Stories Inside the Man Cave
Stories Inside the Man Cave
Lets Talk About It: Lake Travis' Potential Next Gold(en) Receiver
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We sit down with Lake Travis Cavaliers wide receiver Tatum Gold and his dad Greg Gold for a father-son conversation about growth, pressure, and why football feels bigger than the scoreboard. We talk through heartbreak in the Lake Travis community, then pivot to training habits, QB chemistry, college dreams, and the business Greg built that now serves teams nationwide.
• Tatum’s offseason plan, adding strength, speed, mobility, and chemistry
• Processing the loss of teammate Odin Hensley, community support across Texas
• What “sophomore sensation” means, staying humble while competing hard
• Dancing, swagger, and playing loose without losing focus
• Lake Travis quarterback legacy, building timing through spring and 7-on-7
• Away-game energy, handling pressure before the new stadium opens
• Receiver inspirations like Amon-Ra St. Brown, hometown pride for Garrett Wilson
• Greg’s Oklahoma State memories, lessons from coaches, and Big 12 optimism
• AU Concepts origin story, helmet and logo design, building a non-toxic workplace
• Man Cave stories, college visit awe, and a season worth looking forward to
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Welcome And Sponsor Notes
SPEAKER_02Hey, thanks for joining us for another episode of Stories Inside the Make A podcast. I am John Clitz, the host and producer of this podcast. And on this edition of Let's Talk About It, we are going to introduce you to a father-son duo. Oh full of personalities, one of which the young girl, the son. He may be the top more temptation of high school football in central Texas, and maybe, just maybe, the entire state of Texas. And before we get things going, I want you to know about a place where you can find all of your adult members. Are you planning a night in or hosting the crew? Hey, don't stress about running after. My friend, Dave Romero, over at Northwest Hill Flicker has been completely covered. They will literally bring the party over out of your door with fast delivery. Remember, you must be at least 21 years of age in order. So don't check them out. Northwest Hill Flicker yet. Obviously, Dad, in the older brainy video, when he played running back for Oklahoma State by way of Irving High School in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex in the 4K video, that is Potum Gold, a very young receiver for the Lake Travis Cavaliers. We're about to meet them both. The goals, father and son. Let's talk about it. All right, before we do that, I love keeping everyone in suspense. You know, I self-promotion is huge. And I'm not talking about me, you know, social media is where everyone is. So go ahead and follow us, like us, Facebook, IGX, and YouTube. And I have to say it, it's a subscription, but it really isn't because it's free. What I would love for you, and even the gold boys, they would love for you to subscribe to our YouTube page and on TikTok. It's a work in progress. Maybe I can get Tatum to show me how to use it because I'm over 50 now and I'm and I'm catching up on things like this. But go ahead and like, follow all of those uh social media platforms, and much love and appreciation to each of our partners and sponsors, in particular, this particular sponsor, Honest Plumbing and Air, where a handshake still means something. Enough with the suspense. Let's bring in the gold boys.
Meeting Tatum And Greg Gold
SPEAKER_02All right, finally, we've reached the point where we get to introduce Tatum and Greg Gold. Tatum, the younger gold on the right and Greg Gold on the left. Have you guys ever been a part of something which there was so much buildup for your entrance? No.
SPEAKER_05We have not. But hey, it's all going to be worth it today.
SPEAKER_02It is. So I I gotta get it out of I, you know, this is fun. We're this is a fun podcast. And and Tatum, your dad sent me some videos and some pictures, like we do with a lot of guests, but I asked him to give me as much as possible. And this is one that I think everyone in the Gold family probably is going to cherish, the one in the middle. Um do first off, were y'all planning on matching that day, and do you both still have that tie?
SPEAKER_05We Tatum probably doesn't have that tie. They not fit me anymore. Yeah. This is actually a clip line. Uh and yes, that was uh that was on my big day. Um I made it official with Tatum's stepmom.
SPEAKER_02So that's awesome. That is awesome. Tatum, I mean, I there's things I don't remember my life before age four. How old were you here? Four. Four, yeah.
SPEAKER_04Four I remember some of the parts in the wedding and some of that. Uh we came back this summer from Mexico, and it was really fun to see all of it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, exactly. And then, you know, and Tatum on the bookends here, left and
Offseason Work And Varsity Leap
SPEAKER_02right. This is you uh last year as a freshman uh in the late Travis High School football program. When you look at that, how have you changed? How through a year or nine months and a full summer, because your own varsity is a sophomore. That's a pretty big honor for a young person to be, especially on a state championship caliber football program.
