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<v Speaker 1>A friend of mine, Chris Ballast does a wonderful job

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<v Speaker 1>writing for The Wolverine keeping you up to speed on

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<v Speaker 1>what's going on with the University of Michigan football. You

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<v Speaker 1>can follo him on Twitter at ballast Underscore Wolverine and

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<v Speaker 1>he joins us here on exus and Bros. Chris, hope

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<v Speaker 1>you and your family are well. How are you, my friend?

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<v Speaker 2>And you great to hear your voice, brother, Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks same to you. There's a lot of distractions from

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<v Speaker 1>Michigan right now. How are they able to make sure

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<v Speaker 1>they're focused on themselves and not hearing the outside noise.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's a great question. And we asked Eran Moore

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<v Speaker 2>about that yesterday and you can tell that there's a

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<v Speaker 2>sense of confidence with him that Hey, and he came

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<v Speaker 2>out right away and he said, we can't talk about

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<v Speaker 2>the NCAA stuff. He did say, you know, with our

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<v Speaker 2>report a couple of weeks ago that there were fifty

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<v Speaker 2>two texts that he had deleted between him and counter stallions,

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<v Speaker 2>the alleged leader of the whole sign gate thing, that hey,

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<v Speaker 2>there's nothing there and it can't wait till those texts

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<v Speaker 2>are made public so that people can understand that there's

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<v Speaker 2>really nothing there, so people want to keep this in

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<v Speaker 2>the news. And it's like he said, when you're on top,

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<v Speaker 2>the haters come out, man, And he said, everybody's gunning

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<v Speaker 2>for you. And what they've done is what they did

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<v Speaker 2>last years. They've kind of rallied around each other and said, hey,

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<v Speaker 2>let's make this about us and about our season. We

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<v Speaker 2>know we've got a talented team, he said, we have

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<v Speaker 2>high expectations here. And every time somebody brought up the

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<v Speaker 2>schedule ship and it's a big one. You know, you

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<v Speaker 2>got Texas, you got Oregon, you got Ohio State USC

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<v Speaker 2>it's one of the toughest schedules in the country. He said, Hey,

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<v Speaker 2>they've got to play us too. So you can tell

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<v Speaker 2>that there's a sense of confidence there. These guys are

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<v Speaker 2>together and rallying around it and blocking out the outside noise,

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<v Speaker 2>and they expect to have a good year.

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<v Speaker 1>Shop how long will the counter stallion stuff hang around?

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<v Speaker 1>Do you think?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, you know what, they're in negotiation right now. And

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<v Speaker 2>we broke a story a couple of weeks ago where

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<v Speaker 2>you know what, the this NA draft coming out that

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<v Speaker 2>was made public, and it's tough when you've got that

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<v Speaker 2>hanging over your head to recruit, to really to concentrate

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<v Speaker 2>on other things. But I think it's going to be

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<v Speaker 2>a while. It's a negotiation, and they came out guns blazing,

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<v Speaker 2>you know. Our sources told us, hey, we watch what

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<v Speaker 2>they do to Jim harbaught here, and sure enough he

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<v Speaker 2>gets this four year show cause and one year suspension,

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<v Speaker 2>even though it's more symbolic than anything now that he's

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<v Speaker 2>in the NFL. But you've got a Netflix documentary coming

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<v Speaker 2>out on August twenty seventh where Connor Stallions is going

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<v Speaker 2>to tell his side of the story. But to me,

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<v Speaker 2>the best course of action here if you're Michigan is

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<v Speaker 2>to get this thing out of the way as soon

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<v Speaker 2>as possible. We've heard all kinds of things, like they're

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<v Speaker 2>going to come at them with a postseason ban. We

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<v Speaker 2>reported that and people ran with it like it was fact,

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<v Speaker 2>and that's just something that's been thrown out there. That

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<v Speaker 2>is nothing that is going to be any part of

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<v Speaker 2>Anna or anything. That's going to be years down the

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<v Speaker 2>road if it happens, and nobody expects that to happen.

