lang="en-US"> Episode #256: Interview with Juwan Simpson, Former Bama and CFL Football Player – The Sports Cast
Site icon The Sports Cast

Episode #256: Interview with Juwan Simpson, Former Bama and CFL Football Player

Santiago Leon
https://thesportscast.net/podcast-player/11265/episode-256-interview-with-juwon-simpson-former-bama-and-cfl-football-player.mp3?_=1

https://thesportscast.net/podcast-player/11265/episode-256-interview-with-juwon-simpson-former-bama-and-cfl-football-player.mp3

https://thesportscast.net/podcast-player/11265/episode-256-interview-with-juwon-simpson-former-bama-and-cfl-football-player.mp3

In this episode, interview with Juwon Simpson, former Bama and CFL Legend Football Player.

Show Notes

-Woodrow Lowe Most Improved Linebacker Award
-All-SEC Freshman
-Part of a defense that ranked No.1 in the country in 2005
-2005 Academic All-SEC
-2005/2006 Cotton Bowl Champion
-Defensive Captain
-Defensive Player of the Week
-Senior Bowl
-Former Green Bay Packer
-Former Calgary Stampeder
-3x CFL West All-Star
-CFL All-Star
-Finalist for the CFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
-2xGrey Cup Winner
-Alumni of LBU

High School:

-All-State in Football
-All-State in Basketball (first love)
-Finalist for 6A Player of the Year in basketball
-Played both ways in football

Alabama:

2002:

2003:

-Alabama hired former Washington State head coach Mike Price, but Price was fired after spring practice
-Alabama hired Mike Shula

2004:

-Started the first 5 games of the season, but got injured
-Played the remaining 5 games, but not as a starter

2005:

-Started every game in 2005

2006:

-Started 11 games at outside linebacker and finished second on the team with 73 tackles to go along with five tackles for a loss, one interception, two forced fumbles and five quarterback hurries.
-Alabama finished the regular season 6-6
-Mike Shula was fired after a loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl
-Lost to Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl

NFL:

-Participated in the Senior Bowl
-Went to the NFL Combine
-Went undrafted in the 2007 NFL Draft
-Signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers
-Made the practice squad

CFL:

-Signed with the Calgary Stampeders in 2008

-Released in 2016
-Could have signed with another team, but would have taken a pay cut
-Decided to move on from football

you think NFL scouts are overlooking the CFL to recruit roster spots?

Coaching:

-Served as a guest coach with the Stampeders in 2016
-Coaches at James Clemons High School in Madison, AL

Rapid Fire:

which player did you like the most last season of Alabama
how much can you bench?

Transcript

Santiago Leon
Sports cast August 25 2020. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to all our channels, Periscope, iTunes and YouTube. But if you’re on iTunes, please leave a rating and review. It will help us out tremendously. And of course, visit us on sports cast dotnet the sports cast net for the latest and greatest This episode is brought to you by it’s the Bible app. You get the instant Bible app on the iOS App Store. Things are prepping up the NFL. Some false positives but nothing too bad. College Football sits the same where the big 10 and the PAC 12 are still out. sec and ACC are looking good. Big 12 might be the first of the three if they do want to cancel the season. But we got a man that just coming out of work. Justin Riley, welcome back to the sports guys.

Justin Riley
Man I can’t think of a place I’d rather be right now than sitting here. Talking football and then talking alabama football and the guest and with the guests we have tonight.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, exactly. And of course we have our Alabama series but before we get to it, there was some news today at a Tuscaloosa that there’ll be shutting down bars. And Tuscaloosa of course is the home of alabama football in Alabama sports and of course the University of Alabama. Justin, you used to live there, you follow? What’s happening.

Justin Riley
Basically the mayor has called for the shut down of bars and not only bars bars inside sit down restaurants for 14 days with hopes of trying to lower the COVID case numbers. Does that include Rama jam, which does not have a bar sir? Okay. Sure. No, it’s it’s an attempt to try to lower the numbers that are increasing day by day but to be honest with you, closing a bar in a college town Are bars and cut in a college town for 14 days? Is it gonna do a bit of good because after the 14 day ban is lifted, what are college students going to go on to do? Go back to the bars so doesn’t really do a whole lot. If they really want to make a difference. They need to extend the time period a lot longer. Just 14 days.

Santiago Leon
Now I like the Alabama students are they back on campus or has school begun like what is the atmosphere right

Justin Riley
now? They are back believe they came back this past week. So life is trying to resume as normal at the University of Alabama.

Santiago Leon
Quite interesting. Of course we’ll be definitely keeping guys up to date of what’s going to happen in college football. I do feel what my guts telling me a seat will go on. I do like what Mike McCoy said about three games then postpone it that can be very possibility. But we got to let the cards played itself out. Justin Riley can do the honors,

Justin Riley
man Absolutely. But first, Remo jammas has been a staple in the Tuscaloosa community since 1996. People from miles around have driven to experience their game day. atmosphere no matter what time of year it is. Stop by the day and try their fried green tomato a BLT or award winning hamburgers, Remo jammas, where the season never ends. Alright guys, it is Tuesday. And if you’ve been following along for the past four months, you know what that means. We are going to talk with an Alabama legend today man another big one I’m excited about and get ready. The list of his accomplishments is quite long, so we might be here for just a minute but he has definitely earned all of them. He was no the Woodrow low most improved linebacker award winner and all sec freshmen, part of a defense that ranked number one in the country in 2005 2005. Academic all sec 2000 says Cotton Bowl champion. He was a defensive captain, a Defensive Player of the Week a senior bowl invitee he played for the Green Bay Packers and a play for the Calgary stampeders. He was a three time CFL West all star, a CFL all star, he was a finalist for the CFL Defensive Player of the Year award. a two time Grey Cup winner but most importantly, alum alumni of linebacker you ladies and gentlemen jajuan Simpson. Oh man,

Juwon Simpson
hey, what introductions you made you made me feel like I was actually decent.

Santiago Leon
He played it out all day.

Justin Riley
I was trying to create recreate that announcer that we had in the stadium back in the day. I don’t know if it was quite his level, but I wanted to give you a little taste of the past.

Juwon Simpson
Appreciate it. We were just missing like 85 90,000 people that would have made a little bit better.

Santiago Leon
Sure, so tell us and

Justin Riley
we’ll try to put together.

Santiago Leon
So john, tell us where have you been up to? these past couple months during the whole pandemic?

Juwon Simpson
Uh, you know, I’ve been at home miserable without kid. You know, I’ve been at home, I’m coaching a coach right now and we’ve kind of been rolling back into it. For me, the first part of man, I’ll be honest, it really gave me joy to be able to spend time with my kids. Because one thing about, you know, being a prayer, you know, in Canada, I was there for seven, eight months out of the year, being a coach where you just you’re working consistently, you know, I coached football and basketball. So I mean, that’s another six months out of the year. Well, I’m just busy. Well, you know, with the Korean team, and it just really made you slow things down. So you know, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed time. It made me time to relax, meditate, read, all of those things, man. And, you know, it feels good to have some kind of normalcy coming back with football, of course. Before we had on to this interview, do you think the sec will move forward with a full schedule this fall. Oh, yeah, I mean, you know, their move forward with it with how many games they play. You know, I think that’s up in the air. That’s for debate and that’s with any league. But you know, with with high school football starting up, this is I think this is the second week of high school football. Nothing crazy really happening. I think as long as we stay on this course. People try to do the right thing where Matt’s just trying to try to stay clean. keeping ourselves socially distance. Yeah, I think they’ll keep that thing rolling.

Santiago Leon
That’s good that your high school league is still moving forward.

Juwon Simpson
Yeah, they’re still moving forward. You know, we weren’t able to play our first week’s game because the the team player Murphy think they have some issues down there. But yeah, we got a game. We got a game this weekend against that too. So I’m super excited about is our first game. We had a JV game last night. So I mean, all the back just gives you the fields and you know, things just kind of go back to normal and it’s good to see everybody wearing the masks and doing all the things to continue this The game has to move on high school is definitely making headway. So john, we’d like to ask every guest of ours. How did you get into football? Oh, tomorrow from the beginning.

