WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>All right. Joining us right now is Jason Batacio from

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<v Speaker 1>the Salt Lake Tribune. Of course, he covers the utes,

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<v Speaker 1>uh and and there's nothing better than covering the utes

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<v Speaker 1>right at this moment, because Alex Jensen officially has been

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<v Speaker 1>named the basketball coach for the men's program at the

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<v Speaker 1>University of Utah. Welcome, Welcome, Jason.

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<v Speaker 2>How are you doing, good man? Just a busy day,

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<v Speaker 2>busy day. Been on the phones all day, working the phone,

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<v Speaker 2>doing the job. So yeah, busy, but but fun time

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<v Speaker 2>of the year. Coaching searches are always fun and they

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<v Speaker 2>always have a good story attached to them. So it's

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<v Speaker 2>a good time to be a reporter on the Utah beat.

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<v Speaker 1>So Alex Jensen, of course has now officially been named

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<v Speaker 1>the head basketball coach at the University of Utah. Just

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<v Speaker 1>happened officially. I think everyone felt that it was going

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<v Speaker 1>to happen, and it's now officially happened. Tell me a

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<v Speaker 1>little bit, you know what, why? Why? Why is he

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<v Speaker 1>interesting to the University of Utah. What's what's he going

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<v Speaker 1>to bring to the table?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's a good question, you know. I think the

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<v Speaker 2>first thing is just he brings sort of the culture

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<v Speaker 2>of Utah basketball back for so long, you know this program.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean it's been nine years since his program has

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<v Speaker 2>been to the NCAA tournament, and al really just knows

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<v Speaker 2>what it takes to win here. He knows what it

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<v Speaker 2>takes to engage donors. I mean, he was part of

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<v Speaker 2>the nineteen ninety eight you know, national championship runner up

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<v Speaker 2>team that had Andre Miller, you know, all those things.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, he's a Utah man through, so you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I can understand why fans are excited. But he also

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<v Speaker 2>has just a bevy of professional experience. I mean, he's

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<v Speaker 2>obviously on the Jazz. He was a big part of

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<v Speaker 2>Rudy Gobert's development, and he was in the finals literally

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<v Speaker 2>last year with Lucy Doncs before the MAVs decided to

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<v Speaker 2>trade him away. You know, So as college basketball starts

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<v Speaker 2>evolving and the transfer portal is sort of becoming a

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<v Speaker 2>big big free agency and all that stuff, I think

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<v Speaker 2>Alex has a lot of the intangibles to bring a

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<v Speaker 2>new foundation to the table for Utah men's basketball.

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<v Speaker 1>So yeah, yeah, it's interesting, and you wonder how how

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<v Speaker 1>much of an impact of course down South, uh and

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<v Speaker 1>hiring a guy was similar type of of NBA coaching

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<v Speaker 1>experience and uh and and the impact of that, because

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<v Speaker 1>clearly it's had an impact on recruiting. We understand that,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, it's dollars and cents is what's really going

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<v Speaker 1>to move the needle with recruiting, But it's also having

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<v Speaker 1>a coach that has that kind of because all these

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<v Speaker 1>players want to go to the NBA. I'm all players

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<v Speaker 1>football want to go the NFL, and and knowing you

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<v Speaker 1>have a coach that knows what it's like, you know

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<v Speaker 1>that that's been there. How I guess I guess my

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<v Speaker 1>understanding with Alex was, you know, he was he was

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<v Speaker 1>looking to kind of go a different path, you know, like,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, he was well respected as a coach in

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<v Speaker 1>the NBA and and and I think he was looking

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<v Speaker 1>to potentially becoming a head coach in the NBA. So

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<v Speaker 1>why does why does he now come back to Utah

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<v Speaker 1>as opposed to maybe sticking around for a shot at

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<v Speaker 1>a coaching job in the NBA.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. I think the big part about it is, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>Alex has I had this job for you know, a

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<v Speaker 2>long time, I mean four years ago, he was he

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<v Speaker 2>was in consideration for it, and obviously Utah opted for

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<v Speaker 2>Craig Smith, which seemed like the good hire at the time,

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<v Speaker 2>and you know, we saw how that worked out. And

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<v Speaker 2>you know, from my understanding, Alex was really you know,

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<v Speaker 2>looking forward to potentially having the job in his hands.

