WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:01.520 How we're doing eighties Joel? 2 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:07.240 Now, Eighties Joel, shout out, Horatio Sands, step brothers. We 3 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:11.759 only exclusively do eighties Joel. Sir, that's all right, it's 4 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:14.400 all right. You know you can only rely on the 5 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:17.920 old school Billy Joel so much. Voice of the Ute 6 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:21.160 time Bill Riley Wednesday Afternoon, Ryle's Happy Wednesday? 7 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:21.359 Sir? 8 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:21.800 How are you? 9 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:24.800 Is this the fen Catalina Wine? 10 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:30.719 I love that they had an eighties Joel cover band. 11 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:33.439 It is so perfect because look, I like Billy Joel, 12 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:36.079 but the eighties I think it's safe to say got loose. 13 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:36.359 For our guy. 14 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:41.640 Glasshouses is his peak, probably peak Joel. But yeah, the 15 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:44.439 later stuff hit here, hit there, But yeah, you're right, 16 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:48.000 it's you know, and Horatio Sands could have been any better. 17 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:51.039 I tried to watch Happy Gilmore Too last night. Lasted 18 00:00:51.079 --> 00:00:53.719 fifteen minutes, so I dug into the Billy Joel documentary 19 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:54.359 on HBO. 20 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:56.119 Have you tried to watch? 21 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:01.000 Yeah? I did watch Happy Gilmore Too. I didn't go 22 00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:04.840 in with high expectations. I found it amusing. It was fine, 23 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:06.959 But for you I have I've heard great things about 24 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:08.519 the Joel documentary. Is it good? 25 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:11.840 Highly recommend I watched. I watched the first part. It's 26 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:14.599 a two parters, so highly recommend excellent. 27 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:15.719 They'll dial it up. 28 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:18.560 You're watching anything else these days on what's on the 29 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:20.400 Bill Riley TV show List? 30 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:23.439 Not a whole lot going on right now, Spence. To 31 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:29.359 be fair, I got into Handmaid's Tale, the Hulu show 32 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:33.480 with Elizabeth Moss, The Seed. The last season just came out, 33 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:35.760 and I've been watching the w I never watched it 34 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:38.799 when it came out initially and went into that. It's 35 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:41.599 got a lot of HBO show vibes where you've got 36 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:44.959 to kind of let the characters develop. But outside of that, 37 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:46.680 not much. Just doing a lot of reading, a lot 38 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.040 of football reading and studying right now for the fall 39 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:50.280 from the fall season coming up. 40 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.480 Well, in that case, we should start with a comprehensive 41 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:55.599 breakdown of how George and Yang fits in with the 42 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:56.319 Jazz roster. 43 00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:59.640 Oh my gosh, the minivan is back. He is? What 44 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:01.799 was what was the I mean, they just trying to 45 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:03.760 get to the floor of what they have to spend. 46 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:06.879 What's the thought process behind bringing George back? 47 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:09.840 You get two second round picks for a salary Boston 48 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.919 didn't want, and I think that's it. I wouldn't be 49 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:14.520 stunned if they actually bought them out. But that was 50 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:16.639 a question tongue in cheek. No one gives a rip. 51 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:18.280 They're not going to be good this year, so let's 52 00:02:18.280 --> 00:02:19.319 stop football, Bill. 53 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:24.039 The Hut will be good this year. Yeah, I'm betting 54 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:25.520 on so we talk about that. 55 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:28.520 So the question I've been asking everybody today is what 56 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:31.120 does success look like year two? In the Big twelve? 57 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:34.879 The Vegas over under seven point five wins. If I 58 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:36.719 gave you eight, Bill, would you take that out of 59 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:37.360 the gates? 60 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:41.319 Yes, I would. I saw that line, you know, not 61 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:45.960 for entertainment purposes only, but I like the over on 62 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:49.879 that bet. I'm not predicting an eleven and one season 63 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:53.599 or anything like that, but I think this team was 64 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:57.840 average quarterback play away from being eight or nine wins 65 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:01.680 last year. I think to have more than that this year. Now. 66 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:06.159 The schedule's tough, I mean Texas Tech and BYU in 67 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:09.319 Arizona State, and the finishing up with the Kansas schools 68 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:12.000 is not going to be easy. But I know if 69 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:14.840 I were gambling and allowed to gamble, I would I 70 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:16.680 would look at that and say I'm with you on 71 