Santiago Leon
From a toddler, your mom gave you a football started.

Juwon Simpson
You know, we grew up playing football in the backyard. And you know, honestly, I was a basketball player. To this day, I still think I’m a better basketball player to football player just not tall. But you know, it got to high school. My freshman year. One of the coaches coach smothers and coach Pierce was like, hey, why aren’t you playing football? I’m like, I don’t know. You know, I’m basketball guy. And go out there my freshman year and just start playing. And next thing you know, I’m decent. Like I’m playing varsity as a sophomore. I’m like second year playing football and playing varsity. And things are just starting to happen man and get a scholarship offer. And I guess at that point, I realized hey, man, this basketball stuff, you might sit it to the side like this football is where it’s at and you Slowly just through playing, you know, you go through you go through a place like Alabama who eats sleeps and breathes football. So you you learn to love it not only as a player but you embrace it as a fan because it’s everywhere you go. And it just sort of became my love. You know, I feel like the game of football is paved many, many roads for me. So my paying it back was dedication and love to the game. Justin, I think that my bleed to wine is our third player that switch from basketball and football.

Justin Riley
Yeah, you know, Terry Jones, Jr. was a basketball players and yeah, yeah, we’ve had a couple of guys that have followed the same path. You know, basketball was our first love and all of a sudden coach came by and you’re still wasn’t away and

Juwon Simpson
you know, that that’s I’m sorry. Just that’s that’s the thing really, is that we were athletes, you know, I remember Terry Jones. I remember those guys, when I came into Bama and we were just athletes. And you know and that’s a whole different subject but kids man they should play multiple sports It was like it was easy for us to transition you know? Cuz you got you got good things for eSports but that’s a whole different topic

Justin Riley
and even more than just you know good you were pretty pretty dang good basketball man you were finalists was six a player of the year all stay is well so I mean how did being good and basketball and necessarily transfer translate over to the football field how that really prepare you for that transition?

Juwon Simpson
Uh, you know, honestly, I made all stayed in football as you were saying I was a better I was a good receiver. You know, defensively I just had a want to in a wheel to talk with the ball. I really felt like I just play sooner in Alabama if I played linebacker, but I was a better receiver man and just the hand eye coordination, the the guarding playing defense, the lateral movement, you know, the change of direction. I mean, all of those things are valuable when it comes to football. You know? For me, it was like hey, Let me just take take the little bit I do know and apply and you know with the coaches good coaching kind of you know narrowed in here and say hey let’s let’s take your basketball and stuff and let’s do it on football and you know coaches are they work with me? That’s less I will say they definitely will. But man it ended up working out for me. You want

Santiago Leon
who was wide receiver? Were you modeling after

Juwon Simpson
work? I was more Terrail was kind of guy. I wouldn’t I wouldn’t. I didn’t think I was overly fast but I could do some some dangerous things once the ball got it.

Justin Riley
You were fast don’t don’t even lie I’ve seen you.

Juwon Simpson
I’ll tell you what, Justin, if we had this. We had the same interview seven, eight years ago. Maybe you get a different but you know a lot more humble.

Justin Riley
Do remember old you want The things I loved about you man you you are afraid you were not afraid to speak your mind and I loved it when you did

Juwon Simpson
much appreciation.

Justin Riley
Well let’s talk about your recruiting What did that look like? Of course everybody knows you know Alabama you know got we got you. But who are some of the other schools that were trying to pull you towards their campus behind the scenes you won?

Juwon Simpson
Say that again?

Santiago Leon
What was like the behind the scenes when it came to recruiting?

Juwon Simpson
Listen there I’m telling you if there was no behind the scenes will be bad. You know, I had Mississippi State Middle Tennessee State Louisville. Albany was recruiting me no offers all who was recruited me, Memphis I those are just surrounding schools. And then I get my offer from Bama. This is before my senior year. So for me, it was like whoa, like I get an offer. I’m telling y’all. I tell people all the time. I didn’t realize I was I guess for lack of better words. As good as I was. I was just a kid playing football. And I’m getting these letters and then you know what people tell you hey man letters. They send letters to everybody, you know, until I get that one letter that says, hey, we want to offer you a full ride scholarship to BAM and I’m like, Whoa, Is this real? I’m serious man. Like literally you know that that went in my eyes that went in my sights. I was just a kid playing sports and when I go down my tell you man, it was it was absolutely the best time I’ve had they were calling me by my first name. You know, it’s just things that it’s things that I never had never experienced. So for me it was like No, this is home. And you know, I think I made a premature decision from from the experience standpoint of experience all the recruiting, but ultimately, man I mean babble was hands down the place for me

Santiago Leon
Who was your close second

Juwon Simpson
with the low of what how to play receiver in Oh, wow. No question about it. That’s what I had Brian Brom and all those guys. Oh, yeah. No question about it. That would have been, that would have been my move.

Santiago Leon
Will you? Like which coach were you? in contact with from Alabama that really like persuade you or Like nausea with a Dabo or anyone from the staff?

Juwon Simpson
No, no, it was a I tell you what it was it was case wrong. Okay, I think is wrong case. He was a secondary coach. He was there were French Tony francione. His first year he was there. An old guy, old school guys a secondary coach. He’s just you know, he used to come. Just, you know, I don’t know it was from Baba, you know to be so he went, really? I didn’t have a close relationship with him. For me, it was more of the players. The babble bells. I can’t lie. It’s the babble bells. There. I mean, Hey, man, I here I am. I’m old and I can admit that stuff now. But all of that stuff was irrelevant to why I went, man, it just ended up being the best thing for me. But the atmosphere, gay atmosphere, something that I just you know, I loved it walking out of that tunnel. And you know, at that point in time, we won a national championship contenders, and they still would have packed out stadiums weekend a week out. So for me, it’s like, Man, this is what it’s about.

Justin Riley
let’s transition to Alabama. Of course, that time you’re coming into a unique situation in Tuscaloosa. We just been placed on two year probation with a bowl ban. However things were looking up under Coach frangipanis second year. What was the atmosphere like and what goals Did you set for yourself coming in?

Juwon Simpson
Man, listen, Justin, this is gonna be the boys interview ever. I had no goals. I’m serious.

Justin Riley
Now, man, we like being real.

Juwon Simpson
No, I’m just being honest, man. I was just a kid who was like, Hey, you know, I’m playing football. I had one thing I was either gonna get a scholarship or go to the army. My daddy told me and you know, he talked about it. I got a scholarship and I was like, Okay, I’m paying for school. I never thought about anything Pro. He was like, just get a degree didn’t matter what just get a degree. So I didn’t have any goals. I knew I wanted to coach but I didn’t want to I didn’t want to do the quote unquote, PE teacher. Whatever. I felt like at that point in time, every athlete did. I mean, I ended up getting a general studies degree, which is still the same, but I just I think Adjusting, I had no guidance, I had nothing. I was just happy to be in college and happy to be playing football. So all of the goals and everything really did come until I got older.

Justin Riley
When I love this, because we haven’t really, I guess, come across a foreign player with that kind of perspective is so yeah, refreshing is great. I love I love that man. I love the honest bringing that side to it.

Juwon Simpson
Well, we didn’t, you know, I say this I didn’t have and not just me as you know, it’s not like I came from the worst outbreak. Never. But I never had anybody that that that went through the recruiting process that could tell me, hey, A, B, or C or they could, you know, there was nothing, anything like that. And you know, there wasn’t any social media. You know, there were guys in the next city over the only way I knew they had a scholarship was to read the newspaper on Signing Day. So it was none of that if you didn’t have the things that you were assessable to in your neighborhood or Own your city. You just went kind of blind and you know, I was just I was blind to a lot of things my parents were to like You know, we weren’t a family full of athletes it just, I was the guy that kind of just happened.

