WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:03.160 I were live today as advance window products, come on 2 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:06.400 buy and say hi at thirty fifty two South four 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:09.839 sixty west here in Salt Lake. Nate Orchards still the 4 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:12.439 mayor of Sac Lake City, which his spot, of course 5 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:15.519 Jake Weber as well. Special deal where you save three 6 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:17.879 thousand dollars on a purchase of ten windows or more 7 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:19.879 in a free upgrade to high performance windows if you 8 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:24.120 call before six o'clock tonight. So good of Nate to 9 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:27.000 stop by to talk about kind of an uncomfortable topic. 10 00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:27.719 He played for. 11 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:30.920 Coach Wit and of course that's big news is Kyle 12 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:33.320 Whittingham will be back on the sideline. The number, by 13 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:35.960 the way for advanced window products is eighth one to 14 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:38.200 eight five zero ninety one hundred. That's eighth one to 15 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:40.920 eight five zero ninety one hundred. We'll start off the 16 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:43.920 four o'clock hour with a little more college football. Our 17 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:47.359 next guest played college football, coach college football, and for 18 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:49.479 now he's in the media, but that usually means he 19 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:51.840 just is going to get back into coaching. My players 20 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:54.920 would welcome in Mike Samford Junior on a Tuesday afternoon. 21 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:55.759 Mike, how are you, sir? 22 00:00:56.799 --> 00:00:58.600 I'm doing great it's great to be on your program, 23 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:02.840 your very in these parts. I listened to the entirety 24 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:05.879 of the Trevor Riley interview and it was like one 25 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:08.840 of my favorite listens of all time. It was fantastic. 26 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:10.879 Well, that's kind of you to say, that's called just 27 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:13.799 let Trevor do the Trevor thing. I take no credit there. 28 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:16.200 I just welcomed him in and then let him run. 29 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:18.840 And that was quite a day. But Mike, let's get 30 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:21.519 to know you a little bit. Let's talk about your background. 31 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:23.480 You were a player, you were a coach, and then 32 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:25.000 I want to learn a little bit more about what 33 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:26.159 you're doing these days. 34 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:29.719 Yeah. So I played at Boise State, son of a coach. 35 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:32.400 My dad was the offensive coordinator at the University of Utah. 36 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:34.640 So we've cross paths a few times with the Great 37 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:38.719 State of Utah. My dad there three and o four ted, 38 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:41.319 you know, he was obviously Kyle Whittingham was the decordinator, 39 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:44.159 my dad was the offensive coordinator, and then Herban Meyer 40 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:47.239 head coach, Dan Mullen the quarterback coach. So a lot 41 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:49.760 of really really cool times. I was finishing up at 42 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:52.400 that time at Boise State in two thousand and four, 43 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:55.040 and the wild thing is that we were both undefeated 44 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:59.599 regular season and we were competing for the non BCS 45 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:02.680 school getting a bull invite in the PCs, and it 46 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:05.560 went to my dad's team. So my teammates were pissed 47 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:08.719 at me at Boise State. But yeah, so I got it, 48 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:12.360 you know, went into coaching eighteen years of it, you know, 49 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:15.479 kind of traverse the country, went to Stanford, I was 50 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:17.280 at U and LB my dad was a coach there, 51 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:19.800 and then you know, I was at Boise State. Is 52 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:22.400 the offensive coordinated last Pista Bowl at Boise State played 53 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:25.000 in ten years ago, and Notre Dame for a couple 54 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:27.240 of years and now I'm in Denver. My last coaching 55 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:29.319 job was CU before coach Prime got here. I was 56 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:33.199 the interim head coach and offensive coordinator before that. And 57 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:36.120 I decided to get into the to the talking head 58 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:38.039 space and I actually am having a lot of fun. 59 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:41.400 Well, I'm glad you're having a lot of fun, you know. 60 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:44.199 I've I've definitely worked with a lot of former coaches 61 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:47.759 and former players and some don't love the media space. 