Ride Home Rants
Ride Home Rants
From Friday Night Lights to the National Guard: A Journey Through Football, Service, and Community
What if your high school didn't have a football team? Join us as Jordan Hefner takes us through the unique experience of moving from Kinsman, Ohio, a town without a high school football program, to Mathews High School, where the Friday night lights gleamed brightly. Jordan shares the emotional turbulence of leaving behind a familiar community and forging new friendships amidst the roar of cheering crowds. We also contemplate the potential future of small school districts—could the introduction of football programs and school mergers reshape local culture and student opportunities?
Relive the highs and lows of high school football, as we reminisce about unforgettable playoff runs and league championships under Coaches Palumbo and Protopapa at Mathews. Hear about the intense scrimmages against teams like Lakeview and Farrell, and how these experiences steered me towards a life-changing decision. Discover how a close connection with a National Guard recruiter influenced the path of joining the military. It's a story of camaraderie, competition, and the critical moments that define a young athlete's life.
From the rigid discipline of basic training to the diverse challenges of a law enforcement career in rural Ohio, this episode captures the multifaceted journey of a National Guard member. We explore the hurdles of balancing police academy training with semi-pro football coaching, and the unique tasks faced by a rural officer—like corralling runaway horses. Wrapping up, we express our deep appreciation for those who serve in public safety roles, and share a lighthearted segment of rapid-fire questions to end on a high note. Listen in for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation that underscores the importance of c
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Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. This is your special guest, host Fitty, and today we have another great episode for you with another great guest who is actually coming on for the first time but was a part of the Matthews football preview earlier this summer with former guest of the show and roundtable contributor, drew McLaughlin. Before we get started with Jordan and who he is and what he's all about, let's talk about the new sponsors that we have, but please check out all the sponsors in the pre-roll and the post-roll and make sure you support these small businesses. We have three new sponsors we're going to talk about very quickly, and the first one is Buddy's Beard Care. Buddy's Beard Care provides premium men's grooming products at an affordable price. Products are made in Ohio and Buddy's Beard Care supports local at an affordable price. Products are made in Ohio and Buddy's Beard Care supports local. The majority of their supplies are from the Ohio-based companies and you can find them on social media at Buddy's Beard Care or online at wwwbuddiesbeardcarecom.
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Speaker 1:And finally, the last sponsor of the show, one we definitely want to talk about here, is Deemed Fit. It is Deemed Deemed Fit. Make sure everybody emphasizes the it part deemed fit. So it's for first responders and it's owned and operated by first responders. It's a company designed to help first responders and veterans with mental and physical health. You can use the promo code mike bono to get 20% off Deemed fit. Check out all these great sponsors. Their links are definitely in the information for the show. So, with all that being said, we can finally get to Jordan. Our guest today is Jordan Hefner and, again, former guest of the roundtable that we had for the second annual Matthews Football Preview with former guest and roundtable contributor Drew McLaughlin. Jordan, welcome to the show man.
Speaker 2:What's happening, Fiddy? How are you?
Speaker 1:I'm great man. I'm glad to be talking to you. How's everything your way?
Speaker 2:Oh, pretty good, Pretty good, can't complain.
Speaker 1:Great, Great. So, Jordan, I know we talked a little bit about your coaching background on the Matthews Football Roundtable, but let's kind of tell everybody where are you from originally?
Speaker 2:um, and you know where did you go to high school at? Uh, I'm from kinsman, ohio. Uh, up until seventh grade I went to badger, um, they didn't have a football program, um, I was actually on the very first peewee program they ever had, um. And then, after seventh grade, when you couldn't play anymore, obviously, uh, I transferred and I went to Matthews, um graduated from Matthews too. So, yeah, Okay.
Speaker 1:So what was it like growing up at a place you know in Kinsman, and going to Badger that didn't have a, uh, a football team for the high school? Is that a little bit different as a you know, as a school and a culture, not having football? Yeah, yeah, it's really weird. Was that a little bit different as a school and a culture?
