Navigating the Challenges of Fame and Responsibility: A Conversation with Coach

Oh, Lord.
Ha
det så anybody thought of a.
A game plan yet on how to stop blaziken?
Working on a coach. Really
not trying to get embarrassed in the bowl game.
And I really. I really want to keep my job,
man. You don’t know how much I appreciate this,
big bro. For real, bro.
I gotta get up out of this mug, man.
Let me know what your coach say ASAP.
I got you. I’m gonna go talk to him right now.
Fool, I cool,
big bro, cause I’m trying to get up out of here ASAP, bro.
I’m already known. Like I said,
I’m gonna go talk to him right now, bro.
I bet that. Bet that, uh.
So I know I already asked you,
but I’m just gonna ask you one more time, bro.
You don’t think he gonna be butthurt
or still mad that I used to ignore his calls in high school, bro?
No, no.
He comes around here trying to win, man.
Like I said, I’m gonna go talk to him right now.
Okay? For sure,
for sure. That’s good.
That’s good. And I mean, like.
Like, how much bread you think they might give me, bro?
Shoot, I don’t know,
because we bring people off,
so. Should be a good amount.
Okay, cool,
cool, cool.
Like, uh,
what, what.
What’s a good amount you thinking?
Like I said, I don’t know.
I’m gonna talk to him right now.
Like I said, I Don’t know.
I don’t know. Stop.
I don’t know. I, I, I.
My bad, big bro.
My bad, big bro.
I’m just like, like,
I’m anxious, bro.
I’m trying to leave, bro,
ASAP, bro.
I’m not trying to stay here, bro.
I need some money, bro.
And, uh,
I’m not trying to be no third down back, bro.
I’m not trying to be here when this, uh,
d’onta is. Can’t get here, bro.
I hear you in there. Hey, man,
that’s, that’s, that’s, that’s, that’s,
that’s, that’s different.
That’s what I keep hearing, bro.
Like,
wait, hold on.
You from Dallas, bro?
Did, did you play against him in high school?
Yeah, so did.
And what do you do against y’all, bro?
Shit. 15 carries,
5 73 on the ground, 6 touchdowns.
Damn. 17 TFLs,
15 total tackles, 7 sacks.
Damn. 2 kick return touchdowns,
but one got called back. Actually,
three kick return touchdowns,
and one got called back. And he had a punt return touchdown.
Oh, a lot.
Damn. I, I, bro,
talk to your coach right now, bro.
Go, bro.
I’mma talk to him, G.
I’mma talk to him. Go.
Jackson, my man.
Uh, thank you so much for joining me on such late notice.
Ah, it’s no problem, coach.
No problem at all. I know, uh,
you’re a superstar now, so you have bigger and better things to do than,
uh, talk to your coach.
All right, here you go.
All the coaches keep Saying this to me.
Haha, I’m just messing with you Jackson.
I do the same thing to Jaden.
I’m just, I’m just pushing your buttons.
Haha, no,
I know it’s a joke. Everybody’s been calling me,
you know, Hollywood and stuff.
I, I know it’s a joke.
Nah, come on,
I know you’re not Hollywood.
And if you were, you,
you have earned it Jackson.
You really have earned, uh,
everything that’s coming your way.
Uh, yes sir.
Thank, thank you.
Thank you sir. Thank you.
You’re welcome. Uh,
speaking of what’s coming your way Jackson,
I just want to check up on you and you make sure that uh,
one of my best players are feeling,
you know, mentally good.
You see how your life’s going.
And I know like I said, a lot of things have been changing
and with this whole, you know,
campaign for you and Jaden,
just wanna make sure that it’s not too overwhelming for you.
You know, we’ve got one more thing to accomplish this bowl game.
So I just want to make sure my star players head is in the right place.
Anything bothering you or talk to me?
Okay. Um,
I mean every, everything’s been good?
Okay. Okay, good.
Uh, family.
Family’s good. Family’s good.
Yes sir, family’s good.
Okay, good.
And your grades are excellent.
Uh, some of the best grades I’ve ever seen, uh,
on uh, any of my teams that I’ve ever coached.
Thank you sir. Uh, okay.
Personal life? Girlfriend?
Uh,
no girlfriend. But,
you know, I definitely have a nice little roster of girls that,
you know, I see from time to time when I’m not busy with football.
Okay. Yeah,
I’m not surprised. You are a stud out there on the football field.
Uh, any girl in particular standing out?
Uh, huh.
Well, there was one that I was really, uh,
vibing with, but then,
of course, I found out, uh,
some things about her that I didn’t want to hear.
