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From Belfast: The Steelers are in town! · The Irish Steelers Podcast

0:10
Speaker 1: Hey folks, Welcome into the Irish Theaters Podcast Eddie Pittsburgh
0:13
Speaker 1: Theaters Podcast. Four fans on the island of Ireland and
0:16
Speaker 1: beyond delighted to be joined Michael Qui delighted to be
0:19
Speaker 1: joined with Jimmy English Dave McKee. We're in Belfast, We're
0:22
Speaker 1: on Occasions. Is the first podcast we've had together in
0:25
Speaker 1: the same room. Right now, Jimmy, I'm looking at you,
0:27
Speaker 1: looking at me with a really good podcast ahead. How
0:29
Speaker 1: you doing.
0:30
Speaker 2: I'm fantastic, Michael, Like I always say, anytime we get
0:33
Speaker 2: to talk to Steeters in person is a good time.
0:35
Speaker 2: So and yeah, a fantastic podcast in store as usual, as.
0:39
Speaker 1: A lifelong Staters found. How cool is it to be
0:41
Speaker 1: sitting in the room and art from the house with
0:43
Speaker 1: guys at Connor Heyward.
0:45
Speaker 3: It's fairly surreal. It's fairly surreal.
0:48
Speaker 2: But you know, I'm slowly getting more and more used
0:50
Speaker 2: to it as the more NFL players that I meet,
0:52
Speaker 2: So I hopefully, hopefully it never stops being exciting, because
0:56
Speaker 2: it's just fantastic. I mean, who would have thought a
0:58
Speaker 2: couple of years ago, or even when we started doing
1:01
Speaker 2: this podcast last summer that we would have the likes
1:04
Speaker 2: of Calvin Austin and Connor Hayward here with us today
1:08
Speaker 2: in person in Belfast for a live podcast.
1:10
Speaker 3: So it's it's really a special bingo.
1:13
Speaker 1: Dave, are we getting one? You flee home for this?
1:15
Speaker 3: I've flown home for this, Michael.
1:17
Speaker 1: Was it worth the nine ninety nine rund a flight
1:19
Speaker 1: from from Liverpool? Well, I wish it was.
1:21
Speaker 4: Runner was easy yet we plug there for Ranner. But yeah,
1:26
Speaker 4: it's it's it's billing to be back in belfirst and
1:28
Speaker 4: it's billing to be back, be back home and as
1:30
Speaker 4: Jimmy just said, to be with fellow Steelers fans and
1:34
Speaker 4: players as well. It's just a brilliant experience. So yeah,
1:37
Speaker 4: hopefully for more days like this.
1:39
Speaker 1: And we are at the Belfast Trojans facility inside Belfast
1:43
Speaker 1: Sailors are here both today and tomorrow on Sunday when
1:46
Speaker 1: this podcast will probably go out there at Cork at
1:49
Speaker 1: MTC Stadium, I believe the Cork Admirals. We've great to
1:52
Speaker 1: see just a lot of AFI coaches Jimmy come up
1:54
Speaker 1: here and really help out and over one hundred kids
1:57
Speaker 1: each day sold out. This is what makes it and
2:00
Speaker 1: like you know, it makes a real difference to see,
2:02
Speaker 1: you know, kids, whatever we realized, we didn't get this
2:04
Speaker 1: opportunity for them to actually come up here started the summer.
2:08
Speaker 1: It's it's pretty cool to see, isn't it.
2:10
Speaker 2: It's just phenomenal and like the growth of American football
2:12
Speaker 2: in Ireland over the past couple of years has been
2:16
Speaker 2: tremendous to to watch and the fact that the Steelers
2:18
Speaker 2: are having a contribution to that iss just makes it
2:22
Speaker 2: all the better.
2:22
Speaker 1: You know, it's awesome to see, Dave. I'm sure we'll
2:26
Speaker 1: have another podcast toge ever soon. But you seem very
2:28
Speaker 1: optimistic ahead of the season.
