Dr. Jerryl Bennett, FIRST Black Quarterback at West Point

On this episode of The Sports Outlet with Kei-Touch, Kei-Touch sits down with trailblazing leader Jerryl Bennett, whose historic role at United States Military Academy at West Point helped break barriers and redefine leadership in college athletics and the military. Bennett reflects on the significance of becoming the first Black quarterback in West Point history, a position that carries immense responsibility both on and off the field. He shares the challenges and expectations that came with leading a team at one of the nation’s most prestigious military institutions while paving the way for future generations of athletes and leaders.

During the conversation, Bennett discusses how his experiences at West Point shaped his commitment to discipline, leadership, and service, values that guided his transition from the football field to a life dedicated to public service. He reflects on the lessons learned through military training, teamwork, and perseverance, and how those experiences prepared him for leadership roles beyond athletics. The discussion highlights how sports can build character and develop the type of resilience required to succeed in high-pressure environments.

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This episode celebrates not only a historic milestone in sports history, but also the enduring legacy of leadership, courage, and service. Bennett’s story is a reminder that true impact extends far beyond the playing field—it’s about the lives you influence and the path you help create for the next generation.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Jimmy cloot, kitty grimm.

SPEAKER_04 0:04

Hey, hey.

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Oh my goodness. Today on the show, we're honored to welcome a true trailblazer, leader and man of service. Our guest made history as the first black quarterback at the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point, a role that represents leadership, resilience, and the responsibility of guiding others under pressure. Originally from Beaumont, Texas, his journey began with a commitment to excellence on the field, but his life's work has been defined by something even greater service from the United States Army to dedicate his career to leadership and community impact. He has continued to live out the values of discipline, integrity, and most importantly, giving back. His story is not just about breaking barriers in sports, it's about perseverance and using your platform to uplift others. I am so excited to welcome a true pioneer and servant leader, Dr. Gerald Bennett.

SPEAKER_04 1:24

Welcome, sir.

SPEAKER_03 1:26

Thank you, ma'am. I am uh it's a pleasure being here. I'm uh humbled and uh deeply appreciative.

SPEAKER_00 1:34

Yes, sir. So tell us a little bit about your journey to West Point and also the path that led you there and wanted to serve your country.

