Speaker 1: We welcome into Off the Bench, presented by All Star Toyota.
Speaker 2: You're scary.
Speaker 1: We're bringing in the school sports talking so with Jacob Hester.
Speaker 2: And Terrifying Terrible.
Speaker 1: Live from the Haunting Studio.
Speaker 3: Here's Jacob Hester, welcome in our number one, a Thursday
edition of Off the Bench. Taylor Sharp and a Landra
Villarriale here at the producer chair. So look, Jake and
Matt are out our number one. They will be back
here for hours number two and three. We're gonna hang
out with you for the next sixty minutes or so.
Here's the deal. You remember when Frank Wilson was named
interim on Sunday, everyone said Brian Kelly didn't really allow
former players back into the building. That's going to change
with Frank Wilson. Well, guys, it's changing and changing quickly.
Jake Matter actually going to be at LSU speaking to
the team.
Speaker 4: I think that's great.
Speaker 3: I think as pivotal as it is for LSU football
right now, that might actually be more important than coming
here and hosted the radio show.
Speaker 4: So we are good with it.
Speaker 3: And if you're watching on YouTube and you see our
get ups, no, I didn't kill anyone in the parking lot,
and Alandra did not cut her hair. We are dressed
up in Halloween costumes. Did Jake and Matt say they're
going to be dressed up when they get back at
the eight o'clock hour?
Speaker 4: We went ahead and did it. Alandra? What what are you?
Speaker 5: I am Mia Wallace from pulp Fiction. So I actually
did cut off my hair and died it blacks.
Speaker 4: Oh wait, I thought you said it was a wig.
Speaker 6: Wig.
Speaker 4: You went all out well honest.
Speaker 6: So this is like my favorite costume I've ever done.
Speaker 4: It looks great.
Speaker 3: I mean when you when you walked in today, I
was like, Okay, the shirt is perfect, the wig is perfect.
Like it's one of those things where even if you
haven't seen the movie, everybody knews is like what you are,
even if you haven't seen the movie yet. So like,
I think you nailed it.
Speaker 1: Me.
Speaker 3: On the other hand, I didn't think this through. I
didn't realize we were gonna have to do the first hour.
We're gonna actually see how I sound. I am Jason.
So we got this really pretty looking mask right now.
It's as you can see on YouTube. I didn't want
to start the show with this on I thought it
might look a little jarring, Jake said the other day.
Tell her you're not gonna have any problem doing a
Halloween costume. You have plenty of them. You dress up
every year. Sure, but I like to go like pretty
all out, pretty elaborate. And we kind of decided what
Tuesday we were actually going to like finally dress up. So, I, guys,
I'll be very honest. I was like, let me think
of something that I already have. I had this mask
from like years ago, I don't even remember why, and
so I found an old white T shirts platted some
blood on it, and here we are. We are Jason
and Landra Mia Wallace. Not exactly a couple costume, but
you know what, I think we look pretty good back here.
And you know, we were talking about it on Monday, Alanda,
we didn't get to show it because I don't know
if you know this. A little bit happened over the weekend. Really, yeah,
a little bit happened. My family Halloween costume contest was
on Sunday, and I figured, you and I are dressed
up right now, why not go ahead and show everybody.
So me and Victoria did snow Miser and heat Miser
from a year without a Santa Claus, here is your boy, fully.
Speaker 4: White faced, white hair white.
Speaker 3: It's a witch nose that I painted white, is exactly
what it is. Victoria's got the flame hair, She's got
the nose as well.
Speaker 4: I think we nailed it.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I thought it looked great, but like,
that's the type of costumes I do. So Jake was like, oh, Taylor,
I know you'll be down. You have all these costumes.
I'm like, yeah, but do I want to take the
time to go ahead and go all out? I gotta
call it a high school football game tonight. I can't
exactly show up with a fake nose and painted completely white.
So we went up to pretty simple. I think it
worked out well. I think we'll be fine.
Speaker 4: Guys.
Speaker 3: There is a lot to unpack today. We'll start with
the governor's comments here in just a second, but before
we do, let's actually do it correctly and get the
show started.
Speaker 1: It's time to get glowing courtesy of go Flow ivy spa,
where hydration vitamins and a summer ready glow are always
on tap now for starters.
Speaker 3: Okay, so, yesterday Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry gave a little
bit more clarity to the LSU football head coaching situation.
So we don't know who the candidates are, we don't
know who LSU is going to hire. We do know
who's making the higher or should I say who is
not going to be making the higher Jeff Landry did
not pull any punches. He was pretty adamant about who
was not going to make this higher. And look, I'm
not gonna put words into the man's mouth. Let's hear
it from him himself. It's about two minutes, but I
want you to hear it all because there's a lot
to unpack here. So here is Governor Jeff Landry.
Speaker 7: The first question is absolutely correct. We are not going
down a failed path. And I wanted to tell you something.
This is a pattern. The guy that's here now that
wrote that contract cost Texas A and them seventy something
million dollars. Right now, we got a fifty three million
dollar liability. We are not doing that again. And you
know what, I believe. I believe that we're gonna find
a great coach and maybe we'll let President Trump pick it.
Speaker 4: He loves winners.
Speaker 7: You know, I'm not gonna be picking the next coach.
But I can promise you we're gonna pick a coach,
and we're gonna make sure that that coach is successful,
and we're gonna make sure that he's compensated properly, and
we're gonna put metrics on it, because I'm tired of
rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers
on the foot, you know, to foot the bill. So yeah, absolutely,
who'sai No, I can tell you right now is not
selecting the next coach. Hell, I'll let Donald Trump select
it before I let him do it.