Santiago Leon
well together. So tell us once you got to Alabama, how was atmosphere like how was the program was a championship feel? Was it like rebuilding? How’d you feel when you first walked in?

Juwon Simpson
I knew nothing else. But this is great. You know, I’m around some of the guys. I’ve watched on TV for some years. I mean, we, I felt like the facilities were amazing. But again, I had I really didn’t have anything to compare it to. You know, I come from Austin hospital team, which I thought we were good. But we didn’t have the best facility. So going to Bama was a major upgrade. Like I said, For me, it was just the thing that stood out the most was the atmosphere, the people knowing you the people knowing more about you than say one of your friends or something, you know, for me that was like, wow, that let me know the seriousness or the magnitude of I guess the situation. I was in like, Hey, man, you’re not just a normal kid. Like, you know, you’re a real football player for major college. I don’t know. Honestly, I mean, I’ll tell you I it really didn’t set into me to probably actually start playing a race or a year I was just big eyes bright lights, I was just trying to feel my way around.

I’ll be honest, it wasn’t until I actually had to play to what they said. They’re like, hey, let’s let’s take it serious.

Santiago Leon
Which which player took you like? Like, which players really mentored you like that first year without with Alabama?

Juwon Simpson
Well, Freddie Roach. You know, Freddie Roach is is a guy where he’s from Brooks, which was North Alabama. I was familiar with him being that I lived up in this area. So from the first time I came in him, and Roman Harper, who was weird, they were roommates. And I was really close with both of them. And he brought me in and took me under the wing and just was like, hey, let’s get going. Another guy who a lot of people forget about a shot Williams, okay. Friday. Yeah, Friday and rolling was more of the when I first got to campus, make sure You know, things are okay. Roman was my host on my visit. So, you know, they kind of took care of me but once I got, you know, a year year or two in shock kind of just became that big brother guy, his senior year, you know, he was getting ready to go he end up ended up at Buffalo so he had a really big year. So he’s the guy that kinda, I use the word humble, but he’s the kind of guy who’s been leveled me out. I’m heading into my junior senior

Santiago Leon
sports cast exclusive.

Justin Riley
Sean’s actually still it still Oregon now. No, yeah, he’s an Oregon Yeah.

Juwon Simpson
Yeah. Cristobal. Yeah.

Justin Riley
So how important was that redshirt freshman year for you as far as you know, your growth and your development and just really learning about you know, Alabama.

Juwon Simpson
Well, I wouldn’t read it. Well, it was perfect for me. You know, I was I was six to 185 pounds and they had me a linebacker so you know, I need that year of growth. I turned 18 in my first day of college, or summer school. So I was needless to say I needed that maturity level as well. I needed it, you know, some kids come in, especially nowadays they’re ready. They’re bred for it from from eighth grade, you know? Or not me, man. So it was major. Like I say, I was able to understand school, understand the college life, balance it all together because that’s big, you know, that’s big leave at home, you know, come in whatever you want all that craziness. So I definitely needed it. It definitely helped me out.

Justin Riley
After finishing strong in 2002 with 10 wins, of course, we all know what happened next. In the bottom fell out Coach frangioni he ran away in the middle of the night. My prize was there for about 20 minutes and he had to go tornado disrespect and then we hired first time head coach Mike Shula, you know, what was that experience like for you as a as a player like what was going through your mind when you’re seeing all this stuff unfold and before

Juwon Simpson
you know it No, it was just it was, yeah, it was too much to take in. I mean, it was my redshirt freshman year. So I really couldn’t feel a type of way. I didn’t have a great relationship with francione just because I was still a redshirt freshman. You know, I was just another guy in the building. So when he leaves, it’s like, okay, I mean, it doesn’t bother me. So then price comes in and you know, this is the spring that I’m going to play so I’m in a rotation and you know price I actually like price. I was a great coach. He may practice fun. But he may practice fun and and so when you look at it, I mean, like it’s a whirlwind. So when Shula comes in again, it’s it’s still kind of my my redshirt freshman year. And it’s like, Alright, we’ll we’ll roll with this guy. But, I mean, it was it was just a lot to handle in a short period of time. And, you know, had I not been anything but a redshirt freshman. I mean, I can’t say that I would have wanted to transfer or do things like that. I mean, it’s a lot

Santiago Leon
DWANE tell us your first season with Mike Shula What did he tell you to do? What role were you playing like within the team?

Juwon Simpson
My first season. I mean, I really rarely talked to Mike. Mike, I rarely talk to coach Shula. Coach cause was my guy. He was a linebacker, assistant head coach. That’s what called communication come through. And if you’ve ever heard him talk everything he says you listen to I was an undersized guy. And you know, I started a couple games. When Derek Poe got hurt. I started a couple of games. My redshirt freshman year had a pretty good season end up making a freshman all sec. It You know, that’s that’s kinda where the foundation was laid. You know, I was given opportunity, undersized law back when I made a few plays and you know, coast cars just kind of stuck it out with me through that

Santiago Leon
was your best game that first season.

Juwon Simpson
Probably. Well, I mean, probably all of the games we lost was my best game which is weird.

Justin Riley
So it’s your fault.

Juwon Simpson
I think we’re playing LSU that’s what I had Eli. You know, I think I had 11 tackles Well, we lose that game, Georgia. I think I had seven or eight tackles I recover a fumble fumble for a touchdown. Well, we lose that game. So you know, they weren’t good. They weren’t good.

Justin Riley
And when all bad you won, actually against Ole Miss you had 13 tackles and how many tackles for loss in that game? So Oh, okay. Yeah. Oh, there you can redeem yourself a little bit. Plus, being from Mississippi. I love it when you know, we do stuff to the Mississippi teams. It helps me have a good Thanksgiving.

Juwon Simpson
Every Ole Miss game was a rough game. I’m telling you, man.

Justin Riley
Your eye. A lot of people underestimate Ole Miss. You know, Ole Miss can be just absolute trash, like majority of the year but when they come to Alabama, it’s like, that’s their national championship game and they’re going to play their hardest and they’re gonna be physical

Juwon Simpson
I mean, it goes all the way down to the alabama mississippi game. And I mean, the hatred is real. Yeah, for whatever reason.

Justin Riley
You know, and let’s talk about that first season. You know, it didn’t really seem like you needed like a trial period or time to really test the waters. He like he came onto the field with this veteran mentality. How were you able to make that transition just so easily?

Juwon Simpson
Because I talk a lot of trash. Listen, listen, y’all laugh, man, but I’m being honest. You know, the way I was raised man, it was, you know, not to talk trash browsers raised up around older people. And that was a way for me to kind of amp myself up to get myself going, because I knew one thing if I talked it, I had to back it up or at least try to and man I just, you know, I’ve been a captain on every team I’ve been on so there was no shot is there. It was just a moment of what it was waiting on the opportunity to present itself. So When I got the opportunity, man, I just hate, you know, I told him what I was gonna do and whether I did it or not because it was a rough game, trust me. But

Santiago Leon
would you say that you built that leadership role within your first plane season? within the team?

Juwon Simpson
Oh, yeah. I mean, sorta, you know, at the end of the day, I’m still a freshman. Uh, you know, my four quote unquote redshirt freshmen but I think guys start to understand it. You know, not only was I gonna hold myself accountable, I was gonna hold everybody else accountable as well and I really didn’t care if you were a friend or foe. I mean, if it was about the team we were gonna do we got to do so. I think it just kind of carry with me. You know, for whatever reason guys are humble to a fault they’re quiet to a fault and that’s never been a attribute of mine is being quiet. So I think it just kind of it just kind of roll with it. How was

Santiago Leon
your first iron bowl?

Juwon Simpson
We lost it. So I don’t know. on why we have to go sour on the conversation right there.

Santiago Leon
Totally forgot about that game doesn’t talk about it all the time.

