WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:03.798 (female announcer) This is a production of WKNO - Memphis. 00:03.798 --> 00:07.098 Production funding for "Sports Files" is made possible in part 00:07.098 --> 00:13.098 by.. 00:15.864 --> 00:18.898 My guest today on "Sports Files" is legendary College football 00:18.898 --> 00:21.264 Hall of Fame coach Gene Stallings. 00:21.264 --> 00:37.931 ♪♪♪ 00:37.931 --> 00:40.264 The unofficial start of the college football season took 00:40.264 --> 00:43.431 place this week with the annual S-E-C media days in Hoover, 00:43.431 --> 00:44.431 Alabama. 00:44.431 --> 00:46.564 The three day event concluded this afternoon, 00:46.564 --> 00:49.498 and as always, featured a record number of media members 00:49.498 --> 00:52.964 converging on the Wynfrey Hotel, looking to find that one great 00:52.964 --> 00:55.831 quote, soundbite or interview for their respective media 00:55.831 --> 00:57.198 organization. 00:57.198 --> 01:00.464 Last year Texas A and M and Missouri joined the conference 01:00.464 --> 01:03.331 giving the media 14 teams to chomp at. 01:03.331 --> 01:05.864 S-E-C media days wasn't always this crazy, 01:05.864 --> 01:08.164 but the power of the conference has been. 01:08.164 --> 01:10.698 The great Gene Stallings is a former coach of the Alabama 01:10.698 --> 01:15.031 Crimson Tide and helped lead them to a perfect season in 1992 01:15.031 --> 01:16.931 and a National Championship. 01:16.931 --> 01:18.764 He has also coached at his Alma Mater, 01:18.764 --> 01:21.731 Texas A and M, who back then, were part of the Southwest 01:21.731 --> 01:22.731 Conference. 01:22.731 --> 01:25.064 Stallings is one of the great coaches in college football 01:25.064 --> 01:27.964 history and a member of the college football hall of fame. 01:27.964 --> 01:31.431 He was also a head coach in the National Football League. 01:31.431 --> 01:34.031 Today on "Sports Files", Gene Stallings on the power of the 01:34.031 --> 01:37.598 S-E-C, with their seven straight National Champinships, 01:37.598 --> 01:40.598 his time as a player under Coach Paul Bear Bryant, 01:40.598 --> 01:43.198 and his legacy as a football coach. 01:43.198 --> 01:53.731 ♪♪♪ 01:53.731 --> 01:55.231 Coach, thank you so much for being wtih us today. 01:55.231 --> 01:56.564 My privlege. 01:56.564 --> 01:58.098 It's always a joy. 01:58.098 --> 01:59.798 You speak at a lot of different functions, 01:59.798 --> 02:01.464 a lot of different places around the country. 02:01.464 --> 02:02.631 What's your main message? 02:02.631 --> 02:05.331 Oh, when you're cheap, you go a lot. 02:05.331 --> 02:07.098 You know it depends on what it is. 02:07.098 --> 02:09.398 You know I'm doing three different things this week. 02:09.398 --> 02:12.964 And when I was speaking in Memphis about, 02:12.964 --> 02:15.364 it was the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 02:15.364 --> 02:18.098 I'm speaking at a prayer breakfast in Dallas. 02:18.098 --> 02:21.198 And then I'm doing something for Chevrolet in Birmingham. 02:21.198 --> 02:23.964 So you know everythings a little bit different. 02:23.964 --> 02:28.098 We were looking at an article in USA Today about your daughters 02:28.098 --> 02:32.564 who are all teenagers and what they're going to try to do with 02:32.564 --> 02:37.531 your help and the help of others to build a hospital in Haiti 02:37.531 --> 02:41.564 where it's just been obviously a tough situation for the 02:41.564 --> 02:42.564 Haitians. 02:42.564 --> 02:44.498 One of my daughters has been there over 30 times. 02:44.498 --> 02:45.698 Her husbands a doctor. 02:45.698 --> 02:47.764 They live in Nashville. 02:47.764 --> 02:51.531 They have a foundation that basically says live beyond. 02:51.531 --> 02:56.064 And so they purchased 65 acres of land. 02:56.064 --> 03:02.198 And on that 65 acres of land which has no electricity, 03:02.198 --> 03:05.364 no sewage, no fresh water, no wood, 03:05.364 --> 03:07.031 no anything. 03:07.031 --> 03:11.098 They're building a guest house where workers can stay. 03:11.098 --> 03:14.498 They're building a hospital, an orphanage, 03:14.498 --> 03:17.764 a home for the little handicapped child called 03:17.764 --> 03:19.998 "Johnny's House" and a worship center. 03:19.998 --> 03:23.798 So it's going to change that little part of the world. 03:23.798 --> 03:26.664 We know how dear to your heart that cause is. 03:26.664 --> 03:31.798 But how happy and satisfied are you being able to reach out and 03:31.798 --> 03:32.798 help people? 03:32.798 --> 03:33.798 Oh yeah, you know, that's, you know, 03:33.798 --> 03:34.931 I've been blessed. 03:34.931 --> 03:37.531 You know I've got good health. 03:37.531 --> 03:38.698 I've had good jobs. 03:38.698 --> 03:40.931 I've done what a lot of people don't have that. 03:40.931 --> 03:42.164 They don't have good jobs. 03:42.164 --> 03:43.164 They don't have good health. 03:43.164 --> 03:44.931 They don't have good families. 