WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:04.040 We are eleven days away from Utah football. It's game 2 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:09.000 week for week zero, so college football is here for 3 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:12.080 all intents and purposes. Our next guest one of the 4 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:14.000 best to ever do it at the University of you. 5 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:16.559 It's a longtime NFL VET as well, good friend of 6 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:19.399 the show. You can hear them on our station and 7 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:22.879 our sister station on a Tuesday afternoon. It is the 8 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:26.679 great Scott Mitchell Scott Happy Tuesday, A mant how we doing, Oh, 9 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:27.519 I'm doing wonderful. 10 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:28.760 Thanks, Ben's It's going to be on. 11 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:31.640 I appreciate the time. So take us behind the curtains. 12 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:34.799 Eleven days out? What's going on? Are we UCLA specific? 13 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:35.039 Now? 14 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:37.799 What's kind of the tone and tenor of the bi 15 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:39.560 rhythms of a college football team? 16 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.119 Eleven days away from kicking off? 17 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:44.359 I actually think this is one of the hardest times 18 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:47.439 of the entire season because you've been in this camp 19 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:51.320 mode and there's a rhythm to it, and everyone's involved 20 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:53.880 in it, all the backups, all the guys fighting for 21 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:56.439 a spot, you know, to play, to be on a 22 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.960 travel squad or whatever it is, and then all of 23 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:01.679 a sudden, there's just a day boom and it stops 24 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:04.239 and it's probably right now. You know, you look at 25 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:08.879 the declaration. All these colleges are naming them their starters. 26 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:12.799 You know, b why you named their starter. You know, Michigan, 27 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:15.959 Notre Dame. They're all naming their starters. So they're they're 28 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:19.519 going into their regular season mode. But it's still, like 29 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:21.920 you said, eleven days out and they've probably been in 30 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:24.400 that mode for they'll probably be in it for like 31 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:27.719 two weeks. And the biggest challenge and why it's so hard, 32 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:31.359 is the guys that have now got practice reps and 33 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.719 played a lot in the scrimmages, their time is over. 34 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:37.519 Like they don't get reps anymore. The ones get most 35 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:39.439 of the reps, the majority of the reps. You know, 36 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:42.959 the twos get some, but it's it's mostly the starters 37 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:44.599 that get all the reps. Now, now you might get 38 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:47.400 reps on the look team or whatever, but those aren't reps. 39 00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:50.319 Those are just you know, you're taking one for the 40 00:01:50.359 --> 00:01:53.480 team because you're you're not really practicing your offense or defense. 41 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:55.200 When you do that, you're giving a look of a 42 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:58.879 different team. And the challenge for the guys that are 43 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:02.439 starting now is you can almost do too much you 44 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:06.640 can almost have too much preparation. You can almost like 45 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.520 like you get kind of stagnant because you've just practiced. 46 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:13.280 You can almost get into bad habits sometimes. And you 47 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:17.000 can tell typically when a team starts the season if 48 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:19.479 they've been like that, because they usually start out flat 49 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:22.000 or weird or not in a really good rhythm. And 50 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:23.800 so much of it, I believe is that they've just 51 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:26.639 practiced almost too much. And so it's a funny time. 52 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:30.599 It's a fine line between being prepared, being over prepared, 53 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:33.840 getting stagnant, getting into bad habits, and then the guys 54 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:36.000 that aren't playing, they kind of have to get over 55 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:39.360 sulking and hey, I lost the competition and I now 56 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:41.560 have to take a back seat. And it's just a 57 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:42.919 really odd time of the year. 58 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:45.360 So we did get some news earlier today. 59 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:47.840 I don't know that it's all that surprising, but Bird 60 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:50.199 Ficklin was receiving a lot of praise from the coaching 61 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:53.639 staff in this battle to back up Devin and knock 62 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:56.439 on Wood. We all want Devin healthy all year long, 63 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:58.400 but in the event that Devin has to miss a 64 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:01.639 little time, it will be Isaac Wilson, who is Devn's 65 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:04.719 backup that is official now, and Isaac received playing time 66 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:08.439 in nine games last year. He started seven of them overall, 67 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:11.159 And I suppose Scott one way to look at it 68 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:13.639 is the blessing in disguise of Cameron's in ability to 69 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:16.520 stay healthy. Is now Utah has a backup quarterback with 70 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:20.199 legitimate Big twelve experience. So your thoughts on this dynamic, 71 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:23.360 Isaac Wilsons, QB two up on the Hill? 72 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:27.759 Look, I don't think, well, well, Utah fans are very 73 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:30.479 concerned about the backup quarterback because they've lived with two 74 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:33.560 years of it, and so most teams this isn't an issue. 