SPEAKER_03 1:50

You know, it was um everything that uh happened in my life. Um, you know, it was certainly uh God inspired. And, you know, I had a family that uh, you know, prayed uh heavily. So we didn't know anything about West Point when I was coming up. I grew up in um, you know, in the projects, and we did uh get a chance to move on the other side of the railroad tracks into uh first-time home ownership, uh, you know, affordable housing. And um, you know, it was um you know there that I continue to play. I I coming up in the uh in the hood, if you will. Uh I just remember, you know, being really impressed when I would see somebody, you know, uh coming into the community with a stack of books in their arm and I would pause while I'm spinning my tops and shooting my marbles and you know, uh winning the marbles and you know, uh splitting other people's tops. Uh, you know, I I I would stop and I would pause and I would wonder. Then I would go back uh, you know, the plan. But it's that wonderment, you know, that uh you know drove me because um I didn't know how to approach anybody to say, how what is this and what are you doing? But uh it was that competitiveness um and uh being raised in the church, you know, that kept me out of trouble. Uh but the competitiveness led into uh me studying uh well and loving math and you know uh wanting to uh make all A's. I loved it when you would get the uh the uh awards and and the you know the stipends you know for that and the cereal and the money that I would get so I can go buy me some boxes of cereal, honeycombs back then, the little bitty boxes, you all. So I know what they are. Yeah, so that that drove me. And um, you know, and and just living out you know my life, I I um uh you know, doing that, um, there was a time when I remember that I was at a halftime uh show, um, you know, Charlton Pilott and Hebert, and I was uh throwing the football um you know on the field as a kid would do. I was just throwing because I was having fun with my friends. And you know, on the 50-yard line, going to the end zone in the uh eighth grade, um, nothing to me. I was just doing what I do. And then uh next thing you know, going to the uh ninth grade, and I went straight to the varsity. So you don't come here, you know, the JV company. And in Texas, uh that's a big deal. You know, so um I you know realized that uh you know had something um you know that was uh special in when University of Texas, you know, was uh recruiting me. You know, I just knew I was on my way. I'm Gerald Bennett, great, you know, never did any of these things, but people you know put the folk in front of me. But I tore my cartilage in the middle of my senior year, and I limped you know through the last few games. And now University of Texas uh you know didn't really uh care to uh give me a football scholarship, but they said that you can have an academic scholarship. And I said, But I'm Joe Bennett, you know, I need that big scholarship because that's that's the only thing I could think of and had uh you know geared uh myself toward. So when all of the other schools started passing me by and I wasn't getting any hits, and it was University of Rice, you know, I yeah, I learned that they uh uh had 11 quarterbacks. I said, no, you only need one. I'm not going there. So I um was getting ready to go to Southern University. Um I you know, it was um uh a great school. I didn't understand, you know, HBCU versus non-HBCU. Uh but um while I was getting ready and gearing uh my mind to go to you know the uh smaller market, uh West Point came and found me and knocked at my door. They knocked at my door. First question out of their mouth is Do you want to play football at uh West Point? And I said, Do you play on TV? You know, so he laughed at me. And then uh when he laughed and he said, Yeah, we're the biggest game in the world. I then remembered that Roger Stauback went to the Naval Academy, he was my idol, Dallas Cowboys. That's right, you know. So I said, Well, oh, okay, let me think about this. I'm in. And I thought that I was getting ready to go to the academy, but this was April of my senior year. And they said, No, you can't come because it's too late to get in. But we can give you uh a place to go where you can keep your eligibility. That was Cholt Rosemary Hall, the feeder school to Yale University. When I went to that school, um, I was really surprised. It was like heaven on earth, it was nirvana. And sitting here saying, How come I never knew about all of this? And that's when I said, now I've got to uh you know commit to tell it over the mountain. This is just too good to be true. I'm gonna make sure all my brothers and sisters know know about this. By the time I lit the field up and we won, um, you know, we uh it wasn't we weren't undefeated, we lost only one game. Um, and and you know, with that, I everybody came after me because I had rehabbed really well in Texas and went to Chope Rosemary Hall and you know, impressed enough people where majority of the Ivy Leagues, you know, started to offer me scholarships, you know. Then the Naval Academy came, the University of South Carolina, University of California at Berkeley, all of those. And I was really um happy and I said, hmm, this is great. But I'm going to West Point because if it wasn't for them, then I would not have uh had this experience. Did everybody say you don't have to do that? And I couldn't understand what I don't, I gave them my word that I would. So I uh ended up going to West Point with the intent that I was gonna say thank you for the six weeks, you know. And then I was gonna go and continue to keep my pro aspirations alive. And they you know put me in touch with the TAC and major. That was a big deal, you know, one-on-one. Why don't you just stay for one year? You're not gonna lose any eligibility. I went the first uh stayed the first year and I did you know pretty fairly well. You know, started a few games as uh quarterback as a freshman at West Point. Um, and then you know, at the end of the uh first year, they said uh uh put me in a house with the superintendent. I went into his house, dinner, and uh that was um you know pretty impressive too. Really fine, you know, uh uh food and house, and everything is just immaculate. Um, reminded me of uh all the fine furniture my grandmother, you know, had, you know, as she you know was made and she got a lot of hand-me-downs, you know, from people who had a lot of things, you know. But uh it was all beautiful and it was really immaculate in this uh nice historic house. And he said, Why don't you say two years? You don't have any obligation after two years. I say that makes sense. I'll give you another year. Then in that second year, the secretary of the army comes and uh talks to me. Wow. Um it was uh during the time uh we were getting ready for the Army Navy game, and you know, again, those impressions, you know, uh uh did something to you. So when it came time between the second and the third year, I said, This ring is going, I imagine, well, no, I had the ring. It's going to help me with my life's purpose, and life's purpose was to serve and with excellence, and you know, so with duty on the country and thou shall not lie, cheat is still not tolerate those who do, and a lifetime of selfless service, those were all biblical to me. So I said, I'm gonna do this, and I'm never gonna regret making this decision to uh keep moving forward at West Point, give my life, you know, to the uh service. And um, I did that. What I realized about me in retrospect is that it was harder for me to quit than it was for me to get in. A lot of people, you know, didn't um you know, think that you know, I had a had it easy because I was a jock, but you don't get uh to West Point just being a jock. Every athlete is a cadet at West Point, and every cadet is an athlete at West Point. And I just uh happened to be able to uh have been able to earn my way on on that uh uh field. But you know, I told you about those 11 quarterbacks at Rice went in time to break out at West Point, and you know what position y'all want to play? I want to play quarterback. 11 people showed up in line, bigger than me, they were just awesome. Oh no, I've been duped. I said, okay, girl, like that. Yeah, just have fun, and I had fun, and my talents came through, I relaxed, and uh next thing you know, I you know earned the uh you know the uh starting position, you know, um in the freshman year and then in the uh sophomore year. And you know, so that was the uh history of me going uh uh to West Point, and I just uh those were just some uh wonderful days that the whole experience, and as I say to you, I don't regret it no matter how you were treated, but it gave me the idea how resilient I am because I grew up in Texas and racism on both sides of me when I moved into the other side of railroad tracks, so nobody could uh you know daunt me.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

