Above The Whistle
Welcome to Above The Whistle. The podcast that takes you beyond the X's and O's and into the mindset of greatness as we sit down with coaches/athletic directors/former players across the country.
Above The Whistle
Coach Thompson: Playbook for Life Beyond the Field
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Every life is a story, and some are imbued with the passion and resilience that can inspire us all. On our latest episode, we're honored to host Eric Thompson, Ogden High School's beloved football coach, who takes us through his transformative journey from a zealous young athlete to a coaching legend, all while grappling with the challenges of ALS. His tale unfolds from the vibrant fields of Roy High School to the pivotal moments at Snow College and Colorado Mesa, and eventually, to the sidelines where he crafts his legacy, emphasizing the power of relationships and team unity that transcends the scoreboard.
As we navigate the chapters of Eric's life, we encounter his remarkable shift from years of great success at Northridge High School to the rekindling of the spirit of Ogden High's football program. Thompson's story is a testament to the strength of community, where the rallying cry of "Forget About Me, I Love You" becomes an anthem for selflessness, and the symbol of the redwood tree on team uniforms embodies the interconnected support essential in facing life's adversities. The episode also touches on the nuanced balance of coaching with compassion, setting the bar for personal growth, athletic excellence, and the cherished role of embracing a child in need into one’s family.
In the heart of the podcast, we confront the reality of ALS and the profound community support that arises in the wake of Eric's diagnosis. His journey is marked by the prioritization of family and the cherished memories made from bucket list dreams, thanks to the generosity of those who rally around the ThompsonTough.org initiative. Join us for an episode that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the unbreakable bonds forged through sports, struggle, and the strength of community.
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You know, one of the most important kids you'll ever coach is the one that needs the program more than the program needs that kid. Welcome to Above the Whistle with your host, devin McCann. Welcome to Above the Whistle, the podcast that goes beyond the X's and O's and into the minds of the greats Today. I'm thrilled, I'm privileged, I'm honored to have Eric Thompson, coach of Ogden High School Tiger football, on today. Eric, thanks for having, you know, taking time out of your busy day to meet with us.
Speaker 2So you got it. Man, You're saving me from some boredom. I appreciate it. I can talk to your friend and talk about football and things like that. It's a good day for me.
Speaker 1Wonderful, wonderful. Well, let's start off by kind of going back to the beginning. If you could just kind of give us a little bit of your bio, kind of you know where you grew up, where you went to high school, college, things like that.
Speaker 2Oh yeah, so I grew up in Roy, Started playing when I was seven years old and, you know, fell in love with football. Really wasn't that good. I played when I was younger. You know, loved it, played a recess. I was everything that was important in my life. I thought it was football at the time. You know, had my favorite players and wanted to train and really wanted to be good at football and was kind of dreaming of mine. So, you know, not being under size and not a great player when I was younger, it was hard on me but it was better in the end. You know, worked hard and persevered and stuff. So my dad was a coach at Roy High School during that time. So I grew up going to a game. He was also assistant basketball coach, referee, was the head baseball coach. So you know I grew up on a buzzer at a game and you know was my childhood and playing with my brother and friends. So just love sports and specifically football and I really liked to have training with my dad and from a young age thought I wanted to be a coach.
Speaker 1So even at a young age you kind of had that inkling that that was something you might want to get into.
Speaker 2You know I mainly wanted to, you know, try to be the best player I could, you know, junior high, high school and hopefully college. But, you know, wanted to coach. Didn't know if I really wanted to be a teacher and make that my career, so certainly thought that I wanted to in some form or fashion. You know, coach one day. Coaches had a big impact on me. I loved the game and not just the playing of it but the you know, the whole cheering team building the scheme and all that was, you know, fun, exciting to me. So, yes, and some ways I think I was maybe always built to be a coach. Yeah, you know, grew up around a lot of really good coaches. So, you know, eventually when I got up to, you know, roy, high schools, I will then get senior year and season, not that I could get a half scholarship to snow college had pretty good grades, kind of covered for the rest and had a great experience there where you know Paul did what was my head coach and you know Chico Canales and he could progress a lot. You know really good coaches came through the other one, had a lot of success other places and really created a good culture and treated people right and inspired and you know fun. So I was kind of hooked and a lot of my football experience went from there. I'm going to start shooting player Colorado Mason the same grand junction, colorado, and I didn't have as good of experience there, kind of a losing culture Triple option, which I didn't love as a receiver, that kind of switched over to when I got there. So that was probably just as important for me to see that things. You know, up to that point I loved all my coaches and had a good experience and one we didn't like didn't really love my coaches, you know like having a great experience with my teammates and you know football, football so happy that I did it. That experience may be as much, equally, as much as the good experiences, you know, motivated me when I was down to get into coaching and try to be like you know. We guys had such a big influence on me.
