feeling that there really was no stability in the season. So Justin, what this

Santiago Leon
this bring for the SEC, of course, SEC is the biggest in my opinion. And I guess like the sportscaster opinion is the biggest conference in college football. I’m like the most talent. I like the most in depth. Do you think the SEC will stick around and play a full season? Maybe with the ACC and and other conferences without the big 10 Pac 12. Can you foresee that

Justin Riley
I do foresee it I think that Greg Sankey and the rest of the governing bodies of Greg Sankey Greg Sankey is the Commissioner of the SEC. He has been very vocal these past several weeks and just kind of keeping everyone in the loop. And out of any conference out there, the SEC has been the strongest and the most believable when it comes to having a college football season. It looks like that he’s very comfortable. I mean, I could be wrong behind the scenes. But right now it looks like he’s very comfortable with all the protocols that are in place. And all the doctors, medical staff, what have you of every team, he’s allowed them to make the calls. He’s putting the faith in the universities and it looks like he’s not basing his any of his decisions off of emotion or panic. Everything is well thought What do you say emotion

Santiago Leon
and panic. Why do you say that?

Justin Riley
Well because right now, majority of This society, including the college sports world are basing a lot of their decisions off of emotion can severely

Santiago Leon
impact Well, well. Well, the

Justin Riley
PAC 12 definitely big, big 10 looks like it, but this was just out of out of the blue. You really didn’t get that feel initially. But now all of a sudden, it’s a different story. But I think a lot of people are making their decisions based off what is trending or what is popular, rather than just kind of calming down and just really evaluating and also trusting the university officials which include the strength conditioning staff, health staff, so on and so forth, to do what’s necessary to keep these players safe.

Santiago Leon
This is what Greg Sankey today I said about a party about an hour ago says I look forward to learning more about the factors that led the big 10 and Pac 12 leadership to take these actions today. I remained comfortable key word comfortable with the third And deliberate approach that the SEC and our four team members are taking to support a healthy environment for our student athletes. We will continue to further refine our policies and protocols for a safe return to sports as we monitored the developments around COVID-19. In a continued effort to support educate and care for our student athletes every day, sec Commissioner Greg Sankey, big 10 we were planning to start at the end of August, the SEC and the agency were planning to start on September 26. how urgent SEC has to make that decision they got about two months about month and a half. Justin, do you think they have some cushion to decide if they’ll keep going or they’ll postpone it?

Justin Riley
I think they have enough time to make an educated decision. But to be honest with you, do we really want to wait and be cancelled? Or would we rather have the band aid Rep. All right now instead of being kept in limbo, and but these planners

Santiago Leon
give Greg Sankey.

Justin Riley
Well, given to the 26th

Santiago Leon
of August or September,

Justin Riley
get asked to give them to the end of this month and that way he can make an educated decision based on that point before these teams really come together and they’re really practicing. I mean, not to they’re not right now, but they are

Santiago Leon
Michigan’s practicing still, by the way.

Justin Riley
Well, the grind or really get more intense, you know, come September, because they’re gonna start preparing for game one. So yeah, something needs to be in place fairly soon. These coaches need to know what’s going on. He

Santiago Leon
says that he remains comfortable. comfortable with the decision he’s made to keep the season going. This is what the statement from the ACC says. From the ACC in general. No, no commissioner said ACC will continue to make decisions. Based on medical advice, inclusive of our medical advisor, group, group, local and state health officials, I mean, State Health guidelines and do so in a way that appropriately coincides with the university’s academics missions, the safety of our students, I hear that word safety staff and overall campus communities will always be our top priority. It’s a legal thing to say. And we are pleased with the protocols being administered on our 15 campuses. There’s one more No, no, that’s the same. Well, we will continue to follow our process that has been in place for months and as they have served us well. We understand the need to say to stay flexible, and be prepared to adjust as medical information and landscapes evolves. They start the same day as sec, Justin, can you I mean, and also keep in mind, the big 12 is still around. Can you see those two conferences going at it alone.

Justin Riley
Yeah, I can see it happening. You know, why not? What do you see? What are

Santiago Leon
they dropping out which one of the three will drop out? First?

Justin Riley
Uh, it’d be a coin toss in the ACC and big 12. I think the SEC will be the absolute last to make this decision. Because I feel like that they’re the most confident what they’re doing right now, I think and where everyone else is kind of looking over their shoulder to see what what what big brother is doing right now.

Santiago Leon
And the big question is a college playoff football committee. Do you think they’ll say Hey, guys, you guys could play but there’s no national championship. You see that possible scenario.

Justin Riley
That’s a very realistic scenario. Because if the big 10 and Pac 12 indeed, cancel all or end or postponed to the spring. You can’t have a legitimate crowning of a national champion. If all teams aren’t able To compete again possibly compete against each other in a playoff structure.

Santiago Leon
So I don’t like the spring football season what can work?

Justin Riley
Well for one I kill it is going to overlap the NBA college baseball called softball

Santiago Leon
marshmallow. So

Justin Riley
March Madness, he also got a look at the NFL, combine the pro days, the NFL Draft, it just causes quite a cluster and leaves you asking too many questions okay about how each of them is going to be played out. How should they be played out? leaves a lot of players in limbo two and if you’re going to postpone the NFL Draft to say July does it really give coaches and gyms and scouts the ability to truly evaluate players, especially these late round to undrafted free agent guys, by the start of the next season, which wouldn’t be more than probably what a month and a half, two months

Santiago Leon
Which players are affected by the big 10? Justin fields is one of them.

Justin Riley
Yeah, Justin fields is a huge factor right now. And he’s asking what’s going on? what’s what’s going to happen with

Santiago Leon
with him? He can’t. Right.

Justin Riley
Well, that’s another question is the NCAA and their prospective universities going to allow these players that they should choose to transfer out with the seasons being canceled? That’s another question we got to ask. You know, and also to our players going to want to try to explore that route.

Santiago Leon
So definitely look at we got it we, we guys see a list of players that are in the big 10 also in the PAC 12. They’ll be affected for their NFL Draft value. Now there’s one player that could skip a whole season is Trevor Lawrence. He doesn’t really have to play the season. He’s pretty much a top pick no matter what.

Justin Riley
Yeah,

he’s one of those guys. without a shadow of a doubt, you know what his future is going to be. And yeah, if he chooses not to, it’s not going to affect him at all. As far as his draft stock goes, I think he pretty much has already built his resume up to the point of perfection. But I think that that does not matter to him. He wants to compete he wants to play,

Santiago Leon
which he has said this morning, or actually throughout this week that he wants to play. It’s good for the fans and everything else. So we’ll see what happens. What do you think Nick Saban is thinking right now? Do you think he wants an answer from Greg Sankey this week? Hey, man, we got to know because I don’t want to waste my players you know training for nothing.