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<v Speaker 2>So now I think, you know, the opportunity to come

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<v Speaker 2>back to his alma mater, to rebuild the program the

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<v Speaker 2>way he knows it should be built, and the opportunity

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<v Speaker 2>to not only you know, bring it back to its

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<v Speaker 2>glory days, but you know, engage with donors, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>engage with the fan base and all that stuff was

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<v Speaker 2>in my mind a big selling point for him, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>And so I think to kind of go to your

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<v Speaker 2>point of you know, he was looking for new opportunities,

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<v Speaker 2>I think, as you mentioned, he you know, he did

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<v Speaker 2>consider head coaching jobs in the NBA, but you know,

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<v Speaker 2>as college basketball, in college football for that matter, and

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<v Speaker 2>just all of college athletics, you know, continues to shift.

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<v Speaker 2>And I know the house settlements waiting approval, I think

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<v Speaker 2>in July, you know, that's just going to further professionalize

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<v Speaker 2>the model. So what better way to you know, basically

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<v Speaker 2>have a quasi professional job and also be it your

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<v Speaker 2>alma mater and re sort of lay the foundation for

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<v Speaker 2>the program that he really cares about, a program that

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<v Speaker 2>you know he loves dearly. I'm sure. I mean so

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know that in that in my mind. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>those were big selling points for him, and he's had

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<v Speaker 2>this job for for quite some time.

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<v Speaker 1>So yeah, how much of an impact does this have

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<v Speaker 1>with boosters because because really, I mean, boosters become a

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<v Speaker 1>big part of your success today, you know, put your

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<v Speaker 1>money where your mouth is and and uh, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>what what kind of impact do you think were there

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<v Speaker 1>possibly donors saying look, we'll invest in the program if

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<v Speaker 1>you get the right coaching here, someone who understands the culture,

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<v Speaker 1>or someone you know or or you know or would

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<v Speaker 1>they now be attracted because of him? What what kind

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<v Speaker 1>of impact does his hire have on the pocket books

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<v Speaker 1>of donors at the University of Utah?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think it opens up a lot of opportunities.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, you know, Craig before he was terminated, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I'd spoken to him at lengths about just the struggles

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<v Speaker 2>that Utah was having in the NIL space, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>there's different factors for the multitude of those things. And

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not going to go too much into that. But

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I think Alex is the kind of guy

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<v Speaker 2>that you know, donors look at and be like or

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<v Speaker 2>just like, we can win with that guy. And he

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<v Speaker 2>also understands the culture of this place. He understands the

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<v Speaker 2>culture and foundation of Utah men's basketball, and so yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>I think it can open up the pocketbooks. And I think,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, that's something that he probably talked about with

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<v Speaker 2>Harlan throughout this process of like, you know, how how

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<v Speaker 2>can they activate the pocketbooks of donors, how can they

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<v Speaker 2>activate that nil funding because especially in the league like

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<v Speaker 2>the Big Twelve, it is so important, you know, it's

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<v Speaker 2>important to have fact crowds, which you know, I'm sure

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<v Speaker 2>that's something that they're going to work on in the

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<v Speaker 2>Huntsman Center. You know, I'm sure there are tons of

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<v Speaker 2>things that they're continuing to look at as things move forward.

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<v Speaker 2>So yeah, I think al can allog a lot of

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<v Speaker 2>those things. You know, I'm not a donor, I can't

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<v Speaker 2>speak to you know, certain people, but I'm sure there's

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<v Speaker 2>a level of excitement bringing Alan into the program.