62 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:49.919 Some take to it as well. And obviously we're very 63 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:52.520 familiar with your father and I was a student at 64 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:54.639 the University of Utah in the late nineties, and you 65 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:56.800 know we're their broadcast partner now, so I do want 66 00:02:56.840 --> 00:02:59.319 to take some space with a bright guy like you 67 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:02.879 the knows college football to talk about Kyle Whittingham returning 68 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:06.240 now for his twenty first season, and Mike, he may 69 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:08.280 have heard there were a lot of speculation about what 70 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:11.520 he was going to do. He does have a couple 71 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:13.759 of years left on his contract, and when we didn't 72 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:17.159 hear an announcement right after the end of the season, 73 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:18.000 I just surmised that. 74 00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:19.919 He would be back, and he is back. 75 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.840 So, as somebody that knows the coaching game and knows 76 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:25.840 Utah football, what's your reaction to coach Wick coming back 77 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:26.599 for year twenty one. 78 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:29.680 Well, I'll tell you this. I was at to see 79 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:33.879 you Utah game, and you know I first thought that 80 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:37.400 this was an outlier year for Kyle Whittingham in Utah. 81 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:41.080 Clearly there were a lot of things going on Cam Rising, 82 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:45.039 just the ongoing saga of his health and that dude 83 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:47.199 is a great player. By the way, my last game 84 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:50.680 coaching college football was twenty twenty two, in the final 85 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:53.120 game of the season against Cam Rising. A healthy Cam 86 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:56.960 Rising in Utah. And I'll say this, like I coached 87 00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:58.759 against Kyle Whittingham. I'll shoot, I was the head coach 88 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:02.520 on the opposite sideline just two years ago. He's one 89 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:05.080 of the greatest to ever do it, not just in 90 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:08.560 you know, Utah history, but Franklin College football history. And 91 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:10.919 so yeah, I didn't think there was any chance that 92 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:13.719 Kyle Whittingham wouldn't be back in twenty twenty five. I 93 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:16.600 didn't even kind of like any any rumors that were 94 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:18.759 going around. I just laughed at him to be candid, 95 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:23.519 because this was an outlier year and Utah has always 96 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:28.079 cornered to the market on unbelievable defensive play, great special 97 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:31.120 teams play, and then really good offensive line physicality on 98 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:33.319 the offensive side of the ball. So I just see 99 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.000 that this program is going to be back on track 100 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:37.319 next year. And let's call it spade a spade. The 101 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:40.120 Big Twelve Conference is a conference that if you quit 102 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:42.839 yourself well, you can go from the bottom to the 103 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:46.160 top in about two point five seconds. And that's what 104 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:47.519 I think Utah will do next year. 105 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:52.279 So you reference Cameron Rising, and by all reports, he 106 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:54.079 will not be back. It would have been his eighth 107 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:57.160 year and at one point that seemed preposterous, and now 108 00:04:57.199 --> 00:04:59.560 that's probably going to be a little bit of a 109 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:01.879 common theme with the ability to stick around and make 110 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:04.560 money in a way that players couldn't back when you 111 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:07.879 were playing college football. Isaac Wilson hits the transfer portal, 112 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:10.600 Sam Hewart hits the transfer portal, as does Brandon Rose. 113 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:13.959 So there are no quarterbacks on the roster to speak of. 114 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:19.560 How in your experience, how realistic is it for a 115 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:21.480 program like Utah to be able to go to the 116 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:25.120 transfer portal? And you know, there's conversation about Devin dan 117 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:27.959 Pierre because he played quarterback in New Mexico under Jason Beck, 118 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.560 who is now the offensive coordinator. But there are a 119 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:33.680 lot of schools that are interested in Devin. So for 120 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:36.600 people around here who are hoping what you just said 121 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:38.600 is true, and that is this year was a moment 122 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:42.240 in time and not the new normal, how realistic is 123 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.240 it for Utah to go hit that transfer portal and 124 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:46.519 find somebody under center that can kind of settle the ship. 125 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:50.079 It's very realistic. And one thing I'll tell you is 126 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:54.519 Kyle Whittingham hit an absolute home run in his hire 127 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:58.040 at offensive coordinator Jason Beck's a guy that I'm a 128 00:05:58.040 --> 00:06:01.000 former offenseve coordinator. I've called plays and I've had some 129 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:03.480 really good years, like a Fiesta Bowl win at Boise 130 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:06.199 State and you know, Fiesta Bowl appearance in twenty fifteen 131 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:08.759 with Notre Dame. And I've had some tough years, but 132 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:11.680 I know good coaches schematically when I see him. And 133 00:06:11.720 --> 00:06:15.160 this year I was on the broadcast here at CSU 134 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:18.759 in Colorado. I was on the TV broadcast of Colorado 135 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:21.000 State versus New Mexico. So I did a bunch of research, 136 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:23.759 