The following is a presentation of play Fly Sports properties in Michigan State Sports Properties. Well, Hello and good evening. It is Tuesday, July eighteen, two thousand and twenty three. Welcome to the only show about Spartan Dogs hosted by Spartan Dogs. This is Sparta MS shot. I'm your host, Jason Strayhorn played back in the Pros, saving eras as a center and the team
captain. And I could not do this without my two dogs in the fight who played during the Smith and Antonio eras the boss, oldest wiley, hard hitting ball hawking safety and Jay Choo Choo Culkric, a single season TV record holder for MS. You you know. But if this is your first time, we welcome you to the show. If this isn't your first time, we want to thank you. And don't forget the chat group right there is where all the party is at. So go in there and get in the
live chat. Don't forget to hit us on our social media is like and subscribe to YouTube, follow us, let us know where you're watching from guys. Hey, happy anniversary to you, Choo Choo. You can't how about that man? Happy anniversary? Brother? That's oldis to say, that's my favorite shirt right there. My grandma do me that shirt. But look at look at look how the sunlight is just protruding on the arms there though proud
like a photoshop. You can buy seth looking knife just right there. And you know, hey, listen, listen, you're gonna see did you not submit the video? Because that shirt the buttons start to get over the time night you started seeing that white beater. Where were you guys at look like you're a ford Field? What was going on in ford Field? Or field at the edge? Sharon concert? Oh yeah, man, you know what's in there? What's the wife of nine six years? Anniverse? Or six
years you put up with me? You know six years? Six years? People you got you were in a sweet, aren't you? Oh? Yeah, in a sweet? Of course? You know how changing dude? Right, we actually have video from a sweet. Let's yes, some videos every tongue and everything. It was everywhere too, don't think so there. For some reason too, when I sing that song, I always try to sing with the English accident and at yourself saying Castle on the hill, I'm like, oh, the castle on the hill? Man? I heard that?
Yeah, A special guest at that concert with Ed Shearing. You you know, Detroit's on. Eminem showed up. Huh yeah, Eminem, you know, made a guest appearance there. He's sang two songs obviously. He started with Lose Yourself, a collaboration he did with Ed Sharon that night, and then um, you know, he said, you know I'm here already, we might as well do another song, and the roof went off in the building there, and uh, you know they did stand you know, one
of my favorite songs. Ed did the singing part Elton John's or didos part there and Eminem did his rap and he ended with the Eminem salute with the middle finger as he went down under the stage again. It was a really cool, cool venue, cool atmosphere, a really good show. Probably one of the top three concerts I've been to. Man And when's the next time you're gonna go there? We're gonna go there for the Penn State game. You're gonna go there before that, Well, we're gonna be next time.
I'm gonna be there. We're gonna be announcing, We're gonna be making an announcement. Some people have the opportunity to be there with me for summer Slam coming up May June. I'll get all over the place. I'll get fifth the day before my birthday. Yeah, so I think we're gonna be making that announcement and us, you know, letting it. We gotta figure out how we're gonna do the drawing and everything like that. But yeah, you know, I got a tip it's probably gonna be subscribers only. Yes,
get a chance to go to Summer Slam with you? Yes? Right? Is this is this all inclusive or let's say, let's just say I'm gonna be I don't know if they're ready for an all inclusive day with you. If the event starts at seven thirty, I'll be down there around noonesh. You know, goodness, we got about that. We got an exciting show to day to Tampa. We got a special guest coming on and guys, we gotta get through some of the house claim none. But let's talk about
Michigan State football if we could for a moment. Michigan State. Hey, once again, this is coming up the second hardest schedule in college football this year, according to Pro Football Focus, and we moved up one spot because we were three right, U right, we want to I want to say we want all the smoke right like it is what it is like, we did this. We set this a long time agoing on our schedule wise, and you want to play the best, you want to be the biggest platforms.
Obviously our conference is getting stronger and stronger year by year, So I don't want it any other way. You know, we played the black, We played the best. We're gonna be prepared for it, and then obviously we want to know it and be a big ten championship and also go to you know, a great bowl game slash CFP. But you know this is gonna really show where we're at from a standpoint of a program status. Um,
we got the guys. Now, let's see if we've been in this weight room in the summer workouts from building, which we have been building. And I'm looking forward to seeing where we where the chicks. Let the chick forward. They met once we get on with Central Michigan kicking off on Friday, set them first. Mmm. Man, you know to like, I don't know, you know, I haven't seen this team yet, but it's just something different going on right now. You know, a couple of months
ago, everybody was like, you know, students day. But right now, it's just I don't know. I feel like there's a sneaking suspicion in my opinion that this team is working their asses off like they they're quiet. They've hearing a lot of doubters. Yes, they got a hard schedule. This is all based on last year's record, RN loss totals and who's coming
back. So Pro Football Focus does all that analysis and they say that Michigan State, based off what they have, there's the second hardest schedule in the nation. I think that, you know, they made surprise to people. What do you think you absolutely I agree with you one hundred percent. I think they're definitely gonna surprise some people. Um, you know, I think the work has been it's quietly being done in the shop right now. Um,
you know, they're they're going back there. They're putting in the work in the off season and putting in the work on the field ass a team they're recruiting. You know, buzz wasn't as big as it was the years previous, but what it means is it's that quality, that quality work that's going in. You're not seeing all these fancy videos that's coming out. You
know, right now. So I'm I'm excited for this. I agree one hundred percent with you, Jason. I think, you know, the Spartans are gonna shock and surprise a lot of people going into this season because they're gonna come out playing with the chip on their shoulders this whole season because the last year was not the Spartans that we you know, and they know that was not dumb. You know, that was not an identity, That was
not a DNA of Spartan football off especially from the defensive side. You know, at what point, you know, we had what one or two interceptions last season and all together, that's not the DNA and Spartan acceptable at all. You're right, you know, we we live, we take theirs, you know, we protect ours and we take away from them. That's the DNA of Spartan football. And I think we're gonna get back to that. We're getting guys back, We're getting leaders back that are healthy. We're gonna
get guys back with that have that social cohesiveness. The locker room's gonna be done. That's the construction is not going to be a distraction or anything like that. I think the blinders are on and the Spartans are going to be focused this year and having that second heardest schedule. That's one of the reasons you come to Michigan State because you get to play in those big games. You get to have those big opportunities, you know, to showcase your talent