2:29
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm very optimist, and Mike, there's something wrong if
2:32
Speaker 4: you're not optimistic. Of course, the schedule is difficult, but
2:36
Speaker 4: as you said, we're gonna roll with it and just
2:38
Speaker 4: as you know, I always say, as Jimmy says, and
2:41
Speaker 4: it's one of those where to have them here and
2:44
Speaker 4: actually you know, contributing towards having young stater fans in
2:47
Speaker 4: Ireland as well. You know, we're kicking as well. We've
2:49
Speaker 4: seen it with the International Pathway, International Players Pathway. You know,
2:53
Speaker 4: they've been able to come through and kick for teams.
2:55
Speaker 4: Charlie Smith for example, going to New Orleans as well,
2:57
Speaker 4: so just had a quick note on them to come
3:00
Speaker 4: over here, to fly the whole way from the other
3:01
Speaker 4: side of the world. If you like to show an
3:03
Speaker 4: interest in our country. It's a brilliant grid, bliant spartacle.
3:06
Speaker 1: And you mentioned Charlie. Hopefully we see hopefully at some
3:09
Speaker 1: point and you see the next generation today, we might
3:11
Speaker 1: see somebody in ten years playing for this team. Who knows,
3:14
Speaker 1: Please God what happens. We've kids from all the ages
3:16
Speaker 1: of ninety eighteen here today and it's great to see
3:19
Speaker 1: the growth of the game. Myself and Jimmy had the
3:21
Speaker 1: opportunity firstly the chat to the director of Business Development
3:24
Speaker 1: and Strategy for the Pittsburgh Staters, mister Dan Rooney, and
3:27
Speaker 1: you'll also hear interviews from Connor Heyward and Calvin Auston
3:30
Speaker 1: on this podcast. To sit back, put the feet up
3:33
Speaker 1: and enjoy a great edition of the Irish Theaters podcast.
3:38
Speaker 1: We are delighted to welcome in Steeters director of Business
3:42
Speaker 1: Development and Strategy, mister Don Rooney. Don, as we say
3:44
Speaker 1: up here bout you, welcome to Belfast.
3:47
Speaker 5: It's great to be up here. Another trip for the
3:50
Speaker 5: Steelers to the island of Ireland and today we're here
3:54
Speaker 5: for a youth camp at the Belfast facility, which is
3:58
Speaker 5: beautiful and we're going to get Calvin Austen and Connor
4:01
Speaker 5: Heyward out there. So really excited for the day.
4:04
Speaker 3: Don welcome back.
4:06
Speaker 2: First of all, you're becoming a regular traveler Jarden now
4:09
Speaker 2: at this stage for Steeters events. This time you're back
4:12
Speaker 2: for the Steters Youth camp here in Belfast. How important
4:15
Speaker 2: are events like this for developing steaet zation in Ireland.
4:19
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean it always starts with the game for us.
4:21
Speaker 5: So the fact that we can bring two of our
4:23
Speaker 5: current players over to the island and really teach the
4:27
Speaker 5: youth the game that we love. A wide receiver that's
4:30
Speaker 5: playing at the highest level, at tight end that's playing
4:32
Speaker 5: at the highest level. Really really excited to do it
4:35
Speaker 5: and something we you know, we look to increase.
4:38
Speaker 1: Which is over a year from the first entry to
4:41
Speaker 1: the market of the NFL Global market scheme for the
4:42
Speaker 1: skit for the staters. How have you found the last
4:45
Speaker 1: year itself, because it feels like it's went so fast,
4:47
Speaker 1: but yet it's been such a reward and time for
4:50
Speaker 1: both funds and yourselves.
4:51
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean from kicking clinic to a watch party,
4:55
Speaker 5: to now to Youth campus this coming weekend. You know,
4:59
Speaker 5: we're filling the calendar. The Steelers are alive and well
5:04
Speaker 5: on the island of Ireland and you'll only continue to
5:07
Speaker 5: see more events and more content because you know, we
5:10
Speaker 5: want our presence to grow here.
5:11
Speaker 2: What was the rationale down behind selecting the venues of
5:15
Speaker 2: the cities of Belfast and Cork for the camps and
5:18
Speaker 2: was it to try and I suppose.
5:21
Speaker 3: Grow the game away from Dublin or what was the
5:23
Speaker 3: kind of thinking behind that.
5:24
Speaker 5: We just want to activate across the island. So you know,
5:27
Speaker 5: there's beautiful facilities in Dublin. The Sport Ireland campus has
5:31
Speaker 5: been great to us, but it's important for us to
5:33
Speaker 5: get up to Belfast, to get down to Cork. We
5:36
Speaker 5: think that the game of American football should be played
5:38
Speaker 5: everywhere and that's what we're hoping to spread.
