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Digital Social Hour
How This Ex-Alabama Player Built a 7-Figure Marketing Empire | Mac Hereford DSH #951
00:36:29
🏈 Discover how a former Alabama football player transformed his collegiate experience into a thriving 7-figure marketing empire! In this episode, Mac Hereford shares his journey from playing under Nick Saban to becoming a marketing powerhouse.
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- [00:01]
Mack Jones
How did you balance your ego, Alabama? Because I'm sure everywhere you went, you were the man.
- [00:05]
Alabama Player
It wasn't hard for me because I didn't play as much as most guys. You know, the fans pump you up. Football in Alabama is literally a religion. You can go anywhere in the state of Alabama.
- [00:13]
Mack Jones
Football's life.
- [00:14]
Alabama Player
Yeah, it really is, like, it's at a different level. I don't know if there's anywhere else in the country there.
- [00:23]
Podcast Host
All right, guys, Digital social hour in Nashville.
- [00:25]
Mack Jones
We got Mac here for here today. Thanks for having me, man.
- [00:28]
Alabama Player
Dude, I'm excited to be here in Nashville with you and glad you make it out here.
- [00:33]
Mack Jones
Dude, I can see why you live here now, too. After being here for a day, it's pretty.
- [00:36]
Alabama Player
Look, it's pretty lit. I tell people all the time, Nashville is a great city.
- [00:39]
Mack Jones
Yeah. And I know you're big on sports and you got a crazy sports background, which we'll get into, but you're still really active training.
- [00:45]
Alabama Player
Yeah, so I train all the time. I train four times a week with a guy named Justin Todd at a gym called Athos. Talk to you a little bit about it before the pod. But he has a unique training style, always gamifies stuff, makes it competitive, and train with a bunch of pro guys. And it's like. I don't know, it's. I feel like I'm in better shape and my body feels better now than it did, like, four or five years ago.
- [01:05]
Mack Jones
Wow.
- [01:05]
Alabama Player
So.
- [01:06]
Mack Jones
And you were playing football at Alabama four or five years ago, right?
- [01:08]
Alabama Player
Yeah, I was playing in Alabama. And, you know, we were lifting every single. You know, three times a week and also doing practice. And it's like, I felt great then, don't get me wrong. But I just think there's, like, a change in the way I've been working out now from then, like, originally in college football. You know, it's a lot of heavy lifting, lot of Olympic lifts, and a lot of weight you're moving along with, you know, as well, just the training, like, of. Of practices. And so now moving towards the day, the training I do. You know, we do about 45 minutes of some kind of competitive game, some kind of competitive movement and mobility. And then we get into the gym, and it's like. I don't know. I don't even know how to describe the lifting. Yeah, we had so many, like, hands on deck at Alabama that, like, after I graduated, I didn't even know how to lift because they just always told us what to do. Wow.
- [01:56]
Mack Jones
So they were really Hands on with you, like, personally or in group settings.
- [01:59]
Alabama Player
In group settings. So we would have, you know, the way it worked at Alabama, we would have lifting groups, and I can't know the. Or tell you the exact number of guys that would be in each lifting group, but maybe it's around, you know, 20, 30 guys. We'd split up into groups around, like, you know, sometimes two to four. And we would have, like, a strength intern or strength coach at our rack in the weight room with every single group. So they're super hands on. Alabama had amazing resources, obviously, but the ability just like, to have someone say, hey, you're supposed to lift this much weight. They tracked all of our data, how much we're supposed to be lifting so that we could see our improve or see the. Our improvement and increase in strength. Yeah, but it was. It was pretty crazy. Like, they're, like, helping change the weights and you're moving from one station to the next. It's. It's a process. I mean, it was under coach Nick Saban, so you can only imagine, like, the process part of it. But, yeah, it was really cool.
- [02:51]
Mack Jones
How did you balance your ego, Alabama? Because I'm sure everywhere you went, you were the man.
- [02:55]
Alabama Player
Dude, I. It wasn't hard for me because I didn't play as much as most guys, but there definitely was a lot of that that, you know, the fans pump you up and obviously football in Alabama is literally a religion. Like, I don't think people get it when I talk about it. Like, you can go anywhere in the state of Alabama and you're going to see an Alabama flag or an Auburn flag, like, waving in the front yard and kids wearing those jerseys to school. Football is. Is everything.
- [03:20]
Mack Jones
Football's life.
- [03:21]
Alabama Player
Yeah, it really is. Like, it's at a different level. I don't know if there's anywhere else in the country that compares.
- [03:27]
Mack Jones
I don't think so. Dude. Dude, those games probably had what, 20 million viewers for the, like, the title game?
- [03:32]
Alabama Player
I mean, I don't know the exact numbers, but it had a. A ton.
- [03:36]
Mack Jones
Yeah. Was your goal to make it to the NFL? Was that number one goal for you?
- [03:40]
Alabama Player
So, honestly, my goal it. When I was a young little. Like when I was a little kid, we had, like, books in. In elementary school that was writing about what you wanted to be. And I can. I still have a book that's from, like, kindergarten or first grade or whatnot that says I want to be an Alabama football player. So it wasn't the NFL. It wasn't some other thing. It was literally just an Alabama football player. That's all I wanted to do and all I wanted to be. And so when I got there, it was like, okay, you know, like, what do I do next? Right. But, yeah, it was never to be in the NFL, just to play at Alabama.
