Where Competition Meets Community: SportsOhio’s Vision To Bring Dublin Together

Imagine a sports campus that feels like Dublin: green, welcoming and built for everyday joy as much as headline events. We sit down with SportsOhio General Manager Joe Bauserman and Sports Facilities Companies’ VP Scott Rodgers to share how this complex is turning into a premier destination where families play, adult leagues thrive and major tournaments fuel local restaurants and hotels. The plan starts with steady improvements—reopening soccer and field sports, polishing the driving range and par-3 course and sharpening the customer experience. Lindsay and Bruce then turn the conversation to scale and what the future looks like.

Joe and Scott explain why a public, city-led model changes the playbook: more focus on service, access and programming breadth. They lay out practical ways to get involved now, from joining leagues to following updates, and hint at a wider slate of sports and events—lacrosse, long-drive contests, tournaments and concerts—that keep the campus lively year-round. Drawing lessons from cities like Naples, Florida and Elizabethtown, Kentucky, they show how a venue can be both a weekend festival of play and a resilient community resource that blends wellness, connection, and economic vitality.

Woven through the story are personal moments: Joe’s path from MLB draft pick to OSU walk-on quarterback to GM. Scott’s decades-long soccer career at club and college levels, and their shared belief that competition brings us together, but joy keeps us coming back.

If you care about youth sports, adult rec nights and the kind of “third place” that turns neighbors into friends, you’ll hear a clear vision: an athletic and recreation campus that belongs to Dublin and sets a new standard for how cities play, gather and grow. Subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us what sport or feature you want to see next.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:03

Hello and welcome to Link Ahead, the City of Dublin podcast. We are diving into big plans for Dublin, centered around two words combined into one word, which is Sports Ohio.

SPEAKER_01 0:13

That's right. For now, anyway. That's the indoor outdoor sports uh park that we purchased in 2024 with plans to create a premier athletic rec and recreation campus. And we are thrilled to have two of the executives behind this initiative uh Joe Bowserman, the new GM of uh Sports Ohio, and Scott Rogers, uh the sports facilities company's VP. Welcome to Link Ahead.

SPEAKER_00 0:40

Awesome. Thanks for having us. Thanks for having us.

Meet Joe Bowserman

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Yeah, we're so happy to have you. And Joe, as I mentioned, you're kind of brand new in this job, a little over a month into it. And uh, we just want to hear a little bit about you. Tell our listeners about yourself.

SPEAKER_02 0:51

I obviously I played uh football at Ohio State uh for Coach Trestle, and then uh before that I was drafted by the Pirates. Um but currently I am married, uh, two young daughters, and we are full sports fanatics. We play every sport there is, um, we stay busy year-round, and so um, yeah, we're just excited to be here. What really attracted you to this position? At my previous job, I was a facility manager in Virginia, and um I think the next career step for me was probably a general manager of a sports facility, and then you look up sports facilities, and there's sports facilities company, and uh it was pretty easy. And then all of a sudden, uh Dublin popped up, and the general manager position there just intrigued me. I obviously I I lived here uh during college. Uh, I lived over by Total Mall. So uh I knew the area well. I spent a lot of time in Dublin. Uh I do have family that live still lives in Hilliard, and so um it just made made sense and made like the right career move, but at the same time, uh excited to be back in the area. I know what Dublin has to offer.

Why Joe Fits The Role

SPEAKER_01 1:54

So Right. And Scott, when you heard about Joe and that he was interested in this job, you saw his resume, you called him the perfect candidate for this position. Uh tell us more about that.

