WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.919 You got a busy, busy weekend on this little radio 2 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.480 station that extends through Monday nights. Monday night is the 3 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:11.480 national championship game in college football. It's Notre Dame, it's 4 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:14.400 Ohio State. You're gonna hear NFL playoff football over the weekend. 5 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:17.199 You get hear some Utah BYU basketball. Let's do some 6 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:20.359 college and pro football with one of our favorites, my guy, 7 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:23.600 Max brown Back on the drive. Max, Happy Friday, brother, 8 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:24.039 how are we doing? 9 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:26.760 Every Friday? Spent them doing? Well? How are you? 10 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:27.679 I'm good? All right? 11 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:31.839 Your favorite weekend of NFL Playoff football is which weekend? 12 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:32.439 And why? 13 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:36.159 That's a good one? Yeah? Right, That's what majority think 14 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:40.560 this will point weekend is that I'm saying the first 15 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:43.479 full week of college football, so not Week zero, but 16 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:46.479 the true week one, September one. I feel like it's 17 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:49.759 not only the first real taste of football week get, 18 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:52.520 but it's turned the page on summer and settle them 19 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:54.679 into what the fall will be. So hey, there's so 20 00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:57.000 much anticipation. There's like a month and a half of 21 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:01.159 anticipation leading up. So I'll go Labor Day weekend for me. 22 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:03.240 Fair enough? Fair enough? All right? 23 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:05.560 I do want to get a thought from you, well, 24 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:07.640 not just a thought, but a good preview on Monday night, 25 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:10.480 and we'll probably end there, but let's do a little 26 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:12.560 bit of local stuff. And I won't hold your feet 27 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:14.760 to the fire because your attention has been elsewhere. But 28 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:18.159 generally speaking, you can speak to the fact that Utah 29 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:22.560 football has brought in a new offensive coordinator, just a 30 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:25.120 bevy of new players. Basically most if not all, the 31 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:27.519 skilled position players will be new, a total of forty 32 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:30.879 one new players. That's fifty three percent roster turnover, which 33 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:34.680 I guess is simply the new normal in college football. 34 00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:36.920 But the way I'll pose the question, Max, is what 35 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:39.599 gives what gives you the most confidence that year one 36 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:42.879 in the Big twelve for the Utes was an anomaly, 37 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:44.959 a moment in time, and not. 38 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:47.480 What the new normal is for this program. 39 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:49.920 Yeah, think two things show out to me there. It's 40 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:52.519 one that you got Kyle Wayne Ham as your head coach, 41 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:55.760 so obviously gives you confidence in the stability there. And 42 00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:58.159 there's even throughout his tenure when there have been the 43 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:00.439 high points, you know, even when I was in school. 44 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:02.519 You know, I think there was one one year in 45 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:05.879 there from that thirteen to call it sixteen range, where 46 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:07.920 you know Utah did take a step back, but it 47 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:10.039 doesn't mean that then like a lot of programs where 48 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:12.360 then that step back means that you've lost momentum forever. 49 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:15.080 I feel like Kyle Woodingham has a track record of like, hey, 50 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:16.439 you can have it down a year and then come 51 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:18.879 back and still contend for championship. So that's the first year. 52 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:21.520 But I also go to like the whole just Cam 53 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:27.800 Rising calendar year. That was the expectations put on this program, 54 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:29.960 the fact that you came into a new conference and 55 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.159 I was one of them that said, hey, Utah is 56 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:34.000 going to be the standard in the Big twelve. And 57 00:02:34.039 --> 00:02:37.280 I think those expectations were different for Utah. I think 58 00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:41.719 the Cam Rising guessing game takes a toll not only 59 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:44.479 on a not only on him, not only on the offense, 60 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:47.120 but I my senses from Afar that it took a 61 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:50.759 toll on on your team, especially just because offseason wise, 62 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.479 when he's getting the reps, so you're not you're you're 63 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:56.080 you're necessarily you know you're you're you're not giving the 64 00:02:56.120 --> 00:02:59.120 reps to Wilson or another guy out there to give 65 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:01.159 him a true shot. I just think there's something to 66 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:04.039 be said about, you know, not going back and forth, 67 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:08.120 not having that guessing game, and having a clearer direction. 