- [04:09]
Mack Jones
Okay, so that was like, the pinnacle for you.
- [04:12]
Alabama Player
Yeah, that's getting there. That was it. It was huge. And I think, like, that's why I love still talking about it today. It's like, dude, if you imagine having a goal and a dream your whole entire life and then achieving it, like, it's massive. The feeling is awesome.
- [04:25]
Mack Jones
Yeah. You know, so once you achieved it, was there a moment where you were like, what's next?
- [04:29]
Alabama Player
Yeah, I would say once I got there, freshman year, it was like, okay, these are some of the top players in the country. And, like, I don't even know if I can compete with them. But then after a short period of time, I'm like, dude, I'm not, you know, too far off from these guys. And so it's, then what's the next step? And that was to play. Like, I really, really wanted to play. So I. I worked my tail off, did everything in my power to play, and didn't play as much as I wanted to, but I really, really loved the experience.
- [04:54]
Mack Jones
Nice. How many strings are there on that team?
- [04:56]
Alabama Player
Dude, there's. I mean, first string, second string, third string.
- [05:00]
Podcast Host
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- [05:42]
Mack Jones
You'D like in case you don't like.
- [05:43]
Podcast Host
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- [06:01]
Alabama Player
Fourth string. I mean, there's even fifth string guys, maybe even more than that. And the thing I would tell people that's crazy about the University of Alabama, and I'll stand on this, is that guys who are fifth, like fourth, fifth string in Alabama could start at almost any other Division 1 school.
- [06:14]
Mack Jones
Wow. It's that deep.
- [06:15]
Alabama Player
I think it's that deep.
- [06:16]
Mack Jones
Holy crap. So were you fifth string at first?
- [06:18]
Alabama Player
Yeah, I was, I would say just bad, like wouldn't even consider myself a string. Just in the mix. Whoa. And then as time went on, I mean, the, the furthest I got was the spring game. So we have a spring game leading up to the next season, the next year. And I started in that spring game. My quarterback was Mack Jones and played the most reps, I think on my team out of anyone. And that was the next year. Then they bought in other guys like Jaylen Waddle and, you know, Jerry, Judy Henry, rhythm, etc. I can go down the list of Alabama wide receivers, but it was a powerhouse. I think that was just one of the biggest differences that I saw at the University of Alabama is like most teams, you know, they've got great first and second string guys. Alabama, you know, you're going to have a five star who's sitting until his last year of college.
- [07:01]
Mack Jones
Crazy.
- [07:01]
Alabama Player
It's crazy. Crazy. And, and it was easy. My dad always was fascinated with the fact that these guys could like stay. Like, why would anyone want to stay? You know, if they're a five star, they know they can start somewhere else. But they're here at the University of Alabama and they know they may have to sit three or four years. Well, you have guys like Kenyon Drake, who's a running back who didn't play too much throughout his career and had a huge kick return against Clemson in his national championship and gets picked up in the second round. Like you have guys like Josh Jacobs, who played for the Raiders, now plays for the Packers. Like Josh wasn't a like true full year starter his whole career at Alabama and then was drafted first round. So you can, it's, you know, if, if you put in the time and the effort at the University of Alabama, like you're going to make it, you know, eventually when you get your chance, like you're going to go to the league if that's your goal.
- [07:45]
Mack Jones
Absolutely. How high was the turnover every year? Were you in a new locker room every single year?
- [07:49]
Alabama Player
I would say like, you know, they did a good job of keeping guys there throughout my time and the transfer rules have changed a bit now, but most of the time we'd see the same, you Know, same teammates. The biggest turnover was in coaches. I had, I think four or five different offensive coordinators and wide receiver coaches in my tenure at Alabama. So that was nuts to me because you build a relationship with these guys and you. You grow to love them and, you know, respect them, and then like, oh, gosh, they're out. And you can't really blame them because most of Saban's staff, most of the guys under Saban are getting head coaching jobs at other schools.
- [08:21]
Mack Jones
They're getting crazy offers. Yes.
- [08:22]
Alabama Player
I mean, you have Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss right now. You have Kirby Smart at Georgia. You have Billy Napier at Florida. All those guys were like, under saving at one point. And there's a lot more that I didn't even speak on. But, like, that's the crazy thing to me, if you want to become a head coach, like, you just come to Alabama and learn from Coach Saban and then, boom, like, you're competing with them in the next couple of years.
- [08:41]
Mack Jones
It's like working with Belichick, right?
- [08:42]
Alabama Player
Yeah, yeah. They compare Belichick to Coach Saban all the time. I mean, both of them are very similar. I haven't personally met Belichick, but Saban is. Is just one of a kind. Best college football coach to ever do it.
- [08:51]
Mack Jones
A lot of people say he's the goat, right?
- [08:53]
Alabama Player
Yeah. College football, I mean, I think there's, you know, very, very high percentage. There's a very few people who don't think Coach Savings.
- [08:59]
Mack Jones
Why do you. Did you ever ask him why he didn't want to coach NFL?
