WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:05.559 College Football Conference Championship weekend gets rolling tonight and then 2 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:08.240 throughout the course of tomorrow a lot of big games, 3 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:10.800 a lot of things still need to be kind of 4 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:13.000 ironed out. Excited to bring on our next guest to 5 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:16.239 talkston college football, my buddy Max Brown on a Friday, Max, 6 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:16.839 Happy Friday. 7 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:19.640 How are you doing Friday? Spent some doing well? How 8 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:20.559 are I'm well? 9 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:23.839 I'm well. So We've had an unexpected busy news cycle 10 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:26.120 over the past twenty four to forty eight hours, and 11 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:30.199 University of Utah has been looking to add an offensive 12 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:33.240 coordinator and a couple of guys said no, thank you 13 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:36.159 and took other jobs. But Jason Beck has been hired 14 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:37.880 as Utah's offensive coordinator. 15 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:38.079 Now. 16 00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:41.759 He played quarterback at Brigham Young and the numbers at 17 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:45.000 New Mexico were really good. They've got a quarterback in 18 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:47.159 the transfer portal named Devin damp Here. A lot of 19 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:48.759 people are wondering if he's going to land here in 20 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:51.520 Salt Lake City four hundred and eighty four point two 21 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:54.240 yards per game, fourth best in the nation. What are 22 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:58.960 the biggest roadblocks when it comes to trying to replicate 23 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:02.119 that type of production in P four football in the 24 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:03.079 Big twelve next year. 25 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:06.000 Yeah, I think the first thing that jumps out to 26 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:08.799 me too, after just you know, briefly diving into his background, 27 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:11.480 is you know, what kind of identity do you want 28 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:15.040 to establish with being the Utah offensive coordinator versus like 29 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:17.079 his previous stops. You know, you go to a place 30 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:19.239 like Syracuse, you go to a place like Virginia, even 31 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:22.359 a place like New Mexico, Like, there isn't a huge 32 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:26.519 cultural distinction about those spots. So I think you can 33 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:28.519 kind of just a do what you want to do 34 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:31.599 as an offensive coordinator, right, whatever that philosophy is. But 35 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:34.560 Utah is unique in that. And I remember talking about this, 36 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:38.040 you know, years ago, seven eight years ago with you guys, 37 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:40.120 and that you know, Utah, you'd have to think that 38 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:43.040 consistently you're going to be able to get a big, 39 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:46.480 physical offensive line. So as an offensive coordinator, how does 40 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:49.680 that change your approach? You know, if you're a pass 41 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:52.200 happy guy, well then you might think about running the 42 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:54.680 ball a little bit more. If you're a strictly shotgun guy, 43 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:58.079 like is there more under center action? And then you 44 00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:01.480 know vice versa. If you're more hey, under center only 45 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:04.760 old school pro style, which you know, he's not necessarily 46 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:07.159 that way. Well, then I know at times Utah has 47 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:10.199 been craving for more explosiveness at different eras of course 48 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.240 in the past, So that to me is the first 49 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:14.520 thing that I think he's gonna have to navigate of. Hey, 50 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:17.680 I'm at a place like Utah, who culturally and the 51 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:20.479 guy that I'm able to recruit might be different than 52 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:22.400 the three other stops that I've been to before this 53 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:25.719 either call and plays or being a quarterback coach. And 54 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.000 is it just Hey, I'm going to take the exact 55 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:30.520 same system that I had a New Mexico and Syracuse 56 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:33.400 and bring it, bring it to bring it to Salt Lake. 57 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:36.240 I don't think that's necessarily the right approach for any 58 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:39.439 coach at any stop. But to what level does he, 59 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:41.879 you know, alter things as a result of the guy 60 00:02:41.879 --> 00:02:44.319 that that Utah can get consistently. 61 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:47.159 I'll ask you a follow up about the quarterback that 62 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:50.439 was with him at New Mexico, Devin Dampier, who again 63 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:54.159 is in the transfer portal should he land in saw Lake? 64 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:58.159 The same very same question, quite frankly, Max, what are 65 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:02.960 the biggest challenges in roadblocks between you know, a quarterback 66 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:05.120 who really put up great numbers at New Mexico in 67 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:08.319 the Mountain West to potentially a quarterback playing for Utah 68 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:10.199 trying to do the same thing in the Big twelve. 