Brett Wetton: Success Through Persistence | Planet Tyrus

Summary

Planet Tyrus – Brett Wetton: Success Through Persistence

Podcast: Planet Tyrus
Host: Tyrus (with guest Brett Wetton)
Date: December 16, 2025

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Overview:

This episode of “Planet Tyrus” centers on the themes of persistence, reinvention, and giving back. Tyrus welcomes Brett Wetton, his former college football teammate, now CEO and chairman of multiple organizations, and head of the Nebraska Greats Foundation. Their high-energy, candid, and often humorous conversation explores their wildly different yet parallel life journeys—from tough childhoods and Division II football to unexpected career pivots—and the common drive to rise above circumstances and support others.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Brett Wetton’s Origin Story and Early Years

• [02:40] Brett shares he was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), immigrating to Nebraska as a child due to political instability. He was raised by a single mother, with his father departing early on.
• Tyrus marvels at the curiosity around Brett’s background:
  “People are probably wondering who is this larger than life white man dressed in black like Johnny Cash. ...You are actually an African American.” ([02:19])
• Brett reflects,
  “My parents were born on the continent of Africa—and yes, white people are born there!” ([02:48])

2. Growing Up Big and Learning Resilience

• Both discuss being teased for their size and backgrounds, developing quick wit and thick skin through childhood adversity.
• Brett:
  “I was teased quite a bit growing up in elementary school... then all of a sudden it all changed almost overnight.” ([05:27], [07:31])
• Tyrus describes defusing racism and exclusion with humor:
  “A lot of times I would say it before they could get it out... Let me guess, you’re going to bring it up because my mom’s white, my dad’s black. That what we’re doing today?” ([06:58])

3. College Football: Brotherhood, Hazing, and the Old School Grind

• Reminiscence about real “two-a-day” practices, camaraderie, and the physical/mental grind of playing Division II football.
• Brett recalls Tyrus protecting him from hazing as a freshman:
  “I see those little bastards with the clippers... I just said, ‘Hey, he ain’t doing it. Have a good day.’” ([19:45])
• Tyrus on the evolution of practices:
  “Now when I came back... I said, hey, what’s two-a-day? They’re like, ‘What? We’re only allowed to hit twice a week.’” ([10:41])

4. Nebraska Greats Foundation: Serving Athletes in Need

• Brett explains the mission:
  “If you’re a current or former letter winner... in Nebraska... if you have a gap in your insurance... we can help.” ([13:30])
• Notable story: The Foundation provided essential support to Tessa Davis, a former athlete with ALS, helping her secure care and time with her kids before passing.
  “At that moment I was like, she’s gonna die in the next couple years... all the great people... helped us... extend her life with her kids.” ([13:55], [14:54])

5. The Drive to Succeed—and The Cost

• Both speak about formative poverty, a burning desire to provide for family, and the persistent internal pressure to never fall back.
• “When you go without and you see your mother go without, it does something to you... you want to take the burden away from your mother. That to me was my fuel.” (Tyrus, [21:47])
• Brett on his sense of urgency:
  “I just remember feeling myself, man, I never ever want to go back to server again because I had no control over it.” ([22:57])

6. Failing Forward: Transitioning from Athletics to Careers

• Raw honesty about NFL tryouts missed, pivoting to “ordinary” jobs (Pizza Hut, university admissions), and fighting the stigma of not “making it.”
• Tyrus:
  “Whenever you would meet people, they would rub it in your face, oh, if I had your height I’d be a millionaire... How come you didn’t make it?” ([35:31])
• Brett discusses returning to UNK, mentoring doctors, and eventually rising in the medical field:
  “I got really lucky because [Dr. Crockett] saw in me what I didn’t see in myself... started to challenge me in different ways.” ([37:11])
• Both reject blaming external circumstances, highlighting introspection and persistence:
  “Do not ignore the failure. Examine it, break it down... Not making yourself a victim.” (Tyrus, [61:47])

7. Work, Family, and Tradeoffs of Success

• The constant struggle to balance career ambition against family presence and emotional fulfillment.
• Tyrus:
  “Every time you reach a cornerstone as a man... you’re just thinking of what’s next... without ever just taking a moment...” ([22:08])
• Brett on missing time:
  “You don’t get to be with your family that much... you question, was it worth it? Was the success worth it?” ([41:39])

8. Mentorship, Manhood, and “Never Give Up”

• Emphasize the importance of mentorship (“statesmen” like coaches, doctors) and grasping a hand when it’s extended.
• Brett’s advice to young men:
  “As cheesy as this sounds, like you just can’t ever give up. ...You just never give up, keep going.” ([61:15], [61:47])
• Tyrus underlines owning your story:
  “If you start the conversation, ‘I didn’t get the job because the manager didn’t like me,’ you’re... it’s nonsense.” ([62:07])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Perseverance:
  “The entire audience in there just froze. So have Rhodesia, right?” — Tyrus ([02:36])
  “Life is hard. ...Life is this. Yes, but you... I couldn’t control it. But now as you get older... we now can control our condition of which we live in.” — Brett ([23:12])
• On Identity and Resilience:
  “You don’t really pay that much attention to your successes while you’re in it. You never know you’re living your best life till it’s done.” — Tyrus ([39:13])
• On Friendship and Character:
  “You snuck it. Cuz that’s the thing with you and me. ...So many people have paid for my meal, so it’s just like... it even matter anymore.” — Brett ([64:07])

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Important Timestamps

• 02:40–03:34: Brett’s immigration story, single-parent upbringing in Nebraska
• 07:50–09:16: Coming to terms with physical size and changing social dynamics as an adolescent
• 10:02–10:44: College football: real “two-a-day” practices, building bonds
• 13:30–15:09: Brett’s work with Nebraska Greats Foundation and the story of Tessa Davis
• 21:47–22:57: The formative pain of poverty and motivation to provide as men
• 35:31–37:11: Letdowns in pro football, career transitions, and the sting of public expectation
• 41:39–42:18: The sacrifices and regrets that often accompany career-driven success
• 61:15–62:13: Advice to young men: perseverance, accountability, and learning from failure
• 63:25–63:57: Sharing how to get involved with Nebraska Greats Foundation

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How to Connect and Support

• Nebraska Greats Foundation:
  “If you know somebody that’s in need... reach out... NebraskaGreatsFoundation.org. ...We would love to talk to you.” — Brett ([63:25])

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Summary Takeaway

With trademark banter and vulnerability, Tyrus and Brett Wetton deliver an episode rich in old war stories, hard-won wisdom about persistence, and the enduring need to pay it forward. Their stories—of being misfits, of hustle in sports and in life, and of building something meaningful—resonate beyond the football field, ultimately urging listeners to never give up, examine setbacks honestly, support one another, and savor every hard-earned win… even if only for a quiet moment in the sun.

Transcript

[A]

What it is. Welcome to Planet Tyrus. That's right. Very excited today, although that intro didn't sound like it, but I'm very excited today. One of my longtime friends, football teammates, is going to join us today and. Well, he's more than just a football player. He's a. He was a football player. He's old now, but. Well, we all old, but Brett Wetton, who is also a. A CEO now, big reveal. He's CEO of a major company. We're going to talk about that. He's also the head of the Nebraska Greats foundation, which is a amazing charity which helps athletes in Nebraska, collegiate athletes in Nebraska, if they are having some life troubles, if things are not going well for them. And it has some pretty amazing stories. And it's not just the big flashy schools, it's Division 2 schools and athletes who. Something happened during their playing time or medical issue or a health issue, and they provide the necessary or try to provide the necessary means to help them be as comfortable as they can possibly be or help them get on the road to recovery. So it's a really cool charity. And of course, we played football together at my college university in Nebraska at Carney. So my fellow loper and he's a. He's a fancy pants guy now and he's just a biscuit under 610 and he's a really good dude. And we're going to talk about how we met and as two guys who came from very diff. Interesting backgrounds, different but similar, and how we've made it, how success has been, what the road of that success has looked like. So he's a lot. He's very cool, very nice man, a lot of fun. And let's bring him in and let's get it on. All right, man. First of all, thanks for coming on, Brett. And people are probably wondering who is this larger than life white man dressed in black like Johnny Cash? I'm su. They'll automatically assume you played a sport of some kind. So we'll give them that. We played football. We played football together.

[B]

We did.

[A]

And very similar. Different starts. Oh, by the way, this may seem a little strange to people, but you are actually an African American.

[B]

I am an African American. Maybe even more than you are.

[A]

Possibly. Yes. Now listen, the entire audience in there just froze. So have Rhodesia, right?

[B]

Rhodesia. Africa. That's right.

[A]

All right. Your origin story is awesome. So can you take us through that?

[B]

Yeah. So my parents are born on the continent of Africa and yes, white people are born there.

