Speaker 1 00:00:11 Hello and welcome to the Roundhouse Podcast with Paul Soro of Wichita State University strategic Communications. Our guests are Wichita State Assistant men's golf coach, Josh Clicky and golfer Michael Winslow. Michael is a sophomore. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Kansas City. Michael played in all six tournaments for the shockers in the spring of 2022, last fall. Uh, finished in a tie for 10th in the Greer Jones Shocker Invitational and tied for 23rd in the Ram Masters in Invitational in Fort Collins. Josh is a former golfer at Texas a and m and Boise State. He came on board at Wichita State in 2021. The shockers opened their spring schedule on February 10th in Palm Desert, California. So let's start with kind of a big picture stuff, Josh. So Wichita State returns three golfers who were on the, uh, in the lineup at the conference tournament last spring, added three newcomers. Give us a kind of quick rundown of the fall and, and how that sets up for this team this spring.
Speaker 2 00:01:09 You know, I don't think, uh, any of our guys would tell you that we played the way we wanted to in the fall. Um, I think everyone believes that we are better this year and our ranking does not reflect that right now. Um, the guys who all played would be the first ones to tell you that they've said it all spring. So, um, I think everyone's excited to get back this spring and show us what we can actually do. Um, hopefully go start off the season with a win in Palm Desert. And, uh, we got a great schedule, uh, playing a lot of cool golf courses, playing against some really good teams, um, especially to start off the year. So I think, uh, I think everyone's excited to kind of avenge the fall a little bit.
Speaker 1 00:01:49 Mike, do you agree? What was your view of the fall performance?
Speaker 3 00:01:52 I mean, I would, I would completely agree with Josh. I think, uh, I mean I played all the events in the fall. I mean, um, you know, we just, we we struggle around the edges and just didn't quite put around, uh, you know, a full tournament around together. So, um, I think, uh, Josh hits it spot on. I think we're, we are ready to avenge the, uh, definitely the fall. Um, we have a lot of talent on the team for sure. And, um, I think with the chemistry and our team, I think we, we work really well together and I, I wanna be surprised if we, if we play really well in conference and even, you know, try to get up to, um, to win the conference this year. I, I believe that so,
Speaker 1 00:02:32 So Mike, the golf schedule is fairly unique in college athletics cuz you do have the fall schedule, then you take off time, you have holiday break, then you come back and you're, you know, trying to get up and running for the spring. Give us an idea about how, what's your ramp up routine? What's the practice plan to try to get you ready for, for the tournaments in the spring?
Speaker 3 00:02:51 Um, I would say, so obviously we have a, I mean we go from spring to summer to fall always the golf season. Um, now like high school, I mean, uh, just spring and summer really in fall was kind of like, you know, fall and winter we were off season, but now in college golf you have pretty much, I mean, three fourths of calendars, tournament play. And so, I mean, it's always a nice thing after our last tournament of the fall was take a little time off to a week or two off and, you know, hit a few balls but nothing, nothing too crazy. And when after the semester was over, I went down to Florida for two weeks and um, was got some good weather down there and practiced for a while down in Jacksonville. So that was good and, uh, worked on my game then, um, just, you know, doing things like that, trying to get away a little bit from a little bit colder weather and such, um, helps a lot. But when it comes to getting back to the semester down here and, um, ramping up, just you have to go out and, you know, grind it out even if it's good or bad, whatever the weather is, you still have to put in the work to be able to play well and you're not just gonna get better by sitting on the couch and watching TV if it's cold out, you know. So if you wanna be the best, you gotta do that for sure. So that's the biggest thing I would say.
Speaker 1 00:04:03 So Josh, from a coach's perspective, once the fall tournament seasons are over, how do you kind of direct and, and keep guys, you know, playing and in good shape and improving?
