The most development I had as a football player was in college.
Here’s why:
We did the same drills over and over again for an hour every practice. Then later in meetings we watched film on those drills while being critiqued by the coach. Every detail mattered.
The ones who
High School Recruiting Story:
High School Accolades
- WA 4A State Champion 14-0
- 1st Team All-State
- League DPOY
- Team Captain
- 2X Team Sack Leader
- 2X 1st Team All-Region
- All-Region POTY
Offers
- Central Washington University
- Western Washington University
Eastern
A CFL Story from 2011
I’m playing for Edmonton, it’s week 5 of the season. Having a great year playing defensive end. Leading the CFL in sacks, feeling great. Middle of the 3rd quarter my knee pops and won’t move. Getting it evaluated and the doctor isn’t giving any great news.
I encourage all you kids and even adults, change your perspective on adversity. Some of these so called threats and challenges are actually blessings in disguise. Average minds react to adversity, great minds work through it.
First 70.3 Iron Man in the books. Toughest mental grind I’ve been through. Wanted to quit at some point in every event. I have so much respect for these competitors.
@IRONMANtri
#IndianWells
I am very proud of my EWU degree. I grew up in Vancouver, WA. Had never heard of
@EWUEagles
until they were in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tourney in 2004.
@EWUAthletics
is the reason this university is on the map on the Westside of this state.
#GoEags
A Recruiting Story from 2004
Evergreen HS. Going into senior year I was 6’3” 200lbs playing defensive end. The year before I was 1st Team all-region on a 12-1 team that placed 3rd in state. I knew I had more work to do but I was pretty confident I was playing D1 football.
During my playing career here’s what was said about me:
- Reached His Ceiling
- Too Small
- Too Slow
- Injury Prone
- Too Expensive
Ended up playing 11 years D1 and Professionally. Glad I didn’t listen.
Multiple times people tried to write my story for me. Put it into the
A Thread:
I wish more people could experience a college football training camp. It changed the way I think about everything. There’s literally no time to complain. You either have a meeting, workout, practice, training room, food, or sleep to get to.
Had a blast calling the game with the
@dpswx
in Cheney. EWU got the W and I survived my first game as an TV analyst. DP really is the 🐐, until next time!!!
I remember freshman year of college football I was in pure survival mode.
The focus and blame was usually on others. I couldn’t take coaching, I was always comparing, I thought teachers were out to get me. There was no accountability.
When I switched from a survival mindset
The biggest takeaway I got from football was “Sudden Change”
Something unexpected happens, how do you respond? Do you blame others, get into an argument, give up?
Or, do you pick your teammate up, encourage, focus on the next play, do your best?
This applies to everything.
BREAKING: Edmonton Eskimos linebacker
@JCSherritt
has announced his retirement from professional football after 8 seasons.
Thank you JC for all the memories! We wish you well in your post playing career.
#OnceAnEskimoAlwaysAnEskimo
#OneEmpire
💻:
A CFL story:
I remember my rookie year (2009) in Edmonton reading a fan blog for the first time. You would thought that team was absolute trash from the way they talked about us, myself included. We made the playoffs and I started every game, led the team in sacks.
Seeing this makes me proud to be an EWU alum. Shea is an EKG. Glad I’ve gotten to know him and his family. He will make EWU proud and be a lifelong Eagle. Proud of you Shea!
#GoEags
Huge shout out to
@Pro_Vision_Acad
for the top notch training and support throughout the last year. I have no doubt I would not be where I am today without these guys in my corner! 💯🦅
I was never motivated by my parents to play sports.
They didn’t really follow sports outside of the teams I played for. They were probably the quietest in the stands too.
After every game they would come up to me and say “You played great!” All the way up until I was 30 years
My dad showed me every day what kind of man he wanted me to be with his actions. Not many words.
He let me fail over and over again and then set the example with his actions.
Let your kids fail. Let them struggle. Let them lose. Then show them how to respond.
I love what Idaho is doing and they have a great coaching staff that has turned that program around quickly, hats off to them. That being said, I am so proud of my alma mater, they have a TEAM over in Cheney. Those boys are going to make a run at the Big Sky.
#GoEags
🦅🦅🦅
Young Athletes
When someone is talking down on a opportunity to play:
- Division II
- Division III
- NAIA
- Junior College
Take a look at who’s saying it.