So Dr. Bennett, thank you for that. I I just have to say, being that we are both from Texas, I'm down the street from Houston, and you were mentioning all those schools, and I just got excited because I'm a HBCU marching band fan. So you were saying Southern University, the ones who started it all. I was so excited about that. Uh, but also I want you to give us some perspective. What year did you start? With what year were you at West Point, and you were the first black starting quarterback?

SPEAKER_03 11:50

Yes, that's right. 78. I entered, so I, you know, able to start 78 and then 79 and then 80 and then 81. So yeah, I I was able to uh you know play on the field, uh, you know, that and and good enough, happy enough, you know, to know that I did enough that uh I haven't disappeared from the record books.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

And that's the important part. I wanted to just say that the years 78. So we're talking about 4748 years ago that you became the first. And I want people to understand it was not that long ago. How many of these opportunities that we have, you know, it wasn't that long ago. And I know Dr. Bennett, you remember uh I'm sure you were an Oilers fan when we had Warren Moon as a black quarterback. That was not normal, he wasn't the first, but that was very unique, very unique.

SPEAKER_03 12:50

Yes, he was, and I remember looking at him, and then you know, it was a novel to see James Harrison uh, you know, also, you know. So uh yeah, those were uh uh novel days, and and um, you know, one of the uh uh rhetorics you know used at West Point was you need to stay here because you won't make it in the NFL. Well, looking at people now, and if you had the right uh circumstances and uh tutelage and environment, then um that wouldn't have been the uh case. It could have been uh something different, uh even uh you know in the pro aspirations. But you know, um you know, I learned that it's it's not about what you know, it's to who you know. And no matter how you know staunch, you know, the uh system at West Point was, um, again, Roger Stauback was able to uh you know go from the Naval Academy into the pros. So uh anything is possible, and uh it's all about the attitude that you have and um just one more break away from you know achieving your your dreams. Now, uh my dream uh again was to do that, but graduating from West Point, um I I didn't realize, you know, uh going through it, not until I made that decision between year two and three, that the history of the place was just incredible. And I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to be a part of that long gray line where today we have over 55,000 people, and in my phone, I can pick up the uh phone and connect with any of them. That's how uh how true that gray line is for us.

SPEAKER_00 14:25

Hold on, real quick, coach. For those who want to follow us, okay, you can follow Dr. Gerald Bennett at JB911682 on the gram. You can follow the coach Kenny Gray. Gray spelled with the A on IG and me at DJ K-E-I touch. Coach.

SPEAKER_04 14:48

Yeah, you know, uniform the uniform, right? Um, when you're in the uniform of a football player and you're the quarterback, the head coach tends to hang out with you a lot more than what you think, because it's his system. And to find someone who can implement my system, or he's gonna be hanging with me. And there's only two people, like I was telling the key touch earlier, that I hang out with. That's the middle linebacker and my quarterback, because one runs my defense, one runs the offense. So now that you're a quarterback, you can talk. We we're gonna talk head coach to to quarterback here, right? Now, in order for you to play for me, you have to be first off, know the system, implement the system, and have to be accurate. So, as the other uniform, can you shoot? Can you shoot straight? Because as a quarterback, you better be dead ass accurate throwing that football.

SPEAKER_02 15:41

Got it, coach.

SPEAKER_04 15:42

So, how how accurate were you with the gun, and how accurate were you with that gun with the with the arm?

SPEAKER_00 15:50

Hold on, it's a it's a rifle, it's a rifle.

SPEAKER_04 15:53

Okay, I'm not in the military, it's a gun to me.

SPEAKER_03 16:00

Yeah, I was the expert shooter. Uh I grew up in Texas.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

Yes, that part.

