WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:07.960 Strettitch working on Zach Keller. Zach really extending the pressure. 2 00:00:08.039 --> 00:00:12.439 They broke cross sport intercepted by Sharff Jons. You're Sharroff Jons. 3 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:16.719 Get fast, wide open Gate. That's it. That's a bullseye. 4 00:00:17.079 --> 00:00:19.320 It's a triple for Gate. He won't be more wide 5 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:25.559 open all year long than he was on that one. 6 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:28.960 And that was the Voice of the Utes, Bill Riley 7 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:32.960 on the call the UTES Sports Radio Network, and of course, 8 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:37.679 right here on ESPN seven hundred and ninety two point 9 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:40.640 one FM, you can hear Bill on the broadcast for 10 00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:43.479 each and every one of the Utah men's basketball games, 11 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:48.320 of course, Utah football and more, joining us to preview 12 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:52.159 the Thanksgiving weekend of football and more. It is the 13 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:56.560 voice of the Utes one, Bill Riley. I presume live 14 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.960 from somewhere in Salt Lake City, possibly on campus. 15 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:03.399 Bill, how are you, friend, I'm at my office. Porter. 16 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:03.960 I'm great. 17 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.359 I haven't been to your office yet. What's up with that? 18 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:09.959 Where are you at the Huntsman Center. 19 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:12.079 I'm at the Huntsman Center. Have you been up to 20 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:12.760 the Huntsman Center? 21 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:15.280 I have, I just haven't been to the Bill Riley 22 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:18.439 Grace Huntsman Center. Since obviously I've been there, just not 23 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:22.159 to your your your digs. We'll make that happen. Appreciate 24 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:25.920 you for joining us on this Wednesday. Happy early holiday 25 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.400 to you, and uh give us a make get us 26 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:33.560 excited for what is actually the only Big twelve game 27 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:39.239 on Big twelve Finale weekend that doesn't have any conference 28 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:44.239 championship or CFP implications, the only one between UCF and Utah, 29 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:48.079 which if you would have asked us in August or September, 30 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:50.840 both of these teams may have been on a short 31 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:53.840 list of maybe contenders. 32 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.719 Yeah, well, I don't know much that I can add 33 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:58.760 much more to it than that it's a play for 34 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:01.079 pride kind of exact out of a Saturday you taught 35 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:05.159 trying to end its longest losing streak in thirty eight years, 36 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:08.639 and UCF trying to send their seniors out on a 37 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:13.280 senior night with a k the right way. So there 38 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:17.080 are to be fair a ton of storylines inside this 39 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:21.039 game outside of those, but you do have some guys 40 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:23.960 that are playing for pride, and you do have some 41 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:28.080 guys that are trying to impress, trying to show the 42 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:30.039 coaching staff that they want to be part of this 43 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:33.120 program moving forward, because I think we all know there's 44 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:36.159 going to be some changes in rosters and things like that. 45 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:39.319 There are every year now in college football, So I 46 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:41.800 think there's a little bit of that for Saturday, or 47 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:43.319 I should say for Friday night as well. 48 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:46.360 Yeah, well, Utah is that you know, underachieving team this 49 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:48.759 year a rare situation where that has been the case. 50 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:51.400 They've been right there to winning some games against some 51 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:53.840 really good teams over the last few weeks. What have 52 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:56.439 you liked most in terms of what you've seen with 53 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:59.960 the strength of this team showing why they were considered 54 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:02.240 to be among the favorites in that conference when the 55 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:03.039 year got started. 56 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:07.039 Well, they're still playing hard, Tony. Their defense is still 57 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:09.520 very good. They're just asking the defense to do a 58 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:15.759 lot right now. The offense has been very inefficient and inconsistent, 59 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:18.520 and a lot of that's quarterback play. Clearly it's not 60 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:20.759 all quarterback play, but some of it. But the defense 61 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:23.479 has been really good, and last weekend we saw the 62 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:28.039 special team show up and make some big plays, block punts, 63 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:32.240 covered kicks and fumbles and things like that. So I 64 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:34.400 don't think you can question the effort of this team. 65 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:37.280 The results certainly haven't been there, but they've still been 66 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:38.240 putting forth the effort. 67 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:42.360 Gusmels On and UCF have lost I think six of seven. 