WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:03.240 Gordon Monson will stop by sometimes we're in studio, but 2 00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:04.519 Craig is traveling. 3 00:00:04.599 --> 00:00:06.160 The Jazz are on the road for a while. 4 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:08.679 Now we're gonna bring in Chris Camaraddi, but the TV 5 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:12.119 voice of the Utah Jazz Craig Bowler Jack on a Thursday. 6 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:13.919 Bowler, Happy Thursday, sir, how are we doing? 7 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:18.879 Hey, I'm doing good. I just got to Portland and 8 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:21.719 no rain, so that that's a happy that's a happy 9 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:22.480 Thursday for me. 10 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:24.320 Oh that's good. That's good at this time. 11 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:27.399 And you're in Portland, you're gonna experience the rain for sure, 12 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:32.560 all right, Bowler. Look, man, uh, it's just it's tough watching, 13 00:00:32.679 --> 00:00:36.320 you know, watch and tough. Tough it is it is 14 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:38.920 and we all know the deal. And I will say 15 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:42.600 this Oklahoma City is scary good even without Chet. 16 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:45.079 I mean, that's a good team. And what they do. 17 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:48.159 They get a lot of attention for, you know, SGA 18 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:51.560 and their offense, and deservedly so. They're a nasty ball, 19 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:54.840 howking defensive team. So let's just start in a vacuum. 20 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:57.719 Nineteen turnovers in the first half, which tied an NBA 21 00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:01.000 record twenty nine, leading a forty five point it's Jazz 22 00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:03.320 fall to OKC NBA Cup group play. 23 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:04.799 What'd you see from your front row seat? 24 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:09.519 Well, I saw a team Oklahoma City Spence let's start there. 25 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:13.040 Who could be a title contender in my opinion, which 26 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:17.719 when Chet gets back healthy. I've never seen a defense 27 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:22.799 that swarms and just constantly works as one unit. I mean, 28 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:25.959 swing it from one side to the other, run it 29 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.239 down the paint, force a shot out. The Jazz again 30 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:31.959 don't have the experience to handle that type of pressure 31 00:01:32.040 --> 00:01:34.560 on a nightly basis, and it's been an issue all 32 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:36.959 season long. This one was out of sight in the 33 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:41.400 sense of steel steel Steel eighteen In all, it's the 34 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:44.959 most steals I believe, or ties the steals, most steals 35 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:47.120 this season in the NBA. 36 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:49.359 It was rough. 37 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:53.120 You know, Will Hardy continues to try to find a 38 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:56.719 positive or two out of things as this team continues 39 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.239 to grow. But you know, it gets to the point 40 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:01.799 spend where you just kind of sit back and just 41 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:04.760 go wow, you know what will be the turning point? 42 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:07.959 What will to take And maybe that's another player or 43 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:11.080 two down the road, but right now, the experience you 44 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:15.560 get from my chair is you I think the concern 45 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:20.240 for Will would be not to get demoralized. That is, 46 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:23.439 I think that's a correct phrase or one word to 47 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:27.120 use in a game like that that it totally stunts 48 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:30.319 your ability to grow and move forward. So, you know, 49 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:34.080 we're in Portland, they've struggled. You know, it's a whole 50 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:37.120 new life without Dame as they continue to make those adjustments. 51 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:40.800 So I look on the schedule where to go like 52 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:45.199 Sacramento as well. Do the Jazz want to win? I 53 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:48.719 think one win on occasion obviously helps boost morale and 54 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:52.400 get you back in the gym with a more positive attitude. 55 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:55.520 But we all know what you know the situation is, 56 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:57.879 and that is to let the young guys play at 57 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:01.280 the bulk of the minutes and that's where we're going. 58 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:03.919 And it's tough. It is tough to sit there and 59 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:07.560 see some great moments and then just that six minute 60 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.280 span or so that just absolutely derails what the Jazz 61 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:10.879 are trying to do. 62 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:15.080 So prior to the team taking off for the road 63 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.080 trip and you guys will have a home game, it 64 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:22.319 was announced prior to the announcement that Phoenix will be 65 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:25.199 in town next Friday, you guys are going to be 66 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:28.199 on the road until Saturday, December the twenty eighth, when 67 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:30.879 Philly rolls into town and then you're going back on 68 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:33.759 the road for New York, Miami, Orlando, So it is 69 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:36.759 a lot of time away from home. And Will talked 70 00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:40.960 about the opportunity to come together as a group on 71 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.400 these trips, and you're on the trips with the team, 72 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:46.639 how did they seem? Man, getting your head kicked in 73 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:48.520 like this, night in and night out has to take 74 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:49.000 its toll. 75 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:55.520 It does, And I think there's a huge learning curve 76 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:59.080 that's happening right now and what it takes to play 77 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:03.879 a shake Guilt's Alexander and even brought into a wall 78 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:08.719 of Lougan's Dort an undrafted player bind you who's made 79 00:04:08.759 --> 00:04:11.479 a living in the league being a defensive just you know, 80 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:15.000 wall and understanding what it takes to play at this 81 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:18.680 high level n after night. I think they're getting a 82 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:21.040 huge taste of that right now. And Spence Aday of 83 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:25.079 the road, Yeah, I'm in the lobby and guys are 84 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:28.519 walking through and heading up to the room and probably 85 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:32.480 thinking about some late lunch around town. They'll practice with 86 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:35.120 a shoot around in the morning and then play the 87 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:40.720 Blazers tomorrow. But I still since they get it. Keante's driven. 88 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:44.120 I take Colin Sexton is driven, as you know Walker 89 00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:46.879 Kesser has. You know, I think bodied up a little 90 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:50.480 bit this year also mentally as well, physically and mentally, 91 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:53.759 which was a must in his third season. But a 92 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:56.160 long way to go, you know, a long way to go, 93 00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:59.240 and that's my biggest concern as we roll into game forty. 94 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:02.759 In game fifty, the you know, have you stripped these 95 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:07.000 guys of confidence that they definitely have to have moving 96 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:11.240 forward in their pro career, And I think Will's trying 97 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:16.240 to balance that with positivity. In his postgame comments, you know, 98 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:19.439 I thought he did a great job of explaining himself. 