I’ve never met someone that’s played and finished at any level of collegiate athletics, including Division I, that
🗣️🗣️🗣️Young Athletes:
I had 11 D-Line Coaches in 11 years of playing college and professional.
I promise you, it’s not the Coach! Everyday you need to look in the mirror. You have full control of your athletic future.
P.S. It ain’t the refs fault either
#DMGB
“Where your fear is, there is your task.”
- Carl Jung
This picture is from 2016 speaking in front of the EWU football team. I just went to watch practice and Coach Baldwin put me on the spot and asked me to speak to the team.
I’m nervous as hell in this pic! Heart beating
🗣️ Tuesday, October 24th at 6:30 pm we will be holding our parent/coaches meeting to go over all of our programs for this winter, spring, and summer. Join us at the new facility and come see the vision💪🏻
Young athletes:
How do you earn the starting spot?
How do you win more games?
How do you get the scholarship?
It starts with earning the respect of your teammates.
The work it takes to earn their respect will eventually get you to your goals.
I used to hate getting books for Christmas as a kid. I would think:
“Why would anyone waste money on a book as a gift?”
I am unapologetically that relative now.
They might collect dust for a few years like mine did. Once I picked them up, they changed my life.
🎁 📚🙏🏻
One of the best things I’ve ever done and continue to do is set big long term goals.
My first big goal as a kid.
QB for the San Francisco 49ers.
That did not happen.
Along the way here is what did.
- High School State Championship
- D1 Football Scholarship
- College
Young Athletes:
Having a goal to play Division 1 is great, keep putting in the work to achieve it.
On the way to your Division 1 goal these opportunities might show up:
- Division II
- Division III
- NAIA
- Junior College
Everyone of these opportunities can change your life
Thank you to Avista and the
@spokanechiefs
for the Community MVP award. It was a special night. I appreciate all my friends and family for coming out. Thank you!
#DMGB
I’ll never forget my first training camp at Eastern Washington University.
We had just finished practice for the freshmen and went over to watch the upperclassmen finish their conditioning test.
One of the players stood out immediately, he was first to finish each sprint and
Athletes:
The biggest regret I have from my college career:
My Nutrition
- I ate tons of fast food
- I drank tons of alcohol
- I had no game plan
Once I became a professional and started seeing food as fuel, I took my game to another level. And I’ve never looked back.
Vic is a true EWU legend. I remember meeting him and Chrissy on day one of training camp. A friendly face at every practice. Every EWU event he was there, he remembered each player even years later. We all loved Vic. He really watched over us and cared for us. He will be missed.
We have lost an irreplaceable member of our athletic department. Vic's presence, spirit and support was second to none, and we are sending our thoughts to his family and all who knew and loved him.
#GoEags
A Thread:
My Win-Loss record as a football player:
144 wins
126 losses
From 7 years old to 30 years old.
From Pop Warner to Professional.
If I let wins and losses motivate me I would’ve been done playing in the 5th grade when we didn’t win a game.
What was presented as a threat was actually an incredible opportunity. I learned, I became friends with those guys, I got on the field for the rest of that year and earned my biggest contract in free agency. It was a simple change to my approach of the situation.
Every person that has had success took a different path to get there. They might be similar but ultimately different. There’s more than one way to achieve it. Let’s encourage each other in their journey and be a great example of how you’re achieving it.
QB’s/OC’s can walk you through every play they’ve called since 3rd grade.
I could put on a game I played in and genuinely not know what’s going to happen.
Is that just too many hits to head? Do defensive players remember like offensive players? I need to know lol.
If I hear a coach or parent constantly talking about winning, I’m automatically assuming you haven’t done a lot of winning.
When I hear them talking about:
- Attention to Detail
- Controlling Effort & Attitude
- Respond > React
- Selflessness
Now you’re developing a winner
ATHLETES
If you feel the Coach made a mistake with your spot on the depth chart, then get back to work.
Don’t give that Coach a choice, be a
No Doubter! The only way to do that is to get back to work.
Coaches don’t make mistakes with the best players on their team, they
Trip to Auburn was a huge success! Big time win for the boys! One of the best football experiences I’ve ever had. A great time spent with my EWU brothers.
#WarEagle
Something I’ve recently been focusing on is what I have control of. Honestly, it’s not much. It makes life much simpler and enjoyable. I feel less resentment and less worry. Now, the success of the things I can control have grown immensely.