watched a lot of film ahead of that matchup, and 137 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:26.800 there's I don't think there's anybody in college football at 138 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:30.439 the offense coordinator position that's doing a better job of 139 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:35.199 of like simple us difficult them, which means it's it's 140 00:06:35.399 --> 00:06:38.680 ingestable in this modern era of you know, the roster 141 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:42.560 turnover and having to have have concepts and schemes that 142 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:45.120 are not they don't take two three years to be 143 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:48.120 able to play in them. But yet there's enough I 144 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:50.920 would call it window dressing and French pastry on top 145 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:55.160 of shifts and motions and trick plays and you know, 146 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:58.240 very unique running schemes that Jason Beck brings to the 147 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:01.920 table that I think they that he is the right guy, 148 00:07:02.279 --> 00:07:04.519 and I saw I'm just gonna be candidate. I saw 149 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:07.600 some of the early candidates that we're going to be 150 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:10.639 considered for offensive coordinator. They come from an air rate 151 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:13.079 background that would not have been a great fit to 152 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:17.279 the identity of Utah's football programs. Utah is a physical 153 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:21.360 team that wants to run the football, has really crafty 154 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:24.040 quarterback play. And I'm gonna tell you the best candidate 155 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:27.160 out there is Devin Dampier and I have no connection 156 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:29.079 to him. Devin Dampier. I've been standing up for this 157 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:31.759 guy on social media. I watched this guy play about 158 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:35.079 seven games this year and he is the next camp Ward. 159 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:38.600 But I think he's more more coachable, more malleable in 160 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:41.319 terms of making great decisions with the football. So if 161 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:44.800 you're a Utah you know Donor, I would pony up 162 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:46.839 with this player and be very excited about getting him 163 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:48.560 because I think he's one of the most exciting returning 164 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:50.879 players in college football for the twenty five season. 165 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:53.920 Wow, that is lofty praise and from somebody like you, 166 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:56.040 that means a lot. So let me follow up there, 167 00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:01.279 because what I'm reading is there are SEC programs interested 168 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.360 in Devon. There are big ten programs interested in Devon. 169 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:10.480 So you know, obviously your your words about Jason. You know, 170 00:08:10.519 --> 00:08:13.399 I'm sure music to a lot of people's ears around here. 171 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:16.279 Do you think Utah could potentially have the inside track 172 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:19.639 because they have his former offensive coordinator or like everything 173 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:22.079 else in life, Mike, is this coming down to dollars 174 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:22.519 and cents? 175 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:25.680 Yeah, I think it's gonna be the reality of it. 176 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:27.360 But also I think Devin dan Pier is gonna be 177 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:30.959 a player that wants to not only maximize the dollar figure, 178 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:34.200 but also maximize the performance. And when you've played in 179 00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:36.759 a system and you have that familiarity within the system, 180 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:39.080 that means a lot. I mean, look at cam Ward 181 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:41.919 and how he got to Washington State. That was his 182 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:45.279 his connection to that to the program at Incarnate Word. 183 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:47.120 That's how he ended up there as a coach that 184 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:49.960 went to Washington State and brought his quarterback. So this 185 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:52.639 is this is very common now in college football. It's 186 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:56.039 almost like coordinators sometimes are hired just I'm not gonna 187 00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:58.039 say solely for the purpose of but largely for the 188 00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:01.240 purpose of bringing a quarterback. And Western Kentucky started that 189 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:03.360 after I was let go there. I was the head 190 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:07.600 coach there in twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen, ninth. Yeah, those 191 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:10.159 two years. And right after that it was the Bailey 192 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:13.840 Zappi and and the offensive coordinator Zach Kittley came over 193 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:16.840 from Houston Baptist and they won ten games that year. 194 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:19.960 It's they're only a really good year. So everybody's everybody's 195 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.879 coaching and making decisions. And I hate to say it, 196 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:24.399 and it's a different er. It's a lot different than 197 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:27.120 my dad coached in. But you're coaching for that next year. 198 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:28.919 That's it, and then you got to do it again 199 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:30.320 in the following year, and you got to do it 200 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:32.799 again the next year. That's just the reality of college football. 