[A]

What?

[B]

Yes, I know and so anyways, the government was in turmoil and Robert Mugabe came in and just kind of trashed the place. And so we were really fortunate that my grandmother, my dad's side, was born in America, and so we were able to be sponsored. So we legally immigrated to the United States of Nebraska. So, excuse me, Geneva, Nebraska tires. Which really important.

[A]

Yes. Of all the places, not to be confused with the convention. But Nebraska is a beautiful place. So you move. Was it a huge. Do you remember them? Not very much. You were very young when this happened.

[B]

I was three years old and my two younger brothers are two and one, respectively.

[A]

Okay, so you got a small little crew and then. So now you're growing up in America.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Single mom.

[B]

Single mom.

[A]

Dad just kind. He came, he made the trip and then. Right. And then he just kind of.

[B]

He made the first part of the journey and didn't make it for the rest of the journey. So, you know, God rest his soul. And, you know, I obviously have a lot of. I have respect for him despite what happened, but. Yeah, I also had the huge gift of having a wonderful mom, but I just hit the lottery with that, so.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Were you always big?

[B]

Not until I was about a freshman in high school and I was 6 foot 5, 260. How about you? When you were freshman, how big were you in high school?

[A]

Freshman in high school. Oh, I wouldn't. 6 5. I know that was probably because I hit my big growth spurt. I think it was the end of my sophomore year, so I think I was probably like six. I was like six two. Still. It's. It's big, but like. Like my son at. Right now at. At 14, he's six five and a half. So, you know, he's. He's running around in your neighborhood.

[B]

He's running around my neighbor now. Were you in the husky category growing up as a kid? Because they. They categorized me as husky.

[A]

You know, I wore the husky jeans.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I had to wear the husky. Remember, it was the thicker pads on the knee and the thing. And they didn't blend well. So you had these big square patches on your jeans, which were targets for kids at school to make fun of you. I was a big kid, but I wasn't. There was enough fat kids around me to where I was not considered a big kid. Like, you know what I'm saying?

[B]

Interesting.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You blended in.

[A]

I blend well because I was long. I didn't really have a belly and, you know, and all that kind of stuff. I was just thick. Really thick. And it just Kind of didn't get a lot of. I got more like Andre the Giant jokes made about me because. Or I looked like Lou Ferrigno. It was like they were not flattering. I mean, not that Lou Ferrigno's a good looking man and Andre is in his own right, but when you're, you know, you're a kid, new kid in a school, it's being told you like Andre the Giant is not the.

[B]

So I was a little chubbier. Chubbier than you. And I actually I was teased quite a bit growing up in elementary school. Right or wrong.

[A]

Right.

[B]

I might hear judges kids, but man, it was kind of rough for me that way. I was a little, little, little baby fat on me. And then obviously that changed as I got older and.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Yeah. Very different that way.

[A]

So when did you realize that you were damn near 7ft tall? When did the sign. When did you. Because there's a day that. But you realize that there is puny humans and there's superhumans. And then when you real. And when I say that I'm talking about physical prowess, strength, size. And for, for men, you go from scared of everything to one day real. I don't know when the voice changes or if it's a girl that you know something, an embarrassment. No, it's always something that happens that, that snaps and you realize that you're, you're not just a buffalo on the field. You're in fact a tiger. You, you know what I'm saying? Like you just.

[B]

This is my question for you.

[A]

Oh, I want to know.

[B]

Yeah, one out here for you. You're supposed to use my questions.

[A]

I fought a lot as a kid. I fought all the time because I, I didn't get teased about being heavy. I was always like the, the running joke for me was what was black and white and red all over. Tyrus with a nose, breathing, you know, like, you know, they would make jokes like that or say things like that or like, you didn't cook long enough in your mother's belly. That's why you're yellow. You know, it was like kids were. Kids were cruel. But you know what?

[B]

They were also kids.

[A]

It also helped me fight back, fire back, think quick, you know, so usually.

[B]

Anticipate what they're going to say cuz.

[A]

A lot of times I would say it before they could get it out. Also. Let me guess, you're going to bring it up because my mom's white, my dad's black. Is that we're going to do. Is that we're doing today? Let's see if you can tell me one. I don't know, you know, And I always was kind of, you're going to call names. I was fine. My biggest. I was more. Had a hard time with, like, making actual real, like, friends. Like, it was. That was tough for me because I moved around a lot. I was different. And that made things difficult sometimes. Like, I was never in the hierarchy. I was never one of the popular kids, but I was just kind of there.

[B]

Identify with that. For sure.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And what do you do as a kid, too? It's like, hey, you know, I just. I didn't know where to go with that. Right. And then when you're teased and then. But the funny thing is, though, is when nature starts to speak and you're now 6 foot 5 and you're a freshman. I can. Freshman, maybe it was my sophomore. Just kind of like you. Then all of a sudden it all changed. It all changed almost overnight.

[A]

And simple things. Cause like, someone bumps you into line, like, oh, God, sorry. And you're like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Where before you'd be like, oh, here we go.

[B]

Here we go, man. What's going to happen?

[A]

Right?

[B]

So, yeah. No, for sure. To answer your question, though, there were a couple things. It's like when you get in the car, you gotta, like, sit down and slide your legs in. Yep. Or you walk through the doorway and you hit your head. Or the one kid comes up to you a little aggressive, and he certainly. He realizes instantly that prehistoric brain's like, I'm gonna get hurt here if I continue.

[A]

Yeah. But I have to save face. So I'll call names.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

And I think a lot of times they knew you wouldn't cross the line. Correct. You wouldn't hit them. So then they know it. So then they almost have an extra. It's like, for me, it's like my younger brother knew that if I hit him, my mother would act a fool. She wouldn't care who caused it. She would just want to know why his face looked like that. So he would tote that line, you know what? Are you going to hit me? You're going to hit me? You're too big. Because it was. It was a double standard.

[B]

Right.

[A]

If the big guy kicked the little guy's ass, the big guy's a jerk. Even though the little guy started the shit.

[B]

Always. Yeah, that's right.

[A]

Because normally, I mean, I'm sure there's some. Some big guys as kids, but for the most part, we don't really want no Trouble, because we're still growing in it. We're like Great Danes that are puppies. Body's not quite developed yet. Footwork's off. Feet grown, big. Legs ain't caught up yet. Big head, weird body. So we're dealing with all that. The last thing we want to do is. Is test it out in the battlefield. You know that's right.

[B]

Or were you ever called the gentle giant? Like, oh, hey, you're. Yeah, you're a little bit too friendly. I was a cute. Like, hey, you're a little too.

[A]

I was. You. I. Yeah, yeah. Really? Yeah, I used to get that all the time. You know what? And then it's funny because we both, you know, when we met and we'll get into all that in a little bit, but like, life is funny how it works out because we, we kind of. We. I wouldn't say we had a, like, close friendship in college, but like, there was. You were up and coming. You were the neck.

[B]

I was the next. I was the guy to replace you.

[A]

Yeah. And my attitude was very different. I was welcoming.

[B]

You were the statesman.

[A]

Yeah. So how we actually met. A lot of football teams, they have 2A days. This is back when you had real 2A days.

[B]

Real 2A days. Thank you.

[A]

You got up at 5, you train for. You practice for three hours, then you lift weights, then you have lunch. And then guess what? You get two hours to lay in your bed. And it feels like seven days.

[B]

Do it again, baby.

[A]

And then you practice again. And then you come to the mess hall and you eat. And if you have any brains, you go to bed. You just go in your room and lay out. No, no, don't. Let's go cruise the club. Nah, man, my. My legs aren't back yet. So. That is our life for four weeks. Getting ready for four weeks.

[B]

Don't even do it anymore, Tyres. You don't even do it.

[A]

No, no. There's all kinds of rules. Last time, when I.

[B]

When I came every other day.

[A]

Now when I came. When we reconnected, when I came back to Nebraska, we met some of the young ballplayers on the field and I said, hey, what's two a day? Stuff like, they're like, what?

[B]

What is.

[A]

No, man, we're only allowed to hit twice a week.

[B]

That's abusive.

[A]

Yeah. And we have to. It's more filmed and I'm listening to him and I'm like, wow, man. No, they. I didn't give a about it. We. I said, what do you guys. You guys still drink where they make the holes in the PC pipe. Like, no, no. We have filtered water. I was like, filtered water? Wow.

[B]

Yeah. What's wrong with you?

[A]

Really old.

[B]

So true.

[A]

But at that point we both, when we reconnected because I was doing a show in Nebraska and you're a part of this great foundation, Nebraska Greats.

[B]

Nebraska Greats Foundation.

[A]

I want to talk about that a lot. And you had asked me to come speak at a fundraiser. I was thrilled to do it. And we hadn't talked to each other in years.