Justin Riley
No, listen, I tried to block out a lot of some of our experiences. And that

Juwon Simpson
was it was a great all of the games are great environments, but I can’t even lie But I mean, you know, cuz it’s the pre game that you love as a player because during the game is what it is. But the pregame part of it is really cool.

Santiago Leon
There must be like, like the biggest hostile environment for you guys to go into, especially when you want to land in Auburn.

Juwon Simpson
Not a chance. Not a chance.

Santiago Leon
Like the most hostile environment that you pay. You imagine that one?

Juwon Simpson
Yeah, Listen, man, listen, you it’s not like run down there. You got little kids shooting your birds and hitting on the

Santiago Leon
tents.

Juwon Simpson
The low it’s a low narrow road and just like many Did I? Am I ready for this? Is this gonna become an actual fight? Like, you know, you don’t? You’re not supposed to touch the team bugs Come on guys. Yeah, no, you’re not supposed to touch the bus. They’re hidden on the bus and all that is Oh, what’s happening?

Santiago Leon
You’re getting pumped up for college football right now. No,

Juwon Simpson
I’m pumping myself up right now.

Santiago Leon
vendors have been no fans here. Well, maybe I don’t know. Right

Justin Riley
okay, after just a short time you know, you experienced more adversity than most people seen a lifetime in Alabama. How did you stay dialed in and focused despite all that was going on around you and what positives Did you take away from it? Oh,

Juwon Simpson
man, it was just you know, you got it you got to kind of find the good and and old in the bad somehow some way.

And you know, I can’t necessarily say everything it was it was a positive but I try to treat everything as a as a learning experience. Good or bad, you know, just trying to learn from But so, you know, I guess I guess that answers your question. I just try to take everything and, and whether it taught me something or I just learned something for future reference or whatever the case. That’s how I tried to handle it.

Santiago Leon
Let’s go into the 2004 season Diwan tell us. What, what ambitions you had in mind? And yeah, tell us like what was that second season plane? How was it like?

Juwon Simpson
Okay, man, listen guys, listen, guys. All right. Listen, it is 2020 right now, and I’ve taken 1000 shots to the head over my career. So hold on. You got to you got to pause with me. Okay, now I gotta dial back to 2004 there we go back to those memory bags. No, man. You know 2004 was kind of a disappointment year for me. Um, you know after after coming off the redshirt year. Thing Brooks Daniels had just left so I was kind of like the legit starter coming into the season. We start the season off the South think it was the second game maybe second or third year. against South Carolina, get a shoulder injury. I mean, I got dumped one line and put their hands on me. Took me for a ride and yeah, he dumped me. And I was hurt then I was I was out for two to three weeks. Never got my starting position. But back I just became a roll guy at that point, which you know, I got reps, but it’s nothing like that, that that starter, so that you’re just kind of just kind of went by I think we’re in for nine that year too. I think it was a really bad year, man. And it just kind of it just kind of flow. So needless to say it kind of gave me a little, a little more motivation headed into that 2005 season.

Justin Riley
Which was a pretty amazing season. When did you know that y’all had something pretty special going into that 2005 season? Of course. We all know that we had the best defense in the country. But what did you do in the offseason? There really set the tone for for that season.

Juwon Simpson
Honestly, I think we had a really good spring. I don’t know why I don’t know what makes me feel that way. I don’t know why that spring stands out to me. But I mean you got you got DJ you got pro throw you got Keith Brown, you know defensively you got Roman hard we were senior lead defensively. I mean, I think at that point we got seven or eight seniors seven maybe starters. So at that point, it’s like man, obviously the whole line you feel good about them. And you just you know, everybody who doesn’t feel good in spring right now who doesn’t think they’re gonna win and Natty in the spring? So I don’t know, man. I think it just was the Florida game I think is what really did it for us. I mean, you know, you can talk preseason and all that. But the Florida game is I think what mentally kind of separated us and let us know we were good enough sports class.

Justin Riley
Well, sticking with that, how important are those victories against floor like you just mentioned and then Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl to the program.

Juwon Simpson
Before the for the win was big, because I think it was at a time where everybody, we were kind of down as a program like you said we were on the we’re on the probation. We were just getting off of the probation. So we didn’t have the scholarships and like I said the year before when the good year. So I think the timing of it was perfect. It was kind of like, is what we needed was because those were the winds that you needed that the big rank team wins. I mean, you’d get your Vanderbilt’s your Southern misses. And, you know, KS was back in South Carolina. But those Florida Georgia was in those games like that all those were big games. So those were staple games, so that sees a man I think that really gave us the boost.

Justin Riley
And I kind of feel like 2005 happened. Well, it got started back in 2003. You know, I noticed when I worked with the team under coach Pollard, there was just something different about you guys. You know, Rudy Griffin even said that he felt like y’all group could go up against anyone sec and beat them. You know, fast forward Two years later, boom, you know that defense was doing their thing. What led to that confident mindset?

Juwon Simpson
You know, I don’t know I don’t know if it’s the preseason awards that the guys were getting, you know, I think Roman was a was a preseason all American thing Mikko was on the bucket list. Thing Mark Anderson might have been preseason all sec. So I don’t know if we just you know, Charlie pepper. I don’t know if we just really felt like, we finally had the pieces together or what you know. But again, man, you know, confidence and winning, you know, that winning breeds confidence and, you know, confidence breeds success. So, I think it all was a domino effect that played a part together. All right.

Justin Riley
Well, let’s transition into your senior year, you know, going into that season. I guess this was what you know, your season, this was your senior year, you get a chance to do something special. What was your what were your goals going into that year as a as a team and as an individual?

Juwon Simpson
Well, we know we lost a lot We lost a lot and like I say, seven seniors on defense. We lost a lot on offense. You know, my whole thing was okay, here is we lost a lot. Now, you know, I honestly didn’t think we were gonna be as good as we were the year before. Just offer, you know, people go. And honestly, man, it was just like I just hold things down, we want to finish, be around the same same Statistical Area as last year’s defense and go from there. And, man, we just didn’t win the games. We want to win. We had young guys that had to step in to play and it just it just wasn’t it wasn’t a year that we needed a debate.

Justin Riley
So you weren’t really really feeling it. Even with a lot of talent we had coming back on both sides of the ball. I still felt like, in a way maybe this is just me being you know, biased. I felt like we had a lot of a lot of good pieces coming back and we could have maybe have repeated what we did the previous year.

Juwon Simpson
Well, I mean, we did but for me it was it was online. I think. I think online. We lost some guys Which you know what gave us some trouble in the second half of that 2005 season. We had young guys that we had to depend on. We had Prince Hall, who was a freshman middle linebacker, we had Simeon Castillo, who I think at that time was just a freshman or sophomore baby who ended up having an amazing year. We had a Ramsay Robinson who had always been playing nickel now he’s out at corner. We had a Marcus Carter who was a safe these, like all these guys played for us, but none of them had any like proven time outside of Ramsey, Rob’s and of course semia was a was a highlight reel waiting to happen, but we had a lot of just parts who I was not just me, but just were questionable, just from lack of playing time. So that’s I think that’s why I didn’t feel as confident. Offensively, you know, you lose Brody Crowe. I mean, john Parker’s good. I mean, but Brody hat. It’s the Brody ball, right? He has his own ball. I mean, he is easy to say those guys can be replaced but, you know, one year later, it was tougher.

Justin Riley
Right. And course, you know, like you said, it didn’t quite turn out the way we’d all hoped. And we’ve finished six and seven. And as we all know, she was let go, what was that fair? Like? And at that time, do you feel like them letting go of Mike Schiller was the right decision.