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<v Speaker 2>What I think you're going to see Chef is within

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<v Speaker 2>the next year, hopefully sooner. You come to some kind

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<v Speaker 2>of a settlement, maybe a big find, maybe some more

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<v Speaker 2>probation and some scholarships lost. I think that's the most

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<v Speaker 2>likely thing to happen, and I think the sooner the

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<v Speaker 2>better for Michigan so that they can move on.

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<v Speaker 1>Chris Ballace of the Wolverine Joiners here on Ex's and

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<v Speaker 1>Bros fam on Twitter at ballast Underscore Wolverine. Jim Harbaugh

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<v Speaker 1>came out in a press conference in Los Angeles defiant

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<v Speaker 1>in knowing anything about the Connor Stallion situation. Why do

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<v Speaker 1>you believe him or don't?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well, there's been no evidence right number one. And

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<v Speaker 2>the NCAAA said that last year they said, we have

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<v Speaker 2>no evidence linking Jim Harbaugh to this, and he said

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<v Speaker 2>he said from the get go, even after the National

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<v Speaker 2>Championship game, they had a press conference and he said,

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<v Speaker 2>we are innocent. He came out guns blaze and said,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, you know what, I knew nothing about it,

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<v Speaker 2>all of us. In fact, he said, all of us

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<v Speaker 2>are innocent. And I don't know if that applies to

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<v Speaker 2>Connor Stallions. There's a lot of evidence out there that

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<v Speaker 2>he was buying tickets and so on and so forth.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it's circumstantial, and there are some questions as

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<v Speaker 2>to whether or not it even violates ncaaa's own bylaws.

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<v Speaker 2>But I don't think they found anything other than circumstantial

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<v Speaker 2>stuff with some interns, and they've said this, this was

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<v Speaker 2>in the NA draft as well, that Connor Stallions maybe

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<v Speaker 2>in some interns had this thing going on and that

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<v Speaker 2>the coaches didn't really know anything about it. So there's

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<v Speaker 2>no evidence there. So I believe him. He's always been

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<v Speaker 2>a stray shooter. And it's funny. There was an article

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<v Speaker 2>in The Athletic Chef that came out and they said

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<v Speaker 2>a former disgruntled staffer said, well, the culture at Michigan

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<v Speaker 2>was to always approach the line and sometimes cross it

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<v Speaker 2>if necessary, And speaking to coaches at these at this

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<v Speaker 2>program over the years that have come and gone, they

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<v Speaker 2>said the exact opposite to me that Jim Harbaugh said,

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<v Speaker 2>we aren't going to cheat, we aren't going to cross lines.

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<v Speaker 2>And in fact, even when NIL came out, he said,

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<v Speaker 2>we're going to be transformational, not transactional. We're not going

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<v Speaker 2>to pay football players. So he has always been one

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<v Speaker 2>of those guys that follows his dad's lead in terms

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<v Speaker 2>of being honest and forthright, so I believe them. Schef.

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<v Speaker 1>What have you noticed about Sharon Moore's camp that is different?

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<v Speaker 1>I don't want to say better, but just different. Yet

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<v Speaker 1>it's still keeping that Michigan focus compared to Jim Carbo's camps.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, a little more fun. In fact, he talked about

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<v Speaker 2>the music yesterday. He said, we didn't have music when

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<v Speaker 2>Jim was here. He didn't want to play the music.