[B]

It had been a while.

[A]

And we went and we did it. And it was one of the very few. Larry the Cable guy was there. Our offensive line coach was there. I think he was Daryl Morris.

[B]

Huge shout out. Yeah, Daryl Morris.

[A]

Daryl Morris. He was the big star that we were both pining over. And I didn't quite. I knew you guys were doing stuff for athletes, but I didn't know the level of what you were doing for athletes. So tell us just quickly a little bit about Nebraska Grace, because it is Nebraska Grace Foundation. I think more, more states should have a. It should be a Florida great foundation. There should be these. And it's an amazing thing because what you guys are doing is you are taking care of athletes, regardless of whether it's Division 17 or one that have had some kind of life changing injury as a result of playing sports and they're not able to pick up their life. And you guys helped them with medical. I think I was there for the young lady. You guys had finally got her chair.

[B]

Tesla Davis.

[A]

Yes, please. If you could tell us a little about that.

[B]

Who recently passed, by the way, rest in peace to her. So Nebraska Greats foundation was founded by Jerry Murtaugh. Jerry Murtaugh had some teammates and former letter winners that were having issues and one of them had passed, his name's Andre Franklin, who was a famous Husker, played for the Dolphins. And so he said to himself, I will never, if I ever hear that somebody needs some help again, I'm going to get everybody together. Let's put some money together and help them out. Right. And so fast forward 14 years now we actually have a 501C3 nonprofit. And look, tyres, you've been so good to us, so kind with your time. Again, I've known you as a statesman looking out for the rest of us. As you paid the compliment to President Trump that he was somebody different than you had originally thought, I am going to pay the compliment to you that you've been the statesman, you looked out for other people and you've helped us raise quite a bit of money for the Nebraska Greats Foundation. And what we simply do is that if you're a current or former letter winner from any of the colleges or universities in Nebraska. So that's D2, D3, and there's a lot of.

[A]

Of D2 and D3 schools in Nebraska. A large amount.

[B]

Correct. And so if you. Let's say you have a gap in your insurance. Let's say you can. If you don't have insurance, maybe you lost your job and you have a pending deal. So Tessa Davis, for example. And I'll tell you what is very hard for me to recount this story because I just joined the board and she came to us and wanted a bed. A double wide hospital bed that kind of moves up and down, right?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I thought to myself, why do you need a bed? She has als. And what I didn't realize about ALS is that your body just stops moving, which means you stop breathing and then you die. Well, she has two kids and she wanted this extra wide bed so the kids could rehab with her. And it absolutely crushed me because at that moment I was like, she's gonna die in the next couple years. She was married at the time. I believe she got divorced. This is all public, by the way, but divorce. She has two kids, she's by herself. Who is gonna pick up the bill for her?

[A]

Right.

[B]

24 hour care. And so all the great people, including yourself, that have helped us build Nebraska Scritz foundation, we're able to take care of everything for her. 24 hour care. Of course, we vet all of our applicants, we make sure they have a need, we make sure there's no other insurance out there. We do all the stuff we're supposed to do. And she recently passed. And it just absolutely crushed me. But I will say I'm just so glad we were there to help her. You helped with that. And we extended her life with her kids.

[A]

That was not to be braggadocious, but that for me was when I was on that stage. I'm on that stage with Larry the Cable Guy, who I think is brilliant comedian.

[B]

Brilliant.

[A]

And my laughs were just as good. And so I felt really confident.

[B]

And then I thought it was slightly better, but I bought it.

[A]

But no, I'm just saying, like, it was crazy. And then when the bidding came, so they were like, hey, we wanna. Originally, I think it was some books I brought. I think I brought a couple books.

[B]

To sell a couple books.

[A]

Yeah, maybe I'll raise, you know, 100 bucks. You know, sell six of em or whatever. And then we. I think it was you that came up with the idea. Like, hey. Cause we didn't have anything.

[B]

Well, I didn't wanna impose on you.

[A]

Yeah, but we didn't have anything.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

And you're like, well, what if we did something to where they could bid to come have come to the see you on the Gutfeld show. And they. Dinner. Yeah, then they'll have dinner. They have dinner with Tyrus and then they get tickets to come see him at Gutfeld. And I'm like, who in the blue hell is going to pay for that shit? So. Or. And I think we started the bidding off. I think I want to say it was like 1,000 bucks or thousand dollars.

[B]

And just.

[A]

And it just kept going and going and going and I think I don't want to. I think I'm right. I think we ended up where we had three groups deadlocked in a battle. $75,000 we raised. And then I sat down and Larry the cable guy was like, oh shit, I gotta think of something. That's right. You guys want to come to my jet? No, no, you can't. Wanna meet president? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You want to come to my house? Where are we getting out? My wife ain't having that. Like he was just going on, on Anybody want to go to a Journey concert with me? You know, like. And so. But he. And then he ended up raising. I want to say he was like 50, like. But the two of us together, we raised over $100,000. But that for me is when I realized, I think that like, because you don't. Everyone's on TV now, you know, And I'm never. And you will attest to this, I never think of myself as, oh, I'm a superstar. I'm a. Like, I'm a normal guy like you.

[B]

I know that to be the truth.

[A]

Yeah, I've never been talking about myself is annoying unless I'm making fun of myself. But in, in seeing. And there was a lot of people there and seeing those stories and seeing the stuff. And I remember I got. Seeing her video was emotionally tough for me. And some people would say, you know, detractors would be like, well, it's a choice to play sports. Well, it's not a choice to have a life. And of course in her situation it was a mother nature thing. But still you guys found a way to help. And athletes need help.

[B]

They do need help, but they're kind of prideful.

[A]

And that's the thing we. That's our biggest problem. We play hurt.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Doesn't matter. Mental, physical, we never. Because we don't want to lose our spot. And that brings me back to when I first met you. Now I was, I'm six, seven and a half. And I was considered an. And Big Sean, who I played with.

[B]

He was Big Sean.

[A]

Big Sean, I think was six. I think he was six, nine maybe. You, you made Sean look small. Yeah, except his, his face isn't this weathered, rugged one that it is now. You know, he had a baby face. I mean, he had a baby face. You were just standing there. Young blood, young and quiet. Quiet eyes didn't blink. You were just standing there. And it was two days and we're coming and the first team, we're walking up and we see the red shirt freshman guys and I'm seeing a couple of the veteran guys with clippers and.

[B]

Cut our hair, man.

[A]

And watermelon hats they were making for you or whatever the hell it was. And now just a spoiler alert that when I came before, they had some similar haze thing and it was real simple. They just, it was a guy named Gary Estes and a guy named Fox came up to me, says, here's what we're going to do. We're going to shave your head and you're going to, you're going to put this watermelon helmet on and, and you got to do all this stuff. And I looked and I said, I'm not doing any of that.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Said up. Who's going to make me? And they, I just remember them going, no, man, it's, it's, it's, it's what we do here. I said, well, I'm not from here, so y' all have a good day. And walked off. And I remember I was walking, walking off and I think I, I think it was, it might have been Coach Hoffman. Coach Hoffman was like, I don't think they like that at all. But there's a damn thing they could do about it. Good for you. And here I am walking. I see you. I don't think we've said too much to each other.

[B]

No, we haven't.

[A]

No. And it's not even, it's just because the way they had the freshman team, it's just structure. It's just structured where you were very rarely, you know. And we got to prove your way.

[B]

You got to earn your way.

[A]

You guys were supposed to be the beat up dummies for the defense team, defense. And then the freshman guys with a beat up team for the first team offense. But I see you standing there, and I remember. I'll never forget it. It was that little river is running there, and there's a bridge and I'm walking.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

And I'm hot and I'm tired, and normally I give zero. I'm just going to.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

And I see you standing there, and I see those little bastards with the clippers and stuff. What are they doing? And I just said. I looked at you, and I was like, leave him alone. You didn't. I didn't put you on the bar. I didn't say, hey, do you want to do this?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I knew by your body language, I'm like, what? You wanted no parts of this. Like, leave me alone. And you were being polite because you were. I was. I had to look up a little bit. And I was like. I wasn't used to that. But I was like, here is this great. Physically, looks like he can go.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

The last thing we should be doing is with him.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, you know. And so I just said, hey, he ain't doing it. Have a good day. And they was just like.

[B]

And we instantly looked at you like, the elder statesman has spoken. So we're all going to move on, and we're gonna go, yeah, we're out of here.

[A]

And you left.

[B]

And we left and departed.

[A]

Didn't think that that would be something that you would remember always or even think about, but it was. And I. We run across each other again. It's been, what, 20 years maybe?

[B]

Yeah, probably. It's been quite a while.

[A]

Been a while. Time flies when you're working and trying to build something, which, by the way, I. I almost am embarrassed because I. I just. I didn't even give you the proper title when I brought you in. Like, you're a CEO, sir.