week in a week out years back. You know otis. You know this when whenever you play a big game, they'll talk about, Hey, that's the money game, that's that money game. You get Ohio State prime time, you get Penn State primetime. Now a lot of these games aren't that money game. You got Washington coming, that's a money game early in the season. So you know, it's an opportunity to make a statement. You start with Central, you have Richmond, and then hey you're two one out
going into that Washington game and revenge. Those guys are coming to your home, your home field now. So it's it's something that's really you know, like I said, the Spartans are flying on the radar and they're gonna surprise a lot of people this season. Oh Man, When you look at last year's AP rankings, at the end of the season, Michigan State faces four teams in the top ten from those final rankings. You look at Washington number eight, Penn state seven, Universe, Ohio state four. You know the
team down the road was number three overall. Thank you for Tony the producer, Tony g the producer in the background for that crack stat But look, guys, it's gonna be the well straight you're looking at at the preseason rankings. He's according in two four seven ESPN. You know you got Washington coming in at twenty one, so they're coming in if we knocked that off, like all right, this is we mean business, because clearly we got spanked last year, you know what I mean, went over there and it was
just two much to y'all. So you're here, are you guys on the radio and then hearing what you talked about like that atmosphere was like it was no way we can win that game. But we gotta guys come in ranking Washington. I think this is a huge testament, like we can't overlook Central, we can't overlook Richmond, but we all know that Washington is that one. But we gotta show up, put up, and show up or Central misgan leave no doubt, leave nothing unturned and obviously Richmond coming in nip that
in the bud quickly, so we get some rest. But then Washington is that one. We gotta really go out go after him. Yeah, you're you hit the nail right on the head. Us. You can't look past Central. You can't look past Richmond. Good programs and good teams. You know what they do. They win games they're supposed to win. If we're fourteen point favorites, let's win by seventeen, you know, make that statement.
Yes, let's cover you guys in Vegas. You've got lots of people in Spartan Stadium, you know, all sitting on pins and needles for that cover. You know, so let's let's go ahead, let's make let's cover that, and if you and then let's move on to Richmond. And then if we're you know whatever, however points were favored by against Richmond, we're prepared for that. We cover that as well, and then we focus on
Washington. We can't go into the season planning to beat Washington when we have Central and Richmond, because Central comes in with a chip on the shoulder. It's a otis. You know this. You're an in state guy. A lot of those guys on Central were passed over, you know, they're passed over by State. You know that coaches are going into their schools recruiting their teammates who come to State and not recruiting them. So those guys have a
chip on their shoulders and their coaches. Coach mcawaine, he was here at Michigan State. He understands what it means to be here. So he's he I know exactly what he's you know, he's took yeah, so he it takes yeah left. Michigan State went down. The foot was the Gators. It was down. The Gators went so went right like ye seen fishing. I heard. I don't know everything about that I heard. I don't know you guys inside, Joe, but you know you brought up Washington the oldest.
Like we keep talking about the Washington thing and thinking about Michael Pennox junior, that quarterback. I think he's two and old against Michigan State. He has our number, like playing for Indianna and asked also as a husky lefty that can sling. It could have went. Was was projected to be a Day one, early late day one, or early day two pick in the NFL draft a year ago and decided to come back because they're talking National Championship
album Washington right now. So that's gonna be a huge game when they when they come into town, I think it's September. What is that sixteenth or the fifteen, fifteen, twenty four, something like that. They'll be in Spartan you can watch network. We're gonna be talking about it before then. But guys, look talking about people with chips on that show. Let's talk about our own Chuck Brantley. He's got an event going on at Plato's Closet
in east Land scene, and let's listen to him. Hype it up right now, Spartan Nation's Chuck Brandley here deeps the Back at Michigan State next weekend, Saturday, July twenty second, eleven am to one pm. Then I will be signing that Plato's Closet for their game they release, Eating east Lands. The first hundred fans that get there at Platos we'll receive a signed limited additional trading card. Hopefully see many of you guys there. Go Agreen, go White. You gotta look it. I tell you boy this and I
doing deals in Plato's closet. Hey, we gotta get play to be a partner so we can wear a jersey and the thing you know, like we know looking at about assist you shouldn't be on campus at all going after play though play tho. It's like it's like listen to Bernie Maxon Nay, I don't know, you know, Nato Jenkins. By the way, Washington game is all the sixteen. Thank you for that again telling you in the background. Look, you know there's another list that just came out and it was
the East West Shrine Bowl. One thousand players that can make the East West Shrine Bowling. Fifteen Spartans make that list. Yeah, that's that's really impressive. You know, the East West Shrine Bowls. It's a really big game. It's a great opportunity for uh, you know college college players, you know, hoping you get a chance at the next level to go out there
and display their talents being by NFL guys. And if you know, it's really crazy because that list, you know, Alabama didn't have fifteen players you know that that could make that game. Georgia didn't have that number. So it's it's it says a lot about where the program is and the and the the Calberth players that's on this spartan roster. Yeah, I think as a player, you know East East versus West Shrine game East West Shrine Game. I'm sorry, is that one you all want to get in, right?
But that main one we know is the Rec Senior Bowl. But like this is the element of you've seen fifteen guys here. Out those fifteen guys, you may get two or three to get the call to go to the Rec Senior Bowl. And so this is another opportunity to put on the platform, have the NFL scouts, get your draft status get evaluated. Um, and
this is a great one. This is fully this is like the long standing one that's always been around and so kudos all of our guys now, but I truly have been preseason this, pre season that and that pride comes before the fall. You gotta keep grinding, you gotta keep working. Don't look at this height because that can be stripped away from you really quick. So one, let's focus on to get this season. Put up those numbers and
we'll see where at the end of the season where you get celebrated. You know, you gotta win two to get that notoriety and get that exposure. So congratulations those guys being least selected preseason to be selected postseason. But that one is that Senior Bowl, we know it is. But this is good to celebrate too, absolutely, and to take care of business and they'll be there. That's all. That's all I gotta do. Take care of business.
