It's time for coffee and company. Fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety
Holy crap, I don't know who the hell we think when we are getting
off our show. Idiots. The kids are playing or turning off prying.
The countries are screwing it up. Goal play inner Murals, Brother, goal
play inner Murals. They're supposed to be mature adults, but they're really not.
Who's the kid here? Who's the kid here? Are you kidding me?
Now? Here's Nick coffee. It may be because I was only outside
for approximately I don't know, maybe maybe forty five seconds. I walked out
of my garage, and my garage is tached, so I didn't really go
outside, but I got in the car left and you know, it didn't
seem like it was excruciatingly hot outside. Then I get out of the car
and walk into the uh, you know, from the parking garage here at
four Street Live, I walk into our office. So I actually never really
was exposed to the sun. So maybe I'm a complete phony here, But
I do feel like it's beautiful outside today, Like it doesn't seem like we're
flirting with you know, three digit heat index anything like that it's very spring
like. Yeah, it's one of those days where it could be worse,
but I wish I was outside. I mean when I say it could be
worse, like, you know, I'm not trying to act like I'm complaining
about my current situation because you know this is great, but man, uh
it seems beautiful and uh I'm sure if I was out there long enough,
it would get hot to where I would want to step in and cool off
a little bit with some AC. But yeah, beautiful day. So hopefully
everybody listening is able to take it in, enjoy it, and hopefully you
will enjoy your next three hours because this is appointment listening at least I hope
that it is. I hope you'll stick with us. We are with you
till sick. The Clocket's Coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's right here on
Sports Talk seven ninety. My name's Nick Coffee. I hope you knew that.
If not, now you do the company man, mister John William Alden
the third, Is that right? It is? It's a long legal that's
a long legal sounding. Oh it does? I mean like that's I feel
like John William Alden, the Third you could throw that full name into like
a history book. I could be in the royal family. Yeah, like
if that that would work too. Actually, but I'm thinking let's just say,
like you're doing trivia somewhere and there's like a you know, a history
question and when they ask you to guess, you know who did something historically
that you read about when you were in school but you didn't remember, right,
Like you're just drawing a blank you're not familiar. Like throw John William
Alden the third in there as one of the four options in the multiple choice.
And I bet people who are just guessing they're gonna go with that,
They're they're gonna say, you know what, it's it sounds it sounds like
he was the guy that did this or did that. I don't know that
I'm going to pass that name on and you know, to future generations,
but it does seem like a cool thing to be able to continue to keep
that going on for you. Well, yeah, I mean if because if
you're the second, really it's your call. So like your father is the
one who put this thing in motion, it is because I guess his father
is the first one to do it. But there's a lot of first and
seconds. I don't know how many thirds there are, you know what I
mean. I feel like there have been many that have been the second,
and maybe they just didn't feel great about themselves and their lineage, so they
were like, you know what, I'm not going to put that on my
son. I'm gonna let my son be his own man, because me and
my old man maybe we're not really you know, the best to follow.
But nonetheless, you are the third and I I mean if it was me,
I would I would I would go with the fourth. But you know,
the conversation you and your wife are gonna have to have, Yeah,
what would she think of that? So we've gone back and forth, both
of us with liking it and then not liking it. Because whenever I was
a kid, I was called John John to distinguish me from my dad,
and he was also known as Big John. There were different ways to just
thing was just between each other, and it was it was confusing to some
people. Obviously it eventually caught on, but you know, you kind of
have to be a little creative whenever you name your child after yours. I
kind of like John John. I'm being honest with you, Like John John.
That's a I mean that could be like that could have been your radio
name, could have I mean, you know, well, I felt like
I was six years old again. You know, you've got to kind of
navigate to a radio nickname, as we've discussed many times, and I can't
think of I mean you being the company man, and actually I love it
because you really are like a company man, and the show's called Coffee and
Company. When I say company man, I don't mean like you're a you're
an ass kisser, but you care about what we do here, and you
put a lot into it. You're not going to cut corners, and you
you know you you respect the brand we work for in the show. So
it kind of fits. But you know, Billy Billy Retligis wanted to pick
his own nickname, and that's why he still didn't have one, because you
know you can't do that. I still love one of our former part time
producers, which I'm sure you've never met, Big Nick. I just called
him Nick the Brick because he was built like a brick house brick. In
fact, you might have went to school with that guy. We'll talk about
that at different time. But nonetheless, he uh, he was great and
that and that that nickname fit. I used to work with a guy who
I didn't give him his nickname, but when I started working with him,
he'd already been given a radio nickname many many years ago, and it was
Bacon because he was an intern for I think three months before they hired him
part time, and every day he showed up, uh be to do an
afternoon show to intern, and he brought a baconator with him every day.
