WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:04.759 It was one hundred degrees. 2 00:00:04.919 --> 00:00:06.759 Is Saturday. 3 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:09.199 A real road tree? 4 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:13.599 I would laugh today at the road Home time, come on, 5 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:17.879 buy and donate any physical items like coats and hats 6 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:21.000 and gloves and socks, anything that can keep people warm 7 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:24.239 the holiday season. Five twenty nine NINEABS seventy three hundred 8 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:27.559 south in Midvale. You can donate via phone eight oh 9 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:31.000 one eight one nine seventy three hundred or online at 10 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:34.359 the road Home dot org slash donate. No donation too small, 11 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:36.479 whatever you have to give this holiday season. Trying to 12 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:38.799 do some good out here. Our next guest is good 13 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:40.759 enough to join us from time to time. One of 14 00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:45.159 my favorites fellow Northeast boy Blaine Fowler b YU TV 15 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:48.000 on a Friday afternoon, Blaine, Happy Friday, Stir. 16 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:48.439 How are you? 17 00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:49.880 I'm doing good? 18 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:53.240 Spencer good Man good. Sorry for misbehaving with the clock. 19 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:55.520 I know you're a busy guy, but I got. 20 00:00:55.799 --> 00:00:57.520 I just was worried, like, did I hearn arrange this 21 00:00:57.560 --> 00:00:59.119 at the right time with Spencer? That's all. 22 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:01.240 It's all off, no, all good, all good. 23 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:03.479 I'll tell you what, Blaine, if you would have told 24 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:06.879 me that not just the number one recruit in high 25 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:11.760 school but the number one NBA prospect according to what 26 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:12.519 I've read over. 27 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:13.879 The course of three classes. 28 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:18.120 One class which includes Cooper Flag and aj Debantsa was 29 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:20.519 going to play his college basketball at BYU. 30 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:22.000 Just a few months ago. I would have told you 31 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:24.680 were nuts. But here we are. Here we are, Blaine. 32 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:28.159 What are your thoughts on how this process went down 33 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:30.560 and what kind of player BYU fans are in for 34 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:31.840 when they watch him next year? 35 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:35.480 Did you see a three sixty dunk? Was it last 36 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:36.680 night or the night report? Yeah? 37 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:38.799 I'm watching all of it now, man, I'm watching all 38 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:39.000 of it. 39 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:43.959 Yeah, it's crazy, No, he is. You keep hearing the 40 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:48.319 term that NBA folks and college coaches are using, and 41 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:51.560 the term they're using as generational player. Right, so he's 42 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:56.000 you can't say he's Lebron James or Kobe Bryant yet 43 00:01:56.040 --> 00:01:58.480 because there's a lot that has to happen. But when 44 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:01.040 you look at him at the same age, that's the 45 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:03.280 kind of skill set and talent we're talking about, and 46 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:06.599 that's not that's not you know, over you know, that's 47 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:08.919 kind of over hyping him right now. Now, those guys 48 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:15.000 work ethic and taking the talent to a hundred times. 49 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.199 What they were at that age is what makes them 50 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:20.520 some of the greatest players of all time. But but 51 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:23.360 those are the types of talent you know that you're 52 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:26.039 going to compare him to out of high school. It's 53 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:28.759 crazy to even think that he's coming to be like you. 54 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:32.120 I couldn't fathom until until a few weeks ago. Now 55 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:34.080 I started to hear, you know, kind of what his 56 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:38.319 thought process was. He was very well guided by his parents. 57 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:41.199 He'll notice that he didn't hire an agent. They just 58 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:44.680 hired a financial advisor to do some things, and they 59 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:47.000 made it a very, very big family decision. Both his 60 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:49.319 mom and dad were very very involved in what he 61 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:51.719 was going to do, and they did a ton of research. 