Listen: Sam Ficken (9/18)

Hall of Famer. Oh, laying the hammer here early Sam's used to pressure though. We'll get to that in the podcast throughout in the episode, but before we dive into kicking and Penn State and all that, something that fans don't know about you. You were on Wall Street before you were in the NFL. So can you kind of explain how that came about and what happened on Wall Street and your job when you re entered the NFL. Yeah, so I graduated from Penn State with a finance degree.

Um three point what three point six five? I think that's not too bad. I'll take it. I'll take it as with my parents. So I was happy with that. But no I graduated with a great degree. Um, you know, kind of dabbled a little bit, um a couple of training camps. I was with the Jags. Unfortunately didn't work out there, so you know, I kind of decided it might be time to get a real job. So UM kind of dug into the into the roots, and UM came up with a guy by the name of Lance

Launergan who's a Penn State letterman. Uh runs a trading firm in Greenwich, and UM, you know, reached out to him and told him I was interested, and he, uh he allowed me to come out and then they hired me full time after about a two month internship. So I was doing equity trading and UM, it was an awesome experience. I had a lot of fun there. How long were you doing that? Uh? Um? So I got hired full time in June of seventeen, and UM, that

was kind of with the caveat that. You know, they were like, hey, like, what's your football, Like, give me a percentage of like getting you back And if you get to call Sam, are you gonna go? And I told him, I said, if I get a call, I'm leaving. But you know, it's been pretty quiet here for a while. So um, with that being said, they hired me full time. UM, and about three weeks later, the chiefs called me. So you know, I said I if I got a call, I'm leaving UM and went out there. I want to

try out. And I was there for a training camp and then got released. So I went back to the job. UM, got all my licenses out of the way series seven sixty three fifty seven. UM. And actually the day after I passed my final certification to actually start clicking buttons was when I got a call from the RAMS. I said again, you know, if if I get a call,

I gotta go, and and they were super supportive. Um. You know, I think part of the caveat was I was always brutally honest with them and where I stood, and um, you know, obviously playing in the NFL has been a dream of mine, so UM they understood that. And you know, when I did get that call, They're like, hey, we hope, we hope we never see you again. So that's pretty nice though. Yeah. Yeah, they were super supportive

through the whole thing. Obviously, not too many I think corporate companies would allow you to kind of hop back and forth So how would you break it down to a high schooler who wants to get into Wall Street and business equity trading? What does that mean? Um? So, I mean your your common stocks like Apple, Facebook, Google, those are just obviously the big names. Now, we kind of specialized in in sticky stocks, so stuff that wasn't

you know trading. You know, Apple trades a couple of million shares probably a day we were you know, are kind of little caveat was you know, the sticky names that maybe we got a forty dollar buy or sell order, but only you know, five thousand shares trade to day.

You know, we go out to clients on either side of the aisle that have been in that name, and then we try and match it get them a better price, because if you go and try and hit that cell order for forty shares, you're going to drive that price way down. So again, when you're dealing with thousands and thousands shares, pennies really count. So and whenever the NFL is over for you, whether it's ten years from now, however long that is, is this something you want to

go back into. Yeah? Yeah, probably, you know, I really enjoyed my time there, and again I think finance, especially right now, is a shifting landscape. Um, but I think the people that I met, and you know, kind of the environment that surrounds that type of type of business is something that draws to me. Give me the review of The Wolf of Wall Street. How much of that is? How much fantasy? You know? It's funny. I watched yesterday before the game, I watched we're recording this on the

Tuesday after the Browns game. For the record, I watched American Psycho for the first time with Christian Bale And have you ever seen the movie? I've I've seen clips, not told right, so I can't stay with it for the whole thing. Yes, it's just too much for Yeah, I didn't know that coming into it, though it a

little much. But here I am thinking, like, you know, it's a bunch of Wall Street guys, pinchtripe suits, slick back here and here I you're in like shorts and a teacher, and I'm picturing you in a suit doing the thing on Wall Street and I think it fits. I appreciate, Yeah, I think it fits. But he's but he's an Indiana kids. So when I think about Indiana kids, I think about hoops and John melcamp peaks right Indiana, it's it's hoops, I think, right after religions. So you know,

those are those are the important aspects back there. Uh, what kind of hoops player were you growing up? We're just talking about it before we started taping. Your first cousin is want to produce all time greats, and it's Robbie Hummel. Yeah. Yeah, I certainly wasn't at his level. Um, you know, he obviously had a tremendous career and um, you know, growing up in Valpo, I get to see kind of that whole journey for him, and um, you know I played basketball with his younger brother, so um,

I think he actually might. He's still balling. He's playing like in these three and three tournaments. I think might be making the Olympics potentially. So obviously hats off to him for that. And you know, now he's kind of joined the other side of the aisle doing broadcasting. So um yeah, obviously his story is exceptional, and you know, the way he worked at it throughout his whole career was pretty cool. But do you have an exceptional story yourself? Um?

