WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.200 Special thank you to Zach Moss who rolled through to 2 00:00:03.240 --> 00:00:06.519 start the program today. But let's continue the football conversation 3 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:10.480 with one of our favorite Stevenson Sylvester back on the 4 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:12.759 Driving a Monday, Sly, Happy money man, how are we doing? 5 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:14.960 Hello? 6 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:19.039 Sly? Oops, sorry I was on mute there. Happy Monday brother, 7 00:00:19.079 --> 00:00:19.559 How you doing? 8 00:00:19.879 --> 00:00:22.120 Thanks for joining us? You know I've done that so 9 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:24.800 many times. Are you on Zoom or Google? 10 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:24.960 Lie? 11 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:26.239 Like, how are you joining us today? 12 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:28.120 Google? Meet man? Google Meat? 13 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:28.679 Yeah? Yeah. 14 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:31.359 Porter got me introduced to that man. And I much 15 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:34.560 prefer doing my interviews that way. I have zero connection 16 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:37.359 and issues and it just it just feels better. 17 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:38.079 Love it. 18 00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:39.920 And you sound great, and I've done the mute things 19 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:43.119 several times, and Sly, I've got to I'm gonna apologize 20 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:44.679 right out of the gates before we ask a question, 21 00:00:44.759 --> 00:00:48.039 because I don't mean disrespect. Porter and I were debating 22 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:51.000 this last segment as our guys, Zach Moss hopped on 23 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:53.079 the team, or excuse me, hopped on the show and 24 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:55.079 for the team. He's part of our team, so are you. 25 00:00:55.719 --> 00:00:58.679 And here's what I'll say, slide, I just want your reaction. 26 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:01.920 You guys will always go down the twenty eight team, 27 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:04.599 the one that Sugar Bowl. I believe the Sugar Bowl 28 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:06.760 win over Alabama is the best win in the history 29 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:10.120 of Utah football, all due respect to conference championships and such. 30 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:12.959 And you guys will go down as one of, if 31 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:15.599 not the greatest Utah football team of all time. If 32 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:19.480 I said to you that twenty nineteen is the most 33 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:23.879 talented team on paper that Utah Football potentially has ever had, 34 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:25.000 what would you say to me? 35 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:31.400 I wouldn't. I mean, I can't argue that that's all subjective, right, 36 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:35.079 And honestly, I'm good with that. Right on paper is 37 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:39.719 is not as good as results. And so we've seen that, right, 38 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:42.359 Like we came into last season like this is the 39 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:46.400 best team Utah's ever had on paper. Look what happened. Right, So, 40 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:49.719 as far as the comparative, like, I don't mind that, 41 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:54.159 you know, twenty eighteen, you know, doing my research with 42 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:56.840 you know, my Utah man brand and talking to all 43 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:00.200 the old players from the past, it's about a whole 44 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:05.760 bunch of undervalued guys overperforming right guys, proving people wrong, 45 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:09.039 you know, day in and day out from training camp 46 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:12.879 throughout the season, and even when everything is pointed to 47 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:16.879 you supposed to be winning. Everybody who was still denounce 48 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:19.360 you or or think of less of you, and you 49 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:22.080 still prove them wrong. And that was the mentality of 50 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:26.599 those guys. So honestly, I'm more excited and privileged and 51 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:29.439 honored to be a part of that style of team 52 00:02:29.479 --> 00:02:32.439 because that's what sports is all about than somebody who's 53 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:33.240 better on paper. 54 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.599 For sure, well said, no argument here, but I will. 55 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:38.759 I'm going to follow up with a question, and if 56 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:40.759 you can solve it, you might get a phone call 57 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.240 to go coach the Cowboys, because it's what everybody wants 58 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:48.159 to know. Slide because what are the elements like twenty nineteen. 59 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:50.319 I'm not trying to pick on them, but any team 60 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:53.919 that's great on paper and then there's a team like you, 61 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:55.680 guys who want every game in front of you, which 62 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:58.560 is all that matters. What are the most important dynamics 63 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:00.800 to make sure that a team that on paper has 64 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:06.039 every single thing that you could want. Talent, experience, offense, defense, 65 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:10.039 special teams, and the road between day one of springball 66 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:12.520 and the final day of the season that for you 67 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:14.960 culminated in a Sugar Bowl went over Alabama. 68 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:17.000 How do you turn talent into results. What are some 69 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:18.120 of the key dynamics. 