69 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:13.680 The number one thing that sticks out to me is 70 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:16.960 just the spotlight on you is going to be a lot, 71 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:19.479 a lot brighter. I mean, even as they filed out loud. 72 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:21.840 It reminds me of a guy like, you know, when 73 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:25.120 cam Ward came up from Incarnet War to Washington State 74 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:27.240 and you can see all the talent, but you also 75 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:29.280 can see his brain going a million miles an hour. 76 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:33.080 Because it's different when you're kind of the lower level guy. 77 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:35.879 Maybe people don't expect me to do as much, and 78 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:38.280 it's easy to kind of be in your own cocoon 79 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:40.280 and put up big numbers. But then when you come 80 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:43.639 to a school like Utah, a team that is what 81 00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:47.680 arguably the most disappointed fan base right now in college 82 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:51.280 football in terms of how the season went out. Maybe 83 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.159 at this point Utah fans have kind of come to 84 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:54.759 grips with it. But if you would ask me that, 85 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:57.039 you know, two months ago, a month ago, you probably 86 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:59.360 would have put Utah right up there. And so he's 87 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.159 going to have if you were to come a little 88 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:04.800 bit of this savior mold and coming off the back 89 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:08.199 of in that scenario, presumably off the back of Cam 90 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:12.560 Rising's incredible run as a Utah you quarterback. So that 91 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:15.280 just comes with a lot of pressure, and with pressure 92 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:18.439 comes a greater microscope, and a greater microscope can lead 93 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:22.959 to overthinking and just be and in a sense of 94 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.839 I guess just being a little bit more uncomfortable than 95 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:27.560 you might have been at a place like New Mexico. 96 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:30.680 All right, speaking of Cam Rising, Max, I know we've 97 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:34.279 talked about it, but it's topical because it's still news 98 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:38.680 worthy noteworthy that there's the potential that he will be 99 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:42.399 back for an eight season now. Coach Witt has said 100 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:45.480 on a couple of occasions that's up to Cam. I 101 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:48.680 wonder what you think that conversation would sound like if 102 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:51.800 Cam did walk into Kyle's office and say I want 103 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:54.720 to come back for year eight. You think that's something 104 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:56.680 that would be embraced with open arms. 105 00:04:56.680 --> 00:05:01.800 At this point near this, this question was coming out 106 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:04.319 when I was blogging on because I was I was like, man, 107 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:06.040 I'd be asking the same thing if I was in 108 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:09.120 your seaton. I go both ways, which I imagine is 109 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:11.600 probably how most Utah fans are thinking about it. On 110 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:15.000 one side, it's what arguably the best quarterback, if not 111 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:19.399 the best quarterback in Utah history, at least from a production, awards, 112 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:23.720 championship standpoint, And so are you ever gonna like kick 113 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:25.839 him out the door? I find that hard to believe. 114 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:29.079 On the other side, you know it is if this 115 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:32.600 is this was a tough season twenty twenty four, you know, 116 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:37.439 does it just drag out if you allow Cam to 117 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:40.639 to return? And does it hurt Wilson's production and growth 118 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:42.639 if he doesn't know if he is the guy? And 119 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:45.480 I think that's a very real conversation that you need 120 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:47.560 to have in addition to just the health concerns for 121 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:51.439 for Cam. All straddle the middle there a little bit. 122 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:55.600 I wouldn't be surprised if Kyle does does some of 123 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:57.959 the same, assuming you don't go into the portal. I 124 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:01.040 do think there's a world, especially with a like coach Whittingham, 125 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:04.399 who you know, he's got the credibility. He doesn't have 126 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:06.480 a fan base that is going to second guess every 127 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:09.079 decision that he makes, which is not necessarily the case 128 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.560 for other fan bases, And so I think you could 129 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:16.160 do a scenario where you give Cam the chance to, Hey, 130 00:06:16.279 --> 00:06:19.160 take the reins and be the guy ope, and then 131 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:22.920 but still giving Wilson more of the ones reps than 132 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:27.120 you would to a normal backup quarterback in spring ball 133 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.160 and throughout summer, with the understanding that Hey, he is 134 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.639 very much our guy for the future, and Cam, Hey, 135 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:34.639 we're riding with you in twenty twenty five, assuming