WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.960 The top football hits the road coming up this weekend 2 00:00:03.160 --> 00:00:06.160 as a Slide favorite taking on Houston. We'll get back 3 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:08.199 to some of the BYU stuff as well as they 4 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:11.720 look to continue their undefeated start of the season against 5 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:15.199 ucf inn Orlando. But Tom now for our weekly conversation 6 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:16.800 with one of the best to ever do it at 7 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:20.679 the University of Utah, former igute and NFL player Scott 8 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:23.199 Mitchell on a Tuesday, Scott, Happy Tuesday, man, how are 9 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:23.480 we doing? 10 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:27.640 Not bad? You know, I'm working through the week here, 11 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.800 some interesting developments up on the hill there, but you 12 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:33.039 know it's going to be a new look. 13 00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:35.759 It is it is, and you're the guy for this. 14 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:39.560 So we heard from Mike Pajakian yesterday during media availability 15 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:42.679 for the first time Scott, and it's not surprising he 16 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:44.920 said this, but he said, look, the system is in place, 17 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:47.479 like the system is the system, and they're going to 18 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:50.039 be minor tweaks here there. But this is not an 19 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:54.520 outside hire. This isn't an OC coming from cal or something. 20 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:57.679 This is somebody who's been in house and came here 21 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:01.159 to work for Andy. So what's reasonable to expect, Scott, 22 00:01:01.159 --> 00:01:03.079 in your experience from this new play caller. 23 00:01:05.239 --> 00:01:07.760 Yeah, you know, with not having a lot of time 24 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:10.840 to like implement what you do. I mean, if you're 25 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.799 a coach, you kind of have your ideas, you have 26 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:15.680 your philosophy. He's been around a lot of places, He's 27 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:20.040 been exposed to a lot of different offensive philosophies and stuff, 28 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:23.799 and the reality is is they're all not really that dissimilar. 29 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:27.159 It's just kind of how you call things in the 30 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.400 verbiage of things is different, but the concepts of offense 31 00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:34.400 are relatively the same. And so, you know, I think 32 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:36.959 he's got a pretty good handle on what Utah does 33 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:39.959 and he's smart, and it sounds like he's smart enough 34 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:41.760 to realize, you know, you're not going to change a 35 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:45.319 whole lot here as far as you know the system. 36 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:48.200 It may be some of the plays in the system. 37 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:52.079 Maybe he might see that, Look, the tight ends haven't 38 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:56.159 been very involved in this. Dorian Singer, money Park, some 39 00:01:56.200 --> 00:01:58.640 of these really good receivers, you know, have been limited 40 00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:02.400 in what they're doing, you know, from the passing game. 41 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:04.840 Might sit down with Isaac Wilson and say, look, you know, 42 00:02:04.920 --> 00:02:07.200 let's really be honest here and let's talk about what 43 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:10.439 you really like and you're really comfortable with because we 44 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.639 got to get you going, we got to get you confident, 45 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:14.759 we've got to get you out there. So maybe it's 46 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:18.240 it's you know, kind of when and what kind of 47 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:21.319 calls and who they go to, and maybe some personnel 48 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:25.280 groups changed, but the basic core of the offense. They'd 49 00:02:25.319 --> 00:02:28.439 be extremely foolish to just change all that because then 50 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:29.599 no one's going to know what they're doing. 51 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:32.280 Robbie Berry, the lead, I should just ask you your 52 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:35.879 reaction when you heard coach Luod stepped away and your 53 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:37.879 reaction to kind of how this played out of the 54 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:40.680 course of about you know, forty eight hours. 55 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:45.240 Well, I don't think it's something that's been short. It 56 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:49.360 certainly felt like something was brewing for some time. And 57 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:51.080 why that is, I you know, I don't know whether 58 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:53.400 it was that Cam Rising hadn't come back. I mean, 59 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:55.360 if you look at the very beginning of the season, 60 00:02:56.360 --> 00:02:59.520 and you you know, Cam Rising plays half a game, 61 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:03.520 looks great, trolls five touchdown passes. Next game against Baylor, 62 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:06.280 they just come out, they're they're just really on the 63 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:09.599 same page and they're clicking, and then Cam gets injured 64 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:11.840 and then it just didn't look good after that, and 65 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:16.400 I think this season would be completely different. Uh, if 66 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:20.159 if that wasn't the case and and Cam was was available, 67 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:23.080 But you know, it's not that way. And for me, 68 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:26.400 you know, my feeling, this personal feeling about it and 69 