Speaker 4: I don't know.
Speaker 7: But the Border super Yer is gonna come up with
a committee and they're gonna go find us a coach.
Because why Mary, I want to hold all up one
real quick thing on that, because here's what y'all reporters
need to do. Y'all need to start looking and who
represents all these people like these agents? You know, it's
interesting if I'm not mistaken, what is agent Kelly's agent?
The Texas saying they all the same agent?
Speaker 4: Like you realize if I would be.
Speaker 7: I don't know how y'all, how many sports riders we
got here today? Just you we should have a bunch okay,
like This is ridiculous. Lawyers would be this board for
the way these agents act and the way they're able
to represent. In fact, they may there's no doubt they
may even represent some of the players now, like it's
really time for the NCAA to put on some guardrails
in college sports, because it is fine, we don't need
the guardrails. The big billionaires want to spend all that
kind of money, no problem. But if I got to
go find fifty three million dollars from Kim, It's not
going to be a pleasant conversation.
Speaker 6: I'm just telling you, I know, and I.
Speaker 7: Think that that's important as well. Y'all should start looking
at today.
Speaker 4: Certainly a lot to unpack here, so okay.
Speaker 3: I also find it really funny he said, how many
sports reporters are in the audience?
Speaker 4: Just you? Okay?
Speaker 3: This was originally a press conference for Snap Benefits in Louisiana,
which I find objectively hilarious.
Speaker 4: I don't know how you got to.
Speaker 3: The topic of Scott Woodward when you know, to have
any press conference about Snap benefits, But whatever he did,
there is a lot to unpack there. Some of it
I actually agree with a lot of it. I don't
there's some pretty wild stuff. Let's let's get into to
the beginning where he said Scott Woodward gave out a
contract that calls LSU to possibly pay fifty four million
dollars and Texas A and M seventy three. Yes, LSU
could potentially have to pay Brian Kelly fifty four million
dollars in a buyout. That's on Scott Woodward. It was
a ten year deal, awfully guaranteed. That's on him. The
seventy three million dollars that he's referring to was Jimbo
Fisher's buyout at Texas A and M. I know it's
a common way of thinking, like someone brings something up,
everyone else's kind of rolls with it. Russ By Yorke
gave Jimbo Fisher that seventy three million dollar buyout at
Texas A and M. If you remember, Jimbo got the
extension following that twenty twenty season. It was the COVID
year A and M went nine to one, just barely
missed the playoff. They extended him after that. Scott Woodward
was already here because he was at LSU in twenty
nineteen obviously, so that part's not correct. Now, did Wouldward
give Jimbo a ten year deal? Yes, he did, And
maybe that's where I agree with Governor Landry who he
said these ten year deals are out of control. I agree,
I don't like the ten year deal. Like, yes, Woodward
did not give the big extension to cause all the
buyout money, but he did give Jimbo a ten year,
seventy five million dollar deal up front in order to
take the job. So maybe there's a little pushback there
as well. Like as we go through this, you can
look at and say, I'll defend Scott Woodward. I'll be
Againstcott Woodward really dependent on what aisle you said on
we'll break all that down. But blaming Woodward for the
Jimbo Fisher buyout, it's a lot like when everyone used
to say, oh, well, Glenn Dorsey won all those awards
his senior year, but his junior year was actually better.
Speaker 4: No, it wasn't.
Speaker 3: His junior year wasn't better, Like, go look at the numbers.
Not only did he make just a bigger impact altogether
his senior year, Israel numbers were better as a senior.
It's just one of those things that someone throws out
there and everyone claims that's fact. Governor's dead wrong about that.
That was not Jimbo Fisher, that was not Woodward. They
gave Jimbo the big extension. Also, Elandra, I need you
to do something. I need your next guarantee paycheck check
and see if we take extra taxes out because Governor
Landry believes that US taxpayers are actually footing the bill
for that fifty four million dollar buyout.
Speaker 4: I mean, we got a check.
Speaker 6: I just don't think that's accurate, but I will look
it up.
Speaker 3: I appreciate you giving the benefit of the doubt and
say it not thinking that's no. Taxpayers are not footing
the bill for a fifty four million dollars buyout. I
know what he's doing. He's a politician. He's trying to,
you know, kind of exaggerate things a little bit. Taxpayers
are not footing the bill for Brian Kelly or any
other head coaches buyout.
Speaker 4: That's not happening.
Speaker 3: I do agree with Landry though, that why repeat a
failed system. It didn't work with Brian Kelly giving him
the ten year deal with the big buyout, and blame
Woodward or not, it didn't work out for Texas A
and M with Jimbo Fisher, so I do agree on that.
I also appreciate he did put in there. I will
not be making the higher do I believe that. I
have no idea. But it's not Jeff Landry and it's
not Scott Woodward. That's what we know for sure. So
then that brings up the point should Woodward even be
allowed to make this higher? Well, it's his job to
make this higher, at least for now.
Speaker 4: I am not imagine.
Speaker 3: You know, the word is LSU's trying to close it
on a university president very soon. I imagine Scott Woodward will
be replaced at this point. I don't know how he
can continue his job. I mean, the governor of the
state of Louisiana came out and said, yeah, we have
an athletic director, but uh, we don't trust him. As
far as we can throw him, he's gonna have to
be out here. So I don't really see how Scott
Woodward continues as a lame duck athletic director after these statements.