SPEAKER_00 2:05

Well, it was it was just a great interview when I had a chance to meet with him and and talk in person, but uh the connections to the community was a big one. Um obviously Ohio State is a huge piece of the puzzle, and being an Ohio State football fan, that was that was fun. But uh, you know, he remains cool under pressure was one of the first things I noticed on the call. Um, just felt like he was not going to get rattled, and that's key in this position because there's just a lot of things you got to deal with. And so I felt he did really well in that one. I I just got a sense that he was project-oriented to the point where like some of the things he was doing right now he needed to get done while we were talking, and so I was impressed with that, and then uh just his work ethic that he was willing to to work hard, and it's gonna take a lot of that to get this facility up and uh running to the where we want to get it to, and so uh that and his personality just seemed uh to fit really well.

Scott Rogers’ Background And SFC Mission

SPEAKER_03 2:54

I mean, I remember when we took over the property and we took a tour, it was like, oh my gosh, this the potential of this place like it is just going to be something spectacular because we've been to other cities and seen things, but this is here and this is Dublin, and we're gonna do it Dublin way. So Scott, we partnered with your company, Sports Facilities, uh, to operate the site. So you personally have decades of experience in recreation management, uh, including two decades leading Cincinnati United Soccer Club. So tell us more about you.

SPEAKER_00 3:22

Well, soccer's just been a huge piece of everything I've done. And and what was fun for me is when the company reached out and said they were speaking with Dublin, um, I've played and coached and done things on the Sports of Ohio facility. So I was very excited. I was like, hey, I know that one. I can come back and be an asset to what we're doing. So soccer's been a huge piece of my life. You know, I love all sports, um, wasn't built to do every sport, so I, you know, I could do but soccer was the big one for me. But uh yeah, executive director at Cincinnati United was was an honor and a privilege. Um built that club from the ground up and and was hired to do so. And so we put it into something pretty special down that way. And um, all the clubs up here were always our benchmark back then, and then it was fun to become their benchmark as we were continuing to develop, so it became a great competition. Uh, but but loved being involved in that. But uh also had the honor of um being a college coach for a long time, uh, both men and women's side. So coach division one at Wright State University. So it was it was that was a whole new experience and was fun. Um, you know, uh married with two two wonderful children who are older now, so I'm on the opposite end of Joe. Um both my kids are in college and and uh looking to graduate here within about a year. Uh my son graduates this May. My daughter will probably graduate uh next winter. Um, she also got engaged, so uh experiencing that world. So uh yeah, it's evolving as as we go forward. But sports have always been a part of my life, and um, it's an honor really to be at this stage of my career and still being part of sports. And it was a natural fit to move into facilities and and running of events.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

So yeah, that sounds great. And your company, SFC, is no joke. You guys have uh 90 or so venues um around the country. What made you want to add Dublin to the mix?

SPEAKER_00 5:05

Well, it was just a natural fit. I mean, first and foremost, our our um uh mission statement fits into improve the health and uh economic vitality of of the uh communities we work with. And that's what you wanted to do. And when I sat in the very first meeting and how people wanted to integrate the facility into the facility, you know, into the local community and and not only bring about money, and it's it's always great to bring money into the facility, you know, into the community and and put heads in beds in restaurants, but also to involve the community in the health and well-being. I kept hearing everything about we're gonna get the adult leagues going, right? We're gonna get all the adult leagues going.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

Oh my gosh, those adult soccer players, I'll tell you what.

Operating Philosophy: Community And Vitality

SPEAKER_00 5:41

And and the cross going and and other things too. So I just felt like, you know, in my first couple meetings, uh, you know, it fit really well. Um, but also the people here. It it it is a good community, and there's a lot of wonderful people and wanting to be the most connected city and and people wanting to be able to ride their bikes and go places and and technology and everything I hear when I'm talking to my employers uh was being said here as well. So it just meshed really well, and I think the future meshes um extremely well.

SPEAKER_03 6:10

So a couple questions now on the current operations of Sports Ohio, so and what's coming in the future. So, Joe, as GM, you'll focus on day-to-day operations or your focus on it right now. So, and you're looking at the maintenance, the vision, and the culture. So, what do these look like now? And then what is that going to look like in the future?