75 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:36.240 You don't really talk about it. Nobody really even cares 76 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.560 unless you're the Cleveland Browns, and then you care about 77 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:44.159 two fifth round draft choices as potential backers. But everyone 78 00:03:44.199 --> 00:03:47.120 else doesn't care. But Utah fans care because of what's 79 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:49.759 happened the last couple of years. And they also care 80 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:53.759 because the quarterback who's running the show is a runner, 81 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:55.759 is a guy who will get out of the pocket, 82 00:03:56.199 --> 00:03:59.479 and there's that potential of taking shots. Now, he's a 83 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:02.879 better run in that he knows how to protect himself 84 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:07.759 better I think than Cam and even Tyler Huntley. But 85 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:11.879 I think for Isaac, I think there's almost a maturing process. 86 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:14.360 Because he took some bullets a year ago. You know, 87 00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:17.439 it could have been easy for him to leave. I 88 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:19.199 think he kind of wanted to leave. I think he 89 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:21.319 went out in the portal and realized there weren't really 90 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:24.560 many opportunities out there that were better for him. I 91 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:26.680 like that he's stuck around. I like that he's kind 92 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:29.959 of fighting through things and competing. I think there's a 93 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.399 level of maturity you get from that. There's a level 94 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:35.480 of grit that you get that you need, you know, 95 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:37.680 in tough games, when you when you come into play. 96 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:40.360 And I have to hope and believe that when he 97 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:42.879 does get an opportunity again, he probably will at some 98 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:45.720 point that he's you know, he's mad enough to run 99 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:47.759 through a brick wall, and he's mad enough to say 100 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:51.040 I'm gonna prove everybody wrong, and I want to do 101 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:54.920 over and I want a second chance. I think this 102 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:56.879 offense fits him a little better. I think it's a 103 00:04:56.920 --> 00:04:59.879 little bit more user friendly for him and his skill set. 104 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:04.480 I think the reads are a little bit maybe kind 105 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:06.480 of I don't want to say simple, but kind of 106 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:09.480 right in front of you, it's it's not really hard 107 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:13.480 to read per se, whereas Andy Ludwig's offense there was 108 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:16.480 some nuance to it, and it's a little bit more challenging. 109 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:20.720 And so I think he's more geared for this with maturity, 110 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:26.120 and certainly, you know, I hope and expect that he'll 111 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:27.519 play better if he gets the chance. 112 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:30.759 So what gives you the most confidence? 113 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:34.000 And we've discussed this at times, and I continue to 114 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:36.160 be a little bit surprised that there are very few 115 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:39.639 people at least that I've read or listened to that 116 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:43.199 aren't bullish on what Devin can do as UTAs QB 117 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:46.319 one under Center. And you know, I don't know if 118 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:48.639 just being raised in the Northeast has made me a 119 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:51.639 skeptic period of all this stuff and just life in general. 120 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:54.800 But he is taking a step up in competitions of 121 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:57.519 Scott and it will be a new experience for him. 122 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:00.079 But it does seem like everyone's expecting big things. What 123 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:02.800 Scott Mitchell expecting from Devin Dampier this year. 124 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:06.279 Well, the question to me, the one question is just 125 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:09.279 what you said, can you weak in and week out 126 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:14.839 play against really good competition a year ago? Kyle Whittingham said, 127 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:17.439 we were kind of surprised by the Big twelve. We 128 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:20.759 were surprised at how physical it was, and they weren't 129 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:23.720 they as a team weren't ready for it, and which 130 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:26.959 is a little surprising coming from the Pac twelve. And 131 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:30.079 so it's you can play two or three games against 132 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:32.560 the Power five team if you're in a lesser division, 133 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:36.439 but can you play twelve games? And can you show 134 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:40.279 up every single week? And that that's really the question mark, 135 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:42.959 