Episode 89: Jason Miller

Speaker 1 00:00:09 Welcome to the SB live California podcast. I'm your host Connor. Morrisette joined with Jason Miller recently hired to coach football at Bellflower after a really successful stint at, on high school, up in Northern California. Jason. So let's start with the Bellflower news. Why was this the right time to move back to Southern California and coach at Bellflower high? Speaker 2 00:00:32 First of all, thanks for having me. Um, you know, we all went through COVID 19, we're still going through COVID 19 and, um, CA uh, Southern California, you know, born and raised and the opportunity again to coach with, uh, my brother, Keith, the opportunity to coach, um, my nieces and nephews, uh, one day in the near future is just something that was just too good to pass up. So, uh, you know, getting back close to home and just the opportunity to coach with family and work with family, uh, was just too much to pass up Speaker 1 00:01:09 And you're renowned for the wing tea. So the wing tea is coming to Bellflower. That's not gonna change your style, Speaker 2 00:01:14 You'll see some double wing and, uh, you'll see some spread sets. So we're gonna diversify a little bit to make our program a little bit more pleasing to watch and attractive, uh, to watch. Uh, so yeah, you'll see, uh, some double wings you'll see some spread stuff, um, you know, but it, it's kind of hard to turn your back on things that make you successful. Speaker 1 00:01:37 That's true in the proofs, in the pudding. So at gun, you were 25 and 10 won a couple league championships the four years prior at gun, the school went seven and 33 in football. So clearly, uh, that double wing worked really well. What did it mean to you to have that effect on that school to be able to turn it around after they struggled for the four years before you were there, and even into the, uh, past, before that you came in and you, you changed the culture, what mean do you, Speaker 2 00:02:05 You know, you always like to rally, uh, community, you like to rally kids and, and make them understand what a great sport football is and what it can do for a community. Most of the kids at gun, their parents didn't first allow them to play. They told 'em they couldn't play. Uh, so there was that level of communication that had occur to get parents, to allow students to play. So once that happened, it's getting kids to believe, make a commitment and, you know, it's a, it's a big project and, and you just, you know, take it step by step, get kids to work out. And when I started, we had forfeit that first season because we had, uh, less than 16 healthy play layers, um, uh, 30 in the whole program. And, you know, we got it up this spring, we were up to about 80. So, um, you know, all of our goals are pretty much have, they've pretty much been accomplished here. Um, you know, we kind of reached our ceiling in my opinion of where we can go with the type of school we are. So, you know, I feel really good walking away from gun at this time. And, uh, looking forward to the new challenge, Speaker 1 00:03:14 Certainly. And at Bellflower two and seven a year ago, we saw your brother Keith on, on Twitter with that awesome video, getting the guys fired up the, the first day, meaning them. I just looked back on that video. I thought that made the rounds in Southern California only, but that thing has a hundred thousand views on Twitter. That thing when viral, uh, what's it like coaching with your brother? I know you've done it in the past. You're really excited about it. I'm it like coaching with Keith? He seemed like a real rah guy. Speaker 2 00:03:42 You know, he called me, said, you know, my video went viral <laugh> and, uh, you know, I, I kind of, I end up playing head coach I'm conservative on everything. And I, I just like, oh, you know, it's just, it's weird. Our dynamic is much like it was growing up. We're, we're kind of fire and ice, you know, he's fire and I'm, I'm a little bit more laid back in ice. And, you know, we had success at Bru day at Compton, um, you know, back in the mid two thousands. So, you know, we can work well together. We grew up together. I mean, Keith and I, when we grew up and play on two basketball against other kids, we had our own set plays. So, you know, we, we would have code language, set plays, you know, he was always the score. I was always the guy setting, picks rebounding. Speaker 2 00:04:32 Um, you know, when my senior year I played right tackle, he played tailback and ran behind me. So we've always kind of worked together. Uh, his birthday's May 10th, mine's May 11th. I'm, uh, a year, 