 Welcome back to Mike's and Mustangs where we feature our student athletes coaches and staff My name is Jayden Harris. I'm John Hennison and we're gonna dive into this athletics week recap We had a lot going on this weekend So first we have men's ice hockey won their games versus Nazareth on Friday and Saturday two to one and four to zero Men's basketball one on Saturday at St. Joseph's Brooklyn 65 to 62 and then they return home on Wednesday to beat Lebanon Valley 72 to 52 good one last night Both our swim teams finished fourth at the Yellow Jacket invitation at Randolph-Macon this past weekend and Nate Williams set yet another school record in the shot put and wait throw at the holiday kickoff at Shenandoah University Good job Nate. Mr. Records himself Last but not least Daniel Johnson and our guest today Ben Blum were named to the all-region First team by D3 football.com Congratulations, pretty big deal congratulations to all the teams getting those dubs this weekend So did we look forward to this holiday season spending so much time with my family Some of the same to the top of my family Excited to see some family members that I haven't seen in a while. So and most important sleeping. Yeah, that's right Have you gone Christmas shopping yet? Oh Kind of sort of I Feel like I'm Christmas shopping all year. Okay. Well, we're getting to that Tables of kind of turned we're doing the gifting now. I guess are you still receiving gifts nowadays from your parents from Santa Claus? Yes, I am. Oh, yeah from Santa. Yeah. Yes. I am all the believers out there Santa's on his way believing for that bell to accompany near you And now To introduce our guest for today We have a very Special member of the football team dear to my heart This guy was also named first team all conference first team all region He's a junior center here at Stevens University. Welcome Ben Blum And Blum is in the house Oh So as we've mentioned a few times now you was mentioned on the First team all region team. I saw it yesterday on go mustangs. When did you find out? So I actually found out Through a text from big Dan He like texted me and I saw the text and I was like, oh wow I was like, are you serious? And and he like actually sent me the screenshot of the of the post of the of the post of me getting all region and then like probably like a minute later, I got a call from coach hodl and He was like, he was like, oh, like I was like, I was like big Dan beat you to it He was like, oh He's like, oh, what did he say? And I was like, well, I got first team all region He was like, yeah, congratulations. I think I think I don't remember exactly what he said after that because There's a lot of excitement going on. So it's kind of blurry after that, but nice. I'm very honored. I Just it's just amazing. So but next goal, you know upcoming year. I got one more All-American probably next goal. Oh You know Yeah, I mean, I mean, yeah, there's there's not much farther you can go from first team all region So I feel like the only place I can really bring my next goal is all-American. I like it Oh, so but I've been getting tons of congratulations and it's just nice to see Hard work pay off. Yes, sir. Speaking of hard work Football players out there, what do you have for them as far as advice on how to Even achieve a goal like this. I think it I think it all really comes down to like dedication. Um, I Have put everything I possibly can into football I've been playing since I was six years old. So Actually, maybe five. I'm not 100% sure about that But uh, yeah, I mean I put every single bit of time that I have in the football It means it means the most to me. So I mean, I have it to thank for my character My my kindness like everything. So I've learned that through football. So you are a very kind guy Appreciate it You've been playing since you were five. Have you been playing the same position your whole life. Um, actually, yeah I pretty much have been playing Center and I played a little bit of like guard Just like when I was younger Through youth football because I just kind of played where they needed me because I was like sort of a bigger kid So and like I had that like nastiness to me even as even as a little kid Through youth football. So, you know, that's always that's always good. Um, but I think pretty much Yeah, I think I'm pretty much from playing center my entire career There's a little bit of a change up my senior year of high school Just because I was the only senior offensive lineman So they put me at guard and they pretty much just ran it to my side pretty consistently Which was always fun Once once the other teams figured out where the ball was going but uh, but yeah, no center center's been great to me I It's a great position speaking of guard. Yeah, that is actually just reminding me I was watching a podcast called the punchline. Okay, it starts more than half free shot out tomorrow Yep, and and Jack, I believe his last name is other man. Maybe I think yeah She went to McDonald's so The hot take was that Guard might be the easiest position in football. Really? How do you feel about that? I I think that uh Any offensive line position should not be grouped into the easiest position at all because But like I feel like You truly do not know how hard the position is. Yeah, until you're actually able to like play that position Yeah, well Martin Humphrey did say it was edge rushers He said that's like the easiest one and then Kyle Van Noy was like, no, I think it might be guard But I don't know. They said it's a close to one two points. I know who's first interesting Ben He's a linebacker He's an edge rusher. So yeah, well, he got a little offended He just pushed it to another Let me just do something more controversial But yeah, no, I'm that's not true at all No, I think every position on the line is is Really hard. I think I think the hardest position on the line is probably tackle. Okay. I know me personally I don't want to ever play tackle and I played a little bit of