The Boro Buzz: Built Different

🚨 The Boro Buzz Season 2 Episode 2 is HERE! 🎙️🔥

Asheboro standout and rising junior Ayden Letterlough joins us for one of our most powerful conversations yet. From unforgettable life experiences to inspiring moments on and off the field, Ayden shares a story that goes far beyond sports. These are the conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.

At The Boro Buzz, we’re proud to bring you the people, stories, and moments that make The Boro special. 

Special shoutout to our episode sponsor, @bluelunatattoo! Thank you for supporting The Boro Buzz and local athletics. Be sure to give them a follow and a call for incredible work right here in Randolph County!

Another huge thank you to Mark Vuncannon with Howard Hanna Allen Tate Realtors! Whether you’re buying, selling, or just have questions about the market, Mark is your go-to real estate expert backed by local knowledge and real-world experience.

👉 Just remember: Themarkv.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Season two of the Borough Buzz is here, and we're taking things to the next level. What started as a show, highlighting local athletes and sports stories, has grown into something even bigger. This season we're expanding beyond the game. We'll still be bringing you the biggest sports stories, exclusive interviews, and highlights from around Randolph County, but now we're also shining a spotlight on the people, businesses, events, and organizations that make our community special. From local entrepreneurs and community leaders to nonprofits, festivals, hidden gems, and everything in between. It's making an impact in the borough. We want to tell that story. This isn't just a sports show anymore. It's the borough budget. Your home for everything happening across our community. Season two is bigger, better, and more connected than ever. Stay tuned, because the best stories are just getting started.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

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SPEAKER_04 1:39

The borough has a story to tell, and boy, we're here to tell it in episode two of season two of The Borough Buzz. Not just athletes, community, everything. Last episode you heard from the Thomas brothers over at Wayne Thomas Chevrolet. What an episode. I'm Jay Robb, Jay from the Borough. Right across from me is my partner in crime, the Scotty Fagler. I think I've done this once or twice. I feel like I should be wearing my Mellon Masters hat giving a shout-out, I should have worn mine. Yeah, we'll get them next time. We'll get them next time. Today is a special episode, and I'll be honest with you. Uh, before we get there, I want to give a shout-out to Grass Ninja Pros for sponsoring this episode. Uh Jeff Davis is one heck of a guy. Um, believes in the kids, he's for the kids. I mean, and his daughter's gonna be a beast in basketball, I have a feeling.

SPEAKER_05 2:27

But well, let me say this. Um I always tell my age on on the shows, but I actually officiated his games when he played. He was quite a player. Okay. But his his daughter is uh she's keeping him going all over the country because she's gonna be one also that that we're gonna hear about in the coming year. She's amazing. And she loves it. And you gotta love it to do, but to be good as she's gonna be.

SPEAKER_04 2:51

And going off of that, speaking of good, just phenomenal athletes, I don't know a better person than to bring in an athlete now that's a current athlete. Than I mean, I'm gonna do my best not to get teary eye in this episode. But Aiden Letterlow, man, welcome to the show. This guy, one of a kind.

SPEAKER_03 3:05

Thank you all for having me.

SPEAKER_04 3:06

Dude, uh, first of all, Aiden, I don't know a better person, Scott, than Aiden Letterlow to bring on to the episode. Mr. Linebacker, he can do whatever you want. If he's that running back, he's uh north to south, he's gonna make you sweat and cry because every time he comes up the middle, he's lowering in that shoulder. How you doing, brother?

SPEAKER_09 3:22

I'm doing good, man. How y'all doing?

SPEAKER_05 3:23

Good, good, good. Let me say this. You know, I've I've broadcast a lot of football games through my time. Um, and if if you go back and listen to the blue comments uh broadcast from last season, this guy gets me out of my seat multiple times. He's one of my favorite players to watch and describe because all of a sudden it looks like somebody's gonna break one and Aiden's right there. I mean, it's amazing to watch the way this young man plays the game. And I'll be honest, I didn't realize the size that he had until he walked in kind of scared me a little bit. I'm like, who's this guy? You should have sent him a seventh grade year.

SPEAKER_04 4:03

He was my height and all that stuff. Now he's what, six foot?

SPEAKER_05 4:07

He's growing.

SPEAKER_09 4:08

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 4:09

And he only when he puts the pads on.

SPEAKER_04 4:12

Oh I love the shrug after he gets to tackle when someone gets to the thing that got away with it, he just kind of does the with the shoulders.

SPEAKER_05 4:17

I'm gonna get down on the field before the game is here, and I'm gonna have a picture, I'm gonna have a little video with him. Like, you know, maybe he can stand me up or whatever. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 4:26

Aiden, brother, um, you become a leader on this Ashboro team, man. What has this journey been like at a at Ashboro High School going in your junior year?

SPEAKER_09 4:33

Going to my junior year, man. It's it's been a long one, you know. Yeah, it's been a long one. Um starting the freshman year, um, playing JV. I was playing running back and linebacker. Um, had a great JV season. Everything was going good. That was a good squad. Yeah, it was a good squad. Um we had you know the Brenton brothers, me, Braylon, I rejaden. You know, we were just loaded. Um that was a great season. So I remember I got pulled up um to go to the playoffs against Dudley. I was pumped. I was like, hey, let's go. I was pumped. Um, you know, that game, yeah, you know how that went. So then um going to be a good one. We won't talk about it.

SPEAKER_05 5:12

But here's the thing, let's be honest. It was a stepping stone really for the Blue Comet football team because last season you played Dudley again and and had opportunities. I mean, so it was really uh to me, it was a we're in the right direction game to play a great team like a Dudley team and and really go up there for the first time. Ashburg's been in the playoffs forever until last season where you were right there with them.

SPEAKER_09 5:39

Yes, sir. And then um going to my sophomore year, Coach Brown, he had talked to me, he was like, you know, you did good last year, now it's time it's time for you to step up and play varsity. I was like, thank you, Coach, you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna take that. So going into that, I was I won't say nervous, I was just like, you know, it was new. Like, you know, going against the bigger dudes, the bigger guys, the faster, stronger. But I was like, I can't let that like affect me, you know, because we believe the same. So he's just as good as I am. So I never really let the size or anything like that, you know, get to me. Um so yeah, and then you know, we had a great season this year. We had a really good season. Um, you know, we fell short to uh a couple teams, but you know, we were there. We were there for the most part. Um just great coaching staff, great people. Like I just love that, I love Astro, man.

SPEAKER_05 6:26

Well, you know, Aiden looking at it, your number that's my favorite number. Yes, sir. When I see 15, when I got my score pad, when I got my pad that I talk about when I broadcast, I put 15 and I put two circles around it because that's my guy.

SPEAKER_09 6:41

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 6:42

And I'm just telling you, you are one of the most feared hitters in the area because I've saw you blow up many holes of guys coming through, but man, the way you stick it and hit, it's just uh, it gets the crowd going. It's gotta be a great feeling to to maybe know your assignment and get there and see that guy. What do you think what's one of the first things you think when you see that guy with the ball coming at you?

SPEAKER_09 7:10

Oh, I gotta go.

SPEAKER_05 7:11

Well, most of the time you're going at him anyway.

SPEAKER_09 7:14

Yeah. You know, I gotta, I gotta think. If he gets past the D-line, it's my responsibility. And I gotta do my assignment. So my assignment is not to let them score or get past me. So that's just what I always think about. I gotta do my assignment. So yeah, I'm like, I need him. I know I gotta go get him.

SPEAKER_04 7:28

He goes to eats, man. I'm telling you, I do eats. He uh I'm I'm it's so funny. I was talking to him one time and I was just like, man, like when he because he was running back in middle school, people forget he was on that championship team at Southwest Middle. That was just nasty. Brody Lowe. Yeah, yeah. Uh uh Jalen Sproles. Oh yeah, Jalen Sproul. Yeah, shout out to him, yeah. Yeah, dude. That that team was at oh my gosh. And then he turned around that same basketball team, too. The same guys played basketball, but it was just as a coach, I hated playing all that.

SPEAKER_05 7:54

It made Coach Benji Co look like a genius. He looked like all the coach cool, shout out Coach Cole. Yeah, he's a great guy. I love that.

SPEAKER_04 8:01

Did you see the video we posted on Sports and Borough of him taking my camera? Oh man, I love Coach Coe. But one thing about this kid, dude, I it's weird. Like, I remember in my ACC days, we interviewed him, I can't remember, I'm not gonna say the guy's name because I don't want to call him out, but he was a linebacker at Boston College, and it wasn't Luke Key Clear. I was like, no. It was a guy, and he used to be like his main thing was he was a hitter. So we did a whole documentary, we planned on it for the ACC. We're like, hey, we're gonna talk about how much he loves hitting. And we went up to him, and the first question we asked was like, Man, how much do you just love hitting? He's like, I don't really like it. It kind of hurts. This guy's leading the tackles in ACC. Um, but Aiden's like the opposite. Like you ask him, he's just like, man, I just love it, dude. I just love it. Like they have to calm you down in seven-on-sevens because you're trying to tackle people, Scott.

SPEAKER_05 8:42

Yeah. I think a good thing we can do this year, Jonathan, some games you can get to, just video him with the hits. Yeah, I think you could have a great little, a good, great little video on on the uh the hard hits of Aiden Letterly. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04 8:56

When did uh football become a thing, or you think it maybe can change your life?

SPEAKER_09 8:59

So I started playing football when I was about seven. I remember it. My mom came up to me, she was like, son, do you want to play football? I was like, I mean, I know I've never played. One of my friends that I knew very well, his name was Logan Marsh. Shout out him. Um, he was playing for the Southwest Cougars. And she was like, son, you know, he's playing football, you want to play? I was like, you know what, yeah, I'll play, why not? And you know, that's where it all started. Um you know, a lot of the guys from Southwest I was playing with, you know, grew up with them, play up playing football with them, like uh Nathan Garner, uh Colin McKee, like just all them, Brody Lowe, Corey, you know. So that's that's kind of where it started. And playing football, I realized that it could take me far. Yeah. I just got to stay focused on the right path, you know, can't let nothing get in the way of that.