Justin Riley
I think Coach Saban just wants to know what in the world is getting into was he prepared for what’s this gonna look like? I don’t think he’s really concerned about championships and, and all that. I just think he’s a guy who has to have structure. He has to have everything laid out. clear, concise, and He needs it now. I think that’s the main thing that’s really on his mind besides the health and safety of his players.

Santiago Leon
What’s that one team you were hearing this morning that they want to drop out. And then from the SEC,

Justin Riley
I heard rumor that Georgia was possibly considering but it but to be honest with you, I haven’t seen any kind of news pipeline from major media sources. So that’s pretty much it. But I think the SEC as a whole, which several the athletes have made it clear they want to play,

Santiago Leon
something to definitely look at. There has been questions about Canada teams join conferences. And I can tell you right now that that Nebraska and Penn State, there were thinking about leaving or there were rumors. According to 247 sports. Several coaches have come out publicly as mouthpieces for players urging their league to take more time before making a decision on planning this fall. Nebraska Scott frost and Penn State’s Jim Franklin this week have both expressed interest in pursuing other options. If their conference decides to cancel the season, it is preposterous notion that either of those two teams can can join another conference. on a whim for several reasons college, gameday hosts Reese Davis said Tuesday on get up. First, it’s not feasible from a scheduling standpoint. Greg Sankey has been the wisest of the leaders trying to extend the runway of concern about players and wanting to protect the season and advocate for them. I think what Scott frost and james franklin and others are trying to do is put a little heat on their presidents to give this a little bit more time and to influence what is said in those meeting rooms without deciding at this point in the calendar year to drop the season. Justin Can you see a scenario Where other teams from other conferences join the SEC. ACC or the big 12.

Justin Riley
I think it is an option worth considering given the state of things right now. I think if team legitimately wants to play and they feel safe in doing so, given the circumstances, I think they should be allowed to explore other options. Maybe their perspective conference kind of lend them to say the SEC or big 12 or ACC for this season, but give stipulations and perhaps maybe a rental fee, I guess.

Why not?

Well, why not? Why not explore that option? You know, if if coaches and staff and players are ready to do it, I say let them compete, you know, let them do what they came there to do.

Santiago Leon
This one Howard, you probably heard of him. He’s the guy The Heisman Trophy. Desmond Howard called frost comments offensive and said there’s no way Nebraska or Penn State would leave the big 10 to play this season. He said when I first heard it, I thought it was absurd. If I’m Kevin Warren, I’m getting on this phone to talk to the president of Nebraska and tell them we can’t have your coach using this roguish type language. Nebraska is getting 40 to $50 million a year, no matter what their record is. I don’t think Nebraska is ready to cut that check just to go play 10 or 12 football games this season. Nebraska and Penn State two big schools they’ve been making some noise. I think I will was the other team that voted against Lee canceling the season. But if you had to guess where would which conference what would Nebraska go in which conference would Penn State go

Justin Riley
based on geography, as I say Nebraska, would either go back to their founding conference, the big 12. The big 12 does decide to stay open. Penn State them, the more logical choice would be the ACC.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, I totally agree with that. I think you know, geography does matter. A whole lot. Um, many of you guys are asking how did this all started, it all started with a mountain. No way, the Mid Atlantic with the Mountain West Conference being canceled also the Mid Atlantic conference being canceled, and it started to have a domino effect. A lot of these conferences were starting at the end of August, and for some reason they decided to cancel. But we’ll definitely get more information about that throughout the days and see how it going. If you had to pick another conference to join the power of five Justin, who would it be?

Justin Riley
The American I think that they are pretty close to power five conference already. They have some very, very good things, high quality teams. You know, we had game day going to a couple of those matchups this past year, you know, seeing teams like Memphis and SMU and UCF so they’re pretty close to being a power five conference they’ve got the talent there. So you know once when I give them a boost,

Santiago Leon
can you see like UCF taking it taking advantage of like over like this whole situation maybe make it into I guess a playoffs if they have it?

Justin Riley
Well, why not? they get what they they’ve been asking for for the past several seasons but client that they have been denied. So this is the time if any, to pursue that route.

Santiago Leon
You know, it’s interesting like talking about cancellation and play During a pandemic, I was telling everyone before that in Europe, everything’s doing fine. You know, they’re playing with no fans. Every player gets tested. I think 98 99% of the time, they’re negative. Just what do you think? You know, colleges could do the same. Get tested every week? Have the players live in pods? Do you think college football has the resources to get this season going?

Justin Riley
Man, they’re they’re a million dollar industry, or maybe even more than million dollar industry they had they had the funds, they had the resources to do all this. And it feels like everybody is saying, well, we can play all these other sports but if you play football that automatically equates these players getting COVID that don’t make sense to me at all. So while all of a sudden has this unfair stigma being placed on football, it seems to me like if they’re in a more controlled environment and a protected environment, Like their college campuses, their athletic facilities, it seems like they’re better off doing that as opposed to going back to their homes, going back to wherever. And they’re more susceptible to the Coronavirus doing that than they would say being in a campus man. They’re more sensible at going to a Walmart or a Publix than they are on that football field where the environment is controlled.

Santiago Leon
If one person gets Coronavirus How deep is a typical college football teams, you know, bench is

Justin Riley
well you look at teams like the SEC. And you look at teams like the big 10 I mean, the power five conferences are power five because they had the best talent in college football, meaning they are going to be deep. The SEC will probably be the deepest because they have the most forums Five stars out there so the talent level is there the cover does not bear if one person is out of the rotation or two or three or four I mean heck Alabama had nine players out they had out there this past season missing but they still feel the detail and still were competitive and that they cost football right playoff race for until the last

Santiago Leon
game I think it’s gonna be an interesting you know moment these next couple weeks I mean all eyes are in the sec now if the SEC drops out first Justin. ACC is like crap we got to go We’ll be just like the PAC 12 will follow you guys through I mean, can that really happen like sec can be like the breaks the camel’s back and they canceled

Justin Riley
Yeah, I mean they’re they are the great impenetrable fortress right now. If if the people outside of that fortress that kingdom, see the king decided to dip out. They’re gonna lose faith and say we’re out too but as long as the SEC remains firm and strong I think some of these other conferences will feel more much better about the decision to play.

Santiago Leon
One league that has not canceled is the NFL. They’re slated to start early September. Justin, do you see a chance they canceled last minute? Because this will Coronavirus. It’s like the weather you just don’t know till the day comes.

Justin Riley
It’s unpredictable. You really don’t know. I think that on a professional level that there’s greater protocol and play well, I would say the greater protocol in place. I still feel like they have resources that they’re disposable to. There’s disposal to protect players, coaches, staff, what have you. And if they follow the same pattern like you mentioned a few moments Go the suck you know soccer teams and and baseball and whatnot are following

Santiago Leon
NBA bubble.

Justin Riley
NBA bubble exactly NBA yet hurting. You haven’t heard anything negative about the NBA. You know everything is fine.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, yeah, I totally agree and we’ll see what happens in next couple weeks. Obviously sports is unlivable, but we need sports to keep our sanity. And then we have Justin Riley letter. Can you do the honors?

