WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:05.240 All right, what is going on Drivetime Thursday afternoon, about eleven. 2 00:00:04.919 --> 00:00:06.719 Minutes past the hour of two o'clock. 3 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.160 It is a chili but clear and sunny day outside 4 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:12.960 on this Thursday, But as it is every single day, 5 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:14.279 it's going to have you along for the ride. 6 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:15.919 Spence check. It's behind the mic. 7 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:19.800 That's poor Larson beyond the glass producing the show today, 8 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:24.160 booking the show today, and we are jam packed, as 9 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:26.600 I say every day, but we're I don't lie to 10 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:30.280 you about that, okay. We have an honest relationship, you 11 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:32.960 and I. I don't lie to you about being jam packed, 12 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:35.520 but today I really meet it as we are high 13 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:39.600 speed ahead to Utah and BYU coming up on Saturday night, 14 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:42.960 which will be a lot of what we discussed today 15 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:45.240 and cover topically on the program. 16 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:47.439 Don't Forget Kick is. 17 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:50.240 Eight fifteen, but our pregame coverage will begin at four 18 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:56.079 fifteen live from the tailgates, the ESPN seven hundred VIP tailgates. 19 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:58.840 We have had line movements, just so you know. 20 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:03.960 I did not anticipate this, but as of now, BYU 21 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:07.040 is a three point favorite. When we said good night 22 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:10.120 yesterday six o'clock, BYU is a four point favorite. 23 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:12.439 I thought that was where the game was going to stay. 24 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:15.120 But a little wise guy money coming the way towards 25 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:17.439 the utes in a. 26 00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:18.000 Rivalry game situation. 27 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:21.599 A chili but clear Saturday night in Salt Lake City, 28 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:24.640 so over under has remained at about forty point five. 29 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:27.040 We'll give you our pick for the game coming up 30 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:29.239 tomorrow before we signed off for our final show of 31 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:31.920 the week. But a lot of buzz around this game, 32 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:35.239 a lot of anxious energy around this game, a lot 33 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:39.480 of nervous UT fans, a lot of very very confidence 34 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:43.319 and excited why fans interested to see what that stadium 35 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:45.879 looks like coming up on Saturday night. I don't really 36 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:49.239 have a pulse out of what we'll see. As we've 37 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:51.159 talked about all week, we all kind of just have 38 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:54.640 our own little echo chambers. A lesson we all learned 39 00:01:54.760 --> 00:01:57.480 again this week in a very intense way. So I 40 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:00.200 know of several people that would typically be there who 41 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:01.079 will not be there. 42 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:02.599 Some have just playing. 43 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:05.239 Trips, they've sold their tickets, and I've heard from a 44 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:07.359 lot of people who will be there all be there. 45 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:07.920 How about you? 46 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.360 I mean, you only get six of these things, man, 47 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.240 And this really, to me is an opportunity for. 48 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:17.080 This Utah football program to kind of. 49 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:21.159 Show the community on the biggest and most intense stage. 50 00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:24.360 They have left that everything that we thought they had 51 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.960 in them they still do because we were all wrong. 52 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:28.759 Man, I was wrong. 53 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:31.599 I would imagine most other media members feel the same way. 54 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:35.000 I'm sure the fan base feels the same way. So 55 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:37.159 we'll see how it plays out. We're going to talk 56 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:40.520 about it on the show today. Kind of a quiet 57 00:02:40.599 --> 00:02:44.520 night locally. Last night, Utah State men's hoops Alcorn State. 58 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:46.560 They never just want to roll into the state of 59 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:50.879 Utah in I was watching the game and it was 60 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:54.280 fifty to fourteen at halftime, and of course. 61 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:55.479 They already got smoked by the Ute. 62 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:59.319 So we do have more local action tonight with the 63 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:02.199 Utah Hockey Club is playing the Saint Louis Blues, which 64 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:04.159 is hilarious to me for reasons that we don't need 65 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:04.560 to get. 66 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:06.639 Into by the hockey club. Back in action. 67 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:09.360 The two worst teams in pro basketball are the Utah 68 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:10.719 Jazz and the Milwaukee Bucks. 69 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:12.919 They're gonna play tonight in Milwaukee. 70 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:16.520 We've got a little Utah women's basketball in the station, 71 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:20.159 so stay tuned for that. That's gonna that's gonna cause 72 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:20.560 us to. 73 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:22.159 Pop off a little bit earlier today. 74 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:26.159 We'll say goodbye about five fifteen, five twenty to make 75 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:30.000 some space for Utah coming up against Weaver. So that 76 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:32.039 comes your way tonight as well. We have a little 77 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:37.039 NFL football in addition to that. The Week ten slate 78 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:39.840 starts tonight with what should be a good game. When 79 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:44.000 they played last time, Joe Burrow had like three fifty 80 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:46.240 or something and four touchdowns, but the Ravens won. 81 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:49.120 Bengals are really good on the road. 82 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:50.840 I think the Ravens are one of the top four 83 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:53.120 to five teams and pro football. That's that's your game 84 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:56.520 tonight in Baltimore. Baltimore is a six point five point favorite. 85 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:57.639 So a lot to do. 86 00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:00.400 Fun weekend in college football ahead as well. Little bit 87 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:03.120 of everything going on right now, guest listen on a 88 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:06.039 Thursday goes like this. Tony Jones covers the Jazz and 89 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:09.000 the Nuggets for the Athletic, covered Youte football for a 90 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:11.080 long time too. We'll get a little rivalry stuff from 91 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:14.360 town today, but of course we'll talk some NBA. Gordon Monson, 92 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:16.079 it's the Big Show, Big hour, but we are a 93 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:19.560 part because Bowler is traveling with the Jazz. So we'll 94 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:21.680 bring in Monson today at three and then Bowler at 95 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:24.439 three thirty. We will do a little Utah Hockey Club 96 00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:26.639 with Neil Smith today. It's our behind the Glass segment 97 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:30.120 with the former general manager of the New York Rangers 98 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:32.240 and New York Islanders. Want to Stanley Copp back in 99 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:35.240 ninety four, probably the best hockey guest in the market consistently, 100 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:38.319 and we love having Neil On do a little sports 101 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:40.720 court with our friends over at Handy and Handy. Then 102 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:43.959 Stevenson Sylvester stops by for his weekly hit prior to 103 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:49.600 Utah BYU coming up on Saturday Night, Tony Jones, Gordon Montson, 104 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:53.199 Craig Bowler, Jack, Neil Smith, Stephenson, Sylvester, Me, Spence, Jackets, 105 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:55.079 all of you the great listeners on this Thursday, and 106 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:58.680 that guy, that guy Porter Larson on a Thursday. 107 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:01.600 Here, what I want from you right out of the gates. 108 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:02.759 Has your opinion on. 109 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:06.120 What we could see Saturday night changed between Monday and 110 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:07.800 where we stand today on this Thursday. 111 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:10.399 Has my opinion changed? I don't think so. 112 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:19.000 I think you know what we see on Saturday is 113 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:21.600 is going to be reminiscent of a lot of rivalry games. 114 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:22.920 I think it's gonna be tense. I think it's going 115 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:26.319 to be low scoring, and I think Utah is going 116 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:30.079 to be paddling uphill a little bit. Is that the 117 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:32.319 right one paddling up upstream a little bit? 118 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:35.199 Well, I mean there's gonna be water to paddle right right, maybe, 119 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:37.680 I think so. Let I mean you see guys hiking 120 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:40.639 up mountains with those right with the UH poles. 121 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:43.439 So some form of paddling uphill upstream up the hill. 122 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:45.160 I get the point. 123 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:47.120 And they're gonna have to force a turnover too. I 124 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:49.279 think they're gonna have to score off a turnover too. 125 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.920 And they're gonna have to reverse the good fortune slash 126 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:56.680 making their own luck, that is by you leading the 127 00:05:56.800 --> 00:05:59.839 country in points off of turnover margin. 128 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:01.720 And I think that that is going to be part 129 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:02.120 of the game. 130 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:04.319 And at the line of scrimmage, I do think it 131 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:06.319 is gonna be a little bit of a stalemate with 132 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:10.680 both teams good personnel while also being a little shorthanded 133 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:14.000 on both the line of scrimmages going into Saturday. 134 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:16.160 Gonna be interesting to see. I do think it's gonna 135 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.160 be a fun night. And I'll repeat I encourage you 136 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:20.959 fans to show up and support this team, support this 137 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:23.879 coaching staff that really has earned a lot of support 138 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:26.040 in the market over the years coming up on Saturday night. 139 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:28.560 But I do not tell fans how to fan. One 140 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:29.920 more thing wrote you know what. 141 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:31.959 We're gonna save it for opening tip, because I do 142 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:33.720 want to get your take on this. Our first guest 143 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:35.720 right out of the gates is going to be Tony Jones. 144 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:38.920 But before we get to Tony on a Thursday, courtesy 145 00:06:38.920 --> 00:06:41.600 of our good friends at Standard Restaurants Supply, that's your 146 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.079 tailgate headquarters. Get everything you need to make your tailgate 147 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:47.560 epic prior to the game on Saturday. Stop by Standard 148 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.399 Restaurant dot com online or check out their convenient location 149 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:53.959 at thirty five hundred south West Temple On a Thursday. 150 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:55.360 It's time now for your opening tip. 151 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.839 Welcome to the Drive with Spence Check it's on Utah's 152 00:06:58.920 --> 00:07:02.519 number one sports top. Now into the studio of ESPN 153 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:05.480 seven hundred to set the scene for the show. The 154 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:07.480 opening tip of the Drive is brought to you by 155 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:10.839 Standard Restaurant Supply, your one stop shop to build the 156 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:15.560 best tailgate in town. Standard Restaurant Supply thirty five hundred 157 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:16.600 Southwest Temple. 158 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:21.079 So I've heard a lot of people say BYU Utah 159 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:25.680 football is the best rivalry in the country. It's not, okay, 160 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:29.360 but it's up there, and it certainly is rising as 161 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:32.000 far as its profile goes. And so one of the 162 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:33.959 things I kind of wanted to dig into today is 163 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:37.160 we've always talked about this rivalry and if you listen 164 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:38.720 to the show, first of all, thank you, hello, how 165 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:40.560 are you? Second of all, I tried to kind of 166 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:44.920 expand my reach beyond just our bubble here and talk about, 167 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:48.079 you know, what I perceived to be certain dynamics of 168 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:50.399 our in state stuff from a national prism, and I've 169 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:54.120 always believed that nationally it is underrated. And then you'll 170 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:56.560 get a national media member out here to see it, 171 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:58.399 they'll write a piece and everybody kind of is like, 172 00:07:58.399 --> 00:07:59.959 all right, well, people are kind of seeing what the 173 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:02.800 game is all about, you know. As far as the 174 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.759 best college football rivalry in a country, that's a tough 175 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:08.279 tough thing for me to say as far as what 176 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:11.079 I believe, but it certainly has always been one of 177 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:14.040 the most underrated and under talked about. But I do 178 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:17.800 think it's going to change now with these two teams, 179 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:20.759 it's not just that they're in the same conference. It's 180 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:23.879 that they're both now in a P four conference. It's 181 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:26.519 not the Whack or the Mountain West all due respect, Okay, 182 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:30.040 I'm not knocking on those conferences, but forever we were 183 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:33.320 waiting for the moment when these two teams would be 184 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:38.120 in the same conference and in one of the power conferences, because. 185 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:40.759 It's just different as far as the exposure goes. 186 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:42.600 Back when this was the Whack in the Mountain West 187 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:45.399 Conference and it was Utah BYU. I mean, hell, I 188 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:48.200 can remember living back East and wanting to watch Utah 189 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:51.240 BYU basketball and I literally had to stay up until 190 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:56.200 midnight Eastern time because ESPN's Big Monday coverage was ten 191 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:57.559 o'clock Mountain time. 192 00:08:58.000 --> 00:08:59.480 That's where this game was buried. 193 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:01.720 Now the football game of the basketball game Big Monday, 194 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:06.039 and so there's nobody back East staying up at midnight 195 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:08.159 to watch Utah BYU back in the day in the 196 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:10.879 Mountain West Conference. And yes, I wish the kicktime was 197 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:13.399 a little bit different, but I'm kind of viewing this 198 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:20.960 as the first iteration of BYU Utah as conference members 199 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:24.159 together in a P four conference that now will give 200 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:27.679 this game a lot more exposure. Now, obviously there's the 201 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:31.559 conversation about what most people believe to be as another 202 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:34.399 inevitable shift in college football. What does that mean for 203 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:36.159 BYU Utah moving forward? 204 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:36.720 I don't know. 205 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:39.240 I can't speak to it. The time will come where 206 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:42.399 we can have that conversation. But if we operate off 207 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:45.399 the hypothetical that at least for the next I don't know. 208 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:47.960 You can't even put a timeline on. 209 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:50.799 It, because every time we do, like two months later, 210 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:53.159 there's another seismic shift and what this sport looks like. 211 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:56.000 But if we operate off the premise for four or 212 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:59.679 five years together in the Big twelve, then you'll start 213 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:07.279 to say, I think, more appreciation for this rivalry nationwide, right, 214 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:11.679 because it's simply a matter of exposure. And the more 215 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:15.320 and more people who see what this game is really 216 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:19.960 all about, the more people will start to understand exactly 217 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:27.000 how dynamic, crazy, intense, passionate, and quite frankly unique this 218 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:30.679 game is. I mean, just simply the incestuous nature of 219 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:33.120 the coaching staff, the cross pollination. I think there are 220 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:36.759 seven members of the BYU coaching staff that have University 221 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:40.159 of Utah ties, and obviously Utah's head coach played at BYU. 222 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:44.360 That doesn't happen in many other places, in many other games. 223 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.720 Of course, there are games where you see a coach 224 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:50.960 here there, you know, maybe take both sides, but you know, Michigan, 225 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:55.840 Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, your Army, Navy of the World, Oklahoma, Texas, 226 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:59.960 USC Notre Dame. Like you don't see seven coaches on 227 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:02.519 Georgia's staff that once upon a time was at Florida. 228 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:04.519 You know, it does make this unique. 229 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:07.519 It makes it unique that it's about forty miles as 230 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:09.600 the crow flies between the two stadiums. 231 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.480 The proximity makes it unique. 232 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:13.960 And then there's the religious undertone thing that I've never 233 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.039 really loved, but it's certainly part of it. That's why 234 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.159 the nickname for a lot of people is the Holy War. 235 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:21.120 But it's the whole thing that we've been talking about 236 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:24.360 all week with the dynamic of a lot of BYU 237 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:27.399 fans who are LDS wondering how any LDS person could 238 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:29.519 ever even look at the University of Utah and where 239 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:32.919 red and LDS people at the University of Utah looking 240 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:36.559 at BYU and believing that the piousness and the holier 241 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:40.039 than now attitude is impossible to deal with, and that 242 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:42.759 collides together and it makes it unique. 243 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:45.120 The whole thing is just different. Is it better? 244 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:48.519 That's not really up for me to decide. And I've 245 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:50.679 only been to a handful, you know, I've been to 246 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:53.000 Harvard Yale. That was pretty crazy. I've only been to 247 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:55.960 a handful of like national college football ribvaly games. 