03:44.931 --> 03:50.198 And so if we're not a little sympathetic towards the people 03:50.198 --> 03:53.298 that are a little less fortunate than we are, 03:53.298 --> 03:55.298 we just may not make it. 03:55.298 --> 03:56.864 Let's talk some pig skin now. 03:56.864 --> 03:58.698 Texas A and M, your Alma Mater. 03:58.698 --> 04:01.031 Alabama won a national championship as a head coach 04:01.031 --> 04:02.031 there. 04:02.031 --> 04:03.764 Also a head coach with the Aggies. 04:03.764 --> 04:06.198 Low and behold, they're both in the same conference now. 04:06.198 --> 04:08.698 Texas A and M has joined the S-E-C and you had a little 04:08.698 --> 04:09.698 something to do that that. 04:09.698 --> 04:13.498 I served on the board of regents. 04:13.498 --> 04:17.898 In Texas, the governor appoints you for a six year term. 04:17.898 --> 04:19.631 And I've served on the board. 04:19.631 --> 04:21.464 And basically, there was discussion, 04:21.464 --> 04:24.398 University of Texas primarily, about joining the PAC-10. 04:24.398 --> 04:29.198 Well I really didn't think we had a lot in common with the 04:29.198 --> 04:30.198 PAC-10. 04:30.198 --> 04:33.264 And why travel two time zones to play a game? 04:33.264 --> 04:35.464 That didn't make sense to me. 04:35.464 --> 04:38.031 If we were going to change conferences, 04:38.031 --> 04:41.364 why not join the greatest conference in the country 04:41.364 --> 04:43.931 especially football-wise and thats South Eastern Conference. 04:43.931 --> 04:46.131 And we pursued South Eastern Conference. 04:46.131 --> 04:47.598 They didn't pursue us. 04:47.598 --> 04:50.198 But later they offered us an invitation. 04:50.198 --> 04:53.864 We were admitted to the conference and some didn't know 04:53.864 --> 04:57.564 whether or not that was a good decision or not. 04:57.564 --> 04:59.764 But it turned out extremely well. 04:59.764 --> 05:04.931 A and M has made a pretty nice impact in one year in the 05:04.931 --> 05:05.931 league. 05:05.931 --> 05:07.864 And Johnny Manzel winning the Heisman trophy. 05:07.864 --> 05:10.798 What do you think about that young quarterback? 05:10.798 --> 05:15.598 Well I think, you know, some of us wanted to tell the coach 05:15.598 --> 05:18.164 during spring practice just leave him alone. 05:18.164 --> 05:22.231 I mean, you know, he just makes things on his own. 05:22.231 --> 05:24.431 I mean he's hard to tackle. 05:24.431 --> 05:28.498 He's got that great ability to escape trouble and he deserves 05:28.498 --> 05:29.931 the Heisman. 05:29.931 --> 05:32.698 They lost two games but they could have very easily beaten 05:32.698 --> 05:34.798 Florida and should have beaten L-S-U. 05:34.798 --> 05:38.031 And of course he did beat Alabama and Tuscaloosa. 05:38.031 --> 05:40.198 Not many people do that. 05:40.198 --> 05:43.931 Alabama winning three out of the last four B-C-S National 05:43.931 --> 05:44.931 Championships. 05:44.931 --> 05:46.998 What do you think of Nick Saban? 05:46.998 --> 05:48.264 What a great job. 05:48.264 --> 05:50.831 Nick played my golf tournament the other day. 05:50.831 --> 05:53.731 And I told him -- I said, "Now Nick, 05:53.731 --> 05:57.564 if you don't do it again, we're going to be hot now." 05:57.564 --> 05:59.464 It's not four out five, right? 05:59.464 --> 06:02.364 No, I mean we're already used to this guy. 06:02.364 --> 06:04.264 What a great job he's done! 06:04.264 --> 06:06.198 I mean he's a no-nonsense coach. 06:06.198 --> 06:07.798 He's an extremely good recruiter. 06:07.798 --> 06:09.398 They've got lots of depth. 06:09.398 --> 06:10.398 They're well-coached. 06:10.398 --> 06:13.864 And I just can't imagine anybody doing a better job right now, 06:13.864 --> 06:16.131 college football, than what Coach Sabans doing. 06:16.131 --> 06:19.964 Gene, all the years you coached, did you take things away from 06:19.964 --> 06:21.864 Bear Bryant, Tom Landry, a combination. 06:21.864 --> 06:23.464 Was it your own style? 06:23.464 --> 06:25.398 What was the style you had? 06:25.398 --> 06:28.931 Well first of all, you've got to coach your own personnel. 06:28.931 --> 06:31.798 No way I could have coached without Coach Landry. 06:31.798 --> 06:34.664 No way I could have coached without Coach Bryant. 06:34.664 --> 06:37.564 But I learned some things from both of them. 06:37.564 --> 06:40.431 You know, Coach Bryant is probably the greatest college 06:40.431 --> 06:41.431 coach ever. 06:41.431 --> 06:44.264 I feel the same way about Coach Landry and professional 06:44.264 --> 06:45.264 football. 06:45.264 --> 06:48.798 And there's some things that they did that I would 06:48.798 --> 06:51.898 incorperate, some things they did that I wouldn't. 06:51.898 --> 06:55.931 And it's just a privlege really to work for those kind of 06:55.931 --> 06:56.931 people. 06:56.931 --> 07:00.064 I mean can you imagine being in staff meetings year after year 07:00.064 --> 07:03.698 with Coach Landry and then on the field with Coach Bryant. 07:03.698 --> 07:06.631 I mean it was -- My coaching career has been a joy. 07:06.631 --> 07:13.198 Well it certainly rubbed off. 07:13.198 --> 07:14.198 1992 national championship with Alabama, 07:14.198 --> 07:15.198 a perfect 13 and 0 season. 