Outside the Pocket with Conner Weigman

you're listening to answering the call the official podcast of the 12thman foundation our show provides listeners with an Insider perspective of Texas A&M Athletics and its greatest supporters this podcast will bring you exclusive interviews with coaches athletes donors and the dedicated staff of agie Athletics and the 12th B Foundation you ready let's dive into today's episode thanks for tuning in to another episode of answering the call I'm your host Ivy Robinson and today I am joined by Texas A&M football quarterback Connor wigman Connor thanks so much for being here and coming on the show yeah for sure appreciate y'all having me I honestly have a very important question for you so have you played the new EA Sports college football 25 yet and what are your thoughts I have played but since fall Camp restarted I have since retired so it was fun for a little bit short live for sure but I got it in and uh I'm over it now I'm ready to play some real football so I mean that's so cool to be like did you ever picture yourself being in a video game I mean no that's probably the coolest part just seeing myself in there just as a kid I'd play the the old nca1 14 game i' play that all day and so to be in the game now it's pretty surreal feeling that's awesome so Connor for our listeners can you just share some details about where you grew up and tell us about your family background kind of paint the picture where you're from what childhood looked like for you where you went to high school let's start there uh I grew up in Cypress Texas born and raised had both my parents in my life was really blessed they did everything for me whatever I needed they had got me my dad would get home from work and soon as he get home from work he'd either take me to go throw the football go to the batting cages or go shoot baskets like as a kid I played whatever sport was in season football baseball basketball and and if anyone asked me what my favorite sport was it was whatever sport was in season and whatever sport I was playing at the time I also had a little sister we grew up we did everything together as well we she's always outside playing if I was going outside to play she was coming with me so she was always there we was always competing and everything she's competitive too so she played volleyball in high school she she's getting here this summer so she'll be here so it'll be cool to have her up here with me that's so cool so she's starting her freshman year y yeah oh how fun she's ready to watch play oh yeah she's excited she's really excited that is so cool okay so sport Sports you started playing very young age football baseball basketball did anyone so you mentioned your dad did anyone really encourage you to start playing sports or I mean my dad played football he played at Sam Houston so I always I gu wanted to be like him but they never forced me to do anything like even going to workout or anything like that they said if I wanted to to to get to where I wanted to go I mean I'd have to do it like on my own like they're not going to force me to do anything but that they sat me down and told me that if you want to go play football at a high level this is what you're going to have to do at what point did you decide football was what you wanted to pursue on a Collegiate level oh that was hard because I was supposed to come here and play football and baseball I was supposed to do both and then last year we got a new offensive coordinator so I wanted to stick around him and be able to learn from him as much as possible in the spring so I decide not to play baseball I go to a lot of games me and jaay we played baseball together since we were probably 10 years old what I didn't know that yeah no yeah it was cool it's my guy so just going out there I definitely miss feel like I could do it but I don't regret my decision I mean I feel like it was the best for me and and I'm ready to go for this season so I guess you enjoyed watching them make it to Omaha oh yeah that that was that was pretty special for sure so you knew you always wanted to pursue and and play sports on a Collegiate level so why Texas A&M walk us through the recruitment process and the moment you received an offer from Texas A&M what factors really led to your decision like what was it about Texas a&n that made you decide to come here family atmosphere they made it they made me feel like family right off the bat and just all not even the coaches the support staff the community the fans everybody of Texas A&M I mean it was a truly special feeling and then to get to be able to be an hour away from home and have all my family come up and watch me each and every week I mean you can't beat that and then as well as have an opportunity to play football and baseball at the next level I loved baseball like all the way up till junior senior year people would ask me what do you like better football or baseball it's whatever Sports in season so so you came here thinking you were going to play both oh yeah it was it was happening and then just things didn't go exactly as planned but everything happens for a reason and I wouldn't want to be in a better place than I am right now so when you finally got to Texas A&M I mean how did it feel when you first arrived as a student athlete in 2022 it was awesome it was I kep I graduated early came up here early so it was a little hectic just to jump from high school to college right off the bat and we were right in the spring ball so I mean I had to get get my baronss together and get all situated but after that it was smooth sailing I mean I I love this place so it was a pretty easy adjustment that first year oh yeah I'd say so I mean especially just having my family right there anything happen I could just drive an hour and be home and be with my family so it was perfect what's your major sports management and getting a minor and a leadership and then going to try and get some business credits as well also a 12pin foundation 1922 fund scholarship recipient a lot of our listeners are 12pin Foundation donors and season ticket holders so what would be your message to them to those who provide scholarship opportunities for Agy student athletes like yourself I guess want to say thank you I mean just to have the opportunity to be on scholarship some people weren't as blessed as I am when they don't have an opportunity to get get to College without in scholarship so for the 12th man Foundation to be able to do that for some of these kids I mean it's it's truly awesome to see how much hard work they put into it I mean they they do so much for us and I can't say how much I appreciate them we're so thankful for the incredible support that Tolan Foundation donors and season ticket holders provide for our student athletes they truly invest in the wellbeing and and want to see them succeed both on and off the field and so