5:41
Speaker 1: Hi have the guys finals so far with Calvin on
5:43
Speaker 1: mister Heyward as well.
5:44
Speaker 5: They're about twenty four hours in. They got to tour
5:47
Speaker 5: Dublin yesterday and they're loving it so far. I can
5:50
Speaker 5: tell they got to see the you know, the sites
5:53
Speaker 5: and sounds of Dublin on a Friday, and we got
5:55
Speaker 5: some pretty good weather yesterday which was was great.
5:57
Speaker 6: But with you definitely, yeah, we'll take it.
6:00
Speaker 5: But you know, when they're on the field today that
6:03
Speaker 5: I'm sure they'll really come to life and you know, teach,
6:06
Speaker 5: teach the game to these schedules gonna be awesome.
6:08
Speaker 2: Can you talk to us a little bit about the Steelers'
6:10
Speaker 2: vision for growing the market and Ireland and internationally over
6:14
Speaker 2: the next couple of years.
6:15
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean what we've done so far. There was
6:18
Speaker 5: a watch party in November of last year, we held
6:22
Speaker 5: a Kicking clinic this spring. You know, we have a podcast,
6:26
Speaker 5: which is fantastic, so we'll continue to do more of
6:29
Speaker 5: the same, but you know, grow grow that as well,
6:32
Speaker 5: and you know, as we bring current and former players
6:35
Speaker 5: over here, we're hoping that just builds the excitement around
6:39
Speaker 5: what's taking place back in Pittsburgh and bringing it to
6:41
Speaker 5: the island.
6:42
Speaker 1: And talking about what's happening to back in Pittsburgh. It
6:44
Speaker 1: would be a mythdis not to bring up. We talked
6:45
Speaker 1: about on one of our podcasts. Coming out over the
6:47
Speaker 1: next few weeks is the extension of coach Tomlin. It's
6:50
Speaker 1: great to see and a guy that's been there for
6:52
Speaker 1: so long and a guy that promises to be there
6:53
Speaker 1: for the future as well.
6:55
Speaker 5: Coach Tomlin's a special coach. I had the pleasure to
6:58
Speaker 5: work under him for two years as a quality control
7:01
Speaker 5: guy on the offense, so I was able to see
7:03
Speaker 5: just that, you know, how how effective of a head
7:06
Speaker 5: coach he is, and we're lucky to have him in
7:09
Speaker 5: the future here.
7:10
Speaker 3: So we're still a while yet away from September.
7:13
Speaker 2: You know, we're only in June now, but can you
7:15
Speaker 2: what game are you looking forward to most this season?
7:17
Speaker 3: If you could pick just one, everyone.
7:20
Speaker 5: The next one, as they said, So you know, every
7:23
Speaker 5: week is important and we're just excited to get the
7:26
Speaker 5: season going. Small break until training camp here was awesome
7:30
Speaker 5: to see, you know, the South Side facility alive and
7:33
Speaker 5: well for mini camp. But I'm really excited for training
7:37
Speaker 5: camp and getting things going in La Trope.
7:39
Speaker 1: It's been great even I think for a lot of
7:40
Speaker 1: Irish fans and a lot of fans in Ireland and
7:42
Speaker 1: beyond in Europe. A lot of the away games at
7:45
Speaker 1: the start of the season early for us, we're talking
7:47
Speaker 1: as well, a game of Christmas. So look, we can't
7:50
Speaker 1: wait even before that and we see this weekend, We
7:53
Speaker 1: see what you've done over the last year. How important
7:55
Speaker 1: is it for you, not just connecting with the youth,
7:57
Speaker 1: but also you know, key stakeholders with a FI teams
7:59
Speaker 1: as well, and the Trojans and the ob Orals. This weekend.
8:02
Speaker 5: AFI has been great since we since we started doing
8:05
Speaker 5: work in Ireland, you know, back in May twenty twenty three,
8:08
Speaker 5: and we just have a ton of respect for the
8:10
Speaker 5: league and the programs across the island. It's true passion
8:15
Speaker 5: we see in American football being displayed by the AFI guys,
8:19
Speaker 5: and we need them for events like today. Their coaches
8:22
Speaker 5: will be out there, their players will be out there,
8:24
Speaker 5: and you know we support them in many ways.
