Oscar McBride Archives - Her Loyal Sons

Fit4Life Executive Board Member and Wellness Champion Dr. Eric Griggs has launched the “Step Away” Prostate and Colon Cancer Kick-Off Event scheduled citywide in New Orleans on March 18, 2014.

“‘Step Away’ is a city-wide health initiative kick-off. One of our main focuses is to emphasize the importance of screenings in partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS).” Doc Griggs is a spokesperson for the ACS and a health and wellness ambassador for the city of New Orleans.

The event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Fit NOLA and 100 Black Men. They are helping to implement a national initiative to motivate people to go and have health screenings done. In the African-American community, the type of prostate cancer that they are predominately being diagnosed with is not only aggressive but often times already in the late stages by the time it is diagnosed. If we can get people to go have screenings done, we can catch cancer before it is in the advanced stages.

“What we’re doing is an ‘underwear awareness’ initiative. We are educating people about prostate exams and colonoscopies. Because most men view this as a ‘traumatic’ event they won’t even go and get screened, let alone have these discussions with their doctor. We’re trying to educate people that there are other types of screenings that are less invasive than the standard prostate exam and colonoscopy. They can have a FITT test done or have a stool occult blood sample tested to determine whether a more invasive test is even needed.”

“The good news is having a colonoscopy done is not only a screening but it can be diagnostic as well. If a polyp is found they can remove it right then and there. A polyp typically takes up to 10 years to become a cancerous tumor. This is why you are supposed to have a screening done every 10 years. If they do find a polyp, it is recommended that you come back every 5 years to help monitor any recurrences.”

“The main purpose of this event, and future events, is to heighten awareness.”

“Our kick-off event is Tuesday, March 18th in front of the New Orleans City Hall. We have several speakers from different health organizations as well as a statewide proclamation commemorating the event. We’re encouraging people to wear blue, which is the color connected with colorectal cancer awareness, and we’re also going to have a prostate cancer survivor speak as well. There will be booths set up for people to learn about different health and wellness options and everyone is going to get a swag bag with a pedometer in it (amongst other things) and everyone is going to be challenged to wear it every day and try to reach 10,000 steps per day.”

“The key to good health is prevention and that starts with conversations. The key to disease prevention is to be healthy.”

“Our three key recommendations are:

Get checked.

Get fit.

Get moving!”

“When we get together with our family we talk about work, sports, politics … basically everything but our health and family history. We need to talk to our family members about our family history. Health prevention and disease diagnosis comes out of the roots of your tree. And just because you are predisposed to something does not mean it is going to happen. There are things you can do to take control of your health and to help prevent it from coming to fruition.”

“I tell my patients to go to the doctor right before the football season every year so they have a benchmark. ‘You know your favorite team is going to give you a heart attack every year so you might as well be prepared.’” (laughs)

“Get fit and get healthy.”

“You do this by eating well and coloring your plate. I don’t believe in diets. I believe diets die. Everyone I know who has been on a diet has failed. You may lose 20 pounds, but then you gain back 40. Instead of going on a ‘diet,’ control your portion sizes and eat in moderation.”

“Get moving.”

“Find something you like to do. Anything really … garden, ride your bike, run, dance, get out the hula hoop … just get moving. One minute of dancing in front of the mirror in the morning burns 50-100 calories. All of these things fall into the realm of wellness.”

“On January 21st of this year, one of my best friends died of colon cancer at the age of 46. He was a healthy guy. We would work out together all the time. One day he complained of a pulling sensation in his lower abdomen and we just assumed that he had just pulled something. When he went to the doctor to get it checked out they found a grapefruit sized tumor in his abdomen. He had never had a colonoscopy and he had no family history.”

“If you have a family history of lower body cancers, such as ovarian or kidney, you are at a higher risk level for colon and prostate cancer.”

“His passing is part of what is fueling my fervor to get this movement going. Over the course of the next year we are going to do a different screening in each district of New Orleans. We are going to create awareness and then get people to screenings.”

“Everyone needs to think about what they are putting into their bodies … and go to the doctor. At every event I give out my number. If you have a health question, call me! If you are afraid to go to the doctor and you want someone to go with you to ask the right questions, call me! I want to take away the fear of the unknown.”

Doc Griggs getting the city of New Orleans up and dancing!

“Our ultimate goal is to track how many people go to the doctor and get screened, roll these initiatives out in other cities and to get a million people screened nationwide.”

“If you keep it fun you will keep people moving because it no longer feels like ‘work.’ It’s so much easier to hold someone’s attention when you have them laughing and smiling.”

“I’m not a scary doctor … I’m just a regular dude.” Besides being a “regular dude,” Doc Griggs specializes in Community Medicine. What is a Community Medicine specialist you ask?

A “Community Medicine specialist in other hand is designated to handle research in healthcare, health need of communities, plan and administer research for changing need and prospective community, city, province and the nation….”

“The demand of evolving communities necessitates this reform in medicine to not only concern about individual health; but to expand its mission for the entire community such as a neighborhood, a city, a region or entire country.”

“The importance of Community Medicine has been very well recognized all over the world both industrial and developing nation by including community in the discipline of medicine. The scope of medical care is expanded to other disciplines such as economic, housing, city planning, nutrition and communication.”

“I love the fact that the American Cancer Society celebrates birthdays. They celebrate the fact that you made it to another year. That’s an easy sell. That is not the sell that’s being done in most doctor offices.”

“Your doctor is like the coach in the booth above the game, and you are the player on the field. You might not understand the play he’s calling or why he’s calling it, but it’s your job to execute the play.”

“I didn’t want to go into medicine. I actually tried to get out. My mom had a health issue that I couldn’t (and still can’t) help. My dad died in hospice, in front of my entire family, holding my hand and I thought ‘to hell with this. I do not want to do this anymore.’”

“I started teaching, rehabbing houses, anything but medicine.”

“My wife and I had a med spa and a family practice but all I was doing was office support & maintenance.”

“I was asked to go on a radio show and talk about the med spa and the radio host kept calling me Dr. Griggs. Then people started calling in to the show with medical questions and asking me for advice and the radio host ended the show with, ‘and next week we will be back with more medical advice on the Dr. Griggs Medical show,’ and I was kicking him under the table. No, no, no!”

“He said to me, ‘just come back and talk more about the medical spa’ … and that turned into me having my own radio show. “

“I love it. I’m reaching more people. It’s what I wanted to do all along because through my outreach people are actually listening to me. You can try to do what you want but you can’t run away from what God wants you to do.”

“My marketing/brand manager is a former football player from Tulane University. He asked me if I could get some other Notre Dame players behind my initiative. The next day I called him and said … ‘so far I’ve got Irv Smith, Steve Pope and Oscar McBride.’ In disbelief he said, ‘are you guys really that tight?’ Why yes, yes we are that tight. It is the strength of the Notre Dame family.”

Do you want to learn more about Doc Griggs and his health and wellness movement? Check out his web site: http://docgriggs.com/

Dr. Eric Griggs graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1992 (and was a walk-on with the Fighting Irish football team) and Tulane University School of Medicine in 1996. Dr. Griggs is a native of Winston Salem, North Carolina and currently lives in New Orleans since completing medical school.

Today, he is the CEO of RMDS Aesthetics & Med Spa and Research MDs Family Practice and Clinical Research Center in Mid-City New Orleans. Dr. Griggs is also the weekly Health Educator for the local FOX affiliate’s “Morning Edition” in New Orleans, the host of “The Doctor Griggs” Radio show on WBOK 1230 AM and an internet show ,” Health Talk with Doc Griggs” on New Orleans Talk Network (NOTN) – www.neworleanstalknetwork.com, both focusing on health, wellness and community.