Justin Riley
Oh man, that’s what I’m here for. Yo is Tuesday. It was Tuesday mean guys. That means we are spending time with an Alabama legend. No different tonight but before that guy give a little shout out to Rama jammas the college football season may be in doubt, but Game Day is still going on at Rama jammas their star lineup or taking the field daily to help you with your championship size hunger, stop by the day and order from their level. Legendary menu ramaa jammas with a season never ends All right, I didn’t get ready for this for a long time I know everybody else has. Our guest is a two time BCS National Champion to top sec champion 2010 sec special teams Player of the Week versus Ole Miss 2011 sec Player of the Week versus Arkansas member of the Pittsburgh Steelers a member of the Arizona rattlers more importantly a member a wide receiver you Marquise Mays

Santiago Leon
yeah you doing Welcome to this podcast Mark

Marquis Maze
keys. How you doing? Me? Thanks for having me. I’m doing fine. You. Good good,

Santiago Leon
man. What are your first thoughts about the big 10 canceling their fall sports?

Marquis Maze
It’s kind of hot.

Just trying to see what the future holds for guys that was on the bubble, either leaving or coming back to school. what’s what’s going on? What’s next for them for those guys?

Santiago Leon
Yeah, we’re talking about justice. fields I think he’s the main player that he plays for Ohio State. He’s in that transition mode as well. Right.

Marquis Maze
It’s a some stuff we never, you know, seen before. So,

Santiago Leon
marquees tell us what you’ve been up to these past couple months during the pandemic.

Marquis Maze
Really just

meet at home. Oh, nothing much really to do

Justin Riley
yeah, I want to bring up something you just talked about the got to players, like you said, Who on the borderline like some of these guys that are kind of questionable about whether draft stock may and they really need mainland and they really need this at this extra season to really solidify where they’re going to be. You know, where’s this put them as far as trying to make it to the NFL.

Marquis Maze
I’m really not sure. S S. S. Question I really couldn’t answer because I don’t know it never had like, I never we never experienced nothing like this before. Um, I thought for sure that football season would we play on? But I guess it’s more serious than I thought. You know?

Santiago Leon
It’s a pandemic that only happens once every hundred years they say or the last one well, like was 100 years. Monkeys tell us how did you first got into football?

Marquis Maze
I really don’t know. I was my grandma Tell me a story. She say that uh, when I was a kid. If I was crying or something in the in, in the baby bed or something that I would my attention. They tried to cut on cartoons, music, all type of stuff. And it never caught my attention. But one day, I guess it was a football game on and it caught my attention and You say ever since then she she just knew that out and then from now I just always had a football or some type of ball in my hand. And I like I started playing football at age four. And from there just it was it was always me

Justin Riley
and I’m very familiar with the area that you grew up on. Course all that you just said transition well when you’re playing high school football, you know, you probably play pretty much every position there was on the field and excelled all them. Can you kind of go through with us what your high school experience was like before the offer start rolling in.

Marquis Maze
It was pretty it was I was out. I don’t like to toot my own horn but I was always a different breed of football player because of at my school. It was no freshmen that ever started. A Terran now No freshman had ever started as a freshman in I came in and broke the mold and

it is it was it was

such a rarity that people didn’t you know, people just was coming like all along that was just come and just to see if I was, you know, good as advertised. Ryan I had a pretty decent I mean I think I led the state interceptions as a freshman. I played no i didn’t play offense at all as a freshman.

open to the playoffs. And

I don’t know I kind of from that year, then the next year I was top of I was I was at the top of my game as a sophomore. I only play one game. Then my junior year. Oh, that was my coming out. You really my Tim gray. You Was my coming out here because I, the first game we played like the number number three, team number three or two team in five, eight and we were we were for a team and we played the number one number one two out there was top three teams in the know I think I had like a 300 yards even in of four years

Santiago Leon
which positions that you played in high school.

Marquis Maze
I played defensive back. I played all over the second year on defense I played a running back receiver and quarterback punt return and kick return

Santiago Leon
your the whole team.

Marquis Maze
Now we’ll say I was the whole team but I was a big part of it.

Justin Riley
So tell us a little bit about your recruiting experience harder initially. You are going to go to Michigan. What was the story behind that? And what

Marquis Maze
is the story behind the Michigan thing is I could tell people now but

Unknown Speaker
exclusive

Justin Riley
It was too cold, right?

Marquis Maze
No, no, no, no. The firt the only reason I committed because I was playing flag football that summer. That that no, I was playing flag football this summer. And I ended I ended up breaking my foot playing flag football. And so I just committed because I thought maybe if I got hurt playing flat, nobody else will want me so I just committed to Michigan that day. They didn’t even know my foot was broke. And it was the first day was actually the first big bit school offered that I had. So I just was

Santiago Leon
how many others teams were interested in you in the recruiting process.

Marquis Maze
It was a lot and it came almost every sec school.

I think out West was USC and Oregon.

USC, Oregon, Colorado,

Unknown Speaker
Utah.

Marquis Maze
And no, Ohio State, Michigan State.

Ohio State Michigan State, Michigan.

And you have like Clemson in every school in Florida.

Santiago Leon
Which one which of the schools were really like

Marquis Maze
a contender?

Santiago Leon
Yeah, like which one was like really aggressive with you to join their school

Marquis Maze
of Miami, Tennessee.

Of course, Alabama. All right. And

Michigan, Ohio State,

Santiago Leon
Tennessee again, Justin brings up It’s

Justin Riley
seems to be the theme of every former Alabama player we’ve had on here. The volunteers have all fight a major role in their recruiting of each athlete.

Santiago Leon
They’re on the ground in Alabama at least.

Marquis Maze
Yeah,

Justin Riley
definitely are.

Marquis Maze
It’s a, you know, Jeromy Pruitt from Alabama. So,

Justin Riley
yeah, absolutely. I remember when he played and then when he became a coach. I was ecstatic when he got there. But yeah,

Santiago Leon
wait, wait, I think Johnson said the same thing that Pruitt was it was was why Tennessee was shown interest. Mm hmm. I think he was saying that.

Marquis Maze
Now john techjockey fruit was it Alabama with Oh, yeah. Okay.

Santiago Leon
Yeah. How about Georgia Tech, were they also interested?

Marquis Maze
Who?

Santiago Leon
Georgia Tech.

Marquis Maze
Yeah, that was another school but that I really didn’t want.

Justin Riley
Good. They didn’t really pass the ball very much. That

Marquis Maze
was the it would have worked for me because I came out and most people have I really wasn’t a receive, but most people had me down as running back. Really, or either or either defensive back here, because that’s what I mostly played in high school more running back.

Santiago Leon
Was yourself running back like Who did you portray a lot Emmitt Smith or the bus like, style?

Marquis Maze
My guy Reggie Bush. He was the best cosplay I have ever seen. Yeah, you know, oh, it was Reggie Bush all day.

