Eddie George talks Deion Sanders and Ed Reed's departures from HBCUs | EP. 72 | CLUB SHAY SHAY

I hated y'all I especially hated you. because you caught that wheel route yeah. and I said what they can't score y'all. had 112 yards of offense. and won the game. all my life they're grinding all my life. sacrifice hustle paid the price wanna. slice got the roll the dice that's why. all my life I'll be grinding all my life. all my life been running all my life. sacrifice Hustle by the price wanna. slice got to roll a dice that's why all.

my life I've been grinding all my life. foreign. I am your host Shannon sharp I'm also. the proprietor of club shayshay and the. guy that's stopping by for conversation. and a drink today is a Heisman Trophy. wearing a big ten offensive player of. the year College Football Hall of Famer. NFL offensive Rookie of the Year a. four-time pro bowler first team All-Pro. a Titans Ring of Honor and Doug T has. his number 27 retired for the Tennessee. Titans and the Ohio State Buckeyes a.

actor a producer entrepreneur and the. head football coach of an HBCU Tennessee. State Eddie George man what's up Bro Dog. it's been a while it has been man I'm. glad I'm great man blessed can't. complain God is good uh glad to have you. on your show to try this outfit let's go. ahead let's do it to Mark success yes. sir past and future amen let's do it. um.

oh yeah. yeah that's smooth that's smooth so how. have you been man I've been good brother. just um chopping wood trying to get. these kids in in check you know uh now. I'm coaching Ohio at uh Tennessee state. right I've been there for two years. going on my third year right. um trying to get the right bodies in the. building uh that being on the field uh. anybody that touches football whether. it's academics uh nutrition uh Sports.

Performance uh raising money you know uh. one of our biggest. um deals that we're doing now I'm trying. to get football operations uh building. built okay where we have everything. there from our meeting rooms training. room weight room all in one spot right. right now we're just spread out all over. the place yeah right yeah there's been a. lot of negativities dealing with hbcus. we saw the situation with Dion coach. Prime Heely Jackson State goes to. Colorado we see the situation playing. out right now with uh Ed Reed and.

Bethune cookman uh you so how about some. positivity yeah yeah yeah the atmosphere. the Ambiance the the pageantry that. comes along with being at HBCU how much. did you know about an HBCU before you. took the job at Tennessee State and what. did you learn once you get got there. well I knew about HBCU football growing. up okay I mean I was a big college. football fan okay knew about Eddie. Robinson Grambling right FAMU right. Tennessee State Savannah State okay and. I went to a forking Military Academy in.

Virginia okay where a lot of my. teammates went to HBC okay yeah Hampton. Hampton Virginia yeah yeah and my cousin. went to Ace so I'm I grew up in the. culture okay. um. and living in Nashville uh we before we. moved from here when we moved from. Houston to Tennessee we uh actually. practiced at Tennessee State okay uh the. first couple years but live in the dorms. right so I was very familiar with NC. State then.

um and over the years I had friends that. went to Tennessee State. um I've had various projects at. Tennessee state so I knew of everything. about the university the struggles. um the the great history they had with. football uh some of the great alumni. that come through there with Oprah. Winfrey right they mentioned just one. person 34 of them within the Pro. Football Hall of Fame who come from HBC. yes indeed so it's it's it's a very. strong brand when it comes to that right. so I I knew of both the positives and.

the negatives uh walking into that. situation. did you always want to coach because I I. mean I played against you yeah I know. you a little bit yeah I did I didn't see. the the coaching bug biting you when did. you get the coaching bug and what made. you say you know what after all the. things that you've done I mean you're on. Broadway we're going to discuss that a. little later you know what I'm gonna I'm. gonna throw my hat into the coaching. ring you know what man uh it just fell. in my lap okay and here's how it is you. know I like I said I was I was happy.

you know playing golf I'm working on my. nine hours I was enjoying that I was. watching my sons grow up my son actually. goes to uh film school out here at USC. okay uh my youngest is a high school. football. I was joined being a dad my wealth. managers my wealth management business. is booming so I'm uh meeting clients and. building that business up and ironically. president Glover who is the president of.

Tennessee state is also the president of. the AKA Foundation okay who I do. business with right wealth management. side so it was right around Cove in 2020. and uh everything shut down right and. I'm not acting you know I'm at home. right you know just just figuring out. okay what's what's life going to be like. when we get I went and when if. regardless right so. she um calls me one day out of the clear. blue says hey or text me she says hey uh. I need to talk to you about something. very important so immediately I'm.

looking at okay let me look at the. accounts right right to make sure all. every day. right exactly I don't want to pull. anything out I'm like okay let's see. right look at the accounts everything. fine in fact it's growing because it's. going everything was rocking oh good she. probably wants to add more money right. like our beautiful give her a call you. say hey president Glover how you doing. how's everything what's going on it's. good it's a account's good I see it's. growing I said you're thinking about. adding more to it right so um there's no.

no not quite I just wanna I just want. you to have an open mind about this. I said okay you're calling me she. probably wants me to do some fundraising. right for the University okay that's not. my next name well ask me for a donation. so I um it's okay we'll shoot it what. you got she says well. I'm um I'm thinking about making a. change and I want you to consider being. the next head coach for Tennessee state. and it was a long pause.

I'm like offended I'm like woman don't. you I'm a financial advised I'm not. trying to raise money he'll ask me to be. a head coach right and this is off the. heels of what Dion has done right so I. said before I give a hard note I want to. keep the business relationship open I'm. gonna you know let me think about it let. me pray on it right you know what I'm. saying let me let me pray on it for 48. hours. so I got I get off the phone didn't give.

a second thought. and uh talk to my wife I said okay I. said listen to this. ridiculous ass idea Linda Glover called. me wanting me to be the next head coach. for Tennessee State going I never had a. coaching experience right she said well. why not baby she sees something that you. don't see in yourself I said well I'm. doing all the stuff I've been acting. I've been trying to do this right. building my business I don't have time. to I can help or find one but I'm gonna. add they just probably want me to be you.

know the next flash in the news right I. had no interest in that right he says. well at least look into it so as an. exercise I said all right. if I'm going to start a program how. would I do it right. and that's when everything started. rushing right I said okay man I can. Implement a financial literacy course. right education right this is what I do. I bring in this coach to do this and the. strength conditioning program nutrition. and all all these ideas is going and. keeping me up at night I said oh no you. got power five ideas you got it yeah.

power five ideas agent buddy but that's. what it came down to so long story short. I put some things out there you know um. that said well if I do this this is what. I'm going to need my budget has to look. like this right you must make a. commitment to these key areas right. um what are your plans to build out. facilities right cost of attendance. um addressing all the things that we're.

currently talking about now right what. is your plan because if you think I'm. gonna come in here just you know uh as a. bleep on the radar or a a a a day you. know just something that's going to be a. flash in the pan have zero interest in. that right but if you want to do. something Elite long term long term I'm. good because I'm putting some stuff on. the side for myself I don't need to do. this right I'm you know I'm I'm. sacrificing some things I want to. accomplish because I want to pour back.

into the game that gave me so much right. and pour into these kids and give them. something in Prime what he did at. Jackson State right was inspirational. and I said you know what. and I talked to him about it he says man. you can absolutely do it right and that. gave me the vote of confidence and once. I committed to that idea of being a. coach it just took on from there has it. been more difficult than you oh oh stop. right there. yes yes but anything worthwhile is.

uphill right but what you do right is. uphill I see I've seen the battles. going through yes upstairs and on the. court all that I mean all that comes. with it but you know it's it's it gives. me the the tenacity that I have to see. it succeed the vision that I have for. this program. outweighs all of that you know what I'm. saying I mean there are days when I'm. driving home like man you know what. maybe this wasn't a good idea right you. know what I'm saying things don't move.

as fast as we would like at sbcus. they're Antiquated uh policies and. operations that you got to work through. right it's an old way of thinking so. you've gotta I choose to approach it. completely different than. then you know blasting it out there I. had I like to influence people to get. ultimately move us in the right. direction correct that's progress okay. that's to move it to an elite status so. that's that's kind of the approach that. I've taken when you look at it obviously. when a coach comes in there's a lot of.

players that's already implemented and. they say well I'm gonna need like two to. three years to get the players that I. want but I need to understand my. ideology yes I'm going to work with some. of the current players obviously knowing. that I'm going to run some some of them. jokers off yeah but give me a little. while to get the players that I want. now you're heading into your third year. have you turned that corner yet are you. starting to get some of the players that. you want that can Implement your system. absolutely I mean you get kids that fall. off because of graduation some kids are. not going to make it because they're.

ineligible some kids can't pass the drug. test right some kids don't want that. structured environment okay you know. what I'm saying there's non-negotiables. that I'm just not going to waver on. right you know there's you played the. game at a very high level yeah you're. very disciplined you've been under some. great coaches throughout your entire you. know what that looks like yes so inside. and out so and so do I so I'm not going. to change or compromise how I was. Raising this game because I'm cut from a. different claw right but I'm also going. to have an air of understanding and.

listen to these kids right but some of. it has got to go so to your point yes. you came in had to implement a strength. and conditioning program number one. better nutrition. we've seen some bodies change but the. mindset didn't change right you know. what I'm saying body change but the. mindset yeah still have to work on that. so I'm getting in those kids whether it. be from Juco or from the portal in high. school to come in and I have to mold. them into what I want them to be right.

yeah. I read where you talked to Coach Tomlin. about how the best way about to go about. this job what were some of the advice. that coach Tomlin gave you he said um. that first of all be yourself okay don't. try to emulate you know somebody else. like the belichicks or Saban you know. those are though they're who they're. very successful men be who you are come. from your strengths and my strengths. right now I'm not going to call draw up. ISO right you know I'm there to inspire.