Speaker 2 00:04:12 Yeah, it's hard because they go so hard from now January, middle of January until the end of October and summer is off season for college golf, but it's not off season for golf. Um, all our guys play events all summer long, so they're going hard for 10 months. So we try to relax in that time, um, keep 'em, keep having practice, keep trying to work at stuff, but at the same time make sure to take time off because guys begin to dislike golf. We you want to come back in the spring and be ready and be in the right mindset to work for 10 months straight. Um, so we, we try to make it a little more fun in the fall and it's a, it's a hard balance. One of the hardest things I've had to learn as a coach is try to balance the off season.
Speaker 2 00:04:56 Cause you want 'em to work and you want practices to be effective, but at the same time you don't want guys to burn out cuz I know what that's like trying to practice golf when you don't want to. It's hard to have any focus and, um, get anything out of it. So we were just trying to balance, make it fun, but um, still try to make it worth it. And so I told all the guys go home for winter break and then right at the new year start getting back so that way we're ready to go. And they show up day one on campus this spring and they've done a good job. I mean, Mike's leading qualifying by four, so it shows he's been working hard and Lucas has been playing great too. So same thing, he was sending me swing videos all winter break, so I know that he's been working. Um, and that's not saying the other guys aren't, but, um, kind of early in the season it's, it's easy to see who's, uh, who's put in work over the winter, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 00:05:44 So busy summer, both of you competed in the US amateur last summer, uh, winning playoffs to get in the get in the, the big event Josh qualified out of Pullman, Washington. Mike out of Overland Park. Uh, describe that experience you, the tournament was at Ridgewood Country Club. Describe the experience, Mike, I'll let you start. What, what's that like as a young golfer playing in that kind of a tournament?
Speaker 3 00:06:05 I mean really, I mean U S A M I've always thought of as, you know, the major of am amateur golf. And so just thinking about that, you know, competing in that and being a part of that field this year was, I mean, was awesome. I mean, the golf course itself was one of the tougher courses I've played in my life. Um, I played a US junior in the past and that was tough. But I'd say definitely, um, this year's am was very, very tough. Um, and that's, it shows to me like what things I need to work on and such to be up there. I mean, I was obviously one of the guys that were there, but, um, it shows me what I needed to work on and improve in the future. So, I mean, all in all the experience was great. Um, definitely wanted to put on my schedule next year again.
Speaker 3 00:06:50 Uh, I love to play again in Colorado this year and, um, I mean it was awesome, but I, I didn't, I mean, I kind of got a little starstruck in a way for my first one. Unlike, you know, I remember Will al Torres saying the first time he played in the masters. I mean, he finished second place and he is like, I'm not gonna let it just, you know, um, immerse me in this whole situation. I'm just gonna let it go and, um, play golf in the end of the day. It's what you gotta do. So I mean, um, I think that's something also to work on is when you get in those big tournaments is to make sure that you do your right things and, uh, just play your game and not get caught up in the media or whatever is going on. So I'd say that's the biggest thing that I've learned this, this year from that. And the experience itself was awesome. So,
Speaker 1 00:07:35 And shocker Coach Jud Easterling caddied for you? Correct?
Speaker 3 00:07:38 Yeah. What
Speaker 1 00:07:38 Was, what was that like having him nearby?
Speaker 3 00:07:40 It was awesome. I mean, Judd's, I mean, awesome coach and um, great guy and we, I mean, we worked pretty well together. It was the first time he is CADed for me, but I mean, we've obviously worked together through, um, not just practice, but also when we're on the road he comes out and uh, helps us on the course and such. So I mean, it was pretty much, it was very like, um, I'd say easy to get along. You know, it's not like someone random or a local caddy that you don't really know or, um, know their routines I guess. And so he was great to have on a bag. Um, definitely not fired, I would say he's, he's still, he's still on the, the roster I would say for sure. But, um, I had a great time with him for sure. And, and such
Speaker 1 00:08:20 Is that fairly standard? Were there other college golfers with their coaches cadding for them? So
Speaker 3 00:08:24 For sure. I mean that's what, um, I know I was talking to Josh because um, when I qualified, he had this qualifier like a couple days later I think. And so I was talking to Judd and Josh and they're like, well, one of us will either caddy or if you want a caddy. And then Josh texted me and he qualified and I was like, let's go. And so I was like, well, why not do Judd? And um, my brother actually came up and did some of the practice round stuff and he plays, uh, professional golf. So I mean, he helped a lot around the edge edges on that side of things too. But, um, all in all, I mean, coach having your coach on the bag for sure when, you know, you see him every day of practice and when you're down here's very home-like feeling in a way on the course for sure.
