Badgers WR Coach Ari Confesor

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Welcome back to Believe in Badgers on the Believe Network, presented by FanDuel and Oak

Ridge wealth management.

I'm Matt Perkins, joined as always by Badger Legend, the Hebrew Hammer himself, Matt

Bernstein-Bernie.

How are we doing today?

Matt Perkins, every day on the podcast with you is a holiday.

We get to talk to all the greatest people, the greatest coaches, and we're all excited

because this year seems like we've assembled the Avengers for coaching staff, so I don't

have to ask them metaphorically say it.

I'm excited for what I guess we're going to seek in the future, so it's nice to have

coaches come on and tell us about themselves and what they're seeing for the badgers.

Absolutely.

And today we have new water series coach, Oggy Confessor, here with us on the podcast,

joining the badgers from the Jaguars, which is really exciting.

So coach, thanks for hanging out with us here for a little bit on a Friday afternoon.

It is awesome.

Thank you.

That's by Albert.

I'm glad to get on and spend some time with you guys.

This will be fun.

Awesome.

Yeah.

Well, we are very excited about it too.

So first of all, I mean, you've been in Madison now for, I guess, just a couple of weeks,

but we want to start, you know, what has been your first impressions here being on campus?

It's been good.

I mean, it's been a little bit cold, you know, to say at least, but I'm a North-East

guy.

So I'm used to all that.

It brings out the toughness in you, which I love.

But I mean, it's been great from the people from the staff, the players that you associate

yourself with every day.

It just seems like a really good group of guys.

And I think that's what matters, you know, most when you're around, people that are about

the right things and in the foot of the right reasons, and I feel that vibe being here

just, you know, going into my third week, it seems like a really, really good group.

Third week in Madison, coming from Jacksonville, it's the weather is probably the biggest change

up.

Coach, you know, the Jaguars had a huge successful season, at least I think, from what

they previously have.

Do you get a feeling like this is the team, like you're going to feel like it turned around

like you had at the Jaguars?

Yeah, I mean, shoot, that's the ultimate goal, right?

I mean, when we went into it in Jacksonville, you know, we knew that it was, you know, controlling

the controllables early, right?

It was about doing the little things, doing the fundamentals and doing those things to

the best of your ability.

And then let the chips fall the way they made, you know, so I'm hoping that shoot, absolutely,

we could have a turn around like that, I think that would all be smiling and it'll be,

you know, outstanding for all of us.

But I think the mentality is just worried about today.

Let's be the best we could be now working on the details, the fundamentals and just be

the best version of ourselves on a day to day basis, whether it's in the classroom, in

the film room or in the football field.

And I think if you do those things consistently, you know, you'll end up happy, you know, at

the end of the deal.

Cool.

Sorry, Matt Perkins.

I know you always have these great questions.

So I have coach, you'll learn, I got like terrible questions.

But is it hard to go from like the pros where football is the only real focus?

And then come to come to like a campus, like a college campus and have kind of all these

other things, you know, you have NIO, you have transfer portal, which is bananas.

And then you also have kids got to go to school, like they got to get an education, like

that's kind of technically what you're there for.

Is it a huge jump?

Well, it's different, Matt, absolutely, it's not, it's not, you know, just football,

stay alone, but again, for somebody like myself, you know, I've been doing college football

in 99% of my career.

So, you know, I was just with Wake Forest two seasons ago, you know, so it hasn't been

a huge difference.

I was involved with NIO back then as well, you know, so is it a difference?

Absolutely.

Is it something that I'm not used to?

No, you know, because I am used to it.

I understand the other things you have to do, the academics that stand on top of guys,

making sure they take class, whether it be, and also being there for them.

And I think that's where I kind of specialize the most in is because, you know, I'm about

relationships, I'm about being there for the guys, I'm about seeing them grow on and off

the field to hopefully become a better version of themselves, which will end up being better

players and people for this team.

You know, but when you're in the pros, it's a little different.

They're in there for work and then they're out, you know, they're out.

So you build relationships, but they have their families, they have to attend to where

our kids here, to me, they're my family.