I'm there to bring in resources right. coming from that perspective and that I. could you know absolutely be the CEO of. the football team right that's what I am. right now you know I'm there to bring in. the right people the right resources I. know I know what a good run play looks. like I know what uh kind of Defense I. want to install I know the mentality. that I want to have and I delegate that. the X's and O's to my office of. coordinator and my defensive coordinator. my special teams coach and I let them do.

their thing right and the moment that. that I see issues within that that. they're not doing their job that should. that will be addressed right you see. what I'm saying right the most important. thing to me the biggest hire that I made. Shannon was having a chief of staff okay. someone that came from the world of. academics and Academia and building a. program already right young man that. went to Georgia State uh helped build. that Pro program up and he came along. board he was out at New Mexico so he. understood the language the pitfalls the.

everything he was my Guiding Light okay. and he was the buffer the buffer between. myself and some of the administration so. it was never any friction there so that. was very important for me to have on my. staff so to answer your question we are. turning the corner in the right. direction and I think I think we're you. know hopefully we can have our first uh. winning season our resources the biggest. hurdle that you feel you've got to. overcome or hbcus need to overcome.

it's that you know what brother it is so. much deeper more than that it's it's. very deep because it's systemic okay it. comes down to. um something that's been in place for. 100 for 50 75 100 years and you're. trying to change it and it's not going. to be you're not going to be a football. coach is not going to be able to change. it this goes into politics all right. um Tennessee state. just got awarded 250 million dollars of. land grant money that was owed to them.

over the last five decades should have. been 500 million right. so they just get the money. but here's the catch it has to go they. said it has to go toward existing. buildings. the 250 million buildings that must be. demolished. no that shouldn't happen they should be. we should be able to dictate where the. money go how you gonna tell me yeah. we're gonna pay your salary but we're. gonna tell you need to spend it on. clothes.

they don't tell it at the University of. Tennessee no in the other school right. but why Tennessee State see what I'm. saying yeah so why can't they say hey. here's our money here's the money third. can go into an endowment a third can go. to an annual fund another third can go. to a new new facility right but no see. that and that's the problem because. they still trying to control exactly. even from a distance from a distance so. that's that's the stuff that I'm seeing. and it would stops us from truly growing.

and truly being Elite right you know. what I'm saying and on the flip side of. that we've got to take those funds and. manage it appropriately be good stewards. of that money can have systems that are. transparent to show hey it went to X Y. and Z here is the return on your. investment right whatever capacity that. is I hear critics says celebrity head. coaches because they look at you coach. Prime as former NFL players uh Eddie rob. you played with Eddie Rogers oh yeah. Alabama State and they say well the.

problem is is that they don't understand. the the the inner workings of an HBCU. they went to power fives they're these. big names and so they don't really. understand what it's like to be out of. HBCU and you say what I do because I've. had so many family members and I do. understand I understand it's going to. take a long time but I'm willing to pull. up roll up my sleeve right get dirty and. help steer this thing in the right way. right I don't understand it.

I don't. and that's why. I choose not to go in making. declarations on what needs to be done. right so I can understand to listen Okay. okay then. come up with a compromise of how we move. this in the right direction right you. know what are those issues how have. things been done before okay you know. what I'm saying I I choose to be to to. listen and then to be understood right. and that in that regard so uh yes things. are are different.

um at hbcus. um the value system is different. um everything about the experience is. different from a power five uh. institution right let's just be real. with it. um some some things are great but some. things need to be updated right and. polished off and moved in the right. direction because that's that's you know. Tennessee state has their own issues. right but then there are other hbcus. that are doing things right right you. look at fam used facilities yeah they're.

great. um previews. the best in FCS really oh yes wow you. look at their weight room you look at. their um their locker room their. facilities are top-notch Alabama State. same thing so there are some hbcus that. are they're doing things right so each. institution is a different set of issues. different of these issues it correctly. right when you heard and like I said you. play with uh Eddie Robinson Jr you know. Eddie Robb very well I used to work out. with him when he said Prime what for.

whatever reason they have issues yeah. you know Prime sales and things maybe. Eddie Rob says some things they made it. uh Midfield to shake hands and you know. they brushed each other off when you. hear. coach Rob says Prime coach Prime isn't. swack what was your immediate thought. and then did you get on the phone and. say. you know what I laughed I thought I mean. to me that that's that's kind of. entertaining you know I think it's you. know coaches have that they're.

competitive right you know what I'm. saying Dion wind up winning the game he. didn't appreciate the things that. happened in the game. um you know and when Dion did he flipped. it you know he turned into a song. it was viral you know who hey sweat baby. I mean that was that was genius but you. know I think I talked to Eddie about it. right and he he understood you know it. was the Heat of the Moment right and. um he wanted to let him know where he.

stood right in terms of hey you know. you're not going coming here and. disrespect me disrespect the the the the. conference and and and so forth so you. know I look at that as being the. competitor right much much like you know. how we get down between the white lines. right how we when Baltimore came to. Tennessee it was no love lost if you. died that day congratulations. you did what you had to do so that's. that's how I look at that right yeah. when I look at the situation with uh um.

the sponsorship because it was a genius. what coach what coach Brian was able to. do yeah he took some of his partners yes. and he leveraged them yes the Walmart. the American Airlines. um he had a great relationship with. Michael Strahan and he was able to get. so these guys look like they're well. together and they didn't look like an. all-tournament team some guys in jeans. some guys in slack some guys in the. hoodie uh you know beats came in and did. a deal with the nio deal with his son. and they were able to get headphones. all right is that something that you're.

trying to do some of your Partnerships. you're trying to leverage and say hey. guys look this is what I need. can you help me do this and can you help. me do that absolutely. he provided a blueprint of success. and I'm going to take that same. blueprint of success and put my. thumbprint on it okay and leverage that. into hopefully what we can get at. Tennessee state right you know. um he again. Dion. or coach Prime went into uh Jackson.

State with a plan right A to Z moment he. stepped in the door he knew exactly was. getting himself into. he had everything lined up you know. reality show he had sponsorships he's. going to turn it into a phenomenon which. he did and he put a hell of a product on. the field right you know what I'm saying. yes and that to me was everything so yes. my plan is to in fact the next couple of. weeks meet with uh some corporations in. Nashville right which is actually. booming oh God you got to come you got. to come yeah yeah you know you got it my.

best friend died. yes coordinator but but. um Nashville they have uh some Fortune. 500 companies that would love to partner. with us and that is my plan to see how. they can lend their resources help us. you know get us to a level where we're. Elite and I think that's possible. I know you're playing Notre Dame in the. opener first time Notre Dame has played. in HBCU coach Prime I listen to him talk. he said look God we got to stop if we're.

going to take a money game make sure. it's a money game yes don't take four. hundred thousand dollars that's right. and then you can use your 400 000 to. travel if they give you 400 000 make. them pay for travel exactly they'll also. bring the band to travel and make sure. they play for the whole room and board. forever excuse me for hotel rooms and. food for everybody that's traveling. right because if you just use your 400. 000 like they paid you and you got to. play for travel and you got to play for. hotels right you ain't got no money you. come out on the back end yeah zero you. may also yes exactly you're in the red.

right right so you just said know the. name right yes so yeah. we're we're good on that okay okay yeah. and and that was and that was negotiated. as such I think it's it's a wonderful. opportunity for our brand to be um to. have more recognition to be seen in that. regard yes NBC the only game on NBC. right first time like you mentioned in. uh Notre Dame two historic programs and. it gives us a chance to show who we are. right the program I mean like you said.

you know 34 Hall of Famers are from. hbcus yes three or four are from. Tennessee State correct so Richard dead. Claude. uh to name a few so. um and it allows us to show where we are. going as an institution and as a. football team and as a program so you. know that's a wonderful opportunity to. go compete at a very high level to. prepare and to show off you know what we. who we are and what we're about to do I. don't know if you have but I know one of. your goals I don't know if it's already.

happened is the move from SCS to FBS has. that happened or is that what you mean. no no we we've looked at various. scenarios. um of what that looks like what needs to. happen and that's a much bigger play for. for because everybody it's not just the. football team goes FBS yes everybody has. to go off baseball and we there then. there are some sports that we don't have. yet to be FBS eligible we've got to. Institute the baseball you got to get. maybe you know our A.D Mickey Allen. phenomenal guy big thinker.

um he's thinking about bringing hockey. to HBCU you know because they were con. we have uh the predators in town so. they've had conversations wow about that. happening so there's some creative ideas. being floated around in terms of hbcus. and us going to the FBS level we are. sitting on you know some major bones at. Tennessee State not to mention you know. 900 Acres of undeveloped land wow and. that's the last real big Parcels in.