Dr. Griggs is active in the New Orleans community and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Southeast Region of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In addition, he is the Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Boys & Girls Clubs NFL-YET Center in New Orleans and Executive Board Member on Oscar McBride’s Fit 4 Life Youth Foundation. Dr. Griggs also co-founded and directs the Broadmoor Basketball Association, a basketball program for at-risk youth. He has made it his life work to educate the community. Dr. Griggs participates in several community engagement events, activities and speaks on various subjects such as preventative medicine and life skills.

The post Eric Griggs: Notre Dame Man and “Every man’s doctor” appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

TJ Jones, Notre Dame Legacy – Thank You

Lisa — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 11:00:16 +0000

Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver T.J. Jones. (Photo: Brian Spurlock /US PRESSWIRE)

When your father is a Notre Dame legend, played on the ’88 championship team, and went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers; your path goes one of two ways. You follow in your father’s footsteps and join the tradition and family that is Notre Dame, or you run screaming and chart your own path. TJ Jones decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and play football at his dad’s alma mater, and four years later it is going to be very difficult for the Irish faithful to say goodbye to this staple of the ND offense.

With the resume that TJ Jones built in high school, he could have played Division I football anywhere he wanted but he chose to become a Notre Dame legacy and play football for the Fighting Irish. Some of his high school accolades included being selected as SuperPrep All-American and 13th-best wide receiver nationally, named MaxPreps.com second-team All-American as senior in 2009 and finishing with 76 receptions for 1,399 yards and 18 touchdowns as senior at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Ga.

TJ’s time at Notre Dame has been equally as impressive. As a freshman (2010) he saw action in 12 games, missing the Utah game due to an injury, and making his Irish debut against the Purdue Boilermakers. He was a starter in seven games including Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan, Navy, Tulsa and Miami (Fla.). He completed 23 receptions for 306 yards and three touchdowns. He was the first freshman wideout in Notre Dame history to register a touchdown in the Irish season opener and totaled 530 snaps on offense, the second most of any Irish wide receiver.

During his sophomore season (2011) Jones played in every game, starting 12 games (the only game he did not start was vs. Air Force) and set personal season highs in receptions (38) and yards (366). He caught a pass in every game and eight times during the season had three or more catches in a game. A few notable moments for TJ included a 15-yard TD pass at the Big House to give the Irish a 24-7 lead over Michigan in the third quarter, a 26-yard reception in the third quarter vs. Michigan State which helped extend the Notre Dame lead to 28-10 over Sparty and a touchdown scored on an 11-yard pass from Tommy Rees on the road at Purdue in the third quarter, giving Notre Dame a 28-3 lead over the Boilermakers.

In 2012 Jones appeared in all 13 games, starting in 11. He caught 50 passes for 649 yards, scoring four touchdowns and tied for team-high honors in receptions and receiving touchdowns (both with Tyler Eifert). With double the yards he had the previous season, Jones had some pretty impressive games in 2012. He had six games in which he had receptions for 50-plus yards which included four catches and 59 yards against Michigan State, four receptions against Stanford for 52 yards, five catches for 55 yards at Oklahoma, five receptions for 53 yards against Pittsburgh, six catches for a career-high 97 yards and scored a touchdown against Wake Forest, and rounded out his junior season with a career high seven receptions for 90 yards vs. Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game.

This season (2013) TJ continues to shine, surpassing his numbers from last year with two games to go in the season. So far Jones has 54 receptions for 891 yards averaging 16.5 yards per catch. His longest reception is 80 yards and he has 8 touchdowns. His 2013 season-to-date looks as follows:

2013 GAME LOG			RECEIVING					RUSHING
DATE	OPP	RESULT	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
8/31	Temple	W 28-6	6	138	23.0	51	0	0	0	0.0	0
9/7	@Michigan	L 41-30	9	94	10.4	23	1	0	0	0.0	0
9/14	@Purdue	W 31-24	4	57	14.3	27	0	0	0	0.0	0
9/21	Michigan State	W 17-13	2	15	7.5	13	1	0	0	0.0	0
9/28	Oklahoma	L 35-21	4	42	10.5	14	1	0	0	0.0	0
10/5	Arizona State	W 37-34	8	135	16.9	37	1	0	0	0.0	0
10/19	USC	W 14-10	4	46	11.5	26	1	0	0	0.0	0
10/26	@Air Force	W 45-10	7	104	14.9	30	1	1	7	7.0	7
11/2	Navy	W 38-34	4	111	27.8	45	1	0	0	0.0	0
11/9	@Pittsburgh	L 28-21	6	149	24.8	80	1	3	41	13.7	35

But this is what I really want to say … Thank you, TJ.

As a thank you to TJ, I’d like to pass along to him some stories about his father, Andre. Some of Dre’s teammates wanted to share with TJ some of their favorite memories of his dad to help him celebrate his Senior Day at Notre Dame. God bless you TJ and enjoy!

Notre Dame Wide Receiver, Alvin Miller

“The summer before his freshman year ‘Dre was in summer school, and we were hanging out in the hallway of the summer school dorm . I shot a bottle rocket in someone’s room under the door. Dre And I could not run away down the hallway because we were laughing so hard. Crazy times.”

Notre Dame Offensive Lineman, Byron Spruell

“From the first day I met Andre (as I was an upperclassmen when he arrived as a freshman), I could tell that he could make a difference on our team. He was clearly a top athlete who could make plays but I also saw his leadership abilities and will to win. He always had a big smile on his face and a bounce to his step. I loved his enthusiasm and the way he would say, ‘Let’s go Spru’!”

Notre Dame Tight End, Derek Brown

“One of my favorite Dre stories was during my freshman year, Dre was my ‘big brother’ and he would always visit my roommate, Troy Ridgley, and I in Flanner Hall. I think he had a class nearby. Well, this one visit last a few days, if not over a week or so. Troy and I had a 2 man dorm and Dre would sleep on the floor in the middle of the beds and of course keep us up laughing our asses off with jokes and his impression of Coach Holtz. He had Coach Holtz’s voice down cold. ‘Hell’s fire son you have to have a base when you’re blocking and a low pad level.’ Wow, I also remember he would always wear a Notre Dame sweatshirt, his fake ‘Louis Vuitton’ hat, our standard black Adidas turf shoes, a backpack and a big umbrella. I miss that dude.”

“The day he died, he was supposed to have a business meeting with a high school friend of mine that next morning in Atlanta.”

“Love you Bro!!!”

Notre Dame Safety, Pat Terrell

“I will never forget our pregame meditation relaxation sessions in which Coach Holtz would make us visualize great plays. While lying on our backs he would walk through the players speaking about the game to come. If you found yourself next to Andre, you could hear him doing a perfect impression of Holtz but putting his own dialog in. I will leave the content out but it would be so funny that I would almost bust a gut trying not to explode in laughter. I still laugh out loud every time I think about it. Miss ya ‘Dre………”

Notre Dame Quarterback, Tony Rice

“We were at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse when TJ was a freshman and we were sitting in a back room they had reserved for us. It was Dean Brown, Pat Terrell, Rod West, Andre, TJ and I. We were just sitting around telling stories, and you know how we ’embellish’ our stories compared to what really happened. At one point ‘Dre was telling a story and imitating Coach Holtz. TJ was sitting there watching everyone and listening to the stories, soaking in every bit of the stories. I watched him and I took that as a sign that he was raised the right way. Some kids come to college and think they know everything, but TJ genuinely sat there, interested, and listened to his elders. It was like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (laughs). Boy, we thought we had it bad, but when you look back at guys like Johnny Lujack they had it worse! They had lights out at 10 pm.”