- [09:02]
Alabama Player
No. He obviously coached NFL for a little bit. I think that the way he coaches his system works better at the college level. I think it's a little bit harder now when you throw in this nil money and players being able to get paid so much like they are. But, you know, the NFL level, these guys are. It's a job for them. It's strictly a job. And so they come in, they're doing their thing, and most of them are doing whatever on their own, their personal life away from the stadium. In college football, compared to high school, like high school, you got this brotherhood, this bond. It's not exactly the same in college. Like, guys aren't hanging out as much. I mean, I. I did because I really took, you know, was intentional with trying to spend time with my teammates outside of the locker room. But you still have that feel in college, and you still, as a coach, you can still get in demand respect from players that are younger and they're still Developing. And so I think that's why the college system works so well for him because, you know, he was like a business manager at the end of the day, like he's up here and then you have the assistant coaches, coordinators, and then below them is like the position coaches and then us. And so if there was something that need to be translated down to us, most of the time it came from the OC to the like position coach to us rather than directly from Coach Saban. Now if you're getting a. Just a ass chewing on the field, like a lot of times, yeah, it's coming from Coach Saban, but it's a really cool system. I mean, I think he would be successful at anything and everything he would do. I think he could be a great businessman. Honestly, I'd love to see him run for president.
- [10:22]
Mack Jones
I could see that.
- [10:23]
Alabama Player
Yeah. Be dope.
- [10:24]
Mack Jones
What was his coaching style? Because I know a lot of football coaches rule by fear, right. They want the players to be a little scared, intimidated by them. Was he like that?
- [10:30]
Alabama Player
Yeah, I would say it's. It's. He was a coach where I tell people that he was loved but respected. So in this. Or feared and loved at the same time, you know, or. I think it's the. I'm trying to think of the right term. Is it you rather be feared than loved? Yeah. I think he went off of that because there was a presence that he had to players. He kept a distance. So there's a lot of coaches who are called players coaches and those guys I would, you know, say is like a dabo Sweeney, who was very like hands on with his players, knows every guy, really talks to them and. And gets to know them. Coach Saban knew who we all were, but he kept distance so that we. He would have that respect.
- [11:07]
Mack Jones
Wow. So he wouldn't build a personal bond with any players.
- [11:10]
Alabama Player
It would be. There was very few players that he would really build a very personal bond with. In my time, like, I can think of Jalen Hertz and Minka Fitzpatrick and you know, to. He built really good relationships with those guys and was talking to those guys outside of practice a good bit with the rest of us. You know, I believe he loved all of us and wanted us to. To succeed. But again, he kept a distance because with that distance came respect.
- [11:33]
Mack Jones
Right.
- [11:33]
Alabama Player
And when he walked into a room, you know, it would go silent like that, like, wow, it was crazy. Like, everyone's talking to the team meeting room. Saban walks in. This is our coach, you know what I'm saying? And he's like, dead silence, dude.
- [11:44]
Mack Jones
There's barely not many guys that can do that. I'd say Trump is one, but there's not many.
- [11:49]
Alabama Player
Yeah, it was pretty unbelievable.
- [11:50]
Mack Jones
That's crazy. That's smart, though, because sometimes when I get close with, you know, people like my employees, it kind of affects my decision making.
- [11:57]
Alabama Player
Yep.
- [11:58]
Mack Jones
Leeway.
- [11:59]
Alabama Player
Yeah. When. When in his kind of style was, you know, he demanded a standard of excellence to each and every single person in the facility, whether it was a nutritionist, whether it was a. An assisting coach, a ga, you know, even to the janitors. Like, he had a standard of excellence, and every single person had to follow that. And the cool thing was, like, if they didn't follow that standard, well, then you're not supposed to be at Alabama. You're out, you know, you're out. And it was nothing personal. At the end of the day, it's just his system and how it works, his process.
- [12:26]
Mack Jones
Yeah. He treated it like a business.
- [12:27]
Alabama Player
Yep.
- [12:27]
Mack Jones
That's cool, man.
- [12:28]
Alabama Player
It was very successful, too.
- [12:30]
Mack Jones
Yeah. What are some other. What's another big takeaway you had from him?
- [12:33]
Alabama Player
I would say just really on the. On the personal thing, you know, I used to take everything personally, and I think there's power in taking things personally, you know, and. Oh, that let that drive you, let that motivate you. But his ability to help people understand, look, this is not about just you or you or you individually. This is a lot bigger than every single. You know, than each and every one of you. It's a team.
- [12:55]
Mack Jones
Yeah.
- [12:55]
Alabama Player
And I think that's one of the biggest things in life is, like, a lot of times, even in business, like, you take things personal, sometimes it's not going to work out well for you. You got to realize at the end of the day, it's work, it's business, and there's things that need to happen, and you got to get them done, you know, and if you're not going to get them done, then, you know, it's. It's not going to be successful.
- [13:12]
Mack Jones
Absolutely. Any big football memories from high school or before college?