And I want to make sure I do the best I can to help them, you know, accomplish their

deals.

Yeah, absolutely.

And, you know, you've got a room now that has a couple guys returning, obviously, you

know, Chris Brooks, Eugene Hilton Jr., but a lot of transfers coming in as well.

How do you go about getting all these guys on the same page and up to the same standard?

You know, well, man, it's been, I mean, up to this point, it's been easy, man.

I mean, these guys have, they have accepted every, every coach and point I've made.

They've been super responsive and receptive to coaching.

So, you know, normally you go into a situation like this where you have a lot of transfer

of guys and you have three freshmen, we see your risk coming into the program and guys

aren't clicking and you're trying to find a niche.

But I mean, with these guys, they, you would have thought they've known each other for

the last 15 years of their lives.

I mean, they, when we went bowling, you see them interacting and having fun and, you

know, they're geling and doing all those things together.

So, I mean, they've made it super easy for me to come in this room and then give them

my teachers to hopefully make them better and like I asked anybody that's ever played

for me.

You give me your best.

You give me all you got and you're willing to learn and listen and be coachable.

I'll make you a better football player.

And I think those guys have given everything I've ever said, you know, let's see what happens

from here.

Coach, I got to go.

So, I'm going to ask this question, but then I got the dryer guy coming in and my wife,

she on to me.

Coach, now on my wife, she on to me, my brain has turned off completely, it's happens

every time.

No, coach.

So, I kind of, do you see that the players are more open or more easily able to function

in the world of like, kind of like, kind of like the NFL where the guys are in and out

each year, some have contracts, some don't and they're, you know, like, are these guys,

are they able to make friends and kind of gel quicker because of, there have been four

or five years in this NIO world where everyone's in and out?

Is it just easier for people to come together?

Okay.

And I'm so sorry, coach.

I got to go.

No, you're good.

Sorry, Matt Burkin.

Sorry, everybody.

No, you got, you got to go dry the clothes up.

So, it was all good, but I'll handle that.

I'll handle that question.

I don't, I don't believe, see you, Matt, have a good one, buddy.

But when I think about it, I don't think it becomes easier just because of the NIO and

all that stuff.

I think if I had to pick one side of the other, I think it's more challenging, right?

Because I think these kids have, you know, when you're a certain place, some kids have

agendas that are driven, you know, for their personal gain and their personal needs,

you know, and they may not open up to other people because they may see it as a threat,

you know, to their money, to their opportunity to playing things like that.

So I think what we have here is unique.

I don't think it's something that's common everywhere, you know, because again, I've been

at places where, you know, guys would get paid when we were at Wake Forest.

You know, red thing here is just, you know, a tribute to the guys we recruited and just

the way we, you know, evaluate guys and worry about character, we focus on other things

outside of just their playing ability that when they come here, there are other things

that are important to them.

It's not just about the money, it's not just about, you know, me and myself are being

the best football player against it.

And I felt it was about more things than that, you know, and obviously this is a team

sport for a reason.

And I think at the end of the day, those things matter if you want to be successful.

Yeah.

And I think it's interesting because you've coached at Wake Forest, another school that

has very high academic standards, right?

And I think that, you know, a lot of people have come into Wisconsin and had varying success

because of those academic standards at Wisconsin.

And so obviously, because of that, though, you get a lot of kids who are really, really

bright.

What is stood out to you in the meeting room so far?

Obviously, you haven't really been able to see them on the field, you guys haven't started

spring ball yet.

But what are you learning about these guys and their minds so far in the first couple of

weeks?

Yeah, absolutely.

I mean, I think they have, you know, these guys are more than capable mentally.

I mean, they're, they're recalls really good.

I mean, I don't catch myself having to explain things 15 million times, you know, they come

prepared.

And I think that's one of the most important things I told guys day one, you know, where

you think about football at this level, it's like a 400 level science chemistry class.

I mean, this isn't an entry level class, we're taking what you're playing big top football.

So these guys come prepared, they come equipped, they're taking notes, you know, they put

their cell phones down, you know, there's no distractions.