“I can never be like Andre as far as telling stories goes. He was a great player, and is very much missed.”

“This Saturday another number 7 will run out onto the field at Notre Dame stadium for the last time.”

“Two Jones wearing number 7. I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about it.”

“Not too many kids can say both they and their dad played at Notre Dame and wore the same number.”

Miss ya, ‘Dre.

Notre Dame Running Back, Ricky Watters

My story of Andre Jones starts before we ever stepped foot on the Notre Dame campus. We met at the Big 33 All Star Game between the best from Pennsylvania against the best from Maryland. Andre was on the Maryland team and I was on the Pennsylvania team. Well long story short, they beat us in that game and Andre was the MVP. He was all over the field. Clearly the best player I had faced up to that point. Because we had so much respect for each other and the fact that we were going to the same University, we hit it off right away. He was one of those guys who could always make me smile no matter how I was feeling. One of the funniest people I had ever met. We even roomed together in college along with Todd Light and we have been adjoined at the hip ever since. We were forming a Sports Management Agency before his untimely death. And it is great to see TJ wearing that jersey and playing so well. I know ‘Dre is up in Heaven smiling down on him.

Notre Dame Tight End, Oscar McBride

“My favorite Andre Jones Story – On one of the first days of school my freshman year we were all sitting in the north dining hall towards the middle by the drinks (Me, Aaron Taylor, Lake Dawson, Clint Johnson, Brian Hamilton & others if I remember correctly). We usually sat as a group since at that point we didn’t really know anyone else and started to eat our lunch.”

“Out of nowhere (and I mean nowhere) Andre swoops in and begins… quickly… to take a sip out of and slam all of our glasses of juice making sure to lick the entire rim of the glass; while imitating then outside linebacker Coach Jay Hayes (who now coaches for the Cincinnati Bengals) ‘You Gotta have big leathers to play special teams…. big leathers.'”

“In honesty I think we didn’t react because of the immediate shock value of the action. I mean… who drinks someone else’s juice anyway? Good grief!”

“Then… just as quickly as he appeared to snipe our lunch and soil our accoutrements he disappeared leaving us disgusted and pissed… ‘Dammit ‘Dre!’ we yelled as he laughed and bounced out of the dining hall.”

“From that day forward everyone had to keep their heads on a swivel for the ‘Drink Bandit’ who would swoop in and take a sip from you glass and quickly dart out.”

“That was one of the many sides to ‘Dre that made him special to me. His humor and light-heartedness made things that would otherwise be intolerable easier to deal with; especially life on and off the field. Although a jokester he always had time to share an encouraging word to a freshman who was injured and bummed that he wasn’t playing. For that, I will be eternally grateful.”

“Thanks ‘Dre… love you man.”

Notre Dame Lacrosse player, Tony Suber

“To limit my favorite moments to only two, does absolutely no justice to the very large personality, always prepared to mentor, and equally prepared to prank friend and confidant that we all knew and loved, Andre Jones.”

“I first met Andre on the sidelines of a Blue & Gold game in the spring of 2002. I found out that weekend that our timely intersection was unmistakable, and for me life altering. In the span of 60 seconds I discovered that Andre was campus big brother to my cousin Ray Zellars… Once played for my native city NFL favorites, the Pittsburgh Steelers… and had made his home with his family, in the Metro Atlanta area where I made my home after graduating from Notre Dame.”

“Weeks later I had the opportunity to visit Andre at his home. I met his wonderful wife Michelle, and later the kids when they got home from school. As I was sitting at their kitchen table reconnecting and taking in life’s lessons from Andre, his kids burst into the house. With well-organized chaos each one dropped his/her book bag, told their respective school stories, and then hit the treadmill/mini-gym in the loft area above our heads. I was in shock! Thinking what is this guy doing to these kids. He’s running a factory here. In doing the math TJ would have been about ten years old then. After they finished their work out, it was on to study hall (or homework), Jones Family style. Each kid helping the other, and no one able to leave the table until everyone finished. Four hours later after witnessing the Jones Family System in full progress I ask Andre, ‘How did you get to this point?’ Andre puts his hand on my shoulder, and in the funniest Coach Holtz voice I’d ever heard he says ‘Son, if you want to be great sit here and learn… if you want to be average take your (expletive) (expletive) next door!’ I never laughed so hard… but I got the idea. Crystal clear!”

“I am most grateful for my opportunity to say goodbye to Andre at his home-going ceremony. I have many other memories worth telling but I was profoundly moved by the remarks made by his children. What we all hope to achieve in life more than anything else is a legacy of life, told through the actions, words, and deeds of our children. ‘Always have a smile on your face, a song in your heart, and everything else will be just fine…’ was the message that hit hardest. And that was Andre all the way. His smile was like sunshine. You couldn’t run from it if you tried. Nor would you want to. I never heard Andre sing, but because of his mentorship I never needed to. He taught me how to sing in my own voice. For those life lessons and memories I am eternally grateful for every moment Andre shared with me.”

“Thank you Andre… Love the Suber Family.”

Georgia defensive end, Phillip Daniels

“Andre Jones was the partner of the sports agent that I hired coming out of college (the University of Georgia) and from that point on we became very close. Our sons were close in age and our families grew close over the years. We did a lot of things together both professionally and personally. He was more of a brother to me than just a friend.”

“TJ has always viewed me as his Uncle (and I view him as my nephew), and my son DaVaris viewed Andre as his Uncle. In fact, for a while they thought they were actually related!”

“Andre was there for me any time I needed help or guidance. If I needed him to come to Chicago, he would be on the next plane. Andre was a big part of why DaVaris went to Notre Dame. When Andre heard that DaVaris had received an offer from Notre Dame he would not let up. I just wish that Andre had gotten the chance to see TJ and DaVaris out there on the field at the same time, enjoying each other, because that was his dream. Although I know he is watching them every Saturday and is smiling down on them. When we got to that point when they both had a chance to go to ND, that was his dream.”

“When ‘Dre and I were first getting to know each other, he used to talk about ND all the time. I used to give him so much crap because he talked about Notre Dame all the time and I used to mess with him … man Notre Dame sucks.”

“When we went to ND for DaVaris’ visit, saw the history and tradition of Notre Dame, I saw my son smiling and I said ‘this is nice. This is where you need to be.'”

“All of the sudden I went from hating on Notre Dame to loving Notre Dame. I talk about ND more than UGA now … Andre would be smiling if he could see me today.”

“I never knew much about Notre Dame except from what I heard from Andre and his ND friends … they’d always give me this song and dance about ‘give me 4 years and I’ll give you 40.’ They were right.”

“Everyone who knew Andre and got to meet him … became close to him.”

“I had just talked to ‘Dre the day before he passed. He and I were busy planning the new business we were starting together. He was going to be the sports agent and I was going to do player development.”

“We were brothers … friends … partners …”

“They day I heard he had an aneurysm I thought for sure he would pull out of it.”

“‘Dre was someone who gave you advice and talked to you all the time. He was real, he wouldn’t sugar coat anything; he’d always tell you the truth.”

“When I look at his family and they look at us we are one big family.”

“I’m always checking up on the kids and seeing what they are doing … his kids are very athletic.”

“He was always funny … he always had fun. When the movie Friday came out we watched it so many times and quoted it every time we saw each other.”

“One thing I have to say about ND people … once you get to know them and hang out with them you become close. Renaldo Wynn and I played with each other at Washington and we are still close today. Everyone is family.”