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:29.439 my you know, to answer your question about you know what, 70 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:32.800 what's my my feeling about it, it's it's never fun. 71 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:35.120 Like I've been through this as a player. I had 72 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:38.560 a coach in the NFL just quit, Uh, Bruce Coslet 73 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:40.680 quit after the third game of the year when I 74 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:43.680 was with the Cincinnati Bengals my first year there. And 75 00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:46.879 that was horrible, you know, because because you you have 76 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:49.719 there's so much time that goes into the preparation of 77 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:53.919 things that to have someone quit it's just really hard 78 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.520 to kind of pull everything together. And on top of it, 79 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:59.800 you develop a relationship with people. We spent a lot 80 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:01.800 of time with them. You're sitting in there. You spend 81 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:04.439 a lot of time sitting in meetings, and you have practices, 82 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:06.759 and you're in games, and you know, you go to 83 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:09.520 a hotel every weekend and you have meetings in that 84 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:12.479 hotel as you while you're waiting for the games, you know, 85 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:15.520 to and and and as you're preparing for things and you. 86 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:18.120 I mean, you spend a lot of time and and 87 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:21.879 you've developed these relationships and and when it ends, you know, 88 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:24.000 it feels somewhat like a death. You know, it's it's 89 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:27.000 it's not a pleasant thing. Uh, you know, no matter what, now, 90 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:28.920 there may be some guys right now that are like 91 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.399 tickle pink because because there's no coach that everyone loves them, 92 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:34.279 and there may be guys that go, Okay, maybe I'll 93 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:36.279 get a shot to be more involved in things now. 94 00:04:36.360 --> 00:04:38.639 I don't know. But but there's always that side of 95 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:41.279 it too. And regardless, it's just it's just not a 96 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.680 good situation. It's a it's a bad look and it's 97 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:47.839 it's just a bad thing to be to be a 98 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:48.199 part of. 99 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:52.879 So from a quarterback's perspective, let's hone in now on Isaac, 100 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:57.639 you know. And Isaac was interviewed yesterday after practice, and 101 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:00.120 I always forget how young he is until I see 102 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:02.079 his face and I'm like, oh my gosh, he is 103 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:07.720 a child. And he almost looked emotional when talking about Andy. 104 00:05:07.879 --> 00:05:09.720 So I came here to play for Andy Ludwig. And 105 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:11.600 then he said the things you're supposed to say about 106 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:12.439 full faith. 107 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:13.240 And buying in and such. 108 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:16.560 But eighteen years old and you know, you know, a 109 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:18.839 month and a half into was first college football season, 110 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:22.439 he's already into his second offensive coordinator. What do you 111 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:25.839 hope to see in response from Isaac can help us 112 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:27.920 understand maybe what's going through his head right now? 113 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:31.600 Well, it's hard. It's hard. I imagine it'd be really 114 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:33.839 hard for Isaac because he is so young, you know, 115 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:38.040 and that maturity level to deal with something this you know, 116 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:42.439 grand and dramatic and that that's hard, you know, to 117 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:45.240 deal with, and you do. I mean, you know, I 118 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:47.759 think of my coaches when I was at Utah and 119 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.439 and I love the system we were in and I 120 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:54.360 couldn't imagine being in anything other than than than that system, 121 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:57.600 and it was it was awesome. And and to have 122 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:00.240 that kind of be ripped apart, that would that would 123 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:01.879 be a little bit ear shattering. And I think there's 124 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:06.079 maybe some recruiting that needs to go on, uh with 125 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:10.639 with a new coordinator and maybe coach Whittingham about you know, 126 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:15.759 keeping Isaac happy and and and confident, because the thing 127 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:21.720 that has to happen is Isaac Wilson's got to get 128 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:25.519 comfortable and he's got to get confident, and he's got 129 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:29.480 to get productive in what's happening with this, with whatever 130 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:31.920 is going on in their offense up there. That just 131 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:35.240 that just has to happen because him touching the ball 132 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:37.199 as much as he does in a game, he has 133 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:40.519 such an impact on what what's going to happen in 134 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:43.000 a game. You've got to get that guy really comfortable 135 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:46.439 and really really confident. And I and I've said this 136 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:48.560 before and I really believe it. There needs to be 137 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.160 a discussion and like, you don't need all of the 138 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:53.319 plays in the playbook. You know, everyone says there's the 139 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:56.920 full playbook available to this player, and it's like, that's 140 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:01.000 a that's I don't think that's a really responsible statement. 