SPEAKER_03 16:05

Yeah, we it makes sense. Yeah, yeah, it makes sense. And they call me the Beaumont Bomber, you know, at uh, you know, at uh West Point. Uh what I'm talking about, right? What I'm talking about. The reason all of that happened again, I'm thinking about how I grew up, you know. Then when we moved to the other side of the railroad tracks, there was a big backyard, and I'm reading about uh you know how Roger trained. I would uh put that tire on the rope and I would swing that rope from side to side, and I would hit and make sure that I did not stop until I was able to go through when it was on this right side and the uh center side when it was on the left side. And uh, you know, just again going and being rambunctious and you know, um playing uh walking down the street with a football. I remember there was a time when somebody, a stranger, comes up to me. Do you know what to do with that football? He taught me how to go to my left and throw back, you know. That was and turning that shoulder. It was on the streets that I learned some of the techniques. That's right. That's right. When I did it and he said, Great job. Then you know, you then practice that more, and you run into full speed, you know, uh to the left and throwing accurately, and that accuracy part, you know, you know, it's that middle finger. So I mean that the index finger. That's right. Um I would always, when I'm practicing, uh look at your nose and I'm gonna hit your nose. I'm gonna turn them, I'm gonna hit you on the right shoulder, hit you in the belly button and on the left shoulder. That's the way I was always intentional. So uh I worked enough, you know, to make sure that uh people could rely, you know, on uh on where the ball could be and where it did end up. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 17:52

Okay, that's what I'm talking about.

SPEAKER_03 17:55

That question, look, I've never had a coach ask me and talk to me about those things, but you you're right. And the one thing, coach, you know, I always thought that man, I got so much talent that at least I thought I did all right. Um that uh nobody can make the difference of whether I'm gonna win or lose. But we had three coaches in four seasons, three coaches, right? They do make a difference.

SPEAKER_04 18:15

Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. And and and I'll say this um that the strange thing about it when I took over as a head coach, there were three coaches, there were three different philosophies, but the game doesn't change. Uh but what changes is the individual. The individual has to come in and play the game according to how they see it. We can either adapt to that person or we teach that person. When you come in and you have those skills, we tend to adapt to that particular athlete, and that's when you get out of the way. When a good coach can get out of the way, like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, you got something there. That's right. And and and that's well, a lot of coaches have a problem, Key Touch, is with their confidences as far as being a coach, because they think what they say is all it needs to be said, it's not. These athletes have something to say. You need to listen to them.

SPEAKER_00 19:10

That's an example of a good leader.

SPEAKER_03 19:11

That's an example of a good leader. Uh I just remember a time when we had Lou Saban. He came in my yes. Yes, and um, you know, um, I could be calling an automatic on what it is that I knew and was trained. Uh Lou would be on the sideline cussing me out. That's not the one I want you to be. So then it makes you double think, right? Right, right. So that's why I was saying that the coach can't make the difference, you know, between the ultimate success and you know, but um, you know, the talent is a talent, and then right place. Um he says you get a good quarterback, you win, you know, two or three or four games. You get a good quarterback and a running back, you'll win four or five, you know, games, six games. You get a quarterback, receiver, and a running back, you know, you're going someplace. You're going somewhere, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:58

I have to interject real quick. I have to know this uh being an army veteran. Who won the game when you played the Navy?

SPEAKER_03 20:06

Navy did with three coaches in four years. Retired in my last year.

SPEAKER_04 20:10

Okay, close.

SPEAKER_03 20:15

It wasn't called in the last you know, few seconds. I mean, I'm seeing it very clearly. I think you know, it would have given my kicker uh David Aw an awesome leg. Uh, it would have given him uh five additional yards that we because he had a strong leg. Yeah, did not call, you know, uh made it short. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 20:35

See, talking football is very simple. You guys are you're also military. That's a side that I don't I don't know about. Someone tells me and told me many times that the mindset as of a soldier and a football player is very similar. Well, how say you, sir?