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:19.280 that spence. I think over seven and a half is 72 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:23.800 a is a pretty fair thought on this Utah football team. 73 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:27.479 We were discussing the dynamic of pressure and when it 74 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:31.840 comes to what Utah football found themselves in last year, 75 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:34.719 the pressure was pretty simple to explain. Everybody thought that 76 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:37.319 we're going to win the thing, and so you enter 77 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:41.280 other stadiums with the proverbial favorite bullseye on your back. 78 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:44.000 You welcome teams into your stadium that are motivated to 79 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:45.599 come in and beat the team that everyone thinks he 80 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:48.360 is going to win it. That pressure is not there 81 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:52.080 this year. Is that something you think can be beneficial 82 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:55.319 for the coaching staff to utilize the whole us against 83 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:56.280 the world mentality. 84 00:03:56.919 --> 00:03:59.039 Yeah, I think so, and I think you can provide 85 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:00.879 that little chip on the show. Older though, I will 86 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:03.400 say I think a lot of people and you and 87 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:06.120 I've talked about this ever since Big twelve media days, 88 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:09.080 I think the tide is shifted a little bit. Not 89 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:11.840 that Utah is some sort of overwhelming favorite like they 90 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:14.439 were a year ago, but I think more people are 91 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:17.399 jumping on the Utah bandwagon. But it's not unanimous, and 92 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:20.079 there's a case to be made for ASU or Kansas 93 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:23.600 State or Baylor or whomever. So I think they can 94 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:25.639 use that a little bit, though not too much. It's 95 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:27.600 not as if people expect them to finish near the 96 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:30.600 bottom of the league. So I think it's a little 97 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:32.439 bit of one. But I think more than anything else, 98 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:35.399 I think this team's just hungry. And again, it's not 99 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:37.959 the same team that was here two or three years ago. 100 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:40.160 But there's a lot of guys in the coaching staff, 101 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:42.399 and I think there's a lot of people that are 102 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:45.240 eager to restore Utah football to what it's been the 103 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:47.800 last decade or so. And I think they've got a 104 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:50.160 chance to do that if they stay healthy. Obviously everything's 105 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:53.800 predicated on the quarterback position, So if Devin dan Pierre 106 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:56.920 stays upright this year behind that outstanding offensive line, I 107 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:58.920 think they've got a great chance to do it. 108 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:02.360 It is there a and you can only experience this, 109 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:05.560 experience this if you're in the building like you are. 110 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:08.879 It's always hard to ascertain what's real or what's not 111 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:12.279 on social or just on TV on video. Is there 112 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:16.160 a more loose feel with the group this year? You know, 113 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:19.360 preseason last year. I think all those expectations and then 114 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:22.639 the ambiguity about the health of not just Cameron but 115 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:25.720 the other players probably premeated throughout the entire thing. I 116 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:29.240 felt like there was kind of like an uptight feel 117 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:31.199 in the building last year. Does it feel like it's 118 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:32.800 a little more loose so far this year? 119 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:37.240 I wouldn't say loose, Spence, I would say very dialed in. 120 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:40.959 I think that these guys, especially on the offensive side 121 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:43.000 of the football, where they've brought in a new scheme, 122 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:46.000 they really got these coaches or really locked into the 123 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:49.279 details and coaching the details. I've been out to a 124 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:52.319 number of practices and being able to watch a lot 125 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:55.639 of practice, what I see is a lot of detail 126 00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:59.639 oriented coaching and these guys really being locked in on, 127 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:03.639 you know, the little things. And I wouldn't say it's 128 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:06.000 tense or I wouldn't say it's loose. What I'd say is 129 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:10.120 it's very locked in and focused on what they have 130 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:12.879 to do. You're installing a new offense, you know, sure 131 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:15.040 the quarterback knows it, one of the receivers, one of 132 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:17.480 the quarterback and the running backs know it, but everybody 133 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:20.639 else doesn't. So even through spring till now, there's a 134 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:26.079 lot of really refinement and attention to detail. That again, 135 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:28.560 maybe I didn't pay as much attention last year to it, 136 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:33.000 