68 00:03:42.520 --> 00:03:45.400 They started the season off three to zero and looked 69 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:49.800 pretty good doing it. What challenges do they post to 70 00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:53.360 Utah specifically in what they do? I will say specifically 71 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:56.120 on the offensive side of the ball, because although they 72 00:03:56.199 --> 00:04:00.759 haven't obviously been able to win many football games, they've 73 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:02.960 been able to move the ball and put some points 74 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.479 on the board fairly routinely and at least in their wins. 75 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:11.639 What is it about their offense that might pose problems 76 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:14.960 to a Utah defense that, again, although not winning football games, 77 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:17.160 is still a top three or four defense in the 78 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:17.639 Big twelve. 79 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:20.399 They run the football better than anybody in Power five 80 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:23.439 Football Power for Football. I mean it's not even close. 81 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:26.079 They're averaging two hundred and fifty five yards a game rushing. 82 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.800 They have ninety three runs this year of ten yards 83 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:33.480 or more. They have more explosive run plays than anybody 84 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:36.000 in Power for Football. They've got a running back in RJ. 85 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:40.560 Harvey that's on the precipice of setting a rushing touchdowns record. 86 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:43.639 He's got twenty one rushing touchdowns this year. He's got 87 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:47.000 forty two in his career. They run the football and 88 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:50.040 they've got two quarterbacks, a red shirt freshman and a 89 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:53.439 transfer that both can run it as well. So Utah 90 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:56.480 is going to have to load up and stop the run. 91 00:04:56.519 --> 00:04:59.040 They just said, I mean, I know that's cliche every week, guys, 92 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:02.800 but this team, they they really run it. They can 93 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:04.480 throw it a little bit too. I mean, they can 94 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:06.800 throw it. They've got a couple of playmakers on the outside, 95 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:10.120 but they want to run the football and it's R. J. 96 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:12.439 Harvey and a couple of other guys. But when you're 97 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:14.519 running for two hundred and fifty five yards a game 98 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:17.240 and I think they're thirty yards better than the next 99 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:20.600 closest team in power for football, that's what Youah has 100 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:21.240 got to gear up for. 101 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:24.480 When you're laying out the depth chart the way that 102 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:27.319 you do, and you're you know, putting in information on 103 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:29.920 each different individual and when you see the number and 104 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:32.519 the name, and different thoughts are going through your mind. 105 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:34.680 You mentioned there's some players that are trying to make 106 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:37.319 a statement, trying to make that last impression and a 107 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:41.639 lasting impression. Are there specific individuals you're really excited to 108 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:43.480 see in this matchup and in this game with that 109 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:46.680 opportunity to run through the finish line on what has 110 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:47.480 been a tough season. 111 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.720 Well, I think we saw some glimpses last week. You know, 112 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:53.360 it's mostly the young players, you know, the older guys, 113 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:55.560 they're the you know, twenty three seniors aren't going to 114 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:58.639 play again. So Doriyan Singer is a really nice player, 115 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:01.600 but he's not coming back to Utah. But the Zachariace 116 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:06.199 Williams might be and Dadrin Zipper might be. Those two 117 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:09.120 guys they flashed the last couple of weeks for Utah. 118 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:12.079 I'm very curious to see if they can continue to 119 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:14.480 do that. I want to see how some of the 120 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:16.959 guys like John neu Hall on defense continue. He looks 121 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:18.879 like he's got all the potential to be one of 122 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:21.959 the next great linebackers at Utah. Does he continue to 123 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:26.040 evolve in that linebacking core and that playmaking that kind 124 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:28.879 of that playmaking form. Landon King got his first catch 125 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:30.240 of the year a couple of weeks ago. Ken he 126 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:33.279 continued to stay dialed in. I know it's not been 127 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:35.839 the year he wanted to have. Carson Ryan, He's got 128 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:38.519 some eligibility to tight end transfer the American FOURK kid 129 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:42.000 from UCLA. These are some of the guys that could 130 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:45.759 be cornerstone players in the years to come, next year 131 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:49.079 and beyond for Utah. And I'm just very curious to 132 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:51.959 see how they play in the final game of the year, 133 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:54.480 because again the last couple of weeks we've seen some 134 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:55.360 glimpses from him. 135 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:57.480 Of course, Bill mentions the final game of the year, 136 