tackle but And I did not like it and I was not very good at it. So That's where my experience in the interior line comes in And luckily enough I can throw the ball in between my legs while he is yours So I really thought I understood, you know, I was getting some of the positions and then he said guard and center I was like well, there's you know how there's like those big guys in front of the guy that throws the ball Yeah, those are the old line The outside guy the tackle inside is a guard. Okay, okay the guy in the middle holding the whole thing down That's been blown. Oh, and they said that's the easiest. Oh, wait Yeah, okay, and then I would say that the only difference between guard and center is I had to snap the ball Okay, I still do a lot of the same stuff that the guard does so But yeah, I mean It's not terrible take terrible take terrible take by Ben. No, I'm there Terrible take go Next I was gonna ask you about your journey, you know, you said you've been playing since we're five. Yeah, you are now I'm 20. Yeah. Okay. That's 15 years of your life. Yes. How's that journey been going from, you know, wreck ball I'm assuming up until yeah I played rec at this program called the Mountedry Bulldogs Um, I actually just got a congratulations from one of my old coaches from there. He's a great guy So coach Jeff But uh, he uh, but basically through that program. I remember like the first day I showed up to sign up for football with my parents and I get up to the table and the guy looks at me and he's like he like looks at my parents and he's like You think he you can play football tackle instead of flag because you're supposed to start out with flag But I guess I was like a little bit bigger. So they basically just put me in tackle football um and of course they asked me and like obviously I Said I was gonna play tackle football because I mean I didn't even know that I was going there to play flag I actually thought I was going there to play tackle in the first place But uh, my mom she's always been on the The oh, it's dangerous side like she like she wouldn't let me wrestle on high school and stuff Yeah, well my mom love my mom, but so she's just trying to keep me safe, but she let me play football. So That's been good, but I basically started playing there and I think yeah, I think pretty much as soon as I started I think I played center And there's been like small changes here and there, but it's always I was come back to center and then throughout high school I um, I Played JV my freshman year and then I Ended up making varsity and I then I started myself more year at South Carroll high school shout out South Carroll high school So there I school I started myself more year junior year and senior year there Um, and you know, I got like, you know, I got a bunch of the honors There as well, which is always good. Um, and you know But like the thing about D3 football coming in, I feel like you kind of humble yourself a little bit Because you know, you're the guy in high school and then you show up and you're just a little dog again, man And I just remember that transition Into a like even a D3 program is is you're coming in with all the guys from their programs in high school Because because that's just how it is and and that transition I definitely had to humble myself a little bit because not playing my entire freshman year was definitely like a new thing for me Just coming down to like I don't know. Yeah Started all three years on varsity or for three years on varsity my in high school, so but I I'm I'm grateful for that opportunity because it kind of made me work harder And I already worked tremendously hard, but it just kind of made me work even harder. Yeah, so And then that's where I am today Okay, so we're gonna move on now to our rapid-fire portion I have quite a few questions for you You ready summer or winter winter cats or dogs dogs texture call Text Movies or TV shows TV shows the office Every time Pancakes pancakes all those one pancakes every time night in or night out. Oh night in I don't really go out Don't like going out. I haven't done it since freshman year. So like maybe beginning a sophomore year Wow morning or night person. Oh gosh rapid-fire is not happening on this one. Um, I Guess night. Yeah, I guess night. I'm gonna go night person Nike or under armor Nike travel back in time or into the future. Mm-hmm back in time Be the smartest person alive or be the funniest. Oh funniest Obviously in flats or drums Flats, but yeah, I was about to say there's only one right It's just the rapid-fire No, but yeah, um with the back in time question. Um, I had to go back to see Molly crew AC DC All those rock bands gotta see those you gotta see those in person. Yeah, you got to experience, you know the 70s and 80s Had to I would have to I like it. Also football back then too All right. Well, we spoke about Guard being the easiest position on the field. It's a hot take. I don't know but what's your biggest sports hot take? Oh biggest sports hot take um, oh This is a good question. Um, I'd say Offensive and defensive linemen one-on-ones it is Easier for the defensive linemen It was it's specifically built for defensive linemen and uh, and that is gonna trigger people especially defensive linemen, so Was that a shot at big Dan? Um, no, no No, I can't take shots of it again. We can't take shots of it. Yeah, it's just just uh And any defensive linemen who thinks that uh one-on-ones aren't specifically built for them Um, that's a shot at them actually, so I guess technically it is a shot at everybody respect didn't do you have a I Said this earlier. Um What did I say? I think I said that track is like the only real sport and everything else is a game. Oh Wow them like gymnastics Initially, I was mad at it, but like track athletes are like Yeah, that was a good one. Um, I don't really know if I have a hot take Sorry to disappoint guys. I mean like you could say like Well, yeah, I mean we are Block nation, baby Okay, so Yeah, facts