So I imagine that's coming. That's literally just an assumption on
my part. Do we worry about Scott Woodward making this higher?
Full disclosure. I'd rather Woodward make the higher than Governor Landry. However, yes,
I had some concerns. I feel like a lot of
times in football, Scott Woodward targeted the biggest name. I'm
gonna make the biggest splash. Maybe didn't look for the
best fit. Like everyone wants to bring up Lane Kiffin.
If you want to hire Lane Kiffin, hire him because
he's the best fit. Don't hire him because his name's
Lane Kiffin. I think Scott Woodward's been a little guilty
of that at times. Now Woodward's taking heat for his
football hires, and I get it. You're in the South,
you were at A and M, you were at LSU.
You're going to get blamed for the success and failure
of the football program.
Speaker 4: Look at what Jay has done.
Speaker 3: I mean, the women's basketball team just won a national
championship a few years ago because Scott Woodward hired Kim Moulky.
Speaker 4: Now, how hard was it to hire her? I don't know.
Speaker 3: I feel like a lot of people could have hired
Kim Maulki. But that is a notch on Scott Woodward's belt.
He gets credit for that. Then you look at Jay Johnson.
That's the crown jewel there ain't a person in Louisiana
has a bad thing to say about Jay Johnson on
or off the field. Two Natties in four seasons and
he just continues to reloy. Those are two positives you
want to bring up a negative LSU basketball Matt McMahon.
But I will give Scott Woodward a little bit of
a pass on this for a number of reasons, and
I've been critical of Scott Woodward in the past. At
the time, most people liked the higher because Matt McMahon
had a really good resume at Murray State. Hand up
I did. When I saw what he did at Murray State.
He recruited John Moran, I was like, Okay, this is
a guy that could work out. Number two, who was
going to take that job? Find me a big name
coach that coached at a high level at a big
time program that was going to take that LSU job.
With all the uncertainty around the LSU basketball program. Can't
think of one. Number three. LSU's never really invested in basketball.
Like most of the SEC schools, it's football then basketball.
Here at LSU, it's football and baseball. That's why you
dominate in baseball and your basketball program has struggled to
catch up to those. But even if Matt McMahon turns
it around, what Scott Woodard always going to be known for.
Scott Woodard's always going to be known for the guy
that fired Will Wade, not the guy that hired Matt McMahon.
Speaker 4: It just is what it is.
Speaker 3: Wild Wade was a beloved figure, had a lot of
support here. So even if Matt McMahon turns this thing around,
the Tigers are at NCAA tournament team this year, he's
always going to be looked at more of you got
rid of Will Wade not hiring Mad McMahon. Do I
care if Scott Woodward makes this higher?
Speaker 4: Nope? Do I care if Governor Landry makes his higher?
Speaker 2: No.
Speaker 3: As a matter of fact, I'm glad he's not. I
don't care who makes this higher as long as the
right person gets the job. What I do care about
is your governor getting on TV and embarrassing LSU, because
what has been the talk nationally. It hasn't been Oh,
the LSU coaching higher just got interesting, or oh, it's
Scott Woodard's a job on the line. It's everybody retweeting
stuff and saying, is this real is this actually happening
in the state of Louisiana, Because now, look, I'm sure
his intentions were good, because what he brought up it
was all I want to help people in Louisiana. I
want to help LSU. I'm sure his intentions were good.
But what big name head coach is going to want
to take this job? Now, what recruit's going to want
to come here not knowing who's getting hired or who's
even making the higher? Just think more harm was done
during the speech than good. And again, I'm sure his
intentions were good. I just think it's a bad look
and I can't get behind it. So who's LSU going
to hire?
Speaker 4: We don't know.
Speaker 3: But what we do know, Scott Woodward will not be
the one making that higher. All right, we'll step away
here real quick. When we get back, we know it's
not Scott Woodward. Who are some candidates that could be
Le's use the next head coach. We'll dive into that.
You know, Lander kind of have the same opinion on
Lane Kiff, and we'll go a little bit back and
forth on that as well. That's all coming up on
the other side here on off the bench, Off the bench.
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Speaker 1: This is Off the Bench.
Speaker 3: Welcome back in our number one of a Thurs the
edition of Off the Bench. Taylor Sharp here with you
and we hear the great pump music. Mia Landro over here.
That's what everybody in the chat wants you to be called.
Neil Wallace, Yeah, from pulp fiction.
Speaker 6: So give me so many nicknames. I can't keep up anything.
Speaker 4: It flows well together, though.
Speaker 3: I think having an A and an A like beginning
and into your name, you gotta add it to anything.
Speaker 5: People are asking if I'm with you the dance, I'm
doing the dance. Later you gonna make a video.
Speaker 4: We're excited about that. We're excited about that that's done.
Speaker 3: It looks great, yeah, and like it's one of those
things that it's like.
Speaker 4: But at the same time, like it works.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I totally should have done. Paul Cap Bruce Willis, I
just I didn't have time. I just didn't have time.
We had to cut the grass yesterday. Launder was a
big day, Okay, huge tease.
Speaker 4: It a little bit. They were going in to break.
Speaker 3: I want to look at some candidates right now for
the LSU head coaching job, because if Scott Woodward's not
making the higher. First off, if you missed the first
segment and you missed a lot. Yesterday, Governor Jeff Landry
came out and said that Scott Woodward, current athletic director
at LSU, we will not be making the hire, will
not be involved in the searching process for LSU's next
head coach.