you 136 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:37.040 can stay healthy. And I guess I just say that 137 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:39.800 where Utah has a unique scenario where I think you 138 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:43.759 could thread the needle because you have a hometown, exciting 139 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:48.360 young quarterback who on paper might not leave. And then 140 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:52.040 on the flip side, you have a beyond experienced quarterback 141 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:54.959 that you don't necessarily need him to get every single 142 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:57.439 rep under the sun. And I think there's a whirl 143 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:01.040 to prep both as a starter. And maybe ye're shorter 144 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:04.199 with that least than you would have been in years 145 00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:05.800 past from an injury perspective with. 146 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:09.240 Cam, I may have buried the lead a little bit, Max, 147 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:11.759 because I suppose the question I should ask you is, 148 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:15.560 if Cam doesn't come back, do you feel like the 149 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:19.199 answer under center was in the quarterback room, or do 150 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:21.560 you think if Cam doesn't come back, and it's Isaac, 151 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:25.240 it's Brandon Rose. Do you still feel like hitting the 152 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:27.480 portal to bring in a season bet is the approach? 153 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:30.360 What what are your thoughts on the current quarterback situation 154 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:32.759 at Utah if cam and Rising does not come back 155 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:33.240 next year. 156 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:36.759 I think in today's climate, you have to do your 157 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:40.439 due diligence, and I think you have to be out 158 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:42.920 there in the portal and seeing what's out there. In 159 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:45.759 terms of who who is available. You just never know, 160 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:49.040 you know what veteran guy might be might be looking around. 161 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:51.959 I would, on paper, not be in favor of bringing 162 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:55.839 in another young guy because I think that gives the 163 00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:59.120 wrong message to Hey, we're trying to develop young quarterbacks 164 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:01.439 into into being guys in the future. But if there 165 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:07.079 is a established starter, older guy one year rental that 166 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:10.519 has played at a high level. I mean, I ironically 167 00:08:10.519 --> 00:08:14.279 literally saw Miller moss usc starting quarterback last year at 168 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:17.319 the grocery store yesterday. He did not say Utah was 169 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:20.040 on his list, but like that type of guy, if 170 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:22.759 he was enamored with Utah and was like, hey, this 171 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:25.319 this could there, there could be there could be something here. 172 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:27.879 Like that type of guy, I think could make sense 173 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:31.160 and allow Wilson to you know, grow and develop and 174 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:33.360 wait his turn for another year. I don't think that 175 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:36.159 would be a death sentence to his Utah youth career 176 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:39.679 by any means, And so that type of scenario would 177 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:41.519 make the make the most sense to me. But getting 178 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:44.480 another young guy to come in there and compete that 179 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:48.360 hasn't really proven himself. I think Wilson showed enough upside 180 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:51.039 that that scenario wouldn't do anything for me. 181 00:08:51.799 --> 00:08:54.240 Before we move off of the Utah stuff, just uh, 182 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:57.159 And there's no way of knowing. I'm just asking your 183 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:00.759 take on the dynamic because where I'm at to is, 184 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:05.559 since we have not heard an announcement about coach Wit retiring, 185 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:09.480 I just believe he's coming back. There's still conversation about it. 186 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.840 But if you're a coach under contract, you don't need 187 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:13.720 to call a press conference to say I'll be back. 188 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:15.919 You just show up and do your job. And Kyle 189 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:19.039 has been actively involved in the early signing day in 190 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:21.600 the transfer portal, which opens up on the seventh the ninth. 191 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:24.559 Are you kind of of the same mindset that since 192 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:26.799 there has been no announcement, it just feels like coach 193 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:28.399 WIT's back on the sideline next year. 194 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.480 That's a good question. I don't know if I'm that far, 195 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:36.039 just because I feel like, you know, it wouldn't surprise 196 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:38.559 me if he got through this whole recruiting cycle and 197 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:41.960 then once the once the buzz settles down and we 198 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.840 get into true offseason mode in February. If if it's 199 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:48.720 like a if it's what he tries to be a 200 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:51.279 calm kind of exit stage left. Obviously it won't be 201 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:55.279 calm because coach Whittingham is historic, but I could see 202 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:58.679 that type of dynamic, especially