141 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:04.800 It should be are the plays available that Isaac's really 142 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:08.879 confident in running and executing available? Is that available? And 143 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:11.720 what is that? And and it's it might be hard 144 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:13.839 for an eighteen year old kid to say, yeah, this 145 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.120 is what I really like, you know, because you know, 146 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:19.120 be having a mature because he may just say, well 147 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:20.560 I like everything, I don't care he just call it, 148 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:22.000 I'll just I'll just run it kind of thing. But 149 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:25.639 you really don't like everything, And so there just has 150 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:28.199 to be that kind of conversation going back and forth 151 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.360 about Okay, what do you really like? What can you 152 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:34.600 really do here? And Mike pa Jacon is a guy 153 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:37.040 that you know, he's been around a lot of places 154 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:40.439 and you know, and so he should have and he's 155 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:43.120 been the quarterback coach, so there is that relationship there, 156 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.319 and he should have a pulse at least on the 157 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:48.920 players and what's what they can do and what they 158 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:53.160 can work with and and maybe he's had a perspective 159 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:56.120 on why this hasn't worked and and maybe he has 160 00:07:56.120 --> 00:07:57.680 a good solution. I don't know. I don't know anything 161 00:07:57.720 --> 00:08:00.160 about him, but you know I would I would hope that, 162 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:03.120 you know, he has an ability to to at least 163 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:05.480 put them in a position to be more productive than 164 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:07.720 they've been. I mean, that shouldn't be too hard because 165 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:08.560 they've been terrible. 166 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:11.839 Sure, so let's dig in there, and your last part 167 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:13.920 is the best point. I mean, there's nowhere to go 168 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:16.480 but up, because if it gets worse, then other questions 169 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:18.079 need to be asked that I don't think people are 170 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:21.000 ready for. But so let me follow up though about 171 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:24.720 what you just said concerning Mike Jakian, because look, Andy 172 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:28.279 Ludwig's resume is far superior to Mike's. 173 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:29.920 I'm not bringing that up as a knock. 174 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:34.519 You know, Northwestern offense is final three seasons, they're ranking 175 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:37.559 total offense one twentieth, one twenty third, and one twenty. 176 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:38.559 Fourth in yards per play. 177 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:43.320 I have a hard time understanding, like Mike says yesterday, 178 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:45.679 the system is the system. I have a hard time 179 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:49.879 understanding what Mike can figure out that Andy Ludwig couldn't. 180 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:52.279 Can you help me understand that? Or is it simply 181 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:53.200 just a new voice? 182 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:55.919 Oftentimes when I hear they need a new voice, I'm like, 183 00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:58.639 that feels like an excuse for players not executing him 184 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.759 playing hard, Like, how real is it when it's just 185 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:04.039 a new voice? And what can he figure out that 186 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:06.200 a guy like Andy Ludwig apparently could not? 187 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:12.080 Well, Okay, there's a lot of like speculation. I'm about 188 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:14.879 ready to say because because I I don't I don't 189 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:23.200 know that anyone knows that answer. But like, and I'm 190 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:26.639 just talking about the situation. I'm not talking about you know, 191 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:29.080 does he does he have better answers than Andy Ludwig? 192 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.240 I mean, look at what Andy Ludwig did. I mean, 193 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:36.799 he helped Utah win a couple of conference championships. He uh, 194 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.360 he coached in some big games. He helped him to 195 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:43.960 an undefeated season. He's had the longest tenure with Kyle Whittingham. 196 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:47.679 He's been a very successful coordinator. But why did he quit? 197 00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:51.559 And did and did he really quit, you know, or 198 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:54.480 were there other other circumstances that maybe forced him to 199 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:58.559 quit and and and that that's that's a long conversation 200 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.679 if we're going to get into that one. And but 201 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:05.360 so so maybe it's not you know, it's it's just 202 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.879 like Kyle's probably going, this is the best I can 203 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:10.919 come up with in a short period of time. I 204 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:13.960 can't go out and find someone to do this. It's 205 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:17.399 the guy that's probably had the most experienced calling plays 206 00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:21.399 that uh you know that's on our staff. I mean 207 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:23.240 if you look at their offensive staff. I mean the 208 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.120 other guy that may you know is a Jim Harding. 