but this year I can really see these coaches focused 137 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:35.759 in on the little things and making sure the little 138 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:38.120 things are taken care of, because you know that old adage, 139 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:41.279 if you let the little things go, then they snowball 140 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:43.680 into big things, and they're not doing that right now. 141 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:47.720 So not loose, not tight, I would say focused when. 142 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:49.920 It comes to you know, it's nice to know who 143 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:52.480 the starter is under center, and of course it's Devin, 144 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:55.040 And it seems like there's a lot of praise for 145 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:57.519 bird flick Fickland, the new kid that we need to 146 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:58.839 get to know about a little bit. 147 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.439 Does it feel like that quarterback. 148 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.480 Room is still a battle behind Devon or do you 149 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:06.120 think it's I think it's settled one two three. 150 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:08.920 No, no, no, I still think it's a battle. I 151 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:11.240 think they're going to want to look at both scrimmages before. 152 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:13.920 I mean, obviously, if you were if you were battling 153 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:15.920 for a number one quarterback, you want to get that 154 00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:19.560 thing settled as soon as humanly possible. I think with 155 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:22.879 the backup quarterback thing, you're right, bird Fickland has looked 156 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:24.879 for a guy that's a true freshman, and he looks 157 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:27.600 sharp in the spring, but Isaac has looked good at 158 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:29.800 times this fall too. I think both those guys have 159 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:34.399 had their moments. Isaac's got the experience factor, bird Fickland's 160 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:36.759 a little bit more athletics, got a little bit more 161 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:39.879 of a live arm. So I don't think they're going 162 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.360 to set out again. This is just me hypothesizing, but 163 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:44.680 I don't think that they're going to settle that backup 164 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:48.120 quarterback thing till probably later in camp. I think they 165 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:50.120 want to give both those guys as many reps as 166 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:53.199 they possibly can to figure out who that backup quarterback is. 167 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:55.920 What do you think the Nate Johnson experience this year 168 00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:58.639 looks like? Obviously we know Nate, he was here before 169 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:02.079 trans three to transfer's back in not in the mix 170 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:04.480 to start, and that's fine, But what sort of Nate 171 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:06.399 Johnson experience you think we're in for it for you 172 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:07.040 Tah this year? 173 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:12.000 I think, and again this bear with me here. I 174 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:14.759 think you know how the forty nine ers used Deebo Samuel, 175 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.160 How they lined him up all over the field. They 176 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:18.879 put him in the slot, they'd line him up in 177 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:21.079 the backfield, they bring him in motion they'd line him 178 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:23.319 up out. Why I think you're going to see them 179 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:26.600 do something like that with Nate Johnson because he doesn't 180 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.800 have a defined position. He was a quarterback his entire life. 181 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:32.799 But what we know is he's a terrific athlete. So 182 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:35.320 I think what Jason Beck and his staff are figuring 183 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:36.919 out this fall camp, and I think they were doing 184 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:39.399 a little bit in spring too, is you know where 185 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:43.080 his absolute strengths are, where you're going to see him 186 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:45.519 thrive the most. I don't think you're going to see 187 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:49.080 Nate Johnson on the field for forty five or fifty snaps. 188 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.240 Well maybe you. I don't know, but my guess is 189 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:55.399 I think they're going to utilize him in situations that 190 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:59.759 best fit his athleticism and his football mold right now, 191 00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:02.279 because again, yeah, I know we saw him do a 192 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:03.480 lot of things when he was here a couple of 193 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:06.000 years ago. He sat behind the pavi at at Vandy 194 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:08.960 last year, so he's really learning to be a field 195 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.799 player more than a quarterback right now. But I think 196 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:14.639 that you're going to see his role probably evolve as 197 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:16.960 the year goes along. It might be a small role 198 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:19.639 as the season begins, but if he thrives in that 199 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:23.120 small role. I could absolutely see him with an expanded 200 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:25.440 role as the season goes along, just because he's such 201 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:28.200 a phenomenal athlete. And when you see him even out 202 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:32.240 of the practice field, his size, his speed, his kind 203 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:34.519 of wiggle a little bit on the field, it stands out. 204 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.519 So I think, you know, initially it'll probably be a 205 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:40.480 little bit of a I don't even know if limited 206 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:42.480 is right word, but a smaller package. And then I 207 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:44.879 think as he as he gets more and more comfortable 208 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:47.000 being a field player, I think that package evolves. 