68 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:10.840 I would feel more confident that that gives you your 69 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:14.599 team the ability to march in one direction versus last 70 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:18.240 year again with the expectations and the uncertainty around Cam Rising, 71 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:19.960 it felt like it was just hard to get your 72 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.199 footing in a conference that you know was beating each 73 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:24.800 other up at the top of the At the top 74 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:25.879 of the conference. 75 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:28.560 You reference Cam Rising and one piece of news. We 76 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:33.120 got a little January media availability with the Utah coaching staff, 77 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:35.759 which doesn't happen often, and we had Jason Beck on 78 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:38.120 the show, which is fun, my first chance to interview him. 79 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:41.280 But Coach Wit didn't more or less make it official. 80 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:43.879 They well did make it official. The Cam's out on 81 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:47.240 the roster. They're moving forward without him. He has He's 82 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:50.400 mentioned that Cam will announce what his next steps are 83 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:52.680 in his time and we haven't heard from Cameron yet. 84 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:55.360 But you were a guy that during your time with 85 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:58.039 the PAC twelve network, you covered those teams when Cam 86 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.919 was healthy and right, and as he now moves on 87 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:04.080 to his next phase in life, how should Utah fans 88 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:06.800 remember Cam Rising as one of. 89 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:10.120 The best quarterbacks to ever wear that uniform. And you know, 90 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:13.199 it's a funny. There's two sides of this, right, there's 91 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:15.280 the one of the best quarterbacks to everwhere in the 92 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:19.519 Utah uniform, the Rose Bowl memories, the leveling up, the 93 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.240 class that Utah was when I was, you know, in 94 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:24.680 the Pac twelve as a player from thirteen to sixteen, 95 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:27.560 Utah was competitive. Utah was a force to be reckoned with. 96 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:30.360 Utah was you knew that you had to buckle up 97 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:32.560 your chin strap. But I think the Cam Rising era 98 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.240 took Utah to a different level of expectation and then 99 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:39.839 different standard and ten twenty years from now, when you 100 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:43.120 look back, I think Cam will be the symbol for 101 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:46.120 what that era meant for Utah football. But on the 102 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:48.439 foot side, I think it's hard not to sit there 103 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:51.839 and think, hey, what could have been? That there was 104 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:53.399 more out there. I guess it's a better way to 105 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:56.439 put it with hey, maybe getting that Rose Bowl win, 106 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:59.680 or what could have been in the twenty twenty four season, 107 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:02.279 even the twenty twenty three season. Sitting there and knocking 108 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:05.040 on the door, I think there was there's two sides 109 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.399 to it. There's the acknowledge how far the programs come 110 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:11.360 and his tenure was a big reason why. But also, 111 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:14.319 you know, the meat left on the bone. And I'll 112 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:16.839 also even take it back to you. You know, remember 113 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:19.480 the days when cam Risen was sitting there in that 114 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:23.480 quarterback competition and lost the job and stuck around and 115 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:26.439 you know, got the nod week three or week four, 116 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:29.120 and it wasn't a foregone conclusion that you know, he 117 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:31.920 was the dude. I mean nowadays, you know, I see 118 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:35.079 the pictures of remember when Cam Rising was a Texas 119 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:37.279 longhorn and then transfers to Utah, and you kind of 120 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:40.199 brush over the fact that, hey, it wasn't a foregone 121 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:41.800 conclusion that he was going to be a stud. He 122 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:44.399 had to grind and be patient. And I think a 123 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:48.680 lot of what he represented is what the Kyle Whittingham 124 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:52.120 era has been at Utah and will probably continue to 125 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:55.480 be once the paton has passed to pass to the 126 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:55.920 next guy. 127 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:58.959 One more thing here, and I don't want to bring 128 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:01.079 up anything in the past. It's uncomfortable and I'm not 129 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:03.480 trying to be your therapist, but maybe we can process 130 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:08.120 on a Friday, Max, because you're a guy like Cam 131 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:11.199 Rising once upon a time that took a little heat 132 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:14.120 from a college football fan base that was very passionate 133 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:17.600 and very hopeful that maybe you could do some things that, 134 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:20.319 for whatever reasons, didn't fully work out. And over the 135 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:23.480 final couple of years, Cam took a lot of guff 136 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:25.199 and a lot of grief from a lot of fans. 137 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.079 And as I keep saying on air, you always have 138 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:27.879 the option. 