So it's pretty neat to see the, the mental focus and I think a lot of it has to do because

you, you have a group of guys that are transfers and guys that are here already, but at the end

of the day, they all compete for a spot, right?

So I think they're all eager to prove themselves, eager to have success.

And for that reason, they know their importance of being locked into meetings and they're

doing so to the best of their ability, but it's been awesome because you don't have to

chase guys to study and chase guys to do this.

I mean, when I'm still in the hotel that night, getting ready, you know, whatever, to take

it down, I'm getting text messages about plays, you know, and some of the guys are Face

Top and we coach on this play.

So is it like this?

And so it just shows you how much they care and how much they're invested.

Yeah, and on top of that, I'm curious as to sort of your thoughts here early on working

with Coach Grimes, right?

You know, he has a unique offense, you know, obviously it's going to be different than

what you guys were running with the Jags last year, what you guys ran at Wake Forest.

You know, when you were at Wake Forest, you guys ran that slow mesh concept, which I love

in the running game.

And you know, it had some, you know, really, really explosive players, but how has it been

for you to get up to speed with the offensive system that Coach Grimes has?

I mean, these guys are outstanding.

I mean, Coach Grimes and his offense, but more importantly, just the way we communicate

and we, you know, value values, other people's ideas and we talk things through.

I think that's the most important thing is not just, hey, here guys, here's the playbook

and go figure it out, go study the place.

I mean, we actually diligently, diligently go through the plays and go through assignments

and the details of everything.

And it's just one of those things that if it doesn't make sense to us as coaches, we're

not going to put those kids in a situation affair, right?

So he's done an unbelievable job and I tell you what, myself being here now again, going

on to the end of my third week, it feels like I've been here with these guys for months

and years.

I mean, so unbelievable the way, you know, as a few of us that are knowing that rule, just

the way that we've been able to gel, just the way we've been able to get along with each

other and actually talk some, have some real indebtful both conversations.

And then outside of that, still be able to laugh and have fun and keep the focus, you

know, where it needs to be.

So I mean, I think he's a brilliant mind.

He's obviously been successful everywhere he's been and I'm fortunate enough just to

be in the same room with him and hopefully pick his brain and steal some knowledge.

Absolutely.

You know, when you have this chance to come to UW, obviously you got to talk to Coach

fickle.

See someone that you had a relationship or a, you know, gotten to meet before, you know,

you decide to come on staff and what has been your interactions with him so far?

No, so I and so, you know, I had no, I never met him before a day in my life.

So it was actually during the interview and during the process was the first time I actually

had a chance to meet him.

I knew him for a far, right?

He's being a prominent coach and a successful coach in all his years at Cincinnati and,

you know, as an assistant coach over there at Ohio State and all those things.

So I knew the name, but I never met the person.

And then obviously, you know, through an interview process, I had a test meet him and then

when I got here, it was a concert three weeks ago, you know, met him face to face for

the first time.

But the guy is incredibly passionate, you know, super determined, you know, just a tell.

I mean, exactly what you would think a wrestler and a D Lyman would be like, like he's

a tough, hard nose, you know, player that's all about doing things the right way.

We're not kind corners.

We just physical and it's just awesome to see because it's a breath of fresh air in terms

of how football should be played and how this, you know, how to run an organization.

I mean, so he's been awesome, you know, he'll have been meetings and, you know, he wants

to know how, you know, how guys did that practice, how did what the receivers need to do better,

you know, and he asks those questions, so it keeps you on your toes so you make sure

that, you know, you're on top of your stuff, you know, he'll have things you're meeting

when, you know, you meet with the receivers and he said in the back, you know, because

he wants to know exactly what they're learning.

So it was really cool to see his involvement and his engagement in the whole team and he

wants guys to know where he's at and, you know, to see his face and I love the way he

leads and it's, and it's a mindset of being physical and having that tough mentality

which I'm all about.

So it's him and I, we, we fit head and head.