So hence the bacon. Yeah, I mean he became Bacon. Uh And
then who else I'm trying to think of? There was the marvelous Matt Allen
that wasn't really a nickname. It just kind of rolled off the tongue and
I felt like it sounded good, so I just kept calling him that.
What about Clint? What was his nickname when he was here? Uh?
So? He had one that he brought from a different radio station, and
I don't I didn't. I don't think that I that was weird to me.
I think it was Beauford and I just never Tony. I think Tony
and Dave might have had a good nickname for Clint, but I didn't.
There wasn't one that ever really Stuck and Austin. The way in which Austin's
nickname came about was perfect, but it just he wasn't consistently around enough to
where it would have really like it would have felt weird to randomly call him
a name that everybody would know is not his name, Like if he was
a fixture within the show every day, it would have been a little bit
easier to sell it. But he used to work at at Chuck E Cheese
and he used to dress up as the mouse, so we really, yeah,
I know, yeah, that was his first job, I think.
So he used to work there, and part of his job was he would
have to like be in the mouse costume for kids parties. And I called
him Chucky. But and again the story makes it makes sense, but he
so doesn't look like a Chucky, no, you know what I mean,
And you can't do Chuck, And really, Chucky's not as much of a
nickname. That's a real person's name. So like, maybe we could have
done a better play into something really to Chuck E Cheese. And back when
I was a part time where I was Crimson John on this show or on
your morning version of this Yeah, and I don't know why because like obviously
Crimson Crimson. Yeah, but when I think Crimson, now I think Bama
more than anything. Although I guess are they the same colors? Like if
you put if you put an Indiana jersey next to an Alabama jersey side by
side. Now that I think about it, I kind of feel like they
would be almost identical, although I do think the Indiana a little bit more
red, right, Yeah, it's a little more defined. Yeah, And
I've seen Indiana were stuff for the Like I don't think Indiana's red as is
consistent, you know what I'm saying. Like they I've I've seen like in
basketball, like the candy stripe to me is way more of a red than
like a true dark Crimson. But their football, I feel like it's more
of a darker shade than Where's the consistency, I mean, figure it out.
They got to get it together, They got to get it together.
All right, We're gonna get it together here and get this thing started.
I'll get it started with once again another reminder, go buy your tickets because
they're I mean, I don't think it's going to sell out, so I
can't lie to you and be like you better get tickets now, or you're
not going to be able to get in, because that's not true. You
want to show up day of and buy tickets, you can, But I
would love, and I mean, I would love to be able to show
up Saturday with everybody already knowing that, like we've broke the record. Not
sold out, but the record has been broken, and Louisville will, in
fact, you know, make history. And it probably isn't something we're going
to you know, throw into the media guide because it's not really a U
of elevent but it would be really cool and it would it would confirm what
I have always thought about this TVT thing, and that is that this could
be our thing. Not to say that nobody else is going to do it,
but we could be the I mean, there's a reason that they came
back to Freedom Hall for a second straight season after last year they were only
here for the for the first that first. You know, I don't I
don't know how they do the bracket what they call it, but it was
the first pod essentially, and it was successful. I mean, and I
think if they were won and kept playing it, it would have continue to
bring even more people out to come and watch them so, And I'm gonna
look at this later. I haven't checked, but last year they did sell
these tickets in Louisville way more. They were way more expensive than anywhere else,
And I kind of feel like that's lame to do. But then again,
like I also kind of get it because they do. They got to
make money. They do know that Louisville will pay more cause I think when
you're hosting in Louisville for Louisville's games, specifically, you're targeting the Louisville Cardinal
fan base, like the city of Louisville, Like I mean, maybe these
other teams that are coming from who knows where that have a bunch of players
that are from various teams, like I just don't really know, Like you
don't have a built in fan base. The built in fan base is here,
which is why it makes total sense for Louisville to be a host and
for Louisville to have a roster that features, you know, ninety percent of
a former Louisville players. But if you're in if you're in Philadelphia, which
I think that's where the finalists, so maybe there was, so maybe there
isn't one there, but I think Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is doing the same thing.
And I don't even know if Pittsburgh has a team that is featured with
a bunch of former Pittsburgh players. I haven't seen one, but let's just
say there, you know there there. POD has, however, many teams,
but they're all either you know, schools that just don't have a big
enough following to where they'd be a host, or it's just a team made
up of players from all over the place. You have to sell your tickets
cheap because there's no incentive for people to go unless you know it's somewhat affordable
and hey, we can go watch some basketball like this audience that you have
here at Freedom Hall on Saturday. I mean, just about every single person
that's going to be in there when Louisville and Bellarman play each other is going
to be there because it's Louisville basketball. And I'm sure Bellerman will bring some
fans and those connected to those guys that decided to come back and and you
know, do the same thing Wolves doing. But as far as ticket sales,
I'm trying to see. There was an article of WDRB here and I
just saw it before the show started today, so I'm trying to get the
gist of it really quickly here, But that says as of Wednesday, advanced
sales in Louisville were around forty five hundred, which of course is what we'd
said about the Lower Bowl. But again I know now that I mean,
actually here, here we go it says spokesman Jake Pavorski said that more than
three thousand tickets have been sold for Friday's two sessions and rough so as of
yesterday. And the reason that's the reason I was bringing this up is because
Louisville has had a good lead on Lexington when it comes to tickets sold.