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<v Speaker 1>So yeah, what's your sense of the commitment from the

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<v Speaker 1>athletic department, uh in the in the basketball program, getting

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<v Speaker 1>back to its prominence it had in the past. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>there's a lot of good It's a very competitive league

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<v Speaker 1>basketball wise, and you know, I'm just curious if you

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<v Speaker 1>if you have a sense of where where the the

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<v Speaker 1>athletic department is on Hey we're all in on this

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<v Speaker 1>or you know what, what what's your sense from them?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's a good question. You know, I think I

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<v Speaker 2>think this higher kind of is just the start of

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<v Speaker 2>a domino effect. You know, I can't speak to any

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<v Speaker 2>particulars or anything like that, but you know, hiring Alex

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<v Speaker 2>Jensen as sort of the figurehead for Utah E means

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<v Speaker 2>basketball at this you know, pivotal juncture, I think speaks

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<v Speaker 2>a lot to you know, the urgency that the fans field,

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<v Speaker 2>the urgency that the administration feels, the urgency that you know,

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<v Speaker 2>Mark Harlan feels to get it right because you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I've talked numerous Utah fans. You know, they've told me

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<v Speaker 2>it doesn't feel right not having the running utes in

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<v Speaker 2>the NCAA tournament. You know, it's one thing to you know,

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<v Speaker 2>have deep tournament runs, but this program for so long

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<v Speaker 2>has been so used to just being in the tournament

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<v Speaker 2>and it's just you know, from from people on the

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<v Speaker 2>outside looking in, it's like, what is going on over there?

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<v Speaker 2>And so and by that, I mean that the ben's

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<v Speaker 2>basketball program. So I think hiring Al is a big

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<v Speaker 2>first step in activating a lot of the keys that

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<v Speaker 2>you know that haven't sort of been there for Utah

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<v Speaker 2>men's basketball. I mean, and I Al a big part

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<v Speaker 2>of it. You know, getting fans engaged is a big

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<v Speaker 2>part of it. You know. I think he's the kind

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<v Speaker 2>of guy that can sort of help bring back the

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<v Speaker 2>energy that's been lacking for so many years, you know.

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<v Speaker 1>So yeah, you know, I'm curious now that Utah b

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<v Speaker 1>YU are in the same conference. And you know, Utah

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<v Speaker 1>has been in the Power Power five world in the

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<v Speaker 1>Pact for quite some time, and and the and there

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<v Speaker 1>hasn't been the same type of rivalry with with the

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<v Speaker 1>folks down south. I'm curious how much maybe the success

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<v Speaker 1>be why he was having with basketball this year, how

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<v Speaker 1>much success they had last year in the football program.

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<v Speaker 1>I wonder how how much that's actually driving the the

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<v Speaker 1>decisions and the determination, you know, because I know last

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<v Speaker 1>year the football season was massively disappointed, disappointing for everyone,

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<v Speaker 1>and and and it was made worse because you know,

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<v Speaker 1>b why you did they played well. And you know,

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<v Speaker 1>you kind of feel the same way with basketball right now.

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<v Speaker 1>And I just wonder how how much, uh you know,

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<v Speaker 1>your your rivalry is is now upping your your game

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<v Speaker 1>or your determination to not be second fiddle to to

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<v Speaker 1>your rival.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, you know, obviously I come from Oklahoma. I went

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<v Speaker 2>to the University of Oklahoma, and uh, you know, similar

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<v Speaker 2>conversation I've never heard of had, uh you know, and

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<v Speaker 2>so you know, the Texas ou Red River rivalry thing

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<v Speaker 2>is such a massive thing. And you know, when Texas

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<v Speaker 2>was bad and OU was good, it was like, when's

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<v Speaker 2>Texas going to come back? But now you know Texas

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<v Speaker 2>is good. There's a sense of urgency in Norman, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I know they just hired Jim Nagy is their their

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<v Speaker 2>general manager, and it's kind of with a fire under

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<v Speaker 2>that administration to just get things right. And so, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I think the same could be said here for the

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<v Speaker 2>Utes for Utah's administration. I mean, when when things are

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<v Speaker 2>going well for your rival and they're also beating you,

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<v Speaker 2>not only recruiting, but you know, whether it be fan

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<v Speaker 2>engagement or just purely winning games, I mean that has

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<v Speaker 2>to be a driving factor. As much as people don't

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<v Speaker 2>want to say it is, I mean it is. I

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<v Speaker 2>mean you're you're compared to your rival just as much

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<v Speaker 2>as you want to beat them, So it's it's yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm sure it's a big thing. For sure.