Speaker 2:not having football. Yeah, yeah, it's really weird. So you would think like I've had all these friends that I grew up with from, you know, preschool, kindergarten, all the way up until seventh grade. But I really didn't have that. I really had to make new friends when I left and went to Matthews. But another thing too, like with friends so a lot of my friends that I had, they all played football, so they all went to different schools, whether it was, you know, I had two of my friends went to Kennedy. Uh, one of my friends went to Garfield, bunch of them went to Brookfield, one went to PV. Like everybody just scattered, it was a little, it was a little weird. Um, you know, you definitely see a difference in the community, like in vienna, you know, you can definitely tell it's friday night during football season in vienna and you know, kinsman, it's kind of just another day sure do you.
Speaker 1:I always wonder that too, being, uh, being so close to kinsman growing up across the border in pa. Do you know why they never had football? Was it just because the lack of the size of the school, or was there a reason behind it? Do you have any idea?
Speaker 2:I have no idea. I know they made a very, very, very big push. The guys that started the Peewee program who all have football backgrounds, they made a really big push. They were calling special board meetings for it and it just never came together. I don't know, they just don't want it. I don't know.
Speaker 1:Interesting. Yeah, I know there's a lot, of a lot of schools on that border of Ohio with Pennsylvania that that don't have football and you kind of wonder you know what is the school atmosphere like? Because you don't have. You know Friday nights there's not the marching band opportunities in that sense, or you know cheerleading for football games. I think it's definitely different, but I guess if you grow up not having it, you don't know any different either. You know, and I think as we go forward here into 2024, 2025, as we see small districts shrinking and potentially combining, maybe we'll see some of these potential mergers, uh, with with these schools and then maybe adding football to add to the dynamic of the high school. So time will tell on that. So you go to matthews and you are now a student there. Um, can you kind of talk about what it was like being at such a small school though that that had football, and know what were you involved in with sports or extracurriculars and just kind of your time, your time at Matthews?
Speaker 2:So for for it being a small school, I really didn't know the difference. I honestly thought, you know, I was going to Matthews. They had football, so it was a bigger school because Badger obviously didn't have it. It was a bigger school because Badger obviously didn't have it. I came in in the summer, going into my eighth grade year, and with all the middle school guys playing football, I had Coach Mazey and Coach Feil were my coaches. You know, Coach Mazey's still around. We actually had a 40-minute phone conversation yesterday. But Coach Feil, he passed about two years ago. Uh, great guy, great guy, he actually he was. He's one of those guys that he always, he always kept you locked in um middle school. I didn't play basketball in middle school, no, I wasn't able to. And then all I, actually all I did when I was in eighth grade, I just played football, waited, I lifted my butt off for my freshman year okay.
Speaker 1:So then you, you get to high school and then you're part of the. The high school team and some of our former guests are well connected with matthews, whether that's you, mclaughlin, or coach matt polta, um mike palumbo, they're all people that have worked and work worked previously and work at Matthews. Now can you kind of talk about your relationship with those people and what that was like as a student to now being an adult and being back at Matthews as a football coach?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think Palumbo was really, really good coach.
Speaker 2:It was actually a kind of a heartbreaker for me, uh after my junior year when I you know when he left, but I understand he uh had kids, he's building a family, all that, um.
Speaker 2:And coach polta you know, I've been around coach polta since my freshman year, with a little bit of break after I graduated, but you know, that guy teaches me new things every day, um, you know, drew was there my freshman year too. I think that was his second year coaching uh ever, and he was actually uh one of my linebacker coaches. So it's really cool now that I have but I'm on a staff with coach bolta, andrew, and you know coach maizey too, like I talked about before, he's there on and off. But you know Coach Mazey too, like I talked about before, he's there on and off, but you know, right now he's really focused on being a parent. His son, zach, who was a tailback and outside linebacker for us last year, he's playing at Teal College now. So he's really having a good time watching this kid finally play as a parent other than as a coach.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:There's definitely a different dynamic when you're a dad um versus versus dad being being a fan and, and especially when you can be a proud dad watching your child. Um, you know, play any type of college sports, because there's very few people that go on to the d3, d2, d1, one, double, a juco naia levels and play. Can you kind of talk about, too, your time at Matthews under Coach Palumbo? You know the success that you guys had and I believe Coach Protopapa would have been there your senior year, I know. You know, when I was coaching, whether it was in Pennsylvania or Ohio, we were always intermixed with Matthews. We had some great relationships with them, whether it was passing scrimmages or or the, you know, preseason scrimmages, junior high games, things like that. Can you kind of talk about your uh, you know your four years there in a nutshell and what your guys were able to accomplish?