But it was more like Peter ward. And oh. I also like a More done. That was another one of my favorites a running back for killer. Yeah. Oh, so he was in dB was always Dion sounds

Santiago Leon
which he left the NFL Network today, right? No

No one’s better. All right, Justin. Yeah, thank

Justin Riley
you. Yes coaching his

Santiago Leon
son’s team, but he might pursue something a little bit higher. I don’t know.

Marquis Maze
We’ll see. I knew they do is aiming ahead for the Florida State.

Justin Riley
Yeah, yeah, they did look like a possibility two would have been exciting to see that.

Marquis Maze
Yeah.

Justin Riley
You ultimately chose Alabama you’re part of savings first recruiting class. What really, I guess turn the tide so to speak and made you choose Alabama?

Marquis Maze
Actually, it was just the conversations between me and Kevin steel, coal, steel and coal save.

They just was telling me

What was real you know, everybody else was telling me all I’m gonna come in, be a freshman all American and I’m gonna do this and then you’re gonna go to the NFL. Coach Saban and coach steel told me if you good enough to play, and you know that you will play, they never promised me all this cool stuff and I just wanted somebody that was gonna be real with me. So that was the biggest thing and most importantly, cost saving. I always had that that persona

Santiago Leon
that I liked as a coach. How was Nick Saban back then was he like someone that you thought, wow, this guy’s the real deal? Like what was the vibe you got from him? And when you join his team,

Marquis Maze
I mean, I studied him, like I really see I was very much a student of the game. So I never really just did stuff just because it was it looked good or people say certain things I actually study and you know, I actually studied him. So when he told me he made a player in the Miami Dolphins cry. I was like God is my guy.

Justin Riley
Like that, man, that’s real.

Santiago Leon
Was Dabo there ready?

Justin Riley
No. No, he was.

Marquis Maze
He was at Clemson to the assistant.

Santiago Leon
Yeah. Okay. Make sense?

Justin Riley
Yeah. Matter of fact, I’ve mentioned to say where the reason why he got catch 2008 again, but I’m jumping ahead to say the Saban era was beginning in Alabama and the landscape was about to change greatly. What was the atmosphere like during those early days? And was everyone buying in?

Marquis Maze
Ah, I would say the first year in 2007. No, everybody didn’t bang. And you could tell by the play on the feet. Uh, you know, by the last the things that took place in 2007, you could tell but that next year, you could tell that Everybody really started buying in then. And then the next year, which the year we won a championship, who was everybody had body, everybody, everybody on the team body and everything Coach Saban was preaching or coaching or teaching and that’s why you’ve seen the results the way of, you know, going undefeated on a national championship.

Santiago Leon
Which player that you really warmed up to that like that first season. Which player actually impressed you that first season when you got there.

Marquis Maze
DJ Hall. Oh, Javier. Then in my class, who was like Corinne Jackson, because he came in early. I think he had came in like January so he did spring with him. And oh, and Tara grant. It was a lot of guys, man, I was just met CODEL.

OO What’s his name? Man? I can’t think his name

Santiago Leon
Justin my nose. You know it’s a whole recruiting class.

Marquis Maze
No, it wasn’t in a recruiting class. He was already there. He was flying back from California.

Santiago Leon
Justin will know Chris all prints all

Marquis Maze
out. Yeah, I hate you know everything to happen for him but he was real good.

Santiago Leon
How was that recruiting class? Was it like top notch a lot of four or five stars? Like how was it?

Marquis Maze
Now we would we had a we didn’t have a class like we had a class like it was I think at our class Rolando might have been the highest rated and I want to say he was a forester. Wow. where it was, I mean, but I really hate they get these kids off because it really screw it screw, screw a lot of those kids up cuz some kids come in again, you can block out They are fast on some kids can’t. Some kids come in and be thinking, Oh, I’m gonna fast on this and then Nick because they were told that and recruited and they get there and don’t pan out to be as good. And I think it’d be a kill it’d be it’d be it kills them morally. I hate that they do the five star stuffing

Santiago Leon
because a lot of players were underrated sometimes. It

Marquis Maze
Do you think about it, Mark Ingram was to stuff. Wow. Mm hmm.

Justin Riley
Yeah, no question. I agree. I agree. That

Marquis Maze
is, has been the first I ever has been trouble in Alabama was to stop considered, you know, Josh Jacobs, another. Yeah. I mean, it’s just all about opportunity and being put in the right places to do the right thing. Everybody at that level have 10 or I don’t I don’t think they will be there. But it’s all about opportunities and And putting in position. So bisa says,

Santiago Leon
we won’t talk about the players that were overrated

Marquis Maze
I really would want to do that because I don’t like calling people out. Yeah, yeah, I like that.

Justin Riley
But I do agree with you. I think that they’re giving these kids and I say kids this NFL mindset right right out the gate and they become instagram and twitter superstars before they even play a snap out of college football and really proven themselves and I and they don’t go in with a humble attitude and being able to be coachable to become what they think they already are. I just think this facade is giving to the wrong mindset.

Marquis Maze
See, and I’m gonna tell you another thing like the the players are a lot softer, softer now because I know when guys came in, in our in our locker room like that they didn’t they really changed a mindset They came in the locker room because coach could nobody could save them in the locker room. Yeah,

Santiago Leon
that’s good. That was um, do you feel like that this whole COVID thing is actually affecting some players for their offseason? How much would that be a factor for them coming into the first season

Marquis Maze
this deal full but But like I say they like nobody’s right now they should be in camp and like full pads but they only in helmets and doing 707 is going to fix a lot of guys I mean with some get some guys it might not. It just depends on the the actual kid I think.

Santiago Leon
Right How boys are doing a virtual camp by the way guys. This week. Anyways, go ahead.

Justin Riley
Well, I was just gonna say you know, going back to That 2008 season that we mentioned earlier, not many were expecting much out of Alabama that year as a first game against Clemson drew near no one gave us much of a chance. Of course we shocked the world and we demolished the tiger 34 to 10. And that post game cart curse was at a loss for words. Can you guide us through what happened during that offseason led to that big victory.

Marquis Maze
Uh, it just was guy’s body. The guy that Kotsay was kasavin guys was, was really in positions to make plays. So most of most of all the guys that played on the field in oh eight, were co sabourin basically co saving recruits. Um so it was it was God they bought into what Coach Saban was preaching. And Dan, you know, it was it was it was rough. We had a tough camp too. Because their first camp was really, really tough. With this the next year and await we had a really tough, tough camp. And we felt that we were good enough to beat some of those teams in Clemson that you had a very talented team. Yeah.

Santiago Leon
Which, which game was the most memorable game that first season that you played?

Marquis Maze
Probably the first season probably the iron bowl day you because we almost Yeah, I think we almost lost. Yeah, I say the iron bow.

Santiago Leon
Was that played out in Auburn or in Tuscaloosa?

Marquis Maze
It It was played in October. No it was played.

