Saturdays In Jonesboro
Saturdays in Jonesboro is the definitive pulse of Arkansas State Athletics, led by the "Voice of the Red Wolves," Matt Stolz. The series blends Matt’s veteran play-by-play insight with an all-access look at the traditions and red-turf grit that define the program. By humanizing the athletes and the game-week grind, we transform passive spectators into an active community with a true stake in the A-State legacy.
Saturdays In Jonesboro
Handling Pressure: The Mindset of an NFL Kicker with ASU Alum Blake Grupe
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Pressure makes some athletes tighten up, and it makes others tell the truth about themselves. We’re joined by former Arkansas State football star and current NFL kicker Blake Grupe, the Red Wolves’ all-time leading scorer, and he takes us straight into the moments that forged his mindset, from being a walk-on fighting for reps to becoming a trusted leg on Sundays.
We talk about why Jonesboro still feels like home after five years at A-State, two degrees, and a college football world transformed by the transfer portal and NIL. Blake relives the surreal day he learned he was the starting kicker at halftime of the Alabama game, plus the small details that stick with you forever when you’re trying to earn your place.
Then we get honest about the Arizona Bowl, missed kicks, and the mental roller coaster that every specialist knows. Blake explains how that low point became his turning point, why confidence is something you build through preparation, and how a repeatable pre-kick routine helps him manage nerves in hostile stadiums. He also shares what he learned from Saints leader Demario Davis, what it was like meeting Adam Vinatieri in Indianapolis, and how he stayed level amid the chaos of the NFL before going 11-for-11 with the Colts and hitting a 60-yard field goal.
If you care about Arkansas State, special teams, NFL kicking, or building mental toughness under pressure, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves football, and leave a review telling us the most clutch moment you’ve ever watched or lived.
@arkansasstatemedianetwork.com.
Welcome And OTAs With Colts
SPEAKER_01And hello again, everybody. Welcome into Saturdays in Jonesboro. I'm Matt Stilts, and this has been a really fun podcast so far. This is episode number five, and we've been able to really get to know, get to visit with people that are familiar with the program. And you know, one thing I want to do throughout the course of this podcast is get to kind of check in with some of the former players at Arkansas State and see what they're up to right now. And I thought, who better than the all-time leading scorer in A-State football history, our good friend Blake Groupie? How you doing, Blake?
SPEAKER_00Hey, can't complain. We uh right in the middle of OTAs here. We've got one more week to finish it out, but uh, but doing good up here in Indianapolis and glad to be on here.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we're looking really official today, by the way. We've got the Colts background. I guess the team set you up a room to do this.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I got lucky. I just asked myself, say I got a really, really important podcast to do. So if there's a room you can put me in, that'd be great. Next thing you know, we got the full media room to myself. So can't complain.
SPEAKER_01I love it. So yeah, you're going through OTAs right now, but you were on campus not too long ago, right? You came back for spring practice.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. That's the uh the cool part about being up here is Jonesboro is pretty much halfway between Indianapolis and New Orleans. So um, not many people like doing 12-hour drives straight, and I'm definitely one of those guys. So it's nice to be able to go six hours and stop in Jonesboro, get some J Towns, see some people, and then continue on. So it's uh it's kind of funny how you know Jonesboro's back on my route.
SPEAKER_01Well, you you spent those three seasons in New Orleans with the Saints, so you're still living there, I'm guessing
Returning To Jonesboro And Engagement
SPEAKER_01and going back and forth. And I'm guessing a big reason for that is that uh I think a lot of uh people saw recently that you got engaged, right?
SPEAKER_00I did. I did, yeah. Uh my fiance and I got engaged, oh, about I think it was April, somewhere in April, and uh got the date booked, got our engagement pictures back yesterday. So uh she's from down there around around New Orleans, so she's keeping me down there. But uh I really enjoy it down there, you know, weather-wise, food-wise, all the stuff I really like to do, you can do year-round down there. So uh I'll miss the days playing in the black and gold, but uh I'm glad to glad to be up here now.
