Arguably one of the most entertaining people to ever be cast on Survivor, Benjamin “Coach” Wade, 37, was the 12th person eliminated from the game Thursday night. The Susanville, Calif.-based college soccer coach/symphony conductor/warrior eagerly talked to PEOPLE about his dramatic weight loss, character assassination, losing his day job and Nietzsche. – Carrie Bell
Were you blindsided last night?
I really didn’t think I was going to get voted off. But there was a moment when we were casting the votes where I looked into the fire and a voice in my head said, “You’re going home tonight. Are you cool with that?” It was a conversation in my mind. I’m not crazier than they make me out to be, I promise! I was leaning on my staff as Jeff read the names and thought, “Yeah it’s time. I’m ready.”
You told a lot of wild tales by the campfire. So level with us — are you speaking truth or are you pathological liar?
I am probably the most misunderstood person in America right now. I can guarantee you two things: I’m not delusional or crazy. My reputation and my character have been assassinated … It has been a difficult road. I’m human and some of this stuff has cut me to the quick. But I remember two things to get through it: One, I am a child of God and no one can take that away. And I’ve got the character that has been forged by these triumphant victories and devastating losses.
You wanted to keep the strongest players in the game. Why did Brendan not qualify for the Warrior Alliance?
Duk Koo Kim wrote on his lampshade ‘kill or be killed’ the night before he was killed in the ring by Boom Boom Mancini, and that’s what happened with Brendan. The very first day I went up to him and said, “Let’s change this game together. I know you are going to be strong.” He brushed me off and said, “We don’t need a coach out here.”
You had your jacket over your shoulder for every vote. Did this ritual mean anything?
I needed to do something to make tribal my own. I wanted to put my stamp on it, so I started wearing my feather in my hair and doing the jacket thing. I think I am the only person to ever recite poetry at tribal as well.
You lost a lot of weight. How is your health now?
I dropped almost 60 lbs. by trying to play nobly. I started the game at 205. At the end, I was basically a skeleton and weighed 149. My body was cannibalizing itself and eating its muscle. Taj lost the second most amount of weight but she did it because she wanted to get skinny for her man. I wasn’t trying to get skinny for anyone. People were begging me to eat, but I needed to play this way. The asthma was kicking my butt down there. I was speaking like an 80-year-old man. My back gives me problems still. It tightens up … but I am getting back to normal.
How has the reaction been since you’ve been back?
They say don’t read the blogs and I can see why. But why should I care what they say? It hurts because I’m human, but I don’t have one friend in my life that blogs. Nietzsche says, “What is the greatest form of humanity? To spare another man’s shame.” Obviously, these bloggers need to take a page out of Nietzche’s book. But the public reaction has been phenomenal. I’ve had easily a couple thousand people wanting photos and autographs from me and everybody has told me I was the only reason to watch Survivor this year.
We understand you lost your coaching gig at Southwest Baptist University because you went on Survivor. Tell us what happened and your future professional plans.
When CBS first called me to do it, I told them no and that I couldn’t leave my girls. I went to my boss and told her I turned them down and she ordered me to go. When I came back, I realized she hadn’t told her boss, the athletic director, and she lost face and had to either fire me or her. She chose me. I was the scapegoat. My short-term goal is to be in PEOPLE magazine because I have a great story to tell. I pray about the long-term goals. I have a couple of coaching opportunities I am considering. I did call my symphony and asked if they could pay me full-time. They said yes, so I moved back to Northern California. I want to go to 20 different countries in the next 20 years to write 20 symphonies based on the culture and the historical instruments. As far as Hollywood, I think I am going to get people coming at me with offers. I don’t want to be a reality junkie but I would absolutely want my own show.
Tell us: Do you believe Coach? Would you watch his show?
CBS
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