• last year
UW receiver Rome Odunze talks about his connections to Germie Bernard.
Transcript
00:00 >> What do you think sets Jeremy Bernard apart in terms of his ability to get
00:04 yards after the catch?
00:06 >> I think that it's a mindset for him.
00:10 He comes in with violent intentions and that's in his blocking game and
00:13 his running game.
00:14 And I think that every time he catches a ball,
00:16 he's looking to make an explosive play.
00:18 And that's how he's been since high school.
00:21 I know cuz I went against him.
00:22 I lost in the state championship against him.
00:24 So I've seen him do it then, I've seen him do it now.
00:27 It's the same player but bigger, better, more improved.
00:30 >> Was that when I think he was a sophomore, maybe you were a senior?
00:33 >> That's right, that's right.
00:34 >> I know that game probably hurts.
00:36 But what are the core memories of that game and what he was like on the other side?
00:40 Did you know who he was at that point?
00:42 >> Yeah, I knew who he was.
00:44 He had been tearing up the whole city at the time.
00:46 And going into that game, we were ten straight champions.
00:49 It was a crazy day.
00:51 It was rainy, the turf was terrible.
00:54 It was honestly a pitiful moment in my football career.
00:58 I remember looking across, I mean, he was mopping kids, going over the top.
01:02 He was playing defense at some point.
01:03 So he was doing everything for him.
01:05 And at that point, I knew that he had a lot of heart.
01:07 And I really wanted him to come be a dog initially when he went to Michigan State.
01:11 But that's why when he first initially came over here, I was so happy.
01:14 Cuz man, he's been a ball player since he came out the room.
01:17 >> Were you guys ever able to talk about that when he got here and
01:20 then he went to Michigan State?
01:21 Was there any conversation of don't go or good luck?
01:24 Or did he just get out the door?
01:26 >> Yeah, I definitely talked to him.
01:28 It was understandable because you get recruited by a position coach and
01:30 the position coach leaves.
01:32 It's kinda hard to just fall into that system not really knowing where you're
01:36 gonna be.
01:36 So I was talking back and forth with him, just telling him wherever he goes,
01:40 man, you're gonna have success.
01:41 You keep that same mindset that he has.
01:44 No matter where you go, I'd love for you to be a dog.
01:46 But at the end of the day, I wish him the best wherever he goes.
01:49 >> Did you guys have any conversations while he was there and
01:51 looking around to maybe come back here?
01:54 >> Not too much, not too much.
01:55 He was focused on the season at the time.
01:57 And then when I initially heard that he was gonna come back, we chopped it up.
02:00 But nothing too crazy.