Well, speaking of tough mentality, you also got Brady Collins there on staff, a guy that

we know very well has been on the show with us many, many times in the past and obviously

those guys are spending all their time with Coach Collins right now, right?

It's the, it's the all season.

It's before spring ball.

Those guys are in the weight room all the time.

What have your conversations been like with Coach Collins and sort of what you are looking

for in terms of, you know, the physicality of the receivers and what you're looking for

their bodies to be like?

I mean, they, they, you know, I walk into them doing an unbelievable job.

I mean, so it was, when I saw them day one, when I first got here, they were lifting

and they were trading and I saw the way those guys were challenging the weight room and

the way it was all about, essentially, the detail and doing things right and doing it hard

and fast.

You know, I knew they were heading in the right doors.

I didn't even have to question what they were doing because I said, you know what?

This is the program that gets these guys, whether it be beer, you would just see the white

gains in these guys getting bigger and stronger guys that have been here.

Some of these freshmen, they only been here a few months already getting 12, 15 pounds

of muscle.

I mean, so when you see the way they work, you know, it was just a privilege to see it

from afar and just kind of see how organized and structured they are and the win when

they're in there, they get after, you know, it's those men also have had minimal conversation

about, you know, our guys and where they need to be, because every day he had in place

was exactly what I envisioned, you know, with some of the bigger guys getting up to

15, whatever it is.

So they had a great structure in that format that it was just kind of, you know, keep

it going coaching.

I'm just here to hear to assist and motivate as they go, but they do a heck of a job with

these guys.

And even sometimes I hop in and work out with some of those receivers when they're getting

coaching.

They always try to cheer me on like, come on, coach, you got to keep going.

You know, I say, I'm 44 years old, man, I don't have that much left from the tank, but

we're going to keep working, you know, so it's been fun to see those guys get after

the weight.

Absolutely.

And obviously you as a player, you know, during your time at Holy Cross, you were a prolific

returner as well.

And so are you planning on getting involved in the return game at all or getting your

guys ready to be returners?

We know Tyrone.

We know Tyrone will be as someone that has, you know, a lot of chops as a returner.

Obviously they graduated Vinnie Anthony, who was an excellent returner for the Badgers

for a couple of seasons.

So are you interested in taking on you a little bit of special teams there?

And just how many about that?

And man, I've done that my whole career.

I've always dealt with the returns, always with the palm returns and kick returns.

And I think for that reason, exactly for what you mentioned, just because I've done

that for, you know, my whole career when I was playing and that's a unique skill set.

Everybody can return kicks.

You got to have different type of cajonis to be able to get back there and catch a kick

when you're looking up.

And these guys are trying to knock your head off.

So, so I've worked with them ever since I was coaching at Rhode Island all the way to

the way for us.

And for us everywhere, I've always been with the returners and it's good because I have

that insight, you know, from not only coaching but having played it, so I'm able to guide those

guys to help them.

So, I'm excited.

I'm excited to see who's going to be, you know, who's going to be back again, contributing

for us.

I know where I was done a good job and it's good to continue to build depth at that position.

But we need to make some explosive plays in the return gate, you know, so we're going

to get back there.

We got to catch the football first and foremost and then after that, you owe me one first

down as a par returner, you know, and then the rest is up to you, but you owe me, you

owe me one.

So, we've got to get at least 10 yards and then we're going to go some net.

I like to hear that, you know, Wisconsin does have actually a history of some really excellent

returners.

Jimmy Leonard going back to our days, has a returner who was someone who was in all American

as a returner on top of being in all American as a safety.

So, I know a lot of men are excited to get that return game back in, you know, back at

the top.

We should say.

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All right, we're going to hop back into the show.

One thing I want to talk to you about though is the mentality within the room because

obviously last year the passing game was not there on the offense right they really struggled

to move the ball part of that was because they started four different quarterbacks and

so obviously now you've got Colton Joseph coming in to be the guy at quarterback and knock

on wood, fingers crossed all that good stuff he's able to stay healthy this fall but how

do you keep those guys engaged and motivated coming off of the season where the passing

game and the wide receivers weren't really getting a lot of looks catching a lot of balls.

