Latest / Johnny's World / Diamond Dog Luke Alexander

Transcript

Diamond Dog Luke Alexander · Johnny's World

• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: All right, welcome back to a brand new edition of the Johnny's World Podcast.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: Johnny here, my co-host BW's out today.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm doing this interview solo.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: But we are so thrilled to have uh former Diamond Dog on the show today uh to talk a little bit about his plan days estate.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: And also he's got a new uh new clothing line that I want to talk about that he's created that's in stores in Starville, seeing people wearing it around the dude, and I got some myself and some awesome clothing.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: So uh without further ado, I'm gonna bring him on.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: Luke Alexander, welcome to Johnny's World, my friend.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_01: Man, I appreciate you having me.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, sir.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: Well, well, you know, your uh your household name around the Mississippi State community with your walk-offs and the and everything with your playing days.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: Talk let's go back a little bit before we get into your what you're doing now and talk about really what brought you to Mississippi State.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_01: You know, so it's funny how it all kind of started.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_01: So whoever won when I was smaller, whoever won the egg ball that year is I was either a state fan or old Mess fan.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: And then I went to a Mississippi State baseball game and it just it stuck with me.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_01: It would I think I was watching like Jeffrey Ray and Ed Easley and those guys, and I remember leaving that game and said, you know, if I ever have the opportunity to play here, this is where I want to play.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_01: You know, and as I got older, I went and you know, visited some other places, but there was just nothing like Mississippi to me.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so you know, when that opportunity came, you know, with me going into eighth grade, Cohen Alford, you know, I knew that's where I wanted to go.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_01: So I think I waited about a week and then I said, hey, you know, I'm in.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: Well, well, when you got when you got to Duty Noble, you know, the left field lounge, the grill and the grill smoke.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, the the fans, what was it like being in the batter's box for the first time?
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: And and I looked it up, I forgot.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: I was at that game.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: You hit a home run in your first game, and talk to them about that.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: That was amazing.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_01: So to finally get out there and to play against another team and to really just be in that batter's box that you had dreamed of, you know, for for quite a while was it was awesome.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: It was surreal.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: You know, to be honest with you, a lot of anxiousness to be able to go out there and you know, start as a true freshman opening day was such an honor for me.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_01: And I think it was my third at bat.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_01: I actually hit a home run against FAU in 16.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, to kind of walk away that opening day with a homer as a as a true freshman in my first hit at state was something pretty special.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I can't imagine, man, hitting that first home run in front of all those fans on opening day, you're like, man, this is it.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: This is awesome.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: So uh so uh yeah, just and and y'all had a heck of a run the time you were at Mississippi State.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, what what was it, 16, 17, 18, 19?
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, and uh, I mean, y'all, 16, you win the SEC.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: What was that like when it being champions of the SEC?