Only two hundred and fifteen rookies get into that league, you know. So the thousand players here that are eligible, that are on the radar right now, fifteen from Michigan State. Let's see how they can live out their dreams next year and during this season. If you guys have liked what you've heard so far, don't forget to hit the subscribe and the like button,
the like button, and you know we got our special guests. BJ Cunningham joins us after this message from our friends over Eye Hot, put a smile on your plate with new pancake tacos, because when you fold a pancake and a half, if you get a taco or in this case three for six dollars, try all four flavors here for a fun time, not a long time. Only from Eye Hop without further ado, we were gonna bring on the legendary b. J. Cunningham Wide receiver number three, number one in
your hearts, joins this a Sparta ms you how are you doing? BJ? Yeah? Oh hit that? Hit that on you? But all right, let me see if I are y'all hit it at the same time. There you go, no to me, talk to me, all the talks to me. You're ready to go, go leave and come back in. Yeah, there you go. Well yeah, as he's coming back in, like you know, that's what we got the same birthday. So we always
talked about Jimini twins, right, It's crazy. Uh BJ's a guy literally same day, same day, two year difference, right, So uh you know I was gonna tell that story when I don't know, Jay, you didn't have to stay in the dorms. Who comes d in the camp, did you? Yeah? Year the first year? So that second year, that second No, that first year it was on seven because he came in on seven yea yeah yeah. So coach Steve Coachdeve matched US seniors with like
incoming lord freshman or sophomores. Like there wasn't anna like senior and senior pure right, So with me jim here, like I get DJ coming in right, So me and VJ are roommates and I'm like man, it might not be none of that foolish would be none of that foods just good. Look I need my sleep and all that. Like we gotta set the pargams. It's like, let's sit down here now. The og you know really went
yeah, and I was like all night yeah. Then used to do Then you start getting you know, the freshman you know, you got that mark deal, you got well, you got a bunch of that class coming in.
It was It was cool, though, But I appreciate Coach d though for for doing that because clearly we were bandits, Like we were wild bandits when he came to John Old Camp, Like we didn't have to stay in the door the dorm, go back to our own apartments, which was loved, by the way, but when he had to reset that and like we gotta build a culture. We gotta be in teamwork because we're only as best as our next guys. And so it was good to get to know BJ.
But also I've known his family, still know his family and his grandma and my dad are like like this gg. So when he comes back or hopefully he gets to stay, ain't working obviously, will touch on that, but this man was a great, great spark no man question DJ cunning him out of Westerville, Ohio wide receiver Westerville South High. I mean I remember he had what forty five receptions as a senior, if I could recall,
you remember that back his Westerville you know, born May twenty ninth. ODIs So, I said, Jim and I twin though, Yeah, we all know Leo's run, run the show. That's what Leo's think, Leo ruthers Man look. So yeah, I'm excited to get him on here. He's
just getting back, getting this stuff reconnected as he works through that. You know, so talk about like being you know, a leader when you have a guy like DJ you said you wanted to you know, set the tone and give him that talk otis and then you can see what happened to him, like did you follow him after you left and you've seen his career progressives saying oh absolutely, man, absolutely, because like the best part about it,
like clearly defensive back wide receivers. So like BJ is getting his feet wet, he's learning the offensive playbook. But you know he started out the scout team, so you know we're going against him all the time, and so he always had that mindset of like just did whatever it took. But like was he didn't complain, He wasn't like what was me? Like, he just grinded, man, And like was a quiet, silent guy like with Bynd just he with grind. Now he'll talk his stuff now, but
like he was a grinder. Like I remember there's those years where it was him and Blair White was just dog in the secondary man, like I mean Mosson, like they was going and that's where you knew, like you saw you saw BJ's ceiling and you saw like this dude's about to be one of our wide receiver greats because he was. He made scout team look like that was game ready. You know, game they ready Phil for us like he prepared us. But he was he was torturing dbs those bets, you know.
So it was good to see them speaking of looks, I mean, let's bring him back on. Let's see you. Yeah, Hey hopefully BJ, what's up? What's up? What's happening, big dog? Hey, I appreciate you're having me your man. I love what y'all doing over here. Man, love it man, love it. Hey, looks like you joined it. You joining forces. On the podcast broadcasting. Uh, tell us about that news man, hey man? So uh yeah, I just I was, Um, so you guys know, you guys know Evan Turner
played on State. Yeah, so you know what I mean Columbus. I'm from Ohio. Um, you know they did it with they did that with the basketball. They started with basketball last year with t Walt and Raymark. Yeah, State and uh one of my homies. So I'm in a basketball league out hearing me and a couple of like a high State guys and stuff. And my boy A lot of the how State guys. They're on the news out here, right like my boys. You know how it is.
You know, a lot of them on the news. And my boy Posy he works with like the sports news, the local news, and you know he's been doing that type of stuff. And that's my boy, like since like college and he were on the same basketball team. We who like rec league together out here. That's my boy and we're playing this he failed together. And he was like, hey, um, they approached me to talk to be the Big ten, the how State big beyond a Big ten blah
blah blah representative for football. So there was like he's I can ask you know Evan Turner, that's his home and they played the house Stagate stayed together. Then he hit me like we got on a call and he was like, shoot one dude. I said, yeah, what's up. Let's go break that down. What's that gonna consist of? What are you gonna be doing? So it's basically, um, breakdown the game, talk about the next game. But I mean, honestly, just just talking football players,
offense, defense. I think coming on there with me, we're gonna be hosting with me as well. Um and yeah, man, we're gonna be breaking it down talking about the next week. It's gonna be quick, thirty forty minutes, nothing crazy, but you know, something to get get my
feet wet in the game. Absolute And before you jumped through a well, as you was coming back on, I talked about that year one when you got to Nigan State, right and uh, and how coach d had housed us with our roommates, and you and I was roommates, but like one we didn't know we had the same birthday and we crazy. But then, like I said, we had that little talk a little bit like hey, man, like look, you're gonna have to get your rest cuz, because
this ain't gonna fake that heart. But like they did a little hanging, we got to know each other in our families group too, Like I'm still close with BJ's family, my dad and Gig his grandma. Grandma's all star rock Stars. She always stayed close with the Spartans. But talk about man that first year coming to miscons sake and then I know Jutra. We'll go all the way back to high school and recruiting, but talk about that first
year where you got there with Coach d Man. My first year, Uh, like I said, got on campus, Oh, this was my roommate. Luckily I had a solid, good dog. Wanted to you know, talk to me, let me know how stuff all you said I was. I made sure I was ready, but but not getting there it was it was a shot man. Um. I mean, you get to college, everybody's the man, you know, coming to be the man. You get
there, guys are already the man and established. So it was just more so like just getting there, getting my feet wet, meeting the guys and honestly having a roommate like you, because I heard other guys had other roommates. It was it was rough for him I had a room, I had a roommate like, oh man to just to just keep me grounded. Um, I know, always in the word you know he kept That's what kept
him grounded. I grew up. I grew up in the church as well, so you know, I feel like, you know, I told my mom now, she was like real happy about that situation, and honestly, it's just that was probably I've been in a lot of training camp. It was probably one of the hardest training camps I've ever had going into my first year of college because I didn't I didn't know anything. I just knew she ball get balled. So that first year was a real transition for me.