Speaker 1 00:09:09 So Josh, you advanced to the round of 32 before losing in match play. Uh, describe that experience for you.
Speaker 2 00:09:15 It was one of the best weeks of my life. Um, I qualified, I've only played one USM before and it was, uh, going into my freshman year of college, so it's been seven, eight years. And, um, so I had no expectations getting there. I was just so happy to be there. And that's probably the best way to play golf I've learned is, uh, going out there with nothing to lose and I don't get to play as much golf as, uh, most people would expect being the assistant coach. So I only play a couple times a month and so I, I had no idea that my game was gonna be there and it kind of showed up. And like Mike said, that golf course was one of the toughest golf courses I've ever played. Um, and that fits my style of golf. I don't make very many buries, but I don't make very many bogies.
Speaker 2 00:09:58 And so I was just, I was just loving every moment of it and enjoying it. And that takes a lot of pressure off when you're not living and dying by every shot. So I think that's kind of part of the reason I played well. Um, and it let me know that I, you know, I can still go out and play golf and at a high level when I want. And, um, yeah, it was, I, my goal my whole life has been to hit a shot on tv and that was one of the coolest things was people text me after the round of their TV screened me making a putt and shaking hands on 18 and winning my match in the first round. And um, yeah, unfortunately I ran into Derek Kitchener who's one of the, I mean, I think one of the five or 10 best amateurs in the country right now.
Speaker 2 00:10:41 Like, he, he played so well this summer, but, you know, I I didn't even care that I lost, I was just so happy my family was up there watching my girlfriend came up and, um, yeah, with Mike being there and he took Judd from caddying from me, so I, I was gonna have Jud caddy if he didn't. And um, so I was carrying my own bag and I was out there by myself, but just, just being out there like my, I mean, it's, it's the major of am amateur golf, it's the peak and I mean, the winner get top two guys getting the masters. And so I, I would've never guessed at the beginning of the week that I would've even made match play. So I mean, if I could ever get back, just even qualify for the tournament, it's, that's a, that's another big goal of mine in the future.
Speaker 1 00:11:20 Derek Kissner, you mentioned he went on in advance to the semi-finals before, uh, before losing. Uh, so you two are roommates when the shockers travel. Tell us how, how does that work? How's that get set up? How do you choose roommates and then who, who does what, who sets the alarm? Who chooses the TV show? How, how, how does that whole pairing work?