“I can relate a lot to what TJ is going through as I lost my father as a young man. You become the man of the family … but at the same time, as a football player, you feel like your father is on the field with you going into battle … I’m so proud of TJ and all he’s done.”

…

Thank you, TJ! Your dad had a personality that was larger than life and he is profoundly missed. Your Notre Dame family loves you!

Cheers!

The post TJ Jones, Notre Dame Legacy – Thank You appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

BEAT USC Week Raffle to Help Oscar McBride’s “Fit 4 Life Youth Foundation”

Lisa — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 16:00:40 +0000

Oscar McBride (Photo: Lynne Gilbert)

In honor of BEAT USC week I’d like to help out the Irish Player Charities charity of the month, Oscar McBride’s “Fit 4 Life Youth Foundation.”

Fit4Life Youth Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded with the immediate goal of combating America’s fastest growing health epidemic – childhood obesity.

Statistics illustrate the breadth of this epidemic, its negative health consequences, and its cost to Americans. Fit4Life is proud to join this battle and become a leader in the fight by offering programs to get our youth moving towards a healthier lifestyle.

One of the most critical factors in combating the epidemic of obese and overweight children is meeting the challenge of getting our kids to exercise more. Part of this process requires organizations such at Fit4Life to offer fun and inspiring, yet challenging exercise programs that will engage and encourage our children toward a lifetime of fitness. This process also requires instruction and education to balance proper nutrition with the appropriate level of fitness.

By offering a variety of programs, Fit4Life hopes to reach all youth. No one is immune to the economic and societal consequences brought on by the multitude of health conditions suffered due to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is an epidemic, one that does not discriminate. It touches all of us.

Beyond physical fitness programs, Fit4Life also seeks to educate its participants on the importance of education, character and leadership development through its mentorship programs which use sport, culture and positive life experiences as the relational platform. Please visit our Programs and Headlines pages to see our most recent endeavors.

To help Oscar’s foundation I am holding a raffle this week. The winning entry will win a copy of “Echoes From the End Zone: The Men We Became” signed by:

Tony Rice – 88 Championship Team
Pat Terrell – 88 Championship Team
John Foley – 88 Championship Team
Marv Russell – 73 Championship Team
Rick Mirer – Class of 93
Reggie Brooks – Class of 93
Oscar McBride – Class of 94

To enter the raffle please donate $10 to my paypal account through LKND93@sbcglobal.net along with your name and contact information.

On Saturday morning, October 19th, I will draw one lucky winner who will win a signed copy of the book.

All proceeds will be donated to Oscar’s “Fit 4 Life Youth Foundation.”

Thank you in advance for your support and GO IRISH!

Cheers!

Lisa

The post BEAT USC Week Raffle to Help Oscar McBride’s “Fit 4 Life Youth Foundation” appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been

Lisa — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 07:00:40 +0000

Oscar McBride, #80 Notre Dame

The last year has taken me places that I never thought I would have gone.

First … Biggest Fan of the Big East conference.

Now … Notre Dame football author.

In just one week (my how time flies) my new book on Notre Dame football: Echoes From the End Zone: The Men We Became will officially be released. I never intended to write a book, but I guess those are how the best journeys are started, right?

In case you have not been following my “Where Are They Now?” series … this is the interview that started it all!

“Where Are They Now? Oscar McBride”

The purpose of this series is to partly walk down memory lane with some of Notre Dame’s athletic greats, but also to show what they have done post Notre Dame, and after their pro careers, to really make a difference in this world.

My first interviewee is Oscar McBride, and he has certainly set the bar high.

Oscar McBride was born on July 23, 1972, in Gainesville, Fla. Growing up in Florida, Oscar had his heart set on going to Florida State University. That is until he made his official visit to Notre Dame.

Q: Growing up as a kid in Florida, what made you decide to go to Notre Dame?

A: “Two words … Irv Smith.”

“For all intents and purposes, I was headed to Florida State. My Aunt went to Florida State and it was at the top of my list. When Bobby Bowden came to the house to visit my family, he helped my Mom bring in the groceries and stayed for dinner. We were all sold on the idea of me going to Florida State. My official visit to Florida State was for the 1989 FSU-Miami game, a rivalry game that everyone looks forward to, and Florida State beat Miami that year in convincing fashion, 24-10. But when I made my official visit to Notre Dame, in the ever so appealing South Bend, Indiana (not), I met this dude with this big smile and dimples (Irv Smith) who just lit up the room. I met his best friend Nick Smith, and the rest of the guys on the team. I had an amazing weekend and left Notre Dame immediately feeling like I was already part of the Notre Dame family. Bye-bye Florida State.”

“I still remember going to the Orange Bowl scrimmage with my Mom. I saw Chris Zorich tackle Ricky Watters, and saw a huge fleck of gold fly off his helmet, and thought … dude … there is no way that I can play here. Rocket came over to the sidelines and said to me, “We can’t wait to have you here! We are going to win a National Championship next year!” And that’s all it took!”

Q: What was your best football memory during your time at Notre Dame?

A: Oscar had a difficult time coming up with one answer to this question, but he finally replied, “The ’93 football season, which was my senior year.”

“During the 1992 season, I played with a broken jaw and a fracture in my foot. There were all of these questions coming into the 1993 season. What kind of team will Notre Dame bring out this year? They don’t have a quarterback. They don’t have a tight end. They don’t have a running back. Ron Powlus was new to the scene. There were just so many unknowns, and nobody expected us to be as good as we were that year. We just completely played for each other. We had an amazing bunch of guys .. Jeff Burris, Lake Dawson, Marc Edwards, Jim Flannigan, Derrick Mayes, Aaron Taylor, Bryant Young, and Ray Zellars among others, and Coach Holtz did his best to downplay all of the questions and we just went about our business.”

Q: What is your memory of Draft Day?

Oscar McBride, coming out of the tunnel, with the Arizona Cardinals

A: “Prior to draft day I had several conversations with teams who were interested in me. They would tell me things like, ‘if you are still available by x round of the draft, we’d be thrilled to take you.’”

“The NFL Draft finally arrives. The first day, and the first two rounds, come and go, and I was not picked up by any teams. I was kind of bummed because the Chicago Bears had expressed a significant amount of interest, and instead took a punter in the second round. A punter?”

“The third round came and went. Then the fourth … fifth … sixth … Are you kidding me? The seventh round came and went, and still no one had chosen me. After the draft was complete, my phone started ringing off the hook with teams talking to me about their interested in picking me up as a free agent. At this point I say to myself, I am a Florida boy who has lived in freezing South Bend, Indiana for four years, and I have my pick of several teams; I am going to pick somewhere warm! I signed to play tight end for the Arizona Cardinals, and by the fourth game of the season, I was the starting tight end.”

Q: What are the best and worst things about playing in the NFL?

A: “The best part of playing in the NFL is that playing football, something that you love, is actually your job! The challenging part of playing in the NFL is the super long days. You get up early, come in, watch film, go to team meetings, go through each week’s game plan, go out on the field for the walk through, change, practice, eat lunch, work out, shower, more meetings …. The day is long, easily a 12 hour day, but at the end of the day you are still playing football for a living.”