99 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:22.319 And I made the call that Colin had run it 100 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:25.279 to the rack and scored against the Lakers, But yet 101 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:27.680 I didn't hear it or even my eyes are going 102 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:30.399 to the you know, going to the rim. Will was 103 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:32.759 at about at half court and made the call, the 104 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:35.680 timeout call. But you know, I think he at least 105 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:39.639 goes to the microphone, and you know, he admits when 106 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:43.240 he's right and also admits when he's wrong, and also 107 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:46.720 in the sense of you know, talking to Colin. You know, 108 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:49.279 that's one thing I've noticed about Will he talks to you, 109 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:51.800 and I think he talks truths and that's what the 110 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:53.040 players need to hear right now. 111 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:56.639 Yeah, and you know, just I want to continue on 112 00:05:56.680 --> 00:05:59.879 this theme, Greg, because you know, to start the year, 113 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.480 Danny Justin anybody who took a mic, including Will said, 114 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:06.040 it's development, it's young players. We need to see what 115 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:09.000 sort of hand we've been dealt. I'm paraphrasing obviously, and 116 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:11.720 of course that has been the deal. You know, they 117 00:06:11.720 --> 00:06:14.360 are playing the young players, and they are playing these 118 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:17.959 young players through difficult moments when they're making clear errors 119 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:20.879 and mistakes where if you're playing for something maybe a 120 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:24.079 little bit more serious this year, you take them out 121 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:26.920 of the game to maybe play a vet give you 122 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:27.879 a better chance to win. 123 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:31.319 But there has to be, Craig, a very fine line. 124 00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:35.160 Between wanting them to learn what it's like to play 125 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:38.439 with the varsity, as Gordy Chaser would say, but not 126 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:42.639 allowing this consistent losing to seep into their psyche and 127 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:46.879 the risk of them learning. You know, habits, they lead 128 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:50.319 to losing and winning. They're both habits. They're both things 129 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:55.360 that are created with day to day you know, good habits, right, 130 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:58.560 And ultimately I'm not saying that bad habits, but tell 131 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:01.279 me from your vantage point, your thoughts on the fine 132 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:04.360 line between learning lessons and allowing losing to seep into 133 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:04.920 your culture. 134 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:09.439 Man Spence Bingo, it's a razor thin. It's probably the 135 00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:14.199 biggest conversation had behind closed doors with Utah Jazz management. 136 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:17.920 I think the balance is all on Will to make 137 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:22.160 sure that they stay positive. It's hard. There's there are 138 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:25.879 moments he tries to I think highlight to say this 139 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:29.279 really went well, and he's always told me, look, well, 140 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:32.639 what the problem is. Great teams can handle two minutes 141 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:36.000 where they may see a seven to eight oero run happen, 142 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:38.639 but then they're able to put things back on track. 143 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:41.920 The Jazz are in the six minute category or even beyond, 144 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:45.519 and all of a sudden, what was a five or 145 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:49.920 six point lead allows is allowed to be taken away 146 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:54.759 and then down fifteen. So the runs are fifteen, two, 147 00:07:55.000 --> 00:08:00.079 seventeen four, sometimes twenty to four, twenty to six, And 148 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:02.879 I look into players eyes as they run across by 149 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:05.439 the table, and you know, I think they are in 150 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:08.759 kind of this shock mode of like, damn, things were 151 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:12.399 going well, what happened? And that's where Will has to 152 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:15.720 step in and explain that good teams start to up 153 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:19.120 their defense, they'll doub you. They'll they'll trick you into 154 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:22.040 thinking you're good, or they'll go to your weak hand 155 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:25.160 and make you turn the ball over. And so if 156 00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:28.160 that's the process of learning, so be it right. But 157 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:31.120 I'm with you on the psychological part of it, and 158 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:33.960 that may be the biggest challenge for Will this year 159 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:36.559 is to still be able to say, hey, here are 160 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:40.080 some positives that we're moving forward. But also when you 161 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:43.720 take a win, enjoy it and understand why you want 162 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:47.159 and you know, there's have been a lot of wins 163 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:49.279 and you know they're in line. I try to just keep, 164 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:51.120 you know, pumping the wheels a little bit and try 165 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:53.960 to look at things. But in reality, what you see 166 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:57.600 is what I see, and their struggles. They don't handle 167 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:00.799 ball pressure and that's something and they don't, you know, 168 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:04.240 really understand the need to play both into the floor 169 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:08.159 and be a defensive minded player as well. The box 170 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:12.039 score means nothing right now. And I think that's probably 171 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:16.720 one of the biggest conversations he has with these young guys. 172 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:17.960 Craig. 173 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:20.639 They have really bad defensive habits. They just do and 174 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:23.320 you know I can't spend it any other way because 175 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:26.200 we have smart basketball fans here and I'm watching against 176 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:29.480 o case, and yes, turnovers lead to runouts, but you 177 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.240 have to try to get back, and then you have 178 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:34.360 to track your man like there are so many what 179 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:36.759 I call pick six is just a steal and a 180 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:38.639 bucket or a dunk on the other end, and then 181 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:41.639 there are a ton of missed rotations where players are 182 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:45.360 getting wide open looks and that look I know that 183 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:48.480 everybody loves well, and he's had his option picked up 184 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:49.840 for both year four and year five. 185 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:51.480 I know they're riding with them, but. 186 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:56.080 There has to be some sort of conversation about improving 187 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:58.879 defensive habits, whether that's personnel or coaching or a little 188 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:03.080 bit of both. We're thirtieth last year in defensive efficiency 189 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:06.240 and they're thirtieth again this year. There's no defensive metric 190 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:09.080 where they excel. There actually are a few offensive metrics 191 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:13.679 where they're acceptable, none elites, but there's nothing on defense 192 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:14.600 that they do well. 193 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:17.240 Why do you think that is? I guess is a 194 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:18.399 long way of me asking. 195 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:20.720 You that, well, you know, I think you have to 196 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:24.639 just look down and see, you know, our Danny and 197 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:27.080 Justin Zanik and Will have said, this is a difficult 198 00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:31.399 league to make and to stick. And you know what, 199 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:34.480 the data points are being collected fence as we speak, 200 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:38.759 and they'll have to make some tough decisions on right guy, yes, 201 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:42.759 wrong guy no, and move forward. I mean that's just 202 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:45.200 kind of the way this whole thing happens. Are all 203 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:49.159 the right pieces here, No, are more pieces coming in, absolutely, 204 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:52.440 but at what speed? And fans want that to be 205 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:55.639 accelerated at a very quick pace. And you know what 206 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:59.600 Will does too. Look, his career is going to be 207 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:05.799 I had to say, you know, judged on success, but 208 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:08.759 you know everyone wants to win now. And for him 209 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:11.120 to have an the options picked up through his fifth 210 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:14.080 year is a wonderful thing for him. But I guarantee 211 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:17.000 you he doesn't just like sitting here getting you know, 212 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:20.960 beaten every night. He's a talented guy with some good ideas, 213 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:24.279 some great ideas learned well with pop a vision San Antonio. 