SPEAKER_01So when you come back to campus, I mean, and this wasn't the first time you'd been back for spring practice, you had actually come back for pack day the year before for the spring game. So you've been back the last couple of years now. I mean, what kind of memories does does that bring back for you?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's it's always it's always fun being back. Um, you know, I feel like every time I come back through, regardless of when, I try to just take a little lap. And and recently it seems like there's there's something new every single time, you know. Um there's a lot more to do as a if as a student and as a player uh in Jonesboro and than I was when I was there. But you know, all that all that new stuff out there a little ways past the stadium. And and uh it's just I I enjoy watching the watching the school grow, watching the support grow, uh, being able to just get back in the facility. And and I know there's you know turnover from coaches from time to time. And and uh just last time I was there, I was explaining that Kirk Merritt is the big guy on the wall inside the locker room, you know, and just kind of just filling in on some of the little details that I feel like you know I might know or you know, got got got uh passed on a little bit. Uh, but yeah, I always enjoy being back and definitely brings back memories. We need to get a good uh a big band back together there uh for a game. So unfortunately, I'm a little busy in the falls currently, but uh I'm sure there'll be some days. Hopefully not in the too near future that I can uh make it back for some Saturdays.
SPEAKER_01You know, you and I have talked
Why Arkansas State Feels Like Home
SPEAKER_01about it before, and your situation's a little bit different, and this is a different era now with the portal and uh and NIL and everything that's going on in college football, even from what it was five years ago. And I I think a lot of people think of your situation as a little bit different, and I certainly do because you spent five years at Arkansas State, and you got two degrees here. You got your undergrad and your MBA at A-St. Again, you finish as the all-time leading scorer. You did play the one season at Notre Dame, and I know that was a great experience for you as well. But you've said before, I mean, you think of Arkansas State as your home.
SPEAKER_00Without a doubt, yeah. Um, I think, you know, when I transferred, it was very early in that portal process. You know, it was the portal was the thing, people are transferring, but by no means is um was it what it is now, you know. But yeah, I mean, I I I came to Arkansas State as a you know, 135-pound kid that played soccer and kicked sometimes on Fridays. And so um, you know, got to meet so many good people, got to develop into a football player and and uh as a man, um, and honestly, I I I felt like, you know, before when I signed, like, you know, you're always it was only five years, you know. And so my my hopes and dreams were to, you know, maybe redshirt for a year if I have to and play four if I'm lucky. Uh get to do a lot of, you know, cool things, playing some bowl games, win a conference championship, try to do everything that you would want to do, you know, as a college football player. And uh I'd say I pretty much got to do just about all of it, you know. Uh I really felt like I maximized my time there. Like you said, I got two degrees and and uh I was in a fraternity and and uh I I even ran for homecoming one year. Uh the fraternity put me up for it. I was I was on homecoming. I didn't didn't make it. I had had a game to pull there. But uh I remember like letting I'm pretty sure Blake Anderson was the head coach then and just let him know like, hey, this is what I'm doing. I I don't really plan on having to miss anything, but just in case, this just so you know, I didn't want to, you know, it almost felt like high school. You had to get drug out there at halftime or something. So uh yeah, I I really enjoyed my time there. Um got to do a lot of great stuff and and uh definitely thankful for you know the five years and and all the friends and connections that I made, you know, in Jonesboro.
Earning The Job Midgame At Alabama
SPEAKER_01For those who aren't familiar with your journey at Arkansas State, uh it's a fascinating ride that you kind of went through when you were here in Jonesboro because when you came in, I mean, you came in as a walk-on, you kind of had to earn your spot. You redshirted that first season, and then in the 2018 season, you're a redshirt freshman, and a couple of games into the season, you still hadn't earned that starting job yet. And I remember you telling me at one point that you actually found out you were the starting kicker at halftime of the Alabama game, right?
SPEAKER_00Correct, yeah, correct. That is uh, you know, that was my like second year. We played, I can't remember who we played at home. Beat him up pretty good, uh, I believe. I think it was week two. Then we traveled to Alabama, um, you know, going through the warm-up just like I'd gone through, you know, every single game. And then I think uh there's a kick that was missed, anyways. But about halftime, I figured out that like I'm I'm up for the second half. And I remember just those the jitters and feelings of uh you know nervousness, excitement, just everything that, you know, the emotionals like roller coaster of a of a kicker. You I went through all of it in one half and we didn't even have a rep in the second half. So uh didn't, you know, got to feel all that and then go through a week of practice and then start that next week at Tulsa. And uh I just remember having my dad and my grandpa and you know, some of my family there, and and uh, you know, I remember they lost my shoulder pads or something happened with the shoulder pads, so I had a real big pair of shoulder pads for that Tulsa game. Uh so it's always funny the stuff you you remember, but uh but yeah, you know, picked up that job and and uh honestly like started that whole year and you know got the job done for the most part, but by no means did I knock it out of the park. And so uh kind of had to earn it that next year and and then had a great redshirt sophomore year. So, you know, it's it's all it's all a long journey. I'm sure you'll get into that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and that's that's a big part of your story because you you're really honest about the journey. And the end of that redshirt freshman season, I know it wasn't the ending that you wanted in the Arizona Bowl.