Speaker 2 00:11:38 Well, when I, I got here I guess a semester before Mike did. And so I, I tried to, tried to mix up my roommates, kind of get to know the guys better. And then when Mike got here, the first tournament, the fall or the first tournament of last spring, I think, or maybe it was the second one, one, I was like, yeah, I'll try, I'll try Mike this time. And we were on a similar schedule. We both like to sit there and turn on whatever games on TV and watch that. And, um, I like the same stuff so have, it's easy to talk to him in the room versus, um, sitting there with nothing to talk about. And so it was pretty natural. And I think he played well in the first event we roomed together. And so I was like, yeah, we'll just keep it going. Why
Speaker 3 00:12:17 Not? Yeah, I mean, we've had some great times for sure. I mean, you don't get, I mean, it's always one, uh, rooming with someone you knew and such, but Josh and I have, you know, since the first time it was a blast I would say. And I mean, we have a lot of similar likes for sure. I mean, Josh and I sit there and talk about whatever's going on or we could, you know, we go into some deep combos sometimes or just random things that are going on and such. But I think sometimes some of my favorite moments are definitely when, uh, we have to, we usually post, um, Instagram stories of the swings and such each, um, the night, the practice round, um, after the practice round, the day before the tournament. And so I'm always like, what, what genre of music or what are we doing? Or Yeah,
Speaker 2 00:13:04 For those who haven't seen it, we every practice round my video, every guys swing and we choose a theme for the song that goes over the top of it. I can't pick it on my own outside. We sit there for an hour sometimes little scrolling through playlists. We're like, what, what's Dawson gonna get? What's Luke gonna get? What's, what's Aston? And yeah, yeah, that entertains us for a good hour most times before the cracks round and kind of, I mean, it takes your mind off the tournament too. It's kind of thinking about something fun and pointless. And so that's kind of my goal. I mean, yeah, he's the unlucky one who has to rent with his assistant coach, but I try to take his mind off golf as much as we can cuz everybody's nervous the night before the first round or before tournament. So it's why it's like, I mean, I couldn't tell you some of the topics we'd gone into cuz it's so random and, but that's why my goal is to make it light and easy for him and not, not take it too serious I think. Cuz that's when we play Well
Speaker 1 00:13:54 Do the golfers ever get to pick the music for their Instagram post or do you Totally, that's your
Speaker 2 00:13:59 Choice. They give me some ideas. We'll tell 'em I sometimes I'm, we decide on the theme beforehand. I'm like, if you guys want this and, you know, Instagram limits, they don't have every song out there and Dawson likes to pick his music, but I, they seem to never have his songs or they're, uh, or two foul for, for the team Instagram account. We gotta keep it, uh, pg pg
Speaker 1 00:14:20 So yeah, that'll be
Speaker 2 00:14:21 Appropriate. Yeah. So that, that's the hardest thing sometimes finding good music with that, that the guys like. And so I, I try to, it's pretty, that's something everybody should pay attention to in the spring cuz I, the guys like it and I think it's funny.
Speaker 3 00:14:32 Yeah, okay. Definitely, definitely. The funniest one was Josh is a big Taylor Swift fan. Yep. And, and so, uh, when Taylor dropped her new album this fall, it was like, all right, we know this, like, this was like a month before he is like, I know this tournament we're definitely doing, um, the new album or whatever it
Speaker 2 00:14:52 Was. Yeah, I was, I was looking forward to that. Did all Taylor Swift down? Yeah, we do that. We do nineties rock and like two thousands pop or when we're in Texas we did Texas theme songs and yeah. Yeah, it's great.
Speaker 1 00:15:03 And this is the Wichita State Golf team Instagram account. Yep.
Speaker 2 00:15:06 Right. Always on the stories the night before we're a tournament, so that went, it's kind of fun. Let the guys, let everybody see the guy swings hitting the lineup, um, and then remind everyone that we have a tournament tomorrow and to follow along on golf staff to support the guys.
Speaker 1 00:15:20 Who's got the best taste in music on this team? Mike?
Speaker 3 00:15:23 That's a great question. Um, probably, ooh, that's a good question. I mean,
Speaker 2 00:15:32 Does anyone
Speaker 3 00:15:34 Yeah, that's a, like, I don't even know, like honestly, Josh could be up there. Josh has always got like, so I I mean, if we room together, usually he's driving the car too. And so whatever music's playing in there is usually pretty good. Um, I know What is he introduced? Like Tyler, uh, what is it? Chill child, child
Speaker 2 00:15:53 Chillers? Yeah, all the Texas
Speaker 3 00:15:54 Country. Yeah, he introduced that to me. That was, I man, I love, he's one of my favorites now. Um, like, just like, I guess at home though, like some of the guys have some good playlists that are just like, that we listen to or whatever, but maybe like Tates is pretty good sometimes. I'd say he's got some funny music, that's for sure. He's got some funny songs for sure. Um, I mean my, my, I'm just like, everything, like, I don't know, my playlists are like fine, but I just kind of like steal other people's playlists and away nobody, nobody's
Speaker 2 00:16:28 Nobody's telling you to get on the
Speaker 3 00:16:29 S No, no, no one's. I'm not first in line for sure, but I wanna be sometimes, but it's just, it doesn't work.