It was played in. oh seven was played in. aisle seven was played in Are we actually lost again? Right?

Justin Riley
Of course, you know, we had several big games in 2008 where we shocked the world. Oh, it seems like every time the media called you guys out for private games y’all showed up, you know, this was no different. You know, in Baton Rouge that season we run a thriller and over time 27 to 21 to capture the SEC, West idle. Usually a team that hasn’t been used to that type of success falls under pressure. What was different about y’all?

Marquis Maze
Oh, like I said, I think God knew that. How do we could possibly be a I think that like you say, you mentioned the LSU game. I think like, Rashad Johnson had three interceptions, I want to say in made a big play at the end of the game, with interception in the back of the endzone. So it was it was it was I mean you had guys That was hungry, but wins you know Alabama hadn’t been winning. So and then you got guys that was coming in that was used to winning like me myself. Me Corinne Josh Chapman dairies Hanks. Who else you had on that team? Julio? My Koi Mike McCoy. Uh, but he was aborted it other than clay. He was a part. I’m just trying to think of the guys that was used to win him. But those guys before us, I don’t really know. Because they was at Alabama and they wouldn’t. They didn’t win.

Santiago Leon
So, what role did Nick Saban told you like What did he want you to do in the field? What role did he really prompted to do?

Marquis Maze
Oh, he just really wanted me to, I don’t know at first when I first got They didn’t know because he said I went to every room possible. Running back room I went to the DB room. I went to only outdoor only position I didn’t go to quarterback.

Every other skill position only to when a quarterback. too short. Andrew, I want to play quarterback.

Justin Riley
Maybe you got a chance to put the toss of rock a couple of times, man and you look like you could a step back there pretty often, man because you were on point with your throws.

Marquis Maze
Yeah. Oh, I played a I played a few snaps in high school. But mostly just was. I really was just a running back reel. But uh, I do a few tours now in high school.

Santiago Leon
How far can you throw ball?

Marquis Maze
Oh, I don’t I could think i think i could throw about 75 a

Justin Riley
horse a 2009 you know Julio Jones will get was getting a lot of attention. But you emerged as the game changer showing up in big games in key moments. What led you to become such a big part of that offense in year two of your college career?

Marquis Maze
I would say mouth just hungry. I got tired of people saying, Oh, you know, I kasavin always tell us not to listen to the media and isn’t it but I did anyway. Because I’m a sports guy. So it just made me it really was fuel to my fire. Every time I hear, oh, Alabama only has one receiver and if they take him away, then you know, so it will just fuel and I knew I could play. My teammates knew I could play. So I mean, when the moment came, I just stepped up, took the opportunity. Make plays.

Santiago Leon
Tell us Yeah, go ahead. If

Justin Riley
I was gonna stick with a 2009 series, you know, going into that season, what was the atmosphere like? And when did y’all know that this team was gonna win at all? We knew an account.

Marquis Maze
We knew actually we knew we knew. Actually, we knew after the laughter Utah Yeah, I promise there’s no last week after the last of Utah with us in the locker room we talked about next year. We’re gonna do we’re gonna come together as a team. And it worked out

Santiago Leon
the motivation was there.

Marquis Maze
Yeah, I mean, I don’t think we will read the motivated people really don’t believe me when I say just because last but I don’t think we really motivated and then some certain things took place. Andre Smith, ended up not being able to play and stuff like that hurt, hurt, you know, especially in left tackle. And not only And we weren’t code save and didn’t prepare for the cause you taught never show that they did no huddle. He never. We didn’t. They? Yeah. So they came out with some different and that was the shocker. You know,

Santiago Leon
Utah of all teams. Tell us about that. 2019 how what’s the talent?

Marquis Maze
Now very talented. Favorite talent. You got guys stealing the NFL off the tee. So it was in guys this deal should be an NFL team with certain circumstances happened. So Oh, you know, it’s a business. You know? It was there was a very talented team.

Justin Riley
You’re part of something very special, you know, that we had not seen since 1992. You know, a national championship. What did it mean to you personally? What was your mindset going into that game against Texas?

Marquis Maze
as to when that was my mind said, Do whatever you got to do to win. Oh, they had a very talented team and defense to I was shocking that I watched the game about two weeks ago and I was like, they started naming players off the defense and I was like, wow. We really didn’t do much offensively. But they had a pretty decent team, man. I think

we just had a better you just had a better team.

Which games do you still watch? I really don’t know this. I really don’t even come on TV. I might glance at it. Because I hate watching stuff that I already know what’s gonna happen. So I just don’t watch it at all.

But I really don’t watch football at all now in a way. I can’t remember the last time I watched the full Alabama game.

Justin Riley
Hey, did you have something against Arkansas Seems like every time we played them he went out there and made him look foolish. What was up with that? seemed

Marquis Maze
to take my head some against with LSU

Yeah, it really wouldn’t Did I hear anything against so my head wanted to me. I had one of the worst games of my life against them and Oh, wait. So I just from that day I told myself I would never play like that again.

Justin Riley
And of course you became virtually unstoppable no matter when you’re on the field, you’re reminded Alabama fans have two other Titans David Palmer and Freddy villains. What really led to your rise in 2010 and 2011.

Marquis Maze
I would just say more opportunities. Yes, more opportunities. What trolls from? I think more trust from a quarterback and more trust from my coaches. Cuz really nothing really changed about my play he just was. Yeah, like I say opportunities and more trust

Justin Riley
he’s speaking to LSU I got asked about this because I enjoyed watching it and you know, one of the most exciting matchups of 2011 was not only both contests of Alabama versus LSU because you versus terrain Matthew, you didn’t give into all the high. Can you tell us about that matchup? And what was lie between the both of

Marquis Maze
y’all. Another great player, uh, it was it was it just was competitive. You know, I like I actually liked your style of play it like if I play defense, I probably would have played defense in that manner. But um, I just, I like competition. I like guys to shy away and he did it That was like a big thing for me.

Justin Riley
Yeah, y’all really fueled each other. It seemed like every play man that was just so exciting to watch. I feel like I was watching more of you guys. I was watching everything else man. It was just amazing.

Marquis Maze
Yeah, it was like I like games like that even when we played them a few years back and Patrick Peterson he was another guy that was you know, he didn’t shy away from you know, some guys some guys if you if they feel like you got a bit more talent or they feel like you’re good they shy away or they kind of took a tear but those guys didn’t. And that’s what made those challenges and those games fun.

Santiago Leon
Let’s turn to this turn the curve a little bit Justin. Let’s go to 2010 it was about you guys season.

Marquis Maze
Most of the team Alabama Hey.

That’s the most talented team Alabama overhead and I think by close I will say we just got complacent. We had guys that was worried about the next level. You know, guy that didn’t play too like I wouldn’t say injuries but when played to being hurt so it was it was it was business decisions for them too. So I get it, but we just got complacent as a team should have should have actually been the first team and went back to back championship

Santiago Leon
which is tough to do in college.