SPEAKER_03 20:54

Sir, thank you absolutely, you know, for that. In the military is shoot, move, and communicate, you know, and that's what we do uh in in the game. Uh it's about communicating the huddle, uh breaking, running to play, and executing on everything that we have a practice on. In the military, it's the same thing. It's trained, it's trained, it's trained. And then you go out in the field, and yeah, you go out in the field and then practice what you train. Um I remember being in Korea, um, you know, in Korea, they had, you know, all that artillery, you know, um uh aimed, you know, pointing at us. And I realized that uh if anything broke out, and I'm in artillery and I'm at the front edge of the battlefield in Korea and Cap Pelham, that was as forward as you could be, you know. Um you knew you were giving your life for your country. And I could always I would write mom, you know, uh letters on the tissues. I'd write when I'm in the field. I just wrote to them, let them know what I felt about it. But there was a Sense of uh of uh country uh when you're you know faced with that because family and country.

SPEAKER_00 22:08

So let me interject and just provide some substance to that. Uh so when you're stationed in Korea, you're stationed in South Korea, and it's a single tour, you cannot bring your family. It's very rare occasions people are allowed to bring your family. And so what Dr. Bennett is talking about is being stationed close to the DMZ zone, and that's the border. And so you're always on high alert. I wasn't in Korea, I went to Germany, but I was very aware of the pressure that they faced and intensity and anxiety because if something happened, it's all in popping.

SPEAKER_03 22:48

And then, you know, to the uh point, you know, why is it so similar? Again, in in football, it's about the communication. When you're in the DMZ, you know, like with uh Kitash has mentioned, it was always we practice, but it was always the communication, you know, the convoys and the you know, the uh deployment, um, you know, the quick reaction force. Uh, you know, we always had to stay in communication. The interesting thing uh that I enjoyed about the military at five o'clock in the morning, we were testing communications, of course, but also in the evening, three times a day. You had to check to see that you had lines of communication up and down every day. And um, and and then if anything changed, you know, we had you know things called operations order, you know, quick orders, you know. And it was about speaking, right? That's exactly what it is. And and and you have to get these um, you know, these instructions out within minutes, you know, no more than three minutes, you know, to talk about what is the situation, mission, how you're gonna execute it, what's the chat, you know, the uh priority of fires that was always very important, and how you're gonna support those things, you know. So that it was the very same, the exact same thing in the military and on sports. That's the reason I'm always talking about uh that in life, continue to communicate.

SPEAKER_00 24:10

What was your um area of concentration in the military?

SPEAKER_03 24:14

I was field artillery, and then I um um you know you know, after field artillery, uh when I went to uh Fort Bragg, then I went into the 41 half on the um and the personnel side.

SPEAKER_00 24:26

HR, that's what I did. But let's go back really go ahead, coach.

SPEAKER_04 24:31

No, and I like the I want to keep the military and the sports angle because I like what you just said. Now, the reconnaissance and me going out as a scouter to scout the team that we're gonna play. Okay, you're on the front line, you're gonna come back and be fed what they saw, what to see, what you're what they're seeing out there, so you can be uh abreast and and updated on it. So when I watch film, how important and the war I've always heard war college, war college, war college, maybe I don't know anything about it. But when I think of war college, I'm thinking that you're sitting in and you're watching film to look at the tendencies of the other team or what it takes to win the war or the game. So I like this angle because the scouting report is more important to me going into battle than it is playing the kids because now I need to figure out who can do the job. If I don't if I have the personnel, but I don't have the right people to implement that, then I have an issue. So, how important is the reconnaissance and the film watching and on the angle of football and military? How important is that to you on the front line and as a quarterback running the running?

SPEAKER_03 25:44

You know, uh uh you know, Keitosha, we're talking about you know Korea and you know how uh you know it's a demilitarized zone, but uh it's like you're in battle every day. And the thing that I really enjoyed about Korea is that we lived with each other, we ate with each other, we played with each other, we were always uh together. And uh always together, you know, allows you to share insights and intel and you know, some things that you just wouldn't get if you weren't always, you know, so in in communication. Uh, one of the things I remember is that uh, you know, we could be in a field and um you know things will come up missing, even though you have a perimeter, you know, and you're you're supposed to be awake all night long, but some things always seem to come up missing, you know. So, you know, it's that's one piece of intelligence that uh you know we had to share until we got uh you know, every you know, we would uh have uh checks, you know, in the perimeter, out the perimeter, you know, like I was telling you what we do in the daytime to five o'clock in the morning, 12 o'clock in the uh the um uh in the afternoon, um, we would then start uh you know having constant checks and waking people up um you know just to make sure you know that we would not uh you know people wouldn't uh pilfer or uh evade and egress into our area without us knowing. But they were pretty slick and it was amazing how they were able to do that, but we had to learn some additional tactics. Uh, you know, so it's always about that intelligence. Um, you know, we we knew on the other side where the lines were, where all the artillery, you know, were we knew the avenues of approach, but in when when uh all these plans come, you know, great plans, once the first shot is fired, those things go to heck. It's how to communicate with each other, on with each other, and then uh you know, you um uh get innovative as to uh you did uh I will the Korean War, when you study the Korean War, um and you know how they were surrounded you know by the uh Chinese. Uh, when the Chinese started getting involved, you wondered how did anybody make it out? It was because of what we're talking about, that communication. So some learned that they got to go into the teeth, go around, you know, so they can survive. That was unique. Yeah. So you couldn't have that, you couldn't have that strategy if you were not always communicating and scouting what they're doing to find the uh the weakness opportunities. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 28:23