300. He'll tell you I'm a year, 364 days, not two years older than him. So we've always, you know, worked well together. I mean, growing up, we almost had a twin perception, uh, and we we've been there for one another's triumphs and one another's struggles. Uh, and so we are really comfortable, uh, working together at this time. Uh, we both said to each other, this is the perfect job for this time. Um, because we've worked together. We, we know what to expect from one another. I'm confident in my ability to be a head coach, he's confident in his position. So we won't step on one another's egos and, you know, things are gonna work out really well. So we are really excited about coaching together again, Speaker 1 00:05:26 Where do the two of you go to high school Speaker 2 00:05:28 With the Luer? Um, Keith, his last year went to garden, Sarah, but, uh, we were a Lawndale Luer family. <laugh> Speaker 1 00:05:37 Very nice. You, you mentioned earlier about how that first year had done a lot of parent didn't want their kids to play. Was that mainly because of safety or what was that all about? How come parents don't want 'em to play? Speaker 2 00:05:50 Well, you know, you have the, uh, uproar over, uh, CTE and concussions and, um, you know, I just think that it got outta control. Um, the type of football we play in high school, really the type of football we play a gun doesn't lend itself to, uh, hit many head injuries. Uh, you don't, you're not really even getting many hard hits. And so parents were, you know, they'd watch movies and documentaries and, you know, were very concerned about their are, um, children playing. So I had to have conversations with individual families, knock door to door, uh, you know, and have meet with parents to get them to, uh, trust me that, uh, football could be a positive experience, you know, just being open and honest that there's always a risk of injury, but you, you know, like I tell 'em, there's a risk of injury riding your bike to school. Speaker 2 00:06:39 There's a risk of injury walking across the street. And so it, you know, just like anything, you know, my dad is a, has been a car salesman for 40 years and, um, always taught me that you're gonna have to sell anything you do. And any profession you have to sell yourself, sell your products. So, um, I'm a big believer in football and, you know, I told our kids at gun. I said, you know, I know we're the number one, uh, academic public school in the state, you know, due to various rankings. But if we went in football gun, will all of a sudden be a football school. And that's kind of what's happened here is that, um, you know, it became a football school. And, um, so we, we turned those, uh, doubt parents into huge supporters, filling bleachers. Speaker 1 00:07:22 I see that Keith is running the spring practice at Bellflower while you get settled and eventually move back from, from Northern California. Do you anticipate having a numbers issue at Bellflower near one? It looks like on the videos that there's plenty of kids, but, uh, have you talked with Keith about the numbers? Is it a concern at all? Are you guys to go? Speaker 2 00:07:40 Yeah, I, you know, I talked to Keith nightly and I talked to other assistants nightly. I talked to the, the athletic director, uh, Bryce Christensen nightly. We have about 40 to 50 kids that are consistent in coming and, and that's a big number and that was a mild surprise. Um, we had our parent meeting last night. We had 60 sets of parents show up. So, um, we're really excited about, uh, the momentum, uh, largely due to Keith's video. Um, you know, that's the good thing about social media and things that kids can go back and research and research the things that you've done. And they're pretty, they're excited about us coming. So, and it is not just Keith and I, we, um, have, uh, some coaches with us that have coach that we have known for over 20 years. Um, we've got Jerron Johnson coming to coach DBS who was a super bowl champion and was a CIF champion. Um, you know, so we feel like we got a great staff and so that's allowed me to feel comfortable and, um, just kind of letting them run things right now. Speaker 1 00:08:41 Here's the million dollar question. We could probably spend a couple hours on this, but I won't make you do that. How do you turn a program around what, what are some of the keys? Is it, is it buy in, is it just getting the players to trust you? Of course weightlifting and what you do on the field is so important, but, uh, there's so much that goes into turning a team that was seven and 33 into one that's 25 and 10. How do you do it in the easiest