Speaker 1That's awesome. So how did you get into coaching? I mean, what was your first coaching role? Where did you start? So, I went again and play in Colorado Mason.
Speaker 2I left there after the fall because I wanted to complete what we were saying. But then I want to be a teacher, I want to get my team certificate and finish we were staying, so I could, you know, start teaching in Utah. So I finished up my education we were staying. I got a team certificate during that time and just on the way in, my dad said you ought to. If you want to coach, I'll give this a try.
Speaker 1Did you ever go coach with him at high school, after college or?
Speaker 2You know, eventually you know, and I'll get to that but my first coaching experience was I was home in the spring and I applied for the Roy Jr baseball job and I was not even finished in college yet. I played high school baseball and I played a year of college baseball at Snow and then I was playing on the club team in Weber State, you know. So that was the other sport I was going to have in light. Oh, you know, love coaching, yeah, oh, that time to me it was maybe more about just the relationship with the kids. You know, I was a pretty competitive guy. I focused even too much on winning at that time.
Speaker 1But you know, that's you know, you're young, you're young.
Speaker 2But I loved it and I got the nice and how they gave this young kid the job, probably because no one else applied. So I was the head coach of Roy Jr baseball for three years. So while I was finishing up school for that because I had like a half year school you left to get my degree and then two years of the education department. During that time I was hired at Fremont to be the sophomore coach and then the receivers and the DVs. So yeah, so it was a great two and a half years. I had three years of Roy Jr baseball and two years at Fremont. I'm just going to apply. So I finished up school coaching and when I was at Fremont I'm playing Monkers, who was my dad's defensive coordinator when I was at Roy and a great coach and it's kind of a whole thing coach, a lot of success. So he was the head coach at Fremont. He ran the offense and my dad was now his deep coordinator. So I had, you know, great role models. I was coached by Fred Fernandez was my position coach I see as one of the better coaches, if not the best every one of the state of Utah as well. So yeah, I was just really fortunate to be a great coach as a snowman at Roy. And then my first coaching job I'm out there with playing Monkers and my dad and I learned a lot of ball From there. When I graduated I had to get a teaching job so I could keep up my hobby. Of course, right right, I actually only applied at Northridge because coach Fernandez was the head coach there and I really loved and respected him and he taught me a lot about playing receiver and catching ponds and just he was a brilliant person and super competitive and just anyway, I wanted to be like him. You know, I wanted to go learn from him and, unfortunate for me, I was hired at Northridge to be an assistant baseball coach and assistant football coach and I was teaching health and PE.
Speaker 1Okay, so from there you were under Fred Fernandez. For how long? And that was during the time where Northridge actually won a couple of state championships, correct?
Speaker 2Yeah, ferdy's a great Program builder. When we played we were, he was that north when I was at dream, okay, we would play them at that time. Well, they weren't that good. I think it's first year they went home and I, when I got there, they're coming off the first winning season. That got started in the fall of 98. Yeah, seven year run there when I was with them, like in the other, we won, you know, three state championships and 34 region championships and a lot of games, memories, and was able to kind of rise it to the ranks with him Gonna help call offense and call defense and special teams. And you know, jv program Decided to move on through his recommendation out of school.
Speaker 1Yeah, head coach and really young age, and so I think that's the other day, you know, prior to to this podcast, you had mentioned kind of the story how that all came about. I mean, that was kind of but 1159 o'clock Phone call, was it not? Yeah?
Speaker 2I mean long story short. Freddy, kind of in private, it told me that you know we had this opportunity to sell this deceler. Well, I can sled, and I thought about his family and that he was gonna coach for just one more year. And then you recommend that the programs turned over me. So I kind of ran a lot of similar stuff that year for him as he was gone I'm sorry my mind. I'm preparing to meet the head coach in a year from now. I just got married, you know.
Speaker 1So I'm in the house.
Speaker 2I'm sitting watching TV and it's honestly like 11 o'clock at night. Just get ready to run, my receiver TV drills and calls me up and says you know, the opportunity was I'm gonna, you know, pass him by. If he didn't take it right then and he had to you know kind of change his plans, wasn't gonna be able to be the head football coach anymore. So kind of had a few hours notice that either gonna make you the head coach tomorrow. So you know it was Going for a job. I'm just my head spinning. You wake up that morning and we kind of walked in the TV and said you know, hey, I have to go do this for my family. And you know this means the head coach. And you know, fortunate for me, year before we had a pretty good year but there was all seniors and then graduated. We have a lot of returners. So, and I was running the JV program, so the kids that were seniors I really get relationship with. I coached him here before. I was close with them, I helped him with transition and I took over at 04 I think, after. Freddie and it was a great experience and I was at Northeaster 19 years and we had a lot of success, have all fun, made a lot of memories, morning thing that, a lot of great people right right on way.