Tennessee in terms of development and. that's where the growth is going so. there's some opportunities there for. sure you mentioned that you had no idea. but you had no interest in coaching and. then it kind of fell into your lap did. you come out with it did you say well I. want to stay two years I want to stay. stay four years I want to stay five. years is there a plan is there a. timeline and how long you want to stay. or want to or what you want to. accomplish while you're there well if. the the the the the decision was easy. for me because I didn't have to uproot.

my family and leave somewhere else it's. literally my backyard right. I'm 15 minutes away already from. Tennessee State from where I live my. son's High School is around the corner. so my thing was hey you know I have a. five-year contract right my goal is I'm. 10 toes down I'm gonna be present where. I am right now and get this program in a. direction where I needed to go and leave. it better than when I got it okay there. will come a time when I won't be the. head coach right that's that's obvious. right when that is I'm not sure and I.

don't know what that looks like for me I. don't know if you know a power five. schools the next move for me I don't. know if uh the NFL is the next move for. me. um do you want to coach at the next one. do you want a coach absolutely I would. love that so the coaching bug is betting. you now you you just I'm D deep in it. when I can win something extender I'm. hauling in I mean I commit to that thing. and I'm all in so yes you know I would I. would look at opportunities outside of. that right because I I understand right.

you know what prime was talking about. right and and for him to. um give everything he had to that. University and to then getting the. criticism that came along but this yeah. of course they tried to get him in the. stand though yeah yeah. I mean I mean two two uh undefeated. seasons and sweat I mean that's that's. never been done in school's history. right but he has to think about the. mouths and the lives of his coaching. staff because he gave them they gave him. his life his staff gave them his their.

lives for two years being underpaid. right and on favors so it's time for. them to cash in on right on their. opportunities as well and I I think it's. awesome that he can take his son develop. him right at Jackson State and now take. him up to a power five score say okay. that Heisman Trophy is now real right. that National Championship is now real. this platform is now real you know what. I'm saying right and you have to respect. that right you have to respect it.

how do you go about putting your staff. together I remember Hugh Jackson was on. your staff who have tons of NFL. experience uh got the job at Grambling. uh as I mentioned my uh one of my best. friends Keith Burns on your staff played. a number of years in the NFL's been a. special teams coach at Washington how. did you go about putting your staff. together because a lot of times you're. putting people on your staff you don't. really have a a whole lot of a working. relationship with them guys and you. don't really know these guys I didn't. know a single soul outside of uh Joe. Bowden who I played with right uh.

Brandon Fisher who I was on the. sidelines when I was playing I relied. heavily on Jeff Fisher's two guidance. for that. um I didn't have a ruler decks of. coaches right come come roll with me you. know I was just thinking okay who can I. call on to help me construct this. together so Jeff Fisher my first year. was on my staff is a senior advisor and. he was an architect to help me piece. together who's doing what and so I get. my sea legs underneath me in terms of. that. um he did a masterful job you know and.

in certain in terms of the great coaches. that are out there interview quite a few. guys Q came up with some NFL experience. uh Burns who is uh probably you know. gift in the building I would never tell. him that that's my dude because he. brings so much joy to it he he makes it. fun to come to work he makes it fun to. come to work yeah he loves what he does. yeah he's not there for a paycheck no. yeah and you can see that and I. appreciate that about him right and he. he got your back he got your back yeah. absolutely he's a dog through and.

through one thousand. um Joe Bowden again linebacker coach uh. played with me with the Titans Brandon. Fisher I mentioned um on the offensive. side of the football was Keenan Smith. who was our wide receivers coach who's. now I'm going on to other opportunities. um. uh Corey Harkey who got with the Buffalo. Bills last year who was not going to get. a ring but. um LED them to a great season last year. so I relied heavily on Jeff's Guidance.

with that and now the second and third. goal around the iteration of coaches. I've kind of Taken control of that to. see you know who can fit in who can find. the piece to the puzzle you know it's. got to be the certain type of guy that. can come in coach these kids but also. mesh with the chemistry of the coaching. staff obviously if the game is a lot. different because you're not just. relying on high school guys now that. transfer portal and a lot of teams are.

getting guys out of the transfer Porter. they're doing more of the transfer. portal than they are recruiting no. questions high school kids. how how have you been able to navigate. that it's it changes minute to minute. moment to moment. um two years ago it was hey we're going. to go 40 40 you know. um 20 in terms of our uh our ratio. breakdown portal Juco High School all. right and you know we're going to. identify these body types well the kids.

that we've gone after and Juco are going. up to FPS you know I'm like whoa you. know kids are getting offers from Austin. P and you know us and you know a FAMU. are going to Florida State and Ohio. State wow oh okay okay so we gotta find. we gotta be very creative in how we do. it now so now because of the portal is. literally free agency yes you're seeing. somebody go from Alabama. which is crazy to me to Oklahoma right.

like what are you looking for right you. know what I'm saying like this whole nil. thing is it's still uh perplexing to me. but. from our perspective. um we're having to go more on younger in. terms of high school and development. because there's a plenty of high school. kids that are out there that are not. getting recruited a lot of quote unquote. four star three-star kids that are being. overlooked and what's happened for us uh. We've developed like three defensive. linemen that we inherited and they're at.

FBS programs wow one with the West. Virginia another one went to UAB another. one went to uh Akron okay so it tells me. oh we're doing the right thing right. we're doing the right things we're. developing these kids now we just got to. figure out a way develop and keep it. develop develop and keep them but use it. you know to your advantage say Hey you. come here let me get you let me get your. program for two years give me two years. let me develop you get you ready for the. next level of whatever that is right FBS. or even the NFL you know what I'm saying. right so it's encouraging to see what.

we're doing and doing it right but we we. always have to shift with the current. current Trend in recruiting and. constantly finding what that is that's. the number one name and uh thing in the. game right now is is recruiting all. right I'm a five star and you got to. come into my grandmother's house and you. got to sell my grandma you got to sell. me what's your pitch oh lord. well first of all let's get a ship with. this yeah let's go let's let's do that. first of all five star.

before I get my pitch first of all I. want to know what it is you want to. accomplish. ideally I want to graduate. and then I got to go to the next level. because you see the house you sitting. there. in four years my Grandma's not gonna be. sick absolutely and that's and that's my. number one goal so house. how soon how well can you develop me. academically. football wise make me a better man and. get me to the next level. well.

um. first of all you know Tennessee state. has a great it's a great institution in. terms of academics I mean you look at. some of the great minds the great people. have come through there. um I have a great business school I. don't know what your interest is as soon. as privileges out with the criminal. justice I want to be a lawyer criminal. justice major we can we can get. definitely uh can you get Oprah sent me. a gift basket. I can see what I could do I think I can. get open and get you a gift basket and a.

book all right I know you love to read. them but uh overall man I would you know. I'm not one to sell or pitch I I really. I really like to try to engage myself in. a conversation with a young man and find. out what's important to him because if. that's what you want I can develop you I. know what that looks like how much is it. conversation with the young man as. opposed to selling mom or grandma is. reading the room okay. finding finding out who the decision.

maker is okay you know what I'm saying. yes because a young man is going to be. influenced by somebody so if it's Mom I. was like okay you want to see your baby. right right so you want to go down to. Jackson State and take a bus and the. plane or you want to come directly to. the international airport in Nashville. Tennessee 15 minutes from campus and. come see him play right you know what. I'm saying so location the ability to. see your child play and knowing that our. staff when you come to Tennessee State.

it is what it is our staff really sells. it right you know when you got guys like. you said Burns and Joe Bowden and. Brandon and and Theron each down the. hall was our offensive coordinator and. you feel the love you feel the family. you know you know you're going to get. hot Coast hard right but it's going to. come from a place of love. how different Eddie because when you and. I played we didn't have some of the. pitfalls that these young guys have now. which is social media how difficult is. it to coach in the social media age. where clicks and likes and going viral.

are more important than becoming a great. young man being a great football player. hey man you see it all the time man. everything is about the instant. gratification okay it's about clicks and. likes and how many followers do I have. and it's it's very difficult because. kids are now looking at hell you know. you got Louis bags at the at your. facility right well she wanted you're. not getting that you know that's mine I. heard that all right but you know it's.

very difficult now to navigate through. that. um but I I know personally I have to do. a better job to to figure that out to. attract some of these kids to some. degree but you know I'm not I'm not. about that I'm not about the The Flash. I'm about action you know I'm about I'm. about to work you know I'm about you. know getting my hands dirty and and. hitting that iron you know iron sharpens. iron right about the results you know. I'm not into selling fluff right so uh.

but there is a a balance that I must. strike in terms of attracting a kid to. come see who we are what we do and to. get them in the door to stay have you. stopped have you thought about becoming. more active on social media oh yeah. absolutely. um I think about it all the time I'm. constantly trying to figure out ways to. uh put our message out there to put my. platforms out there uh in a very. authentic way right that's not. um forced that's not.

um you know scripted it has to be very. organic for me yeah and and I'm not. going to strike until it's right right. you know I'm not going to continue to do. something that's just to uh just to do. it and it comes off as fake right not. not who I am right but it has to it has. to be it has to be real for me. I'm looking at you like your son you're. coaching your son uh you have one of. your sons at USC and you mentioned in. film school and now you're coaching your. son are you coach when you're coaching. are you coach or your dad I'm coach when.

