WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:07.120 It's time for coffee and company fueled by Thornton's on 2 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:23.320 Sports Talk seven nine day. Now, here's Nick coffee. 3 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:26.920 All right, let's get it started at is hour number 4 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:30.719 two here on a Friday afternoon Coffee and company fueled 5 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:33.679 by Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Less than 6 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:37.079 twenty four hours from now, we will be kicking it 7 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:39.960 off Jacksonville State coming to town to take on Louisville. Reminder, 8 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.159 we've got you covered for all the game day coverage. 9 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:45.560 Our pregame show, presented by Pellow Windows and Doors of 10 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:48.119 Central Kentucky as well as Jefferson Animal Hospital, will start 11 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:50.600 at two thirty, kickoff at three thirty, and then as 12 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:52.960 soon as it ends, come back right here to us 13 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:55.119 at Sports Talk seven ninety as we take your calls 14 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:58.560 react to whatever it is that happens on the Louisville 15 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:02.880 Football postgame Show presented by Alex White Lawyers, Suitdistracted Driver 16 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:03.600 dot com. 17 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:04.280 All right. 18 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:06.640 Joining us now to talk about the matchup the game 19 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:09.640 Cox and the Cardinals is Thomas Ashworth, who works for 20 00:01:09.719 --> 00:01:10.879 al dot com. 21 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:13.159 How are we doing, Thomas? Appreciate you making time for us. 22 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:15.239 My man, hey man doing good? 23 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:17.560 How are you doing, I'm doing okay, I'm excited. You know, 24 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:20.719 college football seasons here, I get impatient as we slowly 25 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:23.840 and you know, impatiently count down the days. But we're here, 26 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:25.879 and now we've got a Week two opponent here in 27 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:30.920 Louisville and it is Jacksonville State. How how is fans 28 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:33.280 on that end looking at this matchup? Obviously a lot 29 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:35.159 of folks in college football look at this as a 30 00:01:35.159 --> 00:01:39.799 by game. Louisville big favorites here for touchdowns plus what 31 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.319 And I know you did some coverage earlier this week 32 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:45.239 of coach Rodriguez and his comments about by games in 33 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:47.799 Alabama and all the money they pay. So just from 34 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:49.239 a and I know you can check the pulse of 35 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:52.040 the Jacksonville State fan base probably better than anybody. How 36 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:55.079 would you say they're looking at this matchup? Obviously big opportunity, 37 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:56.519 but a big challenge as well. 38 00:01:57.480 --> 00:01:59.840 I mean, especially after last week. It's no secret that 39 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:03.159 last week was just embarrassing for Jacksonville State. Just a 40 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:06.120 winnable game, kind of a game that was really back 41 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:07.879 and forth that they should have won last year and 42 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:11.560 just absolutely destroyed, you know, thirty one to three. You know, 43 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:13.919 and for Coastal Carolina and then it ended a fifty 44 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:16.759 five to twenty seven just a tough loss. But I 45 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:19.400 mean as far as just how our fans feeling, I mean, 46 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:21.560 this is one that this is a team that's always 47 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:24.039 kind of been known to be giant killers. I mean, 48 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:26.639 if you look at last season, you know, they really 49 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:29.120 took South Carolina to the brink and then even in 50 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:32.520 their FCS days, they beat Florida State in twenty twenty one, 51 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:35.800 in twenty fifteen, took a number five ranked Auburn team 52 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:39.039 to overtime, twenty ten, Beatle Miss on the road. I mean, 53 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:41.199 this is kind of a team that has that pedigree 54 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:44.039 of it's kind of that team that's like, well, there's 55 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:48.039 no real benefiting scheduling them as far as they might 56 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:50.360 beat you. But I mean this is a team that's 57 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:53.199 still you know, it's Rich Rodriguez is just a completely 58 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:55.960 different team than it ever has been in Jacksonville. Fans 59 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:57.639 are just you know, it's kind of at an all 60 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:01.080 time high right now, especially with not only FBS transition 61 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:03.800 but nine and four year last year, first team ever 62 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:05.639 in history to win a bowl game in their first 63 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.319 year of FBS competition. But as far as this matchup, 64 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:12.120 I mean, it's it's obviously tainted with a really tough 65 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.080 loss last week to Coastal Carolina, but still, I mean 66 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:17.560 it's it's one that people are excited about, and especially 67 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:19.840 the players, they're excited to get, you know, one of 68 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:21.479 these quote unquote big games. 