Um, she have been with some guys on the team before me,
but it was. It was quite a lot of them.
Ah, yes,
the Cleet Chasers. Yeah.
Uh,
where are you meeting these girls?
At the bars? The clubs? Online?
Yeah, uh,
the clubs, the bars, online,
Instagram, Twitter.
They’ll. They’ll DM me,
you know, of course.
It look good. You know, I’ll.
I’ll. I’ll chop it up with them.
Ah, yes,
that is a problem that a lot of players on the team have faced.
You know, they meet a girl, she’s.
She’s nice, she tells them that her body count is real low.
You know, they.
They cuff her, and then
they find out that she’s been ran through
by our entire wide receiver group.
Yeah, that’s pretty much what happened to me, uh,
with the two girls, actually. Uh,
the receiver group, uh,
the entire D line, uh,
all the linebackers and the.
The safeties as well. I See, Jackson. Yeah.
You might win the Heisman.
You can’t be with someone like that.
I agree. Uh,
Barnes and noble.
Barnes and noble. Um,
Barnes and noble. Are those still.
Still around? Barnes and noble, right,
those are still around. Um,
I thought they closed. I,
I think they are. Okay, good, good, good.
Uh, because.
Because back in my day, well,
back in the day, um,
I would go to bookstores, right when I was dating,
and I would find the nice low key girls.
I, I guess it would translate to a girl being low key and, um,
this, that day and time.
Yeah, like a girl with,
like 300 followers. But,
but, but,
but very, you know,
uh, 300,000. Yeah.
Followers and up lookish,
you know what I mean? Yeah,
like a, like a fine girl that’s,
that’s low key. Exactly.
A fine girl that’s low key.
A nerd that doesn’t. A nerd that’s fine,
but doesn’t know she’s fine.
You know, I think you could find some of those girls in a,
in a bookstore, you know,
and they haven’t been completely obliterated by the football team.
Okay, that’s a good idea, right?
That’s a good idea, coach.
Like, like at the, uh,
campus bookstore. No,
no, no, no, no, no. That,
that, that
I’ll a lot, uh,
campus bookstore that. Don’t believe that.
If you’re, if you’re looking for a serious girlfriend, leave.
Leave this campus alone. This is LSU.
And said, you know,
If it’s touch the campus, it’s probably. Yeah,
touch the locker room. That’s true. Yeah.
But anyway, let.
Let’s jump to a new topic.
You’re obviously knocking the ladies down,
so you’re. You’re.
You’re doing good in that area.
Um, Jackson,
you do know there’s a good chance that, um,
you’ll probably be bringing this Heisman home over Jaden.
Um,
I mean, if I’m being honest,
I do think Jaden’s gonna win it over me.
I think I’m gonna come in second.
Okay. Uh,
but like I said, there is a very good chance that you will win.
And I want you to be prepared, uh,
for how much your life will change if you do indeed win.
Okay. Um.
What do you mean? Ah.
How do I put this? Ah. Okay.
You’re Jackson Blazekin. Yeah.
Okay. But if you were to win the Heisman. Okay.
Jackson Blazekin. Yeah.
Would no longer just be Jackson Blazekin.
You will be Jackson. Yeah.
Laser can. The Heisman winner.
Okay. Uh,
when you came in here, Jackson,
you were just a three star.
Yeah. I didn’t know your name.
A lot of the coaches didn’t know your name.
Yeah. Uh,
a lot of your teammates didn’t know your name. Yeah.
Now, Jackson,
you’re all we can really talk about.
Uh, you’re a once in a.
In a lifetime talent. Uh,
generational talent. So you have to understand that.
Yeah. You have made my career better.
When people think of you now, they.
They. Think of me. Yeah.
I am attached to you forever.
Your. Your talent is amazing.
But they see me as somebody who has helped increase, uh,
your talent. So everybody around you. Yeah.
Once you in that Heisman,
will see you as somebody that can help increase their life,
their career. People want to. Yeah,
use you. They will see you as a.
A way out. And that just has to register to you
that you can no longer trust anybody,
really. Now.
But once you win that Heisman,
that national. Yeah.
Uh, figure that national brand, Jackson.
You are, in a way,
a target. Oh.
Um,
well,
that’s not good, right?
It’s great.
But with great power, yeah.
Comes great consequences sometime.
But that does not mean that you can’t solve the consequences.
Slash problems. Okay.
Yes, sir.
Um, how do I solve the consequences.
Slash problems? By not being a fool.
Yeah. Uh,
you can always come to my door to ask me a question about anything,
like I said. Okay.