Speaker 1So you're there 19 years. During that time, I believe you went 79 and 60, had a lot of success, you know, went to the to the playoffs 10 years. All of a sudden you kind of get an itch to go to Ogden High School, A team that had lost, I believe, 33 straight losses, correct, had it been the playoff for years. I mean what. I mean. A lot of people if you read like the news articles on your decision at the time, it's like what the hell is this guy thinking? You know coach Thompson, you know great football coach. Why is he going to Ogden High School?
Speaker 2Yeah, I don't think many people saw that coming and that's for good reason, because I didn't see it coming. Okay, but that last year was it was getting more difficult Systems that were moving on Soon and just didn't have as much help. And you know, I've been there 19 years and had a coach 13, so sometimes you can you start feeling maybe your messages going still and you don't feel, as you know, interjecting. You know there's something. I don't know what it was, but there was a some love. Okay, I'm like story short. I had no plan on leaving, but after that Final game I think I've shared this story before, so it's fine, it's my shirt again, I'm on it. No, I wouldn't think it would offend anybody. But my dad, we had the tradition that after the last game, you know he'd take me out to eat. You know generally your last game, much once the championship playoffs. So you're a little sad. You know his way of cheering me up. You know, by these day, dinner at Sizzler and we're sitting down there McDonald's or something. Hey, right, then you're starting on it for next year and you know what kids are gonna be your guys and kind of just that process of getting excited about you know the next year and Kind of re-energizing as we started to do that and he kind of stopped me and he was Just leaving the eyes like you gotta leave.
Speaker 1Oh, really Wow.
Speaker 2So so he fell I think he saw that I was getting burned out and wasn't sleeping Just trying to keep a program that had gotten really difficult to be successful. That continued to be successful. As you know, all the other high schools were a lot bigger and just have a lot less talent and a lot less help. But as always, personality how I'm going to use I'm just gonna grind and and I'll be all is in how many games you can play in the relationship with the kids, the memories you make and so kind of threw me for a little bit. I you know enough that I thought, well, I'm gonna look into this a little bit and I reached out to a few principles and Few opportunities out there if One of those, but just didn't feel good about you know my kids. So I kind of table that Ship with Principle of college and high school. Okay. So I look grass with some of my Offensive line coach and eventually become an assistant transfer at Northridge and eventually became the principal. I was my boss. It left the year before to Ogden, call me about.
Speaker 1Fending other people? I didn't hey, so he wasn't even reaching out to you well about the position.
Speaker 2He was trying to get your input on other candidates before said you ought to come and follow me and I, you know I I, like a lot of other people, had a misconception of Ogden high and the community and the culture and the kids and you know, just knew they lost a lot of games and thought it was maybe a Ghetto school or unsay. Yeah, you know I like things like that, so I just missed new reforms. I can't know, I never go there. That's a coaching great You're right, so I think he knew I'm the first one there that I questioned his sanity and I can't know follow you that. Yeah, he was just betting me about other people. It was a teacher work day. I was like I miss you, but I'll just come over and see you Over there and walk to this office. You know we chat for a bit and he kind of walked me around the campus and showed me football field and you know telling cool things about the school and hey, can you help kind of promote this? You know jobs and maybe up and kind of coaches and I know something Pissed it myself because I was like man, what the spilling go away. I just kind of have this film walking back to his office aside. I you know, look, double that. You know the school kind of in the courtyard like you want to come do this. So I brought it up to him in the office. I said what if I take his job? And he liked to print out like you would never do that.
Speaker 1I'm like okay, A lot of shit. What the hell are you doing?
Speaker 2Yeah, you know he said something that when I was asking him why why is he, like you know, talking about all the stuff he was dealing with it seemed a much harder job. In the principal of I didn't say no to rich, but you know he said how much more happy he was and how fulfilling he was. I feel like he was, you know, thinking of differences and helping kids. You know that he was happy, that he liked them. Those are things that you know. He died when I was very close and he knew that those are things that weren't wanted to and that I doubted. And then, when he spoke, when the conviction spoke, made me want to reevaluate, instead of maybe trying to go to a bigger, better school. That's easier to win. You have a lot more players you can. You want to stay chanted. I can reevaluate it really well. My priorities as a coach were going forward. If I were really going to be. I felt I needed to start fresh somewhere. What do I do? So I said, hey, let me think about it. And we had some conversations back and forth about schedule and kids in the program, whatever salary, and you know we really do this and you know, eventually I agreed and you know I think it surprised my kids in North original, my coaches yeah, schools, and I was crazy and not allowed to come with me, and so it was very, you know, challenging, difficult.