62 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:54.479 And when when when you listen to the people behind 63 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:56.840 the scenes talk about what they were worried about, what 64 00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:59.199 they were looking for, then all of a sudden he thought, 65 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:01.439 you know what, you know, you might have a chance 66 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:05.159 on this thing, especially with Kevin Young there and what 67 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:07.639 he brings, with the staff that he brought in. And 68 00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:10.039 I'm not just talking about the coaching staff who have 69 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:12.800 a bunch of NBA and d League and international experience, 70 00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:15.759 but I'm talking about their Nu Christian specialists the strength 71 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:19.360 and training people. They all have NBA experience, they've all 72 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:23.080 worked with lottery picks, They've all developed great players. They 73 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:25.400 all have ties to guys like Devin Booker and Kevin 74 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:29.439 Durant and Chris Paul. Those guys still look to them 75 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:31.560 for guidance and come and work out with him in 76 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:35.159 the off season. And believe me, those guys weighed in 77 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:39.599 when AJ's dad reached out, those guys return calls and said, yeah, 78 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:43.240 I would I would go this staff and Kevin Young 79 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:45.800 in particular, if I knew I was a one and 80 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:49.280 done player with his kind of talent, I would go 81 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:52.680 to those guys to be developed. And so there was 82 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:55.680 a lot going for Byu when when you heard about 83 00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:59.000 what his family was doing and what was important to them, 84 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:01.400 and it wasn't hey, who's going to be the highest 85 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:02.960 bit rout here, who can get the most money with 86 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:05.639 Once Byu is able to kind of be in the 87 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:08.439 ballgame on that and all things equal, and by the way, 88 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:11.759 the family itself said, here's what we're looking for and 89 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:13.520 we're tapping it, and we know we can get more 90 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:15.319 money than that, but we don't care about more money. 91 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:18.399 We want the money to be all equal, and now 92 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:20.199 we want to know who's going to develop and who's 93 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:22.160 going to get ready to play. Is the first round 94 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:24.240 pick next year and possibly the number one pick and 95 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:27.000 be what you want out. It's just crazy to me since. 96 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:29.920 It's really quite remarkable. 97 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:32.879 And you add Xavion Stanton and Chamberlain Burgess, that's the 98 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.160 number seven class in the country next year, and then 99 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:39.040 Yegor Demon, you know, thought to be a top five pick. 100 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:41.920 Cannon catching is probably a first round pick if everyone 101 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:44.560 stays healthy and all goes to Plan Blaine. That's four 102 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:47.480 first round picks, maybe three lottery picks in two years, 103 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:50.240 which has never happened in the state of Utah on 104 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:51.720 the college basketball scene. 105 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:53.519 So you kind of alluded to it. 106 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:56.399 And I'm curious from your seat, what is the role 107 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:59.839 of Ryan Smith and Danny Ainge in this entire thing. 108 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:05.959 I think they they helped be a door opener. I 109 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:08.360 don't think that Ryan is putting as much money into 110 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:11.319 this as people think he is. I think I think 111 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:14.600 Ryan's a presence, right and they when when people come 112 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:19.120 to talk to BYU, he's president, he's there. Danny Aingel's president, 113 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:23.000 he's there. But but a guy like aj Aj has 114 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:26.720 deals that are in place and when we're't dependent necessarily 115 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:28.759 on which school he went to, with places like Red 116 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:32.240 Bull and Nike, and and so a lot of the 117 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:36.879 dollars that we're talking about are NIL dollars that are 118 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:40.480 big international sponsors, not just local guys throwing some dollars 119 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:42.439 in there. You know what I mean. When it's a 120 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:46.680 whole different it's a whole different story than what we're 121 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:49.759 used to talking about with football recruits and regular role 122 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:53.879 basketball recruits. Right, It's it's a completely different deal where 123 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:56.680 these football you know, we're looking to local car dealers 124 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:59.319 and we're looking to local businesses and locally based businesses. 125 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:03.839 He'll fund these these nil consortiums to help get dollars 126 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:06.279 to these players and have him do things. Somebody like 127 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:09.399 aj he's in the national team, he's gotten national dollars 128 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.040 coming and saying, hey, when you go there, we want 129 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.160 to be part of you, We want to be part 130 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:15.439 of you in the future. So so that everybody thinks 131 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:17.639 that Ryan Smith just pooning up a bunch a bunch 132 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:20.680 of dollars, and he had a lot, his influence was 133 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:25.319 definitely there. I think the Danny's influence is definitely there. 