But, Jackson,
uh, even if you win this Heisman. Yeah.
Even if you don’t. I’m glad we’re having this talk.
Yeah. You should not be trusting anybody new.
From the most beautiful woman. Yeah.
Your teachers. You can trust your coaches.
Not the. Not the RB coach.
Yeah. But you can trust your coaches.
Uh, teammates. Yeah.
Could trust a good amount of them,
but you have to watch them as well.
Okay. Uh,
players from other Schools.
Don’t trust them at all. Media people? No. Okay.
Agents? No. Okay.
Everybody is going to be trying to use you,
Jackson, I.
I just want to get that implanted in your head.
And I don’t see you as just a player.
Yeah, I see.
I see you as a son. You are a part of me.
You. You have made, uh,
my career better. I was seeing such an amazing player has made me.
My love for the game, uh,
be reinstated. Honestly,
it was. I was seeing it more as a.
A job, something to show up to.
And over time,
the passion for coaching just every year seems to go down.
But being around, you know,
a player that I’ve never seen. Yeah.
A player that approaches, approaches every day happy,
ready to go, no complaints.
Yeah,
it’s. It’s amazing to see.
Yeah. And honestly,
you have sparked a fire in my. My.
My coaching soul.
And so I just want to make sure I’m looking out for you, that’s all.
Wow. Um,
that means a lot, coach.
It means a lot to be able to talk to somebody like you
that I look up to. Good,
Jackson. Because it means a lot to be able to talk to, uh,
and be around, uh,
such a positive energy like yourself.
Uh, it’s an honor.
So I just wanna make sure that we’re keeping you on track,
because, honestly,
you have kept me on track.
And you’re Just a player. But some days when I’ve been down,
I look over to you, Jackson,
and you’re just smiling, you’re just happy to be.
And you’re so beyond your years.
And I want to tell you,
when you’re done playing football here to come be a coach with me.
But you’ll be tearing those NFL guys up.
So when you’re, when you’re done with the NFL, uh,
if you wanna come coach with me, uh,
for sure. But, uh,
I have no doubt that you are going to go on to be, uh,
if not the best running back that the world has ever seen.
One of them.
You’re welcome.
Thank you, coach.
Thank you. You’re.
You’re welcome. Thank you.
I, I meant everywhere, Jackson. Everywhere.
That means a lot.
Seriously. Thank you, coach.
I mean it, Jackson.
You’re special. And don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.
I won’t, coach.
I promise. That got me getting emotional over here. Same here,
same here. Haha. Uh,
anyways, Jackson,
that. That’s.
That’s all I have to say. Just want you to know that I’m here for you.
My door is always open. My text is always open for you.
Not for other players, but.
But for you. Uh,
Jaden, Malik,
guys who are my guys. I’m always here to talk, uh,
if for anything. For anything.
Yes, sir.
And, uh,
coach Brian Kelly,
I’m always here to talk if you ever need anybody to talk to as well.
I know you Are Jackson.
That means a lot. That’s, uh.
You said it back. Uh,
but, uh.
Alright. Anyways, I’m.
I’m getting all emotional here.
This is just supposed to be a quick,
simple talk. Uh,
we gotta get going, don’t we?
Uh,
yeah, we do.
Alright, I’m gonna run to the restroom
and then I’ll see you out there on the field.
Sound good? Sounds good, coach.
Sounds great. Alright.
Superstar. Future Heisman, huh?
We’ll see. See you out there.
So, what’s up, bro?
Talk to me, coach.
Fucking with me or not,
man? Z,
I gotta keep it real with you,
I don’t know if you gonna like what I gotta say right now, bro.
Nah, keep it 100 with me, bro.
What’s up? Like,
keep it 100, bro.
What’s up? What’s up,
I G? Look,
you was right.
Coach still tripping about you ignoring him in high school, bro.
A lot. That was high school, bro.
Tell your coach I was just being young and dumb.
That’s what I told him. That’s exactly what I told him.
I said you were young, you know what I’m saying?
You ain’t thinking. You ain’t thinking like,
clearly like that. You know what I’m saying?
That’s what I told him. But,
I mean, like I said,
he’s just really, really not.
He’s not. He’s not.
He’s not joking. He ain’t rocking with it, bro.
Then make him rock with it, bro.
Like, bro,
give me His number, bro,
let me just call him, bro. Z,
come on now.
I’m in his office, I picked up my phone.
I, like,
I called there right now. They can explain that.
He was a young. He was like,
I ain’t trying to talk to him.
He like, I ain’t trying to talk to you.
I ain’t trying to talk to him right now.
What I said, I, I’m.