8:27
Speaker 3: Yeah.
8:28
Speaker 2: I mean it's been a big offseason don for the Steelers,
8:31
Speaker 2: a big draft followed by some big additions and free agency.
8:35
Speaker 3: Is it fair to say.
8:36
Speaker 2: That the team is in win now mode regards to
8:38
Speaker 2: claiming another title.
8:40
Speaker 5: We enter every season with the mentality to win. You know,
8:44
Speaker 5: we have six Lombardies back at the facility and the
8:48
Speaker 5: goal is always to add another one when you enter
8:50
Speaker 5: a season. So really excited for what twenty twenty four
8:53
Speaker 5: can bring.
8:53
Speaker 1: If you can see the excitement in these boys days
8:55
Speaker 1: as a while ago, we're all very very excited for
8:57
Speaker 1: the season starting. Look just like, honestly, thank you for
9:00
Speaker 1: what you guys are doing here. It makes a difference
9:01
Speaker 1: and we can see that from talking to young people
9:03
Speaker 1: because these comps have stooled out in record time. And
9:07
Speaker 1: thank you for what you're doing in Belfast and Cork
9:09
Speaker 1: and favor Field, and we're very excited to see what
9:11
Speaker 1: happens this year as well. And don thank you very much.
9:14
Speaker 1: I'm sure we'll speak to you very soon over.
9:15
Speaker 5: The next yearn Thanks guys.
9:18
Speaker 1: We are joined by Steelers Bid the receiver Calvin Austin
9:20
Speaker 1: Calvin Faultsha welcome, or we say in Balfast bite you
9:23
Speaker 1: welcome to arround tighter.
9:25
Speaker 6: Thank you. I'm doing great. I'm glad to be here.
9:27
Speaker 7: My first official time, I guess overseas. You know, I
9:31
Speaker 7: went on the cruise before, but this is like my
9:33
Speaker 7: first official time overseas, so I was like, what better
9:35
Speaker 7: place in this.
9:36
Speaker 6: So I'm having a great time.
9:37
Speaker 1: Awesome.
9:38
Speaker 4: Yeah, how did it feel of Originally when you were
9:40
Speaker 4: drafted in twenty niney two by the Pittsburgh Steelers, would
9:42
Speaker 4: was it a pinch mean moment.
9:44
Speaker 6: Oh, most definitely.
9:45
Speaker 7: You know, throughout the whole process, you know, you talk
9:48
Speaker 7: to all thirty two teams and whatnot, and you really
9:53
Speaker 7: don't know where you would be going and you know
9:55
Speaker 7: where you would be.
9:56
Speaker 6: In the next phase of your life.
9:58
Speaker 7: And so I really hadn't talked you know, the Pittsburgh
10:01
Speaker 7: is much leading up. So when I was just you know,
10:04
Speaker 7: sitting and waiting to hear my name being called when
10:07
Speaker 7: they were the team, you know, to be drafted by
10:09
Speaker 7: such a story franchise with a ton of success and
10:14
Speaker 7: uh it was just great history. I was just you know, thrilled.
10:18
Speaker 7: You know, me and my family were just just super
10:20
Speaker 7: blessed and happy. So I just couldn't actually be a
10:23
Speaker 7: part of a better organization those.
10:25
Speaker 1: A head home. When you come all the way over
10:27
Speaker 1: to the island of Ireland and you have the chance
10:29
Speaker 1: to teach young people the art of American football, it
10:32
Speaker 1: shows you the Steters tion is really worldwide.
10:35
Speaker 6: Oh yes, most definitely.
10:36
Speaker 7: I mean this is something like I wouldn't have been younger,
10:38
Speaker 7: I wouldn't have any I couldn't have even dreamed of doing,
10:41
Speaker 7: you know, so doing this is just like it's just
10:44
Speaker 7: like like you said, put everything, put everything into perspective,
10:48
Speaker 7: and you know, it's kind of like a full circle moment,
10:50
Speaker 7: a full circle moment, because it's just an honor to
10:54
Speaker 7: be to be able to share my passion and my
10:57
Speaker 7: love for the game with others. And like you said,
11:01
Speaker 7: it's almost surprising how much you know the Steelers is
11:05
Speaker 7: are loved over here, but just being a part of
11:07
Speaker 7: this organization, I've seen like just anywhere we go, you
11:11
Speaker 7: know that the Steelers are always just the fans are
11:14
Speaker 7: just like super loving and caring and everything.