“The worst part of playing in the NFL is the business side of the game. It’s not a matter of being the best player out there … it’s about signing the biggest and best contract and making the most money. Regardless of anyone’s talent level, if you are making the most money, then you are the man. I got signed at the league minimum of $119,000, and started 11 games as a rookie. I was told by coach Buddy Ryan that if I played, he would renegotiate my contract with me and compensate me with the equivalent of being a second round draft pick. We had a deal on the table, and then much to my surprise, after the 1995 season, Buddy Ryan was fired. They brought in Vince Tobin in 1996 and he drafted two additional tight ends, had no desire to renegotiate my contract, and that was the beginning of the end. Unless you are taken as a top draft pick, there is nothing guaranteed or set in stone.”

“After the 1996 season, I was signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. I was there from January until the first week of the season, at which point I was released. “

“After the first preseason game in 1996, I had gone in to talk to Marty Schottenheimer and his staff. I said to them, I know you picked up Tony Gonzalez in the draft. If you are going to cut me (which it seemed as though the writing was on the wall) please cut me now so that I have a chance to find a spot somewhere else. But they kept reassuring me that everything was okay. They told me, ‘You are great for us. There is nothing for you to be worried about.’”

“We were getting ready to play the Rams, the opening game of the season. The trainer was headed over to tape me up when I get tapped on the shoulder, ‘Coach needs to talk to you and bring your play book.’”

“I’m sitting there in Marty Schottenheimer’s office, and he says to me, ‘You were a big surprise to us in camp. You did a great job, but this is a monetary decision ….'”

“Just as I had feared, there was no team for me to go to. All rosters were set. There I was, stuck without a job. Had they released me earlier, I could have found something else, but this was all about the money. And there I was, stuck without a job.”

“When I left the NFL I was really bitter for a long time. I couldn’t watch football. I went through a period of depression. Finally one day, it dawned on me. You graduated from Notre Dame, go get a job. You are only 26 years old, go get a job. And that’s exactly what I did!”

Q: What did you do after football?

Oscar McBride

A: “My first job was as a regional manager for a company that did sales training for people in the car industry. Basically it was an inside sales job, calling upon car dealers, and teaching them how to train their sales reps to be more efficient and effective in their jobs. My territories were Michigan [the car sales Mecca of the United States], and South Carolina. I grew a very thick skin from that job and definitely learned to not take things personally.”

“My next job was in wholesale mortgage banking, and I did that for 11 years. I started out as a sales associate, progressed to National Sales Manager, and eventually made it to be a Vice President.”

“Then I decided to go back to school. I earned my Masters Degree and started teaching at the High School level as well as coaching football. I am currently working towards my Doctorate in Education, because I realize how much I enjoy working with young people. It is such a gift to be able to work with young people, to be able to help shape and mold young football players, both athletically and character wise. And because I have had similar experiences and have been exposed to many of the same situations that they are, I can impart upon them advice to help them make good choices.”

PLACT … coaching coaches.

“In 2008 I attended a National Catholic Educators Conference for teachers and coaches, and as I was looking over all of the seminars that were being offered, one in particular caught my eye. PLACT: Play Like A Champion Today. I thought to myself, hey, I know that! So I went in to the seminar, and Dr. F. Clark Powers was giving a presentation on the importance of developing your sport.

I am sitting in the front row, and am literally on the edge of my seat for the entire presentation. Following the seminar, I introduced myself to Dr. Clark Powers, ‘Hi, I am Oscar Mc’ … and before I can even get my name out he says, ‘You’re Oscar McBride and you played on the ’93 Championship team! You need to be involved in this!’ Within one year I was working with them as a consultant within the Los Angeles Archdiocese, and in October of 2010 they approached me about working for them in full time, and by January of 2011 I was a permanent feature of their staff.”

“There was a point in my life when I was really bitter at Notre Dame, but then I realized that it was not Notre Dame’s fault. I could have prepared myself better for the draft. I could have prepared myself better for the business aspect of the NFL. This was all a part of growing up and realizing that we all are in charge of our lives, and that you are given an opportunity to be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be.”

Q: What is your favorite Lou Holtz Memory?

Stay tuned for more in the “Where are they now?” series!

A: “It is very difficult to pick just one favorite Lou Holtz memory, but this one would definitely be up at the top of the list. In December of 1991 we were down in New Orleans getting ready to play in the Sugar Bowl. No one expected us to win this bowl. No one even thought we belonged in this bowl. They kept telling us that we belonged in a cereal bowl. Our last team practice before the game was held in the convention center in full pads, on concrete, because it was raining outside. He calls us together after practice and gives us his rallying pep talk.”

“Lou began, ‘We have a big game coming up and I want to tell you about Steve Spurrier & our opponent.

Now here is what is going to happen tomorrow. We are going to get the ball on offense, we are going to give the ball to Jerome Bettis, and he is going to score on the first drive. Then we are going to come out on defense, we are going to get the ball back on a turnover, Jerome is going to get the ball back on offense, and he is going to score again. Then I want you to look across the field and you will see Steve Spurrier throw his headset on the ground and start to pout.’”

“January 1, 1992 … we take the field and Jerome gets the ball on offense. Jerome then scores on 45 yard touchdown play. The Gators get the ball back on offense, and Demetrius DuBose gets the interception giving us the ball back. Then Jerome comes back out and scores again. We look across the field and right before our eyes Spurrier throws down his head set, crosses his arms and starts to pout.”

“We all look at each other and say … ‘What just happened??’”

“After that moment, my level of respect for Coach Holtz went through the roof. I knew that not only had he studied the team and knew their tendencies, studied what they were going to do on offense, defense, and special teams; but he also had studied the manners of Coach Spurrier as well. He really went above and beyond in doing his job.”

Relentless Wisdom by Oscar McBride

So what is next for Oscar McBride? In addition to his involvement with Play Like a Champion Today and coaching at Capistrano Valley High School…he has written a book, “Relentless Wisdom: A Collection of Thoughts, Ideas and Opinions.” Relentless Wisdom examines the world of sports and athletics and encourages the reader to critically think about its evolution. In the book McBride encourages coaches, parents and athletes alike to “step up” their level of responsibility with regards to sport and the powerful impact it has on society.

He is also involved in Play Like a Champion Today’s Uganda initiative, which is promoting sports as a form of physical, moral and social development for the children in Uganda. His newest project is the release of his radio show on the TNNDN Radio Network to help teach others the importance of the development of character through sports.

“The most important part of being a good coach is imparting upon your players (and often times their parents, too) that making good decisions on the field can be translated into making good decisions in life,” McBride said.

I hope you have enjoyed my first installment of “Where Are They Now?” featuring former Notre Dame Athletes and how they are making their mark on the world. Stayed tuned for the next installment soon. I must say though, Oscar McBride is going to be tough to top!

Do you want to learn more about Oscar McBride? You can find him on Twitter at @Ask_Oscar, on Facebook at Ask Oscar McBride, and check out his brand new web site at www.OscarMcBride.com.

If you enjoye Oscar’s interview, please check out my new book (for sale August 1st) … Echoes From the End Zone: The Men We Became.

Cheers!

The post What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Blue-Gold Game Photo Journal

Lisa — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:00:06 +0000

It just so happened that Notre Dame’s spring football game took place the same weekend that I needed to make a trip up to campus to do some final work on my upcoming book on Notre Dame football (Echoes After the Whistle: The Men We Became). Funny how that worked out, now isn’t it? Here is my photo journal of my weekend back on campus!

My weekend started out on Thursday with a day of research in Notre Dame Archives sifting through decades of Notre Dame football photographs. It was a lovely walk down memory lane for me, along with some bitter sweet memories of those who are no longer with us, but I was able to get my work done with time to spare!

Notre Dame Archives

Then I made a side trip to the second floor of the library for a little editing work on the manuscript. Oh the hours that I’ve spent in this building! Look familiar Miss Quinn?