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I always tell people all the time, one of the best teams I played on at Mississippi was that 16 team.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it was just stud after stud, really.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_01: And I I tell people all the time, I said it's what's so crazy is how baseball works, where in 2016 we were just loaded top to bottom, just and we ended up in the in the uh the supers and got beat.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_01: Now that following year, you know, and the anybody that played with me will say tell you the same thing.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_01: We weren't very good my sophomore year.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_01: We just were not very good.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: The talent wasn't there, and we ended up in the exact same spot in the super regional, you know, and it's just funny how that works where you just loaded with talent and you end up in the supers, and the next year not loaded with talent, but you had a lot of grit and you had a lot of guys just really getting after it, and to end up in the same spot with total different, you know, athletic ability and just the the players that you had is is something I look back on baseball and say, man, it's it's strange how this game works.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: It really is.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you're right.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: That that 16 team was absolutely loaded.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I think y'all could have gone all the way if you gotten that Omaha.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: Uh that was a that was a tough super regional series.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: But the next year, that 17, talk about winning at Southern Miss, man.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: I know the Bulldogs play down there tomorrow night.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be a big game, but that winning that regional, man, coming out of the loser crack and winning it, that had to be something special right there.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_01: No doubt.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_01: I think that kind of goes back to what I was saying.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: It's just a group that just, you know, the talent maybe wasn't there as much as the year prior, but I think the difference in that year than the year before is just just gritty guys that just really got after it.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_01: They didn't as much rely on their athletic ability as just getting after it and just competing every pitch.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, winning down at Southern was was huge.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, they had a really good team that year, and to be able to go down there and come out of that loser's bracket was it was pretty special.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: And then uh and then we go to 18.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: And Luke, I can vividly remember I got tickets behind home plate in Omaha.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and I was there when you hit that walk-off again against Washington.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: Talk talk a little bit about that when in that in Omaha on the biggest stage in college baseball.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: No doubt.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_01: I tell you, it's it's kind of crazy because that 18 team, again, maybe not the most talented team, but just guys that never quit.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_01: Just guys that got after it day in, day out, no matter if we lost that day, the next day we were getting after it.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_01: But to finally be in Omaha, and I mean, any baseball kid dreams of playing in Omaha.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: And I can just remember us as a team being in Omaha and just being like, wow, you know, we're here.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_01: We're we're finally here.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it was almost like nostalgia, just like, you know, we're here.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_01: This is what we've dreamed of our whole life, and and we're here.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_01: And to have that really good game that against Washington that I think it ended one to nothing.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_01: I think that was what made us win one-nothing.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_01: But to just battle, I mean, that was such a good baseball game defensively, pitching wise, um was just really special.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_01: But to to win an Omaha, I mean, you tell us at that moment that anybody could beat us, we didn't think anybody could beat us.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we were just so hot, and our confidence level was as high as I've ever seen.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_01: Uh baseball people have confidence.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_01: Like it was like, I don't care who we face, we will not get beat.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we just ended up running up against a really good Oregon State game that has a lot of big leaguers on it, and they just ended up getting us.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_01: But to be there was just it was surreal and it was awesome.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: That was a heck of a run.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, that was one of my favorite teams because, like you said, you you the the public didn't project you to make it to Omaha, you know, especially with all the diversity with the coaching changes and all that.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_00: And then to to get to Omaha, and and then y'all made a heck of a run, Omaha.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_00: And we all we all must make it to the finals.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_00: So uh that had to be just absolutely something special.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: And and Luke, when when you say your name with the Mississippi State community, people automatically think walk off.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: Walk-off.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that one that you talked about with Washington on the biggest stage in college baseball in Omaha.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: Talk about your old miss one.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: I know, I know that was the best one.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you know, obviously, being as a Mississippi kid, you usually choose between, and not as much these days, but you usually pick between Ole Miss or Mississippi State.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_01: And so it's just a big rival.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it's I think that rival has kind of gone away just a little bit with all the out of town, I guess you would say out of state people.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_01: You know, they don't necessarily know what it means, but we had such a lot of Mississippi guys, so it just meant a lot to us.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, that kind of kick-started that season, that the home run I hit at home.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, you know, we were just, I'm not gonna say struggle.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: We were just battling back and forth.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_01: We'd win some, we'd lose some, we'd win some, we'd lose some.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: And I feel like that walking Ole Miss off, I think they were ranked like fourth in the country that year.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_01: And to be able to walk them off and to win that series, it just at that point, that's when I really think it gave us the confidence of, you know, I don't know if anybody can beat us.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_01: Now, we obviously went on and lost more games, but it it gave us the confidence of it don't matter who rolls in here or where we roll into, good luck beating us.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: And that's the Mississippi State mentality right there.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, he uh it tough, hard nosed, grinded out, and that's and that's the kind of guys that we recruit.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_00: That's guys that make up Mississippi State, and that's what makes it so special.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, and you can see it today.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Luke, let's talk about the Bull Hall baseball team now.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, this weekend, I don't know, did you end up catching any of the games this weekend?