214 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:27.440 But at the same time, are the pieces right? And 215 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:30.879 that's where Danny and Justin have to do that evaluation 216 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:34.320 with Will's help to say, yes, he works in the system, 217 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:36.519 No he doesn't. He can't play both ends of the 218 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:39.639 floor and those are going on as we speak, and 219 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.080 that's about as clear as I know. It's frustrating, it's disappointing. 220 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:47.559 Fans have been really incredible at the arena so far 221 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:50.320 this season, and you know, I plauged them as they 222 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:52.759 watched some of these young guys make mistakes and grow. 223 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:56.080 And you know, Kyante's got most of the pressure on him. Spence, 224 00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:59.080 I think he would agree. It's a tough position to 225 00:11:59.559 --> 00:12:03.039 really selling in this league because you have so much responsibility. 226 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:05.360 How much time do you let a player grow into 227 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:09.000 that Walker is making himself known more and he looks healthier, 228 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:12.240 and he looks more mentally fit. As the rem protector 229 00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:15.519 in marketing is always a target now because there's really 230 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:18.679 not a second option, and so market is getting double 231 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:21.840 team friple team to time and his shot production and 232 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:25.320 just point productions down. So you know, it's it's a 233 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:28.720 tough time. And I still like what you just said 234 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:32.000 to me was the fine line of the mental side 235 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:35.879 of making sure are you setting the right trends of 236 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.759 winning and developing and how do you balance that? And 237 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:42.600 I think we're going to find out more, obviously in 238 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:44.759 the next twenty games, on what direction they want to go. 239 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:49.120 So I mentioned some of the offensive metrics that at 240 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:52.360 least are somewhat positive. They're playing quickly, they're tenth in pace, 241 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:56.879 and they're number two in offensive rebound percentage. You know, 242 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:59.559 that's not a great great stat because it does mean 243 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:01.320 you're missing a lot of shots, but it also means 244 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:03.360 you're getting some offensive boards. They're the worst team in 245 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:06.039 the league in turnover percentage. They're the worst team in 246 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:08.600 the league and giving up points off those turnovers. But 247 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:11.639 the rebound percentage has to directly tie to Walker in 248 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:13.399 a lot of ways, and I do want to give 249 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:15.240 him a lot of credit because if there's an a 250 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:19.600 plus early season story, it is Walker. Okay, he's played 251 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:23.600 himself into the conversation, and I'll say back into the conversation. 252 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:25.279 I was never out on him, but it was so 253 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:27.720 fun to watch him evolve as a rookie and so 254 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.799 disappointing to watch him flatten out as a sophomore. That now, 255 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:33.320 in year three, to see him recapture what we were 256 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:35.519 all excited about and even build on it, I think 257 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:39.399 is such a positive. Nearly three blocks a game, eleven boards, 258 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:42.240 eleven points. I'd like to see the free throw percentage 259 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.080 up a little bit, and he's only shooting a couple 260 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:45.799 of free throws a game. I wouldn't mind to see 261 00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:48.679 that up a little bit myself, but I don't want 262 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.240 to be completely overtly negative when there's a real clear 263 00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:52.559 positive from your seat. 264 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:54.840 What have you seen with this evolution so far? From 265 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:55.639 Walker Kessler? 266 00:13:57.200 --> 00:14:00.559 Your numbers are more spot on Spence last year. The 267 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:06.559 early injury really just negated anything he accomplished his rookie season. 268 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:09.759 I think he lost a lot of confidence. He was 269 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:13.120 a bench looker, as you know, Will talked a lot 270 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:16.240 about don't look at me, go play. You don't need 271 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:19.399 my You know, I don't need to tell you yes 272 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:22.000 or no. You did well. And you know that's another 273 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:26.000 thing about being young. You don't want to make a mistake. 274 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:28.159 And I think the Jazz make the mistakes in those 275 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:32.720 those panic moments that occur, which only makes the situation 276 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:35.879 worse and you forget to get back on defense, or 277 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.320 you look at the bench and say, oh, it's my fault. Well, 278 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:42.000 by that time your man has left you and is 279 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:44.799 twenty feet down the court and ready to run to 280 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:48.919 the rack, and you've left your man, you know, on 281 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:52.440 an Island back there defensively, so that's part of the problem. 282 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:55.159 But for Walker, I think John Collins is another positive 283 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:58.360 this year in my opinion, just because he's another tenacious 284 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:01.039 rebounder and has helped the Jazz the offense and defensive 285 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:04.039 side quite a bit. But getting back to Walker, I'm 286 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:07.159 proud of him. This was a could be a make 287 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:09.360 or break year for him. I know it's only in 288 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:11.480 his third season. A lot of teams need bigs, but 289 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:14.519 I'm just girl glad that he finally found some toughness. 290 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:17.440 I think he's a tougher guy in the paint. He's 291 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:21.000 learned to keep the ball above his head. He can finish. 292 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:23.440 I select to like you said, at one point he 293 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:26.039 hit four out of five free throws and everybody you 294 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:27.879 know was like, you know, cheering, like hey man, maybe 295 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:30.279 he's getting into a groove. But I don't know why. 296 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:32.240 A lot of bigs have problems in the line, Spence, 297 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:34.399 but it's it's true, and a lot of us just 298 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.240 practice and the mental side of belief go up and 299 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:39.120 you know, don't think about it, go aheap and take 300 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:42.200 the shot. But little by little, Walker Kesser has matured 301 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:45.080 and I think physically, he feels much better about himself. 302 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:48.679 You know, you reference John and for listeners that don't know, 303 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:52.320 this is very incredible. And look, it's only you know, 304 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:55.759 sixteen seventeen eighteen games played as of now. I mean, 305 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:59.320 you know, we'll see how long this lasts and hopefully 306 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:01.759 he can stay healthy. John's played in twenty games. He's 307 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:05.159 only missed one game so far. He's a fifty forty 308 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.000 ninety guy. 309 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:06.440 This year. 310 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:08.360 He's shooting fifty three. 