Studio 12: Ross Bjork

Director of Athletics Ross Bjork stopped by the Wednesday edition of Studio 12. Listen to his appearance on our podcast at 12thman.com/podcast, subscribe for free, or click the audio below.

Will Johnson: Welcome back to Studio 12, Will and Andrew here from the South End Zone of Kyle Field, and we're taking you to the top of the hour whether you like it or not. Joining us right here in studio, our director of athletics, Ross Bjork. He's gonna join us for a couple of segments here as we get ready for an Alabama Saturday, Crimson Tide rolling into town, no pun intended, but a lot of events on your schedule, a lot of topics that you have going on are also, first of all, thanks for the time.

Ross Bjork: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you guys. You guys aren't going anywhere. I mean, whether people like it or not.

Andrew Monaco: We're here.

RB: Because I'm not going anywhere. And as we're airing this, 94 days on the job.

WJ: You count 'till 100 right?

RB: You know, I'll probably count a little past that, because then, when you say 242 days, people are like Wow, boy, you remember that. So, yeah, I'll probably count up until maybe 365, and after that it's like, all right, we're done.

AM: That's when tenure starts kicking in doesn't it?

RB: People don't think that you're going to know the day. So when you pop them with 187 days, 242 days…now I may have to go back to look at the calendar. I had to do that on Monday because I was like, all right, we didn't play football this weekend, so I didn't work on Saturday. How many days is that?

WJ: So what'd you do Saturday? You watch any ball?

RB: Yeah. I watched football. Played catch. Did a lot of stuff with the boys. We shot baskets. We played baseball. We played football. Somebody's building the house next door to us, so the field is just all dirt. We were out there, just, you know, it was hot, you're out there, dirt, sweat…

WJ: being guys.

RB: Yeah, just being guys and watching football. And then Sunday was kids Baseball. The Twelve baseball organization. Nine-year-old ball, in Katy. It was hot.

AM: That was before the cold front moved in, right?

RB: Yes, and there were a lot of walks. And a lot of wild pitches with nine-year-old kid pitch. But they had fun, So it's all good.

AM: Preaching to the choir here, buddy. Went through it.

RB: This is my second round. The 13-year-old went through it. Payton went through it, and now Paxton is going through it.

WJ: My summer job in high school was umpiring Little League games and in the heat, those kids…that strike zone widened. I started telling kids in the fourth inning to swing away.

AM: That's like the very last game in minor league ball when your team's not in it. Everybody wants to go home. It's first-pitch fastballs. Anybody threw a curveball, ooh, they were mad.

WJ: But as this week cranked up Ross, you've been somewhat on the speaking circuit. Yesterday, right here in town, with the Chamber of Commerce. Monday, Denton for the collegiate athletics leadership symposium there. So panels and speaking engagements taking up the early part of the week.

RB: Well, you know, one of the things as an athletic director, you watch a lot of games and give a lot of speeches, you know? So that's one of these weeks, because we have a lot of games here on campus, obviously not just football, but soccer and volleyball. And then, I think the cool thing about what we can do, one, the conference was in Denton. So it wasn't that hard to get up there. It's here in the state. But one of things I think we ought to do at Texas A&M is be a leader in college athletics. And so whatever forum that takes place, Justin Moore was up there. Justin moderated a panel, so he's getting visibility for himself, because he wants to continue to evolve and grow, but also for the for the program. Like I said, I think A&M we should be a leader in this space in conversation. And then, the Chamber of commerce thing. That was my first outside speaking request. When I got hired, they reached out soon thereafter and said, Hey, we've got this luncheon that we'd like to plan. Here's the date. We'd love to have Ross, new athletic director. And I love doing those things because I think it's important that we have the philosophy that we cannot operate our job, A&M Athletics, behind our desk. We've got to be out there. We've got to do these kinds of podcasts. We've got to be visible. We've got to be in the community. So it's kind of cool when you can sit there, and they think you're going to talk about athletics, you're going to give us a scouting report on the football game…no, you don't want to hear my scouting report. I'll let Jimbo take care that. But you tell them that hey, athletics is not the most important thing. But we are the most visible. And so with that comes responsibility. If you can tell them about how we're studying the depths of the ocean right now through a program and then we're also studying lunar module spacecraft to put people back on the moon, they're like holy cow, A&M's studying the deepest part of the ocean and outer space. That's way more important, right? But it's not as visible. So when you talk to them about that, they're kind of like, okay, the athletic director sort of gets the big picture. And I think that's our responsibility, to do things like this in our community and around college athletics. But I'm ready to get back at it, back on campus. Get back at it. Huge opportunity. Huge week for all of our sports. But we know 2:30 on Saturday is going to be special.