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<v Speaker 1>I think it is too. I do. And I think

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<v Speaker 1>you know, rising tides raise all ships, and you you

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<v Speaker 1>don't want your rival to to you know, outdo so,

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<v Speaker 1>so rivalries are good. They're good for a lot of reasons.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm excited about this with Alex Chance, I really am.

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<v Speaker 1>I can't. I I think it's an awesome higher I

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<v Speaker 1>think it's the best thing they could have possibly done.

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<v Speaker 1>And I really really hope that they surround and they

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<v Speaker 1>give Alex the best opportunity and they put all the

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<v Speaker 1>resources available and then some to to help him succeed,

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<v Speaker 1>because it helps everything when that when that happens. Uh,

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<v Speaker 1>let's flip gears here for a minute. If you if

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<v Speaker 1>you're able to do that, you're ready for this, all right,

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<v Speaker 1>we just flipped them. We're going to talk about football here.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course, spring spring football is coming up pretty quick.

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<v Speaker 1>Uh and uh, and there's you know, there's a sense

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<v Speaker 1>of urgency there as well. Where what's your kind of

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<v Speaker 1>general view of of this team going into next year?

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<v Speaker 1>A lot of new faces, But is it is it

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<v Speaker 1>really time to panic? Can you know what what what

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<v Speaker 1>do you think about things?

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<v Speaker 2>I wouldn't say it's time to panic at all. I think,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I think the biggest piece of panic, if

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<v Speaker 2>if Utah fans were to feel that, was you know,

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<v Speaker 2>getting the offense right. You know, I think I truly

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<v Speaker 2>think that the defense is always going to be there.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, even with their tackling struggles last year, with

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<v Speaker 2>you know, some of the injuries that they had, like

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<v Speaker 2>they were still a top unit in the country, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>even though it didn't look like at some point like

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<v Speaker 2>statistically they were one of the better units in the country,

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<v Speaker 2>and they had the playmakers to make plays, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>to do all those things. Really the problem was, I

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<v Speaker 2>mean Kyle said himself, was the offense was the quarterback position.

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<v Speaker 2>And so I think this spring will really be sort

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<v Speaker 2>of a kind of a glimpse into you know, what

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<v Speaker 2>is this offense going to look like? What is it

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<v Speaker 2>going to look like? You know, Devin Dan Pierre at

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<v Speaker 2>quarterback with WI Shawn Parker in the backfield, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, can't Dori and Singer come back for a

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<v Speaker 2>fifth year? You know, that's kind of still up in

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<v Speaker 2>the air. But you know, I think getting these pieces

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<v Speaker 2>to acclimate quickly on the offense and developing them in

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<v Speaker 2>the right way is going to be important for Utah

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<v Speaker 2>because you know, if they don't get the offense right,

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<v Speaker 2>then yeah, there's gonna be a sense of panic from

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<v Speaker 2>you know, the fans, There's gonna be a sense of

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<v Speaker 2>panic from you know, maybe even the coaches. But I

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<v Speaker 2>think that's the biggest thing, uh, heading into you know,

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<v Speaker 2>spring camp is is you know, what is this offense

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<v Speaker 2>going to look like? You know what what what does

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<v Speaker 2>Devin damp Here bring to the table as a quarterback,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, as a person, as a leader, especially replacing

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<v Speaker 2>a guy like Cam Rising. Obviously, you know, he had

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<v Speaker 2>injuries the past two seasons that held him out. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>I think he only played two and a half games,

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<v Speaker 2>but he was a vital piece to you know, bringing

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<v Speaker 2>this program to you know, two back to backpack twelve championships.