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Yeah, so right now we have a small staff. Um, we're currently building that out, but that small staff's done an amazing job to get us to where we're at right now. We're getting uh both field sports and soccer first open. Really applaud them for getting that going. Um and then for maintenance-wise, it's a 30-year-old building. Um, so there's a lot of upgrades and uh aesthetics that need to happen, but currently we are working with what we got and we'll just continue to build on that.

SPEAKER_01 6:57

Any thoughts on um what are the differences in how a complex like this would operate as a city entity versus a privately owned one?

Public vs Private Operations

SPEAKER_02 7:05

As a privately owned entity, it's gonna be more for profit. They're gonna maybe not staff as many uh obviously staff members, but uh as a public entity, I think uh we'll be looking for more of a customer experience. We'll be looking to have a few more extra staff, create that experience and uh you know get some more offerings out there on the table for not only food and beverage, but just uh the overall experience.

How Residents Can Get Involved

SPEAKER_03 7:30

So both of you know, and Scott, you kind of mentioned this that you know Dublin is involved. We don't just let we we want resident input, we want input into everything. So how can residents and community people get involved with Sports Ohio?

Beyond Soccer: Diverse Sports And Events

SPEAKER_00 7:43

Well, first of all, come out and see us. Participate in the leagues, uh, come out and use the facility. Um, I've seen people walking around the park and and around the areas to get some exercise. So, you know, come out and and and just participate in what we do, I think is the the first key. Some other opportunities are follow us on social media. You know, we're we we've got a lot of new things that are gonna be coming in the future. And um, like Joe said, we're opening up a 30-year-old facility, so it takes time to to dig through some things, but uh each new piece will come about and and as it does, you know, come out and visit it. Um, bringing some tournaments and events back uh that were formerly in the facility that maybe the community didn't know about, we'll market those and promote those. And and it's not just soccer as well. So we've talked about long drive contest, we've talked about um uh lacrosse, uh Fris uh ultimate, you know, the the Frisbee uh events to bring those in. Um we're gonna have uh unique different styles of events than maybe people have um known were done done on the sports oh complex, and we're looking forward to bringing them in.

SPEAKER_03 8:44

And how many thousands of pickleball courts are you? I'm sure that's the member question. But does anyone remember racquetball? Like how big that was in the 80s? Like, what's after pickleball? It's for you guys to figure out.

SPEAKER_00 9:00

Yeah, I guess that that's the one to stay on top of. But right now, pickleball's a big one, and uh it is fun to watch how it it combines um older generation with the younger generation. You can play against each other, so it's it's great to match those two.

SPEAKER_03 9:13

Our producer is quite the pickleballer. He's like a three-two or something like that. What is it? He's a four. I'm sorry. Is that like a handicap? I still don't know what that means. Do you think that's a good one?

SPEAKER_01 9:20

Is that like a handy case?

SPEAKER_02 9:21

Yeah, exactly. I'm more of a ping-pong player. There we go.

Running Today While Planning Tomorrow

SPEAKER_01 9:24

There you go. It's I like that. Um, and I think what's so interesting about this process is you guys came on and you know, you're running the facility. So you've got it up and running, you're bringing back um, you know, rentals and leagues and all of that. At the same time, there's this bigger visioning process going on, and that'll have a lot of community input. You know, we talked a little bit about um rebranding. Will it be called Sports Ohio? Will it be called something else? And of course, we're gonna be working with the community on that in the in the months to come. But to be doing the day-to-day operations and looking bigger longer term, uh, that's something that's a little bit unique, I think.

Community Spirit Stories From Other Venues

SPEAKER_00 10:00

I th I think you're stumbling onto the the biggest issue we do have, which is everyone's so excited about what might come and what the future looks like. But we want to make sure we're doing a really good job for the community with the current events that we're running. And and so staying focused on making sure the driving range is as nice as it can be and the part three golf course is accessible to everybody and ready to run, uh, and making sure the events go well, but not forgetting about those adult leagues and things, but keeping our eye on what the future looks like because it's it's really bright here for this community.