I mean every area is new year so I mean the good thing is that you have a new room, you

have a new identity and every year your team formulates a new identity based on the person

now.

So whatever happened last year that was last year that was last year's team.

So about whatever it is 60, 70% of the receivers in this room they were not here last year.

And again is one of those things that when we talk about the receiver position you know

everywhere I've been in here in Wisconsin we talk about being the ultimate playmaker right

which means obviously you're making plays when the ball's thrown at you and we want to

be contributors in that manner but what are you doing to affect the game on the balls

not in your head right so having that mentality of getting an aggressive attacking receiver

that even if the ball's not in my hand and I'm running around you know I'm opening that

round up for the next man right if that ball's handed off I'm creating blocks to you know

to allow those five yard gates to turn to 50 yard runs right so we want to be guys that

affect the game in a positive manner or whether that's in the run game whether that's in

the throw game and obviously being able to contribute as well on special teams but I

mean we're hungry and we create our own opportunities I always tell you guys and then you want

the ball get old and if you being by one yard you didn't get the ball to beat them by three

you know so there's no doubt in that quarterback size that that ball needs to go to you you

know and that's what we're going to do we're going to go out there we're going to we're

going to create separation in the past game we're going to get down field you know but

again we're not going to lose sight of we're going to be physical half receivers and we're

going to sit there and and and impact this game right because you can sit there and have

a great game and have seven catches for 130 yards of two touchdowns and everybody's

praising you for that right but you you on the field we had 85 ball offensive snaps but we're

talking about the seventh so what did you do on the other you know a 78 snaps right how did

you affect the game you know so that's what we preach and that's what I want our guys to understand

is we're going to impact this game every single time while in the field yeah absolutely and you

know sort of speaking that you're going into spring ball right now which is a very exciting time

for everyone right to be able to get back on the field get the pads back on get a little hitting

in get some live drills in and stuff like that what are you looking for in terms of growth and

development this spring out of the room yeah I think the the biggest thing I want to see I want to

see who competes I think when you put on the pads right now we're doing shorts and t-shirts

everybody looks pretty at shorts and t-shirts right but this isn't this isn't football right we

want to see who's not afraid to get their hands dirty who's out there when they get hit in the

mouth who he's going to be able to show some adversity and get up and respond right so here's

what we're going to start get challenged now we're going to obviously improve on the fundamentals

and the receiver techniques to which we do and work on every single day right but I want to see

the inner being of a person I want to see when when things again rough and you're tied out there

you got pads on and you just went a play drive their practice like how are you going to sit there

and overcome that how are you going to push yourself how are you going to inspire your teammates

to do better you know all you're going to be a guy that's cheering on the sideline and helping

guys out and then when you have the opportunity to make the big players what are you going to do

you know you're going to make those contested catches because again when you're doing stuff

as shorts and t-shirts you know people are letting you cast a football because nobody wants to get

hurt right but I want to see you guys they did a good jump and attack the football and keep their

balance they go finish in the end zone right so we're going to train every day I practice like it

moves the game like it was a championship game and that's the only way I know how to do it

that I mean I've been doing in my whole life and that's your your practice habits become game

realities right so we're going to build great practice habits so they come Saturday we're performing

at the level we want to be so then hopefully we have the wazoli walk yeah and I think that you know

one of the other questions sort of I have coming into this room is how much are guys going to be

cross-training across xz slot because obviously in coach grams's offense you know guys are asking

you a lot of different stuff right and so how much are you going to our guys really sort of saying

okay like malachi you're going to go out and you're just going to train and be x or are you guys

hey I need you to be ready to play x or slot you know depending on that kind of thing what sort of

your philosophy there sure I think you know every individual is a little bit different you know

some people are able to learn you know multiple things and are you and they're able to assume

those responsibilities and in a perfect scenario everybody knows every position but that's not

realistic and that's not how it works right because some guys are you know may specialize in the

slot you know and they're they're more of a shifty slide versus day and outside but you know but we're

