Planet Tyrus – The Coach Who Changed Me
Episode Date: November 13, 2025
Host: Tyrus (George Murdoch)
Guest: Coach (Former Antelope Valley Junior College O-Line Coach)

Overview

This heartfelt conversation between Tyrus (George Murdoch) and his junior college offensive line coach is a nostalgic, insightful look at mentorship, coaching philosophy, and the long-lasting influence a coach can have on young men beyond the football field. What begins as a discussion about football quickly evolves into a tribute to the life lessons, steadfast values, and unique approaches that shaped not just games, but futures. Tyrus and his coach reminisce about their training days, the bonds of an O-line unit, navigating adversity, and the enduring legacy of integrity and hard work.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Coach’s Origin Story and Philosophy

• Early Influences: Coach describes growing up in LA, too "big and too poor" for youth football, finding his way through high school football, and eventually realizing his true calling was in coaching rather than playing.
  • [00:45] “I thought I knew football as a player until I started coaching and then I said, oh my goodness, this, I'm working just as hard as a coach, more mentally than physically...” – Coach
• Hands-On Coaching: Coach committed early to being the kind of mentor who did every drill alongside players, bridging the gaps with empathy and energy.
  • [04:19] “As long as I could... I was able to still run with you and lift with you and run the sand dunes...” – Coach

2. Approach to Faith and Leadership

• Religious Influence Without Preaching: Coach, a man of strong Mormon faith, emphasized leading by example, focusing on respect, honesty, and consistency rather than overt evangelism.
  • [06:16] “I wanted to be consistent and be who I am... I’m not preachy about it.” – Coach
  • [07:08] “You led by example. So it was irrelevant. It was never, ‘Hey guys, let's talk about religion today.’ It was just: be right.” – Tyrus
• Teaching by Action, Not Explanation:
  • [08:51] “I never took myself too seriously... If I made a mistake, I'd admit it and I'd laugh about it and say, that's part of humanity.” – Coach

3. Building Bonds Beyond the Game

• Unique Team Culture: Coach integrated movies, food challenges, and extra workouts to build camaraderie off the field.
  • [12:39] “There was this place if you could eat the whole Green Burrito... Everybody ate for free.” – Tyrus
• Finding Direction Through Acceptance: Tyrus recounts how the coach’s personal welcome and clear direction during recruiting provided him crucial stability at a tough time.
  • [10:55] “You weren’t inviting. You were accepting. And I think that’s what was the big thing...” – Tyrus
• Creating a Unit Against the Odds: Activities like running sand dunes, movie nights, and training sessions produced a bond and work ethic that few could rival.
  • [14:11] “By the time it came time for two-a-days, we had a pretty solid bond as a unit.” – Tyrus

4. The Evolving Nature of Coaching

• Adapting to New Generations: The coach reflects on generational shifts, including technology’s role in changing how athletes learn and bond.
  • [16:33] “Rules change, mentalities change, and then technology’s had a lot to do with it... They’re being taught football by video games.” – Coach
• Building Confidence Through Trust: The key, he says, is knowing a player's limits and pushing them safely past them, so each knows his strengths.
  • [23:53] “The plan was for me to let you as athletes know that you had my complete trust...” – Coach

5. Humility, Discipline, and Preparation

• Staying Grounded—Never Rest on Laurels: Tyrus and the coach discuss how to manage success and attention, never allowing ego to get ahead of the team ethos.
  • [29:58] “I've always... expect[ed] to get fired at the end of that season because I'm that hard on myself.” – Coach
  • [34:53] “You never allowed that for us... there’s still work to be done.” – Tyrus

6. Lessons That Extend Beyond Football

• Impacting Lives, Not Just Win Records: As both men see it, the real victories come in seeing how former athletes thrive in life, attributing their discipline and resilience to the lessons learned on the field.
  • [36:44] “It just brings tears to my eyes because I just feel like, wow... The goal was to help you... find yourself, have direction and go out and enjoy life...” – Coach
  • [38:08] “When the football... is gone, she's not coming back. But the lessons you learn on that field... you will carry with them.” – Tyrus

7. Stories & Memorable Moments

• Discipline Over Drama: Tyrus recalls the fear of disappointing coach versus being yelled at—knowing the coach’s disappointment was the ultimate motivator.
  • [29:57] “No one's harder on me than me.” – Coach
  • [54:54] “...not wanting to be, to hear those words. I'm disappointed in you…” – Tyrus
• Classic Anecdotes:
  • The Tailbone Pad Story: Tyrus shares his shame at getting called out by a ref for missing equipment and dreading the coach’s response—not for fear of punishment, but of disappointment. [30:47]
  • Scoop and Fumble: Despite countless reminders to fall on fumbles, Tyrus scooped a loose ball, got rocked, and lost possession—another lesson in humility and focus. [53:32]
• Joy of Shared Experience:
  • [30:25] “Enjoy the journey. All those things you mentioned that we did together... those are precious memories to me.”

8. Coaching, Teaching, and Legacy

• The Secret Sauce: Start with what everyone can do, then raise the bar. Learn to adapt, let players figure things out, and focus on continuous improvement.
  • [59:53] “We start with something that everybody can do... and then increase it by small increments.” – Coach
• Football as a Mirror for Life: Adapting, responding to adversity, and savoring the journey are themes echoed in both football and life lessons.
  • [61:34] “Well, ain’t life like that? We don’t know... We keep pushing. We keep, you know, enjoy the journey as much as we can and find a way.” – Coach

Memorable Quotes

• On hands-on coaching:
  • “As long as I could. And you were, I was still in my early 30s when we, our paths first crossed, and I was able to still run with you and lift with you and run the sand dunes.” – Coach [04:19]
• On integrity:
  • “Integrity is cool. I don't care what you do with it, but integrity is cool.” – Tyrus [46:19]
• On never being satisfied:
  • “I've always... expect to get fired at the end of that season because I'm that hard on myself.” – Coach [29:58]
• On measuring a coach’s true impact:
  • “It just touches. Brings tears to my eyes when you... said... you succeeded.” – Coach [38:01]
• On the purpose of training and life:
  • “Enjoy the journey... we were building something together.” – Coach [30:25]

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Coach’s Path to Coaching – [00:45-03:13]
• Coaching Style & Faith – [04:19-08:51]
• Recruitment & Bonding Stories – [09:22-14:11]
• Adapting to New Generations – [16:29-17:19]
• Lessons in Confidence & Trust – [23:53-24:31]
• Handling Success, Staying Humble – [29:52-34:53]
• Enduring Lessons & Emotional Impact – [36:18-38:08]
• Tales from the Trenches (Fun Anecdotes) – [48:19-54:54]
• Coaching Philosophies for Modern Athletes – [59:53-61:31]
• Closing Reflections on Life, Coaching, and Family – [61:31-63:39]

Tone

The dialogue throughout is candid, humorous, and emotionally rich—with Tyrus openly celebrating the influence his coach had on his life, and the coach reflecting on the joy and fulfillment of seeing his former players thrive. The conversational style is peppered with good-natured teasing, stories of triumph and embarrassment, and a deep mutual respect.

For Listeners

If you've ever had a mentor who changed your life, or wondered how great coaches truly make a difference, this episode is a masterclass in leadership, humility, and the importance of showing up. It’s as much about living well and caring for others as it is about football.