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:02.000 the final Big twelve game of the Utah first first 137 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:05.759 run in the conference, and they visit Orlando, they visit 138 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:09.600 Florida for the final conference game of the season. Bill, Obviously, 139 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:13.199 you know you spend time in Florida. You have some 140 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:18.279 experience down there before Central Florida really started to burst 141 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:20.240 on the scene on the football side. But give us 142 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:24.439 an idea, your knowledge, your perspective of what they call 143 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:28.199 sometimes the bounce house down there in Central Florida, a 144 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:31.399 place where they've won forty two of their last fifty 145 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:34.720 one games. I believe, regardless of how good UCF is, 146 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:36.600 they have a lot of success at home. 147 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:40.560 He has sixty nine wins since twenty seventeen. Porter they're 148 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:44.079 an emerging program. The school is the largest school in 149 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:46.000 the state of Florida. From an enrollment state, it's bigger 150 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:49.959 than Florida. It's bigger than Florida State. It's over fifty thousand. 151 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:56.000 It's a big emerging school. And Malzon's had success. He 152 00:07:56.040 --> 00:07:58.639 hasn't had it there quite yet, but he had it 153 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:02.639 at Auburn for a minute. So it feels like they're 154 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:06.519 kind of getting close to a breakthrough. You don't have 155 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:08.480 you don't have to hop on a plane to recruit 156 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:11.600 at Central Florida. You can hop in your car and 157 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:15.279 drive within about a three hour radius and there's just 158 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:19.079 tons and tons of talent. I don't know what kind 159 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:21.920 of a crowd they're going to have, honestly, again, much 160 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:25.279 like Utah, they're not having the season that that they expected. 161 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:31.399 But it's a good program in an emerging school and 162 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:35.159 it's you know, again, it's not Florida or Florida State, 163 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:38.799 but it's it's coming and when they're good. You know, 164 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:40.720 a couple of years ago, when Scott Frost was there, 165 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:44.440 when they when they hung their banner as pseudo national champions, 166 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:48.600 they were really drawn and so I'm I'm I've never 167 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:51.120 been there for a game when I lived in Florida, 168 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.039 they didn't have the bounce House, they had a uh 169 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:56.600 they played at the old where they where they played 170 00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:58.799 the they played the New Year's Day Bowl game. It's 171 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:02.360 now Camping World Stadium and stuff like that. So I'm 172 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:04.840 curious to see what it looks like in what it 173 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:06.799 might be like when we go back there again. But 174 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:10.840 this is this is a program that it has the 175 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:12.399 potential to be really good. 176 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:15.080 When I watched Utah a couple of years ago, they 177 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:18.559 go to the Rose Bowl with this massive amount of injuries, 178 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:21.519 and I remember hosting this exact show with Porter saying like, 179 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:25.879 this is not normal. This is the most abnormal thing ever. 180 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:29.480 Last year, the injuries were just overwhelming, and they still, 181 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:31.720 you know, put up a decent number of wins there. 182 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:35.679 This year, injuries mixed in with you know, a flag here, 183 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:38.480 a miss field goal there, you know, bizarre sequence of 184 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:40.720 play here and there, and it all adds up to, 185 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:43.039 you know what, this season has been. Out of all 186 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:44.840 the years you've had a chance to be around teams, 187 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:47.919 You've been around great teams, some teams of that uphill climbs. 188 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:50.080 Did you ever just get the sense that if you 189 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:54.000 shuffle the deck this many times, with this many challenges, 190 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:57.120 something like this is just bound to happen, where you 191 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:59.879 know you have a difficult season with very few wins. 192 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:04.120 Well, I'm not sure anybody see for the program like 193 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:06.799 Utah that's had so much sustained success, I'm not sure 194 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:10.679 you necessarily saw this. Their last two losing seasons were 195 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:13.360 twelve and thirteen when they were new in the Pac twelve. 196 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:17.440 They had injuries then, but it was a lot of 197 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:20.559 it was just they didn't have the overall talent level 198 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:24.519 to compete. This is just a season, like you, I 199 00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:28.200 just for a program that was it was picked to 200 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:31.080 be a college football playoff program. There's still a ton 201 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:36.440 of talent in it. It's bad quarterback player, inconsistent quarterback play, 202 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:39.879 and injuries at the quarterback position teamed up with just 203 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:43.480 a gazillion injuries at attrition, and you know you mentioned 204 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:47.600 the flags and calls. I'm a big believer that good teams, 205 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:50.360 teams that play well, you kind of create your own fortune. 