Goes back to Penn State because you weren't recruited by those big Indiana schools whether that probably was obviously Notre Dame Perdue. Then you got Bloomington right there are you? And you ended up at Penn State. Uh, obviously you got a tremendous education. What was your football experience like there, because I know a lot of people have read about your start and then it was bumpy at the beginning,

and then you just took off from there. Yeah, I think, Um, you know, obviously the start of that crew was well documented. But um, he gets sick of talking about Virginia. What closes through your mind when you hear the name Virginia? Listen, you know, I think everyone's past a little different. Um, you know with me, Um, you know, got there not having a ton of you know, I only played two years of high school football player. I was playing soccer, so, um,

you know, I was kind of new to that whole scene. Um. And you know, my freshman year, I think I played in three games kind of non crucial moments really. Um. And then obviously all all sorts of stuff happens at Penn State. And um, you know, our starting kicker at the time, Anthony Ferry, trans furs and Um. You know by kind of focus in that off season was let's focus on gaining a little weight and you know, kind of fine tune in the details. So I wouldn't say

I was super ready. Um. You know when he decided transfer was like, oh uh, you're the guy. Yeah. And you know, I think I think from a from a standpoint of could I kick at that level, yes, But I don't think mentally I was ready because of that whole off season I was prepping to be the backup and try and kind of learned from Anthony and and go that route. Um. But again, you know, I think with with the way I started, UM, a lot of

good came out of out of that rough start. Um. You know I got, I grew a relationship with Robbie Gold, and I don't think i'd be here sitting in this chair, um if that wouldn't happen. And I don't know, um if he would have reached out the way in which he did if I had no struggle so much so early. So for those of people listening who don't know, you've missed four of five field goal attempts against Virginia headed, extra point blocked. UM time State lost that game. Down

in Charlotteville by one point. Um, a lot of people were a lot of people were crumble. Yeah it was. It was a tough, tough few weeks for me. But but that speaks to who you are again, you know it was it was a learning experience. Uh. It taught a lot, um, you know, about myself, um, and how to kind of handle adversity. Um. You know, I wasn't the most well liked person around campus, and you know, I'm a social guy. I I don't like it when

people don't like me for you know, without even knowing me. Um, you know, So that was something that I kind of had to deal with and um, you know, it is what it is. But again it's it taught me a ton about myself, um, you know, emotionally and you know a kicker. Well, just like to not to harp on it. But the severity of the negativity that was towards you,

wasn't it like huge? Like we didn't you get death threats? Uh? Yeah, okay, because I I read one online and it said that you laughed at it, So I felt like I could bring it up again. I think you know, there's humor to every situation. Did I take it seriously. No, Um, yeah, I think the joke that I think got me, you know, cracking up a bit, was, Uh, you don't have to worry about sam Um hurting himself because he can't kick

the chair out from under right. But but your story does have a happy ending here, at least in Penn State terms, because when you look at full circle the end of your Penn State career, well one, it's in Yankee Stadium. You randomly get assigned Derek Jeter's locker and then have a game tying field goal and then a game winning extra point after the BC kicker misses his extra point in overtime. So to think about how far you came just in those in those years in Happy Valley,

how much do you feel like you grew mentally? And then how much did that prepare you for the situation that you're in now. Uh, you know, I think from from that Bowl game and you know it was really a storybook ending on my college career. Um, you know, to start the way I did and then you know, make second team All Big Ten and um, you know, finish on such a high note. Obviously you've seen the roller coaster of emotion and this position I think it

naturally involves that. So, um, you know, hopefully I never miss you know, obviously that would be that would be great, but that's kind of the nature of the position you you will miss eventually. Um, And it's about kind of staying level headed and not you know, worrying yourself about it too much. The most ironic thing about all of your past is that how tight the hen State A Lumps are. But everybody got after you initially and said

this guy, we gotta get him out of here. But now look at how you've grown, not just professionally in the National Football League, but what you're gonna do ultimately, probably beyond football after whenever your career is said and done. The people who you're talking to right off the bat our Penn State Alumps. Yeah, you know, I think I think that was a little bit to do with also