Speaker 2:yeah, uh, I remember when you're at uh Lakeview, your first year that was my senior year we came there for a seven on seven. It was us Lakeview, uh, camel and barrel was there yep, yep, that's correct yeah, because I thought we were so good because we scored on ferrell like three times and then that I don't know what happened. I think they ended up winning. I think they were runner up in the state state championship game that year. They were pretty good yeah, they were.
Speaker 1:They were really good and that you know that was a a great passing um scrimmage. The two years that I was there we uh, we did four of them at home but that first year we were kind of pressed on time but I really enjoyed um that passenger. I thought that was some great competition between the four of us. Oh yeah, and I know that was something coach protopapa really uh, really enjoyed the relationship that we had at lakeview PA with Matthews being so close.
Speaker 2:That's weird, because he's not a passing guy at all. He won't throw the ball. I remember he used to say three things can happen when you can throw the ball, and two of them are bad. Why would you do it?
Speaker 1:For sure. But I always enjoyed Coach Protopapa and Coach Palumbo and coaching against Drew and Coach Mostello as well. Coach polto always had a good relationship coaching against those guys for you know 10 years plus off and on. But um, you know you guys had some success there with with coach palumbo and you know coach protopapa. Can you kind of talk about some?
Speaker 1:of the maybe major wins that you remember and, uh, you know what it was like. I believe you went to the playoffs a couple of times too. Can you kind of talk about that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, my sophomore year. Uh, we made it to the playoffs first time in like 10 years, I think. Uh, we went up to Norwalk, st Paul, that was. Uh, that was a rough night. Uh, I'm gonna be honest, I don't really remember too much about that game. It took a lot of hits, you know, and at that time so actually my sophomore year I was ineligible for the regular season. Um, there was kind of a mix up with, uh, a class schedule that we had, so at the end of the year I only had four and a half credits, cause I only had like five classes at the end of the year and one of them was only a half credit. Um, so I got to play in the playoff game, which was awesome, and, uh, I was on like every special teams played a little bit of receiver, um, but I was on kickoff, so much and I got hit every time and it was like I was like man, I waited all year for this. And then my, uh, and we actually won the league that year. We did win the league that year, my junior year, I believe. It went eight and two go down to Toronto first, first week of the playoffs, I believe at halftime it was still a really tight game. I think it was like he was like 14-8. We were down 14-8 and then it just kind of, you know, he just took off from there. There's kind of a track meet for toronto. From there they just kind of went with it.
Speaker 2:Um, my senior year with coach protopapa, uh, we went, I think think we went six and four or five and five, I can't remember but we had to beat Newberry week 10 to make the playoffs and it was. You know, you think of Newberry. You know it doesn't matter pretty much who you are. That's a lock Like. You're winning that game. They're notorious for being horrible. Are. That's a lock. You're winning that game. They're notorious for being horrible. We go in and I think six of our starters got ejected. Just a bunch of head cases we had. And uh, yeah, we lost. But I think I think we lost by three. Yeah, I think they beat us by three. So it didn't make the playoffs my senior year but you know what?
Speaker 1:You got to experience it twice and back then it was the eight team playoff, not the 16 team.
Speaker 2:I hate, I hate what it is now. It's so dumb. I hate what it is now. It's so dumb, I hate it.