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_01: I actually so I watched a little bit of um I watched yesterday's game.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_01: Who did they play first?
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_00: We played uh let's see, Virginia Tech was it's Arizona State was the first game.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: Arizona State.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_01: So I watched an Arizona State game.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_01: I didn't catch the Virginia Tech.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_01: Arizona State game.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: And then UCLA.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that Arizona State team, that that was that was big.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, we almost we almost run-ruled them.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: I was like, wow, we are sitting good.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: And then UCLA, man, that game, I felt like watching that game, I felt like that was an Omaha game.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it was just two heavyweights going back and forth, and you know, especially in the past few years after winning win the national championship 21.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: And then after that, we've had these rough seasons, and then it seems like, man, we're back on top.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, we got the Brian O'Connor, it seems like the real deal.
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, depth, you know, with baseball, it's just so such a big thing to have depth, and we have depth all up and down the lineups, hitters, pitchers.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, and it showed yesterday uh I'm that we can, like you said, I mean, we can be anybody in the country, can face anybody, not scare anybody.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we play it two tomorrow night, Southern Miss.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, it's gonna be down there.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, possibly a top 10 matchup with them.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: They're a good club also.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but just, you know, I'm really excited about, I mean, we hadn't even hit SEC season yet.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: So, I mean, and uh it's gonna be uh obviously a gauntlet of with SEC, everybody's good in college baseball, but uh but just the signs that we're showing right now, just significant night and day improvement from last year.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I think the sky's limit with uh with Coach O'Connor.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_01: No doubt.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_01: You know, when we went back for that alumni game, I met O'Connor for the first time and I really enjoyed being around him.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: He reminded me a lot of John Cohen.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_01: I know there's mixed emotions but in Mississippi State fans with Cohen, but I love Cohen.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_01: He treated me well.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_01: I always say, you know, he he helped me get to where I was, so I have a lot of respect for him.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_01: But just that cutthroat, you know, I think the way the NIL and stuff is these days, I think you really got really two different types of coaches.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_01: You got one that kind of just lets everything slide, you get you players, you pay them the money, we'll let things slide, whatever.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_01: And then I think you got guys like O'Connor and Tim Corbin that just really cutthroat, that's just you know, no BS.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_01: Like, this is what we're doing, this is how we do it.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_01: And when I met O'Connor, that's the first thing I thought of and was just like, man, I I really like this.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_01: I I enjoy it.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_01: I think any day and age, especially now that kids are getting paid, like kids need to be humbled and they need to have, you know, they need a dose of reality.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that what that's what he gives them is like, hey, this is how we're gonna do things, right?
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_01: And this is the way we're gonna do it.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_01: And you're not just gonna do it however you want to.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_01: That's how life is.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_01: You're not gonna roll up in the job and just do things however you want to.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_01: So I love it.
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I always tell people all the time, I said, yeah, I do think kids should get paid.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_01: I said, but you know what I really worry about kids get paid in the NIL is what you know, baseball or football or basketball, it's gonna end for every single kid.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_01: Now, that might be right after your playing career in college, or that might be 10 years in the bigs.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_01: Who knows?
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_01: But how are these kids set up for life after baseball, you know, and getting money and getting paid more than people that's working 80 hours a week that's grinding it out, you know.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_01: How do those kids get back in the real world and not honestly have depression and like because you're gonna go from making good money playing college baseball, enjoying it, to you know, having to go find a job and you know, you're you're everybody knows you're a baseball player, and now you're just working, you know, a regular job.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm just like, man, how do these kids cope with that?
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_01: How can people and I think what I'm going with that is I think guys like O'Connor having that structure and stuff, I think it sets those kids up for success.