Justin Riley
We’re good at three-repeat if you look at it.

Marquis Maze
Yeah. Cuz it would have been 2011 and next year, so yeah,

Santiago Leon
we didn’t like the Cam Newton factor, you know, came to play.

Marquis Maze
No, no, no. As we beat we had them beat 24 three

Man halftime and you know, like I said it just came down to complacency. We went in the locker room. Everybody was excited. kasavin wouldn’t but, you know. That’s something

Justin Riley
that’s something that we hear Coach Saban preach over and over again, I don’t think people really take it seriously. How much of a killer can complacency be to a team?

Marquis Maze
Very, it can be very much cooler because

you use it at a certain point where you was winning games and I think we won the first five games that you you get, I guess, you think teams just don’t even show up and play a couple plays and they don’t lay down with some chains is that was fuel for them? Are we playing the number one team Let’s knock them out. You know, and we come out there lackadaisical going through the motions and get Be my team’s we shouldn’t we should have never lost staff Gatlin

Justin Riley
a man especially that quarterback.

Marquis Maze
What we should have never lost LSU and we should we definitely should have never lost our interview.

Justin Riley
Tell me what was like when Julio left and it really became your water super squad and the offensive offensive focus shifted to you. What was that like? And you felt like you got to become the guy.

Marquis Maze
I didn’t feel any kind of way because I always told people you wouldn’t just cuz it was another reporter that you asked me a feeling how was I gonna feel the portfolio and I was I just told him like, I’m not gonna feel the war we got eight now the guys in the receiver room there’s no I’ll fill the void you know, we all work together. So You know guys like there is Hank Brandon Gibson Norwood Kenny Bell, the Andrew white of Christian Jones when he got in, those guys will just play us too and I never want to disrespect my teammates like saying that was number one guy because we our number one guys in my eyes, you know

Santiago Leon
tell us about you know your both matchup like the two games against LSU the one that you lost and then the one that you won.

Marquis Maze
One that we lost, we shouldn’t have lost.

They called the pass through to Mike Williams Inception when it should have been a completion on it. We should have had the ball it took about one and a half to your outline. Oh, so that was a bad call. The referee came in the locker room and told us he made man call

Santiago Leon
He said that,

Marquis Maze
yeah. Oh. So we knew we could beat him. You can go back in. I had an interview that night after the game, and I told him that we will see him again the same night. We’ll see him again outcome gonna be didn’t

Santiago Leon
I love it?

Marquis Maze
Yeah, I knew I but I knew he was gonna lose going back because it was I was just watching football at you and it wouldn’t week LSU Alabama that’s what made the game of the century because we had everybody by a landslide. It was Alabama issue, Alabama and LSU appeal. Everybody else was about, you know, everybody else was pretty much mediocre. Yeah. And I knew we were gonna get back in.

Justin Riley
For the second time in your career, you were playing for a national championship. Not only that, it was that rematch against LSU What was your mindset going into this game? And where does it rank in the two championship games you played in?

Santiago Leon
Good question.

Marquis Maze
They were ranked number two. Wow, they ranked number two because I didn’t get to finish.

Justin Riley
Right.

Marquis Maze
But it was that’s the only way I would say is right, number two because I didn’t get to finish the game. And But like I say, that was a that was something that nobody had ever seen in the BCS air with two sec teams in the championship game. So it was cool to see that to

Santiago Leon
you. Nick, Saban’s finest years those like those early years.

Marquis Maze
Yeah, I think because we set the foundation so now he’s like, just look at how the fans don’t even show. You know, the fans don’t show up as often like they do. We’ve coming up. And it’s like now they just so used to winning. And it’s like complacency really. And I think that’s where a lot of those losses come from. I mean not last year there was there was there was printed down. They was banged up last year on defense side of the ball, but Oh, yeah, I think complacency. And then tool got hurt last year. So it was coming. But the thing about that I think of great with a guy who would have still had people like AJ stuff that would have been written, everybody back then was ready for the opportunity. I don’t know if everybody because I haven’t been to a practice. I hadn’t seen each kid. I know what they say in recruiting, but I don’t bet it because this is a different level in high school. So

Santiago Leon
yeah, absolutely. Just one more before we head into the NFL.

Justin Riley
Yeah. I just wanted to kind To wrap up that 2011 season, a lot of people say that actually was the best team ever in Alabama history. Do you agree with that statement?

Marquis Maze
Yeah. say Oh, man.

Santiago Leon
Interesting.

Marquis Maze
Or do you say that? Oh now which is different man.

Santiago Leon
I believe you man in both squads.

Justin Riley
I think a lot of people just made that decision based on how incredible that defense was. And 11 but the defense in oh nine was great, too. And then offensively, they would even know that

Marquis Maze
the defense on now was number one in every defensive category. And I get that the 2011 defense they would have been but the Jordan Southern game missed them up. Oh, God,

Justin Riley
I tried to forget that one.

Marquis Maze
Yeah, we gave away almost close to 400 yards rushing. Yeah. Hey was you remember that, don’t you?

Justin Riley
Yeah, man. I was saying things a Christian sentence. I

Santiago Leon
just got a question back then, by the way. Yeah.

Justin Riley
So say,

Santiago Leon
marquees tell us after that season. Tell us the process to the NFL Draft. How was the process? What were scouts telling you?

Marquis Maze
Oh, really? They was telling me where I got one feedback that I was supposed to go in the second round. Oh, you know, but they was just trying to see how I would do being that I had to end a serious

Santiago Leon
injury. How about how bad was that injury?

Marquis Maze
Um, it was pretty bad. I had to have surgery on it. I had surgery two weeks. No, three weeks before to come by. And no, I still end up going to the cup which I hurt myself by going to the combine and participate Same with with tough guy I always want to be the tough guy you know cuz everybody’s a smile and, and statues and stuff like this so I always wanted to be tough and show guy that no matter what, because I played two major injuries at Alabama you know, but I should have never participated in the combat because I ended up re injuring it at the combat run into 40 and nobody knows But I you know, I reintroduced and in, you know, teams kind of my agent just told me it was a bad idea. And, you know, is is a part of life though So, okay, dwell on it.

Justin Riley
I mean, you’re a competitor, you know, I mean, you’re not gonna shy away from any opportunity and you didn’t know what’s gonna happen then of course, being a toughness, your toughness and you being a competitor is you know, one of the your greatest strengths, I think, going into that draft. What do you feel like were some other advantages that you had over players in your position in that draft,

Marquis Maze
that I was a better punt returner than everybody in that class. Oh, if I if I was healthy, I probably would have ran the fastest 40 in the fastest 48 combined period. Oh, I met with two with three weeks out of surgery. That’s the arena photo one. And I realized open up you know, so I just feel like I didn’t do myself no justice.

Santiago Leon
Right. So, NFL Draft happens. Tell us were you drafted or did you get signed as a free agent Tell us about that story.

Marquis Maze
Didn’t get drafted.