139 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:28.560 Of not tweeting. 140 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:30.720 You can put it in your drafts and go for 141 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:33.439 a walk and come back and decide. And I don't 142 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:35.279 love to get a lot of attention to cowards who 143 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:37.240 use the internet to feel brave. But as somebody who 144 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:39.920 went through that, what's it like when your own fan 145 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:41.319 base seems to turn on you like that? 146 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:45.399 Yeah, it's tough. I mean the articles that I remember 147 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:47.800 is one of my last days at USC before I 148 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:50.600 transferred to Pitt was a front page of our USC 149 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:53.720 newspaper about hey if forget exactly what the title was, 150 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:56.360 but the thesis of the article was, hey, if Max 151 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:58.839 Brown never started and we started with Sam Darnold from 152 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:02.800 Week one National champions That was the twenty sixteen season. 153 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:07.360 That's the year that USC beat Saquon Barkley in the 154 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:09.839 in the Rose Bowl, and I started those first what 155 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.639 was it, three games, went one and two, and actually 156 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.560 Donald's first start was at Rice Ecles in Utah. And 157 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.560 I mean, I don't blame the I mean, it's a 158 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:21.480 captivating article for that student reporter to write. But those 159 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:24.160 are the ones that I'm turning thirty next month. Those 160 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:26.720 are the ones that you remember. So it's tough. But 161 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.319 I do think for me, even as being a you know, 162 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:31.800 a transfer, I didn't even have remotely the success that 163 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:35.480 Cam Rising did. As the years go on, I've found 164 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:39.319 that you know, the negative, the negative buzz, the negative memories, 165 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:42.839 the negative chatter, those those fall by the wayside, and 166 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:45.360 the good memories do have a tendency to rise to 167 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:47.720 the top, especially when you handle yourself the way that 168 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:50.519 Cam did and again had the success that he did. 169 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:54.720 I think that hey, five seven years from now, when 170 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:58.519 Cam returns and probably gets a halftime resignator or recognition 171 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:02.160 or and at first quarter recognition, I have a strong 172 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:05.399 belief that it'll be a everyone getting out of their 173 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:09.360 seat applauding him, and those are the memories that he'll have. 174 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:13.040 And I'm sure right next to his Utah helmet, Utah 175 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.000 football and his man k for the rest of time. 176 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.439 Well said, Hey, just total don secutor. 177 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:20.959 But since you know, since you were in a situation 178 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:24.160 once upon a time competing with Sam Darnold, I wonder 179 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:27.120 what your insight is on because, as you know, Max, 180 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:29.920 I'm I'm a long suffering New York Jets fan, and 181 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:33.039 over the past number of years, Sam was the guy 182 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:34.759 who I thought was going to be the one that 183 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:38.679 could maybe lead us to something somewhat special. Who knows, 184 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:40.679 but I liked him coming out of college, and it 185 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:42.639 didn't work in New York. It doesn't work in New 186 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:45.519 York with anybody. You end up taking peyote and speaking 187 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:48.679 to caterpillars where things happen to you. But what sort 188 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:51.799 of questions has Sam answered this year? And what do 189 00:08:51.799 --> 00:08:54.039 you think that last performance may have cost him? And 190 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:55.080 what do you think his future is? 191 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:59.120 Think you's answered the question that he's a legitimate NFL 192 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.120 starting quarterback and any notion of him being a bust 193 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.840 is gone, which is which is amazing. I'm happy for 194 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:07.120 the guy. He's one of the good ones, easy, easy 195 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:09.639 to root for, even though we battled all throughout our 196 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:13.360 college careers. He's an awesome, awesome human being, so pumped 197 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:15.919 to see him have success. So I think he answered 198 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:19.559 that question. I think what goes unanswered is you know 199 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:21.639 how much of that was a byproduct of being in 200 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:26.799 a friendly Vikings offense with a very capable play caller 201 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:30.799 that's had success with multiple quarterbacks. And that'll be the 202 