What is that to you about this Miami

defense? For me, personally, the guys in the back end, they're younger guys, but they're hungry guys.

They play hard.

You said after the game, this was like week three for you.

How are you feeling after coming to the center of your belt? I'm okay as far as the action from my body.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I'm okay.

Can you explain why that's not the case?

I know they sent a lot of pressure and pressure looks at you guys, but were you able to push the ball downfield quite as often as you wanted to?

Yeah, I mean, sometimes we took a couple shots today, but, you know, I think Drake kind of did a really good job at just taking what they give us, you know, because you got to be patient.

You can't force that, you know.

And what looks like pressure, you know, it's tough for him, you know, because you got guys on the line of scrimmage and some dropping back and some coming, you know, but they're dropping back in zone.

So, yeah.

It's tough, but you can't get aggressive.

You can't get emotional and try to force something.

How do you balance that with not getting frustrated?

AJ, when you just mentioned that you guys didn't play your best but still found a way to win, what does that indicate about a team's longevity and what this team could do going

forward? I wouldn't say what it indicates longevity, but it indicates today that we found a way to win.

We can't tell the future, but it's good to find a way to win today.

Late in the season, we have to go there.

We've been there before.

We're comfortable just trying to stick one out, find a way to win.

Do you feel any eagerness about getting back out there? You have the short week and having the performance, the return you

did.

Do you think you could, are you at a point where you think you could play on Sunday or do you still have to test out these next 48 hours?

Yeah, it's definitely, it's still up in the air.

You know, obviously it's going to be a coach verbal decision to see where I'm at and make the better decision for the long haul, not just temporarily.

But yeah, I'm just trying to stack each and every day right now as my focus is going out here today, just trying to get better and then just see how I feel after it, you know, because today we're in pass and it's a lot more moving, you know.

So yesterday we're not and, you know, guys aren't really trying to touch you.

You're practicing like a professional, but today is a little bump.

So now you'll be able to see.

How did you approach, I imagine, right after the first game having that injury? That's a huge disappointment, keeping your attitude in that place with the new team.

Vijay, has anyone ever been that, I guess, aggressive with you in terms of demanding of you? Say that again? Has anyone ever been that aggressive or demanding of you prior to as a coach?

Yeah, I think just when I first got to the league, I think he was just trying to let me know how the game is played.

And it's a week-to-week league, and you've got to come prepared each and every week.

And it didn't help that my first game I had 100 yards, and he was trying to bring me down.

And next week I had a good play, a couple good plays, and the next week I had two touchdowns.

And then I ran into Jalen Ramsey.

And so his message hit home really quickly.

How has he struck you now that you've gotten to know him as a person?

But how is it being reunited with Mike, and what is it about him that he loves you and you love playing for him?

You know, it- it's been great, honestly.

Um, I, I go back to like the first day, um, I try, I attempted a one hand catch on the sideline and, uh, we got in a meeting and, uh, he chewed me out, you know, and he expected me to make that play.

And I, and that example alone, it's like obviously I know I can make that play.

He knows I can make that play.

But it's like, he's like, "Do it.

Don't, don't have do it.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

He's still himself.

That edge...

No, obviously, I think that, uh, he's learning which players to push more, and he's also knows, like with me, like, he has, he has free will.

He can do whatever he needs to do, you know? And, um, but he's just, again, like I said, he's just, he's just still s- the same person.

He's pushing everybody.

He's holding everybody accountable, you know? Uh, th- those meetings are very intense, you know? So when you come out here for practice- It's on, you know? And we get back in that meeting, it's on.

Can you catch it and reel it in for me?

And as, uh, as you went through these, what maybe share with listeners, uh, what was the, what was the hardest part? What was, what was the greatest challenge?

So my toughest moment was coming from St. Luke's to, uh, St. Mary's of Nazareth.

It was a 10 mile walk, uh, i didn't fuel right right so i talked about eating um i had eaten a bunch of food at um immaculate heart walked over to st luke's i wasn't really that hungry so i didn't eat um that really hurt me and then that was the point that my feet kind of said we're done with this we ended up having to walk um on the shoulder of the road on gravel, super uneven, unlevel.

And, you know, it just like I kind of that was probably the darkest point of the walk for me.

And it's funny, I kind of was praying during that time.

And I was just like, you know, Lord, take away this pain.

Like, I can't handle this.

So what was it like once you were down that final stretch, heading to St. Pius for the celebration mass, if you will? What was going through your mind at that point?

Talk about, you know, besides the blisters, what were some of the experiences that you had over the course of the pilgrimage?

Yeah, so here at Iowa Catholic Radio was one of the... kind of a tear jerking moment.

Um, I was talking to Jerry, who is, um, one of the board members, uh, for inner visions and it had just rained on us coming from St. Francis over to here, you know, so we're all wet.

And, um, Jerry was telling me about a conversation she had with, with somebody and she's like, this is such a beautiful day for these guys.

And The other person was like, it's raining on them.

This has to be really tough for them.

And her response was, it's the tears of the children in heaven raining down on them, blessing them for this walk.

So what was it like once you walked, you were down that final stretch, heading to St. Pius for the celebration mass, if you will? What was going through your mind at that point? Yeah.

[laughing]

Let's start there.

But, um, I always remember this, this critical moment with Rabe.

Long...

I'm, I'm gonna tell you, I'm gonna give you some insight, too.

I'm gonna give two, two stories really quick.

So Rabe is the type of coach, he wants to...

[laughing]

When that happened, were you like, "This is insane that it's blown up like this and everyone's going crazy"?

Yeah.

Uh, uh, they came and talk- talked to me in, in the locker room, saying, "Hey, they got you on the sideline reading a book." And I'm like, "Okay, but I, I do it every week." It's like, "Nah, this is, uh, this is big-time this time." And, uh, and it just blew up.

And, o-obviously, you know, I had great intentions behind it.

I wasn't seeking attention or anything.

But, you know, I'm, I'm glad it changed, uh, his life, you know? 'Cause, you know, uh, from, from what we've discussed, you know, from just the hearing just how the book, just the sales started to go crazy, you know, I'm happy that, uh, it changed someone's life in the process.

Ooh, good question.

I would tell myself to not be hard on myself.

We got it. We got time.

Yeah, yeah, I mean, it's, it's truly a blessing. I... A lot of hard work. A lot of hard work, a lot of long nights, early mornings. Uh... Man, a lot of sacrifices, and, and only for this moment right here. And it, it's so surreal.

... and waves. It's amazing to watch.

I'm excited. I love doing these interviews, but I really wanna go celebrate with my-