07:15.198 --> 07:16.198 Other than winning the title, what's the greatest memory you 07:16.198 --> 07:18.364 have, memory of that year, that season? 07:18.364 --> 07:21.698 Well first of all, no question about the joy that I got out of 07:21.698 --> 07:24.798 coaching that was seeing a player graduate. 07:24.798 --> 07:30.398 You know here's a player and grandmother, 07:30.398 --> 07:33.564 a mother say something like this. 07:33.564 --> 07:37.098 "First one ever on either side of the family to ever go to 07:37.098 --> 07:38.398 college." 07:38.398 --> 07:39.964 Help him with his books. 07:39.964 --> 07:42.464 And you know to see that player, you know, 07:42.464 --> 07:44.264 graduate, get a degree. 07:44.264 --> 07:45.798 It's life changing. 07:45.798 --> 07:49.698 And you know I know the importance of winning games. 07:49.698 --> 07:53.931 You know but to see those players be successful was a real 07:53.931 --> 07:55.698 joy I got out of coaching. 07:55.698 --> 07:58.098 Do you think we've gotten too far away from that? 07:58.098 --> 08:00.798 Yes, there are still the student athletes that want to graduate. 08:00.798 --> 08:02.331 They want to get that degree. 08:02.331 --> 08:04.098 But it's such a big business, as you know. 08:04.098 --> 08:06.698 And you know what worries me -- really bothers me. 08:06.698 --> 08:09.698 Doesn't worry me but no body honors contracts anymore. 08:09.698 --> 08:13.898 Universities, you know, if a guy can have one or two bad years, 08:13.898 --> 08:14.898 he's gone. 08:14.898 --> 08:18.764 A head coach can have one or two good years and he's gone. 08:18.764 --> 08:22.631 Somewhere along the line, I just feel like that both the coach 08:22.631 --> 08:25.198 and the schools, we need to honor contracts. 08:25.198 --> 08:27.464 You know we've got a law school. 08:27.464 --> 08:30.698 We teach people all over the world to honor contracts. 08:30.698 --> 08:34.564 And then we break them either as a coach or a player. 08:34.564 --> 08:36.831 And that bothers me a little bit. 08:36.831 --> 08:40.064 It bothers me personally that we're making the season longer. 08:40.064 --> 08:42.964 We've got to decide who the game is for. 08:42.964 --> 08:47.164 If the games for he player, then let's give the player a little 08:47.164 --> 08:49.431 consideration about how long the season is. 08:49.431 --> 08:52.998 Because whether we like it or whether we don't like it, 08:52.998 --> 08:55.698 you go to college for an education. 08:55.698 --> 08:57.398 You play football while you're there. 08:57.398 --> 09:00.931 And some areas it gets like we're going to college to play 09:00.931 --> 09:02.898 football and we're going to try to get an education. 09:02.898 --> 09:09.631 Yeah and I just, you know, I don't subscribe to that theory. 09:09.631 --> 09:10.698 Footballs great. 09:10.698 --> 09:12.264 I love it. 09:12.264 --> 09:16.198 But its not a life job for a lot of the players now. 09:16.198 --> 09:19.731 If you go in to professional football but most of them don't. 09:19.731 --> 09:21.164 I completely understand. 09:21.164 --> 09:23.898 We've had a crazy last couple of years. 09:23.898 --> 09:26.231 The turmoil of schools leaving leagues, 09:26.231 --> 09:27.564 joining other leagues. 09:27.564 --> 09:30.498 We also though have now in Division I A football or we will 09:30.498 --> 09:32.964 in 2014, a 14 play-off. 09:32.964 --> 09:34.598 Do you like going in that direction? 09:34.598 --> 09:38.298 No, no I never wanted to go down that. 09:38.298 --> 09:39.298 It was coming. 09:39.298 --> 09:41.064 There's no question about that. 09:41.064 --> 09:45.164 What I think is going to happen eventually is it's going to be 09:45.164 --> 09:47.298 like four major conferences. 09:47.298 --> 09:49.631 And it maybe like 20 teams in the conference. 09:49.631 --> 09:51.264 Then they'll have a champiionship game. 09:51.264 --> 09:54.498 And they're going to have some kind of play-off. 09:54.498 --> 09:58.798 Because as it is now, somebody still has to make the decision 09:58.798 --> 10:00.931 on who's going to be those top four. 10:00.931 --> 10:03.031 And whoever is fifth is going to say, 10:03.031 --> 10:06.431 "Good night, we shoud have been fourth." 10:06.431 --> 10:08.064 And who ever is sixth is going to say, 10:08.064 --> 10:09.264 "We beat third. 10:09.264 --> 10:11.231 "You know we beat the third team." 10:11.231 --> 10:15.298 And so you still not going to satisfy everybody. 10:15.298 --> 10:17.231 Gene, what was it like to be one of the junction boys? 10:17.231 --> 10:19.998 Well you know it was hot. 10:19.998 --> 10:24.631 You know you didn't get any water in those days. 10:24.631 --> 10:28.331 The furthest thing from my mind was quitting. 10:28.331 --> 10:31.131 I never gave quitting a thought. 10:31.131 --> 10:33.898 You know I was on scholarship. 10:33.898 --> 10:39.198 I was going to be able to get me a college degree. 