definitely looking to sit there and and teach these guys but when I teach the offense we want to

make sure they understand the concept conception we're never out there just running routes right we're

out there understanding what the concept is understanding where they're where the read is going to take

the quarterback and based on coverage where the football should go right so in that case I want my

guys to know as much as humanly possible because then it gives the office more versatility it gives

coach grabs more ability to say you know what I like this guy and it creates matchup problems for

the defense when he's in the slot you know so there's guys that are saying they're saying all right well

once I see that they've mastered a position outside at z let's say there's like oh you feel great

about z we feel all right now start learning x and I'm gonna get you some reps that it's okay you

feel great at x already start learning z all right you're a slot guy you feel great about it all

right let's start working some z after the slot you know so there's guys that you know showing the

capability of being able to learn and adapt to that you know and then there's other guys that

he just now learning where you don't want to hinder their performance and you're saying they're

saying you know what just learn this first and then let's go through there but in a perfect case

scenario you'll have multiple guys know multiple things which gives you flexibility because at

the end of the day you want the best people on the field at all times absolutely um you've got

three true freshmen in the room and obviously nowadays early enrollees are pretty much everyone

coming out of high school is now an early enrollee which is very different that when you and I

went to college obviously you very rarely saw early enrollees you know just occasionally but what

have you seen out of out of zion out of cash um and out of kishon uh that has impressed you so far

they're good man they work at it I mean absolutely obviously it's first man when it comes to

the playbooking things like that they're still learning right because they're getting challenged

than uh they did in their high school office but I mean in terms of those guys and the way they

work in the way room the way they show up every day and they're not tapping out and they're

putting forth the effort even though they make mistakes they bounce back um and show some

resiliency in that manner I mean I think that's been impressive right for those guys to be here

you know three months now and having added 10 pounds of muscle on them and you know and our

acclimating to this you know at the same rate as the older guys right because you're not you're not

treating them any different right these guys are mixed in there with some of the older guys you know

so to sit there and adapt and again you know it's challenging for those guys being away from home

for the first time but the way they've handled it and they've been responsible and showing up being

what they need to be you know and having that kosher me kosher mentality um it's been

impressive to see you know and it'll be good to see those guys get on the field and run around a

little bit um because obviously they're very talented young guys but I think they got to continue

to learn they'll continue to develop and uh they'll be fun to see a run around yeah I'm really

excited for those guys I'm really excited for Kishon you know I'm but I live in Tennessee and so you

know you can be him being from Tennessee and you know he as a high school man that could blew up as

a senior like he was he did some really really impressive stuff I'm I'm super pumped about his

potential in the badger so I'm uh I'm excited to see him you know get on the field win when he's

ready and when you're ready to get him on to the field so um but speak of you know high school

and recruiting jump it back into college you got to jump back into recruiting so how do you go about

you know building and rebuilding relationships after spending a little bit of time in the league

and sort of what is your overall philosophy when you are recruiting high school kids uh in today's

day and age yeah I think first of foremost obviously you identify the talent right are you

want to make sure to tell us where it is to be and you feel that they can help upgrade your

room right so once you identify that it then now it's about really establishing a point of

contact in a connection right so and that's between with me it's it's that goes it starts with

the individual the player but it extends with the family the coach you know anybody there's a

champion in his life that really has an impact on what they're looking to do nowadays some of their

agents are are main factors right but it all begins and ends with relationships right so even though

you're in a state of mind where it's you know they're getting paid and there's some transaction

book rat is all relationship place right so it's about forming a relationship I want them to

understand that I'm here for that right I'm here to develop them on and off the field I want

I'm gonna help you reach your fullest goes on the field but also I'm gonna help you take those

next steps as a man right to help you become more accountable how we become a better leader

and hopefully a husband and a father in your future you know it never so it's about it's about

forming that relationship building that trust knowing that you know when they come here you know

to Wisconsin they're coming to the premier school big-time football but they know that they have

course confessor that has their back and he's gonna help them in every way they can and I want

their parents to know that what they're passing me their son that essentially I'm an extension

of them and their family you know and I'm gonna do the best I can to raise them and amount of time