Speaker 1 00:16:36 So this is similar to the baseball players, the softball players get to pick their walkup music or their music coming outta the bullpen. This is kind of the golf equivalent of that. Yeah. All right. All right. So Mike, you come from a big golf family. You mentioned that earlier, your father Tony Golfed in college, your brothers playing professionally after golfing collegiately, uh, at Iowa and at South Florida. Your sister played at Northern Colorado. How, how does growing up in a big golf family, how's that shaped your, your golf life?
Speaker 3 00:17:02 It's been, I mean, it's been an awesome experience for me. Um, when you have family with, you know, in your sport and such, it's always, you know, besides golf, I mean like always hanging out with your family is a great thing. So that was also, I mean, some great memories on the course growing up. But I mean, when I was a kid, um, I just was kind of like, my dad just brought me out to the course because my sister's eight years older than me and my brother's 10 years older than me, so I'm young, the youngest by a lot. And so I was the little kid just running around on the, you know, the practice tea or whatever and just messing around. And I think once I got to that age, probably five or six, I was like, I actually wanna play. And because I just enjoyed being out there.
Speaker 3 00:17:42 And so I think that's also something that's carried throughout my career is just, you know, enjoying being out the course and being in God's nature and such. And so I think having a family that, and my dad was a teaching pro too, and so he taught me playing golf and, um, it's just been a great experience all, all in all with family and, um, the sport itself too. So, I mean, there's, there's, I mean, and the biggest memory I probably have, so there was just a hole one at Shadow Glen, of course I grew up at, there was like a little piece of water that was probably like 20 or 30 yards wide, so you'd tee off behind it and hit into the fairway. And so when I was a kid, I obviously can't hit it very far. So my dad, every single time I'd come out and I was a kid, he'd be like, all right, let's go down to the, to the first hole and see if he can hit over the water. And so, like, obviously hitting the water a bunch when I was a kid, but I probably have like eight or nine balls in my room still at home that like I signed and dated of like the ones that flew over the water. And so I think something like that was really special growing up too, was like having those memories and, um, still having those to this day. So
Speaker 1 00:18:48 You get a lot of variance in how golf parents can, uh, enjoy their, their son or daughters rounds. Some of them are nervous, they're pacing, they go walk behind a tree, you know, others are, are more chill or more locked in or are watching everything. How would you describe your parents? How do they consume your, your golf rounds? I'd
Speaker 3 00:19:05 Say pretty good. Um, they don't, they know if they show a, you know, negative emotions, if I'm playing bad, it's not gonna help me. So I think they just kind of are pretty laid back, stay outta the way my parents like to walk up in front of me to, you know, either spot or, you know, just kind of not be in the way at all. And so, um, I think that's been good. I mean, obviously they're excited when I play well and, um, want to help me the most when I don't play well. And so I think it's been pretty, um, very fruitful of a relationship between that standpoint. Um, so I mean, all in all it's, and it's been great. I mean, they're, they're awesome. I love when they come out to watch, they come out to most of the collegiate events. Obviously one of my parents come in the summer when I travel, so I mean, it's, it's great having them on the road too, for sure.
Speaker 1 00:19:53 So, and then throughout all sports, you know, whether it's baseball or basketball or golf, some different parents will approach it in different ways. Sometimes they wanna, sometimes they and their child will want to talk through the round or the game. Other times they'll say, you know, no, we're gonna wait. We're gonna go home. There's no golf talk for two hours or until we're done with dinner. Uh, there's a lot of different dynamics about how you're gonna, you know, how you're gonna approach what, what just happened in in the game or the round. How do you do that with your parents?