70 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:21.919 It's leaders, end of the day. It's the type of 71 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:25.199 leaders that you have. And I can humbly say that 72 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:28.439 from the different teams and the things that I've seen, 73 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:32.759 it's the leaders on the team and how they lead. Right. 74 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:36.680 People can consider themselves a leader, but like, are you 75 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:39.759 willing to do what you're asking somebody to do? Right? 76 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:42.039 Like a lot of people hate their bosses, right because 77 00:03:42.520 --> 00:03:45.120 like they're asking me something so simple, like why don't 78 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:47.919 they just do it? Right? And so it's more of 79 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:52.360 like can you lead by example? Can you are would 80 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:55.759 your teammate or the person next to you believe that 81 00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:58.800 what you're asking them, what you're asking of them, that 82 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:02.360 you're willing to do? And it's so for me, it's 83 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:04.120 the leaders on the team. When I got on the 84 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:06.919 Pittsburgh my first year, we went to the Super Bowl, right, 85 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:11.319 and the leaders on that team was just second to none. Right, 86 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:14.840 Pittsburgh started going downhill when those guys left Pittsburgh, right, 87 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:21.000 like the hines Wards, the Ben Roethlisberger's, the Willie Colowns, 88 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:25.399 the Max Starks, the Troy Polamalo's, Ryan Clark's and then 89 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:29.199 Ike Taylor's to Brett Keesl to Casey Hampton and James Fair, 90 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:33.920 James Harrison. Like those leaders right there, they set the 91 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.279 stage for out everything is supposed to go. Those leaders, 92 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:40.839 the coaches didn't need to talk to. They knew what 93 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.639 to get done. Whether you had to tell in or not, 94 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:45.839 you still have to go out there and earn it 95 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:48.920 and execute it. And there's no prime example today more 96 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:51.720 than the Detroit Lions. The Detroit Lions looked great on paper, 97 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:54.680 and they're going out there and executing every single week 98 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:58.839 and earning their recognition. Man. So I just think that 99 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:01.000 it's all about the leader on the team. It was 100 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:03.680 for us in eight of going out there and putting 101 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:04.120 in the work. 102 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.759 Yeah, and you know, that's probably a tried and true principle, 103 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:12.199 you know, both in sports and in life. Right, great 104 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:14.639 leaders who understand what to do, and then it probably 105 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:18.040 takes a lot of humble followers, correct. I mean, doesn't 106 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:20.680 matter what your talent level is like, if you've never 107 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:24.240 done something before, it's probably an important element of it 108 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:26.519 of a team to have people that are willing to 109 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:30.160 listen to the older classmen and understand what it is 110 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:33.040 to be part of Utah football culture. Is that kind 111 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:34.519 of in line with what you're thinking. 112 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:37.560 That's one hundred percent, And that's kind of where I 113 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:39.319 want to get back to. Like I always look at 114 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:42.279 like what happened this past year, because like we had 115 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.680 the talent we talked about, or I came into the 116 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:49.800 season talking about the depth it would benefit us for 117 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:52.079 when we do have injuries, people can step in and 118 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:54.360 we shouldn't miss a beat. And as soon as cam 119 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:57.399 Risen got hurt, we went to straight crap. So at 120 00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:01.519 that point, what where were our leadleaders and what were 121 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:05.639 our leaders doing, you know, to inevitably make the whole 122 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:08.079 team step up and make things happen right. And so 123 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:11.920 it's leaders for me. I looked at it, you know, 124 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:15.600 over and over again and and just like and how 125 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:18.079 they do it right? You know, you got leaders of 126 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:21.160 all kinds of different stuff. People consider themselves leaders, But 127 00:06:21.240 --> 00:06:24.560 I think there's a certain type of leader that it is. 128 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:26.560 You know, Coach Whittinghamp says it all time, he's an 129 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:30.439 alpha dog, alpha of alpha, right, But like what type 130 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:33.680 of leader are you? And can you do the be 131 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:37.639 the right leader that will bring a locker room together? 132 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:40.879 And I just don't feel like we had that last year, So. 133 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:41.759 This is interesting. 