Speaker 4: I'm a lodger. You know, Florida.
Speaker 3: After Urban Meyer won those two national championships, they struggled
to keep coaches long term.
Speaker 4: Let me ask you this, I may have missed it.
Speaker 3: Did Governor Ron DeSantis come out and uh publicly criticized
Scott Strickland.
Speaker 5: I have not seen anything of that nature, So I
don't think so.
Speaker 6: But I can't say it for a fact. I didn't anything.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't think What about What about Pennsylvania? Did
their governor come out and criticize them for the James
Franklin buy out?
Speaker 6: Don't think so?
Speaker 3: Okay, So it's just sell us, Okay, cool, great, awesome.
We were talking about Lane Kiff in a little bit
last segment, and I like Lane.
Speaker 4: I think that.
Speaker 3: Lane has grown up a lot more in these past
four years. Like if this was four years ago, no,
I'm glad LSU didn't hire him. I don't think he
was ready for the LSU job four years ago. This
year maybe a little bit of a different story. But
I just feel like there's so many people out there
that are Lane Kiffin or bust. I want Lane Kiffin.
I've locked in on this guy. If we don't get him,
I'm gonna be pissed. I don't think that's the right
way to look at anything. Is Lane Kiffin a good coach, Yeah,
he's a good coach. Are there other good coaches out there? Yeah,
there's a lot of good candidates. We'll talk about someone
here in just a second. But there are so many
people out there. When you fall in love with a candidate,
when you fall in love with a quarterback, a player,
or anything, it is very easy to only see the
positive and kind of block out the negative. Alandra mentioned
this the other day, like she didn't really want Lane
Kiffin as the head coach. Now my stance has have
been a little bit more neutral. But also, is Lane
Kiffin worth the money it's going to take to get
him here.
Speaker 4: I don't know. I'll ask you first, Solandra, biggest concern
with Lane Kiffin? What is it?
Speaker 5: Well, first, I just want to say I don't think
that you can ever really truly know if a coach
is going to work out or not until they're actually
in the building, so it's kind of hard to speculate.
Speaker 6: But my biggest thing with Lane.
Speaker 5: Kiffin is the same thing that everybody says about Brian Kelly,
about James Franklin, about you know, the typical ones where you're.
Speaker 6: Like, they haven't won anything.
Speaker 5: And I get that he's been there for what six
years now, six seven years since nineteen right or yeah,
so whatever, and then he hasn't. I'd get he has
them going right now, and he's built a good culture.
I don't see Lane wanting to leave what he's built
at ole Miss unless you're gonna pay him a contract
like you paid Brian Kelly or Jimbo Fisher, or maybe
even a little less than what you paid them. But
I just don't know if it's worth the money. And
I said, this is the okame my wildest dreams, and
I wouldn't even say particularly a dream, but I think
he's a good coach. With Steve Sarkisian and people lost
their minds about that, but are over here suggesting Lane
Kiffin when I feel like Stark turned that text this
program around.
Speaker 4: Like two years Sark made the playoff, last year.
Speaker 6: Won the conference.
Speaker 5: He made back to back playoffs, won the conference championship,
and now was the Big twelve.
Speaker 6: But he still did.
Speaker 5: And I just think that there's a better argument for
other coaches than there is for Lane Kiffin.
Speaker 3: Again, I think Lane's matured a lot as a coach.
But on Saturday, I understand it was a win. Some
of the decisions really confused me. He goes for it
on fourth down in his own territory up early in
the game, Oklahoma gets a big fourth down stop, they
go down the field score. That's giving up points to
your opponent. Trinidad Shambliss has been excellent, and credit to
Lane Kiffin for putting him in a position to succeed.
Nobody saw that coming from Shambless. But at the same time,
you pulled him out two different times and put in
Austin Simmons, who he's already beaten out inside the ten
yard line. You don't score a touchdown either time. I
mean that's potentially a double digit swing in that game. Yes,
they won the game, and look, I like Lane Kiffin.
If LSU hired Lane Kevin, would I be mad? Absolutely not.
I think Lane Kiffin's a good coach. But there are
so many people out there, and I understand every coach
you're going to hire, any one of them has some
sort of flaw. But there are a lot of people
out there that are like Lane Kiffin's a perfect hire.
He's a slam dunk. There's no such thing as a
sure thing and coaching hires or anywhere else in life.
Speaker 4: I like Lane Kiffin. There's some other options out there.
Speaker 3: But we just listened to the Jeff Landry sound by
last segment when he was talking about I don't want
Scott Woodward making this higher because I don't want to
give a huge ten year deal with guaranteed money. Well,
I got news for you. That's probably what it's going
to take to get Lane Kiffin here. So I'm not
sure Lane Kiffin is going to be the LSU coach
for better or worse. Maybe it's a good decision, maybe
it's not. It doesn't look like it's going.
Speaker 4: To be him.
Speaker 3: There's a lot of good candidates out there. Like if
you asked me, what do you look for in a candidate.
Speaker 4: I want a.
Speaker 3: Younger guy who could relate to the players, a fiery coach,
somebody who's hard knows, somebody who has a physical football team,
Somebody I know is going to come in here and
work his ass off, and someone who's had success at
the power level.
Speaker 4: That's what I want.
Speaker 3: There's a lot of names that fit that bill Like
first of am up and he was the guy I
think I brought up on Monday about like who I
wanted as my head coach. Brent Key from Georgia Tech.
He's been there four years now. His first year he
was four and four, but that program was a mess
when he took over.