way? You can answer that <laugh> Speaker 2 00:09:07 Well, the funny thing is I'm more proud that in the past three seasons, we're like 21 and four, so we had some struggles. So, but I'm always super proud of that, but you kind of said it all. And, and I always tell the kids, you know, people ask me, this is, I think Bellflower's gonna be my seventh, uh, turnaround. Uh, once we get it all turned around, it'll be the seventh time turned around the program, uh, whether as the coordinator, the, uh, head coach, and I always tell kids, you know, people ask what's the secret sauce. And I said, you know, the secret sauce is hard work. It's just hard work. Um, I work hard to like get done. We had school starts at nine, but I required, uh, 7:30 AM workouts. Um, so it's just hard work and focus come in every day we tell 'em come every day and you'll get better. Speaker 2 00:09:53 We wanna stack good days on top of good at days we want to eat. Right. Um, it all, it all, uh, is married well with our system, uh, on offense, it's all married well with our system on defense. So it's just doing everything right and making few mistakes. Um, I'll say we probably average between eight and 10 penalties a year through my time here, like, like, like less than a penalty, a game. So we don't make mistakes. We don't turn the ball over. Um, we just play solid, fundamental football. We try to get bigger, stronger, and faster than the teams that we play. And, you know, things just kind of that winning gets a byproduct to that. I don't even like to talk about winning when I go and have a meeting with the parents. Um, we had our meeting yesterday. I don't even talk about winning because winning is a byproduct of doing things the right way. Um, Don mark was my mentor taught me many of the things that, um, I go into a program with and how to change and turn around a program. And I've kind of used some of his recipe mix my own things in. And, um, you know, it just kind of works out as a process. And I know that's not a fancy thing to say, but it just is what it is. Uh, you absolutely have to just work hard every day. That's how you get it turned around. Speaker 1 00:11:12 How tough is it to get kids to buy into that? I'm sure like every range of kids, some are all in the first day there, others, it takes a little bit longer for them to buy in for the kids who don't buy in right away. How, how do you try to get them on board? And at the end of the year, a lot of the times are those kids who end up sticking with it. Do you have sometimes have kids who at first they're like, I don't think this is for me. And you gotta challenge. 'em take me through your process when it's someone who isn't easily bought in. Speaker 2 00:11:37 You know, my, like I told you, my dad has sold cars for 40 years and, and, um, I, I would work on summers for him and, you know, he would tell me that people don't buy a car, they buy you. Right. And so what works for me is having kids buy into me, showing that, showing them that I go the extra mile that I authentically care, uh, just from up here, uh, 350 miles away. Uh, I wrote, uh, a teacher, an email in Bellflower, uh, checking in on a kid that I haven't even met yet. Uh, so, you know, uh, you just always have to go the extra mile and it's, it's stuff that I learned, you know, um, in the hard Scrabble schools, uh, Inglewood and Compton of going to knock on people's door. And, uh, not if players aren't there knocking on their door, um, and doing so many things beyond football, just to show them that you care, asking about their fan, asking, follow up questions and asking 'em the next week. And, uh, just really making a connection with each, uh, player. And then once they see some results, uh, I E winning, then it becomes easier and easier. So right now at gun things could pretty much run on autopilot and I don't even, I wouldn't even have to recruit the campus. So it's just kind of taken an interest in each individual kid, a sincere, genuine interest. And, uh, just massaging that relationship. Speaker 1 00:13:04 I'm interested in your history. Are you one of those football coaches? And I know you're a really passionate teacher as well, and we'll get into that as well. Are you one of those football coaches who once you graduate, you were like football coaching. That's what I wanna do. And this is my path. Or did it take you a little bit to come to the realization that you were gonna be a football coach? Speaker 2 00:13:23 That's a great point. So, um, when I was in high school, our, when I was a freshman, I remember, uh, Steve car was our varsity coach at Lou anger. And at the time it was