that's the trend, that's the transition, and not just show up, 136 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:46.040 but play well and play effect and playing well is 137 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:48.879 making good decisions. And I think I think the thing 138 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:51.519 that helps me go okay, I think he can do 139 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:56.639 this is because he's a guy who is so elusive, 140 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.600 and he's a guy that doesn't get sacked a lot. 141 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:03.279 So when he's trying to figure out the competition, and 142 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:05.160 maybe he's not quite up to speed, I don't know 143 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:07.000 if he is or he isn't, but at least he 144 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:10.519 has that in his back pocket that he can extend plays, 145 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:13.759 make plays, and even if things break down because he 146 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:16.600 doesn't know the read right or he just messes up, 147 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:19.639 he can still make something good. Good happen, and not 148 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:22.040 every quarterback can do that. I mean, Isaac Wilson couldn't 149 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:26.680 do that a year ago. So I expect with the 150 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:29.759 way this offensive line is that they have some really 151 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:32.800 good running backs, there's a lot of I call it 152 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:36.480 a patchwork of offensive production. You know, it's just going 153 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:38.600 to come from a lot of different spots. It's not 154 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:40.959 going to be one group that's dominant. They don't have 155 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:44.079 a superstar anywhere, but they've got a lot of pretty 156 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:48.759 good talent enough to put together. I think that what 157 00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:52.120 can be a fairly explosive offense, and if he just 158 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:56.639 kind of stays within the framework of that youth, I'll 159 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:59.279 be very productive. They don't have to score for thirty 160 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:00.879 five to forty points. It's a game, you know, they 161 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.199 score high twenties. If they get to thirty points a game, 162 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:07.480 they're competing for a conference championship, and I think they 163 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:08.040 can do that. 164 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:13.439 So obviously, the offensive line has been the most talked 165 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:15.639 about positional group. And it's funny, Scott, I was just 166 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:19.519 doing a little prep for the show yesterday. Michael Mochafisi, 167 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:22.560 who we never talk about, has started thirty three games 168 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:25.199 for Utah on the offensive line. We talked about Spencer, 169 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:29.040 we talked about Caleb, Jaron's captain, but you know, Michael, 170 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.120 who's the guy that's never mentioned is thirty three starts 171 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:35.759 Devin during his media availability earlier today set at times 172 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:39.240 he has eight seconds in the pocket. And the benefit 173 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:42.200 of practicing against a Utah defense is you're going to 174 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:44.399 be ready to go against the majority of defenses in 175 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:47.200 the Big Twelve. I mean, you know, projections are always 176 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:48.960 a dangerous thing because it's conjecture. 177 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:50.720 Nobody knows until we kick off. 178 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:54.799 But Utah's defense, by all you know, metrics or people 179 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.519 that cover the league is expected to be a top 180 00:08:56.519 --> 00:09:00.600 two or three defense in the league. I mean, obviously 181 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:03.799 it benefits the quarterback greatly to have an offensive line 182 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:06.159 like Utah does. But if somebody who played that position, 183 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:09.519 how would you articulate just how comfortable that must be 184 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:11.559 for Devin to have those guys up front? And what 185 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:14.360 are your expectations for this old line that everybody continues 186 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:15.080 to talk about. 187 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:19.720 I'm always I'm not from the northeast of Spense, but 188 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:23.960 I'm skeptical too, always because what I've learned through my 189 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:27.919 experience is no season ever turns out the way you 190 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:32.559 expect it. I mean, you look at Texas Tech, and 191 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:35.480 they went and spent a grundle of money and they've 192 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:37.759 already lost one of the key players they got in 193 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:41.840 the running back the joiner from USC haven't even played 194 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:44.480 a game. They put all this money into him and 195 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:47.399 other players, and they get no benefit from that. And 196 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:51.879 so the point is is that I'm really hopeful for 197 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:54.240 this offensive line, and I mean they are good, and 198 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:57.679 they do look good. And this team offensively, if you 199 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.360 watched them like early in the spring, you watch them 200 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:03.679 as spring went on, and by the end of spring, 201 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:06.080 and then you watch them now and they've just gotten 202 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:09.159 better and better and more comfortable with what's what's happening. 