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<v Speaker 2>He said, I love it. He said, I wanted to

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<v Speaker 2>get out there and the kids have fun. But first

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<v Speaker 2>of all, he wanted to make sure it was all business,

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<v Speaker 2>just like it was with Harbaugh. And speaking to the

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<v Speaker 2>people around the program, they say, you know what, it's

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit more lighthearted. Sharona is a little bit

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<v Speaker 2>more approachable than Jim. When Jim came in here, man,

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<v Speaker 2>he came in and it was all business and it

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<v Speaker 2>was tough to work for him. And I think a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of people would agree with that. Most people would

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<v Speaker 2>agree with that that it is not easy to work

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<v Speaker 2>for Jim Harbaugh. Now he got he softened his stance

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit as he went on. But Sharon Moore,

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<v Speaker 2>I think is he wants to make it a little

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<v Speaker 2>bit more fun a little bit more lighthearted. But let

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<v Speaker 2>these guys know that, Hey, as long as you get

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<v Speaker 2>your business done and you're taking care of business and

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<v Speaker 2>you're serious, then we're going to have some fun too.

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<v Speaker 2>And he used a cornerback ji Air Hill, a sophomore,

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<v Speaker 2>as an example. He said, you know, this kid is

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<v Speaker 2>kind of a goofball Off the field he goes, but

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<v Speaker 2>when he's between those lines, it's all business for him.

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<v Speaker 2>As long as he's doing that, I don't care what

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<v Speaker 2>he does off the field. I love his personality and

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<v Speaker 2>that kind of kid.

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<v Speaker 1>They are pre season nine and some people I think

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<v Speaker 1>they already have it in for Michigan anyway. But some people,

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<v Speaker 1>when you say, which team ranked in the top twenty

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<v Speaker 1>five will not finish in the top twenty five, Give

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<v Speaker 1>me a team. Some people have mentioned Michigan. What's the

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<v Speaker 1>attitude from within the football program on I hate to

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<v Speaker 1>use the word disrespect, but on perhaps overlooking them a

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<v Speaker 1>little bit considering what they accomplished last year and what

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<v Speaker 1>they have returning.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and they're you know what, They're kind of used

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<v Speaker 2>to it. But defense travels, and they think they've got

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<v Speaker 2>the best defense in the country, and that's not embellishing anything.

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<v Speaker 2>You look at what they've got, probably the best interior

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<v Speaker 2>defensive line ship that they've had since I've been covering

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<v Speaker 2>Michigan football, and that's a long time with Kenneth Grant,

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<v Speaker 2>Mason Graham, Rayshawn Benny. Those guys are monsters in there.

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<v Speaker 2>And then you've got a secondary that's got an All

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<v Speaker 2>American and Will Johnson and veterans on the back end

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<v Speaker 2>in Quinton Johnson and McCary page, a couple of linebackers

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<v Speaker 2>they think are going to be playing in the Pros,

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<v Speaker 2>and Ernest Hausman and jay Sean Barram, a kid who

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<v Speaker 2>came over from Maryland. And it's going to be hard

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<v Speaker 2>to move the ball on these guys. So what they've

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<v Speaker 2>got to do is get some complimentary football from the offense,

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<v Speaker 2>and it's going to come down to the quarterback play right,

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<v Speaker 2>But there is a ton of talent on that side

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<v Speaker 2>of the ball. People don't understand that. Everybody talks about

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<v Speaker 2>the offensive lineman that they lost, but they've got four

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<v Speaker 2>stars and guys that have been waiting their turn that

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<v Speaker 2>are going to be just as good in some situations

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<v Speaker 2>as they were last year. If you look at a

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<v Speaker 2>guy like Giovanni Ohatti, who could have been starting just

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<v Speaker 2>about anywhere in the country. Last year at guard. Josh Preeb,

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<v Speaker 2>who came over from Northwestern, was a third team All

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<v Speaker 2>Big Ten guy. If he'd played at a school like

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<v Speaker 2>Michigan last year, probably would have been an All American.

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<v Speaker 2>He's that good. So it's really going to come down

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<v Speaker 2>to quarterback play. Jack Tuttle's been slowed by a shoulder.

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<v Speaker 2>He had a great summer, so that has been a disappointment.