me this at the bank Superlatives Okay, so most likely to become president on your team President him press him He thanks. I he'm the president. Oh, wow. That's good. That's what it is Of course. Oh my gosh, most likely to be caught singing or dancing dude Um I think I think I mean I just I feel like these questions are geared towards him at this point Bias here. Okay Who would you call with your one phone call from jail? Oh, man? I got a shout out my boy, John Avera Oh my gosh, I would have to call John Avera because he would pick me up But it would be it would be like it'd be like he picked me up and then he'd be laughing He'd be laughing at me as he'd pick me up. Um, oh, yeah, no, he's one of my best friends. He's a good guy He would definitely pick me up. So side note from our superlatives What do you think you would go to jail for? Dine-a-dash Dine-a-dash Food is expensive and with the amount I eat Food is really expensive. So I would say Dine-a-dash every time speaking of rapid fire. That should have been one of the That was good. That was good. Yeah, no Dine-a-dash. It's gotta be. All right. Steal the food. I need it Need it don't have the money for it, but I need it. So it's what it is Um, I don't know Probably like jaywalking or something. I don't know jaywalking. Yeah. I don't like crosswalks. Yeah I don't think they take you to jail for jaywalking. What would you go to jail for? I have like some distinct thoughts, but um, I don't know Okay, yeah Something like absolutely insane like the most outlandish thing you can think of like for example I mean, I have an example for him like oh, I'll give you like a He would climb on top of something start dancing on and then they would arrest him for that Oh, yeah, that's a good point. Yeah, that's that's a pretty good I don't know. I feel like I was like, you know, we're gonna be Yeah, would you not want to go on a cross-country road trip with oh man, and I want to go on a cross-country road trip with I Would say this is hard question. Um, I Like everybody on the team really but I think for cross-country road trips. I Would have to say Houston And it's no like I'm not dissing him at all. It's just I think It just wouldn't I Think is I think is also be good. Like I think his music would be wonderful, but like I Don't know like I think I should think he'd have his feet up on my dashboard or something like that Speaking of feet up. Yeah every away game Feed up on the chair. Yeah, I mean like which is which is let me do like I'm sure if I asked him it'd be fine But I feel like just for the sake of the question. I guess I guess use him. Yeah, I love you, man. It's just Yeah, I feel like I feel like I just I feel like that's the only answer That's the only viable option. I like it This is like kind of another hot take we're big or hot take today. I don't know what's up with that But what is the most overrated Christmas movie? Most overrated Christmas movie. Wow. Oh man, um There's only one wrong answer by the way, but there's only one wrong answer. Yes, but go ahead I'm gonna say Dude, there's so many good Christmas trees Which one do I not like trying to think of which one do I not like watching like when I sit down when I sit down and think about Christmas movies Um What's that one? Is it is it a Christmas? It's with the donkey and like like the like Shrek No I mean, there's a gingerbread man in it. Oh What is it? Is that a Christmas movie? No, I don't know. I don't know. That's a good. I'm lost on that one I'll tell you my favorite Christmas. That's my favorite set of Christmas movies would be the Santa Claus movies. I Grew up watching those. I really like those movies. Um, I think it's hilarious how fast he gets fat. Yeah Yeah, I think it's funny and Obviously elf is great, but oh Yeah, I love the bathroom scene scene when he's like singing on when he's sitting on the counter singing while the girl's singing Well for me, it's like why didn't she notice that earlier? Yeah But that's like one of my favorite Christmas songs ever baby, it's cold outside Maybe it's cold outside that song got some like pretty negative heat. Yes. I'm sorry about that But it's a hot take of mine. I love that song. That's my that's my beautiful girlfriend's favorite song too. So Yeah, baby is cold outside. Yeah, that was so cute. That's a great song Glad I agree on that for sure. Um, do you have an overrated Christmas movie? It pops into my head I Maybe maybe low-key like Okay, like I like it, but like I'm kind of like over but like it depends on the year But like I definitely love the Grinch low-key. Yeah Is it you that Tom Hanks was like every character character in Yeah, I saw that I saw like this weekend. I'm like he was Most of them, right? I think he was yeah, he was like the bearded. He's like this. He was Santa the kid The train guy the train guy and the crazy guy. Yeah, I was on the train. Yeah, but that's all I saw but I I think I think it might have been more. Yeah, but I don't Speaking of actors, I don't know. This is just my thing. Um, who's your top three? Top three actors now. I'll give you mine. Then you give me yours. Oh, you go. All right, cool. My's Denzel. Okay, Tom Hanks Okay, and Liam Neeson, all right top three actors All right, so let's go Let's go rain and Wilson. Oh, Dwight shrewd number one Because that is the great show of all time Do I say yeah, like come on like no one else there is not a single other person on this on this planet I can play that true and then last but not least Jim Carrey Yeah, oh, yeah, just three Yeah, that's pretty good valid three though Jim Carrey is a legend by the way. He's a legend never forget that All right. Thank you Ben for joining us. It's been a pleasure Appreciate it. Thank you everyone for tuning in. Good luck to all of our Stevenson students on their finals Make sure to follow us at go mustang sports on Instagram threads x and tiktok subscribe to Stevenson athletics YouTube channel And be on the lookout for more mikes and mustangs coming your way