- [13:16]
Alabama Player
Dude, I had one amazing. I have a lot of great, you know, memories from all levels of football. I love the sport of football just because of the relationships that I've been able to build. Is. Is been amazing with some guys that, you know, completely different backgrounds, but in particular, one great high school football memory. There's nothing like high school football. And I've been seeing this, like, little trend on Tik Tok that has this music and Stuff, it gets me going, it gets me fired up. But I'll never forget one of my teammates, Evans River. So I played at a boarding school, so we had guys from all over. But my, my teammate Evans river was the running back at the time. Guy from Queens, New York, cousins with my, One of my roommates in high school, one of my best friends, Legi Portugal. But there was a game my senior year that I have like videos of it where we're playing one of our rivals. I come out and I have this great block for him and he takes it up the sideline, runs it, you know, tons of yards. Was, was crushing it. And it was like I felt great about it. He gave me, he was like, dude, thanks for the block. But on the next drive when we got the ball, we're going down on the other teams. I think like we're like the 30 yard line or something going in. And I run an in route, you know, cut in. Our quarterback, Lindell Stone, who's still one of the best quarterbacks that I've ever thrown with my opinion to this day, throws me a ball to the middle, I catch it, break like one tackle and then I'm running down and evading some tacklers and I get all the way down to the one yard line. My legs were like giving out, I was so tired. I try to reach the ball over and they didn't call it a touchdown. And I was like, dude, I like I had an opportunity to get this touchdown right here and didn't get it. And I was, I was kind of, you know, one is I was, I was happy because I made a good play, but at the same time I was like, damn. And we come over to the sidelines and I remember just like standing back on the sidelines like, dang, what's the next play call going to be? And Evans, our running back looks over at our coach and says, coach, I want Mack to have this touchdown. And I was like, at that moment I was like, damn. Like that is the epitome of a great teammate but also an awesome high school football experience. When you have a guy who, you know, he would love to have a touchdown, you know, that's who they were going to go to. So they put me in at running back. And our, you know, one of our, all of our offensive line was like, we're going to do this. And we had a guy who was going to pull around the side and block named Clark Yarbrough, who was a stud in high school, like four or five star guy, ended up going to Stanford, and he looks at me and he just says, just follow me in for. He's like, just follow me in. So on that play, I got the handoff, got a touchdown. I love it, and it was just awesome. Like I said, like, the. The fact that you can play with guys that are willing to do that at a school, in a program that are that selfless, that's one of my best.
- [15:44]
Mack Jones
That's so cool. And was that the first time running the ball ever, too?
- [15:47]
Alabama Player
No, I'd run the ball. I played, early on in my high school career, running back. I played running back, fullback, tight end, and wide receiver. So it wasn't the first time I ran the ball, but it was just one of the times, like, it definitely was different since I was playing wide receiver that year, and they put me in at running back. It was a. It was a really good feeling.
- [16:03]
Mack Jones
What's the hardest position, in your opinion?
- [16:05]
Alabama Player
Oh, honestly, dude, I would say. I would say the hardest position in football. From my opinion, just from my experience, because I haven't played all of them, but I've competed against them, is probably defensive back. Really, because of the fact the wide receiver, you know, at the wide receiver position, we have the ability to create and make. What's going to happen, we know, going up to the line, okay, I'm going to jab this way, jab that way, get around this guy and make a play, right? Well, the DB has no clue. He's a reactor. So we're getting to make the play. He's having to react to what we're doing. And so that's why I think it's one of the most challenging positions, because you're set up in a stance, you know, a defensive back stance. You're having a backpedal, you're having to move right, you're having to twist your, you know, move left and do a turn. And it's like. Then you have to almost kind of just guess what they're going to do. And I just always. That always fascinated me. And when I tried to play DB for fun after practice or something with my buddies, I was like, okay, this is gonna be the hardest, if not the hardest position in football.
- [16:59]
Mack Jones
It's almost like a chess battle, because you got to think what they're thinking.
- [17:02]
Alabama Player
Yep. You know, 100. Like, seriously, dude, you.
- [17:04]
Mack Jones
You.
- [17:05]
Alabama Player
They. You're lining up. And as a wide receiver, I know what moves I'm gonna make. I can change it up again. You can create. And the defensive back just has to read that. And while Reading that, react so fast that he's going to be able to stop you from getting the ball. Wow.
- [17:18]
Mack Jones
Yeah. Because if you react maybe half a second too late. Touchdown. Right?
- [17:21]
Alabama Player
Yep. 100 and you look terrible. Yeah. You're toast.
- [17:25]
Mack Jones
I heard the lifespan on those is three years. Really short.
- [17:28]
Alabama Player
I think so. I think for the majority of guys in the NFL, it's like a three to five year lifespan. Wow. Yeah.
- [17:34]
Mack Jones
So short. That must be the lowest compared to all other sports.
- [17:37]
Alabama Player
Yeah, I would assume so. It's just because your body's going through so much like beating, you know, you're out there, you're working out. You're also training, practicing all the time, and you're in pads and taking hits that are like getting hit by a car. Yeah.
- [17:48]
Mack Jones
Did you ever worry about the long term damage of football?
- [17:51]
Alabama Player
I didn't learn about it. I mean, I didn't worry about the long term damage at the time, but now sometimes I'm like, damn. Like all those times where I got hit, like, I can remember one time I got a concussion and was like running sideways during practice. And when you get a concussion, you can't really think clearly. And so I'm like, no, no, I'm not going out. Like, you're not taking me out. I remember going in the locker room and saying something like, I would die for this team. Tears are going down my face and I'm like. Now I look back and I'm like, dude, what was I thinking? I had so much cte, I woke up the next morning, could hardly walk to my bathroom. So I worry about it now, but there's really not much I think I can do about it. Maybe there is.
- [18:26]
Mack Jones
No, you could get in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.
- [18:29]
Alabama Player
I could do that, I guess. Yeah.
- [18:30]
Mack Jones
I got a brain scan and I had some tbi.
- [18:33]
Alabama Player
What is that?
- [18:33]
Mack Jones
Traumatic brain injury.
- [18:34]
Alabama Player
Okay.
- [18:35]
Mack Jones
Yeah. So I must have had concussions growing up that I didn't know about too.