AM: The way you say that, before we get to Bama, you very much parrot what Jimbo says about athletics being the front porch of a university, right? This might be your introduction, then the deeper you dive, you really get impressed, don't you?

RB: Yeah. And then you look at it from a recruiting perspective. We want to show these young men and women that hey, you come here, you are set for life because of the Aggie network and because of the former student relationships that you're going to form. So the recruiting aspect of all of this, it all ties in together. You have to be global. You have to fit into the mission of the university. You can't be separate and isolated, because then it doesn't work. So yeah, Jimbo and I absolutely have to think that that same way.

AM: And I think that along the lines of a parent. Not every student-athlete thinks that way. A lot of them do, especially at Texas A&M. But I think that's exactly what a parent wants to hear, to know that I don't care who the coach is, whether it's Jimbo, whether it's Pat Henry, whether it's Bird, whether it's Rob Childress, whether it's Buzz…you are now taking my child, my son, my daughter, you're going to take care of them and at the right place to set them up for life. That's a powerful message.

RB: Yeah, and it's fine line because the young men and women, they all think they're going to go pro. I'm going to compete at the next level. And you have to keep that dream alive, right? You have to keep them motivated towards that. But hey, by the way, while you're at that, don't forget you've got to prepare. You've got to prepare for life. And here's all the things that we're doing in that package. So you keep the dream alive. But then you also have to prepare them for life after sports.

AM: But no one's no one's ever played to 65. You know, there has to be a chapter two somewhere.

RB: Tom Brady might.

AM: I wouldn't bet against him.

WJ: With that diet? I'd go for it. We touched on Jimbo a little bit. I think you said 94 days in. Does the a D head football coach relationship is it built upon day in and day out? What are you learning about Jimbo? And does that relationship just grow each day?

RB: Yeah, it really does. And you know time is what you need. We all need more time to develop those relationships. As I've been out and about, one of the things I have to still kind of catch a rhythm on is kind of that daily interaction with your coaches. But obviously football. Football is a big deal. So I do have a decent rhythm, but I think once I get more settled, there'll be more of a routine. And the thing about Jimbo, different than the head coaches I've worked with before, Jimbo is a grinder. You're not just popping in his office and he's in there watching film by himself or he's doing other things. He's in the offensive staff room. He's grinding. There's not a whole lot of moments, windows of opportunity to say Hey, Jimbo, you got 10 minutes?

AM: The answer's probably no.

RB: So, you know, it's kind of catching that rhythm of Hey, what's the right time? Is it Mondays? Is it Friday morning because the game plan's in? You're doing a walk through? So that's what we're getting used to. But that relationship…I heard a quote at that leadership summit. Trust is earned in nickels and dimes, but it's spent in dollar bills. And so it's just a constant buildup. The relationship, the trust, being on the same page, all those things. It's been really fun to watch him work because that football mind, there's not a lot of coach speak, man. It's football. It's technical. It's really, really ingrained detail that he talks about. That's been really fun to see that up close, and get to know Jimbo, get to know this staff.

AM: And you like to go to practices too, and not just football.