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<v Speaker 2>He was a leader in the locker room. Everybody looked

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<v Speaker 2>up to him, and so you know, not to say

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<v Speaker 2>Devin has you know, big shoes to fill, but you know,

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<v Speaker 2>he's he's got to sort of establish himself as the

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<v Speaker 2>leader of this offense and the football team. And I

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<v Speaker 2>think the same thing goes for Jason Beck, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>first year offensive coordinator, and we saw the kind of

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<v Speaker 2>success Andy Ludwig had early on as Utah's offensive coordinator.

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<v Speaker 2>So I think it's a big season for the offense

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<v Speaker 2>to re establish itself as a good unit because you know,

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<v Speaker 2>as we've all seen here in Utah, you know, when

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<v Speaker 2>there's a good offense paired with a good defense, things

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<v Speaker 2>can go really far. I mean, that's how they went

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<v Speaker 2>far in two thousand and eight, That's how they made

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<v Speaker 2>it to two back to back Pack twelve championships. And

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<v Speaker 2>I think for Kyle specifically, you know, I think figuring

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<v Speaker 2>out the offense has been sort of the I wouldn't

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<v Speaker 2>say the biggest struggle, but just the biggest piece for

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<v Speaker 2>him to find success, especially as he's entering his twenty

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<v Speaker 2>first or twenty second year. I'm losing track of the

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<v Speaker 2>numbers here, but yeah, it's kind of my take on it.

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<v Speaker 1>No, it's so true, and you know, I think it's

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<v Speaker 1>driven him nuts trying to figure out the offense quite frankly,

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<v Speaker 1>and because you do you have you have any semblance

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<v Speaker 1>of offense, not only not only do you win, and

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<v Speaker 1>you probably win the conference because you know, you look

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<v Speaker 1>at all the games that were really close and uh,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, but it also helps your defense. It helps

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<v Speaker 1>them not to get so worn down. You know, they're

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<v Speaker 1>not on the field so long. So it's it's a

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<v Speaker 1>really valuable thing. And and it'll be fascinating with Devon Dampier.

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<v Speaker 1>I was talking earlier in the show with Sam Brookhouse

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<v Speaker 1>and you know, he's talking about these players who have

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<v Speaker 1>transferred from multiple schools and and how well they're playing

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<v Speaker 1>at at the professional level, and so so you kind

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<v Speaker 1>of I'm fascinating. You see what's going to happen with

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<v Speaker 1>Devn damp here and if he if he happens to

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<v Speaker 1>be one of those players, you know, so moving to

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<v Speaker 1>a new program and even an elevated you know, competition

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<v Speaker 1>level in a powerful for conference. So it'll be interesting. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>So anyways, Uh that's all I got to today for you. Jason.

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<v Speaker 1>Really have enjoyed this conversation and thank you so much

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<v Speaker 1>for jumping on the show.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah for sure, love love when you guys have me on.

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<v Speaker 2>I wish I could be on more. Sometimes my schedule

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<v Speaker 2>does not permit, but I always try to make time

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<v Speaker 2>for you guys.

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<v Speaker 1>So clear your schedule, buddy, come on, let's go talk

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<v Speaker 1>more on the radio. That's my motto. Right, be good,

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<v Speaker 1>we'll talk to you later. That's awesome, We'll see you there.

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<v Speaker 1>You have it. Jason Batacio from the Salt Lake Compune.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course, he covers the huts, interesting stuff about Alex Jensen.

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<v Speaker 1>And of course you know, it's always the it's always

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<v Speaker 1>the freaking quarterbacks. It's always the offense. That's always the question.

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<v Speaker 1>All the quarterbacks get all the glory and they get

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<v Speaker 1>all blah blah blah blah blah. So sick of quarterbacks.

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<v Speaker 1>Actually I like quarterbacks. I'm a favorite