SPEAKER_04 9:45

Yeah, he left me at Nans. I cried a little bit. I would have too. I was like, man.

SPEAKER_05 9:50

I wouldn't too.

SPEAKER_04 9:51

Because then I see another funny story I tell people. I see this dude my height in the gym. Seventh grade year, mid-seventh grade year, we're in the bat, we're right before basketball season starts. He's leaping, right? I'm like, no, it's end of school year, excuse me. End of school year when I took the job, you know, because the coach before me, they and they end up giving me the gig. Um and I see this kid in there, I'm like, man, he's physical. I like this, you know, this will be good. And then the last day of school, I'll never forget the words. He's sitting in PE and he's probably gonna be laughing. He probably don't remember this. He's sitting in this spot in PE and he listens, he's like, Yo, coach, come here. And I was like, what you got, man? He's like, man, I really want to play basketball for you, but I love football. And uh I'm moving to the Southwest area, and I was like, God bless America. And then it gets better. So I'm like, all right, well, we go to play them in the basketball, my first year coaching, right? My first year coaching, I have a small team. We're younger, we got small. I walk into that gym, this fool is six foot tall all of a sudden, and I'm like, there's my height. There's my guy. No, but all I've done for that, dude, the success of this kid, man. I always tell people, like, in my rule is that even if you never truly played for me, you're still one of my guys. Yeah. And that's him and Isaac McFadden are both. They're always gonna be my guys. Um, those two, they they worked out with me, they trained with me, even though I never got a coach coach them on the court, they you would never know because the bond I have for him, this dude, I think the world of him, he's done everything on his own. I mean, his story we're about to talk about a little bit, just I mean, I'll be honest with you, this kid has had from his highs, he's had hardship, but he's overcome stuff that kids in high school should never have to go through.

SPEAKER_05 11:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:15

Um, and that's something that, you know, for you, the people who tell people your story about your path growing up, a little bit how who you are, so they the people that don't know who Aiden Lederlow is.

SPEAKER_09 11:23

Aiden Letterlow, uh, he's one who comes from uh something different, you know. Not one that, you know, not not just the average kid growing up that you see, you know, um uh my mom, you know, how did I put it out there? She was uh just unstable, you know. She was just unstable, you know, and you know, this is what it is. Um my dad, uh you know, I was I would talk to my dad every now and then, but you know, just my mom, she never kept me in good contact with him. So, you know, I was young, so I didn't have a phone or nothing, you know, call my dad or nothing like that. So, you know, um then you know it's just it was hard growing up, just going through a lot, seeing a lot, you know, things that teenagers shouldn't see, you know. But you know, I I realized that that has built me as a character, you know, that has molded me into what I am right now. And um I'm honestly I'm grateful for all that, you know, because now when I look back and I'm I'm like, you know, I realize that, you know, I don't that's not who I am, so I'm never gonna be like that. So that just that has molded me into what I have, you know, I'm what I am.

SPEAKER_04 12:27

Yeah, I'm telling you.

SPEAKER_05 12:29

When I met this young man today, now again, I can't tell you the number of games I called last year for Ashboro, but 15 was my guy. And to meet him for the first time, he walked in the door and I went, Is that is that him? Because to me, he always looks smaller on the face growing. And and I mean him, and we've had a Aiden and I have had a conversation here while we were getting ready. And first impression in anything you do is one of the most important things. The first impression I had of this young man today was he is a confident young man in what he does. You can what he just said, a lot of kids can't say.

SPEAKER_04 13:14

Well, he didn't bash, he didn't say anything, he didn't bash nobody. He just said, Look, I've seen things I shouldn't, I I learned from it, I don't want to be that. I mean, and I'll be honest with you, people don't know more story about, and we're not gonna go too deep down it. There's stuff that this kid's been through that I know that I'm not gonna say on air because it's nobody's business that he's been through. I mean, I've seen it personally from the great vine and rumors and stuff that he's told me stuff from his heart that if people knew, you would be you would be like, How is this kid not selling dope around the corner? Like, how is this kid not smoking in the bathroom up like all the time?

SPEAKER_05 13:42

I know this kid getting to school making school every day. But the first impression I have from this young man is the confidence, the character, the great character that we've had from this young man. To the point before we ever got on the podcast, we exchanged numbers. And I tell him, you keep up, you text me, you call me, because I'm gonna do you the same way. I've met a good friend here today, sir, and uh I'm proud of I'm proud, first of all, because what this podcast can do for other kids that go through some things like he is, he doesn't know. Jonathan, you and I know. We've been, we've we're a little, I'm a little bit older, but just starting. I mean, I've already teared up because this young man is a strong, confident young man. And let me tell you something. The only thing I ask of him, this is the only thing I ask of him. This is your first podcast.

SPEAKER_09 14:37

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 14:37

Okay. Sports in the Burrow, Borough Buzz, Randolph Sportscentral.com. Whenever you're up on it, I get coach, he'll saying it. Whenever he's up on that NFL draft stage, me and you gotta have a seat with him. Oh, yeah, yeah. We gotta have a seat with him.

SPEAKER_09 14:52

Trust me, I will never forget where I come from. That's the one thing that I've really been preached on is never forget where you come from, you know. I'll never forget, you know, I came from Randoman. Like, you know, a lot of people don't know I grew up at Randomman. Uh Jacob Staley, Caden Saunders, which is my cousin, you know, I grew up with them, so I will never forget where I come from. You know, the P went Ashboro, you, you, you know, just I I can never forget where I come from because that is what shaped me to what I am right now.

SPEAKER_04 15:12

And well, and that's the thing, the grind, the work. I mean, dude, you're you're you're 16 years old, and most kids your age, man, that I've seen that go through what you do, and I'll say it again, man. They, I mean, I know kids right now that I've seen go through NAMS that I was like, man, if he could just stay on the right path, and they don't. They they they go on the wrong path, they get with the wrong crowd. Um, and he tells you, and I'm gonna quiz him because he had it as his background. Well, he got he had one little incident happen, um, and I saw him and he came to see me. And do you remember what I said to you?

SPEAKER_09 15:41

He said, uh, show me your friends, I'll show you your future.

SPEAKER_04 15:43

Yeah, I like that. Show me your friends. So I told him surrounding you, because he's a good kid, man. Like, and we all do dumb things. Kid, it's like I tell you everything. Kids do dumb things. It's like my wife always says, that frontal lobe just hasn't you don't you don't get until you're like 21 until you're full of your brain. But like one thing about him is like you said, you feel like you're talking to adults sometimes. You're over here just like talking, and I forget, I'll be on the phone with them, and I'm like, how's this kid in high school? Like he's so wise and like just encouraging, and there's stuff. Yeah, he still does stuff we know, he still gets in trouble like a kid. That's part of it. But that's the thing, is like he just loves football. He knows. I remember him telling me, he's like, dude, I just he actually gave up basketball at one point, and before, uh, and I don't I'm not gonna talk about unless he brings it up, but like for some stuff to happen, he was working and gave up basketball. He had to make money for some stuff he was going through. So he decided to give up basketball and just lift weights and focus on football, his love, and work every day. I mean, this dude was going straight to school to American Roadhouse working till 9, 10 o'clock, and then working every weekend and not living, and I get it. I that was me in high school. Yeah. I would get out of school and go straight to work, weekends work, summer work all week. This kid did all that. Now he's back at basketball because he knew I was gonna kill him if he didn't go out of basketball. Oh he's playing basketball, he's playing football, he's working down the street at the table. They're lucky to have a kid like him with that. That's what I'm like. He he has a work ethic. How how many kids at 16 do you see with this work ethic?

SPEAKER_05 16:59

Well, that's what's gonna pay off for him, too, as he moves into some things I'm sure we'll talk about here. As he moves into his next step. Of course, he's still got two years of high school left. It's crazy. To to get his name. First of all, you've told me that you're academically, you're you're gifted, you're fine. And that's a huge thing. Because when coaches come in to talk to Coach Brown or or one of your coaches, uh once they know, okay, we're good there, they just move on to you, your character, and what you bring to the table. And very rarely see kids like him uh with a with what he's told us so far. But my thing is this, he's he's not slowing down. I can tell he's not slowing down. This is a guy that again, remember your first podcast because you're gonna have a lot more. But uh this is a kid that will never forget where he came from, no matter where he's at. And the sky's the limit for him.

SPEAKER_04 18:02

And and I'm telling you, when he's focused, he's on some. He only played nine games his freshman year, Scott. Can you, I mean, sophomore year, excuse me, last year. He started as a sophomore on varsity as a linebacker. He only played nine because he made a kid decision that he learned from. But he still had 43 solo tackles, 20 assists, 63 total tackles, and 13 for loss, tackles for loss. As a sophomore. As a sophomore.

SPEAKER_05 18:25

As a sophomore, and a lot of hollering from this broadcaster because 15, I'm telling you, you aze me.

SPEAKER_04 18:30

And I always just I look for he always got them bright colored shoes, so that's how usually I find them. I see how that's looking at. But he, I'm telling you, dude, he puts in the work, even in basketball. He's what, you know, as a basketball coach like myself, players like him is what you look for because he does the dirty work like Caden Cheek that nobody else wants to do. That's one thing that always loved about Aiden and even Caden Cheek. I'm giving him a shout-out. I'm probably gonna regret it because he's like, oh, but that they put it, they take the responsibilities on the court that nobody else wants to do. Everybody wants to be like the showcase, let me score 30. They want to go get 15 rebounds and get, you know what I'm saying, and get eight points. That's that's all you need. That's what you that's how you win championships. When you have a player that picks up the dirty work that nobody else wants to do, and that's the year we won a championship because we had a player like that. Benji, that was Benji's missing piece. I mean, he probably still that team was pretty daggum nasty. But he needed someone just to get, I remember talking, he's like, dude, eight, he went because he wasn't even starting that first in Southwest. Then at the end of the year, he was just abored. I I told Benji, I was like, Man, uh, what made you start him? He goes, Man, he's just a rebounding machine. And I was like, Thanks for rubbing it in my face.