10:39.198 --> 10:41.164 Now I was glad when junction was over. 10:41.164 --> 10:46.364 But what made junction so bad really was the lines were short. 10:46.364 --> 10:51.498 If you got 15 ins, it takes a while before your time. 10:51.498 --> 10:54.931 But if you just have six ins, you're time comes up. 10:54.931 --> 10:57.998 And if you just have four, it really comes up fast. 10:57.998 --> 11:01.564 And you still have the same two hour practice session. 11:01.564 --> 11:04.731 And we're in the middle of a draft. 11:04.731 --> 11:06.164 And everytime you put your hands down, 11:06.164 --> 11:07.831 there's big old gold heads. 11:07.831 --> 11:09.864 And it was the conditions. 11:09.864 --> 11:16.131 If Coach Bryant had known -- and I never did say this. 11:16.131 --> 11:20.098 But if he had known the conditions were that bad and I 11:20.098 --> 11:22.398 don't think we'd ever gone to junction. 11:22.398 --> 11:28.398 What do you think Coach Bryant would do now-a-days as we now 11:28.398 --> 11:35.098 live in an era where if a coach hollers at a kid, 11:35.098 --> 11:36.098 he gets in trouble. 11:36.098 --> 11:38.331 If he puts his hands on a kid, he gets in trouble. 11:38.331 --> 11:40.331 It's a lot different as you know. 11:40.331 --> 11:42.998 How would Coach Bryant fair today? 11:42.998 --> 11:44.031 -- just as successful? 11:44.031 --> 11:47.198 First of all, I think he would adjust some. 11:47.198 --> 11:48.298 Mhmm. 11:48.298 --> 11:52.798 I just, my wildest imagination -- I can't imagine one of his 11:52.798 --> 11:55.631 football teams with a bunch of players with hair down in the 11:55.631 --> 11:56.931 middle of their back now. 11:56.931 --> 11:59.631 That may happen. 11:59.631 --> 12:02.464 And for him not to holler at them occasionally, 12:02.464 --> 12:09.398 and he didn't like for anybody to put their hands on them back 12:09.398 --> 12:10.398 when I was coaching for it. 12:10.398 --> 12:11.398 I've heard him tell some coaches, 12:11.398 --> 12:12.398 "Hey, keep yout hands off the players." 12:12.398 --> 12:13.398 Yeah, just don't do that. 12:13.398 --> 12:14.398 If anybody's gonna touch players, 12:14.398 --> 12:15.631 it's gonna be him. 12:15.631 --> 12:21.398 But he would be a great coach because he would recruit well. 12:21.398 --> 12:26.064 And you know, he wasn't opposed to changing. 12:26.064 --> 12:28.998 You know he had a couple years that wasn't too good and people 12:28.998 --> 12:33.364 in Alabama were a little upset. 12:33.364 --> 12:36.698 And then they went to the Wishbone. 12:36.698 --> 12:39.464 And then after that, they won some more national champions. 12:39.464 --> 12:41.831 So he had the ability to adjust. 12:41.831 --> 12:44.964 That's one of the things you've got to do in college football 12:44.964 --> 12:46.264 and pro football. 12:46.264 --> 12:47.564 You're the college football hall of fame. 12:47.564 --> 12:48.864 What was that like? 12:48.864 --> 12:50.831 2010 I think you were enshrined. 12:50.831 --> 12:54.898 Well you know it's really a compliment to the players and 12:54.898 --> 12:55.898 the coaches. 12:55.898 --> 12:57.398 You know that's the bottom line. 12:57.398 --> 13:01.831 You win football games not because your scheme is better 13:01.831 --> 13:03.098 than their scheme. 13:03.098 --> 13:05.198 You know we're always talking about scheme. 13:05.198 --> 13:06.531 Boy, that was a great call. 13:06.531 --> 13:12.064 You win football games with football players making plays. 13:12.064 --> 13:14.664 Football players don't make plays -- You can have the 13:14.664 --> 13:16.098 greatest game in the world. 13:16.098 --> 13:20.531 And so if you have good players making plays and winning some 13:20.531 --> 13:24.564 games, well obviously the coach has an opportunity to be in the 13:24.564 --> 13:25.564 hall of fame. 13:25.564 --> 13:28.231 So I know that a lot of coaches. 13:28.231 --> 13:30.231 But I had some good players. 13:30.231 --> 13:33.898 What was your experience like in the N-F-L coaching the Cardinals 13:33.898 --> 13:36.598 and how much different was it from college? 13:36.598 --> 13:38.264 Well very little for me. 13:38.264 --> 13:43.264 You know if you had seen one of my pro teams practice and one of 13:43.264 --> 13:46.264 my college teams practice, you couldn't have told the 13:46.264 --> 13:47.631 difference very much really. 13:47.631 --> 13:49.631 You know times changed and now. 13:49.631 --> 13:52.964 In fact, they're talking about having a rule in Texas. 13:52.964 --> 13:55.964 And high school football in Texas is extremely big. 13:55.964 --> 13:59.931 I was reading an article the other day that said that they're 13:59.931 --> 14:03.331 talking about having no contact once the season gets underway. 14:03.331 --> 14:06.998 So all of your drills will be hats and shoulder pads, 14:06.998 --> 14:09.031 just sort of going through it. 14:09.031 --> 14:12.031 Now whether or not that passes and goes through, 14:12.031 --> 14:14.031 you know, I really don't know. 14:14.031 --> 14:15.698 But footballs a contact sport. 