kind of the situation of which we were playing through. Um, you know, when the when the sanctions hit, we had like Letterman fly back to kind of tell us, hey, listen, we know it's going to be struggled, but um, you know we're here for you. When when football is also done, we got your back, and um, you know I'm I'm firsthand experiencing that. Um and hopefully I don't have to go back to that world for a while. UM, but again, you know I utilize that, and and Lance was who

was my ball obviously um at the brokerage. You know, he was again right there for me as an inspiring NFL kicker who now is the New York Jets kicker. Have you had to head? Have you had to have your bags literally packed? Because you're kind of like you got the Josh mccowy, you're the Josh mccounty kickers right now because you've already you've already been on five or six teams, and you're a young dude, and we love we love Josh for the record, So it's a compliment. Yeah,

you know, you you kind of get used to. You know, I'm very good at packing about two suitcases and living out of that for a while. Um. You know that's just the nature of the business. Um, I think until you kind of get a foothold in one spot. Um, you know, kicking is a crazy business, especially in the NFL. So um, you know you kind of know that going in and that's kind of what you signed up for. Did you have you watched the Jets from a far or in proximity, You're not too far away about what

happened this offseason. They have a Pro Bowl kicker Jason Myers, wh when free agency goes in signs with the Seattle Seahawks. The Jets bring back Chandler Canton Zero. He struggles in the preseason, he retires. They bring back Terrell Teller Bertillette who struggled in the preseason, and then they go out and get carry fed Vic who uh had his problems on opening Day. What is your mindset as you're monitoring what's going on in the National Football League and you

see specifically what's happening with the Jets. I mean, you know, that's kind of the tough thing. Obviously, if you're on the street, you're obviously rooting for an opportunity for yourself. Um. But then on the same side, it's like you don't really root that they miss kicks because you know, I've been in that situation and it sucks to get cut. Um.

I've been cut plenty of times. So I think you're you're obviously aware of of kind of what teams you know, are are you know, potentially looking and um, but at the end of the day, I let my agent handle all that stuff. I try to kind of dissolve myself from the situation. Um, because you know a lot of these guys I know personally, um, whether it's through kicking camps or tryouts or whatever. So um, you know, on a personal level, obviously you've lived at yourself. So that's

a bad part of this business. But at the same time, you know, you obviously want yourself to get an opportunity, and you know that's just the nature of the game. And did you allow yourself to hear the crowd roller after you made your first vehicle as a New York Jet that's not a chippy either, Green. Yeah, you know, generally the crowd doesn't cheer like that, le that like unless it's like a six D yard or something. But um, again,

obviously you're aware of the situation. Um. I thought. I think if you saw it on TV, I think I gave it a little chuckle. But you know, at the end of the day, just go out there and do your job. I think it's it's the nature of the game. I think they were happy you made the kick, and it was also like relief, Yeah, we got our guy. I think. So it's putting it through those uprights and

here you go. Um a good start. How many text messages did you receive following Monday night football, because not only did you get your game action with the Jets, you start out in prime time. Yeah, you know, I think it was like a hundred and thirty or something like that. A hundred thirty texts after the game. Oh my god. Yeah, people I hadn't heard from in quite a while. Yeah, we're probably asking oh no, no, no,

just you know, a lot of messages of support. Um, you get back to every I've tried, you know, not last night, for sure, I was retired last night, but um, this morning, I tried to do my best to get back to most people. All Right, I want to know, I just want to bring this back to hoops for a minute, because I I didn't ask this Indiana. You said hoops is before religion. I know you said it facetiously. But if you're not good at basketball growing up, are

you like ostracized as a kid? Like are you shoved in the corner? I wouldn't go that far, um, but it I mean, it's certainly the dominant sport in the area, and um, but like, where does an average Indiana kid? How would an average Indiana kid fair and pick up here? All right? Especially especially from the from the corner three spot. That's kind of our where. You know, we're not the most athletic, but we know how to play smart and we know how to shoot the ball. So where's your game?

Were you? You're not that small? I mean, see, that's the thing. I would have been like a two on my on my high school team. So Robbie, obviously we've talked a little bit about him. He was six eight and he played the three. Yeah, so I think they're starting line up. Their point guard was like six one. Their shooting guard was like six three. He's six eight. Scott Martin, who played in Perdue as well as Notre Dame um six eight, and then they had a center

who was like seven one. Would you guys ever pick up the ball and play a little bit of family gatherings? Uh? Not? With Rob? Rob had to sit on the sideline. I mean, was that was that his choice? Or you guys just didn't want to play because yeah, it wouldn't be fair, It wouldn't be fair. I think i've you know, I've actually tried to take them a few times and I get it like three dribbles in and then steals it from me. And who are your guys growing up? Like?