- [18:37]
Alabama Player
And it was able to solve it or.
- [18:39]
Mack Jones
Yeah. If you do it 30 times, they said to come back and scan it and it should improve.
- [18:43]
Alabama Player
Okay, cool.
- [18:44]
Mack Jones
Yeah. Any other biohacking or health things you do other than working out?
- [18:47]
Alabama Player
Yeah, I'll take some of that. What is it called? Like nad? Yeah. Or whatever. I'll take some of that. Occasionally. I also. We'll do IVs occasionally and then just make sure I'm hydrating, drinking electrolytes. I'm pretty. You know, I've done. Now the thing about it, actually, I've done one thing that I thought was really cool and fascinating. Recently, have you ever heard of a float tank?
- [19:05]
Mack Jones
Yeah.
- [19:05]
Alabama Player
So that was crazy.
- [19:07]
Mack Jones
I used to do that, really, in Jersey.
- [19:09]
Alabama Player
Did you find them helpful?
- [19:09]
Mack Jones
Dude, I would hallucinate sometimes, but it definitely relaxed me.
- [19:12]
Alabama Player
No way. Okay. You're the first. I mean, I haven't told too. And talked to too many people about the experience, but it makes me laugh that you say hallucinate, because the first time I walk in there, I'm like, I don't know what I'm getting into. Someone gave me a little free trial pass. So I go in there and I'm like, yeah, I'd love to do the Tang for like an hour, I believe was the time, you know, and they're like, take a shower, whatever. And then you see this tube, and I'm like, holy. Like, I'm getting in this. It looks like a guy spaceship. And I get in there, and they were telling me the options. Like, you can turn off the lights if you want it to be the whole experience. And then there's, like, different sounds. And I. I did the highest level of everything possible, you know, that you could potentially do. And I remember getting in there and, like, closing my eyes, bro. It felt like for a second, if you've ever imagined Jimmy Neutron's brain, like, neurons shooting off. Like, I felt like I could see thoughts and memories and visions like. Like flying through my freaking brain. I don't know. It was wild. I don't know if most people have that experience or if I was just, like, psyching myself out, but all that to say that was one of those things that I've done recently that was pretty nuts. And I felt good. You know, you're an hour away from your phone. You're an hour away from thoughts and thinking, and, like, I feel like that's something that, you know, maybe I should do again. But, you know, I'm in the cold bath or ice tubs and cryo. I do a little bit of all that. But to be honest, I'm a pretty, you know, whatever, just natural, just out there. Not saying that stuff's not natural, but keep my body healthy by just exercising all the time, drinking enough water, eating.
- [20:32]
Mack Jones
Somewhat healthy, which is like 90 of it, you know, that other stuff is, like, for fun, biohacking. That's like, some 1% stuff.
- [20:38]
Alabama Player
100%, yeah.
- [20:39]
Mack Jones
Jimmy Neutron, though, that. That dude's the goat. I used to love that dude.
- [20:43]
Alabama Player
It's crazy. I was going through my head. I'm swear. I was, like, hallucinating. It literally was like. Like I could see these lines, like, firing off, like, stars or something. It was.
- [20:50]
Mack Jones
That's what I was seeing, dude.
- [20:51]
Podcast Host
Stars, planets and stuff.
- [20:53]
Mack Jones
Dude. Yeah. Everyone thought I was crazy.
- [20:55]
Alabama Player
Well, now you know. You're not crazy. Or maybe we're just both crazy.
- [20:58]
Mack Jones
We might be. We might be, man. Yeah. Do you party a lot? Drink a lot?
- [21:02]
Alabama Player
I would say not as much as I used to. I've never been a person who's had a problem with overindulgence. I've always been a person that. Moderation. Everything in moderation. Excuse me. Broke a little bit. I like to go out, though. I like to go out. I think it's fun to socialize. I think it's part of, you know, having a healthy mindset is going out and meeting people. And sometimes that. For me, that does come with drinking.
- [21:23]
Mack Jones
Right.
- [21:23]
Alabama Player
And, you know, I love to throw back a couple of drinks. I only do tequila, so I only drink tequila for alcohol. Rarely will you see me with a beer or some kind of other alcohol. I will. I'll drink it occasionally, depending on the vibe in the moment. That's how I'd figure out if I want to drink it or not. But for the most part, I just do tequila because tequila is fat. You know, it's. It's. I say to people, it's healthy for you if you're going to drink.
- [21:44]
Mack Jones
No, it actually is the healthiest one.
- [21:46]
Alabama Player
It is. And I do it with water, so tequila water with a little bit of lime juice. Throw that in there, and you're getting hydrated while getting a little bit of buzz at the same time.
- [21:54]
Mack Jones
There we go. And you've done phenomenal at fostering relationships.
- [21:57]
Alabama Player
Yeah, I would say I've done a. First of all, I appreciate that, but I'd say I've done a good job.
- [22:02]
Mack Jones
Yeah. I mean, was that from the football team? And you kind of just expanded from that.
- [22:06]
Alabama Player
I have to give a lot of that credit one to, like, you know, I'm a believer. So I'd say in God in general, like, I don't want to take credit for that, because I think that, like, that gift of mine of being able to communicate and build relationships is. Is all him, really. But I would say also a lot of credit to my family and especially to my mom, because she was the kind of person that is just, like, people compare her to the. To the lady in the Blind side at times, the movie version. I don't know how the real mom was, but my mom was always someone who always wanted to have more family, you know, not in the sense of she didn't love the family she had. She absolutely loves our family and. And loves us more than the whole world. But she would. She has a gift and a skill at communicating with others that could be completely from different backgrounds, that she could be and find a way to make them feel like we're family and that our home is their home.