248 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:58.200 LSU Florida in Swamp is one that I've been to. 249 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:04.480 Oregon organ State BYU Utah is as intense as any 250 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:07.559 college football game I've ever been to, maybe with the 251 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:10.480 exception of like big bulls like the Sugar Bowl against Bama. 252 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:13.120 The intensity and we'll talk to sly about that later, 253 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:15.919 but the intensity with that game is something that hit 254 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:17.960 me right across the face as I was covering it 255 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:21.799 actually for this radio station back in the day. So ultimately, 256 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.759 nobody knows what's going to happen. The spread is interesting 257 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:28.679 to follow. Utah's now only a three point dog, and really, 258 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:30.600 when you look at what Vegas builds in, that's the 259 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:33.159 betty market saying these two teams are very even. I 260 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:36.720 have not heard very many predictions of a blowout one 261 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:39.200 way or the other we'll get into some dynamics like 262 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:41.440 ultimately bring them young. Over the past couple of games 263 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:44.080 have been rushing the football really well, two hundred and 264 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:47.279 fifty plus yards the last couple of games. Utah's defense 265 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:49.080 is one of the best in the country at first 266 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:51.840 and third down, but over the past four games that 267 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.960 they've lost, they've allowed like one hundred and seventy five 268 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:54.279 on the. 269 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.960 Ground and nearly five yards to carry. 270 00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:00.240 Feels like the defense is getting healthier and ultimately we'll 271 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.559 get to more of this as we kind of ease 272 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:05.720 into prediction time. It just feels like if Utah is 273 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:08.639 gonna win, it's gonna be a thirteen to ten, seventeen 274 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:12.559 to fourteen, twenty one to twenty type game. And I 275 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.039 do think the start is key because BYU starts fast. 276 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:20.039 They dominate teams in the first and third quarters. They 277 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:21.679 come out of the gates on fire. Then they come 278 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:24.399 out of the locker room on fire, okay, And if 279 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:26.720 BYU gets off to a fast start and before you 280 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:30.559 blank it's like fourteen zero, that's gonna be tough because 281 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:32.879 I'm not sure Utah has the ability to come back 282 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:36.519 based off of what we've seen so far, offensively and 283 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:40.000 quite frankly, based off of what we've seen so far, 284 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:43.200 if both teams do what they've been doing, there's a 285 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.000 chance it could get ugly. Now BYU has not won 286 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:48.679 this game by more than ten points since nineteen ninety six. 287 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:50.919 I think the last time they won in saw Lake 288 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.759 was like two thousand and six, so it has been 289 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:55.919 a while since those types of things have happened. A 290 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:58.960 Brigham Young dominant win in saw Lake. It's been a 291 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:01.200 long time, so that would be something that catches most 292 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.720 people off guard. But all you can do when you 293 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:07.360 analyze this stuff is analyze what we've seen so far. 294 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:10.919 You can't make some prediction that suddenly everything's going to 295 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:13.200 be different when it has been one way for a 296 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:17.080 number of games. Utah hasn't been bad offensively for one 297 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:19.799 or two quarters. It's been quite frankly since the first 298 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:22.120 half of the Baylor game when Cameron was under center, 299 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:25.440 the last time we had a dynamic offense consistently for 300 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:29.480 the use. Okay, So if both teams do what they've 301 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:33.799 done so far, there's no other way to analyze it outside. 302 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.399 Of a runaway win for Brigham Young. 303 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:38.720 But we know that this is a unique game, and 304 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:41.559 we know the way coach went and Morgan and those 305 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:46.159 guys coach their teams up this week juxtaposed to other weeks. 306 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:49.159 I thought the Austin Colleague conversation this week was really. 307 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:52.759 Interesting because we had always heard that Bronco Menhen Hall 308 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.639 was just like nameless, faceless team. 309 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:56.799 It's not it's unlike any other week. 310 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:00.039 You know, we'd always heard that, but Austin essentially he 311 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:02.000 said it out loud. He's like, yeah, you never really 312 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:05.159 coached us. Differently, for the Utah game, Kilani is different. 313 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:08.360 This means a lot to Kilani and for all of 314 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:12.480 the kumbahi Yah love between the coaching staffs. Make no mistake, 315 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:16.679 both coaching staffs badly want to win this game. 316 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:19.480 That's I mean obviously, But you know. 317 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:22.480 Aaron Roderick interviewed yesterday, our guy a Roddy joins the 318 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:24.360 show and it was all love and respect for them. 319 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.720 They have love and respect for us. 320 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:29.840 When it is on between the lines, they want to 321 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:33.080 blow the doors off of each other, which makes it 322 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.840 for a really intense atmosphere. So excited for this coming 323 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.200 up eight point fifteen BYU and saw Lake to take 324 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:41.840 on the utes. Uta is a three point dog as 325 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:44.399 of right now, and we'll get to more of this 326 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:47.320 throughout the show today. All right, coming up on the 327 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:50.120 other side, we're gonna catch up with Tony Jones. 328 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:51.480 All right. 329 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:53.720 As the show rolls along today, I'm joined in studio 330 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:56.320 by my good buddy Matt Deeren from my Hearing Centers. 331 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:58.200 Matt, How you doing, man, good spence, how you doing. 332 00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:58.840 I'm doing well. 333 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:01.279 So holidays are coming, which means you're gonna have a 334 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:04.919 lot of dinners, loud dinners, parties, loud parties. You guys 335 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:08.759 offer hearing aids that are new. They're small, it's not 336 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:11.200 like the old school banana in your ear that covers 337 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:13.519 everything up. You barely even notice them. So let's start 338 00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:15.320 with a general overview of the actual equipment. 339 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:16.480 Yeah, they're super discreet. 340 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:18.360 Not only do they help you hear better, they also 341 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:20.759 connect to all of your your cell phones, connect to 342 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:23.440 your iPads, connect to your TV, so you get that 343 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:25.639 streamed right into your ear. You're at the prescription that 344 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:28.639 you need so you can hear well. Additionally, like you mentioned, 345 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.120 we've got some really you know, louder environments that you 346 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:33.519 might be enterating to. Whether it's a it's a party 347 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:36.360 to house or out of a restaurant. These hearing aids 348 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:38.039 are shown to be the number one on the market 349 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:41.000 to people able to help you hear better in noisy 350 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:44.320 situations at your prescription, so as if you're hearing normally, 351 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:46.919 just in any any everyday life. So what we're looking 352 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.480 for is people that have that hearing problem. Maybe they 353 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.360 already have hearing aids, maybe they try to before, maybe 354 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.320 they're just kind of in a discovery phase. Come into 355 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:56.600 our office during the holidays, risk free, go out and 356 00:16:56.720 --> 00:17:00.639 try these new this new technology in all these environments 357 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:04.200 without any risk. At the end of that trial thirty days, 358 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:06.599 we'll actually give you some movie tickets as to thank you. 359 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:10.880 Big Week Man, Big Week Utah BYU football. 360 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:13.799 Of course, it's funny to hear the different. 361 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:19.119 Time frames of what both universities. 362 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.680 Considered to be the start of the rivalry. 363 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:25.359 EYU does not count the first number of years because 364 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:29.440 they lost all of those games BYUS. The presidential candidate 365 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.960 that calls voter fraud when they lose and celebrates when 366 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.319 they win. 367 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.359 Utah is a different timeline. 368 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:37.599 It's just it's a different thing altogether, which is pretty interesting. 369 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:40.759 The jazz are in action tonight as well. Our next 370 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:44.200 guest covers the Jazz, the Nuggets, the NBA, the draft, 371 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.279 a bunch of stuff for the athletic But once upon 372 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:50.039 a time was a humble beat reporter for Utah football. 373 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:53.039 So we have some good perspective on everything. Tony Jones 374 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.079 on a Thursday, what's. 375 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:55.440 Up to yo? 376 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:55.880 Yo? 377 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:58.720 I'm good man, all right, So let's get a little 378 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:02.279 Utah BYU stuff from you, as a resident of our state, 379 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:05.519 as somebody who's covered both these teams. What's this week 380 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:09.119 spring for you? Like memories of covering these robbery games? 381 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:11.920 What does b yu Utah football mean for Tony Jones? 382 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.079 I mean, it's one of the apexes of college football, 383 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:19.640 one of the best traditional ribbraries in college football. It's 384 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:22.759 it's certainly, you know, a week that everybody looks too 385 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:28.640 around here and locally, and you know, it's it's one 386 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:32.680 of the it was a shame when the rivalry went away, 387 00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:36.480 and I'm glad it's back, and you know, these are 388 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:40.440 these are are the weeks that that everybody This is 389 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:42.799 the week that kind of everybody in the state looks, 390 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:46.960 looks towards the jobs. The Utah Jazz, they galvanized the state, 391 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:50.400 but I mean other than the Utah Jazz. I mean, 392 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:53.319 you know, the state is pretty much you know, factioned 393 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:55.599 in the two like are you, you know, with the 394 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:57.759 team down south or you with the team up north? 395 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:01.200 And you know, it's it's it's definitely one of the 396 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:05.319 crown jewels of every college football season for me. 397 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:08.640 So as I've been talking about all week tone based 398 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:11.279 off the data that we have, if both of these 399 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:15.480 teams on Saturday do what they've done so far this year, 400 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:19.000 it could get bad for Utah. Now, the rivalry game 401 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:21.799 brings an interesting wrinkle. The line is three by US, 402 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:23.680 a three point favorite. What's your gut tell you? What 403 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.720 do you think we're gonna see? 404 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:29.079 You know, you know, I think my head tells me 405 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:32.920 that you know, this is a two touchdown game. I 406 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:37.440 just you know, I mean, Utah can't score. They haven't 407 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:40.759 been able to score all year BYU scores. And not 408 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:42.960 only does B WHYU score? B? WHYU stop? 409 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.279 Shoot? 410 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:45.680 You know, that's one of the that's legitimately one of 411 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:49.079 the best defenses in college football. And you know, if 412 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:51.119 Jay Hill's not up for some awards at the end 413 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:54.039 of the season, something is wrong. And at Jay Hill 414 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:58.519 isn't up for for some for some head coaching gigs 415 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.160 at the end of the season, something is wrong. He 416 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:04.119 has completely turned around that defense and he has made 417 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:07.680 that defense of one season one of the best defenses 418 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:10.680 in college football. They fly around, they get after you 419 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:13.839 up front, they have a great, great, great linebacking corps, 420 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.759 and they have one of the better secondaries in the 421 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:19.920 Big twelve. Certainly, it's not college football, so you know 422 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:26.519 they it's it's a bad matchup. If you're Utah, you know, 423 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:31.920 if we're looking at the tape that that Isaac Wilson 424 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:36.920 is is put on tape uh for for this season, uh, 425 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:41.519 because you know that that defenses is rough on quarterbacks anyway. 426 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:45.039 And you know what I've seen of Isaac Wilson is 427 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:47.279 that you know, he hasn't read the field, He doesn't 428 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:50.759 make reads as well, he doesn't see the field as well. 429 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:56.519 Those are some of those are typical freshmen, uh freshman issues. 430 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:00.599 But at the same time, you know that that seems 431 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:03.160 like a bad matchup. But on the other hand, you know, 432 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:06.480 the rivalry teams to do things that you know, even 433 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:08.480 when the matchups to the last slot is on paper, 434 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:11.559 you know these games tend to end up close, so 435 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:17.039 I'm hoping for, you know, a close game either way 436 00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:21.039 down the stretch. But you know, obviously this is this 437 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:24.279 is a game that not only has huge implications locally, 438 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:27.559 but it has huge implications in terms of the Big Twelve, 439 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:30.559 and it has huge, big implications nationally as well. 440 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:33.640 Last thing, then we'll get to some jazz, because I'm 441 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:38.440 really curious, and I do think this rivalry has gained 442 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:41.000 a lot of attention that it didn't have prior to 443 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:43.880 But I think it's about to even get more attention 444 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:46.640 because we've never had BYU in Utah in the same 445 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.799 P four conferences. It's different than the Whack of the 446 00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:51.960 Mountain West Conference. And you're an East Coast guy like 447 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.480 I am. I mean I can remember, since of course 448 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:56.799 South was born here, have ties here living back East, 449 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:59.160 when I wanted to watch Utah BYU basketball, and like 450 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:03.200 Big Monday, Big Whack Monday on ESPN, it started at 451 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:06.279 midnight Eastern time because their TV slot was ten o'clock 452 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:10.079 Mountain time. So you know, the exposure hasn't been there 453 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.519 in a way that it's about to be. So I 454 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:14.200 do think it's about to receive more of the credit 455 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.640 that it deserves for being an elite rivalry. But one 456 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:20.680 of the interesting dynamics Tea is that only nine of 457 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:23.680 Utah's one hundred and twenty five players have played in 458 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:26.039 this game, and only I don't know what the number 459 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:27.920 is for BYU, but it's about the same. 460 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.839 It's not very many players. 461 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:33.759 And if you pull up these rosters, it's California and 462 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:37.440 Texas and Virginia and Canada. I mean, these these these 463 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:40.480 these recruiting footprints are different than they were back in 464 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:44.160 the day. You're an out of stater, what would you 465 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:46.960 say to you know, mute players BYU players that didn't 466 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:50.000 grow up here about when you realized exactly what this 467 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:52.759 game is about and you know what they're in for 468 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:54.000 coming up on Saturday night. 469 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:58.119 Well, I think you know that's the unfortunate byproduct of 470 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:01.039 obviously the game going away for a few years, right, 471 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:05.119 Like you know, and you know, there's so much to 472 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:07.759 unpack with your question. Like you know, when I first 473 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:09.839 got to the state, it was like it was it 474 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:12.960 was a cute little rivalry, right, but it wasn't anything 475 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:16.720 like you know, Army Navy, Notre Dame Miami like some 476 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:22.599 of the old school traditional rivalries that you know, gain 477 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:25.960 attention on a national scale. And I think a lot 478 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:29.480 of that was because you know, back in I came 479 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:31.680 to the state in two thousand and eight. You know, 480 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:33.720 both of those teams were in the Way Conference then, 481 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:37.119 and you know, and then you know, Utah went to 482 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:41.720 the Pact twelve and you know b YU went independent 483 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:45.440 for a while. So you know, it was it was 484 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:48.519 one of those things where, you know, as Utah kind 485 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:52.039 of gained a footing on the national stage a little bit, 486 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:56.720 the rivalry you know, got more and more attention because 487 00:23:56.759 --> 00:24:00.240 of that. But you know, it's it's one of those 488 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:02.240 things where I think right now that it's every bit 489 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:05.640 respected as you know some of the some of the 490 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:10.359 old school traditional rivalries that we celebrate every season, uh 491 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:13.200 as as you know, as a whole in college football. 