311 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:11.440 Percent from the floor, forty percent from three, and then 312 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:14.399 ninety one point two percent from the line, and he's 313 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:16.679 taking three threes a game. This is not forty percent 314 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:20.480 on like one or two attempts. And I am a 315 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:24.039 well known, not huge John Collins guy. I guess is 316 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:26.519 how I'll put that. And I didn't think it looked 317 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:29.519 great last year. And look, if they're playing him to 318 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:33.200 showcase him, all good because he's got a player option 319 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:35.799 for twenty seven mil next year, so he's fine wherever 320 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:39.600 he is. Do you think this is a scenario where 321 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:43.360 they're kind of allowing John to get some usage and 322 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:45.480 get some minutes to maybe move on from him, or 323 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.720 do you think because he's what is he twenty six. 324 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:50.240 I mean, it's not like he's thirty four or do 325 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.679 you think, no. 326 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:54.639 He's you know, he and Colin Sexton both are still 327 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:57.039 in that in that area of where they could be 328 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:01.519 used in this jazz lineup. And you know, is it money, 329 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:05.000 is it youth? Is it a combination? Does he not fit? 330 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.400 But I'll tell you what, John's been a pro. I've 331 00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:09.920 talked to him several times at Big T and you 332 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:11.920 know what he's all in. I mean, I don't if 333 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:13.960 he's blowing smoke. He does a great job at it. 334 00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:17.039 But I'm looking at his performance on the floor, Spence, 335 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:19.880 and you're seeing what I'm seeing. The guy's busting his tail. 336 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:22.680 He's much more comfortable with Will as his coach and 337 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:25.640 understands the system better and understands what he has to do. 338 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:28.319 He's had to play a couple three different positions at times, 339 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:30.839 you know, five, four and three. That's the way it's happened. 340 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:33.960 Philipowski's injury not you know, put him back into more 341 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:37.440 of a centerpiece. They've used Michael Potter, They've used v 342 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:41.319 a little bit, you know, like like Will told us, 343 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.920 we're one injury or two injuries away from playing a 344 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:46.880 lot of veterans to fill those minutes, and Jac's out now, 345 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:49.400 so that gives Sins of Bos some time. So this 346 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:52.400 is a constant, revolving door. But I think John's been 347 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:54.720 the most consistent of any Jazz player. I said it 348 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:56.920 on the air the other night with in the pregame show. 349 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:58.359 I just think if you look at the numbers and 350 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.680 the production, and the way he's hand handle himself and 351 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:03.720 the way he's mentored these younger guys, I'd put him 352 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:07.160 as the early twenty five game nearly twenty five game 353 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:11.200 MVP for the Jazz And that's probably something and no 354 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:15.759 disrespect to John, that Danny or Justin would want to happen. 355 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:19.920 But I think the mentoring is but the way he's played, 356 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:22.279 he has busted his till and if they do put 357 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:26.279 him on the market, it only highlights him to receive 358 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:29.480 something even higher than just a John Collins or a 359 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:32.559 player or maybe a higher draft pick, which is what 360 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:37.599 Danny and Justin seemed to continue to want to stockpile John. Yeah, 361 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:40.759 probably doing himself a favorite expense, but he's also doing 362 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.000 the Jazz a favorite as well. 363 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:44.880 Yeah, John Collins fifty forty ninety is not a sentence 364 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:47.160 I thought I'd be saying this this year, So a 365 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:49.640 lot of credit to him for sure. All right, last thing, 366 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.599 I'll set you loose on this, and unfortunately, I do 367 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:54.440 want to ask you about Keante and I just am 368 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:57.839 starting to wonder whether or not he is miscast, whether 369 00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:59.880 or not it's a square peg, round hole sit you. 370 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:03.960 He just turns it over way too much. The shot 371 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.599 selection stuff I'm not a huge fan of. I'm not 372 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:09.680 willing to dismiss or annoint a twenty twenty one year 373 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:13.079 old player, but he is the He's the young guy 374 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:16.400 that is getting the most opportunities with the combination of 375 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:19.000 his rookie year minutes and now soft year minutes as well, 376 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.799 and we just haven't seen improvement, Craig, I mean, that's 377 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:24.880 just how it is. I wonder how you're kind of 378 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:27.720 digesting the first part of the season for Keyante George. 379 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:31.440 Yeah, I would think inconsistency is the first word that 380 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:36.319 comes to mind. I think knowing him and talking to 381 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:40.359 Will a lot about him is that he coaches him 382 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:44.359 very hard, okay, And what that tells me is that 383 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:46.519 when you have to coach somebody that hard, is that 384 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:49.039 there may be you know, do you get what I'm 385 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:51.400 trying to tell you to do now. To his to 386 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:54.240 his credit, you know, you know, he's a two who's 387 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:56.640 trying to be a one in this in this very 388 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:59.720 difficult league, and there's only a few elite point guards, 389 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:02.799 and those are the ones that leave teams to multiple titles, 390 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:06.599 or multiple playoff runs, or win conference titles, and it's 391 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:12.119 difficult to do. I think the Jazz see something in him, obviously, 392 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:15.839 and they're not willing to throw the towel in. But 393 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.000 you are correct, and the numbers prove that there is 394 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:22.640 a panic. There is still the uncertainty of I'm doing 395 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:25.599 the right thing. When does that settle down? If ever? 396 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:28.559 I don't know, but I think what they're going to do, 397 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:31.039 going back to when you heard the same thing I 398 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:34.880 did with Danny and Justin as all these data points 399 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:37.279 and the way that the metrics are all set up 400 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:39.599 now in the league, they're going to find those numbers 401 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.960 and decide one way or the other if they're going 402 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:46.559 the right way or the wrong way. The turnovers are 403 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:50.319 a big issue, and it starts those ten two runs 404 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:53.359 that the opponents take. And he still has to be 405 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:56.599 able to handle backcourt pressure. You've noticed in the early 406 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:59.279 part of the season, a lot of teams decided on 407 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:02.440 the inbound after I made bucket, they come back and 408 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:04.359 put two guys on him and try to get him 409 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:06.480 on an a count or let him, you know, or 410 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.880 have a turnover. You know that he's been able to 411 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:12.640 handle that a little bit better. But look, they know 412 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:14.799 the weaknesses of the Jazz and teams are trying to 413 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:18.440 exploit that, and they're they're roughing up lowry marketing because 414 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.480 there's not another guy that really at the moment can 415 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:25.079 be a consistent score and they've had good looks, right Spence, 416 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:27.039 But the bottom line is can you make those shots? 417 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:30.680 I mean, this whole conversation is about Keyante market and 418 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:33.440 you know, the growth of Kiante, the growth of Walker. 