And the reason I bring this up is because whoever's if Louisville is the team
that ends up winning their pod, hopefully that's the case. In Kentucky's the
team that ends up winning their pod. They'll play each other, obviously,
and whoever sells the most tickets will be the host for that. So Louisville
has a pretty good lead right now. And I mean, I guess you
never know who's going to show up day of and buy tickets. I guess
that's the real you know, because this isn't one of those things where you
hear about it and you're like, hmm, let me go to ticket master.
Although, as we've discussed most things, like even if it's a small
venue and you're going to watch I don't know, like an mm A fight,
but it's not UFC, it's like some you know, local promotion,
you're probably still gonna buy tickets online. So I don't know, I have
no clue what kind of crowd you're gonna get that does walk up. But
I'd say unless there's some dramatic shift in Lexington, Louisville will be in position
to where if they can do they can do their part, they can take
care of business on there, and meaning you know, win this pod,
they'll be able to host the next into the later round, which would be
huge, would be absolutely huge. So again, go buy your tickets if
you haven't already. There's there twenty eight bucks apiece, which again I know
is not is not super cheap, but I kind of had, you know,
I felt bad after I kept saying how expensive it was, because that's
I mean, I don't know, I wouldn't even know what I would expect
tickets to be to get into one of these games. Because it's not this
is this is not I mean it's a basketball game, right, It's an
event at Freedom Hall. It's gonna be on Fox. But like this is
unique compared to like anything else you'd buy tickets for when it comes to sports,
right like high school football, aau uh, like you kind of have
a feel for what it's going to cost to get into things. I wouldn't
even have a clue what they would charge for this, and now they're you
know, I can see they're charging twenty eight bucks for a ticket in the
upper level. But you know, I guess as far as if that's affordable
expensive, whatever it may be, it's really just it comes down to you
know, what you view is expensive in what you don't. You know how
much tickets are for the Indianah, I'm gonna look like that. I think
they're pretty similar. I don't. I haven't looked at exact numbers, but
I do believe they're in the same ballpen. It's at Butler, right,
it is. It's a Hinkle how many I wonder how many uh how many
seats they hold at Hinkle Field House. Now I got to look it up.
So Butler round one that will be Friday, that's the first game and
I'm not sure who, uh Indiana plays at eight, they're the night game
on Friday. Oh it's more expensive there. Okay, well, what're we
going on? So if you and there are still some tickets available, like
if you go to Section one seventeen, that's the lower bowl at Hinkle,
and tickets for that are by the way, the capacity is ninety one hundred
at Hinkle, tickets for that are fifty for one. And then if you
are going to get the U the upper level, Yeah, I mean I
get I don't I don't know how they decide to do that, but I
was thinking maybe it could be a situation to where there's not I mean there's
not really I mean I've been. I went to Hinkle for the first time
this past basketball season. There's not really a I mean there's not. I
mean, there is an upper level, but it's such a small place.
What did you say the number was ninety one hundred. Yeah, that's I
mean, that's a relatively small place. So yeah, you actually have three
fairly large fan bases with Indiana, Butler, and Purdue all participating in at
the arena. So what's the appetite on that side for this. I mean,
I know, obviously you're way more plugged into the Indiana side side,
especially to see a lot of guys who played in the last ten years,
and I don't think the excitement level is as large as it is down here
for Louisville specifically. But again, I'm down here where I get to exposed
to the Louisville side of it. So we'll see. I think Indiana's put
together a really good roster. I hope they perform. Well. I'm excited
to watch him play tomorrow night. Did you see And I'll have to go
look who it is because it wasn't a name that I recognized, but there
was a player for a former player from Indiana who was upset that he didn't
get asked to play, and he was upset that there's players for Indiana that
are not Indiana guys. I wonder who was upset. So it wasn't somebody
that I'd recognized. Okay, there was a guy. So last year they
tried to put a team together and one of the players was Derek Elston and
he's not on this roster for this year's iteration of the Assembly ball team.
So I don't think it would be Derek Elston. I don't think he has
that type of a personality, but I am curious as to who that might
be. I mean, would he help though, Like I mean, would
he be Elston? Yeah? Yeah, he was a decent contributor on the
team that he was a cream guy, right, yeah, it was a
Crean guy. So maybe I'm the only one fascinated by this, but I
think it'd be a good documentary to do to give a behind the scenes look
at how this comes together, because again, not everybody and I think it
used to be maybe it still is used to be on the TBT website.