Speaker 1:Right. It's a sense of pride when you could have made it into the Make it. Make it 10 teams, 10 teams. Make it top two seeds, get a bye. Yeah, I'm with you on, I'm with you on that one. So you finished up your your high school career and then you go to the military. Can you kind of talk about when you were finishing up your senior year? You know, ultimately, what were you wanting to do? Military? Can you kind of talk about when you were finishing up your senior year? You know, ultimately, what were you wanting to do, why you chose the military and kind of your time in the military?
Speaker 2:so through my senior year we had a guy that coached at matthews. He coached basketball, he coached track um. He was a pennsy National Guard recruiter and me and him were really close. And he asked me one time he's like hey, you ever thought about the guards? Nah, I don't want to do nothing like that. He's like oh, okay, left me alone. Great dude.
Speaker 2:And then one day this Navy guy, navy recruiter, came into the school and he was talking, talking, talking. He wouldn't leave me alone and he was like oh, I'll fill out this. This form, you know. That says you know, I talked to you. So it looks good, I can give it to my bosses, whatever. So I fill it out, put my phone number on there. I'm stupid, now I know. So that guy called me and texted me like three times a day man, join the navy. Hey, join the navy. I don't want to do that. So finally I got a hold of this guy from the army national guard that I knew. I said, hey, you know how do I get this guy to leave me alone? He's like well, I'll get a hold of him, tell him to leave you alone, I'll tell him you're working with me. And then, uh, there's actually a couple days after that I was like, what's the National Guard like? And then it just went from there.
Speaker 1:Very interesting. So you know how long were you, were you in the National Guard? Are you still in the National Guard, kind of, what was your specialty? Going into that? We've had a lot of people who have served on here. Mike and I are proud to support our military. I had four, have will have and had four veterans in my family, three serving global, global conflicts. So always support our troops. So can you kind of talk about you, know what exactly you you did with your specialty inside the, uh, the national guard?
Speaker 2:yeah, so I'm actually still in. Um, I got, I'm on year seven, so I got four years left, uh, and then after these four years, I'm done. I, you know, it's kind of to the point where I mean, I'm sure you get coaches on here and they talk about it too where there's nothing left to do so and there, and there's nowhere you can, you can't climb the ladder anymore, so it's just time to go. So, uh, in the next four years, that'll be it for me. There's really not going to be anywhere else for me to go up, so it's time to go. Um, I got in in 2017, uh went to Fort Sill, oklahoma, for basic training in AIT. Um, and those of you that don't know, uh, fort Sill, oklahoma, for basic training in AIT. And those of you that don't know, fort Sill is the home of the field artillery, so I am still a field artillery Right now.
Speaker 2:My job is I am a section chief, so I have my own gun and I pretty much supervise my guys during fire missions. I like it a lot. It uh, you know, it's definitely a break from regular life. And also, too, um, I don't think I'd like it a lot if I did it full time, it'd just be a drag, I feel like. So that's why I stayed in.
Speaker 2:Um, I was actually going to get out after my first contract, after my first six years, because, uh, I was kind of a go-getter. Um, I was actually going to get out after my first contract, after my first six years, because, uh, I was kind of a go-getter when I was younger. When I first got in, I was like, all right, I need to go to all these schools, get promoted, get sergeant, and then you know, we'll go from there. Well, I got sergeant within my first two years, for two and a half years and and I said I told myself I'm like okay, if I don't have E6 by the time I hit my six years, I'm done. Well, like two months before it was ready for me to either get out or reenlist, I see my name on the promotion list for E6 and I'm like gosh, why stay? So I stayed.
Speaker 1:Gotcha. Yeah, we've had on some, some guests who have been a former Navy personnel and Air Force as well. One graduated from the Naval Academy and got into coaching. Another one was in the Navy and then he was cross-trained with the Army and became a sniper. He actually lives out of the country now. Another one was in the Air Force and then he has since retired medically and then he is a full time coach and then, you know, with my family. They served proudly in Vietnam and World War Two in Korea, across the, the Army and the, the Air Force so, and the Navy.