Speaker 4: Since then seven and six, seven and six.
Speaker 3: This year, he's eight to no and barring some sort
of insane collapse, he's probably going to go to the
College Football Playoff and his team is ready to play
every single week. It's been one of my biggest criticisms
of Brian Kelly, especially in the opening games.
Speaker 4: Take Clemson out of it.
Speaker 3: But I mean, going back to that game, Clemson wasn't
really a good team looking back on it, but it
just seemed like every year until this past season opening game,
LSU was the less physical team and the less prepared team.
I can handle losing a game, because most of the
teams you lost to in the opener were pretty good teams.
I can handle losing a football to the game. What
I can't handle is doing the same thing over and
over and over again in big games, looking like the
less prepared team, looking like the less physical team. Two
things I can tell you about brink keem His teams
are prepared and they're physical as hell. The issue is
he's probably going to go to the college football playoff
and he's at his alma mater. When do you want
to hire a coach In a perfect world, just for me,
I want to coach by early signing period that's December third.
You don't necessarily have to do that, but in a
perfect world, that is what I would want. Briank He's
not going to leave in a playoff run. He's dang
sure not going to leave his alma mater out to
dry during a playoff run. A lot of people have
brought up the name John Sommrall love some are all.
He has a chance to get to the college football
playoffs like it or not, though there are people in
this state and affiliated with LSU that are going to
turn their nose up at that and say, you can't
hire the two lane football coach. It happened back in
twenty twenty two, right before you hired Brian Kelly. Billy
Napier was a hot name out there. Now woul Napier
have worked out, I don't know, because he didn't work
out at Florida.
Speaker 4: Was that moral?
Speaker 3: Napier was that more on Florida's athletic program that I
don't think is as good as most people make it
out to be. But either way, he was not brought
in for an interview. He was not really considered a
serious candidate, and most of the pushback was you can't
hire the ULL coach. Billy Napier may not be a
good coach. But the argument was never he's not a
good coach. The argument was he coaches a el up
John Somerral at two lane.
Speaker 4: I think you're.
Speaker 3: Gonna get something similar there, like look credit to somemr All.
A lot of people have said, okay, well he just
kind of maintained what Willy Fritz bought brought there.
Speaker 4: I understand that a little bit.
Speaker 3: But he was twelve and two and eleven and two
his two seasons at Troy, So you could say Willy
Fritz built up that program. But John Somerl's done it
in two different stops. He lost four games and two
years at Troy. He's been at two lane and this
is his second year. He was nine to five a
year ago. He's six and one and he's got them
possibly battling for college football playoff appearance. There's a lot
of people out there that are going to turn their
nose up at that because of the fact that he
could coaches at two lane.
Speaker 4: Should you do that? No, will le Be take it
into consideration. Probably.
Speaker 3: Now Ryan Silverfield at Memphis is out there, But does
he suffer from the same thing John Sombral does of
maybe it's not a big enough program. You look at
Ryan Silverfield and what he's done at Memphis. There's a
reason Virginia Tech is interested in him. There's a reason
a number of other programs are interested in him. He's
forty nine and twenty one in six years at Memphis,
has never had a losing season in his four and
zero and bowl games, and right now he's seven and one.
That's the heck of a football coach. He's a young guy,
he's a fiery guy. He did a great job in
the transfer portal. We talked about it when we were
ranking our preseason OTB top twenty five that I mean,
we put the Memphis Tigers in there, and rightfully so,
he did a great job in the portal.
Speaker 4: So that's a guy you know can attack it.
Speaker 3: But does he suffer from the same thing that some
are auld does the It's two names I want to
look at, one of which is the name that gets
brought up a Lot's Kenny Dillingham. Because again, if I'm
putting together, in a perfect world, what I want from
my coach, a younger guy that can relate to the players,
a passionate guy, a guy that's gonna work hard, a
guy that has a physical football team. And in a
perfect world, it's somebody that could sign by December third
and be here for early signing period. Kenny dilly dam
checks all his boxes because right now, barring something unforeseen,
they are not going to be in the College football
Playoff over there at Arizona State made it last year
almost beat Texas, probably should have beat Texas. Now, if
you want to criticize him, you can go look and say, yeah,
he's only been there for three years. He popped last year,
kind of came back down to earth a little bit
this year.
Speaker 4: Two things. One, they lost a ton of guys from
that team. Two and two.
Speaker 3: Of two of their three losses this year, Sam Levitt
was not fully healthy. One he played hurt. One he
didn't play at all. So two of your three losses
you were basically without your starting quarterback. That's a tough
recipe for success for anyone. Look, three and nine is
first season, but Herm Edwards left that program at shambles
last year eleven and three, this year five and three,
but again quarterback in and out of the lineup. Kenny
Dillingham's a guy alike, and you can get him before
early signing period. Look, that's just my preference. Don't say,
why don't we have to have a guy before early
signed period?
Speaker 9: You don't.
Speaker 4: That's just my personal preference.
Speaker 3: If you want to wait for your guy because you
think he's the right higher, fine, I'm good with it.
You just better land the guy you're waiting on him.
But also, Matt Campbell is a name that I don't
think it's brought up enough. Forty five years old. Matt
Campbell has been a head coach in college for fifteen
years between Toledo and Iowa State.
Speaker 4: He's two losing seasons in fifteen years.
Speaker 3: He just won eleven games last year, the only time
in Iowa State history that program has won eleven games,
and they were rolling the first four weeks of the season.