134 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:43.480 I didn't plan on doing this today, but it's one 135 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:45.519 of the things I like about interviewing you. You know, 136 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:47.279 we can go in a bunch of different directions. And 137 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:52.480 now I'm thinking about what the BYU players said after 138 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:56.120 the Alamo Bowl postgame press conference. Conterpay a lot of 139 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:58.879 the seniors in upper class and over there, and every 140 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:02.120 single one of them about the leadership in the locker 141 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:05.680 room from the players, and they weren't diminishing the leadership 142 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:08.439 of the coaches. But what is the difference, slide, What's 143 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:11.480 what's the difference between having great leadership and your coaching 144 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:14.439 staff and then having great leadership on the team with players, 145 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:16.560 Because I do think it does hit different a little 146 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:17.839 bit when you hear it from your peer. 147 00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:22.839 It's uh for me. I interviewed Connor after after the 148 00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:25.920 Alamo Bowl too, and these are a lot of questions that, uh, 149 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:27.720 you know, I ask him because you know, I have 150 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:30.639 my own opinion, but I want to see the validity 151 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:32.160 of it, right. I want to make sure that my 152 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:34.720 theory or whatever I thought when I was a player, 153 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:37.319 or what I think today, you know, holds true and 154 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:40.439 it's the same. So yeah, But for me with all 155 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:44.120 of that, it's ownership, right. You gotta you gotta be 156 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:47.879 willing to own what you're a part of. So it 157 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:51.680 doesn't matter how much money you make, how long you've 158 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:55.439 been there, what type of ownership do you have on 159 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:59.040 the product that you're a part of. Right, And and 160 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:03.680 so the coaches can't make you understand ownership. You have 161 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.439 to understand it. It has to go to people that 162 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:08.759 are on your level, that are putting in the work 163 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:11.879 that you're into, and it's it's ownership, right. And then 164 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:15.879 like do you feel and if you have ownership of 165 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:19.079 your product, you want the best out of your product, right. 166 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:22.680 And so for me, if I put anything out there, 167 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:25.199 anything that has my name attached to it, right, everybody 168 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:28.079 wants to talk about in and nil, Right, anything that 169 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:29.839 has my name attached to it, I want to make 170 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:32.840 sure it represents me in the best life. Right. If 171 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:35.600 my name is attached to University of Utah, that's why 172 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:38.759 I'm so prideful it and and why I love the 173 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:41.360 university so much. If my name is attached to that, 174 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:45.200 I want it to be held in the highest standard. Right. 175 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:46.879 And that's what we had in two thousand and eight. 176 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:50.039 That's what I had on my team in Pittsburgh, and 177 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:52.360 that's what I think a lot of championship teams have 178 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:56.399 is they have ownership between each and every player, right 179 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:59.759 everybody plays like talk about I have to own my 180 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:05.039 you know, twelve square feet right the square feet around me. 181 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:07.440 I have to own that, and I have to know 182 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:09.519 that the person next to me believes that I'm gonna 183 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.799 do that to the best of my abilities, and not 184 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:13.879 only to the best of my abilities that I can 185 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:16.200 do it, he believes that I can do it. So 186 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:18.480 for me and the leaders, and what I took from 187 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:23.159 Connor pay was ownership, ownership of this team, ownership of 188 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:25.600 the product that we're putting out there each and every week, 189 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:29.679 and that people are watching and just loving what you do. 190 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:33.159 Follow up, does a quarterback have to be a leader? 191 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:36.080 I mean, you obviously play with Brian who, like you know, 192 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:39.480 you had a quarterback who was a leader. And Coach 193 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:42.279 Wit talked a lot about Cameron Kevin Rising how he 194 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:44.639 was and I hate to say was it just doesn't 195 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.799 sound like he's coming back. And I could keep going 196 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.240 down the list, but you reference the Lions and look, 197 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:52.879 Jared Goss a really good player. We saw him, you know, 198 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:55.039 we were in the Pac twelve footprint. We saw him 199 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:57.879 play Utah. I don't know if he strikes me as 200 00:09:57.919 --> 00:09:59.240 like one of their main leaders. 201 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:00.799 Maybe he is. I'm in the locker room. 202 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:03.559 But do you have to have a quarterback who's also 203 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:05.200 one of your preeminent leaders. 