134 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:29.639 But I think people are way overstating his financial interest 135 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:31.360 in all of this because there are plenty of people 136 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.920 willing to step up to the plate and help with 137 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:34.959 the dollars to make things balance for AJ. 138 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:38.600 Yeah, b Yu, I was told by somebody you would 139 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:41.600 know has currently has nine seven figure donors. And so 140 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:43.800 it's not just Ryan, it's not just Danny. It's a 141 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:45.800 lot of people willing to step up in that collective. 142 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:47.959 But here's where I want to go blame next before 143 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:49.120 and then we're gonna do some football. 144 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:51.079 I want to get your thoughts on, uh, you know, 145 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:53.240 the Bowl game and everything going on with the football team. 146 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:56.920 But after AJ signed, I just did you know a 147 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:00.480 quick scan of the top college coaching staffs and the country, 148 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:03.560 And it's not hyperbolic to say none of the staffs 149 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:04.560 are built like Kevin's. 150 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:06.079 None of the staffs are built. 151 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:09.600 Like BYUS NBX NBA guy is your head coach for 152 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:12.399 a decade, two former G League coaches, as you referenced 153 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:17.519 strength and conditioning, nutrition, she was with the Suns, and 154 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:22.759 it's it feels like, intentionally or not BYU saw around 155 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:26.639 corners and built a pro staff for a sport that's 156 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:28.000 moving to a pro model. 157 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.240 Now here's the thing. Kevin's got to prove he's gotta coach. 158 00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:30.759 He can coach. 159 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:33.360 Now there's a little little pressure on our guy, Kevin Young. 160 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:35.600 He's gotta you know, he's got to prove he can coach. 161 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:37.319 And we'll see how that goes because he's gonna have 162 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:39.759 a grip of talent. But do you feel like this 163 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:43.680 could be the beginning of a genuine stretch of some 164 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:47.000 really exciting things for BYU hoops based off the way 165 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:48.120 that staff is built. 166 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:53.839 No, absolutely, You're you're onto something for first Spenser, because 167 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:56.920 I talked to Kevin Young early. I had a lunch 168 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:59.639 with him before, you know, just right after he came, 169 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:02.000 and he talked about his vision, and he said, with 170 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:04.959 the way college basketball is going with NIL and all 171 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:08.800 of that, college basketball is going to become an analytics 172 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:11.519 and a business game, just like the NBA. And so 173 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:14.120 I felt like is what he said. I felt like 174 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:16.160 I needed to bring in an NBA stat you know, 175 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:20.160 I need to hire a general manager that has front 176 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:24.360 office experience that can help us navigate NIL to value 177 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:27.759 what players are worth, to help match NIL deals with 178 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:31.560 player talent level, to be able to speak that language 179 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:34.799 because this is where basketball is going, and he took 180 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:38.080 the job I think knowing that that's where college basketball 181 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:41.320 was going, but because of it, I think BI us 182 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:44.159 way ahead of the curve, way ahead of the curve 183 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:46.840 with everybody else. And then they have all of these 184 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.720 contacts with players in the NBA that have worked with 185 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:53.559 all these folks that have helped them develop. So now 186 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:56.840 you're a young potential first round draft pick and you're 187 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:59.360 talking to different colleges and b what you sit you 188 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:02.360 down with people that say, hey, listen, I worked with 189 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:03.960 this person and this person and this person and they 190 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:05.519 were drafted here and here and here, and they've been 191 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:07.759 an All star in the NBA. We've worked with them 192 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:09.639 in the offseason. These are the things we do for them. 193 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:12.399 You remind us of this guy that we coached, and 194 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.039 we think we can get your skill set into the 195 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:16.440 same place that his is, and this is what he's 196 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:19.039 done in the NBA. All of a sudden, you're going, wait, 197 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:21.960 nobody else is talking to me like this, Like I 198 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:25.200 actually believe these guys, Like I've heard Kevin use the 199 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:28.240 word this isn't a hypothetical. My staff have coached a 200 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:30.519 bunch of NBA All Stars and developed a bunch of 201 00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:33.159 NBA All Stars. We know what the talent and the 202 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:35.440 skill set looks like to get there. We know what 203 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.080 has to be done to advance them and get them 204 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:40.480 to the upper rachelon in the NBA. And we can 205 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:43.480 do that with the right players here in college basketball. 