209 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:28.039 I mean Jim Harding. I don't know if he's ever 210 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:33.080 been a coordinator because it's a different thing, Like it's like, Okay, 211 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.919 what what player are you gonna call here? And what 212 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:37.799 what player are you gonna call here? And uh, you know, 213 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:40.120 if you if you haven't had experience with it, and 214 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:42.679 I mean it's you know, it's a it's it can 215 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:45.320 be a thing. I mean, you know, for me, when 216 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:51.360 I played, I I knew what I liked. Like I 217 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:55.799 I was taught that from a very early standpoint, what 218 00:10:55.879 --> 00:10:57.879 do you like on first down? And why? What do 219 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:59.519 you like on third and short? What do you like 220 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:01.679 in the red? What are you like in all these situations? 221 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.399 But I understood what I liked and I understood why 222 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:07.519 I liked it. I don't know that they're there yet 223 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:10.440 with it, but I think they're just trying to do 224 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:15.279 the best with the circumstances that they're in. I don't 225 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:17.159 you know that. I don't know if it's going to 226 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:20.200 be better or worse, but I think that's just where 227 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.519 it goes. Because I to answer your question in the 228 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:25.320 simple terms, I don't think he does know more about 229 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:28.159 what's a better option than Andy Ludwig. 230 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:30.559 At this point, I got to follow up, Scott, because 231 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:33.240 it sounds like you're saying a lot without saying the thing. 232 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:36.600 So I mean, we're in the space. That's the great 233 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:38.960 thing about sports socc radio. It's not a tweet and 234 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:41.840 it's not a column. You can talk about the possibilities. 235 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:45.960 So when you're going in that gray area where you 236 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.399 stop short of actually saying the thing, what's the thing 237 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:50.159 you want to say, it's okay to say the thing 238 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:50.879 you want to say. 239 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:54.039 Well, let's talk about Okay, let's talk about a scenario. 240 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:58.120 Coach Whittingham isn't going to coach forever. They named a 241 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:02.759 coach in waiting and in Morgan Scalley, and Morgan Scalley. 242 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:06.480 Maybe Morgan Scalley goes and he's not my guy, and 243 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:10.080 maybe Kyle and and and again, I hate this, but 244 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:12.679 this is pure speculation. Okay, this is not I don't 245 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:15.840 know anything. I don't know a thing, just so we're clear, 246 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:18.639 but it's just it's just my brain thinking about this. 247 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:23.639 And clearly the offense isn't working, and so maybe it's like, well, 248 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:26.879 let's give someone else to try here, a fresh face, 249 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:29.960 a new face, and see what you know then, because 250 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.320 maybe maybe this might be coach winning Hams last year, 251 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:34.480 and maybe he's kind of he's the one that's going 252 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:37.480 to take the bullet for this, and so so Morgan 253 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:40.279 doesn't have to down the road and Morgan can kind 254 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.840 of go, yeah, I like this guy. I think he's 255 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:45.279 got a chance here or or then Morgan. Maybe next 256 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:47.679 year Morgan, if he's the coach goes, I know that 257 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:49.519 I'm going to have to look somewhere else to get 258 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:52.120 an offensive coordinator. I mean, it's a scenario. It's just 259 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:56.200 my opinion. It's not anything I know. But uh, there's 260 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:59.639 a lot of reasons why they make a change or 261 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:03.320 made a change, and that certainly could be could be 262 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:05.279 one of them. That's all. That's really what I'm saying. 263 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:07.559 Yeah, I don't know that that's that far fetched. And 264 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:13.000 it's also simply fair to say there are contractual ramifications 265 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:16.799 to terminology when somebody is no longer employed, And it's 266 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:19.360 different if you say he stepped down as opposed to 267 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:23.360 he's fired. So look like you, I don't know, I 268 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:25.480 don't know that I've ever seen coach wit be as 269 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:29.320 front facing about potential changes as he was. You know, 270 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:31.840 during media after the game, you could see the frustration. 