one of the winningest coaches in the state of Cal, California. And I just thought that he was such a great player's coach. So, so, so different. So casual. So laid back that I said, man, I I'd love to kind of run a team like that. Um, you know, but, but give you some background, you know, we call coaching and teaching the family business at my family. Like my, both of my brothers are coaches. Uh, my, my dad was a coach. My grandfather was a coach. My uncles were coaches. So it's something that's always been in us, but, you know, career wise, I actually wanted to do your job. I wanted to be a broadcast journalist. Speaker 2 00:14:09 Um, and I got into coaching because I was broadcasting our high school games after I'd graduated. I called up the cable station and said, I, Hey, I'd like to work on your broadcast. This is what I wanna do. And I'm working on the broadcast. And, uh, my football coach calls me and says, Hey, can you, um, come help out our freshman team? I like the things that you're saying, it sound like, you know what you're talking about 19 years old. And so at 19, I go out and I'm the assistant freshman line coach, and that's in 97 by 1998. I'm the head JV coach, uh, you know, just running on pure emotion, not having an idea about Xs and no, and then by 1999, Don mark comes to lose anger and takes me under his wing. And, um, you know, we're all from there. Speaker 1 00:15:02 So what was your first head coaching job? Was that Inglewood or verum day? I, you were at Dominguez a little bit after take me through, I went my Speaker 2 00:15:10 First head coach, my, okay. So, um, like I said, I was an assistant at Lou anger and I was the JV coach for Don mark. And we were averaging 74 points a game. So it was just like, well, it was like, it was like an ATM machine spinning out cash. And I just, I knew that my brother, Keith coach was at Inglewood and I just drove up one day and said, Hey, how would you like me to come be your offensive coordinator? I'm like 21. He says, okay, they went one eight and one the year before. And they go 13 and one, uh, we go 13 and one, we go to the C of championship game where we lose 43 to 40 to pass a robs. Uh, so I'm there for two years. And next year we go to the semi-finals, um, long story short, uh, we have a turnaround, uh, which is, you know, uh, monumentous as they were like, oh, 30 the year before O and 10 on every level. Speaker 2 00:16:01 And we take 'em to the division one, playoff seven and four. And then the next year, I think we go eight and four. We upset Esperanza, uh, in the playoffs. And, you know, by 2000 I say, okay, it's my time. And I go to of fireball high school, who was actually on our schedule, uh, in Linwood. And I start their program from scratch. We go one in nine, that, that, that did a, a great job of kind of bringing me back to earth and realizing that it takes players. So, but we had a really nice group of kids. We go one in nine or one eight or whatever. And, um, I get a pink slip because at the same time the California budget crisis happens and education's being cut and I'm the last hired. So I get a pink slip and, um, I go ahead and I get a temporary contracted warrant that contract runs out. Speaker 2 00:16:51 I'm not rehired back. Um, and then, so I say, say, you know what, I want to just have a stable job. And so I go and I teach at a charter school, um, in LA, south central LA, uh, health services academy. And I teach there for three years. And it's really where I cut my teeth as a teacher. Um, we took the lowest performing kids test score wise out of LA unified school district. Um, we go ahead and turn their scores around from like 500 average score to seven 50, which was amazing, right? It was, it was super gratifying. And I started teaching AP classes and I just, I just started to, you know, really become a, a professional teacher. That's at 2013, the opportunity to go to verum day, uh, comes into play. They had went one in nine. Uh, the previous year Keith comes over. Speaker 2 00:17:41 He's my defensive coordinator. I get the head coaching job and athletic director job. We go seven and, um, four. And, uh, we take second place and go to the, uh, playoffs where we lose to, uh, what was it? I can't even remember, but anyways, so I we're rolling. We're gonna have a great team. We got a couple D one recruits and I get this bug to go coach, go back to Inglewood because I feel that, you know, I was an offensive coordinator. We won the championship. Then we went to the semi-finals. I just felt like it was unfinished business, and I just wanted to get back there. So I take the job. Um, the day I take the