11:17
Speaker 6: So it's surprising, but at the same time, it isn't.
11:21
Speaker 4: You know, your first NFL touchdown in Week three last
11:23
Speaker 4: year got cash from County Pecket.
11:24
Speaker 3: Just talk us through that against their leaders.
11:26
Speaker 6: Man, that was a great moment.
11:28
Speaker 7: You know. Obviously it was my first season actually playing
11:33
Speaker 7: because my rookie season I missed because of a because
11:36
Speaker 7: of my foot foot injury.
11:37
Speaker 6: So you know, that was a Sunday night football game Vegas,
11:42
Speaker 6: their stadium.
11:44
Speaker 7: The atmosphere was crazy, and I was just you know
11:48
Speaker 7: when I when I heard the play being called, I
11:50
Speaker 7: was like, if we get the correct look like this,
11:53
Speaker 7: this is gonna be six and you know the cornerback
11:55
Speaker 7: came up, you know, pressed me, and then you know
11:58
Speaker 7: I beat them down, beat him down and down the
12:01
Speaker 7: field looked up and the ball was there and I
12:03
Speaker 7: was like and it was like when I called it,
12:05
Speaker 7: it was crazy because obviously it was in the away game,
12:07
Speaker 7: but to hear how loud the crowd got, you would
12:09
Speaker 7: have thought it was a home game. So that that
12:12
Speaker 7: moment was very special.
12:14
Speaker 1: It's on she and just here at Coach Tomlin, the
12:16
Speaker 1: extension coach t new quarterbock room has a vib like
12:19
Speaker 1: so far and hasn't many company.
12:21
Speaker 6: The vibes have been high.
12:23
Speaker 7: You know, everybody has come in with that energy to
12:26
Speaker 7: work and you know you can always you can feel
12:29
Speaker 7: I mean Coach Tomlin always has that approach and but
12:32
Speaker 7: you can just feel it.
12:33
Speaker 6: From all the players. Also, you know we're on a chase.
12:37
Speaker 7: You know, we're on a hunt for a super Bowl,
12:40
Speaker 7: and you know it's going.
12:41
Speaker 6: To require every person and to have coach he leading us.
12:47
Speaker 6: I know that we'll get there as long as we
12:49
Speaker 6: follow him.
12:50
Speaker 4: You've had a bit of time in Ireland obviously, and
12:52
Speaker 4: but how good would it actually be to actually play
12:54
Speaker 4: a game here? Would you say, it's like, obviously being
12:56
Speaker 4: here now would be a dream come true.
13:00
Speaker 7: Yes, most definitely just being there yesterday and just walking
13:03
Speaker 7: around the city and you know, just seeing talking to
13:06
Speaker 7: some people, have some people come up and talk to us.
13:09
Speaker 7: I was like, man, this would be just like a
13:11
Speaker 7: great place, the atmosphere, the energy, the people.
13:15
Speaker 6: I think it would be probably.
13:16
Speaker 7: One of the best games you know that you could
13:19
Speaker 7: could play, because I just know the atmosphere would be amazing.
13:22
Speaker 1: Calvin, we hope to see you soon only out of
13:24
Speaker 1: the Ireland. Enjoy your time in Balfast and Cork and
13:26
Speaker 1: all the best of the season. Thank you very much,
13:27
Speaker 1: thank you, thank you, I appreciate you. We are joined
13:31
Speaker 1: in Belfast by the woman, the olderly mister Connor. Heyward
13:34
Speaker 1: Connor falls you welcome. How are you doing good?
13:37
Speaker 8: Thanks for having me so far?
13:39
Speaker 6: So good though.
13:40
Speaker 1: Is it your first time on the isl of Ireland
13:42
Speaker 1: or in Europe?
13:43
Speaker 6: First time in Europe.
13:44
Speaker 8: I've been to Bahamas, colosmel and we went to Honduras
13:49
Speaker 8: and I was with Calvin, but first time in Europe
13:51
Speaker 8: and I'm you know, having so much fun and I'm
13:54
Speaker 8: just excited to see more.