SPEAKER_04Yes, sir. Um, I've been working all summer uh with my receiver trainer, obviously catcher from Jason, our starting quarterback this year. Um stretching, doing Pilates, weightlifting. Uh we have our Cavs course, summer, summer lifting, and it's been really good and getting stronger, faster, building team chemistry.
SPEAKER_05So, yes, sir. And we got that we got that picture. He looks kind of like a stick figure from his freshman era. He's been on probably about 18 pounds since then, which is crazy.
SPEAKER_02Wow. Wow. All right, now who's Greg has or Tatum, have you surpassed dad in the height yet? Oh, 100%. Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_05He said that so confident, he said that so confident, and like it's just oh well, like it was that's just what it was gonna be. But hey, I'm I am glad though, for his for say for his sake and his recruitability, I'm glad he is taller than me, that's for sure.
SPEAKER_02I am too, because I I think I plateaued out in the eighth grade, and five foot eight was too many. And Greg, you went about three or four inches more. So that I get it. I get it. But you know what? Mighty things come in small packages, and that is all about interpretation. I did not mean that meant I was talking about football inside. Um Tatum, this is hard for me to even ask because there's so we're gonna have a lot of fun in this episode.
Grief, Prayers, And Community Support
SPEAKER_02I I I just want to ask you as a young person, um, have you felt all of the positive vibes and energy, not just in Lake Travis, but from Austin and surrounding areas, and maybe the whole Texas high school football community in the country because of what you guys have had to deal with the past week, losing a teammate and Odin Hensley. And I don't want to put you on a spot, I just want to know what that has been like for all of you guys to process, because this is something that you can't put into words, or when someone asks you to describe it, you really can't. How has it been? How do you even remotely go there and and try to help us understand what's going on?
SPEAKER_04First of all, I just want to say it was it was heartbreaking and seeing all my teammates and coaches crying. It was just it was just heartbreaking for all of us, obviously. And seeing just hearing about it and hearing his family, I just prayed for his family and all. But I will say the I would say dripping springs, Westlake, our rivals did support really well. Even Rouse, I did see they put the they put writing on uh the high black and yeah, even from different schools all around Dallas, Houston, it's been really a blessing. And just it sucks to see him go down and he's in my prayer for sure. We got something to play in this for him this year.
SPEAKER_02Right. And it's you know, this I all I can say is I I I think we've all experienced loss in some way, form, or fashion at that age. But I I can't even imagine what it's like to lose someone that not only you shared a locker room with, but someone you look up to. And I'm just gonna say it right here because I I I'm just trying to be respectful of you because you you're having to deal with it every minute, every day. It's constant reminders. Our prayers, and I'm gonna speak for the gulls right here. And this is for everyone who watches this podcast, and for all of us who are part of this stories inside the Man Cave family. Um, from all of us, I I I can't extend more positivity and prayers out to the Hensley family. Um and you go to our Instagram page, there's that link, uh the QR code, and to help that family out. And but also the comprehension of losing a young person. I I don't have the words, but I'll I I hope and wish that something really good comes out of this for you guys, and you guys all become closer because this is incomprehensible. And I and that's what I just wanted you to give you an opportunity to talk about it and uh just kind of represent the Cavaliers and all the coaches and that great community you guys have and uh Lake Travis, BK, Spicewood. And that's I I I don't know if I how you've been able to process it all, but man, uh prayers are with you boys for sure.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, and I'll and I'll co-sign a little bit with Tatum. You know, it has been pretty phenomenal to watch uh football families from all over the city, uh, but more importantly, to watch the community uh come together that that that goes to all all three middle schools, LTYA, um, you know, you name it, um, from up down, just what can we do? What can we do to help? What can we do to support? Um, you know, it's just reassuring to know that you know when tragedy tragedies like this happen, you you've got your hometown, it's got your back, it's got your support, and ultimately that's really what makes Lake Travis such a special place.
SPEAKER_02Couldn't have said it any better. And I've seen some other places in Texas and across the country. That the beautiful thing about high school sports is you you do become not only the team, but the community comes together as one large team, and you find out all the great that comes out of high school sports because you're seeing it right now. People that don't know you, you've never met, you feel it, you feel their presence, and that's what's beautiful. And I don't know why the thumb just appeared on the phone. I promise that was not a gigamaggie.
Handling Hype And Proving It
SPEAKER_02Um Jatum, when you hear the just the two-word slogan, sophomore sensation. What does that mean to you? Does that even apply to you, or is it a wait and see?
SPEAKER_04I've got a lot of proof this year for sure. Um, Lake Travis is a um a great program. Uh coaches, players, obviously, we talked about they have a great community. I have a lot of I have a lot to prove this year, and we'll see we'll see how it goes down this year. But I'm confident in our team and the way we play, and it's gonna be a fun year this year.