Juwon Simpson
You know, that’s, that’s neither here nor there for me to say, honestly. You know, they felt like they made that decision. I mean, I think you could have let us let us get him for the bowl game, not the dead matter. But, I mean, it wasn’t a couple extra days if you go fire, you know. But ultimately, man, you know, at that point in time, that might have affected the younger class more than the did us the seniors. I think at that point, it was just it was a tough season. It was a tough season. And of course, we wanted to fit in finish roll with Oklahoma State and that was such a tough loss. So you know, think about it, man. That was just the icing on the cake for for everything. You know what I’m saying like that, yeah, a game. Just really kind of, it just kind of showed you what the season was which sucked.

Santiago Leon
To one no prices into the NFL tell us what was the whole process leading up to the NFL Draft? What were scouts telling you?

Juwon Simpson
I was cool man it was real good experience. You know I flew out I trained out in ek sports out in Arizona went out there and trained for three months went to the senior bowl which was a great experience was around some real talented athletes okay. was able to come was able to do the combined experience in which I think are true. Like I say there’s no I think it’s overrated. But I do see what they’re I don’t see what the The more you see that the compound? Yeah, well, I just think, you know, they rely too much on numbers that don’t really attain the football per se Now don’t get me wrong. The guys that make it to the combine they have they have to do some decent but I mean, you can get a guy there who was just a freakish athlete and he tests well, and you’re going to give him this big old contract or For a guy who who don’t football field proves that he can play but he doesn’t he doesn’t run a four four or 540 or something he runs a four eight you know that’s the thing that just gets me but nonetheless I mean that that is what it is but it was all a great experience man and then a draft you know that’s the only thing I wish I would have got my name called it didn’t get called I was free agent but I’m fine it was for me it was still a blessing because he was still further than a lot of people that ever been so I was happy with it.

Justin Riley
I had to agree with you on on what you just saying earlier. I think a lot of times people can have these great combine numbers and you know, post a big shiny object and it catch the attention of everybody and they base their draft picks on that rather than a body of work. And I think they’re missing out a lot of great players by doing that. So I gotta agree with you on that

Santiago Leon
which is similar to like the rating system when it comes to recruiting some people are like underrated, you know, like there are too many But they’re really a four or five star. Yeah, yeah. It’s quite interesting. Some plays are our disagreement with those type of systems.

Juwon Simpson
And I’ll tell you this and not to kind of go back but, you know, I was just two stories coming out of high school. Maybe been a three star way underrated there. Well, I don’t I don’t know. I can’t say that. But I just know there were some five stars that didn’t that never seen the field. You know, I know there were some five stars that never made it through camp, you know. So those are the things that kind of opened my eyes to the whole rating system and all that is, you know, I’m not saying this was a scam scheme, or none of that, you know, I do think some people are legit, but also think some people just didn’t have the exposure and they’re not as good as they are. But, you know, again, I’m just I’m just a high school coach right now.

Santiago Leon
Yeah. Which a lot of players fall within the cracks and even Justin Riley says it I mean, he’s not a pro recruiting system, but maybe haven’t like changed a bed or something.

Juwon Simpson
Yeah. It’s hard. It’s hard man. I say there’s 1000 colleges out there as hard to find. I mean, so whatever, whatever it is, it works. But, you know, I just think when somebody guys that are five stars, they just developed a little bit early or, you know, they’re just that monster in a one a league who has 3000 yards, but if he was in a bigger classification, he would do that. But again, that’s,

Santiago Leon
that’s neither here nor the podcast. We talk about it here a lot. So

Justin Riley
we could have a whole nother podcast on Tyler. Which I want to do, definitely. Now, I was not lost. You did get picked up by the Packers. So let’s kind of go through that process with us and what your time with the Packers was like,

Juwon Simpson
it was amazing. I’ll be honest, Charlie pepper was there. And that was probably the worst thing for me. Well, no, no, no, no, don’t take don’t take it the wrong way.

Santiago Leon
I have no idea what’s going on at that time.

Juwon Simpson
Charlie was Roman was like what a Roman heart was like my best friend in college or whatever. We hung together all the time. It was his roommate. So which may Charlie? All of us like really? To this day? We’re still really close. So when I go there, just having Charlie there gave me a sense of I wouldn’t say relaxation, but it just I didn’t have that same I didn’t have that same drive. I didn’t have that. I’m the only man here I got it. You don’t I mean, it’s just it just wasn’t that so not not nothing to him. I’m just saying for me in my in my mental state again. You know, I don’t know if I was I don’t know if I understood the situation that I was in or you know, I don’t think so. But I don’t know it was it was a good experience. I was there through the spring played a couple of games

you know, not through the spring. Yeah. Through the spring played a couple games in the fall and yeah, man, next thing you know, I get that tap on the shoulder says, hey, it’s time to turn your stuff in. So Yeah.

Justin Riley
But it ended up being one of the best things for you career wise, because after that your time in the CFL began. Yeah. And a lot of foreign players we’ve talked to had the mindset of NFL or nothing. You know, some of you looked down at options like the CFL, but what was your attitude like going into the sea?

Santiago Leon
Before that jajuan tell us how did the CFL like approach you and all that before you joined but like, how was that whole process like,

Juwon Simpson
oh, man, okay, I think I was I was on a cruise. Okay. I was like, hey, when I get back to land, I’m gonna get my resume together. Because that by this point, I’ve been released by Green Bay. I tried out for different other teams, couple of workouts, Seattle and Cincinnati. Had a couple workouts, neither one of those panned out. So this is this was around Christmas time. Excellent. I say hey, when I get back to land, I’m gonna do my resume. Well, lo and behold You know, before I get back to playing, I got a call from my agent is like, hey, call me. So and So long story short, Chris Jones, who at that time was the defensive coordinator, the Montreal alouettes. And he was like, Hey, would you be interested in coming to Canada? Or you could play football get pay, like we could, you know, you know, college kid, if any money was good for me, so long that didn’t pan out for whatever, they end up picking up a quarterback. So I’m at home during the spring and all of a sudden, Chris Jones goes to Calgary. And he calls me this is in the spring, it was like, hey, all four still on the table if you want a different team, same offer. So I went with it, man, and we had to go to DeLand, Florida, which I don’t really know where that is, but it’s Florida.

Santiago Leon
Orlando. Yeah.

Juwon Simpson
Oh, yeah. Okay, I guess that’s where we did fly into through for a week. had like 4050 guys, I guess they’d given the opportunity to compete. We competed it didn’t expect to have an offer so we’d have to count them and it was really different but it was still up to this day

Santiago Leon
to one I hit tell us how was the game within the CFL was a completely different from what you experienced in college and obviously your short time with the NFL, but how was the game like?

Juwon Simpson
Oh, the game? It was different. Okay, a I’ve been playing linebacker all my life, okay. They get they get I get up here and they tell me they want me to play defense event. And I’m like, whoa, wait a minute. Oh, no. But again, do I get a check? Okay, I can do it.

Santiago Leon
I like that attitude.

Juwon Simpson
You know, but I tell you, man, it ended up being the best thing. For me. It saved my career. I think just because it taught me so much more about you know, the law. backer position he taught me how to use my hands more how to kind of beat the deal on and you know the first couple years I was really just a sponge because I didn’t know any better and I became really good at that and just didn’t pan out really good because I was like 1215 pounds at this point so I was really small and he was like hey we’ll give you give you a shout at law backer and I truly believe that that shot was either you make you either started at linebacker or you get fired, you know so I had an amazing fall camp man and my third year I ended up starting at middle linebacker and the rest just kind of goes you know.

Santiago Leon
And how was like the level like a play for the CFL? Was it at a high level like the NFL or was it like, two steps back?