419 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:36.519 What do you do with jac and John and what 420 00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:37.680 do you what do you do with sins of baw 421 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:40.160 and is Isaiah call you're getting enough for reps? 422 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:40.440 You know? 423 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:44.480 So it's it's it's intriguing just to be a part 424 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:47.160 of it and watch the pieces being moved around and 425 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:49.319 the injury to Taylor Hendrix we haven't talked about real 426 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:51.119 quick and now you got to go yes, but that 427 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:55.400 may that may have set the whole game plan back 428 00:21:55.960 --> 00:22:00.240 because Taylor spoke yesterday and I'm glad to see in 429 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:03.599 recovery is in his second year, but cut way short 430 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:07.400 and that really threw probably John Collins into the mix 431 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:10.319 even more so. And you got to see Philipowski before 432 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:14.440 he had his ankle and leg injury. And maybe you know, 433 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:18.039 the second round pick at thirty two, You know what, 434 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.480 that may be the best pick of all just in 435 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:23.759 the sense of the potential that he you know, has, 436 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:26.480 and the and the NBA body that he has, and 437 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:29.519 it seems to be the IQ of the Duke basketball 438 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:33.839 program allows you to understand the NBA game better. But 439 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:39.039 injuries always always impacts the team spence, and that injury 440 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:43.039 by uh from by Taylor Hendrix may have really turned 441 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:47.039 the Jazz a little bit sideways. I don't the expectations 442 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:49.920 for his growth this year was big. He worked hard 443 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:53.200 in the off season. He looked, you know, stronger, physical, 444 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:56.119 more mentally prepared to play in the riggers of the NBA. 445 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:58.000 But man, I hate to see him sideline and will 446 00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:59.759 and you know you may not see him back until 447 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:04.440 the of next year. You know, twenty twenty five is 448 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:06.400 coming up, and you may not see him until January 449 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:09.480 at twenty six, so we'll have to wait and see. 450 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:11.880 But I think that's a big, a big storyline that 451 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:16.640 will be followed. Is this, you know, continued growth process 452 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:18.279 of the Jazz continue. 453 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.400 No doubt. 454 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:20.680 All right, Butler, thanks for the time, travel safe, have 455 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:22.599 a great call, and hopefully we get you back in 456 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.279 the studio soon. 457 00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:25.680 Okay, yeah, next week, I think we'll do it. 458 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.880 Love it, love it, Thank you, Sir, Craig Bowlerjack TV 459 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:31.279 Voice off the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are in action 460 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:35.079 against the Blazers. Jazz have seven of eight on the road, 461 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:39.079 starting tomorrow at Portland. They'll be in Sacramento on Sunday, 462 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:41.920 quick trip back here for a Friday game against Phoenix. 463 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:45.720 So that's actually nice. They get Sunday through Friday off 464 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.160 and probably here in Salt Lake before hitting the road 465 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:50.920 for another five roadies. We'll do some more jazz coming up. 466 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:52.640 Gordon Monson is gonna be live in studio, do a 467 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:55.839 lot of college football at Pordo. Chris Cambronni stops by, 468 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:59.359 latest on Utah's offensive coordinator search, do a little sports 469 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:01.960 court later, a big show, Big Hour on the Drive 470 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:04.079 is brought to you by Big OD Tires. It's their 471 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:07.440 extended Black Friday sale. I learned something yesterday. B three 472 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:10.160 G one free is buy three get one free. Nailed 473 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:13.200 it going on right now. 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Gordon Montson joins us 482 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:40.200 coming up next right here on ESPN seven hundred. 483 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:46.079 Running U head coach Craig Smith is more than waiting 484 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:46.839 for the season. 485 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:49.559 I've always had the mantrac like, bring on the competition. 486 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:51.000 If you want to be a part of the best 487 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.279 of the. 488 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:54.440 Best, ESPN seven hundred and ninety two point one a 489 00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:56.839 half am me is your home of the running use. 490 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.759 Oh my gosh, I was so fired up to be 491 00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:00.079 a part of the best League of the Couch. 492 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:02.799 Going into the year five of the top ten teams 493 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:06.000 are from the Big Twelve. For the best coverage, interviews, 494 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:09.039 and insights of Utah men's hoops, keep it tuned Ay, 495 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:13.559 Utah's number one sports talk ESPN seven hundred at ninety 496 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:16.359 two one half am. 497 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:18.920 I bet you can see this coming on the Spotify 498 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:21.079 on a wrap. For me this year, it's like we've 499 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:24.240 switched roles. It's like bizarro world, little uh Zach Bryan. 500 00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:26.119 Zach Bryan was one of my top five this year. 501 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:31.039 That's fair. That's fair changing. And I like the country angle. 502 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:33.519 I'm not a big Zach Brian guys particularly, but I 503 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:36.119 like that you're expanding your horizon. 504 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:38.599 Is that because you're a big Dave Portner guy. No, 505 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.400 aren't they beefing. 506 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:42.240 They are beefing, but it's I mean, it's there. I 507 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:46.880 guess it's ancillary. Zach Brian's not how do I put this? 508 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:49.640 He's a country singer who isn't a country guy, and 509 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:56.240 he also also also is not reportedly a very great guy. Listen, 510 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:59.039 I know people who know folks in the country industry, 511 00:25:59.079 --> 00:26:01.240 so some things will leave off air. 512 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:04.200 You're being a country music gaykeeper a little bit. 513 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.240 That's fine, but not really I think if you're into 514 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:11.000 the music, all on board, come along. But also, you 515 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:14.680 know there's some off the stage stuff too. 516 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:17.039 All right, all right, off stage stuff with Zach Bryan. 517 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:21.279 I'm unfamiliar with Gordon monson Thursday afternoon, Gordo, Are you 518 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.559 a Spotify guy? 519 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.680 Do you use Spotify? 520 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:28.319 No? Not really, I don't, but everybody else my family does. 521 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:32.720 But I am something of a country music expert. So 522 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:36.920 if you have questions about that, I'm new to it. 523 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.720 But boy, I'm telling you I'm having to cram down 524 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.680 my throat quickly. 525 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:44.000 Yeah that's uh. Lisa and the girls all love country music. 526 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:47.480 Yeah, yeah, they do. And I'm married a rock and roller, 527 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:49.400 but I don't know what happened to her, but she's 528 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:53.400 gone country on man. I guess I just you know, 529 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:56.960 one of the nice little battles I gotta I gotta overcome. 530 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:59.640 I think you can overcome that one based off the 531 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:02.880 quality of your your your wife's life. Okay, I think 532 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.559 I think that's something that you can deal with. 533 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.599 Just fine. Is that fair? 534 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:09.599 Yeah? And the quality of the poor quality of my 535 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:12.680 choices and music, as you know, for many years of 536 00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:17.200 deal with what I like. But one thing we do 537 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:21.440 have in common is our affection for rap music. As 538 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:27.400 you know I as a former rapper myself, I uh, 539 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:30.519 I uh, not very good at it. I'll say it 540 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.119 that way. 541 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:34.240 If only we had that sound of MC godfather back 542 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.880 in the day doing a little Biggie, one of the 543 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:38.759 best radio memories I have. Man, if only we had 544 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:42.799 that sound somewhere. But all right, Gordo, let's let's start 545 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:46.759 with Okay, So from I'll just unpack my take on 546 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:48.960 this and then give you the space. I feel like 547 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:51.799 if Kyle was going to retire, we would know. I 548 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:54.400 feel like if he was done, there would be an announcement. 