Well, he already had your number.
You ain’t pick up your number, bro,
what are you doing? And if I didn’t even got his number,
he said that too. Cause you got his number,
that mean you ain’t say the number,
you know what I’m saying? So when I said that,
he was like, you know what I’m saying?
So I’m like, I’m like,
what is you saying, bro?
I’m saying, so.
It’s just like, that’s the dead.
You dead gone, bro.
I don’t know what thing you just said, bro.
Bro, it’s dead, bro.
It’s dead, man.
Like, he ain’t like, bro,
you’re not joking it, bro.
You’re not rocking it, bro.
Like,
I’m in there really trying to convince me,
you know what I’m saying? You just like,
you just like, you know,
saying, you just like,
you just like, you know,
saying, and I’m like,
he like, so I’m like,
he just, you know,
saying, no, bro,
what the fuck are you saying, bro?
Is this a new language? Bro,
I tried, bro, I.
I tried, like,
You know I love you,
little bro. I love you,
but, like,
go, go,
go, go,
go. Butthurt over that stuff,
you know? And that’s what he butthurt. Like.
Like what would like.
Like, like d. Like,
like, like,
like d. What, what.
What else can I do? I guess nothing, bro.
I’m not really even sure what you were saying, bro.
Somehow your ass to manage to get even country or. Bro,
but a lot. I mean,
bro, I’m just not trying to be here, bro.
I bet. I mean,
LSU with, you know,
saying some three star turned, like,
freakish athlete again, got them the, the, the, the, the,
the, the human man,
child, monster finna pull up.
Like, I feel that.
You know what I’m saying? Like,
I tried, you know what I’m saying?
You might need to just call Florida back.
You gonna do what you gotta do?
Nah, bro,
A lot. I hung up in that coach face.
That opportunity probably gone, just like your speech.
But anyway, bro,
appreciate you, uh,
trying to talk to your coach for me, bro. Anytime.
Like I said, I love you.
You’re my little bro. But you know what I’m saying?
Like, this.
This door over here, this door,
this door over here. Closed.
Like, closed,
like, gone.
I wouldn’t even try to, you know,
so I tried to talk to him.
I wouldn’t even try to contact these boys over here.
Like, they.
They not jacking it. They.
They not. They not rocking with.
You know what I’m saying? I did what I could do.
You know what I’m saying? Now I know what you mean, bro.
Thanks for trying, IG.
Hey, you be easy.
I don’t say I’m Holly, you, man.
I said I catch you on the game,
you know? We game up tonight for sure, bro.
That’s your bet, IG. I’ll let you late.
Bitch ass motherfucker
should never smash my chick.
Back in the day, punk.
I overall pretty good work today, Scooby.
You still got a ways to go before I can call you a don,
but i’mma get you there. Just keep teaching me,
big brother. I’mma keep learning.
That’s what I’m talking about.
You coachable. You learn.
Yes, sir.
Gotta be coach. Anyways,
now that we done with my special footwork drills,
let’s finish up with 31 hundreds,
then go get a protein shake.
31 hundreds. Let’s do it.
That’s easy. Yes, sir.
Uh, let’s start up.
Hold on. All good, brother.
Who is this? Who is it?
Who is it?
The vet. Hold on.
Take your time, brother.
Hello? Yo,
uh, dantavious,
your dog’s fine. He’s all good.
He’s all good. Okay,
good, good, good.
Yeah, I just got an email saying he’s good.
When are you coming to get him?
Uh, I’m gonna be done with this workout in about 15,
20 minutes, so you’re right on time.
I’m gonna come pick him up after.
Okay, perfect. Just
they dropped your dog off at your house already?
Yeah. Wait, wait,
wait, wait,
wait a lot. You dropped him off at my house?
Yeah, they just said they dropped the dog off at your house once.
You know, he was all good taking care of and stuff,
you know? No. Yeah.
No, no, no, no, no.
They did. Did you put them in the backyard?
Uh. Where’d you put the dog?
In the residence. The door was unlocked, sweetie.
Okay. No, no, no.
They said the door is unlocked.
Ah!
Is everything okay? You idiot!
My dog can’t be in the house unless he’s locked in the room.
He hates my grandma. Done.
Big brother, is.
Is everything okay? We gotta go.
I just wanna meet my son.
Gotta open up this basement.
Oh, Lord,
oh, Lord.
Mama,
what is a. Is everything okay?
Uh,
yeah, uh,
okay. I, uh.
I thought I heard a dog or something for a second.
No, you ain’t hear shit.
Shut up. Yes, ma’am.
Oh, Lord,
I love you.