14:15.698 --> 14:19.398 And you know in order to get better week after week, 14:19.398 --> 14:22.398 after week, after week was somewhere along the line, 14:22.398 --> 14:24.731 you've got to have some tough drills. 14:24.731 --> 14:29.331 That's the reason I always felt like my teams got better as the 14:29.331 --> 14:32.731 year went along was, you know, we still had good. 14:32.731 --> 14:35.398 You know you can't go out there and be crazy. 14:35.398 --> 14:39.698 But just every once in a while, you got to have some contact if 14:39.698 --> 14:42.131 you're going to have some contact on Saturday. 14:42.131 --> 14:47.064 So can I assume wtih the changes they're making to the rules that 14:47.064 --> 14:49.731 not only do you not like that but maybe it's altered the game 14:49.731 --> 14:50.731 a bit? 14:50.731 --> 14:52.398 Well first of all, the head gear is used for protection. 14:52.398 --> 14:55.331 You know you got a head gear on and we're going to send you out 14:55.331 --> 14:56.331 to play. 14:56.331 --> 14:57.331 That's not a weapon. 14:57.331 --> 14:59.864 You know your head gear is not a weapon. 14:59.864 --> 15:03.264 You're not supposed to but somebody or spear somebody. 15:03.264 --> 15:08.698 And so much of the time, that's where your injuries come from. 15:08.698 --> 15:11.431 Your head gear is for protection. 15:11.431 --> 15:16.431 But somewhere along the line, $50,000 fine to a guy that's 15:16.431 --> 15:21.598 making five million dollars is not all that big a deal. 15:21.598 --> 15:23.698 But now if he has to sit out the whole year, 15:23.698 --> 15:26.498 it may become a big deal. 15:26.498 --> 15:28.498 I think the rules in place. 15:28.498 --> 15:31.931 We just have to enforce what the rules are. 15:31.931 --> 15:35.464 And if they say don't use your head gear as a weapon, 15:35.464 --> 15:38.364 some where along the line that's got to be what it means. 15:38.364 --> 15:39.364 What's it like on the ranch? 15:39.364 --> 15:40.831 Well I enjoy it. 15:40.831 --> 15:42.998 I never have a day off. 15:42.998 --> 15:44.098 I raise cattle. 15:44.098 --> 15:47.731 And you know you're constantly trying to get your pastures 15:47.731 --> 15:48.731 better. 15:48.731 --> 15:49.731 You're working your cattle. 15:49.731 --> 15:52.131 You got some heffers that need something, 15:52.131 --> 15:54.298 ground that needs to be fertilized. 15:54.298 --> 15:56.498 You notice something all the time. 15:56.498 --> 16:00.498 It's like a team but they don't talk back to ya. 16:00.498 --> 16:02.331 That's a lot of time. 16:02.331 --> 16:04.131 And I thoroughly enjoyed it. 16:04.131 --> 16:07.398 When I was coaching at Texas A and M, 16:07.398 --> 16:08.864 I bought some land. 16:08.864 --> 16:13.298 I didn't know come here from sick 'em about running a ranch. 16:13.298 --> 16:17.598 But I knew that when I retired, I didn't want to move on a golf 16:17.598 --> 16:18.598 course. 16:18.598 --> 16:19.998 I didn't want to just do nothing. 16:19.998 --> 16:20.998 I've been active. 16:20.998 --> 16:23.564 It took me 40 years to get it paid for. 16:23.564 --> 16:26.364 But now I've got it paid for and I've retired and have a place to 16:26.364 --> 16:27.498 go to live. 16:27.498 --> 16:28.964 And that was a good decision. 16:28.964 --> 16:29.964 Well you look great. 16:29.964 --> 16:31.031 You sound great, Coach. 16:31.031 --> 16:32.631 It's been a pleasure having you on. 16:32.631 --> 16:35.198 I like to end all my interviews with something I call 'Five for 16:35.198 --> 16:36.198 the Road'. 16:36.198 --> 16:39.764 So it's quick questions -- first thing that comes to your mind. 16:39.764 --> 16:42.031 What's your favorite professional sports team in any 16:42.031 --> 16:43.031 sport? 16:43.031 --> 16:48.798 Obviously I used to like the Cowboys but not so much now. 16:48.798 --> 16:52.531 So that's I'd say probably the Rams. 16:52.531 --> 16:54.664 I liked the Cardinals. 16:54.664 --> 16:59.464 How about your favorite pro athlete of all time, 16:59.464 --> 17:01.064 maybe growing up? 17:01.064 --> 17:02.664 Probably Raymond Berry. 17:02.664 --> 17:03.964 Oh, wow! 17:03.964 --> 17:05.131 Raymond Berry was something. 17:05.131 --> 17:06.298 I'm a big Colts fan. 17:06.298 --> 17:08.798 Well Raymond and I went to high school together. 17:08.798 --> 17:11.831 One of the trivia questions in the N-F-L was what two head 17:11.831 --> 17:15.931 coaches went to the same high school and had the same head 17:15.931 --> 17:16.931 coach. 17:16.931 --> 17:17.931 And it was Raymond and I. 17:17.931 --> 17:18.931 Pretty good production. 17:18.931 --> 17:21.964 How about favorite music, musician -- what do you like to 17:21.964 --> 17:22.964 listen to? 17:22.964 --> 17:24.198 Well I'm country-western fan. 17:24.198 --> 17:28.998 And I'm not much of a music man. 17:28.998 --> 17:31.331 I don't have to get in the car and turn the radio on. 17:31.331 --> 17:34.298 A good country song now and again, 17:34.298 --> 17:35.298 right? 17:35.298 --> 17:38.198 And we lost a great one in George Jones just recently. 