You could go and see like what percentage share each person has like agreed to.
I don't think that's still available, which I don't think it should be.
But there are probably plenty of guys that were asked to play, that
wanted to play, but it just didn't make sense from a financial standpoint,
because you know, like, to be honest with you, Montrez Harold playing
for Louisville is a gift to Louisville because Mantres doesn't need the money. Montress
Harold has made enough money. I mean, I'm sure he would love who
wouldn't have more who wouldn't want more money than they already have. But Montres
Harold has had a eight to nine year career in the NBA making a good
salary, So you know, for him, I think he's doing this because
he came last year if you remember, and was at every game I believe
that they played, was front and center supporting these guys. And I think
Tres really when he couldn't come back to Louisville because of the NCAA situation,
he chose not to talk to them once he was gone, and that led
to UFL disassociating themselves from three players, which by the way, all three
these guys are now playing for this team. It's Shane Behan and Chris Jones
and Montrez Harrell. So those three guys or back back back to back to
to Tres. You know, I think Trez just you know, when he
couldn't come back, and I remember it was a big deal. He tried
to just go and you know, scan his fingerprint to get into work out
during his second third offseason in the NBA, and he couldn't get in,
And I think it was Vinnie Tatum, the equipment manager at the time,
kind of had to be the one that was like, look, man,
it ain't personal, but this is why, like, you know, the
school has made this school is not allowed to have you. Like he would
come to games, and I think he would use Jonathan Blue seats because he
couldn't be given seats. He couldn't be you know, he couldn't be promoted,
he couldn't be shown up there like hey, former Louisville Cardinals here,
let's put the camera on him. That kind of stuff. So I think
that probably first of all, shout out to Tres for like, you know,
getting over that and still being clearly you know, a big supporter of
U of L and the program, the city and all that kind of stuff.
So I think Louis was lucky that Trez wants to do this because it's
not about money for him. Again, I'm sure he's gonna get a good
chunk of whatever they win if they win it. But there are like putting
you gotta be a gotta be a GM here, Like I would be willing
to bet that there's Indiana players that probably you know, we're available, that
could have played, but they realize, hey, this guy, if we
had if we had him he's gonna want this percentage and he's probably worth it.
But that means we no longer could have Noah von Lay, we could
no longer have Juwan Morgan. Because you know, when you are playing professional
basketball, not in the NBA, and the way you're gonna make money is
to probably do it overseas unless you're on a two way. You can make
pretty good money doing that. You got to be careful because if you go
out here and you play in this tournament and you get hurt, you could
miss out on a year's salary playing across the pond, and you have nothing
to show for it. Because because so in a way, some of these
guys are taking risks. Now a lot of them aren't high level, like
hey, because again, a lot of these guys and I was talking to
somebody yesterday, a younger agent, who young kid who's you know, probably
in his mid twenties, who he became an agent here in Louisville and he's
very successful, but he's mostly working with guys that have contracts overseas. But
the TBT event itself has led to leagues in other countries putting stipulations in contracts
that now say you can't do that. And that's why last year Earl thought
he was clear he wasn't couldn't play. And then also those Kentucky guys like
I wouldn't be shocked if you know, they felt like they were in the
clear. But then again they you know, these these over because again,
if they've invested in you, they've already paid you, if you like,
if you're on like a two year contract, was one of these teams overseas
like to be fair, actually get their point why they wouldn't want you to
play because you could get hurt and you know, not be able to play
for them, but because it's like not, there's no like these guys who
are playing in the TVT, they're not on a contract. They're just you
know, they have an arrangement with whoever's putting it together, and they're out
here playing to try to share a bunch of money. So, you know,
because you're not signing a contract, you're just playing. I think a
lot of these guys feel like, well, I didn't, you know,
I just it's just like playing pick up ball, and I guess technically it
kind of is, but then again, you know it's not because it's on
television and there's a lot of money on the line. So anyways, I'm
I'm sure I'm more fascinated with that side of it than others. But you
know, I Dwayne Sutton, Race Balding, Ryan McMahon. There's a bunch
of guys for on the Louisville side, Jalen Johnson, who, by the
way, is still playing professional basketball and he's doing well. Like these are
guys that could have helped Louisville. But I think you bring in enough of
those guys, those those young guys who still have the ability to go make
way well over six figures overseas. If they're gonna come here and play and
risk it, meaning risking injury, and if they don't win the whole thing,
they get nothing. You know, you're gonna have to sweeten the pot
for them to take that risk. And a lot of them, you know,
it just doesn't make sense. But who knows, maybe once you know,
three or four years go by, maybe Ray, maybe Dwayne, those
are two guys that would be, you know, more more available to add
in. All right, before we take our first break, let me set
the table for you, guys. Pat Kelsey has been killing it ever since
he got here, and what I mean is like saying all the right things
clearly put together a team that a lot of folks are excited about, and
I think that excitement is justified with the personnel that he has. But he's
also reminded me that being accessible and open can only help you. Now,
you got to do your part. You gotta go win games, and he
hadn't had the chance to do that yet, the season hasn't started. But
just by being so accessible and being so transparent, like it's this stuff can
help you. And so many coaches, you know, if they don't do
their part, it doesn't matter. Right, if they don't win, it
doesn't matter. But why would you not want to be engaging with your fan
base? And Pat Kelsey he was. We've got some sound to share with
you from his comments at the selected Seat event that they had a couple of
nights ago at the Young Center. Just hearing him talk about the team,
specifically the personnel as far as you know, the kind of guys they went
after, I think that's worth listening to. And also he hosted just about
every high school coach in the area that wanted to come to a practice.