69 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:25.240 So I'd say casual college football fans, if they just 70 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:30.479 see a score Jacksonville State Coastal Carolina, they wouldn't probably 71 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:33.280 bat an eye with whatever the result is, because those 72 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:35.560 aren't programs that the casual fans really keep up with 73 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.199 a whole lot. But that score, that result that was, 74 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:40.439 that was a big surprise. I feel like to those 75 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:43.360 that could that are familiar with with with with both programs, 76 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:44.879 to be honest with you, what what do you think 77 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:47.639 ended up leading to that being such a such a 78 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:50.000 disappointing loss? Tea get the season started when, as you mentioned, 79 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:51.840 there's clearly a lot of momentum for this program. 80 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:55.199 I mean, especially last season. I was at that Coastal 81 00:03:55.240 --> 00:03:58.120 Carolina game and it was the end score was thirty 82 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:01.039 to sixteen, but it was really back and forth. I 83 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:04.639 mean Jacksonville State led going into halftime and then just 84 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:06.800 kind of couldn't find the momentum in the second half. 85 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:09.759 It was really one of those games where rich Rod 86 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:12.039 was just more mad because he should have won that 87 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.800 game than because he lost it. But I mean, especially 88 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:17.600 in the last game, it was just turnovers were just 89 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:22.199 absolutely killing drives. I mean, quarterbacksers couldn't find their stride. 90 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:25.600 Defenders just we're kind of it was really just what 91 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:28.759 rich Rod told us is that it was more of 92 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:32.519 instead of the whole team not really giving an effort, 93 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:34.959 the whole team kind of not really understanding. It was 94 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:39.120 just one thing happening and on one play and then 95 00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:41.639 one other thing happening on the other play. So that point, 96 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:43.600 it's kind of hard to pinpoint, Okay, we need to 97 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:45.519 do this, we need to do this. So that's kind 98 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:49.360 of what piled up. But I mean they're still getting 99 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:52.120 used to this two quarterback system. I mean, Logan Smothers 100 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:55.240 was there last season, but Tyler Heuff coming in from Furman. 101 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:59.160 He's obviously had one of the best seasons in FCS 102 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:02.240 last year, but still coming in against de FBS competition 103 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:04.920 is no jug from the FCS level. But I mean 104 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:07.480 still it was just kind of couldn't find their stride, 105 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:10.480 and especially in a team that was quote unquote the 106 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:13.399 fastest team in all of college football last year. I 107 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:17.160 think averaged twenty seconds of play last season. It's it's 108 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:19.279 just whenever you know, it's a three and out in 109 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:21.759 like a minute. It's just so hard for people, for 110 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:24.800 any player to really find any kind of rhythm whenever 111 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:27.759 you're not, you know, going and being able to find something. 112 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.800 One of the most talked about things in college sports overall, 113 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:34.600 specifically college football, is the transfer portal. How has that 114 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:38.519 impacted Jacksonville State during Rich Rodriguez's time there. He's coming 115 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:41.920 off of two non win seasons to get things started there, 116 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:44.720 and I just would assume that guys who have a 117 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:46.720 lot of success are clearly going to realize they could 118 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:49.279 jump up a level. But also maybe there's some guys 119 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:51.360 that realized maybe they're going to be buried on the 120 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:53.720 depth chart with a Power five, Power four programs, so 121 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:55.920 therefore they're going to look to go to a Conference. 122 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:56.480 USA type school. 123 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:59.160 I feel like Rich Rodriguez, given his resume, given where 124 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:01.199 he's been as a coach, to the success that he's had, 125 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:03.920 that could probably be used as a benefit for you guys. 126 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:07.079 Right Comparatively speaking, other Conference USA schools may not have 127 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:09.360 a coach with the resume that Rich rod has to 128 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.839 really lure guys to kind of to kind of go 129 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:13.560 down a notch when it comes to transferring. 130 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:16.759 So, I mean you mentioned that as far as you know, 131 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:19.680 in talking to the players, it's just there were some players. 