SPEAKER_05 19:28

So, football is your favorite sport. Oh, yeah, most definitely, yeah. Yeah, football is your favorite sport. There's nothing wrong with that. Let me ask you, I don't know where you're going with the next thing, but I'm gonna I may jump out if I do. You can reel me back in. Uh playing for Coach Brown. Well, all your coaches, but Coach Brown being the head coach, I've come to know Coach Brown very well through the years. I knew him when he was at Providence Grove before he was football. I remember when he got the head basketball job. We've been good friends and he was athletic director, and I worked with him closely. But playing for Coach Brown, because I know, I know what Coach Brown brings to the table, and I know how personable he is with his players. Talk about Coach Brown and what he's meant to you.

SPEAKER_09 20:11

Coach Brown means a lot to me. Um he was there for me whenever I needed him, you know, he's helped me a lot. And I'm really grateful for Coach Brown. Um, and he's he he's one of the coaches that has made one of the most impactful to me, you know. Like he's helped me like just so much. Whenever I need him, I can call him. But hey, Coach Brown, you know, I need to talk, you know, I need your help. Can you help me? Oh yeah, like don't even worry about it, you know. So yeah, um, Coach Brown, he's a great guy, great coach. I really appreciate Coach Brown and everything he does for me.

SPEAKER_05 20:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 20:37

And that's actually plays off of what I want to bring up. I'm sorry, how do you know? No, no, no, no, you're good, no, you're good, you're good. I was gonna ask him, uh name some people in your life, and you don't have to go long down at that, believed in you when you needed it the most. Uh because I mean, I I know you there's points in your life that I know that you were down and out, but then I know people have had lifted you up.

SPEAKER_09 20:57

Yeah, uh. So I'll start off with uh Jaco Staley, because you know that's that's who I'll grow up with. He he al he calls me all the time. He'd be like, hey kid, how you doing? Just want to make sure you're good, you know, keep your head on straight. So uh Jaco Staley, um He just had a baby, didn't he? Yeah, he did, yeah. Yeah, he did. Jaco Staley, um uh you know you, of course, you know.

SPEAKER_05 21:17

Um that's a great shout out.

SPEAKER_09 21:19

Yeah, I love Coach Cole in his life from Southwest. Yeah, um Corey Lowe.

SPEAKER_04 21:25

Man, Corey.

SPEAKER_09 21:26

Corey's a great guy, Corey. Coach Grimsley from uh Southwest, too. Yeah, Brett. Yeah, Brett. Um like we said, you know, Calvin. Coach Gary, Coach Gary, G Gary.

SPEAKER_05 21:41

I feel like he's always dude's got a golf hole in his front yard, man, and he kills me.

SPEAKER_09 21:45

Um but yeah, and if I'm missing anybody, I'm sorry. Hey, Late, listen, I I haven't forgot about you. I was just, you know, not clicking right now.

SPEAKER_05 21:54

Just put you on the spot.

SPEAKER_04 21:57

These people in your life all believe in you, man, when no one else did. And that's the thing that I'll be honest with me as a coach I and even as a sports person, and I've been in have people you you don't see the stuff behind the scenes, and you might know where I'm going with this, Scott, but we protect you guys from the outside noise. So the fact that you realize that and that you shout out all these people shows your character, Aiden. Um but I mean that's just that's awesome to hear, man. I just yeah, it's I mean, dude, that's a lot of people that just and and what's crazy is the dude literally, I mean, a a junior, a rising junior, he ain't even started junior year yet.

SPEAKER_05 22:30

He ain't got started good yet. I'm telling you, um This guy's gonna be one of the best players in the area now. And I'm and I'm tagging it, ain't no pressure on him. That's just what he does. This is a this is a name, Aiden Letterlow. You better write now.

SPEAKER_04 22:44

Yeah, and I'm telling you right now, he told us he wants to go to Louisville, so I'm tagging Louisville in this episode. Y'all are crazy if you don't come out.

SPEAKER_09 22:53

I followed him on every social media page. Okay, women's basketball, men's basketball, football, everything.

SPEAKER_04 22:58

Look, we're gonna get we gotta get on to Kenny Klein. I'm sending this to you right now. You better send it to all the coaches. Coach Spence from Ashley. Coach Spence, yeah. Come on, Spence. Yeah, come on. What part of your game did you work on the most this offseason? Because I know you're one thing I noticed about you, and I actually saw it. Um Coach Brown's gonna kill me, but I still have access to the huddle. So I watched all 707. He probably forgot he I was on there, but he might have kept me on there. Um but I watched your footwork's got better. Um one thing I noticed, your sophomore and freshman year, you just you're just determined. You just want to go hit somebody. I've noticed now you're starting to work more on the mechanics.

SPEAKER_09 23:31

Right. Um, I've worked on getting it faster, but like you said, the mechanics, um, jumping from JV to varsity is a whole different thing. You know, on J V you not necessarily, but you can just jump to play, you know, because JV is not as fast-paced as it is varsity. It's basically middle school. It's the speed of the game. The speed of the game is what it is. Yeah, basically, no, and varsity is quick, quick, quick. Like you gotta be on the go. And you gotta read the guards. Your guards are gonna tell you everything. So that's one thing that I kind of I'm not gonna say failed to do on JV, but I didn't do it a lot because I just, you know, they I just didn't have to on JV. So reading the guards, I've improved on a lot on the varsity level because I've realized I I have to read the guards, they're gonna tell me where I'm going. So reading the guards and getting it faster and getting my footwork better, that's those are the most important things that you know I've had to lean on and get better at.

SPEAKER_04 24:18

And off of that, I mean you love football. I mean, I can tell you. Um has it saved your life in ways?

SPEAKER_09 24:27

Yeah. It honestly has just being able to go out there and hit somebody without getting in trouble. Like, that's how I think about it. Like, like I can just hit somebody without getting in trouble.

SPEAKER_05 24:35

Like I hate the guy on the other side of his head.

SPEAKER_09 24:38

Yeah, like I can just get away with it, you know. Like, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 24:42

That's a good answer.

SPEAKER_09 24:43

Yeah, it's it's helped you, it's yeah, it's helped me a lot. Like being able to go out there and just take out my anger and you know, all of my feelings to put on the field, and knowing that I I didn't leave any feelings on the field, you know. I just let it all out on the field, you know.

SPEAKER_04 24:54

So I'm just glad it ain't hit me.

SPEAKER_05 24:56

Dude, there's been many nights up there in the bird's nest, crows' nest at Lee J Stone, 15 hits. I'm like, man, I've said it. I'm glad that ain't me. I am gonna get a little video of him kind of wrapping me up, though.

SPEAKER_04 25:09

But you gotta get the video. I just love it. He just does it. He just gotta get it. You gotta get it. Yeah, I'm telling you, dude. I remember that one. I feel like one game I remember he had like 15 tackles in that game. I was just like, oh my gosh. Like, and then he was running back on JB too, so he would turn around and go run on touchdowns. I'm like, this monkey gonna be a stop. Um speaking on not trying to get off track, but as we go into this, I want to take a quick break and give a shout out to uh Mark Von Cannon, the Mark Von Cannon. Uh this spotlight video is brought to you by Mark Von Cannon with Howard Hannah Allen Tate Realtors. Your go-to for real estate. Backed by market knowledge and real-world experience. Just remember the Markd.com. Uh give him a shout for all your real estate needs. Uh every time I try to do his commercial, I pronounce something wrong. So uh we're gonna try it this one.

SPEAKER_05 25:59

You gotta remember the club champion at Todd Hill Farms. You got you gotta throw that in there. That's one of his huge accolades, which he deserves the credit for that. Love me some Martin Camp.

SPEAKER_04 26:10

Oh yeah, oh yeah. He's uh he's a good official too. You probably need to put him in one of your basketball games. Yeah, come on, man. Now come on, dude. I need him, I need Carter, I need Mike Dennis, I need that, dude. Come on, come on, let's get um Aiden. Something that uh what's something you've had to sacrifice to chase your dreams, man?

SPEAKER_09 26:30

A lot. Everything. Honestly, everything.

SPEAKER_04 26:33

Um have you had to cut friends out your life? Have you had to separate yourself?

SPEAKER_09 26:38

I'll say this. I've had to cut out my own parents, you know. Um I heard this thing, it it says to get where you want to be, you can't always pick the ones that you love the most. Like you gotta you gotta do what's best for you. Like maybe later on down the road, you know, I'll text my parents, you know, have something to do with them. But I I had to sacrifice what I wanted to be great, you know. And um I just had yeah, you know, I had to cut ties with them because that's like they were how to say they were causing me um like just troubles, you know. Like that's something that I had to remove from my life for me to be successful. And a lot of people don't understand. They're they're like, well, you know, that's your parent, that's your mom, that's your dad. And I'm like, you know, you know, I understand that, but I want to be successful, so this is what I'm this is what I'm gonna do to be successful, you know. So that's just what I had to do.

SPEAKER_04 27:26

Well, one thing I'll tell you right now, Aiden, um you can love, and even talks in scripture, and I don't mean to go too much down the the Bible, but you can love someone from a different uh from a diff, excuse me, a distance, but still have that wall. Um it even talks about in scripture, you know, even I mean people know Jesus even got mad. He got mad when, you know, even for example, when uh when Moses parted the sea, when he took uh when they all went there, they when they you know they weren't slaves anymore, they they were like, Well, what's next? Like they're sitting there going, I might be and you might have to help me on telling the story right, but um they they were mad. They you know God just saved them from slavery, and they're mad because they don't know what to do next. They don't know, like, what are we supposed to do? We're starving, we're hungry, like, but they didn't realize that the fear of what's next scared them to wanting to go back to bad habits. So for you, what's next? It's like it's okay. You're good, your parents are always gonna love you.