SPEAKER_02Greg, and and you, Tatum, you know, when I think of Lake Travis, we can go back to early 2000s. You go up to uh the Garrett Gilberts, Baker Mayfields, Garrett Wilson. I mean, there's a lot you hear about cornerbacks, but there have been some great receivers. Oh, yeah. There's a lot of great receivers and tight ends that have come out of Lake Travis. And oh yeah, there's a lot of them kind of debuted their sophomore years. Am I jinxing it, Greg, or is it is it legit for me to bring this up?
SPEAKER_05I think it's legit, but you know, I as we're gonna touch on Tatum works extremely hard. Um, so anything he does accomplish this year will be because of his the the hardworking hours he puts in, surrounded uh by an amazing uh staff, post uh group uh coaching staff. Right um, he's got amazing teammates to support him. Um, you watch the teams that go far, there's never just one guy. And we we all know we're smart enough to know that in the game of football, you you you don't go far with one guy, and that's not what Tatum is. I think he's a great addition to what Lake Travis is doing right now. Um, and yeah, I I think uh, you know, what are they what's the old saying? The you're you're uh the more you work, the higher your look is. So um I I think with what he's put in since literally age four, um, in conjunction with what what the football program has had to offer with his teammates on not just the offensive side of the ball, but the defensive side and of course the special teams, I think he's got the potential to have a uh a really good season.
Swagger, Dancing, And Playing Loose
SPEAKER_02One thing I have noticed when you play DB or receiver, you've got to have a little bit of a short-term memory, you've got to have a little swagger, and you gotta have a little bit of a trash talk game. That's just my humble opinion. And I was digging around and I found that I I think you may possess both, and I don't think video lies.
SPEAKER_03Let's check this out 21.
SPEAKER_02Umquiring minds want to know Tatum, did you get your uh dancing skills from mom or dad?
SPEAKER_04They really can't, both of them really can't dance for real. They I I learned it all by myself. I just watch videos and just learn how to do it all myself.
SPEAKER_05That's fair. I will say this. I well, I feel partially responsible only because I'm the one that introduced him to Michael Jackson on YouTube, and so when I started showing him the Michael Jackson videos, it's like almost like it clicked. But I feel like since since he was a top uh an infant, as soon as he could start walking, he was dancing at the same time. So it just kind of in him to entertain and dance, and then now that you know he he he figured out who MJ was, and now he can he sees receivers on the NFL and in college, even now dancing, it's kind of one of those deals where now he's now he's just a dancing machine.
SPEAKER_02I love it, and and I don't think you're one that that does it to bring attention because I I've always thought if you're having fun playing football, good things happen. You're loose, you laid back. Except I was not fast twitch on a good day. I was average, maybe but you can still have fun. It's a it's a beautiful game.
Lake Travis QB Legacy And Timing
SPEAKER_02Um, you you mentioned it, the your quarterback, and and we've also talked about that the QB1 legacy at Lake Travis runs very deep. I mean, I could I could probably spend 50 10 at least 10 minutes talking about all the quarterbacks. Well, Ryan Ludicki, who's your longtime defensive coordinator, he was on our special kickoff show kicking things off. And I asked him point blank who it would be, and I learned something new. I didn't realize that there was a family tree involved.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think uh the guy this year is gonna be uh Jason Carter, uh Coach Carter's son. Um he's uh had an excellent spring um and obviously an excellent uh uh summer. Um then the backup uh guy that probably gets some playing time also is his cousin, uh Gio Moritzsi.
SPEAKER_02Now I knew about Coach Carter's son, and it made me feel really old. The very last hair follicle fell out when Ludaky said that because I remember Jason when he was well, I don't I don't want to be that old guy that's well you were yay high last time. It just dawned on me that Coach Carter's son, this is it, and then his cousin.
SPEAKER_05So the family affair, the family affair.
SPEAKER_02Tatum, tell me a little bit about that because you're gonna be the one, one of the targets receiving from these guys. What is it? Do you have already have that chemistry with uh Jason Carter?