Speaker 1I was really worried, my wife's like did you, did you reach out to this guy? Did you guys follow her?
Speaker 2She came on until the day and thinking what if I did this? And she's like why she don't care about sports. I'm carrying all the support you know no matter what Like a hundred sweatsuits and shirts and shorts, and they're all cardinal and white and black.
Speaker 1They don't have any clothes going to the DI.
Speaker 2Competitive and assessed about, like when you do your best you are, and that seems like the hardest place to do that. I don't know if you could be happy. So, you know, we thought about it and prayed about it and then you know, making that jump and thought that would be you know my best interest for just being happy and excited for the challenge, even though it was going to be, you know, harder than it is, harder than I actually thought it was going to be.
Speaker 1So you know, so I think so the other day, as you were talking, you also had mentioned that you know they had 33 losses as you took over the program and you guys were kind of moving up to that 36 losses in a row, which I think was the state record at the time and a victory that you had. But you might have been sharing that.
Speaker 2Yeah, I mean I think I mentioned to you that I was fortunate to be a part of three state championships in our region. All those three state championships were huge and I was the first one there and first one for the school and we were at a rubber skyline and I had a lot of excitement, big celebrations that accompanied those. So we'd start the season over to row and three or something and I thought we could maybe get the win and break the streak because the kids really were, you know, down trodden. I didn't really understand what continuous losing can do to someone or a program. I was fortunate again. Little League we always won, highway won, you know. Just on college we won. Yeah, I was out there shortly there after and it's a little different in college, but again, that wasn't the best atmosphere. But I remember one in there and the numbers were at all time low and some rally kids and the thing you know, losing three and a half years straight. It wasn't a kid in the program who ever won a game and they never even won a sophomore JV game, I was told during that time. So there's not a kid in there and you generally the Wildcats that feed that struggle getting numbers and so I think there was a lot of kids on the team that maybe never even won a football game, certainly not a high school. So you know it was. You know a lot of broken kids that were sad and bleeding themselves. But I had a great relationship with my first group there and really loved those kids and had a lot of special spirits that were bound and determined to be the group that would turn to ramp. And probably the best leader on the team, one of our best players was Carson White, our QB, and unfortunately then, weeks before, they thought he blew his knee out and you know so he was out.
Speaker 1So our best player, star, athletes out.
Speaker 2We started to work backs out and we're going down to Caravan and you know, thanks a lot. Somehow we pulled that out. I think we threw like a 92 yard touchdown to win the game. The last couple of minutes to Ruby Gaslin, who now works for me as my receivers. Coach.
Speaker 1Oh, does it really?
Building a Strong Football Community
Speaker 2Oh, that's awesome and you know he had a great performance and so you know we're. You know a lot of parents have come down or come down the log room and they're clapping for the kids and anyway, I think I mentioned to you. You know the game is over and to me it was more just a sense of relief that the record is over. We won a game. Yeah, off the snide, shake it this off and now start getting into work and trying to. You know, win one of my game, but to my surprise, because part of three state championship teams and you know it was very similar to the joy of me we won our first one, which was a big shock, and the kids are falling on the ground and crying, and each other to them I think they want to say championship. So you know, we get pizza, we get on the bus and it's a long drive from carbon it's like March and the morning we're rolling in. Some of you had Harrison and I think that which club president and Mr Collett said something up. It's like please escort to the school and I'm gonna go in there with like hundreds of so you have a police escort going into the high school. All the phones and parents and their waving banners and singing all of them shine and the kids getting off the bus.
Speaker 1So yeah, I love that story.
Speaker 2I can footage it out from my phone and we put on that first highlight video and that's still.
Speaker 1Oh, you have footage of all that. Oh, that's awesome yeah.
Speaker 2Getting off the bus and seeing that cool scene. So really a community up there that had one for a long time, but it's like this.
Speaker 1So is that a?
Speaker 2Oldest schools in Utah and had a lot of good tradition, olden times and those old grandfathers and your dads were coming out and they were proud again in their team and they were celebrating them and they really rallied around the organ football team and we had a lot of great support there.
Speaker 1So did you know kind of at that moment like, okay, I made the right decision, this is why I was supposed to come to on.
Speaker 2I would say that was the definite K.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2Kind of recharge your batteries Like this is one here.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, I would imagine. So that's. I love that story I've always heard. At the beginning of every season you kind of use this acronym family. Can you kind of explain what that acronym is, what family means and how you kind of, you know, run that through your program and yeah, I guess like any. Where did it come from? I guess it's a coach.