SPEAKER_09 28:15

Oh, yeah, most definitely. And and you know, I'm gonna always love them, you know. I'm gonna thank them for the good and the bad because the good, it helped me. The bad, it helped me too. So I'm I'm gonna always thank them for that, you know. So yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:23

And that's the thing, like that everybody loves different, and sometimes full circle, it comes around. But again, there's you're allowed to have boundaries, man. That's what I've had to learn in my life, setting boundaries with people I love that I feel like it's because at the end of the day, sometimes it hurts you, you know, Scott. Sometimes you have to, you love them, but you know, like, hey, sometimes it's better if I'm just here for a little bit and you stay over here for a little bit. We it's not like we're gone forever, but we'll meet again, but I just I love you, but I need to just be here. So the fact you're mature enough to know that, I mean, dude, there's nothing wrong with it, man. I'm I'm 32 years old and I go to counseling, man. And I'm not afraid to say I have to go to counseling for stuff I went through as a kid and stuff that my mind is at. And I'm not ashamed to say that. So for someone like you going through what you're going through, man, it's cool to see that you're learning, you have people spitting this knowledge into your life that because the other day your parents do love you. I hope one day that you can, you know, bring that back. But also, you're allowed to love people from a distance. So just you seem like you're on the right path, man. I'm proud of you, man. And uh, and as we go into the next segment, let me say this before you move to the next one.

SPEAKER_05 29:22

I've just listening to you and watching your reactions, your talking. Um you're a blessed young man to be. I I mean, everybody's place is their place. But I feel like at Ashborough, with Dr. Ryan Moody, the principal, all the way down to a coach Brian Nance, to your teachers. I don't know all your teachers, to your coaches, your football coaches. Um they know your story. They know it. When you tell me you pick up a phone and you call Coach Brown and talk talk to him, they know your story. And I know Dr. Moody, he's a great, great human being. Great person. And sometimes you know you you gotta be in the right place. I feel like the man above you in the right place right now at Ashborough with the support that you have. And I'm telling you, young man, I can just tell by being around you for the first time, your success is gonna continue to grow. Uh and you and you'll face obstacles along the way. That's just part of life. Jonathan and I faced obstacles every day, but your story is a special one. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04 30:30

He's already been you've already been hit in the mouth, man, and you're still going forward. I mean, and not and we're not even talking about your family. I know other stuff you've been through, and you still move forward. I mean, I've said I know for a fact you've been lied to. I know what stuff you've been through with not even not talking about your family, but other people in your life, and you've had people that poured into you, like you say. It's just yeah, it's it's crazy to see like full circle for a kid at 16 to go through the stuff they go to. I mean, my parents separated when I was I they got divorced when I was a freshman in high school. So like it was weird, I had nothing like your scenario, but it was weird for me to to understand, like, okay, well, I'm with all these kids that their parents are together. Like, I just I feel out of place. Like, you know what I mean? But you don't take that, you don't go soap, you go, you use it to fuel you in something you love, football.

SPEAKER_05 31:10

Yeah. But your support group at Asborough is crazy. Yeah, and you call Trent Thomas who was on first. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_09 31:16

I often say, Yeah, I don't know how I could like how did I forget Trent Thomas, Coach Wes, Coach Cliff, uh, Coach Nance, Dr. Moody. Like, I can call them, I've called them playing to the middle of the night, be like, hey coach, I need you to come get me. You know, I'm going through a lot, and they didn't even hesitate to uh come get me, you know. So, like, those are people that I'm gonna always be appreciated.

SPEAKER_04 31:32

And one you name that I'm a big fan of is Wes Luther. He's been a he's been a mentor to me, man. Big ass, big Wes. He and he don't take credit. He hates being on the mic, he hates being talked about, but he, I mean, he's done, dude, he's a coaching man, he's helped me in this coaching world when I've struggled. Um, he's a good man, dude. That's a good person to have around you.

SPEAKER_09 31:48

He he he is one of the he's one of the best men's I know. Besides, you know, the other people I named. He he he truly means a lot to me because he's helped me so much. Like I've caught him in the middle of the night, be like, hey, I need to come get me. He's like, okay, I'm on the way. You know, like anything like he's he's taught to me, you know, like he honestly, when I get mad, he comes against me because he's like, hey, just calm down. Like I know you, like, you know, he just comes against me. So yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:08

That's absolutely special, man. Coach, coach. That's that's having a coach like that's pretty awesome. And you know, that's man, the Ashboro community. There, I mean, it really is a community, Scott. You've seen it, you've been around. I know. It's it's a community. That that blue comet is the I they bleed blue, man. Like you got the rhyme patents, and all these people, yeah. The Buddy Garrety Jackie. Buddy Garrety. Jackie. Yeah, you know, Jackie. So I can get Jackie that old look to like that's the thing about this community, is once one like, and it's not, dude, no matter what, that everyone, it's not that everybody's like, oh, I want to know Aiden Letterlow because he's gonna go play Prey one day. No, it's that we want to push you to go make it to that next level one day. It's not people, you know, that's the thing I like about this community.

SPEAKER_05 32:50

Yeah, the opportunities you need, you're getting. Yeah. And you're you know, from what I can tell, you're not asking for a lot. You just want people when you need somebody, or people to care about you. And from what I'm seeing, uh this is as Jonathan said, this is a great community for people do care. You're living a dream and playing football. Uh your grades are great. You you're there.

SPEAKER_04 33:14

If they're not, he knows Cush Robbins are gonna play.

SPEAKER_05 33:17

I'm sure there's a lot of other ones that have a stick, but one thing I'll say to you is you you you do do the things you gotta do. Grade, school, work hard. Do the things, do those things. Uh because in the end, that's what's gonna pay off for you. That's what gets you to the next level. Every level you go to will you'll face adversity. But you face adversity for a long time. But at the same time, this is your junior year. Okay, get through this. Your senior year, you're still gonna face some adversity. But when you got support, that you no matter where, if you go to Louisville to play your dream school, and that's what we're pulling for, if you're able to do that, you're still gonna have support, not only there, but here. Yes, sir. You don't think me and Jonathan won't come to Louisville to watch the place I'm drawing.

SPEAKER_04 34:08

I did a whole documentary on the house. That campus is nice. I like that.

SPEAKER_05 34:11

I'll learn an instant. But uh when you met me today, you met a friend. Yes, sir, yeah. And I feel like I met a friend. Yes, sir. And it it means a little, it's gonna mean a little difference this year when I holler for 15 on the field in that first game against Scotland County. Oh, yeah. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_04 34:30

That's gonna be a big game, man.

SPEAKER_05 34:31

That's telling Rob, this this young man's just blown me away so far. I know we ain't finished, but he's blown me away.

SPEAKER_04 34:36

And and uh he's go ahead, go ahead.

SPEAKER_09 34:38

And then here's what here's one thing I want to say. I don't mind telling my story, you know. If if anybody wants to come to me, ask me, you know, hey Eddie, you know, let's talk about you, you know, you know, I don't mind because that because I want people to know. I don't want people to know me just for football or for or basketball. I want him to know who really like who I am. You know, so that's one thing that I don't I don't mind sharing, you know, it's my story.

SPEAKER_04 34:56

And it's crazy because a lot of people don't know, and I and A's probably don't I don't know if he wants to say this, but I don't care. Um Kid Kid does a kid when he was a young kid, he had an attitude. He had an attitude. Um middle school, he had an attitude to say, not until his eighth grade year.

SPEAKER_03 35:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 35:08

Um he had an attitude, I've heard it. Um but to see where he's at now and the maturity and the growth this young man has, and I ever heard like, oh man, y'all just keep here bragging. Like, I don't think people realize like Aiden has in a like in a way, kind of like I've told you before, I've told you this guy, he's had a small piece of my heart since I met him in seventh grade. Um, even when I saw him in that eighth grade year, and when I you know saw him, he cut he would come by names and check up and see what's going on. Hey coach, can I come by and say hey? Like the fact, hey coach, what's up? How you doing, man? When you gonna get me on the burrow bud? Um that like it's just it he's one of the kids, man. He's a he's one of, and I tell there's about there's a two-handful of kids, there's ten kids, and I'm not gonna name them because that's messed up, but there's ten kids that have not only made it, I made I feel like I made a impact on them, but they've made an impact on me, and he's one of them, man. He's one of them. He's one of the top five.

SPEAKER_05 36:01

I just made it today, he's already made an impact.

SPEAKER_04 36:02

Yeah, like a gang to four story. I'm telling you, the kid makes you want to, and I'm very weird about putting my neck out for people. Yeah. Um, because I've learned your reputation is with who you associate yourself with. But this kid I'd put my name on the line with in a heartbeat. Um, I tell people all the time I'll go to bat for this kid. So many other coaches would. So that like to you, man, that's just show you that, man, we all believe even Scott, like Scott told you today, whatever you need, man. Yeah. A fact that Scott, you know, and Scott, I mean, dude, Scott Scott, man, he's been around here for a long time. This dude ref my games while we get uh this dude is giving back to this community in ways that you would be shocked. He's I tell you, he is the radio broadcast slash webcast person to go listen to games that I mean he's just everything he does, he talks about if you ever get a chance, because you're too busy on the spotlight, so you can't listen to us because you out there, we're talking about you. Um but go back and listen to his games, man. You find out not only about the the what's going on in the game, but the community. And that's why we we started this podcast was this community, community, community. And it's about kids like you, Aiden. Kids about you that give back because you're a leader, and you have to step up this year more than you ever have. You gotta take in a rising sophomore, and Caden Cheek's a stud. But now you gotta take him under your wing and the other young, because y'all are young on defense. Yeah, um, talk about having to step in that leadership. How are you gonna mold the Caden Cheeks and these other kids coming up like the Demario Hard and who's got the female varsity? Yeah, um, they're sophomores, and you've been there. Not and that's very in football. Oh, it is speed of the game.