Speaker 4: They lost their two starting corners.
Speaker 3: They're now five and three, but they're still a scrappy
football team, not going to make the college football playoff either.
There are names out there to look at, like Elandra.
Before we go to break, you mentioned your concerns with Kiffen,
and obviously it doesn't look like it's going to be
Landing or Kiffin because they don't want to pay the
big money that came straight from Governor Landry.
Speaker 2: Who do you like?
Speaker 5: I really, I don't have somebody that I'm like, this
is who I want to be the next head coach
at LSU.
Speaker 6: Like the ones that I do want, I.
Speaker 5: Feel like either wouldn't come here because they're at the
school that they like.
Speaker 6: Brin Key.
Speaker 5: I love brin Key. I'm not sure he's gonna leave
his alma Water. Same thing with Kenny Dillingham.
Speaker 6: I don't know.
Speaker 5: I think I like him, I think he's good. I
just don't know if that he would leave Arizona State.
I really don't have like an answer for you as
to who I would want to be because I just
with who's out there.
Speaker 6: It's hard for me to choose on one. But if
I had to say, Brian Key is the one.
Speaker 3: That I would like, that's the guy, like if if
I'm in charge of this search and.
Speaker 6: Who knows Texas Hainesaw massacre, like he is a dog.
Speaker 3: They're always ready to play. It's something unless you was
lacked the last four years. You're not a physical team,
you're not ready to play. Look, there's a lot of
good candidates out there. So I've seen a lot of
people freak out and say, we're not going to get
a big name. Jeff Landry doesn't want to give a
ten year deal. He doesn't want to give it a
big contract. Guys, just because a coach is not a
quote unquote big name, does not mean they're not a
good coach. Less Miles wasn't a huge name. Nick Saban
had a huge name. Hell Ed Orgeron was your interim
head coach at best your third option because you struck
out on Jimbo Fisher and Tom Herman, and he worked
out better than both of those guys and brought you
a national championship hand up. I didn't want it, or
as you're on as the coach. I thought you were
better than to hire your interim coach. But you know what,
it worked out. Sometimes the best fit doesn't always have
to be the big name real quick.
Speaker 5: Someone that Matt has brought up a lot that I
actually would be a fan of. Two just had a
big upset win over Miami Jeff rom Over at Louisville.
I like that one too.
Speaker 3: But then yeah, Alma Mater, Like okay, I didn't know that,
So why like dumb for me not to no.
Speaker 4: No, no no.
Speaker 3: But I mean he's not going to go to the playoff. Yeah,
like like a brand key, So he's more gettable when
I look at Dillingham. Dillingham went to Arizona State. He
did not play at Arizona State. Maybe that matters a
little bit more.
Speaker 4: Now, I will say.
Speaker 3: This, if you offer brin Key, Jeff Brohm, Kenny Dillingham
the job and they don't want to leave where they're
at to come to LSU and potentially win a national championship,
then you have your answer because they're not the right
guy for the job anyways. If they don't want to
come here and they're not ready to come here and
try to win a national championship, then they weren't right anyways.
Move on because that gives you your answer right there on.
Is this person fit to be the head coach? No,
because no offense to those schools. If you can't decide
between Louisville and LSU, you're not ready to be LSU's
head coach. Same can go for Arizona State, same can
go for Georgia Tech. So your answers there. Everybody relaxed,
be calm. There's a lot of good candidates out there,
and my confidence going to hire the right one. After
Jeff Andry's comments, I don't know. It would be a
lot easier if we actually knew who was making this higher.
Unfortunately we do not. Just be patient. We'll see where
the chips fall, all right, We'll take a quick time
out when we get back our guy. Chris Marler on
Monday put out his week ten SEC Power rankings we're
looking at it and Marler, being a Bama guy, I'm
surprised he didn't do this. I got a disagreement with
our guy. We'll get into it next hearing. Off the bench,
Off the bench, all right, go.
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Speaker 2: And then.
Speaker 1: Two thousand and seven shamps Purple and Gold to the core.
This is Off the Bench with Hester and Flynn Baton
Rougees go to for all things Louisiana's.
Speaker 3: Welcome back in hour number one here on a Thursday
edition of Off the Bench, Tayler shower with you alongside
of Lauandravill Rial, Jacob Hesser and Matt Fleann will be
back in the eight o'clock hours, so they'll be here
for the last two hours of the show.
Speaker 4: But we are hanging out here with you.
Speaker 3: Got about twenty or so minutes until the boys join
us back in the studio. Our own Chris Marler at
Louisianasports dot Net put out his week ten SEC power rankings.
A lot to like there, like he puts LSU at ten.
Love you, Chris. That might be a little bit too generous, obviously,
Kentucky's at the bottom because well Kentucky sucks.
Speaker 4: But I want to talk about the teams at the top.
Speaker 3: His top four, Vanderbilt, Ole, Mess, Alabama, Texas A and M.
No problems there. That's clearly the top four. Texas A
and M should not be over Alabama. And Chris is
in Alabama fans, I'm a little surprised he did this,
but Texas A and M is a good team. I
am not gonna be one of those fans that's gonna
come in and try to discredit off and say, my
team didn't do anything wrong, but your team's not better
than us.
Speaker 5: Now.
Speaker 3: They came out and beat the crap at LSU at
the second half. I've done it two years in a row.
That's a good football team. We talked about it a
little bit going into that game. Their lack of playing
in the big games.
Speaker 6: Now.