Man, and that's why I got ran shirted. Yeah, I could catch the ball, but we knew it was more than that just catching the ball, right, It was you gotta know the who's blitching, you gotta know who's who, you know the coverages. I was just I was two years in the game, so it was really just you know, I luckily had a dB as my roommate in camp, so I kind of was like learning learning stuff about the defense. I was still trying to learn the offensive game.
Oh it ain't give me no haze and we was good then a protect we protect ourselves and like you said, our families became you know, great with friends with each other until this day. And that's why I love being a Spartan dog man. The community is it's amazing. The brotherhood is amazing and never been a part of like nothing else. So BJ, youve were talking about you know, were gonna go back now like you played a little
who you still are playing who? But you know at we were talking a little bit offline and you were like almost missed the basketball level and on how else it right? No, No, I see, I don't want to take it too far. N I was nice though. I was two time district player of the year, I got all stay so I was decent. I was. But I'm gonna tell you soccer was my sport. Bro.
I went to Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, like I traveled like Scandinavia for like soccer when I was like in middle school and then you know I got the high school. Don't body care about the soccer team I wanted, you know what I'm saying. So so that basketball and soccer to me, like my footwork was already right, my hand eye coordination was already right Moss,
and somebody was dunking or getting the rebound. So it was just like this is I felt like this was the mixture of my two like favorite sports in one. And then I always told myself I didn't want to just go my whole life out playing football because I wanted to see what it was like to get hit and I actually liked the contact. I was like, oh, this is it right here, so you had the wheel to be here,
you like it? Yeah, let me go across the let me run that dig rount like you know, most receivers don't want to They want to get out of bounds, like nah, I got broken piggies, broken rists like yeah, yeah, you see, yeah, broken ribs, like that's all across the middle. Baby. But I just loved it. Man, It's
just you know, part of me. So you know, you you talk about that, and you know you said you started playing football late and when you started watching football and playing the game of receiver, who did you um model your game after? Who? What receiver did you look at and be like, man, I really want to be like him. Oh, my favorite receiver ever was Randy Moss. Randy Randy Moss is my favorite receiver ever. M Andre Johnson one of my favorite receivers, Reggie. Those three guys
were like, I feel like we're prototype to me. Brandon Marshall. I ended up getting to play with b marsh for a little bit in Chicago. Those type of receivers, big, go get the football, blockdown field, go across the middle. Um, I was never a specter, so I'm not gonna I mean, Randy was fast, but he was going to get it too, you know what I'm saying. But um, there's a mixture of all those guys, and I just tried to implement my game and just
find pieces of their game and just play into mine. And that's where I felt like I got mine from. Well you're talking about yeah, go ahead of us. Yeah. So then then coach, do you come see you who? It was like, hey, man, like this guy got this guy got some some talent, Like let's see when you can play on football, Like he kind of encouraged to go football, right Yeah, So look like all right, so this is what happened. So recruiting Boom, my
high school coach come up to me. He like he's like, Yo, we're going because my quarterback was mister like mister football ran a four to three. We ran like the beer. So the veer options, I was getting the ball like late. You know he usually throwing the fade or running the ball. You know how high school is, right, So so my my going in going into my junior going into my junior year, no exterior year,
I'm sorry, serior year. My high school coach come up to me like, hey, Cincinnati wants to see Rocko the quarterback, my son and his son, and you know they want to bring you along. You know, he's like they look. He looks at me like they might offer you scholarship. And this is when Coach D. It's still a Cincinnati spring ball. You know what I'm saying. I'm at spring practice. You know, the rivals take your little picture you the hot game. So I remember what
I had all every day. That's when thermals was in. I had like the therm over coach the hot color. So so we have practice, right, and um, you know what Coach D. You know you know how Coach D was not a smile on his face here, bron here. You know, I'm just watching my alright, cool practice and cool. Then I
see a dude walk out late. I was like, oh, man, like late to the spring game, late late late the spring practice, you know, yeah, yeah, that's really I tell people spring balls like can't for real for the guys who already at school, Like that's your time, right. So, so buddy walked out there, Coach, do you would go over there here? Donna say nothing, buddy, he's a d D or some anybody going to the drills. Kick kick buddy out of practice. Yeah, you know, wasn't quiet a loud? Yeah, it was quiet.
It was quiet. Yeah, because he was quiet, get get your kid out. Yeah like that. I all know. But then they knew what, you know, how to recruit, you know how they do it right. They had coach trap full up on me. All right. I'm like they had coach Train. He was the old Steve Receiver coach at the time. Now you say, we're watching the highlight tabe. He come over and sitting next scoop next to me. He likes so, so you know, he talks to me, some kid man, we want to offer you
know, you know, room and board. I'm like, oh shit, I'm getna offered during the Cincinnati Highlight tape. Cool but boom. So we go back. My quarterback did and get one. So it was kind of quiet right when I left for one? Yeah yeah yeah. Uh he followed me, So you go this part, you know what I'm like, So so boom, all right in my head that's this is like it was between West Virginia Cincinnati. Boom. I'm probably gonna go here, get to school
high school, like get to school like a week later. My coach Country, So what are you gonna do? Coach? He left? He went to Michigan State. I'm like, cool, So what I do? I called Coach Trail, Like, hey, Coach Trail, I see I went to Michigan State. Can I come straight up and say coach? I was like, I can assure you now, was going to set up a visit to come out to your school. So it wasn't coach DP. It was
Coach Traid. Coach track to my game, you know football, se and over We're playing, uh some team, and then the one of the kids, uh dads on the other team. His dad was a coach at basketball or Hoise States. You know the buzzes in the building. Michigan stays in the building, a house, stay in the building. You know what I'm saying. So look, boom off the tip the hall State guys, son, get the ball off the tip, white boy, he go boom.