Speaker 1:So you know definitely had a lot of connections with the, with the military there. I know it's sometimes can be a hard road to go down for people, but I know there's a lot of great military there. I know it's sometimes going to be a hard road to go down for people, but I know there's a lot of great rewards there. It's a great way to see the country, see the world. You know, get your education paid for. You know, have opportunities to learn a trade or you know some type of different, get some different certifications and go out into the world after that. So you know some type of different, get some different certifications and go out into the world after that. So you know Jordan. On behalf of everybody at Ride Home Rants, thank you for your service to our country.
Speaker 2:Oh, I appreciate it. You know, you say you could go in and learn a trade and I tell people that all the time and like I kind of kick myself in the butt, I'm like man, I wish I would have did that. You, I'm like man, I wish I would have did that. You know, I'm just. I'm just a big dumb guy that likes to blow shit up. That's uh, that's basically what my job is.
Speaker 1:You know, when I was, when I was coaching, um, one guy that worked for Rydell, uh, who would come collect the equipment at the end of the season, when we were chatting one time and he actually went to the, the army, and he was, um, learn how to become a chef. He became a, he became a chef in there. He, he earned his culinary uh like degree, if you want to say. He did that for 25 years and then, um, you know, retired and then moved on into to ride dell. But I know there's a lot of different things you can learn in there.
Speaker 1:I always tell people too, when they're looking at potentially, the military and I'm like you know what, you can go in there and have a great career, because on every military base or every unit or whatever, they still need everyday people. They still need carpenters, they still need plumbers, they still need mechanics, they still need welders, they need garbage men, they need cooks. You know you don't have to go in there and become a navy seal or a ranger or whatever it may be. You can go in there and actually have a really great life, um, you know, be in the medical field, whatever you know it may be. So you know jordan, then you know you. You do this, this national guard thing. You're still in it for a few more years, but you still need a full-time job. So what do you? What are you doing now and what have you done since graduation?
Speaker 2:well, I'll start from after I came home from basic training, iot, so I started working at uh superior beverage. It was a uh, I don't know if you're familiar with them, it's a beer distributing company, and that was so. I was driving from kinsman to Columbiana every day at like four o'clock in the morning and uh, running around with somebody getting done and you know they're going home, uh, after that I got sick of the drive. So my brother he was actually working at uh, the gas company in town he was like, hey, come out, you know, uh, I'll get you a decent money, work here, okay, cool. So it started working there. Um, and then, from previous football injury, I uh had a shoulder surgery. That set me off work for a while and then he ended up leaving that company after like 10 years and going to another gas company. So I was like I don't like this stuff, anyways, I'm out of here.
Speaker 2:From there I worked at TCI in Leavittsburg, the state prison. I worked there for a while and then I asked management there. I said, hey, I'd like to go to the police academy, could I get switched to midnight shifts? And they said no. So I walked into the sheriff's office and talked to the major in the jail and he basically hired me on the spot. I told him my plan. I said I want to go to the police academy. Will you guys let me work here and do that at the same time? He said, absolutely. So that's what I did. I worked in the jail while going through the police academy.
Speaker 2:Got out of the police academy I worked at Goshen Township in Mahoning County. That's another. It was a quick find for me after, because I mean, you know you don't want to sit around after you get a certification and not use it. So I hurried up, got a job there. That was another about an hour drive from my house to work every day. So I kind of wasn't really making any money because of the drive and the pay there was not great. Got into probation for a little bit. Um, while I was working in probation I started working part-time in Kinsman and uh, new chief took over. Uh, chief Thad Stevenson, great guy, um. And then at one point he said, hey, I'm looking for a full-time guy and I said, well, I, I'm interested if you want. I said I don't need the health benefits. You know I'll do it. And he hired me full time and now I'm there. I've been there since March, full time.
Speaker 1:That's awesome, that is definitely awesome. We always like to say everybody has a unique story to tell and everybody has a unique background, right Of like, who were you before and what were you then and now, who are you now? So you know, that's definitely awesome. And I think you know you have a very dynamic background, right? You're you're still serving in the national guard, you're a police officer, you have experience in probation, you have experience as a corrections officer.