Speaker 3: They beat Notre Dame early in the year, but outside
of that, their schedule has been a little light and
it will continue that way down the stretch. Unfortunately. I
think the Alabama Crimson Tide are the best team in
the SEC. And I gonna be honest right now, it's not.
Speaker 4: Close for me.
Speaker 3: Alabama's beaten four ranked SEC teams Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Missouri.
Those teams are a combined twenty five and two against
teams not named Alabama. The only two losses Tennessee lost
straight up to Georgia, Missouri laws straight up to Vanderbilt.
I mean, what are we doing here? This team is
dominant coming into the year.
Speaker 4: What did we said? Well, if they're gonna struggle at quarterback, because.
Speaker 3: Ty Simpson's never done it, Ty Simpson looks like potentially
the best quarterback in the country. Oh, they don't have
any weapons outside of Ryan Williams. I got news for you, guys.
Ryan Williams not the best receiver on this Alabama team,
at least not this year. It's Jeremy Bernard. If you
haven't watched Alabama, a ton, get used to the name.
He's number five. They line him up in a number
of spots. You can do just about anything on that team.
He is a weapon, a big time weapon. And he
got jam Miller in the backfield. But even when jam
Miller went down with an injury, you're.
Speaker 4: Number two, you're number three.
Speaker 3: They stepped up against a good Vanderbilt team, against a
good Missouri team, and they gave you some tough yards
because they have a good offensive line players on defense.
Pierre's had a really good year. Justin Jefferson, not that
Justin Jefferson, different one. He's having a really good season
over there at lineback. Unfortunately, I don't think alabama'sun going anywhere.
Look hand up coming into the year, I thought they
were hell. When it was my turn to rank during
the OTB Top twenty five, I put Alabama at twelve,
and I was like, I don't know, this is probably right.
They're probably the fourth or fifth best team in the SEC.
Now they're the best team in the SEC until proven otherwise.
I understand they have a loss on the record in Texas.
Speaker 4: A and M.
Speaker 3: Doesn't That is not the same Alabama team that played
Florida State. I don't know what happened in that game.
Maybe Alabama didn't take it serious, Florida State did. Those
two teams have trended in completely different directions since Florida
State won that game in Alabama lost it. I think
Alabama is the best team in the SEC. You know,
I talked about it a little bit going into that
A and M game. Marcel Reidd kind of struggled against
quote unquote good defenses. I mean, on the year, he's
sixty one seventeen touchdowns, six picks, decent numbers.
Speaker 4: But when you keep.
Speaker 3: Marcell Reid in the pocket, he struggles to throw the
football downfield. He actually struggled to throw the football downfield
against Lshue when they kept him in the pocket. But
for better or worse, like Baker is always going to
be aggressive on defense, he blitz him. He gets outside
the pocket, he takes off and run. He's done two
years in a row now. But if you leave Marcel
Reid in the pocket and forced him to throw the football,
Notre Dame did this. He completed forty nine percent of
his passes. Now give him credit. He made the big
time throws at the end of the game to win
the game. But play in and play out, he struggles
with his accuracy from inside the pocket. Ty Simpson, on
the other hand, does not. First off, he runs a
little bit better, actually a lot better than people give
him credit for.
Speaker 4: But also.
Speaker 3: Almost eighty percent completion this year, sixty seven point eight
twenty touchdowns, just one interception. There's not a more efficient
quarterback in the SEC right now than Ty Simpson and
he's got weapons.
Speaker 4: I mentioned Jeremy Bernard. We know about Ryan Williams.
Speaker 3: Isaiah Horton did a really good job getting him out
of the transfer portal. He's been a big time player
for this Alabama offense, unfortunately, has a lot of weapons.
They have a really good quarterback, and they're gonna be
a tough out.
Speaker 4: Now.
Speaker 3: Look, we're gonna break down Bama a little bit more
obviously next week, as next week is LSU Alabama week.
But when I look at this team, I just I
see a complete football team right now that can obviously change.
Speaker 4: There's ebs and flows in every football season.
Speaker 3: I mean, many people were laughing at Alabama Week one
after losing to Florida State. I get it, but that's
not the same Alabama team then lost to Florida State.
A laund your best team in the SEC who you got?
So I can go either way on it.
Speaker 5: This just like really pains me to say this because
we all know I'm not.
Speaker 6: I'm like number one Aggie hater.
Speaker 4: Well I thought you, I thought you grew up in
Texas A and m FAI.
Speaker 5: For sure, I can see what you mean with Alabama,
and I do think that Tyson Simpson is probably. I mean,
there's a Tisman campaign right out there going on right now.
He's certainly at the top of the Heisman running right now.
But I'm gonna have to say, I'm gonna have to
say Texas A and M just off of the strength
to record strength the schedule. I know they have a
really easy one coming up, but I feel like the
teams that they needed to dominate, aside from maybe Arkansas,
they dominated them.
Speaker 6: And I just don't feel the same Forbama except.
Speaker 5: For the Tennessee game maybe, And I can't think of
another one where I was like, okay, like they are
completely over here, taking over this field doing this.
Speaker 6: But I'm with you.
Speaker 5: I can go either way on the two, but I
just think it's Texas A and M up to this point.
Speaker 3: Look, I can go either way. That Alabama Georgia game
that was those a little telling for me. They they
handled Georgia. That game was not as close as the
score should But look it, we're gonna see this Alabama.
Speaker 6: Stage went Alabama Georgia, Alabama Georgia.