SPEAKER_01 10:29

With that in mind, uh can you share maybe a story or two from one of the other SFC facilities, you know, where the community spirit really helped drive passion for a connection in a facility like this?

SPEAKER_00 10:40

Absolutely. So um, like you said, we're running, you know, 90 to 100 facilities as we speak right now. So there's so many stories that we could we could share and encourage people to follow on social media on the different things that we do with our communities. But a couple that came to mind for me was um I I got to go down to the Naples facility, the Paradise Coast uh facility down there. And the way they intertwine their community with with events and things like that is really unique. So on a Friday, and I was there on a Friday, um, watching certain fields being used by the community to just go out and play and have fun, but yet there were league games going on on other fields, and then there was a soccer tournament that was starting as well. Um, they do run a professional soccer team as well down there, so a lower level than the Columbus crew here in town, but you know, you know, things like that were going on, and then they have a cove, which is uh an area where they have concerts and music and people come out and drink and dance and all of it going on at the exact same time. But what turned it and made me think of it for what your question is, when the hurricane hit down there, the facility quickly turns into a place where everyone can come for refuge. They were able to hand out water, hand out food. You could come there if you were struggling with things and the and the and the entities were set up and so that you could get community help. And so how fast these facilities can go from a fun entertainment facility to an area where everyone can can get the help that they need. So that's why Naples popped in my head.

Resilience Role: From Fun To Refuge

SPEAKER_01 11:58

Yeah, and you just reminded me a few weeks ago we had a big snowstorm here, and I know we reached out to Sports Ohio and said, hey, if we happen to need a warming center or anything like that, can you guys help out? And you guys immediately were like, absolutely, we're on board. So you're gonna be great, great community partners.

Midwest Models And Unique Dublin Direction

SPEAKER_00 12:15

Yeah, and that's that's what we want to be. And that's the the key, I think, for these facilities, especially when they're intertwined with the community, is you're there for whatever is needed. And sometimes it's fun and entertainment and things that you know people just want to be a part of, and other times it's a need, right? And we want to be there for both.

SPEAKER_03 12:30

So Florida has the benefit of being nice weather all year round. Oh, yeah. We've lived through snow, and I don't know when that's ever gonna melt. But is there any complex in the Midwest that you could say, hey, this is what kind of Dublin is gonna look like in the future?

Making Dublin A National Benchmark

SPEAKER_00 12:46

Well, I actually feel like the answer to that question is kind of no, because I think we're gonna take this facility in some unique directions. Yeah. And I'm excited to see bits and pieces of other facilities. So um, I was just mentioning in a meeting we were in just recently with uh Elizabethtown down in Kentucky, is a beautiful outdoor facility, baseball, soccer, football. And there's a lot of pieces of that puzzle I think we'll see here. And and I think it it is another one that's really entwined with the community and doing some neat things. Um, had some similar experiences where when their community needed something, that park could be used, but also the rec leagues and the and the different uh uh events that they run and then tournaments, to the point now they're actually building an outdoor uh amphitheater, which will be unique to see how that meshes in. Um but Elizabeth Town will have pieces, Naples will have pieces, our company will bring some of the best of the ideas to the table and see what everybody's interested in doing. But with this big facility and Dublin's desire to take things uniquely, um, I don't think there'll be a facility that'll be exactly the same. I think you'll walk in and go, oh, I've seen that over here, that over here.

SPEAKER_01 13:50

Let's build on that a little bit, Joe. How do you think we can make Dublin a benchmark for you know facilities around the country?

SPEAKER_02 13:56

Just piggybacking off Scott there, it's uh really taking the best of other facilities throughout the country and then making uh Dublin its own unique animal. You know, it's just really going to be the the it the opportunities are endless and um it's kind of not exhausting to think about them all the time, but you know, we're just excited to to get that vision and and and focus on on the opportunities ahead.