because they've already mentioned the 203 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:02.000 coach in waiting. So when necessarily be like totally blind 204 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:04.919 siding the team, I just go to right now, Like 205 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:07.519 so much of it as optics wise, like right if 206 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:10.080 you if you would have announced that he's leaving last week, 207 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:12.639 well then you jeopardize your current recruiting class. Well then 208 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:16.519 if you announce that he's leaving today, well then it's like, oh, well, 209 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:18.919 why didn't you do this four days ago before guys 210 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:21.360 signed on the dotted line? And then you know, if 211 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:23.480 you wait another month and I know, you know Bowl 212 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:27.519 game is not not not a factor necessarily, but like 213 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.840 you know, you get through the get through the holiday 214 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:32.720 season and then make that decision. I could see a 215 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:34.600 world where that happened, So I guess I don't read 216 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:39.279 into these past couple of weeks nearly to that level. 217 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:40.039 Fair enough. 218 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:43.240 One of the things that I always discussed as it 219 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:46.960 pertains to the Utah BYU robbery is the unique nature 220 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:49.440 of the game, and that's why I think it's among 221 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:52.480 the best robberies in college football. As a guy that 222 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:56.399 really knows the national landscape, I mean, Jason Beck played 223 00:10:56.399 --> 00:11:00.279 at BYU, coach Wit played at BYU, Kalani coach at Youah, 224 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:02.960 A Rod coach to Utah, Jay Hill coach to Utah. 225 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:06.639 The cross pollination of the coaching staffs, to me, makes 226 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:09.559 it a rivalry that kind of stands on its own. 227 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:13.120 Is there another rivalry in college football that has as 228 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:17.519 many coaches on staff that at some point either played 229 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.840 or coached on the other team. 230 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:22.679 I know, and I don't even think it's close. Like 231 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:26.000 the only scenario is that I'm trying to run in 232 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:29.120 my head is like some of the sec rivalries where 233 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:31.480 you know, if Saban's rocking and rolling and then his 234 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.399 disciples then all go to Georgia or his disciples. I'll 235 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:37.559 go to Ole Miss and not that Alabama will misses. 236 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:41.200 The rivalry that by u UTI is but it's unique 237 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:45.279 and I think the I'm sure the gravitational poll to 238 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:48.200 the state of Utah from a religion standpoint, it has 239 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.000 to play a factor in that which is unique and 240 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:53.159 awesome in its own right. But no, I cannot think 241 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:56.799 of a single other rivalry that that that that's that 242 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:59.480 that is the case. And in large part because you know, 243 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.679 we see the the college football landscape. You know, four 244 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.639 decades ago, it might have been, hey, we have to 245 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:08.159 hire a Florida guy if we're a Florida school. We 246 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:12.279 have to hire a California guy if we're a California school. Nowadays, 247 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.600 you'll see Mario Cristobal get offered from Oregon and then 248 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:18.200 he'll get offered from Miami on both sides of the coast, 249 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:22.399 which I think hurts the scenario year you're talking about 250 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:25.679 of you know, regional rivalries having coaches that overlap. 251 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:28.759 One more question pertaining to the local scene. Then we'll 252 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:32.080 move on to some conference championship stuff. But Utah States 253 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:36.120 lands on Bronco Menon Hall. Bronco Menen Hall is back 254 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:38.639 in the state of Utah after one year at New 255 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:42.320 Mexico prior to that, of course, at University Virginia. And 256 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:46.799 you know, it's interesting, Max, because Bronco was asked to 257 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:51.120 kind of reclaim BYU glory of the pass back in 258 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:53.879 the day, taking over for Gary Croton, and Gary had 259 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:56.159 one really good year and then really lost control of 260 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:59.440 his locker room and there was a lot of unsavory 261 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:03.039 behavior year by players that is not necessarily commonplace down 262 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:06.639 at Brigham Young and it's not the very same dynamic. 