Vick Ballard, former Indianapolis Colts RB || Just Keep Going

Vick Ballard, a former NFL RB, discusses his upbringing in Pascagoula, Mississippi, being undervalued as a football player, playing for the Indianapolis Colts, the profound impact of two severe injuries in the NFL, his decision to pursue engineering instead of football, and so much more. Today, Vick is a System Integration and Test Engineer at Lockheed Martin — a global security and aerospace company

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

I probably wouldn't have been this person I am today, um, without those injuries. And I mean that in a good way. I was able to like, learn a lot about myself and, you know, practice that perseverance and, uh, just all these different things that people talk about whenever you hit hard times. So I was able to prove to myself it's like, yes, like I can go tough things and not quit.

Speaker 2: 0:41

Welcome back everybody, to another awesome episode of the, Hey, where'd you go? Podcast. I'm your host Colin Kushner. And we have another fantastic guest, former Mississippi State running back, former Indianapolis Colt. He's an engineer now. We're gonna get into that a little bit later on in the pod. It's Vic Ballard. Vic. How's it going, man?

Speaker 1: 1:02

Going pretty well, man, and, uh, you know, I can't complain. I'm, I'm in a, a blessed position in life, so I'm thankful for that.

Speaker 2: 1:08

I'm so stoked to have you on the pod, man. Obviously I grew up watching you in the N F L, and then on top of that, I saw on LinkedIn that you're now an engineer. And so my first thought was like, all right, we gotta get this guy on the podcast, a s a P. So thanks for hitting me back, man.

Speaker 1: 1:22

Oh, no problem, man. It's my pleasure.

Speaker 2: 1:24

Vic, let's start from the very beginning of your life. We're gonna go all the way back, dude. Um, you're from Pascagoula, Mississippi, uh, right on the Gulf. Uh, what was it like growing up in Pascagoula?

Speaker 1: 1:37

Uh, it was cool, you know, uh, it was all I knew at the time. Uh, so I really didn't have any complaints. A lot of people, a lot of older people when I was growing up there would always talk about it, would talk bad about it in some ways. And, um, I loved it. I was like, I don't, I don't see what they're talking about<laugh>, you know, especially when I got high school and I got a little freedom. Um, I thought it was the best place in the world. It's still a great place. But, uh, like I said, I, I, I feel like I, I had a pretty good upbringing, pretty good childhood. Um, it's a blue collar town, so everybody works at, um, either Chevron or Northrop Grumman or even, you know, the small tourist industry that we have. But like I said, overall, man, it was a good experience. Uh, it's a, it's a nice little place to live and grow up and raised a family.

Speaker 2: 2:16

When did you get introduced to football? Uh, you know, growing up in the deep south, I feel like football in the deep south there synonymous with one with one another. Was it an early introduction or something that happened maybe a little bit later on down the road?

Speaker 1: 2:29

I would say it was definitely an early introduction, um, informally, um, you know, cause I, I would play, you know, just football with my friends, uh, in the apartment complex that I lived in. But my first time playing organized football was when I was six years old. So, like I say, still pretty early compared to a lot of people. And, uh, I pretty much played every year after that. I, I never missed a year until I finished playing for good.

Speaker 2: 2:52

Did you pick running back from the start, or did that, or did that happen later?<laugh>?

Speaker 1: 2:57

No, man, I was, uh, I was actually, you know, know I was a little too, cause in the people league I played in, they had a weight limit. And, uh, unfortunately I was too big to run the ball. So I started off as a lineman, uh, offensive defensive lineman. And, uh, I didn't play running back until my fourth year of organized football.

Speaker 2: 3:13

What was that like when you were able to transition from playing line and then to, to being the guy who's carrying the ball? Majority of the time,

Speaker 1: 3:20

It was great, man. Uh,<laugh>. I mean, even though I was big, I was still one of the fastest guys on the team. I just couldn't run the ball cause of the weight restrictions. But, um, you know, when, when, whenever I was finally, uh, able to start running the ball, man, I was lightening it up. I was scoring three or four touchdowns a game. So, you know, I never looked back after that.

Speaker 2: 3:39

Was being a professional athlete something that was on your mind as a little kid as well as being an engineer? Or like what, like what did you want to be when you got older? I think, I think that's the, that's, that's the, the million dollar question here.

Speaker 1: 3:52

Honestly, I don't know, man, I, uh, I, I, I tell people all the time, I never, my first time thinking that I had an opportunity to, to go to the, uh, n was my junior year of college because a woman had, well, it was after the, after my junior season, um, a woman asked me was I thinking about going to the draft? And I was like, I'm, I'm good enough to get drafted. So that was the, the first time I thought about it. But as a, as a youngster, uh, I never, I never had any aspirations to be a professional football player or engineer. I just was kind of doing what felt natural to me.

Speaker 2: 4:24

I love that. And don't get me wrong, I think it's really cool when we're little kids and we get to kind of, you get to dream big and you're like, I want to be a, a lawyer, I want to be a professional athlete, or whatever. But I also think that's cool though, just to, to not have that and just enjoy being a kid. Cuz I don't know, I, I feel like maybe there's a sense, a little sense of disappointment that comes along the way. I don't know.

Speaker 1: 4:45

Yeah, no, that's completely true. Uh, and you see, you see a lot of guys, oh, a lot of people in in general, you know, uh, they, when they're younger they say, oh, I'm gonna do this. And rarely does anybody ever follow through with their plans, you know? So, um, I guess for me, I, you know, I couldn't fail cause I didn't have any aspirations,<laugh>. So whatever I did was gonna be good enough for me as long as I was happy.

Speaker 2: 5:06

Yeah. I, you know, it's, it's interesting, you kind of bring up a really good point when it, I guess from your perspective, how important is it to not have such a, such a concrete idea of what you want to do with your life? Because a, as you know, and, and you know, probably better than anyone else, that life can change in an instant and you could be on one path and then all of a sudden you're diverted to something else. So how important is it to not stay so fixated on that path?

Speaker 1: 5:32

I wouldn't say that it's not important. I would definitely s so, I mean, I think I'm, it kind of worked out in my favor, but for most people I feel like you need that, that God start, you know what I'm saying? Cause a lot of times, especially if you grow up in certain environments, you need something to aspire to be. So if you aspire to be nothing, you know, if you don't have any aspirations, you might fall into some of the traps that, you know, you see other people around you falling in. So to have, um, like I said, something to look forward to at least, something to, you know, get you around different types of people that think different ways, I think is, I think it's important. But like I said, for me, I just did what na what felt natural to me. And I, I wasn't a bad kid, so luckily I don't follow to a lot of those traps.

Speaker 2: 6:12

I love that man. Um, so you start playing running back, uh, in high school. Um, what was that experience like, uh, you know, once you started to, to get a little bit of attention?