I have and hopefully we win a lot of games I have a lot of fun doing it well I certainly hope that

they do as well because I think everyone who's watching this podcast is definitely a badger fan

or at least the vast majority of them are we you know we do get some haters on who just want

to come in and try out just but hey that's also life in the media in 2026 so we're gonna let you

get going here back to your busy schedule and get an acclimated to Madison don't know if you've

had a chance to discover any of any of the restaurants around there again if they've taken you out yeah

I mean Coach Whitlow took me to tipsy Kyle I thought that was a really good place the first time I got

here and then he showed me this past week it was outstanding he told me it wasn't a medicine but

he took me to what is it the Wisconsin Del oh my gosh I mean I can't wait for my family to get

up here so I could take the kids to the water parks and and one of the coolest things I saw was

that museum I don't know the name of it we didn't go away but it's the museum that has the building

kind of slanting where you go in all the rooms are different right there upside down flows whatever

well outside it had it looked like a real life transformative you know I saw a bumblebee standing

I mean he was the size of the building and I call my son and I put him on FaceTime and I say look

I saw the real bumblebee and then you know Optimus Prime is over there I mean I was like a kid at

the candy store man so it's been good I haven't gotten around much because obviously I'm trying to

handle the most important things but you know I dig it to some some good food spots and then

definitely seeing the bells that was pretty cool I got to ask you about Holy Cross really quick

how do you end up how do you end up at Holy Cross because you know obviously you know

the Crusaders as a program have had you know some really high highs you know they've been back up

at the top of FCS recently again they had a lot of success when you were there as well how'd

you end up at Holy Cross yeah so when I went so I went you know I was raised a province

road out there I went to elementary middle school high school of Providence and then my junior

it was like there was a college fair so our high school coach was taking us to this college fair

and you know I had old division two schools and I felt like I wanted to play bigger and I only

played one year of high school my junior year so I was like man this is you know my recruitment

wasn't picking up whatever but then I'm there and I ran into two coaches um two different schools

that were boarding schools so it was Coach Dea Smith from Palmford Academy and the flight

thing was he was looking at my teammate who's six three two hundred seventy pounds and he's like

hey you want to come to Palmford and I said well what about me you know I'm the five ten

a hundred and thirty forty pound kid you know and uh at what's in his face he's like yeah you

could come and visit with him as well um so we went to the campus tour at Palmford um and then

we both ended up attending so I ended up with PMI junior year and then senior coming to find out

I was a better player than two you know so I still rubbery coaches face um having a great career

at Palmford but going to Palmford which was a super high academic school um and you know

on it up yeah and then I'm getting a player of the year and all those honors there um while

also playing basketball I think that opened holy crosses eyes because it was it was a fine

you know a fine niche there in terms of academic school which met their standards so

you know I got recruited by you know everybody in the patron league and a couple of other schools

but everybody wanted me as safety and holy crosses the only school they wanted me at you know

receiver so I visited that school and you know fell in love with Coach Allen um was the head coach

in Coach Lee Hall my receivers coach and then uh I got a double 20 you know I was the

was my first visit it was technically my last but they told me hey you came on the first weekend

you know if you're a coach we got to bring somebody out self so I was like oh man you know what

I got in the Holy Cross you know but it was it was a great great deal messing great friends you

know how to unbelievable career and uh because I holy cross you know I tribute them and

offer to one that's it that's awesome yeah one of my best friends played field hockey at Holy Cross

I have a soft spot for it as well so uh it's great to have a crusader now on on the Badger staff

um it is great to have you hanging out with us here uh today on believe in Badgers part of

the belief never presented by fan doing Oakbridge wealth management also make sure to check out our

sister show uh Badger 247 show with Nick Oson who I know you've gotten a chance to uh to mean hang

out with a little bit in John McNamara uh dropping every week as well uh shout out to those guys

and all the great work they're doing over at Badger 247 uh we'll be back again uh next week

so on behalf of Bernie and coach confessor uh until next time on Wisconsin for a dud

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