So I was sitting in a way I didn’t watch the draft anyway, I was just sitting at home anyway. Didn’t get drafted. got a call from my age and they say please, we’re on the side of you as an undrafted, free agent So where was actually i? I filled in like 10 calls from 10 different teams? And no I do no homework I just really actually went with the team that gave me the most money and I should have just went to the team that you know had the least amount of guys at my position and know that they was comfortable with

but Oh, I think I

ended up Hello.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, we still got

Marquis Maze
we got you ended up ended up really making the team but I just my injuries would allow me to be myself so I gave a position to another guy that needed it because, um, his his niece was going through a rare count had a rare cancer and he needed he needed the money. You know, to try to save a life she ended up passing Oh, nobody else I don’t really like talking about it because I don’t want to put other people business in, you know in a world where I ended up making the team and that just live because of that reason. Well

Justin Riley
definitely answer one of my questions. I mean, that’s just an incredible ministry as well man, just pure selflessness man, I admire you for that brother. That’s that’s an amazing story. Definitely a reason to you know, leave something the NFL, that point. But how would you compare I guess, Mike Tomlin and Nick Saban from the experience you had with Mike Tomlin

Santiago Leon
great question.

Marquis Maze
not comparable.

Santiago Leon
Why?

Marquis Maze
at different altitudes you want to go into it? No, no, my time was a good coach, but co saver more of aggressive, more

Santiago Leon
championship.

Marquis Maze
Yeah, I know. It’s more like

I’m on full sexual until you get it might sound like yeah, like, Okay, I’m gonna say it once. And I might say it twice. I mean it then I man uh, you know, so he’s he’s just a different mindset but both both both great coaches.

Santiago Leon
So tell us um, we know that you had a short NFL career tell us you know what happened towards the end and Why’d you leave it

Marquis Maze
what ended up feeling mo calls from other teams I just like I say, Man, my my leg was never right. My leg was never right out today. LSU game. I knew it. Tried to fight through it, you know, during camp. Why I actually did if I do it, but I had to do so much treatment after. I just didn’t want my body to be broke down like that man. I was 2023 years old and fill 4045 50 Well,

I just didn’t want them.

Santiago Leon
Was there a whole lot of players entering the draft also having a whole lot of injuries like that?

Marquis Maze
Not that I know of.

I mean, Dante had a ACL. But he got he had dead and await with the 2000. You got dead, the cap of 2009 season. So it was I don’t think oh, no, I don’t think nobody else was actually hurt like me. I mean, I had like I said, I had three weeks. I served three weeks before the NFL combine. tried to do the senior bowl, but I couldn’t run. You know? Yeah. So

Santiago Leon
yeah, like the past interviews that Justin I We’re you know, we’re interviewing that, you know, probably 60% of them Justin we’re kind of injured, like entering like the, like the NFL Draft. Right. Right.

Justin Riley
Yeah. And of course, you know, an injury can set you so far back, you know, when it comes to the draft and preparation and just trying to get back on track and getting your mind back to 100% not just your body was harder getting back physically or getting your mind back 100%

Marquis Maze
I would say getting back physically because my mind was always there. But you know, like you you’re your body gonna tell your man like, Man, you can’t do it. So it’s just, you know, your body is probably the hardest.

Santiago Leon
So tell us what did you do after you left the NFL?

Marquis Maze
I just went home. went home and actually started coaching football literally football cuz my son was my son started playing and just was coaching and then got a call from Arizona went up the hill for a week or two and tried it again thinking that maybe since I had to sit down for you to do the same thing occur hamstring the same way as search again then I had to go rehab surgery again I just from NASA man while overweight for me.

Santiago Leon
Was there any interest from the CFL?

Marquis Maze
Uh, yeah, I actually went to Montreal to

Yep, I went to the Montreal the weights weight. Same thing man. hamstring, real much can do but You know, the doctors had told me that it was pretty much over before I even went to come back. I just tried to fight through it. No. Because it was my goal. It was my dream. It was my dream and you know a lot of people a lot of guys want to do it for like the money. I just love I just love it that point then I just love football. It was nothing else in the world I wanted to do but football

Santiago Leon
How much were you with the Arena Football link

Marquis Maze
a week or two before the pop up that’s it. Wow.

Santiago Leon
I was level I mean we were there for you know for a short time was level play pretty good was a high or was it close back?

Marquis Maze
Low, low learning the you know the field So smile. I was just learning it. But no talent level and everything else was like man, what am I doing?

Santiago Leon
Yeah, that’s something that we hear a lot with them and CFL and even NFL Europe, it’s just not there. Yeah, no, but do you think that like there should be you know, like a second division way like the xfl or the lions for players have a second chance?

Marquis Maze
Yeah, that’s a good thing. I think, oh, they should have like the NBA Genie, a shabby, edgy legal, you know, NFL league. Well, guys this there but not really developed all the way. She go and play

Santiago Leon
a very habit. You know, like these interviews are very, very interesting because we find out some more information we never knew about when we’re young. You know, hey, why this happens and this happens and the AFL ever reached out or Like NFL year but it’s quite interesting how things happen like there’s there’s opportunities but if there was a second division league like the xfl, which is coming Oh my the Rockies should be in good hands. I think there’d be a whole lot of interest that the recent watch and also some good ratings for it and also good opportunity for players to get into the NFL again. Let’s head into rapid fire marquees where we ask questions and you know, short questions, short answers. Are you ready? Yeah. Who was the greatest player you played? I mean, like, like which player was like the greatest you played? Like, like he was your opponent who?

Marquis Maze
Patrick Pete’s

Justin Riley
who was a tougher coach, Nick Saban. And Mike Tomlin,

Marquis Maze
Nick Saban.

Santiago Leon
What was the most memorable game in college football for all For years

Marquis Maze
when the national championship in 2009

Justin Riley
I who has the best barbecue spot in Tuscaloosa

Marquis Maze
Moes

Santiago Leon
Moes barbecue. Okay. Who was your favorite player from last season’s Alabama steam.

Marquis Maze
Ah man ah a tool.

Justin Riley
Which leads me to my next question at your healthiest who wins in a foot race. You are Henry ruggs me.

That’s messed up.

I believe that too, because I’ve seen you at your best. I believe

Santiago Leon
that. Would you rather coach or recruit

Marquis Maze
coach

Justin Riley
What does Marquise Mays look like and Steve Sarkeesian is on offense with two quarterback

Marquis Maze
2000 yards evil 15 did not learn even though what was the last guy? Oh, well last obstacle in a double Lane Kiffin no the bow and oh yeah I’m over here offices all three of those offices similar in Loxley as well yeah, yeah locks locks.

Santiago Leon
Do you see one of your kids may play in college football and potentially pro?

Marquis Maze
Yes.

Justin Riley
Who wins head to head in a battle between agent McCarran and to a toggle Viola

Marquis Maze
tool.