206 00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:47.440 So recruiting has just been on a rocket shit advance 207 00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:50.960 right now. The thing is they can develop these guys. 208 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:52.960 They can develop the skill sets. I actually don't doubt 209 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:55.080 that at all because they've done it. Now, can this 210 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:58.360 staff coach in big games in the Big twelve? You 211 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:00.440 would think with all their experience, you know, add a 212 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:02.960 bunch of international sprints at the Gola Olympic coach on 213 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:04.919 the staff, they've got you name it, they've got it. 214 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:08.279 But can they come together as a staff and then 215 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:10.759 they put all these talented players out on the floor 216 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:14.120 and have them mesh and play with a style that 217 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.480 fits the Big twelve in college basketball? Very physical this 218 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:20.360 league is, and ken they win a bunch of games. 219 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:23.000 We know they can talent. They can they can they 220 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:25.360 can get talent and they can bring it here. And 221 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:28.879 here's the crazy thing, Spencer, if they can win. So 222 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:31.639 before all of this, you know, before the signees and 223 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:33.720 all of the news, they were picked down in the 224 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:35.639 middle of the pack in this league. If they co 225 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:37.879 finish in the top three in this league this year, 226 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:40.320 Bennett he like, I don't know how you open up 227 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:42.759 the recruiting more than it is, but but I think 228 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:44.879 it perpetuates it and now they can kind of go 229 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:48.320 out and get whoever they want. And Kevin understands that. 230 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:50.679 I've had a long talk with him about this. It's like, 231 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:52.639 I'll talk with him here in another two hours. We'll 232 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:54.240 going to meet with him at five thirty to get 233 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:57.039 ready for the game tonight. But he understands that for 234 00:10:57.159 --> 00:11:00.840 BYU to be good in the long term, they not 235 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:04.720 only have to get the one and dons that fit 236 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:08.320 the model for BYU and fit the culture, but they 237 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:10.799 have to have a core of guys like the down 238 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:15.639 Halls and the Richie Saunders and those prototypical BYU guys 239 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:18.320 that will stay around for three and four years and 240 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.639 be the core and be the guys that take the 241 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:22.799 young talented guys under the wing and help them develop 242 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:25.159 and help them survive for the year they're here. He 243 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:28.519 knows he can't do the Kentucky model that we were 244 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:30.200 all saying, you remember, Spencer, Like, how do these guys 245 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:32.000 not win a national championship? Every year? They have like 246 00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:34.519 four first round draft picks and they don't win. He 247 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:36.519 knows that that model doesn't win. He wants one or 248 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:39.200 two of those a year, and he wants a core 249 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:42.639 of really real high level guys like a Richie Saunders 250 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:46.120 and like those guys to be the core and the 251 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:48.559 long standing folks that are there. And he feels like 252 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:52.120 that mix is almost like the mix that Mark Few 253 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.039 has had up at Gonzaga, where he gets one or 254 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:56.759 two high, high level draft picks and then the best 255 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:59.960 regional players in the Northwest to come and fit in, 256 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:03.200 and then he's final four after final four. That's the 257 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:07.000 vision I think Kevin sees. I think winning would help 258 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:09.759 help a lot to get all those other kids, and 259 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:11.480 then one or two of these guys the year and 260 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:14.360 you're right up there competing in final fours. And that's 261 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.080 the vision. I believe in it right now. We'll see 262 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:16.840 how it goes. 263 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:19.440 All right, Blaine, It's do a little football here and 264 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:21.480 before we get over to BYU. Since you and I 265 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:26.639 last spoke, your former college teammate and I believe college roommate, 266 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.600 Kyle Whittingham has announced that he's coming back to coach 267 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:33.679 Utah football for the twenty first season. He has a 268 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:37.279 new offensive coordinator, a new wide receivers coach, and a 269 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:40.240 new running backs coach, all with BYU ties. It's just 270 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:44.200 so amazing how this rivalry works with Utah guys on 271 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:48.120 BYU's coaching staff and BYU guys on UTA's coaching staff. 