132 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:22.600 One of the two of the receivers that you'll probably see, 133 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.800 Michael Petway and PJ. Wells, they were there during Jacksonville 134 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:29.199 States Ohio Valley Conference days. They're they're old, but they've 135 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:32.160 been around and they've been there for the SCS days. 136 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:34.560 But they said, you know, just kind of in this transition. 137 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:37.079 I mean, it's just so different. I mean, playing for 138 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:40.120 Rich Rodriguez, someone who's been around for so long is 139 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:42.959 just so it's I don't know if the words are 140 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:45.879 freshing or what the word is, but it's just so different, 141 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:47.680 just such a different vibe. 142 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:51.079 Ye, he's got energy about if you go. 143 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:54.560 To a Rich Rodriguez practice, it's just like it's it 144 00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:57.079 doesn't stop if you. I think he says if if 145 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.759 you loaf, then you're an enemy or something like that. 146 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:03.160 But like he hates people walking. And there were some 147 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:06.439 guys who came from Ulm when he was offensive coordinator 148 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:09.040 at ULM, they transferred with him to Jacksonville State and 149 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:10.839 I asked them, like, what was he like, and is like, 150 00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:12.879 he was pretty much the head coach over there. He 151 00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:15.439 wasn't an offensive coordinator quote unquote. He just kind of 152 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:18.920 takes over his personality, his presence just takes over and 153 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:20.920 that's just kind of who he is and that's just 154 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:22.959 how he's been. But as far as the transfer portal, 155 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:25.240 I mean, just thinking about some of the guys off 156 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:27.319 the top of my head, I mean, there's one of 157 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:30.560 the biggest guys that they lost, Chris Hardy, huge defensive lineman. 158 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:33.959 He had a monster tackle for loss at his new program, 159 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:38.560 All Miss last week. Another guy, Larry Worth, linebacker, he 160 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:41.319 was I think he had he set some kind of 161 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:43.720 record in the New Orleans Bowl for most unassisted tackles 162 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:47.000 or something like that. But he's gone. He went to Arkansas, 163 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:50.079 and then the Jacksonville State's leading interceptions leader as well, 164 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.839 went to West Virginia. So they've really got kind of, 165 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.639 you know, they got kind of plucks in the transfer portal. 166 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:57.319 There were some other guys that went, but those are 167 00:07:57.399 --> 00:07:59.319 kind of the three guys that come to mind. Something 168 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:01.480 that rich aut All to point it out is he said, 169 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:04.319 this kind of with me being here in the kind 170 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:06.680 of program that Jacksonville State is, one of the pitches 171 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:08.920 for these guys is if they're coming from a power 172 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:11.040 five to a group of five, or if they're in 173 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:13.800 high school, the pitch can be kind of where you know, 174 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:16.079 you're not gonna stay here forever. You're not going to 175 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:19.040 stay at Jacksonville State if you're good but are elite, 176 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:21.240 but we're going to train you up to get to 177 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:23.879 that point where you'll be way better than anyone coming 178 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:26.000 out of high school that wants to go to Georgia 179 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.800 or Alabama or somewhere like that. So that's kind of 180 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:30.720 one of the pitches with these groups of five schools. 181 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:31.839 Yeah, that makes total sense. 182 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:35.360 Yeah, it may not be your destination, but we can 183 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:36.960 get you to where you want to go, and we'll 184 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:39.200 enjoy you for the one or two seasons that you're here. 185 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:42.440 You You You pretty much just answered the next question 186 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:45.039 I had, which is like that sucks right to lose 187 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:47.360 guys who were super productive and part of a successful 188 00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:51.200 campaign to lose them to Arkansas, to West Virginia to 189 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:53.759 Ole Miss like that that sucks for fans, it sucks 190 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:55.879 for the coaching staff that brought those guys and help 191 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:59.399 develop them. But that's just life. Like you it's it's inevitable. 