job, there's a riot on campus. Inglewood is a year into state receivership. They don't have on school board, um, is really messed. Um, we win, we go four and five, um, in the bay league. Speaker 2 00:18:37 And at the time, you know, you had a really strong palace Verde's team that we lost to. We lost a really strong Redondo team, but we felt good. We had upset peninsula. We had upset Mari Costa. So we felt pretty good, but a, um, I knew that that wasn't a place that I wanted to, uh, teach, uh, the, the staff, the school was in turmoil. Um, and then had the opportunity that the Dominguez job came open, um, where, you know, um, coach Donen was very popular, legendary, um, Keith Donen and Willie Donen that the father son combo, and they had been there, uh, for 30 years or whatever. And, uh, all of a sudden had to leave. And then with them leaving nine kids, nine starters really transferred out. I mean, just boom outta there. So I was happy that to go in there, Keith wasn't with me. Speaker 2 00:19:28 So it was just myself, um, one, their assistant, and then just, you know, entirely coaches, I didn't know. And we went in there, we won league championship, we retire for a league championship. Um, so I was really proud of that, uh, 2015. And that was the one time after the season. I said, I had, uh, this kid named Sean Harston, who was a, um, quarterback that I saw on our lower levels. And I said, man, this guy, it all. And I said, I'm gonna change my offense. I'm gonna let him do his thing. And so we get ready. We put in the spread for 2016 and we're, we're, we're clean that we're actually, we're scrimmaging Inglewood in 2016 and he injures his knee in the scrimmage. And so, okay. Let's put the backup guy who was a transfer from NA okay. He enters his knee. Speaker 2 00:20:15 So we literally go into Thursday before our first game against mighty Tuston with the fourth string emergency quarterback that really hadn't taken a snap. And so that year was pretty much a disaster. We won one game and I mean, we were lucky to win that. It was just like going in with your fourth stringer, not the thing to do. Um, and then at that time I started to feel a little burnt out. Like that was tough. Um, you know, losing at, uh, Dominguez that year, even though we won a, uh, league championship year before losing at Inglewood, not winning, like I wanted to. And I just felt like I, I wanted a change and I saw an opening for a, um, special ed position. I had gotten my special ed credential, uh, while I was teaching at Dominguez. And so I came up here in Palo Alto, taught middle school, special ed for one year, and then the gun job opened up. Um, and that's where we are today. Got a long look at my resume there. Huh? <laugh> Speaker 1 00:21:11 Thank you. That's always so interesting to me. I hope the listeners find it interesting as well, but I, I love hearing about where coaches started and, and where they went. Do you have a favorite memory from your time as a, as a head coach? That's such a loaded question. I'm sure there are a lot, but is there anything where you look back on it, this was one of the best memories that, that you have some something, uh, come to mind when I ask that or, or is that a too tough a question? Speaker 2 00:21:33 Well, no, on the field, uh, there are two that come to mind, uh, at 2015 and Dominguez, um, to beat Warren, uh, and then I think week nine to submit a league championship where it didn't look like we were gonna win, win a league championship. So, uh, to cement that win, that was a huge as a head coach. And then in the spring season, uh, in 2021 spring season, we, uh, beat homestead who beat us, um, in the fall, on the last day to win a league championship and keep us out the playoffs. So, alright. My seniors got an opportunity at revenge in the spring season and we, we beat 'em pretty good. So that those were, those were, you know, two that really sparked to mind. So I do have good memories that I can, you know, bring up right away. Speaker 1 00:22:22 Awesome. Yeah. And I'm sure there are a bunch of other ones that spring season victory I'm sure was even more sweet because for a while there, it did look like there was gonna be any season. So that's a nice, happy ending for those seniors. I read that your title now at gun social justice pathway teacher, can you explain, um, that title and what you do in a teaching capacity at gun high school? I found that really interesting. Speaker 2 00:22:47 So, you know, a lot of schools have pathways, right? Could be an art pathway. It could where several classes are focused on that pathway and it may show on your diploma. So at