492 00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:16.319 You know, I will say this, I would be really 493 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:21.039 really shocked if you know, it doesn't matter, if you know, 494 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:23.200 these kids have never played against each other. I'd be 495 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:27.359 really shocked if they haven't been conditioned to, you know, 496 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:31.079 not like each other from the time that they stepped 497 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:35.119 on campus. I mean, one of the staples of you know, 498 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:39.000 being recruited, uh to to b YU or being recruited 499 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:41.799 to Utah is the fact that you know you don't 500 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:45.480 like the other and you know, are you if you're 501 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:48.079 a b YU kid, then you're not a Utah kid. 502 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:50.039 If you're a Utah kid, then you're not a b 503 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:53.240 YU kid. Uh. Shout out to Francis Bernard obviously who 504 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:56.759 played both who played in both spots. But you know, 505 00:24:57.240 --> 00:25:00.000 I think you know, it's it's one of those things, 506 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:02.799 is where you know, I don't I don't think that 507 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:07.759 you know that's going to have a real impact on, 508 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:10.000 you know, the intensity of what we're going to see 509 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:13.559 on Saturday night. I think that Utah knows that this 510 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:16.599 is their super Bowl, considering everything that's going on in 511 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:19.599 the first eight games of the season, and BYU knows that, 512 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:21.960 you know, if they get over this game, they're going 513 00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:26.279 to be They're going to be significant favorites and for 514 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:28.359 the rest of the season and the rest of their games, 515 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:30.000 and they're going to have a real shot to go 516 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:32.119 on defeed it. So there's a lot of stake on 517 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.799 Saturday night. 518 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:34.839 All right, let's move over to the Jazz and I 519 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:38.240 usually do the whole Let's start from thirty thousand feet 520 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:40.400 and then get into the vacuum. But I'm gonna do 521 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:42.799 the opposite because I want to start out our interview 522 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:46.079 by giving Keyante a little credit for what he did 523 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:49.039 in Chicago because it's been rough for him. It's been 524 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:51.319 rough for him for a while. This this is not 525 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:54.200 a shooting slump. This is a player that hasn't shown 526 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:56.440 that he can make shots. And he was only eight 527 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:58.400 of eighteen, but he was aggressive. He got to line. 528 00:25:58.440 --> 00:26:00.640 He had six to twelve from three at nows and 529 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:03.640 only two turnovers, thirty three points in thirty nine minutes. 530 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:05.000 He was so good. 531 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:08.160 So what stands what the way I'll phrase it today, Tony, 532 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:12.079 when Keyante is good like that, what what's different? 533 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.960 What stands out to you? 534 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:14.880 When he has a game where he looks like he's 535 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.359 legitimate pro prospect? 536 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:20.519 You know, I think it stands out. What stood out 537 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:22.519 to me in Chicago is that he was making the 538 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:26.240 right reads. And you know, for so much of this year, 539 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:30.599 you know it wasn't. I mean, obviously, but let's let's 540 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:33.720 keep it one hundred. You know, the shot has been 541 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:38.599 bad and the percentages have been awful, and you know, 542 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:42.920 there's a lot, there's been a lot to be concerned 543 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:47.480 about right. But you know, for me, it was more 544 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:50.680 than the percentages. It was more than the shot the 545 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:53.599 shot quality. It was you know, he wasn't shooting when 546 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:55.559 he was supposed to shoot, and he wasn't passing when 547 00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:59.680 he was supposed to pass. And I'll go back a 548 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:03.359 little further than Chicago and Denver. You know, he started 549 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:07.119 to kind of break through. He had sixteen. You know, 550 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:10.480 he made he made some really good reads off the dribble. 551 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:12.640 And I talked to him in Denver and I said, hey, 552 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:16.400 you know this is you know, maybe this is something 553 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:18.960 you know a little bigger for you. And he said, yeah, 554 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:22.279 you know, it's about time. You know that I got 555 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:25.279 something to fall, and you know, I'm going to put 556 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:29.440 together a good game and you know, Long Behold on Monday. 557 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:33.480 On Monday Night, he put together, you know, the game 558 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:35.240 of his career. He had thirty three points, he had 559 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:40.759 not assists, He was in complete control. You know, the 560 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:45.400 shot diet still needs to get better, right, Like I 561 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:48.480 think he's got to get cleaner looks from above the yard. 562 00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:52.119 I think he really needs to find a way to 563 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:56.000 get to the basket a little bit more consistently and 564 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:58.559 to finish once he gets there, and I think he 565 00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:01.480 really needs to develop a flow or that he can 566 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:06.319 rely on, that he can rely on consistently, and you know, 567 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:09.920 a lot of that's gonna come in time. But you know, 568 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:12.160 when you see a game like that, when you see 569 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:15.559 a thirty three and nine, you know, those those aren't 570 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:19.480 numbers that are easy to easily accumulated if you're not 571 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:22.160 a really good player and or if you don't have 572 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:25.839 a lot of talent. So we don't know whether Kante 573 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:29.160 George is ever going to develop into a really good 574 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:32.279 player or not. And you know that's the jury is 575 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:35.000 still very much out on that. But you know, but 576 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:37.480 if you're a jazz man, a game like that thirty 577 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:40.920 three and nine tells you that at least he has 578 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:42.599 a really he has a lot of talent. He has 579 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:45.839 a significant amount of talent because you just don't fall 580 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:49.279 into those numbers. Those aren't flup numbers, even it's just 581 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:52.680 for one game. So you know, I think if more 582 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:54.799 than anything, it gives you a little bit of hope 583 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:59.279 that you know, he can find some consistency, you know, 584 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:03.799 and and kind of snaps you back into reality and says, hey, 585 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:05.880 this is still his second year, and this is still 586 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:08.519 very early in the second year, and then he snapped 587 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:10.960 back into a little bit more of reality and realize 588 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:14.839 that he's never played point guard until he's gotten to 589 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:17.519 the pro level. So you know, there's all kinds of 590 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:21.519 context into what the roller coaster of Keante George has 591 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:23.839 been through the first part of the second season. 592 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:27.000 We'll stick with the young players because well, I think 593 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:29.720 John Collins deserves some credit, and he was so good 594 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.519 against Chicago. 595 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.519 We know the deal here. 596 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:34.240 John's like the perfect player for this roster because he 597 00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:36.519 makes a ton of money and more often than not, 598 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:38.839 he's not overall a great player, but he has so 599 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:41.880 many snapshot moments and there's a reason why he played 600 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:44.640 himself into that contract. And you see games like Chicago 601 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:47.079 and you're like, man, he was physical. Yeah, he was 602 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:50.559 really good on both ends, and certainly twenty eight, thirteen 603 00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.079 and five. 604 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.960 But we'll put that aside because I want to ask 605 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:54.519 you about Cody. I thought that was like the. 606 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:57.680 First grown up game that we've seen from Cody Williams, 607 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:59.839 and he's going to be It looks like, according to 608 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:02.720 the decisions we've seen from will so far, the main 609 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:05.200 benefactor of the thirty minutes that have been left on 610 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:07.960 the table as a result of Taylor's injury. He went 611 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:11.839 for thirty minutes against Chicago, eleven points, five boards for sist, 612 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:14.759 no turnovers in thirty minutes. So to me, that was 613 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:18.400 probably from my prism. So if it's only seven games, 614 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:20.359 but that was the first kind of grown up game 615 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:23.960 step in the right direction I've seen from Cody Williams. 616 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:26.720 Yeah, I mean in more than that. I mean there 617 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:29.880 were you know, he was running the offense for a 618 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:38.200 couple of possessions. If you put Cody's basketball IQ, I 619 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:40.319 don't want to sit I kind of don't want to 620 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:42.400 say this because I don't want to insinuate the Kiante 621 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:44.880 doesn't have a basketball iqu because I think he does. 622 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:49.000 But if you put Cody's basketball IQU into Keyante into 623 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:52.119 kyante physical abilities, I think you'd have a hell of 624 00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:57.839 a basketball player. And you know, I've been high on Cody, 625 00:30:58.519 --> 00:31:00.680 you know, since you know why I seen him last 626 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:04.480 year at Colorado. I mean, he's a guy that you know. 627 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:07.640 For me, I don't think he has a real weakness 628 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:10.440 in terms of skill. He can dribble the ball, he 629 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:12.000 can pass the ball, he can shoot the ball, he 630 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:15.839 can defend. Uh, he can defend multiple positions. He can 631 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:21.759 play multiple positions offensively. And you know, to me, his 632 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:25.960 weaknesses are I don't know that he knows how good 633 00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:29.440 that he is or how talented that he is. And 634 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:31.559 he's got to get a lot of physical strength, Like 635 00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:34.079 he has to gain twenty pounds, he has to gain 636 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:38.559 a lot of muscle, and there's you know, room on 637 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:42.480 his body to get you know, to put on you 638 00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:44.680 know that kind of that kind of weight and still 639 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:49.359 maintain the athleticism, the bounce and and the first step 640 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:52.759 that he has. But you know, he can do a 641 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:57.279 lot of things on the floor, and you know, he's 642 00:31:58.680 --> 00:32:00.519 you know, I want to I want to see him 643 00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:03.400 stop being so much of a floater in terms of, 644 00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:07.480 you know, he can go real chunks of the game 645 00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:10.000 without putting his imprint on the game. Because I think 646 00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:12.319 that he can put his imprint on the game from 647 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:16.920 possession to possession when he really puts his mind to it. 648 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:19.839 And you know, and I want to see him. I 649 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:22.920 want to see him be more aggressive off the dribble 650 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:26.640 with the basketball because when he gets downhill, he's really 651 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:29.240 capable of bending the defense. And when he bends the defense, 652 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:33.039 he's really capable of making the rights the right decisions 653 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:36.000 from there in terms of whether it's shooting and passing. Now, 654 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:37.440 some of that has to do with the lack of 655 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:40.200 the strength. You know, he can still get bumped off 656 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:44.640 of his drives pretty easily at the pro level. But 657 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:47.720 you know, I just want to see him. He's talented 658 00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:49.680 enough to I just want to see him try stuff 659 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:52.519 this year, Like you know, I want to see him 660 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:55.960 come down. I want to see him, you know, try 661 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:57.720 to mix people off the dribble. I want to see 662 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:59.480 him try to go to the basket, and I want 663 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:02.160 to see him try to dunk on people. I want 664 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:05.319 to see him be aggressive, take you know, do stuff 665 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:09.680 that he normally doesn't do like this. This is the 666 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:13.559 perfect team and the perfect season for him to just 667 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:17.400 try to expand his game with game reps as much 668 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:19.960 as possible, because I think he's talented to do most 669 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:23.400 stuff on the floor that a wing does. I don't 670 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:26.880 know that he's going to be a star because I 671 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:30.039 don't know that he's ever I don't know that he's 672 00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:33.079 ever going to get the aggression that's necessary to go 673 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:36.119 out and average twenty five and seven assists and five 674 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:39.319 remounts of game. But I'm pretty sure that he's going 675 00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:44.119 to be a valuable player, valuable rotation player for a 676 00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:45.400 long time at the NBA level. 677 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:47.240 So the other player that looks like he's going to 678 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:51.920 benefit from Taylor's injury will be Kyle Philipowski. And I'm 679 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:55.440 I'm a little bit curious to see how Will handles 680 00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:59.279 this because right now, defensively he doesn't have the lateral quickness. 681 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:02.319 Now he's got Goode six eleven, so you know, but 682 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:06.480 oftentimes he's cotton switches. It looks like they're identifying him 683 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:08.599 intentionally to try to get the right switch on him. 684 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:11.719 So defensively it hasn't looked good for Kyle. I'm not 685 00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:14.320 sure if it ever will. But we know his skill 686 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:17.119 set at Duke and how complete it was, so the 687 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:21.000 question is does that translate since Taylor's injury. Twenty five 688 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:24.480 minutes against Sacramento, he had twelve points, eight boards, went 689 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:26.159 two to five, from three to five to ten from 690 00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:29.800 the floor, twelve points, five boards against San Antonio. He 691 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:33.400 bat against Denver and Will saw it pretty quick, so 692 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:35.920 he played eighteen minutes two points. But again, the defense, 693 00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:38.559 the defensive side of the floor is an issue with 694 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:42.440 him against Chicago seventeen minutes, seven points, five boards, a 695 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:44.039 couple of assists. There have been a lot of bright 696 00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:45.920 moments for Kyle. Looks like we're going to see a 697 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:47.760 lot more of him. What has stood out most to 698 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:48.320 you so far? 699 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:52.920 I just think a versatility He stands out. You know 700 00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:56.559 the fact that he can do things at least from 701 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:58.519 two levels, Like he can do things at the rim, 702 00:34:58.519 --> 00:35:02.280 and he can do things from above the arc. You know. 703 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:06.000 I like that he can uh get to the basket 704 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:10.320 off the bounce, even from the four spot, which you 705 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:13.880 know typically means he's trying to take you know, quicker players, 706 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:17.239 there's smaller players off the bounce, and he's certainly been 707 00:35:17.239 --> 00:35:18.719 able to do it from the five spot. In a 708 00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:22.039 few minutes, states that he's played at the center spot. 709 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:26.960 I think because because of what you said, because of 710 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:30.320 what you said in terms of his defense, which is 711 00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:36.480 an issue, I think that I think that his best 712 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:41.800 outcome is that he becomes one of these centers that 713 00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:46.320 you know, obviously can't defend, but it's so good offensively 714 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:48.760 that it kind of makes up for it, right, And 715 00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:52.559 you know that, you know, he becomes such a mismatch 716 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:56.559 of offensive because that's that Look, this is an extreme 717 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:58.719 example because we're talking about in all time in here, 718 00:35:58.760 --> 00:36:02.719 but you look, in the cold Nko is a bad defender. 719 00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:03.480 I know that. 720 00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:06.679 You know, analytics people will try to point to to 721 00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:10.920 his analytics, to his analytics, and and and try to 722 00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:14.440 argue otherwise. Look, you know, I watched him play a 723 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:18.360 lot of nights. He's a bad defender, and but he's 724 00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:22.360 so good offensively, and he's so good on the boards 725 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:25.440 that it really just doesn't matter how how good or 726 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:30.159 bad bad that he defends. So kles Philpowski, and this 727 00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:33.360 is not a comparison to Jokics in his own way. 728 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:36.159 He has to figure out a way to get good 729 00:36:36.239 --> 00:36:40.000 enough offensively that you know, on some levels, you know 730 00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:43.440 his his defense didn't matter. Let's so let's on a 731 00:36:43.880 --> 00:36:47.239 let's go on a real smaller scale, like you know, 732 00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:51.960 Kelly Olynik in most regular season instances, you know he's 733 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:55.519 a bad defender, but he's so valuable offensively in terms 734 00:36:55.519 --> 00:37:00.840 of being able to to uh be a up offensively 735 00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:05.639 and you know, score and playmate for others that you 736 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:09.440 know he makes, he makes his bad defense matter less. 737 00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:14.320 So that's the thing with Kyle Silopowski, How good can 738 00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:20.000 he become offensively to where you know, we say, yay, 739 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:22.719 he's a bad defender, but you know, it kind of 740 00:37:22.760 --> 00:37:26.079 doesn't matter. And you know, if the Jazz can can 741 00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:30.280 build around that and build you know, enough defenders around 742 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:32.320 I don't know if you want to build around Col Silatowski, 743 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:35.559 but if the Jazz can build enough people around Kylosi 744 00:37:35.679 --> 00:37:38.480 Latowski that it makes his defense not matter as well. 745 00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:40.159 So those are some of the questions that I have 746 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:40.599 for him. 747 00:37:41.159 --> 00:37:41.559 All right. 