272 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:50.919 But what's the Blaine father take on the happenings with 273 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:52.600 the coaching staff up here in Salt Lake. 274 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:55.720 Well, first off, if you and I talked about it 275 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.879 when we talked last time, and I think between us 276 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:01.279 we decided that we thought Kyle would come back. 277 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:03.039 Yep, and we were right. 278 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.879 And the reason we were right is because we know 279 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:07.799 how competitive Kyle is, right, and I love that, and 280 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:10.840 then that's why he's been so successful. And I just 281 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:12.320 had a hunch, and I think you had the same 282 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:15.080 hunch that there's no way he's going to walk out 283 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:17.440 on a five win season. He's got to come back 284 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:20.840 and rerun it, and he's gonna make major changes. And 285 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:23.759 I think that they have struggled so much offensively I 286 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:27.639 think bringing Jason in is a brilliant move. And Jason 287 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:29.200 went in down there to New Mexico. I mean, I 288 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:31.120 think everybody knows what he did down there. That's the 289 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:33.799 place that has not been good for a long time offensively, 290 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:38.200 and with Devin Dampier, who's bringing up there, they end 291 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.399 up number four in the country in total office. They 292 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:42.519 were four hundred and eighty plus yards of game last 293 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:44.960 year Spencer and a place that has not been good, 294 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:48.600 like just overnight. And I think it helps that he's 295 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:52.840 bringing Dampier with him because he's like the true prototypical 296 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:57.840 you know, five ten, two hundred pounds physical, I'm gonna 297 00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:59.480 run it, I'm gonna throw it. You don't know what 298 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:01.240 I'm going to do. We're gonna spread you out, We're 299 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:03.440 gonna run urpo and you're gonna have a heck of 300 00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:05.480 a tar stopping it because we're gonna read it on 301 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:07.519 the fly. No matter what you do defensively is gonna 302 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:09.720 be wrong. And this is a guy that threw for 303 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:13.240 almost our ran frolmost twelve hundred yards and nineteen touchdowns 304 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.559 and threw for twenty eight hundred yards and the next 305 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:18.360 about five and six record that's because they were just 306 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:22.279 absolutely awful on defense, so they got no help on defense, 307 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:25.360 and they produce those kinds of numbers. So I think 308 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:29.120 what Kyle's doing is gonna lead to a winning record 309 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:30.720 and then being competitive and it's the top of the 310 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:33.000 league again next year. Because we always know they're gonna 311 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:35.679 be great on defense. So I thinks the moves he's 312 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:38.080 made are gonna really really help. I could see him 313 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:40.480 coming back competing for a title next week, and then 314 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.559 finally stepping down and going there. I did not want 315 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:43.960 to leave on a bad note. I'm gonna hand it 316 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:47.279 over to Morgan now after they have success. I think 317 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:51.320 he's pulling the right strings to try to make that happen. Now, 318 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:53.399 they they got to stay healthy. They were not healthy 319 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:55.600 this last year. I mean all of that plays into it, 320 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:57.080 but I think he's setting himself up to come and 321 00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:59.080 make one more run. It will be successful. 322 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.759 Would be if I didn't ask you about someone you 323 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:04.360 know really well in Bronco Mendenhall taking the job at 324 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.000 Utah State. You know, he was asked to do a 325 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.559 bit of a cleanup job at BUYU, which he did. 326 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.080 He was asked to do a bit of a cleanup 327 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:13.840 job at Virginia, which he did and wasn't at New 328 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:17.000 Mexico very long, but by all accounts did a pretty. 329 00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:17.600 Solid job there. 330 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:20.840 I for one, was a little taken back blamee that 331 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:22.440 Bronco decided to head up to Logan. 