201 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:35.200 But the higher in and of itself, I think makes 202 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:38.240 a lot of sense. Devin Dampier is a fantastic player, 203 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:40.639 and he should he should test the market. But I 204 00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:43.919 think that having an opportunity to be highly successful in 205 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:47.440 a in a story program like Utah that has, you know, 206 00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:52.320 some some geographical geographical connections to his background of being 207 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:54.960 an Arizona kid and then playing his first several years 208 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:58.720 at New Mexico, I mean that stuff does matter, would. 209 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:00.960 Be remissed, Mike if I didn't simply just ask your 210 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:05.200 opinion on where we're at with the landscape of college football, 211 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:08.120 sport that we all love and a sport that somebody 212 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:10.960 like you has made a living in, and your family 213 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:13.240 certainly probably owes a lot to the game, and you 214 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:14.840 have given a lot back as well. But it's a 215 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:17.240 different day and age with the things that we all 216 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.279 talk about, we all know about, and I am of 217 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.960 the opinion that we are high speed ahead to another 218 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:25.480 massive landscape shift, and hopefully this time it's just the 219 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:28.600 final one and we land in whatever the new normal 220 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:32.639 of college football is. But transfer portal, nil players going, 221 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:36.600 players coming, money is changing hands. Are you a fan 222 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:39.240 of where we're at with this game? Are you concerned 223 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:40.000 about the future. 224 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:41.440 We'd love to hear your thoughts. 225 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.159 I think the first year that I had out of 226 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:46.799 college football, which was following the twenty two seasons, so 227 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:49.559 last season twenty twenty three, you know, I mean, I 228 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:51.399 was watching what was happening with the team that I 229 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:54.679 just coached in Boulder, and you know, I think seventy 230 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:58.279 some odd players on that roster not invited back to 231 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:01.159 the team, and I I would say I was bitter, 232 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:03.480 you know, I was bitter about the state of college football. 233 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:07.120 But I'll say this is as much as I don't 234 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:10.399 love every aspect of the current landscape, you know, and 235 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:13.279 some of it is is that players are human capital. 236 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:15.639 That's a reality like that you can get rid of 237 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:18.000 them just as fasts. You'll pay them and vice versa. 238 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:21.240 I think that you can't fight city Hall because the 239 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:23.720 product is still really good. I mean, we all can 240 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:26.240 complain about it, and it can be you know, the 241 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:28.279 old man yelling at the clouds if we want to, 242 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.759 But the reality is we all tune in and watch 243 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.200 every single one of those college football playoff games. It's 244 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:36.080 coming up. I promise you that it's a great product. 245 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:38.519 It's never going to be a bad product. And so 246 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:41.759 you know, in the event that like I ever got 247 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:44.200 back into it, I mean, you just have to embrace 248 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:47.679 the new normal, find your niche, find your space, and 249 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.919 just excel in it and stay in your lane. And 250 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:54.840 you know, the programs to me that are winning, they 251 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:56.960 have a quarterback. They go out and they get the 252 00:11:57.080 --> 00:12:00.200 right quarterback, and then they build their offensive line and 253 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:03.679 defensive lines organically through high school recruitment and more long 254 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:07.000 term solutions within the portal, because I don't believe he 255 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:09.320 can build the the O lines and the D lines 256 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.759 immediately within just one year. 257 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:13.440 You might be the best person for me, you know, 258 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.000 for me to ask the following question, Mike, because you 259 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.840 have coaching ties to both Colorado and Boise State. 260 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:22.960 Yes, yes, I do. Who wins the Heisman and why. 261 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:29.000 Travis Hunter's gonna win the Heisman? He's gonna win the Heisman, 262 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:33.399 and I think it's because he is a very transcendent 263 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:36.559 player by virtue of what he's done. And anybody who 264 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:42.399 points to Champ Bailey and say those guys were spot 265 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:46.759 players on offense, this dude's like running fifty eight routes 266 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:49.399 a game and doing it on the defensive side of 267 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:51.840 the ball. He's phenomenal. I've watched him in person now 268 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:54.320 four times and I'm amazed every time I see it. 269 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:56.639 And it's the ball skills for me, on both sides 270 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:00.000 of the ball. I think he has justin Jefferson level 271 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:04.000 of ball skills. Obviously a short area, you know, changing direction. 