SPEAKER_00Arizona Bowl was tough.
SPEAKER_01That was uh a tough first half of that game in particular, and you did come back and force overtime with the kick at the end of regulation, and then you had a uh made kick there in in the overtime. But in the offseason, Coach Anderson brought in the guy to replace you and on scholarship, yeah. Yeah, brought in a scholarship kicker. You're still not on scholarship, right?
SPEAKER_00No, yeah. You know, the always, you know, the goal of a walk-on is to somehow earn a spot, win a job, get put on scholarship. You know, that was like that's still is the end goal. You know, I know walk-ons are a little different now, but you know, that is the goal of a walk-on, you know, to be able to come in and say you did it, say you earned it, and and at the end of the day, I guess make it at whatever level that is. But um, yeah, you know, I was still a walk-on, was played that whole year. That Arizona Bowl, like that first half was I missed two kicks. One was a 47, and I remember just looking like that kick seemed like it was 10 miles away. Like you want to talk about had no chance to make it just from a mental state you're in. Like, like I was not, I had to learn how to practice, had to learn how to prepare. And uh I I tell people to this day that like that Arizona Bowl kind of was like the turning point in my career because uh going from you know the negative side of unfortunately missing two kicks and putting the team in a tough spot in that first half, um, kind of walked out the field my head down. Coach Anderson absolutely ripped into me, and rightfully so. Go into that halftime, uh, you know, has you know, everybody on the team is trying to pump you up, trying to trying to get you going. Uh there's actually a picture of like somebody talking to me in the in the in the in like the tunnel. But um basically, you know, that second half, we come back out. I think we ran a on fourth and goal or whatever, fourth and whatever, we ran like a trick play trying to throw it to our left tackle instead of kicking a field goal. When I'm on the sideline, like, wow, like that's like that's the reality of the situation I'm in right now. Um and looking back at the way it all played out, if we would have, you know, maybe kicked that one, I would like to say I would have made it. And then that one at the end that you know was to push it to overtime and tie it would have been a game winner. But um I remember just sitting back and like all my buddies, it was first time I was playing, uh, you know, like those bowl games are you know televised. And so I had a bunch of my buddies I knew were watching. And I remember just stepping back and the whole thing and and just basically just you know feeling everything, literally like just the shaky nerves. Like that's the most nervous I think I've ever been for a kick was that was that kick to try to push over time. And uh I literally just remember telling myself, like, like here we go, like like this is it, you know, like this is a very make or break moment. I could just feel it in my career, and and uh I remember hitting it, didn't necessarily smoke it, but you know, in the time, like with given everything and the circumstances that was right down the middle. Um, and that was like my first kind of real taste of like doing it, you know. And then I remember going into overtime and I had like as as negative and as low and you know, everything that I went through that whole entire game of just being down to then hit that kick and then the one in overtime, like I I could have been, you know, I was bulletproof out there. He couldn't tell me nothing. Like you just think that the the complete 180 flip just to to pure supreme confidence to hit that, and that's what really kind of taught me like that's that's weight, that's the way you gotta be. And uh just kind of tried to ride that, and that's kind of been my motto since almost irrational,
Arizona Bowl Low Point To Confidence
SPEAKER_00no fear, like confidence, and because there's a kicker at the end of the day, that's kind of the way you gotta be, and that's just what I found to have success. But yeah, that Arizona Bowl was a was a was a it was a long day, but by all means did it did it definitely help shape me and in my career.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it motivated you going into the offseason. I I can't imagine how motivated you felt, especially when you found out they were bringing in another guy on scholarship to compete for the job. And the other part of that story that I love, and of course, you end up winning the job as a red shirt sophomore and had an incredible year. First team all conference, you were a Lu Grossa semifinalist that year. But take us through that first day of camp. I know Coach Anderson came up and said something too.