I'm coaching okay he knows that yeah. it's gonna be hard it's gonna be hard. and and but fair right saying and I I. coach my kids like my team anyway like. they're my sons right so it's not going. to be anything different and you know. I'll be dad and drive home but when he. was getting recruited I think it came. down it came down to two other schools I. was Navy and and. um. and farming and I thought he was going. to go to fireman right I wasn't going to. coach tomorrow I said this is your life.

this is your decision you know what I'm. about you've seen us grow from year one. to year two you've been around you've. been on the sidelines and so forth. um. but he said dad you know I want to come. play for you I said well why she said. well number one I want to help you build. this right wow and. um I believe in what you're doing. and you know if I want to if I want to. go to grad school get my Master's in. business I'm going to do that. and the things that work out in football.

I want to get the communications I want. to talk about football. you know talk about the game so he has a. plan right as a high school senior right. there's some kids that don't even think. that way that's that's 22 24 years old. right you know still chasing the the the. football dreams so. I said okay let's let's do it and now. it's you know it's now with real skin in. the game yeah if he's coming there it's. got to be right right I got to see it. through do you ever worry about him go. home and say uh mom bad dad dad tripping.

damn tripping that practice today I. don't know what Dad was on nah that. happens already I'll be at this. wrestling matches already Lean on Me. lean on him you know yeah I'm at this. wrestling matches though I'm already. doing that in the stands already so you. know I don't worry about that no I worry. about my wife more than anything else. you know she's she's the she's the she's. the tough one right yeah. looking at your upbringing you're born. in Philly. um you go up yeah where your Eagles fan. oh grew up bleeding Eagle green uh Roger.

warsky yes uh Steve spagnolia grew up. hating Dallas hating the Giants in. Washington Harold Carmichael yeah I used. to sell hot chocolate at the stadium oh. really yes yes it was uh Eagle. Philadelphia it was the Eagles playing. Washington Redskins and I was I didn't. make no money that day I was a big. football fan I only took the job so I. can watch the games but they had. remember when Ghostbusters was out we. had these packs on the back of hot.

chocolate and we had cups on the side. right so I was up in the upper decks and. I'm selling hot chocolate. and a plays going on and I'm looking and. I go to pull it and I'm pulling out the. hot chocolate I'm shaking shaking it and. it wasn't coming out so finally I shout. out cha chalk was splatted everywhere. right and it was on this woman's white. mint coat oh man yeah. she didn't notice it everybody looked at. me I looked at them I clipped my stuff. and ran downstairs I can't I can't.

afford to pay for that joke but. um yeah I grew up a big Philadelphia. Philadelphia fan I love I love my sixes. like you love the Lakers I love the. Flyers of everything about Philly sports. right now yeah. High School football. um you I remember you said that I think. your sophomore year your mom sent you to. military school yeah going into my. junior year yeah what what was that like. and why why did she do that were you. hard-headed oh [ __ ] Hey listen I had a.

1.3 GPA in high school so you could get. in prison with that grade I couldn't get. in prison thought I was gonna go to the. thoughts were going to pay uh a running. back at Penn State okay and you know I. was kidding myself I was in la la land. right. um and my mother could see where my life. was headed okay you know what I'm saying. and she said Okay. um I can make this move now. get them out of Philadelphia get them in. an environment where he can begin to. thrive and to begin to see his potential.

whether you are the crowd you're hanging. with oh I was it was it was I was a. product of my environment okay you know. what I'm saying it was a lot of um drug. use a lot of uh uh depression. um you know kids you know drinking. smoking you know stealing yeah and I. wasn't that type of kid I've never I. don't like to get high right I'll drink. every now and again but. you know I was being influenced in other. ways yeah and and she said I had to get. out of there so at the age of 15 she.

sent me down the forking Military. Academy wow in the middle of nowhere. literally like Charlottesville is 30. minutes east or west Richmond is about. another 90 miles uh uh East and smack. dab in the middle is 4K Military Academy. and when you talk about culture shock. man it was tough I I didn't I did not. um. adhere to any of the rules when I first.

got down there they had every second. every second of the day was accounted. for yeah it was doing something chores. studying working out doing something and. I thought you know this was. the you know uh uh freelance Willy you. know doing whatever I wanted to do right. but I had to learn real quick that yes I. have to do my chores I got to sweep the. the hallways I gotta wax it I gotta buff. it I had to clean the bathrooms I got to. do all that stuff and once I committed.

to the process of that that's when. things begin to flourish so I went there. man I went to Fork Union and you talk. about some dudes I believe it was about. 18 guys that got division one. scholarships out of four Community Wow. dogs went to North Carolina. Clemson Florida State or Savannah State. Virginia Union Youngstown State all over. the country some dudes and I had to I.

went down to six feet 178 pounds and I. had to get bigger stronger and faster. and that's what I did. how big were you a million were you were. you with anybody in your family military. my father was was he served uh in the. Army my uncle his his brother served in. Vietnam my grandfather served in the. military as well so you had some idea. you have a general knowledge of what. military structure was like. but but. no parts in that where you had to do.

military you know right hospital corners. every day two space fingers with your. with your locker Everything is. Everything if they say 6 30 hey don't. you cover that thing at 6 30 in four. five no everything is a regimen and so I. did that for two and a half three years. and I'll never forget it man after my. um. true senior year I rushed for like 1300. yards I was all prep but my grades you. know I had to really work on my grades. right I didn't have I had zero.

scholarship offers I had a partial offer. to Edinburgh right and this is going to. my senior year right and I'm like what. am I going to do. you know so luckily they have a. postgraduate program that you can go. back for what second year another year. and I've developed and I worked on my my. grades and that's where I got really. into reading right you know faking real. Rich by Napoleon Hill okay you know was. reading that every day and uh and just. having a positive mindset and just.

believing because I didn't have a a. place to go to at all so I went back. hoping that I can come back and and. Garner some attention from some major. schools and I did just that man so it. was um. it was the blessing in disguise that my. mother because she didn't have much. money right and I always wondered how. did she pay for it right and it wasn't. until 1996 when I uh got drafted that. she drove back down to forking Military. Academy.

and gave them that final check for my. installment to pay off my entire School. wow yeah she sacrificed she worked seven. six seven jobs man as a model flight. attendant uh waitress you know God knows. what else it was just me and my sister. and she worked her ass off to put me. through there and it was it was. definitely life-changing for me so you. get you're getting offers where was Ohio. I mean was all Ohio State the only. obviously it wasn't the only offer but. did once they offered did you know you.

were going to Ohio State I want to go to. Penn State okay the Penn State fan right. my father you know he was he he was a. big football fanatic love running backs. and I wanted he was on drugs at the time. right and I wanted him to. um get clean I felt like if he saw me. thriving being successful he would come. to my games he would give him the. incentive to get clean right clean life. relationship so my goal was to go to. Penn State and be a running back yeah. because they had some great with Franco. Harris Lydell Mitchell DJ yeah yeah.

yeah yeah yeah they came they had some. views and I wanted to wear that black. and white right you know that blue and. white so black shoes and um. so I'm getting recruited at that time. you know I got Louisville BYU. um Nebraska came on the scene and uh one. other school Virginia UVA I was really. thinking leaning toward Virginia. but there was a guy that was that went. to Ohio State who was at Fort Union who.

was my platoon Sergeant a year ago he. was. um a trainer right that taped ankles. right and he would call me from time to. time and I hated him because he drove me. crazy I'm like Danny Danny Osmond Danny. kept calling me he's found out you know. how are you doing and you know and uh. playing uh in my high school years and. he was like you're having a great season. what do you think about coming to Ohio. State and I was like oh man that would. be great you know they got Robert Smith. Raymond Harris Butler but they got some.