A couple of days ago they had him in and that's those are things that
again, like you may not ever talk to those coaches down the line,
you may never recruit one of their players, but it's good to you know,
have those guys around and tell them what you're all about, because hey,
there's support could help you, you know what I mean. And there
was one coach I talked to yesterday that was there and gave me a little
bit of insight into what he saw at the practice, which I mean,
I don't know if i'd call this scoop by any means, but there's some
stuff I'd like to share with you guys when it comes to that. So
I know football season is, you know, gonna be here sooner than basketball.
But Pat Kelsey has has continued to make the basketball program a talking point
in the month of July because of you know, him being available, being
transparent, accessible, all kinds of different interviews, and that stuff matters.
Man. Also, I think we finally got a little bit of I wouldn't
say drama at the SEC media days that I guess are lasting all week,
but Lang Kiffin put Paul Finbaum in a body bag and I absolutely loved it.
I want you guys to hear it as well. And next week,
of course, will be the the ACC Football Media Days, the a SEC
kickoff in Charlotte, and the anticipation is building as far as folks wanting to
hear what Jim Phillips is going to say in regards to the current mess.
But I wouldn't get your hopes up. I don't think this guy is going
to say anything that you know, gives us any kind of indication as to
the future of the league and how you know, maybe everybody can all get
along. I just don't see that happening. And speaking of the ACC,
we're going to be joined at four o'clock David Hale, who covers the covers
the ACC free ESPN. We'll get his thoughts on all this potential realignment and
well actually get his thoughts on, you know, the upcoming season as well.
I mean, realignment and revenue sharing has been a big talking point.
But once they start playing games before too long, like nobody's going to talk
about that stuff. So we're loaded the rest of the way. Stick with
us right here, it's coffee and company. Feel bout Thornton's on Sports Talk
seven ninety. There's nothing worse when you feel a knees coming on and then
it just doesn't happen. That's what happened there. Sorry for the delay,
and you know, turning the microphone on, I'm sure you may probably would
you probably rather listen to this than me. Anyway, good stuff, good
selection there, John. But anyways, I have a job to do,
so you will hear my voice for the next two hours and thirty minutes.
It is Coffee and Company. And as you likely know, we are fueled
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So text line five two six five three zero seven ninety it's the lenn
Federal Credit Unions x line. You have one person send in a screenshot of
somebody who tweeted out that the Law Familiar TBT team really demolished the Kentucky team
yesterday because I guess they scrimmaged. It was the Law Familiar group and Mark
Pope's current team. And I did see that thread before you sent the screenshot
earlier today, because of course, you know, that's one of those things
that we'll get a lot of engagement. It'll be Kentucky fans claiming that's not
true, you know, there's no way, and then there's Louisville fans,
you know, sharing it like wow, can you believe they hired Mark Pope?
It's crazy. This team's gonna sucks, Like that's just what happens within
the rivalry. But I you know, I mean, I have no clue
if that happened or not. But even if it did, I mean,
I don't know why that would be viewed as like uh oh, I mean,
well, ever know, so it's probably not something worth spending much time
on. But some of the best TVT teams out there, I mean I
feel like they would beat the majority of college basketball teams maybe I'm I mean
most of them have played professional basketball. Yeah, I mean the Kentucky team.
I mean, if you just go look at it, and again,
it all comes down to what kind of shape these guys are in, meaning
like, you know, are they are they still? Like for example,
last year, there were some guys for Louisville that really had to work to
get in shape to play in this event, and they hadn't played professionally in
a year or so, like Shane Ahannon. I mean, Mark Lieberman put
him through workouts and training for a long time before he was given the green
light as far as being able to join the team. And I'm glad to
see that Shane's back again this year, and I hope he's, you know,
just as effective as he was last year. Wayne blackshear he joined it.