SPEAKER_00It's funny you remember all this stuff. Yeah, I know we talked about it before, but you got it. Um yeah, they um, you know, they brought him in. I remember right before camp, I went into Coach A and basically it was like, if I win this job, basically asking him, and like, I know you can't you can't guarantee me nothing, you know, but like if I win the job, like is there a chance I get put on scholarship? And because, you know, like I said, that was the goal. And he ultimately said, Yeah, you're gonna have to earn it. And but you win this job, like we'll we'll look at it, you know, we can make that happen. And so um, we're out there, first day of fall camp on the grass fields, dragonflies all around, you know, um, just a normal summer day in in Jonesboro. But I remember kind of on a knee pre-practice and kind of waiting to get going. And I coach A walks by and basically said, like, he looked down at me and he said, uh, he said, You're gonna let this guy take your job. And I remember, you know, just just reacting that like didn't even have to think about what was coming out of my word, you know, coming out of my mouth next. But, you know, the words are bleep no. And so um, I'm sure, you know, from that point on, he was like, Well, we're you know, we're gonna see. And uh, you know, that that spring ball before that training camp or that fall camp, we basically just got in the business of making kicks. And that's, you know, the coach, special team, one of the special teams, assistant coaches at the time, his name was Seth Price. And and um we just like he just he kind of took me and we just we just built confidence that whole spring ball. And that's what led into that fall camp. And then to, you know, take care of business and and really learn how to practice, learn how to prepare, um, you know, and take those steps on ultimately like you know, being a professional at it and and learning how to work through all that and be ready. And so that those, it's just so funny. Like doesn't matter where you are and you know what situation you're in, but you know, you gotta you have to make it work, you gotta make, you gotta find out what works for you, and ultimately you gotta perform. And uh, you know, that was just another step, you know, in my process. And uh it's funny actually, the last weekend uh my parents flew down to New Orleans and went wedding dress shopping. My mom went wedding dress shopping with Kennedy, my fiance, and my dad went fishing and golfing and you know, doing everything. But funny enough, on there, they got off their flight, they run into my Saint special teams coordinator at the gate. They continue on right about right as they're about to leave like the terminal, and they run into Coach Blake Anderson. I was like, You gotta be kidding me. So, you know, I get a I get a text from Phil Galeano, my coach, there, and then I get a text again. It's a selfie with you know uh Blake and my parents, and I'm like, what is what in the world is going on? So um, so yeah, you know, I definitely uh definitely wanted to you know get my point across there when uh when Blake asked me that. But uh, you know, that was that's as raw as it gets, and that's the way I felt, and and ultimately that's kind of what I did.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, and the rest is history. You go on to have that great season in 2019, and then you know, you played the following season in 2020, you're able to get that year back because of COVID, and then you did play one season under Coach Jones. So what was that experience like?
SPEAKER_00You know, when Coach Jones got there, um, because that would have been, you know, basically, I guess he would have got there in February of 201. That's right. It would be February 21. Yep, yeah, I gotcha. February 21. And I remember that that winter workouts and then going into that summer workouts and then going into that season, you know, so much about like that first year um as a program, as a head coach, you know, running your program. It's such a, you know, it honestly we needed a culture reset. We needed um we need somebody to get in and and uh figure out who really wants to be there and who really doesn't. And uh and unfortunately for for the you know, I'm not calling myself a good guy, but for the guys that are doing stuff the right way and want to be there, you gotta go through all the stuff that they can possibly think up on to um make it as hard as possible. And in, you know, in the best way, but um to make it difficult and figure out who really wants to be there and you know who's gonna work hard and and get the right guys in the locker room because the end of the day, that's the first step. You know, you can have you know good football players, good football players, but uh you can only have um you know so much, so much of that. You need guys to hold down your locker room, you need guys that are culture setters and in the core of your team, you really gotta build. And uh, you know, I was I was a part of that that year is what I felt. So we had all kinds of meetings and and uh you know, we worked through so much that year, whether it's the introduction of the fourth quarter program and those weren't workouts, and those were not easy. And I mean the heck
Winning The Scholarship Competition
SPEAKER_00they, you know, any mess up, toe on the line, wrong way around the bag, not all the way through the line. I mean, they literally had like a tally system, and um, you know, they did they just structured, they structured a culture setting program. And at the end of the day, that's what that was that first year. Um you know, I remember when we just as we worked into the season and you know, learning how to deal with, you know, honestly grinding away and week to week, um, you know, having to find a way to try to win and uh scratch a few out. Um, but you know, at that point, you know, you just knew that that, you know, it's only gonna go up from here. So he's gonna continue to get the guys he wants uh in the building. And so, man, but that year was not easy. And uh, but that's the first step to you know building your program and and ultimately getting it to where it is now and continuing to build.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and at that point, I mean, it was your fifth year at Arkansas State, you had a good idea of college football and the landscape. And I I'm guessing you probably saw even at the time, Coach Jones' long-term vision. I mean, he knew he was trying to build it kind of his way. And to do that, I mean, there had to be some rough times. And obviously, we've started to see that that uh vision kind of turn into fruition now with uh the last three years and the three bowl games and one bowl games the last couple of years, but you were kind of uh one of the building blocks of that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah, it was. There was there's so much that went into that year. Um, and you look at all programs, the majority of times that first year, you know, is if you look at the, you know, say you look at a 10-year of a of a coach's career at one school, you know, that first year is usually um one that sticks out either and exceptionally, it's either way too good and then everybody leaves, or it's like, you know, it's a year where you truly have to build. And I feel like that's what that was. But um, you know, all the stuff that we went through with those guys and that we know still keep up with to this day. But, you know, the guys that stuck it out, the guys that made it, I mean, those are those are guys that are, you know, got to be Red Wolves for life. Those are guys that that truly care, uh, that that we still talk about, you know, stuff to this day. So um, you know, that those are the guys that you wanted to you wanted to build around and and you know, build those connections with. And sometimes you got to go through some of the hard parts, and and that's what we did.