13:56
Speaker 1: He's definitely different Reverend the Bahamas here, Jimmy is definitely though.
13:58
Speaker 3: We're having a good sure so far.
14:00
Speaker 2: Connor, you're here today in Bellafast to coach some local kids,
14:05
Speaker 2: you know, in American football.
14:07
Speaker 3: How excited are you for this opportunity.
14:09
Speaker 6: I'm super excited.
14:11
Speaker 8: Some of the kids that played football, some are new,
14:13
Speaker 8: some haven't even you know, picked up a football, so
14:16
Speaker 8: to see where they're at, and you know, just you know,
14:18
Speaker 8: poorting to them, you know, because I know they are
14:20
Speaker 8: huge fans, and you know, guys never really come over here.
14:25
Speaker 8: You know, this is like a dream come true. So
14:26
Speaker 8: to make the most of it, and you know, just
14:28
Speaker 8: make it fun, you know, and then you know, hopefully
14:30
Speaker 8: they can all leave with you know, something that they learned,
14:33
Speaker 8: and uh, you know, they just have fun at the
14:35
Speaker 8: end of the day. And uh, you know, we're just
14:37
Speaker 8: here to you know, try to make this better in
14:39
Speaker 8: every way.
14:40
Speaker 1: Football isn't your Famili's blowed obviously, but your probably your
14:42
Speaker 1: father playing football time for the years. What's it like
14:45
Speaker 1: to really play with the Pittsburgh Steelers? Is is it
14:47
Speaker 1: the dream come true?
14:48
Speaker 6: Yeah? Dream come true?
14:49
Speaker 8: And more like when I got drafted, I didn't even
14:53
Speaker 8: think it was real.
14:54
Speaker 6: You know. I grew up a big Steelers.
14:56
Speaker 8: Fan, and then Cam playing there was even better. And
15:00
Speaker 8: my family being from there, there's just so much history
15:02
Speaker 8: that some people know, some people don't know. But both
15:05
Speaker 8: my parents want to pitt. My grandparents live in Highland Park,
15:08
Speaker 8: which is right outside the city, so I would come
15:10
Speaker 8: up every summer, and you know, my grandma was always
15:13
Speaker 8: sending me Steelers stuff every Christmas and she still does
15:16
Speaker 8: that to this day.
15:18
Speaker 2: And today's camp is part of the Stears' efforts to grow,
15:22
Speaker 2: you know, seater nation internationally. You know, what are your
15:25
Speaker 2: thoughts on what they have been doing here in Ireland.
15:28
Speaker 6: It's amazing.
15:30
Speaker 8: I know a lot of teams are trying to do
15:32
Speaker 8: the international stuff, the global things, but I know, the
15:34
Speaker 8: Steelers it really does mean a lot to us in
15:36
Speaker 8: Ireland is a special place to us, you know, and
15:40
Speaker 8: so it is Mexico, and there's so many places that
15:42
Speaker 8: we just try to, you know, help out and you know,
15:45
Speaker 8: get back because we know you guys cheer us on
15:47
Speaker 8: and you guys have our backs, and being here we're
15:49
Speaker 8: able to see that. And honestly, it's it's so cool
15:54
Speaker 8: and it's surreal and it's humbling too, because people have
15:58
Speaker 8: recognized us here and you know, it's like it's just
16:03
Speaker 8: very like just humbling honestly, Like I don't know a
16:06
Speaker 8: lot of the soccer stars over here, but for them
16:09
Speaker 8: to know, you know, NFL guys, it's ridiculous.
16:12
Speaker 1: I couldn't believe it when they find my conson and
16:14
Speaker 1: he came in as well yesterday, or just the rugby
16:17
Speaker 1: guys as well in Dublin. You brought the whatever with
16:19
Speaker 1: you even if you're in the ring gear as well.
16:20
Speaker 1: So it's great to see we're talking in Gin. What's
16:23
Speaker 1: the vibe like accoump after which he has many camp
16:25
Speaker 1: obviously a lot of change this season for the good
16:27
Speaker 1: as well. A coach Tomlin has the extension that was
16:29
Speaker 1: announced this week. It seems to be a really positive
16:32
Speaker 1: time for Student Nation.