Speaker 2They're best stuff that usually stole from someone else. But when I was in North Virginia I got family atmosphere and brothers and all that. I think you know that's pretty common football. Yeah, but it was really a definite sounding work for us in Northridge. And something I wanted to carry on from Kush for the end is we had really tight teams that loved each other and good culture and we kind of had like a band of brothers, meaning that we were using. And now I was looking up Rutgers uniforms because that was the same color. Okay, I was just looking for color schemes. On one of them I saw on the back I said family.
Speaker 1That was like an actress.
Speaker 2I've never seen that before. So Google searched and found that. You know that I don't know where their coach got it from, but it stood for you. You know, forget about me. I love you, put your teammates first. You are just kind of the culture that I wanted to build anyway. So we have a long time it's probably been about 20 years or so that I've been, I guess, preaching, you know that one that we kind of tied it in eventually to retreat, and you know that's been kind of the number one culture. You know that I tried to. You know, establish their high was that. You know, serve each other about me. I'm not sure what's special to me.
Speaker 1How can you make a teammate? Can you expand a little bit on the redwood tree? What's the analogy there?
Coaching, Love, and Overcoming Challenges
Speaker 2Yeah, people think they question all the time what the hell we have a redwood tree on the back of our uniforms and things. So I'd heard a story somewhere about the redwood tree and I think maybe someone even put it in some sort of talk or message and that kind of look like the story behind it and thought that would fit the family acronym no, perfect. So when they see the redwood tree, that represents, you know, family to them. So the story down the redwood tree and as quick as I can say it would be, it grows to the tallest, strongest tree on earth there's, you know, 2000 years old. They're the most certain conference and just amazing, big, strong, beautiful trees. Why do they live so long? Why do they get so strong? And you know, studies found that their system is unlike most any other tree. Most trees have like a tab group that goes down Far and you know branch other except branch off. Redwood trees roots on the go down like three or four feet in the woods or into the ground, even sometimes less than that, and they interweave with all the other trees around. So if one tree is not getting enough water, but they're a family they share. So you know most trees, hey, you know. You know if famine comes or whatever kill a tree, it doesn't happen as easily to the redwood tree because they have such a need for system. They're all connected and if one tree needs you know help, the other trees help it out. Thus they grow as tall and strong. So.
Speaker 1I've never heard that as I. That's really beautiful. I might have to start using that with some of my my team, my coach, but so my team is my redwood trees.
Speaker 2It's kind of just the inside reminder that that's what it's really about.
Speaker 1Yeah, I was watching the documentary the other day and they were talking a little bit about they had a kid on there that you kind of brought into your family His, his dad had passed away and the beginning of our program, of our podcast. We have a saying that you know, the most important kid you'll ever coach is the kid that needs to program more than the program needs that kid and I think you kind of embody that as a coach. I think, from what I've seen, you're able to. You know, reach out to the kids and have this, you know this family mentality and and if there is someone that needs to be brought into the fold or to literally bring, bring a kid into your family, into your house, and you know to hang out with your own boys, I mean it's, yeah, not not many coaches do that. I think it's but truly makes you who you are.
Speaker 2Oh, thanks, deb. I do put a lot of effort into that. I think most coaches, you know, try to do that. We all have our different ways of doing it. For a reason, I feel that I do have a, I guess maybe a talent for that that I definitely can't let claim to that. My parents are that way, so something definitely have to work on. But maybe I, you know trade and maybe God gave me to help people out, so you know. Some would say who's your biggest influence, as I'm going to coach in career. You know X's and O's wise, maybe building a team certainly Fred Fernandez how you interact with players and you know be a father, a father, and love them. You know, coach Tiguot was great, my coach is a snow, but you know really how you treat people.
Speaker 1Yeah, I've heard some of your players say before that you know, I mean you hear coaches that they don't swear or things like that. But I've heard, and I don't know if there's truth behind it. You can debunk the myth of. It's truly a myth. But that note, coach Thompson he doesn't even raise his voice, he doesn't yell at us. Any truth to that.
Speaker 2I think most of my teams probably say that's not true. You know, certainly I'm a pretty passionate person. I get riled up, I'm really competitive. I can go zero to 10 pretty fast, but I would hope that all my players would say you know, that I love them. I'm keen to say that I'm all this best for them.
Speaker 1And I'm going to be honest with them.
Speaker 2You know everything I can to help raise them up to the expected standard, that I'm not going to lower them standard for them. And I feel that you know, still in heavy relationships and loving a person can get there a lot faster and better the other ways, but certainly there's times that because I love them, I do raise my voice and swear out a little tough love never hurt anybody. Certainly think that they know that when I get like that it's probably not deserved right word, but then maybe it was warranted and I'm just getting their attention and reminding them that there's a certain standard that there to be held to and I expect them to do as a standard and I'll keep loving them just like Mount Sinai, absolutely. But I'm going to be honest with them and they're not supposed to do. And generally when I do get the most fired up, it's usually not related to anything with winning or losing or X's and O's, it's, you know, at third or attitude or how they treat it, teammates or locker rooms or stuff like that.