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<v Speaker 2>But Davis Warren getting a lot of snaps, and then

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<v Speaker 2>Alex Orgy is an outstanding athlete. They are going to

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<v Speaker 2>play him. And Kirk Campbell, the offensive coordinator, has said

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<v Speaker 2>as much. He said, you know what, even if he's

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<v Speaker 2>not our starting quarterback, we've got to get him on

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<v Speaker 2>the field. He's one of our best eleven eleven guys.

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<v Speaker 2>But elite running backs in Donovan Edwards, Khalel Mullings. They

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<v Speaker 2>love this freshman Jordan Marshall, and a guy in Tyler

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<v Speaker 2>Morris at receiver who's going to be more than adequate

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<v Speaker 2>as a number one and an elite All American tight end.

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<v Speaker 2>If you look at the roster, there aren't very many

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<v Speaker 2>rosters in the Big Ten better maybe Ohio State, maybe Oregon.

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<v Speaker 2>Michigan's going to be right there as long as they

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<v Speaker 2>get good quarterback play.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, Chris, it's a hell of a schedule. I love

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<v Speaker 1>what you tweeted out yesterday. You had a picture of

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<v Speaker 1>Charon Moore and here was the saying, when you're at

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<v Speaker 1>the bottom, they don't respect you. When you're in the middle,

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<v Speaker 1>they ignore you. When you're at the top, they hate

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<v Speaker 1>you for us. Were just going to keep on rolling.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think that.

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<v Speaker 1>Is That's just not football stuff. That's life stuff. I

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<v Speaker 1>love that stuff. I eat that stuff up and I

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<v Speaker 1>know you do too. But there's an influence coaches can

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<v Speaker 1>have and a confidence they can project. Harbad did that

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<v Speaker 1>he was a hell of a football coach even before

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<v Speaker 1>he won a national championship. What kind of coach do

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<v Speaker 1>you think Sharon Moore proved he was last year in

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<v Speaker 1>filling in and how he can carry that over to

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<v Speaker 1>create and continue that confidence with this team this year.

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<v Speaker 2>You know what, there was so much pressure on him

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<v Speaker 2>in that Penn State game last year's ship and that's

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<v Speaker 2>when the emotion came out and everybody. Some people criticized

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<v Speaker 2>him for cussing on air, and that was his pure,

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<v Speaker 2>raw emotion, and that's the kind of guy he is.

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<v Speaker 2>This is one of the best people that I've ever

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<v Speaker 2>met in this business in terms of a man as

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<v Speaker 2>a family guy, a guy who relates to his players.

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<v Speaker 2>I have never heard anybody say a bad word about

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<v Speaker 2>him and his coaching style. Guys love to play for him.

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<v Speaker 2>You look at his offensive lineman and they just don't

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<v Speaker 2>want to let him down. That's the kind of leader

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<v Speaker 2>that he is, and he's learned from the best. He's

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<v Speaker 2>kind of been groomed for this. You know. A couple

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<v Speaker 2>of years ago, Jim Harbaugh in fact, was saying that, Hey,

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<v Speaker 2>I want it in my contract that Sharon Moore is

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<v Speaker 2>going to succeed me. And that's I think the ultimate compliment. Right,

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<v Speaker 2>You've built this thing, and this is the guy that

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<v Speaker 2>you want to continue your legacy here, to continue Michigan football.

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<v Speaker 2>And make no mistake, Jim Harbaugh loves Michigan football and

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<v Speaker 2>he wants the best for them after he leaves. So

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<v Speaker 2>I thought that spoke volumes. But the confidence that I'm

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<v Speaker 2>seeing from him each time that we get to see him,

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<v Speaker 2>whether it's at the Big Ten media day, whether it's

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<v Speaker 2>in front of the media yesterday like we got him,

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<v Speaker 2>you can just sense that, Okay, he understands that he's

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<v Speaker 2>got a good football team. He knows he's a good

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<v Speaker 2>football coach, and he surrounded himself with some great talented

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<v Speaker 2>coaches as well. You just get that sense that he's

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<v Speaker 2>getting more and more confident that he's got what it

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<v Speaker 2>takes in this job. Now, there are no guarantees here, right.