549 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:57.839 And because there has not been an announcement, like, look, 550 00:27:58.039 --> 00:28:00.480 he's a coach under contract. You don't need a press 551 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:02.880 conference to say I'm coming back. We know that he's 552 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:06.839 under contract. My take on it is because there's been 553 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:09.599 space between the end of the season and today with silence, 554 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.400 he's coming back. 555 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.480 What do you think? 556 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:15.720 So that's pretty good logic there. I think. I just 557 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:20.559 don't know yet. I don't know because in my conversations 558 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:24.880 with people around Kyle who I trust that the way 559 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:27.839 the season ended had nothing to do with it whether 560 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:30.839 he was going to stay or go, because as you 561 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:34.319 and I have talked about this before, he's based it 562 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:38.000 more on what he feels inside, what he thinks is 563 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:42.039 most important. But what's interesting is that you heard that 564 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:44.680 press conference about a week or so ago when he 565 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:47.240 said he would base it on what was best for 566 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:50.880 the program, not what was best for him, which I 567 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:53.920 thought was sort of a weird claim considering what he's 568 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:58.039 already contributed to the program through the years. But if 569 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:02.279 it is what's best for the program, then go ahead 570 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:06.319 and make it clear to everyone what they're going to do, 571 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:09.640 because there are big decisions that the program is facing 572 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:12.400 right now. It's kind of a critical point in time, 573 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:14.960 and so wouldn't it be in the best interest of 574 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:18.200 the program for him to come right out and say 575 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:22.480 what his intention is so that it's clear to everybody. 576 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:25.680 And maybe he's doing that privately, I don't know, but 577 00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:29.440 publicly people are asking these questions and they don't know. 578 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:32.720 And when you're trying to hire an offensive coordinator and 579 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:36.440 you're trying to get your program back in a good 580 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:40.880 place after what was a disappointing year, make it clear, man, 581 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.079 That's what I would say. 582 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:46.119 Yeah, And to your point, I have to surmise that 583 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:49.039 those in the know that are in the need to 584 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:54.359 know room are probably people that have already been informed 585 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.279 of his intention. 586 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.759 That's just a guess of mine. 587 00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:59.200 I do agree with you, though, you know, make it 588 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:01.440 publicly known, and even if it's the most Kyle thing 589 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:03.359 of all time where it's just like, oh yeah, coming back, 590 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:07.000 just say it. I don't view the man as a wishy, 591 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:11.079 washy emotional decision maker. He's always struck me as a 592 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:14.880 very pragmatic thinker. And my guess is, you know, if 593 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:17.240 he was going to go, he would have just told 594 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:19.759 people and then moved on to the next phase of 595 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:22.640 his life. But as we sit here with no offensive 596 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:26.160 coordinator hire just yet, do you feel like maybe the 597 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:29.519 ambiguity surrounding Kyle is one of the reasons why they 598 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:31.359 haven't been able to hone in on who they want 599 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:31.680 to hire. 600 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:36.440 Yeah, so I think that's a reasonable suspicion, Spence, And 601 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:41.960 I mean, they're losing out on guys they want, and 602 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:45.400 I think that that would contribute to it. And that 603 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:47.480 goes back to what I said before. It would be 604 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:49.599 in the best interest in the program for him to 605 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:54.000 make it clear because of it is unclear then that's 606 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:57.279 not helping in this process. You know. On the one hand, 607 00:30:57.319 --> 00:31:02.640 you have Kyle Whittingham, a grizzled veteran coach who hasn't 608 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:06.920 always been the easiest coach for offensive coordinators to operate under. 609 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:11.039 There have been good years offensively for the Utes, there 610 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:14.319 have been bad years offensively for the Utes, and there 611 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:17.880 have been sort of a vague years where it was 612 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:21.519 somewhere in between. But Kyle, you know, I mean, remember 613 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:24.359 all that he had the revolving door what was it, 614 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:27.960 ten coordinators in ten years or something. I'm not sure 615 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:32.720 that he has the best reputation among promising young candidates 616 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:36.799 because of what's happened in the past. On the other hand, 617 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:41.279 you have a coach in waiting, Morgan Scally, a respected 618 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:45.400 defensive coach, but who has never been a high level 619 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:49.240 college coach, and so an offensive coordinator wouldn't know exactly 620 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:51.880 how that's going to play out. How is he supposed 621 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:56.000 to know it? He's never seen it. Now Morgan might 622 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:58.160 be saying to him, Okay, look, this is what my 623 00:31:58.200 --> 00:32:01.640 philosophy's going to be, the kind of offense I want. 624 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:05.480 But until you're actually on the field in the action, 625 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:08.519 the heat of the moment, the pressure is on who 626 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:11.759 knows what he might favor, and so it's kind of here, 627 00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:15.119 the utes are in the middle of this and if 628 00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:18.160 they if a decision hasn't been made, then how is 629 00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:23.200 a candidate for offensive coordinator supposed to navigate those waters? 630 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.599 Yeah, it's a fair point. 631 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:29.200 And as of now, according to reports, Utah has tried 632 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:33.519 to hire Ben Rbuckle, who signed a contract with Oklahoma 633 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:38.119 and Mac Leftwich. Mac Leftwich, according to several reports, was 634 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:41.920 in saw Lake yesterday but elected to stay in Texas 635 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:45.720 decide a contract with Texas Tech. Now we're hearing rumors 636 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:50.519 maybe Jason Beck potentially is on the list the offensive 637 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:54.480 coordinator for UNLV. Of course, they're playing tomorrow night, so 638 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:57.440 Brennan Marion is their offensive cor to their quarterbacks. Coach, 639 00:32:57.960 --> 00:33:01.920 I wonder, Gordon, when we actually hear the announcement, what 640 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:04.440 will you be looking for to indicate whether or not 641 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:08.039 this is a Kyle Whittingham hire or maybe an out 642 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:11.720 of the box, you know, maybe Morgan Scalley's looking to uh, 643 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:15.440 you know, approach his tenure offensively a little bit different 644 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.599 than coach Witt has. 645 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:20.720 Yeah, that's that's a good that's a good point sense. 