272 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:10.879 Everything is elite, and I'm voting for Ashton Gent there's 273 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:13.320 a bias there. I'm at Boise State alum. I coached 274 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:16.039 at Boise State. I love the player. I think he 275 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:19.000 is so important to that team. But I think it's 276 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:21.840 just an unfortunate year that you're ahead with one of 277 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:23.559 the most unique players in the history of the game. 278 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:27.120 Man. He has been so fun to watch. I'll tell 279 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:27.320 you what. 280 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:31.360 And you know, Boise finds themselves with a buy in 281 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:34.039 the first round as the three seed. Well, they're going 282 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:36.759 to take on the winner of Penn State. Smu what 283 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:40.720 and again, you're an alum. We understand your ties to 284 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:43.919 the institution. And of course, a potential second round matchup 285 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:46.679 with Penn State, according to early books, would be a 286 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.480 heavy you know, spread in the favor of the Nitny Lions. 287 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:54.279 But yeah, is Boise good enough to make this interesting? 288 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:56.519 In your opinion? Can they advance maybe a round or 289 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.720 two and maybe even beyond. 290 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:01.279 You know, a lot of people have pointy two Boise 291 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:03.840 State in the last five six weeks have not looked 292 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:06.960 like they're not passing the eye test of a team 293 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:11.600 that could compete with us a Penn State. I would actually, yeah, 294 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:14.120 I followed Boise State closely. I do a bunch of 295 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:16.840 media work with Bronco Nation News out of Boise I 296 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:19.240 have a weekly show on Wednesday nights on social media 297 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:22.360 and all the things. And I've watched this team really 298 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:27.200 endure about eight weeks, nine weeks of having offensive linemen 299 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:31.360 and I'm talking three starters out. The last game against 300 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:35.039 UNLB was the first time they've had all five starters 301 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:40.039 that are really really good starters playing together since week 302 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:42.720 two of the season. And so I think that Boise 303 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:46.480 State is actually playing their best football in the very 304 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:49.720 last week of the season. And I know that this 305 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:52.799 is a team that is senior and junior a lot 306 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:58.799 of experience, and I believe that Boise State can do 307 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:00.320 what it's always done. And all you got look to 308 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:02.279 is the last time Boys to State was really healthy, 309 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:04.720 they took the number one team in the country, Oregon, 310 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:08.240 to the very brink of that game, and really should 311 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:10.399 have won that game. I think that was a missed 312 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.559 opportunity for Boys to State. And Oregon looks to be 313 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:15.720 the best team by far right now, the cleanest team 314 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:17.840 in college football. So I would give them a chance. 315 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:21.559 Certainly gets Penn State, and I shoot, I think I 316 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:23.480 think they'd be I think they beat SMU, I think 317 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.519 they're a better football team. 318 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:27.600 So out of the big twelve, we find ourselves of 319 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.360 Arizona State, which nobody saw coming. They were picked to 320 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:33.559 finish close to last, and some outlets picked them to 321 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:37.200 finish last. I wonder your impressions of what Kenny Dillingham 322 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:41.080 did this year with a massive turnaround really quickly, and 323 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.559 your thoughts on what they could do in this bracket 324 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:45.519 as they find themselves with the first round by and 325 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:48.519 a four seed to face the winner of Clemson in Texas. 326 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:53.440 Well. Kenny Dillingham comes from, you know, really the Dan Lanning, 327 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:58.440 Mario crystobaal which really is ultimately saving, and Kirby smart 328 00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:01.360 Tree and these of the guys that I think really 329 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:03.799 have the upper hand in college football right now in 330 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:06.960 terms of roster, build the nil, the portal, how you 331 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:09.200 do it, not just the money, but how you do 332 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:12.679 it getting the right guys. And Kenny Dillingham has really 333 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:14.440 really hit on a lot of players, and it started 334 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:17.120 with Sam Levitt. His quarterback is playing great ball. He's 335 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:20.279 fun to watch, he's an athlete, he can extend plays. 