gun, we have a social justice pathway and I'm pretty much the lead teacher in the, um, pathway. Uh, so our kids, uh, basically take the regular classes just from the social justice perspective. So they're looking at things from the social justice lens. So for me, I teach, uh, government and contemporary world history. So modern world history and government, and we're looking at how all of the issues in our textbook and in our curriculum, um, are affected by social justice or what are some of the social justice concern. And we have a, you know, a lot of discussions, you know, kids just wanna be her kids love it, cuz they can talk right. Speaker 2 00:23:35 And they wanna give their opinion and hear each other speak. And um, it's kind of just what we do and we've taken it a bit further. So this year we had, you know, my classes, um, uh, had of March for, um, the Ukraine, um, invasion, uh, looking at spotlight and some of the social justice issues. Um, and so some of that stuff spilled into football, right. And you know, you known for social justice, I'm gonna be that guy. Okay, well let's, let's talk about, you know, stop Asian hate was an issue here. And so, so we wore the stop Asian hate, uh, wore a decals on the back of our helmets. Um, our kids during, um, COVID, uh, March for black lives matter. And I was just astonished because, you know, I'm one of the few black people they they've ever met. And so to know that they were marching for that, you know, with the out me saying, Hey guys, let's get together and do that. That was pretty amazing. So we built a reputation of being a, a kind of Haven for social justice here, um, that I'm really proud of. Speaker 1 00:24:38 Will you teach at Bellflower high? Speaker 2 00:24:41 Oh yeah. So they're just deciding, um, what, um, opening that they have from you, whether it's in special ed or, um, whether it's in, um, social studies, um, the principals indicated an, uh, interest in doing some sort of social justice pathway. I also piloted a sports and society class where we looked at political, um, and social issues and how they affect sport. Right. And so I know, know that, um, Bellflower's interested in possibly doing that too. Speaker 1 00:25:12 Okay. Awesome. That's that's really interesting. Ideally might be tough to answer another tough one. I'm putting you on the hot seat. How long would you wanna stay at Bellflower high school? Is this a job where you see yourself for a while? Is it too soon to tell any thoughts at this moment? Speaker 2 00:25:26 You know, when the weird thing is you look at in my resume, say, gosh, coach you league, you know, you seem to hop around. I thought I would be a gun for 30 years. You know? So I literally, and um, thinking about Bellflower, I'm coaching there with my brother, right? I'm gonna be coaching my, my nephew. I have a nephew and it's gonna be a middle school. And I, I have a nephew that's gonna be in second grade and I have a niece that's in middle school. So that's a long time of a commitment. That's, you know, uh, Bellflower's a great place. It's not a place that you wanna run from with your hair on fire because you're stressed out from the day. Um, so it's a, it's a, it's a great public school. I like public school settings. Uh, and so my goal is to be there till retirement. It's always the goal. So, you know, as long as they'll have 'em, I mean the football coach. So if we can quote, turn Bellflower around and make Bellflower a power, then there's nowhere else to go. You make it the power high school football program Speaker 1 00:26:29 That lends into the, the next question. And Bellflower of course, is where St. John Bosco is located. Speaking of powers. I I've talked to some other coaches who coach in the St. John Bosco region. And they say sometimes it actually helps because if there's a kid who is really good, but can't quite get on the field at Bosco, they might go to that school and, and help them out. What are your thoughts on being in the shadow of one of the best teams in the country? Speaker 2 00:26:52 Well, it's great to always have the standard, right. I mean, I, I consider myself in the standard of de Las Sal up here. Uh, I've actually had an opportunity to converse with coach LA, so, or at de Las Sal. So, um, I know that, uh, my brother has a lot of interactions with the St. John Bosco, coaching staff, uh, through his scouting service, um, and his camps, his showcase football camps. So the thing about, uh, Bosco, it, it's nice to kind of have a standard. Right. Um, and I, and honestly, it's nice to have that, that chip on our kids shoulder. Right. Um, we can say whatever we wanna