646 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:23.400 I think that on the one hand, Kyle has always 647 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:25.920 he's never wanted his defense to be put in bad 648 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:29.799 positions that he even this season, has talked about that, 649 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:33.160 and and that's been an emphasis of his Now Morgan 650 00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:37.079 Scaley is a disciple of Kyle Whittingham, But does the 651 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:40.720 does the eight corn fall far from the tree? If 652 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:45.119 I'm Morgan Scalley, I want an innovative offensive coordinator who's 653 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:48.720 going to take pressure off my defense by staying on 654 00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:52.559 the field, by controlling the ball, and by putting points 655 00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:55.240 on a board. Because without that, and you got pressure 656 00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:58.359 on your defense either way. And so why not go 657 00:33:58.359 --> 00:34:02.759 ahead and get I'm not talking about necessarily some you know, 658 00:34:03.319 --> 00:34:06.480 some pass happy nut who's just going to chuck the 659 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:09.480 ball all over the field, but at least get some 660 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:14.320 sort of new fangled approach which will move the football 661 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:17.519 and score points. And that hasn't necessarily been the case 662 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:22.400 or the priority as far as all things considered under 663 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:25.320 Kyle Whittingham. So if they do hire sort of this 664 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:31.079 new guy who's going to do something dramatic, maybe that 665 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:34.280 would be a hint that it will be Mortgage Scaley. 666 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:36.639 But we're all kind of guessing at this point. 667 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:40.920 All right, So I am of the opinion that based 668 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:46.480 off of preseason expectations, you combine preseason expectations with the 669 00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:49.760 results of the season, this is the worst Utah football 670 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:52.440 season under coach Wait, and I actually think he would admit. 671 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:54.280 That and say it out loud. 672 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:59.079 How confident are you that this season was a blip 673 00:34:59.119 --> 00:35:01.960 on the radar moment in time as opposed to who 674 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:03.280 Utah football is now? 675 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:07.880 I think, well, there are arguments to be made both ways. 676 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:10.800 As far as look, the track record is clear that 677 00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:14.519 Kyle Wallingham, if he's going to stay, he's a great coach, 678 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:20.320 and he wins his program, wins. Utah football deserves its 679 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:24.920 newfound reputational relatively over the past decade or so as being, 680 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:29.960 you know, a prominent program that does things the right way, 681 00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:33.079 or a lot of things anyway, They're not perfect. I 682 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:35.440 think he would admit that. But that does a lot 683 00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:39.679 of things right. But I'm telling you, they have to 684 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:42.679 have a quarterback. They have to have a quarterback. You 685 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:45.800 can't get buy any more spence in the college game 686 00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:52.320 without that particular position being stellar by being stellar, and 687 00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:55.800 Kyle has talked about that. He said that himself and 688 00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:59.239 so you know, I think Morgan Skelly would agree with that. 689 00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:03.400 And so will they get that guy? Can they get 690 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:08.000 that guy with the reputation the program has. I don't know. 691 00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:10.400 I don't know, but they better know and they better 692 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:13.400 get that solved. If they do get that salved, then 693 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:16.960 I would be bullish on the Utes or a whole 694 00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:21.360 lot of other programs. The culture is there. What's the 695 00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:24.519 nil situation? Will they be able to pay the guys 696 00:36:24.639 --> 00:36:29.360 they need to really make it work? This last year, 697 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:34.719 as you said, was so shocking that it does make 698 00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:39.119 you wonder can this thing be turned again? Will it 699 00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:42.519 be Utah football as we have known it? Or is 700 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:46.599 this the beginning of a demise. I don't know how 701 00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:49.000 we would know that completely at this point. We have 702 00:36:49.079 --> 00:36:49.360 to wait. 703 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:53.480 See, these things are fleeting. I mean, dynasties don't last. 704 00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:55.000 I'm not saying it was a dynasty. You have to 705 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:58.119 win multiple championships to create a dynasty. But it has 706 00:36:58.159 --> 00:37:00.480 been kind of a golden era of Utah foot and 707 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:03.400 all that can be had can be lost. There's your 708 00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:06.559 lesson for the day, kid, So things can change. One 709 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:09.239 more thing here, Gordon, and look, this is clearly not 710 00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:09.960 going to happen. 711 00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:13.760 Can I interrupt with one thing? What you just said there, Spencer, 712 00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:16.920 minds me. Remember how Jerry Sloan used to He used 713 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:20.480 to legitimately be afraid he would never win another game, right, 714 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:24.960 He thought it was so slippery that he didn't know 715 00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:27.920 whether he would ever win another game. And if a 716 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:30.639 guy like Jerry Sloan, who thought the way he did, 717 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:34.800 who coached the way he did, was afraid of losing 718 00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:38.199 to that degree, it tells you exactly what you just 719 00:37:38.280 --> 00:37:43.519 said is absolutely correct, that it is fleeting. It is tricky. 720 00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:46.280 Nothing can be assumed for sure. 721 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:48.760 And I want to move over here because I feel 722 00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:51.519 like I might either just be taking crazy pills or 723 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:55.320 there's just no possibility that this would happen. But according 724 00:37:55.360 --> 00:37:58.400 to the data that we have, Brian Johnson makes about 725 00:37:58.440 --> 00:38:01.000 six hundred and seventy thousand dollars, which is a very 726 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:03.199 nice living. We'd all love to make that amount of money. 727 00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:05.840 It's like Gordon mottson money back at the old station. 728 00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:10.639 But ultimately Brian has a really good thing going because 729 00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:13.760 Jayden Daniels is awesome. Brian's the assistant head coach and 730 00:38:13.800 --> 00:38:17.719 the passing game coordinator for the Washington Commanders, but coach 731 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:20.320 lot I believe was close to two million bucks. So 732 00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:23.480 no matter how comfortable your situation is, you wouldn't mind 733 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:27.719 quadruper quadrupling your salary. And by Brian's owned admission and 734 00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:30.440 Kyle's own admission, back in twenty twelve when he was 735 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:33.079 the OC here, he just wasn't ready for it. But 736 00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:36.440 my goodness, talk about experience since then, both at the 737 00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:40.159 college and pro level. It just seems like that's an 738 00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:43.760 avenue that is at least worth exploring. But a lot 739 00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:46.000 of guys, once they taste that charter, you know, the 740 00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:48.159 charter food on the NFL side of things, they don't 741 00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:50.159 want to give up their pro football, cushy life. But 742 00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:52.639 give me your thoughts on the potential of Brian Johnson 743 00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:55.920 offensive coordinator for Utah football. 744 00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:59.960 I was a proponent of Brian Johnson being an offensive 745 00:39:00.079 --> 00:39:02.960 coordinator back when they hired him the first time, and 746 00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:06.280 that turned out to be probably a mistake. He wasn't 747 00:39:06.360 --> 00:39:10.039 quite ready yet. But Spence, you will remember him, remember 748 00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:12.639 we used to talk with it. He's an impressive person. 749 00:39:13.239 --> 00:39:17.000 He carries himself well, he knows his football. You saw 750 00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:19.440 what he did with the utes when he was the 751 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:23.559 guy in control out on the field, and so what 752 00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:26.360 I think that's a good idea. Yes, I would think 753 00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:30.199 that's a very good idea, especially with a reputation on 754 00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:33.599 the whole that he's built in the NFL. He has 755 00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:38.239 coached some terrific quarterbacks and run some pretty good offenses. 