204 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:09.840 Well, I think it makes the most sense, but I 205 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:12.440 don't think that at the end of the day, that 206 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:15.720 makes the team. I think it's the easier way when 207 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:18.120 you have that guy who has the ball in his head. 208 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:20.279 It's like the point guard, right, You want your point 209 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:23.080 guard to be your leader, right, Like what were the 210 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:26.759 teams of the Michael Jordan's teams without like a Ron 211 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:31.799 Harper or Steve Price or Steve Kerr, right, or you 212 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:34.320 know Gary Payton, he was the leader of his team, right, 213 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:37.200 the Chauncey Billups, right, Like they were the leaders of 214 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:39.120 the team that you look up to. So you want 215 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:42.200 to have that person because they have the ball in 216 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:46.240 their hands most often, to be the leader that just 217 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:49.840 makes everything and everybody because they want the ball, they 218 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:52.120 want to be effective. They'll look at that person more 219 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:55.679 often because that person's name will more often be said. 220 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:57.639 Like if you listen to a play by play guy, 221 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:01.159 they're gonna say a person's name more often, right, Like 222 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:03.679 if you're just listening on the radio and somebody says, 223 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:06.360 Chauncey Billups has the ball, passes it to re Hamilton, 224 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:09.120 pass it back to Chauncey Billups, passes it to Rashid Wallace, 225 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:12.120 hits the couldn't Tayshaun Prince. Oh, that's a goal. Who's 226 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:14.519 name that they say more often in that than anything. 227 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.720 It's the point guard. Same thing with the quarterback. Quarterback 228 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:19.840 takes the snap from center, they're gonna see the name 229 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:22.519 of this guy who's delivering the ball to handing the 230 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:25.919 ball off and orchestrating to play more often than not. 231 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:29.000 So I think it's easier when it's the quarterback for 232 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:31.720 it to be your team to like, you can't have 233 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:34.440 a team without your quarterback being the leader. I don't 234 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:37.960 agree with that because I've been a part of teams 235 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:41.399 where quarterbacks are not the vocal leader, but you know, 236 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:44.080 they go out there and execute. They lead by example, 237 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:47.240 so they're a type of leader. To be the head 238 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:50.279 honcho leader. That's the raw raw guy. I don't think 239 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:53.519 it's completely necessary, but again, you just got to have 240 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.480 make sure that that person is bought in and has 241 00:11:56.600 --> 00:12:00.720 ownership of his twelve square space and makes it happen. 242 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:04.000 But at the end of the day, the quarterback being 243 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:07.000 the leader doesn't have to be it for you to 244 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:09.600 have a team. But I do think it's the easiest 245 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:12.879 to get your entire team to buy in because everybody 246 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:15.279 knows football is the most people, right. You have to 247 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:18.080 have the most people on the same page than any 248 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:21.240 other sport that's out there, And if your quarterback is 249 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:22.840 at the helm of it, it just makes it easier 250 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:23.279 to do that. 251 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:25.720 One more question about this before we get accused of 252 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:27.080 hosting a Ted Talk. 253 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:29.919 Talking football. 254 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:32.360 I'm just curious, because you know, college or pro, Who's 255 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:35.320 who's the best leader you ever played with in your career? 256 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:44.039 Oh, my gosh, the best leader as a player. There's 257 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:47.519 been a few, right Like Uh, for me, I love 258 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:52.279 James Ferrier. James Ferrier when I got to the NFL, 259 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:54.919 he was just a guy that everybody looked up to. 260 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.440 And as far as if we go, we go the 261 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:01.919 way James Ferry goes. That's Troy Polamalud, that's Ryan Clark, 262 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:05.679 that's Ike Taylor, that's Brett Keesol, They looked at James Ferry, 263 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:11.639 even offensively, you know Willie Cologne, you know Marquise Pouncy, 264 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:16.039 min In Hall, even Roethlisberger. They looked at James Ferry. 265 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:21.240 He was one of the best examples of the head 266 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:26.000 haunchho and it came so natural to him because he 267 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:28.919 was so cool, like you wouldn't even I don't know, 268 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:31.480 you know, just as a guy that you looked up to, respected, 269 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:34.519 know's gonna put in the work and and everybody believed in. 270 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:36.879 I thought James Ferrier was one of the best leaders 271 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:37.720 I was ever around. 