17:38.198 --> 17:40.064 Favorite movie of all time? 17:40.064 --> 17:41.064 Well I love "Patton". 17:41.064 --> 17:44.264 I thought that was a great movie. 17:44.264 --> 17:47.731 And if I had to just pick one, I'm a John Wayne fan. 17:47.731 --> 17:50.164 I like all of his. 17:50.164 --> 17:51.864 But I'd say "Patton" probably. 17:51.864 --> 17:55.164 And finally, your favorite television show of all time? 17:55.164 --> 17:58.864 You know what I like to watch? 17:58.864 --> 17:59.864 What? 17:59.864 --> 18:00.864 You're gonna laugh at this. 18:00.864 --> 18:01.864 "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" 18:01.864 --> 18:03.131 (laughter) Is that not silly? 18:03.131 --> 18:05.998 But I enjoy watching that and, of course, 18:05.998 --> 18:07.498 "NCIS". 18:07.498 --> 18:09.798 If I'm just going to watch two, those would be the two that I 18:09.798 --> 18:10.798 watch. 18:10.798 --> 18:13.731 I watch Fox News most of the time. 18:13.731 --> 18:16.064 But ti also reminds us of how smart these young kids are and 18:16.064 --> 18:18.364 how much we've forgotten over the years. 18:18.364 --> 18:19.498 Coach, thank you so much. 18:19.498 --> 18:20.498 Absolute pleasure. 18:20.498 --> 18:21.498 Thank you. 18:21.498 --> 18:22.498 Thank you, Gene. 18:22.498 --> 18:23.498 We'll take a quick break. 18:23.498 --> 18:25.331 When we return, our 'Overtime' segment. 18:25.331 --> 18:33.031 ♪♪♪ 18:33.031 --> 18:33.664 (male announcer) Three.. 18:33.664 --> 18:34.231 Two.. 18:34.231 --> 18:36.998 One.. 18:36.998 --> 18:38.531 [buzzer sounds] 18:38.531 --> 18:40.331 Athletes are always looking for that next hot 18:40.331 --> 18:43.198 training regiment to not only stay fit but to keep their 18:43.198 --> 18:44.464 workouts fresh. 18:44.464 --> 18:46.598 Situps and five-k's will never hurt, 18:46.598 --> 18:49.464 but that type of workout can certainly become monotonous. 18:49.464 --> 18:51.531 Crossfit is something fresh. 18:51.531 --> 18:54.798 And it's not just for sculpted athetes but for anyone looking 18:54.798 --> 18:55.898 to get in shape. 18:55.898 --> 18:58.531 Michelle Kinney is the owner of Crossfit Chickasaw, 18:58.531 --> 19:00.731 and she practices what she preaches. 19:00.731 --> 19:02.931 Next week Michelle will participate in the Crossfit 19:02.931 --> 19:05.831 games in California for the third time. 19:05.831 --> 19:08.798 She was a three sport Athlete at Mississippi State and a former 19:08.798 --> 19:11.764 standout at Saint Benedict High School in Cordova. 19:11.764 --> 19:14.464 Recently I spent some time with Michelle to find out more about 19:14.464 --> 19:17.731 her and the sport of Crossfit. 19:17.731 --> 19:19.164 Michelle, thank you so much for being with us. 19:19.164 --> 19:20.164 Thanks for being here. 19:20.164 --> 19:21.164 We appreciate it. 19:21.164 --> 19:22.864 Alright, give me the broad definition of Crossfit. 19:22.864 --> 19:25.564 Alright, broad definition of Crossfit is constantly varied 19:25.564 --> 19:27.664 functional movements performed at high intensity. 19:27.664 --> 19:28.664 What! 19:28.664 --> 19:30.598 I know and it sounds like, you know, 19:30.598 --> 19:32.198 Webster's dicitonary definition. 19:32.198 --> 19:35.198 But what we're looking for is just training that's a 19:35.198 --> 19:37.898 well-rounded version of fitness in a varied format. 19:37.898 --> 19:39.898 So we're not just focused on weights. 19:39.898 --> 19:41.164 We're not just focused on endurance. 19:41.164 --> 19:42.964 We're not just focused on body weight strength. 19:42.964 --> 19:44.931 We're focused on all those things and creating a 19:44.931 --> 19:46.098 swell-rounded athlete. 19:46.098 --> 19:48.298 How long has this been around? 19:48.298 --> 19:50.731 Crossfit Chickasaw or Crossfit in general? 19:50.731 --> 19:51.731 Crossfit in general. 19:51.731 --> 19:52.731 Since '99. 19:52.731 --> 19:56.198 '98 I think it when the first people started doing Crossfit 19:56.198 --> 19:57.864 out in Santa Cruz, California. 19:57.864 --> 19:59.931 But Crossfit Chickasaw started May 18, 19:59.931 --> 20:00.931 2012. 20:00.931 --> 20:03.831 Yeah, everybody's looking for a way to make it more enjoyable 20:03.831 --> 20:06.898 working out, staying in shape, not just the old jumping jacks 20:06.898 --> 20:08.264 and push ups and sit ups. 20:08.264 --> 20:11.098 This seems to be a hot way to do that. 20:11.098 --> 20:12.098 Absolutely. 20:12.098 --> 20:14.598 It's in the constantly varied component kind of leads to that. 20:14.598 --> 20:17.398 So you're constantly engaged because it's always a different 20:17.398 --> 20:20.231 work out every time you step in to the gym. 20:20.231 --> 20:21.231 So you don't get bored. 20:21.231 --> 20:22.298 You don't get bored mentally and you don't get bored physically. 20:22.298 --> 20:24.698 So physically, you can plateau because you'e doing the same 20:24.698 --> 20:26.098 thing over and over again. 20:26.098 --> 20:28.864 And when you change it up a bit, you're constantly seeing those 20:28.864 --> 20:30.698 gains and it's very rewarding. 