756 00:39:39.239 --> 00:39:42.440 All right, quick, BYU thought, you know, it's funny. You 757 00:39:42.440 --> 00:39:46.159 can actually make the argument that both Utah and BYU 758 00:39:46.280 --> 00:39:50.480 blew it right. So Utah preseason favorite Big twelve obviously 759 00:39:50.519 --> 00:39:54.840 that didn't go well, didn't work out. BYU puts themselves 760 00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:57.079 right in the mix as the favorite. After a nine 761 00:39:57.119 --> 00:39:59.760 to zero start, they stumble losing two of three down 762 00:39:59.760 --> 00:40:03.320 the and it looks like it's the Alamo Bowl again. 763 00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:07.239 And I'm cheering for an Alamo Bowl BYU Colorado. I 764 00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:09.360 think that would be a really fun game to watch. 765 00:40:09.679 --> 00:40:12.760 You have two really strong brands. Deon brings a lot 766 00:40:12.760 --> 00:40:15.519 of eyes. So it's a decent payout for the BYU 767 00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:18.320 athletic department and a lot of eyes on your program. 768 00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:21.400 But what are your thoughts on the way the season ended? 769 00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:23.800 And BYU, with everything in front of them, could not 770 00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:25.679 get the help they needed. And now instead of the 771 00:40:25.719 --> 00:40:28.079 CFP and the Big Twelve Championship. It looks like it's 772 00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:28.760 the alimobole. 773 00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:33.440 I don't know how it's how anyone can characterize it, 774 00:40:34.159 --> 00:40:38.480 characterize it any different than disappointment to see the way 775 00:40:38.679 --> 00:40:42.679 BYU lost those games where they did not bring their 776 00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:46.159 a game. They did not they didn't look prepared at 777 00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:48.880 various times in the game to be able to handle 778 00:40:48.920 --> 00:40:50.880 that after the way they had put the ball up 779 00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:54.079 on the tee with nine straight wins, and then to 780 00:40:54.119 --> 00:40:58.360 stumble the way they did. I don't know how, and 781 00:40:58.400 --> 00:41:00.519 I don't think this is being overly cripped. I think 782 00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:03.239 it's looking at it for what it is. You judge 783 00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:06.159 a team based on what it's accomplished, right, and when 784 00:41:06.159 --> 00:41:08.360 they won their first nine games, you say, okay, I 785 00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:11.159 see what this team can do. Now go out and 786 00:41:11.199 --> 00:41:14.320 do it. And to lose a game against Kansas on 787 00:41:14.360 --> 00:41:17.360 your home field the way the Cougars did in that 788 00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:21.039 game and with the mistakes that they made, that's got 789 00:41:21.079 --> 00:41:24.360 to be disappointing to anybody who is really paying attention 790 00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:27.639 to the program, let alone fans who root for it. 791 00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:31.760 And then what happened against Arizona State again more mistakes 792 00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:34.840 getting in the way. And the funny thing about it is, 793 00:41:35.679 --> 00:41:38.000 check me if I'm wrong on this fense. If the 794 00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:42.079 Ute had beaten Iowa State, then that would have cleared 795 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:45.119 made the path clear for BYU to get into the 796 00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:47.000 championship game. Am I getting that right? 797 00:41:47.199 --> 00:41:47.840 That is correct? 798 00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:52.679 And you lose that game. It's like, I can see 799 00:41:52.719 --> 00:41:54.639 you fans going, well, it would have been great to 800 00:41:54.679 --> 00:41:57.159 win that game, but maybe it wasn't so bad after all. 801 00:41:57.880 --> 00:42:02.599 But disappointment for BYU after a great start. And I 802 00:42:02.719 --> 00:42:05.440 was really surprised that Klanie Sataki that he was as 803 00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:10.760 upbeat as he was after those defeats, because it seems 804 00:42:10.760 --> 00:42:14.400 to me like he should have been heartbroken and kind 805 00:42:14.400 --> 00:42:18.599 of pissed off too, and he came out all buoyant 806 00:42:18.679 --> 00:42:21.320 and whatnot. And I like Kilani you and I know 807 00:42:21.480 --> 00:42:24.920 him well and he's a bright guy, smart guy. But 808 00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:28.760 I don't know what message was being sent there. It 809 00:42:28.840 --> 00:42:32.159 seemed like it should have been some degree of anger 810 00:42:32.400 --> 00:42:36.800 and a whole heaping of disappointment as far as the Utes. 811 00:42:37.280 --> 00:42:40.519 I mean, that thing just blew apart. And I'm as 812 00:42:40.519 --> 00:42:43.480 guilty as anyone you are too. We both predicted a 813 00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:47.480 great season for Utah, and I've been watching football forer 814 00:42:48.119 --> 00:42:50.719 where longer than I really want to admit right now, 815 00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:54.360 and I still look back and I mean, I understand 816 00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:56.880 what happened to the team, and I can see why 817 00:42:56.920 --> 00:43:01.119 it's all apart, but I'm still I mean, Utah's too 818 00:43:01.159 --> 00:43:04.960 good of a football program to have what happened to 819 00:43:05.079 --> 00:43:06.159 it happened. 820 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:08.199 All right, Gerido, last thing before I say you loose, 821 00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:10.800 and I'm glad you wrote on this. So Kevin Young 822 00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:14.360 and the BYU basketball program went back east for a 823 00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:17.119 non con game at Providence and they got smoked and 824 00:43:17.159 --> 00:43:18.280 they've lost two of three. 825 00:43:18.760 --> 00:43:20.800 So Young team's going to take some time to Joe. 826 00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:24.280 That really wasn't the main story because once again a 827 00:43:24.360 --> 00:43:28.559 group of fans at a sporting event decided to launch 828 00:43:28.639 --> 00:43:31.480 into the chant that we've heard before, which is f 829 00:43:31.559 --> 00:43:36.199 the Mormons over and over and over. And look, I 830 00:43:36.239 --> 00:43:39.320 don't really exist in the space of what Aboutism's very much. 831 00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:41.000 I'm not here for the whole like, well, what if 832 00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:43.800 it was the Jews or what like in a vacuum 833 00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:48.079 as far as what this chant has kind of done, 834 00:43:48.599 --> 00:43:51.639 as far as the damage to folks that you and 835 00:43:51.679 --> 00:43:54.199 I know in this community, that certainly are members and 836 00:43:54.239 --> 00:43:58.280 active members of the LDS Faith. I just don't know 837 00:43:58.360 --> 00:44:01.800 why it feels like it's more acceptable for an f 838 00:44:01.880 --> 00:44:06.280 the Mormons, chance that we hear often not just basketball, 839 00:44:06.320 --> 00:44:09.320 but football too, And I don't know why it seems 840 00:44:09.320 --> 00:44:12.239 to be so societally acceptable to knock on a group 841 00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:14.320 of people that, from my vantage point, most of whom 842 00:44:14.360 --> 00:44:17.920 are very kind, hardworking, community orientated people. I know there 843 00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:20.000 are plenty of people that have issues with the faith. 844 00:44:20.440 --> 00:44:23.440 That's not a time, that's not a conversation. That is 845 00:44:23.480 --> 00:44:26.719 for this time and for this platform. But unpack what 846 00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:29.719 you wrote and your thoughts on yet another chant aimed 847 00:44:29.719 --> 00:44:31.280 at members of the LDS faith. 848 00:44:31.440 --> 00:44:32.159 F the Mormons. 849 00:44:32.599 --> 00:44:36.440 The BYU basketball experience to Providence, Yeah. 850 00:44:36.320 --> 00:44:42.639 Pretty remarkable. And look, as I wrote, I have great 851 00:44:42.679 --> 00:44:46.199 respect for the LDS Faith. I'm a part of that. 852 00:44:46.880 --> 00:44:49.719 I do have some questions, and I bring those questions 853 00:44:49.800 --> 00:44:53.960 up well in the regular in public settings. So you know, 854 00:44:54.119 --> 00:44:57.000 I mean, I'm not sitting here being defensive or having 855 00:44:57.000 --> 00:45:01.079 some sort of persecution complex. This is totally out of 856 00:45:01.159 --> 00:45:05.559 line and it's a cheap shot, and I just I 857 00:45:05.599 --> 00:45:09.639 don't understand why people do that. I mean, I could 858 00:45:09.639 --> 00:45:12.280 get a little political on this, and then it gets 859 00:45:12.320 --> 00:45:17.079 real sort of contradictory. But we're living in a place 860 00:45:17.199 --> 00:45:21.280 now that seems like a blessing has been given to 861 00:45:21.360 --> 00:45:26.760 be able to describe other people in detegrating terms. I'll 862 00:45:26.800 --> 00:45:29.760 say it that way, and people can read into that 863 00:45:29.840 --> 00:45:33.280 comment whatever they want or blame whoever they want. But 864 00:45:33.679 --> 00:45:39.880 for a crowd to be chanting, that is ridiculous. And 865 00:45:39.960 --> 00:45:41.840 I talked to a guy I had in a column 866 00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:44.400 who was at the game with his ten year old daughter, 867 00:45:44.639 --> 00:45:47.800 and he just said it was very uncomfortable for them. 868 00:45:48.239 --> 00:45:51.519 And he said, look, I'm not a prude. He said, 869 00:45:51.559 --> 00:45:54.760 I wouldn't even mind it if they said F BYU, 870 00:45:54.960 --> 00:45:59.159 but f the Mormons and really all of them, the 871 00:45:59.320 --> 00:46:03.159 entire religion. And I get it. It's a conservative faith 872 00:46:03.840 --> 00:46:07.800 that take some positions that some people don't like, and 873 00:46:07.840 --> 00:46:12.119 they feel as though they're somewhat disrespected by some of 874 00:46:12.119 --> 00:46:16.079 those positions. I understand that we can disagree, though, without 875 00:46:16.280 --> 00:46:20.559 chanting F the so and so, especially a religion that 876 00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:26.280 and just like in my calm, the father the president 877 00:46:26.360 --> 00:46:29.000 of Providence College, he said, look, this is totally out 878 00:46:29.000 --> 00:46:31.599 of line. We're going to address it on campus. This 879 00:46:31.639 --> 00:46:34.679 is not a reflection of what we peach here, and 880 00:46:34.760 --> 00:46:36.920 I think the students there should listen to what the 881 00:46:36.960 --> 00:46:38.480 preschool president says. 882 00:46:38.760 --> 00:46:41.039 Yeah, well said. All right, my friend, appreciate the time. 883 00:46:41.079 --> 00:46:43.039 Hopefully we can get you back in studio coming up 884 00:46:43.199 --> 00:46:43.719 next week. 885 00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:44.519 Have a great week. 886 00:46:44.559 --> 00:46:47.320 An all right, Cordo, all right, you too. Spent's good 887 00:46:47.320 --> 00:46:48.000 talking with you.