SPEAKER_04I uh never really played with him before, but um we got to connect in the spring, and uh I went when he had quarterback trainings, I would go catch for him, and when I had receiver trainings, I would hit him up, like, hey, can you come throw? And obviously, we had a 7-on-7 um team together, and we made it pretty far in the state 70-7 tournament, and we've just really been building the connection on and off the field, and it's been truly a blessing for sure.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, and again, just in the details with that, it's it's been fun because every now and then I'll show up and watch when I have time, I'll watch the trains. And so, Tatum, not only is it about just really throwing to him, Jason was able to hear, um, and even Geo, they were able to hear hear what his receiver coaches are saying. So not just it's really not just hey, I'm gonna run this route and do this and do that, and it was like, hey, this is where he's telling him to line up, set up. This is how you set your defense up, this is how you manipulate a defense or a safety or a corner. Um, linebacker comes over. And so for Tatum, it's kind of in the same sense where they'll go to their QB trains. Now he's listening to, hey, you've got timing, you got four seconds here, you got three seconds there. So now he knows where he needs to be, and he understands and processes okay, I'm meshing what I'm being taught and what they're being taught, and vice versa. And now they're gelling. And so they've had you know kind of a spring uh to work on that. They've had a seven, a sevens season, um, and then they've had all summer. And it's just it's for for an outsider watching, it's been really cool to watch that chemistry happen, and now they get to make it happen on the field during the season.
Away Games And The New Stadium
SPEAKER_02And to make matters interesting, you and it may be a blessing. You guys won't play a home game for the first five games of the year, so you you're gonna learn how gain that chemistry with Jason not on your home field for half the season. I mean, from a player's perspective, I mean, does that even remotely bother you at all? Or I mean you're excited about it because you make it through those first, well, you will make it through those first five weeks. You come home to this beautiful new stadium.
SPEAKER_04100%. Me personally, I feel like I like playing away games more. Um, just like hearing like the away crowd like get loud, and like you just have like people wanting to beat you, and when you beat them, you see the frown on their face, it makes you feel a little joy in yourself, you know what I'm saying? But he likes the noise, but then he likes to he likes to make them silent. But obviously, the obviously the new stadium this year is gonna be really cool to play in playing Westlake in that stadium will be super fun.
SPEAKER_02That's amazing.
Receiver Role Models And Mentors
SPEAKER_02So, Tatum, tell me who has been your inspiration as a receiver, and two, since you can remember age four clearly, like since you've known a lot about Lake Travis football history, who's your favorite former Lake Travis Cavalier for life?
SPEAKER_04Uh receiver that inspires me. It's hard.
SPEAKER_02That's a tough one.
SPEAKER_04I'd say Aminra. I watching that Netflix show and seeing how he operates his dad, we're similar and seeing him uh grow up and seeing all the work he puts in, and it's really it's really cool to see all those uh guys just build up and build up their career. And um Lake Travis receiver, obviously, Garrett Wilson. Yeah, um, seeing him grow up in my hometown, in our hometown, um, it was really cool to see him play and hearing coach hearing stories from Coach Carter and all of that.
SPEAKER_05So it's it's really cool. And even, you know, let's not mention not not mention uh you know Lake McCree, even though he's a tight end. Tatum's had some great opportunities to train with him this summer. And you know, even he's become kind of one of his favorites. Um so uh and he's and what I like about Lake McCree is as good as he is a football player, he is a person, and and watching him kind of take Tatum under his wing this past summer uh was really cool to see. So he he's kind of he he was kind of my my favorite kind of coming in the summer after having watching him work with Tatum.
SPEAKER_02You don't go you can't go wrong with other he or Garrett Wilson, both amazing humans. Um and and Garrett, one of the best in the NFL. The key there is for all of them. Find a way to stay healthy, but there's no way to do that. There's just no way it's it's a brutal game. You're gonna get hurt, it's just a matter of to what degree.
Greg’s Oklahoma State Stories And Haircut
SPEAKER_02So, Tatum, you and I are about to gang up on your dad a little. Bit. We're gonna have some fun with this. Um, we're gonna go back so we can get to know Greg Gold. I know Greg, but we need to show the world. And Tatum, you can expose some things, but we'll begin with this. The old Oklahoma State senior year photo. Um, that's a smooth cut. I mean, do you think, Tatum, that there will be any resemblance to that when you're a senior or junior in college?
SPEAKER_04I don't think I'm cutting the curls off, to be honest with you. Uh he said he he said he had braids one day in practice.
SPEAKER_05No, you didn't, did you really? I did. I actually, so this is my senior, my freshman year coming in. I had braids.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_05And then I had uh I had the I don't know the pleasure or or the experience, I guess should I say, of um uh Hall of Fame D Lyman, um uh D dub or uh dub yank at Kevin Williams, yank out the back back of my my braids and then hand them to me and say, hey G Gold, here's this. And so it was about that day where I cut it down, kind of similar to what Tatum has right now. And then uh, as you can see on that face, that was an era where we still did two of days, and uh that was you can see the excitement on my face. It was one of those deals where I uh, you know, it's funny, so my hair was long, and I was told that I was too pretty to uh and I got bet 200 bucks collectively that I wouldn't cut my hair. So I cut it and then I liked it and I kept it, and everybody said, Hey, you you don't get you don't get to win a bet if you enjoy it. I'm like yeah. So that's kind of that was kind of part of the reason I went bald, other than being just completely unhappy.