Who who did you look up to as a HOOFS player? Obviously Rob but Um, you know I obviously, I mean I played with like six or seven NBA guys um throughout the like Duneland Athletic Conference was their conference, so like Mitch McGarry was my age. Um, Glenn Robinson um won the dunk contests in the NBA. UM played against um Zeller that AU tournament. I mean, yeah, it's just pretty uh pretty wealthy landscape and the college recruiting front there, Yeah, I would say so. So, Um, you've been here just

for a little bit. Uh so where are you living at? You're living close to the complex, so it's not that much of a commute in here. And you've been known to give your leg quite a workout in terms of the volume of kicks. If you and Brandt Boyer come together and said, hey, this is how we want to approach practice. You know, coach has been great through the whole thing. Obviously last week, Um, you know, you have the tryout and then you try and kind of fast

forward to get used to the snapping hold. So you're obviously getting a lot of reps last week, but they did a good job of monitoring everything. And you know, with this week being a little short, you know, I'm sure we'll get together tomorrow to talk about what days we're kicking and um, you know that's not something I'm really worried. We live in a hotel right now, right now, I am actually I think I'm moving in at the time, about half half hour to the to the half make

it easy on myself. You should get one of those scooters. I wanted to ask you about the try out. What happened? What happens with a kicking tryout? Are you there literally with other guys here at the complex or you're come in and you have your ten well maybe twenty minutes where they go through. Yeah, so generally, UM, at least most there's there's anywhere from three to five. Now my rams trough out there were twelve kickers, so that was that was kind of a circus um but I think

we had five total. Um, you'd fly in the night before, you get up early for physicals and then um, you know, the kicking workouts about an hour long, you hit about I think we hit twelve or thirteen field goals and a few kickoffs and then they make their decisions. But does it literally rotate so like this you set up, Yeah, you just go one by one, same spot and then you move. Okay, So what's happening when you're a competitive

guy and you're all there for the job. But when you see these dudes at the hotel, everybody checking in the night before, it's a small fraternity like you were talking about. Is it cordial or is it kind of like listen, Yeah, I'm just gonna get my meal and go upstairs. I haven't run into that yet. You know, at the end of the day, most of us know each other on a personal level. UM. Most of us want us to do well for one another. UM. So I think my mindset is always you know, obviously these

are good, good people, UM, treat them as such. But you know, when it comes time for me to go try and earn a job, I'm super focused. UM. Obviously not a lot of chit chat once we're on the field. UM. But again, you know, I think for almost everyone I've running into their their good people. UM. And again, trying

to treat them like that. Did you know during the workout that I know this you generally have a good sense of of who wins and and UM, you know, there's obviously been a few times where um, you know, maybe experienced factors into a decision or not. UM. You know, after the strato, I felt really good about how I had done. UM, and then you know, kind of just let the chips fall where they fall. I'm sorry, I'm sorry green So I just wanted to ask how long? Yeah?

My question? Yeah, how long after that? Did they call your agent? How does they? It can depend? Um generally they send you for more in depth physical UM. So they had sent two of us, and then um, a few hours later they may make a decision. So all right, so it's a couple of hours generally, Yeah, all right, you got anything else? What's your range? Let's have any

three degree day, little wind at MetLife Stadium. I hit uh sixty yesterday and warm ups, UM going the one way and clinks went off the also I'll probably going the other way. UM. I feel pretty good. All right, this is sixty. Did you go back? Did you go on your phone and the social media um to watch the replayer kick or you just want the game film. UM, I had probably up people send me a video of it,

so I obviously saw it a few times. All right, so you have game film replay and text message, Uh, you're gonna take Hennessee and Locklin out for a pine or something or what we figure something. Okay, I'm sure all right, that's all we have here on the Official Jet podcast in the play MGM Studios again New York Jets dot com, SoundCloud, Apple podcast, Google Play YouTube. Basically wherever you can find a podcast, you can find us.

Anything else. You can send us some questions including if you be equity training tips right, we will ask Sam. If you got questions, let us know, rate us, review us Sam, thanks a lot for coming on, appreciate the time. Thanks guys,