SPEAKER_01You know, you're one of a handful of really good kickers that have come through Arkansas State now. And you go back even before you got to A State. I mean, there were some good ones. Joshua Rocco was uh a Lou Groza finalist one year, and uh Brian Davis was fancy. He's a guy that you actually broke his scoring record.
SPEAKER_00He was the guy I was chasing for a while. Yep. Yeah, yeah, becoming Scott Scott Roper back in the day. He had the longest one. Uh was it 60? Is it 61 or 63? Yeah, I might have to.
SPEAKER_01I think it's 63, yeah.
SPEAKER_0060 something, I know that. But yeah, I remember and look at him now. I remember meeting him, and uh, he's uh you know, worked in the police department or whatever, but got to meet him. Uh but yeah, you know, they got a lot of good guys that have come through there. And you know, since I've came through, there's been a lot of good ones as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, Dominic Zavato, who had a couple of really good seasons and uh went on to Michigan. I know he's uh taking his chance now trying to play professionally.
SPEAKER_00And yeah, he's in the Giants now.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, with the Giants organization, and then uh Clun Van Andel's turned into a really good kicker here at AC.
SPEAKER_00He has, yeah. That that was fun being back for uh some of those spring ball practices. They had that scrimmage and uh just you know being back on that field was brought back memories, but you know, being able to help out any ways I I can. And you know, I was kicking in the indoor that morning uh basically told Shex, you know, I was like, hey, like if any of the guys, like by no means do they, you know, I'm not gonna be killing the ball in here, like I'm still figuring it out too. It's it's you know, April. But if by like if if there's any way those guys want to come in here and just watch and see if they can pick up on anything, then you know, I I'll use the audience, you know. So uh, you know, Clun Clint's been doing great. He's he had a pretty good year last year. Like that guy's kicked more game winners than I mean than I have ever. You know, I mean that guy's just made so many game winning kicks and and uh it defin it takes some it takes some uh we'll call it gumption to to to be able to handle all that and and hit and make big kicks. And so, you know. Yeah, I give it to him. Yeah, I'm excited to see what he does this year.
SPEAKER_01You did spend your time with the Saints. We we talked about that earlier, but I I love the
Coach Jones And The Culture Reset
SPEAKER_01fact that you were there at the same time as Demario Davis. So what was it like being teammates with him for three years?
SPEAKER_00It was it was great to see, you know, that firsthand leadership. I mean, he's truly is one of the best leaders I think I've ever been around. And it's it's pretty funny, like, you know, post-game, good or bad, you know, a lot of the times the coaches would just kind of, you know, there's obviously not a microphone in the locker room, but they basically hand the mic to Demario and, you know, let him have his spiel. And so um, you know, he's very faith-oriented and and and based. And and um so it was it was it was awesome to see him lead and and and use that, you know, um, you know, as a part of, you know, his basically his message. And um, and so I really enjoyed, you know, sharing a locker room with him, whether because, you know, always always saw pictures of him, always, always knew of him, you know, being there, but you know, you know, who would have thought that you know we would be teammates someday. Um, and so it's just it was so cool to be able to to work with him, see that guy work firsthand. I mean, he works his tail off. Um, he taught me a lot actually about like work, we go through kind of the same doctor, um, you know, off the field body stuff in in New Orleans, and he's actually a part of that group now. Um, but yeah, just seeing him work firsthand. And funny stories, like when I was a rookie, very first team meeting, everybody's back in the building. You know, I go to pick a spot that I I thought would be an open seat, you know, it's right there next to the other specialists. And so I go to Papa Squat, and I'm like, you know, there can't be anybody that's like, you know, this far back that like I feel like I would be in their seat, you know. And of course I'm in Demario's, you know, Demario sits, he sits like second to top row, dead center. Um give it to him. He's he's watching film and meetings. He's on ear, I don't know what now. Um, but he's heard about every message in the day. And he he don't me wrong, his ears are on, but he is he's watching film. And so I thought the seat was safe. I was going to sit there, um, you know, get my spot, figure out what that was gonna be. And uh, of course, he walks up and just kind of I see him coming. I'm like, he's coming this way, he's getting closer. I'm like, you gotta be kidding me. I'm in his seat. So I very promptly got up, moved over, and I said, Hey, like introduced myself. I said, I went to Arkansas State too. And then from then on, we were, you know, buddies, and and uh, you know, he was always saying, What up, Rewolf, and and uh, you know, had that connection with him. You know, he's he's proud to be uh to go to Arkansas State and play there. And oh yeah, and uh Jones Burrow is part of his testimony and part of his story. And uh, you know, I it's it's so cool just to get to share those three years with him and you know, see him now continue on to the Jets where it all started for him. So it's uh excited to see how he does this year.