news too yeah all I wanted was. opportunity so he says well I'm gonna go. talk to the uh head National recruiting. coordinator and let them know about you. a trainer right so I'm like all right. whatever. so he calls me two weeks later tells me. send up a tape I sent him a tape they. look at it calls me back says Eddie they. absolutely love you send another tape. I'll send another tape. do this three or four more times I'm. like I have no more tape to show right. but finally they came down Ron Hudson. recruited in the area a quarterback.

coach checked out this you know if I was. six three looked at the dimension see if. I was the right fit I went up there uh. was the worst visit of my life uh. because it didn't take me out to show. you all the goods right so you know how. they match you with Personality yeah. yeah I think I was a military guy I was. a military dude so I sat in their. apartment watching movies ah bad at Ohio. State I got 24 hours I'm like look show. me where the women are show me the.

junior I want to see the step show what. terrible so it was until I went into uh. Ohio stadium. uh before I went to the airport the shoe. and I walk in there and I'm like oh. you get chilled I get chills now I. um there's something about this feels. right I just felt it and I started. yeah yes yes I I said Archie Griffin was.

playing yeah yes Chris Carter you know. all the greats the great games I said. just just give me an opportunity I mean. I'm willing to compete I don't care. who's ahead of me whether you know these. guys go in the NFL just let me compete. and uh coach Cooper offered me right on. the spot I said I commit right here and. then waiver and his rest is history I'm. looking at your freshman year. uh your phone you got a problem fumbling. into the football you fumbled twice I.

think it was against Michigan. Illinois Illinois yeah and you lose that. game because you're from twice inside. the five yard line yeah your sophomore. year your third string you barely even. play yeah you get back on the field your. junior year 1400 yards 12 touchdown and. then your senior year you go crazy yeah. how what was it like at your lowest. point your freshman year yes. everybody's boy they they were killing. you Eddie I have a lot they were killing. you hey sharp hey Shannon hey dog. you know how y'all are right you you God.

mess up you gotta start cracking on the. Butterfinger yeah yeah yeah I was I'll. carry my tray they hold their hands need. to trade like I'm gonna drop me straight. I mean it was it was bad right and I was. uh I think in the one publication they. said I was the worst running back to. come to Ohio State in the history of. house wow and I didn't know it was good. at the doghouse and I thought about. transferring I really did because I had. success early prior to those two fumbles. I had three touchdowns on National.

Television in the Syracuse right it was. nationally ranked right and I was the. the goal line specialist and uh when. that happened. um I got shelved for two years and I. went in the tank I got depressed. discouraged my mother kept said hey see. you through you know persist without. exception and I never forgot that and I. said okay I can leave Ohio State I can. jump in the portal and run from this. or I could play it my two feet down and.

fight it off and embrace this embrace it. and become better and that's when I won. the Heisman and my freshman in my. sophomore year when I made that. commitment to begin so I began to work. out twice a day you know uh we had we. used to lift and run right so we would. run 400s 200s time lapse all that I. would do that twice I would study film I. would watch the greats I remember. watching Thurman Thomas and Barry. Sanders Emmett Smith taking pieces of. what they do Emmett with the hands hat.

and hands tight hands blocking you know. how he reads the whole how he read the. inside Zone outside Zone what was his. footwork on the iso you know all those. little my new details so I can create my. own style right you know what I'm saying. and I committed to that and when I got. the opportunity you know my junior year. my senior year played with some dogs you. know Orlando Pace and Terry Glenn. certainly helped yeah and Ricky Dudley. definitely helped right but. um we committed to that I committed to. Excellence in in Nebraska's history with.

that what so give me your my you name. some of the great running back give me. your Mount Rushmore of of of college. running backs a college yeah. I'm gonna throw a few out there you got. Barry Bo Derrick Henry Earl Campbell OJ. Tony D Herschel Ricky Williams Ronde. Reggie Bush Market salad. but you got to miss Eric Dickerson okay. yeah yeah. oh man Carl well you gotta well Barry to.

me you know. what he did in 11 ball games no one has. still they started with extra games. 2600 yards and they're gonna count the. bowl game come back then the ball didn't. count he runs at 205 test out of the. ball game so he got 2800 y'all right. right so that ain't me so I'll see Barry. Sanders oh man uh Bojack was nasty. um oh let me think here.

I'm going to say Derek Henry. uh Marcus was awesome God mark this was. great. um. but Marshall Faulk I mean Marshall. wouldn't hide my Grand Marshall San. Diego State he was special not all black. oh yeah he was special. talk about the Rivalry Michigan Ohio. State what makes it special and did you.

know did you I mean without even playing. in it did you know what it meant do you. know what it really oh yeah yeah I mean. again I studied college football growing. up I knew about that rivalry everybody. that's the greatest rivalry in all of. sports you could say Yankees and Red Sox. you can say you know North Carolina. basketball right that's Alabama Auburn. us to UCLA. um but that one there. completely different ball game you know. Bo and Woody and and and even it goes.

back to how the Business Schools were. all set up you know. so that's that is a a vicious rivalry. and. that was probably outside of the. Baltimore games that we had yeah that's. that's what I was about to ask oh no. question Michigan Ohio State or. Baltimore Tennessee. you know what's funny Dan Burns was just. talking about this the other day just. yesterday yeah. he said from his perspective that was.

the baddest defense ever I said yes it. was. yeah four three y'all ran a 4-3 cover to. beat it they beat it and they had a. young Ray Lewis coming down here yeah. everybody what you say y'all said this. Marvin said how many points y'all yeah. six six point a field goal. today like give us 10. I like Barber 10. I'll give her seven I'm like but you. know they legislated that brand of. football out you can't play you can't be.

that physical anymore because they I. mean they literally went to the Ball. Game trying to knock it off. somebody leaving. and you know what man uh I I hated y'all. I especially hated you because you. caught that wheel route yeah and I said. what they can't score y'all had 112. yards of offense. and won the game won the game.

it was it really was discipline uh there. was not one week leak on it from corn to. Corner yeah you know you can find one. somebody it was nobody there was nobody. and that's and that's what you know with. those Wars that we had you know brought. something out of me because the week of. you know playing Baltimore is like all. right listen nobody's coming to town. right. don't bother me this week because. there's a spiritual preparation that you.

got to get ready for yeah you gotta Get. Right mentally it's spiritually because. the moment that you that you shudder or. or wink or or have a shadow of a doubt. you're done. yeah you're done right it was it was. grown men on that field right you know. what I'm saying and it was it was. nothing to play with right and uh it it. it it it really forced me to raise my. level of play every time I Facebook I. think it also helped that the two head. coaches didn't like each other oh yeah.

yeah Jeff Fisher did not like each other. and so they spent time taking shots. he'd read what what Jeff said and I'm. sure. blood pressure going up on a Wednesday. like all right yeah we can get it on. today it wasn't it was like that but you. know those rivalries man I I'm so. honored that I was able to play in it. and be a central figure in that you know. ambition but I played at Ohio State we.

beat Michigan one time that's the time. that they owned us right we couldn't we. couldn't figure out a way to beat that. when you had that monster game but I. think Bianca matuka went for like 300. 310 350 313. yeah. and they lost to Purdue the week before. we even watched that film so we didn't. know who we were going to see they came. out there you know against us catch one. hand catches laying out extra effort you. know Bianca matuka went off we got him.

you know he got drafted that day uh top. ten right against us but that's how. that's what that game that's the Rivalry. is about. you. you did you play it I think oh yeah. Omega sci-fi yeah so what what made you. because they always tried to get me the. pledge and I couldn't do it because I. like you know I had me a nice ride I had. night clothes you know I had a brother. to leave no yeah yeah yeah yeah I. couldn't let nobody wear my clothes I. won't be the other way I'm just you know. what I'm curious you know what I'm I'm.

gonna say this I'll let you ask the. question. I you have Kappa Kappa Capital. tendencies. but you a dog. Omega side I definitely would have been. properly no questions no question. without you definitely stand on the [ __ ]. yes absolutely so. um my um my sophomore year I was going I. was going in the process okay and. um for some strange reason you know the. process never happened okay uh and once.