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_01: I really do.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_00: I do too.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, you a lot of a lot of uh in this day and age, which we're kind of talking about, a lot of these players come in privileged.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, they they think they they think they, oh, I'm getting paid, I'm the hot stuff, I'm gonna do whatever.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: They think the coach is gonna play them, just they have to play them because they're getting paid, they're all they're the best players.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: But I feel like O'Connor, one of the cool things I I thought when I immediately thought of this with O'Connor is I don't know if you noticed it, that he took the back the names off the back of the jersey this year.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I I I asked, Why do you do that?
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_00: And he said that he said Mississippi State, you play for the front, you play for Mississippi State, you don't play for yourself.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: And that makes sense.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: Kind of kind of the mentality of like he's the type of guy, it seems like that, like no matter what what you're might making NIL-wise, if you're not producing, he's sitting your butt on the bench, he's gonna play getting the job done.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_00: And it doesn't matter how you come in here, uh, what accolades you had in the past, if you're not producing, he's gonna sit you.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_00: And that's that's what it takes to win, that that discipline.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, so yeah, I I can see uh he's a winner, he's a winner, period.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: And the the fact that we got him, man, that's what's I mean.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_00: I remember when when we were going through the uh recruiting process and trying to find a new coach, I was like, man, that would be awesome to get Brian O'Connor.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: He's got the accolades, he's been to Omaha, won a national championship, and and people, oh, I don't know if we can get him, and then low and boy, we got him.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_00: So that kind of just shows right there the Mississippi State baseball.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's I mean, it's it's not just in Mississippi, everybody in in the nation is talking about Mississippi State Baseball, and with every reason.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_00: He's showing it right now.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Luca, uh, you know, we we talk about uh Mississippi State baseball, what it is, and and what it's always been.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: You you mentioned the alumni game a little while ago.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: I was at that alumni game and I talked to Jake Mangum about this a few weeks, a few months ago, and just unbelievable the amount of people that that showed up for an alumni game in November.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_00: Talk a little bit about that experience and having Clark and Palmer, all those guys, and everyone looked up to his kids out there with y'all.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_01: No doubt.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I think that when when we showed up to that thing, we did we didn't have a lot of intel of you know how the setup was going to be, you know, the crowd that was gonna be there.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_01: We just kind of rolled off work on that on that day for some of us and showed up and I don't remember, it seems like there's 10 or 11,000 people there, but it just goes to show you how much Mississippi State baseball means to to the state and to people outside the state, uh, to alumni.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_01: I know the SEC uses this, it just means more.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_01: And it and you know, a lot of people make fun of that, but it really does, you know, it means more in the in the baseball at Mississippi State.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_01: It's just I think that's what Mississippi State's known for.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that it's gonna be continue to be known as that and and to play in that and to just see some former guys that you know had a lot of success and just not even the success, but just the opportunity to step on that field and to get back out there and you know, and to to play it was was something surreal.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_00: And especially the guys that had not got ever gotten to playing the new dude.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: I know that was pretty special for them uh from coming back and getting to be in the batter's box there.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but yeah, I mean, just then the emotions with the plu with the fans in the stands, you know, hear everybody's walk-up songs.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_00: You you bring all these memories come back when you see these guys coming back in there.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: And I just I know it was a special moment for you guys being players, getting to be back with all your former teammates and seeing guys like Clark and Palmera and guys from the past.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I really hope they do this uh uh annually, or if not annually, every other year, because it's it's something the fans really enjoyed.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I know uh some of the players that probably weren't able to make it back probably want to make it back.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: So um hopefully they'll continue doing that.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: But props to Mississippi State for for doing that.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_00: That was really cool.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_00: Uh all right, Luke, let's get into it, man.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: I want to I want to hear all about your clothing line.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I got me a pullover.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I've seen it all over the people wearing it, the dude.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I see I see you rocking it right now.
• 16:13
  SPEAKER_00: Tell us about it.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_00: How did it start?