SPEAKER_01 14:21

He's been in Dublin a month, he's already exhausted. So we got it. We got it.

SPEAKER_02 14:25

So that's more of a snow shovel.

Family Life And Youth Sports

SPEAKER_03 14:27

That's true. How old are your kids again? They ran out. Uh four and six. Okay. All right. And what sports do you have them playing right now? Everything, right? How long is this?

SPEAKER_02 14:36

Um let's see. We did tennis, we do golf, uh, swimming, gymnastics, we're in T ball, coach pitch now. I know we're starting basketball. All right, tell me, are you pitching? Because that's how you started your career as a pitcher. I I am I'm trying to stay away. Okay. I want to hands off as much as, but let them enjoy it. Let them I ask them all the time, I say, uh, which one's your favorite? And they say all of them, and I'm just like, we'll just stick with that right now.

The Future Campus: Nature And Modern Play

SPEAKER_03 15:06

All right, that's good. That's good. Uh so like if we look in our crystal ball and then and we can see the future of this, what is the picture that our listeners, what are they gonna see at Sports Ohio or whatever it's called, uh, in the future?

SPEAKER_00 15:19

I I think it's gonna be something that's gonna be very exciting for them and something they'll be very proud of. Um, things that I think are really unique here in Dublin is how you intertwine um Mother Nature, so trees and green grass and in a beautiful area with modern conveniences. Uh all you have to do is look at the bridge downtown and you can see how it connects the the the modern with with with with an older part of the community um and and how people can intertwine, how beautiful it is. Um that's the vision I think that people should have for this facility. And you know, see modern tournaments and different things come in, but yet go for a walk and listen to the birds and and and be able to see the green grass. I I would say that would be the crystal ball vision I I hope comes to life.

SPEAKER_02 16:00

Yeah, I I'll add to that, and I think just overall the family experience, come there and be able to enjoy the game, go for a walk, and you know, a nice, safe, clean environment is is really what we're looking for.

Sports, Community, And Economic Impact

SPEAKER_01 16:12

That's exactly what we're talking about. You guys have both been in sports involved for a number of years uh from a lot of different levels. What is it about sports, athletics that can really bring a community together and then also, you know, from the city side uh side, um drive economic development?

SPEAKER_02 16:30

It's just something pertains to everybody. Um, you know, dad can enjoy the game, mom and dad can enjoy beverages, uh the kids can have fun, watch the game, watch their favorite player playing, watch their sibling playing, just kind of again that family atmosphere and that uh experience.

SPEAKER_00 16:45

Competition's one that always comes to me is is people love to compete, right? Uh at different levels, whether it's an adult rec league where everybody's coming out and having some fun and and competing. Um Wait, wait, wait.

SPEAKER_03 16:56

You're supposed to have fun in adult rec leagues. Lindsay's quite the volleyball. So I just I just wanted you to hear that, Lindsay.

SPEAKER_01 17:04

The competitive part, maybe.

SPEAKER_00 17:05

But that's what makes it fun sometimes, right? Is the competitive part. But uh I think competition does bring bring a lot of a community together, whether it's competing internally or competing externally to to put something on that that others can't do. I think that's a big one for everybody. And then the bringing people together. I I think there's just not enough environments anymore where we get to interact together. And so a facility like this is going to bring people for a thousand different reasons, but they're there together and they're having fun. And like you said, family atmospheres. Both my kids played multiple sports, and we traveled all over the country. And um, I don't know if we remember the score of a single game. Uh, we do remember the trophies, but you know, you don't remember it too much. But I can tell you we remember hanging out and having having meals together in a hotel together, um, talking to each other while we're driving to and from. And I think a facility like this will help bring the community together and then give them a place to compete.