I my my plan career took off my junior. year I said I don't have time right for. that right I got to go get this paper I. gotta go take care of my family my. dreams dude right try to go get uh but I. always had the back of my mind if there. were ever a time for me to go back and. do it right I was going to do it so. um it was that time right and you know. what I said you know what hey it's it's. great and the Brotherhood is good yeah. it's a great friendship. um the network is vast right.

um You talk about. um the Jordan the mega sci-fi. Omega sci-fi and and being on the HBCU. campus yeah man it's different. but there's something about that. pageantry at the games that band them. fans dancing. the major rest them they're coming down.

and man it's a different animal it is. and our homecoming game was but uh uh. about 19. 000 we played Jackson State the Memphis. was 50 000 fans man and a great game. against priming them but again to hear. the their band and our band going at it. it that's what it's about the band's not. supposed to play where the other team. got the ball but they don't give a kid.

you start out in Houston and then I. think uh Houston you're the 95 96 97 and. I think 98 when y'all moved to Nashville. they moved to 97 97 okay rookie year. right so we moved to 97 played in. Memphis right yeah but still literally. Nashville race was crazy right every day. every game was like an away game right. then we played in Vanderbilt right uh 98.

because we came here on the preseason. yeah yeah it was hot that day yeah very. hot. [Music]. I see that when I saw the uh the the the. waves I said them boys. so yeah it was uh played there and uh we. had subpar season right they had the. Fanfare we couldn't give away a ticket. right games people walk by Vanderbilt on. a Sunday thinking it's a church Revival.

ground over there they couldn't it's. like who's here right and but it wasn't. until you know 2000 when we changed the. name the colors sold out every PSL right. and and just took off from there man we. we really appreciated having that. because it finally felt like we were. playing in the NFL prior to that we were. Nomads right you know you you realize. that when you're a first round draft. pick there's expectation but when you. win the Heisman Trophy as a running back. the expectation has greatly increased so. they expect you to come in and do.

exactly what you did to see that you won. the Heisman Trophy and if you don't. they're like well I mean what I mean how. hard is it right my thing was no I'm. here to dominate man I'm here to make my. mark uh on on on the NFL right whatever. capacity that is and that was my mindset. it wasn't I put all the distractions. aside I got me a nice little apartment. on Holly Hall right which is awesome. Houston by the way anyway. woo.

um. anyway. um. yeah but I got an apartment you know was. locked in on my craft and Ronnie Harmon. was on our team okay and he took me. under his wing and showed me how to be a. professional okay how to prepare taking. notes looking how to run routes you know. all the little minute they slowing down. you know.

um on my steps to approach the whole a. certain way Mel gray same thing told me. about stocks and bonds you know things. to read how to read the stock market so. getting around those guys early on left. an indelible mark on me in terms of how. to be a professional and wanting to do. more right you know [ __ ] I watched you. work you know at Denver you know your. work ethic I mean I wanted to be. talked about among the greats that was. my goal when that I wanted to start off. fast and you did I mean did I mean you.

rushed for 10 000 yards in your career. never missed the start joining Jim Brown. and Walter Payton as the only starting. consecutive regular season game you had. 130 130 consecutive starts Roy for a. thousand yards all but one season. um. when it was time to leave Tennessee how. difficult of a decision was that it was. very difficult. um it happened faster than I thought. um you know I signed a big deal two or. three years prior to that.

hurt my toe. um still played in the games we still. had a small window with that particular. team to win right and I didn't want to. miss that you know I I wanted to be a. part of that those my boys. um so it was came down to I think five. hundred thousand dollars and that 500. 000 was symbolic. to say okay I'm willing to take a pay. cut but don't don't be disrespectful. right that's I want to stay don't you.

get if I take it down to a certain level. now you can get rid of me right I mean. that's just that's business. so um we never saw eye to eye on that I. left with the Dallas who did you blame. that on. I know one that was my decision. that was strictly my but you felt it was. disrespectful because they had already. asked you to take a pay cut and you said. yes and then they wanted to give you a. shave your hair you know what I think it. was was the organization it was Bud. Adams it was Floyd Reese it was Jeff. Fisher I mean I get the business side.

and how they've done players in the past. you know Steve and me and it was it was. it wasn't with dignity because my vision. was damn you know how I was going to. leave the game was at a press conference. right you know my boys in the crowd and. cameras popping whatever that is and and. go out on my own terms but it didn't. happen that way right so watching them. when I was in the Dallas Cowboy uniform. watching. the team that I helped build.

you know was painful and it was hard for. me to. love the game the same way I saw the. business side of of the game and I could. not adjust to it because I did not play. for that I did not play for money I. played for the camaraderie the love. that's what you missed the most that's. what I missed the most you mentioned. Steve and you guys had a great. relationship and unfortunately he died. tragically in a murder suicide how did. that impact you because I know you guys. were so close yeah.

um it's not there's not a day I don't. think about him you know what I'm saying. um I dream about him a lot actually wow. and in the dream is like. we're out of the practice field I can. hear us laugh so to see his distinct. laugh and he's laughing and he's joking. with me and I say to him man C you're. not dead. I wake up. and I'm like damn you know he's. physically gone but I think it's his way. of telling me that I'm not right I'm on.

the other side it's a different phase of. life but I'm not. um. watching him uh become. you know uh the player that he became to. be that's awesome Alcorn to MVP leading. the team to the Super Bowl but in this. dark moments though Shannon like it was. some tough times when the fans booed him. yes when he couldn't throw a five yard. out with confidence when he was an air. McNair you know he was a manager and he. he was selfless in the point where he.

didn't say much he knew his role but. once he committed to his craft and. dedicated to being uh uh the quarterback. that he wanted to be he was awesome and. I watched him go from you know not being. able to throw a five yard out to being. masterful calling plays Within the play. you know on the football field on five. wides and checking to play you know. manipulating the defense with his eyes. and safety I mean all that stuff it was. awesome to watch that to watch him go. from that to MVP was was awesome man.

I read where you say you struggle after. leaving the game. um you felt with depression you felt at. one point in time I think if I'm. correctly you can correct me if I'm. wrong that you thought you were suicidal. that point. uh I wouldn't I wouldn't say that far I. wouldn't say that he's majorly depressed. but definitely majorly depressed and. because I didn't I didn't I didn't know. what was next man right.

um. I was hoping for another opportunity. right that never came it never came and. I never had the proper closure right. with that you know what I'm saying it. never never had that that goodbye You. Was preparing for the opportunity but. not for the opportunity to exit so you. didn't have anything set up like okay. just what I'm gonna do I'm gonna go out. of business I'm gonna do this. none of that there was none of that. there okay you see what I'm saying yeah. it was that wasn't there so I had to go. create it right and that's when I got.

into acting okay okay because right. around the time I started doing TV and I. was getting some opportunities I. actually out here Fox Fox Studios and I. did a couple of auditions best damn. Sports yo yeah John so I did an audition. before I think it was I think Ali it was. terrible right oh man the cash director. took off a shirt I'm delivering these. lines I'm saying you know hey you can't. make me do that something stupid I'm.

don't know but it was terrible I said. okay you know what if I'm gonna do. acting I'm gonna go and get acting. lessons I'm gonna learn to craft i'm. appreciate it and what I found by that. by going through my acting class work. with the young uh young lady. um a Woman by the name of Anna Maria. okay short Italian ladies no longer with. us. for for seven years and we would sit in. her uh house and she would make this. Italian soup and we would sit there and. read uh pages of of of.

of ads you know and act it out and. reading Shakespeare and reading all of. these novels and I'm adding character. and learning the the art of acting. udahogan reading these all these books. and just to to be able to write and I. found that it was cathartic for me okay. it's all of that that pain and. disappointment and discouragement and. depression and frustration I was able to. filter that out to a character and even. through my own writing and it was.

healing and I was like oh wow this is. this is awesome so then I got on stage. did my first play failed terribly. Broadway I mean no normally be like. acting I mean I I don't really know how. I don't know anybody that's ever done it. your way but normally I'm thinking of an. actor I'm thinking they're coming to. Hollywood I don't think they want to be. on the big screen yeah but you went to. Broadway why you know I watched Denzel. yeah I saw him on a couple different. deals.

um I love Broadway but. um right around the time I was looking. at other actors they said well if you. want to act with the actor go to theater. you know we want to be a movie star come. out the house come out to Hollywood. and I thought about that says well. acting you know theater is for the actor. because it's it's in real time it's like. right now right and there's so much the. stakes are high and you have to. be able to be real in imaginary. circumstance right and to be vulnerable.

and to really open up and go there. so. um that's what I did I said okay if I'm. going to jump on screen if I'm going to. jump on the stage I want to be prepared. for that I want to study the art of. being an actor not a movie star so that. way hey if I could jump in front of a. camera we could just have this. conversation you know it makes it's it's. the dojo okay that's what I call it the. Dojo or the weight room right for. getting a camera and so forth because.

you're learning how to be truthful and. how to deliver lines and. um The Blocking on stage and all of that. so that kind of helped me you know and. still does to this day uh for that do. one of the adrenaline rush you come out. in front of 80 000 you come out in the. Super Bowl where you got 100 million. people walking. and then you're on Broadway where you. got two or maybe a couple hundred people. watching. what's the difference. the difference is.

intimate. on the football field you know you a few. hundred yards away you could fumble they. boo you know you get up you shake it off. you can impose your will you know to get. back into it on stage if you're out. there by yourself all you can do is save. yourself. though I remember I didn't play guys. from Bones years ago. and uh and my lines it was an ensemble. and a lot going on it was um Judgment. day was the monologue and it's uh it's.