Yeah two heads you know, high school dump. You know what everybody was like, who so bo? Coach Coach Tra sit next to my mom. So the first quarter about to run out, I get like a breakaway. The buddy who dumped on us in the first quarter charges to jump with me. Yeah, I'm time quarter. You put a quarter for the quarter? You feel me? So it's like, so I got the whole gym buzzing. It's a whole game, you know what I'm saying. So after the game, Coach Track come up to me and he's like, okay, we
want to set up a visit for you to come to Michigan State. You know how to go through all the processes. Once they got big ten, I had to go string. It was a good mother at the highlights, take about ok this is this big time. I gotta I gotta show y'all some more. Okay, cool, So they have to come out there and uh I met Coach D and all that, and then he offered me on the spot. You know co D is he want to answer now he didn't he want to answer now like now like if you say you got other visions,
He's like, well, I don't care about this other visits. You're coming here or you're go go there. Like he was like, you know what I mean, Hey, this is the best I got. I'll come to y'all locker room. I see they got gatorade. It's a little things, A little things to the locker room. I like stepped on the sue. Everybody was like whoa. I was like, okay, it's like a real, like this is real. I'm here like so like honestly, man like, going back the whole recruiting process, it was amazing. It was.
It was a whole busted this for me. But I'm gonna keep it real. I waited all the way till signing, like the day before signing, the day to like really really because I was waiting, you know, I was waiting for the home, the home for real. But then it was just like, you know what, Nah, I'm out in Michigan State. I make that decision a hundred times over and over and over again, man like. It was the best decision of my life. And that's what
people say. Your college decision. The bestsis in your life? You know what I'm saying. And who hosted you on your official he said, what who hosted you on your official visit? T key to get paid? To get paid? So I remember, you know, I know who I wanted to be my host here? Oh the thousand out here he was boy schools bro. I'm gonna keep it real. I heard them, you know, because you know I got dropped to Miami. You know what player of personnel
up there? And those stories are they are real facts, y'all. Y'all, y'all are I wanted to be? No? Just know me and my dog dall held it down. You feel right, I know you did. There's no jo talking about what you just said. BJ. You talked about being in Ohio. You read you know, you went to Cincinnati with coach d then he goes Bishing State and you know, basically said you got to
commit right now. Didn't let you do anything, but you were you were you were still waiting out for that home team because you're an Ohio native right now. He was famous for getting a lot of Ohio guys to you know, go to Michigan State, being from Zanesville himself just so that he could go through because he knew the Big Ten championship went through Ohio State. How
many was that did that play? Did you think about that when you got there and he's seen so many guys that you knew from high school in east Land, Cina. You know, how did that play out for you? When he When I first saw that, I knew exactly what he was doing coming from Ohio, him being from Ohio, knowing that Ohio was one of the I mean, it's a small state, but it's one of the top football states in the country. So we know it's no fool fool guys out
there. We played ball too, you know what I'm saying. So so knowing seeing guys I played against the high school on the team, guys that I knew about in Ohio from high school on the team. UM, I kind of seen that he was trying to like bring a new regime into the program. And like you said, the Big the Big team goes through Ohio. We're in Michigan and we're in Michigan State, and we know who the
bulk, the bulk of the Michigan players are gonna go. We're going to Michigan at that time right, and the bulk of the Ohio players were going to Ahise State at that time. So what he did was, which was I loved it. He got the guys that were kind of more under the radar, the guys that was the grinders, the guys that he saw would put the work in to get him like him, like he was a type of guy, to get him where he thought his program wanted to be,
which ultimately changed the program absolutely. You know what I'm saying. We got there was you thought we was in trailers like well that we had we had half of the week. We didn't have a hole. We had the trailers in there for the coaches offices man like like that that was that was a testament to what we was going through at the time, you know what I'm
saying. So like to to see that and then see where we ended up like at that time, like and I'm telling you it was it was you YouTube, Um it was probably like kershaw uh Like y'all the core, the core of our players got us to that point, Like we wouldn't have got there if it wasn't for y'all, Like if we'd have just seen some guys out here messing around other doing stuff that you know what I'm saying, not
handling on their business on in off the field. We'd be like, okay, you know how dude, he was messing around, All right, cool, are we good? Then they're chilling. Were chilling. But we see guys, older guys putting the work in, and he I see Godep bringing in guys that he wants to put the work in and change the program. I just saw the whole Ohio effects with the Michigan effect, but it was more so the type of people he was recruiting bringing into the program. And
that's what I respected. Yeah, that's one hundred percent there. You know, Coach d you know he you know, he had that that thing. He wanted character guys, and he also wanted guys with the chip on their shoulders. And he wanted us we our guys, not I mean mine guys. And uh, you know, right from the very go when he came in and you know and announcing captain and what you could even wear to prap if it's not team issue, don't wear you know, because it's you're promoting
I mean mine. He wanted those us we are guys and uh, you know you're one hundred percent right. That is something they will always stick with me and everyone else about Coach d But BJ, so you talk about, you know, you were an Ohio guy coming in and it was some you know, like the first time because that first year, I believe we went to or did Ohio State come to us? And we did? We went
there. Oh no, y'all y'all yeah, okay, So but like the first time you had an opportunity to play Ohio State, What did that feel like and what was that like to you? It was crazy? It was my rash freshman year the year after that and we played him at home and uh, I mean we was right. They was right, but they was obviously top five. We was like nineteen. Yeah, we went we went in, We went in feeling good. Weren't feeling good? Um, but it was it was honestly, I knew, you know, I was I
was a wrestling freshman. I wasn't really part of the game playing, but I knew I was gonna get a few catches, you know what I'm saying. But at the same time, it was more so like like damn, this is this is the this is the team I was waiting on. This is a team that didn't want me. This is a team that that I was watching up, watching growing up, you know what I'm saying. But then when they beat us, it became more of a like I'm done with
these fools. I can't wait to play him again, Like because I didn't get to really get to make an impact in the game. I was young, nineteen years old playing football for three years. I got uh. I mean he probably looking back, he wasn't even nice like that. But I had Chick Bay check with checking me. You know what I'm saying. I don't know I should have been, but at the time it was like I was more so looking at oh day, we're playing on house stake, like
what I'm saying. Yeah, man, were just lining up and playing football forget this bum, you know what I mean. But you know I had to. I had to grow up in that football aspect too. So playing that for the first time, I kind of like didn't didn't. I mean, I had one catch for like fifteen yards. I didn't really do too much. And you know, but yeah, let's talk about what we played in my stand year. Yeah, man, let's talk about quarterback and connection.