271 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:35.720 And you know, I'm not saying that that was a 272 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:39.679 decision there was anyone other than Andy's, you know, by 273 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:41.759 his own accord, because that's what we've been told. But 274 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:44.440 we've been told a lot of things that aren't necessarily true. 275 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:46.720 And I do think it's fair to wonder whether or 276 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:50.000 not this was a change that was gently forced upon 277 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:53.639 him as opposed to completely being left in his own hands. 278 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:56.320 That's fine to wonder aloud whether or not that's the case. 279 00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:01.519 Well, it looks you know, it looks good from the outside, like, hey, 280 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:04.200 we weren't getting it done. I'm responsible for that, so 281 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:06.759 I need to step down. And maybe that helps you 282 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:09.840 moving forward, you know, getting a new job, as opposed 283 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.639 to while I was fired and and and you know, 284 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:15.240 and everything. You know, So maybe the separation and how 285 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:18.360 it's termed and and how everyone speaks about it is 286 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:21.879 a way that everyone can go forward and not have 287 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:26.320 it acrimonious and and everyone's you know, spitting on the 288 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.559 other guy's face or whatever, because because I don't care 289 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:32.840 what to say. These are never pleasant experiences when when 290 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:36.720 this happens. But the coaching world is uh, you know, 291 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:39.960 so I don't know if inbred is the right word. 292 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.639 But but these guys, you know, they they spend they 293 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:44.480 end up, you know. I mean, this is the second 294 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.399 time for Andy being here at Utah, so I'm sure 295 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:50.279 they like to keep it cordial and it's kind of professional, 296 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:54.159 and it is you know, it's it's just a business decision. 297 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:58.919 But I think I think Kyle's been frustrated for some time. Uh. 298 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.759 And and by some time time, I mean all the 299 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:03.759 way back to last year and and and the frustration 300 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:06.919 could have stemmed from, Okay, well we didn't get Cam back. 301 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.399 Well what about all these other guys? You know, we 302 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:14.480 we haven't been able to develop a solid backup situation 303 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:18.360 for for the quarterback position, and you know, in quite 304 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:21.360 some time, and we weren't really prepared for it. And 305 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:25.080 the guys that played were you know, not ready or 306 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:30.039 unacceptable solutions or unproductive solutions. And and that does fall 307 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:31.759 on Andy. I mean he was the guy that was 308 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:36.919 specifically designated as the national recruiter of quarterbacks at Utah, 309 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:39.840 and and he was the guy that you know, brought 310 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:43.480 these these other players in and and and they none 311 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:45.639 none of them really panned out, you know, I mean 312 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:51.039 he inherited Cam, but uh, you know, he didn't have 313 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:55.799 a suitable solution last year and this year when when 314 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:57.879 something happened to Cam rising. 315 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.919 Scott you know as well as anybody, this is about 316 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:02.960 one thing in this space and in the stratosphere, it's 317 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.120 about results, period. 318 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:06.000 That's all it's about. That's all it's ever about. 319 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:10.039 And there really isn't a ton of space in the moment. 320 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:14.039 When your offense is essentially ranked near the bottom of 321 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:17.519 every major statistical category for flowers that were given to 322 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:19.000 you in the past, we want to know what's going 323 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.799 on now. And it's fair to say, and Andy would 324 00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:23.240 be the first to say this, it hasn't been good 325 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.519 enough this year, it wasn't good. 326 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:25.240 Enough last year. 327 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:28.480 And ultimately I would not blame coach Wit if this 328 00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:30.919 was something that he was pushing for, but they're really 329 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:34.120 good friends, and that brings in a complication. So of 330 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:36.480 course he wants to do right by Andy by letting 331 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:38.720 him go out in style and in grace. And there 332 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:41.799 will be a time where we all look back and say, man, 333 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:45.360 Andy Ludwig potentially was the best offensive coordinator of this 334 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:48.240 generation of Utah football. He deserves a lot of credit 335 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:52.440 for that. But the end wasn't good enough. And there 336 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:55.159 are very few coaches that have enough built in equity 337 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:58.919 to survive a year and a half of anemic performance. 