SPEAKER_02It's a good look. It's a good look.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I might bring it back.
SPEAKER_02I'm clearly an advocate for bald. I love the problem.
SPEAKER_05I figured you would be a fan of that, right?
SPEAKER_02I loved it, I loved it. And uh so he played for right at the beginning of Coach Gundy's your last year, Coach Gundy's first or second year, I can't remember. First first year, and long career, won a lot of games, turned that program, put them on the national scene. Um, I was actually in that post-game room when he really took off. I'm a man, I'm 40. So while we're talking about while we have you guys at the table, you know, and at in the room, so to speak, let's talk about present day.
Big 12 Shakeup And CFP Dark Horses
SPEAKER_02Okay, Greg Gold. Let's talk Big 12.
SPEAKER_03All right.
SPEAKER_02And and I don't know uh where to begin, except the new coach, former Texas Tech receiver, led UNT to a lot of wins. Then I believe 50 plus players hit the portal. And then well, OSU added 50 plus new players. Well, I've got a surprise for you, but your thoughts OSU much better than last year, correct?
SPEAKER_05Oh yeah, last last two years actually. And it was painful, and everybody knows me knows how hard I bleed orange, like you would believe. Uh, and it was tough, it was painful. Um, and I said at the beginning of that process, if if we could get uh Coach uh mind blank now. He's yeah, Coach Morris. Yeah, if we get Coach Morris, uh that would be that would be like pie in the sky. It would be great if we can get him, but we're probably not because one, I don't know if we can afford him, because I, you know, based off you know, some of the things, some of the comments, you know, Coach Gundy were was making, like, you know, it was almost like we didn't have a pot to piss in. But, you know, it's you know, as he described, and then all of a sudden we signed him, and then we uh and I'm like, that was I was like, yes. Like the I clearly, I honestly did not think we're gonna be able to get him. So I was excited about that, and then I just started seeing all the players coming in, and uh, I was like, okay, cool. And not just so much the players that were transferring in from you know from uh North Texas, which was expected, but you know, Titans from uh LSU. We've got that was a former four-star guy, uh, guys from I think they're uh from Penn State, might be a couple guys from um uh who else, Michigan maybe. But I started seeing some guys come in, I'm like, wow, and then all of a sudden we're sitting at the top of the four class, and I'm like, we're looking pretty damn good now.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_05And so, so yeah, needless to say, I am unbelievably excited, on top of the fact that you know Tatum got offered by them this summer uh to watch them, uh, to watch them uh go out. You know, I'm actually going to the the Oregon game this year to watch that. There was no way in hell I was gonna go out to Oregon last year to go watch that. So I'm hoping this year uh it'll be it'll be much more exciting and fun to watch. Um so yeah, so I'm very optimistic and looking really forward to you know OEU season this year.
SPEAKER_02Well, I gotta get both your takes on this. Um, so my man K family here. I asked them for their CFP Final Four, national champ, and who would be this year's Indiana? Not necessarily winning the championship, but who makes a surprise run? Look who I thought I think Oklahoma State could be that team. We'll start with Tatum since he it's been a couple minutes since we heard from him. Well, do you think I'm crazy for picking that?
SPEAKER_04No, sir. When I went to the camp uh seeing that new coaching staff that my dad's never met before or seen, like it was even his first time being uh coaching Morris, and just seeing how organized the camp was, and it was the most organized camp I've ever been to, and um it was really nice to see all the meet all the new coaches, you know, Gundy's coaching staff was there. I've all I've always seen them, and right it just yeah, it was cool. And I think they're gonna make a big run this year. Sure.
SPEAKER_02What do you think, Greg, without the OSU orange glasses on? Am I crazy?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, of course not. I I I think it's I think it's very I think it's very fair. I do think I do think uh I do think tech belongs somewhere in there.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_05Somewhere along that final four, I could I could see tech getting in. Um I think they're gonna have a better quarterback situation. Um but but nonetheless, I think those being the top two teams in the Big 12, in my opinion, uh coming in. Obviously, OC has a ton to prove. Uh, but no, that's pretty fair. It's fair to say that they're um they're they're they're the uh kind of the dark horse, if you will.
SPEAKER_02I I think tech can make it. It's it's uh if we if they'll allow two Big 12 teams, and they may just be the only one. Tech is good, and I think tech's good enough to go to the Elite Eight or the Round of Eight. Um you know, and I think AM, if they can just replenish what they lost, I think they could be up there with Texas in the it's just well, it's all about matchups, really.