[B]

Oh, my goodness.

[A]

And you're the head of the board. You're the. The chairman. Correct.

[B]

I don't know if I want to say yes or no to this. For the Nebraska race. Yeah.

[A]

You are the chairman. You're the.

[B]

Do some advising to other people.

[A]

You're the big guy.

[B]

Docology and then Horsepower Ventures, number one.

[A]

And also you. Besides the fact that you're CEO. Congratulations. We had lunch and we talked about this. Because I yelled at you.

[B]

You did yell at me.

[A]

Because you don't take time to ever smell the flowers. You never take time.

[B]

I'm not such a problem.

[A]

Yeah. But I understand it because here's it. And we talk about this a lot as. As men, the pressure to provide and at the same time dealing with your upbringing kind of go hand in hand. When you go without and you see your mother go without, it does something to you.

[B]

It does something to you. Deep down, it changes you.

[A]

It's not everyone makes the joke about, you know, you want to go to the NFL. So I'm by my mom, a house and a car that is a deep, deep rooted.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Pain. You want to take the burden away from your mother. And. And that to me was my fuel. And then it morphs once you have your own family.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

You know, and then you. Every time you reach a cornerstone as a man, especially as a man who wants to provide and take care of his family. More importantly, we want our family to be proud of us. You're just thinking of what's next. I'm CEO. Yay. Okay, how do I.

[B]

You gotta produce.

[A]

Not gotta produce, not gotta do this now. I gotta build my team. Not gonna. Blah, blah blah, et cetera, et cetera. Without ever just taking a moment to say, hey man, I need to remember this. Just. And I'm not talking like throw a party. Even if it's just sitting outside in your yard and a little sun on your face going good morning, I'm a CEO. Like I'm just gonna take a moment. I went from being a very hard. A kid from Rhodesia trying to figure it out.

[B]

Trying to figure it out.

[A]

But you.

[B]

But, but, but hold on T. You know when you're in situation, when you're poor and you don't have anything, it's like you. I just remember feeling myself, man, I never ever want to go back to server again because I had no control over it.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And I'm not blaming my mom, my parents. I'm not here to blame it on other people.

[A]

You can't blame. Because life's life.

[B]

Cuz life is this.

[A]

Yes, but you.

[B]

I couldn't control it. But, but now as you get older, for you and myself and for others, we now can control our condition of which we live in.

[A]

Because here's the thing. We are one step on a different path from being very different people. We could be having this conversation in a prison yard somewhere. We could, you know, or not be here.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

It's. And then there's the. I. I think a lot of times people get stuck in life not just because they're afraid or lazy. Is that life is hard. And there's certain things that you get hit with that and it's not always. I think the. You know, when you see someone with a black Eye, you go, oh, man, you can see somebody hit me, like, you know, and then it's going to get better.

[B]

Right.

[A]

A few weeks go by, the color is gone, it's healed back. Your eye looks good again. No one asked you, you know, but right. Those deep ones, you know, are they, they change the way you look at life, you know? And I think a lot of, I think mothers, they're, they got it the worst because they have, without a father present or husband present, they have to not just provide, they also have to raise you.

[B]

They have to raise you.

[A]

And they're working. My mom worked on average 90 hours a week right there with you nights and a nurse. And at the same time had to cook dinner, had to do laundry. I had to do laundry, had, you know, because she had lazy ass sons, because we were spoiled rotten. Now when I look at other kids, I wasn't lazy at all. But when I look at, when I look at growing up with my mom, I was like always saying I could have done more. And then I was like, you know what I'm gonna do, mom? I'm gonna buy you a car and a house.

[B]

And a house.

[A]

I'm gonna. Because I see how hard you work. That's right. I also see you crying on the couch at night because you're alone. I, I see you at counting coupons. Like, feet are sore.

[B]

You know, I rub my mom's feet.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

My brother said I would rub her feet. Right. Because she's so sore from working all the time. Right. And then you're also forced to just be independent. Like you learned to be independent. Remember, you're talking about the screen door.

[A]

Yeah, I struggle with it. I, I, I did not ever want to be alone. I don't think that changed for me until I was in my 40s.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

To where I felt like I, you know, and some of it plays into being an entertainer because you're not alone when you're on stage, but when you go back to the dressing room, it's quiet, you know, so you, you go through that thing where you need an audience, you need someone to see what you're doing because you're right. You don't necessarily support yourself because you didn't grow up in that system.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Your mom wasn't always at every game, she didn't cheer the loudest. Not because she didn't want to, because she was exhausted working.

[B]

Yep, that's right.

[A]

And as your athletic career took off because you, you were a little different than all, like, I had Division 1 offers all over the place. But once I signed and went to unk, other than some shady guys, the college recruitment stopped. As it should.

[B]

Right.

[A]

You still had the big red going. Hey, what's this, you guys, how bad you want this guy? Is there any chance, you know, like, you know, because I. They called Morris over me. Like, where the you find them? You know? But he didn't let me call him back. He was like, oh, we got him. We're good. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

No number left behind. Yeah, yeah, but.

[A]

But you went through. And it's funny because I look a lot of the stuff, like you couldn't really get comfortable anymore. I don't. I think you first were at unk. I think it was fair to say that, like, you were looking at it as a failure. And I don't mean that.

[B]

No, I'm with.

[A]

You know, I transferred after my first year. That's what I'm saying. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I tried to transfer.

[B]

If I'm going to do all this work, man, I'm going to go to Nebraska. At that time, they won another national championship.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

They're all my friends today. I'm like, dude, what am I doing? Nothing against you and K, but if I'm going to do all this, let's go there.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Right. And of course, it didn't work out. And then. Guess who's on the phone. Yes, this is Coach Morris.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

If you come back and I cut you because. And what he's saying is, I'm going to cut you over and over again. In a good way, Right?

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

You better bleed blue and gold.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And that way. And if he wouldn't have called me, I wouldn't have went back to play football. And we all know the story. I would be digging ditches in Geneva, Nebraska. Dr. Heber Crockett's another guy that I met when I didn't make it in the NFL. And I came back, and his wife, Carrie.

[A]

Hold on. I think. I think I have to stop saying, guys, you didn't not make it in the NFL. Got the call.

[B]

I got the call. I just didn't stay. And you know why?

[A]

Because it's. It's less than 1%. Just getting a sniff. You're a special athlete.

[B]

I can't add to that.

[A]

12Th guy on the NBA bench could embarrass anybody on the basketball court, wnba, college or whatever. We have allowed ourselves to minimize coming from a Division 2 school just to get in the middle of nowhere, to get a nod, to get a letter.

[B]

You remember this?

[A]

Yeah, I Was there. I get it. That's why I'm saying.

[B]

But you went through it.

[A]

Yeah. So you aren't going to. You ain't going to demean it for me because it's a point of pride. I do.

[B]

But I'm at the Seattle Seahawks in home. It's homegrown's first year. I put my hand down. It was actually field, turf, believe it or not. The ones ahead. Right. And I remember thinking, how did I go from Geneva to Nebraska? We only have two. Two pennies to scratch together. And here I am getting ready to perform in front of an NFL team. It blew my mind. I'm sure you felt the same way.

[A]

You know, it's funny, I had a workout in, in Dallas and it was like my. I think it was like my third.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Workout.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

And we were, they were in. We were in the stadium that day for the workout. And I remember walking over in the end zone. It's all blue and you know, it's got the. Dallas.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. That's big time, man.

[A]

And I, I did the same thing where I, I got in a two point stance, like I was getting ready to pass, protect, and I'm guarding the star and I put my hand down on the blue turf and I could smell it and I could feel it. And I looked up and I was like, I'm in Dallas Stadium.

[B]

It's a big moment, man.

[A]

Man. Larry Allen, one of the greatest ever.

[B]

Rest in peace, two tall.

[A]

Like, this is the great. This is America's team. And I'm standing here and I'll never forget, like, hey, we just painted that. Get the off the ground, the end zone. I was like, oh, my bad. You know, and cheerleaders there, all the people working out. You turn around, I was just like, okay, back to reality. And then, you know, you go get in line and go do your one on one drills and all that kind of stuff. But I'll never forget that, like, at least. But I did have a good 30 seconds of just, holy shit, where are we now? And it was a couple moments in my life like that where I was just like, yeah. And then injuries happen, stuff happen, whatever happens.

[B]

Well, and it's hard. Like you said, it's actually less than one half of 1%. Yeah. Of college football players that actually make it in the NFL even get a phone call.

[A]

So I always.

[B]

All right, I'll take some credit.

[A]

All right. You know, and then I, you know, I did the arena ball thing, trying to get back in it. Come Back from the inside stuff. And then I was just like, you got to figure something out.