Second Floor – Hesburgh Library

Thursday night I caught up with friends, regrouped, and got ready for another hectic day. Friday got off to a busy start with a photo shoot on campus for the upcoming book.

(Photo Credit: Lynne Gilbert)

Then I got the chance to meet USA Network’s “The Moment” star Vince Moiso and his lovely family.

USA Network’s Vince Moiso from “The Moment”

And producer Charlie Ebersol …

USA Network producer, Charlie Ebersol

Followed by a delightful 45 minute conversation with Notre Dame head photographer, Matt Cashore.

My best pal Lynne and Matt Cashore!

Quick outfit change and off to the Alumni Football Dinner we go!

Football Alumni Dinner

At my table I got to sit with current football players Austin Collinsworth and Ben Councell. A pair of delightful young men that I am proud to call Notre Dame men.

Ben Councell and Austin Collinsworth, oh and me!

At the table next to me was my best pal and classmate, Irv Smith, sitting with Big Lou, Louis Nix III.

Louis Nix III and Irv Smith. (Photo Credit: Lynne Gilbert)

Dinner was awesome. The keynote speakers included TJ Jones, Bennett Jackson, Kyle Rudolph and head coach Brian Kelly. I am so very proud of these young men, especially TJ Jones. He has really stepped up, not only as a true Notre Dame man, but as the man of his house since the passing of his father, Andre. God bless you TJ!

TJ Jones

I had the chance to catch up with one of my Dad’s classmates, Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte. What a truly wonderful man.

Heisman Trophy winner, John Huarte

And I also had the chance to catch up with my classmate, Irv Smith. It seems like not a day has passed since we were in school!

Irv Smith

Following dinner I had the opportunity to go to a reception in the stadium which included a tour of the locker room and a chance to touch the “Play Like A Champion Today” sign. Yep, I could die right now a very happy girl!

The Notre Dame locker room!

Cindy and I in the locker room!

See, Notre Dame and St. Mary’s girls can get along!

The sign!!

Play Like a Champion Today

All this and I’m not even to the game yet! Saturday was another bright and early day! First stop, the TNNDN tailgate and some time with classmate Oscar McBride.

Oscar McBride

Then a quick stop to the monogram lunch to catch up with a few more friends …

Oscar McBride, Kapron Lewis Moore, Irv Smith

And …

Former teammates Irv Smith, Lee Becton and Oscar McBride

Game time and I had the honor of being down on the field with some of my pals. You could not have asked for better football weather … sunny, crisp air, blue sky … perfect.

2013 Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game

On the sideline with the boys …

Irv Smith and Oscar McBride

Tight End U …

Wide Receiver Bobby Brown and Tight Ends: Irv Smith, Kyle Rudolph, Oscar McBride

THE moment of the game? Manti Te’o coming over to hug my friend Lynne … Amazing. The Notre Dame family is truly just that … family.

This says it all … Notre Dame is family. (Photo Credit: Matt Cashore)

It was a truly amazing weekend. I love my Notre Dame family more than words can express, and I have absolutely no complaints when football is part of my weekend schedule. Now I am just more in need for football season to get here.

My Notre Dame ladies!

How many days until Temple?

Sigh.

Cheers!

The post Blue-Gold Game Photo Journal appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Where Are They Now? Kevin McDougal

Lisa — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:20:09 +0000

All Kevin McDougal ever wanted at Notre Dame was a chance to prove himself as a quarterback. McDougal sat for three years behind star quarterback Rick Mirer, then watched as Coach Lou Holtz named incoming freshman Ron Powlus the starter even though he’d never thrown a pass in college. McDougal felt he had earned his shot after leading more than a dozen scoring drives in a backup role and soaking up the offense for three years. Powlus suffered a broken collarbone and McDougal stepped in to lead the Irish on a Cinderella journey that some believe should have resulted in a national championship. McDougal completed 105-of-174 passes that season for 1,646 yards and seven touchdowns and five interceptions. (Stats from http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kevin-mcdougal-2.html) After leaving Notre Dame, McDougal played in the World League of American Football for the London Monarchs, the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the XFL’s Chicago Enforcers, and for Milwaukee and Georgia in the Arena Football League. He retired as a player in 2002 and returned to his home state of Florida, where he and Marci Dorsey are proud parents of a new daughter, Haven Dorsey McDougal.

Q: Being from Florida you obviously had other college choices. Why did you go with Notre Dame?

Kevin McDougal, Notre Dame quarterback.

A: “Throughout my entire life, everything revolved around the Florida Gators. Everyone in my family was a Florida Gator fan, and so as far as I was concerned I was going to be a Gator as well. When I got to high school, I discovered that there were lots of other choices. During my sophomore and junior years, I started getting communications from several different schools that were interested in me, and then my senior year it just exploded.”

“Vinny Cerrato, who was the football recruiting coordinator under Lou Holtz, did an outstanding job of recruiting in the late 1980’s, early 90’s, and brought many talented players to Notre Dame, but they really hit the Florida area hard. Just in my class alone he recruited Tommy Carter, John Covington, Clint Johnson, Oscar McBride and I out of Florida. To convince a Florida kid to leave the warmth of Florida, the close proximity to home and attend a school in South Bend, Ind., is quite an accomplishment. We were all actively recruited by Florida schools and yet we all left and went to Notre Dame.”

Q: What impacted you the most during your recruiting visit to Notre Dame?

A: “Once Notre Dame started recruiting you, it made you much more attractive to other schools as well. When I was looking at schools, I was not only looking at football programs, but I was also looking at basketball and golf since I was a three-sport guy. I took five official visits: West Virginia, Syracuse, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Michigan (where his recruiting host was Desmond Howard). Back then, Notre Dame brought all of the top recruits in the nation to campus for the weekend that the team was preparing for its bowl game. There we were watching the top Notre Dame players get ready for their bowl game the following weekend. To see Rocket Ismail, Chris Zorich and Tony Rice out there on the practice field had me in such complete awe because they were such high profile players. Notre Dame was bigger than just about any pro team, and watching them made me think that this might be too much for me … maybe I should go play basketball. Notre Dame had just gotten the big NBC contract and they were on TV and in the national spotlight every week, which was pretty much unheard of at the time. Fast forward to my freshman year at Notre Dame … after I was the backup quarterback behind Rick Mirer in 1990 and went to Miami for the Orange Bowl, the next weekend I flew back to Notre Dame to play with Coach Digger Phelps and the basketball team in the Christmas basketball tournament. I had badly hurt my ankle during my senior year in high school and I had struggled with bone spurs all of freshman year. After I completed the Christmas basketball tournament, I made the decision to give up basketball and focus on football. I called Coach Phelps and told him that I was going to have to give up basketball and have surgery done to remove the bone spurs. Playing football was not nearly as hard on my ankles as basketball was, I just couldn’t take the constant jumping. It was too much pounding on my ankles.”

Q: Can you talk a little bit about the relationship that you had with your teammates?

A: “There was an extremely strong bond between the guys on that team. Notre Dame was a school that brought kids in from all over the country … California, Florida, Ohio, New York… and Lou Holtz and his recruiters, in particular Vinny Cerrato, did a great job at bringing a certain type of kid to Notre Dame. We had just an outstanding group of guys who really cared about football, and each other and really worked hard.”

“We still have tight bonds today. My senior year, when Coach Holtz told me that I was not going to be the starter, my teammates immediately got behind me to fight for me to be the starter and their leader. The camaraderie we had was indescribable. I really felt the love when the guys stuck up for me, because they felt that it was the right thing to do.”