Speaker 3 00:20:21 Um, I would say some, it just depends. Like some days it's like, all right, let's wait a little bit and talk about it. Or if it's really bad, it's like, all right, let's talk about it right now on the car ride back or whatever it is and or at lunch after the round or whatever's happening. And usually it ends up, you know, going, practicing, whatever it is. And I mean, there, there's been some heated conversations o obviously, but you know, that's, that shows that you care and my parents care about me and my success. And so I think that's, that's awesome. I mean, at the mo at in the moment you're, you know, obviously frustrated and probably don't like each other at the second, but, um, at the end of the day when you set, take a step back and look at it, it's just like, wow. Like, I'm happy that they, they care that much about, um, how you're doing and you know how to be better in your, in your, um, sport.
Speaker 1 00:21:12 So Mike, your golf game, where do you think you've improved the most in your time at Wichita State?
Speaker 3 00:21:17 Um, I'd say, I'd say recently I've definitely improved swing wise. Um, I think from last spring to this spring, this beginning of spring, I think my swings, uh, definitely increased, like speed. And, um, I'd say my shot like dispersion is definitely narrowed into more straighter and, you know, hitting less, less wayward shots. I'd say. Um, my, my shore game's always been pretty good throughout my life. I'd say it's, you know, obviously incrementally increasing and, but I'd say one of the biggest things is like, I always look each year back to like a time or whatever, you know, if I play the same course or what happened and rate kind of like, okay, this round I know I didn't play well and if I didn't play well today and my strokes, you know, it's improving to my average of scoring. I'd say for sure, like my scoring average if I don't play well is, is definitely been, um, on the better side of, you know, closer to par instead of, you know, um, I guess last year it's been, it was a little bit worse.
Speaker 4 00:22:29 Hi, this is Rick Yuma, president of Wichita State University. Check out the latest episode of the Forward Together podcast. Each episode I sit down with different guests from Chak Nation to celebrate the vision and mission of Wichita State University. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts,
Speaker 1 00:22:58 Josh, give us a scouting report on Mike's golf game.
Speaker 2 00:23:02 Mike kind of nailed it. Um, when he came to campus, you know, his short game was, was really nice. Um, be best on the team right away, I thought. Um, his putting has improved a lot in the last year. That's something he is worked really hard on, um, that him and I have worked a lot on. And I always heard that he could get really hot with the putter and, um, make a ton of putts and kind of cold here and there. And I think he's become a lot more consistent to where the, he still gets hot, but the colds aren't as cold, um, which is a big key in putting. And then his ball striking over the last year has improved tremendously. Um, I know in the spring he was, he was really struggling with some, some of his irons, his long irons and hit some pretty gross shots he would tell you.
Speaker 2 00:23:49 And now it's kinda, you know, if you want someone to step up and hit a tight fairway or hit a long iron into a tucked pin, like he's, he can do it a way higher rate than last spring. I mean, the change in his ball striking in the last year is, is incredible to where it was. I mean, so he's one of those guys who's, it's gonna be pretty hard for him to shoot above 75. Like a lot has to go wrong outside of his control cause he just doesn't miss very often, which is why he's played every event for us.
Speaker 1 00:24:17 Mike, what's, what's the favorite golf course you've played?
Speaker 3 00:24:21 Um, let's see. I'd probably say I'll give you I, hmm. Prairie Dunes is definitely up
Speaker 1 00:24:28 There. Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson.
Speaker 3 00:24:29 Yep. And there's another course. So there's this course down in Jacksonville, Florida, it's called Pablo Creek Golf Club. It's phenomenal. It's on, uh, Pablo Creek down there and it's, um, it's, it's, it's fantastic. But I mean, ano more notable one and probably be straw for sure. So,
Speaker 1 00:24:46 Josh, how about you?
Speaker 2 00:24:48 Prairie Dunes is up there. That's one of the, that's the highest ranked course I've played.
Speaker 1 00:24:52 Um, and describe Prairie Dunes for, it's, it's, yeah, quite unique.