say, but there's going to be some feeling of inferiority of why everybody ask you, you go to Bellflower, you mean St. John Bosco? No. So you know, that, that is something that our kids probably think about, but you know, for me, I'm more into developing and kids. Speaker 2 00:27:44 So I know a lot of coaches look for bounce backs from here and bounce backs. From there. We did it here at gun without a transfer. Our district doesn't let in transfers. I mean, they, they have a rigorous checkpoint like that, that stuff doesn't go. And it makes, made me a better coach. So, you know, we're into developing kids. We have a middle school on our campus. So if you're a football coach and you have seventh graders on your campus and you can't develop a program out of a regular comprehensive school, then you're just not a very good football coach. I think we have what we need, right. Where we're at. Um, kids will want to check in. That's great. But from my experience, you build a better team. You build better bonding by kids that grew up together, and then kids that, um, are not looking to hop around Speaker 1 00:28:32 Bellflower has a new stadium. Right. I think I read that. Speaker 2 00:28:36 Yes. Um, Erie after Ron Erie, the hall of Famer that went to Bellflower. Speaker 1 00:28:41 So that's a nice little additional, uh, bonus for you guys. And in addition to you coming in with your resume, you can tell kids, I mean, not that you tell kids, but kids can see, oh, we got this great coach, Jason Miller, and now, uh, I got a nice little stadium. We could come play it as well. So I, I hope that helps you. I feel like it will, because we see in Southern California facilities, there are some really nice ones. And then there's some really not so nice ones. So that's a nice benefit for sure. Speaker 2 00:29:06 Yeah. Recruiting for me, those starts with recruiting our campus. I mean, you literally have your middle school in your high school. So I mean, if we can just keep everybody that's in Bellflower at the bell on campus at Bellflower, we'll do great. And like I said, um, you know, if we do things right and build our program, right. Um, winning and, um, attracting better athletes is a byproduct of doing things the right way. I truly believe that Speaker 1 00:29:38 I'll get you outta here with this. You don't strike me as a wins and losses, goal oriented coach, but in year one at Bellflower, what's your goal? Speaker 2 00:29:48 You know, we, haven't had a, a lower level team in, uh, three years. So we want to reestablish the lower level program. If you take a look at our numbers now, I think we're pretty far along doing that. So we want to establish that we wanna teach our kids to compete and what it's like to compete, what it's like to make a commitment and stand by a commitment. And, you know, we have seniors this year, right. And I only have a couple of months before we get started. So we wanna teach those kids how to make a commitment so they can contribute to a society right now. Right. If I can get all the kids to make a commitment, which we've had a great group, we said, this is our best group, as far as, uh, behave kids and, and lack of nonsense that we've been around. And so if we can get those kids committed and be competitive out on that field, um, we should definitely be in the top half of our league. Um, you know, if not, you know, challenge, you know, whoever, I don't, I don't know much about the teams anymore, uh, that are in that league. But, um, if we do things the right way, we should be competitive for a playoff bit. Speaker 1 00:30:51 Well, don't have too good of a season cuz then you'll go into like division five and <laugh>, I'm just kidding, but I, Speaker 2 00:30:56 Oh, I know, I know it's, it's, it's more ridiculous and political. Um, you know, we lost the game this year up here and one of the coaches accused me of throwing the game <laugh> and I'm like, you kidding? I would like, you know, I, I would've liked to have made the playoffs, you know, so yeah, I know that's just the new world. That's just the new world and, and great teams, um, you know, programs like Compton and Hawthorne and those guys got a chance to, you know, compete in playoffs. And uh, so you know, there's some good too, right? It is not just, you know, things being unfair. There's some good, good things happening for schools. Speaker 1 00:31:31 Definitely. Well, thank you so much. I'm looking forward to meeting you in person. That's Jason Miller, the new head coach at Bellflower high school. Jason, thank you so much for joining me. I really appreciate it. Speaker 2 00:31:40 Thanks Connor. Take care now.