we're so grateful all right Connor I have to bring this up so last year I know all agie fans felt a collective ache when you experienced a season ending foot injury me too literally me too literally against it was against Auburn last year yes and I can only imagine the emotions you felt in that moment so walk us through your recovery journey I want to hear about that and how did you overcome that adversity it was a grind I mean people only see the injury and then they see I'm fine now and they don't there was eight nine months in between that where it was every day I'm training room 3 4 hours a day pain every day every second and I just got to keep my mind my mind right my body was going to heal I was fine it was just keeping my mind good and being around good people the everyone in the training room Miss Katie Lewis Parker I mean they helped me every step of the way and we came very close I know all their stories they know mine I mean we was with each other literally every day for nine months so I mean I I appreciate everything they did for me I could I wouldn't be here right now without them so they did a lot for me and I'm just blessed to be able to have those people in my life to get me through that yeah when you surround yourself with good people and people who can like keep you focused and keep you positive I mean good things are going to happen how do you stay mentally tough and focused when you experience a setback like that cuz I know I mean the pressure just in general being a quarterback is tough but then to have that setback what what what do you constantly like remind yourself of or what keeps you grounded or what keeps you focused in those moments I don't know I I just say football is is a game I play it's it's not a way of life for me I mean I love the game of football it's given me so much but if football is the only thing you got going in your life you're not going to be very happy once you step off get step outside of those white lines I mean you got to you got to have people that you can go have fun with family that'll be there for you and yeah I don't know I mean you got to find something you love outside of football just as much as you love football and have a steady balance between that or it's just going to drive you crazy and so just being able to get outside with friends family and go fishing and go hunting and just being Out outdoors I mean that's that's truly that's my favorite thing to do that's actually it's great into one of my questions I had for you like outside of football how are you spending your free time I mean like if we were to Shadow you during your free time what would would you be doing uh if I get a couple days you'd probably find me at the ranch probably fishing hunting hanging out cooking good food I mean you can't beat it out there it's it's really good peaceful peaceful for the mind so I like it out there a lot I love the outdoors I grew up on a ranch so it's like one of my favorite places to go likees when you just need a a break you know exactly exactly it's the best so if there is a young football player out there who experienc like a season ending injury or some kind of setback and they're listening to this right now what would be your encouragement to them to keep pushing through and to know that there's light at the end of the tunnel I mean just trust what people are telling you I mean I kind of try to fight it as much as possible I sometimes I think my way was better but people have been here people have done it they have years and years and years of experience on injuries and just take it one day at a time don't don't look at the ending don't look at the injury I mean literally one day at a time every treatment at a time every rehab session at a time I mean literally try and break it up as small as possible cuz if you look too far ahead it it's it's going to look like uh there is no end so like I said yeah just one day at a time and and you'll be all right and you'll get through yeah absolutely it reminds me of and I'm going to quote Mary Stana women's tennis National Champion but she said this in the myagi story video we did with her we interviewed her and she said the comeback is always greater than the setback and it's something that her mom always reinforced to her like growing up when she was playing tennis and she experienced a pretty difficult injury but it's true I mean the the setback in the moment is tough you know like it it's hard to stay positive but your body is going to heal and that comeback I mean I feel like you're just rejuvenating and you're even more ready to prove that it's to be better going on you know from that moment forward for sure I mean like she couldn't have said it better yeah I mean you got to live that way especially when you're hurt I mean like when I came back out on the field I I had a like my first practice in when I came back in the spring like I couldn't stop smiling just being able to be back out there with my teammates on the field that's what I miss the most is being with my teammates in the fire on the field not being able to be out there with them going through some tough times I mean it really hurt me just not being able to have their back and and give them all I had out on that field yeah I can only imagine with the Elco era well underway how would you describe the culture of the agie football program right now no it's been really good I mean I've enjoyed every second of the Elco era I mean just the players he brought in the players he's kept here and just the good mesh we have between the transfers and the new guys and just the bonding we've created just over this short period of time just been doing everything with your teammates and like building true friendships A brotherhood that is unbreakable and that's what you really need out on that football field knowing when your brother has your back each and every play and to go out and make plays for your brothers is there anyone on staff who has truly impacted like your mindset and approach to football I know obviously offensive coordinator coach Klein I'm sure he's had a huge role you know an impact on your whole game but how would you describe him and what have you learned from him so far I mean I've learned a lot from him and it's it's way more than just football he tries to teach us a lot more than just football and he's more like a he tries to be more like a life coach and I appreciate that from him I mean you don't get that from every coach he he instills he talks about Jesus and the Lord and how we should be live our everyday lives and how to be a good man and he teaches us like in the future how to be a good husband a good father and I I really respect that from him and I love that you like I said you don't get that from every single coach you have and so to have someone like that who truly loves you for who you are not just as a football player I mean you can really