[B]

And that was a little bit easier to play because it's just a small area. Yeah, I felt like it was easier.

[A]

To play and I was easy because you just. Well, and the guys were smaller and there's.

[B]

That's right. And the ball is thrown, being thrown very quickly.

[A]

Three two second stops, it's just out.

[B]

So that I didn't mind playing. That was actually pretty easy.

[A]

You stay in shape and then you come to that point where you're like, this isn't going to pay the bills. You know, I think I was on the higher end. I think I was like 1300 a week or some like that. There was. Guys were playing for 200 bucks. You know, there was, you know, so. And there's also this other thing. And, and you made it such a great point when we were talking about when, when the football's over or if you didn't go crawling back. Because I had to go crawling back to my junior college. I left to go to another fancy one that was going to pay players to play.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And then of course the checks didn't clear. And then you can only so many.

[B]

Times a burger came with little coupons again for Burger King or whatever it was they were.

[A]

There was all these promises and all these things. And then I realized that like I, I up. Yeah, I got, I got to make that call. I called Coach Martinez. Same thing. And, and then the head coach was like, we're not going to start first game. You got to earn it. And I was, I was a blue chip all American.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Going in and all conference ball player my freshman year. So I'm like, I'm not starting. He's like, no, I only want loyal guys who start for my team.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

The grass is greener on the other side. You think you're just going to walk back in here and pick up where you left off?

[B]

Well, yeah, I actually, everything you've done.

[A]

To this point, I've forgotten. I don't know who the you are anymore. Oh my God. And I was just like, huh? And I was like, okay, bet. But I took it like you, I took it to like, okay, who's starting over? Me. And that was, that was my pigeon. All of two days. I was lighting him up like a Christmas tree. That guy wouldn't let him beat me one time on, on. When we're running or drills or anything.

[B]

All on tape, baby.

[A]

All on tape. So, and, and, but you look at those things. Did it work? Out as far as NF football career. No, but those skills that you developed is what you end up becoming. A CEO, the chairman of a major. And of course, we're acting like you didn't have a job before this.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Now you were changing lives with. With your medical stuff and what. And you traveled everywhere. Yeah. You've been everywhere. You've played golf like you're this dude. You think President Trump loves golf. Then there's you.

[B]

I love golf.

[A]

Yes, you do. Yes, you do. You love to talk about. Well, you.

[B]

Like, here we go.

[A]

No, no, no.

[B]

We're not going to top golf in Omaha, Nebraska.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

What was, what was the point score on the screen? Look, I'm competitive.

[A]

I didn't really play that day.

[B]

We were all chipping, remember? It was.

[A]

I think I played one round. I wasn't feeling well. I remember. Yeah, I was under the weather.

[B]

You were a little bit under the weather, but still.

[A]

But you. Doesn't matter. You brought your own club. As soon as I saw you brought your own club to topgolf, I was like, he ain't around, this dude.

[B]

No, no, no. I love golf.

[A]

He had his little warmer. He talked to it. You know, he's driving it, hitting it off the fence, and he's like. He's looking at his club. And then you started. You really crossed the line. You walked over to my stepson and started teaching him your moral code. Quiet. If I would have heard it, I would have been an outrage. You know, it's like you just came in my house and sat at my seat at the dinner table.

[B]

No, no, no, no. I didn't want to be rude.

[A]

Started putting my children under your moral code.

[B]

Aren't I kind of in your house?

[A]

No, of course.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You've been there. Like, okay, you've seen it. You know, I'm not the king of my castle. I'm not even the court jester.

[B]

I'm just.

[A]

I'm just. I greet you at the door and I'll show myself out. But you. What was it like being on the road? Because you and every. You had major meetings and you would. And all your stuff was. Was the only thing. I don't. I never. I don't really talk to. I never really talked to you about money and stuff. But, like, was it all. Was it commission based? Were you a big salary guy? Like, how did, how did you go from football to working? Because you work with a lot of doctors. You. You know everyone. Like, everyone knows you.

[B]

Like, wherever we go, everyone knows you. Because we can't Hide anywhere.

[A]

Okay. Yeah. We cannot hide. No.

[B]

When you learn how to hide, let me know.

[A]

I tried today. I wore my hat forward at lunch.

[B]

You did. I noticed.

[A]

And I wear glasses now.

[B]

Okay. But everyone still.

[A]

That's.

[B]

They still come at you.

[A]

That's like putting. It's still. It's like putting glitter on a bull. You're still a bull.

[B]

Like, everyone's going know we can't hide it. So if anybody has an invisible cloak out there, we would be very grateful to. To buy one from you.

[A]

So you graduated from college, correct, or.

[B]

No, I actually graduated from college. They said they can't take that away from you. And I'm very.

[A]

I did too.

[B]

Very, very, very grateful for that. You and I both. And that was fun to have you back in Carney where they actually gave you the.

[A]

Yeah. Cuz I couldn't afford it. Yeah. I couldn't walk.

[B]

Oh, my goodness. It just broke my heart, man.

[A]

It was.

[B]

But that you didn't get it because, I mean, again, we didn't have any money.

[A]

No. Didn't have a dime. And there was no. And there was no E. Boosters cutting checks at Nebraska. You want a warm meal and you want a summer job working in farms.

[B]

Yep. All day.

[A]

All day. But as far as them walking up with a check with two grand in it for your graduation, that ain't happening. And I didn't ask you. I guarantee you, if I would have went to coach Morris Hoffman or Coach Boff or whomever and said I couldn't afford to graduate, UNK would have found a way.

[B]

They would have found a way.

[A]

But I was stubborn and I was, like, prideful. Because that's a big problem with being big, is because you can't hide. And when you fail, everyone knows it and sees it. And that was the. I mentally not being in the NFL long enough to have a card or anything. Whenever you would meet people, they would rub it in your face, oh, I had your height, I'd be a millionaire.

[B]

I've heard.

[A]

You know, and like, how. Wow. What? How what what? How come you didn't make it? How you did this and you don't want to explain it. It just didn't work out, you know, and. But no one else says shit to them. Like, well, what did you not accomplish? You know, like, let's sit down and talk about it.

[B]

Let's talk about your failures.

[A]

Yeah. Why aren't. You know, why aren't you winning?

[B]

Right.

[A]

Because you got time to talk about me. So what. What's the formula? What would you do what am I not doing that you would do. I finally asked somebody that, well, any tips for me? Oh, my goodness, you know, like, anything I could do, like. And. And the. Their answer was as dumb as their question.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

You know, it's like, well, you know, you got to work out. Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah, I got all that. Anything else? Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Copernicus, you have anything else to enlighten us about?

[A]

Do you have anything to help me grow new knee meniscus? Cause that'd be nice. Yeah, see, I'm getting mad just talking about it.

[B]

No, I know, man. You're getting all jacked up. You know, look, Tyrus, I got really, really lucky. Cause when I came back, I didn't make it the NFL. I came back and your identity is really kind of attached to football and your size. And so for me, I'm like, okay, what am I gonna do next? And I went and worked for the university as admissions counselor. And I got really fortunate. One day at practice, it was a Saturday. I'll remember like, it's nothing. And you remember this field, our uneven field there. Huge shout out to the Unk Lopers. Coach Held and his team. A huge shout out to those guys. But I remember a guy came up to me and said, hey, man, what's going on? We started talking. Was Dr. Crockett, Dr. Heber Crockett, actually trained here in New York. Very, very well known orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Andrews. He's practiced it. Anyways. And what's interesting is I got really lucky because he saw in me what I didn't see in myself in that time. He and his wife Carrie, they were like, hey, look, Brett, you. You. You can communicate fairly well. You're clearly intelligent, you're affable. You're affable. It's just like. And you.

[A]

Hey.

[B]

Anyways, I got very lucky because they started to pull me in. They started to challenge me in different ways. Reading Russian literature, of all things. Believe it or not, you know, the brothers Karamazov, Fyodor, Dosiyevsky, and I actually read the books.

[A]

And I just got, anyway, an intellectual giant.

[B]

Who would think, yeah, if people learn I can read and write, man, it's all over. But I got very, very fortunate. And then, guess what? It's things like, you know, that our fathers would have said to us if we had them around. It's like, look, man, you can't take them granted. You got to keep working. You got to keep learning. You got to keep growing. You got to keep going. Because no one is Coming to save you. And number. And number two, no one's going to improve yourself.

[A]

No, only you can, Tyrus.

[B]

No one's going to improve you. And anyways, I got very, very fortunate. So that led to. Again, to answer your question, so it was a combination of. I'd get a salary, I'd earn bonuses, I would travel, and then I would get involved in a company. There's a company called Avenue Medical that I was lucky to be a part of as a consultant. And we sold that for a lot of money to Medtronic.

[A]

Consultant, consulting, CEO.