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.720 question for Sam miss offseason. I think, is you know, 203 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:36.759 does he find or does he potentially take less to 204 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:39.679 stay in Minnesota, or does he go to a different, 205 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.600 different franchise. And I chuckled right there because I think 206 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:44.600 if you're the New York Jets, he'd be still not 207 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:47.480 to at least be able to call to Sam's agent 208 00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:51.120 and see what's out there, giving them the unclear quarterback 209 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:53.600 situation the Jets are in long term, but I have 210 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:56.240 a feeling that of all the teams out there in 211 00:09:56.279 --> 00:10:00.000 the NFL, one team will be able to put in 212 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:04.720 put together a Baker Midfield type offer or potentially even better, 213 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:08.440 because I think it's interesting this quarterback draft class. You're 214 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:11.080 gonna see Shador Sanders, you're gonna see cam Ward, but 215 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:14.600 there's a steep drop off to get to quarterback three. 216 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:17.919 In my opinion, yet there's still a chunk of teams 217 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:22.200 at like seven, eight, ten, twelve in the draft order 218 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.919 that need to answer quarterback questions. I mean, whether it's 219 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:28.279 the Jets, whether it's the Raiders, whether that's the Saints 220 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:31.240 long term and what they do with Derek Carr. So 221 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:33.960 I think in Giants as well, I'm of the opinion 222 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:35.759 I think the Giants will be on the outside looking 223 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.720 in if the top two quarterbacks go one two. So 224 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:41.600 there's a lot of teams that have questions and need 225 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:44.200 to find answers at the quarterback position. That warps in 226 00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:47.440 Sam's benefit. And I think he's shown that, even though 227 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:50.759 the last two games didn't go didn't go great, that 228 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:53.799 he is a legitimate NFL starter and it's no longer 229 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:58.440 just a hey, nice to have a capable backup type 230 00:10:58.440 --> 00:10:58.799 of guy. 231 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:02.399 All right, moving over to some college football here, and 232 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:05.559 my first question regarding where we're at now is, you know, 233 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:08.600 I continue to use this line on the show because 234 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:12.200 I just realized that with the new nature of all 235 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:16.080 of this stuff, for me, it's impossible to prognosticate. So 236 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:19.080 I've moved over to more you know, diagnosing why did 237 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:21.840 this happen? How can we make it better and we'll 238 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:23.399 get to the game on Monday. But now that we 239 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:26.360 do have the first example of a twelve team expanded 240 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:29.639 CFP unfolding to the point where we have a final matchup, 241 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:31.440 you like it, you don't like it? 242 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:32.440 What needs to change? 243 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:34.200 Where you at with a new format now that we 244 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.840 have some data behind us. 245 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:39.399 Yeah, I love the twelve team structure for sure. I'm 246 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:41.759 in the camp that and I don't know if this 247 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:44.320 is a mainstream take yet, but it is amongst you know, 248 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:45.840 some of the folks that I listen to. I'm of 249 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.960 the camp that they should recede after the first round. 250 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:54.360 I like rewarding conference champions with that first round by 251 00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:57.279 and giving them a leg up. But I do think 252 00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:59.399 it's funny. I was talking with a Penn State fan 253 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:02.720 this morning. I do think, you know, Penn State losing 254 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:05.840 in the Big Ten championship yet getting a more favorable 255 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:10.279 road than Oregon is you know, not ideal for the 256 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:12.600 for the for the structure of the playoff. And I 257 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:15.200 think reseeding after that first round so once you have 258 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:18.320 eight total teams, that would have put you know, the 259 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:21.159 Boise State at ranked number eight or Arizona State at 260 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:25.000 eight Boise Boise State at seven. That to me solves 261 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:28.639 a lot of the problems. I'm very wary of, you know, 262 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:33.399 wholesale changes of guaranteed spots for the SEC or guaranteed 263 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:35.919 spots for the Big ten or even Big twelve as well, 264 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:38.320 because I just think every year is different, and that's 265 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:40.639 the beauty of college football, that's the beauty of what 266 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:42.720 we do for a living because we're able to analyze 267 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:45.600 it all. But if you had the twelve team playoff 268 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.960 structure last year, the number five team would have been 269 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:53.200 Florida State without Jordan Travis, and this big storyline was 270 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:58.240 Jordan Travis's injury would have been the twelve team playoff storyline, 271 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:00.840 and everyone would have wanted to play Florida State as 272 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:03.679 a number five seed with their backup quarterback right there. 