Well, I have to ask this. Um, playing quarterback at West Point means that you're not only leading a football team, you're prepping to lead soldiers. How did that experience shape your approach to leadership today? Past the military.

SPEAKER_03 28:40

Oh, Key Tutch, you know, in the civilian sector, it's it's it's it it was a it was strange. Um, you know, again, quarterback in the military, you know, the way we have to get things done, you know, we got to again shoot moving, communicate, got a mission, and you know, you communicate that mission. Had to learn how to tone things down, you know, to you know, uh get more of that emotional intelligence uh, you know, at bay and help uh everybody realize that you know we weren't gonna, you know, life or death, we weren't going to expire, you know, if we didn't get something done, but you always had to think about how to motivate uh people, you know, to uh get things done until you find the uh the team. And I I found that um, you know, I can work with any and everyone. Um working with veterans has always been really uh a delight uh when you get it, it's very uh different. Uh but then you know there's some really sharp and bright and you know people much smarter uh than me. You have to then learn how to uh uh get the most and help them understand that um you're here to help, you know, uh them. And and when things get um, you know, haywire, then with the experience, then they start learning to trust, uh, you know, trust you because they know that you're not gonna boat. And that's them, you know, they can hang around. And and uh I always uh say to you, a thriving uh chaos. When hurricanes come, the place I believe should be is the day after that hurricane is over.

SPEAKER_02 30:20

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:21

Oh, yeah. Being from Texas, we're very familiar. That Gulf region with with those hurricanes and flood waters. I wasn't familiar with snow until I joined the army, but that's one thing for sure.

SPEAKER_04 30:35

But but Keitas, I want you to, I want you that question you gave uh uh Dr. Bennett is this and and um from a quarterback in leadership. Imagine we have practice every day, but now when the game starts, I send my team to the to the fans, to the stands and sit. Can you imagine what's coming after these these players? Because everybody has an opinion has not been at practice.

SPEAKER_00 30:57

Wow.

SPEAKER_04 30:58

Now you have to now tell your players don't listen to the noise. You know what we practice, you know what we need to do on this field, they'll never see the field. But when you get over here and you start bringing that noise to my field, I have a problem because they're not prepared the way you're prepared. And that for me, on a coaching standpoint, because if I'm giving that to my quarterback and I tell my quarterback you run the huddle, if anybody gives you any, you know what? They gotta deal with me. Period. So it's like me going to my team and say, if anybody in that stand is messing with you, you gotta talk to me. That's how it is.

SPEAKER_03 31:34

Yeah, that is so uh interesting. You're absolutely right. Uh, in the military, it's chain of command. I understand what the commander's intent is. As long as you know what the commander's intent, you know. Yes, and we always leave with the mission, and how we're gonna execute on that mission, you're gonna be okay. Practice, make sure you achieve the mission. Uh, and if you don't, then you know make sure that you can um you know identify and why not and then correct for that. That's what the common practice is that Keith talked about. Same with uh sports. Um they can be screaming at you, they can just line across, they don't want you to achieve anything. So you'll be saying, oh, things try to get into your head. You can't that's what the huddle is for, and stay focused. Um, and that's what I've had to. That's why people, you know, seem to gravitate when there's trouble because they know that you know we're gonna be uh we had experience with level-headed uh problems. So as long as in the fellow in the federal government we know what the commander's intent is, you know, you read the strategic plan, look at the mission. I always help everybody understand what is the mission, right? Priorities to that mission. All you need to know. Stay there, you're gonna be okay.