SPEAKER_01So you made the move last year. Indianapolis picks you up in the second half of the season and really finished the season very strong. 11 of 11 on your field goals, um, had a career long, a 60 yarder to put the team ahead late in one of those games.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, once it's quarterback.
SPEAKER_01So what was that like? What was it like having uh and I know that was part of the national conversation there for a while. I mean, how cool was it to be around him?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, to to like I said, who'd have thought I'd be teammates with Demario? And you know, even more who'd have thought I'd be teammates with Phillip Rivers uh for a few weeks. But yeah, to see him come in after that first game when I was up, we played at Jacksonville and Daniel Jones at his Achilles. We uh, you know, pick up Philip. Philip had a workout Monday night, um, signed on Tuesday, and in the Wednesday team meeting, uh everybody's like, is he like really gonna be like, is this real? You know, is he is he really gonna show up? And he's there in his you know, high school hat that he, you know, his high school football team that he coaches uh his hat. And uh, you know, basically at the end of the team meeting, he's they they gave him the floor a little bit. And um, you know, he basically he's a big stinking and dad gummet and and all that stuff. And so he's he stands up and you know, at the end of the day, what he said is it's you know how big of a blessing it is to be in this locker room. You don't really realize it, or you realize it, but you don't you don't really truly miss it until you're gone. And how he's so stinking and fired up and to to be back and like dad gummet, let's freaking do it, you know. And uh the whole room is like like holy cow, we could do this. So uh unfortunately Seattle wanted to kick six field goals and come back and hit a 56 after I hit a 60 to to steal that one from us. But uh, you know, that game off I'll always remember that, you know, let alone uh from for my contributions when I was able to do that game, just but
Saints Lessons From Demario Davis
SPEAKER_00to to share a field with him and cameras and everything in that game was was it was crazy.
SPEAKER_01So I I'm guessing the Indianapolis situation has has been a good one for you.
SPEAKER_00It has, yeah. We you know, we got here and uh after you know a little bit of up and down season where I was you know named a captain and uh for the Saints and you know really thought I'd you know might build my career there. Um, you know, really use it the the craziness of this league, you just you just hold on and and uh go with the flow and and uh never get too high or too low. And and I I learned that last year. I truly did. But um, you know, the thing I'm most proud of is is is getting up here and uh trusting myself and trusting my routine and and what I feel like works best for me and and what has proven to to work for me in the past. And you know, I didn't didn't really fold on that, I didn't get down to myself. Um basically got up here and stayed with stick stuck to my guns, did what I know worked, and uh, you know, didn't change a single thing and was all a sudden nails. So um, you know, I haven't really dove in too much maybe on why uh before and after, but uh I don't think that's gonna do a whole lot for me now. I'm just kind of eyes forward and continuing to build and and uh and work here and ultimately win a job and continue on um on my path and my career. And so uh excited for this year, excited for training camp. Um had a good day of practice yesterday, got the old you know, field goal period and two-minute drill, uh hit a 54 into the wind, and uh so that felt good. But uh just gonna continue to build, continue to stay ready, and uh excited to see see how this year goes.
SPEAKER_01One thing that's always impressed me about you is just the confidence that you approach every kick with, and you can see it in your body language, and I think it seemed to start that red shirt sophomore season where you really broke out, but you could tell just by your body language every time you came out on the field that you knew you were gonna go out there and make that kick. So, yeah, where does that come from? At any point, was there something you did where you kind of coached yourself up mentally to go out there and and approach it the way that you do?