- [22:54]
Mack Jones
Nice.
- [22:55]
Alabama Player
And, you know, you could see it in. In relationships. Like, I have a brother that I say is adopted brother, not legally adopted, but that's been a part of our family that I call my brother Kevin from Cameroon, Africa. And so he's been a part of our family for years. And then there was other relationships that, you know, you're like, how did. How does the Hereford family know these people? And it's thankfully to my mom, so I would attribute a lot of that to her in my faith and just, you know, God being able to work the, you know, work relationships in the best way possible. And. And I also think that when it comes to relationship building, I think a lot of people, it's. They have a purpose behind it, whether that's like, hey, that's business, or that's for this or that. For me, it's. It's really. I'm attracted to people who are high achievers in any sort of shape or fashion. And, you know, I go into building relationships with completely wanting to know someone for who they are and build a friendship, because that's what I love. And I feel like that's what, you know, a lot of people ask is. My intentions aren't to get anything out of it. My intentions are to literally become someone's friend if we. If we vibe and relate and, you know, I just love walking in random places, wherever it could be. It could be a gas station, it could be, you know, at the local gym, whatever. It may be just really like going up to someone and getting to know them and learn about them, and it's just fascinating to me. And it's. It's really fun. I'm really passionate about building relationships and having good friends.
- [24:23]
Mack Jones
Nice. I bet people love that because a lot of these, you know, influencers, they get people trying to use them for money or for fame, and they. They hate that.
- [24:30]
Alabama Player
Yeah. 100. I think it's. It's fun because at the same time, you know, it's been something that I've had to. To balance and manage is like, look, I do have some great relationships, and I want to help some of these people make money, but I also want to make money as well.
- [24:44]
Mack Jones
Yeah.
- [24:44]
Alabama Player
And it's finding a way to, like, okay, how can we all win together? And that's been a challenge for me, but I think, like, you know, we're starting to come upon. Starting to figure that out a little bit, because I want to help my friends win, and I think, absolutely, they're undervalued and tons of situations, whether it comes with brand deals or other things. And I think I may come in and disrupt the system a little bit.
- [25:02]
Mack Jones
But I love it, dude. That was the biggest challenge for me before the podcast. I had all these great connections because I was just providing value for years, and I didn't know how to monetize it, but this show really helped me, dude.
- [25:12]
Alabama Player
Yeah, dude, this is. This is awesome. Show was awesome. I love what you do. I think that one of the coolest things is the group message.
- [25:19]
Mack Jones
Oh, the ones.
- [25:20]
Alabama Player
I don't know if we're talking about that or not. Your WhatsApp message, I mean, I check it in there, and it's, you know, know, I'm like, dang, there's too much to catch up on sometimes. It's a lot of different stuff. But it's cool that you're developing a community. Not only are you speaking to the individuals and getting to meet people, but at the same time, you're really, like, connecting them and you're making a community from. From ground up, which I think is, like, very impressive. Yeah, I'm impressed just the way you move, dude.
- [25:43]
Mack Jones
Thank you. You're getting a lot coming.
- [25:45]
Alabama Player
You know, you're getting these things done, dude. Like, I. I've always wanted to start a pod, and I've always wanted to do this kind of stuff, and I remember telling one of my buddies, like, dude, you just get it. Like, you really do. Like, you're ripping these things out. You have. You're obviously driven, and it's a good trait to have.
- [26:01]
Mack Jones
Thank you, dude. I see it in you, too. And community is everything for me, dude. And that's why I'm going to other cities and filming now to learn more about other communities, and I want to bring them all together in a chat or whatever and events.
- [26:10]
Alabama Player
That's my goal, dude. 100%. We got to get. You got to stay longer next time.
- [26:14]
Mack Jones
Yeah.
- [26:14]
Alabama Player
And let me bring you into the Nashville community a little bit more in some of the. The communities that I'm in, because there's some great groups here and great people.
- [26:21]
Mack Jones
Absolutely. No, the community is so important, and I think people get lost in social media these days, and they don't Actually, like, value community like they should.
- [26:30]
Alabama Player
100%. Yeah. People don't understand, you know, how nice it is. Have people who are willing to fight with you for you and be there when you need them.
- [26:38]
Mack Jones
You have a unique way of marketing and entrepreneurship that is unlike any other I've seen.
