Tommy auger interview now live!

Orlando Guardians TE and Long Snapper, Tommy Auger is now available. Available on Google Podcast, Spotify, Spreaker, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio

Or watch the full episode below:

Gareth and Tommy initial discussed training and how well it had been going and the importance of the mental and physical conditioning as well as learning the Playbook. Gareth asked how hard is it to learn one play book to another for which Tommy replied,

It takes a little bit of studying and a lot of repetition and you kind of get used to it. You’ve got to get used to the words that means certain things. Sometimes the most confusing part can be when you have a word that meant something different in an offence before that means something completely different in the new offence. As those old memories in your mind are triggering you to think are those the ones from before or this one. But though the amount of repetition we do here, we are getting it down.

Gareth also discussed with Tommy about the advantage Orlando as a city has with international fan bases and how Tommy is looking forward to heading to Orlando. They also discussed the fact that Orlando doesn’t have a professional football team and being in a footballing hub like Florida how much of an opportunity was for the team to grow a good fan base. Tommy mentioned

The fans in Florida know a lot about the game. One thing the XFL has done really well in picking these cities finding a need for football. People in Texas also are so crazy about football they put teams in Arlington, Houston and San Antionio. I am sure they are all going to perform. Same with Orlando, Florida is very well known for its football.

Tommy discussed his time at College as someone who didn’t get a scholarship and what goals he set. They also move on to talk about his time in Austria playing for the Cineplexx Blue Devils and how theat came about,

I was just working the job I had set up and Cineplexx I had a former team mate who played over their and a former coach from college who had a lot of connections in Europe, who got me set up with the GM over there. Sadly we didn’t have fans in the game until the last game due to Covid. But last game of the season the local government opened it up so citizens could go to a game. They sold out the last game of the season at Salzberg. Was a really cool experience as I know you fans in the UK are into your Football or Soccer as we call it over here. They kind of bring that same energy to our Football.

Gareth discussed the passion of the European fans especially in Germany and Austria. Next they spoke about his time in the Fan Controlled League. Next they moved on to talk about the XFL and how that conversation came about. Being selected for the player pool and being drafted. Tommy was drafted on day 2 and he discussed that.

There was a lot of pressure on it, as I didn’t have a back up plan. I thought I’d get selected on the first day as I talked to about half the teams in the draft. Once that day went by I was like OK, so it is either tomorrow or nothing. That day I was definitely stressing a lot more than the first day.

Tommy discussed how the moment felt in at that time. Tommy brought out one of the Guardians Helmets and how well that Under Armor did with them all. He discussed meeting some of his team mate and how good that has been. A discussion around the international fan base possibility due to being in such a tourist trap as Orlando and being the British team of course and international fans world wide.