So You Want to Be An Athlete? - A Brandin Bryant Story

Summary
The conversation covers the journey of a football player from Omaha, Nebraska, who overcame challenges and setbacks to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. The chapters explore topics such as the football scene in Omaha, the importance of self-belief, the decision to attend a junior college, the transfer to FAU, highlights of the college career, transitioning to the NFL, and opportunities with the Seahawks and Jets. This conversation covers Funaki Asisi's journey through various football teams, including the Detroit Lions, CFL, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, and New York Giants. He also discusses his experience self-publishing a children's book and offers advice for recruits. In this conversation, Funaki Asisi discusses the importance of film study and having a clean social media presence for athletes. He emphasizes the need for athletes to not only showcase their highlights but also demonstrate their skills in different plays and situations. Funaki also highlights the significance of maintaining a professional image on social media, as college coaches often check athletes' profiles. Additionally, he shares his personal experience of sitting in recruiting meetings and witnessing how social media can impact a player's evaluation. The conversation concludes with Funaki encouraging listeners to learn from his story and navigate their own journeys more smoothly.

Takeaways

• Believing in yourself is crucial to achieving your goals.
• Junior college can provide opportunities for players who may have been overlooked by larger programs.
• Adversity and setbacks can be overcome with determination and a positive mindset.
• The more versatile a player is, the more valuable they become in the NFL. Hard work and dedication are essential for success in football and in life.
• Believe in yourself and your goals, even when others doubt you.
• Academic success is just as important as athletic success.
• Opportunities can arise unexpectedly, so always be prepared.
• Self-publishing can be a viable option for sharing your story or ideas. Athletes should focus on film study and showcase their skills in various plays and situations.
• Maintaining a clean and professional social media presence is crucial for athletes.
• College coaches often check athletes' social media profiles during the recruiting process.
• Learning from personal mistakes and overcoming adversity can lead to a smoother journey in sports.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:15 Football in Omaha, Nebraska
05:12 Believing in Yourself
08:25 Choosing the JUCO Route
09:48 Transferring to FAU
15:30 Highlights at FAU
27:16 Transitioning to the NFL
31:06 Opportunities with the Seahawks and Jets
42:55 The Hardest Workout with the Detroit Lions
47:13 Choosing the CFL over the NFL
51:28 Joining the Cleveland Browns
54:14 Transition to the Buffalo Bills
58:20 Signing with the Houston Texans
01:03:07 Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins
01:06:26 Playing for the Buffalo Bills Again
01:10:20 Transition to the New York Giants
01:19:22 Writing a Children's Book
01:21:15 Self-Publishing the Book
01:23:04 Advice for Recruits
01:24:32 Importance of Film Study and Social Media Presence
01:26:28 Creating a Personal Brand on Social Media
01:27:25 Overcoming Adversity and Learning from Mistakes

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