- [26:42]
Alabama Player
Yeah, I appreciate that as well, dude. Yeah, I would say it's a. It's a cool way. Like I said, it's been a challenge. Like, you have to make money. At the end of the day now, money is not the. The most important thing to me at all, but you do have to find a way to make money. And I think the way that I've kind of marketed or do things a little bit differently is, you know, I started out, I loved social media. When I got to college, I realized the power of branding because of the fact that when I was a young kid, you know, I tell people I could go up to an Alabama football player. It doesn't matter who this Alabama football player is, what he's done on the field, anything. If he's just wearing that crimson jersey. When I was a kid, if he would have told me something, I would have hold on to that my whole entire life, you know, and so it's like, wow, there's this power that you can impact people. And I think the most important part of marketing is in person marketing and how you treat people and how the way you make them feel, that goes way beyond anything else. But if you can take that idea and push it out to more people using social media in a positive light, it's fascinating the work that can be done and the things and the people that you can inspire and change. And so I held on to that and developed like a little bit of learned how to do graphics on my own, you know, for starting in high school, for my high school teammates, for graphic edits. And I was using like Microsoft Word and Pages. And then I did after that, like, I had found a way to, you know, connect with rappers and artists and other people who loved Alabama football. And what I would do for them is find ways. Hey, okay, like on social media, this is before Tick tock. This is before all that other stuff. I was getting their music and I was learning self teaching myself how to make highlight tapes for guys. And so the players, my teammates, loved it because I'd make them a highlight tape, but then the artists would love it as well. And so this idea where music is really popular on social media, I was kind of. I would say in front of that wave, wow. Because I Was finding a way to get these guys music out there organically that people would like it. And a lot of times my teammates like these guys music and so it was connecting people.
- [28:34]
Mack Jones
I love that, dude. Those YouTube highlight reels used to be popping back in your day.
- [28:38]
Alabama Player
Yeah, they used to be big. And it was always fun doing it because the people I was doing it for one, you know, a lot of times the artist would be cool to put their music on the back of it and they would love to see these guys post it.
- [28:48]
Mack Jones
Yeah.
- [28:48]
Alabama Player
But to just like, it's fun, dude. I'm getting to create something and I'm, I'm like working at it that my teammates will really enjoy and cherish and love. And it's like the drive that I had. I can remember making Josh Jacobs a highlight tape and we're sitting in his room while I'm making it and I'm like, this is so much fun. You know what I'm saying? Putting together something that he's going to get to go look at back in the day, you know?
- [29:06]
Mack Jones
Yeah, you're creating win, win opportunities and that's something I, my whole philosophy is that if I feel like something's one sided, I won't partake in it.
- [29:13]
Alabama Player
Oh, 100%. Yeah, it's, it's, it's just not worth it. You know, at the end of the day, the relationship is to me is like up here on the list and it's like how if it's not a beneficial win for both sides and usually I like it to be where it's a bigger win for the other person than myself, then it's not worth it for me. And I would say I transitioned. So I learned how to do TikTok, I learned how to do Instagram and I would learn how to, you know, I just knew kind of what people wanted to hear, but also it was still being myself and would be able to display that in a way that would get me a following. And I started to experiment in all kind of niches. I was never just football. I love like a little bit of comedy, you know, to do pranks. I wanted to try everything possible in every sport possible so that, okay, now I can take this and any brand out there that wants to work with me. Well, dude, I've done a pickleball company well. I've done pickleball videos that have done well. You know, it's a food company. I've done food videos that have done well. There's a. Every single niche I've tried to learn and be able to really do myself so that I have a process that I can show to other groups and help them grow. And I've leveraged my social media side to build those relationships with brands or companies that I've worked with. And then in return, we'll do like, usually an equity deal and a retainer deal.
- [30:25]
Mack Jones
Nice.
- [30:25]
Alabama Player
For consulting and advising. So I maintain my own work hours and my flexibility because I love my freedom, while also helping them build and helping them learn using strategy or connecting them to the right people.
- [30:36]
Mack Jones
I love it.
- [30:37]
Alabama Player
It's been really, really fun.
- [30:38]
Mack Jones
You're playing long game, man. Some people want that upfront cash, but you're not. You're like, not. Give me some. Five, 10 years.
- [30:44]
Alabama Player
Yeah, 100%. And it's fun to see how it's evolved over time. Because originally it's like, okay, is it just an equity piece? You know, I'm just learning about this now it's an equity and retainer piece. Now is this company in a position where I can just do an equity piece? And through each. Through each relationship and through each company I've worked with, I've learned a ton and thankful for all the groups that I've had an opportunity to do that with.
- [31:04]
Mack Jones
Yeah. And you've gone viral in so many niches. Some people struggle just to go viral in one. So do you have, like, a formula that you follow?
- [31:10]
Alabama Player
Dude, I'm not like most people who have a good formula. You know, if. If my brother was always really good at math but could never teach it to me. I'm one of those guys that I really feel like the formula is in my head in a sense. Like, it's. It's hard to really. I wish I could sometimes pull it out and put it on paper, but there's not a specific way I do things. I like to just. I'm trial by error. And in the way that I've been able to go viral and couple different niches is just like picking up on information. Like, when I scroll, I'm not aimlessly scrolling, you know, I'm scrolling with intent. Like, there's something that is. That is bringing out, like, emotion in me. What is this making me feel like? How are they doing this? Okay. And there's a method I tell people called the blueprint model, which is. Or the blueprint method, which is essentially this work for somebody. How can I make this work for me and do it in my own way? That's an original piece of content and that's done really well for me. Taking, you know, Other ideas I've seen and polishing them and putting my own touch on them.
- [32:05]
Mack Jones
Love it. Yeah. When I'm scrolling, dude, I'm studying the guest. I'm studying how long the video is. You know, all these things that people are just scrolling on.
- [32:13]
Alabama Player
Yeah.
- [32:14]
Mack Jones
You know.
- [32:16]
Alabama Player
People just scroll. A lot of these women say silent scrolling is the term. They'll just sit there and just, you know, go on their phone, which, if that's healthy for them, great. But I'm always on there with intention, for the most part.