Speaker 2 00:24:56 So Prairie Dunes is an old, it's Perry Maxwell, one of the most notable designers, especially in this part of the country. Probably most people would say top five of all time. Um, so he, uh, he used the land, there was almost no land moved and they have a, a little, I guess, shovel
Speaker 3 00:25:14 Yeah,
Speaker 2 00:25:14 On 17 out there to show like, this is how we move the land. And it's tiny. So the land is just perfect for a golf course and, you know, there's not a lot of trees, but the slope, uh, is a big deal out there. You gotta know how to use the slopes and, um, the winds always kind of blow in. And I mean, for me, coming to Kansas without ever being here, the views out there are amazing. I mean, there's some high points out there and you can see the whole golf course and it, it is just one of the most special places I've been out there just for the history of it, for playing Perry Maxwell Golf course. Um, yeah, I mean I, I I absolutely love it. Um, which I've been fortunate enough to play that twice. Hope to go back. Uh, it's hard to get on, but I hope to go back.
Speaker 2 00:25:54 And my other favorite is probably Bluejack National, which is a Tiger Woods design outside of Houston, Texas. Um, it's like, uh, it's a very laid back golf course. You can do whatever you want. When I, when we played school, we used to play eight sums out there, just take cards, drive wherever, um, do whatever you want. It's, it's basically, it's like a flat or Augusta National. You feel like you're at Augusta when you're out there. So if I were to play two rounds the last two places before I die, it's, it's gotta be those two.
Speaker 1 00:26:23 So Josh, your college golf career is still fresh. You just wrapped up in 2021 at Boise State. How, how does being that close in age to the people on the team, how's that help, help coach
Speaker 2 00:26:35 Them? Yeah, and you know, everyone I've heard it's, uh, it was gonna be a challenge being young and that's kind of, uh, a barrier I've had to overcome. But the way I see it is players are changing from the old days where you don't necessarily need to be hard on 'em all time, yell at 'em. It's not, it's not the way coaching used to be, I think. So being young I think is a strength because I can relate to what they're going through. I, the feelings are fresh on how they're feeling on the golf course, how they feel about going to workouts, going to school and ha have being busy from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM Um, so I understand that better. Um, and just being able to relate to everything I think is a huge strength to me that, you know, in 30 years I'm, I, I won't quite have.
Speaker 2 00:27:26 So that's why I think being a young coach, um, especially not having to be the one to yell at 'em when they do something wrong, um, I think it's a great strength is to help 'em cuz they, they trust me. They, they, uh, they know I was just there and they understand that I'm still a good player. So when I tell 'em something, they, I think take it to heart because I want, they know I want the best for them and they know what I know what I'm talking about. Um, which is important to Judd is having an assistant coach who could play high level golf for that reason. Um, my head coach when I was in school never played golf, which is kind of crazy because he is in the hall of fame one national championship. Um, so he kind of had the same idea as Judd as, man, I need an assistant coach who can play. My assistant coach was a great player and everybody listened to him all the time. So I think being young and uh, still being a good player and kind of my two strengths as a coach as opposed to viewing as a negative, i, I like to look at as at a positive.
Speaker 1 00:28:24 Yeah. So Mike, from a player's perspective, I guess what's most interesting is Josh is still out there, he was in the US amateur this summer. Does that help him coaching? Does that help get guys to, to listen to pay attention? Oh,
Speaker 3 00:28:35 For sure. I would say, I mean we, obviously Josh and I have played many rounds together here in Wichita and um, even on the road, um, down in Texas this fall we even played together and then just for a fun round. And so I mean, I mean I've looked up to Josh's game for sure. I mean he played at a and m one of the best, um, schools in the country when he played. And um, so I mean his game is, I mean, one of the best, if you're playing on the team, you you're one of the best out there. So I think having that aspect of, you know, not just past results, but I mean he's still a great player to this day. I mean made, like you said, made the round of 32 in the US a this year. I mean, that's a phenomenal playing and I think having that like as a coach, you know, he's gonna give you great advice. He's gonna, you know, he's had his, um, you know, he's learned from his, um, failures, you know, he is, he knows what's, um, to do. And so I think giving that advice to us week to week and in practice or on the road is, is important to being successful as a player too, is when you have someone looking out for you and your, um, your game. I think that's, that's important to have for sure.