SPEAKER_05It is, yeah. AM, they they every year they get they have they're the most highly rated, most amped up, and then it's just disappointing trap here. I know my brother's gonna kill me because my brother played AM. So I know he's gonna kill me when he hears this, but it's just and I root for them. I do. Uh and I just I got I mean, all of my closest friends, all Aggies, ironically. Um people that I do closest business with, all Aggies, and yet they're as as much as I root for them, they just disappoint and let let let everyone down. It's it's sad because you look at all the money that's being poured into that that program, and it's like, at what point are they gonna make it? You know, I can always make excuses for OSU A. We're not this, we're not that, we don't have the funds. But I watch AM, I'm like, what is your excuse? Other than just not getting it done. But I still root for them.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I you know, I I think I don't know, it'll it would be interesting to see if Texas, AM, and and Tech all make it this year because you know, Texas handed AM their only loss in the regular season, and then Miami just shut them down in college station.
SPEAKER_05Man, with what's been going on in the summer and back and forth, I'd love I want to see a Tech and Texas matchup. That would be amazing. That's what I want to see in Dallas and just watch watch the fans set that roof on fire. That's what I want to see.
SPEAKER_02That would be cinema. Pure cinema. Absolute cinema. That'd be the oh my god. I I'll I'll just wait. I don't want to jinx it because I'd love to see it.
SPEAKER_05Um to me, that feel like that's that game would be as big as the the um uh the Lone Star shootout. I mean it could be if if not yeah, if bigger.
SPEAKER_02It could be. I I can see it. I think the I think the people want it. Oh, for sure. You know, who's gonna who's gonna pay the most for some players?
SPEAKER_05I mean, Pat McAfee even talked about that last year during this during the season, uh watching those, you know, wanting to see those two two uh match up, and I would I'd pay for that for sure.
SPEAKER_02I think it would be a high dollar ticket. It would be for
Building AU Concepts From Scratch
SPEAKER_02sure. So you mentioned your business. You've you you've got a helmet on your on your shirt, you have a a helmet collection behind you. So just for everyone to know, Greg's got his hand in a lot, but mainly this. That's a whole nother podcast. Um, they have a great helmet. So you designed logos. Helmets. Tell it how all of this start, AU concepts, and and and Tatum, you it's it's kind of been a family business, hasn't it?
SPEAKER_05You can say. Yeah, you know, I'll I'll keep it short because I can I can I can I can go into uh extreme depths with this, but uh Tate was partly responsible. Uh well he's big responsible. Uh uh has a responsibility in in me starting this business. He he uh was getting into tackle football. Um at the same time, I was trying to figure out how I can get out of the corporate world and work for myself. Um and sure enough, um, you know, started this business really to kind of as a side gig to um to get out of some debt uh and put a down payment on uh me uh me and my wife's first the first home together. Uh and then you know, side side gig turn, full-time gig, and and here we are. And so um it's been something that uh I hold true. It's it's my it's what I call my third child, you know. Um, you know, I've I've poured everything into this thing, uh, you know, from literally knocking on doors, um, just from and it's it's amazing how it's evolved. They went from, oh hey, I want to, I want to make all this money, right? It was that was but then it goes into like, okay, I want to work with every school. I want to work with, and then it starts evolving in, okay. I want to build, I want to build a place where people love to come to work. And people, I mean, at the end of the day, we all got to work. The majority of our life is spent working. So I want to create a place that's not toxic, that's not, that doesn't treat people like a number. And I think I think I've done a good job with that. Um, we've got great employees. I'm unbelievably lucky with the folks that that work for us, and they do an amazing job. And that's you know, the other part is you know, how do I find people that love this as much as I do? And every day, um they they make me feel that. And so um, yeah, AU, you know, started small. We went from about, you know, shoot our first year 40 teams uh to about uh a little around 2,000 teams nationwide. And so um, so uh, you know, and shoot, we're probably at this point in about 80% of the schools in Texas. And um, you know, it's it didn't, you know, Texas is my home state, and uh I could I could do business uh here and be just fine. Um, but the fact is that we have spread our wings. I love doing business in Oklahoma, obviously. Um I've got guys now that you know I play with that are coaches and 80s, all that other fun stuff. Um and I love working in every state, don't get me wrong. Um but uh to do it here, uh where I feel you know uh football's a religion, uh more than probably anywhere else or or or close to, um, it's an absolute blessing. And yeah, it ages continues to grow year after year after year. I I get nervous every January where we start back at zero. And I go, okay, what are we gonna do? And so um, you know, this year we we grew again. Um uh and we we we're adding more people, and so um when you can grow your crew and grow your business, you're you're doing something right year after year. So again, it's like I said, it's my third child and probably my favorite one compared to him and his sister.