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<v Speaker 2>Everybody's going to point to his lack of experience, and

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<v Speaker 2>that's fair, but there have been guys that have been

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<v Speaker 2>very experienced who have failed here, like Rich Rodriguez, who

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<v Speaker 2>I thought was a bad fit from the get go.

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<v Speaker 2>A lot of it is about fit and timing, and

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<v Speaker 2>I go back to Lloyd Carr succeeding coach Gary Moeller,

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<v Speaker 2>after bost Schambeckler, and you look at people like that.

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<v Speaker 2>You know that Tom Izzo succeeding jud Heathcote, right, And

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<v Speaker 2>sometimes it's just the best bit and the right guy

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<v Speaker 2>in the right situation. I think charoon War is that, yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>And I love Gary Mueller at Michigan. I loved him

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<v Speaker 1>with the Lions as well. Just a good, good man.

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<v Speaker 1>Chris Ballast or the Wolverine joining us. You can follow him

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<v Speaker 1>on Twitter at ballast Underscore Wolverine. Let's talk about the schedule.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't want how many games are they going to

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<v Speaker 1>win because we don't know. We don't know what this

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<v Speaker 1>team is going to look like. You don't even we're

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<v Speaker 1>not even sure who the quarterback is going to be.

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<v Speaker 1>Injuries can take place at any time, so you could

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<v Speaker 1>see a team like Texas, you know, get get nicked

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<v Speaker 1>and bruised a little bit. That would cause some problems

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<v Speaker 1>to their national championship hopes. We were talking about this

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<v Speaker 1>the other day. Penn State has a relatively easy road.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know how they've they've gotten away with the

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<v Speaker 1>schedule that they've got. Michigan schedules really challenging. Where is

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<v Speaker 1>where in lies the challenge? The biggest challenge for this team?

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<v Speaker 1>Is it the stretch with at Champagne or Bana, at

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<v Speaker 1>home against MSHU and then at home against Oregon? Is

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<v Speaker 1>it early on with Texas? What's your overall read on

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<v Speaker 1>the schedule and the biggest challenge that awaits.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, you know that's a great question too. And I've

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<v Speaker 2>kind of pointed to that Washington game on the fifth

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<v Speaker 2>of October, and everybody looks at them and said, looks

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<v Speaker 2>at what they've lost. And I go back and Michigan

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<v Speaker 2>on the coast. I think has won one true road

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<v Speaker 2>game on the West Coast in my lifetime that I remember,

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<v Speaker 2>and that was at UCLA in nineteen eighty nine, and

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<v Speaker 2>they needed a non side kick late in that game

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<v Speaker 2>to go their way to win that game. To pull

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<v Speaker 2>that one out. It is hard to travel out to

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<v Speaker 2>the coast and win. I go back to Oregon in

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<v Speaker 2>two thousand and three, Washington in the mid eighties. That's

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<v Speaker 2>how old I am, chef. But it doesn't matter the

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<v Speaker 2>level of talent. You know, Jeed Fish is a good

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<v Speaker 2>football coach and there's going to be some talent on

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<v Speaker 2>that team. That's the one game that I point to

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<v Speaker 2>where I say, okay, they play them after USC and

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<v Speaker 2>USC home is not going to be a capewalk. I

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<v Speaker 2>think Michigan's a ten point favorite in the preseason there.