Q: Was that your biggest challenge during your time at Notre Dame?

Kevin McDougal, Notre Dame vs Florida State game.

A: “I think my whole college football career was a challenge. When people recruit you they tell you that you will have the opportunity to play. They tell you, “We only have this one person at your position so if you work hard you can be a starter.” I had no idea how good Rick Mirer was and after seeing him play I thought I was never going to get the chance to play. Recruiting me, they told me that they were expecting Mirer to leave early, so I always felt I was going to get two good years. It was a huge blow to me when he decided to stay for his senior year. Once I was finally a senior and thought that my time was finally there, that’s when the Ron Powlus Era started. In comes this phenom whom everyone was touting as the best quarterback to ever come out of high school, and he got the start over me. I was devastated. I had played tremendously well up to this point and really felt that it was my turn to be in the spotlight.”

“During my junior year, every time I would get into the game with the second team we would score, so I thought I would be the next starter. It was definitely a hurtful time for me once Lou decided to start Powlus. Then after he suffered an unfortunate injury, I finally got my chance to start and we did really well that year … we almost won the national title. That senior year was tough for me though, because I always felt like I wasn’t wanted, especially by the coaching staff.”

Q: What is your favorite Notre Dame Football memory?

A: The Florida State game was unbelievable for so many reasons. For starters, we had just become the No. 1 team in the nation, so for a week I quarterbacked the No. 1 team in the nation and not many quarterbacks can say that. There was so much media hype surrounding that week. It was the first ESPN Game Day ever. So many big people were there, including Costas. Very surreal. My breakout game was the Michigan game my senior year. We were expected to get clobbered and instead we upset them (27-23). It was the second game of the year and we had just beaten Northwestern at home. Huge win.

ND/Michigan intro ABC sports:

Q: How shocked were you when you found out the day after the Cotton Bowl that Notre Dame ranked second in the polls?

A: “Immediately after the game, we definitely felt we would at least share the national title. We beat Florida State, and even though we lost to Boston College the next week, we still beat Florida State. How can they give the title to them (Florida State) when we beat them during the regular season? If they (the voters) didn’t want a shared title between Notre Dame and Florida State, they should have given it to someone else. It just didn’t make sense. The whole thing was very upsetting to us. I was on my way back to the airport with Coach Holtz to go back home when we found out and it was really sad. We could taste it, and then to have it taken away like that was devastating. At a minimum we thought we’d share it.”

Q: You were drafted by the Los Angeles Rams but did not survive the final roster cut. You played in several other professional leagues, so what was that experience like?

A: “Of course I was hurt. I didn’t get invited to the NFL combine. I didn’t get invited to any senior bowl games. Half of our coaching staff had left at the end of that season and they really didn’t follow up with the NFL scouts to help us find our way to the NFL. Once I got to the Rams they were going through a transition as well, and unfortunately they decided that I was not part of their plan moving forward. When I got to the Canadian Football league, I just fell off the radar. Back then TV was not like it is today where you can pretty much watch everything, and the CFL games were not televised in the U.S. The way the system worked was that you had to play a few years in the CFL and prove yourself before you could get the chance to come back to the NFL. I was very unhappy in Winnipeg. When you have to go backwards in order to move forward, you really need to be in a good state of mind to stay motivated. I got to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and got stuck behind a Canadian football legend Matt Dunigan, and at the time he was the second-best player in the whole league. They loved me but I never got a chance to play.”

“There were positive aspects of my time playing in the CFL, World League and Arena Football. I’m still friends with a lot of those guys, and we still talk quite often. The friendships that I took away from all those years of playing football are something that I’ll always treasure. It never was about money. It was about the fun of the game and being able to continue to play, meet people and grow in life. You learn so much about how to live your life from sports; especially teamwork and camaraderie.”

Q: Where did life take you after football?

A: “I was heavy into real estate and I did that for a few years. Right now I own a transportation company, KCD NonEmergency Transport Corp., and I’ve been doing that for a few years. We transport people in wheel chair vans and regular vans to their doctor appointments. We do a lot of work through rehabilitation facilities and we are looking to expand and grow our business. We have big plans for our road ahead, and being in Florida we have a booming market.”

Q: What advice do you have for current college athletes?

A: “Never give up. No matter how successful you are, sports only lasts for a short period of time. You may feel like you’ve been in it forever, but when you are done your life is just beginning. I’ve been out of sports for 10 years and I’m 40 and I feel like I have my whole life ahead of me. Definitely enjoy playing sports, practice hard and soak up every moment but know that it’s only a temporary thing. Prepare yourself for life afterwards. I think a lot of athletes think they are going to play for a long time and they are going to make it to the pros and that is so false. Even while you are still playing, (you) always need to be thinking about what you are going to do when you get out because you are still going to be a young man. Enjoy every day.”

Q: What is your favorite Lou Holtz memory?

A. “The quarterbacks spent so much time with him you get tons of stories. Clint Johnson was lined up at receiver and the cornerbacks were pressing him and the other receivers so as to not let him off the line. The defensive back fell down and I didn’t even read the defense and I just threw it to Clint (or maybe Lake Dawson) because they were wide open, but Coach kicked me out of practice because I did not make the read. All I could hear was him yelling, “GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT.”

Kevin McDougal (Photo: Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)

And the look on his face as he was screaming at me to get out was the look of a crazy man. As I’m walking off the field and he’s still yelling at me, I’m thinking to myself, does he want me to stay and fight or does he want me to go to the locker room? These things happened all the time with Coach Holtz at practice. Another time, Clint Johnson fumbled the ball during a run at practice, right before we played Michigan, and he made Clint go stand on the Michigan side of the field and move the first-down marker during practice. Humiliation was something he used often. Clint Johnson and B.J. Hawkins were also quarterbacks, and our playbook was so big that it was often hard to remember all of the plays. We were having a particularly bad day at practice, and Coach Holtz got so mad at us that he combined all of our names together when yelling at us … ‘Clint McHawkins!'”

“Michael Miller was returning punts one day at practice, and he kept fumbling the ball. Holtz is so frustrated that he goes out there and says ‘let me do it.’ The wind was blowing particularly hard that day, and he caught the ball, but the force of the ball hitting his hand broke his finger! He sure showed us.”

A big thank you goes out to Kevin McDougal for stopping byand walking down memory lane with me a bit. Next up is Notre Dame legend and Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Brown.

Cheers!

The post Where Are They Now? Kevin McDougal appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

A Season Considered: Talking the NCG, Coach Kelly and Manti Te’o with Kevin McDougal and Oscar McBride

Bayou Irish — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:00:50 +0000

I am an unabashed Class of 1994 homer. For us, our senior season came out of nowhere. The Golden Boy 2.0 felled by injury. Untried and untested Kevin McDougal (’94) stepping under center and into the limelight. A daunting schedule. If it weren’t for an unimaginable loss to Boston College, we, too, would have been undefeated.

To compare Kevin McDougal to Everett Golson is perhaps too facile and superficial, but here goes: mobile quarterbacks from the South, consistently good enough in their bright-lights debuts to put the Irish in contention for a national championship. Sure, Kevin never had to look over his shoulder at a Tommy Rees, but both brought similar styles to a program trying to get back to the top. They are, in a way, the perfect bookends to our twenty years of “irrelevance.” You can imagine, then, my excitement when both Kevin and Oscar McBride (’94, www.oscarmcbride.com), agreed to sit down with me on January 17 and discuss the past season, Coach Kelly, the program’s direction and, of course, Manti Te’o.

“I Threw Up In My Mouth.”