RB: Yeah. Last week, I went by our women's basketball practice. So I went down there and I'm like, wow, we might be pretty good. And then what? I think a preseason ranking came out, No. 4. I was watching us practice going, yeah, this looks a little different, you know? Then I popped in volleyball right after that. All you want to do is you want to show the student-athletes that you care about them. You're paying attention. I mean, I'm sitting there at my son's baseball games on Sunday, and I'm watching volleyball on my phone. My phone gets overheated. So I had to go in the car to finish watching the match and, well, that didn't work out so well because we lost in five. And then we're playing soccer at Florida, so I'm watching that, and that wasn't going so well. So maybe I need to stop watching on my phone because we lost on Sunday. Coming back from Dallas, I saw Coach Bird on the plane, and if I can't talk to her about Hey, that was a tough match on Sunday…if I would have said, Hey, did we win on Sunday? She'd be like, does he care? So I need to know everything about our programs as much as possible, go to practices, pay attention to games. It's been fun to see all that come together.

WJ: You mentioned going to basketball practice and we're sitting here, it's Alabama week, but next month is November. Buzz Williams. Gary Blair. Men's and women's basketball. By the way, season tickets, go grab 'em, less than a month. That means it's basically here, right?

RB: That's right. Exactly right.

AM: Who's doing a boot camp between us? The boot camp with Buzz. Who's signing up for that?

WJ: You and I don't do boot camps Andrew. Ross could withstand one.

RB: That's one of those that maybe you look at it on Twitter and you say, Hey, that looks pretty cool. Yeah, our guys were really working hard. That's one of those ones you watch from a distance.

WJ: You see it on Twitter and think everybody can do it.

AM: So what did they do, they earned their gear?

RB: Yeah.

AM: Which goes back to your trust, though, right?

RB: That's right. I've learned again from another fascinating leader that we have here in Buzz. He basically says, Look. This will be the hardest thing that we go through all season. Right here. So let's go through this, and we know that, hey, we get through this, then in the season--three minutes left in the game and we're down by four and we've got to make key plays--that's easy because you just went through this. It goes back to trust. Trust each other. And you build that chemistry and culture. It's pretty cool.

WJ: One of the things I was interested in is, is anything different for you because it's Bama week or is a home football game a home football game for you, period?

RB: Yeah, I think it's a home football game. I really do. There's more people. There's more attention. But, the Auburn game we had SEC Nation, but for Alabama, we don't. So to me, it's a football game. We're going to have our routine. We're going to have lots of events on Friday, lots of events pre game, and then you kick it off. Now it's just more people. There's more build up. There's more hype. You got the number one team. Huge opportunity. We're coming off a bye. They're coming off a bye. Hey, we're still not happy with how we're playing. And, the team's focused on that, and I think they've kind of had the attitude like, You know what? Enough is enough. Let's just go out and play. Let's not be too tense. Let's just go out and play. But I think you have to…it's a normal weekend. Even though it is Bama, you just happen to have more people. Have more patience at the stoplights. Restaurants are going to be maybe a little more crowded than they were last weekend. But no, it's just the same routine, and this is what you live for. This is what college athletics is all about, these great opportunities. Big stage, CBS, 2:30. The whole nation will be paying attention. But for me, you're going to have the same routine, more or less. This weekend we've got lots of events. We got soccer and volleyball stacked on top. We're honoring Jacob Green for his College Football Hall of Fame. We've got some folks in from Adidas. So there's lots of cool things. Maybe a little more volume, but same routine.

AM: Did I hear from my partner (Dave Elmendorf) that everybody in the College Football Hall of Fame is getting a brand new jacket? He got something engraved with the initials. The shirt looks great, The A&M cuff links. He's actually going wear it on Saturday. Now I'm trying to get him to go down on the field. He's resisting me to this point, but I'm trying to get him to go down on the field to be recognized at halftime.

RB: That's always a really cool moment when you have a player getting inducted. I've heard a little bit about those jackets I haven't seen a picture of them. I've heard about them. I heard they're pretty sweet.

AM: Yeah. Being tailored as we speak.

WJ: He always rises to the occasion. The Rams were in the Super Bowl last year. He showed up here to do a show in his old Rams jersey. I mean, he can get the Hall of Fame jacket on.