Speaker 1:I think something like that, you know, definitely can make you make you a better officer, right, because not only are you just looking from the police side, well, you know the correction side. You know what people sometimes get in for. You know the the issues people go through in jail, whether it's mental health or substance abuse or whatever it may be. You've seen, you know what it can be when you're on probation and I think you know you've been in some very high level stress situations that I think becoming an officer, in my opinion, you're better equipped with to handle because you've seen the different realms. You just haven't seen law enforcement, you've seen military, you've seen probation, you've seen corrections. So you know. Kudos to you for doing all that and again, thank you for you know, keeping, keeping everyone safe.
Speaker 1:So I always like to say, though, you know, police officers always have a different type of job depending on where you're at. So, like you know, kinsman is a rural area. It's a small area, right? So it's not like you're in a big, big city. So, um, I'm sure you've dealt with some some country things that most city officers wouldn't deal with. So you have you ever had to chase, like a cow down or a wild horse or something that got out of the, got out of their pens?
Speaker 2:a horse. I had a. I used to have it like once a week same guy. His horse would get out and that that horse was like it was. It was like it was part. It was the part of town where there's a bunch of houses squished together and this guy had a horse like on a leash in his backyard and it kept getting off and I had to chase it around and oh God, I hated that. And now I told him. I said hey, I said if you're you know, next time I have to come back here, I'm charging you for animals at large.
Speaker 2:He's like oh, you can't do that yeah Want to bet, let's do it.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 1:I think, you know after two, three times. You know you're doing it to try to literally help someone out. You know to protect the citizens, protect the horse. You know protect everyone and serve the community. But eventually you kind of got to give the hint and know that you know that's probably six times too many. You know in that case. So I'd like to say you know, sometimes the country officers have very interesting stories because you know you pretty much work alone. You're dealing with a lot of things in the country, whether it's fallen trees, blocking a road you know someone's?
Speaker 1:power goes out, it's pitch black. You know you. You you have to deal with chasing animals around and uh things. You know things like that. So you know people may be prowling on someone's farm and not you know. Not knowing, so, um, I'm sure you have.
Speaker 2:You have quite a few funny stories out there during your time oh yeah, everybody thinks it's just, you know, a lot of times they think it's a little old kinsman.
Speaker 2:And you know, I'm actually in the process now, um, training a guy fresh out of the academy. Um, he's gonna work for us part-time, um, and he was like, this is the other day. He's only been with me for like four days and he was like, oh my gosh, I I didn't think there was this much to do out here. I'm like, yeah, there's, there's stuff to find, there's stuff to do out here, but you know, it's it's it's kind of tough out there too, because it was just a part-time apartment for so long and that community is so, um, everybody's together. It's a really tight community um that you know, it's like the wild, wild west out there. You know something will happen and they're not calling the police, they're trying to handle it on their own until they can't, because they know, like before we had anybody full time um, they're going to call the sheriff's office. It's going to take 45 minutes for somebody to get there, so why even call?
Speaker 1:sure, sure, no, and I know, definitely, there's always, you know, there's always issues, um, in in every community, no matter what's the best community in the world or the worst community in the world, everyone has issues and, again, it's just depending on the area and the issues that you, uh that you you've dealt with. I, I know, um, the other day we were traveling for work and we were in a very rural, rural area and we, uh we just came across, uh, a town we were cutting through and, uh, the the lights route and it it looked like, you know, their part-time officers were there, uh, directing people through the few traffic lights that they had, because the sheriffs probably weren't going to go do that, so they had to get the, you know, the part-time officers to go direct traffic, not that there was a lot of traffic but you still got to have somebody present.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, yeah. So you also you know balance coaching, um, this is your third year with being a police officer and also the national guard. So can you kind of talk about, um, and it's going to kind of hang back to the summer show, but just how you got into coaching. And then you know, besides being at Matthews, uh, your first year at Kennedy and getting to um, getting to experience coaching there. So you kind of talk about how you got into coaching and then what that experience has been like.