[B]

I mean, I would do whatever. No, no, no, no. But I always do.

[A]

Did you ever consider saying the doc got lucky?

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

He got a die. He went in there, he drafted you in the fifth round, and you. And you ended up, you know, ended up with all these championships of life. You know, no super bowl ring, but a CEO ring, chairman ring, an amazing dad ring, A good family, changed lives, help people.

[B]

But he's a statesman like you, though.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

He saw something in others, and he's. Look, he's a very decorated physician. He's done 21, 23,000 cases. He didn't have to pull me into his life. He didn't have to do anything like that, but he did. And I got very lucky that way. And the rest of it's taken off from there. It's been a lot of hard work, and I'm not here to complain about that. I'm happy to do the work. I've also been lucky. But, yeah, it's been a really interesting. Or he would say this, and I'm sure he's listening. I can take you to the dance, big fella, but I cannot make you. You dance?

[A]

Yeah. Bring a horse to water.

[B]

But he got just like you and your opportunities. You have the chance to dance. And guess what, Tyrus? You got some moves, baby. Yeah, you got some moves.

[A]

It's. It's funny when you look back at your successes because you're always haunted by your failures, always. So you don't really pay that much attention to your successes while you're in it. You never know you're living your best life till it's done. You know? What I'm saying is like. Yeah, you're like, oh, man, five years ago, that was. I was at the peak, or this, that. Whatever the argument that is. Well, I haven't hit my peak yet, so that's why I'm not, you know, taking time for that now. You are a family man if there ever was one. And being on the road. And again, we share this. It's a double edged sword. But the, the side that cuts the most is you don't get to be with your family that much, you know?

[B]

Correct.

[A]

And that kind of, that, that changes you one or two ways. You either become a bitter soul who just stays away from home. But then we both have the life lesson of how difficult life can be without a father present. And I'm not, I'm not, I'm not just saying sitting on the couch, drinking a beer.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Like a real father who's providing and taking care and being there and being.

[B]

Accountable with your children. Right. Yeah.

[A]

That was for me, things weren't when my, the way I had my kids was about as untraditional as you get, with the exception of me and my wife. But you get. So you're not winning enough. So you have to work more. You want to every, every opportunity say yes.

[B]

You want to provide.

[A]

Yes, yes. But you don't realize that you're saying no, no, no to time with your family.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

And then you don't understand why they don't see what you're doing. Because.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

They want to see you. And then eventually, and I'm kind of going through this now a little bit, to where your kids are older and have their playgroups and they're going through their hormones and stuff and you're still trying to be dad and make time. And when you show up, they're kind of like, meh, who are you again? Yeah, yeah. And not like you're this deadbeat dad who's not around. I mean, you, you tolerate on the phone and you email and text, FaceTime, all that kind of stuff. And when you're home, you know, not like you're out with your buddies playing golf all weekend, you're with your kids. So you get to a point where you, you question, was it worth it? Was the success worth it? Because there's certain things that like you can't get back and you don't get any.

[B]

The time back.

[A]

Yeah, you can't get the time back. And then you miss birthdays, you miss basketball games, you miss recitals, you miss all these things because, but the school they go to is because you miss those things. The cars you drive, the nice home, you know, and, and not go on vacation or, you know, if something goes wrong, you're not living check to check anymore.

[B]

Right.

[A]

You know, you've, you've beaten, you've passed your father in terms of attendance and success. But the downside of it Is. Is that because you don't get to clock in a nine to five every day and be home at dinner and home on the beach?

[B]

Would you do a 9 to 5 job?

[A]

I.

[B]

Or maybe you could. I don't know.

[A]

I think. I think we could. I think you have to. If that was the only way. I mean, I've worked.

[B]

If it's the only way.

[A]

I worked at Pizza Hut. Right after I was stuck between, I think, the Bills and Toronto Argonauts, I went back to Nebraska to take a couple summer classes because I was thinking about maybe working my masters, and I had to get a job. And I was like, oh. And the only job it was hiring was Pizza Hut. They needed someone to make pizzas and lunch with my schedule and stuff. And because I was working nights at Walmart stacking cans, no one's. But no one saw me do that. You're sitting there making pizzas at a Pizza Hut, and people used to go, see you play ball. Yep. That's a. You're gonna learn real quick. But then I was like, I'm just making these lunch. Like I'm doing. I'm getting a check. Even when I asked for the job, the guy was like, why aren't you in the NFL?

[B]

I know.

[A]

Like, oh, well, Pizza Hut has. Has better insurance and you can eat and you.

[B]

And you have food to eat.

[A]

Yeah, it's a good way to be on your.

[B]

Like, you could also eat, right? Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Nothing like working at a pizza place eating pizza.

[B]

I worked at pizza, too, man. It's just crazy.

[A]

Yeah, it's crazy. Yep.

[B]

And delivering pizzas, baby.

[A]

The only thing I didn't do was deliver because I want to. I didn't want to knock on the door and have some.

[B]

Dude, I was too dumb. I was knocking on the door and.

[A]

I don't know pizzas and, you know, plus, that's gas money. And I was trying to say. I mean, I was going. I was just dealing with trying to make tryouts and gas money. And you're in Nebraska. It's not exactly a hotbed for NFL workouts.

[B]

Pizza man.

[A]

And then I had the arena football team that Kurt Warner played for. They were calling me a lot, so.

[B]

The Barnstormers. Yeah, I would be up.

[A]

But then the Tri City Diesel came around, and I was like, well, I'll just do that. It's right here in Kearney.

[B]

That's what we did.

[A]

So I played for them for a season, made the all star team, and then I got a call to go work out in Dallas. So I went. But you, all these times you're chasing it and you don't have a family at the time, so you don't really think about it.

[B]

And everyone knows you as a football player, so everyone's asking about it, everyone's expecting.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And then you get to a point in your life where you now have the family. And now, now even though you're big, you don't give a. Like, oh, you should play in the NFL as long. You know what? I, I'm just talking. You know what? It doesn't sting now because you're doing something comparable. You're. You're at the top of your field in something else when you're not where you think you need to be. Any slight at you and your success cuts deeper, way deeper because you are carrying that burden is like, I'm not. Why am I stuck in this cycle? Why can't I get this better job? Or why can't I get this my own show?

[B]

You kind of typecast it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You feel like you're stuck there. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. And that I, I've seen a lot of our guys, the guys we played with, the guys we played against, the guys who just in the fraternity of football, especially linemen and stuff. I feel like there's a stereotype for sure. You just get kind of stuck.

[B]

You do get kind of stuck and.

[A]

You trying to get it back and you can't. You know, NFL isn't like guys can go overseas in the NBA and baseball and figure it out for a couple years and come back. NFL don't work like that, bro.

[B]

Nope.

[A]

It's a young man's sport.

[B]

They're trying to weed you out.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

For the young buck coming behind you.

[A]

But once you're out, there is always an exception.

[B]

Always exception.

[A]

You know, Rivers just proved that he's what, 44.

[B]

Congrats.

[A]

But that's also a quarterback. But you know, lineman gets hurt, they're not calling a 44 year old tackle not doing it. No. So. But you do like success sometimes can be. You have to. Success can cause more depression than failure can sometimes. Because failure, you don't really, you can feel bad about it, but you really don't have time. Success, you start dwelling over everything you didn't do.

[B]

It's true.

[A]

It's like you start focusing on like, oh man, you know, and I went through this thing where like my son plays baseball, my daughter rides horses, my other daughter swims, my other daughter is in choir and I work in New York. And there everyone's in three different states. So somebody's always going to miss out.

[B]

Always.

[A]

And. But because you're working so hard and you've taken care of everyone, you want to tell yourself it's enough. But then there's the. Where you're like, it's not enough. And then you. You kind of go through a change. Like, once I learned, I had to learn, like, literally had to learn to say no, because every time. Fox, hey, we got a show for you. Can you stay an extra day? The first answer was always yes. Because always I keep doing these shows. I'm gonna show someone eventually is gonna give me my own. I'm gonna be prime time, you know? Yep.

[B]

That's the next level.

[A]

And so you're like, yes, yes. And you expect your family to be excited for you. Like, hey, they're asking me to do the host the five, which, by the.

[B]

Way, congrats on all of that.

[A]

Yeah, but they're like, but. But you were gonna come home Friday. Well, I'll be home Friday night. Well, what time do you get in? 11.

[B]

The kids are sleeping.

[A]

Kids asleep. Wife's exhausted. She doesn't want to party for you when you get home? No, she's had a long day, too. So you think. And then you don't understand why they're treating you like shit. Because I'm doing this for us. But they're not looking at that way. They're looking like, you're gone again.