When asked for his thoughts on the Alabama game, Oscar came out firing. “I threw up in my mouth.” I played tight end during the Holtz years. Back then, tight end didn’t mean being spread out in four wide. It meant being an extra lineman and opening up lanes for Jerome Bettis and Lee Becton and making sure that K-Mac stayed clean. So, [the NCG] was troubling. We were ‘out-physical-ed’ [and it looked like] we flinched. We looked like we were just happy to be there.”

Kevin agreed. “It’s hard to see a team get beat that way. It felt like from an offensive standpoint [that] we were not doing enough. We didn’t use the quarterback’s talents the way we had. You can still strike fast with a QB like that. We were behind to [Boston College] by 21, but we never went to five wide. [Coach] Holtz let me check to what I felt best doing. I’ve never been on [Coach] Kelly’s sideline, so I don’t know what he let Everett Golson do, but I know that when you coach against a cutting-edge coach like [Nick] Saban, you have to let your quarterback loose.”

Both former ND standouts were perplexed by what appeared to be a limited, and confounding, playbook in the big game. “[It was] disturbing,” said Oscar. “We didn’t run any draws or any screens.” “No post routes or underneath stuff,” added McDougal. Clearly frustrated, Oscar asked to no one in particular, “why go at the All American corner?” Pausing for either effect or in frustration, he continued, “football is a simple game. At the end of the day, it’s simple. You go where they are not. We seemed to go at [Alabama’s] strengths.” Later in the interview, Kevin returned to the topic to say, “that’s what was so disturbing. We didn’t try a trick play or anything.”

“If I’m getting beat to death, I’m going to blitz more.”

That my two interviewees played offense was not going to stop me from trying to get answers about the poor showing by our defense in the NCG. Kevin was quick to express his bewilderment about an anemic display that never changed throughout the game. “If I’m getting beat to death, I’m going to blitz more. I’m going to cause chaos and not let a QB like that have time. Any blitzes we did run came way too late and weren’t disguised enough. They played [the game] on grass and Landry looked pretty clean!” Oscar emphasized that on defense we seemed to play into ‘Bama’s strengths as well. “We didn’t take anything away from them. We didn’t put eight in the box and make McCarron beat us.”

Then, Kevin turned the tables and asked, “where do you draw the line in being a good athlete? How do you stack our athletes against theirs?” But these were questions to which Kevin knew the answers. “At some point, you throw the book away and just make plays. Against Boston College, we didn’t make plays all game. We didn’t play well. But at a certain point, we said ‘that’s it.'” Both former players cited specific plays in the NCG where the Irish just didn’t make the play. “Manti,” for one said Oscar, “came free in the A-gap and just missed Lacey.”

Oscar picked that theme up and ran with it. “As freshman, we were put in a room with Zorich and [the senior leadership]. They said, ‘you’re going to play our way, or this is not the team for you.’ Coach Kelly has done a great job changing the culture, but we still don’t have that bottom-line belief that somehow, some way, someone is going to make that play and we’re going to win.”

“Saban Can Do This With His Eyes Closed.”

Seeing that we were in the diminishing wake of the Coach Kelly-Eagles flirtation, I wanted their thoughts on whether they thought BK was the man to bring ND back, or whether he already had. To Oscar, the proof would be in the pudding and play of the upcoming season. “We’ll see next season. This will be [Coach Kelly’s] first senior class. They know his offense, his defense and his system. But, [winning and losing] is squarely on the men in the locker room.” “I agree,” said Kevin. “Kelly has a chance to build on what happened. I the game was a learning experience for Kelly, too. Saban can do this with his eyes closed.”

“Love Makes You Do Crazy Things. He’s Got To Know That the Moment Will Pass.”

When asked if he thought Manti Te’o had likely been affected in the NCG by the (then) secret hoax, Kevin was not sure. “Athletes handle adversity differently. We don’t know what happened. It could well have affected him But this is all one player, and the University is standing behind him, helping him get through and that’s what [recruits] want to see.” Oscar, though, was more certain that something wasn’t right with Manti. “We all watched the game and asked, ‘What the Hell is wrong with Manti?’ He was using his girlfriend’s death as fuel. He used it to get in the zone. And you put him on the banquet circuit and the trophies and I can’t imagine the guilt he must have felt. He was probably thinking about all the people he let down. I believe firmly that sport is life and how he handles this is the way he would respond to a different kind of loss.”

Kevin struck an almost fatherly note, adding “love makes you do crazy things. He [Manti]’s got know that the moment will pass.” That comment was Proustian madeleine for Oscar. “Remember our sophomore year (1991)? Tennessee calls it ‘The Miracle in South Bend.’ I remember how painful that was. And I remember Demetrius [DuBose] saying ‘if this doesn’t kill us, it will make us stronger.’ Manti can do that.”

“I’m on the Record: I’m Glad I’m Old.”

The Manti situation fomented more questions, mostly because I was fascinated to learn about the interaction between college stars and the world around them. Oscar started us off. “We had a class on how to handle the media and the expectations of being an ND player on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Of course, we didn’t have cell phones. I thought Tony Smith was the man because he had a beeper. We could go to our rooms and hang out. [To escape] all we had to do was not answer the phone.” Kevin carried on the theme by saying, “social media takes away your privacy. Everyone has access to you and can pretend to be your friend or your lost cousin.”

“Manti,” Oscar added, “shows that you can be a super human athlete and a celebrity and still be naïve enough to gall in love with a woman who doesn’t exist. These kids are babies and they’re thrust into constant media attention. It was hard enough for us.” Kevin quickly interjected, “now they can take a picture of you on a cell phone and doctor it. It’s scary. Back in the day, you could take a picture with anyone. Now…”

Oscar jumped in, laughing, “I’m on the record: I’m glad I’m old.”

“This is Going to Help the Program Big Time. Recruits Want to Play for a Winner.”

Since I had the opportunity, I asked Kevin about the looming battle royale shaping up at QB. He said that it’s “[a] nice problem. It shows to the recruiting classes that Kelly has great respect for them. He kept Golson in the whole game and I think that’s going to have Golson coming back with fire in his eyes. We’re going to be fine because at QB, if you’re set, you’re ahead of the game.” Oscar, too, was upbeat about the QB position. “[It’s a] great problem to have great backups. Make reservations now for the spring game. That competition will be insane.”

“For People to Give Him Grief for Looking at the NFL is Completely Unfair.”

I wrapped up the interview by asking for Oscar’s and Kevin’s thoughts on us, ND Fan, and the Eagles situation. Oscar started us off. “[Notre Dame] fans have always been consistent. They are by far the classiest group of fans I’ve seen. But that creates an expectation that you will be as loyal to ND as they are. You look at Coach Kelly. He’s always been fiery, he’s always been a hell of a coach and I think that gets NFL interest. He took over a team that was beat down and demoralized. For people to give him grief for looking at the NFL is completely unfair. There’s no loyalty in sport anymore. That he stayed is incredible. The fact that he [Coach Kelly] knew what was going on [with Te’o]. I’m not a big Pete Carroll fan. He just happens to leave right before the sanctions come down? Come on.”

Kevin, too, was nonplussed, if not impressed, by the whole thing. “I’m definitely glad he stayed. Like Oscar said, you definitely want to check. We all do that. If you have a great price on a microwave, you’re going to go check the other store just in case. I respect that he looked.”

As you can see, loyal readers, we covered a lot of ground. I cannot thank Oscar and Kevin enough for their time and their candor. These are special, special guys.

The post A Season Considered: Talking the NCG, Coach Kelly and Manti Te’o with Kevin McDougal and Oscar McBride appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.