Speaker 2:So when I was working at the jail, um, I worked with a guy his name is mike bassalon. He, uh, was taking over as the um coach for the little mustangs, the pb program. And he asked me he says I can't find any guys to help me, I can't. Well, I'm like I'll come help you. So I go there, start helping him in the summer. And, uh, you know, we start my first two games. You know we're not winning anything, but it is what it is. At that level it's not about winning, it's about getting these kids better, right? So, uh, I'm working in the jail and then this new guy gets hired into the jail and I become friends with a guy. His name is Chuck R and, uh, he's like hey, man, I hear you coach football. I coach over at Kennedy Catholic. I'm the defensive coordinator. He says we need another guy. He says I need another set of eyes. I'm like, well, let me talk to Mike, I'll see what he thinks. And he said, dude, if you have that opportunity, just go do it. So I start coaching at Kennedy.
Speaker 2:It was rough, it was really rough, like, I think, the first game we had 12 guys total. Our punter was playing receiver and he was not that guy. So I finished out the year there, um, and then I heard that coach Bourne was leaving Matthews and I instantly thought I'm like, oh, I really hope Coach Polk is going to put in for this job because I feel like he's a shoe-in for it. He gets the job. He hires me on the staff. I volunteered last year. Last year I helped Drew out with the offense a little bit and then I helped Coach Mars go out with the staff. I volunteered last year. Last year I helped Drew out with the offense a little bit and helped Coach Mars go out with the defense, and now this year I have a contract. I'm basically I mean, I'm doing a little bit on the defensive side, but basically I'm Drew's eyes in the booth saying, hey, we can run this, we can't run this.
Speaker 1:Sure, and that's great. You know experience for getting that, especially seeing it from the booth, because seeing it from the booth is a different type of uh, vision of the game. But that's, that's definitely awesome. So, jordan, I guess from here you kind of talked about where you're going to go and retire per se with the national guard here in a few years you know, where do you see your career going, potentially with coaching, law enforcement or just future ambitions? Where do you see yourself going down the road here?
Speaker 2:Actually I was told not to talk about it yet, but I actually did get offered a coaching job yesterday at the semi-pro level, which doesn't mean I'm getting away from high school football at all. I am going to take it. I can't reveal too too much about it yet. Sure, no problem, I can tell you it is with the hunting Valley federals. They are under a completely new staff or they're going to be new. Everything like it's not going to be played in like downtown Youngstown anymore. Everything will be at Austintown pitch.
Speaker 1:That's all I can say about that right now. Okay, well, no, that's, that's. That's definitely awesome. Well, congratulations on that. Thanks, you know you get a chance to to go make a difference in some adult slides too, with coaching.
Speaker 2:So actually, uh, last spring, um, chuck, chuck, my buddy, chuck Arn. He was a head coach of the WPA Wildcats. I don't know if you know a whole lot about semi-pro football, if you've ever heard of Wildcats pretty big deal, ton of national championships. They closed shop in 2019 and then started the team back up last year. And he asked me he says, hey, you want to come coach? I said sure, so I started going and you know it's drive to pittsburgh every sunday.
Speaker 2:It's rough drive, um, and then I started noticing less and less guys showing up and the attitudes are really bad and I was like you, you know what, uh, for a two hour drive, I'm not doing this, you know and, uh, it just wasn't worth it. So, uh, yeah, he, uh, he's actually going to be the Chuck is actually going to be the GM, the new GM of the Mahoney Valley Federals. Um, for high school side, I mean, I don't have any reason to leave Matthews right now. I mean I see what Coach Pulte is building and he's building something very special and I really want to be a part of that.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and Coach Pulte is a great guy and he's just a better man and an inspirational leader. So you know, having the conversations that we've had on here and seeing him at practice and the times I've been around the program and stuff, he's just always a blast to talk to and always very receptive from a uh, um, a coach's standpoint to take. You know, maybe a couple ideas here and there from the retired coach that's given up. So, um, jordan, before we let you go, though, we always do this interesting segment called the Fast 55 with our guests, where it's five random questions brought to you by myself in my mind, that I come up with on the fly, and usually, when Mike's doing the show, I send them. The day of the show he usually laughs reading them to the guests. So if you're ready for your first Fast 55, we can get going I'm ready.