Speaker 1: 6:25

Uh, so, um, anybody that like knows my football story, you know, from start from high school, they knows, like, I didn't get any, any, any love really until my senior year of football, because I had another guy in front of me, uh, named Jonathan De Flins. You know, that's my boy, you know, he was, uh, but, and he was, you know, rightfully so, the starter, he was awesome. He, uh, I think our sophomore year in eight games, he had like 1500 yards or something like that, so yeah. Yeah, we was like, we was lighting up. He was lightening up, you know. So I kind, I I had to get in while I fit in, you know. So, um, but my senior year we switched our offense and I, I mean, I, I, I had my time to know why I had a little shine, but my senior year is, uh, is when I really started getting some notoriety because, um, I actually moved a slot receiver. It was like a slot receiver slash running back type position. So that was, that was the only way I can get on field. And, uh, I took advantage of it

Speaker 2: 7:20

In terms of, of not like getting a, a, a lot of love or a lot of notoriety in high school. Like, did that affect you in any way? Or was it pretty easy just to stay focused and just be locked in on doing whatever you had to do to get on the field?

Speaker 1: 7:33

No, it definitely affected me because I felt like I was just as good or better than not, you know, did anybody else on the, uh, Mississippi Gulf Coast, but, um, it affected me, but it also made me work harder because I wasn't get, I wasn't getting a notoriety, but, uh, you know, um, my coach told me, uh, it was one weekend, uh, in my area. They always come out with this thing, well, they used to come out with this scene called 12 Most Wanted, and it was a 12 highest recruiter guys, uh, on the Gulf Coast. And, uh, I wasn't, you know, in that conversation. And he called me and he told me, you know, the cream, the cream always rises to the top, you know? And, uh, so I mean, I really didn't know what he was talking about then, but it made perfect sense. Now,<laugh>

Speaker 2: 8:15

Well, it's, it's interesting. It's almost like if you just stay focused to your crafts, uh, and of course, I mean obviously that, that, uh, the no love I think is gonna affect all of us, right? I don't think anyone's a mute to that, but it's almost, I like that saying the cream al always rises to the top because if you just stay focused, your work's eventually gonna show show up and show out.

Speaker 1: 8:35

Yeah. If you're good enough. Cause I<laugh>, you know, sometimes people think they're the cream, but yeah, nah, yeah, not so much.

Speaker 2: 8:43

So from high school, you went off to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Um, when you, when you got to, to mj mg C C C. Wow. It's a long<laugh>. When, when you got to, when you got to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, um, what was your goal once, once you got there in term football wise?

Speaker 1: 9:05

So, I, I really, same man. I really didn't have any goals. I'm gonna just be straight up. Uh, but I, I knew that, you know, I was, I was always planning to get to the next level, uh, in, in certain way, certain ways. But the, the way I, who I am as a person, if I'm doing something, I'm gonna try to be the best at it. It don't matter if I'm playing football, it don't matter if I'm, uh, you know, doing engineering school work or sweeping the floor, you know, I wanna be the, you know, pretty proficient at what I'm doing. So, um, when I got to, uh, Gulf Coast, we call it, we called it Gulf Coast, or Perk for Short. When I got to Gulf Coast, um, you know, I was, it was no different, you know, I just wanted to be the best at what I was doing, even though they, they had me playing outta positions, cuz I went from, like I said, my senior year of high school playing a slot receiver type position. And then my freshman year of college, they moved me to fullback. So like, completely, completely different. But I had the ability, it is just, they, you know, I had, I had to get in where I fit in and, um, even though I played fullback, I led the team touchdowns. Like, I think I had like 12 touchdowns a year. It was crazy. Yeah, cuz they would, they used to put me in for short yo situations, short yo situations, and I would take it like 50 yards to the crib. So my po my position wasn't really designed to carry the football, but they, they put it in place for me to carry the football. So, um, but yeah, back to the original question, I guess I, I didn't have any, uh, like goals. I was always just wanting to be the best at what I was doing.

Speaker 2: 10:34

Where do you get the mentality of wanting to be the best at, at, at everything that you do? Does that come from your upbringing, your family, or from within yourself? Like where did that come from?

Speaker 1: 10:45

Honestly, man, I can't say you can't, I mean, obviously you are a collection of, you know, your circle, your circle of influence, the people that's closest to you. But I can't put a finger on exactly where it came from. Um, I, I, you know, selfishly I would say, oh, that's all me. But, you know, I, I know it had<laugh><laugh>, I know it had to do with those around me. Um, no, and, and maybe, maybe the combination of both. Uh, but like I said, I, I just, I found that out about myself that, um, if I'm doing something I want to be, you know, pretty good at it. Cause I don't know, it's, like I said, that's just how I'm made up.

Speaker 2: 11:17

Do you think the, the lack of, of love and notoriety in high school helped fuel you at Gulf Coast Community College? Because you tore it up there and then you were able to parlay that into an opportunity over at Mississippi State?

Speaker 1: 11:31

Yeah, um, I mean, it was kind of like, even at Gulf Coast, it was kind of the same. I really didn't get any notoriety from there either. Um, it's, it's a crazy story, man, cuz um, like I said, my freshman year I tore it up, uh, relatively speaking, like I said, I led the team in touchdowns and my sophomore year I really lit it up. Like I had like 20 touchdowns and almost 2000 yards in like 12 games. And I really, Mississippi State was my, my only like, good offer. I had another offer from the University of Detroit, no disrespect to Troy, but I, I just always felt like I had, you know, uh, major D one talent, but I, I wasn't even getting love from like smaller D one schools. So I was, I was confused. Matter of fact, nobody was calling me. Only Troy and I, I, I started talking to Mississippi State on accident, I wanna say accident. It was like a chance interaction. I'm dead serious, man. I was, uh, I had went back to my high school to visit my head coach and there was a recruiter from Mississippi State recruit one of the guys that went to my high school. And my coach introduced me to him and, and we exchanged numbers and that's how I started talking to Mississippi State.

Speaker 2: 12:37

Wow. I, it's, it's crazy dude. So no, no love coming outta high school, no love coming out of, uh, community college and then eventually you get to Mississippi State from your perspective now that we're, that we've had some, some time and some distance away from those moments. Like why?

Speaker 1: 12:58

Well, I dunno. No, they say everything happened for a reason<laugh>. So, uh, if that's true, you know, I just, you know, I just, I play, I play the card that's dealt to me, man. Uh, I, I I, I used to think why, but yeah, I don't regret any of the way everything unfolded for me. I don't regret it. So, you know, it put me in a good position in life and, uh, you know, I, you know, for that, I just, I just take it for, take it for what it is.

Speaker 2: 13:25

I wish we could get tipped off, dude. Like when things just aren't working out<laugh> in the boat with the way that we want it. I wish there was like a little tip off, like, Hey dude, like, it's gonna work out for you in like five to seven years. Don't worry about it. You know what I mean?

Speaker 1: 13:37

Yeah. But even it is, even if, even if somebody told you that you, you still wouldn't believe it though, because you can't, you can't you in a situation right now. So it's like, it's hard to sit around that, you know, even, even like me knowing that, you know what I'm saying? Like, I know that, you know, bad times don't last forever. And if you work hard, you know, eventually the sun starts shining again. But while you going through that situation, you, you can't see that, you know, it is, it's like, it's doom and gloom, but, you know, just keep working.