Speaker 1 00:29:41 So Josh, Mike is a team captain. Tell us, uh, he's only been here, I guess he's just over a year now. Uh, tell us how that reflects uh, I guess his respect, his maturity on the team.
Speaker 2 00:29:53 Yeah, and you know, he came in last spring midway through the year, which is unusual for golf, but after being only here one semester, his teammates voted in one of the two team captains along with Dawson Lewis, who's fifth year senior. So I think to be looped in with Dawson, there is a sign of how much his teammates respect him. Cuz all those guys look up to Dawson. And so for them to have the same opinion of Mike as they do, Dawson says a lot about him and I mean, he's way more mature. I told you the other day he does, he doesn't seem like a 1919 yeah 19 year old kid. So we can trust him to keep other guys accountable. We trust him on the road, we trust him to play with donors or the athletic director if we need him to. Um, and his teammates see that as well as us. And so I, I mean, it's not very often cuz technically I guess still a freshman this last fall, being only here for one semester to be a team captain says a lot about him.
Speaker 1 00:30:51 So Mike, we've got three Texans on the shocker roster, three Kansans on the shocker roster. Take us through some of the NFL banter that's going on during the playoffs.
Speaker 3 00:30:59 Yeah, I mean it was a, it was a tough, tough weekend for a few of those guys for sure with the Cowboys loss. I mean, I'd say Aston and Dawson, we, we were watching it in our living room. I live with Aston and Dawson and, um, they were definitely down bad, I'd say. Um, there wasn't very many words said after that game for sure. And obviously me being a Kansas City guy, I'm a big chief guy, so, um, obviously I'm a little afraid of this weekend, but, um, I think this year we're gonna beat the Bengals and so I think, um, it's fun though. I mean, it's fun having other guys that are, uh, fans of other teams because you guys can go back and forth and, you know, uh, give each other crap for, you know, who's who's who. And, um, you know, like Aston, he's, uh, he's not a fan of Dak right now, and so he's, he's been just clowning him recently and such. And, um, it's been, it's been pretty funny to be around for sure. It's, it's always fun, you know, having that kind of stuff off the course to just kind of like, you know, take your mind off of golf and, you know, have fun. You know, that's, that's the biggest thing too.
Speaker 1 00:32:04 And are you kind and considerate when your friends are struggling with their N F L team or do you, do you rub it in a little bit?
Speaker 3 00:32:10 Um, I, there's a little bit of both. I'd say I've never wanted to be that guy that just like makes fun of everything. I mean, obviously the Cowboys had a great year still, I think, you know, they obviously previous years have not been as good and so I don't, I don't think I, I wouldn't say I would rub it in as much to be nice about it, but, um, you know, I I respect their team still. I mean, maybe not as much as the Chiefs, but, um, so I think, I think I'm pretty good about it still. I don't think I said anything that would hurt them that much.
Speaker 1 00:32:44 I think if there's, if there's any franchise that kind of invites that kind of, uh, teasing, it would be the Dallas Cowboys. I think everybody,
Speaker 3 00:32:51 It's the Cowboys for, I mean noth nothing against anyone, but I mean there's, there's a few names that you could, you could list that maybe need to move on or, you know, new new openings need to be made for sure or looks, but, um, yeah, so I mean you hit that spot on. I'd say the Cowboys are definitely of the NFL are the team that almost make fun of for sure. But
Speaker 5 00:33:26 Thank you for listening to the Roundhouse podcast. Courtesy of Wichita State University's strategic communications. We encourage you to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can find more roundhouse
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Speaker 6 00:33:41 Brad Shaw into Windgate Wind Gate's. Gonna dribble it a couple of times and throws it in the hands of kunar. Throw it away. Kunar to Ryan Martin for the, the shockers are going to the Sweet 16. It's all over the shockers. Up seven, three seconds too by Smith is no good, which cause to the Sweet 16.