272 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:40.159 Interesting stuff. Interesting stuff. 273 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:42.039 All right, let's move off of it and actually talk 274 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:45.240 some football now, and let's do a little college. We'll 275 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:47.279 end with pro and I'll set you loose on a Monday. 276 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:51.320 Do you like this new format now that we've seen 277 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:54.519 it unfold, Because it's one thing to say, hey, I 278 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:58.600 like the idea of twelve teams or the premise is sound, 279 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:01.360 but you have to see what it's like. You have 280 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:03.720 to witness how it unfolds before you can actually have 281 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:05.639 a fully baked opinion. So, now that we have a 282 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.120 final Ohio State Notre Dame, what do you make of 283 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:11.840 our first experience as college football fans witnessing this twelve 284 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:13.639 team CFP man. 285 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:18.080 I loved it one. It automatically got me thinking of 286 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:20.919 the future. What are the next few years gonna be 287 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.799 like now that the players know what it's gonna be 288 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:26.879 like and the possibilities of it. Right now that each 289 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:31.519 team understands, like, Okay, Boise State got in it and 290 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:35.759 SMU got in it, we could be one of the 291 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.480 Indiana got it. We could be one of those teams. 292 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:42.679 And we have a possibility. I'm Indiana. If I beat 293 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:46.440 Notre Dame, I can go play Georgia and I could 294 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:49.679 beat Georgia. Right. I scored more points on Notre Dame 295 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:53.240 than Georgia scored on Notre Dame. Right, I can do that, 296 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.159 and then I can beat the next team. And I 297 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:58.679 like it. It's just more possible when you've seen it 298 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:02.080 done and the possibilities of you making it happen, right, 299 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:06.120 Like even our twenty eighteen about us breaking into the 300 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:09.600 BCS and beating teams like that, we've seen it done, right, 301 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:13.039 We've seen the four team, you know, break the BCS, 302 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:15.240 or even before that in two thousand and three, when 303 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:17.600 they were just beating teams like Texas A and M 304 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:20.919 in North Carolina, and then then just everybody they lined 305 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:24.000 up against, they just they they demolished them, right, And 306 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:26.600 even the year before in two thousand and seven when 307 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:29.039 UCLA was ranked number eleven in the country and they 308 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:31.559 came into the rights Eycle Stadium and we just beat 309 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:33.759 the brakes off of them. So we knew it was 310 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:37.519 possible by the examples of the years before us, right, 311 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.120 And now that this has been done, I just think 312 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:43.120 that other schools are looking at that like like we 313 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:45.279 always had an epifty, like, oh, maybe we could do it. 314 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:48.600 But you've seen in Arizona State take Texas to the break. 315 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:52.039 Arizona State possibly should have won in many examples, right, 316 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:54.320 take that field goal that bounced on the ground but 317 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:58.519 bounced through the uprights. Technically they won, right. Imagine them 318 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:01.799 playing against Ohio State, right and not losing it in 319 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:04.799 the last two minutes of the game, right, and not 320 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:08.559 throwing a freaking pitch on goal to go situations Oh 321 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:13.080 so stupid. But I think the possibility that other schools 322 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.720 are now looking at in this twelfteen format is just great. 323 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.639 And I just think that the years to come are 324 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:20.759 just going to be that much more interesting, that much 325 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:23.600 more intriguing. I think it brings that much more fire 326 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:27.279 to regular season games to get to the opportunity to 327 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.320 be a part of the playoffs. 