203 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:13.559 Everyone has offensively, you know, you have to feel pretty 204 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:18.519 good about it. It's there's nothing like experience. There's just 205 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:21.799 nothing like it on, you know, anywhere. And if I'm 206 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:24.480 a guy with that offensive line, I'm like, come on, guys, 207 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:28.480 let's go. Because everything happens upfront. Everything, it's always it always. 208 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:31.120 I don't care how great your skill players are, if 209 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:34.200 you're not good upfront when I when I call these games, 210 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:39.600 you know, for Utah, I spend a majority of my 211 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:42.840 eyeball time on the line of scrimmage. I really I've 212 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:46.120 really kind of helped myself to try to really look 213 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:49.240 and see who is winning, who is winning that push, 214 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:52.200 and who is who is getting beat, who isn't getting beat, 215 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:55.759 and where, And I can tell very quickly how the 216 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:57.679 game is going to go by by the way those 217 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:00.919 guys look up front. So those offensive linemen are huge. 218 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:04.240 I hope that the offensive line isn't one of those 219 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.799 things that it doesn't turn out the way you expect. 220 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:09.000 Ause we expect that line to be great, and I 221 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:12.720 hope it is. Again, you've got to keep everyone healthy 222 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:14.840 and they got to play up to that potential, and 223 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:22.279 that's hard sometimes. So I'm very hopeful. It feels to me, 224 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:27.720 Spence like the chemistry and just all the stars maybe 225 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:30.559 are aligning in the right way. You've got this offensive line, 226 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:33.919 You've got this dynamic quarterback, You've got some really good 227 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:37.559 players in the running back room. They do have some 228 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:41.440 talented wide receiver, they've got talent, They've added talent at 229 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:45.919 the tight end position. It feels potentially like it could 230 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:49.879 be a very very good and explosive football team. And 231 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:53.120 that might be the way people don't think because nobody's 232 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:56.480 necessarily picking Utah to win the conference. People like Utah 233 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:59.759 watch out for Utah, but they're not definitive with saying 234 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.759 if they did a year ago, Utah is the team 235 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:05.240 to beat in the conference. But I think it's going 236 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:07.159 to be a very good year up on the Hill. 237 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:11.759 From a player's perspective, because you referenced the dynamic last year, 238 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:14.960 we all expected them to win the league. And I'm 239 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:18.600 not talking about local media, I'm talking about everybody nationwide. 240 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.720 I mean, they were the consensus pick. They were the 241 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:24.559 favorite in Vegas. Did everybody pick them to win the league? No, 242 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.759 but most people did. And if they didn't pick him 243 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:28.600 to win it, they picked him top two or three. 244 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:33.360 That pressure is gone. From a player's perspective, do you 245 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:35.720 like that to fly under the radar or do you 246 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.759 want to roll into a stadium with that target on 247 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:39.840 your back where everybody knows you're the team to beat. 248 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:44.200 It certainly depends on your personality, you know. You think 249 00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:48.080 of guys like Deon sanders Man, he's stroked by people 250 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:50.240 telling him how great he is, like he loves like 251 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:54.159 he's in the limelight, and coach Whittingham wants to be 252 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.919 a troll in a dark hole. He doesn't want anyone 253 00:12:57.000 --> 00:13:00.120 to talk to him. He wants to be such an underdog. 254 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:03.279 He wants to be hated, you know, reviled, chip on 255 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:06.279 your shoulder, nobody gives us respect kind of guy. And 256 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:11.159 that's my top reason why I think's gonna have a 257 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:14.720 good years. I think everyone's forgotten about this team. I 258 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:17.279 really do. I think they're like, now you have to say, well, 259 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:20.720 watch out for Utah because historically they've been good, you know, 260 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:23.759 the last several years, and they've had a very stable 261 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:28.320 coaching position. You know, situation, they're always very good defensively, 262 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:31.200 you know, they get it together offensively. Watch out for 263 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:35.320 this team. But I think coach Whittingham really likes the 264 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:39.360 let's just be forgotten. For me, it's it's really it's 265 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:41.879 really the personality of the team. There are teams that 266 00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:46.159 just they flourish when they're well thought of. They just 267 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:49.039 do and and but there are some people that are like, 268 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:52.080 I'm not comfortable, and like I think a guy like 269 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:55.759 Michael Jordan flourished with I think he tried to create 270 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:59.720 drama just to motivate himself. So he tried to be 271 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:01.080 a good He's like, I don't want you to tell 272 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:04.000 me how great I am. I want someone to disrespect me. 273 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:06.600 I want someone to tell me I'm garbage. I'm you know. 274 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:08.600 I used to play golf with Dan Marinos the same thing. 