20:30.698 --> 20:33.498 How can you take the time out to do what you do? 20:33.498 --> 20:36.398 And now you're getting ready for your third Crossfit games, 20:36.398 --> 20:38.231 your third national compeititon. 20:38.231 --> 20:40.564 All the regional competitions you've been in while you're also 20:40.564 --> 20:41.564 running this place. 20:41.564 --> 20:43.498 This is yours, Crossfit Chickasaw. 20:43.498 --> 20:46.031 And I'm sure you're coaching a lot of people and helping them 20:46.031 --> 20:47.031 out. 20:47.031 --> 20:48.031 How do you find that time? 20:48.031 --> 20:50.931 Um, I have a business partner that helps me run things, 20:50.931 --> 20:51.931 Robby Fromin. 20:51.931 --> 20:54.831 And then our coaching staff has done a tremendous job picking up 20:54.831 --> 20:58.364 those classes, helping me out as far as the gym day-to-day stuff 20:58.364 --> 21:01.364 goes because I'm training quite a bit -- about four hours a day, 21:01.364 --> 21:02.364 six days a week. 21:02.364 --> 21:03.731 So it's heavy loading. 21:03.731 --> 21:05.964 So just in those four training hours, 21:05.964 --> 21:07.798 that's time devoted to trainging. 21:07.798 --> 21:10.798 But outside of that, I get tired and you know. 21:10.798 --> 21:13.998 But my staff and my business partner help me out a whole lot 21:13.998 --> 21:14.998 with that. 21:14.998 --> 21:15.998 Let's talk about next week in California, 21:15.998 --> 21:16.998 the Crossfit games. 21:16.998 --> 21:18.064 You've had two under your belt. 21:18.064 --> 21:21.464 How do you learn from them to make it a better result this 21:21.464 --> 21:22.464 time around? 21:22.464 --> 21:24.364 Well the first time, I was just totally starstruck. 21:24.364 --> 21:26.864 So it was just like, you know, a new kid, 21:26.864 --> 21:28.864 a kid in a candy store type thing. 21:28.864 --> 21:32.864 Now I know going in to it, my mind set that I'm as ready as I 21:32.864 --> 21:33.864 can be. 21:33.864 --> 21:34.864 So whatever they throw at me. 21:34.864 --> 21:36.198 We don't know what the events are, 21:36.198 --> 21:38.864 what they'll have us do. 21:38.864 --> 21:41.431 I'm going to do it to the best of my ability and just accept 21:41.431 --> 21:42.831 the outcome however that may be. 21:42.831 --> 21:44.098 But basically, full effort. 21:44.098 --> 21:46.598 You don't know what it's going to be? 21:46.598 --> 21:47.598 Right. 21:47.598 --> 21:48.598 I don't understand. 21:48.598 --> 21:49.598 You take the stage and then they say, 21:49.598 --> 21:50.598 "Do this." 21:50.598 --> 21:51.598 Pretty much, pretty much. 21:51.598 --> 21:54.664 They, um, you know we have three to four days of competitions. 21:54.664 --> 21:55.664 They won't let us know. 21:55.664 --> 21:57.364 They won't let us know how many events. 21:57.364 --> 21:59.931 They'll usually tell us what an event is maybe the night before 21:59.931 --> 22:01.264 or maybe two hours before. 22:01.264 --> 22:03.831 We just have to be ready for anything and everything. 22:03.831 --> 22:05.564 Three days of competition you said? 22:05.564 --> 22:08.031 It's officially three days of competition but last year, 22:08.031 --> 22:11.064 they surprised the athletes with a fourth day of competition. 22:11.064 --> 22:12.731 And so I'm just anticipating. 22:12.731 --> 22:14.198 They're full of surprises! 22:14.198 --> 22:15.364 They are! 22:15.364 --> 22:18.698 What do you think your strongest area is and the one area you 22:18.698 --> 22:19.798 really need to work on? 22:19.798 --> 22:21.698 The strongest area is absolutely endurance. 22:21.698 --> 22:23.098 I have an endurance background. 22:23.098 --> 22:26.398 I ran cross country in high school and in college. 22:26.398 --> 22:28.831 So endurance is really a strong suit of mine. 22:28.831 --> 22:31.398 Weight lifting is going to be the other end of the spectrum. 22:31.398 --> 22:35.131 It's my weakness so I've been constantly training strength and 22:35.131 --> 22:37.231 trying to get that weakness a little bit better. 22:37.231 --> 22:39.331 But those are the two ends of the spectrum there. 22:39.331 --> 22:40.331 You mentiooned high school. 22:40.331 --> 22:41.931 You've been an athlete all your life, 22:41.931 --> 22:44.464 Saint Benedict High School and Mississippi State. 22:44.464 --> 22:45.464 Right. 22:45.464 --> 22:46.898 Three different sports at Mississippi State. 22:46.898 --> 22:49.698 What was that like juggling academics and athletics? 22:49.698 --> 22:51.931 Um, I was, I guess, really focused. 22:51.931 --> 22:55.231 Mississippi State does a great job with their student-athletes 22:55.231 --> 22:57.798 to make sure that the academics are the focus, 22:57.798 --> 22:59.064 believe it or not. 22:59.064 --> 23:01.631 But yeah, it was just a fun time. 23:01.631 --> 23:02.931 It just was easy. 23:02.931 --> 23:05.498 I mean just playing ball and enjoying it, 23:05.498 --> 23:08.098 running and enjoying that, and then getting work done on the 23:08.098 --> 23:09.098 side. 23:09.098 --> 23:10.564 Softball, cross country, track and field? 