In The Front Row Podcast

Hall of Fame Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson recounts growing up in South River, New Jersey, playing three sports with Joe Theismann, and replacing him at quarterback despite wanting to be a receiver. He explains choosing Tulsa largely for its baseball program, giving up baseball to focus on football, and switching to wide receiver in college. Pearson describes being shocked to go undrafted in...

Michael Barker shares how getting stuck behind an unadvertised light pole at the 2018 Washington State–Oregon game sparked his “obstructed views” obsession and helped launch College Football Campus Tour on social media. He explains how he hunts down blocked-view seats, rates them by how much of the field you can actually see, and turned the joke into a following, an annual calendar, and growing op...

Randy Cross reflects on the documentary series “Rise of the 49ers,” then walks through his journey from Encino to UCLA and into the NFL as the 49ers’ 42nd overall pick in 1976. He shares early ‘welcome to the league’ lessons, explains how Bill Walsh’s arrival changed San Francisco, and breaks down his vantage point on “The Catch” that launched the dynasty. Cross also discusses the physical reality...

Hall of Fame North Carolina high school football coach Bobby Poss joins In the Front Row to swap stories — the kind that built programs, championships, and men. From three state titles and the unforgettable 1991 Southview run to JR’s Shrine Bowl turning point and the wild moment the Green Bay Packers shipped real gold practice pants to fit him — this one’s full of gems. They talk discipline. Ball...

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Bean, a seasoned athletic trainer and inventor behind the revolutionary Tayco athletic brace. Mike shares his journey from working on a family ranch in South Dakota to becoming a key figure at Notre Dame since 1991. Discover how his passion for sports medicine led to the creation of the Tayco brace, a game-changing innovation used by NFL teams, college progra...

Join us for an exclusive interview with NFL legend Joe Theismann as he shares his unforgettable Super Bowl memories, expert analysis on the upcoming game, and insights on the journey of quarterbacks like Sam Darnold and Drake Maye. Get behind-the-scenes stories from a Super Bowl champion, his experiences as a broadcaster, and personal anecdotes from his illustrious career. Whether you're a die...

Join us for an engaging and inspirational conversation with Renaldo Nehemiah, the legendary track and field athlete, and Super Bowl champion. Discover how his rebellious spirit in high school led him to become a world-renowned hurdler and eventually transition to professional football with the San Francisco 49ers. Renaldo shares intimate details of his life, from setting world records and overcomi...

Join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of Clarkston Hines, a Chapel Hill native turned Duke football legend. In this captivating interview, Hines shares his early sports experiences, from neighborhood basketball games to his serendipitous one-on-one with Michael Jordan. Discover how his transition from basketball to football led him to shine at Duke under Coach Steve Spurrier, culminating...

In this powerful, in-depth conversation, former NFL standout Donovin Darius opens up about his unbelievable journey from Camden, New Jersey to the highest level of professional football. Donovin reflects on his childhood, the obstacles he faced growing up, and how sports became a lifeline that helped him break free from a tough environment. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from his college care...

Join us as former MLB player FP Santangelo opens up about his inspiring journey from a young fan in Detroit to a professional baseball player, and eventually a broadcaster. Santangelo shares vivid memories from his career, including stories about childhood inspiration, college baseball, and his time with the Expos, Giants, Dodgers, and A's. He also discusses his transition to broadcasting, the...

Join us as we delve into the incredible journey of NFL star Jimmy Smith. In this episode, Jimmy shares his story of perseverance, from his influential father and college career at Jacksonville State, to the challenges he faced in the NFL draft, and his battle with serious health issues. Discover how he secured his place with the Jacksonville Jaguars, his dynamic partnership with Keenan McCardell,...

Join us for an exclusive interview with NBA legend Tim Hardaway as he shares insights from his new book 'Killer Crossover,' co-written with Jake Uitti, set to release on November 11th. Tim discusses his journey from the streets of Chicago to becoming a Hall of Famer, his experiences in the NBA, including iconic moments with the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat, and his memorable induct...

Join us as we sit down with Rudy Ruettiger, the inspiring figure behind the iconic film 'Rudy.' He shares insights into his life, from growing up in a big family and developing resilience, to his time at Notre Dame and serving in the Navy. Rudy discusses the challenges of his early life, the value of hard work and discipline, the power of teamwork, and the shortcomings of the current educa...