all the stuff going on there's African. drums going on there's streamers Sun. Moon all that and I was supposed to. saying the God himself stepped down with. the sun in his right hand the Moon is. left the Stars clustered above his head. and the Earth under his feet and God. walked where he trolled hollowed The. Valleys out and balls the mountains up. that's what I was supposed to say so it. was my turn and much like these lights. the heat of the lights I could feel the. lights right I walked down center stage. and it's packed there is packed one. night only see Eddie George la la la.

right. and I can see my my ex teammates in the. crowd they like. all right you want to be dead hi let's. see this right I could see the smirk. with their faces I see my my wife at the. time she's like oh [ __ ] he's going crap. so I said God himself stepped down the. sun is right hand the Moon is left. the wind is blowing the grass is green. animals are in the pasture and God said.

that's good and I walked off the stage. and no one that's not what I'm supposed. to say no no no exactly. so I learned how to improvise The. Ensemble was like. [Music]. okay and I had to deliver another. monologue at the end and from that point. on I said I'll never go back on stage. again because I was terrible but I said. you know what I gotta go back and. revisit it I got comfortable and started.

doing Shakespeare I did Raising in the. sun actually I did a top dog Underdog a. couple years ago. um I did uh the whipping man and another. another drama show so I've done over the. years various roles in Billy Flynn for. me on Broadway was just me you know. going up there and. and auditioning and it prepared me for. that moment I said damn you know what. I'm gonna be on Broadway and so if. that's something you want to continue or. do you want to progress your way what. what is more what do you want to do more.

you want to be a coach at a pound five. NFL or do you want to come to Hollywood. that is an excellent question I think. now is the time. um where the entertainment side is going. to be a little different. um you know it may be not in in front of. the camera it might be producing it okay. the experiences that I'm experiencing. now as a coach that's a show right you. like oh yeah no no there's a lot of. drama in that yeah you know what I'm.

saying so you know I'm taking notes and. I'm doing some things that hey I'm going. to benefit you know my acting side will. be something I'm going to write in terms. of my experience as a coach and my. experience jumping into this it's it's. it all plays off of one another right so. you know I I feel like hey you know if. if and when that coaching gig is up I go. to a power five for five years and say. Hey thank you very much I'm done come. out to Hollywood and come drink with you. you know write a couple scripts make. some movies with an Oscar and me grab me.

Tony be the first person to win he got. is that is that is that word y'all know. that he got his right no no they. wouldn't you know what the e-god is. right no Emmy Grammy okay yeah he got. his Heisman right yeah you definitely. you're definitely. but I mean there's only been a handful. of women that's uh people that's one of. immigration yeah yeah I think Viola uh. no no uh. Moreno Whoopi Goldberg yeah.

um I know common is close yeah I think. he has to do a uh uh Tony yeah he was on. Broadway right on the show um this past. year yeah. well let's go back I want to go back to. the Super Bowl because that was I mean. in Atlanta. and you're so close. so so so so close you are a yard away. and when you're so young like you guys. were you just like us before I go. because we'd be back next year or the. year after but I mean and you never. really got back again.

and what what do you remember about that. moment. um I remember. as we were driving down to go score. right the final drive. and Steve Steve did his thing. he uh. pushed down Kevin Carter through that. strike I believe to Kevin Dyson to pick. up the first day on the call with. timeout and I'm dead tired I'm like. because we didn't have that week off. right yeah you went straight from the. championship game right there and we was.

we were all out there right and I said. this is why I ran all those hundreds. this is why I trained the way I do for. this moment right here and you couldn't. tell me that we were not going to score. going overtime and find a way to win. this ball right. and uh when Dyson stretches out try to. get that ball over the goal line. immediately confetti is on in the air. and it's Pro is uh what gold and blue. blue and gold. and the stage comes out and I'm standing.

there like damn like. like really old [ __ ] like damn like ah. no I can't it's got it's got to be more. times there's got to be more time and I. just walked over to the sideline I sat. there and I just watched it man I didn't. want to leave the field right there was. still more out there right and I said. all right you know what you're supposed. to go to the Pro Bowl the following day. right. I told Jeff Fisher I said you know what. man. I don't think I'm gonna go I think I'm. gonna take a couple days off and I'm on. that Hill tomorrow right we start. working I got I got I got to get back. there because you you've been there you.

you you know what it's like you've been. on the winter side right so I said I've. got to see that confetti in the sky and. dedicated that whole year to training to. put my best year together to get us back. and of course we all ruined it. uh but. um you know I think about that now as a. coach like. maybe God has brought me back into the. game in this capacity so. I may not physically cross that goal.

line but these young men will right. maybe as a championship maybe it's the. goal line of uh they're of realizing who. they are the potential getting that. great education changing their lives. saving their lives whatever that is and. that's the gratification I can get you. know what I'm saying and that's that's. kind of how I see this opportunity. because I've been asked for it I wasn't. searching for it right but when I. searched my heart in the moment and. really meditated on that for months. it felt like this was the move I had to.

make right. do you think the running back has lost. value yes. and it's unfortunate but in order to win. a championship you need a running game. how now isn't that ironic you know. everybody talks about oh you can just. put anybody in the running back position. oh really ask Josh Allen that at Buffalo. right yeah we we see what what that look. like you know the teams that are now it. has some some sort of run right.

um I think the days of. the one running back that can do. everything is done right Derek Henry is. that last one right that can tow it in. 30 and 30 out and still be dominant. right. um but it's very hit or miss with the. rest of these guys one day the hot next. to the cold is not consistent and I. don't think I think the game has changed. right um now the palace RPO is. quarterback Centric you know the. quarterback's doing everything so yeah. toward the end of my career there was.

more you know two two running back. system now we're seeing three and four. running back a Specialists right you. know guys that can run routes guys that. can run The Outsiders another one that. can run the inside Zone one that can run. pin pool another one that can run fly. sweep right I mean there's not that one. guy that can do it all and I think. that's that's a travesty because there. was a point in time when the running. back was revered right you know much. like a quarterback right you know you. had TD right you know what I'm saying. without TV I don't think I win.

right no Championship do you think we'll. ever see another running back win the. MVP I think it'll happen it can happen. again he'll have to break the record to. do it it would have to be because the. quarterbacks are throwing for five. thousand and forty touchdowns every year. so all right so he's gonna have to be. somebody else. or close to it yes I mean we've seen a. Justin Jefferson almost get two thousand. yeah and he may not win it no he's not. going so it's it's definitely a. Quarterback Award at this point I'm. looking at so who would you say is the. best running back in Titan it's kind of.

like Oilers Titans because they're kind. of like let's say We'll mix it all. together so we got you Chris Chris. Johnson yeah D Henry yeah Earl Campbell. for me this is just me personally. speaking I'm gonna I'm gonna take me out. of the equation because I'm always gonna. see me right. but Earl Campbell EC special all right I. mean. he he can do it all he can do what Chris. Johnson did and Derek Henry did and then. some or he he would obliterate.

linebackers oh yeah he wrote he run he. ran um so I'm gonna say EC. but damn Derek man he's so special like. yeah I think he didn't get hurt two. years ago I think he breaks the record. oh without a doubt he had 900 yards. eight games in yeah and he was on Pace. yeah and he's going to do it because he. was durable right. um but but Chris Johnson God man that's. being crazy outside of Barry Sanders the.

greatest home run hitter in the NFL. period. speed was ridiculous yeah he it was it. was it was crazy with let's go back to. that that one matchup because that's the. matchup and we have some great battles. we played you guys people don't realize. this that what you and I we used to be. in the same division it was the Ravens. the uh twice a year twice a year it was. us Pittsburgh uh Cincinnati Cleveland. Jacksonville in Jacksonville yeah in the. same division. but everybody wants to talk about that. divisional game in which we came there.

you guys were you guys were the uh. number one seed in division we had beat. you guys in we're the first team to beat. you at in in Philadelphia yeah yeah. we're the first team and so we felt very. confident going back what do you. remember about that game everything. I remember everything. I remember. um. something that came out in the article. about me laying down me being scared. already right yeah and that brought me. the wrong way that bro be the one I was.

quiet the entire entire week okay and I. said okay. and I knew and I think everybody knew. whoever won that game was going to win. the Super Bowl nobody was gone in fact I. think we might have had the best scoring. defense yeah number one y'all were. number two we had the best scoring. defense y'all had the best total Total. Defense yeah that's what it was yes so. I just remember going into that game. you know how I typically come out during. warm-ups you say hey dog how you doing.

blah blah. none of that tone with [ __ ] yeah. the tone was set yeah it was going to be. a war and. I I just remember it was just back and. forth and it was Bloody it was nasty it. was painful uh you scored we wanted we. scored and it was nipping the team that. made that mistake was going to lose. right we kicked tried to kick a field. goal got blocked went back. took all the wind out ourselves because.

to drive on that defense what happened. it was it was difficult now now now that. y'all were like a python yeah once you. got the bite rat was done the only. amount of time yeah and without a. without a scooping score a pick six. yeah yeah and the thing about that. defense they were creating turnovers. yeah rip pool Hammer oh Sarah goose is. Big behind yeah hit the quarterback. though without the ball. you know what's the flag nothing yeah.