Joe’s Two-Sport Journey And Walk-On Story

SPEAKER_01 17:58

Wow. Uh I there's a concept, I think it's called the third place. And it's like you've got your home, you've got work, and what's that other place? And Dublin's always really intentional about trying to create those types of places for people. And I can't think of a better example than you know, where you're spending your weekends with your kids on the soccer field or, you know, just out there doing something with the community, enjoying the green space that we're going to have. Uh, but you guys really sound like you're going to create something special, and we're excited about that.

SPEAKER_02 18:23

Yeah, as we are.

SPEAKER_00 18:24

Well, I think it's something special to start with already. I mean, uh Sports Ohio, 30-year-old facility, but does have some really good foundation to what needs to be brought in. And you connect Darry Park right across the street, and you've already got a great setup, and then now you modernize it and bring it, bring it to uh a level that I think Dublin wants and expects. I think you'll have something really special.

SPEAKER_03 18:45

All right. And Joe, we can't let you go without talking about your football, baseball curve. So you played quarterback at Ohio State, and that is just, you know, everybody's like, oh my gosh, that's so many kids' dreams is to be a quarterback at Ohio State. You played for minor league baseball. Like all right, first of all, if you could just if back in the day somebody said, I want to be a baseball player or a football player, what are you gonna be? Both. Both players. All right, all right, that's the dream, right?

SPEAKER_02 19:13

Yeah, that's it.

SPEAKER_01 19:14

Joe knows. Joe knows.

SPEAKER_03 19:18

And this might be a new model right now. That's it. Um, so how did you walk on to OSU? Like, what is this whole process like? I can't uh we live in an age now where it's NIL and all this stuff, and then I read that you walked on. So, how does that even happen?

Rapid Fire: Favorites, Rituals, Advice

SPEAKER_02 19:32

So the process started, might take a minute, but uh so out of high school, I played uh I was down in Florida and I was playing at a high school that was very gifted with athletes and got lots of looks. And uh I ended up coming up for a camp at Ohio State, and Coach Trestel and Coach Daniels came over and started talking to us, and next thing I know, they they offered uh scholarship. And um six months later happened, and we go to uh the MLB draft, and I get drafted the next morning. I get a phone call from Coach Trestel. He says, Congratulations, uh, you know, don't pass up that opportunity and uh give me a call when you're when you're when your career ends. And so that's essentially what happened. I I had some injuries and I was looking for more um structure in my life. So, and obviously getting a degree was important. Um, and so after three years, I called up Coach Trestle and he's like, Well, I don't have a scholarship right this moment, but come on and you know, work hard and and uh show him that you you still have it. And so I did for the fall, and then uh got a scholarship in the uh in the winter.

SPEAKER_03 20:42

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 20:43

Yep, that is awesome. All right, so lieutenant governor, did you see that coming? I mean, I think his uh his his uh nickname is uh this the the senator. So uh exactly. Yeah, I think at some point, I mean it just fits his fits him so well, and uh I'm glad he's in that position and and wish him well. So yeah. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 21:02

Yeah, no uh surprise that he's a legend around here. So pretty cool to play for him.

SPEAKER_02 21:08

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 21:09

Um all right, with um baseball, the minor league schedule. Is that as daughter as it sounds?

SPEAKER_02 21:15

Yep, it's it's pretty Bull Durham as it as it sounds. Um a lot of a lot of uh three nights here, three nights there, uh spring training in Florida, home for two, three months. And so uh, you know, it's it's a lot of left and right, up and down, and so that's why I think I was looking for a little structure in my life, and that's why uh college football uh had the opportunity, so it's hard to pass that up.

SPEAKER_03 21:38

Was it a shock to go from Florida to Columbus? Just the weather alone. What's that?

SPEAKER_02 21:45

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Weather wise, yes. Um I I'm not uh I I don't care for the the heat down in Florida, so I didn't I did enjoy it a little bit, and then I have family in the in the area, so I've been here and I've I've uh been around, so I I I knew what to expect. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 21:59

Wow, um awesome. We end uh every episode with rapid fire questions. So we're coming at you. You ready for it? Uh and this will be for both of you. So we'll start with you, Scott, and we'll talk about right now what's your favorite sport to play.