328 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:32.240 So I asked you prior to the semi final, kind 329 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.679 of what your God told you about these games? And 330 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:38.759 I remember, I know you did a good job of 331 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:41.559 breaking down why ultimately every game is kind of its 332 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:46.000 own thing and it's all about matchups. And as a 333 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.159 guy that played for Utah to beat Alabama and the 334 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.799 Sugar Bowl in two thousand and eight when not a 335 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:51.679 lot of people thought you would, you're well equipped to 336 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:54.600 talk about how any team can beat any other team 337 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:58.480 on any given day. But it feels like nobody believes that. 338 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:01.919 Marcus Reeman, by the way, what impressive, dude. How about 339 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:04.440 your first coaching job in life is just Notre Dame. 340 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.240 You know, at the age of thirty five and now 341 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.759 at the age of thirty ninety has a chance to 342 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:09.559 win a national championship. 343 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:11.160 Against his team that his alma mater. 344 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:13.279 Exactly it didn't. 345 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:15.240 Know it was his alma mater. That's that's even more. 346 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:18.839 Insane awesome storylines. But Vegas isn't giving Notre Dame much 347 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:21.359 of a chance. The general public, according to the money, 348 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:24.559 giving them almost zero chance at all. Ohio State's an 349 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:26.920 eight point favor. Do you think the Irish have a 350 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:28.519 fighting chance? No pun intended. 351 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:32.880 Hey, anytime you lace them up, you have a fighting chance. 352 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:38.640 And so I'm always for a game not being one 353 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:42.319 before it's played right, And I think that these odds 354 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:47.640 and lines from Vegas is just more motivation and bullet 355 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:51.480 toed board material than anything. And so it's all about 356 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:54.000 how you line up right. I didn't think Notre Dame 357 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:56.240 would do what they did against Georgia, but let alone 358 00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:00.039 Georgia have as bad a receivers as they did. I 359 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:02.240 didn't think they could drop the ball that many times. 360 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:05.359 I thought, you know, the matchup against Penn State was 361 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.839 very equal, and as it was, it was twenty four 362 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:10.559 to twenty four to the last second, right, And so 363 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:14.160 you know, I think this matchup going into Ohio State, 364 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:16.880 I do think Ohio State has the has the edge. 365 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:20.359 But you've seen in this Texas game, it's never over. 366 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:23.640 Like Ohio State started on fire and then they got 367 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:27.240 one penalty and they went right back in the tank 368 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:29.200 and Texas kind of came back in the game. But 369 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:32.640 it was fourteen twenty one and Texas has one yard 370 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:35.400 to game to make it twenty one twenty one, and 371 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:37.759 they don't make it happen. Like that game was close 372 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:40.039 until the end. You know, you can look at twenty 373 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:42.480 eight to fourteen and like, oh they had it handily. No, 374 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:44.799 Ohio State did not have that handley. And that's what 375 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:47.160 I was talking about, you know the other week, is 376 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:50.079 that like Texas can make it happen, right, And so 377 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:52.920 I think that's gonna be the same situation in this 378 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:55.519 National Championship game. Is it's going to be exciting. I 379 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:58.200 think it's gonna be a great matchup. And if you 380 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:01.119 can put a game plan together in thing is possible, right, 381 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:04.480 It's it's uh, it's It's not like the NBA Finals 382 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:07.799 where you have to score four games. You have to 383 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:10.720 win four games against a single opponent to actually win it. 384 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:14.680 This is sudden death, man, you got one opportunity to 385 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:17.799 to make this happen. I love this and I think 386 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:19.519 it's gonna be a great matchup. I do give the 387 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:21.799 edge to Ohio State when you look at the offense 388 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:25.279 the defense, I give it to them. I don't think 389 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:27.000 it's gonna be an eight point game. I think it 390 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:30.480 will be a little closer. But these National championship games 391 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:34.160 are are are always interesting. And here's one thing that 392 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:37.599 I if if Notre Dame pulls this out, Uh, it's 393 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:40.319 because I believe they have more heart than anybody in 394 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:43.200 this bracket. The way that they play, they want it 395 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:47.079 more and I and that's all about the leader, uh, 396 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:50.200 and Marcus Freeman to instill that in him right like 397 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:55.720 the coach for the Lions. Uh, he's he's instilling the 398 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:59.519 ability to want it more in his players than the opponent. 399 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.400 That Vikings game at the end of the season was awesome, 400 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:05.279 and I think that's exactly what Marcus Freeman is doing 401 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:08.440