AM: You speaking at Midnight Yell again?

RB: Probably not.

AM: How was that?

RB: It was awesome. Just goose bumps. Somebody took a picture of me kind of standing there, and then you've got the whole crowd, and you're just like, You know what? There's more people here in these one, two sections than there are in the whole town of Dodge City, Kansas where I grew up. 22,000 people. And you're going, this is unbelievable. It just kind of humbles you. Goose bumps. It was pretty cool.

AM: You get immersed, though. It really makes you, I can't think of any other word, Ross, than proud to be a part of it.

RB: That's right.

AM: …That they would think of you. And was a great crowd that night, too.

RB: It was. It was opening night. It was really cool.

AM: And they cheered you. That was the best part. They cheered.

RB: It was a big howdy. I mean, that's really cool You're like you say, How do you say howdy do that crowd like what you got to get used to is the microphone because of the feedback? Yeah, because you can hear yourself before it goes over the PA system. So you've got to get used to that.

WJ: Speaking of Kyle Field a little bit different this year, and it's kind of around the SEC too schools are doing it because the rule was passed preseason that you can now serve alcohol at football stadiums. Well, you get a little bit of a sample size here. What report are you getting? As far as alcohol sales at Kyle Field?

RB: So far, so good. I think, one, there was a lot of dialogue with a lot of stakeholders ahead of time to educate people on Hey, you know what? This is a new thing. We're going to do it, but we're going to do it the right way. And so responsibility needs to be the number one thing. The foundational mindset is we're going to do this responsibly, both in the consumption piece, but also in the distribution if you will. Our partner Levy did a great job. They had to mobilize in six weeks. Normally, it's probably at least a six month build up. They did it in six weeks. We had great partnerships in the local community with our beer distributors, helping set it up the right way. Then you have to train everyone. But you know what? So far, so good. Capacity crowd this week. Look, anything's possible, but I know our folks are ready. We've added extra security along the way, and the goal was, hey, something for everyone. You know what? If a family wants to come to our venue, Kyle Field, look, you have this opportunity, you can have a family atmosphere. Hey, by the way, if you want a beer, you can come…again, something for everyone. I think we've accomplished that. And so Saturday just it will be a test because it will be full. So we'll have to make sure that we do it the right way. But all reports are that it's operated the right way and we're proud of our team. And now you just can't let up. You've got to consistently, operate and perform and continue to educate.

WJ: Another topic came the way of an athletic director last week. It's gotten out there nationally. They used the acronym, NIL. Well, I'm used to always hearing NLI, national letter of intent on recruiting day, so I got a little confused when I first saw this. But Name Image, Likeness. The California governor signed a bill that hopes to allow a student-athlete to profit on their name, image and likeness should they do an ad, something of that nature. It just seems like there's still a lot to sort through. But your early thoughts.