Speaker 2: 14:08

I love the, uh, the saying that the sun will shine again. That's been, I've friends, close friends have have told that to me during some dark moments in my life. And of course in the middle I'm like, there's, there's no freaking way. And then of course, you, you go through some life a couple years later, you're like, oh yeah, the sun definitely comes out again. I love that man. I really do.

Speaker 1: 14:28

Yeah. To, uh, quote 50 cent man, say, uh, joy wouldn't feel so good if it wasn't for pain. So, you know, you, you need that, that duality.

Speaker 2: 14:38

That's facts, dude. That's extreme facts. So you finally, you finally get to Mississippi State, the, I'm just so fascinated by this, cuz you keep, you're under the radar, under the radar. You get to Mississippi State, uh, you rushed for 19 touchdowns in 2010 at as a bulldog, and that's still a school record. So did you just channel all of that lack of notoriety and just being like, Hey guys, like I am legit and this is what I can do. Here you go.

Speaker 1: 15:06

Nah, man, I, I wish I would say that I did, but I, I didn't, uh, it was<laugh> it was just, I was like, okay, I'm here now. Like how do, how do I become the best at what I'm doing right now? It was always about becoming the best at what I'm doing, uh, or the best I could be anyway. Um, I didn't, I didn't have any expectations for myself. Um, and you know, I just, my thing, my thing is like, I knew if I, if I handle all the small details like working hard, you know, being on time, you know, all the little small things, everything else will handle itself. And like I said, I, I did all those things and at the end of the, at the end of the season, I actually had 20 touchdowns. Um, but one of'em was considered, uh, it was an option plate, but he, he lateral laterally couldn't afford. So they called it a passing touchdown. So I had 20 touchdowns, but they officially 19 Russian touchdowns. So, but yeah. Um, I actually led the s e C that year in touchdowns. So my, in my first year at the, uh, you know, at a major university. So, but it never, it never even occurred. I was just doing what, like I said, just doing what I always did, just working hard, you know? And you know, a lot of times when you, when you work hard things work, work out for himself.

Speaker 2: 16:20

I had a conversation with Marcus Lattimore in a previous episode of the podcast and he talked about just virtue, virtue being enough. And I remember listening to that and playing it back over and over again. And I'm like, it may not work out in the way that you envision, but it's gonna work out in, in some way, shape or form. Uh, especially like you said, when you're focusing on the, the small details. Like what are your thoughts on, on virtue and hard work being enough?

Speaker 1: 16:46

Um, I believe it, you know, cause uh, like you, like you just mentioned, uh, it might not work out the way you want to, but if you, if that's the way you live your life, you know, like those are things that will enable anybody to be successful. You know, like taking care of the small things, even if, if, you know, to get, I guess scientific or not. No, I'm not even gonna get scientific cuz like I said, I, I, I, I, it's like I could bounce stuff off in football terms and engineering terms now, but how they say the devils in the details, that's so true at every, in every phase of life, man. And, um, it's like the, the uh, like the small things tell the big story. So like I said, that, that that's, that's true everywhere in life. So, uh, you know how his and brain, um, you know, it's success works in pr works on principles and I think that's one principle of success, taking care of the little things.

Speaker 2: 17:40

I love it though, dude. The, the, the small details. I mean, in, in some ways I, I I mean in a lot of ways I love your approach to, to all this because it's, it's simple, but it, it's hard. It's hard to put, it's hard to enact cuz you think about all the outside noise and, and all the other stuff that's happening around you. It's really hard to kind of put that, put those principles in play. But if you can stay focused on, on being the best at what you do, and obviously the working on those small details, I mean, it, it's gonna pay off again, maybe not exactly how you envision, but in some other way that, that, uh, that will come to fruition at some point.

Speaker 1: 18:17

Yeah. Uh, this is one, like this one guy, um, that I think of, he embodies this, uh, you know, more than anybody who I feel like I've ever came across. So my rookie years is wide receiver from, um, from Stanford. He played with, uh, Andrew Buck, same as Griff Wayland. So Griff wasn't the most gifted, uh, athletically, but he was smart as hell,<laugh>. And he, I feel like he always paid attention to detail. Like he wasn't gonna be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was gonna do his assignments, he was gonna have his alignments, right. Um, it's like he handled all the small things and for that, you know, he had a, a pretty decent career. You know, for somebody who wasn't as gifted athletically, relatively speaking, you know, we in a professional, uh, football league, so a national football league. But I always admired Griff that, cause I was like, man, this guy, like I said, he not super athlete. And I think he was a walk on at Stanford, to be honest. If, if I remember correctly, maybe not, I don't know. I don't, I don't wanna discredit his ability, but I just, like I said, he, he wasn't the fastest, that's for sure. He couldn't jump the highest, you know, just kind of a short white dude. But<laugh>, yeah, he made it, he made it work for himself. So, um, I think he, like I said, I think he embodies that for sure.

Speaker 2: 19:35

That's such a valuable lesson. I, I asked somebody who played for Bill Belichick, like, what was it like playing for Bill Belichick? And I thought it was gonna be just like this absolute, you know, just, he was this and he was this and, and apparently he said it was the easiest thing in the world. He's like, cuz on every single play he would say, I need you to go hit this person's left shoulder. And that's it. So apparently it was like the tiniest minute detail, but it, it paid off

Speaker 1: 20:00

<laugh>. Yeah, I mean, like I said, man, that's, that's true. Everywhere.

Speaker 2: 20:03

The 2012 N F L draft, uh, you were picked in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts. Uh, what do you remember the most about that day and moment?

Speaker 1: 20:13

Uh, oh, oh man. Um, so I felt like I, I wasn't gonna get drafted cuz um, like I was thinking okay at, on the, um, on the high side, I was thinking third round, you know what I'm saying? Sometimes, sometimes it be guys who, I don't know, they, they might think fifth round, but they get drafted in the first and second. You just, you just never know. But I was thinking realist realistically maybe third round on the low side, fifth round. So when it got to the fifth round, I'm like, okay. And I still, I still haven't had my name called. And then St. Louis called me and they were like, you know, we still have you on our board, but you know, in the case that we don't draft you, we still want you as a free agent. So that was a, a pretty discouraging call for me at the time. Cuz you know, being draft drafted, it is like, yeah, it means a little bit, but not much. Um, so like I said, they called me and, and they hung up. And at this point I'm like, man, and I got all my family, you know what I'm saying, all my friends and you know, I, I wanna share this moment with them, you know, receiving that phone call and getting drafted and I'm thinking that it probably won't happen. And uh, maybe like 20 minutes after that call right now, it's uh, it is getting to the end of the fifth round. I'm like, man, I, I was thinking to myself, you know, from three to five and you know, I'm at the end of five, I still haven't got a call<laugh>. And then my phone, my phone rings and um, I told my cousin, I was like, man, answer the phone for me because I was, I was over, I'm like, man, I'm about to enjoy my family and friends. Like, if somebody called me they call, but if not, whatever, I'm gonna still enjoy them. So he was like, uh, you sure you want me to answer it? He was like, you know, I think you might might wanna grab it. So I grabbed it and answered it and it was this woman on the phone. She was like, is this big Ballard? I was like, yes. And she was like, uh, you know, can I put you on hold? And I was like, yeah, that's cool. So, um, after I was taking off hold, I think I was on like, uh, I, they put me on speaker and I can't remember exactly who it was. I wanna say it was Coach Bago. He asked me, uh, like how, how does if oh would I like to be a cult or something like that. I was like, of course

Speaker 2: 22:21

<laugh>. Lemme think about that. Coach<laugh>.