Obviously, your running mate Murk Didal too, Like you know our standing duo and you had the Ohio Michigan connection, right, But like talk about the relationship with with Kurt, because y'all came in and truly turned the tide from the standpoint of what we built oh seven o eight and y'all took me.
Y'all took it to the next level. But talk about the just the camaraderie but also the teamwork that kind of came into that to turn the tide, because then that's when we went to the BE ten championship game too, So like talk about that that that transition. Honestly, man, Kirk is my guard man. And really what I think it was with me and Kirk when it was scout team, it was all scout team. We were just being able to get reps on reps on reps, and he knew what I
was doing, I knew what he was doing. It came to a point where like he trusted me, I trusted him to put the ball where it needed to be. And then just taking that from me playing with Hoyer my next year to when Kirk had to sit and watch all right, and then because coming into college, Kirk was a little more mature than me. Was
more mature than me football white, so he knew more so me. Getting on the field before Kirk kind of held both of us out, all right, I kind of got to I kind of got to learn the game a little bit more with a veteran quarterback, all right, and he kind of got to watch me with the vet and no, okay, yeah, BJ don't like that, or BJ, this isn't what BJ does. This is
what BJ does. Well, So I know Kirk the smart guy, and he played to he played to our strength and we would play to hit and just seeing just even seeing him now, like I know what Kirk's about to do. It's hilarious. It's hilarious, but but it's just like being in the huddle with him. Um. Our team was so close after from Matt from like two thousand and nine to two thousan eleven. Our team was so close really, after all that stuff happened, we got close like it was.
It was. It was. It was crazy to see you would think it wasn't the opposite way, but really everybody got closer. We started that walking football that went viral on Instagram. We started that, by the way, our whole team we would do. He had Coach Deep playing it every weekend. Um, but now it was it was great to be able to be on the team that got to the first Big ten championship game. I wish we would have won it. We should have won it, but you
know, you know how that goes. But now I feel like our camaraderie was what got All the walk Ons were cool, all the starters, All the starters would go hang out with the walk on. Everybody was eating together, everybody was at everybody's locker, everybody and everybody family. It was a big it was, it was. It was amazing to see. So it felt like that and it was, but it was to that by that time, Coach d always had a smile on his face. He hardly ever had
the stern on his cage. So he would tell Joe he was like, we were like he started loosing it up, the whole team loosing it up when we started balling from real and that's you saw and just kept going rose bowl to you know what I'm saying, Like after that, so, like I said, y'all started it man. Y'all's charisma, y'all's work ethic paved the way for us to come in and just take over and just take flight
and take it from here. M So one thing that I that I and I think I asked you this last year at Spartan Dog Con, but we were all feeling good. So you're gonna have to read refreshe rememory here that really sticks out. In that Big ten title game or something, you caught the ball on the sidelines and what's going out and you pitched it back in? What was it reverse? Yeah? He pissed it to me. Yeah, so what's that? What's that a plan play? Or did it just
happened? What was that so happening practice that you guys? So look, so remember I was talking about that walking football game that everybody that went viral or instagram remember a couple of years ago about walking football rooms. Yes, I promise you, bro every every Friday before the game. Me and Mark invented that we would have just the re series playing walking football before walk through and you couldn't run, you could only walk and we'll be walking around.
We will be like lateral in the ball running with it, right. So and then we the it got so popularly the coaches started playing with us. Then we started winning and everybody wanted to play. Now, it's like, you can't have a walk through game. You can't have walk through without the walk through game. At first, you know, a superstitious that guy. They got to that point, they kept it going so so so what happened was we're in the middle of the game, all right, I said,
bubble screen. They threw it. It was like, you know, check bubble, so we can't run it and throw the bubble. We threw the bubble to Keith. I'm blocking on the outside. I looked back for some for some reason, like I let go of my man because I seen him like kind of going out of bounds, and I was like, all right, I kind of like scooted behind him. I was like, Keith is real savvy, savvy, so I kind of like let go of my man. It was like, okay, what's about to do Keith? I see
him leaning. I was like, oh, he about he can't even near the ball he dropped and he and I knew exactly because this is what happens in the walk through game. Somebody push you at a bound somebody you just got a lodder on the ball out of bounds, so somebody can just wrong with it. He just tossed me the ball. Oh, here we go and just go over in the end zone. It was most went viral, most epic player of my life, and it was fun. Wasn't playing and
then we still celebrate on the sideline. This was coachd slick. He go for two hea off for guy. It wasn't it wasn't playing, but like, yeah, look you and you first of all, you let go before you just explained and you was like, no, no, you gotta reflect replaying happy be walking football, Like that's the reps I got. Look how quick you like going? Look at it. I'm gonna keep it real. Know what's crazy? Twenty six? That corner. He was one of them
nice dvs. He's one of them. Hi the plays over, the plays over, So I think he might have been like, hey, bro, you're good, you're good, you're good, and I let go, and you don't want to get blocked weet be good? Yeah, yeah, we good, So I let go. I've seen the play with still lost, so let me let me, let me get hot feet, let me get some hot feet. He just gave me the ball touchdown. That was good. I thought it was all playing the whole time. I was like,
man right, Coach D looking like he was the man. Yeah, you guys, you guys, so you have the swag, you have that like the walking football game you talking about. Coach D started smiling more and you know, all that excitement, and that's when you guys started, you know, Michigan State one to a bunch of you know, the combat pro jerseys that all the different, you know kind of jerseys that came out that oldis Jason and I were really jealous of you guys. Roll out there and what
was your favorite jersey. Oh, I'm gonna keep it real. I gotta go at that combat jersey. Man. We played Michigan where they gave us gold helmets. I got the gold I gotta got the gold helmet had gold vapors, the gold green and golden green vapor clean. They don't even make them no more. You don't knocky iddos anymore. Like it was like shout out mister Nick many, ohs Nick bad, Daling bad. But now those