Santiago Leon
And finally, what would you tell us about Tiger alone in his first season in the NFL

Marquis Maze
just go play football. You know, the game, the level, the level Don’t change really resist this guy Nah it’s just the same guys you always play it again true

Santiago Leon
so Justin that all the time

Marquis Maze
yeah it really really don’t change just guys from you know you might have a guy that have a little notoriety more notoriety love the guy but they play to get into you know like just a fancy tiring, tiring Matthew is a top notch safety in the NFL

Santiago Leon
you’re no matter how much you bench

Marquis Maze
the other day I’d get about 315

Justin Riley
What’s that’s what’s up. Good job man. I got one last question. Yeah on your Twitter account it says legends never die mainly because of the legacy you leave behind. What is your legacy?

Marquis Maze
I think this I think this for the people to know To answer you know, I think there’s really like the people the people that know when they mentioned my name. That’s for them the house.

Santiago Leon
marquees Mays, Alabama legend. The poll question. I didn’t have one this morning. But we’ll use the one yesterday. What’s like the best part of smores chocolate the marshmallow or the graham cracker

Marquis Maze
list? Oh, the hold on now like the

Santiago Leon
best part of the smores.

Marquis Maze
Okay.

Santiago Leon
Chocolate marshmallow or the graham cracker. probably agree. Okay. Justin Riley.

Justin Riley
I think like graham cracker because is what holds it all together.

Santiago Leon
graham crackers last place at 16% first chocolate then marshmallow

Marquis Maze
look like marshmallows. I mean, well, I don’t eat Talking so no matter what, no chocolate, no chocolate

Justin Riley
is just a health thing or you don’t care for a chocolate.

Santiago Leon
No, that’s good, though. That’s good because chocolate people, people could get carried away with it. murky. So tell us what you’ve been up to lately and what are your plans for the future?

Marquis Maze
Lately I’ve been in real estate, a ban in flipping houses. And that’s what the future holds. And then hopefully one day my keys be watching my kids playing. Hello again.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, I

Marquis Maze
just went back and watch my kids. Somebody called me I’m sorry. And watching my kids play football, in college or in a NFL, you think

Santiago Leon
you want to get back into coaching soon or you’re kind of done With that,

Marquis Maze
I want to do nothing with foot. Well, I just want

Santiago Leon
and who Like who? I’m who you currently speak to from your old team and Alabama.

Marquis Maze
Corinne Jackson, Josh Chapman alpha McCullough. Rolando McClain. Oh, Justin Woodall.

Santiago Leon
That’s a good bunch.

Marquis Maze
Yeah. I just talked to Marcel a couple of days ago. Marcia dares.

Santiago Leon
How’s he doing? He doing

Marquis Maze
good? Oh, I’d seen him. I seen him out he

without

Santiago Leon
doing too much.

Marquis Maze
He went into much

Santiago Leon
more last one. Well, I

Justin Riley
was gonna say, Oh, are you Marcel? Pretty close since y’all kind of grew up in the same area before you had Alabama or did y’all really start forming a bond

Marquis Maze
at Alabama? We’ve formed a bun Alabama. I didn’t know you know, I didn’t. I didn’t. I didn’t know. I didn’t know him. He played, actually played at a little league. He played across like the same neighborhood Ravelry team that I played easily he played at home, but he was younger than me. So he played up onto me.

Okay, go back, go back age, stuff like that.

Santiago Leon
There you have it marquees, Mays, always upledger. marquees? What is the best way for people to reach you to find out more about you? And what out? Like, what’s your Twitter know how you

Marquis Maze
gonna find more about me unless I do interviews like this? Because I don’t, I don’t do so. I mean, I’m on social media, but I don’t talk about nothing at all.

Santiago Leon
You’re one of the few interviews that we did was anybody else? Yeah. You’re one of the interviews that’s actually on Wikipedia. You’re one of the few so yeah,

Marquis Maze
So I just I just like I say, I’m usually the problem mostly on Twitter is probably the most you can catch me I really don’t do too much social media

Santiago Leon
and what is your your handle for Twitter?

Marquis Maze
My handle for a Twitter Instagram, Twitter and Instagram is maze maze both for and our Facebook is Marquise maze to me

Santiago Leon
Justin Riley what’s the best way to reach you?

Justin Riley
Oh, you can find me on Twitter and Instagram at Justin rally seven on twitter at Justin rally underscore seven on Instagram I also will contribute to the sports cast at the sports cast one as the same on both Twitter and Instagram. also contribute to the site regularly with articles the sports cast dotnet

Santiago Leon
and tell us where we would be expecting your next article. Be about

Justin Riley
I think we are great story here so I have two more equations okay with it put pen to paper and write something

Marquis Maze
that’s fine. I’m cool.

Santiago Leon
Cool our keys Mays, a legend Alabama legend definitely memorable one the first one of the first classes in the Nick Saban era revived Alabama era. Perhaps Nick Saban might surpass Bear Bryant is one of the greatest coaches of all time. We’ll probably see a statue soon. Justin’s hoping. there already is.

Justin Riley
Yeah,

Santiago Leon
yeah.

Justin Riley
In other words, Santiago needs to head down the campus.

Santiago Leon
Yes, hopefully. Well, this would be kind of hard, but you’ll never know. Maybe the SEC will be back in interaction. alone. No.

Justin Riley
We’re gonna be down there. We’re all gonna hang out ramaa jammas before the game and head over the stadium so

Santiago Leon
have some breakfast anyways, and Any closing words from Justin and Mr. keys?

Justin Riley
Yeah, first of all my bad. No, go ahead. Okay. Okay. First of all, before I get my closing words, I will remind everybody tune in next Tuesday 6pm Central. Mark Reese’s teammate Mike McCoy will be on so gonna be a good interview and he actually played a mile high school too. So pretty excited about having him. Close the words man brother, I thank you so much for coming on. It’s been amazing just to follow your journey. And just to see what you’ve done as a player not just almost filled in the stats, but your hard work, your how competitive you are, and just the positive message you put out there and it’s amazing to see the love of the game still exists, you know, and players hearts it’s not just about the money. And that sends a great message to these kids coming up and they really need to listen to that. It was amazing. He Hearing about why you left the Steelers man that just really really got me and you know God definitely use that to bless so many people and I just I thank you for taking the time to speak to guys like us, man and we really appreciate you taking the time out with us.

Marquis Maze
Thanks, man, Matt just appreciate you guys for even wanting to talk to me. Cuz not many people really want to talk about love you. I love you guys too. And I just wanted to hear the rest of the fans Roll Tide.

Santiago Leon
Roll Tide and Roll Tide. Thank you guys when they’re right there. Next Tuesday. Tomorrow we got Tyler Turner talking about the big 10 canceling he’s upset about in our cases not to upset about it. But we’ll definitely be talking about it and we’ll be fleshing out college football because things are still in limbo. But I love it. That makes news excited. Anyways guys, good night and Roll Tide. Roll

Transcribed by https://otter.ai