748 00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:44.559 So, as I have said all along, and you can 749 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:46.920 only operate based off of what the front office and 750 00:37:46.960 --> 00:37:49.000 the staff say out loud. And so when they're talking 751 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:53.320 about development, the biggest indicator as to whether or not 752 00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:57.320 this new iteration of Jazz management and coaching can develop 753 00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:59.519 players is going to be Walker because he is in 754 00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:02.400 your three now under Will and you know the other 755 00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:05.000 players Keante year two, Bryce year two and then a 756 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:07.639 lot of rookies too, But this is year three for Walker. 757 00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:10.679 And so if you can develop players, Walker will stand 758 00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:13.480 out one way or the other. And for the most part, 759 00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:17.079 Tony he stood out and played really well. He had 760 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:19.079 a rough game against Golden State, He had a rough 761 00:38:19.079 --> 00:38:23.000 game against Sacramento. He was awesome against Chicago. He was 762 00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:26.480 really good against Denver opening night. Probably the best player 763 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:28.159 for the Jazz outside of market in and he was 764 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:31.760 solid against Dallas. On the season, we're looking at about 765 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:33.719 let me pull up his splits real quick as my 766 00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:38.119 computer refreshes. On the season, Walker is about ten points, 767 00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:40.679 twelve boards and if you round up, it's three blocks. 768 00:38:40.679 --> 00:38:43.519 He's ten points, twelve boards, three blocks. I think he's 769 00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:46.280 fourth in the NBA and rim defense. That's the opponent's 770 00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:48.719 field goal percentage at the rim when Walker is the 771 00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:52.760 main defensive player. So a few rough games, but my 772 00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:55.840 biggest bright spot for the Jazz so far has been 773 00:38:56.039 --> 00:38:58.599 Walker Kessler. I think it's been like an eight plus start. 774 00:38:58.599 --> 00:38:59.119 What do you think? 775 00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:04.239 I mean, I think he's been terrific, and you know, 776 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:06.039 I think he's one of the best friend protectors that 777 00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:10.320 we have in our game. You know. But the thing 778 00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:15.639 that I've been encouraged about when you watch watch Walker Castle, 779 00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:17.719 I think he's rebounding the ball a lot better. I 780 00:39:17.800 --> 00:39:20.719 thought he's the average rebounder last year, and I think 781 00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:23.719 that he's gotten better at that. And you know, and 782 00:39:23.800 --> 00:39:28.000 I think that you know, people are finding him as 783 00:39:28.039 --> 00:39:31.800 a as a vertical lot threat. You know, he's really 784 00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:35.599 dependent on the play, probably more than any player, uh, 785 00:39:36.360 --> 00:39:40.599 outside of Lowry on this roster. He's dependent on how 786 00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:44.079 the point guard play is, you know, because you know, 787 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:48.400 when he's getting downhill, when he sets the screen, you know, 788 00:39:48.440 --> 00:39:53.159 and when the guards finds him, it's he's he's going 789 00:39:53.239 --> 00:39:56.280 to he's he's going to score, and he's he's going 790 00:39:56.280 --> 00:39:59.079 to score at the basket and you know, and if 791 00:39:59.119 --> 00:40:01.920 that doesn't happen to he looks really pedestrian offensively, but 792 00:40:02.679 --> 00:40:06.079 you know, he's got so many strengths in terms of 793 00:40:06.239 --> 00:40:08.719 being able to protect a round. I truly think he's 794 00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:11.400 one of the best five run protectors in the league. 795 00:40:12.840 --> 00:40:15.880 You know. But he's also really athletic. He runs the 796 00:40:15.880 --> 00:40:19.599 floor really well. Uh and he's done a lot of 797 00:40:19.639 --> 00:40:23.199 his damage and limit and limited minutes. I think his 798 00:40:23.280 --> 00:40:26.440 minutes load has increased a little bit as the season 799 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:29.519 has gone on, but you know, his minues loader was 800 00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:33.480 was was pretty split with with John Collins at the 801 00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:36.199 beginning of the season. Now you know Taylor Hendris being out, 802 00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:40.559 that's that's helped a lot because John has started to 803 00:40:40.599 --> 00:40:44.360 soak up a lot of the minutes at Powell Ford, uh, 804 00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:48.480 particularly against Chicago. So Walker and John have been playing 805 00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:51.760 on the floor, on the floor together a little bit more. 806 00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:57.079 But you know, he's he's just really been a lot 807 00:40:57.159 --> 00:41:00.719 better and he's been a lot more confident. He's in uh, 808 00:41:00.920 --> 00:41:04.559 such a better head state mentally than he was, uh 809 00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:07.719 than he was last season. Last season, he was just 810 00:41:07.920 --> 00:41:10.599 in a kind of a mess mentally, and I think 811 00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:14.360 that he's gotten a lot stronger and more focused, uh 812 00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:17.360 mentally going into this year. So, you know, and this 813 00:41:17.519 --> 00:41:20.679 is you know, this is a huge season for him. 814 00:41:20.760 --> 00:41:22.760 This is not a you know, it's not a contract 815 00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:25.199 year for him, but it's kind of like a contract 816 00:41:25.239 --> 00:41:29.039 year because the Jazz have to have to decide whether 817 00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:33.360 or not they're gonna pay him. By by this summer, 818 00:41:33.519 --> 00:41:36.119 you know, he's going to be extension eligible, So the 819 00:41:36.199 --> 00:41:38.679 Jazz have to decide whether they're going to extend him 820 00:41:39.199 --> 00:41:41.920 or whether they're going to allow him to go into 821 00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:45.280 a restricted free agency uh the following summer. So this 822 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:47.719 is a kind of a big year for Walker and 823 00:41:47.760 --> 00:41:51.000 the Jazz. Uh And we're gonna find out a lot 824 00:41:51.679 --> 00:41:54.159 as this year goes on and as we get into 825 00:41:54.199 --> 00:41:58.320 next summer, whether the Jazz truly see Walker as a 826 00:41:58.360 --> 00:41:59.239 long term piece or not. 827 00:42:00.400 --> 00:42:03.239 Before it set you loose, you had a assignment that 828 00:42:03.400 --> 00:42:05.679 was away from the Jazz and your name was up 829 00:42:05.719 --> 00:42:09.039 there with Sam amck and David Aldridge, who were that's 830 00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:11.400 heavyweight man. Those are two of the best NBA riders 831 00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:13.880 that we've ever seen. And our guy was on the 832 00:42:13.920 --> 00:42:17.559 assignment with him as well. So unpack what happened in Philly. 833 00:42:17.880 --> 00:42:21.199 It's a situation with Joel Embiid shoving a columnist in 834 00:42:21.239 --> 00:42:23.119 the locker room, and you were one of the guys 835 00:42:23.199 --> 00:42:25.199 that was in charge of writing a really big story. 836 00:42:26.960 --> 00:42:30.159 All right, So I'm gonna give you a Tony Jones fact. 837 00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:33.840 Oh well, that okay, jack Jones kind of an oxymoron militaria. 838 00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:39.559 Yes here, So here's a Jackie Jones fact. She was 839 00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:44.000 so the columnist in question, his name is Marcus Hayes. 840 00:42:44.039 --> 00:42:49.719 He works for the Philadelphia Inquirer. When Marcus Hayes, once 841 00:42:49.800 --> 00:42:54.559 upon a time, was young and a burgaining columnist at 842 00:42:54.599 --> 00:43:02.159 the Philadelphia Daily News, My mother, Jackie Jones, was his boss. Yeah, 843 00:43:02.199 --> 00:43:04.519 she was his editor. She was a city editor at 844 00:43:04.639 --> 00:43:07.840 the Philadelphia Villa the News. When I was in high school, 845 00:43:08.199 --> 00:43:10.480 which is why we moved to Philly, and he was 846 00:43:11.599 --> 00:43:17.159 one of her writers, so I was just, you know, 847 00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:21.719 it was just kind of coincidental, and I've never met 848 00:43:21.719 --> 00:43:25.280 the guy, which is kind of crazy as well, but 849 00:43:27.320 --> 00:43:34.400 you know it so essentially, long story short, Marcus wrote 850 00:43:34.519 --> 00:43:39.880 a pretty inflammatory column about Joel Ebad's lack of availability 851 00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:44.039 and it's lack of durability, and within that column he 852 00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:48.639 wrote an excerpt that talked about Joel's brother Arthur, who 853 00:43:50.280 --> 00:43:54.440 who tragically passed away about a decade ago, and Joel 854 00:43:56.280 --> 00:44:03.599 was very upset. So what happened was Joel the previous 855 00:44:04.039 --> 00:44:09.800 the day before the locker room Francus called out Marcus 856 00:44:10.119 --> 00:44:14.880 in uh inavailabilbility and essentially said that I've done too 857 00:44:14.960 --> 00:44:18.440 much for the city of Philadelphia for a columnists to 858 00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:25.400 write this about me and the Inquirer. So Marcus went 859 00:44:25.880 --> 00:44:31.159 to the Philadelphia the Sixers game the very next day, 860 00:44:31.320 --> 00:44:36.440 the very next night, to apologize to Joel and uh 861 00:44:36.519 --> 00:44:40.599 the Sixers knew that Marcus was there to apologize, and 862 00:44:41.280 --> 00:44:43.000 he went up to him in the locker room. He 863 00:44:43.079 --> 00:44:49.880 tried to apologize, and Joel did not accept the apology. 864 00:44:49.960 --> 00:44:55.440 To put it kindly, there was a verbal altercation, and 865 00:44:55.840 --> 00:45:02.119 so Joel basically shouted at Marcus, nobody gives a bleep 866 00:45:02.280 --> 00:45:05.519 what you write. And then Marcus looked at Joel and 867 00:45:05.679 --> 00:45:09.440 he said, but you do, and that set Joel. That's 868 00:45:09.440 --> 00:45:13.800 what set Joel off, and that's when he pushed Marcus 869 00:45:14.159 --> 00:45:17.880 and that's when everything kind of faded to black. So 870 00:45:20.519 --> 00:45:25.800 the Sixers apologize to Marcus Hage for for the incident, 871 00:45:27.960 --> 00:45:32.719 and obviously the n B a uh suspended and beat 872 00:45:33.199 --> 00:45:39.280 and you know, basically, uh, the Sixers season is kind 873 00:45:39.280 --> 00:45:41.760 of gone off the rails so far. Uh, they're one 874 00:45:41.840 --> 00:45:46.960 and six on the season. They just lost Tyrege Maxy 875 00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:51.280 to a hamstring strain. Uh, he's going to be out 876 00:45:51.360 --> 00:45:57.079 for a couple of weeks. So they have Lakers tomorrow 877 00:45:57.199 --> 00:45:59.920 night and I'm out in La. I'm going to cover that. Uh. 878 00:46:00.119 --> 00:46:02.440 I expect them to lose that game. So you know, 879 00:46:02.480 --> 00:46:04.559 if they lose that game, they'll fall to one and seven, 880 00:46:05.760 --> 00:46:10.519 and you know, in it's kind of all bad. Joel's 881 00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:15.920 serving his suspension. He'll be out Tomorrow night and he'll 882 00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:21.119 be out. He'll be out on Sunday as well, and 883 00:46:20.119 --> 00:46:24.840 his season debut is expected to be Tuesday. In an 884 00:46:24.920 --> 00:46:27.239 NBA Cup game against the next So that's kind of 885 00:46:28.199 --> 00:46:33.360 the story of the Philadelphia seventy six is as of 886 00:46:33.440 --> 00:46:35.760 right now in a nutshell the NBA Cup. 887 00:46:35.840 --> 00:46:38.800 Baby, it is here, all right. Tell him, Tell everybody 888 00:46:38.800 --> 00:46:39.920 where they can go get your work. 889 00:46:41.480 --> 00:46:44.840 You can find me at the Athletic. You can find 890 00:46:44.880 --> 00:46:48.199 me on Instagram at t Jones Athletic, and you can 891 00:46:48.239 --> 00:46:50.239 find me on Twitter at t Jones on the NBA. 892 00:46:50.719 --> 00:46:53.440 Thank you, my friend with chat soon. Okay, thanks my 893 00:46:53.480 --> 00:46:55.000 God appreciation Tony Jones. 894 00:46:55.440 --> 00:46:57.239 Give him a follow check out his work. Brought to 895 00:46:57.239 --> 00:47:00.719 you today by diamond Coat. 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They're your total design solution, year round, 906 00:47:33.519 --> 00:47:37.199 weather ready, durable in all seasons. Discover more at Diamondcoatsidning 907 00:47:37.239 --> 00:47:42.960 dot com. That's Diamondcoat spelled Kote Siding dot com. 908 00:47:43.000 --> 00:47:44.119 A sign now for. 909 00:47:44.320 --> 00:47:48.079 The beginning of the big show, Big Hour. Did we 910 00:47:48.119 --> 00:47:51.320 go age before beauty or beauty before age? That's for 911 00:47:51.360 --> 00:47:53.719 you guys to decide. Bowlers on the road with the 912 00:47:53.840 --> 00:47:57.440 jazz and I wish I was looking across from me 913 00:47:57.480 --> 00:47:59.920 in the studio to see the handsome face of Gordon. 914 00:48:00.440 --> 00:48:03.360 Yet he joins us via telephone today, Gord, where you at, buddy? 915 00:48:04.639 --> 00:48:08.239 I'm I'm at home in the middle of writing a column. 916 00:48:08.719 --> 00:48:11.480 So that's where I am. And by the way, if 917 00:48:11.480 --> 00:48:14.880 we're talking about handsome faces, when it comes to Spence 918 00:48:15.039 --> 00:48:18.840 check its and it comes to bowler Jack, I'll take 919 00:48:18.920 --> 00:48:19.719 third place there. 920 00:48:19.960 --> 00:48:22.920 Oh, don't do that to yourself. I believe you said, Uh, 921 00:48:23.199 --> 00:48:24.760 what'd you say? When you're in your prime? You really 922 00:48:24.800 --> 00:48:25.480 had it going on? 923 00:48:25.639 --> 00:48:28.320 Is that? Is that the old Monson line he. 924 00:48:28.360 --> 00:48:31.000 Has about thirty years ago, maybe forty? 925 00:48:31.519 --> 00:48:33.480 All right? Well, fair enough, fair enough? 926 00:48:33.639 --> 00:48:36.960 First of all, when it's Utah BYU week, when it's 927 00:48:37.079 --> 00:48:40.320 Rivalry week, does it bring back the memory of when 928 00:48:40.360 --> 00:48:43.000 you caught the touchdown pass over Danny Ainge? 929 00:48:44.280 --> 00:48:44.599 It does? 930 00:48:46.320 --> 00:48:46.519 You know? 931 00:48:46.639 --> 00:48:48.400 That is in the back of my mind. You know, 932 00:48:48.519 --> 00:48:50.760 I do think about that at times, a moment of 933 00:48:50.800 --> 00:48:54.480 glory and and then Ames, you know, pat me on 934 00:48:54.559 --> 00:48:58.079 the back saying hell of a catch here. So I mean, 935 00:48:58.119 --> 00:49:01.480 I do have that in my memory, but to it 936 00:49:01.519 --> 00:49:02.360 doesn't really reply. 937 00:49:02.800 --> 00:49:05.519 Well, I mean, if I remember correctly, If I remember correctly, 938 00:49:05.519 --> 00:49:07.480 you both were in your prime. He jumped as high 939 00:49:07.559 --> 00:49:10.400 as he could. Then you claimed you out jumped him 940 00:49:10.639 --> 00:49:12.280 and snatched the ball from his hands. 941 00:49:12.320 --> 00:49:12.800 Is that right? 942 00:49:13.840 --> 00:49:17.480 You have a great memory, I'm telling you because because 943 00:49:17.800 --> 00:49:20.360 as the ball was spinning in the air, we both 944 00:49:21.360 --> 00:49:26.280 jumped up and we both caught the ball. We both caught. 945 00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:29.719 There were four hands on that ball, and I ripped 946 00:49:29.719 --> 00:49:32.559 it away from him, you know, And that's the way 947 00:49:32.599 --> 00:49:37.519 it happened. Look, I promise you this is not some fabrication, 948 00:49:38.079 --> 00:49:42.079 some embellishment. It is the absolute truth. Trust me. 949 00:49:42.440 --> 00:49:45.920 Did the alarm wake you up right after the catch? 950 00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:47.920 Did you hear the alarm sound? So you had to 951 00:49:47.920 --> 00:49:49.639 get out of bed. I'm just curious. 952 00:49:49.639 --> 00:49:55.360 I'm just curious. I swear to you that that is 953 00:49:55.400 --> 00:49:56.320 a true story. 954 00:49:56.440 --> 00:50:00.320 Okay, all right, well moving on, moving on. You know, 955 00:50:00.599 --> 00:50:01.800 we'll give you that one, Gord. 956 00:50:02.800 --> 00:50:05.599 So let's just get right down to the crux of 957 00:50:05.639 --> 00:50:05.960 the thing. 958 00:50:06.079 --> 00:50:09.960 Like the bottom line is, if both teams do on 959 00:50:10.079 --> 00:50:13.840 Saturday what they've done all year long, it feels like 960 00:50:13.880 --> 00:50:16.760 this is a pretty easy BYU victory. The line is 961 00:50:16.800 --> 00:50:19.800 now three. BYU is a three point favorite. It opened 962 00:50:19.840 --> 00:50:22.599 up at five, it's moved down to three. But you've 963 00:50:22.639 --> 00:50:24.519 covered as many of these as anybody I could talk 964 00:50:24.559 --> 00:50:26.480 to on the radio today, So you know as well 965 00:50:26.480 --> 00:50:31.320 as anybody the craziness probably will ensue, because it usually does. 966 00:50:31.360 --> 00:50:33.599 The last time BYU has won by more than ten 967 00:50:33.760 --> 00:50:36.400 was ninety six, and I think the last time they 968 00:50:36.440 --> 00:50:38.280 won in saw Lake was way back in two thousand 969 00:50:38.280 --> 00:50:40.719 and six. I may be incorrect there, But what's your 970 00:50:40.760 --> 00:50:43.239 gut tell you about what we're in for Saturday night? 971 00:50:44.159 --> 00:50:48.519 I would expect I agree with you, first of all. 972 00:50:48.639 --> 00:50:52.639 If both teams play to their potential, BYU wins this game. 973 00:50:53.199 --> 00:50:55.239 And that's something that if you would ask me before 974 00:50:55.280 --> 00:50:57.440 the season, or even at the start of the season 975 00:50:57.440 --> 00:51:00.239 beginning and parts of the season. I would have I 976 00:51:00.239 --> 00:51:03.760 would have thought a different way. But as we've seen 977 00:51:03.880 --> 00:51:06.920 what the evidence in front of us, BYU is a 978 00:51:06.960 --> 00:51:11.960 superior team. Now, the rivalry game brings all kinds of 979 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:16.519 different things into play. Foremost two things come to mind, 980 00:51:16.800 --> 00:51:21.280 emotion and motivation. And if Utah can play at the 981 00:51:21.320 --> 00:51:24.519 top of its game, and BYU, because it has more 982 00:51:24.679 --> 00:51:29.760 to lose, comes out with nerves jangled and you know, 983 00:51:29.840 --> 00:51:35.599 making mistakes because they have in their mind if we 984 00:51:35.719 --> 00:51:40.400 blow this opportunity, man, we're blowing a lot and they 985 00:51:41.000 --> 00:51:45.159 could lose this game. That's why anybody who lays too 986 00:51:45.239 --> 00:51:47.280 much money on a game like this I think is 987 00:51:47.320 --> 00:51:48.119 making a mistake. 988 00:51:48.920 --> 00:51:50.239 Oh, I wouldn't touch the line. 989 00:51:50.320 --> 00:51:53.199 I've told people all the week, like, don't touch the thing, man, 990 00:51:53.199 --> 00:51:55.920 because you have no idea how it's going to play out. 991 00:51:56.440 --> 00:51:58.280 All right. The bottom line is this. 992 00:51:58.400 --> 00:52:01.639 The data indicates the numbers in the Utah And you 993 00:52:01.679 --> 00:52:03.079 know what, you don't have to look at numbers. 994 00:52:03.119 --> 00:52:04.119 You can just watch the game. 995 00:52:04.159 --> 00:52:08.519 The last time Utah was dynamic offensively was the first 996 00:52:08.519 --> 00:52:10.920 half of the Baylor game when Cam was under center. 997 00:52:11.000 --> 00:52:12.960 Since then, and look, they went up to Utah State. 998 00:52:12.960 --> 00:52:15.239 They hung thirty eight on the aggis all due respect 999 00:52:15.280 --> 00:52:18.159 to our friends, you know in the North, it's just 1000 00:52:18.239 --> 00:52:21.559 not a great litanus test. Oklahoma State's the worst team 1001 00:52:21.559 --> 00:52:24.840 in the conference and they've lost four straight and over 1002 00:52:25.079 --> 00:52:28.480 the four game losing streak, the offensive numbers are anemic, 1003 00:52:28.559 --> 00:52:30.679 near to near the bottom of the conference, some near 1004 00:52:30.719 --> 00:52:33.800 bottom of the country. So we know that, you know, 1005 00:52:33.840 --> 00:52:36.199 it's gonna be Brandon Rose or Isaac Wilson. I guess 1006 00:52:36.199 --> 00:52:38.639 they're splitting reps. Coach WIT's gonna join us tomorrow. We'll 1007 00:52:38.639 --> 00:52:40.960 see if we have an update there. And I honestly 1008 00:52:41.000 --> 00:52:43.719 don't know that it matters who's under center between the 1009 00:52:43.719 --> 00:52:45.840 two because we just haven't seen enough from either to 1010 00:52:45.880 --> 00:52:48.320 indicate that this is going to be somewhat of an 1011 00:52:48.320 --> 00:52:51.239 explosive offensive team all of a sudden. So for me, Gord, 1012 00:52:51.880 --> 00:52:54.119 if Utah wins, it feels like it's gonna be one 1013 00:52:54.159 --> 00:52:57.679 of those thirteen to ten three nothing right, like one 1014 00:52:57.719 --> 00:53:01.360 of those games where defense lee where the numbers indicate 1015 00:53:01.440 --> 00:53:02.400 Utah is still very good. 1016 00:53:02.440 --> 00:53:04.320 They're going to have to try to limit BYU. 1017 00:53:04.400 --> 00:53:06.639 But I just they haven't scored more than twenty four 1018 00:53:06.679 --> 00:53:08.800 points against a P four team. It feels like if 1019 00:53:08.880 --> 00:53:12.400 Utah gets this, it's one of those trenches. You know, 1020 00:53:12.719 --> 00:53:15.199 stop the run, run, you know, run the football, control 1021 00:53:15.280 --> 00:53:18.079 time of possession and they win a very low scoring game. 1022 00:53:18.159 --> 00:53:20.119 That's where I'm at, Give me your thoughts on it. 1023 00:53:20.800 --> 00:53:23.480 Yeah, I agree that Utah has been pretty good at 1024 00:53:23.960 --> 00:53:26.800 time of possession, but they just have not been able 1025 00:53:26.880 --> 00:53:30.280 to take advantage of scoring opportunities. And this has been 1026 00:53:30.360 --> 00:53:33.679 much on the mind of Kyle Whittingham. They're inefficiency in 1027 00:53:33.719 --> 00:53:37.199 the red zone. That's been a real problem for that team. 1028 00:53:37.559 --> 00:53:41.880 That's why I think that if BYU makes mistakes that 1029 00:53:42.679 --> 00:53:46.559 enable say Utah's defense to score touchdown or something along 1030 00:53:46.599 --> 00:53:50.079 those lines, then in a low scoring game. And I'm 1031 00:53:50.079 --> 00:53:52.760 not sure it's going to be low scoring on BYU's 1032 00:53:52.840 --> 00:53:56.480 in but it certainly could be what you fashioned it 1033 00:53:56.559 --> 00:54:00.440 to be. You know, those kinds of turnovers could make 1034 00:54:00.480 --> 00:54:03.159 a huge difference. The problem for the Utes is that 1035 00:54:03.199 --> 00:54:07.960 BYU has been much better getting turnovers and having a 1036 00:54:08.000 --> 00:54:11.920 turnover margin in their favor than Utah has been, and 1037 00:54:11.960 --> 00:54:14.079 that stems to all kinds of things. I mean, you 1038 00:54:14.079 --> 00:54:17.159 could trace that back to Kyle has said that the 1039 00:54:17.239 --> 00:54:20.039 team has not been as physical this year, and I 1040 00:54:20.119 --> 00:54:23.159 think that's been obvious to anybody who's watched, and so 1041 00:54:23.199 --> 00:54:26.320 they haven't caused those turnovers. BYU, on the other hand, 1042 00:54:26.440 --> 00:54:29.719 has and so the very thing that the Utes need 1043 00:54:29.800 --> 00:54:32.599 to have in their favor in order to give themselves 1044 00:54:32.760 --> 00:54:36.960 a legitimate chance is the thing that BYU has thrived at, 1045 00:54:37.039 --> 00:54:37.760 not the Utes. 1046 00:54:38.119 --> 00:54:41.920 So to underscore that point, the stat that probably has 1047 00:54:42.440 --> 00:54:45.559 hit me across the face more than any other. On Monday, 1048 00:54:45.800 --> 00:54:50.280 I read that BYU has outscored their opponents sixty nine 1049 00:54:50.320 --> 00:54:54.480 to ten off of turnovers, which is nuts. They've allowed 1050 00:54:54.559 --> 00:54:57.679 one touchdown all year off of turnover and one field goal. 1051 00:54:58.280 --> 00:55:02.639 So what's the combination of way to go, tip of 1052 00:55:02.639 --> 00:55:05.840 the cat. That's awesome and that can't continue right Like. 1053 00:55:05.840 --> 00:55:07.000 It's a little bit of both. 1054 00:55:07.079 --> 00:55:09.880 What are your thoughts on that stat, which to me 1055 00:55:10.119 --> 00:55:13.920 underscores everything they've been doing as far as causing turnovers 1056 00:55:13.920 --> 00:55:17.400 and making sure that they stay clean, and if they do, 1057 00:55:17.519 --> 00:55:19.039 they don't allow a lot of points. 