SPEAKER_09 37:26

It is. You just you just gotta, I don't know. Like for me it was different, you know, having to step up on varsity, I just I've always felt like I was, I always feel like I was just, I don't know. I've I feel like I'm built for this, you know, not being cocky or anything, but I just feel like I'm built for this. And like it's just it was just always instilled in me that I can do whatever I want if I put my mind to it. So for me to be able to be leaders to these guys, it means a lot. And I'm gonna do everything I can to be the best leader to them because that's you know, my okay, my sophomore year, I had a leader, Coltrid, and you know, he was my mic linebacker, you know.

SPEAKER_04 37:58

These two together, man, man. I think they took pre-workout before game.

SPEAKER_09 38:03

Yeah, smelling sauce, all that. But um, yeah, so you know, he he was the leader to me, so I just gotta do, you know, I just gotta lead for them. I gotta take them on, I just gotta, you know, like you said, I gotta take them under my wing, you know, and just because you're you're you're the man, I mean, you got the keys to the defense this year, man.

SPEAKER_04 38:19

I know it's a lot of responsibility, but Scott, you know, it's he'll tell you he's been around watching the game a lot longer than me. I mean, you're stepping into a role this year with a team that I mean I've heard from the coaches that y'all are gonna be pretty solid. Y'all missing a few things, but y'all pretty great opportunities.

SPEAKER_05 38:32

Yeah, yeah. Most definitely. Well, you look at at this year's team, what what kind of what what are we gonna see from the blue comets this year? The what I know y'all have done seven-on-sevens, you've worked out practice hasn't started. Well, seven on sevens don't mean nothing to me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 38:45

Or to Coach Brown, you know, it's just it's just no.

SPEAKER_04 38:47

Let's just get in some workout. I mean, he done had a baby during one of the seven-on-sevens.

SPEAKER_09 38:51

Yeah, Coach Brown.

SPEAKER_05 38:53

Ace. Ace. Yeah, ace, yeah. But uh, you know, being around your team for spring practice, what what what can we expect from the blue comets this year?

SPEAKER_09 39:02

Toughness. I like it. Toughness.

SPEAKER_04 39:04

Grit. So we're gonna get grit and toughness. I'd like to I'd love to see, are they gonna let you run the ball a little bit this year, too? Yeah, yeah. I like it. I like the idea.

SPEAKER_05 39:14

So I'm gonna get to see 15 on the offensive side every now and then.

SPEAKER_04 39:18

I like it. Uh he's a great defender, but man, he he he's uh he reminds me of Stephen Davis the way he runs the ball. Stephen Davis and Jonathan Stewart, where they just lower like not Jonathan Stewart, but Mike Tolbert, the toll dozer. Um he when he goes down, he makes you hurt. He reminds me of, and this is and this is way before my time, but you remember Larry Zonka. He would just lower that shoulder, and then about that third quarter, he starts breaking out from all them touchdowns. That's Aiden how he runs. I'm telling you, that's how Aiden runs.

SPEAKER_05 39:42

Well, let me ask you this then. You you start off with Scotland County, Northwood. You got a great schedule again. What's the one? And I know we think I can ask this question. What's the one game you're looking forward to?

SPEAKER_08 39:56

Renom and East and Randolph. Okay, I'll give you two.

SPEAKER_04 39:58

He wanted to. He wanted to.

SPEAKER_08 40:00

Renom and East and Runoff.

SPEAKER_05 40:01

Yeah. Because you know a lot of people from both sides.

SPEAKER_04 40:04

And and they're over here trying to take them from Asperg, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 40:09

But here's the thing. Last year you went to Ramsor. Right. And and and won the game. That game was one of the first times because I'm I'm a graduated from Eastern Randolph, but now I cover all teams. Hey, we don't judge them, man.

SPEAKER_04 40:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 40:27

But I've watched my son played there, Jeremy played there, uh on some very good teams. Um but in that fourth quarter of that football game, and I just said it down to Ramsaur Niner Monday. We were talking. I never saw an Eastern Randolph team get bullied on the field like y'all bullied on in the fourth quarter and won that game. Uh you you took it over, you drove it down their throat. That doesn't happen to many Burton Cates teams. So he's smiling. He's smiling, he loves it, he's loving it. So this year they come to which I think is one of the most picturesque stadiums. I sit up in the crowd. The stone. To the stone, Lee J Stone. It's just one of the most beautiful places to watch a game. I can only imagine what it would be like to play. It's electric. Yeah, I I know, and it's gonna be a huge crowd, but you look at Sisei with the Eastern Randolph game, um I I just feel like you know, the blue comics this year, our I saw it last year for one of the first times. And I talked to Coach Brown and I talk a lot. I could start seeing confidence in you in you guys' eyes, and the confidence carried over to the field. That's one thing I say about Eastern Randolph, losing's not the vocabulary. The confidence level that they play with has been there for years, but that comes from winning. We suffered a little bit at Ashborough for a few years. Now the winning feeling is back. Talk about the winning feeling and the opportunity that Aiden Larlow, number 15, has to cement that in these next two years and what that could mean to you.

SPEAKER_09 42:08

So here's what so here's one thing I want to say. Um, this is from Coach Haycock that I really took in. We're not worried about beating Eastern Randolph. We're the like, you know, it's you know, it's fun to win against them, beat them, but we're not worried about them. We're worried about the bigger picture. We're worried about going to states, making it deep in the playoffs. So it's not just worried about who we want to be, you know. Of course, everybody wants to be Eastern Randolph.

SPEAKER_05 42:30

That's fine. We're on the buzz. We can say what we want.

SPEAKER_09 42:33

But you know, we got a bigger picture, you know?

SPEAKER_05 42:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 42:35

And like you were saying, our confidence has gone up because we we were winning.

SPEAKER_07 42:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 42:40

But we can't let that get ahead of ourselves. We still gotta stay humble and stay, you know, like humble. Like, we can't let that get ahead of ourselves because if we let that get ahead of ourselves, we're gonna just lose it. So, you know, we just gotta stay humble and you know, I think we're gonna stay humble, we're gonna be good this year.

SPEAKER_05 42:52

Well, here's the one thing, and I'm gonna say it because we can say what we want to them. The one thing about Ashborough was always you knock them in the nose, they don't get it up.

SPEAKER_04 43:00

No, they don't swing back.

SPEAKER_05 43:01

They don't get up. I've saw that change since Coach Brown has come to Ashborough. I've saw it in the last couple years. I've saw that change, and I've said that to him. He and I have talked about it in interviews I do with him. The old saying was you knock them in the nose. They don't and they didn't. But now I'm seeing a difference with young men like you and your teammates. And I got to give credit to the guys from the year a couple years past because they have started setting that stone for you guys to follow. And I I just see there's a chance for a lot of success at Ashboro High School. Yes, sir, yeah. You agree with me? I agree. So it's gonna be interesting.

SPEAKER_04 43:38

I mean, there's some weapons on that team this year, man. You think about you got Aiden, you got the you still got the Briton brothers. Oh man, you got Jaden Sproles, you literally got DJ Scott, you got Garrison Cheek. Garrison Cheek. Hey, look, holy cow. Nairie, I think, is that receiver.

SPEAKER_09 43:52

I was gonna say, Nairy, he's a monster. You know, he didn't really want to play uh football because you know he loves basketball, but he still, you know, he still loves football. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 43:59

But um Now Ray, if you're watching, I'll beat you one-on-one right now.

SPEAKER_09 44:03

I saw a video today on the Man of Merle Beach.

SPEAKER_05 44:05

He's pretty tuned it up.

SPEAKER_09 44:07

Yeah. But um he's been doing excellent. Excellent. Um his confidence has gone up a lot, and it's just great for our program. Um I'm not gonna leave out Braylon either.

SPEAKER_04 44:16

Um Braylon, he's Oh, Braylon, little, I forgot. Little dude, he's he did he play for me my first year. That boy can play football.

SPEAKER_09 44:23

Look, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna forget him because he is an athlete. He's gonna be there and we need him on the field, so I'm not gonna forget him, you know. Uh Caden Cheek. Yeah, dude, Caden.

SPEAKER_04 44:32

Caden's another one, dude. Caden, yeah. I I'll be honest with you, he might be the best, best rising sophomore coming up in football.

SPEAKER_05 44:39

Get my guy Big Zach, Black. Oh, yeah. I would think that's my guy.

SPEAKER_09 44:44

Big Zach.

SPEAKER_05 44:45

That's my guy.

SPEAKER_09 44:46

You can't forget Jersey.

SPEAKER_04 44:47

Jersey. All dude different. I don't know if you have you watched Jersey play. Yeah. That dude, I remember it, dude. That dude is phenomenally a gifted athlete. And I'm thank God he didn't play basketball at Sam's. Like that's why I was like, I was like, he's not when it came to Sam's, I was like, he don't play basketball, right? They're like, no, no, no. I was like, okay, good. No man is do this.

SPEAKER_05 45:05

The Brenton brothers. They're different kind of players. Uh they got bigger too, like it's like I watched them just dominate games. Um what's it like to have to hit one of them? Look at that spot. Well, when you see which one's the toughest one to well, I ain't gonna put you on the spot on that. But I know both of them. Definitely Connor.

SPEAKER_09 45:28

Okay, well, he's bigger.

SPEAKER_04 45:31

Have you seen that mug lately? I'll have to get it.

SPEAKER_09 45:34

They told me he was really sprouting out. But um we don't really get to hit. You know, of course we'll get hit up practice, but you know, we don't get hit. It ain't like in the game here. Yeah, but um, shout out them. You know, I've taken them to a ground, you know, a few times. Yeah, but um Connor, he's he's fast, but he's big. Um don't get me wrong, Dallas, he's big too.

SPEAKER_04 45:54

CMC, what they call him, little CMC. I don't know if they call him little anymore.

SPEAKER_09 45:58

I'm not big CMC. But yeah, Dallas, he's he's electric. You know, if you let him get outside the tackles, he's gone.

SPEAKER_04 46:04

He had a breakout season last year for me because I know that the sophomore, y'all saw freshman year, Connor got a lot of shine. But then last year, Dallas kind of took over in a role that he wasn't wanting to play. I'm sure he didn't want to play.