275 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:11.159 It's like, if I if I got really competitive, like 276 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:13.360 I'm gonna kick your trash today on the golf course, 277 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:16.879 Dan Marino like like, watch out. But if I if 278 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:19.480 I sat there said, oh man, you are you're piping 279 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:22.720 the ball today, you are just like on fire. I 280 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:26.720 had a better chance with with with Marino and and 281 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:30.840 so it's just funny. It's just different personalities, different coaches, 282 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:34.120 different styles. Like to be stroke and some people don't. 283 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:39.480 What does what does a successful trip to the Rose 284 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:40.159 Bull look like? 285 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:40.639 For you? 286 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.120 Scott? 287 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:44.320 The Utes are a six point five point favorite as 288 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:46.679 of now, and maybe that line changes over the next 289 00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:50.879 eleven days. Not a lot seems to be known about 290 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:53.720 this UCLA team because it's a brand new squad, it's 291 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.240 a brand new quarterback, it's a very young head coach. 292 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:59.679 So on that plane coming home to Salt Lake, what 293 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:01.399 feels like success to you? 294 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:08.159 Well, I think it's a huge game for Utah from 295 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:10.799 a psyche to get last year to get the last 296 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:14.000 two years kind of out of their mindset. And I 297 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:16.360 think if you can establish that and just go, Okay, 298 00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:19.759 we're back, we're we're where we've worked, where where we 299 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:22.720 believe we are, and I think I think that game 300 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:24.840 can go a long way to proving it because you're 301 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:28.279 not really going to get that sense from cal Poly 302 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:30.840 or Wyoming because those are teams that are just going 303 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:33.279 to absolutely beat. But if you beat a team that's 304 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:37.159 a good team, uh, you know, the quarterback is like 305 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:39.440 one of the top quarterbacks in the in the country 306 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:42.600 and he's new to the situation. You know, he's got 307 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:44.279 to figure things out as well, and he's got a 308 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:47.960 lot of personnelity or personnel people that he's got to 309 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.919 get familiar with a new system and all that. But 310 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:54.639 he's very talented, you know. So it's it's really important, 311 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:57.279 I think for the whole entire year that Utah just 312 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:01.519 gets some confidence. And it's a great way to do 313 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:03.799 it because this isn't like, you know, you're not going 314 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:07.039 to Ohio State against the third second ranked team in 315 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:08.879 the country to start your you know, but you are 316 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:11.879 going on the road with a quality opponent and one 317 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:16.639 that's trying to to become relevant in the Big Ten. 318 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:18.879 You know that, you know, it's really it could be 319 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:22.559 really easy for UCLA to just kind of disappear, almost 320 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:25.240 like Nebraska disappeared when it went into the Big Ten. 321 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:28.120 And and so they're going to be fighting for relevance. 322 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:32.200 But and I think it's also for for Devon damp 323 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:36.279 Here to just go, Okay, I believe that I belonged here, 324 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:39.600 but now I know I belong here. Does does Jason 325 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:42.639 Beck's offense really work as it clicked? Because in my mind, 326 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:45.960 this is a blowout win for Utah. It's an easy win, 327 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:49.679 or it's just one of those clunky, awkward games, And 328 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:51.440 a lot of me just feels like this is going 329 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:56.360 to be a really solid statement almost type of game 330 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.279 for Utah. 331 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:00.320 Coming out of the box, ask Bill this yes yesterday. 332 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.799 I want to kick the tires with you on it. 333 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:05.119 According to CBS Sports, Utah is the third hardest schedule 334 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.079 in the Big twelve. 