263 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:10.399 But Utah States had a rough calendar year with moving 264 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:13.480 on from coach Anderson and the ugly scene that took 265 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.720 place up there. So what do you make of Utah 266 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:19.200 State bringing Bronco Menenhal back to the State of Utah. 267 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:23.159 First reaction is figured, it's a good hire for you know, 268 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:26.600 a couple of reasons. I thought. One, you know, he's 269 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:29.960 just obviously coached at a high level in the region, 270 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:33.679 in the state, and so I would imagine a lot 271 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:38.679 of his blueprint recruiting strategy philosophy would be rins and repeat, 272 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:41.000 and rins and repeat sometimes kind of has a negative 273 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:44.039 connotation because obviously you want to stay cutting edge and 274 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:47.039 stay innovative, but I guess there's proof of concept, which 275 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:50.000 is not usually the case for most head coaching hires. 276 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:52.600 Usually it's hey, this is the vision I have, this 277 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:55.559 is what I hope to become. Bronco can say, hey, man, 278 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:58.240 this is literally what we did at the other school 279 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:01.000 within the same state, and obviously the same are different. 280 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:04.360 But I think that's that's attractive. I think Utah states, 281 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:07.919 you know, transition into the PAC twelve and that just 282 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:11.159 naturally being a new dynamic. I think the timing of 283 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:13.360 that is awesome with a new head coach, where you 284 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:16.919 can start fresh on both paths and try to you know, 285 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:19.840 re establish a culture there and then from an even 286 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:22.960 more high level. And you know, I called a couple 287 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:25.159 of Virginia games this year, so it was out there, 288 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:28.200 you know, talking with Tony Elliott, who obviously took the 289 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:30.559 job after Bronco Mendenhall at Virginia, and we were just 290 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:33.440 talking about, you know, just the Bronco path there a 291 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:35.200 little bit. And I remember from Afar and I was 292 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:38.200 playing there. I remember being like, man, why did Bronco 293 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:41.120 leave BYU for for Virginia? Like to me and maybe 294 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.480 this is me just being a West Coast guy, and 295 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:48.200 I grew up in a decent Mormon population in Samamish, Washington, 296 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:50.159 Like I was like, do w I use a better 297 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:52.399 job than Virginia? Like why why'd you leave? And I 298 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:54.600 was playing again. So I don't remember all the nuances, 299 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:57.720 but I'd imagine some of it's like, you know, him 300 00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:59.720 coming back to his comfort zone of what he knows 301 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.279 he can do well and what he knows he can 302 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:05.039 recruit and excel at because he's shown that he can 303 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:07.240 do it. So I'd be excited if I was a 304 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:09.600 Utah State fan. I gin it's a good higher all right. 305 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:13.559 Conference Championship weekend starts tonight at six o'clock. UNLV Boise 306 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:18.080 State Big twelve fans will be cheering for UNLV so 307 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:20.399 they can potentially get one of those top four buys 308 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:22.480 and we'll get there at a moment. But Boise State 309 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:25.080 is a four point favorite. What do you make of 310 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:28.120 tonight's Mount West Conference Championship game? Who do you like 311 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:28.480 and why? 312 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:31.840 See? 313 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:34.840 I like gent for the Heisman, so I want Boise to. 314 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:38.480 I like Boise to ultimately get it done, but UNLV. 315 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:41.840 UNLV is one of the most intriguing teams in the country, 316 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:44.679 not only because of everything that went down nil wise 317 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:47.279 in the first month of the season, but for those 318 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:47.960 that have not. 319 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:51.799 Tuned into UNLV, their go go offense is just incredibly unique, 320 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:54.480 and especially for a x's and o's guy like me. 321 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:59.080 The way they blend RPO and triple option and downfield 322 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:02.879 shots and then hodgma League Williams their quarterback as well 323 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:05.080 as pretty dynamic. It's just a fun offense to watch, 324 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:08.200 and the type of offense that defensively, if you come 325 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:10.720 in and swing and miss with your game plan and 326 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:14.600 your safeties and linebackers aren't fitting their run lanes, unl 327 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.919 of these offense can get after you. So this is 328 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:19.279 a scary matchup. But I think the physicality of Boise 329 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:22.759 State and I'll trustee Ashton Gent get it done. 330 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.879 You like Genty over Travis Hutter. 