1058 00:55:19.039 --> 00:55:19.880 What does that say to you? 1059 00:55:20.639 --> 00:55:23.679 Yeah, it comes down to a coaching cliche that we've 1060 00:55:23.719 --> 00:55:27.480 heard a thousand times, and that is clean execution. If 1061 00:55:27.519 --> 00:55:30.239 the youths can do that, and I think because Kyle's 1062 00:55:30.239 --> 00:55:34.760 been hitting this hard about being more physical, he's telling 1063 00:55:34.800 --> 00:55:38.760 his team and to utilize the fuel of the emotion 1064 00:55:39.360 --> 00:55:44.679 to play physically with the rival. Now, that can either 1065 00:55:44.800 --> 00:55:48.320 work in their advantage or it could work for their disadvantage. 1066 00:55:48.480 --> 00:55:51.360 If they get too hyped up and they start leaving 1067 00:55:51.400 --> 00:55:55.480 their assignments and trying to do too much, that could 1068 00:55:55.480 --> 00:55:59.039 be a problem. But if they're able to play physical 1069 00:55:59.320 --> 00:56:01.880 Utah foot ball to do what b what to do 1070 00:56:02.039 --> 00:56:05.280 to BYU, what BYU has done to so many of 1071 00:56:05.280 --> 00:56:08.239 its opponents this year, that gives them a chance to 1072 00:56:08.239 --> 00:56:11.159 flip that script. Now, whether they can do that or not, 1073 00:56:11.280 --> 00:56:14.079 or whether they're capable of doing that, I don't know. 1074 00:56:14.159 --> 00:56:17.079 And that's talking about defense. On offense, they're going to 1075 00:56:17.119 --> 00:56:18.840 have to take care of the ball for the very 1076 00:56:18.880 --> 00:56:21.639 reasons that we've been talking about, because BYU has been 1077 00:56:21.719 --> 00:56:25.880 so good at pressuring the quarterback and then grabbing interceptions, 1078 00:56:26.079 --> 00:56:29.639 are taking advantage of weird plays that put them in 1079 00:56:29.719 --> 00:56:32.639 scoring position and allow them to build up these big 1080 00:56:32.760 --> 00:56:35.440 leads that they're getting. The US are scoring twenty two 1081 00:56:35.519 --> 00:56:39.320 points a game, and that includes the earlier success and 1082 00:56:39.360 --> 00:56:43.880 the success that you mentioned against Utah State, whereas BYU's 1083 00:56:43.920 --> 00:56:48.559 averaging what thirteen to fourteen points more than that per game, 1084 00:56:49.119 --> 00:56:51.840 and so that's got to be changed in order for 1085 00:56:51.880 --> 00:56:52.840 the huge stev A shot. 1086 00:56:53.320 --> 00:56:55.440 The other thing BYU does really well well, they do 1087 00:56:55.480 --> 00:56:57.280 a lot of things really well, but this year they're 1088 00:56:57.320 --> 00:57:00.000 starting fast out of the gates, and they're starting fast 1089 00:57:00.199 --> 00:57:02.599 out of the locker room. Their first and third quarter 1090 00:57:02.639 --> 00:57:06.880 splits are insane, and I think if you're a ute fan, Gord, 1091 00:57:06.920 --> 00:57:09.639 I think the concern is the ability to come back 1092 00:57:09.679 --> 00:57:10.719 from a big deficit. 1093 00:57:10.840 --> 00:57:13.280 So to me start and this is not we're not, 1094 00:57:13.559 --> 00:57:14.920 you know, breaking news here. 1095 00:57:15.239 --> 00:57:16.760 The start of the game is going to be so 1096 00:57:16.920 --> 00:57:20.400 key because if BYU comes out and they have two 1097 00:57:20.480 --> 00:57:23.280 really good drives and suddenly it's fourteen zero and Utah 1098 00:57:23.320 --> 00:57:26.440 can't move the football, that will allow a Rod to 1099 00:57:26.559 --> 00:57:30.239 really change his game plan to basically kill out the 1100 00:57:30.239 --> 00:57:32.719 clock and not allow Utah the oxygen because I just 1101 00:57:32.800 --> 00:57:36.679 don't think Utah can come back now if it's like 1102 00:57:36.840 --> 00:57:39.719 three to nothing after one, and it is that kind 1103 00:57:39.760 --> 00:57:42.039 of dogfi that we dissected. I think you fan should 1104 00:57:42.039 --> 00:57:44.159 feel pretty good. But what do you make about just 1105 00:57:44.159 --> 00:57:46.800 simply how important it is? For both teams to start 1106 00:57:47.039 --> 00:57:51.119 well and then once the emotion of the rivalry kind 1107 00:57:51.159 --> 00:57:52.880 of dissipates, you can get back to the meat and 1108 00:57:52.880 --> 00:57:54.920 potatoes of football because you know that. 1109 00:57:54.840 --> 00:57:56.639 Stadium is going to be crazy loud. 1110 00:57:57.400 --> 00:57:57.599 Yeah. 1111 00:57:57.639 --> 00:58:01.079 I concur with everything that you just said. There's not 1112 00:58:01.199 --> 00:58:04.559 much more to say about it. I do believe, and 1113 00:58:04.599 --> 00:58:09.280 that's why Utah's defense has to be at its best 1114 00:58:09.719 --> 00:58:13.639 because if it, if it limits BYU offensively and then 1115 00:58:13.679 --> 00:58:16.400 you have a tight game, then those nerves that we 1116 00:58:16.559 --> 00:58:19.679 talked about before. B why's a very confident team right now? 1117 00:58:19.760 --> 00:58:22.599 I mean they think they deserve to win and they 1118 00:58:22.639 --> 00:58:25.760 think they will win now if Utah goes out and 1119 00:58:26.000 --> 00:58:28.639 what what did Mike Tyson say? Everyone has a plan 1120 00:58:28.719 --> 00:58:30.719 until they get punched in the head. How's that does 1121 00:58:30.760 --> 00:58:31.119 that saying? 1122 00:58:31.559 --> 00:58:34.239 You know, punched in the mouth. But you you're nearly there. 1123 00:58:34.960 --> 00:58:37.400 So so if that's what the youths are able to 1124 00:58:37.480 --> 00:58:39.440 do to BYU, then they start to. 1125 00:58:39.320 --> 00:58:40.639 Go Wait a minute. 1126 00:58:40.800 --> 00:58:43.400 You you look at you look at BYU through all 1127 00:58:43.599 --> 00:58:47.440 its season. After games, it's been all hyped up and 1128 00:58:47.519 --> 00:58:50.199 we win, nobody beats us. We you know, it's all 1129 00:58:50.239 --> 00:58:52.760 that talk that they seem to have been able to 1130 00:58:52.760 --> 00:58:57.039 conjure amongst themselves. But if you tall limits that to them, 1131 00:58:57.519 --> 00:59:00.880 suddenly BYU's looking at each other going wait a minute, 1132 00:59:01.000 --> 00:59:03.800 this isn't this isn't what we expected. If this isn't 1133 00:59:03.800 --> 00:59:06.079 what sh'd be happening. And when you put a team 1134 00:59:06.119 --> 00:59:10.280 in that position, suddenly that confidence may sheer away a 1135 00:59:10.320 --> 00:59:12.800 little bit, especially when you're playing in a building like 1136 00:59:12.880 --> 00:59:15.239 White Ecls. And I know the Uts haven't a big 1137 00:59:15.280 --> 00:59:18.559 grip on their home field, but in this kind of 1138 00:59:18.599 --> 00:59:23.280 emotional atmosphere, that could give the Utes their best chance 1139 00:59:23.800 --> 00:59:28.079 if they could rattle the Cougars and not make mistakes themselves. 1140 00:59:28.280 --> 00:59:32.400 If the Utes make mistakes, then they're in for a long, 1141 00:59:32.719 --> 00:59:33.280 long night. 1142 00:59:33.519 --> 00:59:33.760 Yeah. 1143 00:59:33.760 --> 00:59:37.800 And in the past, you have confidence in Cameron Rising 1144 00:59:37.920 --> 00:59:40.760 and Andy Ludwig, and you know, say they lose the 1145 00:59:40.760 --> 00:59:43.880 turn say the turnover battles minus one or maybe even 1146 00:59:43.880 --> 00:59:46.559 minus two. In the past, you had an offense that 1147 00:59:46.639 --> 00:59:48.599 could make up for some of those mistakes, or a 1148 00:59:48.679 --> 00:59:53.280 more opportunistic defense. They could find diamonds where you didn't 1149 00:59:53.280 --> 00:59:55.679 even know that you know they were looking over there 1150 00:59:55.719 --> 00:59:59.039 with pick sixes and scoops and scores and big game 1151 00:59:59.199 --> 01:00:02.079 changing plays. Clark Phillips and Devin Lloyd and Eric Quad 1152 01:00:02.079 --> 01:00:05.400 and the list goes on and on. But the problem 1153 01:00:05.480 --> 01:00:08.119 is right now, that offense isn't good enough to make 1154 01:00:08.239 --> 01:00:10.679 up for stubbing your toe more than once or twice. 1155 01:00:11.000 --> 01:00:11.960 And for all of the. 1156 01:00:11.960 --> 01:00:15.000 Metrics that indicate Utah's defense is really good in areas 1157 01:00:15.039 --> 01:00:16.960 they're the number one scoring defense in the Big Twelve. 1158 01:00:17.000 --> 01:00:19.639 They're among the best in the country at both first 1159 01:00:19.679 --> 01:00:22.039 and third down, what they're not doing is creating havoc 1160 01:00:22.079 --> 01:00:24.400 plays and turnovers and the offense can't move the ball. 1161 01:00:24.440 --> 01:00:26.000 Like the margin of error. 1162 01:00:26.480 --> 01:00:30.079 To underscore your point for Utah's mistakes is raizor thin. 1163 01:00:30.280 --> 01:00:31.960 If they want to win this football game. 1164 01:00:32.440 --> 01:00:36.199 How about this for an idea, Kyle Wavingham telling his team, man, 1165 01:00:36.320 --> 01:00:38.559 this is what you guys are going to do. We're 1166 01:00:38.559 --> 01:00:40.440 going to throw the ball here and there, but we're 1167 01:00:40.440 --> 01:00:44.400 going to go out and play physical, offensive football. That's 1168 01:00:44.679 --> 01:00:49.039 offensive front. Go out, hit these guys, create space, allow 1169 01:00:49.159 --> 01:00:51.760 us to run the football, and allow us to burn 1170 01:00:51.880 --> 01:00:54.800 time off the clock. If they're able to do that 1171 01:00:55.000 --> 01:00:58.039 and sustain drives, which they haven't been able to do 1172 01:00:58.199 --> 01:01:01.559 really and haven't been able to capitalize on those drives. 1173 01:01:01.840 --> 01:01:03.960 If they can do those two things, and those are 1174 01:01:04.000 --> 01:01:05.960 big ifs, I get it. But if they can do 1175 01:01:06.039 --> 01:01:10.280 those things and then the defense does enough to nick 1176 01:01:10.400 --> 01:01:13.400 up Jake Retz laugh and make him a little bit nervous, 1177 01:01:13.480 --> 01:01:16.880 or make him a little off his normal timing a 1178 01:01:16.880 --> 01:01:20.960 little bit, you know, keep those receivers under control, then 1179 01:01:21.119 --> 01:01:24.519 then again that that works to the huge advantage. The problem 1180 01:01:24.639 --> 01:01:28.920 is actually executing it, and I'm not sure whether they 1181 01:01:28.960 --> 01:01:31.400 can do that, but I would be shocked if this 1182 01:01:31.599 --> 01:01:33.039 was like some sort of wipeout. 1183 01:01:33.639 --> 01:01:33.760 Uh. 1184 01:01:34.000 --> 01:01:36.519 That speaks to what you were talking about before. If 1185 01:01:36.519 --> 01:01:39.239 the Cougar's get a big lead, then I think the 1186 01:01:39.320 --> 01:01:41.880 game is going to be over unless they just get 1187 01:01:41.920 --> 01:01:44.480 so full of themselves that they're just doing stupid things 1188 01:01:44.480 --> 01:01:47.119 on defense and they let let off the gas a 1189 01:01:47.119 --> 01:01:50.559 little bit. But if you talk and keep it close 1190 01:01:50.840 --> 01:01:53.639 and run the football and do it in a physical 1191 01:01:53.760 --> 01:01:57.079 banner that puts BYU in a situation where they go 1192 01:01:57.440 --> 01:02:03.719 they're uncomfortable, they're un they're not that in that particular environment, 1193 01:02:04.639 --> 01:02:07.719 then I think things could go the youth's way. But 1194 01:02:07.800 --> 01:02:10.519 that's a whole lot to ask, and I'm not sure 1195 01:02:11.119 --> 01:02:13.840 whether the youths can pull that off. I think they can, 1196 01:02:14.039 --> 01:02:17.800 but whether they will that that's very much in debt. 1197 01:02:17.840 --> 01:02:19.239 Well, it's back to where we started. 1198 01:02:19.599 --> 01:02:22.559 If both teams continue to do what they've done so far, 1199 01:02:22.679 --> 01:02:25.480 there's a chance that this is a bloodbath, you know, 1200 01:02:25.599 --> 01:02:26.079 like that. 1201 01:02:26.400 --> 01:02:28.800 We only can go off of the data that we have. 1202 01:02:28.960 --> 01:02:31.880 I mean, you try to predict things in a business 1203 01:02:31.920 --> 01:02:33.599 like this, and you're going to be wrong a lot. 1204 01:02:33.719 --> 01:02:36.679 And as we've talked about, I've been so wrong about 1205 01:02:36.679 --> 01:02:39.440 this Utah football team that it is going to take 1206 01:02:39.480 --> 01:02:42.880 some sort of random Burton block Scott Mitchell coming out 1207 01:02:42.880 --> 01:02:45.559 of nowhere, you know, John Why, Jason Shelley with a 1208 01:02:45.559 --> 01:02:48.320 big comeback, like all of the crazy rivalry memories we 1209 01:02:48.440 --> 01:02:51.960 have should give youth fans confidence because this game is 1210 01:02:52.000 --> 01:02:54.599 different than other games on the schedule. But what we've 1211 01:02:54.599 --> 01:02:57.119 seen so far simply is BYU is a much better 1212 01:02:57.159 --> 01:02:59.039 team almost all the way around. 1213 01:02:59.079 --> 01:03:02.320 But let's dig into a little bit, Gordon, your opinion. 1214 01:03:02.679 --> 01:03:06.079 On what that stadium is gonna look like on Saturday night, 1215 01:03:06.159 --> 01:03:08.280 because it has become a narrative that's gotten a little 1216 01:03:08.280 --> 01:03:12.159 out of control. There are online ticket outlets where you 1217 01:03:12.199 --> 01:03:14.559 can look and kind of see what's available, and it's 1218 01:03:14.559 --> 01:03:16.960 hard to tell whether or not BUYU fans or snatching 1219 01:03:17.039 --> 01:03:18.840 up all these tickets that a lot of youth fans 1220 01:03:18.840 --> 01:03:21.920 seem to be selling. I have a hard time believing 1221 01:03:22.079 --> 01:03:24.360 there's gonna be a ton of blue. I do think 1222 01:03:24.440 --> 01:03:27.159 youth fans will show up. I mean, in a way, 1223 01:03:27.199 --> 01:03:31.000 this is going to be potentially the most important game 1224 01:03:31.079 --> 01:03:32.920 on the schedule for the rest of the season for 1225 01:03:33.079 --> 01:03:35.599 Utah football. Even if they go to a bowl, it's 1226 01:03:35.639 --> 01:03:38.199 gonna be somewhat meaningless. The only thing worse than playing 1227 01:03:38.199 --> 01:03:40.920 in a throwaway bowl game is not being eligible for one. 1228 01:03:41.400 --> 01:03:44.960 So this is massive for Utah to show the community 1229 01:03:45.000 --> 01:03:48.199 maybe one time this season that they are who we 1230 01:03:48.239 --> 01:03:49.199 thought that they could be. 1231 01:03:49.400 --> 01:03:51.519 So what are you hearing in your. 1232 01:03:51.480 --> 01:03:55.079 Vantage point from your vantage point about you know, fan attendance. 1233 01:03:55.400 --> 01:03:58.800 I know there's a lot of anxiety and nervous feelings 1234 01:03:58.880 --> 01:04:00.920 by yout fans, But do you you think we're going 1235 01:04:01.000 --> 01:04:04.159 to see a good portion of blue in Salt Lake 1236 01:04:04.239 --> 01:04:05.000 on Saturday night. 1237 01:04:05.840 --> 01:04:09.039 I think we'll see more blue than is typically the 1238 01:04:09.079 --> 01:04:13.119 case in these rivalry games. But youth fans are going 1239 01:04:13.199 --> 01:04:15.480 to show up. I mean I think they are worried, 1240 01:04:15.960 --> 01:04:17.519 but I think they're going to show up and they're 1241 01:04:17.559 --> 01:04:20.480 going to pour the same emotion that they always do 1242 01:04:20.920 --> 01:04:24.000 in this particular game, you know, and if the youths 1243 01:04:24.039 --> 01:04:26.440 can feed off of that, but the youthes have to 1244 01:04:26.440 --> 01:04:29.440 give the crowd, you know, they have to give him 1245 01:04:29.559 --> 01:04:34.480 encouragement that hey, they're not wasting their time and for instance, Okay, 1246 01:04:34.519 --> 01:04:36.559 so one of the things that I think will be 1247 01:04:36.599 --> 01:04:41.719 really interesting to see is, uh, will j Hill I'm sorry, 1248 01:04:41.840 --> 01:04:45.800 will Morgan Scalley pressure Jake Rhtz Left? And how much 1249 01:04:45.880 --> 01:04:48.719 will he pressure him? How much will they try to 1250 01:04:48.760 --> 01:04:51.960 get those big plays that you're talking about, force those 1251 01:04:52.039 --> 01:04:54.559 kinds of mistakes in order to do that. If they 1252 01:04:54.679 --> 01:04:57.920 let Jake Rhtz Left sit back there and and peruse 1253 01:04:58.000 --> 01:05:00.679 the field and get the ball to the right place 1254 01:05:01.320 --> 01:05:03.559 or to the right player for the right reasons, then 1255 01:05:03.599 --> 01:05:06.800 they're gonna lose this game. If they disturb him, if 1256 01:05:06.800 --> 01:05:10.119 they they can jumpy, then you know, he might flash 1257 01:05:10.159 --> 01:05:12.039 back to some of the things we saw a year 1258 01:05:12.039 --> 01:05:15.800 ago where he'll he will make mistakes. And so is 1259 01:05:15.840 --> 01:05:18.760 Morgan scally gonna be willing to do that. And if 1260 01:05:18.760 --> 01:05:21.159 he does do it and they get sacks, then what 1261 01:05:21.280 --> 01:05:25.000 happens the crowd erupts and the emotion is there, and 1262 01:05:25.039 --> 01:05:27.880 the big plays are made and the Ute fans are 1263 01:05:27.880 --> 01:05:31.400 feeling pretty good. If it doesn't happen and BYU is 1264 01:05:31.440 --> 01:05:34.719 as comfortable as it's usually been or almost always been 1265 01:05:34.800 --> 01:05:38.800 this season, then that that's not gonna work. So the 1266 01:05:38.840 --> 01:05:41.440 crowd has to work in the huge favor, but the 1267 01:05:41.559 --> 01:05:43.000 Utes have to feed that beast. 1268 01:05:43.719 --> 01:05:47.599 Yeah, I mean, there's been kind of a hate the 1269 01:05:47.639 --> 01:05:51.079 term narrative, but that's kind of the right term to 1270 01:05:51.159 --> 01:05:53.800 use with this one. There's kind of this narrative that's 1271 01:05:53.840 --> 01:05:58.800 gone on around the marketplace here about how docile that 1272 01:05:58.840 --> 01:06:01.840 crowd has been this year and how uh you know, 1273 01:06:01.880 --> 01:06:04.159 it doesn't feel like it typically has over the past 1274 01:06:04.199 --> 01:06:05.519 decade or so to rise cycles. 1275 01:06:05.519 --> 01:06:07.239 But you've got to give them some to cheer for. 1276 01:06:07.440 --> 01:06:09.639 You can't. The muss is always going to be the muss. 1277 01:06:10.199 --> 01:06:13.239 But if Utah Football, if they're players and coaches want 1278 01:06:13.239 --> 01:06:15.679 to see this crowd and hear this crowd the way 1279 01:06:15.719 --> 01:06:17.559 it typically is, they've got to feed them. 1280 01:06:17.559 --> 01:06:17.719 Man. 1281 01:06:17.800 --> 01:06:20.039 You can't expect them just to go crazy if there's 1282 01:06:20.079 --> 01:06:20.760 nothing going on. 1283 01:06:22.199 --> 01:06:24.199 So if the Utes make mistakes, it'd be why you 1284 01:06:24.280 --> 01:06:27.000 build that early lead that you're talking about, what's the 1285 01:06:27.039 --> 01:06:30.440 place going to look like? What I mean, what kind 1286 01:06:30.440 --> 01:06:33.800 of advantage that the utes usually or typically would have 1287 01:06:34.280 --> 01:06:39.119 that's going to dissipate? And then so really, I know 1288 01:06:39.239 --> 01:06:41.559 the utes want to depend on their crowd to really 1289 01:06:41.599 --> 01:06:44.000 give them a boost, but as you said, they have 1290 01:06:44.119 --> 01:06:46.440 to give them a reason. And if they don't give 1291 01:06:46.480 --> 01:06:49.360 them that reason, then the place is going to is 1292 01:06:49.400 --> 01:06:50.880 going to get quiet real quick. 1293 01:06:51.280 --> 01:06:52.800 You want to give us a little tease for the 1294 01:06:53.320 --> 01:06:55.800 column you're riding right now for our friends of the trib. 1295 01:06:56.360 --> 01:06:59.440 Well, I've written, I've heard a couple of columns. You know, 1296 01:06:59.599 --> 01:07:03.320 I don't learn my lessons very well sometimes, Spence. But 1297 01:07:03.400 --> 01:07:06.239 I have the fifty things that are bound to happen 1298 01:07:07.000 --> 01:07:10.960 in this game, and I've got that written and I 1299 01:07:11.000 --> 01:07:14.400 think that'll be either tomorrow or Saturday, I'm not sure which, 1300 01:07:14.880 --> 01:07:22.039 But I pick a stab at predicting specific things that 1301 01:07:22.119 --> 01:07:25.800 will happen in this game. And I got to tell you, 1302 01:07:25.880 --> 01:07:28.159 as I've done what you said, and what you've been 1303 01:07:28.199 --> 01:07:32.000 doing all week and before that, probably studying the stats, 1304 01:07:32.079 --> 01:07:36.920 looking at the numbers, looking at the record, look examining 1305 01:07:36.960 --> 01:07:42.440 what's happened in previous weeks. I don't see a lot 1306 01:07:42.440 --> 01:07:46.000 of practical reasons to pick the youths to win. Now, 1307 01:07:46.960 --> 01:07:50.159 in that same breath, I'll say that is it possible 1308 01:07:50.159 --> 01:07:53.039 that they can win? Yet? It is possible, But things 1309 01:07:53.079 --> 01:07:56.119 that haven't happened very often this yeason aren't going to 1310 01:07:56.159 --> 01:08:01.079 have to happen against a team that is playing really 1311 01:08:01.119 --> 01:08:01.960 out of its mind. 1312 01:08:03.199 --> 01:08:06.480 What what does it mean for Arsenal if Nick Kushing 1313 01:08:06.719 --> 01:08:09.760 decides to go to the gunners disasters? 1314 01:08:10.440 --> 01:08:16.359 Disasters, that's catastrophic. H I just think that's something that 1315 01:08:16.520 --> 01:08:17.720 you cannot allow to. 1316 01:08:17.720 --> 01:08:21.880 Have, well said I Concur. All right, my friend, Well, 1317 01:08:21.920 --> 01:08:23.600 I appreciate the time today. I hope to see in 1318 01:08:23.600 --> 01:08:24.399 studio next week. 1319 01:08:24.399 --> 01:08:27.760 All right, all right, then give Bowler my love will. 1320 01:08:27.640 --> 01:08:30.159 Do the great Gordon Monson from the Salt Lake Tribune, 1321 01:08:30.239 --> 01:08:32.800 my radio partner for seven years back in the old days. 1322 01:08:32.800 --> 01:08:36.680 Brought to you today by clear Water Distilling rear rear 1323 01:08:36.800 --> 01:08:37.319 delt fly. 1324 01:08:37.479 --> 01:08:38.920 Day to day, just. 1325 01:08:39.119 --> 01:08:43.279 Crushing, just moveing weight around, litill pour some sugar on 1326 01:08:43.359 --> 01:08:46.840 me comes on, motivated to finish the super set. Thought 1327 01:08:46.880 --> 01:08:50.039 about my guy Bowler. So that's why we're doing this today. 1328 01:08:50.159 --> 01:08:54.399 It's not a bad gym playlist, Little deaf Lefpard, I'm 1329 01:08:54.439 --> 01:08:54.800 on board. 1330 01:08:55.000 --> 01:08:57.479 Just move and wait around man, like it's nothing. It's 1331 01:08:57.479 --> 01:08:58.159 not a big deal. 1332 01:08:58.880 --> 01:09:01.840 Live from the Road, Milwaukee, I believe, is where we 1333 01:09:01.880 --> 01:09:04.199 find the voice of the Jazz. Craig Bowler, Jack Bawler, 1334 01:09:04.199 --> 01:09:05.119 Happy Thursday, sir. 1335 01:09:05.159 --> 01:09:08.520 How are you hey, Spencer? Well, I'm glad that that 1336 01:09:08.640 --> 01:09:11.199 got a little energy in my pants right there, man, 1337 01:09:11.199 --> 01:09:13.960 A little death leopard coming back. Just caught off at 1338 01:09:14.039 --> 01:09:17.720 the bus. A two hour ride from Chicago to five 1339 01:09:17.760 --> 01:09:21.279 Serve Forums. So we're here and then fly to San 1340 01:09:21.319 --> 01:09:24.279 Antonio after the game with the Bucks tonight. Kind of 1341 01:09:24.279 --> 01:09:25.399 a crazy road schedule. 1342 01:09:25.520 --> 01:09:27.760 We'll get to the Jazz in a moment, Craig. 1343 01:09:27.880 --> 01:09:30.960 But of course, as you know, as someone who was 1344 01:09:31.039 --> 01:09:32.800 a big booming voice. 1345 01:09:32.720 --> 01:09:34.760 During college football season. 1346 01:09:34.439 --> 01:09:38.319 And did radio here locally, it's a big week around 1347 01:09:38.319 --> 01:09:40.880 here with Utah and BYU playing a little American football 1348 01:09:40.920 --> 01:09:45.199 on Saturday night. When you hear Rivalry Week Utah BYU 1349 01:09:45.239 --> 01:09:47.479 football week, what are some thoughts that come to your mind? 1350 01:09:48.479 --> 01:09:51.479 Ah, Man, I love it and I'm so glad BYU 1351 01:09:51.560 --> 01:09:56.600 and Utah in the same conference with even more impact now, Spence, 1352 01:09:56.640 --> 01:09:58.680 you know the old days of the Mountain West. 1353 01:09:59.520 --> 01:09:59.920 You know, the. 1354 01:10:01.359 --> 01:10:03.399 This is great. I mean, you know that it's going 1355 01:10:03.479 --> 01:10:05.039 to be here, whether it's going to be home or 1356 01:10:05.079 --> 01:10:09.439 away for whatever team. Utah, you know, dials up first 1357 01:10:09.800 --> 01:10:12.720 with a home game at right secals and I think 1358 01:10:12.760 --> 01:10:15.640 it's great. Man, it's uh, it's what fans want. Coaches 1359 01:10:15.680 --> 01:10:18.760 may not like it, but it gives you that feel 1360 01:10:18.800 --> 01:10:23.199 good feeling. Utah is struggling in a big way this year, unexpectedly, 1361 01:10:23.319 --> 01:10:27.640 so this game with BYU, who is winning and dominating, undefeated, 1362 01:10:28.359 --> 01:10:30.279 there's a lot on the line here, man to save 1363 01:10:30.319 --> 01:10:34.479 a season, or BYU really jumps into the national scene 1364 01:10:35.279 --> 01:10:38.439 and really knocks on the door. And I think it's 1365 01:10:38.560 --> 01:10:41.840 it's about hey, look at us, We're for real And 1366 01:10:41.880 --> 01:10:45.840 that's what I think BYU's most interest, most interested in. 1367 01:10:45.920 --> 01:10:49.680 But hey, every week's different. Spence is you know, rival weeks. 1368 01:10:49.720 --> 01:10:52.359 Really you can't go with what the spread is. The 1369 01:10:52.399 --> 01:10:56.039 emotion plays big, the home crowd plays big unless those 1370 01:10:56.079 --> 01:10:59.199 fans have sold off tickets, and there'll be more blue 1371 01:10:59.239 --> 01:11:02.159 than red, and that'll be intriguing to see. 1372 01:11:02.479 --> 01:11:05.439 Yeah, that's definitely a topic here locally, for sure, not 1373 01:11:05.680 --> 01:11:08.840 exactly you know, I don't exactly know what to expect 1374 01:11:08.920 --> 01:11:11.159 based off of rumors here or there. It does sound 1375 01:11:11.199 --> 01:11:12.800 like a lot of youth fans have tapped out, But 1376 01:11:12.800 --> 01:11:14.279 I'm sure a lot of youth fans will be there 1377 01:11:14.319 --> 01:11:17.399 loud and proud, And if you're a BYU fan, you 1378 01:11:17.479 --> 01:11:19.960 probably want to attend because you feel good about your chances. 1379 01:11:20.000 --> 01:11:23.359 But you know you grew up with rivalries Case State Kansas. 1380 01:11:23.399 --> 01:11:27.079 You've called rivalries throughout the course of your broadcasting career. 1381 01:11:27.600 --> 01:11:31.159 So as you just outlined the dynamic of this game, 1382 01:11:31.600 --> 01:11:35.239 certainly could and in my opinion, probably will make it close. 1383 01:11:35.319 --> 01:11:38.479 But the data tells us BYU is just simply the 1384 01:11:38.479 --> 01:11:39.840 better team through eight games. 1385 01:11:39.880 --> 01:11:42.479 But what is it, Craig about rivalries? You've been a 1386 01:11:42.520 --> 01:11:42.880 part of. 1387 01:11:43.079 --> 01:11:47.560 Rivalries You've covered that make the environment so intense and 1388 01:11:47.600 --> 01:11:50.960 make the outcome of the game oftentimes impossible to ascertain. 