SPEAKER_05 46:15

I saw Dallas last year will the team to touchdowns. Yeah. Just I'm down. No, I'm not down. I'm going 15 more yards.

SPEAKER_09 46:24

Dallas is one of the toughest dudes I know. I've seen this dude break his finger and get back in the game. I'm like, you're crazy, bro.

SPEAKER_04 46:31

Dude, he had his whole side cut over from the end. Well, dude, also another one that I feel like goes unnoticed is Garrison cheat, dude. That dude, when he catches the ball, he's hard to make later last year.

SPEAKER_09 46:41

That dude is a stud. I've seen this dude, and I'll admit, a running back has gotten passion me. I've seen this dude just pick him up off his feet and just slam him. I'm like, okay, like, you know, he's a stud. You know, on the offensive side, too, he's gonna go up and get the ball if you throw it to him. He's gonna go and get the ball.

SPEAKER_04 46:55

Tell Garrison, right? Yeah, Garrison can play, dude. I think he's an athlete. I think this year that you guys have a receiving core that I think is untouchable in the county.

SPEAKER_09 47:04

So for Janus Spro, too. He's gonna go and get it too.

SPEAKER_04 47:07

I don't he don't miss it. Dude, if you throw it up for Sproles, man, last year I always said it. He didn't get a lot. I felt personally I wish he had more passes to him, but the ones they did throw, he didn't miss them. No, he didn't miss them. He he was your clutch. He would just throw it up, he would go get it, man. Like, and that's the one thing I dude, that's crazy. I wish uh so I'm a big fan. So I love Dallas and uh Connor, they're great, but I was a big fan of Logan Laughlin. I wish I could have seen him with that receiving core um because shout out Logan Um because I think with it, I don't know if you've seen that Mutt had an arm. That dude could throw the ball. Um I wish he had a chance with those versions because like they finally, it's like that JV team that we talked about is now the varsity level. And it's like it's nasty. It's and I think and then and I'll I'll talk on the other side. I think there are a few linemen away from making a deep run at Dev State. You know, you got because I'm pretty sure Aaron Moran's probably gonna have to play a bigger role now.

SPEAKER_09 47:56

We're gonna have a lot of sophomores that's gonna have to step up. You know, like you said, Navari, you know, Aaron, um Kadrian, you know, uh yeah, so yeah.

SPEAKER_05 48:04

Well the thing about telling you is guys, sometimes when I saw it happen when when guys get an opportunity, they step in there. Yeah. That's the here's hey, they're calling my number. I used to always tell guys when they call your number, be ready. They're calling my number. That's why I say your opportunity to get out and get better. Uh, because you know, you play in a tough conference, the Guildford County conference we call it. Uh you there's not many nights off in your schedule. Nope. Uh, and you come to play. And again, I think every team in the county is an injury or two away from from not being as good, but injuries are part of it. You just try to you you try to fight through them. But again, coming into the season, I mean, I think the A helmet right there we see is gonna is it it's got a great chance.

SPEAKER_04 48:50

We got a bunch of helmets in here. I think that's gonna be going. There's a the rumor on the street though is uh the Cougars might be a sleeper this year, too, I heard, but I don't know much on them, man. He died to get on with it.

SPEAKER_05 49:01

Yeah, hey, I mean, yeah. Yeah. I think we we're gonna see a good year of football. I would love it. But I think I uh and I'm gonna say it, this this young man we got right here, I think could be by the end of the season the best defense player in the game.

SPEAKER_04 49:16

I agree. I think that uh it I think his junior and senior year, there's gonna be eyeballs on you. Now, that's the moment and my advice, and I'm gonna pull a Scott and like he does on our episodes and gives advice. But my advice is stay stay strong, man. Be on the right path. Everyone's watching, no matter what you do. If you think no one's watching, they're watching. Because this is the year where college scouts are looking at. Yes.

SPEAKER_09 49:38

That's one thing that people have preached on me. Everywhere you go, somebody is watching you. Let me say this. They're always watching.

SPEAKER_05 49:44

I want you to remember this. And I'll probably get them on it. I'll probably remind you. When you make a play on the field, when you don't make a play on the field. When you come to that sideline, I've been in, I've set with college recruiters at ball games. When you come on the sideline, they watch you as much as what when you're on the field. They're watching that reaction that you have. Maybe you missed a tackle and you're upset. When you come off that field, there's nothing wrong with with having emotion. But I suggest to you I gotta control it. Or go to go to one of your coaches and get to them and say, Coach, look, I'm just I just need to talk for a second.

SPEAKER_08 50:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 50:29

You know what I'm saying? Go go that way you they can help because and I'm not saying I don't I want you to play with the passion because I know you do. You you can't help it, and you're supposed to. That's what makes you who you are. But you never know who's at a ball game. I've sat with college recruiters. I sat beside guys and I said, You here to watch somebody? Um, I'm recruiting for Coastal Carolina. Yeah. I'm here to watch a couple of players. Um and I've actually had coaches that I know call me and say, have you got anybody in that area we may need to look at? Well, if they do this year, they're gonna get they're gonna get discount. But what I'm saying is you you play, if you watch the great players, they they play with abandonment. I mean, they go out and they play the game and they get emotional. There's nothing wrong, I'm not saying don't be emotional. I'm just saying try to control some things. You don't want to throw a helmet, you don't want to do this, you don't want to be a little bit more than a little bit of the technicals and bass, you don't want to throw a helmet. And I'll say this I know a lot of I've fish edited all my life. You're a you're a captain on defense.

SPEAKER_08 51:40

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 51:41

Let that official know you're the captain. And if you've got a question, ask it in the correct way. There's nothing wrong. If if you ever have a problem, I'm gonna tell you this. If you ever have a problem talking to an official and talking the right way, and he does not want to respond, or he does, if you if he if he if he doesn't want to respond or you get a negative thing, stay away from him. Yes, sir. Let me know.

SPEAKER_08 52:05

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 52:05

I'll fix it. I know the I know the guy to call. But no, I'm just saying, officials, and my officiating time, especially in basketball, I've been on the court with a bunch of the greats. But I wanted to interact with a player. Especially, you know, if you go up and say, okay, 12, let's let's let's watch it, man. I know you're talking a little bit, but come on, man. I don't want to do what I want to do. You want to interact with them. I want a player to come up and ask me a question. What am I doing wrong? What can I do? That guy's holding me. You're gonna get held a lot. Can you please watch? On purpose. They're gonna hold you on purpose. Can you please watch he's holding me? You know, I'm just asking. You're a defensive captain, and a lot of your teammates rely on you, but do it the correct way. I'm just saying, young man, you got an opportunity that a lot of kids don't get. Yes, sir. And I can tell what your dream is and what you're what you're go to practice for every day, what you're in that weight room when nobody else is in there, uh, while you're down here working at night when uh and not knowing you know what's gonna happen next. I can tell that there's a lot on you, but at the same time, there's a goal that you have. And I know you see that goal every day. You should continue for that goal. Don't let nothing stand in your way because, and always remember there's a lot of people that's wanting to help you. I'm just telling you, you've got it. You just gotta go out and do the grades, do what I'm supposed to do, make good decisions. If you're ever in a place where you thought, man, I don't know, call him, call me.

SPEAKER_08 53:43

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 53:44

I'll be there. He'll be there.

SPEAKER_08 53:45

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 53:46

Or we'll say, hey, get your butt out of there. Yeah, go get in the car and go home, or go, go, go to the bathroom.

SPEAKER_06 53:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 53:53

Just go to the bathroom and get away from everybody.

SPEAKER_06 53:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 53:56

Please do that. Don't act and then call me later or call J-Rob later and say, Golly, J Rob, I should have called you. Scott, I should have called you. No, we're here for you. I want you to understand that. I've met a friend today. I've met a friend.

SPEAKER_08 54:08

I have to.

SPEAKER_05 54:09

And I I like that because I tell you, anytime you just let me know, I enjoy what you bring to the field. I enjoy what you bring to your team because you are definitely a leader. You are a leader. And I'm telling you, young man, the sky's the limit for him, J. Rock. This is a young man we can see playing a lot of different places. Oh, yeah. And he's just gotta, you know, for a young man to sit here and not be scared to tell us what he's told us today.

SPEAKER_04 54:37

Yep.

SPEAKER_05 54:38

It's character, man. The character of this young man is amazing.

SPEAKER_04 54:41

And speaking of just learning in a call, calling us, you know, he calls a lot of basketball too, right? Yeah. So this is one thing I like to let our guests do. Uh, you got any questions for an official you always wanted to ask and get it out of the way. Well, he's been waiting for that. He grabbed the mic, like, I already got it.

SPEAKER_09 54:56

Yeah. Why don't y'all let us like talk more, you know, like during the game?

SPEAKER_05 55:00

Well, here's the thing. Uh, we we try to let you to a point. Now, that's what I'm saying. You gotta, as a captain, you gotta be able to judge that official.

SPEAKER_06 55:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 55:12

Before every game, when you go out for the first defense, I'd go up to the hey, I'm I'm Aiden Let alone. Uh, if you got any questions about my team, just come ask me. Throw it to them like that. Yes, sir. You can read an official because the official is gonna say, I appreciate it, young man, you know, blah, blah, blah. Or the official is gonna look at you like, what are you telling me for? If that if you get that response, you may need to back off a little bit. Uh but in the game nowadays, even in the high school game, the talking leads to so many other things. I agree. Yeah. Um, it can lead, and it may be a thing, you know, man, I just knocked you down. No, you didn't, I just knocked you down. I'm gonna get you, okay. Come get me. It leads to more uh I've even saw kids hurt kids with a cheap shot because of the talking. But talking can lead, and that's just something uh we had a situation we had years ago we had a lot of fights and we started doing different things as a state, you know, mandating things, and it and it slowed it down. But there's nothing wrong with a good head, a good talk. There's ways you do it. Yeah. Uh the shoulder, the shoulder. I mean, that's nothing wrong. But I again, my suggestion to you is to go up to that official that's gonna be in the middle or wherever, before the game, or the outside official defense, and say, hey, I'm Aiden let alone. If there's anything you need to ask about my team, please ask me. Or there's anything you need me to do as a captain, please tell me. I'll take I'll take care of my team. And you should get a great response from the official. I appreciate it, young man. You know, blah, blah, blah.