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 2I'll get pretty animated and upset about, but the other stuff to me just really isn't worth the on that.
Speaker 1I think you know, control what you can control and those are the things that they can control something you know if you want to try to enforce and help coach them on.
Speaker 2But yeah, definitely, probably. I think every coach talks about no control things you can control, you know, talk to the thing that binds us together toughness, attitude, perseverance and effort kind of get an acronym of tape and you know those are all four things that you can control and that are really hard to learn. So, yeah, someone drops a pass. This is a blog or a tactical, and then I'll get fired. Yeah, you know they're giving me poor after constantly or treating someone bad, or you know, whatever the case, there's something they can control. That you know. They know I'm going to get on about it, but I definitely feel that you know, build that relationship that you hit. It first needs to be reminders with you know. Looking at yourself, hey, am I really demanding this practice out of my like, what am I allowing? I mean, if I really is it clear that they know what my expectation is, and if I feel that you know I've gone above and beyond to make sure that that's known and it's still not what I expect you to be, then Jump's not going to love you, but I'll be not many players that play for me that I can snap down, but I feel like they know that it was coming from a place of love.
Speaker 1Yeah, I definitely. I think I mean I can just you know, talking to you, phil, the love you have for your players and things like that, and I know how authentic and real you are and so I would imagine your players you know feel, and you know know that, the same thing. So I did want to talk a little bit about, just you know, some of your, your biggest challenges, and one in particular you know a few years ago you were diagnosed with ALS. I'm just curious how that's affected not only you know your personal life, but just even in coaching, if there's, you know if that's affected you and the way you coach or the perspective you have on coaching things like that.
Living With a Rough Disease
Speaker 2Yeah that was, that was rough but my ALS is you know people that love it's. It's an interlateral disease where over time, slowly all your motor neurons die and motor neurons are connected to the muscles, so eventually every muscle in your body is going to die. The last thing that kind of goes your eyes so you can text with your eyes. But yeah, eventually I'm going to just take your voice and take your ability to breathe and live it more. So you know it's a. It's a rough disease, especially in one that the goalpost is always being there because you kind of can just continually go through this morning cycle. Well, you know all I can use my right arm anymore. That sucks and you're really sad and angry about it. I've been here for a couple of years and the left hand goes and you know, hey, well, how am I going to scratch my nose anymore? And you kind of figure that out. You know, eventually, right on this spot where you know both arms, really compromise can do much at all. I can. You know, kind of really, you know can't do stairs, can't really keep my neck up. You know the voice and she can hear us. You know starting to get compromised. So, yeah, I mean it's, it's a rough, you know, real disease that's undefeated and there's no you know cure and there's nothing really that slows it down, and it kind of in every person that you know some most of the averages two to three years and you're gone. So I really feel, you know, grateful that I've come up here.
Speaker 1On seven years. Has it been seven years since the diagnosis or?
Speaker 2If you're the first diagnosis, then they thought it was maybe I wasn't really accepting that diagnosis and you know definitely that mindset that like I'm going to be in and it's not in, and mine was going slower than you know a lot of other people. So I would say convinced. But we agree that it's maybe more likely something else, but continue to progress. I kind of knew the back.
Speaker 1What were some of the symptoms that you know first started that you noticed?
Speaker 2First time I remember really noticing that was lifting with the kids. I was significantly weaker at my left leg overnight. So you know, maybe I totally broke my leg. I paid a lot of work, I could ball, pick up a ball, baseball whatever, and all that's my throwing arm. So I didn't really think anything out that didn't go to get checked for months later. And when I did go get it checked they were like, well, this isn't structural, must be neurological. So I'm going to go to UG test there with them, maybe pinched nerve. And my shock I never forget. They graduated my first day of high school and they told me I have a serious disease. So then I go over with me or my wife or family, you know, sad and very infested and going down the road. You know I can't figure out what it is and how can we fix it. And you know, as it continued to progress, I finally went back to Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Got to get an official diagnosis and they confirmed that it was a slower moving version of ALS. Instead of two to three years, maybe 10 to 20. So I'm seven years in and I feel very grateful. You know I'm sorry, seven years. As I told you before I was already a pretty emotional person. Yeah, that's kind of shuts off the part of your brain that regulates your emotions with anger and laughter and crying. So you know I only did those three things pretty much you know every day and now Probably hit C even harder. But yeah, so it's been really rough on me and the family, but it's also been a huge blessing to see there's communities and former players and assistant coaches and friends and family just you know, wrap it around my family. So it's concerning coaching, certainly to me, my ability to be every show route and have the, you know, physical strength and the stamina to maybe do what I used to do as a coach. I was very active, involved and probably spent too much time. That's the sport that I love, probably. I would guess there's probably another human life that's much more filmers, you know, clinics or thought about it and just pondered on how you can do something different. Just, you know, I've had a lot of experience with football, most of my life, yeah, whereas ALS really changed for me in a good way to. You know, those things are important. You can still do those, enough to be prepared, but to really focus on relationships with your coaches and your players, as well as really trying to build a culture of, you know, the grid and the attitude and love. I actually think, in my opinion, the things that are more important to me when it comes to coaching that I am better at and I feel that the culture of our new lives you know, seven years being there has been very big, great to me, and you know what I would want to be in, and we've been more games and we're probably supposed to want to play a game three or less for years and you know that one play of game and numerous years before that and I think a lot of that success has much more to do with you know the love and culture.