He he he adn't played in a while, and you could tell he
wasn't in great shape. He didn't play a whole lot of minutes out there,
so you know that's so with just with the Kentucky team specifically, I
would say that, you know, if the Harrison Twins were you know,
playing professionally at a high level within the last you know, within you know,
they're fresh off of a season or something like that, then I don't
think that would be like a terrible look for Kentucky's current team if the law
familiar group got the best of him. I mean, Willie Caley Stein,
I don't think he's ever stopped paying professional leamus in the NBA recently, and
I think went to China. Same thing with Eric Bledsoe. So I mean,
I look, I have no clue what happened in that game, and
you know, I don't know if they kept score. I'm not even sure
if they actually had a real scrimmage. And somebody shared a graphic that showed
like a score that that you know, made it clear that whoever put that
out there was not telling the truth. But then again, I had somebody
I saw somebody that shared it and said that that's you know, they didn't
even keep score, like it wasn't like a real game like that. So
you know, if Louisville's team of Russ Smith Payton, Siva, Shae Beahannen
Mantrez, Harrold Shanano, and o'waku. I mean, had David Johnson,
who's in Chris Jones. I mean David Johnson is still a young buck.
I mean he would just be, you know, freshly removed from from college
if he stayed four years. So if they played Louisville's current team and it
was a dub for the TBT team, I wouldn't feel any differently about I
mean, I just again, it all comes back to are these guys still
playing basketball at a high level? And I don't mean the NBA, I
mean, like, are they still like is it still what they do?
Are they still training and keeping themselves in shape because that's how they make a
living. I mean, if that's the case, then I think you'd expect
it to be certainly competitive, but also like it shouldn't be a shock if
the professionals, you know, they aren't forty and fifty, but you know
they're twenty six, twenty seven. Like, I don't think it would be
a surprise if they got the best of some of these college players. But
you know, we'll never know because again they're not mean, there's no way
to know. All right, So let's before we're going to talk more ACC
when we bring in David Hale, who's going to join us at four o'clock.
He covers the ACC for ESPN and the AC works with the ACC network,
So looking forward to catching up with him in about twenty five minutes or
so. But before we do that, let's let's let's talk some some of
the some of the recent SEC takeaways from the never ending media days. I
mean, are they Are they doing it tomorrow too? Like I feel like
it's been a This is the fourth day of it, and usually I think
the red carpet for them. Yeah, I mean usually it's a two day
thing. And heck, back in the day it used to be a one
day thing, and now the A the SEC has stretched it to four days.
But you know, hey, they got more teams now they are.
I mean, I'm not complaining. I guess it's I'm not complaining that they're
continuing to do it each and every day this week because each day it's given
us something to talk about. But it's just, you know, it's the
SEC I think wanting to continue to like make it quite clear that it means
more to them, right, that's their slogan at me more so. Anyways,
the non game schedule was was expected to happen as soon as they added
these two schools, Texas and Oklahoma, and it was a big talking point
when they decided not to because it just it looked weak, right, I
mean, you would make your league even more money by adding another game where
you're playing conference foes. And it also was a real reminder and in fact,
it wasn't something I learned. I did not know that the SEC plays
eight conference games, whereas the Big ten plays nine, and I think the
PAC twelve played nine before the league exploded, and you know doesn't exist anymore
in the SEC. The average strength to schedule for the SEC in the non
conference games only was dreadful, and it just kind of made it even more
of an you know, just annoyed me to think that they get the benefit
of the doubt because they play in the almighty SEC, and when they go
out and play their four non conference games, the majority of those games where
SEC teams are playing teams not from the SEC are against bums, And you
know, I just I feel like, if you really think you are big
and bad, why not play a ninth game, it'd make more money for
your league. You'd have more money in revenue to even share, because that's
one of those things that clearly will adjust what you're making as far as the
rev share. If there's nine instead of eight games that you're you know,
that's more inventory, that's more money that ESPN's gonna make, and they're gonna
have to cut the check and share some of that with you. So it
sounds like it is going to happen eventually, which it should. But anytime
that comes up, right the SEC going to nine games around here, it
brings up the question would Kentucky get rid of Louisville because they would now have
to play a ninth SEC team? And I've often said the same In fact,
I think I've been saying the same thing about that for years, and
that is that nobody would win, Like it would be a travesty for them
to get rid of that game, because there's not anybody on either side that
doesn't want to play their rival, and Kentucky their fans aren't scared of Louisville
like and that used to be the real kicker for me, is that it'd
be one thing if for the last twenty years, Kentucky just you know,
won a couple of games against Louisville, but that's not the case. They've
dominated lately and that and I hate saying that, Like I almost had a
you know, it was blacked out just saying it, But it's the truth.