332 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.240 What's the blame Valer take on this? 333 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:29.120 Yeah, it does. Bronco loves a project right. And here's 334 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.679 the interesting thing. He stayed at Buyu as long as 335 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:34.639 he state anywhere. I think he loves the idea of 336 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:38.879 coming in and making what's wrong right. The first thing 337 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:41.919 he does is he brings an unbelievable level of accountability 338 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:46.399 and disciplineal program right, and he turns it around. If 339 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.679 they've been losing, he'll take the pieces that they have, 340 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:51.840 he'll get new pieces, and they'll immediately be better because 341 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:57.039 they'll be immediately be way more effective at what they're 342 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:59.200 supposed to do because they'll be disciplined and they will 343 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:02.000 execute on both the ball and then win more games. 344 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:04.440 The problem for Bronco is I think that he comes 345 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.919 and he does that, he turns around and they get 346 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:10.000 to a level where they're winning consistently. You know, b 347 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:12.240 Uyu going to bowl games, winning televen games and I 348 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:16.080 think he gets bored, I mean, needs another project, and 349 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.960 so I think that's why he took the New Mexico job. 350 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:19.840 And that was a place that he coached before. But 351 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:22.320 he saw that as like, this is the biggest project ever. 352 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:25.200 Let me take it. And five and six at New 353 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:28.039 Mexico is almost heroic in recent years, you know, to 354 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:30.399 take them from five and six. But I think he 355 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:32.279 looked at Utah State and I think he felt like 356 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:36.519 that's a job where traditionally you can win with the 357 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:39.080 right kids. I know how to use I know how 358 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:41.360 to recruit the guys them to take there, know how 359 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:44.480 to recruit the state of Utah and the Inner Mountain West. 360 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:46.720 I know what a formula is to win there. We 361 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:50.120 can turn that thing around quickly, way quicker than we 362 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:52.919 could maybe at New Mexico and go out and compete 363 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:55.159 for a championship in that league, which I'm not sure 364 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.679 he could ever do it New Mexico and I can 365 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:00.440 leave my mark. I think that sites him and I 366 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:02.919 think he can do it like we watched him do 367 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:05.079 it before. Now will he be there for the next 368 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:06.599 ten years as the guy I don't think he will. 369 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:08.279 I think he'll turn it around and then I don't know, 370 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:09.839 four or five years, he might get bored and then 371 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:11.720 go do something else, or maybe you retire again. I 372 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:14.000 don't know. But if you're Utah State, you'd take that, 373 00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:16.759 wouldn't you take the rebuilding, get him on the right 374 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:19.680 footing and hand it up to somebody else. And yeah, 375 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:21.640 he's one of the best in the country at doing 376 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.279 that for sure. 377 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:24.680 All Right, before we get to the Alimo Bowl, I 378 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:28.359 just wonder whether sentiment is down there, because I mean, look, 379 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:33.279 there's an argument to be made that BYU's resume and 380 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:36.079 the unfortunate part is you lose to your final three, 381 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:37.640 you just lose it the wrong time of year. 382 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.720 But you compare it. 383 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:40.960 To SMUs and we could get into the weeds about 384 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:43.799 whether or not BYU should be in the Alamo Bowl. 385 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:45.799 But the unfortunate part is they do lose two of 386 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.559 three down the stretch after putting themselves in the position 387 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:51.400 to win the Big Twelve as the favorite. So before 388 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.920 we get to the Alimo Bowl, which I think is 389 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:55.400 going to be really really fun, what's the sentiment what's 390 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:58.039 the feel down there about the way BYU football ended 391 00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:58.480 the season. 392 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:03.799 Everybody inside the program is really disappointed. Because they felt 393 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:05.319 like they were going to be in the top three 394 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:07.359 in the league start the league, and we were all 395 00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:10.759 including me, including me, I'm an ad minute, we're going, yeah, 396 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:13.359 you know what, finish in the top six or seven, 397 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:15.519 we'd be thrilled, like that would be a big jump forward. 398 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:19.519 And so it really is remarkable what they did. And 399 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:21.920 so I think it's stung for a bit, and then 400 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:24.519 they look back and said, Okay, some things happened down 401 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:27.720