are my favorite ones. I even even marcause Mark had left early. He's like Brolso tell us when y'all walked out versus Michigan and them pro combats man like but like even even when they switched to the nude, like like darker green with the slick numbers and stuff, I ain't go out of them things was cold too, But I was mad about how they get to go green on green with the black. Now right, right, we had to wear white socks and white shoes. They can go black. I was like,
how to freak down? Yeah, you might want to blame blame too and all the other guys on the community council. He was like yeah. Coach D was like, what y'all guys want? He was like, man, we want some blacks. We were blacking out of jerseys? Did it? He did not like that, like that, That's what I'm saying. He got nice and he started he started winning. He started letting more leeway. Go, I get it, I get you brought you brought up something a
minute ago. BJ you said that that thing some stuff happened. You're talking about the fight, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, there was an issue, right, there was a fight, right, and then that brought the team closer. Now, you know you've been following the game, right, you see how n Il is going on and then the transfer port right, so you know, do you can say like, what, First of all, you asked what your thought is on the transfer port Let me start
there. I feel like it feels like, look, I love kids being able to go and be able to go play where they want to play. But like I said earlier, going to college, that's the biggest decision in your life. I feel like picking your school because that determines how are you gonna get in the field. Is the code you know all you know, all those all that stuff factors in quarterback however you want to look at it. But with the portal, it's just like it's no grind, it's no
process. Like I'm a process guy coming from that. I wasn't. I wasn't handing nothing. I wasn't coming in starting I wasn't coming in so I could have I could have. You know, I don't like this. I'm gonna transfer after my first year knop of getting red shirted, you know what I'm saying. But at the same time, it's like I don't like it because I was also that kid in college who wasn't heavily recruited. I wasn't
in a four or five star. So what happens is all these kids that's in high school that's that was like me, they gotta go D three or or or find another school because they gotta missing. We rather get a corner from Alabama. Then bringing up I'd rather have to teach a senior from high school, which makes sense. So to me, it's getting too like free as Andy. I don't like that. Like like with the n ideal and the transfer report, I feel like you got pick one. I feel like
you can't like do what they gotta do. But it can't have both, Like you can't be getting paid like all this money and then just be able to lead. Where's the integrity and the college game anymore? You know what I'm saying. I remember scoring and winning touchdown and not being able to get a six packet of the pizza after the game, you know what I'm saying. Like, so, I'm happy they're getting paid, but it's like everybody
pepsy guy right over right brand do so. So it's just like if you know, guys not getting what they you know what I'm saying, not getting what they want or something goes wrong, they can just leave. That's not that's not real life, like what you think that's gonna happen in the league. Like no like unless you Stefan Dicks. But it's like, so I
feel like it's getting these kids the wrong mindset. Yeah, okay, you're getting paid, but it's like you could have just like go and come as you please, and then it's the high school kids can't It looks it's just like I don't I'm I'm not a fan of transfer portal just because I was at the bottom and made the cream bowl rids to the top. Regardless. I feel like wherever you're at, yeah, so there's a lot of kids like you. Then you're saying spot that don't get that opportunity anymore. But
you talked about the fight bringing the team closer. Right in Michigan State today today had really lived on getting players out of the portal. This year got hit by the quortal, but right got the starting quarterback and number one returning receiver both post and left because of the portal. Do you think that's a moment for this team right here in twenty twenty three to be able to crystallize
and come closer. Definitely. M I feel like the best time to come together for that type of is now when you feel like everybody's against you and all y'all guidance yourselves. So, like you said, my quarterback going our number are number. We see it from the year before, gone and one and one got dropped it. So it's just like if we're gonna, if we're gonna do this, it's us versus everybody. We can't. We can't do this. We don't. We are not relying on ESPN to break us
high. We're not relying on a team to just come out and lay down on us. We need to come out, get cold each other, whatever it is on the field, off the field, hang out, play videos, all that type of stuff. More than just going over plays. It's it's your brother, it's your brotherhood. So it's like we spartan dogs. We know how it is, you know what I'm saying. So maybe we didn't have all that transfer proto back then stuff, But any new guy that
comes into that locker room, you want to us now. So if you if you, if you're a kicker, Conroy, his locker is right next to mine. Now is my brother. You know what I'm saying. You're coming in, you're the kicker, you're the quarterback, you're starting quarterback, you backup running back. I don't care who you are. I need everybody to beat himself and just geil with the team because of the day. If everybody out there every man for himself, we can't win any games, you
know, football game of inches calculated. We all gotta make this stuff go together. And if one guys off, the ship can't move. And I was and to your point, b J. You know, I was giving a tour yesterday for the group and you know, we went into the football facility. And when you think about the process, like you remember like if you have vets that were once you sitting in the back, and every year you make your way to the front, like it's that's that's the culture,
that's the process. Like when you come in the vets, man, they earned that spot right, Like it wasn't given to them fresh off, you know, coming from high school. And I was just telling them about it's like business, like you got rookies, you got got young employees coming in, you got a grooming but you gotta understand it is a process. Like you're not gonna get it right away. Um, but yeah, that's a good point, man, Like to your people are just quickly like look to
your left or to your right. That guy ain't gonna be here in a week or so or in the next season, like yeah, yeah, straight league, the league. Yeah you mean but BJ, so, I mean we you know, everyone on this because we had we had a ball at
Michigan State. You know, we knew how to have fun. Uh so you know when you weren't playing football and you weren't at the i M you know, hooping against the narves, uh get their fights where But you know, like what was gonna say, You gotta you gotta explain what the narves are to the play please, because it sounds like nark like what's the narps?