192 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:01.720 I think you all know, like that's how it's going 193 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:03.200 to be. If you have a guys that are elite there, 194 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:05.399 they're gonna get the opportunity to jump up a notch, 195 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:08.240 so you might as well pursue the lower level recruits 196 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:11.080 and kind of pitch. I think that, you know, this 197 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.639 is the first time I've really chatted with somebody that 198 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:15.279 is looking at the portal from a little bit of 199 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:17.399 a different perspective than a lot of the power programs 200 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:19.559 out there. Not that Louisville is an elite program, but certainly, 201 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:22.840 you know, they can benefit from taking players of Conference 202 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:25.120 USA level or the Sunbelt or something like that, because 203 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.840 that is a higher level than the ACC. But I'd 204 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:29.960 say that's the perfect way to go about it, and 205 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:32.480 I think that's a good move on Rich Rod's part. 206 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:34.399 And I know you're a lot younger than I am, 207 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:38.759 but it's wild to see nineteen years ago Rich Rodriguez 208 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:42.120 brought West Virginia into Louisville, which I believe it was 209 00:09:42.200 --> 00:09:44.519 the best most electric atmosphere I've ever seen for a 210 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:46.919 Louisville football game. It was a top five match up 211 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:48.879 number five verse number three. I believe it was a 212 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:51.559 big win for Louisville. But Rich rod from there ended 213 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:53.600 up coaching at West Virginia a couple more years, ended 214 00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:57.120 up at Michigan, had a successful stint at Arizona until 215 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:59.159 that thing fell apart. And then you mentioned his time 216 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:02.039 at uelman Roe was the OC and the associate head coach. 217 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:03.720 And now he's a jack like the guy wins. He's 218 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:06.960 a big time winner. So you may notice this Louisville fans, 219 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:09.360 it's been a while since we've gone up against him, 220 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.480 but Lowell fan's very familiar with Rich Rodriguez. 221 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:11.639 Man. 222 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.559 When he was rolling at West Virginia in the Big 223 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:15.840 East days, he was tough. He was a tough His 224 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:16.799 teams were tough to beat. 225 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:21.200 Yeah, And you know, it's funny you mentioned that the 226 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:24.200 whole Alabama thing. It's so funny seeing on social media 227 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:27.720 people are like that Rich Rodriguez, like you know. 228 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:29.039 They forgot about the days. 229 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:32.399 Yeah, especially that was West Virginia teams just with you know, 230 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:34.559 with Pat White and those kind of guys. Rich Rod 231 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:37.240 still talks about those guys, and it's funny. He still 232 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:40.320 loves Pat Maxby. He was gonna be on Pat Maxbi's show, 233 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:43.720 but he but he said, I'm Pat knew that I 234 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:46.120 was gonna be pissed off after that loss to Coastal Carolina. 235 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:48.159 So he just he was like, you want you don't 236 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:48.919 want to talk anymore? 237 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:49.120 Do you? 238 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:50.240 And he's like, no, I really don't. 239 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:50.360 No. 240 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:53.759 I get it though, but but it's still that same 241 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:55.600 rich Rod. Honestly, it's still the same guy. 242 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:55.879 Yeah. 243 00:10:55.879 --> 00:10:58.639 The athletic director here at the time, back when he 244 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:00.799 was at West Virginia was Tom you had a great 245 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:02.919 run here at U of L and really is instrumental 246 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:05.879 in the athletics program here being successful and even being 247 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:07.600 able to be a member of the ACC. But he 248 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:10.399 was he was a big fan of rich Rod off 249 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:12.320 the field, just because those two guys they had I 250 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:14.960 think they had some similar personalities. But it is just 251 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:17.039 wild thinking about rich Rod coming back in not at 252 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:18.759 the type of program that I would have expected if 253 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.440 you'd asked me nineteen years ago, but hey, he's coming 254 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:23.080 off of as we've talked about, a couple of really 255 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:26.559 successful seasons to get things started down there at Jacksonville State. 256 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:29.960 But joining us is Thomas Ashworth. He covers Jacksonville State 257 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.799 for al dot Com. Let's just say that if this 258 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:36.720 game late in the second quarter, Thomas is closer than 259 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:39.519 a lot of people expected, and maybe Louisville's only up 260 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:41.519 a field goal as they are about to get ready 261 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:44.080 for halftime. What do you think would have led to 262 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:46.679 us being there? What scenario could have played out to 263 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:49.279 where this Jacksonville State team was able to really come 264 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:51.919 out and compete early on Well. 265 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:53.919 One thing that I mentioned a little bit earlier is 266 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:56.399 just this team moves so fast and they still have 267 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:59.440 the personnel to do that. You think about moving fast, 268 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:01.759 But the same thing for me that I think about 269 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:04.360 is the