SPEAKER_04 32:50

Absolutely, and you and chaos will be the best of friends. That's right.

SPEAKER_00 32:58

That is just I love this uh correlation, especially when we're talking about discipline, uh mental toughness. Uh, because personally, when I joined the military and went through basic training at Fort Lost in the Woods, well, Leonardwood, Missouri, we call it Fort Lost in the Woods because it's nowhere. Um, I truly understood mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. And for me personally, so much of what I learned in the military has transitioned and helped me and been beneficial for the rest of my life. So, Dr. Bennett, I salute you because I'm a black woman that served in the army and you were a black man that was an officer. I was a non-commissioned officer, the backbone of the army, just throwing that in there. No, but I'm just on a serious tip for you to have been a black man, an officer, being the first black quarterback, starting quarterback on top of that at West Point. I salute you. I salute you, I salute you. You are a hero, you are a hero. Yep, you are a hero. So it's an honor to have you here. It's an honor.

SPEAKER_04 34:15

Black history, black history.

SPEAKER_00 34:18

Every day, every day. You're a living history, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:21

And and you know, to that point, uh, yes, um, you know, it you know, it is uh black history, and then when I think though of West Point, I think of American history, absolutely be able to be on both sides of that. Um, you know, now we're at the 250th, and West Point was the most strategic place. And you know, I I'm uh proud to uh been able to you know go through uh both uh aspects you know of life, but uh if it wasn't for that faith, it's the faith that got me through on every one of those uh aspects. I remember um you know uh you know throwing the ball 70 uh yards, I'm on my tail end because they you know not, but when the crowd cheers, you know something good happens. That's right. And then you get up and say, thank you, thank you for allowing me to have the ability, you know, to take the people's minds off of whatever problems they had, and to be able to witness the uh fun, you know, that I'm able to have and to impart, you know, into the uh crowd. Um, it was a blessing to be able to uh play with the gifts that I you know that uh were given to me. And and and one more thing, I would keep going back to childhood and all that. I I learned all of that stuff, y'all, because I was a bad kid. I I I grew up next to the railroad tracks, you know, in the hood, as I said, and I would be getting rocks and I'd be uh you know, throwing at uh get the rocks and throw at the wheels of the train. Okay, get the rocks and then try to hit the caboose, you know. You know, those uh um you know rocks don't hurt trains, but uh, I just had to learn to do something, and I developed a skill that I just didn't know I was doing. And you know, and I stayed out of trouble with it, you know, uh with that. But um, you know, as long as you stay out of trouble and you explore, because that was innovation, you know. Um, so the the train didn't stop because they knew that I was not uh doing anything except for and I wasn't going after the boxcars, I wasn't going after the uh engine, I was going after the tires.

SPEAKER_04 36:32

Only God knew what he was gonna do with you, throwing at them wheels and look at you today because the faith is not without God. We when we talk about all this, this is God at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_02 36:45

Keep touching Mr.

SPEAKER_04 36:47

Bennett, coach, it's God to allow us to be right here today talking about this history and your experiences because we all grew up in the hood, but at the same time is how God picks you and leads you to uh some other place. So that's right and uses you and Dr.

SPEAKER_00 37:04

Bennett, you spoke about the 250th anniversary, and just to let everyone know, and I'm very proud of this, the army is older than this country. You know, the reason we call the president commander in chief is because of General George Washington, he was the general of the army. So the army, the United States Army is older than the United States of America. So I want to just talk about this. Looking at your journey from Beaumont, Texas to West Point for military service, uh, to leadership in the community. What message do you hope young people take away about perseverance, purpose, and serving something bigger than themselves?