206 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:53.279 Sometimes when you're just off it a little bit, sometimes 207 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:56.039 those bounces don't go your way. But I don't think 208 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:58.080 that this is something that you say, yeah, this happens 209 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:01.080 every now and again. This is a historianly bad year 210 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:04.039 for the University of Utah. They just haven't had this 211 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:06.799 kind of a season in a long long time. So 212 00:11:06.919 --> 00:11:09.200 I don't think it was expected or you say this 213 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:11.720 could happen every now and again. I hope that it's 214 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:14.360 just one of those one off seasons, and you know, 215 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.399 then you get that bounce back. You know, you make 216 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:18.600 the adjustments you need to make this offseason, you bring 217 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:20.440 it in, the players you need to bring in, and 218 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.080 all of a sudden, you're back in. I think if 219 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:26.039 we've learned anything this year, it's that the Big Twelve 220 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:31.320 is a really competitive league. But there's not a dominant 221 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:35.159 program in this league. And I don't look forward into 222 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:37.879 the future next year and see anybody emerging as a 223 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:40.759 dominant program. Shoot, even if Utah was going to win 224 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:43.080 the league this year, guys, I didn't think that they 225 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:45.320 were going to run away and hide with it. I 226 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:48.600 thought Kansas State would be very good, you know, I thought, oh, well, 227 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:52.120 Oklahoma State's probably been as big a mystery and a 228 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.919 disappointment this year's Utah has been because they were picked 229 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:57.639 second or third of the league. But my point is, 230 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:00.679 I don't see I see a lot of programs that 231 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.399 are very good right now and some that could get 232 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:05.120 a little bit better. But I don't see anybody just 233 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:08.120 breaking away from the pack and becoming a dominant program. 234 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:11.320 So the foundation is still there for Utah. They have 235 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:14.600 to make some changes, certainly from a personnel standpoint on 236 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.159 the roster, but I don't think if they have a 237 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:19.799 good off season, they're very far away from being back 238 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.279 if they make those right decisions, right calls. Does that 239 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:22.679 make sense? 240 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:26.559 Yeah, absolutely, And there's obviously a long term discussion we're 241 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.840 talking about with Utah, obviously with with Wit and Scali 242 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:32.360 in that conversation that'll be had when Kyle makes his 243 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:35.879 decision and we know what that holds. But in the 244 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:38.600 short term, Bill, you mentioned the things that they have 245 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:42.519 to address in the off season. Well, the quickest thing 246 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:45.320 that you can address and the quickest recipe to get 247 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:47.679 back on track is on the quarterback room and in 248 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:51.320 the quarterback room front, where do you see that as 249 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:54.320 of today? And where do you see that going for 250 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:58.519 the for the youths. Obviously, Cam rising and you know 251 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:02.399 his decision on on a future is still TBD. And 252 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:05.799 then when we talk about the new landscape of college football, Bill, 253 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:08.039 this might be something that you have to start to 254 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:11.919 address literally on Friday night, with how quickly things start 255 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:14.519 to turn once once your season ends in this in 256 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:16.519 this landscape of college football. 257 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:19.440 Well, I think that you're putting out feelers right now, 258 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:21.000 but I think the one thing that you have to 259 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:24.639 address that was the offensive coordinator. Right It's gonna be 260 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:27.879 hard to get a kid to commit to your program 261 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:30.279 if he doesn't know what your offense is going to 262 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:32.600 look like. Does that make sense? I mean, you just 263 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:34.759 you just you have to figure and I think that 264 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:37.639 they've been working on that, probably since the day that 265 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:41.159 Andy Ludwigs stepped aside, that would be my guess. And 266 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:44.919 so we'll see what happens. But obviously you're gonna put 267 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:46.639 out feelers. You're gonna know who's gonna be in the 268 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:48.840 portal you're doing that. You're seeing a bunch of names. 