I mean, they have, like they have absolutely benefited from having Louisville
on the schedule because they've won against their rival and sometimes like last year,
they've beat their rival when the rival was a top ten team, and it
and enhances their view of themselves and it's helped Mark Stoops because rivalry games matter,
so you know, it will there's no way around it if they canceled,
if they just decide, Okay, we're getting out of the series because
the leagues made a change, so we're not going to play Louisville anymore,
it will absolutely look like they're scared. There's no other way to justify it.
We don't want to play Louisville because we're scared lose to them here and
there, and we need to make sure we get as many wins as we
can have. Like there any way, there's no other way to spin it.
But here's the thing. I know that their fan base isn't scared.
I know Mark Stoops isn't scared, so like, why would they do that?
Like who went? Like what do you been? I mean, nobody
wants that. So now to the point where I feel like, even though
Barnhardt and even Stoops have given very little comments on the whole thing, but
when they do, they certainly leave it open for you to believe that they
may get rid of this game. But I'm starting to think that that's all
just nonsense, like because you cannot find a single reason why you would get
rid of that game other than you're scared of losing. But they're not,
and they shouldn't be. I mean, Kentucky has beat Louisville every year they've
played. I say that because there was one year they didn't play because of
COVID. The Lite huad to meet Kentucky since twenty seventeen, Lamar Jackson's last
year. So I mean i'd also be yeah, I would also hate the
fact that they would not give Louisville a chance to get right. And you
know, even this thing out a little bit more in the last ten years
or so, So I don't know, I just cannot see it, even
though they've been again pretty pretty open about how it would be a really tough
decision as far as what they would do. I mean, I think Barnhart
has said exactly that Stoops kind of echoed what Barnhart said when he was asked
about it a couple of years ago. I think, even though they've said
that, I just can't I cannot see a scenario where they just decide not
to play Louisville anymore. So maybe it's just something we worry about when it
actually happens, because I can't see it happening. But then again, you
know, maybe if that was the case, maybe they would just come out
and say it. I don't know, all right, sticking with the SEC
what I want to do. On the other side, I want you guys
to hear Lane Kiff and just absolutely body bag Paul Finebaum. And it's good
stuff because it's not something you typically hear from an SEC coach on the SEC
network with the biggest SEC honk in Paul Finebaum. But it reminded me why
I like Lane Kiffin so much, And it's because one, he's kind of
a character, but more than anything, like, he's not He didn't have
a crazy personality. He's not out there acting like a fool and cracking jokes
like he actually very rarely shows emotion in any setting, in an interview,
in a post game, whatever it may be, on the sideline, but
he's really, really transparent, and I felt I could feel the tension between
him and Finebaum and it was great. So we'll get to that and a
lot more stick with us. It's coffee and company. Feel about Thornton's on
Sports Talk seven ninety so probably around four point thirty. I'll let you guys
hear some of what Pat Kelsey had to say when he talked to season ticket
holders at the Selectest Seat event. It's not a full length thing. It's
a couple of minutes of him talking about his staff and what they were really
going after whenever they were trying to put together their first team here at Louisville,
and a lot of praise to the fan base. And you know that
stuff's not usually needed, but hey, it never hurts. And given the
fact that I'm not sure the previous regime really cared much about anything, to
be honest with you, so again, Pat Kelsey, he's having a hell
of a summer and he's doing his part right now, His part technically is
to win and we won't be able to see any results for a while.
But until then, man, he's transparent, he's accessible, and all it's
doing is getting fans more and more excited. And we needed that. We
needed to be injected with some genuine excitement and enthusiasm for the future after the
last few years. And again that's not me telling you he's gonna go win
thirty games in year one. Who knows how it's all gonna work out.
You'll never know until you get there. But until then, it's been fun.
And give him a lot of credit, all right. So I remember
right before Louisville played Ole Miss in the Chick fil A Kickoff Classic, and
I believe sat second till last year maybe. And Lane Kiffin, I mean,
he's a character within college football, right, Joey Freshwater. I mean
his time at BAM as an assistant, I feel like was when he really
kind of became like this, you know, this character type of guy really
just because the stories you heard, nothing anything crazy that he did. But
you know, I remember him in Oakland trotting out his kicker to kick a
seventy five yard field goal, which is still hilarious to this day. I
remember when he was at Tennessee and he was cheating his ass off and was
there what one year before he took the job at USC. Usc just kind
of fell flat and he got fired, landed on Saban staff, really resurrected
his career working for Nick Saban and Alabama turned that into a gig with Fau
and then of course got the Old Miss job. And right now Ole Miss
is in promposition to be a team that can now realistically say no, we
can, let's let's go get it done. We can make the playoff.