23:10.564 --> 23:11.564 Correct. 23:11.564 --> 23:12.564 What were your events in track and field? 23:12.564 --> 23:14.798 three-thousand meter steeple chase and javelin. 23:14.798 --> 23:17.331 What would you say to somebody out there who's watching you 23:17.331 --> 23:18.664 right now and they're like, "Wait a minute. 23:18.664 --> 23:20.398 "I like what she's saying. 23:20.398 --> 23:21.398 "I want to get involved." 23:21.398 --> 23:23.364 How do they get involved at Crossfit? 23:23.364 --> 23:25.298 Oh, they just got to send me an e-mail or walk through our 23:25.298 --> 23:26.298 doors. 23:26.298 --> 23:27.298 I'll tell them all about it. 23:27.298 --> 23:28.298 I'll talk their ear off. 23:28.298 --> 23:29.964 But we start everybody off in our fundamentals program. 23:29.964 --> 23:31.764 So a lot of people are a lilttle intimidated. 23:31.764 --> 23:33.231 Regardless of gender or background, 23:33.231 --> 23:34.231 we can help them out. 23:34.231 --> 23:36.264 So they just need to walk through our doors. 23:36.264 --> 23:37.831 We'll put them through our fundamentals program, 23:37.831 --> 23:41.064 a really small group where we teach them the movements and get 23:41.064 --> 23:42.298 them ready for our big program. 23:42.298 --> 23:45.231 Well with that said with the fundamentals, 23:45.231 --> 23:46.231 give me an idea. 23:46.231 --> 23:47.964 Talk about some of the actual things. 23:47.964 --> 23:49.598 We see ropes here. 23:49.598 --> 23:51.298 We see rings here. 23:51.298 --> 23:52.464 A couple of specfiics. 23:52.464 --> 23:55.298 Yeah, the fundamentals doesn't involved those scary things that 23:55.298 --> 23:57.031 catch your eye right when you walk in the door. 23:57.031 --> 23:59.698 Just the basic air squats movement one that we cover. 23:59.698 --> 24:01.264 And if you don't get the air squat down, 24:01.264 --> 24:02.264 we don't move on. 24:02.264 --> 24:04.531 We don't progress to the more complicated movements until 24:04.531 --> 24:07.298 we're certain that you're moving with that air squat well. 24:07.298 --> 24:09.664 because if your squats not good, we don't want ot load it with a 24:09.664 --> 24:11.864 barbell and set you up for injury. 24:11.864 --> 24:14.931 So we're more about mechanics before we do volume or 24:14.931 --> 24:16.064 intensity. 24:16.064 --> 24:18.364 What is your goal for next week? 24:18.364 --> 24:22.064 Um, just literally give it my best and have fun because when 24:22.064 --> 24:25.898 the fun left Crossfit for a bit, it wasn't fun. 24:25.898 --> 24:27.064 That sounds pretty obvious. 24:27.064 --> 24:29.531 But I want to have fun and I want to do the best that I can 24:29.531 --> 24:31.798 out there and enjoy every minute of it because this is a very 24:31.798 --> 24:33.164 special place to be. 24:33.164 --> 24:35.698 I missed out on it last year and I just want to soak it all up 24:35.698 --> 24:36.698 this year. 24:36.698 --> 24:38.498 So I would imagine there are some that don't feel the same 24:38.498 --> 24:40.931 way you do, that they're in it for the strict competition to 24:40.931 --> 24:41.964 win it all. 24:41.964 --> 24:44.798 And maybe they don;t enjoy it which they should. 24:44.798 --> 24:45.798 Oh, no doubt. 24:45.798 --> 24:46.931 I mean I'm a competitor. 24:46.931 --> 24:49.331 I want to win just with the best of them. 24:49.331 --> 24:51.464 But like I said, we don't know what's coming. 24:51.464 --> 24:53.064 So I don't know what to expect. 24:53.064 --> 24:55.564 So I just know that I can only give all that I've got. 24:55.564 --> 24:58.564 And if I do that, I'll be victorious. 24:58.564 --> 25:00.464 In the final days leading up to it, 25:00.464 --> 25:03.364 will you train harder, more or less? 25:03.364 --> 25:04.664 Absolutely not. 25:04.664 --> 25:07.998 I think actually starting about a week out from the perceived 25:07.998 --> 25:09.898 date that we're going to start, I'm going to really start to 25:09.898 --> 25:12.131 taper and dial back my training. 25:12.131 --> 25:13.931 My volume is really high right now. 25:13.931 --> 25:16.264 I'm getting at least 12 training sessions in a week. 25:16.264 --> 25:18.831 So I need to have some energy come game time. 25:18.831 --> 25:20.031 Absolutely. 25:20.031 --> 25:21.531 Michelle, enjoy yourself out there like you said. 25:21.531 --> 25:22.398 Have fun. 25:22.398 --> 25:22.964 Best of luck. 25:22.964 --> 25:23.398 Thanks, Greg. 25:23.398 --> 25:23.964 Great meeting you. 25:23.964 --> 25:25.831 Great meeting you! 25:25.831 --> 25:28.498 And best of luck to Michelle as we hope the third time for her 25:28.498 --> 25:29.731 will be the charm. 25:29.731 --> 25:31.698 And that will do it for this week's show. 25:31.698 --> 25:34.231 As always, you can see any of our previous shows by heading to 25:34.231 --> 25:38.464 our website, WKNO-dot-org, and clicking on KNO Tonite. 25:38.464 --> 25:41.631 Have a great week, and we'll see you next time. 25:41.631 --> 25:55.464 ♪♪♪ 25:55.464 --> 25:59.464 Closed Captions provided by WKNO - Memphis.