331 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:29.000 Huh? I do? I do. I think one thing that 332 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:34.240 goes like largely underappreciated is Boise State is eleven and 333 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.120 one and about to be the four seed in the 334 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:39.720 college football playoff. I feel like we're the general national 335 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.600 media is talking about it as if Gent's stat line 336 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:48.200 is like RG three or like a who's in like 337 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:51.759 another three loss Heisman winner type of guy where it's like, oh, 338 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.720 he's putting up his stats and he's exciting, and we 339 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:56.399 see him on Sports Center Top ten and all that. No, 340 00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:58.840 Boise State's winning and know by the way their one 341 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:01.559 loss was against the game that I'm sure Boise State 342 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.960 fans feel like they should have won against Oregon. So 343 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:07.319 sometimes I feel like the team dynamic, which is a factor. 344 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:10.160 It feels like in all other Heisman races is not 345 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:14.960 working to Genti's gents favor and this year's race. 346 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.799 That's very fair. All right, let's move over to the 347 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:19.480 games tomorrow. Let's start with the Big twelve championship game. 348 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:21.680 We're gonna have that game on our radio station coming 349 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:25.799 up tomorrow ten AM. Arizona State is one point five 350 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:28.279 point favorite. Now that line's moved a couple of times 351 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:31.799 towards the way of Iowa State. Obviously, being a Big 352 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:34.160 twelve market, will be very interested in this game. How 353 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:35.079 do you think it plays out? 354 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:40.720 The Pac twelve guy me, We'll ride with the ASU 355 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:42.759 every single time. I think that ASU is gonna like 356 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:45.359 stub their toe or lose. Mo Betim. I actually picked 357 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:49.640 Arizona last week against the spread because I just was like, man, 358 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:54.200 it feels like one of these weeks the emotional energy 359 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:57.599 of Kenny Dillingham and that ASU team's gonna stub their 360 00:17:57.640 --> 00:18:00.240 toe or fall flat, and they continue to respond every 361 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.720 single week. Sam Levitt's been fun and all this PAC 362 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:07.039 twelve original PAC twelve folks know all about Cam Scataboo. 363 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:09.960 Now the country knows about him, and give the rock 364 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.839 to number four. Good things will happen. 365 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:16.519 Georgia Texas Mercedes ben Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia Texas two point 366 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:19.000 five point favorite. Who do you like out of the sec. 367 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:24.319 I don't see. I mean, man, I go back to 368 00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:26.759 that matchup that they had earlier on this season when 369 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:31.359 Georgia absolutely manhandled Texas. Texas had to bench their starting 370 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:36.519 quarterback because he was just making mental errors and not 371 00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:39.319 being able to get through his progressions. I think there 372 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:43.000 could be a world where that same short leash mentality 373 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:46.119 comes to the park. I think that Georgia defensive line 374 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:49.599 shows up again. I think it's closer, but I still 375 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:51.839 have that game in the back of my mind. You know, 376 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:54.480 it wasn't even like a two score game and it 377 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:58.400 got away from him. Georgia absolutely manhandled Texas. That whatever 378 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:02.640 kool aid Kirby's drinking in terms of, hey, no one's 379 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:05.240 given our team a shot. His guys continue to buy 380 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:07.000 into that, or at least they seem to buy into that. 381 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:10.720 So I know, Georgia hasn't been perfect all season, and 382 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:13.640 Texas got it done obviously last week. But I'll go 383 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:15.200 the Bulldogs getting it done. 384 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:20.559 Big Ten Championship Oregon and Pennon State Lucas Oil Indianapolis. 385 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:22.599 The Ducks are a three point five point favorite. Do 386 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:24.559 you think they complete the undefeated season. 387 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:29.359 This one's fascinating to me because I'm a Penn State fan. 388 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:32.880 Like you know, in years past, for James Franklin, like 389 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:35.440 this would have been this would have been the game. 390 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.960 This would have been a huge game. This would have 391 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.079 been a type of game that could change the narrative 392 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:42.799 of James Franklin and Penn State in big games. But 393 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:44.480 it feels like even if Penn State were to win, 394 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:47.480 the narrative would not change for James Franklin. He would 395 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:50.039 still have to prove it versus Ohio State, prove it 396 00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:52.759 versus Michigan, and prove it in the College Football Playoffs 397 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:55.599 this year. So the dynamic there is just interesting and 398 00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:59.039 fascinating to me, but I'm gonna trust what history has 399 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:01.200 shown me, and it showed me that in big games, 400 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:05.000 Penn States playmakers have not been able to be activated. 401 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.839