SPEAKER_02But and what what what does AU stand for?
SPEAKER_05So the periodic table. Oh gold.
SPEAKER_02Common sense, Clinch. I should have known that.
SPEAKER_05Hey, don't feel bad. One of Tatum's uh teachers, I won't mention, I won't mention names, uh, was a science teacher actually. And uh she ended up uh messaging me on Facebook and said, you know what? I am so embarrassed, but I just realized two years after following your you and your company that I realized what the AU stood for. So I'm good. I don't judge. We listen and we don't judge.
SPEAKER_02We listen and we don't judge.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, well, it's really awesome. This year I took uh my little one, uh Presley, uh to Houston and um to get her to get her passport. And um we go to the museum to kill some time, and when we go to the museum, we go to the section that had like it talked about the you know the elements of science. And she could see all the AU. She was immediately daddy, daddy, daddy, she was springing to all the AU signs and the gold block they had in there, and you know, so that's always fun seeing stuff like
Man Cave Stories From Both Golds
SPEAKER_05that.
SPEAKER_02Well, Tatum and Greg, this is a stories inside the man cave tradition, and I just want you to add to it, so to speak. All right, the man cave story. There have been some that I never thought people would uh tell, and they did, and I loved it. Um this is episode what 538? So we've had roughly 475 uh man cave stories. Um we'll begin with you, Tatum. What we hope to be the sophomore sensation, like Travis Cavalier receiver, the next great one. Um is there any story either with your family or playing football that is as amusing the day to tell as it was when it happened?
SPEAKER_04Oh when I went on my first game day visit at Texas Tech, seeing the college crowd, seeing like everyone, the crowd erupting and all that, it was like whoa, this is what I'm gonna be playing on like on Saturdays. Like this is the energy, this is the this is what I want to jump to when I'm playing around. And it was uh just dreaming about it, and then you actually see it. It's just all all things uh come true eventually.
SPEAKER_02That's a good one. Greg, is there a one that uh you can date it, you can go back 30 years if you'd like. Well, wait a minute, 20 years, 25. 20.
SPEAKER_05Um yeah. Well, what's funny, uh well, I know my OG buddies will will uh will get a kick out of this, but um I s I uh my freshman year in college, I told the story making sure that he doesn't do this. My freshman year in college, I actually, you know, I I sneak out of my room during camp and get caught by Coach Miles, who yeah. And uh and my punishment was so at the time he used to run marathons. Uh him and his wife both. They they'd run like, you know, 3K's, 5K's. And my punishment was to show up at 5 a.m. and run with him, not knowing how far I was running. It was just all throughout Stillwater at 5 a.m. And he would be talking to me the entire time about God knows what uh the weather. But you know, what does he think? We where what do I think about the playbook? I mean, the list goes, I mean, the man would just pull stories out, and if I wasn't going fast enough, come on, gold, come on, gold, I'd have to stay at his pace. He's wearing running shoes, I'm wearing turf shoes, thinking like I'm getting ready to do bear calls, you know, on the football field or something, or stadiums, which I would have much rather have done. You know, I'm wearing turf shoes, running. I I still to this date, I uh maybe I'll find out in the Golden Gates. I have no idea how many miles I ran with Miles, but it was uh it was quite a day. Not my best story, but certainly entertained.
SPEAKER_02No, that was a good story. I I had no idea you would go there, and I had no idea that Les Miles was a long distance runner. That's a that's amazing. That's outstanding.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And for punching, he's an interesting cat. He is. But he he he won some he did beat OU twice.
SPEAKER_05There you go. And I think probably almost and he did that in he did that in what four, five years versus Gundy's that beat OU, I think only three or four times in his 19 year. That was painful to watch, but you know, yeah, I don't I don't judge. I I couldn't I don't know if I'm qualified to coach a Big 12 power four team 19 years and do it the way he did it. So I I won't knock, I won't knock on Gundy.
SPEAKER_02And I hate saying that, it's just a stat. Historically, that's not a rivalry. If you look at the overall, it's like what is it? OU leads 90 to 20, something like that.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah, it's bad. It's bad.
SPEAKER_02But in since Miles arrived, Miles and Gundy OSU won more.
SPEAKER_05Correct. Who won the last one? And that's and that's all that matters. The the one who won it last. There's only one Oklahoma, and it's Oklahoma State, baby.