go out there and play way harder for him yeah to have someone who's pouring into you from an athletic standpoint but then from a a human and life standpoint too like that's that's incredible for sure I mean he's been in our shoes he's been in the quarterback room before I mean he was sitting at the Heisman Ceremony with Johnny so he he knows what it's like being in our shoes and he he knows what it takes to be a quarterback and the mental toll it takes and just to being able to walk us through that every day it's it's been really helpful I also want your perspective I I'm going to shift gears a little bit but I'm just so curious what is it like practicing in the beautiful indoor coolage football performance center at the Graham Athletic Complex can you tell us what that is like and what your favorite part about that facility is uh the favorite part is probably just how big it is I mean there's 160 yards of practice you can fit a whole practice in there without skipping a beat cuz outside we usually have two Fields going at the same time but you could do the same thing indoors just as because of how big it is and I mean it's the biggest indoor in the country and just to be able to have the privilege to go in there each and every day to get get our work in I mean it's awesome I'm sure it's nice getting know that Texas heat sometimes too right yeah like coacho says wherever you set that ball down we'll go play it don't matter it does not matter and we are so grateful to every single donor who has contributed to those facilities as well th% because they are just state-of-the-art Elite facilities that I mean I think Trev Alberts he was the one who said facilities Inspire th% I mean we have everything we need to be successful and you don't get that at every University so just to be able to have that here I mean it's truly a blessing and they they really pour into us as student athletes and and we need to do everything we can to to utilize those resources to be able to give back to them so Conor I'm going to change the topic really quick and bring up this little term called name image and likeness and I during your time as a student athlete here how has niil made a difference in your life and has it even impacted your family's life in any way I mean it's made a huge impact just ever since I was 5 years old my dad give me pay for hitting lessons pay for throwing lessons anything basketball anything he'd pay for travel ball tournaments in the summer aaou basketball just everything just build give back to them and get them little things and just give them back to my family man they've done so much for me and I I'm forever in debt with them and just any little thing I could do for my family I try and do it because I I love them so much and they've done so much for me so it's truly a blessing to to have my mom my dad and my little sister with me every step of the way that's great that is so awesome what are you learning through your ni opportunities do you think it's teaching you skills that you'll take with you for the rest of your life for sure I mean I try and keep the main thing the main thing with football you my parents and a couple other people helped me out with the nil stuff just so I can focus on Ball and I mean yeah you learn a little bit of stuff about businesses and how they work and the contracts and all that but it's it's been good just like I said learning about how it all works and it'll be good for me in my future have you seen nil impact your teammates in any unique ways for sure like I said not everyone grew up as blessed as I was I mean some people really need this money some people send money back to their moms to pay the bills and I mean like that's the biggest blessing that comes out of this I mean just to hear some of those stories I mean it's so cool how people help out and send money back home I mean uh you there's no words for it it's just awesome to see yeah Indescribable I'm sure that's a really just an awesome way to support and give back to your family for those who had sacrificed for you to be able to get back and say hey like for all those years here's my thank you th% so you attended the Manning Passing Academy Connor at was it nickoll State yeah this summer tell us about that what was that experience like I mean it was awesome it was definitely hard work for sure I wasn't expecting all that we there's 2,000 uh elementary middle school and high school kids 2,000 kids there and all the there's 47 D1 quarterbacks that we were all the counselors we'd be out there with the kids from 9 to 11 then we'd go out there from 2: to 4 then we'd go out there from 6:00 to 8 with the kids and then we would do our workouts with the Mannings from 8:30 to 10: and then we'd have social hour with the Mannings afterwards so it was a pretty cool experience because being able to learn from them I I've never got to meet the Mannings just how humble they were I mean they didn't have to be that way they football royalty they've done everything you can in the football world and just how just talking to them how down to earth they were and humble they were I mean it it was it was pretty cool getting to see that from them what was your biggest takeaway from them like what you learned uh just sitting down with pton and him talking about football what it takes to be a good quarterback just with the film study just being meticulous with every little detail whether that's your footwork your mechanics where your eyes are reading the defense making checks on run plays being good and pass protection and just everything that comes with being a great quarterback and learning from the best I mean it was an awesome experience it's been a great conversation today and I just want to ask what does the support of the 12th man mean to you and why are you proud to be a fight in Texas agie I mean it means everything to us I mean that's what makes Texas A&M Texas A&M the support we get as student athletes and just to be able to go out there and give them a good product just because they put in so much effort and hard work and poured into us I feel like we got to give something back to them and we got to go put a good product out on that football field and I feel like we're going to do that this year so I'm ready August 31st can't come soon enough and and we're all ready to go Connor Wegman on answering the call podcast Connor Thank you so much for being here today yes thank you I appreciate yall thank you for joining us for another episode of answering the call the official podcast of the 12 man Foundation a special shout out to our incredible podcast producer Megan Hoffman and to 12thman productions for their generous use of this studio we extend our heartfelt gratitude to every donor in season ticket holder for always answering the call through loyal support of Texas A&M Athletics we will be be back soon with more content thanks and gigum [Music]