Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged

Episode: Beyond the Game: Mental Health, Pressure, and Purpose with Jay Paterno
Date: February 16, 2026
Host: Mick Hunt
Guest: Jay Paterno

Main Theme & Purpose

In this thought-provoking episode of Mick Unplugged, host Mick Hunt sits down with Jay Paterno—leadership coach, changemaker, and author of the new book Blitz—to explore the complex intersections between modern college football, mental health, pressure, and living a purpose-driven life. Beyond recounting stories from the gridiron, the conversation delves deeply into personal values, the chaotic NIL era, real leadership, and Jay’s enduring “because.” The episode is a masterclass for aspiring and established leaders seeking to create impact with intention.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jay Paterno's "Because" – Driving Purpose in Multiple Roles

[04:23]

• Jay discusses his unique sense of purpose, or “because,” across multiple roles:
  • As Penn State trustee: Leaving the institution better for future generations.
  • As an author: Creating work that helps others learn, especially in the context of current issues in college football.
  • As a leader: Challenging the prevailing, transactional model of leadership and advocating for humility, accountability, and listening.
• Quote:

  “Being a leader is not simply lying and never admitting you’re wrong. Some of the greatest leaders are people who listen, who admit faults and then correct them... those things have all been lost.”
  – Jay Paterno [05:40]

2. The NIL Era and State of College Football

[07:33]

• Chaos and Lawlessness: Jay outlines how, due to lost lawsuits and NCAA inertia, there is currently no real governance in college football.
• Describes the challenges of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape:
  • Players can break contracts for better NIL deals.
  • Schools risk legal battles with athletes.
• Calls for radical reform:
  • Proposes a “constitutional convention” of all stakeholders, including players, to fundamentally reimagine governance.
• Quote:

  “What is passing for governance in football right now is simply a reaction to the last ruling by a judge somewhere.”
  – Jay Paterno [08:16]

• Players Need Voices:

  “The players should be in the room. That’s the one thing no one’s talking about.”
  – Jay Paterno [09:53]

3. Blueprint for Change & Admitting Reality

[10:26]

• From Tradition to Pragmatism:
  • Jay shares his shift from valuing the old-school amateur model to advocating for collective bargaining for players considering today’s billion-dollar revenues.
  • Players function as employees, and should be treated accordingly.
• Contracts and Agency:
  • Proposes tailored contracts for athletes, giving flexibility to commit for four years or transfer after one, with clear rights/responsibilities for both parties.
• Calendar & Coaching Chaos:
  • Advocates for a revised calendar to prevent in-season coaching changes and premature firing, borrowing best practices from the NFL.
• Quote:

  “We got to reimagine this thing. And the players should be in the room.”
  – Jay Paterno [10:00]

4. The Bowl Games Question

[15:31]

• Declining Value:
  • Bowls, once prestigious and meaningful, are now diluted with too many games and teams.
  • "Fan bases make it playoff or bust, and the traditional bowl experience is gone."
• TV and Gambling Sustain Bowls:
  • Networks keep them alive for content, regardless of attendance or player opt-outs.
• Mick’s Suggestion: Incorporate select bowls into the regular season to restore meaning.
• Jay’s take: Most bowls will survive, but “it’s not as exciting as it used to be." [17:59]

5. The Story Behind Blitz – Jay's New Book

[19:09]

• Genesis:
  • Inspired by real recruitment and game day stories; pivoted to ‘fictionalized reality’ akin to Primary Colors.
  • Hot Seat (the prequel) followed a coach on the edge; Blitz picks up in the modern chaos, with a focus on the intense pressures NIL brings.
  • The book exposes the growing mental health struggles for both coaches and players amidst new pressures and expectations.
• Quote:

  “I thought it would be good to peel back the curtain as to what’s going on in college football…let fans understand what this thing has become.”
  – Jay Paterno [20:41]

6. Mental Health: Pressure, Leadership, and Stigma

[22:22]

• Describes the relentless, year-round pressure on coaches:
  • “There’s no pause button… the minute you hit pause, somebody else is calling that guy and offering NIL money.”
• Mental load multiplied for players, now public figures with contractual obligations and social media scrutiny.
• Family and financial pressure:
  • Parents pushing for NIL-based decisions.
• Stigma:
  • Especially acute for leaders, who see vulnerability as weakness.
• Quote:

  “The only way you get through adversity is having some values that ground you and anchor you. The only way you don’t lose yourself during success—because that’s even more dangerous than adversity.”
  – Jay Paterno [27:53]

7. Leadership Lessons and Core Values

[27:51]

• Success vs. Excellence:
  • Success = external validation; Excellence = internal consistency and values.
  • Real leadership means telling the truth, holding oneself and others accountable, and teaching according to individual learning styles.
  • Young people want the truth, despite what NIL-era incentives might suggest.
• Quote:

  “A friend of mine once said to me, there are two people that rarely hear the truth: pretty women and rich men… Success sometimes gets you to lose those values because you think it happened simply because you’re just so wonderful.”
  – Jay Paterno [28:31]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the “Because” of Leadership:

  “I can’t sit still and not do it. So that’s kind of…a curse in some ways, but also a blessing.”
  – Jay Paterno [06:45]

• On Pressure and Mental Health:

  “Without this, you cannot be successful.”
  – Jay Paterno on mental health [22:23]

• On Evolving in College Football:

  “This job is not a birthright. It's not promised to you… there's this constant play between the values that [the coach] has and cutting corners to stay where he wants to stay.”
  – Jay Paterno [28:12]

• On Values:

  “Success is how the world views you. Excellence is something internal… how you stay true to your values.”
  – Jay Paterno recalling advice from his father, Joe Paterno [29:15]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:23] Jay defines his “because” across Penn State, writing, and leadership
• [08:04] Diagnosis of lawlessness and governance in college football’s NIL era
• [10:26] What Jay would do if he were in charge; the need for a new structure
• [15:31] Debate over the (declining) meaning of bowl games and the broader football calendar
• [19:09] The story and intent behind Blitz, moving from non-fiction to a semi-fictional format
• [22:22] Deep dive on mental health—parallels between coaching, leadership, and high-pressure business roles
• [27:51] Values, adversity, and true excellence—how to stay grounded as a leader
• [33:03] Leadership lesson from coaching: “it's not what you know, it's what they know”
• [34:16] Greatest game Jay ever witnessed: 1987 Fiesta Bowl (Penn State vs. Miami), and the infamous steak-fry dinner story [35:54]

Rapid Fire & Personal Moments

• Favorite Penn State player: John Cappelletti as a child ("222"), but reluctant to pick among players he’s coached (mentions Mike Robinson as a standout leader) [31:54–32:55]
• Greatest game witnessed: 1987 Fiesta Bowl, with a vivid retelling of the Miami pregame walk-out and cultural tension [34:16, 35:54]

  • “Jerome [Brown]… said, ‘Did the Japanese sit down with the Americans before they bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no, we’re outta here.’ They left before dinner…” [35:54]

Where to Find Jay Paterno

• Website: jayvpaterno.com [30:20]
• Twitter/X: @JPaterno, Instagram: @JVPaterno

Overall Tone and Takeaways

Jay Paterno’s candid, reflective, and pragmatic tone blends real-world leadership experience with sports wisdom. The episode is both a cautionary tale and a call for grounded, values-based leadership—on the field, in the boardroom, and in life. Blitz is positioned not just as a sports story, but as a guide for navigating systemic change, pressure, and staying true to one’s core “because.”

Key takeaway:

“Remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.”
— Mick Hunt [38:43]