A Coach Pulled Him Out of Baseball in Ninth Grade

Brandon Carr wanted to be a baseball player. He grew up too heavy for Pop Warner, so baseball was his game — until a Western Branch coach pulled him aside after he skipped a few weight room sessions and made him a simple offer. Carr tells the story of that conversation and the moment he decided to put the bat down for good. Spoiler: he admits he couldn't hit the curveball anyway.

What Fork Union Does to a Person

No cell phone. No email. A 13-inch box TV. Just you and your thoughts and a room full of guys who were all the best player back home. Carr breaks down what Fork Union Military Academy really does to a young player — and how the relentless standard Coach Schumann set there still shows up in the way he coaches his kids at Indian River today.

Down 21-0 at JMU — From the Trench's Point of View

Monarch fans remember the comeback. But what was it actually like in that locker room at halftime? Carr takes you behind the curtain on how that offensive line unit — and the coaching staff — responded when things looked bleak, and what it felt like when the offense finally caught fire in the second half. He also singles out the game — not the JMU comeback — that he says was the real turning point in convincing him this group was going to be special.

He Wanted to Join the FBI. His Girlfriend Had Other Plans.

After his playing career ended, Carr walked away from football entirely and set his sights on a career in federal law enforcement. Then someone close to him told him he needed to get out of the house. What happened on the car ride home from his very first day of coaching changed everything. He's been at it for 14 years since — and he says the feeling never wore off.

"Doing Simple Great" — and a Bruce Lee Quote That Sums Up His Entire Coaching Philosophy

Carr runs a big man development camp in the 757 alongside former UVA standout Eli Harold, and his entire approach to coaching offensive linemen comes down to a phrase he uses constantly: doing simple great. He explains exactly what that means, invokes a Bruce Lee quote that every coach should have on their wall, and talks about two specific ODU teammates — guys Monarch fans will recognize — who first showed him what mastery of technique actually looks like in a real game.

The One Piece of Recruiting Advice He Gives Every Kid

After going through the process himself and spending years watching kids navigate it, Carr has simplified his advice to recruits down to four words. He says it applies whether you're choosing between D1 programs or D3 schools — and that in the NIL era, it matters more than ever. It's the kind of straightforward wisdom that sounds obvious until you hear him explain exactly why so many players get it wrong.

Watch the Full Episode Above

There's plenty more in the full conversation — including his DMX pregame ritual, which ODU teammate he'd steal to put on his Indian River roster right now, why O-linemen always get stuck in the corner of the practice field, what makes the offensive line room unlike any other in a locker room, and a message for Monarch Nation about what's still ahead for ODU football. Hit play and enjoy.