Speaker 1: 22:24

Yeah, yeah. Would I like to be a, and I, and that was, you know, that's how I went. And a couple, couple minutes later, my position coach called. So, um, I guess I was able to relax a little bit and uh, you know, get ready to be a coach

Speaker 2: 22:39

Emotionally for you, just given what you had gone through before. With, with, again we're going back to the, the lack of notoriety or the lack of love, so to speak from an emotional perspective. Like, did it just feel like, like finally like, or was it kind of that same mentality of, all right, this is awesome, you know, my hard work has paid off and now we gotta continue working on the small details.

Speaker 1: 23:02

It was kind of both. It was kind of like finally, but, and also like, dang, like how did I slip this far back? And I probably, you know, I probably didn't slip back. That's probably just where I was, you know, where I was rated. But um, like relatively speaking, cuz at this time, like I said, I'm getting drafted, but also I'm thinking about all the guys who, like those 12 guys that was on that 12 most wanted list right from high school. Like, none of them got drafted. And it's like, okay, they, I like whoever came out with that article was obviously wrong about me, you know what I'm saying? And it's like, so I got a little satisfaction from net, nothing against them. Like I, I love them guys. I still talk to them to this day. It's like, I felt a little bit of satisfaction from net, but I also felt like, man, I should have been drafted higher because I felt like my stats were comparable and my, my my level of play was comparable to some of the guys that got drafted ahead of me or or rated ahead of me, the whole draft. And um, it's like, I feel like as a, as a per, like, as a running back, I feel like I have a pretty good beat on good running back talent because I played the position, you know, it's what I, at the time, that's what I was living and breathing every day. And at the, a lot of times, like you have like GMs and you know, scouts, the want, like these people are kind of, uh, analyzing these diff analyzing these different players and giving them ratings. And I sometimes I felt like they didn't know what they were talking about. So like I said, in my mind it was only two people who I felt like were better than me and, and coming out with me, it was Doug Martin and Trent Richardson, anybody else. And I was like, nah, I'm, I'm just as good as them. I'm just as good as them. But Doug Martin and Trent Richardson, I was like, okay, if they get drafted ahead of me, I'm pro, I'm perfectly fine with that. With that,

Speaker 2: 24:46

Do you think in some ways it's almost like an endless trap? You, you think about you get drafted to the N F L, just if you think about that singularly take out where you got drafted, that's you're doing something that millions of people will never have the opportunity to do or, or just maybe can't do from an athletic perspective. So in some ways you kind of see it as like an endless trap cuz you get, you get picked, but then it, it's almost like the mind and, and I'm just using football as merely an example here. It's almost like the mind picks up like, cool, you got drafted, but no, you were drafted in the fifth round and all these other guys were taken before you, and why were they taken before you? I, you know what I mean?

Speaker 1: 25:22

Yeah. I think it's just the competitive nature of athletes or, or anybody in general. You know, if you're a competitor, you, you look at your place, you know, in whatever that hierarchy is, you know, uh, is relative. But you look at your places like, man, you know, I'm better than that person. So like, you feel some type of way about it. And that's, that's pretty much how I felt. Cause I don't know, a little bit, a little bit of a was probably ego as well. Cause like I said, I felt like I, I should be, I should have been ranked a little bit higher. But you know, like I said, you know, now that after I got drafted and after I got with the team, I started seeing, it was like, okay, drafted or undrafted, it really doesn't matter. The, I think the big difference was, I mean, obviously the amount of signing bonus you got<laugh> especially, especially if you were drafted in the later rounds, I would say if you got drafted in the first to second round, I think it really means something. But you know, the rounds that came after that, it's like, you might get an opportunity first, but eventually they gonna play the best person. So if you the best person at the, at that position, you know, that's, that's, that's just you gonna play.

Speaker 2: 26:28

I mean that makes, that makes complete sense just in terms of financially from the f from the first two rounds and everything after that. Like, I, I guess that's, I think that's the point that I forget sometimes where it's like, wait a second, you got drafted, cool. But then you think, okay, well the monetary compensation involved and do I have a spot on this roster and all the other things that come into play.

Speaker 1: 26:46

Yeah. Yeah. The biggest thing is just getting the spot on the roster as you mentioned. And uh, you know, after that just work hard and eventually, like I said earlier, man, the crane rise to the So<laugh>. Yep.

Speaker 2: 26:58

Vic, what do you remember about October 28th, 2012?

Speaker 1: 27:02

A lot of people refer back to that play when they think of me, you know what I'm saying? So, but uh, I was just out there balling that. I think that was my, I wanna say my first to second game starting. So I re I really wasn't, you know, thinking too much of it. I was just trying to seize the, you know, seize the opportunity at hand. And I was that, I remember that game also. It was kind of one of the first games I started to feel comfortable with the system because I struggled, you know, I was struggling and, um, yeah, it was a actually, uh, early in the game I had fumbled and uh, you know, as a running back, that's one of the, you know, cardinal sins, you know, you can't fumble. And uh, we didn't, we didn't lose it cuz it was, we got lucky and that play that I fumbled somebody jumped off side, so the play was dead. So they, they didn't get the ball. But still it was a fumble. It was a fumble, you know, on my resume. But, um, I, you know, luckily I was able to make it up, make it up with that play. So,

Speaker 2: 27:55

And that wasn't just any ordinary touchdown, it was your first career n f l touchdown. And it happened in over time against the Tennessee Titans Were Vic, when I watched that video, it<laugh>, it looks like you jump like 10 yards to kind of cork screw into the end zone. And like I, I look at back and they're slowing it down. I'm like, how the heck did this guy do that?

Speaker 1: 28:16

Yeah, it was, uh, I remember, I remember it like everything I was thinking and everything actually, man, I'm, I'm gonna just go through the whole spiel. Cause<laugh>, I dunno. So, so that play that we ran, it was a play that ba kind of drew up in the dirt and ba is Bruce s so he just kind of, actually, he said he saw, I think he saw Virginia Tech run something similar that prior week when they were playing. And, um, he came in and we, we didn't even have a, a legit name for it. We just called it like old, old football player or some, some BS like that. And, uh, we ran it at one time in practice. He was like, oh, it worked in practice and we never ran it again. We never ran it again. And, uh, so now it's, uh, overtime and um, you know, luck come in, you know, luck say, oh, we running that, that play from practice know, he called it by his name. Everybody looking at each other like, are you serious with me right now? At one time we gonna run it and overtime we're in the red zone. So if you go back and look at the play, like each individual position, like it was a disaster. Like nobody did their job<laugh>. And, uh, it, it almost didn't work. But, you know, luck got me the ball and I'm running and I see that I'm probably not gonna make it to the end zone, you know, on my two feet. And, um, it was this guy coming and I was like, it was, it was one guy kind of chasing me from behind or something like that. And I knew I could probably beat him. Uh, and it was another guy, he was like coming kind of, um, uh, you know, adjacent to me or whatever, and I was like, okay, I think he's gonna try to push me outta bounds. So I jumped and I think he, if you go back to the video, I think he did try to push me outta bounds and when I jumped, he kind of grazed me and that's what turned me over. So at that point, you know, I'm, I'm, I was at the, uh, at the disposal of Gravity and<laugh> and, uh, when, whenever Gravity did his thing, I I came down on top of the pot line. So that's pretty much the story behind it.