- [32:28]
Mack Jones
100%. You have to be, man. I mean, if you look at my screen time, it looks bad, but I'm actually working, you know? Yeah, I'm in the DMs. That's how I get a lot of my guests. That's how we met, right?
- [32:36]
Alabama Player
Yeah, I think so. Yeah. A while ago, dude, when you were doing the jersey, are you Jersey Jersey Kings?
- [32:41]
Mack Jones
No, I'm not. But that was a great networking tool for me because I was able to make jerseys for all sorts of people. And then I had that Rolodex. So when I started the podcast, because I gave so many free jerseys out to people, they were like, yeah, I'll. Come on.
- [32:53]
Alabama Player
Yeah, 100%. It was a cool. I always remember being like, dude, this is sick. Like, yeah, How. How old were you at that time?
- [32:58]
Mack Jones
Dude, I was young. It was freshman in college, so 21. 20.
- [33:01]
Alabama Player
Dang. I mean, that's when you know, that's.
- [33:03]
Mack Jones
The vision you need, though. You need to think long term. Like, you. Like, I could have just charged people for the jerseys and then they wouldn't have come on the podcast.
- [33:10]
Alabama Player
100%. So, yeah, dude, I love that play. And I remember, I think you hooked me up and it was awesome because I got to wear it and then, like, rep it, throw it up, and then look, we're talking.
- [33:20]
Mack Jones
Yeah. What's next for you? Are you potentially launching a product?
- [33:24]
Alabama Player
So I am going to launch a product. I thought before this that I would have more information to be able to give out on it. Just know that I'm going to look into the consumer product space, because the idea is that I've done this advising and strategy and consulting in the marketing and media world, especially for these companies. And it's like, all right, I'm doing this and helping them grow or succeed. You know, how can I do this? Because sometimes I don't want to connect someone to a company, whether I'm advising for them or not. Like, I believe maybe in their product, but do I believe in every Single thing about the people that are working there.
- [33:53]
Mack Jones
Right.
- [33:53]
Alabama Player
You know, do I think it's a win win for the other guy? Like maybe they're like, hey, we want to offer so and so that you know this deal. And it might not be a deal that I think is a win for my buddy or friend. And so I'm like, all right, how can I make something instead of constantly going back and forth with someone. How can I make something where I have control of the deals, I have control of the marketing or at least a big hand in it. And so decided of working with a couple of guys and gonna come out with a consumer product in probably the next year and a half.
- [34:21]
Mack Jones
Nice.
- [34:21]
Alabama Player
I would say. And then on the other side of things I showed you that you took a little bit of it. But yeah. Have to shamelessly plug boost.
- [34:29]
Mack Jones
Right.
- [34:29]
Alabama Player
Electrical electrolyte boost.
- [34:31]
Mack Jones
And I couldn't believe you could just swallow the powder like that.
- [34:33]
Alabama Player
It's pretty phenomenal. So they're the first I believe electrolyte company to be able to take straight to the dome is how I say it. So you can just tear it off like you did and just rip it back. It's a little bit sour for some people. I love it because you're able to get. Instead of putting in. You can put this in a water as well. But instead of having to do that like especially if you're going on a flight or if you're about to go to bed like and you want electrolytes, it's packed with vitamins, packed with cognitive as well, which is what Joe Rogan has in his alpha brain. It's able to naturally just like make you feel better. And then if I'm again like before a flight or for going to the movies, I do it and it's like don't have to be.
- [35:06]
Mack Jones
So you're wired for the movie? Yes.
- [35:08]
Alabama Player
I mean like I always have to be drinking so much water.
- [35:11]
Mack Jones
Yeah.
- [35:11]
Alabama Player
And it's like we need a lot of water as humans but I don't think we need as much as a lot of people are drinking today. It's become this new trend to carry around like these Stanley's and stuff.
- [35:20]
Mack Jones
Yeah, yeah.
- [35:20]
Alabama Player
I'm going to be an advisor for Electrolyte Boost and excited because I think we'll do some really cool things with them as well.
- [35:25]
Mack Jones
I love it, man. Yeah. I'm excited for your CPG brand especially seeing guys like Jake Paul launch his brand and in 45 days it's in Walmart and it's worth nine figures.
- [35:33]
Alabama Player
Dude, I have so much respect for the Paul's. Both the Paul's ability to market, but also just their ability to think differently than the crowd and being in front of the curve on so many different things. But yeah, I'm excited about it. I don't think it'll be as focused. His is very attached to him. I think that I'll have a similar model. A similar model, but I think we'll use some strategic partners and we'll have guys come in who love the product and want to support it and, you know, hopefully we'll. Boom.
- [35:58]
Mack Jones
Absolutely, dude. It's been a blast. Any closing messages for. For the audience here?
- [36:01]
Alabama Player
No, I've just really enjoyed it, man. It's been great. Appreciate you having me on and excited to keep. Continue to learn and hear about what you're doing. Think crushing it with the pod, getting on as many people as you do and having the. The insightful conversation that you do and you know, looking forward to either one hopping back on at some point or.
- [36:17]
Mack Jones
Absolutely.
- [36:17]
Alabama Player
Maybe I'll start my own podcast and have you on too.
- [36:20]
Mack Jones
I'd love to be on there, man, when you.
- [36:22]
Alabama Player
Let's go. Appreciate you, man.
- [36:23]
Mack Jones
Thanks for watching, guys. See you next.