338 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.679 That's what it's been. 339 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.960 And and so he was given space, he was given rope, 340 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.880 and he did a great job once upon a time, 341 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:06.680 but it hasn't been good enough. And if this was 342 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:08.799 something Kyle wanted, I don't know that I would have 343 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.880 blamed him. 344 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:14.160 Well, and here's here's another thing to consider too, is 345 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:18.079 all coaches, all head coaches, have a philosophy, right, and 346 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:23.319 Kyle's is really run first. It's really catered towards the defense. Uh. 347 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:25.720 He's he's realized in recent years he needs to be 348 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:29.359 more explosive on offense. But but his his core belief 349 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.799 is we got to run the football. And you hear 350 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:32.880 it weekend and week out. We got to run the football. 351 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:35.400 We got to stop the run. And that never changes, 352 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:39.119 never changes with coach winning him and that might bump 353 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:42.240 up against maybe the philosophy of your offensive coordinator goes 354 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:44.279 I think we need to throw it more. I think 355 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:46.359 we need to be more explosive, or I think we 356 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:48.920 need to and and and he made you know, so 357 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:52.400 there could be a difference of philosophy in uh with 358 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:55.079 a coordinator too, and that and that can create some 359 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:59.319 of the some of the you know less production. It's like, well, 360 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:00.799 the coach wants to run the ball, We're going to 361 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:03.960 run the ball. And the problem, quite frankly as I've 362 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:06.880 watched every single play you know, for the last eight years, 363 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:12.920 teams are defending Utah differently, and with every young quarterback 364 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:16.079 Utah has put in the game, they put more guys 365 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:18.680 in the box than you can block. They're basically daring 366 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:24.519 and forcing Utah to throw the football, and they're putting 367 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:27.240 a lot of pressure both in the run game, where 368 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:29.799 they're making it really hard to run and they're making 369 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:33.039 it really hard to throw because they're they're getting pressure 370 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:35.440 on these on these young quarterbacks and they're they're not 371 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:38.720 consistently they've not been able to handle it. And so 372 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.880 that's that to me, really is the crux of the 373 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:46.160 issue is Utah hasn't been able to handle what these 374 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:49.400 defenses have been doing to it with these young quarterbacks. 375 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:52.079 I want to go back to something you said earlier 376 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:56.440 when we were discussing the difference potentially that Jaking can 377 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:59.200 make now that he's in as the play caller, and 378 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:02.079 you made a really good point about it's not necessarily 379 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:05.039 opening up the playbook entirely, it's finding the plays that 380 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:08.400 work for your personnel. We have seen moments from Isaac, 381 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:11.920 we have now it hasn't been consistently good enough from anybody, 382 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:14.720 including the play caller and the quarterback and everybody. 383 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:16.240 I mean, everybody needs to play better. 384 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:19.039 There's no doubt I'm not singling anybody out, but I 385 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:21.599 do want to point out that we've seen moments from Isaac, 386 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:23.480 you know, the touchdown passed to when he parks, he 387 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:26.400 had a bullet to Dorian Singer, a couple of Caleb 388 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:30.160 Blona finds as well. So when you see Isaac have 389 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:34.039 those moments, what sort of play calling are you seeing 390 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.680 in those moments and what sort of plays can Mike 391 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:39.880 put in a place to accentuate the strengths that we 392 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:41.839 all see in moments from Isaac Wilson. 393 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:46.000 A lot of the plays where he's had success, it's 394 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:49.920 been a really kind of clear read for him as 395 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:52.559 far as who he's going to. And you know, when 396 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:56.920 you get into maybe some more complicated decision making processes, 397 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:01.480 for example, the intercept and against Oklahoma State when he 398 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:06.000 threw the ball down the sideline and the safety intercepted 399 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:09.839 the ball like that should have never ever happened, and 400 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:12.279 and that was and so he's kind of but it 401 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:17.279