“No man has had a more profitable difficulty then you have had, if you choose to make use of it.”
- Epictetus
Nobody wants to read about someone who was given everything. Keep earning it everyday, you will be where you need to be. I can’t wait to read your story.
Kelly was my locker mate my rookie year in Edmonton. He was always a calming voice of reason and was an example to me of what a true pro was. I am blessed to have been his teammate. RIP
The club offers condolences to the family of Kelly Malveaux after his passing this week.
Malveaux played defensive back for the club from 2006 to 2009.
Rest in peace.
Shout out to my brotha
@CoachHoff17
He’s Spokane born and raised and has been giving back his time and energy to the next generation since he graduated from EWU. His story is special and the kids he’s coaching are experiencing huge growth physically and mentally. 🙏🏻
It was an absolute privilege and honor to coach for the
@calstampeders
organization. Thank you to Huff and Dave for giving me the opportunity to start my career, this new opportunity is not possible without them. Go Stamps and Go Mustangs!
I’ve been on undefeated teams and winless teams. The feeling after a championship is get another one. The feeling after a winless season is get a championship. The off-seasons are always intense and the desired destination never changes.
It truly is all about the journey.
An observation I’ve made over the last few months coaching.
Usually the ones who are yelling the most have experienced the least.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from playing and coaching the game of football is humility. Regardless if it’s success or failure, being
I know Turkey day isn’t until tomorrow but I have to give a shout-out to the people I am so grateful for.
The team I work with on a day to day are some of the most selfless, hard working individuals I’ve ever been around. Everyday it is such a pleasure going to work with them.
In my playing career I was always a lead by example guy.
I never really stepped into that vocal role until later in my professional career.
In all honesty I was not ready to be that guy for most teams I played on.
Looking back there was one major factor that was holding me
You are forced to focus your attention on the next assignment. If you sit back and complain or take a day off. You get left behind and replaced. It reveals everything about you. It shows how much grit you truly have. When football is over and the real world begins.
Thank you
@UlmNolan
for inviting me to be a part of Camp Make It Happen. This is an incredible opportunity for the kids but also the coaches. I always come away learning so much and pushing myself beyond my limits. 🙏🏻
Pro Vision Football Academy now being offered to upcoming high school athletes and seniors taking their game to college. Learn from coaches that have played at the highest levels. We are making excellence a habit! For more info DM or check out website at
Huge shout out to
@EWUFootball
@WhitworthFB
@VandalFootball
for allowing us to visit your schools this week‼️Our athletes were able to meet and talk with college coaches, and begin to see what it takes to play at the next level🏈
All of the studying of the playbook had put me in a position to say yes. Helping my teammates who I was competing with gave me an opportunity to fit right in with the defense. With the time off I was also able to watch one of the best D-lineman I’d ever seen and study his moves.
Heard a great quote last year at a football camp.
The question was:
“What is your mindset leading up to a big event?”
His response:
“I surrender the outcome. I’ve put in the work, I’ve prepared my mind and body, now it’s time to go do my best. Let the results be what they
Had the pleasure of coaching at the Make It Happen Camp in Kelowna, BC. It was great to get back up north and work with some absolute studs. Can’t wait to keep growing the camp help develop the next generation of leaders.
After surgery I came back to practice the next day and they had already brought in a new d-end. It took one practice to realize this guy was good, I mean really good. Immediately I felt threatened, and started resenting him for no reason other than he was a damn good player.
MRI showed meniscus tear and I could either repair it (longer recovery) or shave off some of it that was tangled in the knee (quicker recovery). I went for the shorter recovery time. I’ve always known how precious my time playing the game was. I was on a mission to get back.
One of my favorite quotes
“Comparison is the thief of all joy”
Not just for the young athletes but the adults too.
Keep your focus on the goal at hand. Let others speak for your accomplishments. If you’re doing the right things, people will notice and you will be rewarded.
I love when athletes ask how to gain weight for the upcoming season.
Here’s the simple answer:
- Eat Breakfast
- Bring Snacks to School
- Eat Lunch
- Eat Something Post Workout
- Eat Something Post Practice
- Eat Dinner
- Drink Water
- Sleep 8-10 hours
Do this consistently
From a too small, under recruited, lanky defensive lineman to earning a full ride and becoming the all time sack leader at EWU. Then a 7 year professional career. Instead of listening to the NO, be grateful for the YES. Don’t let somebody else write your story.