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: And and uh I want to hear all about it.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_00: It's awesome stuff.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, when I left state, I got into coaching, and I realized pretty quick that coaching's not what I wanted to do.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_01: And I've always been entrepreneurial.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_01: Of, you know, when I was young, you know, and this is funny, but I was selling toothbrushes on eBay and my mom's old Barbies on eBay.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_01: Like I just loved it.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I love building something, I like making money, and it's just, it's always something that I've just very thoroughly enjoyed.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_01: And so in 23, I started with baseball batting gloves, come out on the market with custom batting gloves that just lasted longer than what you could buy on the market.
• 16:57
  SPEAKER_01: And I picked up 127 schools in that first year.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_01: I was doing custom, cheaper than what you could go to Dick's and buy the worst pair of bat and gloves.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_01: These gloves are gonna last you a while.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_01: And and when I was picking up these schools, all the coaches were like, man, you need to get into the athletic apparel.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_01: Like, yeah, you really I really have one competitor and uh in the the uniform business, and you just you need to get into it.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_01: Now I didn't realize how tough the apparel business was just tough as in, you know, I'm sourcing this stuff overseas, I'm finding the fabrics overseas.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I'm working 18, 20 hours a day because when we're going to sleep, you know, my manufacturers overseas are waking up.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_01: It's just the reality of it.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER_01: And it's seven days a week.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_01: Like I literally work seven days a week.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_01: We'll call it 18 hours a day.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_01: This is actually my warehouse I just bought this week uh to start storing my stuff.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um but my cousin, he's always been a big state fan.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_01: He's really who kind of led me to go to state as well, said, Man, you need to do this Mississippi stuff.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_01: You need to do the state stuff.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_01: And I I tossed it around for a few months, and I was like, you know what?
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_01: I do need to.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_01: And I tell you what made me want it is, and I I think this is a great brand.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's great quality.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_01: I actually work with the same manufacturer they do as Roback.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_01: And what I saw though is I saw they weren't using the right Mississippi State logos, and the color was a little off.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_01: And what I said I wanted is I want to come on the market and I want to cater to the Mississippi State community.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_01: I've been in the weeds in the Mississippi State community.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_01: I know what it is.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_01: I've lived a lot of my life as a state fan.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I know the colors, I know that what needs to do.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, I just all these big brands, they're great brands, they're great clothing, but a lot of times you don't see the right logos on it, the right colors, the right maroons, not.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm like, hey, I want to make sure the Mississippi people are taken care of.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_01: I want to make sure that they can go get the right logo on stuff or the right maroon on stuff.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_01: And I said, let's try it.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_01: You know, and it it has been an instant success.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, uh, like you said, you've probably seen a lot of people.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_01: There's a lot of people.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we sold out four times in less than two weeks in Maroon and Company.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_01: We um every bit of the inventory that I bought sold out in about two and a half weeks.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm completely out of that first set.
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_01: So we're doing a pre-sale for the Marooning Company for the long sleeves.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_01: We're gonna go cream black and gray, all the M over S logo.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um end of April, I'm gonna be coming out with some short sleeves of those versions.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm also gonna be coming out with some short sleeve quarter zips of the same material is probably what the quarter zip that you have.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh, it's just gonna be short sleeve.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but just continuing to try to put out a great product um and really cater to the Mississippi State community.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_01: You know, what I'm really working on right now is some collections with some former alumni.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um basically, you know, it may be called, you know, I may meet up with Jake and he may pick out some stuff and it may be called the Mayor Collection.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_01: Or meet up with Palmero and it'd be the Lightning Collection.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_01: Uh stuff like that.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_01: It just really ties in and really makes the Mississippi State community feel like this is a Mississippi State brand.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_01: And that's what I'm really trying to go for, is is that, and like I said, it's been an instant success.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_01: And I've had a lot of great feedback from it, and people continue to buy it, and stores are starting to reach out every day wanting the stuff.