Speaker 1More so than the X's and O's right.
Speaker 2And I think that the X's and O's are a little bit more winning, whereas at Ogden it's almost been freeing to like we're just going to go, be the best we can be and enjoy and being the most better, be present and be grateful and watchless. You know, spend more time with my family, you know, I believe, definitely I think, a little more relaxed and carefree and engaging with the kids. So you know, it's been a breath of fresh air for me that this is actually a lot more enjoyable and still finding success and you know, in many ways I think it's made me a better coach.
Speaker 1How was? Uh? Because, jack, he played with Ogden High School the last year 2000. Oh Kyra, oh Kyra, excuse me, yeah, how you know having your son on the team, you know how does that change your coaching? I mean, is it harder or tougher to have your own son on the team?
Speaker 2Well, I mean, it's a little bit of both. I was fortunate to be coach, fly my dad and have a lot better understanding for, you know, coaching me. I think you know we've mentioned in conversations my dad very old school, not a lot of words, you know got after my butt a lot and you know, to me I felt, you know and fairly definitely was more on me than any of the other players. And now you look back and like he was protecting me. He was trying to make me the best player I can and also send message to the team. If I get up to my son like this, then we better get along and, you know, definitely leave. No doubt that why I'm playing is because my ability is, you know, your father's favorite new thing. It was to my detriment as a coach when it comes to the standard that he helped me to. Yeah, you know my son as a higher standard on the team anyone else, because he's my son and I'm always capable of. Sure, he was tired of getting quiz all the time by his dad, but my hope one day he can appreciate that. You know I said this on his recent recruiting trip that you know I'm definitely trying not to be biased here. Certainly my son is not the best football player that I've coached which no way it could be because I'm his dad but my son is the smartest football player ever coached and always get a great effort, loves football as much as anyone I've ever coached, so I'm very proud of him and you end up being a very good football player as well. You know everything is dad. I think he left Oregon with a lot of really good stats and success and love this experience, but I think he would certainly agree as well that is leaving Northridge. I don't know if you want to come with me. I know that was my first and most important recruiting job. What's the ring?
Speaker 1your son with, say I really wanted to come with me.
Speaker 2I wanted to coach my son. One had experience in my dad, you know I had with me. I thought he could flourish at Oregon and kind of recreate himself. My son, like me, was undersized and didn't play a lot when he was younger.
Speaker 1How old was Tyre when you made the switch over to Alton?
Speaker 2I think he was in sixth grade Okay, I think around there, but anyway. So eventually when that time came, I left all his friends and came over there with me and absolutely I just love this experience at Oregon. He loves the teachers, the principal, great friends, great teammates. There's really good circle of friends and, you know, just subscribed academically, socially, you know athletically, and I think you know he would tell you that those friendships and those relationships and all those things are certainly more important and more influential in his life. And he did it on the football field and he was the first team on the state. A really good player for me Certainly didn't have to, you know. I think that as a coach I'm so grateful that my son worked so hard in a good position and I always gave a great effort because I wanted to be on the field and be successful and he's got to earn that and he's got to go above other kids you're doing and I was grateful that he surpassed my expectation there Because you know, as a daddy you get a little worried and you want your son to have a good experience in the out there. But I'm the coach and the first thing we're going to do is put the best players out there and if you're not one of them, you're not going to be out there, and I'm very, very grateful that he worked hard on the right to the out there.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's amazing. He's a great football player. All your kids are really good athletes, and I mean more than anything. They're coachable and they just they work hard and I think that's a testament to you and you know what you're all about.
Speaker 2I better work hard to be coachable. They get their athletic ability from Graham and Helen.
