Hey yall, in honor of playing in my first game (and TIJ turning things around with two big wins tonight), I wanted to hold a presser so yall can get to know me a little more. Fire away! --VL
Ahh the old GM taking the first crack at it. It feels great, it really does. All glory to God. It has been a long time coming and I've put a lot of hours in to make myself the best I can be. So to have it come together in my professional debut tonight was something special. Although, I'm glad you said it the way you did: "a part of _____", because I would be naive to think that the W's tonight had to do with me alone. Penner played with a chip on his shoulder, Spinnelli just pounded the rock, and Mandy is just so good at getting separation on the outside. It was a team effort to be sure.
I'm excited to be playing for a team with a history and I look forward to learning more about it. But 0-3 is hard to ignore too. In all my research (ie. google on the flight down), I was convinced the Tijuana had a team that could compete. The loss to Norfolk was especially hard on the players, I think. That's when I really noticed the heart that we have on this team. We all took it personally. Although I wasn't on the field, I was there for the game and all I can say is credit to the organization to utilizing such a humiliating loss to turn us around to the wins we had today. That being said, the locker room at the end of the game today was incredible. These might have been the two biggest games on our schedule (next to week 8 in Portland), so I can't wait to see what's next.
Well, I knew that there would be an adjustment period. There always is. So, as much as I (like anyone else) dreamt of throwing the league into a tizzy with 150 yards and 2 touchdowns, I have to be realistic too. And reality is I'm going to keep working hard until I get that dream game. At this point, the best spin is just that as my role expands, our opponents won't know how to plan. They don't have a lot of tape of me yet, and if we can keep them on their toes we can work that to our advantage. I relish that.
To become the best ever. Plain and simple. No one sets out to be second best. Or if they do, I've never heard of them. And that's just as well. I know that if I take care of what I need to, focus on myself, the rest will take care of itself. In an ideal world, I'll end up playing for a team that needs me (ahem--Hawks--ahem) and we'll take home championships. Have no fear, I'm not slowing down any time soon.
Oh, absolutely. And I think the outcomes of our games these last two weeks certainly reflect that. We can play with anybody, we just started out cold. As much as they can be distractions at times, sometimes management issues, scandals, or whatever can bring a team together and help the players to refocus. I think that's what we're seeing here after everything that's been going on with Penner. But no, don't count us out yet. In fact, the two teams who made it to the Ultimini last year (Palm Beach and Portland) started out the season 2-7-1 collectively through the first five weeks, the Solar Bears didn't even have a win until week 6. So you can never count a team out, but especially not the Luchadores.
Can't say enough about it. Being coached by Mark Dantonio was a dream come true, and growing up I could never have imagined being a part of the resurgence of top tier football in East Lansing. I'd have to say what impacted me the most, though, was simply the transition to a new level of talent. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen before, and I think it molded me into the player that I am today. I'm certainly better for having played with a team that set the bar for me so high. I'm also excited to see Niraj Garrett get picked up by Kansas City. Lots a good memories together on the practice field.
![[Image: zach-ertz-07c1667cb32803f1.jpg]](http://image.nj.com/home/advance-media/width600/img/nj-lvl_eagles_syndication/photo/2018/02/02/zach-ertz-07c1667cb32803f1.jpg)
(02-28-2018, 12:44 AM)jaskins811 Wrote:How does it fell being a big part of Tijuana’s first two wins of the season?
Ahh the old GM taking the first crack at it. It feels great, it really does. All glory to God. It has been a long time coming and I've put a lot of hours in to make myself the best I can be. So to have it come together in my professional debut tonight was something special. Although, I'm glad you said it the way you did: "a part of _____", because I would be naive to think that the W's tonight had to do with me alone. Penner played with a chip on his shoulder, Spinnelli just pounded the rock, and Mandy is just so good at getting separation on the outside. It was a team effort to be sure.
(02-28-2018, 12:44 AM)jaskins811 Wrote:Obviously Tijuana has a great history, and coming to the midseson with an abysmal 0-3 record must have been tough to think about. After tonight that must definitely change things?
I'm excited to be playing for a team with a history and I look forward to learning more about it. But 0-3 is hard to ignore too. In all my research (ie. google on the flight down), I was convinced the Tijuana had a team that could compete. The loss to Norfolk was especially hard on the players, I think. That's when I really noticed the heart that we have on this team. We all took it personally. Although I wasn't on the field, I was there for the game and all I can say is credit to the organization to utilizing such a humiliating loss to turn us around to the wins we had today. That being said, the locker room at the end of the game today was incredible. These might have been the two biggest games on our schedule (next to week 8 in Portland), so I can't wait to see what's next.
(02-28-2018, 12:44 AM)jaskins811 Wrote:How did you feel about your role in your two games so far?
Well, I knew that there would be an adjustment period. There always is. So, as much as I (like anyone else) dreamt of throwing the league into a tizzy with 150 yards and 2 touchdowns, I have to be realistic too. And reality is I'm going to keep working hard until I get that dream game. At this point, the best spin is just that as my role expands, our opponents won't know how to plan. They don't have a lot of tape of me yet, and if we can keep them on their toes we can work that to our advantage. I relish that.
(02-28-2018, 01:37 AM)PaytonM34 Wrote:What's your long term career goal?
To become the best ever. Plain and simple. No one sets out to be second best. Or if they do, I've never heard of them. And that's just as well. I know that if I take care of what I need to, focus on myself, the rest will take care of itself. In an ideal world, I'll end up playing for a team that needs me (ahem--Hawks--ahem) and we'll take home championships. Have no fear, I'm not slowing down any time soon.
(02-28-2018, 01:37 AM)PaytonM34 Wrote:Does TIJ have a shot at the Ultimini?
Oh, absolutely. And I think the outcomes of our games these last two weeks certainly reflect that. We can play with anybody, we just started out cold. As much as they can be distractions at times, sometimes management issues, scandals, or whatever can bring a team together and help the players to refocus. I think that's what we're seeing here after everything that's been going on with Penner. But no, don't count us out yet. In fact, the two teams who made it to the Ultimini last year (Palm Beach and Portland) started out the season 2-7-1 collectively through the first five weeks, the Solar Bears didn't even have a win until week 6. So you can never count a team out, but especially not the Luchadores.
(02-28-2018, 01:37 AM)PaytonM34 Wrote:Tell us how your college career has helped you so far in the DSFL
Can't say enough about it. Being coached by Mark Dantonio was a dream come true, and growing up I could never have imagined being a part of the resurgence of top tier football in East Lansing. I'd have to say what impacted me the most, though, was simply the transition to a new level of talent. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen before, and I think it molded me into the player that I am today. I'm certainly better for having played with a team that set the bar for me so high. I'm also excited to see Niraj Garrett get picked up by Kansas City. Lots a good memories together on the practice field.
![[Image: 56106_s.gif]](https://signavatar.com/56106_s.gif)
![[Image: Murphy_sig.jpg]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/499607101006413834/519407576643928074/Murphy_sig.jpg)
![[Image: Screen_Shot_2022-02-09_at_12.15.25_PM.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/617753862723469541/940793707450482708/Screen_Shot_2022-02-09_at_12.15.25_PM.png)