335 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:09.920 And that's that's conference schedule they do. 336 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:13.079 But they do Scott get all three of the top 337 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:16.119 twenty five teams on the schedule in Salt Lake, Texas Tech, 338 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:19.200 Arizona State, and k State. But here's My question, what 339 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:22.440 are you willing to say about where you think Utah 340 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:26.480 is prior to their trip to BYU. It's the opener 341 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:29.880 at UCLA, it's home against cal Poly, it's at Wyoming, 342 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:32.319 and then they open up league play against Tech here 343 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:35.160 in Salt Lake. Then they're at Morgantown, West Virginia, and 344 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:38.640 then home against Arizona State. That's six game stretch. What 345 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:40.480 are you willing to say about where you think Utah 346 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.119 is prior to the BYU game? 347 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:46.680 See, well, you know those those non conference they're going 348 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:49.839 to win all of those. I like getting Texas Tech 349 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:52.880 early on in the year because they may have talent, 350 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.519 but I'm telling you it's going to take a while 351 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:57.400 to figure things out. They did lose the running back. 352 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:00.720 You know, if you you know Texas Tech would be 353 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.319 a really good team by the end of the year. 354 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:04.759 I think if you're going to play him, the best 355 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:07.680 time is early, which I like, and it's at home, 356 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:10.720 and it's the conference opener, and it's gonna be a 357 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:14.119 it's gonna be a big game. Going to Morgantown, You're 358 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:16.400 gonna have to travel somewhere. I think it's the same 359 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:20.200 kind of situation. You know, it's easy. I think it's 360 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.759 a team you can beat. Uh, they're going to be better. 361 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:25.480 Rich Rod kind of has this thing going on there 362 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:28.279 and he's good at it, and he's kind of returned home. 363 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:31.839 But I like that. I think there's a buye before 364 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:34.799 the Arizona State game. I think there's gonna be some 365 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:38.160 massive excitement about Arizona State because they're the team that 366 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:41.640 has the bullseye and and they beat Utah last year 367 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.599 and that never sits well with Kyle Whittingham, and he's 368 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:47.160 gonna he's gonna have a statement. So you're going to 369 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:50.400 see just some really great effort. But you beat Texas Tech, 370 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:54.359 you beat Arizona State at home, you're you're you're easily 371 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:57.279 inside the top twenty five at that time. And now 372 00:18:57.480 --> 00:19:02.880 now the conversation is going to be about you know 373 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:05.640 where you know, Utah might be the front runner in 374 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:08.960 the conference at that point, and and that just makes 375 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:11.359 the whole BYU game so exciting. That's why I love 376 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:14.640 where the conference is now and that these two teams 377 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:17.079 are in the same conference. They're going to start a 378 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:19.680 true freshman at BYU and that's going to come with 379 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:24.279 its challenges and quite Frankly, I'm excited about that because 380 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:28.000 you know, there's just a lot of mistakes that happened 381 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.920 with true freshmen. So I think Utah could be in 382 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:35.279 probably the best position that it could be in at 383 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:38.799 that point. I hear you about the third toughest schedule, 384 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:42.319 but I like how it's laid out and there's nothing 385 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:44.640 There's not a part of it that just is overly 386 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:48.079 concerning maybe going to Baylor later in the year, but 387 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:50.599 just how the bye weeks play out, where and when 388 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:54.440 you play the tough teams I think is very favorable 389 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.440 to Utah this year. 390 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.880 Scott, thanks for the time, man, I always appreciate it. 391 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:00.519 Be safe and we will get you back on again soon. 392 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:02.039 Okay, all right, look fortunate. 393 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:05.079 Thanks all right, Scott Mitchell, former Utah quarterback, played in 394 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:06.680 the NFL for a number of different years. 395 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.039 I always appreciate his time. 396 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:11.839 Eleven days out man, eleven days away from game day. 397 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:14.359 On just a few days away from game day for 398 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:18.160 college footballs. It is week zero and a big one 399 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:20.799 in Dublin. Our guy Chris Camaraddie will be on site. 400 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:24.279 Between k State and Iowa State. I want to let 401 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.599