[B]

Well, TD Jake said if I'm home all the time, I can't go work and take care of my family the level I want to. But if I'm gone all the time, I don't get to be around and see the things that I'm working so hard for in my family. Watching them grow up, it's like, you know, the way you say, hey, you gotta find the balance. Like, I don't know. I don't believe that anymore. I think it's about harmonizing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You got to harmonize the best you can. And part of that is saying no, which is a really good point.

[A]

Yeah. Learning to say no. My advice, Two things. Well said. Never accept no when I'm. And of course, that's. It sounds like an oxymoron, but I'm talking about when someone says, hey, man, like, for me, you're too big to be on TV shows cracking jokes like. Like they don't have big comedians talking about. And I'm like, huh?

[B]

What?

[A]

Funny is funny, Smart is smart.

[B]

Funny is funny.

[A]

And they're like, ah, nah, man, you don't like me. Look at where you dress. Like, you don't look like us. You know, where's your suit?

[B]

That's the whole point.

[A]

Why do you talk? You know, you don't really talk using the King's English, you know, And I'm just like. But I'm smart, you know, and you, you, you take those things.

[B]

You're very intelligent.

[A]

Yeah. You take those things and then all of a sudden you go from hearing those words to, oh, well, we want you on this and we want you on this. And suddenly the weirdness that you had in the beginning is now everyone wishes they had it, but you have to be able to say no in terms of, I already made plans with my family and I'm not breaking that, you know. And not accepting, though, is when they try to close the door on you.

[B]

Right.

[A]

When they say, this isn't for you. Right. Or you, you know, wwe, when they, you know, didn't think I was championship material, I was like, that's your opinion, you know? And then, you know, they let me go. And then now it was like, well, I can accept what they said or I can go work other companies and be a top guy there and say, what you talking about? And if you're true and if you really have talent, if you're. If it doesn't matter what the situation is, your talent will show up.

[B]

Always goes to the top.

[A]

Yep. So I might not be allowed. I might not be able to wrestle on Monday Night Raw and Smackdown every week, but I can compete against you on TV and kick your ass. Right. And that's what happened. But there. Because I wouldn't accept no in the sense of even though that door was closed, I looked for an adjoining door. Different door. Here's another opportunity. And you never know what, what happens. Like with you, it went from trying to figure out what your next NFL tryout was going to be, to start working in the medical field. It just. And then you put that same effort into that.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And you rose to the top of that.

[B]

Yeah. But how is it indifferent for you? I mean, think about.

[A]

You say very similar things. Yeah.

[B]

And the next thing you're on national television for of everyone. And again, I've known you for what's been 30 plus years. I'm like, dude, you, you. I mean, it's a. It's amazing. Don't you.

[A]

I.

[B]

It's just crazy.

[A]

And it's still crazy because it still keeps changing all.

[B]

And we're proud of you. We love you. And just like, I just, I just sit There and say myself. And yet. And guess what? You have the talent to be there. You have the gift of deducing and reducing everything down. Like, it's this. And everyone in the room knows this is it. And you've just said it to them.

[A]

And I. And I think that comes from being the O lineman allowed to call the plays on the line. I swear to God, I was looking. Oh, he let me. He let me. As long as we got a first down.

[B]

As long as you got the first.

[A]

Down, you make a call and you get hit in the backfield, you ain't saying shit. And you know it's a bad call. Like, nope, it's on you, Corey.

[B]

Well, and look, maybe part of what you're saying earlier about the success, we're thinking about the failures. Like, hey, you know, we would dominate a football team, and we would go and watch the film with coach Morris, the rest of our teammates. You know how that went.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And I remember if you messed, like, we would run 28 zone, right. You pull around the tight end, you pull up the place, you hit the place at linebacker. And I remember one time I missed that, and he just says, brett, let's see what you do this time. I think he rewinded that 10 times.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And you just felt like the smallest thing on the plan. Even though we blew them out. All I can remember is don't ever mess that up again. You remember that?

[A]

Well, yeah. He used to also find me doing like. So we were playing Bemidji State, and they had this nose guard that was supposed to be all world.

[B]

All world.

[A]

Everyone was like, talking about this guy, Right. And I remember, I love this story, is like, I'm just gonna pitch pick him. You just light his ass up. We're just gonna beat his ass up. Just beat his ass up. Everywhere you go. Just chip him for me. No matter where you're going, I'm like, I'm with you. And it was a close game.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, he started out that way. And he wasn't bad. He wasn't. He wasn't.

[B]

He's not all world.

[A]

No, I wasn't. I didn't feel, like, strength from him. Like, oh, have a quick step. Yeah.

[B]

He didn't have the power behind his.

[A]

His advantage was he was around the same height as the center. So the center, he was a lot of times getting a lower pad on the centers and standing him straight up. Yep. Which in itself is a. Is a great skill. But he wasn't then swimming over him sacking the quarterback or Chasing down the running back. He was just kind of. He was a rock in the middle of their defense, which allowed their linebackers to make a lot of plays. So he was a white guy. And the only reason why. I'm telling you he's a white guy, because it plays into the end of the story. Our. We had a wide receiver, a little slot back named B. Brian B. From Colorado, Little brother dark as his microphone, and he catches a little short, quick pass, and the nose guard ran down the line and tackled him. And apparently when he tackled him, he stood over them and he said, I thought you were fast.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

And Bees was like, huh? And what? He came back in the huddle and he was. I saw him fuming and stuff, and I just leaned over to him and I was like, hey, man, what'd he say to you? You all right? And he was like, man, what? And I was like, what do you say? And we ended up punting, right? Come back to the sideline, never forced to give her a blocking scheme, all that shit. And then I walked over to B and I said, hey, man, what. What. What the. He said, what did he say to you? Yeah, he's so shook, and he's like, call me. He said he didn't know we're fast, so he know. He said he thought would be fast. And I was slow. He called me slow. And the N word. I was like, bet. Okay. And I went backwards right there. I went to Coach Morris and I said, hey, man, I'm gonna get this dude. And Coach Morris looked at me and he said, give him one for me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And went out there and we. And all of a sudden it was. I just looked at the quarterback and I was like, 23 dive. Just all day, just keep. Check out, check, check out. 23. And we just go, 23, baby. Boom, boom. Blowing four or five yards of pop. Boom, boom, boom. We get down to the goal line, and he's sucking air for everything he has. And I'm talking to him like he's a dog. I was like, I bet you didn't know for strong, too. And I bet you didn't know this. And he was just sitting there looking for any. Any linebacker or any teammate to just step up with him.

[B]

I need some help.

[A]

No one was, you're on an island. Here we go. First and goal call. Guess what the call is from the coach. 23 power, right on me.

[B]

One of my favorite.

[A]

Straight up the line. I said, hey, bro, ball's coming right here. What you going to do about it? And he was like, should have played ball. And okay, come off the ball. And when I hit him, I hit him. Because I knew from watching film that he likes to get his hands as low as he can and just kind of dive at your legs.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. I hate that submarine.

[A]

So I had. When I was in my stance, I changed my fist to underneath like this because I was going to bulldoze him. I knew it couldn't because his nose was like this far off the ground. So I knew what I was going to do. I was going to come up underneath him. And when I did it, I bul. But I caught him at. He didn't go as low as I thought he did. He was trying to catch a block.

[B]

He's hard.

[A]

He didn't want to. So when I caught him and just drove him, his momentum just took him straight up. And as we went down, we hit the ground so hard that his legs came back over him. And I hooked each one of them and started doing. We'll call it push ups. But I was doing push ups over him. Like, man, you're really having a bad day with us now. You didn't know. And. And the team is like, oh. The refs are like, hey. Cause they. By the time we score, everyone, the field is cleared. I still got this dude with his legs over his head. And I was like, hey, B, you want some of this? And we got up, we get in the back. Coach Boroff is furious.

[B]

He wasn't having a.

[A]

He was like, we don't do that. We don't play like that. And I was like. And coach Morris said it was a clear. He said, boss. He called him the N word. We're not tolerating that. Dude did not come back in the game. He stayed on the sidelines selling some bullshit shoulder thing. And I remember he was sitting on 20 yard line. And I kept going. You come back. You coming back?

[B]

I'm ready.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And you taught him a good hard lesson.

[A]

Yes, I did. And after that, we go into film and I'm not thinking, you know, and we offensive line had scores across. Everyone had. It was in the 86 percentile for their blocks, and.

[B]

Which is good for all.