336 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:23.000 I think that he's playing as good as football towards 337 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:24.679 the tail end of the season as any quarterback in 338 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:28.120 the league. You know, and then Camp Scataboo's obviously, he's 339 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:30.720 a one man wrecking crew, a lot of fun to watch. 340 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:34.240 I just know this firsthand from Arizona State, my director 341 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:38.200 of football operations at Colorado, Ryan McGinnis. He got hired 342 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:42.200 by coach Dillingham, and he also took one of my 343 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:44.679 best players after we you know, I got fired, But 344 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:47.879 it was Jordan Tyson, the wide receiver who unfortunately will 345 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:50.399 be missing the remainder of this season, but I think 346 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:52.480 he's gonna be a top three receiver in college football. 347 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:54.759 I can speak to it that the Kenny Dillingham has 348 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:57.159 selected the right guys based off those two guys, because 349 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:59.799 those dudes were two of my absolute favorites when I 350 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.720 was at to you, I. 351 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:06.599 Haven't asked you about the season BYU had, and you know, 352 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:10.559 ultimately it's funny, Mike, in a way. Both Utah and 353 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:13.519 BUYU are two local schools blew it. Utah was the 354 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:16.440 favorite of the start, could not get it done. Utah 355 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:21.119 BYU installed themselves, is the favorite after nine games and stumbled, 356 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:24.160 losing two of three. Their reward is a fun bowl game. 357 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:26.880 It's the Alamo Bowl against your former school of Colorado. 358 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:29.440 But what do you make of what Kilani and company 359 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.480 were able to do this season year two in the 360 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.319 Big Twelve. 361 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:36.279 Well, in full candor spence, I got my brother in law, 362 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:40.000 so my wife's younger brother is working on that football 363 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:42.359 staff there. So I've been watching the Cubes very closely. 364 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:44.920 Nice blood is thicker than water, so I've been I've 365 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:47.880 been rooting for the Coubes all year, certainly because of 366 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:50.519 the time my brother in law, Matt Mitchell, works with 367 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:53.960 the quarterbacks. He's kind of Aaron Rodericks, a Rod's right 368 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.839 hand man, and he does an awesome job. He was 369 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.319 my right hand man when I was the offensive coordinator 370 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:01.039 at Notre Dame and then also Western Kentucky. Who is 371 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:04.599 my quarterback coach. I love, uh, I love what what 372 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:06.720 this team did. And let's just call a spade a 373 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:09.039 spade before the year, this is a year where you're 374 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:11.759 coaching for your job, you know, I mean it felt 375 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:14.359 like that to me. And you start the season the 376 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:17.960 way you did. Obviously the end of it was extremely disappointing, 377 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:20.839 but frankly, you faced a couple of teams that were 378 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:23.519 scorching hot at the end of the year between Kansas, 379 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:26.680 who I believe really should have been in the conference championship. Uh, 380 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.759 if they just found their way earlier in the year 381 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:31.720 they were a good football team. And then Arizona State 382 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:33.839 and and you you had a chance to win both 383 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:37.359 those games. Some fluky plays certainly happened against Kansas with 384 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:41.799 the with the muffed uh you know, quarterback squid punt. Yeah, 385 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:43.960 there was. There was a lot of unique, unique dynamics 386 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:45.680 this year, and b what you won a lot of 387 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:48.279 games in very dramatic fashion. You can certainly talk about 388 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:51.559 the Utah game, you know, a lot of different opinions 389 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:54.559 on that, on that pass interference or holding call. But 390 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.920 I'm just really proud of the work that the Kilani 391 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:00.400 has done. I thought he made a great hire in 392 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:02.920 his offensive line coach TJ. Woods, and that run game 393 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:06.039 has got better. Jake Retstloff, I believe is gonna be 394 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:08.720 one of the better quarterbacks entering the twenty twenty five season. 395 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:12.359 And so I'm excited about that Bowl game. I think 396 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:14.079 there's probably, if I'm gonna be honest, I'm on the 397 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:17.799 airwaves here in Denver, there's a lot more excitement from 398 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:20.759 the BYU side for that bowl game than there probably 399 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:24.000 are from the media types and the fan types here 400 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:26.480 in Colorado. I know coach Prime is doing an unbelievable 401 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:30.039