Speaker 2: 30:11

So, cool, man, I love, I love I love you taking us through like that, that exact moment of time because it happens in a split second. It's really cool when you can kind of slow it down for us and, and take us back, you know, after all these years you can take us back, you know, step by step.

Speaker 1: 30:25

It was the first one, you know, so, uh, you, you definitely gonna remember that first one,

Speaker 2: 30:29

Your first season with the Colts 966 total yards, three total touchdowns. Uh, you guys went to the playoffs ultimately losing the, the Ravens and the Wilds card game. Uh, from there the injuries started to pile up in terms of that, that first season of working the N f L like mind, body, and soul. Like, what was that like for you having that success?

Speaker 1: 30:56

It was like, okay, like when you started talking about like feeling validated, I definitely felt validated at that point because it was nothing else to, like, at that point. I, I didn't feel like I'm, I'm at the highest level and I'm playing at a high level, at the highest level. Like, what else do I have to prove? It's like, okay, I'm one of the best. So I ended the season feeling like, man, I can do this for a long time. You know what I'm saying? It got easy to me, especially that last game that, uh, that that bought to my game. I felt like that was probably one of my, my best games. I mean, like, statistically speaking, it wasn't like a great game. But as far as like, you know, doing my assignments, my my blocking assignments, like not making mistakes, um, just everything. Like I said, I, I remember I had 10 blocking assignments and I was 10 for 10 on them and I had a decent game running the ball also, I had like 20 carries for like 90 something yards against the Super Bowl, you know, winners eventually the eventual Super Bowl winners. So I was like, that's a decent game for a running back. You know, I didn't score any touchdowns, but if I would've scored to touchdown, it just would've been ice on, on, on top of the cake. But, um, that said, uh, so at this point I'm like, yes, like I can do this. Like, it's no question in my mind, like anybody that's ever questioned me in the past, like, here you go. Like this is the proof right here. And um, so that was definitely the top of the mountain for me. But, and I could say I felt validated, but know those next couple years got a little rough<laugh> next couple years they came, got a little rough man. So, uh, I had to face a whole journey.

Speaker 2: 32:34

Yeah. And so that's the thing that, that I'm so curious about, Vic is you're, you get that validation and I love, I love that you used that word and then all of a sudden the injuries, you know, start to pile up. Um, you tore your a C L in 2013 and then 10 months later after the a C L injury, you tore your Achilles. Um, when you think about the devastating injuries you sustained, um, what do those setbacks represent for you today?

Speaker 1: 33:08

Uh, like I said, like I alluded to early, you know, it's like when whenever you going through something, um, you don't see the, you don't see the, you don't see the end of it, you know, especially when it's a dark time. That was definitely a dark time for me. And you also said something else, like stuff, things might not work out the way you wanted to, but you know, it worked out in your favor ultimately if you, you know, put it in a time and effort or whatever. So to me that's, that's, you know, those times where a time where I definitely learned a lot about myself. Um, it was my first time really stepping away from football, so I was able to, you know, ask myself from pretty tough questions because you know, a lot of football players they identify with, like they, yeah, they identify with what they do, you know, it's like, oh, like I'm a football player. It's like, you, no, you are not a football player. You are a person that plays football. So like, coming to that, that realization for myself, you know, I, uh, I had to figure out who was I when I wasn't playing football. And uh, like I said, that time away definitely enabled me to do that. And uh, that's how, you know, I'm pretty like the person who I am today, it probably wouldn't, I probably wouldn't have been this person I am today, um, without those injuries. And I mean that in a good way, you know what I'm saying? Cause I was able to like learn a lot about myself and, you know, practice that perseverance and uh, just all these different things that people talk about whenever you hit hard times. So I was able to prove to myself it's like, yes, like I can go do tough things and not quit. So I think that's what they repre that's what they, that's that's what they mean to me.

Speaker 2: 34:39

I love that. Uh, Kellen Clemens talked about not having your identity wrapped up in football and he said that Chad Pennington is the one who, who gave him that message. And he said that was probably one of the most important things that he learned during his time in the N F L because like you said, it's super easy to to think that's who you are. And then something happens, you know, you get injured or you retire or just life happens and, and, and then, and then what? And then you have to kind of figure out, unravel that if you choose. Cause why did you choose to, to investigate that and not just put that off until after your football career? Or did you feel like you didn't have a choice because you were sidelined back to back?

Speaker 1: 35:18

I didn't have a choice, man. That's, that's two years worth of, you know, sitting with your thoughts. You know, you can't run from your thoughts. You can run from a lot of stuff, but you, your thoughts are with you 24 7 unless you sleep and sometimes they with you, they with you even in your sleep, even in, in your dreams. So I had to confront it, you know, I had to, I had to walk into it and I knew that was the only way, uh, to get through it was confronting it. And, um, it was tough, you know? Uh, but eventually I felt like I got the answers I needed. And, uh, like I said, here I am today, um, I mean, it wasn't, it wasn't like a, a effort completely, um, um, like a, a complete individual effort. Obviously. I had to kind of reach out to people that was in my circle. I, I got into reading around that time. Like I, I've read a lot, a lot of books, a lot of books and definitely gave me clarity. Um, cuz it's like, sometime you, you don't, it's like you don't know what you don't know and there are thoughts that you just can't think cuz you don't, you are not exposed to the information. And um, like I said, books and, you know, my circle of influence, they def definitely helped me kind of guide, not really guide me. Cause it's like I, I like to feel like I chose who I am, you know, based off how I feel. But they kind of like, they gave me the tools to, you know, to become my own person.

Speaker 2: 36:37

Well, heck yeah man. I mean, you chose the path of, hey, like I'm gonna, I'm gonna figure this out. And then I think once you make a choice, then your, your circle comes in and then they can help guide, guide you once you've ultimately made, um, that decision for yourself. And, you know, I saw on your Instagram page that you have a lot of pictures of, of books and, and quotes highlighted. Like, what? Like what do you, like what did you read during that time? What are you reading today? And, and like, what's the meaning behind all the stuff that you post?