SPEAKER_00You know, I I can't think of one thing um that like maybe I coached myself up on. Um, you know, worked with some guys and kind of refined my form over the years, you know, kind of unintentionally just by getting stronger and you know, figuring, figuring my body out and getting better. But you know, kind of like I explained the Arizona Bowl earlier, um, just from past experiences, like that kind of supreme confidence is, you know, one way to say it. But that's kind of what I've how I've learned to, you know, work and how that's like worked the best for me. And so, you know, that was my first little taste of success was just going out there and and feeling that confidence and kind of relishing in it, you know, and don't, you know, I guess, you know, pull that pull that power a little bit, you know, honestly. I mean, you you use some of that nervous energy, and you know, by all means do I look cool, calm, and collected out there, but you know, deep down, you know, you the nerves and the you know, butterflies and you know, the emotions are all still there, you know.
SPEAKER_01You're here, you can't you're here. I mean, that's part of it.
SPEAKER_00You can't ignore those. Um so the best you can do is really just kind of contain them and almost you know wait for the right time to let it all go. You know, I remember stepping out of the field in Seattle for the 60, and um just that moment, you know, the whole stadium rises up. I mean, just everything. But uh as I've grown in my career, I I've kind of fell back more onto like a routine side of things, is one way I think of it, I guess. Um that's one way you can kind of bridge the gap between, you know, kicking
Colts Breakthrough And Staying Level
SPEAKER_00on a field and April by yourself at Tulane to kind of bridge that into, you know, an OTA practice in Indianapolis, and then you know, bridge that into a game-winning situation and a hostile environment against the would-be Super Bowl champs, you know. So the, you know, just dive into that routine that's almost like a checklist, all the way from, you know, honestly, from waking up in the morning is honestly when it starts. But, you know, just for simpler terms, you know, from the net and the kicking balls into the net into up the sideline and you know, a little self-talk taking the field, um, you know, checking the spot, checking the conditions, sight lines. I mean, there's all the little stuff that are the intricacies of being a specialist and a kicker, but at the end of the day, that's the you know, that's the edge. And so, you know, I I personally, over the last few years, we've just relied on, like you said, like that confidence and and just kind of relying on that routine to to keep you, you know, grounded and and feel prepared for the for the moments that you know I know all too well can can be very big. And and uh sometimes you just gotta have a good day on a good day. So, you know, hope you're hope you're prepared because you never know, especially in the NFL, you never know when that day is coming, when when could be a you know, uh what week could be a uh career-defining game, good or bad. So you just gotta fight like hell and and prepare and and uh give yourself the best chance to put your best foot forward.
SPEAKER_01Now, I gotta ask, one very high profile person used to have that kicking job in Indianapolis. Have you have you been able to visit much with Pat McAfee?
SPEAKER_00Oh, Pat McAfee and Adam Vinateri. Don't forget him as well. Oh wow, yes. Freshly, freshly off into the uh the Hall of Fame. Um, so I'll start with Adam, I guess, because got he, you know, it's his his Hall of Fame year. Um, but yeah, you know, Adam was a uh, you know, he held this place down for actually, I'm not exactly sure how many years, but I know there's the team pictures on the walls and even a lot of them. Um but you know, got to meet him last year um before the first game. Um I was here. He was on he was at the Wednesday practice, got to meet him there. Um, and then you know, a couple weeks later he was back in the building because we had Monday night football against the Niners, and he was like banging the Anvil, which is like a little pregame deal I do here. Uh, we got to talk about you know all kinds of stuff, and that was the week right after Seattle. So, you know, we talked about that and how he he was telling me his reaction and how he was just hollering around. And um, so just so cool to be able to, you know, who would have thought I'd get to meet him and share these experiences, share the share these same walls with him at some point. Um, you know, that just he's just a special guy. And Pat Pat was a punter, but but he kicked in college and and uh haven't got to meet him yet. I've seen him multiple times. He has a suite right there on the field, right by our tunnel in the game, um in the stadium in Lucas Oil. Um so like I haven't like really came up, like shook his hand, but like we were kind of chatting like across the field a little bit and and uh connected a little bit there. But you know, that guy's just a man, nothing but energy, does a heck of a job commentating and media-wise. I mean, he walked away from football to do it. I mean, that that takes that takes some some guts there, but uh, you know, he's he's the other guys are blessed in the college game day. So it's it's pretty cool to see him, you know, bring, you know, the specialist light into the world a little bit, um, definitely bring some attention to it. And uh
Building A Kicker Routine Under Pressure
SPEAKER_00he started the for the brand. So I mean that's that's about as uh staple as it gets in the specialist world. So pretty cool to have guys like that that have shared this building and and uh you know share some experiences with.