Speaker 2:I didn't get the fast 55 last time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I was upset okay, question number one the best bubble gum flavor is oh, very easy, watermelon strawberry.
Speaker 2:Shout out to Coach Mazey Okay, watermelon strawberry.
Speaker 1:Okay. Question number two If you had to pick the rest of your life to live in one of these two states, where are you picking? Alaska or New?
Speaker 2:Mexico, alaska.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, okay. Question number three If you could personally own one of the next two things I'm going to say to you, let me know which one you want to own. Would you rather own a full-grown elephant or 100 red pandas? I'm going to go with an elephant. I could probably make money off that somehow you can ride around town on your elephant. Yeah, people, people do love red pandas. They're very cuddly. Look, yeah, some money off of them.
Speaker 2:Where am I gonna put them. I could probably. I could probably squeeze an elephant up here, and I should do. I don't know where I'm gonna put a.
Speaker 1:Uh, I don't know where I'm gonna put all those pandas all right number four what does your ideal hamburger have on it for toppings? Pickles, well, cheese first pickles, lettuce onions, ketchup and mayo wow, you're really, you're really doing it up with like the supreme burger right there.
Speaker 1:Yep, I'm pretty sure you just named the whopper from burger king, but we'll, we'll say okay. Question number five I think this is a hot topic. Uh, people I've I've always argued with on this. Um, so we'll see what you think. Tom hanks actor Is he a top 10 actor of all time and, if so, where do you have him ranked in the all-time actors? Yes, okay, so he is top 10. Where do you think he ranks in the top 10?
Speaker 2:I'm going to go four.
Speaker 1:Okay, just out of curiosity, who would be in front of him? You think?
Speaker 2:Oh man. Will Ferrell's got to be in there Will.
Speaker 1:Ferrell Interesting, okay Will.
Speaker 2:Ferrell Okay, him for one. I mean you have to throw Dwayne Johnson in there now. I mean he's in everything, so he kind of has to be in there. Okay, okay, I'm going to go. Leo for sure, okay, interesting, interesting. And then Chris Farley that's number one. Okay, that's number one, okay.
Speaker 1:I would say I think Tom Hanks is probably top five, for sure. I would say in my opinion Al Pacino is in the top three, robert De Niro is in the top three and Marlon Brando, and then I think four and five are interchangeable, with tom hanks and denzel washington.
Speaker 2:It's all about taste right, right.
Speaker 1:And one thing I've said about tom hanks probably more different than those four actors is tom hanks has played such a plethora of roles, whether you're talking about big or forrest gump, the, the um, the um, oh, what was the other movie, sleepless in Seattle, to Captain Phillips, you know, to the toy story trilogy, you know, tom Hanks has truly transcended time and roles, and even his road to perdition movie, um, I think he's, he's definitely very unique that he can play the funny guy, the tough guy, the captain, the voice actor. So I'm always curious about what people think about Tom Hanks, but that is actually your Fast 55. So I think it was pretty interesting. We'll see if Mike thought it was too easy for you or not.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks, I appreciate that.
Speaker 1:Jordan, before we get going, we always give our guests, about you know, one minute or 30 seconds, whatever they prefer. If there's anything you want to promote or just send out a good message, we'll let you do that now. So the floor is yours.
Speaker 2:No, I'm good man. That was it. I think we covered pretty much everything we wanted to.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, definitely Thank you for being on this week's episode of Ride Home Ransom. Thank you again for your service as a corrections officer, probation officer in your past, your military presently experience and then being a police officer. So thank you for keeping us safe across this great United States of ours.
Speaker 2:I appreciate you.
Speaker 1:You're very welcome, as always. If you enjoyed the show, be a friend and tell a friend, and if you didn't tell them anyways, I bet they like it just because you didn't. This is Fitty special guesting host for Mike Bono for this episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. Please check out all of our sponsors in the pre-roll and post-roll and we will see you next week.