1389 01:11:52.159 --> 01:11:55.680 Well, in my opinion, from my experience, it's the one 1390 01:11:55.880 --> 01:12:01.079 moment where one mistake can fuel the confidence of the 1391 01:12:01.279 --> 01:12:05.640 underdog or fuel the confidence of the team that is 1392 01:12:05.680 --> 01:12:09.279 supposed to dominate. And so that's what I've always noticed 1393 01:12:09.399 --> 01:12:13.640 is a fumble early can give new life to the underdog, 1394 01:12:14.960 --> 01:12:17.800 or it can give dominance to the team that is 1395 01:12:17.840 --> 01:12:21.800 expected or favored to win. I think that's the one 1396 01:12:21.920 --> 01:12:27.760 key is you cannot make mental mistakes. And BYU has 1397 01:12:27.840 --> 01:12:30.520 taken every opportunity this year. And we've talked a lot 1398 01:12:30.600 --> 01:12:34.680 about just being opportunistic. Look, they've earned that, but you know, 1399 01:12:34.760 --> 01:12:37.199 to make something out of that turnover to really be 1400 01:12:37.279 --> 01:12:40.399 costly for their opponent in case State lived it by 1401 01:12:40.439 --> 01:12:42.880 the way. You know, that's truly what started this whole 1402 01:12:42.960 --> 01:12:47.439 run and this dominance of BYU and their confidence grew 1403 01:12:47.520 --> 01:12:52.079 I thought immensely after the k State victory. So you know, 1404 01:12:52.119 --> 01:12:55.199 for Utah, if you get down and this you know 1405 01:12:55.239 --> 01:12:58.159 your form for you still play me before a bowl game. 1406 01:12:58.680 --> 01:13:01.199 Not sure how hype fans are about just getting the 1407 01:13:01.239 --> 01:13:04.319 six wins, but you know this one, this one just 1408 01:13:04.359 --> 01:13:07.359 on paper, means more. You know, in the SEC when 1409 01:13:07.359 --> 01:13:09.520 I was a CBS, I mean every game felt like 1410 01:13:09.560 --> 01:13:13.279 a rivalry game because the competition is so keen in 1411 01:13:13.319 --> 01:13:19.159 that conference, the LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Alabama. I mean I 1412 01:13:19.199 --> 01:13:21.960 got to call all those and man, it just it 1413 01:13:22.119 --> 01:13:24.800 just has a special hum. You know, you'll feel the 1414 01:13:24.960 --> 01:13:27.760 energy in the building unless b why you was able 1415 01:13:27.800 --> 01:13:29.920 to take it out, And that's what I mean by 1416 01:13:29.960 --> 01:13:34.159 something early that has to dictate maybe the the outcome 1417 01:13:34.199 --> 01:13:37.279 of the game. There's always a chance to rally back. 1418 01:13:37.319 --> 01:13:40.720 But I tell you that that first defensive series or 1419 01:13:40.720 --> 01:13:44.479 that first offensive series, whoever wins the coin flip and 1420 01:13:44.600 --> 01:13:46.680 how they decide to go. But Spence, that's what I've 1421 01:13:46.680 --> 01:13:49.720 always felt is that you can change it quickly if 1422 01:13:49.760 --> 01:13:52.479 you take advantage of what's given to you, and if 1423 01:13:52.479 --> 01:13:55.399 you don't, then the opponent's gonna I think, roar back 1424 01:13:55.439 --> 01:13:56.239 and try to dominate. 1425 01:13:56.479 --> 01:13:58.159 One more thing here, And you just kind of alluded 1426 01:13:58.199 --> 01:14:01.319 to it because coming from the guy who has called 1427 01:14:01.439 --> 01:14:04.560 some of the biggest games in the landscape of college football, 1428 01:14:05.159 --> 01:14:08.199 you know you can pull up lists like greatest Rivalries 1429 01:14:08.239 --> 01:14:15.159 in college football. You're going to see Michigan, Ohio State, Bama, Auburn, Army, Navy, Oklahoma, Texas, 1430 01:14:15.319 --> 01:14:18.239 USC Notre Dame. Most of the lists. You know you'll 1431 01:14:18.239 --> 01:14:22.159 have Utah BYU around fifteen or sixteen. And I think 1432 01:14:22.439 --> 01:14:26.239 that's going to change because we've been waiting for BYU 1433 01:14:26.279 --> 01:14:28.439 in Utah to be in the same conference, but not 1434 01:14:28.479 --> 01:14:30.920 just the same conference, the same P four conference. This 1435 01:14:31.039 --> 01:14:33.760 isn't the Whacker, the Mountain West All due respect. So 1436 01:14:33.960 --> 01:14:36.920 now it's this new era starting on Saturday where more 1437 01:14:36.960 --> 01:14:39.600 people are simply going to see it as somebody who's 1438 01:14:39.680 --> 01:14:42.039 called some of the biggest rivalry games and has been 1439 01:14:42.079 --> 01:14:45.640 a part of Utah BYU, how does this rivalry stack 1440 01:14:45.760 --> 01:14:49.319 up with the Auburn's and damas in the usc Notre 1441 01:14:49.399 --> 01:14:50.239 Dames of the world. 1442 01:14:51.359 --> 01:14:55.600 Well, that's another great conversation to have because look, you know, 1443 01:14:55.720 --> 01:14:59.920 Kuk State was just more a four state area. Okay, 1444 01:15:00.079 --> 01:15:03.720 so was Nebraska Oklahoma back in the day. Is Switzer 1445 01:15:04.000 --> 01:15:10.399 right and Osbourne? But this becomes it spreads, is my point. 1446 01:15:10.439 --> 01:15:14.880 And in the Southeastern Conference it's religion spence it is, 1447 01:15:15.600 --> 01:15:18.800 and you have to experience it on game day and 1448 01:15:18.840 --> 01:15:22.600 even the whole week because people travel miles and they 1449 01:15:22.640 --> 01:15:26.520 actually have the thirty five foot you know, RVs and 1450 01:15:26.600 --> 01:15:29.600 make it a religious you know moment and a way 1451 01:15:29.680 --> 01:15:34.479 football is. Football is what people just do from August 1452 01:15:34.600 --> 01:15:37.840 until December or the first of the year when the 1453 01:15:37.840 --> 01:15:41.119 playoffs come in. For BYU and Utah, I think it 1454 01:15:41.239 --> 01:15:44.079 ranks higher than people give it credit for. Honestly, I do. 1455 01:15:44.199 --> 01:15:46.199 And and you know, when I was at CBS and 1456 01:15:46.279 --> 01:15:49.079 Fox and ESPN, they always talked about what do you 1457 01:15:49.119 --> 01:15:50.520 think is it? Is it really that big of deal? 1458 01:15:50.520 --> 01:15:55.359 It's it absolutely because it splinters a state of and 1459 01:15:55.720 --> 01:15:59.720 you always talk about it. The religion part of it, 1460 01:15:59.760 --> 01:16:03.439 read and blue Mormon or non Mormon, that feeds it. 1461 01:16:03.880 --> 01:16:05.840 Maybe not as much as it once did, but I 1462 01:16:05.880 --> 01:16:09.079 still think it's very real. But then you add in 1463 01:16:09.760 --> 01:16:13.680 this year the fact that you have two big twelve 1464 01:16:13.760 --> 01:16:19.119 teams back and now a team that Utah was favored 1465 01:16:19.159 --> 01:16:21.760 to be a real player nationally, not only in the 1466 01:16:21.840 --> 01:16:25.039 conference spense, but my gosh, they were talking about hosting 1467 01:16:25.079 --> 01:16:28.119 the first round of the of the playoffs. That's not 1468 01:16:28.159 --> 01:16:31.199 going to happen, but BYU could easily. And that's what 1469 01:16:31.279 --> 01:16:34.239 makes I think this such an intreaking game is how 1470 01:16:34.279 --> 01:16:37.479 the turn of events throughout the last three months have occurred, 1471 01:16:38.079 --> 01:16:40.520 and you know, the injury to Cam and and the 1472 01:16:40.560 --> 01:16:44.199 way that Dyu's defenses has really bowed their back and 1473 01:16:44.239 --> 01:16:49.239 played incredibly well, and what Jake's been able to do 1474 01:16:49.319 --> 01:16:52.640 to just say, handle the offense in provo. So I 1475 01:16:52.680 --> 01:16:56.439 think this is top five personally. People may laugh and shuckle, 1476 01:16:56.520 --> 01:16:59.600 but I think if you're in this part of the West, yeah, 1477 01:16:59.640 --> 01:17:03.560 it's it just hasn't been exposed as much. And I'm 1478 01:17:03.560 --> 01:17:05.800 still not in favor of an eight to fifteen kick 1479 01:17:05.880 --> 01:17:09.439 because again on the East Coast, that's late and you 1480 01:17:09.479 --> 01:17:12.279 may not see the ending of it. I'd still like 1481 01:17:12.319 --> 01:17:15.880 to see it more in a quote prime time Arena 1482 01:17:16.199 --> 01:17:19.880 six o'clock, the five point thirty window and let people 1483 01:17:19.920 --> 01:17:23.000 really enjoyed around the country. But you're still going to 1484 01:17:23.000 --> 01:17:25.399 see a hell of a football game, and you should 1485 01:17:25.439 --> 01:17:27.399 see a lot of the pomp and circumstance that goes 1486 01:17:27.399 --> 01:17:31.199 with it. And I love calling those games. 1487 01:17:31.239 --> 01:17:31.920 Scott Mitchell. 1488 01:17:32.399 --> 01:17:34.560 The one year we had it down to Provo, I 1489 01:17:34.600 --> 01:17:38.640 called and Voyd Mitchell put on a show. And you know, 1490 01:17:38.680 --> 01:17:41.319 the dominance of BYU was so keen for so long, 1491 01:17:41.439 --> 01:17:44.760 and then you know Matt came in and changed the whole, 1492 01:17:45.479 --> 01:17:48.520 the whole culture, and Level and him actually were friends, 1493 01:17:48.520 --> 01:17:49.760 and that didn't sit very well. 1494 01:17:49.800 --> 01:17:50.119 Spence. 1495 01:17:50.159 --> 01:17:53.079 You know that with the Cougar's the Cougar and the 1496 01:17:53.079 --> 01:17:55.359 youth fans is how how these two guys get along. 1497 01:17:55.439 --> 01:17:58.680 But they were, they were bonded up until Lavelle's passing 1498 01:17:58.720 --> 01:18:02.279 and beyond. But I just think it's special, and you 1499 01:18:02.319 --> 01:18:04.079 know what, I hope fans have a great time, because 1500 01:18:04.119 --> 01:18:06.760 it's it only happens once a year, and it looks 1501 01:18:06.760 --> 01:18:09.000 like it's gonna come back for a long time. 1502 01:18:09.680 --> 01:18:11.319 All right, let's move over to some jazz. 1503 01:18:11.359 --> 01:18:15.279 And you know I did we do talking jazz over 1504 01:18:16.000 --> 01:18:18.760 at KU TV with Dave and me and Dave Fox, 1505 01:18:18.800 --> 01:18:22.239 and we were just looking at the schedule and wondering aloud, 1506 01:18:22.319 --> 01:18:24.199 like when's the first win gonna come? 1507 01:18:24.319 --> 01:18:25.640 Because the schedule's tough. 1508 01:18:25.720 --> 01:18:27.720 Man Like, they're on the road and then they're home 1509 01:18:27.760 --> 01:18:29.239 with the Sons. 1510 01:18:28.920 --> 01:18:30.680 And the MAVs and they're back on the road. 1511 01:18:30.760 --> 01:18:34.039 And look, Chicago in a way is kind of where 1512 01:18:34.159 --> 01:18:36.159 Utah is. They're trying to figure out what they have 1513 01:18:36.199 --> 01:18:38.520 with their young players. They have some decent vets in 1514 01:18:39.319 --> 01:18:43.159 the Kola Vusavik and obviously Zach Lavine who didn't play. 1515 01:18:43.199 --> 01:18:44.399 So that's not a great team. 1516 01:18:44.399 --> 01:18:47.239 But I was just really happy for him, Craig, just 1517 01:18:47.279 --> 01:18:49.479 to get one. Yeah, And I was really happy for 1518 01:18:49.600 --> 01:18:52.600 Kyante to have a game that reminded everybody why he 1519 01:18:52.720 --> 01:18:55.640 has so much potential. So let's just start in the 1520 01:18:55.720 --> 01:18:58.399 vacuum as the guy that called the game with kind 1521 01:18:58.399 --> 01:19:00.920 of the feel around the team after getting their first 1522 01:19:00.920 --> 01:19:04.479 win in a road went against Chicago Spence. 1523 01:19:04.520 --> 01:19:07.279 I think John Collins was a fuel. I really do. 1524 01:19:07.439 --> 01:19:11.520 I thought he would not let this team get beaten again. 1525 01:19:11.880 --> 01:19:14.720 Collins has come off the bench and whatever you want 1526 01:19:14.760 --> 01:19:16.960 to say. You know, as a veteran, he's accepted a 1527 01:19:17.079 --> 01:19:20.039 role of a bench guy. He can start if he 1528 01:19:20.119 --> 01:19:24.239 has to, but he's shooting the ball extremely well from 1529 01:19:24.319 --> 01:19:28.920 three and two. He's a rebounder, almost eight a game. 1530 01:19:28.960 --> 01:19:32.800 He had twelve against Chicago. I thought that his veteran 1531 01:19:33.479 --> 01:19:39.199 energy helped fuel Keyante, It helped fuel Cody Williams to 1532 01:19:39.279 --> 01:19:42.439 a nice you know game, and Walker Kessler Man has 1533 01:19:42.880 --> 01:19:45.920 really turned his game up. The way he finished last 1534 01:19:46.000 --> 01:19:50.560 year the way he started, you know, two different polar opposites. 1535 01:19:50.600 --> 01:19:53.319 But you know, Walker's been able to find some confidence, 1536 01:19:53.399 --> 01:19:55.960 find some muscle, and that's been a good thing for 1537 01:19:56.000 --> 01:19:59.039 the Jazz. You know, twenty two rebounds through seven games, Spences, 1538 01:19:59.239 --> 01:20:02.520 you know, three plus blocks a game. I should say 1539 01:20:02.520 --> 01:20:05.720 twenty two blocks and so yeah, three plus blocks a game. 1540 01:20:06.199 --> 01:20:09.159 But I just thought John was really the fuel of 1541 01:20:09.239 --> 01:20:12.319 what that win was. Sixty paid points? How about thirty 1542 01:20:12.319 --> 01:20:15.000 five assists? We haven't seen that. And maybe the biggest 1543 01:20:15.000 --> 01:20:17.199 stat of all is the Jazz finally did not just 1544 01:20:17.439 --> 01:20:21.119 put themselves in a ditch with turnovers. They at thirteen, 1545 01:20:21.479 --> 01:20:24.119 that's doable, and they only gave up twelve points and 1546 01:20:24.119 --> 01:20:27.960 that's just that was a season low in that stat 1547 01:20:28.520 --> 01:20:31.520 So the bench continues to play well. He's rotated, you know, 1548 01:20:31.600 --> 01:20:36.000 about ten to eleven guys in and without marketing, it's 1549 01:20:36.079 --> 01:20:38.520 even I thought, probably even a sweeter win and JC 1550 01:20:38.680 --> 01:20:40.800 as well. So the young guys had to really take 1551 01:20:40.800 --> 01:20:41.720 control of that game. 1552 01:20:42.239 --> 01:20:44.880 So it doesn't pop off the screen when you're looking 1553 01:20:44.920 --> 01:20:47.159 at the box score. But you know, you and I 1554 01:20:47.239 --> 01:20:49.680 discussed the dynamic of who would get the minutes on 1555 01:20:49.720 --> 01:20:52.520 the table after Taylor went down. There's twenty eight thirty 1556 01:20:52.520 --> 01:20:55.279 minutes available. Looks like Cody's going to be the guy. 1557 01:20:55.840 --> 01:20:58.439 That was the best game Cody has played. It's only 1558 01:20:58.479 --> 01:21:00.720 seven games at Sports Talk. Yeah, so we're going to 1559 01:21:00.760 --> 01:21:04.119 talk about what we have and through seven games, that 1560 01:21:04.239 --> 01:21:06.399 was a grown up game from Cody had eleven points, 1561 01:21:06.399 --> 01:21:08.279 he had five boards, he had four assists. 1562 01:21:08.279 --> 01:21:11.199 He did not turn it over in thirty minutes. 1563 01:21:11.279 --> 01:21:14.840 Okay for your seventh NBA game and no turnover, staying 1564 01:21:14.880 --> 01:21:17.199 clean and being able to board a little bit, and 1565 01:21:17.239 --> 01:21:18.880 being able to guard a little bit. That to me 1566 01:21:19.039 --> 01:21:20.920 was the best game I've seen from Cody. Yeah, give 1567 01:21:20.920 --> 01:21:21.600 me your thoughts. 1568 01:21:21.439 --> 01:21:25.439 Greg No, I think he feels like watching him and 1569 01:21:25.520 --> 01:21:27.880 after that game talking to him is like, you know, 1570 01:21:28.520 --> 01:21:31.680 it's that switch Thorough always talks about, when do you 1571 01:21:31.800 --> 01:21:33.239 actually believe. 1572 01:21:34.399 --> 01:21:34.920 I belong? 1573 01:21:35.520 --> 01:21:39.000 Okay? And I thought this game probably the light he 1574 01:21:39.079 --> 01:21:42.439 turned the light switch up and on because he realized 1575 01:21:42.439 --> 01:21:45.479 that he can't compete and he's his body is not 1576 01:21:45.760 --> 01:21:49.279 one that you're going to dominate guys with. But yet 1577 01:21:49.600 --> 01:21:52.920 he's smart angles. I thought he played angles better than 1578 01:21:52.920 --> 01:21:55.960 he has in the early part of this season. You're right, 1579 01:21:56.039 --> 01:22:00.479 he can go in and rebound eleven points like it. 1580 01:22:00.560 --> 01:22:03.119 He was still getting his teammates involved that. You know, 1581 01:22:03.119 --> 01:22:05.600 you're the tenth pick and you play and you're a 1582 01:22:05.640 --> 01:22:08.840 young guy out of Colorado and the immense pressure to 1583 01:22:08.880 --> 01:22:12.319 perform instantly is there for all these guys now, Spence, 1584 01:22:12.800 --> 01:22:14.399 you know, you get one year of college and now 1585 01:22:14.399 --> 01:22:17.760 you have to be developed, and it's not When Thorough 1586 01:22:17.840 --> 01:22:21.079 came out four years and won a national championship with 1587 01:22:21.199 --> 01:22:24.600 North Carolina State. One of the last guys I remember 1588 01:22:24.800 --> 01:22:27.920 was Wesley Matthews, Right that the Jazz picked up and 1589 01:22:28.039 --> 01:22:31.439 played four years at Marquette. That just doesn't happen, right, 1590 01:22:31.560 --> 01:22:34.800 because if you're not out after two something's not right 1591 01:22:35.119 --> 01:22:39.319 and teams don't want to touch it. EDI's an exception 1592 01:22:39.479 --> 01:22:43.600 right at Purdue coming into the NBA, But I thought 1593 01:22:43.640 --> 01:22:46.319 he played well. I think Flip has done an amazing 1594 01:22:46.439 --> 01:22:48.760 job as well. By the way, he's twenty one today. 1595 01:22:48.960 --> 01:22:51.800 Can you believe that that's how we're Yeah, that's how 1596 01:22:51.840 --> 01:22:54.159 we're talking about. Most of these guys are twenty. They 1597 01:22:54.159 --> 01:22:56.560 came in at nineteen. It seems like most of them 1598 01:22:56.600 --> 01:23:02.319 have November birthdays. So you know, sense of Ball and 1599 01:23:02.319 --> 01:23:05.439 and the others in Keyante who had you know, how 1600 01:23:05.439 --> 01:23:08.600 about the nine to two turnover ratio nine assists and 1601 01:23:08.640 --> 01:23:12.279 two turnovers? And Kyante continues to make maybe baby steps, 1602 01:23:12.279 --> 01:23:15.159 but I thought he made a big, big step in Chicago. 1603 01:23:15.319 --> 01:23:18.640 On on Monday night, all right before we get to 1604 01:23:18.640 --> 01:23:22.039 tonight's let me just because you you touched on Walker, 1605 01:23:22.239 --> 01:23:24.880 but I want to expand it because as as you 1606 01:23:24.920 --> 01:23:27.560 and I discussed to start the year, I am really 1607 01:23:27.640 --> 01:23:30.760 keen in on him because this is his third year 1608 01:23:30.840 --> 01:23:33.960 under Will and they traded Oachi's so like this is 1609 01:23:34.000 --> 01:23:37.399 the third year example, because we know we know that 1610 01:23:37.840 --> 01:23:40.439 Quinn and his staff were able to develop young players. 1611 01:23:40.479 --> 01:23:42.359 We saw with Heyward, we saw with Mitchell, we saw 1612 01:23:42.399 --> 01:23:46.600 with Gobert, you know, and obviously previous iterations of the 1613 01:23:46.680 --> 01:23:49.880 Jazz have been able to develop. It's an organization known 1614 01:23:49.920 --> 01:23:52.000 for its development. But this is a new staff, it's 1615 01:23:52.000 --> 01:23:55.039 a new front office, and if they can develop players, 1616 01:23:55.079 --> 01:23:57.039 Walker is going to be ourt example, because this is 1617 01:23:57.159 --> 01:23:59.680 year three and it's just as different after you've done 1618 01:23:59.720 --> 01:24:00.720 something for a while. 1619 01:24:01.239 --> 01:24:02.760 And he's had a couple of off nights. 1620 01:24:02.760 --> 01:24:05.479 He wasn't great against Golden State, he wasn't great against Sacramento. 1621 01:24:06.000 --> 01:24:09.319 But overall, this to me is the one piece of 1622 01:24:09.359 --> 01:24:11.399 the start where I go okay, that's like an A 1623 01:24:11.560 --> 01:24:12.640 plus start for him. 1624 01:24:13.239 --> 01:24:13.439 You know. 1625 01:24:13.520 --> 01:24:17.199 Overall on the season, his splits are really really impressive, 1626 01:24:17.640 --> 01:24:20.520 and he is back to what we saw at the start. 1627 01:24:20.279 --> 01:24:21.920 Of the career and he's actually playing better. 1628 01:24:21.960 --> 01:24:25.000 He's double digit points, he's ten points, he's twelve boards. 1629 01:24:25.319 --> 01:24:28.680 He's four offensive rebounds tonight, which is a massive number. 1630 01:24:29.119 --> 01:24:33.399 He's blocking three shots tonight, and ultimately, to me, again, 1631 01:24:33.560 --> 01:24:37.319 as a result of this quote development situation, we need 1632 01:24:37.359 --> 01:24:39.319 to see what he's about year three, What has stood 1633 01:24:39.359 --> 01:24:41.439 out most to you about what I perceive to be 1634 01:24:41.520 --> 01:24:44.079 the brightest spot of the start to the jazz season. 1635 01:24:44.960 --> 01:24:47.000 I think you got to get credit My first song 1636 01:24:47.039 --> 01:24:49.439 when you asked a question was Will Hardy. I think 1637 01:24:49.479 --> 01:24:53.960 that he has not let up on on Walker, and 1638 01:24:54.000 --> 01:24:56.279 I think he's encouraged him at the same time. Look, 1639 01:24:56.319 --> 01:25:01.359 coaching is you have to have a psychology degree alongside, 1640 01:25:01.840 --> 01:25:04.520 and you have to know your players. Their personality is 1641 01:25:04.560 --> 01:25:07.039 what switch to turn on, which one to turn off. 1642 01:25:07.399 --> 01:25:10.000 I think he's been brilliant with Walker, I really do. 1643 01:25:10.239 --> 01:25:12.840 He's been hard on him, you know what. He's been 1644 01:25:12.960 --> 01:25:16.239 very public about that conversation about quit looking at me, 1645 01:25:16.760 --> 01:25:20.319 you know, and Walker has He's finally grown, he's maturing, 1646 01:25:20.800 --> 01:25:23.399 he understands who he is, and he's finding little bits 1647 01:25:23.399 --> 01:25:26.760 of confidence spence along the way. And the Chicago game 1648 01:25:26.920 --> 01:25:29.680 was just another piece of the puzzle. So I give 1649 01:25:29.720 --> 01:25:32.760 Will a lot of credit for just helping him along 1650 01:25:32.920 --> 01:25:36.479 and through last years at times a bit of a debacle. 1651 01:25:36.640 --> 01:25:39.439 But I've talked to Walker a ton and he knew 1652 01:25:39.720 --> 01:25:42.560 he's left hand dominant. So when he heard his elbow, 1653 01:25:42.640 --> 01:25:45.000 the left elbow, he knew that he wasn't going to 1654 01:25:45.039 --> 01:25:47.880 be able to perform and couldn't perform at the level 1655 01:25:47.960 --> 01:25:49.960 he won. And so what happens during the you know, 1656 01:25:49.960 --> 01:25:52.880 people always say this, oh the sophomore slump. It bit him, 1657 01:25:53.159 --> 01:25:55.520 and how do you respond to it? Spence, That's the 1658 01:25:55.520 --> 01:26:00.000 biggest thing Hardy I think has helped helped Walker come back, 1659 01:26:00.720 --> 01:26:03.239 grow up and go out and play with a bit 1660 01:26:03.359 --> 01:26:06.600 more of a Now he's not a mean guy, but 1661 01:26:06.720 --> 01:26:10.000 on the floor he can least express it, right, he can. 1662 01:26:10.079 --> 01:26:13.079 He can play with some high level energy and those 1663 01:26:13.159 --> 01:26:15.960 numbers you spoke of, he's shooting sixty six percent from 1664 01:26:15.960 --> 01:26:19.239 the floor, he has the three plus block shots, and 1665 01:26:19.279 --> 01:26:22.319 the guy's rebounding nearly twelve boards a night and average 1666 01:26:22.359 --> 01:26:26.079 in ten. So that's that's a big man who's making 1667 01:26:26.119 --> 01:26:28.960 a difference on this team. And you know, the point 1668 01:26:29.039 --> 01:26:33.039 is if they can develop Walker Kesser from basically just 1669 01:26:33.159 --> 01:26:35.640 kind of a babyfaced kid out of Auburn and make 1670 01:26:35.720 --> 01:26:39.359 him into you know, a legitimate big who can run 1671 01:26:39.399 --> 01:26:42.039 the floor and still has to improve his free throws, 1672 01:26:42.399 --> 01:26:45.039 but that is that developmental parts bench you speak of. 1673 01:26:45.279 --> 01:26:49.000 The Jazz have done very well, but this is Will's baby, right, 1674 01:26:49.319 --> 01:26:52.560 this is Will's first test. Can you develop a guy 1675 01:26:53.000 --> 01:26:56.960 and make him into an All Star or close to 1676 01:26:57.039 --> 01:26:59.600 it and be an integral part of your starting five? 1677 01:27:00.159 --> 01:27:03.039 All right, Craig, before I say you lose, Tonight's an 1678 01:27:03.039 --> 01:27:06.159 interesting game. And I try to stay tuned into Milwaukee 1679 01:27:06.159 --> 01:27:09.720 games because we cheer for Dame around here. Milwaukee's an 1680 01:27:09.720 --> 01:27:12.680 eight point five point favorite. From what I have in 1681 01:27:12.720 --> 01:27:15.399 front of me. As far as the injuries go, right now, 1682 01:27:15.439 --> 01:27:17.520 we know that Chris Middleton is out. He hasn't played 1683 01:27:17.520 --> 01:27:20.560 this year, and it looks like, yeah, exactly, and it 1684 01:27:20.600 --> 01:27:25.000 looks like Giannis is questionable from what I'm seeing, Yes, okay, yeah, 1685 01:27:25.039 --> 01:27:30.000 and then Lowry questionable, Clarkson questionable, and Isaiah Callier questionable 1686 01:27:30.000 --> 01:27:30.359 as well. 1687 01:27:30.399 --> 01:27:32.319 So let's start with a helped up date. What do 1688 01:27:32.319 --> 01:27:34.000 you know about the health of both teams right now? 1689 01:27:34.800 --> 01:27:36.720 Well, I do know that the three players of the 1690 01:27:36.840 --> 01:27:40.079 Jazz you just mentioned have all been upgraded a probable. Okay, 1691 01:27:40.279 --> 01:27:43.239 So I think we're gonna see Lowry, We're gonna see 1692 01:27:43.680 --> 01:27:46.920 JC and you know what, I'm anxious to see Callier 1693 01:27:47.920 --> 01:27:50.239 kind of more of a bulldog point guard who was 1694 01:27:50.479 --> 01:27:55.880 basically raised as a point guard, unlike Keyante who's making strides, 1695 01:27:55.960 --> 01:27:58.439 but Caller will be an interesting fit. That means no 1696 01:27:58.560 --> 01:28:00.760 minutes for Patty mill and that was kind of the 1697 01:28:00.760 --> 01:28:04.960 plan anyway. But to fit marketing back in means less 1698 01:28:05.000 --> 01:28:08.479 minutes for Philipowski. If you get JC back in, you 1699 01:28:08.520 --> 01:28:11.600 probably won't see much of Johnny Guzaning or Bryce Senza baw. 1700 01:28:12.039 --> 01:28:15.479 But I still think you'll see minutes. Uh and depends 1701 01:28:15.520 --> 01:28:18.159 on how Will wants to to to divide those up. 1702 01:28:18.399 --> 01:28:20.640 I haven't heard any update since I walked in here 1703 01:28:20.680 --> 01:28:23.960 to the pressure room yet on onto Tcombo. Look he's 1704 01:28:23.960 --> 01:28:26.560 been He was as listed as a hip then than 1705 01:28:26.600 --> 01:28:30.680 a right adductor. I'm not really sure you know what's 1706 01:28:30.720 --> 01:28:33.920 going on? Look there, just it's not between you and 1707 01:28:33.920 --> 01:28:37.319 I because everyone's listening. But Milwaukee's won in six man, 1708 01:28:37.439 --> 01:28:40.199 they've lost six in a row after their opening night 1709 01:28:40.239 --> 01:28:43.840 win against Philly, and things aren't good here and there's 1710 01:28:43.880 --> 01:28:46.720 a lot of heat, you know, mentioned in the local 1711 01:28:46.960 --> 01:28:50.640 press and around the country. Hey, what's up with Milwaukee 1712 01:28:50.680 --> 01:28:53.840 and Doc? So you know they made the change last year, 1713 01:28:54.319 --> 01:28:58.079 they moved Adrian Griffin out and then Doc comes in. 1714 01:28:58.239 --> 01:29:00.199 So I don't know, it's going to be interesting to 1715 01:29:00.199 --> 01:29:01.760 get a field when I get out on the floor 1716 01:29:01.800 --> 01:29:03.880 here in a bit to kind of see what's going on. 1717 01:29:03.920 --> 01:29:05.479 But they haven't won a home game, by the way, 1718 01:29:05.720 --> 01:29:08.479 They're zero and two and their only win was on 1719 01:29:08.520 --> 01:29:11.199 the road in Philadelphia and that was on opening nights. 1720 01:29:11.279 --> 01:29:16.199 So interesting to see if Giannis is bucking for change 1721 01:29:16.439 --> 01:29:19.880 or if he's actually hurt. But Lillard, you know, can't 1722 01:29:19.920 --> 01:29:22.279 carry this team alone. They don't have the deepest bench 1723 01:29:22.359 --> 01:29:25.199 except for Bobby Portis, who I like a lot and 1724 01:29:25.319 --> 01:29:27.359 you know about the way he plays. He's just you know, 1725 01:29:27.520 --> 01:29:31.640 consistent guy coming off the bench. But it's interesting to 1726 01:29:31.640 --> 01:29:34.720 see how the Jazz respond tonight. They come in with confidence, spence. 