SPEAKER_02And the simple fact that they don't play is a travesty right now.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, it all comes, it'll happen again, I'm sure. But everybody thought Texas Texas and AM wouldn't wouldn't, and we all eventually knew it was eventually gonna happen, and sure enough, when it did, it was it was unbelievable. So it'll it'll all come back. It's only a matter of time.
SPEAKER_02I got to see six bedlums. It's different. It's a great game. Sometimes lopsided, but most of the time dramatic. Weird things happen.
SPEAKER_05And usually the lopsidedness happens in Norman, and still water it gets spicy.
SPEAKER_02It does, and it's usually really cold.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. There's only one time, there's only one time I can think of where we got embarrassed at home, and that was when they had Hertz. We just didn't show up. I don't know what. It was just not our not our evening. And I thought for sure we'd make it at least a game, but that was one of the ones that sticks out that we're we got absolutely embarrassed. Then they had Kyler Murray with Seton. Oh yeah, but we actually played, but we actually played well against them at home. And I and when we played them there, we played decent. We didn't get embarrassed, but boy, hurts put a hurt on us.
SPEAKER_02Whedon's year, his last year, they beat him. I think it was at yeah, it was at Stillwater. T Boo Pickens for is a great place. The sound, it's you know, it's in the ground, kind of perfect bowl. Hey, we're gonna take a quick break, and we're gonna finish up with some positivity,
Quick Break And Sponsor Message
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Tell Me Something Good And Closing
SPEAKER_01Tell me something good.
SPEAKER_02Well, if you guys know my cards, that was his son DJ before he hit puberty. Uh DJ does not sound like that anymore. Tatum Gold, tell me something good, my brother.
SPEAKER_04Something good. Something positive. Shoot, football season in two weeks. First EL varsity. It's gonna be real. Can't wait. Can't wait for it. Great squad, young squad. It's gonna be a fun season.
SPEAKER_02How about you, Greg? What can you bring to the table as far as telling me something good?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, football's here, man. Yeah. You know, I mean, it didn't get any better than that. Um, and you know, um, you know, in light of all the things that you know recently happened, it's it it's it's there's still so much to look forward to. And um, you know, I just want to you know clarify, it's not about moving on, it's about moving forward with. And so I I watch these young, these young players just overall, just watch these young kids, and it's fun to watch them grow. Um, you know, for me, this is one of the most anticipated seasons of all time, and for me, because I've talked about this since he before he was born, you know, having a son doing this one day on Friday. And then, you know, to watch him, I'm so damn proud of this kid, just to watch him do what he does at the level that he does it. Um, I'm more than proud of him. And so um he worked so hard since he was four years old. You know, you've seen some of the videos I've sent you, all those ladder drills, me yelling at him. Yeah. Finally, I'm I'm excited to see it on Friday nights. You know, it's we've we've had these conversations, like, man, I you know, like it lasts in years past, you know, I wonder how good Lake Travis's varski is gonna do this year. You know, last year, hey, I wonder how good they're gonna do. You know, he was a um he was part of a flag crew, and uh what do they call it? Flag runners. Yeah, flag runners. And he was a spirit guy that you know, he he had to put in his work and he was picking up a football equipment, and now he's he's out there with his helmet on. And for me to watch him do that those things is is really just uh God, it's it's you know, it is inspiring for me. Um, you know, and uh to do it at his level and um at the capacity that he just puts in the work, he eats right, he takes care of his body, and it's just one of those things that's pretty uncommon for somebody his age that does those things without half the time me having to ask him to do it. Uh I never beg him to do it, that's for sure. But uh but nonetheless, I'm just that's man, that's something great uh coming up that I'm excited to look forward to.
SPEAKER_02I think it's a beautiful father-son story in many ways, and I know uh mothers watching are are they feel the sense of pride too because they experience it as well. But hey, shout out to all the single moms out there going through this and raising the football players and and other athletes. Much love to each of the single moms. Shout out to every one of y'all. I know because mine was, and I saw that, but but to everyone in Lake Travis, B cave, everyone, the Austin artists, great state of taxes, the single moms out there, and for dads like you, Greg, that's this is uh you said it best, you've been thinking about this, uh, and you were proud of him even doing the things leading up before his first varsity season. That's pretty amazing. And I'm really excited for you and your the entire goal family. And you know what? I'll say it again everybody is being supportive of that Lake Travis community, and Tatum, look forward to watching you play. I can't wait. Just let it do what you've been doing. I know it's a step up, but it's part of the process, and it's gonna be fun to watch you develop for sure. Appreciate you guys making time for this, and you know what? Anytime that you get an opportunity to learn about AU and realize that wait a minute, that stands for gold on the periodic table of elements. Um, and to talk to both Tatum and Greg Gold, man, it's always good to talk about it.