Tell the arps it's normal, regular ass persons. You're playing against the other the larks at the IMF getting in fights because you know, hoopers can you know, start lowering their shoulder and everyone all those other guys try to thing because they see BJ playing on Saturdays now they think this is their opportunity to go out there and you know, show him up on the basketball court. But besides that stuff, like you know, we we we had fun.
What was your favorite water and hole in east Lands? And what's your spot? They used to you know, slide through for a quick six slide, Harper's Spot, Harper's spot, I got, I got, I got great times to Harper's for the East, for there, and you was a slogan army. We have the Harpers. Harper's is a partner. Thank you. I don't know how this is, man, but I remember Wednesdays,
Thursdays. Man, Look listen, especially when I was red certain Thursday, this Sunday, and it wasn't that it was day and I had the best grades. I had my best grades. Then did you did you say you were red certain? Did you come into college as a twenty one? It was before, it was before the eat the eats man, just actually the limitations. They'll give you a residual m P. I'll be happy to go back down and grab that. What else do I need? Well, we
go a couple of weekends at Spartan dot Com. We're gonna you know, relive a little bit. Yeah, man, I can't wait. Are y'all are y'all golfing? Yeah? You know, I just pick. I just bought me some clubs. But on my birthday. Base. So I'm trying to trying to get right now, trying to drop that shoulder a little bit left, left, right left, you right. I just found out golf right, golf right. Okay, that's why I look crazy. Say that's the right side of the ball. You don't need jokes out of hand,
you go from the wrong side of the ball. Uh, that's how it started off. Oh my goodness, look like so so you and Mark Dell though, I think you guys, are you gotta camp coming up here? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, July thirtieth, Uh in Farmington. It's at the field at the Hawk, the field, the old Farmington High School field, Um right there. Yeah, it's a back to camp, back to the camp skills camp pretty much, you know, people going back to the
training camps for a college, high school, that type of stuff. So we're just throwing the camp for the guys to come out and get right, get some get some new techniques and you known, run a little condition and get them on some two minute you know, two minute routes. You know, move the ball, move the change type stuff. You know. But you know that's my dog man. I love going back back to to to menting with my brother man. So so it's another she used for me to
go hang out with the bro too. Also, this part of dog Time's gonna run long. Oh yeah, I'm taking the whole week. I'll be back. I'm looking forward to seeing you, man. I can't wait to see y'all boys. Man, I can't wait. Oh you know one oh me? Yeah? Oh no, Look man, I don't talking to BJ all day, man, Like well, I wish we had our pictures because like the Columbus when we went to the NCAA tournament, man, like BJ coach d everybody was there, Curshaw, We're going to seeing basketball, celebrating
and I remember seeing my nanna was there with you. You're talking about my nanna, my grandma and all that. Yeah, I had a couple uh betties. You know. It was like I was. I was excited because like we took it, took care of isn't so when I saw it, I was like, let's do a jump. So let's go. He's just heeling good, but now I can't moving left. That was like one of those hits you did on your rich one of those your sophomore year olds. Yeah, coming back, it always happens, BJ Man, great stuff,
man. I meant to talk to you a long time, man, and then let's select you on what you're doing with the big ten Network on the podcast you join in our world. Yeah, Man, just just pleasure having you. Then, thank you for joining us as farther Man. We'd love to have you back. I appreciate y'all man, thanks for having me on. Man. I was great to have y'all back. Shot. I want to get you all our mind, bring y'all on to be on a big man. Let's do it it, just do it man. But now thank
you guys. So I can't wait to see you all a couple of weeks. Mann. Appreciate you, brother. I love man, love love you. B J cunning him Man, that was good, like I love when we started to talk about all stories we say Wednesday, the sudden oh wow remember them things? Oh guys, yes me Lane Man, you know BJ there, but that the presence of mind on that field as the Big ten championship, that was crazy. From my sideline important days, I was like
real close to that. It was right there with Keishan, you know, caught the pass right there and they called him out of bounds or I hate the bread of our boy got pushed into the punter Isaiah Lewis same punt. Keshan took it to the five yard line, three yard line. We were about to win the game, and then I got enough. Always got to fight with a Wisconsin fan in the stands, Like it's like this you don't like or is it just fan? I don't know, man, Like I
don't like. I don't like when fans come into your like, don't come into my personal space, bro, Like I ain't come into your personal space. Don't come into my personal space gloating and going like hah and not for me to expect me to say something or put my hands or push you off of me, Like I just that's just a little different because you played and you understand the exs and os, and some of those fans don't understand.
So you actually wrapped and concept of what happened, and they're just like, you know, good, he sucks, Yeah, you know, the emotion of it all. The guy's great show. Another great show, guys. I mean, you know, I think the highlight, aside from b J, I think has to be the air guitar. Can we hear that one time before we go all watch take us on out take us going out take us to give us some time. Well, I wish you could have the other one because the other one had it where he was seeing stand? Was
it standing? Yeah? Just he was gonna lose yourself. I don't know, I mean, I don't know. Maybe the Tonys are not able to he's got his castle. Castle. You're so giddy like a little kid like. Yes, it was getting you man, Cow Cow, what did cow say? You say you look like a girl. Bat Man was happy. It's all good man, my six year in verse. I'll take it all day. Man. Man, it's like nobody's watching many exactly. That's all good man. We love it man. You know, look, guys on
a right area. Pancakes, Cow on you all on you Cow. We're gonna go visit account whenever spartan dog time. Man. We got a lot to talk about. Next show. We got special guests coming up. We're gonna talk about that. You'll see it. Follow social media, don't forget to click the like and subscribe buttons. Thank everybody for otis Wiley JU called Jason Strayhorn. This is Sparta MS. You have a good night, God blessing and go green, go white, Go ahead. This is far by
MS. You as a combined presentation of play Flag Sports Properties and Michigan State Sports Properties, the show is produced by Tony La Barbara, Tony Gastella and Process Driven Consulting. Additional supports provided by Brendan Duravage on location. Technical support provided by Good Fruit Video. Be sure to follow our host Jason Strayhorn, Jayu Culprit and Otis Wiley on social media to stay up to date with all the latest. This is part of news. Please like and subscribe by visiting
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