Speaker 1: 37:05

Man? Uh, I mean, the meaning is whatever, however it hits your brain, that's what it's supposed to mean. Like, if you read it, I know for me, you know, it probably like some quotes I'll read it and it mean one thing today, but I read it again tomorrow, it means something different, you know. But uh, back then I was reading a lot of like, uh, I guess they would call it self-help. Uh, a lot of, just a lot man. Like, remember the first book I read was, um, I think it was called A Strength of a Champion. Uh, it was this guy, I can't think of his name, OJ Brigance, I wanna say. He was a play, he played for, he played football summer back in the day and, and was diagnosed with Als. So I think that was the first book I read because like, here's this guy facing these, you know, crazy challenges and, you know, he can't even, he don't even have body body function anymore. Like he, he couldn't get around his on his own, uh, on his own. So it, it kind of put stuff in perspective for me. And, um, he talked about a lot of people I knew also. So it was like, man, it, it, it just kind of, it was a nice book to read. And, uh, from there I just went on, I just went crazy with the books, man. I, I, I read, uh,<laugh> read, I mean like that, like a lot of people they read Rich Dad, poor Dad. Um, and that book was definitely, uh, pivotal in my life because, uh, you know, like many athletes, they don't know what to do with their money. And uh, you know, that book kind of gave me my initial like into financial, uh, you know, financial literacy. Um, I read, uh, my, my, the most favorite book I read and I, I like to say probably the most influential book was a book called Roll Less Travel. And um, it's written by a guy named Scott Peck. He's a psychiatrist and the book was written back in like the fifties or sixties or something like that. But I feel like the values and principles and things that he talks about still holds weights to wait to this day. Um, at the time it definitely challenged my vocabulary, man. Cause I, I was having to read it with a, with a, with my phone open to like google certain words to see what he was talking about, to get the true meaning of what he was saying. But once I got it, I was like, man, that is so beautiful. Like, I just felt like that book was a gift. Like, it, it came to me at the right time, man. Cause that definitely, uh, gave me clarity in terms of a lot of things that I was struggling with. But, um, from there, man, I just started stacking'em up, man. Like I was trying to read anything I get my hands on, you know, just trying to, trying to get my knowledge up and uh, I'm, like I said, I'm thankful and, uh, without those injuries I probably wouldn't have ever picked any of those books up. So that's the, that's the silver lining of it.

Speaker 2: 39:42

That's so cool, man. I love it when, when you're going through a, a difficult time and then you happen to dive into some reading and then you end up picking up like one or two books maybe right off the top that just, just resonate. Just maybe hit on a lot of the, a lot of the thoughts that are running through your mind. I mean that, it's interesting how that works out sometimes cuz I've done the same thing. I'll get recommended a book. Like I got recommended this book called The Midnight Library and it was recommended by a mentor of mine. And there's this quote, you can choose choices but not outcomes. And for whatever reason, that just like opened up my, my entire world. Like I wish, I wish I could tell you why, but I really don't have like a tangible, um, explanation for it. It's crazy.

Speaker 1: 40:25

I understand, I understand completely, man. It's like, you know, you get that. It's like, I always tell my buddies, man, the reason why I love books is because you could read one sentence that would change your complete perspective on life. It's like that potential. And uh, it sounds like that's what you kind of, that kind of happened for you. It's like you read one sentence and it it completely like change the way you change your approach to life.

Speaker 2: 40:47

Yeah. Like I, it's, it's just one of those things where you never think that could happen. Then you decide to take, because that, that's such a reading is a huge tool, whether it's a self health book or a book about somebody who's going through something. And, and that's persevered. I think regardless if you, if you're open to it, you know, it could, it can really kind of give you some perspective and and context about your life.

Speaker 1: 41:09

Exactly, man. I love it, man. Uh, like I said, I still, I don't read as much today, but uh, I do still, uh, dabble and, uh, I shouldn't say dabble, uh, I'm just not as frequent as I used to. And it, like, I used to, I love like actual hard books and I was like anti audiobook<laugh>. Cause I, I like to like read and like highlight man, but now I'm like, my, my schedule do doesn't really permit me to, you know, sit down and, uh, like actually take the time out to read like a a, a hard copy. So I've been into the audio books lately. So

Speaker 2: 41:38

What was it like playing with Andrew Locke?

Speaker 1: 41:42

It was great man. Uh, man, I, I got so, so much respect for luck. Not just as a football player more, I think more as a person than a football player. Cause he is just one of those guys, you know, a lot of people don't know him personally, they just know who, what they see in the media. But he's one of the most genuine people you'll ever meet, man. When I was, uh, going through my situation, uh, no, Andrew Luck's a big reader as well. You know, you would always see his face in the book. Um, and when I think I tore my a c l, he, he gave me a book called Unbroken. Um, I forget the the character, but it's a true story. It's about this guy who was in the concentration camp for like, you know, years. He was a prisoner war, um, and basically talked about all the, you know, the BS he had to put up with, you know, but he was like, regardless, he didn't let any of that break his spirit. And uh, eventually he came back home and uh, even got the opportunity to like meet the guy who was like doing all this stuff to him. But the, but the guy declined it, you know what I'm saying? It's like he, but long story short, he didn't, he didn't hold that, he didn't hold that bitterness in. But like I said, the story was about perseverance and um, but like, just, just even thinking of me to like, you know, give me that book, you know, that says a lot about him as a person because nobody else on the team did, you know, they would they tell you cliche stuff like, oh, it's gonna be okay. Oh, you know, just keep working hard. But it's like he actually like gave me a gift that said look like it's gonna be cool. You know what I'm saying? Like gave me something that represented perseverance. Um, and my locker was right next to his. So, you know, I got to see him a lot, talk to him a lot. Um, so yeah, he is, like I said, great dude, man, I can't say enough about him.

Speaker 2: 43:20

That's really cool man, that, that somebody, yeah. Cause it's easiest to say, yeah dude, you'll be good. You're gonna rehab, you'll be fine. But how cool is that, uh, to get something else saying, Hey, like read this, check this out. Like this might, this might change your perspective. Open up your eyes, give you some context. I mean that is, that is a beautiful thing, man.

Speaker 1: 43:37

Exactly. And at the time it's just, it's crazy how everything kind of works because that's around the time I had just got into reading and it's like, like I said, I wasn't a reader before that, but it's like, I'm definitely, you know, after that I was definitely a reader and I read the book and actually it is crazy too because soon after the movie came out, it's a movie about it. It's like right after the movie came out, it had to be like 20 13, 20 14, the movie came out about it. So I, I went and watched the movie right after I finished the book, just like everything kind of lined up and uh, I said it was definitely, uh, it was a beautiful story and a and a beautiful, uh, gesture by luck, like you said.

Speaker 2: 44:12

Yeah, I'm really, I'm really happy that he, that he reached out and more than, more than just words to during, during that time for you, Vic. I don't wanna, I don't want to run outta time here man, cuz there's, I, I could talk to you about so many, so many different angles. Um, once you walked away from football, uh, did you know you wanted to be an engineer or was there kind of like a little bit of a dead period where you're like, oh, I have no clue what I want to do. Like how did this, how did this all come, come to fruition year?

Speaker 1: 44:40

So, um, whenever I graduated high school, you know, you got, you know, to ask you what do you wanna do? What do you want to study in college? So I I was always working on cars and stuff like that. I was always, uh, watching those TV shows. They said it used to be a network back in the day called Spike tv.