[A]

Which is good. Which. But he. Coach Moore is going to focus on the 14% because he's a great coach. And he's like, we're getting to the thing and film study's almost over. So I'm thinking I've. I've dodged a bullet, you know, once you think that. And he had my back. Yeah. So. And Then he was like, all right, let's just look at this one play. And he's like, why are you raping this man on the field? He's like, you got him beat. And everyone's dying laughing, Cory. Because no one else saw it, because they were blocking, right? And then he was like, click. He's like, man, well, I guess that guy will probably join the civil rights movement after that. You probably. You probably turned him out. He's. You're. He's seeing him in your sleep. But the next time you do that, I'm going to sit you the rest of the game, because he means that. Yeah. And he was. And what he was saying was, he was like, listen, I understand. And I. I gave. I let you do what you do, but you also need to understand that, like, get used to it.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

They're gonna call you names.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

Because especially when you're good and when you. Yeah. And he's like, you. You got a chance to play on Sundays. Every one of these guys wants a piece of you.

[B]

100.

[A]

And he says, and here's the deal. B's got to take care of himself.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You. You're a good teammate. And that's the only reason why, if he would have said it to you and you acted this way, I'd be chewing your ass, because that means you're not mentally tough all day long, you know? And I was like, okay, I'm cool. He says, but let's watch it again, because it's hilarious. And, you know, but the. The lesson learned. You don't think at the time it's going to translate to anywhere else.

[B]

You don't.

[A]

And I'm getting trolled on, you know, social media, and people call me all these names and stuff, and I just remember. I think. I think I said, I know what you cheer for. Your booze give me confidence. Like, you know, you just kind of.

[B]

Haters are gonna hate.

[A]

You're mentally tough. You've already been called the worst thing in the world by somebody, so what are these strangers gonna do? But it's all these things that continue to bring you along. It's like, in a way, life you didn't get. We didn't get the father that we deserved.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But life kind of filled in spots for us, but we were able to see it and grab it. I think a lot of young men, they don't see it, don't see it.

[B]

They can't separate them.

[A]

They can't separate. They're still mourning, whatever their situation is. But when Someone. When a man extends the hand, you got to take it. Because a man's not going to keep extending it.

[B]

Correct. Because he's a man.

[A]

He's a man. Yeah.

[B]

Do you feel like. So people say, like, brett, do you feel like football saved your life? I mean, tires. You feel like football saved your life?

[A]

Like.

[B]

Well, there's no doubt, but I think it's also just. It's like what it taught. You're famous of saying this. We said, hey, man, I learned to play offensive line. I learned to stay longer, show up early, you know, do all the extra stuff that we had to do as office line. You don't get the gratification right away.

[A]

No one's cheering for anybody.

[B]

It takes a long time to become a starter. I don't care what division you're playing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Maybe even. Even any sport to be a starter, to get the trust from the coaches and your teammates, you're going to go do it. I would say that I'm very grateful for football that way because, man, I am back in Geneva, Nebraska, digging ditches. If I didn't have football and the discipline that taught me.

[A]

Yeah, well. And not just that.

[B]

It's doing hard things over a long period of time.

[A]

Football is the one sport you fail the most at. Miss a block. Stalemate. Guy drops a pass, doesn't have anything to do with you. You get your. You don't even know sometimes you're not silly. Get beat on a play. Hold like, there's a. Oh, I've never.

[B]

You've never held anything.

[A]

I got called. I. I got hold. Called for holding one time. It was against Drake University, and it was. And I held all the other times. But you never. I never got caught. But this one, it was a pancake, and that really upset me.

[B]

Oh, my goodness. It was a good one then.

[A]

It was a good one.

[B]

It was actually a legit block.

[A]

The flag hit me on the helmet. The ref threw the flag right on my helmet. And I was just like, you never forget those. And holding number 78. And I was like, that was textbook. I was a pancake.

[B]

And what a great number 78, baby.

[A]

And Morris, he yelled out, just keep doing it. Keep kicking his ass. All right.

[B]

I love Coach Morris.

[A]

I tell you what, he. And darling, I got to get him on here.

[B]

You have to get him on.

[A]

Oh, yeah. It's just hard getting him out of Nebraska.

[B]

No, no, no, no. He's. Yeah, he's in Florida. We'll get him up here.

[A]

Oh, oh, he moved Florida.

[B]

He's going back and forth. He vacillates between the two.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

Yeah. He's a mover and a shaker, man.

[A]

Wow. I do that, too, but not because. I mean, no offense to New York, but this isn't exactly where I would like to hang out and spend my days. It's cold now. It's cold. We got the super cold going on. But if you were to give advice to a young man coming up right now, what do you think the biggest thing you'd say if he was. You saw that little spark of anger in his eye. But on the other side, there's enough fear behind it. Also, what would be your words to him?

[B]

Well, as Coach Morris did for both of us, when you start off, he gave us a copy of that. Is it the pelican? And you got the frog, and it's.

[A]

In the mouth and he's holding onto the neck.

[B]

Yeah. I still have that original copy today. And I will say, as cheesy as this sounds, like you just can't ever give up. Right? You just. I mean, and for us, maybe it's a little different from our backgrounds, but, like, I just. It's. It's so embraced. Like, you can't give up, never quit. It doesn't mean you don't come to things and then you. Hey, that's not for me.

[A]

Yeah. No.

[B]

Because working at Pizza Hut was not for you.

[A]

No.

[B]

I'm sorry.

[A]

No. But every day I showed up to Pizza Hut. I mean, I was trying to make the best pizza in there.

[B]

That's right. And you just never give up.

[A]

No. And you.

[B]

I know it sounds cheesy.

[A]

No, it's not cheesy.

[B]

Keep going.

[A]

You keep going forward. And do not ignore the failure. Examine it.

[B]

Examine it.

[A]

Break it down. What could I always. If you start the conversation, I didn't get the job because the manager didn't like me. You're.

[B]

You're. It's nonsense.

[A]

Okay? You can't change the manager. Okay. And if. And if.

[B]

Or their perceptions of.

[A]

Or their perceptions of you. What could you have done to be. When you can ask yourself that question.

[B]

You'Re in a good place and you.

[A]

Can answer it honestly. Not making yourself a victim. Not. Not virtue signaling. Not playing the. The. The crutch. Oh, it's because I was black. Oh, it's because I played ball. Oh, Because I was this. I was that. It's. It's. It can be a combination of those things, but you have to focus on what you can control. If a guy didn't give me a job at Pizza Hut because I was big and black, then I'll take my ass to Caesar's Pizza. And then I'd go. If that was my genre, you know what I'm saying? Or if it was McDonald's or Burger King, I would just keep going to a fast food place and I'm going to get hired, right? But if I say, oh, I'm not, I don't need these jobs, I'm not getting these jobs because the white man didn't want to hire me. No, no one asshole didn't hire you.

[B]

Who doesn't know you.

[A]

Prove him wrong. That's right, use him as fuel. You didn't want me. I'm gonna go right next door. Oh, there's a KFC right there.

[B]

You gotta keep going, baby.

[A]

Yep, you got to keep going. And speaking of keep going, it's been amazing having you on today. And so hey, for people that want to like get to know you, ask questions or want to know more about the charity, how do they get a hold of you?

[B]

Yeah, so we have the Nebraska Creates Foundation.org website you can go to. So if you know, look, if you know somebody that's in need, former teammate, has too much pride to say, hey, I've got a problem and you're in Nebraska. We would, we would love to talk to you, reach out to us there. I'm all over social media. Right or wrong, I'm all over so pretty. Pretty easy to look up that way. And man, I just want to say thank you again, man, the. Your humility. You've always been the statesman. I don't believe other than your skill sets being shown to the world, you've changed that much. And I, I want to commend you for that. Right. For doing that and really appreciate you including, including me today.

[A]

Oh no, it was cool, man. Plus you paid for lunch, so the least I could do.

[B]

That's what I'm supposed to do.

[A]

Well, yeah, no, you snuck it. Cuz that's a thing with you and me. Cuz I usually.

[B]

Well, cuz so many people have paid for my meal, so it's just like. And it even matter anymore. You know what, here's an interesting thing. Do you even think about what you're spending anymore when you go, go have supper or you go to a grocery store? Do you even think about what it costs anymore?

[A]

No, because my wife and I have separate bank accounts, so. So I don't worry about, you know, because I don't buy much. You know, when you're poor, when you're poor. Oh, Yeah.

[B]

I got $10 to put gas. Hey, that's gonna give me a quarter tank that's gonna get me here. And we're now in my life. And again, I'm not wasting money, but it's like I don't think about those things that I once used to just.

[A]

No, where are we gonna.

[B]

When are we gonna eat?

[A]

No, because you have different problems now.

[B]

Different problems.

[A]

Yeah. You're not worried about the basics, but it's maintaining.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

And you have to keep an eye on your. That.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You have to have somebody watch your money, somebody watch your property, protect your fan. Like, you start worrying about all other kinds of stuff. So the. The. And it's a good thing that your level of concerns change.

[B]

It's true. You know, and thanks for looking out for us and thank you for inviting me to. I really appreciate that.

[A]

Appreciate. Yes, sir.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Always. Always a pleasure.