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_01: So basically, my whole thing was let's cater to the Mississippi State community, let's give them what they want, let's get them the logos they want.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_01: I'm still trying to work on that vintage interlock MSU that's on your hat.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_01: I'm still trying to get the university to allow me to sell that.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, you know, I'm a lot of stuff.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_01: We'll have some drops through April, have some summer drops, and then the really, really big drop is gonna be in September.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_01: It's gonna be a lot of state script.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_01: I think I'll have the vintage interlock by then.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_01: Um and working on a really cool collab with somebody right now.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_01: I'm not gonna say who in case it doesn't happen, to really push this thing to to you know the next level where when you think of Mississippi State closing, you think of LA 7.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_01: And I really that's where I'm trying to get it to is you don't think of Adidas, you don't think of of other brands, you think of Mississippi State and you think of LA 7.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_01: And that's where I'm trying to take this thing.
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_00: Now, let me ask you this.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_00: How is there a way do you see this in the future happening?
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, it's it's so successful right now, taking off use getting like like Mississippi State to wear LA 7 gear rather than Adidas or how does that work?
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so I'm not gonna go into too much detail because I don't know what it looks like, but I actually have started the talks.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_01: On that right there, what you just discussed of potentially in the future when that contract's up, uh, you know, maybe a baseball team or whoever rolling out and from head to we'll call it the ankles, because I don't know if my footwear will be there by the that contract, but you know, there there actually is negotiations and and stuff kind of going on on how that may look.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_00: Cool.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_00: Now, would you do would you do multiple teams?
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_00: Like could you see yourself doing like other SEC teams or or what what's your envision on all that?
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, yes, yes.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_01: I think are you talking in the uh the apparel or like the uniform stuff too?
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_01: The apparel stuff, yeah.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_01: So the apparel stuff, yes, I I I mean potentially branch out and just kind of use the same dynamic I am using for Mississippi State into that world.
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_01: You know, and I think that there's a lot of brands that's gonna see what I'm doing and they're gonna try to follow suit of just really it's not as much about hey, we're selling you Peter Millar, we're selling you Robat.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_01: Like you giving these people what they want in the backstory.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's Mitch Moreland calling me right there.
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, of of what the what it is.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_01: Oh Mitch Mitch wears a lot of my stuff, and so he uh yeah, me and him usually talk about once a week now.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, yeah, I saw him in the Mississippi State baseball post a video at the beginning of the season with Mitch on there, and he was rocking it, man.
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_00: I noticed that.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, me and me and Mitch have become pretty close over the last month or so.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_01: Mitch is a good dude.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_00: Well, yeah, I mean, it's it's gotta be a it's gotta be a good feeling, Luke, to know that it's taking off somewhat selling out just like that.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, that's uh did you have any envision when you started this that it was gonna be taken off like this?
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I knew with the dynamics of how I was doing it, yeah.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_01: I knew that it had a good chance.
• 24:08
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I mean, this is even with the clothing brand, but this is just life in general.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_01: People want to feel heard.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_01: People, you know, people want to be heard on the fact of we want this logo and we want our maroon this.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, being somebody, like I said, that's been in the system for a while of Mississippi State, you know, I understand that.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_01: And I realize there's not a lot of brands that's really catering to Mississippi State.
• 24:33
  SPEAKER_01: So I thought, you know, if I can get these in the right hands, the media people, some former athletes.
• 24:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, I right now I'm working on getting it into the baseball team, the the team in general.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I think within the next few months you'll see those guys wearing it a lot.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but to just really, like I said, just cater to them.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_01: I I knew it had a really good opportunity of doing that.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and it and it really has.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, uh, and I think another thing is that you have the connections to Mississippi State baseball because a lot of people like like you talk about the logos, I mean the colors and the logos, the national perspective of Mississippi State.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_00: Heck, I remember when we went to Omaha one year it had like Mississippi uh Mississippi State uh rebels or something.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they always the nationwide, they always get everything wrong.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_00: They screw everything up, paint on this and stuff.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_00: And the fact that you've been in the program, you know all about the M over S, you know, you know what logos mean to Mississippi State.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you got you rolling out the interlock in MSU and football, and and that's a huge thing.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_00: They're on talks about from the the glory years of the 90s, how successful it was.