SPEAKER_06 56:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 56:45

And and stand by that. Yes, sir. Because you might be that one that's that's upset about something, and he may come to you. Hey, man, 15, let's go. Calm down. You the man, you the captain.

SPEAKER_08 56:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 56:54

So just that that would be my suggestion before every game. Go up and meet the official that's gonna be back there with you and introduce yourself.

SPEAKER_08 57:00

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 57:00

And that that'll your character's great. That'll that'll just stand out to him.

SPEAKER_04 57:04

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 57:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 57:05

All right. Boom, boom, boom, boom. All right, time for my quick hitters. And this one's gonna be sponsored by Blue Luna Tattoo right down the road from me. Yes, and here's a surprise before we go to that. One of the best piercings tattoos are great. Special guest coming on the Burrow Bus, Emma, the best pitcher in ACC, Rising Senior, coming on the show. She already confirmed it. August 4th, we're recording. If you want to sneak by and see through the window, come down on sunset. I'm telling you, it's going to be one you will. I guarantee she can strike both of us out with no problem. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So as we uh, this is how we do the quick hitters and what, dude. We might have to let Aiden Heast play baseball, see if she can strike him out. Uh have you watched you've watched the show? So our quick hitters, I don't want you to think I want just quick, boom, boom, boom. If you say something dumb, oh well. I say stuff dumb about 20 times in this episode that I was like, uh who tossed the most trash on the team?

SPEAKER_09 57:56

Football or basketball?

SPEAKER_04 57:57

Both.

SPEAKER_09 57:58

Basketball numbers. Football, Dallas.

SPEAKER_04 58:02

Dallas talks trash?

SPEAKER_09 58:03

I didn't know. Let me tell you, look, look, Dallas, he he tells yeah. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 58:09

Oh my gosh. Who has the worst music taste?

SPEAKER_09 58:14

Braylon.

SPEAKER_04 58:15

Oh, Braylon. Come on. Braylon. Number four.

SPEAKER_09 58:18

Braylon or Cheat. Caitlin Cheat. Come on, J-Robb. You gotta get your guys.

SPEAKER_04 58:25

He's naming all my guys. I'm like, come on, man. Like, what are you playing? And no defense, I didn't have the playlist in middle school, so right. If coach lets you play one other one other position, what would it be?

SPEAKER_09 58:35

Y'all gonna hate me for this. Corner. Well, now actually, quarterback, because I used to play quarterback. So, like, I'd be telling Coach Brown, like in practice, I'd be taking them all, I'd be throwing them like, come on, Clay Brown. Like, I'm I'm a quarterback for my life.

SPEAKER_04 58:49

Favorite pregame meal.

SPEAKER_09 58:53

Is the school getting it for us or are we like providing?

SPEAKER_04 58:55

This is your favorite meal. This is your favorite pre-if you can pick of everyone.

SPEAKER_05 58:57

Me and J Rod may start bringing it to you.

SPEAKER_09 59:00

Uh Tropical Smoothie. I like Tropical Smoothie. But honestly, tacos, like, we can't go wrong with tacos.

SPEAKER_04 59:06

From where?

SPEAKER_09 59:07

Like just anywhere. Like, like tacos, just in general. I just love tacos. I can eat them. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 59:15

Try to get his NIL deal over here. Taco Loco. We got your NIL right here.

SPEAKER_09 59:22

I love Mexican food. That's my favorite thing ever you know.

SPEAKER_04 59:24

Okay. See, I'm a so what's your favorite Mexican restaurant, Asperger, since we love this about community? Una mas. Una mas. Ooh, that's a good one I haven't had in a while. Una mass. Una mass. The old CC building.

SPEAKER_09 59:34

Or Don Julio.

SPEAKER_04 59:35

Don Julio. Have you had Taco Loco yet?

SPEAKER_09 59:37

Nah, look, it's crazy because I've always wanted to try that. I've never been.

SPEAKER_04 59:42

So that one day we can stop working on that for dinner in Daco Loco. NFL player you model your game after.

SPEAKER_09 59:47

What'd you say?

SPEAKER_04 59:48

So an NFL player that you kind of mimic your game after.

SPEAKER_09 59:52

Ray Lewis. That's what I thought he was going to say. Ray him for the physicality, but Luke Keekly for the smartness.

SPEAKER_04 59:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 1:00:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:01

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:01

Can't believe he didn't say a cowboy. Yeah, man, come on, man.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:06

I'd even tell him this story. I was at the coach's clinic and uh one of the guys, he's a cowboys fan, and lost a bet with a 49er and he had a deck out in a 49er robe, hat, and got his picture made with the course you didn't know they called me Cowboy Scott is what they're called. I mean, look at his glasses. Look, I still ain't got merch. You're getting it.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:28

I'm the next holder, you're getting it, I promise.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:30

Um now that we're done with the quick hitters, looking ahead, uh five years from now, uh where do you I already know the answer, but where do you see yourself at? I mean at Louisville. Look, he just won a little cardinal. Look, you got through the L's. It's like I like it. I like it, yeah. Oh man, um where do you want a football to take you? So when you're in that next level, what would it mean to you to help bring a championship to Ashboro if you can win a conference championship this year for football? Because I don't know the last time it's been done in football.

SPEAKER_09 1:00:59

I think the last time Coach Brown said 2009 or 10. That's a while.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:04

It's been a while.

SPEAKER_09 1:01:05

So that's like 20 plus years. Uh conference championship, that would that would mean a lot. Um Scotland, whenever we win that game, it's gonna put us on the map. Most definitely.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:15

So um You hear that confidence when we win that game.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:18

That's what happens when you win.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 1:01:20

That's what happened. But um winning conference championship, that's big. That's gonna bring a lot of excitement to the community. It's gonna yeah, yeah, that's big. Yeah, it's it's gonna be the yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:28

A Friday night at Lee J Song when you run out through the the thing you came out through now with all the smoke rolling, and you see which listen, Asperger's got a band a second to none.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:40

Oh, you ain't gonna be a man.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:40

Their band is amazing. When you see that foot full on a stadium there, just what kind of feeling does it give you? That's the pregame. I mean, it's gotta be a great feeling.

SPEAKER_09 1:01:51

So here's so here's one thing I'll say people don't give enough credit to the band. Like that they just they just don't like for me, the band like really is what pushes me to play. I'm not gonna say push me play football, but they get you hype on the side. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They give me highlight. Honestly, if the if if we didn't have a band, like it wouldn't be nowhere as like electric, you know, because like the band, you know, but um they gotta shout out to the band.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:14

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, but um what was your question? Tucker's I think it's Tucker's the band director.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:19

I think uh coming out and seeing when you come out of the tunnel and your band's playing and you see that full crowd at Lee J Stone, what kind of feeling does that give you?

SPEAKER_09 1:02:30

Electric. Electric. That just lets me know that I gotta put on for the community, you know, I gotta put on for the city, I gotta put our, you know, I gotta put us on the map. It's just coming out from that tunnel, smoke bombs on that, it's electric. Like it's one of the best feelings that you'll feel. Um, like some people would say, the top, like your top five best feelings that you ever feel, coming out on Friday nights and playing, that's definitely one of my top feelings that you ever feel.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:55

I like that.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:56

And that, I mean, what an atmosphere. I mean, it's it is man. You hit the intro video, and then you know they're coming. You know they're coming. Um and then you know, as we wrap up, is there anything else you want to mention?

SPEAKER_05 1:03:06

I want to I want to thank you for coming on and being who you are. Yes, sir. Um because as Jonathan and I talked, he knew you, I didn't know you, I just knew you who you were. I saw you. I'm glad so glad I met you today. But knowing your story, he didn't know exactly how you were gonna say it. I I love it because you were honest and you shared your story with us.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:31

And your story can can mean a lot to someone else that will see this podcast that could be going through the same thing you are. Uh and and I I appreciate you sharing that with us.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:43

Uh and people forget, Scott. I mean, he is he is technically, he is emancipated. Yeah. He is his own adult, he is his own person. So not only is he a 16-year-old, but he's having to be a grown man at the same time for himself and his life decisions. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:56

And it is, and they and to hear what you've told us, but again, I go back to one word that that I'll probably tell you every time I see you confidence. You have confidence in who you are. And that's gonna take you a long way because you've got support. Yeah, you've got support from a lot of people. Uh and my here's my here's my thing to you, because I don't think you will. Don't let yourself down. You got goals that you want to attain. They're they're very, very reachable. They're there. But you gotta continue to climb. Well, you have adversity. You've had adversity for a while, but you will. Don't let yourself down. Even on dark nights that you'll have or dark days, you gotta say, hey man, this is just one day. 300 other days are great. Yeah. But always remember with Jonathan Robbins and Scott Fagger, you've got a friend. Yes, sir. And please reach out when you need to. This has been one of the best shows I've ever been on because I'm meeting a young man for the first time with great character, with a dream, but he's honest with what he's faced in his life. He's letting the people know. And you, I'm just telling you, young man, you never know this podcast who it will touch. Yeah because it's gonna touch people. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 1:05:21

But I appreciate you being and and and that's that's something that I want. Like, I want people to know my story. Like, I don't got a problem when people come up to me and be like, you know, hey, Eddie, you know, I want to talk, you know, like I like I I love telling people my story because that's what made me who I am right now. Yeah. You know, um I've always I've always thought about since I was younger, when I get older, having my own, like doing my own thing to where I helping people helping people that's going through what I went through.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 1:05:48

Cause I like just helping people, you know, that's just who I am. Um I'm just a very caring person, you know. So I want to help people that go through stuff how I went through, you know, because I don't want nobody ever feel like they're alone, you know.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:58

So what you're doing. Today is helping people. I'm just telling you, John. What he's done today, and once this gets out, it's gonna help someone. I'm just telling you. You don't never know who you're gonna touch, but you're touching people today, and I appreciate you.