Speaker 2: 45:00

Oh yeah,<laugh>

Speaker 1: 45:01

<laugh>,

Speaker 2: 45:02

Yeah. Yeah, man, I haven't heard anyone say that in a long time. Right,

Speaker 1: 45:05

Right, right. And so on Saturday mornings they would always show like, uh, I forget the name of the shows, but it was basically these car shows. I used to love those car shows, man. And uh, so I was like, you know what? I think I want to be a, a mechanical engineer. Um, you know, cause I, cause I like doing stuff like that, you know, a little bit of it was me just not really understanding what a mechanical engineer was. Cause you know, we don't sit around and work on cars all day, but it is also a mechanic. But, uh, but yeah, so when I got to, when I got to uh, Gulf Coast, um, I told'em I wanna be an engineer. So they put me on the engineering track, you know, taking all the different math, maths and things like that. When I got to Mississippi State, that was like, uh, nah, uh, we, we need to choose something else. You need to choose something else. Because I mean, granted it was a, it was a tough curriculum, but also it was, uh, a lot of the classes con conflicted with practice. So, you know, they wasn't having that. So, um, I chose business and I studied business and graduated with a business degree. And, uh, so whenever I got finished with football, it's like, okay, like you said, I did have that little dead period where it's like, what do I, what do I do with the rest of my life or whatever. So I was like, you know what? I was think I was 26. I was like, I think I'm gonna go back to school for engineering. You know, something, I always wanted to do something that, you know, I was kind of denied of in the past. But also I think part of me also, it was, it was one of those things too. It was like, man, I think I'm starting out to be an engineer. It was kind of one of those things where I feel like I'm, I'm like, like I was talking about when I was, uh, getting drafted, I felt like it's a lot of guys, it wasn't, wasn't that much better than me, if at all. And when I looked at engineers, you know, they got this, uh, this perception of man, they, they're like super smart, right? So I was like, I can be an engineer too,<laugh>, I could be an engineer as well. So like, I'm going back to school to be an engineer. So part of it was ego, part of it was me like trying to, uh, achieve a childhood goal. And another part of it was like, man, I need to find something that can gimme a decent, a decent life. You know? So, um, I went off on the journey

Speaker 2: 47:12

A trifecta. That's so cool, man. Cuz when I saw that LinkedIn article, um, that you're an engineer at Lockheed Martin, and for those that don't know, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company. I used to work across the street from a Lockheed Martin, so my brain was just like, oh my God, that is the the coolest thing. I gotta talk to Vic to just see how this all, like, how this all kind of came to to be.

Speaker 1: 47:36

Yeah. And uh, working for Lockheed Martin as an engineer, that's like, that's like going to the, to the N F L again. Yeah, man.<laugh><laugh>. For those that don't know, it's definitely like one of those, uh, one of those jobs that you, uh, definitely aspire to be. They, Lockheed can basically choose who they want to. Like, they choose, they can choose the best of the best just cuz you know, and it's, it's hard to get in Lockheed when I was getting onboarded, um, there was this woman that said somebody had applied to Lockheed 19 times before they even got an interview. I was like. Like I got it in the first<laugh>. First time I, you know, first interview man got a job offer. So I'm definitely grateful for that. Uh, so

Speaker 2: 48:17

I love it. You made it to the N F L twice? I mean, yeah. Lo Lockheed Martin. That's, that's the, the cream always rise to the top.

Speaker 1: 48:26

Yeah, I guess so, man. I guess so. Like I said, uh, a lot, lot of people don't know who, who Lockheed Martin is, but, uh, in the engineering world, like I said, it's definitely one of those type jobs where you like, okay, I've made it.

Speaker 2: 48:38

How have you been able to channel all those, all of those years playing football, playing in college, playing in the N F L, um, over to being an engineer over at Lockheed Martin?

Speaker 1: 48:47

Um, well first I had to get through the curriculum, you know,<laugh> because I don't wanna scare over that cuz uh, it was definitely tough. Like I said, it probably was good. I a major in it the first time I went to college. So like all those things that I was just talking about earlier, like, uh, perseverance, taking care of the small things, being organized, being, being on time. Really a lot of the small things. It's like that definitely, uh, helps put you in position to be the best you can be, you know, to perform the best that you could perform. Because it was some, it got rough at times, man. It's like, so also I wanna say this, like a lot of times in football, especially like in the strength and conditioning portion of it, it's like, can you suffer in silence and keep going? And it's like, because, cause you states and football, it's, you know, they big on mental toughness. So they, they push you as much as possible, especially, you know, at the collegiate level, they push you as much as possible to try to get you to your breaking point. And I always felt like that's what engineering school was like. It's like, can you suffer in silence? It's like, yes, it's you tired, yes, you don't, it is no way possible that you can finish this and, and do good, but can you keep going? And for me, I'm like, I, you know, I done did this already. It's like, as long as I know that I'm moving forward, um, you know, that's all I need to know. And, uh, eventually I struggled enough, suffered enough in silence and eventually walked across the stage. And like I said, uh, just but at work, you know, work, it's not hard. Uh, you know, it's, it's not hard at all. So<laugh>, it's nothing like, it wasn't on school.

Speaker 2: 50:23

It's almost like in some ways your NFL career was preparing you for the, for this, for this next chapter. Especially with the, with the keep going. Just to kind of stick on that aspect. And this actually is the perfect transition. A family friend of mine who's helped me through some difficult times in my life, he always said, keep going. And he still says it to this day. And the craziest thing in the world, Vic, is that that mantra keep going has been the main catalyst for me being able to push through my life, you know, through, through some difficult times. How important, even though it's very simple, is it to just keep going?

Speaker 1: 50:57

It's very important. Uh, you know, life goes on, situ things, things are gonna happen. You know, I always say life is a, is a series of problems to solve<laugh>, you know what I'm saying? So after you solve one problem, you know, you got a next one, you got another one coming. But like I said, you just gotta keep going. If you stop and start feeling sorry for yourself, it's like you, that's a recipe for disaster. You know? It's like then you, I feel like when you stop, start feeling sorry for yourself, you develop a bad, you develop bad habits, you develop this aura of like negativity and people don't wanna be around stuff like that. I know. I don't need it anyway. It's like I wanna be around positive people. Yeah. Everybody gonna struggle with something, you know what I'm saying? Everybody has their thing, but like you said, keep going. Like, like what, what type of attitude do you have when you're going through this thing? If you're a positive person, like man, you gonna be around more positive people and it's gonna help you out. You know what I'm saying? It's a, it's a, it's a mindset game, man. If you can have a right mindset, know your times of adversity, um, it makes it that much more easier. I mean, obviously I, I didn't, I didn't know these things before cause I, I will be honest, I I was definitely negative at times when I know going through my injuries. But now that I'm on the oth I'm on the other side of, yeah, I'm on the other side of all this stuff, I understand now it's like what type of attitude do you have in, what are you learning in the process?

Speaker 2: 52:11

Do you think resilience has derived through life experiences? Or is it some innate ability that some of us have and, and some of us don't have?