I'm looking at you what you've done. since you retired from the NFL you got a. Bachelor's degree in landscape architect. from Ohio State earned an MBA from. Northwestern appeared on Broadway owns a. restaurant Eddie George Bar and Grill 27. on the landscaping company and a wealth. management firm tall classes at Ohio. State official college of business why. do so much did you feel like your life. wasn't fulfilled did you feel like you. had not checked enough boxes no I had.

nothing to do with checking boxes. um landscape architecture that was my. major in school okay and I was going to. get my degree okay and I was challenged. by the fact that somebody said hey. you're not gonna do nothing with it I. said why she built a business and I. started my own landscape Architecture. Firm in 2003 okay and I wanted to grow. that business uh so I went through some. hiccups didn't quite understand the. nomenclature associated with business. and you spreadsheets and this and that. so I said okay then we'll get my.

Master's in business to understand I can. understand. why I'm not going to allow somebody to. tell me anymore or or. um uh what's what am I looking for um. to sit over my shoulder and explain to. me what's going on right I want to look. at the numbers and know what I'm looking. at and articulate that right in an. educated way so I went I decided to get. my Master's in business and while I was. there I figured that hey I probably. can't grow my landscape architecture. business to a billion dollar business.

right so I got a lot out of that and. then I said okay what can I do. that I can you know have flexible time. you you use my network of people that I. know uh build a business that's going to. have a recurring Revenue model but also. I'm passionate about helping others. right and it was Wealth Management. I said there was a situation that. happened to me early in my career where. um a financial advisor almost all my.

money right. um and I said well I can help young. athletes with financial literacy and. give them a plan of success financially. speaking so I got my Series 7 my 66. license about uh around the same time I. was studying to be going to go in. Chicago right so I had this idea that I. was going to work with my three E's my. three E's our entertainment. entrepreneurship and education okay and. to teach so that's what I was operating. in was to act and tell stories uh build.

my business and then to teach this to. young people so they can be set up for. Success financially speaking that's when. I was teaching in Ohio state had the NFL. uh invited you in to speak at the rookie. Symposium I have um over the years I. have and I talked about various things. it talked about my transition. um leaving the game matter of fact when. it had like Cleveland. um. at the uh that spot there I can't think. of the name but.

um I'm going there and what's crazy is. everything that I've done up until this. point. has prepared me to become a head coach. right you know as the actor and the. ability to listen listening actively. is what you do as an actor and then you. respond. so to listen to these kids. to truly listen to them and what their. issues are into figure out what they. really want and how to get them to from. point A to point B. you have to listen you have to listen to.

what others are saying about the. university itself to figure out where. the problems are so. that was one and then the the ability to. teach teach life to teach life lessons. to teach uh whatever that is in the. moment and to be organic. um as a teacher that says help me so. all of that. preparation what I've done over the. years wasn't about checking boxes It Was. preparing me right you know for what I'm. doing now.

I thought you were on a path to be the. next Rock. athlete turned actor. what why did why don't you did you not. devote the time because a lot of a lot. of opportunity to get an opportunity was. it the opportunity was it the time what. what transpired that all of a sudden you. know you because it seemed like you were. a lot of movies I'm looking here you're. the best man holiday with Taye Diggs me. alone so now later Regina Hallmark. Chestnut the game plans started rock you. you were in some movies and you know.

today I'm taking Hiatus you take it. higher yeah you're going to get back in. it but you said but you it might not be. in front of the camera it might be. behind the camera I'd be as a production. company right and producing stories. right you know again my son's at USC. film school right and I can get I can. always jump into his movies do you like. telling stories I do I really do. um this is the art of telling it and to. get the point across y'all as a. Storyteller you're trying to do. something. to the character that you're playing. across while you're trying to do.

something to invoke an emotion into the. audience you're trying to get a message. across right that may be so that that. um the ability to do that I think is. very powerful right in terms of telling. a story and getting to influence people. to do something good to call a call of. action right yeah. she's married you've been married a long. time yes sir married to Taj former. member SWV. how have you ever how have you been able. to keep she's a public figure you're a.

public figure obviously how have you. been able to keep your marriage so. private. ah I didn't think it was Private. um. well you know what I try to keep my my. name out the streets right you know and. lo and behold I haven't been very good. at that attack. you know what I'm saying like hey I'm No. Angel right she knows that right. um we've had our Wars we've had our. moments but that's what marriage is and.

I've learned to grow through that I mean. she is a woman of Grace. and compassion right and forgiveness and. and I appreciate that and she has my. back you know and I've learned over the. years as I've evolved and have grown. that. um in order for me to be responsible for. potential I've got to be 100 you know. with her at all times right and and. that's and that's what makes it work is. communication right for us and just. being very honest right with one another.

and where we are and I think that's. helped us go from one stage to the next. stage so give me some of your keys. what's some of your biggest keys. getting married and staying married. uh getting married. um. it's understanding the right time to get. married no I mean you can always say. yeah you know. um 35 and a half no 40 no I you're never. ready right I think it's a commitment. and I'll say this.

um there's no formula you can read all. the books you want right each person is. uniquely different yes so you have to. take the time to get to know that person. the time to uh will be willing to go. through all the highs and lows and love. is an action word right you have to. choose to love that's not a noun it's an. action so you have to wake up saying hey. I'm going to love my wife today that. means I'm going to make the right. decisions that means whatever she says.

you do right you're gonna do is say yes. right and she says hey baby do I look. good in this dress and she's bloated you. say yes David you look good. that's what that's what I've learned so. you know it's um it's all of that right. and uh but she's my best friend right we. still laugh together right we I make I. make it a point to prioritize my time. for her and all that I'm doing I do this. every single Sunday I didn't do it this. week except doing my thing but I.

listened to a sermon at night or the. game might be on and I plan out my. entire week and I start with me first. and I always start with my private time. in the morning my meditation then I'll. go into my workout I'll swim I'll lift. weights whatever that requires me to do. that week yoga whatever and then I go. down to the next phase of my life that's. being a husband and father date night I. schedule that in I plan it in that time. so I am intentional about the time that.

I spend my with my wife whether it's 15. minutes an hour four days when we plan a. trip three or four months down the line. but I try to create those moments with. her because she's busy she's still. traveling she's still singing still. doing her thing she's doing a reality. show now in Atlanta she was down so we. have to be intentional right about how. we're spending our time together right I. read somewhere says that when you get. married or married the man must date his. wife every single day yes every day.

[ __ ] you gotta have patience and it's. it's it is it has worked yes it is work. so it's working so it's it is anything. worthwhile is uphill right you know what. I'm saying I always say that and I. always believe that and. um it has its ups and downs it can get. monotonous you got to do things to keep. it fresh right you know what I'm saying. it's like okay you want to be a redhead. or a blonde tonight right. [Laughter].

and you're still in great shape that's. something that you little yeah you. listen you are the dog you are you are. killing it man the fashion game look. great man I saw you your Twitter or your. Instagram you still throwing up iron. without a spotter 4 15. and you you DM and say bro get a spot.

you did you did everything I said listen. I gotta find out who your stylist is. though dog I'm like yo Shannon yeah you. gotta be looking right right that. sweater you wore tonight yeah yeah yeah. that's what it was traded man this would. have got me in trouble too yeah. so what do you so what what are your. Fitness routine what what do you eat I. mean obviously we can't eat like we ate. when we played because we don't work out. like we worked out when we played yeah. and I can't I can't run like I used to. right so my knee is issue so I swim okay.

I try to swim twice a week okay. um my goal. um has been you know try to get at least. a mile in of that breaststroke yeah uh. backstroke right I'm doing the um a. dolphin kick as well so okay so that. getting that cardiovascular and for me. is good and now that we have a weight. room at Tennessee state right I got my. weight coach and we we playing uh you. know conditioning day right there so I. try to hit the iron I just got my. shoulder done so I'm trying to get back. into.

um build my shoulder back up so I do. that uh try to lift at least four days a. week my rest day consists of yoga. stretching and massage right so my. eating is sporadic so I still try to. plan right eat every three hours yeah. them coaches coaches don't have to have. them have a regular schedule so you eat. the odd times it is frustrating because. you know I don't want to eat the Oreos. but you know I'm starving you gotta eat. them yeah. they got to get down yeah well Eddie I. appreciate it I appreciate you stopping.

by the club having a conversation best. of luck this year and everything you do. moving forward appreciate it man thank. you lady George ladies and gentlemen. [Music]. all my life. [Music].