SPEAKER_09 1:06:11

Of course, and uh I plan on telling my story, my testimony, uh in the future because that's just what I just I want people to know. That's yeah, that's the big thing. I want people to know.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:22

Yeah, well, and and you know how to do it. I'll tell you every time before I leave you, I love you, brother. Yes, sir, love you too, yes, sir. I'll tell you that because Steve O'Morgan taught me, well, he didn't have to teach him, but he always said, Scotty, you never know what somebody's going through. When just the simple word, I love you, brother, yeah, that means a lot to somebody because a lot of times people don't hear that like this. But I love you, brother. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_09 1:06:46

Yes, sir. I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:47

And that's the thing that one thing that's always got me, I mean, this young man, and it's like he knows I've told him this before, you're gonna make mistakes in life. Everyone does. What my mentors always taught me is when you make the same mistake over and over again when it's a problem. Aiden, your story is powerful, man. Um, and for people that are listening on here, what's your handles on social so they can find you in case of it?

SPEAKER_09 1:07:06

Oh, uh, Instagram is Aiden from the A, A Y D N, F-R-M-D-A-A-A. Uh Twitter is Aiden L underscore 15. Okay. Uh Facebook is just Aiden Letterlow. And then, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:20

Okay. And man, I I'm excited, man. I'm excited for your future. And uh, my last question before we sign off. Um, when your football career is over and repeat and people remember your name, what do you hope they say about the kind of man you were? Not just the player, but the man.

SPEAKER_09 1:07:36

I wanted to say that I had a story. I wanted to say that I was always confident, like Scott said, um that I was always willing to help people whenever I was down. Um just I now I was a great person, you know, that I was just always willing to do for someone else when I didn't have, you know. So yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:57

I'm telling you it's gonna be a book one day, Scott. Oh yeah. It is, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:00

Again, all I ask of him is whenever he's up there and wherever it's at, the NFL draft is he's gotta have to come out here. Come back, come back and come back, don't forget us. Don't forget.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:11

And this whole show now that we've twist, it's about community, man. It's all about so don't forget your community when you get that big time.

SPEAKER_09 1:08:17

I love our community. Our community, honestly, so many people in this community have helped me have has helped me more than they know. Like, there's been so many people in the community that I don't even know that have helped me. Like, so shout out to the community.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:29

It's Friday night. Blue comments lights, baby, who's coming up.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:33

One thing about it, I got a gentleman that helps me. His name's Justin. This is gonna be one of Justin's Justin Flincham. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He'll be down on the sideline. He's gonna have to and he's gonna ask for a picture, so just take it. He he collects pictures. But I appreciate you, man. I can't wait to see that opening night because that's where Randolph Sports Central will be at Lee J Stone for the Scotland County game. I'll be there. I can't wait. I can't wait. It's a big hit.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:59

It's crazy how it all happened. I guess Central High Point Central is not gonna do a varsity team this year. So I don't blame them. Yeah, they they were not very good last year. That was tough last year. I think it was like 60 something to zero or something like that.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:09

They had 19 penalties in the first quarter. That's nothing against it.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:12

Nothing against them. It's just I mean, it's it's the same thing. I mean, I'm not bashing Wheatmore, but the first year Wheatmore started their school, they should have started J V before going straight to varsity and that kind of. But now they've they're picking it up. But I remember my cousin was on that first team and it was it was rough. Well, I I think too I hope Charter doesn't make that mistake when they start football. I hope they go JV then.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:30

They're going to go J V first. But I I was talking to Coach Brown, and what a great pickup. You you're blessed to get a game like that after you drop one.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:37

So you know where you're at, too.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:39

Like, next year, y'all go to them, Scott. Well, that's a great place to go watch it.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:44

Well, my thing is like I mean, you look at you know where you stand after that first game. That's something that's very rare. Most people you want that cupcake game where you're like, ah, there's easy win. This is like, all right, is Asper legit this year? That's what everyone's gonna be saying. Is like, is it real? Are they real this year? Are we gonna have a below 500 season or are we gonna have above?

SPEAKER_05 1:10:01

Who is it? Because then you go Northwood. Oh, yeah, and then Randleman, yeah, and then Rockingham County. And then a big one everybody was waiting on. It's hard. Oh man, uh picture esque, baby. Pitcher S.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:15

I'm telling you, it's it's gonna be impact, and uh I'm excited, man. And I I think we definitely gotta get Aiden on sometime this season with our fourth and one show.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:22

Fourth and one show. We gotta have him on. Yeah, we will.

SPEAKER_09 1:10:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:25

Is there anything you want to give a shout out to anybody else or say anything before we sign off?

SPEAKER_09 1:10:28

Like you said, man, just shout out to the community, you know, shout out to everybody that's helped me, you know. Shout out to my grandmother, Nana. She knows who she is. Uh, shout out Nari, shout out Braylon, shout out Jaden, shout out all of them, you know, shout out you, shout out Coach Nance, Wes, Cliff, you know, just Brown, all of them, Dr. Murdy. Just shout out to everybody that's helped me, you know.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:44

Well, you know we love you, brother. Yeah, we're good, yes, sir. And even when you're out in this community, like I said, when you go on to that next level, which I truly think if you stay on the right path, there ain't no thing. I know if you stay on the right path, you're gonna go play the collegiate football. Yes, sir. Um, but just don't forget us when you go there, man, because we're gonna be getting there. Oh no. Just know when you hear someone yelling, hey, what up, 15? Or if I say, shout out, Aiden.

SPEAKER_09 1:11:06

Like I said, man, I can never forget where I come from.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:08

We'll get sure to say Aiden from the borough when we get around to that.

SPEAKER_09 1:11:12

That's it. That's it.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:13

I want to thank everyone for tuning in this episode to a season two, Scott. We're here, baby.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:18

But look at the studio, look at that painting. The camera gets in.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:22

I'm telling you, dude. And uh, for anyone that wants to check out Randolph Sports Central, give them a follow. Um, Scott's doing some amazing things. He's uh he's crazy enough to let me on here, but uh it's been fun, and you know I'm sure he'll hopefully he'll let me do some football because that's one of my favorite. And then basketball, we all know I'm gonna be on that mic with basketball. I might be running on the court sideline with a wireless mic coaching. Come on out. But uh make sure y'all like, subscribe, share this. This is the stories. We want it, we want these stories out. We want people on here that deserve to be on here. So if you think someone deserves to be on here, give us a message, shoot a message at Randy Sports Central. If you see Scott or myself, hit us up on Sports in the Borough. Tell us people stories that we need to hear because it's not just about football, it's not about basketball, it's not about volleyball, it's not about your typical sports, it's just the community and the people, it's not just sports. That's why we we changed it. And I told Scott I called him, I was like, I know this is crazy, but I want to change this to something about everyone. Yeah. Um, but dude, I Scott, as always, dude, I couldn't do this without you, brother.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:20

Well, I tell you what, buddy, I appreciate it. I look forward to every episode. I look forward to all the people we're gonna bring on uh because thanks to what Jonathan's doing, and he's allowed me to jump on the bus with him, we're making a difference in this community. And that's that's what I'm here for. I mean, that's what I feel like the Metabus put me in the place to do it. And and that's what I'm about. And uh uh what a great start here with Aiden. I mean, it was it was amazing. He he set the tone. Yeah, he has set the tone. He has big shoes. And the best thing about it, I got myself a new friend. That's the biggest thing.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:57

I think well, I'm about to get an autograph of that photo before he takes off.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:01

Well, you know what? I did, I'll say this. I'm telling Coach Brown now, Coach Nance, uh Wesley Barry or Coach Barry, you know, I went to the Ashboro fundraiser they had down the street here, uh, and I bought uh JQ's. I bought Jaquarius' jersey. Now the price kept rising up, but Chad Gore and myself had a bid more, but I wanted it. I wanted it. I'm telling you now, this young man here, when you get his jersey and get it autographed, I'm gonna be a high builder on him too. I'd like to put it in my trophy room also. Oh, yeah, yeah. So looking forward to watching this young man.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:37

Man, we're about to start getting some of these jerseys in here and hang out. Oh, yeah, that's what we've got to do. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, well, until next time. Like I said, we got some really good stuff coming this uh season. I mean, we already spilled the beans on Emma. Uh I mean, I am excited about that one, Scott. Yeah, I am too. I mean, and that whole family, just great mom. People don't realize that she's from the borough. She is literally Providence Grove High School alumni, and I believe one of the few collegiate players to come out of there.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:03

She's been playing high C C player of the year. Yeah. Playing player of the week many a times this season.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:09

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:10

So we're looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:11

But uh thank y'all. And as always, uh, we we start our new trend. I'm gonna let Scott kick us off. Something that him and Steve Morgan started that I kind of want to give a tribute to because without Larry pouring into Scott who and Steve, I wouldn't have met Scott like and Scott's known me forever, but he's helped me with my on-air stuff, so I want to kind of make it a tribute to show people that we are a team.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:31

So yeah, we we started something. Larry Reed, everyone out there knew Larry Reed. He was that guy in this community. And his I've actually got a an ornament this guy, Larry's picture with just saying. Just saying was his thing. And Steve O and I, or Justin, whoever's on with, we never end a broadcast without saying just saying. It's the Larry Reed, because we know Larry cared so much about Ashburn, Randolph County, and that's our thing. So I get the honor of the start-off show this year by ending by saying just saying.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:12

Hey, this is Kelly Cole, owner of Just Keep Swinging. We're a proud sponsor of Borough Buzz. Hit us up for all your equipment and sports and apparel needs.

SPEAKER_04 1:15:20

This episode is sponsored by Just Keep Swinging. From top quality equipment to custom apparel like hats and shirts and more. They're more than just sporting goods or they are here to support our athletes and community every step of the way. Whether you're gearing up for game day or looking to wrap your team with brash merch, just keep swinging as you cover. Give them a follow today.