There's twelve teams to get in now, not for we've got momentum, let's
go do it. So he's he's doing really well and I've always liked him,
but whenever Louisville played him in that Ole Miss game, I remember thinking,
like, man, why is this guy? Like there's not a there's
not sound bites, there's not clips from him, Like there's really not a
whole lot out there that like really matches the level of you know, him
being this. I mean, he's a well known guy within college football,
but he's never really won anything. Crazy, it's just because he's I mean
is it even I'm not even even sure if it's fair to say that he's
a character. But at ole Miss he's been pretty funny on social media.
I think he has a good sense of humor, but when he talks to
the media or really in any interview setting, he's pretty dry. But you
know, he makes up for it because he's gonna say whatever. He really
thinks he's gonna be transparent, and he made it quite clear that he's not
a big fan of Paul Finbaum earlier today when he was on the SEC Network
talking to mister finn Baum and this is about a men in twenty seconds,
and I think it's worth hearing because you know, fine Baum, I don't
even really know where this whole thing started as far as where they started the
conversation. But lank Kiffin was well aware of some things that were said about
Lane Kiffin earlier in his career. You wanted him to know about it.
I'll steal your line, but I was going through a deep depression over this
incorrect guilt that you tried to lay on me, which preceded that move had
something to do with southern California. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, when
you got me fired at U. See, I got myself fired at you.
See, but you didn't have a better story if I got you fired.
You really didn't because it is a true story that the athletic director and
the president were on that trip. We were playing that night and you were
on college game day and you had to make your big splash, and they
were watching it because I know the other person in the room that was watching
it with them, and you said what a joke I was, And I'm
the mile League Cyrus of college football coaching, and I should be fired,
and they looked at each other, and later that night I was fired,
by the way. So but hey, look what happened. I would never
got to work for coach Saban. All these other things wouldn't happen. So
I appreciate you for helping getting me fired. Thank you. Look at look
at what you're doing today. You're predicted to go to the player and look
at Miley Cyrus. She had nice comeback. I mean, you couldn't be
done with that, So really, I don't really know what you're good at.
Like you predicted that coach Saban has done that, it didn't happen.
He basically said Miley Cyrus stinks and she's still she's still going. Yeah.
Anyway, it's always great to be ridiculed by Wayne Kiffin here. I mean
he's like, I don't even really know what you're good at well, and
it's just I mean, he's giving the the he's giving facts that he knows
that his bosses were influenced by Lane Kiffin or by I'm sorry, Paul Finenbaum,
essentially cutting a promo on Kiffin as far as being a clown and a
guy that you know, he's the Miley Cyrus of And by the way,
Miley Cyrus I don't know chevroll. I mean, didn't she kind of disappear
for a little while, like I don't know, just off the rails.
Yeah, but like she she didn't get to a point where she was putting
out failed music. I think anytime she's been focused on music, she's been
super successful. She's a very good artist. But I just don't like a
lot of coaches wouldn't even have that conversation with Fon bamb publicly privately because of
their ego, because don't get me, you better not, you know,
they would they would tell there they're a I mean, coaches have a power
trip man like. It's just quite clear that a lot of coaches have a
power trip, and maybe it's justified. I don't know, but like,
I think a lot of sec coach, especially those that have the momentum that
Lane Kifn has right now, would tell their sad before they leave to go
to Dallas, you better not put me next to Paul Fonbaum. I'll punch
his ass for what he did to me. You had, Like coaches are
wired like that, dude, and they take themselves so serious. And I
think that's actually, now that I think about it, that's pbably the best
way to describe Lane Kivin. He does not take himself too serious, and
I think that's a very very great quality in anybody. Now you can't be
a total clown. But he's not. Like again, he doesn't take himself
too serious. But it's not as if he's out here just yucking it up.
I've seen him maybe smile five times ever. Like it just he's what
you see is what you get. And who's more of a character. I
know. Mike Leach is long not long gone, He's been passed away for
over a year now. Mike Leach is a is the definition of a character
within College twelve because of all, because of his shenanigans, his stories,
his his his weird quarks. I'm not sure if Lane has that. He's
just I don't know, but I feel like Mike Leach if he was sitting
down talking with fine Ball having a similar conversation, he wouldn't have had a
problem kind of body bagging him as well. No, you're right, that's
a good point, and he was. He was a rare, rare guy.
And I mean that in a good way as far as just you know,
sometimes it's nice a breath of fresh air for these guys not to be
football robots, you know what I mean. All Right, we got two
hours left. We're gonna get the second hour, the four o'clock hour that
has started with the one, the only David Hale of ESPN who covers the
ACC We'll get his thoughts on this drama with the league and see if he's
got any insight us to you know, how this thing they play out.
So I stick with us again, It's Coffee and company. Feel about Thornton's
right here on Sports Talk seven ninety