269 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:52.720 But to me, you figure out your offensive coordinator spot, 270 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:56.600 and then that offensive coordinator works in conjunction with the 271 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:59.279 head coach to try to find a quarterback that fits 272 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:02.679 his system. Well. Well, in the best of worlds, maybe 273 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:05.679 you find yourself an offensive coordinator that's bringing a quarterback 274 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:08.320 along with them. We've seen that happen before in college 275 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:11.279 football or knows somebody that is you know that they 276 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.080 want to bring along with them as well. But I 277 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:17.080 think before you can figure out the quarterback position moving 278 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:19.639 forward at Utah, you have to figure out the guy 279 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:22.919 that's going to be coaching and developing that quarterback, that's 280 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:24.000 your offensive coordinator. 281 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:27.639 What has surprised you the most in your experience of 282 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:30.679 having the broadcaster seat during this year, because as you 283 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:34.720 go chapter to chapter, I mean you're really absorbed completely 284 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:36.919 in each and every play and each and every day 285 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:39.639 of preparation. As you kind of reflect on this, what 286 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:42.600 surprised you the most during this experience. 287 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:45.399 That they're in the same position they were a year 288 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:49.399 ago when Cam Rising didn't play, that they that they 289 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:52.559 are struggling again in back to back years at the 290 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:55.440 quarterback spot. That's that's the part that's been so and 291 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:58.240 the fact that they're down to maybe the most surprising 292 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:01.480 thing of them all is that they're they're they're playing 293 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:03.799 their fifth string quarterback in the final game of the 294 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:06.240 season as they did a year ago. You know, you 295 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:08.639 had last year was Cam Rising and it was Bryce 296 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:11.679 and Barnes and it was Brandon Rose who got hurt. 297 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.559 Really was never able to be there, and then you know, 298 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:18.559 Luke Batari starts against Colorado and finds a way to win. Well, 299 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.919 this year, it's Cam Rising, and then it's Isaac Wilson, 300 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.879 then it's Brandon Rose and you know, we never got 301 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:25.120 to see Sam Heward because he got you got hurt 302 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:29.679 during practice, and so now your fifth quarterback is Luke Patari. Again, 303 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:34.360 it's just I can't even imagine. And again I wish somebody, 304 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:37.720 maybe ESPN or Elias or somebody's got it, but I 305 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:42.559 can't imagine a program, a D one program, in back 306 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:45.399 to back seasons, being down to their fifth string quarterback 307 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:48.080 starting in their final game in back to back seasons. 308 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:53.279 It's just it's it's just you couldn't You couldn't imagine it. 309 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:56.639 But that's where we are, and injuries and attrition it kind. 310 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:58.639 Of led to this well, And yeah, if you would 311 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:02.559 have asked a Utah fan Bill in twenty twenty three, hey, 312 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:07.080 we're going to be you know, next year, we're going 313 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:09.360 to be down to Luke Pattari as a starter versus 314 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:14.240 Colorado on Senior Night, again, you probably would have you know, recoiled. 315 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:17.720 But then at the same time you fast forward to 316 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:20.519 twenty twenty four, you probably would have welcomed the side 317 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.879 of Bryson Barnes in your locker room. The fact that 318 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:25.960 you had had to flip that one point eighty so 319 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:28.679 far back in the other direction is just a testament 320 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:32.120 to how weird this two years has been for Utah. 321 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.159 When we're talking about the quarterback room bill, you mentioned it, 322 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:38.559 injuries have a huge part to doing this. Isaac Wilson, 323 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:42.519 although he wasn't quite ready for a lot of the offense, 324 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:45.440 it seems he also dealt with some injuries. But the 325 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:48.720 other part of this bill is getting a quarterback in 326 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.360 your room that is going to be willing to sit 327 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:55.879 and not play when in today's college football he might 328 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.799 be able to get paid to go play at a 329 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:00.240 lower level, or he might get in an il deal 330 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:02.639 to a bigger school where he's going to go and 331 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:05.880 be the backup. There's there's more complications here, and I 332 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.960 wonder how you think you Tah needs to address this 333 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:13.160 going forward in what is again a different reality of 334 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.079 the sport. 