209 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:49.279 I know I ask you every week, but it does 210 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:51.840 seem to be by a coach WIT's own admission. The 211 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:55.279 positional group on offense that has the most unknowns right now, 212 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:59.320 and if Devin's numbers will improve through the air, juxtapose 213 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:01.600 what he did year ago in New Mexico. He's got 214 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:04.320 to find some receivers to catch the football. You know, 215 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:07.879 when you look at just the measurements the Merriweather kids 216 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:12.000 six five one ninety five, which certainly is the size 217 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:13.080 you want at that position. 218 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:14.519 But how is that group coming? 219 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:14.759 Bill? 220 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:16.240 Can you share any progress with us? 221 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.440 Hey? I talked to Micah Simon, who's the wide receiver 222 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:21.919 coach quite a bit after practices, and I think he 223 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:24.120 likes what he's seeing. I don't know that they've got 224 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:27.320 their locked in top six or seven yet, but I 225 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:29.399 think they're beginning to get a feel for it. I've 226 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:33.519 heard good things about Tobias Merriweather, as you mentioned Spence. 227 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:37.559 He has those measurables six, five, one to ninety five, 228 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:40.320 can run a four to four and get deep. He 229 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:43.879 has it. I know Larry Simmons, the transfer from Southern Myths, 230 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:47.879 has had some good days too. Creed Whittemore kid that's 231 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:51.200 a transfer from Mississippi State, has had some good practices. 232 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:53.720 Same thing with Ryan Davis who was in this offense 233 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:56.519 last year, and Dadrin Zipperer, who was in this offense 234 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:59.519 a year ago, has had some moments too. So I 235 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:02.559 think the beginning to get a feel for it. You know. Again, 236 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:04.600 it's a little bit like the backup quarterback spot. I 237 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:06.480 don't know that you have to lock in your top 238 00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:10.039 six now in the second week of camp, but I 239 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:12.519 think you probably want to have it locked up by 240 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:14.519 the time camp kind of wraps up next week. 241 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:18.120 Does it feel like Wasshan is RB one by far? 242 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:21.519 And what else? Can you tell us about that that room? 243 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:24.879 You know, was Shawn Parker good freshman year Wazoo five 244 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:29.240 point four yards per carry, wasn't their primary. But at 245 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.720 practice this last week he said he's looking to eclipse 246 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:34.240 one thousand, wants to touch fifteen hundred. Utah has had 247 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:38.159 seventeen one thousand yard running backs in its history. It's 248 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.600 a position that has great history and pedigree. So does 249 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:44.240 it feel like Wasshan has separated himself and who else 250 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:45.320 is shining in that room? 251 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:49.799 I think he would probably be RB one right now. 252 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:52.519 I don't know that. I think the days of you know, 253 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:55.759 remember when John White and Devontae Booker and guys like 254 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:58.720 that would get thirty carries a game. I think those 255 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:01.120 days have gone by the way. But remember was Shawan 256 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:03.519 last year as a freshman, a true freshman at Washington 257 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:06.480 State ran for seven hundred and fifty seven hundred and 258 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:09.600 seventy yards. He didn't have an offensive line like he's 259 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:12.720 got this year at Utah. So I would say he's 260 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:17.559 probably the number one option. But Nickie Rodgers, who played 261 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:19.799 at New Mexico a year ago, who was the backup 262 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:22.559 there a year ago, He's in the mix as well. 263 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:26.919 A green young man from UNLV's getting some touches. They 264 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:30.080 really like this young kid from the Dallas area, Daniel Bray. 265 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:33.279 It's a true freshman, not a real big running back yet, 266 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:36.320 but he's super fast. So I think you're probably going 267 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:37.919 to see a little bit of a mix. I don't 268 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:41.279 