Juwon Simpson
Well, I tell you what, I take the skill position. And I’ll tell you nowadays, okay, it is completely different. Okay, the CFL has evolved. And it’s it’s really really talented. Okay. It’s really a challenge me across the board when I came in I did think we they were weaker up front o line and D line I did think that’s where the the difference was. But skill guys oh man skill guys skill for skill. I think any skill person can play both way like NBA play CFL NFL and vice versa. I mean it’s just so much more space. It’s a lot of running. It’s a lot of movement. So for me that the skill positions the linebackers, running backs, receivers and all quarterbacks, all of that was identical but you know, there wasn’t any 643 25 D tackles or anything you know, it was a definitely a smaller league around that area. Very light. Was there any chance that by NFL scouts were looking you will plant the CFL and maybe a potential second chance to play back in the NFL. If it would have been a chance it would have been 2010. That was the year. That was a year my Defensive Player of the Year We end up losing a semi final game to go to the championship. Just had a really good year that year, but I ended up having wrist surgery. And then listen for me again. I wouldn’t work I was having the time of my life, you know? Canada they would treat me well I was I was a superstar and I was a normal Joe at the same time. And you can’t you just don’t get that you don’t get that. And that’s what makes the CFL so good because you so the fans are so accessible to you. So, you know, nobody gets the big head. Nobody does anything like that. You just you just having fun and playing ball and enjoying the fruits and labor have been a superstar man. So it was it was really cool.

Justin Riley
And let’s talk about you being a superstar. Didn’t you very long to achieve that status status man. I’m ready to great All Star selections, finalists for the most outstanding defensive player, man, how were you able to just become such a dominant dude in that at that level?

Juwon Simpson
What do you think I’m about to say, Justin?

Justin Riley
Well, I know what you’re going to say but the audience needs to hear.

Juwon Simpson
I talk a lot of trash.

Justin Riley
Honestly, so you were the prime time the CFL What are you saying? Well,

Juwon Simpson
I you know, I wouldn’t even say that but I literally like people don’t like why people Okay, let’s just call a spade a spade you know, people can say hey, let’s be humble, be quiet, you know, be a good gentle person, whatever the case they will remember you. All right, good people. People always finish last. So for me, it was like, Nah, I’m already loud. I love the crowd. I love people. You know, so just use that, you know? And I’m gonna I’m an intense guy. And again, I backed up or I tried my best to backup everything I talked about and, and one thing about it, man, as a man, you’ll respect another man if he just gives you his all. And you know, I think that’s kind of why I took guys like man, if he messes up, he’s the first one to take it on the chin. Say is his problem. But he’s the first one to get after YouTube. And so I just think, you know, people respect that at the end of the day, they respect you being real. And on every level man, I ultimately think that’s what kind of guy I gotta say look up to, but that’s what kind of made guys kind of get in line and say, Hey, this guy’s our leader.

Justin Riley
Hey john, did you miss your calling in the WWE?

Juwon Simpson
It’s crazy. You say that just you know i was i was a major fan every Monday. Every Sunday every Thursday. That’s all we did

Justin Riley
in college man

Santiago Leon
who was favorite wrestler?

Juwon Simpson
Oh, the rock but I like the Goldberg Stone Cold was bastard I like Stone Cold justice. He didn’t really care about much. And he said a few bad words. So that used to entertain me.

Santiago Leon
That is our sports cast culture. We like wrestling in the rock, even home side. So you won you want to great cups, that’s pretty good. Tells you experience winning those and was it like Super Bowl as like field. We played?

Juwon Simpson
Well, the first year I was just I was a rookie, you know, my first year up there. And literally that year was the same thing as my first year but I’m just having fun. I’m a rookie, I’m playing ball. I’m a grown. I can’t nobody tell me nothing. I’m getting paid. Like, you know, I’m saying, oh, like, I’m just having the time of my life seriously. And next thing you know, we’re playing for a great cup. I wasn’t a starter, I end up starting the game, but I wasn’t a true star. And I was more of a role player that plays 60 70% of time. And man, I mean, we, you know, we win, and we celebrate, we do all of the things and but again, it didn’t really stick in to me because I didn’t work for anything. It was just kind of, I was a part of it. The second one man, which I got a year before I retired, that was the one that truly just meant something because I was older. All the other stuff was behind me in the wins truly meant something to me. So, you know, I’ve never been in a Super Bowl. I’ve never been to a Super Bowl. But I mean, it I it’s got to be close. It’s got to be close. And it was it was an amazing experience and it was an amazing experience to be on. The team and it was an amazing experience to be like the key cog in the of the defense of one of the top players you know, so I seen it from both views and the older I got the more special it became.

Justin Riley
What made you decide that you know, it was time to depart from the CFL?

Juwon Simpson
Oh, I got released

Santiago Leon
about that, like why

Justin Riley
other teams but you didn’t take them?

Juwon Simpson
Yeah. Here’s the thing, bro. It it kind of got it kind of got a family man. You know, I pride myself in being a good father and wanting to be a good father. always told myself you know, because of the cloud of fathers. Like I wouldn’t Don’t be a bum father. So for me, it was like Okay, can I go back and play? Yes, but are they don’t pay me what I’ve been getting paid or you know, because it’s one thing to go to work, but you know, I’ll tell you why. Right now, hey, I’m going to work and I’ll bring back $10 at the end of the week advocate feed the family. It’s a problem, right? So, right, you know, had I went back to play, it would have been completely selfish. You know, I would have left the family for, you know, after the exchange rate. And so, it was, it was almost small penny. So, uh, you know, I had a smooth transition to coaching I had an opportunity there. So, you know, that’s the hardest thing about playing sports is that transition, you know, what are you gonna do when you’re when you’re done, and for me, it was a smooth transition. So that alone made it really, really easy for me.

Santiago Leon
He tells that transition with coaching and how, if you liked it, tell us all about that.

Juwon Simpson
It’s tough man. Because physically, I was still able to play mentally. I was still able to play, but I just had to, I just kind of had to switch my mindset around. But then it was good because I was young. I had half the energy the kids kind of really locked in Oh, because I coach right at my hometown where I was from so kids automatically Do me so automatically had their ears when I talk. So it was a real seamless transition. And I was back in my hometown, so it was really good for me. And it kept my mind off of playing, you know, I got the whole locker room feel from being around the coaches and all of that. So it was really good for me.

Justin Riley
And kind of tell us when you actually transition from the player to come and coach Simpson, we know we know him as a player, but watch cozzens in line,

Juwon Simpson
not the same, the exact same. You know, leader to me as a leader, regardless of what you are, where you are, you’re gonna lead the same way. I’m still a loud talker, I still get the guys going, you know, because nothing changes as a leader on the field is essentially a coach on the field, you know? So all I’m doing now same coaching, just just not tackling anybody.

Santiago Leon
How’s the style play right now? I mean, what are you seeing now with focus ball has the game changed since you played high school?

Juwon Simpson
It the game hadn’t changed I think what people are trying to do changes you know when I was coming through everybody wanted to run the ball you know I remember being at Alabama Alabama still does it you know it was weekly toss right you know we played Ole Miss and it was power right power left you know? Yeah you know so that’s all they did. Whereas now everything’s so spread out you know, when I when I was in the combine, I was I was the combine I was six I think six two and a half to 21 Okay. Which at linebacker which No, no, that’s at that time we had a big guys who were 245 john beets it might have been 235 to 40 guys like that. Here I am just a beanpole. Okay whereas they take it to nowadays they got smaller linebackers, right so they can run with their seat because it’s such a spread out game. So the game the game is the same. You still X’s and O’s but I think what people are trying to do, I think it is goes full circle. We know now everybody’s spraying it back out but eventually they’ll get that same a little bit they’ll want to run it again.

Justin Riley
Yeah, comes away Justin won’t be

Santiago Leon
here before like we answer rapid fire and I have one Yeah,

Justin Riley
absolutely. Okay. What I guess you’ve played with her you play for a long time. What are some of the biggest things or takeaways you got from your long career whether high school college CFL that you really want your players now to really understand and grasp.