335 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:16.480 Well, I mean they had that this year. Brandon Rose 336 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:18.519 has been here for three years, right, I mean Brandon 337 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:20.319 Rose probably could have gone somewhere else I think you 338 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:22.799 can find that. You know, my hope is a guy. 339 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:25.640 I think Isaac Wilson still has got a future. I do. 340 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.599 I mean he I mean, to be fair, I know 341 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:30.079 he's been a scapegoat for some of this stuff. He 342 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:33.720 has been beat up this year and he's an eighteen 343 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:37.039 year old freshman. He I mean how many I mean 344 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:41.519 Dominic Ryola, the guy at the guy at the Nebraska 345 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:43.920 who was supposed to be you know, Patrick Mahomes. He's 346 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:47.480 wearing fifteen and he throws side arms these He's been 347 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:51.200 average at best this year. Nebraska might miss going to 348 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:54.960 a bowl game again, but they look gangbusters early. And 349 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:57.200 this guy was the number one quarterback in the country, 350 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:58.759 the cat and you know what he is, he's a 351 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:04.599 true freshman. It's just really really hard. And remember it's 352 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:07.880 one thing. I mean, Ryola was different because they knew 353 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.799 he was going to be the guy all through fall camp. 354 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:12.759 Isaac wasn't that guy. I mean, Isaac might have been 355 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.039 better had he been the guy going all through fall camp. 356 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:18.480 And that was Cam. So you know, sure he didn't 357 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:20.319 make the improvement. I think a lot of people wanted 358 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:22.799 to see him make. But yeah, he dealt with some injuries. 359 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:25.759 He's a tough kid, but he's also a true freshman. 360 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:29.559 So my hope is that Isaac chooses to come back 361 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:32.759 and maybe he gets to sit for a year behind 362 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:35.319 the quarterback. You know, we don't know in this day 363 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:37.759 and age, or maybe Brandon Rose comes back, or maybe 364 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:41.559 they both come back, because you know, there is some 365 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:44.920 you know, there's some wisdom in being old like I 366 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:49.480 am and look down through the years at great quarterback play. 367 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:53.279 Most of those guys sat for a year or two 368 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:56.359 or three before they got their chance, and then they 369 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.240 were a starter for one or two years, and then 370 00:18:58.279 --> 00:19:00.960 they moved along. There was always that pecking order. We're 371 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:03.359 in a different world today. I get it. I understand 372 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.079 same thing in the NFL. They plug these rookies in immediately. 373 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:11.079 But I think, you know, if it's possible, you'd like 374 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:13.160 to get back to that, especially at the most important 375 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:16.880 position on the field, because it's just so hard as 376 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:20.160 a youngster without a lot of experience to come in 377 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.880 and have a great deal of suggests right away. 378 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:24.519 Bill, when Kyle Whittingham does hang it up, when he 379 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:27.359 does retire, it'll be his news to break, and he'll 380 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:30.200 probably do it in a very short and unremarkable press 381 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:34.039 release sent out by the Utah football staff. We know this, 382 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:36.799 but there is he's. 383 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.880 Going to do it. You know that he's going to 384 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:39.079 do a TikTok video order. 385 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.759 I don't, I don't. I don't think he's going to 386 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:43.279 do anything with this, Harley or any announcement there. We'll 387 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:47.319 get a Sunday, Sunday afternoon, oddly timed email and that'll 388 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:49.160 be the end of it. We'll get a press conference 389 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:52.200 as well. But I want to ask how you are 390 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:55.319 kind of following the head ball coach, or you know, 391 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:59.119 maybe just how you're consuming this weekend knowing that whether 392 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:02.319 it's this year or ne there is talk of Kyle 393 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:06.720 Whittingham and possibly the swan song of his career, whether 394 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:09.119 it is this year, next, or even you know, a 395 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:09.880 few in the future. 396 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:12.599 I tell you anything I told everybody else. He's given 397 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:15.079 me no indication that he's going to hang it up. 398 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:17.000 People ask me that all the time because I get 399 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:20.200 to hang around him coaches, shows, pregame interview stuff like 400 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:25.599 that he's giving. He's given me body language, verbal cues. 401 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:28.759