Blake Grupe talks about his crazy day from the Saints game on Sunday, his family's athletic background, and more.
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00:00 >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:05 >> Yeah, it was a good day.
00:07 Start off with that game would have been special.
00:10 Growing up an hour from Kansas City and going to Chiefs games my whole life.
00:14 When I saw that one, I had family coming down and it was gonna be a good day.
00:20 So I'm just thankful that I got the opportunity to go out there and get it done.
00:24 >> I saw you kind of warming up all second half.
00:27 Was it kind of a weird feeling when all of a sudden you're out there after just
00:30 kind of waiting for that opportunity?
00:31 >> No, I mean, that's the life of a specialist, life as a kicker.
00:34 Those moments, those are what you dream of and that's why you are a kicker.
00:41 We worked that situation literally here in the indoor last weekend.
00:44 Delaying the clock, last play of the game, the whole deal.
00:46 So you just stay calm, stay in your routine and go out there and do it.
00:51 >> Blake, when you come back to the Texans game,
00:53 you think security will recognize you?
00:56 >> No, now I'll make sure to wear st.
00:57 stuff so they can, in their defense, I was in my street clothes and
01:02 I was just walking the field just like I have any other game.
01:04 And so I was walking out the tunnel to go do my little routine.
01:08 I go and I touch both uprights, just my little thing.
01:10 I make it to about the corner of the end zone and
01:13 next thing I know I got somebody tapping, running after me, tapping me on my shoulder.
01:17 And ask me what I'm doing, how I got on here, the whole deal.
01:20 >> [LAUGH] >> I had a little chuckle and
01:22 I was like, hey man, I'm a player.
01:23 He goes, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
01:25 >> He believed you.
01:27 >> Yeah, he believed me and then I came back out the second time and
01:30 warm up stuff.
01:31 I got a little more believable this time.
01:32 So we had a good little joke, I laughed about that kind of stuff.
01:36 So it's a fun story.
01:38 >> So is it motivating to stand down and be able to turn around?
01:41 >> I mean, yeah, I've been counted out or
01:43 been noticed as a small guy my whole life.
01:45 It doesn't necessarily define me or anything.
01:49 I've just learned to roll with it and if you ask me, I think it works my favor.
01:53 I have a big leg regardless of how big I am.
01:55 So you just roll with it and no big deal.
01:59 >> How do you think you would have handled it if he hadn't really believed you
02:01 at first?
02:03 >> Probably would have had to make a call to somebody.
02:04 >> [LAUGH] >> So yeah, really no big deal.
02:07 >> Okay.
02:08 >> So Blake, where did your leg strength come from?
02:11 Is something, you mean when you were younger,
02:13 you always had a strong leg or just- >> Yeah, I mean, that's a good question.
02:17 I'd have to talk to Dr. Ray to help me explain that one.
02:21 We put in a lot of work with college strength programs and
02:25 all the work that we put into it.
02:27 All I know is I go out there and treat every kick like it's game winner.
02:31 Just stay in your routine and swing hard and let it go up the middle.
02:35 >> And it starts with your core.
02:37 >> Starts with your core.
02:38 >> I was gonna say the exact same thing, start the kick, start the set.
02:40 >> Yeah, with me, it's kind of my whole body I put into it.
02:43 >> But hey, people, you mentioned the moment at the end of the game.
02:48 In December, a lot of people don't even remember the first preseason game or
02:50 whatever, but on an individual level,
02:53 it's a big important moment for a guy like you, right?
02:55 I mean, how did you feel about when you walked out there?
02:59 What were you feeling, experiencing, and everything?
03:01 >> Yeah, I mean, the B-roll launch, it felt just like the practice rep that I did
03:05 right here.
03:07 You practice those, you stay in your routine,
03:10 you stay level-headed regardless of the moment.
03:12 I've played in a lot of big games and a lot of big stadiums, NFL stadiums,
03:18 college stadiums, wherever it is, it's still the same kick.
03:21 Still 50, 53 and a third by 120.
03:24 So you just go out there and do your job, stay within yourself, and execute.
03:29 >> How has Will been as far as competition?
03:32 Because obviously, you want his job, he wants to keep his job.
03:37 So how has that been, you know, share tidbits with one another?
03:41 >> Yeah, I mean, first of all, Will's a great guy.
03:45 The way we've been able to compete with each other, hang out off the field,
03:50 by all means, when it's on the field, it's time to go.
03:52 But you have a guy that's done it at a high level for a long time.
03:56 There's things to pick up on, things to watch.
03:59 Because along with, all across this team,
04:01 there's a lot of guys that have operated at a high level.
04:04 So you hope you go out there, and I hope he makes every single kick,
04:07 because I know I can.
04:09 I can go out there and compete, because I know the better he does,
04:13 the better I gotta do, and that's what good competition drives success.
04:17 So you just go out there and try to do it every day.
04:21 >> The coaches also say that everyone is basically trying out for all 30 teams.
04:25 And when you make a game-winning pick, that's gotta be a good resume builder.
04:29 >> Yeah, I mean, you treat every day like it's your last, you never know.
04:33 So everything you do is evaluated on the field, off the field, on film, and
04:38 practicing games.