RB: Well, there's a reason why the implementation is 2023, because there's a lot to deal with between now and then. And to throw another one at you, it's the "California Fair Pay Act". I mean, so, what does that mean? Here's what college athletics has not done a good job with, and we're responsible for this as leaders. We have not done a good enough job of telling the story about what the value of all this is, and what the benefit is to the student-athletes. We've kind of lost this narrative of saying, Look at this education. Look at the opportunities to go professional, and this is your platform. This is sort of your training ground for those elite levels. And here's what you get because of that. And by the way, if you don't go pro, here's what you get. You get an education and you get networking opportunities and you get to meet all these people and there's tremendous value in that. We've kind of lost that. Right now we don't have a good spokesperson, if you will, around that piece of it. The flip side is look, we have to adapt to the modern-day student-athlete. Their needs and their position on things are a lot different than when I grew up. All the things around mental health and all the things around social media and all the things that they are dealing with. Is there something more than the scholarship? We need to adapt to the modern-day student-athlete. My view is whatever we decide to do--and really it will all be in the details and how this gets worked out--we're headed down some path. There's no doubt about that. The NCAA has formed a working group around this, so there's going to be some outcomes where the NCAA says, here's what the model looks like. Whatever we decide to do, my thought and belief is that it should be under the collegiate model. We're still about higher education. We still have college athletics, and it needs to fit within that. And there's a lot of things that our normal students can do that our student-athletes can't do. I want to look at those kinds of things. What can a normal student "capitalize on"? Can they run a business? If the normal student could do that, then you know what? Maybe we need to look at that for the student-athletes. There's a website called Cameo. People can Google it. Starts with a C. You go on there right now and there's social media influencers, and a lot of them are athletes. You can go on there and say, Hey, promote my business and I'll pay you $50 a tweet. There's already those platforms. Are their normal students already doing that kind of stuff? Probably are. The NCAA grants waivers on student-athletes owning a business and profiting on that, and they grant waivers routinely. So there's already kind of a model out there. I want to look at it from the standpoint of what's best for higher ed. Athletics should still fit in that. What can a normal student do? It's probably more around technology-based platforms, but going out and soliciting local businesses to put your face on a billboard and those kinds of things? That's where you get into, I think, a lot of unintended consequences that I don't think Universities have said, hey, that's what athletics should be. That's not what athletics should be. I want to look at it under the model of college athletics, higher education, what can other students do, and go down that path of exploration and see where we end up. But I think we'll get ahead of some of the California 2023. NCAA, we need to come up with a plan, and that's why this working group is out there. So there's a lot to it, and we could probably have a whole show on it. But those are my thoughts. Those are my beliefs. And that's how we'll look at this whole landscape.

AM: It feels like just the beginning, but you said the key word, collegiate. College football, college basketball, student-athletes. They have to be collegiate.

RB: You know, there was a coach in the Big Ten. He brought up a great point that no one talks about. We're beholden to the rules made by the professional leagues, right? Hey, look, if you want to go play in the NFL and you're able to, go for it, But you can't. You have to wait three years because of their draft rules. Hey, if you want to go play in the NBA right out of high school, go play. Well, you can't. You've got to sit out a year. You've got to be one year removed. Baseball. Baseball has the best rule. Hey, go be drafted out of high school. If not, stay in college three years. And so what's lost in all this conversation about compensation and pay for play, the pro model we're beholden to. So if a young man is good enough to play in the NFL right out of high school, he can't do it. Maybe he comes here and he's like, Well, I'm not really made for college. I don't want to go to class. I want to capitalize. We have no platform for him. So we're beholden to their rules. Coach Harbaugh talked about that yesterday, and it's actually something that really no one talks about. If the pro model and their rules would change, maybe this conversation doesn't exist because, hey, I know what I signed up for. I signed up for a scholarship and an education and I'm going go there and I'm going to stick it out and turn pro after I graduate.

AM: It scares me, though, an 18-year-old entertaining thoughts of playing in the NFL, because that safety net of the scholarship is gone and it is a business in the pros.

RB: No doubt. That's right.

AM: But again, external influences the XFL might force the NCAA…

RB: That's exactly right.

AM: Your great point is the NCAA is not waiting until 2023 on this, and we're all talking hypotheticals, right?

RB: We've got to do something. I think the timeline is later this fall we'll have some principles and kind of some models to look at from this working group that we can all comment on. And then you take that into 2020. Then I think you can form some legislation around some of those principles. So you're probably looking at having kind of something on the table summer of 2020, and then maybe implementation starts in 2021. That's kind of what's out there, what's being worked on in this working group. There's a lot to it.

AM: And It can't be overnight. We're a microwave society, but there's no answer overnight.

WJ: You mentioned we could talk a while about it, and we could. So why don't we have you back?

RB: There you go. We'll keep talking about it.

WJ: If you don't mind, Let's do this regularly.

RB: Absolutely.

AM: What he doesn't realize is it's whenever he wants.

WJ: Like when we started, Andrew and I, really we're just here. We're at this desk unless we're in a booth or on the sidelines.

AM: Usually one of three places!

WJ: We're easy to find.

RB: Thank you so much. Thank you, guys.

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