Juwon Simpson
You know, the saying of you never know when is your last game? I don’t think I don’t think people understand that. Because you truly don’t know. You know, you see so many of these crazy injuries. You see. So you know, play like is your last i think that’s that’s the phrase that’s taken for granted. You know, even in the work well, we go to work. Sometimes we just take things for granted. That’s the only thing like now I tell you, I’m just football. I miss everything about it. I tell him the high school level. This is the one even y’all y’all guys, the high school football is the one brand of football that is still PR. And you will always remember high school football. And that’s what I tell these kids like, don’t you know, I know some kids that didn’t play a down in high school. But if you talk to them and you ask them about their experience in high school, they It was amazing because they gave it all their hand. So yeah, you know, that was the one thing I mean, I look back and I still remember my last few plays a pro. I mean, I still remember but you know, at the time, excuse me language skills are at the time I really I really thought I was gonna play again. I’ll be back next year. So that’s the one thing man i think that you know, coaches players, even people we take for granted. Don’t want everything like is your last

Santiago Leon
year of football. You know, you can be one blow away from your career ending so it’s quite interesting that I’m back to the CFL, which I’m really curious. Do you think that the NFL scouts overlooked at the end The whole league itself Do you think like they’re overlooked? Or like do you think they are their boots on the ground but they’re just like the talent, it’s just not there?

Juwon Simpson
Well, you’d be surprised how many people actually get get signed out, you know, now do they get tired and become you know, highlight pro prolific players? Not Not really. But I mean they do get sun I mean, the one that probably stands out is Brandon Brown. You know, I played with him when he was a Calgary he gets assigned he gets to Seattle and you know when I get to two championships, you know, delvin Breaux, who was out in without in St. Louis, I mean, I saw St. Louis bow out with the saints and drill Freeman who’s with us, I mean, these are these are just a few I know cam wake me Yeah, he was. You know, he was really the first big name i think that you know, because I was my first year he was a really big name and candidate. Then you know, he comes to the NFL and tears it up so they know people But no. Is this is is growing now more so than definitely than it was when I was there though

Santiago Leon
Do you think like the xfl which hopefully will start next spring Do you think that’d be a good thing for like the for for football itself you know potentially bringing like a second chance for that that player player to play for the height the NFL?

Juwon Simpson
I think so I mean, but it really just depends. I mean one thing I do know is a lot of good football players in the world. Yeah, that don’t get opportunity for whatever reason. You know, honestly if you you know, think back of it, life is about opportunity. And you know what works for you may not work for the next man and vice versa. So, you know, guys get these shots. Yeah, I’ll use me For example, I went to Green Bay, but I didn’t really get a shot anywhere else like trueshot. So who knows what if I would have went to let’s say, Texas or something like that. Like that. was with the Texas who knows that that not had been home. So it was all about opportunity. So that’s why I think, you know, give these guys opportunities have 15 legs, if you can play them, give them opportunity, you’ll see something talent or it comes from top.

Santiago Leon
That’s the key, the opportunity and if they get paid so CFL does rapid fire quick questions, quick answers. I’ll go first jawan who was the best player that you played? I mean, who like which opponent team had like the best player that you played against?

Juwon Simpson
I’ll probably go with Arkansas, when they had Felix Jones and there they had a big fan of both teams and they you know, that’s when they introduced that wasn’t a Wildcat. Yeah,

Santiago Leon
interesting.

Justin Riley
Yeah, the wild hog.

Juwon Simpson
Wow. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Justin Riley
And I admire your interception still that directory in that game, I guess.

Santiago Leon
Good memory

Justin Riley
play when we

Juwon Simpson
know Go back. Yeah, my return game was a little suspect though.

Justin Riley
Well, you know what’s harder meeting the expectations of Alabama fans are your own

Juwon Simpson
whole but I mean Alabama fans man they expect the national championship every year. I mean 10 wins is good enough now so it’s tough to beat. Yeah.

Santiago Leon
Which which school or like which Dagon? Do you really despise like the most? Georgia,

Juwon Simpson
Mississippi State Mississippi State? Oh Mississippi.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, those

Justin Riley
Those cow bells.

Juwon Simpson
Yeah. Go by bad I’m sorry. No, no,

Santiago Leon
no. Which, like, which supporters. They really this buys the most was it Georgia? Or Auburn?

Juwon Simpson
Oh, all over Of course I you know if you’d asked me over Tennessee I’d have a different answer but you know allbritton man, you know Hey, I just did I lost him so many times so yeah

Santiago Leon
yeah, God

Juwon Simpson
la Tennessee I hate the fans little gosh

Justin Riley
awful orange anyway.

Santiago Leon
Like, were you ever has they have they ever tried to reach out to you when they would like when you were in high school or?

Juwon Simpson
Oh Tennessee nah not I mean nothing else out of the recruits letter that everybody gets but nothing. Another form of back there.

Justin Riley
I got a good question. What does john Simpson look like in a Nick Saban defense? Good question. strong safety.

Juwon Simpson
I’m not I’m not allowed to I was strong safety or safety and I’m potentially a first round pick.

Justin Riley
I agree with that.

Juwon Simpson
I mean, I mean, just off of what he does and my size, I wouldn’t play Lombok at all for him.

Santiago Leon
Who is your favorite lb of all time?

Juwon Simpson
Can I vote for myself?

Santiago Leon
You could?

Justin Riley
Yeah.

Juwon Simpson
You know, man, I’ll be honest, uh, you know to make oh man DeMaio was a heck of a player role. And I you know, Freddie was good. You know, I played with Derek Pope who was good. But man Mikko was was a different type of linebacker, man. I tell you, I tell you another good guy that I thought was really good. I didn’t play with him long. But Patrick Willis. I played with him at the senior bowl. That game that guy’s good to now and you know, he was one of it. You know, I thought I should have started but I wasn’t mad that he was a starter like he was a player.

Justin Riley
Now one of your former teammates actually actually told me to ask this question. Can you tell us about the time that you busted Mac Adele’s live in practice and did he ever run around in your area again?

Juwon Simpson
No, I tell you, I do not remember that. I don’t. I do not need to.

Justin Riley
I was talking to him today. He said, Yeah, man, he busted my lip and practice, and I had to be taken off the field by the trainers. Oh, come on,

Juwon Simpson
man. I was a nice guy, man.

Justin Riley
He said he said I do. I do think he apologized. But he thought it was the funniest thing. So he told me I probably

Juwon Simpson
I probably did. And I was a nice guy. I probably did apologize.

Santiago Leon
DWANE how much can you bench today? I mean, I mean, what was your max of all time?

Juwon Simpson
Oh, that 365 is the most I’ve ever gotten. I mean, yeah, that’s it, but I couldn’t even do 300 now if you paid me.

Justin Riley
As long as it’s moving. That’s all it matters brother.

Santiago Leon
500 right, Justin is You’re

Justin Riley
not anymore No I’m still doing all right. All right if you had to do it all over again would you have been a two sport start Alabama?

Juwon Simpson
I probably would have just played receiver to be honest. I probably would have put the linebackers on shelf.

Santiago Leon
Okay. Who was your favorite basketball player after Michael Jordan?

Juwon Simpson
Who was my favorite? Uh, Kevin Garnett Really? Well yeah, just because you know I’m a mentality kind of person and you know, kg was he brought it every day and you didn’t know he taught crazies talk to the basketball but one thing about it he played and you know, he gave it all he gave it his all every time he was out there. So I was a big chemicon Fn.

Justin Riley
Best barbecue spot in Tuscaloosa.

Juwon Simpson
Yeah, I guess everybody want me to say dreamland?

Justin Riley
not been the popular answer. Hey,

Juwon Simpson
it’s not dreamland. But this this place and in Tuscaloosa, my dad used to always getting on the way to Tuscaloosa but it’s not dreamland. Greenland is good, but this place is like right outside of Tuscaloosa. I don’t know what’s name

Santiago Leon
of Justin goes to all of them

Justin Riley
are how Archibald?

Juwon Simpson
Archibald is Archibald?

Santiago Leon
Yeah, answer right Justin.

Justin Riley
It is it has been the most common answer. Terry Jones said it was his dad. But oh yeah, yeah,

Santiago Leon
yeah. Nice guy.