16:33
Speaker 8: Yeah, OTAs in mini camp went very well. I feel
16:36
Speaker 8: like we finished at high level. We got better every
16:40
Speaker 8: day and guys just went in with the right mindset
16:43
Speaker 8: and you know, Russ and Justin did a good job
16:45
Speaker 8: of setting the tempo and you know we just followed
16:47
Speaker 8: and you know, I think it's just really good, fresh
16:50
Speaker 8: fresh energy in the building and you know that's getting
16:53
Speaker 8: you know it's getting when you're looking forward to going
16:55
Speaker 8: to work and you know you enjoy working with the
16:57
Speaker 8: guys that you work with.
16:58
Speaker 2: There's a big season a head for the Steters, Connor,
17:00
Speaker 2: what are your expectations for the team, but also for
17:02
Speaker 2: yourself individually?
17:04
Speaker 6: Uh?
17:04
Speaker 3: For the team just to you know, get better each week.
17:07
Speaker 6: Uh, And I think we will.
17:09
Speaker 8: But obviously the main goal is the super Bowl, but
17:12
Speaker 8: you know, taking one game at a time. But and
17:14
Speaker 8: then for myself, just to see growth from year two
17:17
Speaker 8: to three, and you know, just whenever I get my
17:20
Speaker 8: opportunities to make the most of him and just be
17:23
Speaker 8: a good teammate, uh, because you know that goes far.
17:25
Speaker 8: And uh, I think I just I'm just so excited
17:28
Speaker 8: about this year. Honestly, I think we have a really
17:30
Speaker 8: good team. We have a lot of veterans with with
17:34
Speaker 8: with younger guys and it's a good mix.
17:36
Speaker 6: I think.
17:36
Speaker 8: Offously, there's a lot of explosive guys. Defensely, there's a
17:40
Speaker 8: lot of leadership, and then you have Mika t J.
17:42
Speaker 8: Cam and then you know adding Pat Clean with E
17:45
Speaker 8: Rob and you know Alex. It's just it's gonna be
17:49
Speaker 8: a really good year. I think, if you know, everybody
17:50
Speaker 8: does what they're supposed to be.
17:52
Speaker 1: Christmas Day at the Hayward Heights is gonna be good fun.
17:55
Speaker 8: It's a good one. Only if we win, we be
17:57
Speaker 8: a good one. But I'm looking forward to that game
17:59
Speaker 8: against City.
18:00
Speaker 1: We're really excited. Six o'clock in Ireland. We're buzzing, so
18:03
Speaker 1: all our families are going to sit watching this. The
18:04
Speaker 1: best look obviously for the season. Just finally, you talk
18:07
Speaker 1: about Ireland obviously coaching kids this weekend, getting the chance
18:10
Speaker 1: to see both Balfost, Dublin and Cork for the Island.
18:12
Speaker 1: How awesome would it be to have a game here
18:14
Speaker 1: in the future.
18:14
Speaker 8: It'd be it would be amazing, I keep on saying, amazing,
18:18
Speaker 8: pretty cool, but everybody would enjoy it. I feel like
18:23
Speaker 8: you don't know what it's like until you're here. And
18:26
Speaker 8: I was, you know, searching things on Google, TikTok, Twitter,
18:29
Speaker 8: just trying to find out as much as Ireland, and uh,
18:31
Speaker 8: you know, I feel like I'm still learning things as
18:33
Speaker 8: you know, I go about my days. But uh, it's
18:36
Speaker 8: it's amazing to see it and it's surreal.
18:39
Speaker 1: Like I keep saying, like.
18:40
Speaker 8: This is you know, experienced that I'll remember for the
18:42
Speaker 8: rest of my life. And you know, I'll tell my
18:44
Speaker 8: kids about this, and you know, hopefully I'm able to
18:46
Speaker 8: take them to Europe at some point.
18:48
Speaker 1: Well, thank you for coming out here at genuinely means
18:50
Speaker 1: a lot, not just for the staters, but the hot
18:51
Speaker 1: players come out here and teach kids, the next generation
18:54
Speaker 1: of talent here all the best this season. See what's
18:56
Speaker 1: gonna happen. We will chat to you soon. Thank you
18:58
Speaker 1: very much, sir, Thank you
19:12
Speaker 2: A