SPEAKER_00 22:13

Well, I have to say soccer because that's the one I'm probably the best at. But with college basketball about to come out, uh basketball's always been a huge one for me. I I I enjoy basketball, but uh soccer's probably the main one. But if I can also go hit a golf ball, I'm I'm there. So I guess I'm kind of showing you I like a lot of sports. There you go.

SPEAKER_02 22:30

I'll just make it simple. I like I like golf.

SPEAKER_01 22:32

There you go.

SPEAKER_02 22:33

All right. All right, Joe, we'll stick with you. Favorite sport to watch in person? Uh I will say recently I've been getting into the NCAA women's softball. It's uh exciting, fast paced. Um, and there's there's definitely some athletes out there.

SPEAKER_03 22:48

Agreed. It is not baseball, it's a completely different sport. Completely different. Scott, how about you?

SPEAKER_00 22:53

Oh wow. I get I I gotta go back to soccer again, though, just because the Columbus crew in FC Cincinnati here have built two amazing stadiums and it's a great place to go watch the game. But uh, you know, that might be my favorite right now to go watch.

SPEAKER_01 23:05

All right. How about sport you wish you could play?

unknown 23:08

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_00 23:08

Basketball's gotta be right on the list. I mean, I've always loved basketball and uh and things along those lines, so probably basketball.

SPEAKER_02 23:15

I think I'm gonna have to stick with golf. Uh play. I don't know how good I am, but uh I do wish I was better.

SPEAKER_00 23:22

Actually, I think you've just stumbled onto why he took the job because it was a driving range in a screen.

SPEAKER_01 23:26

We understand now.

SPEAKER_03 23:29

All right, Scott. Uh, coach or mentor who gave you the best pregame advice?

Dublin Hangouts And Closing Thanks

SPEAKER_00 23:34

I again played soccer uh all the way through my career, and I had some amazing coaches in multiple sports and things like that. Um Greg Andrulis, which was the former coach here for the Columbus crew, was also my college coach, and then I was one of his assistants for years. Um, so Greg Andrulis probably sits high up on the list because of of how you know motivating he was. But my high school coach also was Ohio State's head coach for a while after he was done with me. So I've I've had the honor. And then um, the last one I'll mention about that question is uh there was a gentleman named Ron Wig that uh played professionally here and coached youth soccer, passed away several years ago. But to the soccer people that are out in the community, they'll hear the name Ron Wig and say, you know, Ron was great and special. So I'm blessed the coaches I've had an honor of of playing under or working with, but those three for sure pop up in my head.

SPEAKER_02 24:20

I got a couple here. Um Coach Trestell was very good at his motivational talks. At the same time, he knew when to bring in a motivational speaker, and they were phenomenal and at the right time and the right games and all that. So that's the first one. And then I would have to say my dad, he was uh a football coach for 37 years, and let's just say he could throw a couple trash cans around the room and uh get the guys fired up.

SPEAKER_01 24:46

So all right, let's stick with your dad hat or maybe your coach hat. What would be your advice for a young athlete no matter the sport?

SPEAKER_02 24:55

So I will uh I'll go back to Coach Tressel. Um he he talked about this uh when I first got there, and it was basically talent is never enough. There's so much you can do that doesn't require talent to get better. And so I just tell all the young kids keep working hard and there's always something you can do to get better.

SPEAKER_00 25:15

The the one I always throw in, and uh again, I have a long coaching career, and those that have actually made it to the higher levels are the ones that are that are having fun. Like the parents that put pressure on them to to try to be successful, and you talk about college scholarships and being a pro, those never make it. Like it's always the kid that that is just having a blast, and and and just have fun with it and enjoy the moment. And uh, if you've been given all the right tools, you'll you'll get there. If not, you'll you'll have great experiences for later in life. So I think have fun.

SPEAKER_03 25:44

I like that. All right, Scott. Um, pregame ritual or superstition.