Justin Riley
Yeah, I said coach TJ could do the best in Tuscaloosa.

Juwon Simpson
I don’t doubt it. I don’t doubt it.

Santiago Leon
With NFL team do you currently

Juwon Simpson
do I root for Yeah, I don’t I roof of players but if I have to pick one, I gotta go. I can’t say I gotta go with Tampa because the time I’m gonna Tom Brady got to

Santiago Leon
wait, he’s looking good. I heard that the Tampa Bay defense is really hungry right now. And of course when they face each other in practice, it gets quite challenging

Juwon Simpson
to go. He’s the goat

Santiago Leon
your favorite Bam player from this previous season

Juwon Simpson
favorite Bama player from this previous season. Ah, man, I’m gonna go with a Brian Ray just because he’s from this area, and I think he has a bright future in front of

Santiago Leon
first time we hear that answer, Justin.

Justin Riley
I know. He’s gonna have a breakout season if he wouldn’t been hurt this past season. He definitely would have been in an all American list.

Juwon Simpson
100% he’s, I mean, I’ve been watching that kid since he’s been at hospital. He’s definitely gonna have a bright future.

Justin Riley
He definitely want to change the face of our defensive line this past season, man if he would have been up front there’s no question about it.

Juwon Simpson
No question. No question at all. Oh Randolph to kill the random that’s my cousin. So yeah, he’s he’s.

Santiago Leon
Don’t forget about him.

Juwon Simpson
Yeah. You know, he’s gonna do some fun things this year too.

Justin Riley
Well, down player from this last draft, would you select on your fantasy team? Your question? Oh, man. I’m out.

Santiago Leon
Has to be Jeudy

Juwon Simpson
I mean, yeah, it almost has to be you know, like, I like rugs, man, but

Justin Riley
he’s been the common answer.

Santiago Leon
Yeah. Judy has a good setup.

Juwon Simpson
Yeah, but I like rugs. He’ll get loose on you, man. No. And I liked his highlight tape. He’s ducking out at basketball. Yeah. Are you go with Jeudy

Santiago Leon
And Joanne Lastly, or maybe Justin, I have one more. How do you have your pancakes?

Juwon Simpson
pancakes. I’m a waffle guy.

Santiago Leon
Okay. Oh, fair enough. Okay, yeah,

Juwon Simpson
waffles, bunch of syrup. No butter. So

Justin Riley
I’ve got all my questions, man. You’ve definitely answered the way I want them.

Juwon Simpson
Hey, man, I appreciate y’all. I definitely appreciate y’all for giving me the opportunity to speak.

Santiago Leon
Anthony Simpson. Wow. I mean, sorry.

Juwon Simpson
My government name Oh God. Oh my god.

Santiago Leon
It’s all natural. By the way, I’ve been using zoom way too much for the past four months. Which I am waiting to I’ve actually gotten used to it. So I’ve definitely grown myself. Exactly. Well, I’m closing words Justin.

Justin Riley
Before you do the closing words, I need to remind the listeners of a couple things. Former Alabama linebacker Marvin constant will be on this Thursday to promote his new book, physical and mental fitness at 40 Plus, he’s gonna preview the SEC and he’s also gonna be a part of a special announcement that we have with the sports cast. So you want to tune in in there, it’s gonna be 5pm Central. Next Tuesday, former Alabama and Dallas Cowboys legend running back Sherman Williams never heard of this.

Santiago Leon
We think about Marvin constant jajuan Hey

Juwon Simpson
now you know you asked me about linebacker now he was a monster. Yeah, he’s the guy that I admired when I played I still think Holly up to this day.

Santiago Leon
Have you seen him? He doesn’t look forward he kinda was like

Juwon Simpson
hey that’s why you write a book anyway you look like that. Me one, you know a few years for 40 but if I look like that I’m Bill problem.

Justin Riley
As far as closing words you want a man I just want to thank you for coming on. It really means a lot to me. You’re definitely one of my favorite players from you know, the air that I was there and then you you were there after I had graduated but always love what you brought to the game. Your tenacity, your heart, your hard work, your work ethic, your leadership, and it’s just been amazing washer washing every step of your journey man and I just, I like the message that you are putting out there not only for the fans but now for these kids you have coming up and these kids are in great hands or they’re going to become great young man not only on the field but my So, man, I just thank you again. It’s been a true blessing, just spending this time with you.

Juwon Simpson
Hey, thanks again. Man. I you know, I try I try to I try to lead by example. You know, and I tell these kids not only what I’ve done, but what I missed out. But again, I appreciate y’all man. And I hope I get the invite back. You are definitely come

Santiago Leon
on. You could come back after a big Alabama win like LSU that’d be freaking awesome. Um, one more thing, what is the best way for people to reach you? If they have a son that wants to get trained by you or anything like that, which is social media.

Juwon Simpson
Simple, one, two. You can find me on step 120. Most of all love them. RG Twitter. Yeah. look me up.

Santiago Leon
And then you’re having Of course

Juwon Simpson
well either way. Thank you just follow y’all. Y’all tagged me. They can Just follow your way Yes.

Santiago Leon
Which I forgot to actually with our broadcast tonight but anyway Justin Riley, what’s the best way for people to reach you to talk to you about how to bench 500 pounds? Yes, I

Justin Riley
can do that do my degrees in exercise science. I worked with Ben Pollard, who was arguably one of the best strength coaches in college football during that time. I think you want to definitely agree to that, especially what he did from a physical standpoint to our team. Yeah, great. If you want to learn I definitely am a guy who can teach you some things I’m still powerlifting at my age, so I still got a little bit less knowledge

Santiago Leon
waiting on Gustin got a lot of gas left in your tank.

Justin Riley
Absolutely. Um, but I won’t be like Marvin constant.

Juwon Simpson
we all we all do.

Justin Riley
Yeah, follow me on Twitter or Instagram on Twitter is at Justin rally seven. Instagram is at Justin Riley. underscore seven also helped contribute to the sports cast on Twitter that’s at this force cast one Same for Instagram.

Santiago Leon
And of course you can follow us at the sports cast one on Twitter or at the sports cast. dotnet. Tomorrow we have Nick Rosetta, he will be talking a little bit about soccer and of course college football because there’s something you know, could be some any breaking late breaking news or anything but, you know, but what’s going on right now is the NBA playoffs, and so on. Who do you think will win at all?

Juwon Simpson
I gotta go with the Lakers man. I mean, you just can’t. You just can’t count. You’re a

Santiago Leon
wrong fan right over cocoa. I’m

Juwon Simpson
not but I just realized. I do give him that respect.

Santiago Leon
He’s definitely up there. And I think he’s second place, right? Um, Justin after Jordan.

Justin Riley
No, no, no, it can be Brian. I’m sorry. I’m a Lakers fan and a lifelong Lakers fan, but I’ve never been a LeBron fan. I got mad respect for the guy like you said you won but I’ve never been on the big LeBron

Santiago Leon
bandwagon, even though you like the sports center notifications

Justin Riley
I mean LeBron center runs better.

Santiago Leon
Anyways, Justin jawan It’s been a pleasure. We’re definitely have one more week of the Alabama legends and after that we’ll definitely let you guys know what’s gonna happen Tuesday night and really excited sports cast is expanding. That’s on Wednesday. DWANE God bless.

Roll Tide

Juwon Simpson
God bless y’all. Man row Todd. Thanks again.

Justin Riley
Blessing. Roll Tide.

Santiago Leon
Roll Tide. go next, David

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Related posts:

  1. Podcast: #Oregon Defeats Nevada 77-6 | Sports Cast w/Ty Turner @TurnerCast #NEVvsORE #Ducks
  2. Episode #299: NFL Week 7 Preview 2020
  3. Ole Miss Sam Williams Shocks NFL Scouts with Blistering 40-Yard Dash Time
  4. 2022 NFL Draft First Round Recap
Exit mobile version