Speaker 3: Yeah, we're gonna see this Alabama team up close. Okay,
let me ask you this before we get a break
z LSU get the interim bump next week? Early prediction.
Do they get the interim bump.
Speaker 6: I'm gonna be positive and say yes.
Speaker 4: Ok, I'm gonna say yes.
Speaker 5: Also, our guys are out there. They are, Matt and
Jake are out there. I already know they're pumping them up.
Speaker 3: Depends on if if it's a good word day for
Flinn or not. It could help or hurt them. Find
Jake will be fine. I got mad. We worry about
him at times. Do they get the interim bump. Yeah,
they'll play inspired, They'll they'll be physical.
Speaker 6: Yeah.
Speaker 4: Do they win the game?
Speaker 5: I mean, after that Pearl Harbor speech that Frank Wilson
gave the other day, how can you not be so perfect?
Speaker 3: Sirens sound like? Okay, Frank, Yeah he really did teach
me that.
Speaker 4: Really, I'm not. I'm not on the team.
Speaker 3: I don't I don't care if you teach me excess
and teach me the sirens sound.
Speaker 4: I want it all right. Look, we're gonna take a
quick time out. We get back.
Speaker 3: We'll wrap up our number one as we await the
return of Jacob Pesser and Matt Flinn to the studio.
A big name in the coaching circles has thrown his
name into the ring for the LSU head coaching job.
Speaker 4: We'll break it down next. You're on off the bench.
Off the bench, al right.
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Speaker 6: I'm so, but you won't.
Speaker 1: Locked in on LSU Football twenty four to seven. You're
listening to Off the Bench.
Speaker 4: Welcome back in Off the Bench? What I for five?
Speaker 3: Yes, being bed Rouge Taylor show up and Landra villar
Rial doing Howard number one from the producer chairs.
Speaker 4: We really can do it all.
Speaker 3: I mean, if you ever want to know who the
backbone of the show is, it's not those two slappies
that sit up there. It's us back here. We are
managing just fine without those guys. But in all seriousness,
I saw somebody your earlier asked where they were. They're
going to speak to the LSU football team this morning.
Speaker 4: They had to do that. I think that's important enough
to miss this show.
Speaker 3: I think this is a very pivotal time for this
LSU football program. So shout out to those guys for
going to do that. They'll be back at eight o'clock
supposedly we'll see.
Speaker 5: Okay, it's gett mighty close to am.
Speaker 4: Odds are odds of them coming back at eight o'clock?
What you got?
Speaker 3: I think it's plus right because I asked yesterday after
Jake was like, hey, we're gonna be back at seven.
My first response was, are you still dressing up?
Speaker 4: Because you guys aren't gonna be dressed up at LSU.
Speaker 6: Can you imagine?
Speaker 3: But you're not gonna be speaking to the team dressed
like a skeleton. And then Flynn goes, no, we'll do
a quick change.
Speaker 4: So not only do they have.
Speaker 3: To leave LSU, they have to get over here, do
a quick change, then be back for eight o'clock. It's
seven to fifty three. Guys, I don't see it happening.
I do not see it happening. A couple other things
I don't see happening. Landra big name was thrown out there,
put his hat in the ring. National Championship head coach, Okay,
can I interest you in Samata what you're on?
Speaker 5: Maybe in like an analyst role or recruiting or maybe
you know what, strength and conditioning.
Speaker 6: I wouldn't be opposed to that, but as a head coach,
I'm good.
Speaker 4: You know what's weird?
Speaker 6: We did that experiment. I think I'm good on it right.
Speaker 4: And it ran it's course, like thanks for he brought.
Speaker 5: How it all went down at the like I feel
like with him and Tommy Moffatt, who I love, and
I think he's doing a great job at.
Speaker 6: Texas A and M.
Speaker 5: I think we're doing a little bit of revisionist history
with both of those.
Speaker 6: Yeah.
Speaker 4: No, and I appreciate you bringing that up.
Speaker 3: Look, everybody that played for Tommy Moffatt said that's his
favorite coach.
Speaker 4: I thought he got a little stale here.
Speaker 3: Not necessarily bad, but I mean I just I thought
he got a little stale here and.
Speaker 6: He through a health thing, so I get it.
Speaker 5: And he found a spark at A and M and
it's back and I would love if he wants.
Speaker 6: To come here. I would love that.
Speaker 3: And then the coaches for getting a little bit. And
it wasn't just him, like Cheran didn't have a spark
like nobody on that staff did. And you could say, okay,
well look at what if a big mistake it is. Look,
he rejuvenated himself at Texas A and M. Sometimes it
takes a change of scenery and you can argue, oh
Lsu sucks.
Speaker 4: Jake Flint's not the guy.
Speaker 3: Just because Jake Flint's not the guy doesn't mean that
it didn't get a little still here with Tommy Moffatt,
and I love Tommy Moffatt. I think he's great. I'd
welcome him back. Sometimes it takes a little bit of separation.
Sometimes it takes a little bit of a change of
scenery to do something right. Having said that, I think
I'll I think i'll pass. I think I'll pass. When
the editors we're on, all right, guys, that's going to
do it for hour number one? Coming up an hour
number two, Well, Jake and Matt scheduled to be back
at studio. We may dive into this. Editors're on a
little bit more. If they're not back at eight o'clock.
I do have a lot more thoughts on that. We're
gonna have a big dealer no big deal at nine
am or Munchie segment at nine pot fifteen. Then we'll
close it out. They'll be back at some point. Stay tuned.
This is off the bench.
Speaker 1: Off the bench,