think we see one guy getting twenty seven to thirty 269 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:44.720 carries a game, but I think it's pretty fair to 270 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:47.679 say right now that Wayshan would probably be that lead 271 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:50.240 guy with Rogers, the guy who played in the offense 272 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.679 a year ago right behind him. 273 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:54.879 You know, you referenced the schedule, and I guess it 274 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.399 depends on what you read and who you listen to. 275 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:02.480 But I feel like Texas Tech, Arizona State, and Kansas 276 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:05.759 State are three of what I would say six or 277 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:09.399 seven teams that are mentioned. To win the Big twelve, 278 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:11.759 you get all three of those teams at home. Seems 279 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:15.320 like the road test will be Provo against BYU, then 280 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:19.519 Waco against Baylor. But yeah, just kind of generally speaking, 281 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:22.399 your thoughts on the schedule. How it starts out at 282 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:25.120 the Rose Bowl against a UCLA team with a lot 283 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:28.799 of new players. The non con includes cal Poly at home, 284 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:31.519 then the Porter Larson Bowl and Laramie. But what do 285 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:34.039 you what do you make of just the schedule both 286 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:36.159 non conon conference and we'll sell you loose after this. 287 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.159 I think it sets up pretty well spenced to be fair. 288 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.879 I mean, you're playing two road games. I think UCLA, 289 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:43.840 you know, I think they're going to be better on 290 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:46.879 offense this year. They struggled last year early with did 291 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:49.759 Deshaun Fosters there as their head coach, first SEMIT coach. 292 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:51.799 Got a little bit better as a year went along, 293 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:55.200 but defensively they have not been very good and they 294 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:58.759 look pretty empty there. This year, maybe something changes. We'll 295 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:01.720 get to see Nico Iamali. We'll see what he's able 296 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:05.320 to do. I like Utah's chances there. Obviously cal Poly 297 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:08.360 at home. Not sure what Yo's got just yet. They 298 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:10.960 weren't picked super high on the Mount West Conference. But 299 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:14.399 going to Laramie, and again that's a game right before 300 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:16.519 you're coming home to play Texas Tech. You don't want 301 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:19.039 to take anything for granted, but I think those three 302 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:21.799 games are all very winnable for Utah. And then you 303 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:25.120 get that first big test Texas Tech, who spent depending 304 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:27.720 on the reports you here anywhere from twenty five to 305 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:30.679 fifty five million dollars in the offseason on their roster. 306 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:33.600 They're going to be good. They've got a regive, veteran 307 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:36.159 quarterback coming back, They've got they loaded up on their 308 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:39.720 offensive and defensive lines with transfers. Now the real question 309 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:42.679 is can you make all those guys fit together quickly? 310 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:45.000 We'll see. But I like the way the schedule plays 311 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.039 out for them, and like you said, to have Tech, 312 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:50.440 to have Arizona State, to have Kansas State at home. 313 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:53.840 I think the two really tough road games are are 314 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:58.000 them are the Baylor game in mid November and that 315 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:00.279 game in Provo, which is always a tough game. Though 316 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:04.519 I will say depending on Kansas's health, in Jalen Daniel's health, 317 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.879 that could be a really big game at the end 318 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.480 of the year. In fact, it might be a game 319 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:11.279 that determines whether you go to the Big twelve championship game, 320 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:14.840 because if that kid's healthy, he is dynamic. He is 321 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:18.559 Devin Dampier like in his athleticism. He's just been beat 322 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:20.960 up the last couple of years. So I think that 323 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:24.720 could be a sneaky tough game, especially Thanksgiving weekend. But 324 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:27.480 I do like the way the schedule sets up, especially 325 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:30.960 having Tech in Arizona State and k State in Salt 326 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.840 Lake City. But I agree with you. I think there's 327 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:34.799 five or six teams that could make a real case 328 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:37.279 for winning this league. And the good news for Utah 329 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:39.440 is three of the five of them play a rice cycles. 