offensive line and how fast they have to move. 270 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:07.120 But they were returning three of their five starting offensive linemen, 271 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.080 and one of those guys that's Knew quote unquote, he 272 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:12.519 was there last year kind of the sixth or seventh 273 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:15.279 option and offensive line and stepping into that new role, 274 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:17.919 so they they can move really fast. I think it 275 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:20.759 was like twenty point three seconds to play was the 276 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:23.200 average for jack State, top of the nation. And then 277 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:25.799 on the road they were like nineteen point seven seconds 278 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:29.519 to play, so it's really just line up run, line up, run, 279 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:32.440 line up, pass, lineup run is so fast and it's 280 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:36.080 just I watched, I think the week after because jack 281 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:39.679 State has mid weeks and because of the Conference USA 282 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:42.559 weird group of five deal, but I watched I think 283 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:44.919 it was like one of the Georgia games that was 284 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:47.399 on on Saturday, and it was like seeing, you know, 285 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:51.039 how slow this field because I'm used to watching rich 286 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:55.480 Rods kind of offenses, but really that team just thrives 287 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:59.279 in using that speed to but only kind of thrives 288 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:02.399 off of this, yeah, the tempo, and they really thrive 289 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:05.759 off of mistakes. They really, especially in the New Orleans Bowl, 290 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:08.039 they were really skilled and being able to kind of 291 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:11.879 use that speed to create mismatches and maybe something that 292 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.759 if they had five more seconds, the defense could switch 293 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:17.080 guys in and out. And at one point rich Rod 294 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:20.679 got into the ref's face because the ref stopped the 295 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:23.240 time for a little bit to get the defense ready. 296 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:25.919 So that's just not you know, that's not typical, and 297 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:29.519 that's really not what other offenses or defenses are used to. 298 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:32.360 Is just these teams moving so fast, so really rich 299 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:35.440 Rod is kind of in his prime whenever he's down. 300 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:38.320 You know, these two minute drills, they just practiced them 301 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:41.279 so much. They waste no time at all in practice. 302 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.840 And that's one thing that really I think as a group, 303 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:46.759 kind of big picture speaking, I think that's really where 304 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:47.519 they shine. 305 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:50.080 How About on the defensive side of the ball, What 306 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:53.159 do you what should we expect to see from from 307 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:56.360 this defense as far as schematically and you know, I 308 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:58.279 would assume in a game like this they can take 309 00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:00.440 some risks defensively just because you know, they really have 310 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:04.120 nothing to lose here. Just curious what defensively we should 311 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:05.679 expect we could expect to see here. 312 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:10.320 I really think that this secondary got revamped pretty well. 313 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:13.240 There's a few guys. Obviously last week's score was kind 314 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:17.480 of bad for the secondary, but they got a few 315 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:20.879 guys in the portal. Patrick Taylor is a guy from Georgia. 316 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.080 He played. He was kind of one of those reserved 317 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:26.000 guys who would never see time at Georgia but came 318 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:29.360 to Jacksonville State. Antonio Carter is a graduate student. He 319 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:31.600 was a Notre Dame and he started a safety last 320 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:34.879 year or this year in this game, and then they 321 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:37.799 have a few other guys who were returning, Jabari Max 322 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:39.840 fresh off of an injury last year the ind of 323 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:42.480 the season, and then there's a few other guys at cornerback. 324 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:45.519 I really think this secondary is a really solid unit. 325 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:49.679 And I mean even a linebacker lalay Tae, hail Kywon, McCrae, 326 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:52.000 Curly Young. Those are all guys who are returning. They 327 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.080 have a good handful of defensive stars. And I think 328 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:59.360 Lalata is the guy that would probably lead in tackles 329 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:03.039 and seven of Jacksonville State's games this year, just a 330 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:05.879 tackling machine can really rack up you know, tackles, still 331 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:08.720 lost things like that, but still losing guys. You know, 332 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:11.519 those three guys that I mentioned, Larry Worth to Arkansas, 333 00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:15.279 Chris Hardy to Ole Miss and Cacurt Taranu to West Virginia, 334 00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:17.840 those guys are just were just kind of we have 335 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.279 these guys and they're gonna be good, so we're gonna 336 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.879 I think they were kind of planning for them to 337 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:24.320 be there next year. I mean, even in Chris Hardy's case, 338 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:28.759 who was definitely Jacksonville State's defensive best defensive player last 339 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:31.240 year and probably will get drafted on Day two or three. 