04:39 Regardless of what it is, you go out there and you just give it your all and
04:43 hope your best.
04:44 >> Is that kind of, just to follow up on that, is that kind of your mindset,
04:46 like game day, because in three weeks, you need to keep it for another team?
04:50 >> Yeah, I mean, it's something that I'm aware of, it's the truth.
04:55 There's a lot of guys in this league and
04:56 in all across the country that are trying to fight for all these jobs.
05:00 And so that's my mindset, is treat every day like it's your last,
05:05 you never know.
05:06 So you go out there every single rep, whether it's on your own warm-ups,
05:10 whether it's in period, whether it's a kickoff or
05:15 a game-winner against the Chiefs.
05:16 They're all in your mind and your mental capacity, they're all the same.
05:22 So you treat everything like it's your last,
05:25 treat everything like it's the most important rep you can.
05:27 >> Have a lot of people started to recognize you around town now,
05:29 after Sunday?
05:30 >> To be real honest, we don't get much time to go around town right now.
05:34 So I can't answer that one, but we'll cross that bridge when it comes.
05:39 >> Blake, how did you end up at Arkansas State and going to Notre Dame?
05:43 Is it name, image, and likeness?
05:45 >> No, I mean, I went to Arkansas State out of high school,
05:48 that was my one walk-on offer.
05:49 I played high school soccer and high school football, both in the fall.
05:53 Did both, was able to have successful bowl files,
05:57 played college soccer to be real honest.
05:58 I bet on myself, took a walk-on offer, played there, registered,
06:03 played for four years, got put on a scholarship.
06:05 I was able to use my COVID year to go test myself and put myself in another
06:08 competition and give myself an opportunity to compete and become the NFL.
06:13 So transferring like that was to better myself and
06:17 to prepare me for this moment.
06:20 But I spent five years in Jonesboro and a lot of people, a lot of experiences,
06:26 and that place holds a special place in my heart.
06:28 But I decided to go somewhere else and decided to, again,
06:33 better myself and see what happens.
06:35 >> Ed DeMario, does he fist bump you in Jonesboro?
06:38 >> Yeah, we actually sit next to each other in the team meeting.
06:40 So we're both Red Wolves, and so
06:43 I heard him speak probably five or six times before I even got here.
06:46 >> [INAUDIBLE]
06:49 >> Probably the only team in NFL history with three Arkansas State players.
06:52 >> There ain't many of us.
06:54 >> Talked to any other teams before signing?
06:56 >> Yeah, me and my agent had a plan going into the third day of the draft.
07:00 We heard from a couple teams in the morning, and
07:03 obviously the Saints are one of them.
07:05 And we decided here,
07:08 we decided this opportunity was where we thought fit best.
07:13 And they were the first ones that we got it done with.
07:17 >> What was it that kind of led you to that decision?
07:21 >> You look at, there's a multitude of reasons.
07:24 That's why you have an agent, that's why you let them take care of that.
07:28 All I worry about is an opportunity and come down here and get to work.
07:32 >> You mentioned a reputation of highly investing in special teams.
07:35 That's a bit about, can y'all make that decision?
07:38 >> Yeah, I mean, when you have a coordinator as respected as Darren Rizzi and
07:41 Phil are, that's all you can hope for, is to come to a place where you're gonna get
07:46 a fair opportunity, you're gonna get coached hard, and held to a high standard.
07:50 That's the way the Saints do it across special teams, offensive, defense.
07:53 So we felt like it was a good fit, I like the South, I like the area.
07:58 Everything just kinda, everything pointed here.
08:03 >> Can you tell us about soccer for a second?
08:05 You mentioned it before.
08:06 What position?
08:08 >> I did all the club stuff, bounced around, played pretty much everything.
08:13 In high school, I actually played center back.
08:15 >> Really?
08:16 >> Yeah, so I was an all-state soccer player in high school and
08:20 took care of the middle, and somehow got a lot of head balls, but
08:23 that's just the way I did it.
08:25 So I had some small school offers to go play soccer, but
08:29 decided to fill the football route.
08:31 >> In high school football, were you just a special team or something?
08:33 >> Yeah, I pretty much would run over on Thursdays after soccer practice,
08:37 hit some, played on Fridays, wore the jersey to school, the whole deal.
08:43 My dad went to school at Southeast Missouri State.
08:45 He played soccer there and then ended up cutting the soccer program,
08:49 walked onto the football team.
08:50 So that's kinda where I got my start.
08:52 He met my mom there, she's a gymnast.
08:55 I've come from a family of athletes, so whatever I picked,
08:59 I felt like I could do it, but that's kinda my path.
09:02 >> You have to be tough to play center back though, don't you?
09:05 >> Mm-hm.
09:06 >> [LAUGH] >> You get run into a lot,
09:08 you gotta get positioned and everything.
09:09 So you're actually kind of a feisty athlete.
09:11 >> Yeah, I got up to the point where I got so
09:14 many yellow cards that I almost had to sit a couple games.
09:16 So I had to tone that down a little bit.
09:19 But we had a group of kids that I grew up playing soccer with, and
09:22 we continued off through high school.
09:23 [BLANK_AUDIO]