SPEAKER_03 37:53

I want kids, you know, to be curious, you know, like I shared, but I was curious. But I want that curiosity to be met, you know, by those of us who know. And more and more, uh, you know, we we need to make sure that uh they understand that they have choices. You know, so you know, to stay resilient and make uh the harder right is much better than the easier wrong. You know, so we really want uh you know kids to um understand that and then to be able to uh say, I'm gonna choose that harder right. Uh, it may not be fun, uh, but the reward is gonna be certain and definite and sustainable. You know, so when you you know learn that as a kid, then as an adult, you start then understanding what compliance is. Um real estate, I would always tell people, I know where the black is, I know where the white is, I operate in degrade. Degrade is innovative, you know. So, you know, when you uh you know stay there and understand what the rules are, what the limits are, um, and and you know, when I say push the uh innovation is about doing something that typical people, you know, would not uh understand. So when I was in real estate, I was one, if not, I was one of the first. I'm not gonna say I was the first, but when they came out with the laptops and they came out with those portable printers, and when they came out with those huge cell phones, I had it all, and I wouldn't stay in my office waiting for people to come. I would be at the corner, at McDonald's, at Burger King, and I would help people understand what their choices were while they had 15, 30 minutes, they you know, gonna stop there. So I would meet them where they were. I'm meeting people where they are, and that's what I say to you. Let's meet the kids and the families where they are, uh, because we know that uh they're better things. That's what service is, and you know, it's about feeding their sheep. But again, let thine will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That's uh my call. And that's uh when I say a lifetime of selfless service is what we were all taught at West Point. All of those are highly consistent to uh what I knew before I knew West Point.

SPEAKER_00 40:02

Wow, wow, wow, that's absolutely incredible, coach. You have anything else? He feels like he just covered everything.

SPEAKER_04 40:12

Yeah, I mean, you know, the the thing is uh we are who we are, right? Um and you you know, uh, there's a thing about the spirit of a man. Um, I I look at things called a spirit animal sometimes. You say, What animal do you refer to? I like the wolf, the way the wolf leads. I like to leave from behind. When I study the wolf, that you want to keep an eye on everyone in front of you because he's okay. That's a good leader. What I'm hearing here is a good leader, a humble leader, knowing that we're gonna be better if we find the time to find them where they are. Today is crucial to do exactly what he just said. Don't wait, go where they are because they are the ones who are looking for the hope. We know what that looks like. We've been through the hopelessness, and we realize it was faith that got us where we are, and right now with the military and the uniform of a football, we now it may be in the it may be in the closet, but it's not uh done because we are the work of the field and in the uniform of the military.

SPEAKER_03 41:19

So, sir, hey I know you know what excites me now is that football it has gone to a place where it's not so expensive to always have to play a football. I grew up, it was such football. Now flag football is highly organized. Flag football is gonna be uh flag football is for women and for men.

SPEAKER_04 41:43

That's right. That's right, universal.

SPEAKER_03 41:46

I mean, hog heaven opportunities to teach. I could use a lot of learning from coach, um, you know, eTouch, uh, you know, your ability to help uh people communicate and and come out of their um uh shell, you know, uh be comfortable in uncomfortable situations, let's learn, let's impart, and let's win. Because if it's gonna be at the Olympics, let's be the reason that we win the goal. That's right.

SPEAKER_00 42:14

That's right, absolutely, and again, sir, I just commend you, thanking you for your service, thanking you for your leadership and being a part of history, an important part of history. And and it is interesting because you always hear people saying, I want to be on the right side of history. You are on the right side of history, and coming from Texas, I I truly understand, as everyone now knows, uh, which they just like learned in the past six years about that. We were the last state to be free, Juneteenth. We've been celebrating that forever, but it's it's just great to see how far you've come. And I know the competition was heavy in Texas playing football. It's always been extremely heavy in football. And for you to succeed, the way you succeed, and continue to take what you know and help others because we're just scratching the surface, we're just talking about football and his military service right now, and we'll have him back on to go in a little bit deeper. But, sir, I salute you, and it's truly been an honor and a pleasure. I will salute you.

SPEAKER_02 43:24

That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_03 43:34

Uh, if it wasn't for them, I certainly would never have made it through uh second lieutenant to first lieutenant.

SPEAKER_00 43:39

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04 43:40

So I have uh one disclaimer do not throw rocks at trains today. There's too many, it's too many cameras out there today, young folks. I know he got the West Point building rocks, but don't you do it.

SPEAKER_02 43:51

No, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_03 43:55

Is observe and uh that's right, that's right. Thank you. But there that's why. Happy about the flag football. You don't have to box now. Flag football is available to everybody's household. Just a simple little belt on your your waist. So uh yeah, this will save me, you all.

SPEAKER_00 44:11

Um, yeah, yes, it's the sports outlet with key touch again. Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Gerald Bennett. And again, you can follow us on Instagram, uh, me at DJ Key Touch. That's DJ K E I Touch. And coach at the Coach Kenny Gray. Gray with an A. And we have Dr. Gerald Bennett. You can follow him at JB 911 682. JB 911 682.

SPEAKER_03 44:47

Thank you.