340 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:34.000 Of the draft if things well, Ole miss for him. 341 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:37.000 I mean, he was a really strong player, but I 342 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:39.919 mean he was there for the spring game, and after 343 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:42.480 the spring game just said that he was gonna hit 344 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.200 the portal and that happened with a couple of guys. 345 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:46.639 So at this point, it's really it was really just 346 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:49.000 tough to prepare and kind of fill in for that, 347 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:51.440 especially when you have to like kind of scrap a 348 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:53.960 roster together within the last few months of the season 349 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:56.879 of the offseason. But there's still a few guys that 350 00:15:56.919 --> 00:16:00.240 are left, and I think the defense should, you know 351 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.600 should if nothing else, they have a lot of experience, 352 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:07.679 especially in Jacksonville State's role, you know, as Richrud's been there. 353 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:10.440 One more for you, Thomas obviously. I know in the 354 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:12.799 state of Alabama it's the Crimson Todd and the Auburn 355 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:15.279 Tigers that moved the needle more than anybody when it 356 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:17.399 comes to football. But I know football is a big 357 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:20.039 passion for a lot of folks in Alabama, and for 358 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:24.039 Jacksonville State to make this jump from FCS to FBS 359 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:26.240 now and of course they're now in Conference USA, that 360 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.720 speaks to a good support system. What kind of a 361 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:31.200 fan base do you guys have And I don't mean 362 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:34.000 like from a numbers perspective, but I mean should we 363 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:36.919 will we see any Jacksonville State fans here in Louisville 364 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.240 this weekend. I mean not to say that we have 365 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.440 the best atmosphere you're going to come across, but it is. 366 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:44.000 It is a road opportunity against a power for team 367 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:44.840 and a ranked team in. 368 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:48.919 That So one thing I can say is that the 369 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:52.000 marching band will be there for Jacksonville State, which has 370 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:56.039 over five hundred members. Wow, in this marching band taking 371 00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:59.320 I think twelve buses it took to get the band there, 372 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:02.320 but they're on. That'll fill up one big section of 373 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:02.840 the stadium. 374 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.880 That's awesome. I'm sure I've heard a lot of people 375 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:07.079 talking about that band. They're very, very popular. 376 00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:10.559 Oh yeah, they're They're the real deal. You'll be able 377 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:13.119 to hear them from the press box. But I mean, 378 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:16.440 as far as numbers, I mean, you mentioned nothing about numbers, 379 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:19.039 but like one hundred and fifty percent of the town 380 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.039 of Jacksonville came to come to Jacksonville State football games. 381 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:24.400 I mean, they let in conference in a town that 382 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:27.359 has like I think the population is fifteen thousand people. 383 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:30.680 That's not big at all, but just the sheer numbers 384 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:33.400 of people who they come back and they just stay 385 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:37.039 supportive and uprooted in this program. I mean, they traveled 386 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:40.480 pretty well. I think that. Honestly, in the New Orleans Bowl, 387 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.359 there were I don't want to say more, but it 388 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:45.880 was like sixty forty between Louisiana fans and Jacksonville State fans. 389 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.079 These fans really travel well. And whether it's the football 390 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:51.519 team they're there for, the marching Southerners, which they're there for. 391 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.359 It's I think that this team, you know, has just 392 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:57.279 some people who they they'll take time off of work, 393 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:59.559 they'll go to every single game that they can, just 394 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:02.640 because the Jacksonville State if they're zher to ten or. 395 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.440 Twelve and oh you know, yeah, they're lifers. 396 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:06.119 They love Jacksonville State exactly. 397 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:08.799 That's four lifers and that's and that's awesome because again, 398 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:11.720 you don't make these kind of jumps like Jacksonville State 399 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.920 has as a as an athletics program unless you have 400 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:16.640 that kind of infrastructure that support. So it really isn't 401 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:19.720