1727 01:29:35.159 --> 01:29:37.560 And this is where you have to wonder as a 1728 01:29:37.640 --> 01:29:41.159 Jazz fan, how many wins you know, do you really 1729 01:29:41.159 --> 01:29:44.239 actually want to put in your pocket? Right And you know, 1730 01:29:44.239 --> 01:29:46.159 with this young team, but Will wants to win. He 1731 01:29:46.239 --> 01:29:49.520 wants these guys to jump and make progress. And then 1732 01:29:49.520 --> 01:29:53.159 I could be an interesting scenario with a team Milwaukee 1733 01:29:53.239 --> 01:29:54.920 I'm speaking of. This seems that a little be a 1734 01:29:54.960 --> 01:29:56.760 little bit upside down, all. 1735 01:29:56.720 --> 01:29:58.920 Right, Bouler roll, I appreciate the time from the road. 1736 01:29:59.000 --> 01:30:00.880 Have a great call, Tony and Hopefully we can see 1737 01:30:00.880 --> 01:30:01.840 you back in the studio soon. 1738 01:30:01.880 --> 01:30:04.920 Okay, all right, so soon. 1739 01:30:04.800 --> 01:30:06.920 All right, Craig Bowlerjack, We'll be on the call tonight. 1740 01:30:06.960 --> 01:30:10.079 It's a jazzer taking on Milwaukee. We'll see which players 1741 01:30:10.399 --> 01:30:14.560 actually participate because NBA basketball these days, you never know. 1742 01:30:15.279 --> 01:30:17.079 Rought to you by our friends at Big od Tires 1743 01:30:17.159 --> 01:30:19.560 right now, it's their fall into saving sale. You can 1744 01:30:19.560 --> 01:30:21.720 get eighty to one hundred and twenty dollars off select 1745 01:30:21.720 --> 01:30:24.119 set of tires. 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Visit big otires dot com 1754 01:30:51.720 --> 01:30:53.399 to find a location near you. 1755 01:30:53.399 --> 01:30:55.600 You do a little hockey the Utah Hockey Club back 1756 01:30:55.640 --> 01:30:57.239 at Action. Neil Smith is our guest. 1757 01:30:58.119 --> 01:31:02.479 We got Stevenson, Sylvester Rowan, talk some Utah BYU football, 1758 01:31:02.520 --> 01:31:05.560 get to some NFL with Sly as well. So we've 1759 01:31:05.560 --> 01:31:08.159 done mostly college football today, a little Utah jazz, but 1760 01:31:08.199 --> 01:31:10.880 how about a little Utah Hockey Club as the Utah 1761 01:31:10.880 --> 01:31:13.359 Hockey Club is in Saint Louis to take on the Blues, 1762 01:31:13.399 --> 01:31:16.439 which is just hilarious for so many different reasons. 1763 01:31:16.439 --> 01:31:17.760 Been a rough stretch for the guys. 1764 01:31:17.800 --> 01:31:19.960 Our next guest joins us on a weekly basis, the 1765 01:31:19.960 --> 01:31:23.560 Great Neil Smith, former GM of the Rangers the Islanders. 1766 01:31:23.600 --> 01:31:26.880 He's a hockey life for Neil. First of all, Happy Thursday. 1767 01:31:26.920 --> 01:31:28.199 Second of all, how you feeling. 1768 01:31:29.720 --> 01:31:31.920 I'm feeling a little bit better, but my voice doesn't 1769 01:31:31.960 --> 01:31:34.720 sound like it. But I yesterday I got to tell you, Spence, 1770 01:31:34.880 --> 01:31:39.239 was an amazing awakening when I was sitting in my computer, 1771 01:31:39.359 --> 01:31:42.159 looking at stats, looking at things, ready for your call, 1772 01:31:42.199 --> 01:31:46.079 and then realized I can't talk. I have no voice, 1773 01:31:46.680 --> 01:31:50.399 so we had to delay this. But I'm feeling good. 1774 01:31:50.560 --> 01:31:51.079 How about you. 1775 01:31:51.279 --> 01:31:54.479 I'm well and I feel that because being in this business, 1776 01:31:54.560 --> 01:31:57.119 like the voice is the moneymaker. So if I run 1777 01:31:57.159 --> 01:32:00.159 into some allergies or a cold, it changes the entire thing. 1778 01:32:00.359 --> 01:32:03.000 You've only been in this business for a little while, Neil. 1779 01:32:03.039 --> 01:32:04.560 Back in the day, you could lose your voice and 1780 01:32:04.600 --> 01:32:06.199 still go build. 1781 01:32:05.960 --> 01:32:07.920 A hockey club. It's a different thing when you're talking 1782 01:32:07.920 --> 01:32:08.399 to a mike. 1783 01:32:08.479 --> 01:32:12.640 Yeah, yoh, for sure it's and when you're on TV 1784 01:32:12.880 --> 01:32:17.720 it's even more complicated. But radio, you're only a voice, 1785 01:32:17.760 --> 01:32:21.560 that's all you are. So if you've got no voice 1786 01:32:21.640 --> 01:32:24.159 or a Larnux trouble, stay off the radio. 1787 01:32:24.039 --> 01:32:25.039 Yes, sir, all right. 1788 01:32:25.479 --> 01:32:29.279 After a red hot start, things have crashed pretty mightily 1789 01:32:29.319 --> 01:32:32.039 for the Utah Hockey Club. They're two and eight in 1790 01:32:32.119 --> 01:32:35.960 their last ten games and Connor Ingram and I'm gonna 1791 01:32:36.000 --> 01:32:37.920 need you to help me understand this because I don't 1792 01:32:37.920 --> 01:32:40.159 want to put it all. I understand in hockey you 1793 01:32:40.199 --> 01:32:42.960 can't put it all on the goaltender. And Connor is 1794 01:32:43.000 --> 01:32:45.880 a quality goalie, He's going to be fine. But five 1795 01:32:45.960 --> 01:32:48.479 two and three with an eight eight one save percentage 1796 01:32:48.479 --> 01:32:52.039 and a three point five seven goals against average. According 1797 01:32:52.079 --> 01:32:55.439 to stat Elites, he has a minus seven goals saved 1798 01:32:55.439 --> 01:32:58.479 above expected after finishing with a plus three point four 1799 01:32:58.560 --> 01:33:02.720 goals saved above expected last year. How much of the 1800 01:33:02.920 --> 01:33:05.720 leaky defense is on the goalie? And how much of 1801 01:33:05.760 --> 01:33:09.520 it's on the group. They just can't stop teams right now, Well, I. 1802 01:33:09.880 --> 01:33:12.520 Think that there's enough to go around. I think there's 1803 01:33:12.560 --> 01:33:14.560 some on Connor Ingram. He's not playing up to the 1804 01:33:14.640 --> 01:33:17.119 level that he can play at in the NHL. To 1805 01:33:17.119 --> 01:33:19.199 be a starting goaltender, you've got to be at nine 1806 01:33:19.279 --> 01:33:22.479 hundred save percentage, which means an easy math that you're 1807 01:33:22.479 --> 01:33:25.960 allowing one goal on every ten shots. You can't be 1808 01:33:26.039 --> 01:33:28.079 letting more than that, and you can't have a goals 1809 01:33:28.079 --> 01:33:30.960 against some three point five seven. Now, having said that, 1810 01:33:31.399 --> 01:33:35.199 with Thrsey out and Marino out and them trying to 1811 01:33:35.239 --> 01:33:40.119 fill that void with other guys, you know, they're trying 1812 01:33:40.199 --> 01:33:43.640 to get better defensively with their defenseman, but it's going 1813 01:33:43.720 --> 01:33:45.359 to have to be a team effort. It's going to 1814 01:33:45.399 --> 01:33:49.520 have to be everybody locking down the opposition because when 1815 01:33:49.520 --> 01:33:53.000 you're missing two key defensemen like that, the forwards can't 1816 01:33:53.039 --> 01:33:56.239 take the chances that they would normally take. So they've 1817 01:33:56.279 --> 01:34:00.119 got to be a little bit more conservative and help out. 1818 01:34:00.640 --> 01:34:03.279 So the offense continues to be fine. 1819 01:34:04.039 --> 01:34:05.960 It was never going to be what it was to 1820 01:34:05.960 --> 01:34:07.800 start the year, because what it was to start the 1821 01:34:07.880 --> 01:34:11.279 year was historic, but you know, more often than not 1822 01:34:11.520 --> 01:34:12.479 they did get shut out. 1823 01:34:12.479 --> 01:34:14.079 And I will get to Winnipeg in a moment. 1824 01:34:14.119 --> 01:34:17.159 I don't know what's going on with Winnipeg, but you 1825 01:34:17.199 --> 01:34:19.560 know the Utackey club was able to get three against 1826 01:34:19.560 --> 01:34:21.399 the Golden Knights four against the Sharks. 1827 01:34:21.880 --> 01:34:24.359 Yeah, but it hasn't been what it was. 1828 01:34:24.439 --> 01:34:25.920 So if we moved to the other side of the 1829 01:34:26.000 --> 01:34:28.319 equation and leave the defense behind, and I'm sure they're 1830 01:34:28.359 --> 01:34:31.039 all intertwined, why do you think the offense has not 1831 01:34:31.039 --> 01:34:33.439 been able to keep up with the pace it's. 1832 01:34:33.000 --> 01:34:35.199 Set to start the year, which again was very very good. 1833 01:34:36.199 --> 01:34:39.079 Well, remember who you're playing too. I mean you got 1834 01:34:39.079 --> 01:34:41.520 to give those teams credit. I mean they're playing against 1835 01:34:41.520 --> 01:34:45.000 two really good teams. For playing Winnipeg, they're playing Vegas. 1836 01:34:45.239 --> 01:34:47.800 I mean, those are good teams. But the other thing is, 1837 01:34:47.880 --> 01:34:50.520 I think Spence, I'll go back to what I said before, 1838 01:34:50.920 --> 01:34:53.279 and that is when you're back on your heels because 1839 01:34:53.279 --> 01:34:56.359 you're not sure if you make a mistake. You don't 1840 01:34:56.399 --> 01:34:59.159 have the defenders back there that used to have, and 1841 01:34:59.199 --> 01:35:03.159 you also your goalies a little bit leaky, like the 1842 01:35:03.279 --> 01:35:08.039 Milka and Ingram Binn. Then you're not taking those offensive 1843 01:35:08.159 --> 01:35:11.680 chances to score goals the way you do when you're 1844 01:35:11.760 --> 01:35:15.359 very confident and when the group is confident, so it 1845 01:35:16.039 --> 01:35:19.479 you know, it all goes hand in hand. And especially 1846 01:35:19.520 --> 01:35:22.079 if you think when you're out on the ice, if 1847 01:35:22.079 --> 01:35:25.039 you turn the puck over, it could very easily be 1848 01:35:25.119 --> 01:35:28.279 in our net. You're going to be very conservative with 1849 01:35:28.319 --> 01:35:28.840 what you do. 1850 01:35:29.800 --> 01:35:34.439 So tonight it is the Saint Louis Blues, and ultimately 1851 01:35:34.600 --> 01:35:38.159 they've lost Robert Thomas to a fractured ankle. But two 1852 01:35:38.199 --> 01:35:40.680 point sixty nine goals per game in the blues first 1853 01:35:40.800 --> 01:35:44.760 thirteen games, twenty fourth in the NHL. But they're really 1854 01:35:44.920 --> 01:35:47.760 stout when it comes to their goalies, and they've got too. 1855 01:35:47.840 --> 01:35:49.159 It's Jordan Bennington and. 1856 01:35:49.159 --> 01:35:52.239 Joel Hoffer, so very good defensive team, but they don't 1857 01:35:52.239 --> 01:35:54.159 score a lot of goals. Preview The game for US 1858 01:35:54.199 --> 01:35:56.479 tonight is the Blues take on the Utah Hockey Club. 1859 01:35:57.359 --> 01:35:59.920 Well, they're playing Joel Hoffer in net tonight according to 1860 01:36:00.319 --> 01:36:04.119 the sources that I have, but his save percentage is 1861 01:36:04.159 --> 01:36:06.880 three point thirty nine, so there's some holes there. They 1862 01:36:06.920 --> 01:36:09.640 allow a lot of shots, but so does you taught 1863 01:36:09.640 --> 01:36:12.880 you to allows almost thirty just under thirty shots a game, 1864 01:36:13.520 --> 01:36:15.600 So they're going to have to tighten that up. But 1865 01:36:16.560 --> 01:36:19.880 interesting guys to look for tonight. Cairo is their best 1866 01:36:19.880 --> 01:36:24.800 offensive player. He's got eleven points in thirteen games. Proberg 1867 01:36:24.880 --> 01:36:27.359 that they signed from the Edmonton Oilers on an off 1868 01:36:27.399 --> 01:36:30.119 for sheets having a good start to his season. And 1869 01:36:30.680 --> 01:36:35.560 he's a defenseman. And Perako is also a defenseman. Two 1870 01:36:35.600 --> 01:36:39.359 out of their three top scorers on their team or defenseman. 1871 01:36:40.600 --> 01:36:44.800 But they'll they'll, they'll play hard for sure, and they 1872 01:36:44.880 --> 01:36:47.079 all they always do, the Blues always do. But Hofer 1873 01:36:47.199 --> 01:36:48.199 will be in that tonight. 1874 01:36:49.079 --> 01:36:51.520 All right, Let's get back to a couple of the 1875 01:36:51.560 --> 01:36:54.319 teams that I referenced, and you know, we we were 1876 01:36:54.359 --> 01:36:55.800 discussing the hot start. 1877 01:36:55.560 --> 01:36:57.760 For Winnipeg a couple of weeks ago. 1878 01:36:58.279 --> 01:37:00.239 But it's one thing to have a hot start, but 1879 01:37:00.319 --> 01:37:02.479 eight straight wins to start the season, that sided for 1880 01:37:02.520 --> 01:37:06.239 the third longest streak in NHL history. Through twelve games, 1881 01:37:06.319 --> 01:37:09.199 fifty nine goals, that's the highest total in their first 1882 01:37:09.239 --> 01:37:12.399 twelve games since the nineteen ninety five ninety six Penguin 1883 01:37:12.479 --> 01:37:17.439 scored sixty three times. That's Mario Lemieux, Jarmar Yager, Ron, 1884 01:37:17.520 --> 01:37:21.640 Francis serge Zubov, a phenomenal team to play NHL on 1885 01:37:22.520 --> 01:37:24.800 the PlayStation with which I did back in the day. 1886 01:37:25.359 --> 01:37:29.239 So what what stands out most about what really is 1887 01:37:29.479 --> 01:37:31.279 a historic start from Winnipeg. 1888 01:37:33.239 --> 01:37:37.439 Well, Kyle Connor stands out to me as playing out 1889 01:37:37.520 --> 01:37:39.800 of his mind this year is as a forward, as 1890 01:37:39.840 --> 01:37:43.760 an offensive player, and Connor Helibuk, who won the Visita 1891 01:37:43.880 --> 01:37:48.640 last year, is playing doesn't Atrophy hockey again. So you know, 1892 01:37:48.800 --> 01:37:51.600 those are the two guys that are really standing out 1893 01:37:51.640 --> 01:37:53.720 and above everybody. But to have a record like they 1894 01:37:53.800 --> 01:37:56.600 have at twelve and one, you've got to have everybody 1895 01:37:57.199 --> 01:38:02.560 you know on all play, all cylinders, and everything for 1896 01:38:02.680 --> 01:38:05.119 them is going good. I mean, their their power play 1897 01:38:05.600 --> 01:38:10.640 is at forty four percent. Their penalty killing has been 1898 01:38:11.239 --> 01:38:14.079 you know, middle of the pack, but it's that's still 1899 01:38:14.119 --> 01:38:18.960 pretty good. So they're you know, they're goals for or 1900 01:38:19.079 --> 01:38:24.159 four point seven. They lead the league with that. They've 1901 01:38:24.319 --> 01:38:26.960 just had a terrific start. But if you want me 1902 01:38:27.000 --> 01:38:31.119 to pick out a couple of players also on Morrissey 1903 01:38:31.199 --> 01:38:34.159 on defense has been great for them. But Kyle Connor 1904 01:38:34.239 --> 01:38:36.520 and Hellibuck and Morrissey, they've all been really good. 1905 01:38:37.039 --> 01:38:39.720 Let me ask you about a story before I set 1906 01:38:39.760 --> 01:38:43.640 you loose egoork In, the goalie for the Rangers. We've 1907 01:38:43.680 --> 01:38:46.399 been waiting for news on this potential extension. It sounds 1908 01:38:46.600 --> 01:38:49.000 you're teasing it, Neil. Do you have any any meat 1909 01:38:49.079 --> 01:38:50.039 on the bone you can share? 1910 01:38:51.199 --> 01:38:53.119 Not really, I mean other than I'm just you know, 1911 01:38:53.239 --> 01:38:57.680 you hear things, and you hear that things are you know, 1912 01:38:57.920 --> 01:39:01.399 heating up? What that means? Who knows. But you would 1913 01:39:01.479 --> 01:39:05.079 think that the Rangers would be anxious to get them 1914 01:39:05.159 --> 01:39:08.079 signed and not let them get near free agency. So 1915 01:39:09.680 --> 01:39:12.239 I would imagine that there's something going on in the 1916 01:39:12.319 --> 01:39:17.920 background between the h and kushchu Stirk and Chris Drewy. 1917 01:39:18.800 --> 01:39:20.800 All right, Neil, got a lot of new hockey fans 1918 01:39:20.840 --> 01:39:21.359 in the market. 1919 01:39:21.439 --> 01:39:24.439 Where can they go find your podcast that you guys 1920 01:39:24.520 --> 01:39:26.479 release often during the week. 1921 01:39:27.399 --> 01:39:30.359 Yeah, we had Bill Darn the GM of Minnesota on 1922 01:39:30.520 --> 01:39:34.479 this week and it's on every platform, NHL Wrap Around, 1923 01:39:34.600 --> 01:39:39.000 you can find it on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, anywhere that 1924 01:39:39.159 --> 01:39:42.760 you can find podcasts, you'll find it. And it's been 1925 01:39:42.800 --> 01:39:44.720 a lot of fun. And we're doing it three times 1926 01:39:44.760 --> 01:39:49.479 a week Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And give it a listen. 1927 01:39:50.720 --> 01:39:53.000 Neil, thank you, sir. I always appreciate the time. Get 1928 01:39:53.039 --> 01:39:55.159 that voice ready to roll, and we'll get you back 1929 01:39:55.199 --> 01:39:55.720 on next week. 1930 01:39:55.760 --> 01:39:58.479 All right, I'll sound like a different man next week. 1931 01:39:58.600 --> 01:39:59.479 There you go, There you go. 1932 01:39:59.600 --> 01:40:02.439 The great Neil Smith built a juggernaut of a New 1933 01:40:02.520 --> 01:40:04.720 York Ranger hockey team that want a Stanley Cup in 1934 01:40:04.760 --> 01:40:08.439 the nineties. Also general manager of the Islanders. He was 1935 01:40:08.479 --> 01:40:11.000 the head scout for the Red Wings when they were 1936 01:40:11.079 --> 01:40:11.960 kind of at their heyday. 1937 01:40:12.039 --> 01:40:12.680 He's on Twitter. 1938 01:40:12.800 --> 01:40:15.439 You can find the links to his work at NYC 1939 01:40:15.680 --> 01:40:17.640 Neil Smith is where you find him. You can follow 1940 01:40:17.680 --> 01:40:21.560 the podcast at NHL wrap Around is where you get that. 1941 01:40:21.680 --> 01:40:21.960 All right. 1942 01:40:21.960 --> 01:40:23.439 I want to tell you about my friends at Overtime 1943 01:40:23.520 --> 01:40:27.960 Cards and Collectibles. It's the best spot for all your football, basketball, hockey, 1944 01:40:28.159 --> 01:40:31.800 MMA and even Pokemon card collecting. Buy all your favorites 1945 01:40:31.840 --> 01:40:33.479 there and even take your cards in. Maybe you have 1946 01:40:33.560 --> 01:40:36.119 some rare cards in your collection you do not even 1947 01:40:36.199 --> 01:40:39.000 know about. So that's what I did. My buddy Chris James, 1948 01:40:39.039 --> 01:40:41.479 who owns the spot over there. His wife is really 1949 01:40:41.600 --> 01:40:43.520 the brains behind the whole thing. But Chris is a 1950 01:40:43.560 --> 01:40:46.720 sweet dude. When I heard he was getting in the business, 1951 01:40:47.000 --> 01:40:51.520 I've had boxes of basketball baseball football cards in my 1952 01:40:52.119 --> 01:40:55.239 possession for years. I just I probably should have thrown 1953 01:40:55.319 --> 01:40:57.560 most of them away. I would just move them wherever 1954 01:40:57.640 --> 01:40:59.840 I would go. And so I called it, said, can 1955 01:40:59.880 --> 01:41:02.720 you look at my collection, see if there's anything of value? 1956 01:41:02.760 --> 01:41:04.560 He said, yeah, bring it in. I had a Kobe 1957 01:41:04.640 --> 01:41:07.039 Bryant fleear rookie card I did not know I had. 1958 01:41:07.520 --> 01:41:09.640 It's now sitting on my mantle. He's got a bunch 1959 01:41:09.680 --> 01:41:12.279 of stories like that. So, like me, if you're my age, 1960 01:41:12.279 --> 01:41:15.199 you probably collected cards. At one point. You're listening to 1961 01:41:15.279 --> 01:41:18.439 sports stock radio, so you're a sportsman. Grab the collection, 1962 01:41:18.760 --> 01:41:20.319 go to your parents' house, get it out of the 1963 01:41:20.359 --> 01:41:23.079 basement or wherever it is. Take it over Time Cards. 1964 01:41:23.119 --> 01:41:25.119 They'll go through it for you and they'll let you 1965 01:41:25.199 --> 01:41:27.159 know if you have anything you know it's worth holding 1966 01:41:27.199 --> 01:41:30.520 on to. So check them out online at Overtimecards and 1967 01:41:30.560 --> 01:41:35.199 Collectibles dot Com, where you can buy and trade. Gonna 1968 01:41:35.199 --> 01:41:37.279 say good night just a little bit early in time 1969 01:41:37.319 --> 01:41:40.319 for Utah women's basketball, so stay tuned for that. Good 1970 01:41:40.359 --> 01:41:45.079 time out for more Utah byu Chatter NFL. Potentially if 1971 01:41:45.079 --> 01:41:47.520 we have a little time, my guy Stevenson Sylvester on 1972 01:41:47.600 --> 01:41:49.439 a Thursday rolls by Sly. 1973 01:41:49.560 --> 01:41:50.840 Happy Thursday, buddy, how are you doing? 1974 01:41:52.119 --> 01:41:55.479 Happy Thursday? Rivalry week? What's up? 1975 01:41:55.640 --> 01:41:55.840 Brother? 1976 01:41:56.119 --> 01:41:56.479 Let's go. 1977 01:41:56.920 --> 01:41:59.399 I appreciate your time and I love the enthusiasm, So 1978 01:41:59.760 --> 01:42:02.520 let's just let's give us a little peak beyond the curtain? Man, 1979 01:42:02.560 --> 01:42:05.960 What is this week like for somebody who has played 1980 01:42:06.439 --> 01:42:08.000 in this game? What are some of the emotions that 1981 01:42:08.039 --> 01:42:08.680 are conjured up? 1982 01:42:09.800 --> 01:42:12.920 Well, I mean it depends on what level you know 1983 01:42:13.079 --> 01:42:15.960 you're at with all of this, right, Like some of 1984 01:42:16.000 --> 01:42:18.319 the young guys that haven't been familiar with it, haven't 1985 01:42:18.359 --> 01:42:24.640 been around it. There's actually a lot of other guys 1986 01:42:24.680 --> 01:42:27.279 a part of the program that you know, hasn't had time. 1987 01:42:27.319 --> 01:42:30.399 You know, this series has been on and off, you 1988 01:42:30.479 --> 01:42:34.279 know for years. But this week for guys that know, 1989 01:42:34.520 --> 01:42:38.199 like my junior and senior year, even sophomore year, that 1990 01:42:38.439 --> 01:42:43.479 had some experience with it, your blood is boiling, you know, 1991 01:42:43.600 --> 01:42:49.560 the entire week, and you're trying to really control your output, right, 1992 01:42:49.640 --> 01:42:52.239 You got to control your emotions because you don't want 1993 01:42:52.319 --> 01:42:55.720 to get too excited too early in the week and 1994 01:42:56.960 --> 01:43:00.439 you're not ready to go on Saturday. And so for me, 1995 01:43:00.600 --> 01:43:03.960 like right now Thursday, it's getting closer to the day, right, 1996 01:43:04.119 --> 01:43:07.319 you know ESPN is covering it's a big deal. The 1997 01:43:07.439 --> 01:43:10.960 city's on fire, everybody's talking about it, so everybody's talking 1998 01:43:10.960 --> 01:43:14.239 about it in the classrooms. Everybody's wearing their utah gear 1999 01:43:14.319 --> 01:43:19.039 around even more than usual, So all of those things 2000 01:43:19.119 --> 01:43:21.239 come into play. You notice those things, even the stuff 2001 01:43:21.520 --> 01:43:24.319 that's not said. You just feel it in the air, 2002 01:43:24.479 --> 01:43:27.000 you know, feeling. I've been playing Phil Collins in the 2003 01:43:27.000 --> 01:43:30.279 air of night all week. This week, this has been 2004 01:43:30.800 --> 01:43:34.319 It's an absolutely incredible week, and as soon as that 2005 01:43:34.479 --> 01:43:37.880 kickoff happens, you really feel how important it is to 2006 01:43:37.960 --> 01:43:40.840 the community, right, like everybody knows. You can feel when 2007 01:43:40.880 --> 01:43:44.800 the crowd is live and juiced uff. Imagine them being 2008 01:43:44.920 --> 01:43:47.760 live and juic stuff during a rivalry game, and so 2009 01:43:48.319 --> 01:43:52.520 absolutely love it. This week is crazy and it's bringing 2010 01:43:52.560 --> 01:43:55.800 back great memories of me preparing for this game. Straight 2011 01:43:55.880 --> 01:43:58.560 focus and lots of intensity. 2012 01:43:59.279 --> 01:44:03.960 All right, does coach Wit prepare his team for this week? 2013 01:44:04.079 --> 01:44:07.520 What's different about Kyle's approach when it is b YU 2014 01:44:07.600 --> 01:44:09.319 week is somebody who went through at firsthand? 2015 01:44:10.960 --> 01:44:13.000 I don't. I don't really think you see him crack 2016 01:44:13.079 --> 01:44:18.479 a smile all week. I think his intensity radiates through 2017 01:44:18.840 --> 01:44:24.920 through the team, right, Like it's so weird, Like he 2018 01:44:25.079 --> 01:44:26.960 played at b with you, but he just does not 2019 01:44:27.359 --> 01:44:32.079 like him and it's it's crazy. And so you really 2020 01:44:32.159 --> 01:44:35.439 go off of your head guy, your guy in charge. 2021 01:44:35.880 --> 01:44:40.000 His vibe, his attitude really delivers through the team. So 2022 01:44:40.560 --> 01:44:43.199 his intensity, especially the way the month of October went 2023 01:44:43.279 --> 01:44:46.239 for this football team, I can just tell his intensity's 2024 01:44:46.239 --> 01:44:48.079 got to be at an all time high this week, 2025 01:44:48.479 --> 01:44:50.479 and I think that's going to radiate through the team. 2026 01:44:51.000 --> 01:44:54.079 And so and you just see his level of focus, 2027 01:44:54.159 --> 01:44:58.399 his level of intensity. That impacts us as players. Sorry 2028 01:44:58.439 --> 01:45:02.079 I'm uncle Rico. I'm saying U. It impacts the players 2029 01:45:03.600 --> 01:45:07.039 and they increase their level of focus, their level of intensity. 2030 01:45:07.359 --> 01:45:09.600 So I think he's a big proponent to how this 2031 01:45:09.720 --> 01:45:10.399 game is going to go. 2032 01:45:10.880 --> 01:45:13.199 So you're gonna be good with this because there's this 2033 01:45:13.479 --> 01:45:17.640 narrative going throughout the community this week about the fact 2034 01:45:17.680 --> 01:45:20.159 that only nine Utah players out of one hundred and 2035 01:45:20.199 --> 01:45:23.520 twenty five have played BYU and there's only a handful 2036 01:45:23.560 --> 01:45:26.880 of BYU players that have played against Utah, and both 2037 01:45:27.000 --> 01:45:30.279 rosters are littered with out of state kids. So as 2038 01:45:30.279 --> 01:45:33.560 someone who grew up elsewhere and then came here to 2039 01:45:33.800 --> 01:45:38.239 play for the University of Utah. What's it like experiencing 2040 01:45:38.319 --> 01:45:40.640 this from an out of state perspective? And do you 2041 01:45:40.720 --> 01:45:44.560 think the out of state kids really understand how intense 2042 01:45:44.680 --> 01:45:45.960 this is going to be on Saturday night? 2043 01:45:47.039 --> 01:45:50.680 I gotta be honest, they won't really understand. I mean, 2044 01:45:50.760 --> 01:45:56.119 they can get And that's why the coaching of the 2045 01:45:56.359 --> 01:45:59.520 history this week is so important, right It is because 2046 01:45:59.560 --> 01:46:04.279 when the game actually happens, you're able to really understand 2047 01:46:04.319 --> 01:46:07.039 what they were talking about a week. But as an 2048 01:46:07.079 --> 01:46:10.680 outer turner, you don't get it until the game is played, 2049 01:46:11.079 --> 01:46:14.399 until the outcome has had and whether that's a win 2050 01:46:14.800 --> 01:46:17.880 or a loss, you don't really feel it until that moment. 2051 01:46:17.960 --> 01:46:20.720 You kind of get glimpses of to be able to understand. 2052 01:46:21.199 --> 01:46:25.960 But I'm telling you it's just as important the community. 2053 01:46:26.520 --> 01:46:31.640 The fans that show up your intensity, your passion throughout 2054 01:46:31.720 --> 01:46:36.560 the game will showcase to the players how important this 2055 01:46:36.720 --> 01:46:42.600 game is. The players, literally, their whole momentum, their whole 2056 01:46:43.079 --> 01:46:46.039 playing style will go off of the crowd's intensity. So 2057 01:46:46.079 --> 01:46:48.439 if the crowd is into it all game, so will 2058 01:46:48.520 --> 01:46:51.119 the players, and you're gonna get one heck of an outcome. 