Rowdy Gaines splashed into life in Florida, but it wasn’t until his teenage years that he dove into competitive swimming. With a thirst for knowledge, he devoured books on the sport and quickly rose through the ranks. His talent caught the eye of Auburn, where he became a 5-time NCAA Champion and snagged the title of 1981 SEC Athlete of the Year. Although he secured a spot on the 1980 US Olympic t...

From growing up on the sidelines of the NFL to becoming one of baseball’s most reliable first basemen, JT Snow’s journey is filled with unforgettable stories. The son of Los Angeles Rams great Jack Snow, JT grew up meeting NFL legends before carving his own path on the diamond—earning six Gold Gloves and becoming a fan favorite with the San Francisco Giants. In this episode, JT takes us inside his...

Charlie Ward grew up in Thomasville, GA. An all-around athlete in high school, Ward chose to attend Florida State which was about 45 minutes from his hometown. He also chose the Seminoles because it was one of the few schools that allowed him to play football and basketball. Ward began his football career as a punter for legendary head coach Bobby Bowden. While he worked to become the starting qua...

In this episode, Rod Woodson discusses his football career, including his draft day call and the moment he found out he was going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his special bond with former coach Bill Cowher; also, he shares his experience traveling to Ireland this fall.

Anthony Robles was born to a teenage mother who was still in high school. Additionally, Anthony was born missing his right leg up to his hip. His mom, Judy, encouraged Anthony to live a life no different than kids his age. That encouragement led to Anthony playing a variety of sports, but it wasn't until his cousin introduced him to wrestling in the 8th grade that he found his calling. Utilizi...

Amy Van Dyken-Rouen grew up in Colorado and started swimming to combat her asthma. She soon excelled at the sport and just missed out on making the 1992 US Olympic Swim Team. She swam collegiately at Arizona for 2 years before transferring to Colorado State where she almost quit the sport. Instead, Van Dyken-Rouen swam for the Rams and broke the US record for the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Cham...

Marc Mero was born in Buffalo before moving to Liverpool, NY where he gravitated to the contact sports of hockey, lacrosse, football and boxing. He was a 4-time state champion boxer, but when an injury ended his dream of boxing in the Olympics, Mero turned to drugs and odd jobs to fill the void. After watching pro wrestling on TV, Mero gave the sport a try at age 30. He trained in Tampa and signed...

Herm Edwards was born on an Army base with a dad who was a World War II veteran and a German mom.  Edwards grew up in Seaside, CA and took to football against his mother’s wishes. He played cornerback at nearby California Berkeley for 2 seasons along with one season at Monterey Peninsula College and San Diego State where he would graduate in 1976 with a criminal justice degree. Undrafted, Edwards...

Herman Moore was born and raised in Danville, VA where he was a three-sport athlete playing basketball, football and running track. After decommitting from Virginia Tech, Moore played for rival Virginia becoming an All-ACC and All-American wide receiver under Hall of Fame coach George Welsh. The Detroit Lions drafted Moore 10th overall in 1991 and in his rookie season, he helped lead Detroit to th...

Leland Melvin was born and raised in Lynchburg, VA in the 1960s during the time of the moon landing in 1969.  But, instead of wanting to be the next Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin, Melvin wanted to be the next Arthur Ashe. While tennis didn't become his sport, football did, and Melvin earned a scholarship to the University of Richmond. Playing for the Spiders from 1982-85, Melvin set records as...

Chucky Brown was born and raised in New York City before moving to Southeastern North Carolina his sophomore year in high school. He was a standout at North Brunswick High School in Leland, NC and was named the 1985 North Carolina Mr. Basketball along with All-State and All-America. Although he grew up a North Carolina Tar Heel fan, Brown chose NC State and coach Jim Valvano.  He played for the Wo...

Boubacar Aw was born and raised in Sengela in West Africa. Like most Senegalese children, he played soccer and loved the sport. However, a growth spurt led to basketball and a new love. Georgetown assistant coach Craig Esherick helped discover Aw along with fellow Senegalese player Ya-Ya Dia. In 1993, at age 17 and speaking only French and Wolof, Aw moved to Lake Waccamaw, NC. He played one season...