Speaker 1: 52:21

That's, that's, honestly, I've been asking my same thing. I'm not sure. Cause I think resiliency is a function of confidence as well. If you're a confident person and confident in your abilities. If when you face stuff, it's like, okay, I know I'm gonna get through this, you know what I'm saying? And, and, and because you think like that you could push through it, but I, I feel like some people, like I was telling somebody this other day as well, I feel like some people never struggled for anything and succeeded at it because, uh, well they never, they never found anything to struggle for. So it's like they don't understand resilience and, you know, perseverance and stuff like that because they just always say what they were giving, you know what I'm saying? So you're not able to, to channel in your, um, you know, your inner inner ego, you know what I'm saying? Like, like kind of push yourself through those tough situations. Just like you just kind of existing, I don't know how to explain it. I, I don't, I don't think I really thought my thought, you know, um, you know, thought through what I'm trying to say right now. But, uh, I, I, like I said, I don't know. That's a good question, man. I, I do feel like some people, I would say this, I think if sports can teach it or any type of, I shouldn't even say sports, any type of any type of organized extracurricular activity I feel like can teach, it can teach resiliency or it can bring it out of you. But, um, I don't, I don't know if people are born with it, man. It's like, that's, that's a, that's a good question.

Speaker 2: 53:54

I know that's kind of an esoteric question, but just, you know, from our conversations, like, it was just one of those things where I'm always curious cuz I don't think there is a wrong answer necessarily, but it's something I kick around in my head like all the time. Like, was I able to get through certain obstacles in my life because of my hockey career and there was adversity there and then that was built up, you know, from the age of like six to, you know, teen, I don't know. And again, like there's, I wish there was like some way we could measure it or maybe we could text each other later<laugh> and if we have the answer. But

Speaker 1: 54:25

I, I say earlier, I do think confidence has something to do with it as well. Like, like cause uh, like I said, if you're a confident person and you, if you are confident in your abilities to overcome anything, it's like, okay, I know I can get through this and you, because you feel that way about yourself, you going, you going to be resilient, you gonna persevere. You know, you gonna have all these things that, that gets you through that issue.

Speaker 2: 54:46

Yeah. Some people say that there's like this like inner whisper, so to speak, or like inner voice that's just, which I guess kind of piggybacks off that confidence saying like, hey, like you, if you lose a loved one, you know, of course you're extremely sad and your whole world is shattered, but at least for me, there's always like an inner voice during that time in my life. It was like, you, you got this. And I think that kind of hits perfectly on the, on the confidence aspect that you just talked about. It's crazy, man. It's a cra it's a, it's a, it's a crazy world. Two more, two more questions and I'll let you go, man. Um, your Twitter bi your Twitter bio says just a guy and your Instagram bio says, just a guy living life. I, I I know you're laughing, dude, but I found both of those to be extremely humanizing because most of the times in people's like bios on social media, it's, it's like eight time Emmy winner, nine time pro bowler. It's always these accolades that are, that are very surface level and it's the outer shell of who we are. Yours I loved cuz like, I'm just a guy living life. Um, what are, what are your thoughts on that? Or was there any intentional meaning behind that?

Speaker 1: 55:57

Definitely. You, you just hit it on the head, man. It's like you have a lot of people out here like, you know, talking themselves up saying, oh, I do this, I do that. You know what I'm saying? Which is true, which is okay, you know what I'm saying? But it's not, it's not who you are, you know what I'm saying? It's just what you deal with your life and, you know, it's, they're accolades. I got a lot of accolades, but, you know, I don't like wear on my shoulder because that's not where my value as a person comes from. You know, it's like I'm a, I'm a person having human experience and like I said, I just wanted to humanize myself. I never wanted to make it feel like, make anybody feel like I'm bigger than life. Because like, yeah, I've, I've done some things with my life that a lot of people, you know, with a spot or do or wish they could do. But at the end of the day, I'm just like you. Like I, I, I wake up, I have issues, I struggle with things, you know what I'm saying? But I push through it. I have a human experience as well, you know what I'm saying? So if I can do it, you can do it as well.

Speaker 2: 56:46

That's such a powerful message, especially not just for athletes. I mean, it's not just athlete centric, but I think sometimes I think that's why I get so annoyed when, uh, during the N F L draft, when you have the evaluators, the analysts, you know, evaluating, you know, y'all because it's, it's freaking dehumanizing, man. It's like, well, like it's all about like, is he, is he tall? Is he short? What's the hand size? What's his like, vertical? And I, I I think it, it, it, it's such a, and again, like, it, it's such a turnoff to me just as merely a a a viewer. I can only imagine what it's like to be, you know, that that man or woman in that situation, you know, just being evaluated up the wazoo when it's like, yo, I'm, I'm just a regular human being too, you know, and I have problems I put my pants on with, you know, the same way you do. I don't know.

Speaker 1: 57:34

Yeah. I mean, to, to their defense. Not really a defense, but it's like, okay, if I'm gonna invest millions of dollars to as into this person, like, okay, I, I want to, I wanna know what I'm getting myself into. But at the, at the end of the day, the film's for itself, man, you don't need to take all these weird, weird measurements and things like that. It's like, why do you carry what my hand size is? You saw my film, I can catch the ball. Like, you know, I, okay, wait, that's one thing, like you don't want anybody coming in super heavy, overweight, but like hand size, uh, you know, all these weird measurables like, how long is my arm? Or whatever, man. Like, look, go. Just go pull the film up. Do I produce? Oh, don't I<laugh>? Like, that's all you need to know,<laugh>.

Speaker 2: 58:13

That's it, man. Uh, Vic, do you miss football?

Speaker 1: 58:19

Uh, man, a lot of people always ask me this question. Uh, i, I definitely miss parts of it. Um, when I see like my, my, my teammates doing good, you know, big things. I'm like, man, you know, part of me wish I was there, like able to like still fight and, you know, uh, you know, gather these accolades. Like, like Dak Prescott, he just won the, uh, Walter Payton man of the year, you know, I was at Mississippi State with him such a Cox and Darius slave, they getting ready to play in the Super Bowl for the Eagles. So it's like, these are, um, now these are guys, like I said, I, you know, still next to, and I still, I still know me, me, Darius and Fletch and, uh, a couple other guys we're still in the group message. So these are still guys I interact with. And, um, it's like, I, I would be lying if I didn't say I didn't miss like, being able to, you know, uh, I guess I, I'm gonna tell you what I do miss, I do miss football. I miss being a expert in my craft, and I don't really know how to explain that. It's like I, I, I found a, a sense of like, fulfillment from like I say, being the best of the best. And I think that kind of goes back to, you know, my ego, but it's like, it's a great feeling when, you know, like people look at you as an expert, you know, all the years of your hard work and your grinding. Like you got this wealth of knowledge in this one area and now being compensated<laugh>, you're being compensated for it as well. But, uh, I mean, aside from the money I, like I said, I, I definitely miss being an expert at my craft.

Speaker 2: 59:49

Well, dude, you're on the way of, of being an expert, uh, as an engineer. So I, I look forward to, to seeing and hearing about all the awesome things you do, man. It's so cool. And Vic Ballard, an engineer at Lockheed Martin<laugh>.

Speaker 1: 1:00:04

All right. Got a nice ring to it, man. I'm definitely, uh, I was surprised that he offered me, but at the end of the day, if they offer me, I deserve to be there. So I'm, uh, I'm running with it.

Speaker 2: 1:00:12

Absolutely, man Vic, I appreciate the time.

Speaker 1: 1:00:14

I appreciate you, man.