2059 01:46:51.560 --> 01:46:54.199 So It's just as important as the players are the 2060 01:46:54.279 --> 01:46:55.359 fans are for this game. 2061 01:46:56.159 --> 01:46:59.439 Do you have a personal favorite memory or a couple 2062 01:46:59.520 --> 01:47:03.600 of favorite memories in your time playing for Utah against Yu? 2063 01:47:05.159 --> 01:47:09.159 Man, just being able to play in the game, right, 2064 01:47:09.279 --> 01:47:12.000 to say that I played in that game is is 2065 01:47:12.079 --> 01:47:14.079 all the memory. Every single year, I could take a 2066 01:47:14.159 --> 01:47:16.880 bits and pieces from them from from when I played 2067 01:47:16.920 --> 01:47:19.159 was a long time ago, two thousand and six, thousand seven, 2068 01:47:19.159 --> 01:47:22.039 two thousand and eight, two thousand and nine. Yeah, I 2069 01:47:22.159 --> 01:47:24.119 know Utah has had like a winning streak, but I 2070 01:47:24.319 --> 01:47:26.960 was one and three against these guys, and so I 2071 01:47:27.079 --> 01:47:29.359 hate them even more because of that. I think the 2072 01:47:29.600 --> 01:47:32.920 only team that I got a losing record against, and 2073 01:47:33.119 --> 01:47:36.279 so like I that just makes me that much more 2074 01:47:36.359 --> 01:47:39.720 intense about this rivalry. I love that we we went 2075 01:47:39.880 --> 01:47:43.199 nine in a row. You know, hopefully we can get 2076 01:47:43.279 --> 01:47:45.960 back on track with the winning records and do that, 2077 01:47:46.159 --> 01:47:51.079 but yeah, man, this was this rivalry was great. The 2078 01:47:51.239 --> 01:47:56.199 moments heading down to Lavelle Edward Stadium. I absolutely love 2079 01:47:56.279 --> 01:47:59.920 going into opponent stadium, into hostile environments. I've been in 2080 01:48:00.079 --> 01:48:02.960 some of the craziest hostile environments, and I tell you, 2081 01:48:03.079 --> 01:48:05.359 Lavelle Edwards is right up there one or two or 2082 01:48:05.399 --> 01:48:08.680 three as the most hostile environment I've been in, And 2083 01:48:08.800 --> 01:48:12.760 I love it. I love the feeling of nervousness I had, 2084 01:48:13.439 --> 01:48:17.479 you know before kickoff, how how intense I was. I'man 2085 01:48:17.640 --> 01:48:21.399 from specifically two thousand and eight and two thousand and nine, 2086 01:48:21.920 --> 01:48:26.760 before that kickoff happened, I'm literally blacked out red. I 2087 01:48:26.840 --> 01:48:30.680 don't see nothing. I hear crowds, intensities, the booze, and 2088 01:48:31.039 --> 01:48:33.600 I just see that color blue, and I just I 2089 01:48:33.760 --> 01:48:36.000 want to rip it apart. Like that's just my whole 2090 01:48:36.439 --> 01:48:40.319 mentality that whole time warming up, I just looking at 2091 01:48:40.359 --> 01:48:42.600 their sideline looking for my little punk that I could 2092 01:48:42.600 --> 01:48:44.960 punk all game? What old lineman, am I going to 2093 01:48:45.039 --> 01:48:48.159 talk craft to all games? You know? Is it Dallas Reynolds? 2094 01:48:48.439 --> 01:48:48.600 You know? 2095 01:48:48.800 --> 01:48:51.159 Is it some of these other frigga dudes. I was 2096 01:48:51.600 --> 01:48:55.279 so walked in heading into the stadium before the game started. 2097 01:48:55.319 --> 01:48:57.399 And then of course the whole first quarter in the 2098 01:48:57.479 --> 01:49:00.720 rivalry game is all fights, and so I was fighting 2099 01:49:00.800 --> 01:49:03.600 that entire first quarter with all the boys, So like, yeah, 2100 01:49:03.800 --> 01:49:07.159 that's my biggest memory is is that first quarter and 2101 01:49:07.319 --> 01:49:11.119 that pregame of these rivalries, man, it is it is 2102 01:49:11.239 --> 01:49:14.800 something that a lot of people can't experience and it'll 2103 01:49:14.880 --> 01:49:15.319 be awesome. 2104 01:49:16.319 --> 01:49:16.840 I gotta know. 2105 01:49:17.279 --> 01:49:19.479 Because you played on a Utah team with guys that 2106 01:49:19.680 --> 01:49:23.600 like to talk. Who is who who talked the most smoke? Like, 2107 01:49:23.640 --> 01:49:25.439 who is the best at it on your side? 2108 01:49:26.840 --> 01:49:29.680 I mean aside from me, of course, of course, yeah, 2109 01:49:29.880 --> 01:49:33.399 we had a few. Man at first it comes to 2110 01:49:33.479 --> 01:49:35.840 mind is Terrell Cole. I don't know if a lot 2111 01:49:35.840 --> 01:49:40.680 of people remember Terill Cole. That dude he talked most. 2112 01:49:40.880 --> 01:49:43.159 He would get under everybody's skin. And I'm in a 2113 01:49:43.199 --> 01:49:45.800 group chat with him now, so I just I know 2114 01:49:45.960 --> 01:49:47.399 he still doesn't he still has. 2115 01:49:47.279 --> 01:49:47.680 It in him. 2116 01:49:47.720 --> 01:49:50.920 He's got it. He doesn't. That never left him. But 2117 01:49:51.079 --> 01:49:54.159 other guys is like Keppa Geyson, Kepa Guyson talked a 2118 01:49:54.199 --> 01:49:58.840 lot of smack. Cannapa Iliopol was great at at tagas 2119 01:49:58.880 --> 01:50:02.039 smack on the offensive side of the ball. Robert Conley, 2120 01:50:03.479 --> 01:50:07.079 you know, he he was subtle, he was more straightforward, 2121 01:50:07.199 --> 01:50:09.279 like you want to talk to and he get it 2122 01:50:09.359 --> 01:50:11.720 on the other offensive side of the ball. Jeremy Brooks. 2123 01:50:12.600 --> 01:50:14.199 I'd have to give it to Jeremy Brooks and Brick 2124 01:50:14.279 --> 01:50:18.439 has steel as being some of the biggest smack talkers 2125 01:50:18.680 --> 01:50:21.640 on when I played at Utah and then of course 2126 01:50:21.720 --> 01:50:26.520 you know me, Rojo Kepa Cole was quiet, Coult, don't 2127 01:50:26.560 --> 01:50:31.479 ever say nothing. And then everybody's favorite, the legend himself, 2128 01:50:31.520 --> 01:50:32.119 Sewn Smith. 2129 01:50:33.000 --> 01:50:35.840 Oh yes, of course Sean probably should have been one 2130 01:50:35.880 --> 01:50:37.880 of the first names I thought of. What what about 2131 01:50:38.000 --> 01:50:41.119 on the other side, did did b YU have any 2132 01:50:41.199 --> 01:50:44.399 guys that could keep up with with the talking smoke 2133 01:50:44.760 --> 01:50:47.800 that stand out from from Yeah. 2134 01:50:47.800 --> 01:50:50.239 From my experience, it was good. I can't remember anybody's names, 2135 01:50:50.279 --> 01:50:53.119 but a lot of the old linemen, you know, with 2136 01:50:53.319 --> 01:50:55.800 talk smack. And I remember in two thousand and seven 2137 01:50:55.960 --> 01:50:58.920 I was I was talking to smacking and it was 2138 01:50:58.960 --> 01:51:01.600 after a play up being an incomplete pass, and then 2139 01:51:01.640 --> 01:51:05.319 I'm coming back and he starts saying something because I 2140 01:51:05.399 --> 01:51:08.600 got by him, but like I didn't, I didn't get 2141 01:51:08.600 --> 01:51:10.760 to the quarterback and he started saying something. He said 2142 01:51:10.800 --> 01:51:13.880 something really foul, and I'm just like, you guys can 2143 01:51:13.960 --> 01:51:16.640 say that at b YU and he just started frigging 2144 01:51:16.720 --> 01:51:21.479 cracking up, laughing, and so like it's all. It's all 2145 01:51:21.600 --> 01:51:25.319 great in sport, you know, to be able to experience that. 2146 01:51:26.560 --> 01:51:29.079 Austin Collley talked a lot of smack Harvey younger, dude 2147 01:51:29.119 --> 01:51:31.399 talk a lot of smack. You know, I can't really 2148 01:51:31.479 --> 01:51:35.680 say that they started it, but they definitely contributed. He 2149 01:51:35.800 --> 01:51:39.680 definitely contributed. So Max All really didn't say much. He 2150 01:51:39.760 --> 01:51:43.960 said a lot after the game, but you know, during 2151 01:51:44.000 --> 01:51:46.520 the game, he didn't talk a lot of smack. But yeah, 2152 01:51:46.640 --> 01:51:48.960 those guys got into it. It's it's it's the same 2153 01:51:49.039 --> 01:51:50.840 over there. They probably got the same amount of guys 2154 01:51:50.880 --> 01:51:51.880 that talk smack as we do. 2155 01:51:52.560 --> 01:51:55.279 Since you brought up Max All, we had Austin colly 2156 01:51:55.359 --> 01:51:57.479 On earlier in the week, and you know, I've met 2157 01:51:57.560 --> 01:51:59.520 Max a number of times. I've interviewed him and he 2158 01:51:59.680 --> 01:52:01.840 seemed like a fine guy. I don't pretend to know 2159 01:52:02.000 --> 01:52:03.960 him at all. I don't think I've ever asked you 2160 01:52:04.199 --> 01:52:06.880 what was the reaction of the locker room, because you 2161 01:52:06.960 --> 01:52:10.399 reference Max didn't say a thing during the game and 2162 01:52:10.479 --> 01:52:12.479 then decided to run his mouth after the game, which 2163 01:52:12.520 --> 01:52:13.840 is pretty telling, to be honest. 2164 01:52:13.920 --> 01:52:16.439 But what was the reaction in the locker room. I 2165 01:52:16.520 --> 01:52:17.760 know what it was in the community. 2166 01:52:17.840 --> 01:52:20.279 He was a pariah up here, but what was the 2167 01:52:20.920 --> 01:52:23.000 reaction in the locker room when you heard what Max 2168 01:52:23.039 --> 01:52:23.439 had said? 2169 01:52:24.479 --> 01:52:28.840 Well, I mean, he said that after they won in nine, right, right, 2170 01:52:29.359 --> 01:52:34.600 that's freaking stupid O nine. And so we were in 2171 01:52:34.680 --> 01:52:37.000 the locker room. We were kind of dejected, and you know, 2172 01:52:37.399 --> 01:52:40.640 and you know, getting back to Salt Lake City before 2173 01:52:40.720 --> 01:52:42.960 we even heard that he said that. It was actually 2174 01:52:43.039 --> 01:52:46.560 on our way back to Salt Lake City that we 2175 01:52:46.720 --> 01:52:50.039 heard that, and we were all actually getting together that night, 2176 01:52:50.119 --> 01:52:52.239 so we all got to say it. You know, it 2177 01:52:52.359 --> 01:52:54.119 was my senior year, so there's nothing we could do 2178 01:52:54.239 --> 01:52:56.560 after the fact, but we kind of laughed at it. 2179 01:52:56.960 --> 01:52:59.119 We're just like because because of that fact, we knew 2180 01:52:59.199 --> 01:53:02.079 you didn't tell I smacked there in the game, but 2181 01:53:02.199 --> 01:53:06.199 you want to say that now, and so but I 2182 01:53:06.279 --> 01:53:08.720 can kind of get where he's coming from, especially the 2183 01:53:08.840 --> 01:53:13.159 year before. Our fans went absolutely him on him in 2184 01:53:13.199 --> 01:53:15.520 two thousand and eight, and I loved every bit of it. 2185 01:53:15.800 --> 01:53:17.680 So I hope our fans do the same thing to 2186 01:53:18.319 --> 01:53:21.840 Jake Retzlaus this year so he can get baptized into 2187 01:53:21.920 --> 01:53:26.079 this holy war and the right way. And but yeah, 2188 01:53:26.760 --> 01:53:28.319 I don't know. I ain't had much from it because 2189 01:53:28.319 --> 01:53:29.920 there was nothing that we could do because we didn't 2190 01:53:29.920 --> 01:53:33.119 play them again after the fact, But we just laughed 2191 01:53:33.119 --> 01:53:34.399 at it because we knew that. I was like, oh, 2192 01:53:34.439 --> 01:53:37.520 you wasn't talking no smack in the game, but she was. 2193 01:53:38.399 --> 01:53:40.720 You definitely want to say something that's with that, all. 2194 01:53:40.680 --> 01:53:43.079 Right, Sli, I want you to help me understand something here, 2195 01:53:43.119 --> 01:53:45.680 because most of the defensive numbers for Utah football are 2196 01:53:45.800 --> 01:53:48.279 very good, and most of the metrics indicate the defense 2197 01:53:48.399 --> 01:53:50.399 is very good, and I believe that that's the case. 2198 01:53:50.479 --> 01:53:54.960 But they're last and fumbles forced their last and fumbles recovered. 2199 01:53:55.239 --> 01:53:56.199 This isn't a conference. 2200 01:53:56.239 --> 01:54:01.199 They're ninth in interceptions and they're eleventh's me, twelfth in sacks. 2201 01:54:01.920 --> 01:54:04.840 So usually the things that we see from a Utah 2202 01:54:05.159 --> 01:54:10.319 defense are havoc plays and turnovers and pressure in the quarterback. 2203 01:54:10.359 --> 01:54:13.159 So yeah, it's a good defense. It's number one in 2204 01:54:13.279 --> 01:54:16.439 overall scoring defense. They're top three in the or excuse me, 2205 01:54:16.479 --> 01:54:20.239 their top six in the country. First down and third down, 2206 01:54:20.439 --> 01:54:22.840 so they put you in difficult situations. It's hard for 2207 01:54:22.920 --> 01:54:26.079 teams to convert third downs. But tell me why from 2208 01:54:26.239 --> 01:54:28.920 your vantage point, Utah football has not been able to 2209 01:54:29.439 --> 01:54:32.359 really pressure the quarterback or force turnovers in a way 2210 01:54:32.399 --> 01:54:33.199 that we're accustomed to. 2211 01:54:33.239 --> 01:54:37.840 Scene This is such a great question. I kind of 2212 01:54:37.880 --> 01:54:41.920 talked about it on Steve Bartell's pardcast last week or 2213 01:54:42.359 --> 01:54:43.960 was it last week? Yeah, I think it was last week. 2214 01:54:45.560 --> 01:54:50.000 Very crazy to look at that, Right, you're doing so 2215 01:54:50.119 --> 01:54:52.159 well in first and third down, but you're also at 2216 01:54:52.199 --> 01:54:56.520 the bottom in these other categories. And sadly this happened, 2217 01:54:56.600 --> 01:55:03.159 and it happens because of the position that you're put in. Right, Sacks, turnovers, 2218 01:55:03.279 --> 01:55:08.760 having plays happen because you're able to pin your ears 2219 01:55:08.840 --> 01:55:11.960 back and get after the other team. Right, this defense 2220 01:55:12.000 --> 01:55:14.520 has not been in a position where we're being able 2221 01:55:14.560 --> 01:55:17.920 to pin our ears back and get after the other team. 2222 01:55:18.319 --> 01:55:22.479 We've had to really be conservative on the defensive side 2223 01:55:22.520 --> 01:55:25.680 of the ball. You know, we've blitzed a few times, 2224 01:55:26.079 --> 01:55:28.319 but we've had to be conservative because it's just like 2225 01:55:28.800 --> 01:55:32.359 just like in the TCU game. Right, you let TCU's 2226 01:55:32.399 --> 01:55:34.079 offense drive all the way down the field on the 2227 01:55:34.119 --> 01:55:38.000 first drive, but you create a turnover. Right, we create 2228 01:55:38.039 --> 01:55:39.920 a turnover, you give it to our offense. What does 2229 01:55:39.960 --> 01:55:44.079 our offense do with it? Absolutely nothing? And so we're 2230 01:55:44.159 --> 01:55:45.920 deep in our own side of the field and we 2231 01:55:46.079 --> 01:55:48.880 have to punt out of that side. We punt forty 2232 01:55:48.960 --> 01:55:53.000 yard punt you give them, So you're giving them the 2233 01:55:53.079 --> 01:55:56.840 ball back on their own forty five to midfield, and 2234 01:55:56.920 --> 01:55:59.279 so they only have fifty yards to go. So we've 2235 01:55:59.319 --> 01:56:02.239 been having to be really conservative and not be able 2236 01:56:02.319 --> 01:56:04.560 to take risk. When you go for an interception, when 2237 01:56:04.600 --> 01:56:07.479 you go for a strip fumble, when you make all 2238 01:56:07.520 --> 01:56:10.119 those things, you go for a sack, you're taking a 2239 01:56:10.279 --> 01:56:13.600 risk in some aspect, right, You're creating some kind of 2240 01:56:13.720 --> 01:56:16.239 vulnerability in the defense. At one point. If I go 2241 01:56:16.399 --> 01:56:19.159 for a pick, if I missed that pick, this guy 2242 01:56:19.239 --> 01:56:22.119 can go over the top. Right, there's no confidence right 2243 01:56:22.159 --> 01:56:25.000 now in the defense and our offense being able to 2244 01:56:25.279 --> 01:56:28.760 get our back as a defender. Right, So if I 2245 01:56:28.840 --> 01:56:30.800 go for this risk and miss and they get in 2246 01:56:30.840 --> 01:56:32.600 a good position, they get a field goal or a touchdown, 2247 01:56:32.840 --> 01:56:36.359 can our offense come back and score. Or if I 2248 01:56:36.439 --> 01:56:39.880 take this risk, we're going to get that much further behind. 2249 01:56:40.199 --> 01:56:43.239 So I don't see our defense taking risks in order 2250 01:56:43.279 --> 01:56:45.920 to create those havoc plays. We've been having to be 2251 01:56:46.079 --> 01:56:49.640 extremely conservative because we haven't been able to play conservative 2252 01:56:50.000 --> 01:56:53.880 or complementary football. It's been very difficult in that aspect 2253 01:56:53.960 --> 01:56:56.319 for us to be able to achieve a lot of 2254 01:56:56.359 --> 01:56:58.840 the havoc plays that we're used to because of those 2255 01:56:58.880 --> 01:56:59.520 simple sacs. 2256 01:57:00.319 --> 01:57:02.279 All right, got to ask you about the quarterback position 2257 01:57:02.439 --> 01:57:06.359 because obviously it's just been the number one thing, and 2258 01:57:06.439 --> 01:57:10.520 it is the number one position. Isaac Brandon splitting reps 2259 01:57:10.960 --> 01:57:13.960 sly from my vantage point, when I heard Brandon, he 2260 01:57:14.119 --> 01:57:16.479 was made available to the media on Tuesday, which is 2261 01:57:16.560 --> 01:57:19.159 not typical. When I heard Brandon talk, he sounded like 2262 01:57:19.239 --> 01:57:21.439 a kid that's started a football game on Saturday night. 2263 01:57:21.560 --> 01:57:22.039 I don't know. 2264 01:57:22.560 --> 01:57:24.560 We have coach Wait on the show tomorrow. I'll see 2265 01:57:24.560 --> 01:57:27.079 if I can get any info in that direction. So 2266 01:57:27.479 --> 01:57:28.920 how do you think this is going to play out? 2267 01:57:29.119 --> 01:57:31.600 Do you have a preference? And ultimately is there a 2268 01:57:31.680 --> 01:57:33.520 massive difference between the two right now? 2269 01:57:35.840 --> 01:57:40.399 Well, here's the thing with practices being closed off spring 2270 01:57:40.520 --> 01:57:43.199 game not being of that telling of what's going on. 2271 01:57:43.880 --> 01:57:46.199 We're just privy to the information that the coaches have 2272 01:57:46.319 --> 01:57:49.640 given us in the offseason and during practices and stuff, right, 2273 01:57:50.159 --> 01:57:55.840 so we can't really tell. And yes, Brandon Rose, he's 2274 01:57:55.880 --> 01:57:58.039 been a great case. He's been in his program. He's 2275 01:57:58.159 --> 01:58:01.159 had to take the back seat a lot. Even last 2276 01:58:01.199 --> 01:58:03.199 year he didn't get his opportunities and this and that. 2277 01:58:03.800 --> 01:58:06.039 So again we're going into a position where we have 2278 01:58:06.159 --> 01:58:08.479 to just rely on you know, the coaching staff making 2279 01:58:08.520 --> 01:58:10.640 the right decisions, which is what they get paid to do, 2280 01:58:11.199 --> 01:58:13.039 and put us in a position to win. 2281 01:58:13.319 --> 01:58:13.479 You know. 2282 01:58:14.479 --> 01:58:17.520 For me, I'm on the other side of this, right, 2283 01:58:17.640 --> 01:58:19.720 we don't have an opportunity to win the Big Twelve 2284 01:58:19.800 --> 01:58:23.279 Championship or get to the Big Twelve Championship, So I 2285 01:58:23.439 --> 01:58:26.840 need to make sure that my team is secure and 2286 01:58:26.920 --> 01:58:29.920 ready to go for the future, right, And so the 2287 01:58:30.039 --> 01:58:33.640 future is Isaac Wilson. To me, I think both of 2288 01:58:33.680 --> 01:58:37.920 these guys have really strong arms. I know, we're talking 2289 01:58:37.960 --> 01:58:40.680 about Isaac Wilson and he missed a couple of the 2290 01:58:40.800 --> 01:58:43.840 short flat passes in the Houston in the Houston game, 2291 01:58:44.159 --> 01:58:45.960 but there's a lot of things going on with that 2292 01:58:46.239 --> 01:58:50.920 to make that happen. But you know, confidence is key 2293 01:58:50.960 --> 01:58:55.079 in the quarterback position room and when you take the field. 2294 01:58:55.439 --> 01:58:57.840 I haven't seen enough tape on Brandon Rose to be 2295 01:58:57.960 --> 01:59:01.840 confident and say you're the guy. You're definitely better than Isaac. 2296 01:59:02.800 --> 01:59:06.079 And then of course we haven't seen Isaac with you know, 2297 01:59:06.199 --> 01:59:08.760 but Jaki and you know for more than a couple 2298 01:59:08.760 --> 01:59:11.039 of weeks and seeing how these guys can do it, 2299 01:59:11.359 --> 01:59:13.760 you know, I don't know if Isaac Wilson's confidence is 2300 01:59:13.840 --> 01:59:15.960 completely shot for the rest of this year, so you 2301 01:59:16.079 --> 01:59:18.399 have to go with Brandon Rose. I don't know if 2302 01:59:19.680 --> 01:59:24.079 you know Isaac has done enough in this by week 2303 01:59:24.159 --> 01:59:27.439 and this to to rebuild his confidence in himself to 2304 01:59:27.680 --> 01:59:30.920 to get out on the field. For me, I would 2305 01:59:30.960 --> 01:59:33.399 put Isaac in right. I'll put isa He's familiar with 2306 01:59:33.479 --> 01:59:37.039 this rivalry, he understands the intensity. And if you practice 2307 01:59:37.079 --> 01:59:40.039 with him and you've simplified this offense, you've you've given 2308 01:59:40.119 --> 01:59:44.000 him things to be able to succeed in this, then 2309 01:59:44.159 --> 01:59:46.279 you know I can. I can definitely say that he 2310 01:59:46.319 --> 01:59:48.600 can lead us to victory on Saturday. But you know, 2311 01:59:49.159 --> 01:59:51.239 of course we don't know what we don't know, so 2312 01:59:51.520 --> 01:59:53.720 I'm gonna have to wait till kickoff to know who's 2313 01:59:53.760 --> 01:59:56.840 gonna start at QB. But you know here nor there, 2314 01:59:56.960 --> 01:59:59.319 I think, uh, this team is much more than the 2315 01:59:59.399 --> 02:00:02.319 quarterback to position. So for us to keep putting oners 2316 02:00:02.359 --> 02:00:06.880 on that sole position I think is terrible. And as players, 2317 02:00:07.119 --> 02:00:11.600 the same thing. Just because Cam Rising goes out, Isaac 2318 02:00:11.640 --> 02:00:15.159 Wilson throws a bad pass, it can't demoralize the rest 2319 02:00:15.199 --> 02:00:18.239 of the team. There's so many different ways people can 2320 02:00:18.359 --> 02:00:21.920 affect the football game, and so if you can understand that, 2321 02:00:22.319 --> 02:00:25.039 we should get a lot of play out of everybody 2322 02:00:25.079 --> 02:00:28.199 else on this football team. So I'm just more so 2323 02:00:28.359 --> 02:00:31.680 waiting for that, for everybody to step up and take 2324 02:00:31.720 --> 02:00:32.880 advantage of this ribbery. 2325 02:00:33.800 --> 02:00:36.680 I feel like the start of these games are often telling, 2326 02:00:37.600 --> 02:00:39.680 and I wanted you to take us kind of beneath 2327 02:00:39.720 --> 02:00:42.560 the helmet a little bit about the tricky balance of 2328 02:00:42.680 --> 02:00:45.800 making sure you're playing very hard, as hard as you can, 2329 02:00:45.920 --> 02:00:50.359 but not getting consumed by the moment, not getting overwhelmed 2330 02:00:50.439 --> 02:00:53.159 by the intensity because at some point that will wane 2331 02:00:53.319 --> 02:00:54.920 and then it's just time to play football. 2332 02:00:55.079 --> 02:00:56.960 So what are you going to be looking for? Slide 2333 02:00:57.000 --> 02:00:58.720 right out of the gates from the utes, indicate they're 2334 02:00:58.720 --> 02:00:59.319 in a good place. 2335 02:01:00.479 --> 02:01:03.119 Well, I mean to indicate they're in a good place. 2336 02:01:03.319 --> 02:01:08.319 It's kind of different from traditional years. Right, I'm more 2337 02:01:08.600 --> 02:01:11.520 on the stage and we're on a four game losing streak, 2338 02:01:11.880 --> 02:01:16.760 So can we showcase any offense right like that? That's 2339 02:01:16.800 --> 02:01:19.600 where my head is at. That's where the importance is 2340 02:01:19.680 --> 02:01:23.239 at for me, is can we show that you know 2341 02:01:23.560 --> 02:01:25.960 we have it together, that we're playing with confidence and 2342 02:01:26.039 --> 02:01:28.159 we can make it happen. You know, the beginning of 2343 02:01:28.199 --> 02:01:31.159 this game can be whatever I've seen it throughout. The 2344 02:01:31.239 --> 02:01:34.119 rivalry go both ways, the team down South getting a 2345 02:01:34.159 --> 02:01:37.359 great start, Utah getting a great start, and in the 2346 02:01:37.479 --> 02:01:40.880 end it's completely different, right, and so one, you got 2347 02:01:41.000 --> 02:01:43.800 to be locked in throughout the game. Every single play, 2348 02:01:44.439 --> 02:01:47.720 every blade of turf grass out there is going to 2349 02:01:47.760 --> 02:01:51.239 be extremely important the entire game. Every second of best 2350 02:01:51.279 --> 02:01:54.279 sixty minute football game is going to be very, very 2351 02:01:54.560 --> 02:01:57.960 very important to some capacity in this football game. So 2352 02:01:58.359 --> 02:02:01.479 I hope these guys just understand that they can't miss 2353 02:02:01.520 --> 02:02:04.560 an opportunity when it's presented. If you have an opportunity 2354 02:02:04.640 --> 02:02:07.039 to get an interception, you've got to make it. You 2355 02:02:07.119 --> 02:02:09.560 got an opportunity to get a strip sack or make 2356 02:02:09.640 --> 02:02:12.640 a tackle, or force these guys out and punt the football. 2357 02:02:12.840 --> 02:02:15.039 You got an opportunity to catch the football. There's been 2358 02:02:15.119 --> 02:02:19.119 some drops by key players on this receiving core. Right. 2359 02:02:19.239 --> 02:02:23.039 We've seen some key drops by Dorian Singer, Micah Pittman 2360 02:02:23.760 --> 02:02:26.520 money parts before he got injured. We've seen some drops 2361 02:02:26.560 --> 02:02:30.319 from these guys. This is opportunities when it presents itself, 2362 02:02:30.880 --> 02:02:36.600 and when it presents itself, it needs to they need 2363 02:02:36.680 --> 02:02:40.039 to make that happen. And so with that being said, 2364 02:02:40.640 --> 02:02:43.119 like you can't miss your opportunity in this football game 2365 02:02:43.600 --> 02:02:46.479 and a robbery holy war game. This game is about 2366 02:02:46.520 --> 02:02:49.079 who can take advantage of the opportunities that are presented 2367 02:02:49.159 --> 02:02:49.399 to them. 2368 02:02:50.000 --> 02:02:51.680 I'm putting thirty seconds on the clock. 2369 02:02:51.760 --> 02:02:54.279 Tell us about the Tackle the Cold Coach Drive coming 2370 02:02:54.359 --> 02:02:55.079 up on Saturday. 2371 02:02:56.319 --> 02:02:59.439 Tackle the Cold Code Drive the NFLPA, which is a 2372 02:02:59.520 --> 02:03:02.960 new chat. They're here in Utah Players Association, former players 2373 02:03:03.000 --> 02:03:05.399 from the team down South, former players from Utah, former 2374 02:03:05.399 --> 02:03:08.199 players from Utah State, and then other former players from 2375 02:03:08.239 --> 02:03:10.960 around the United States live here in Utah and we 2376 02:03:11.119 --> 02:03:15.920 created a chapter with the NFL Players Association and we're 2377 02:03:15.960 --> 02:03:19.720 partnering with Utah Foster Care to provide foster kids with 2378 02:03:19.840 --> 02:03:22.760 new coachs for the winter. So if you guys have 2379 02:03:23.159 --> 02:03:25.560 in your hearts to give this season, we're doing a 2380 02:03:25.640 --> 02:03:29.359 code drive at the tailgate this weekend. Our tailgate lot 2381 02:03:29.479 --> 02:03:31.039 is right in front of the Aquatic Center and the 2382 02:03:31.079 --> 02:03:34.199 male tailgate in the main tailgate lot, and you can 2383 02:03:34.319 --> 02:03:36.680 drop off new coach. If you don't have new coach, 2384 02:03:36.760 --> 02:03:39.600 you can do gift cards or venmo at Utah Foster 2385 02:03:39.720 --> 02:03:45.039 Care Foundation on Venmo, but contribute if you can't. We 2386 02:03:45.119 --> 02:03:47.479 got to get these foster kids some new clothes for 2387 02:03:48.199 --> 02:03:49.960 the winter because it's going to be cold this year. 2388 02:03:50.000 --> 02:03:50.319 For sure. 2389 02:03:50.560 --> 02:03:52.119 Live you're the man. We'll see Saturday. 2390 02:03:52.159 --> 02:03:54.520 Okay, thanks Bence, appreciate you.