SPEAKER_01Who do you still talk to from Arkansas State?
SPEAKER_00You keep up uh a good amount of dialogue for the most part, yeah. Um, you know, Seth, Seth Cottingham and Cody Grace were my my punter and long snapper when I was there. So Cody's fresh back to Australia here this uh this this summer. Um I guess this this winter, I guess, over there. It's technically it's flipped. They got opposite, I don't even know, they got opposite seasons, they're in a different hemisphere. But uh, you know, keep up with him, keep up with Seth. Uh still did some duck, Jacob still, did some duck hunting with uh Jenny Stanley, uh a lot of his old linemen, Wyatt, uh Lupke, all those old linemen that we played with there. Um and then now, like some of those coaches and or players and coaches that you know I was with when when Anderson was here are now at Southern Miss. Um, so you got you know, Cephalo and um Michael Gibbs and Joe Coth and Bobby Dodd. I mean, a lot of coaches that were there when I first got there. You know, my first true set of football coaches now are at Southern Miss, and Brandon Bowling is a is the receiver's coach there. And uh BJ Edmonds is with the the Patriots now, but he was uh, I want to say he was a safeties coach or something there. And so uh at Southern before the the Patriots snagged him. But uh so yeah, I think that it's you know how the football world works, coaching trees and everybody's doing their own thing. But uh, like I said, we all we all went through it together and and it's real easy nowadays with phones and social media to keep up on guys. So uh it's been awesome now. Guys are having kids and getting married. So uh I'm a little late to the marriage train on a couple of them. They got me beat and they even got kids on the ground. So but it's awesome to you know keep up with those guys and and uh continue to connect.
SPEAKER_01What are you most thankful for when you look back at your time here at A-State?
SPEAKER_00That's a good question, actually. Um, I mean, I I just it almost it's like you don't want to say like all the the negative stuff and all the all the stuff that you you know messed up and kind of had to figure out, but you know, every little bump in the road that that I went through there um, you know, helps shape and define you into what you are now. And so um as a specialist, unfortunately, I've always felt like like I almost had to mess it up first before I figured it out. And uh, you know, I I did enough good to counteract
Vinatieri McAfee And Red Wolves Ties
SPEAKER_00some of the bad, I guess for me. But um, you know, I I really felt like I was able to, you know, ground myself in a in a good place, a good community, and then also just work through so many things, you know, on my own, with other people, with coaches. Um, but you know, I guess most thankful for and you know, think back is just all those little bumps of like all the people who were with me, you know, that we worked through together, um, and all those experiences that that helped shape me and get me to where I'm at today. Cause I I I truly believe that um, you know, I I wouldn't be here without my time there and and all those, all the stuff that, you know, kind of led to to building the person I am today on and off the field. So there's a lot of great people. Um, you know, Todd Baumgartner kind of runs the FCA and uh played baseball there. And uh I tried to play some golf with him last time I was in there. He's he's in the full dad mode chasing soccer games and baseball games and everything else. But um Darius Dunaway, who's now at Texas AM, you know, those guys uh were definitely a bigger part of it as well. Um so just so many guys, so many um good people I got to meet and and work through uh everything with. And and I think that's the stuff I really think of the most.
SPEAKER_01Well, we're certainly thankful for your time at Arkansas State, and obviously the fact that you're still so connected to the school and coming back every year and uh think that's awesome. I know that's not gonna change, as uh you know, you you said earlier. I mean, this is a place that you consider home. So congratulations on everything, congratulations on the engagement again. And do we have a date for the wedding?
SPEAKER_00Yep, March 5th of next year. So it'll be uh full New Orleans style down in the quarter,
Gratitude Wedding Date And Farewell
SPEAKER_00so second line and everything. Uh but I guess she's been dreaming of that one since she was a kid, she says. So uh looking forward to making that happen and and uh doing them celebrating.
SPEAKER_01Well, Blake Groupie, we certainly appreciate you and uh good luck this season, man.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I appreciate you, Matt. Thank you for having me today.
SPEAKER_01We always appreciate you watching Saturdays in Jonesboro. You can watch or listen wherever you get your podcast and check out all our podcasts along the Arkansas State Media Network.