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<v Speaker 2>They've got a lot of talent, and they've got a

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<v Speaker 2>new defensive coordinator who actually cares about defense now, so

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<v Speaker 2>I think USC will be a better defensive football team,

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<v Speaker 2>and they've got a lot of talent. So those are

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<v Speaker 2>the two games right there that I'm looking at. Obviously Texas,

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<v Speaker 2>you know they're coming in as a top five team,

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<v Speaker 2>but Michigan is a tough to beat at home. And

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<v Speaker 2>I think you see that on Sharon Moore's face when

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<v Speaker 2>he was asked about the schedule yesterday's Jeff he said,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, these teams have to play us too. Everybody's

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<v Speaker 2>talking about our schedule, and we have to play organ

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<v Speaker 2>at home. We have to play Texas, have to go

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<v Speaker 2>to Ohio State, they have to play us too. And

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<v Speaker 2>we still got a lot of talent and a lot

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<v Speaker 2>of pride playing at home. So but those are really

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<v Speaker 2>that's kind of the stretch right there, going out to Washington.

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<v Speaker 2>If you get by that Washington game, if you get

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<v Speaker 2>by Texas somehow and you go out to Washington and

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<v Speaker 2>you beat them, then watch out. But it's interesting too,

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<v Speaker 2>right because you're kind of playing for something different now.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, you can lose a couple of games and

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<v Speaker 2>you still make the playoffs. So and that's what they

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<v Speaker 2>have in mind. And if you're playing good football at

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<v Speaker 2>the end of the year, you still have a couple

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<v Speaker 2>of losses still right there in the hunt for national championship.

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, I brought you down to talk Michigan and I

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<v Speaker 1>respect it and it's been great, but I do want

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<v Speaker 1>I respect your opinion on the overall thought of where

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<v Speaker 1>college football is right now. Kyle Whittingham, Utah head coach said,

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<v Speaker 1>another big changes coming. He could actually see super conferences

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<v Speaker 1>where forty to sixty teams are just playing one another

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<v Speaker 1>every single year in rotation, and what that does to

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<v Speaker 1>mid major programs and how it hurts some of these

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<v Speaker 1>other kids who maybe not be on Michigan's radar. As

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<v Speaker 1>a guy who's covered college football for as long as

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<v Speaker 1>you have, how do you feel about that? Because it

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<v Speaker 1>really disappoints and disturbs me.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, as a traditionalist, I hate at CHIP and to me,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, your programs like Central Michigan and we all

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<v Speaker 2>have family and friends right that have played that have

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<v Speaker 2>had kids that play to some of these schools or

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<v Speaker 2>followed them closely, and those are going to be theater

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<v Speaker 2>programs for the big schools. What they need to do,

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<v Speaker 2>number one is get rid of the one year transfer

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<v Speaker 2>rule and protect some of these smaller programs as well.

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<v Speaker 2>And I think we're headed that way. I think you're

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<v Speaker 2>going to see contracts sign. Hey, if you're with us,

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<v Speaker 2>you're with us for at least two years, with us

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<v Speaker 2>four years, so that they can protect themselves a little bit.

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<v Speaker 2>Otherwise there's going to be no use to even have

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<v Speaker 2>programs at these smaller schools. And it's a disappointment, but

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<v Speaker 2>it's professional football now, is how it was explained to me.

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<v Speaker 2>I was talking to somebody with one of the collectives

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<v Speaker 2>and they said, you know, the NCAA is going to

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<v Speaker 2>be defunct in two or three years because they are

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<v Speaker 2>one of those organizations that was set up to protect

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<v Speaker 2>and serve amateur athletics. This is not amateur athletics anymore.

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<v Speaker 2>This is professional football and that's where we're headed. Shep.

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<v Speaker 2>And as a traditionalist, I hate it, but you know what,

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<v Speaker 2>it's something that we're going to have to live with

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<v Speaker 2>because it's definitely common.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, you're right about that. Really, respect the opinion, love

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<v Speaker 1>the work as always, You and John are the best man.

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<v Speaker 1>Really appreciate the time. Have a great season, my friend.

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<v Speaker 1>Hope we can talk again soon. All the best to

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<v Speaker 1>you and the family.

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<v Speaker 2>We will thanks, Shep. Take care