Speaker 1That's awesome. Last question I wanted to talk about a little bit. I know you served a mission correct Over in Japan. I did, yeah, and I believe in March you guys are actually headed back to Japan and taking the whole family. Oh yeah, I mean, is that, have you always wanted to go back to Japan?
Prioritizing Family Time Amid Diagnosis
Speaker 2I mean yeah, I mean that I guess my one bit of advice to anyone else who's listening. If you want to talk eggs in the nose and all that, I love that stuff, but the most important thing that you can do to get out of this. So don't put off those experiences and trips of a lifetime that you've always wanted to do. So when I got the diagnosis, you know things that we've always wanted to do at their family, anything you have time for obviously got pushed to the forefront as you know the diagnosis means and how quickly things can change in that timetables, you know, different for everybody. You're not promised anything. So you know, taking my family on that, on inclusive to Mexico and going to Hawaii those are some of the you know bucket list things that we've checked off. And you know I want to go to see the Northern Lights. I always wanted to see some friends of my wife who went to that this year and it honestly feels like every time I go into something I get back Soon thereafter I realized if I would have made A few months, I'm probably not capable of swimming in the ocean. I can't even get down to see that I certainly could not do you know either of those things again. So, God willing, hopefully I can figure it out there in Japan. That's where I'm going with my wife and kids and a few family members and going back to my mission and just going to a few other areas in Japan for 10 days. She's excited She'll have that place that I really love and some strange food and amazing, loving, cool people and a lot of different cultures. So yeah, yeah, a lot of my sons pushing around the wheelchair and carrying me upstairs or whatever.
Speaker 1But the memories, that, yeah, yes, it's all about the experiences and memories and that's probably the best thing.
Speaker 2You know we're a ball coach and most your summer other than two weeks as your coach and your family vacations are, you know, going to the good. We're going to go to the beach in California. What a breath of fresh air. And I think each one of my kids, my wife, would agree that the best thing that's come out of this is prioritizing those type of untrammed trips. You know, last two, three years I miss two weeks of football camp. My kids miss it and we're going to go and do things that they know that well. You better live to, work hard while you're gone and have my expectations is that you know you don't miss a thing when you get back. Certainly, to me those things are more important and I would advise anybody, whatever work you're doing and whatever situation is, if you don't think you can afford it, you don't think you have enough time in your day with your work, that you're pulling yourself and you can do it and really prioritize those type of things with your wife and your kids and your family. And so grateful for all the people that helped us be able to do those things. And it's the last one, you know, my niece kind of put together fundraiser and you know, raise like, raise like you know, four or five thousand bucks, which goes along the way, and that, and you know it's a lot of the people, through different means and ways, have helped us along the way. Yeah, ask him how we're spending that money. Is we're going to go on as many?
Speaker 1Is there any? I mean, I know your, your niece has kind of put that together. And then Thompson toughorg is another place that people can kind of go and donate and and help correct.
Speaker 2Yeah, sky and I get really funny about that. We just feel like we've got so much help coming in. I feel like every time we turn around, someone's talking about helping us out. But you know, if someone wants to help us out great but really feel that we get more help than you have so many people that really look out for us and things that we never thought we could do we can help to do. So very grateful to help us out and whether it's five bucks on them or golf treatment or, just before you go, all my players, but you know you have some you can have a little more. Yeah, two of those that were my former players and then you were both on my staff this past year. You know, surprising at lunch today and eight for two hours and laugh and told stories and let down there and be playing with that. You know, playing for me or coaching for me. Or you know they coach my, my kids who come from school and they're talking to them. So you might whether it's just coming to get something like that or obviously finances become an issue and be able to do things become an issue. You know, along the way, whatever help we need, it God's way.
Family Support and Gratitude
Speaker 1Well, I mean I know you know cooking your son over the last couple of years and getting to know you and your family. I mean I mean there's anything, anything you guys need at all. You know my wife, my family and, and I know everyone around us. You know you already do that, devin Scott?
Speaker 2See, sky doesn't. Sky is such a good person. She always worries and feels bad because everyone is going to pick our kids. Absolutely not, yeah, just because I can't, you know, drive anymore, I don't care, I don't care.
Speaker 1You know it's another way.
Speaker 2Like baby you can do all the you would, then you've obviously been one of those. You know she coach my youngest and you know he loves you and and that's a great experience football for you Again all those people that pick our kids up for everything and taking their kind of there, you know, second dad, second mom, definitely a village is helping raise these kids.
Speaker 1I mean, like you mentioned before, you know the redwood trees where we're all family and we're all here supporting one another. So I appreciate you coming on today and being on this podcast. You know I truly admire and respect you so much and and love you and your family and, yeah, just thank you so much for coming on today.
Speaker 2You got it. Thanks for giving me something fun to do today.
Speaker 1Absolutely All right, see you everyone.