SPEAKER_00 25:49

Didn't have a lot of superstitions. Um in college, I always tried to eat the same cereal before every game. That was that was a word. It was just grape nut flakes back then with the banana cut up in it. Yeah, but there wasn't a lot of options back then like there are now. But uh that one, and everyone always tells you not to drink milk, but that worked for me, and I I didn't uh have that weight on my stomach or anything like that. But we used to also watch uh um hockey's greatest hits once in a while on the bus. I kind of like that one too. That almost got you kind of moving in. It's great.

SPEAKER_02 26:21

All right, Joe. Uh yeah, so as baseball players, a lot of them have uh you know some wild superstitions, but uh I was pretty that's pretty uh easy. I you know, don't cross or don't step on the line, the foul line, that's kind of an important one. Yeah. You know, after you throw a ball, you walk around the mound certain certain direction, but uh nothing crazy like wearing the same socks every day or uh you know, until you give up a home run or something like that. Nothing too wild.

SPEAKER_01 26:47

Oh, can I go? I gotta so when I ran cross country in high school, I would eat a raw potato for breakfast. That was my thing. A raw potato. You reminded me of this with your cereal thing, but I was like how on earth did you like when you're supposed to carbo load, and I was like, I guess gotta eat a potato for breakfast.

SPEAKER_03 27:06

You peeled it first, right?

SPEAKER_01 27:07

Peeled it, yeah. And I didn't like eat it like an apple or anything.

SPEAKER_00 27:11

So you might be the first person I've ever heard.

SPEAKER_01 27:14

You're the first Lincoln exclusives. All right, next question. Um, if you could meet any athlete or sports executive in the world, who would it be?

SPEAKER_02 27:23

I'll do two since I did football and baseball. Um, I'm a I was a Mickey Mann fan. I always thought he was uh impressive baseball player. And then um football, I always enjoyed uh watching Brett Favre. I enjoyed uh The Gunslinger, the original. In my opinion, I know there was some of it before, but uh two I watched.

SPEAKER_00 27:41

Yeah, good. Two that pop into my head are uh Michael Jordan for sure. Uh not only for his on the field on the court stuff, because obviously just amazing, but some of his business things that he's done off off the court as well. And then I hate to admit this publicly, but I am a Dallas Cowboys fan. And Jerry Jerry Jones, when it comes to how he runs his business, not maybe picking players, but how he runs his business. And and uh I've followed his whole career, and it's it's pretty amazing how he uh everything's top-notch, everything's always beautiful.

SPEAKER_03 28:09

True. Yes, I have been to Jerry World before. Oh all right, so not just sports, uh, best meetup spot in Dublin after any event.

SPEAKER_02 28:18

I have to date myself a little bit. When I was in college, we always go up to Brazenheads. Uh-huh. It's no longer there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:24

Um, but I do enjoy the Dublin tavern. Yeah. Oh. Oh, the DBT.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

Well, Brazenhead is now North High Brewing, and it's a great place to check out as well.

SPEAKER_02 28:34

We'll have to try that out.

SPEAKER_00 28:36

This one's hard. Um, we did a function here just recently, and um there are pens all over the place, but I just had a lot of fun down in that downtown area. So anywhere in that downtown area is a lot of fun, but um had a great time. You know, that would be a good one, everybody to go off and have fun. And I just envisioned kids running around and parents having fun. So pens would be a good one downtown.

SPEAKER_03 28:55

Awesome. Yeah, you can't go wrong down there. All right, this has been a blast. So, Joe and Scott, thank you so much for being here, and we feel like Sports Ohio's ingredients. Awesome. Thank you for having us.

SPEAKER_00 29:07

Appreciate the opportunity.

SPEAKER_01 29:08

And to our listeners, thank you for taking the time to connect with your city. Tune in next time as we continue to explore the many personalities and experiences that make Dublin a thriving place to live, work, and grow.