330 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:41.840 Is your handler giving us the high sign? 331 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.200 Is that? 332 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.039 What's happening now? 333 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.240 He might be coming down the hall? 334 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:47.399 All right, Bill, Well we'll set you there. Thanks for 335 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:49.279 the time, buddy, Thanks benthel Thuk. 336 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.080 You seeing Bill. 337 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:53.279 Riley voice the you who now has a handler tell 338 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:55.200 us when he has to get off the phone. 339 00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:00.559 It was just a short time ago, a co worker. 340 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:01.360 What happens? 341 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:04.200 Well, he's big time in us now have big twelve 342 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:07.840 media day. He was the one you coach. Witt didn't 343 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.519 even have a handler. Kyle sat down with us for 344 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.240 twenty minutes. 345 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:14.440 I know, I will say, I do know the issue. 346 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:17.799 Today they're about to do interviews on the hill, So 347 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.879 all right, practice just got. 348 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.360 Over, okay. 349 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.159 I was. 350 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:25.080 I was surprised to hear Bill say if I gave 351 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.960 him eight wins today, he takes that. 352 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:32.080 I was a little too. Now he's up there every day. 353 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:34.799 He may have a little closer I than we do. Right, 354 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:40.720 We're not. We're not operating off of seeing these guys 355 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:43.679 on the field. So hey, maybe this early in camp 356 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:51.080 there's a little trepidation on you know, saying we're gonna 357 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:56.679 win nine ten games. I'm okay with that. Let's revisit 358 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:00.919 this exact conversation when I get Bill on final week 359 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:04.160 of fall camp, right when we get those guys on 360 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:08.039 in late August, That's when I feel like maybe we 361 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.160 can put some stock into it. 362 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:12.000 Yeah, a couple of scrimmages left between Now and UCLA 363 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:15.960 coach Beck last week did say that this week they 364 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:20.079 are starting their game specific planning for the Bruins. And 365 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:23.000 I would imagine if you're starting to implement schemes and 366 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:26.359 you're starting to really put a game plan together. And 367 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:29.119 we talked about this earlier with BYU. I don't know 368 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:32.119 who's starting a quarterback for BYU, but my guess is 369 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:35.720 they know or they have a lean and I'm quite 370 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:39.400 sure whether it's the backup quarterback job with Bird Ficklin 371 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:43.319 and Isaac Wilson, or this wide receiver room that feels 372 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:47.519 so full of unknowns. If they're putting in game plans 373 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:52.119 this week, they certainly have an idea, if not knowing altogether, 374 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:55.319 who's the backup for Devin and how that wide receiver 375 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:57.559 room is going to look, what the defensive line rotation 376 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:00.319 is going to look like. Because it's no longer like 377 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:02.759 it is time man like we're there. We are basically 378 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:06.319 three weeks in change away from game day. Interesting thing 379 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:08.279 about UCLA is they're going to be a little bit 380 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:12.720 better offensively, but they're among the lowest teams in the 381 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:15.559 country in returning production, not just in the Big Ten. 382 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:18.440 I think we've talked about this though. I do like 383 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:21.519 that landing spot. I like game one. I like that 384 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:23.759 it's a brand I like that it's the Rose Bowl, 385 00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:27.359 And I like you have a UCLA team where, even 386 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:30.000 if they're not you know what they have been historically speaking, 387 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:32.359 you get a win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl 388 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:35.440 week one over a brand name team and a team 389 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:38.680 that maybe isn't all that dominant that it feels like 390 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:40.039 a nice landing spot for me. 391 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:43.880 I think so too. Obviously, scheduling happens so far out 392 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:46.960 that it's not like this is something you planned, you 393 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:50.319 baked in, but getting an opponent that I you know, 394 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:55.079 I think Utah can beat. Now, it's not a cakewalk. 395 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:57.680 It's not an FCS school. It's not you know, opening 396 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:01.960 up against a team that is paying their entire yearly 397 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:06.200 budget just to come up here and get stomped. That's 398 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:09.640 not what you have week one. It's a winnable football 399 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:13.160 game against a school you have history against, against a 400 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:20.960 school who Kyle Whittingham has historically dominated, and you know, worse, 401 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:25.440