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that might be here to stay.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it would it's everyone, the fan base is wanting that.
• 25:45
  SPEAKER_00: They showed a lot this past year.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_00: So logos are a big thing to Mississippi State uh community, and and you know, there's always debates on what logo and all that.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_00: But the fact that you're putting out products with the right logos, the right colors, they feel good, you wear them, and and then you're you're attached to it.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_00: So you have that diamond dog, you know, Luke Alexander, walk-off hero, put this stuff together.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's a winner all around.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_00: And oh da uh congrats to you, man.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's it's awesome.
• 26:15
  SPEAKER_00: I see big things um happening with LA7, man.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_00: Really proud of it.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_00: I appreciate it, man.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_00: I really do.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_00: Really proud of it.
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_00: Well, uh, well, tell everybody who's listening.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I know you said that this sold out and you'll be getting them getting some more back.
• 26:28
  SPEAKER_00: Is Maroon and Company, can you get it online?
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_00: Or what what's the best way to if someone's listening to this and wants to?
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_01: So Marooning Company, they they have a few.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_01: I think every Pulset hoodie I I ever bought is gone.
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um the quarter zips, I think I just sent Maroon and Comp Company some maybe five or six days ago.
• 26:48
  SPEAKER_01: I think they have a few in stock.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_01: So Marooning Company, uh Williams Brothers in Philadelphia got some of my quarter zips.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then there's another place in Fulton, Mississippi.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um I it I think it's called Gaither Mercantile or something like that.
• 27:05
  SPEAKER_01: It's right there and kind of on Main Street in Fulton that just I just picked them up as well.
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_01: All those will be quarter zips, but they in the future will be getting the short sleeve quarter zips.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, like I said, Maroon and Company will have the long sleeve pulse knit that everybody's gone crazy over with.
• 27:22
  SPEAKER_01: Probably probably the first of April, they'll have those, and then I'll have the short sleeve probably the end of April.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_00: Cool.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_00: Awesome, man.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_00: Well, everyone who's listening to this podcast, go check it out.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's awesome gear.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_00: Congrats, Luke.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, are you gonna be making it uh to the dude anytime this season?
• 27:38
  SPEAKER_00: You think?
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_01: I actually will be there this weekend.
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_00: All right, awesome.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so it's it's kind of an alumni weekend, I guess is what they've sent out.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I think there's a little golf on Friday, but then it's some players are gonna be back.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_01: And so me and my wife's gonna come down.
• 27:55
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, I don't know if I've been to a baseball game since maybe 21.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 28:01
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 28:02
  SPEAKER_01: I think when they played Notre Dame in the Supers, I think it's the last time that I've come down and watched.
• 28:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um so it'll be the first time back.
• 28:11
  SPEAKER_01: Me and my wife will be down there and yeah, you know, excited uh to get back in that atmosphere.
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_01: And to be honest with you, see some LA 7 walking around the ballpark, it's gonna be pretty good as well.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_00: You'll see it for sure.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_00: Because then, man, every time I walk out of the lounge, I see somebody wearing it.
• 28:25
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm like, that's a good thing.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_00: That's a good thing.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_00: That's why I was like, I get Luke all in there on my podcast, talk about it and promote it and everything.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_00: So uh yeah, man, real proud of you.
• 28:35
  SPEAKER_00: Good luck, everything.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe I'll see you around the dude this weekend.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_00: And um, just congrats, keep up the good work, my friend.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining me today, and uh we'll we'll keep we'll keep sharing everything.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_00: All right, Luke.
• 28:46
  SPEAKER_01: Man, I appreciate you.
• 28:48
  SPEAKER_01: I appreciate your time.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, sir.
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_01: All right, brother.
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_01: I see you