273 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:06.559 Versus this year that five seed was Penn State. It 274 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:09.039 was a different vibe. I also don't think year in 275 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.919 and year out, we're going to have as strong of 276 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:13.240 a group of five champ I think Boise State is 277 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:15.799 as strong of a group of five champ as we're 278 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:18.159 going to get, at least in the immediate term of 279 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:21.039 college football. That's going to be different next year. I 280 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:23.240 think there's a world where maybe the Big twelve doesn't 281 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:26.919 beat up on each other every year. If this season 282 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.080 went how a lot of youth fans hoped it went, 283 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:31.559 and Utah was sitting there as a one loss Big 284 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:34.320 twelve champ, I think a lot of the chatter around, 285 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:37.120 you know, the Big Twelve being maybe like a secondary 286 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:41.879 or very much secondary compared to the Big ten or 287 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:44.679 the SEC that wouldn't be the case. So every year 288 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:47.360 is different. I think the twelve team structure allows for 289 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:50.720 those dynamics to play out. But I think reseeding after 290 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:52.720 that first round would would solve a lot of a 291 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.759 complaint that people had in December. 292 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:59.559 All right, So moving over now to let's actually go 293 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:02.440 back a little bit before we move forward, and your 294 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:06.360 thoughts on your thoughts, your thoughts on what we saw 295 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:09.840 with Texas and Arizona State and whether or not I 296 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:12.120 don't know, I mean, you've already talked about you know, 297 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:15.399 different seating, different buys, But did Arizona States performance against 298 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:19.480 Sexas was that a Big twelve statement at all? Or 299 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:23.120 was that just Arizona State answering in a vacuum like yes, 300 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:23.919 we belong here. 301 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:28.840 That's a good question. I think it's a I mean, 302 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:31.679 I view it more as I guess, yes, a Big 303 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:35.200 twelve statement, but more of a all right, the SEC is 304 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:40.080 not just this almighty invincible conference that you know we've 305 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:42.960 been used to throughout the Nick Saban era. The days 306 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:47.000 of being able to just stockpile backups in stockpile depth 307 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:50.120 and take it away from those other schools are gone. 308 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:53.080 And that was more my takeaway from the Arizona State 309 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:56.440 Texas game where hey, if that matchup is played or 310 00:14:56.440 --> 00:15:00.000 maybe a better references Arizona State Alabama from five years 311 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:02.120 years ago. You know, there's a world where that outcome 312 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:04.480 is much different because of the depth that an Alabama 313 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.320 team has versus Texas. Now, yes, there's still the top 314 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:10.240 of the SEC, but I don't think it's that invincible 315 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:13.159 nature that we once had, which I think is great 316 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.799 for the game of college football and Arizona State showcase that. 317 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:19.039 So that was my takeaway and also just a takeaway 318 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:22.000 from an Arizona State lenses and Spence. You'll be able 319 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:23.559 to relate to this because it was, you know, a 320 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:26.480 talking point for Arizona State for much of their PAC 321 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:29.120 twelve history about how much they were a you know, 322 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:31.639 sleeping giant and whatnot, and I think there's a lot 323 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:35.320 of truth to that, and I my takeaway was, Hey, 324 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:38.440 maybe Kenny Dillingham has unlocked something there that is sustainable 325 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:42.399 at Arizona State of being the sexy lack of lack 326 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:44.480 of a better term team out west for a lot 327 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:48.279 of these Texas and Big twelve rooted guys, that I 328 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:52.080 feel confident that Arizona State, maybe not winning eleven games 329 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:55.120 every year, but contending for Big twelve titles, that that 330 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:58.559 identity is here to stay as long as Kenny Dillingham's there. 331 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:03.080 All right, So we have ourselves an interesting game on 332 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:05.879 Monday night. Before we get to the actual matchup, let's 333 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:08.519 talk about the two teams and their path they got here. 334 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:10.559 And I don't know man Marcus Freeman. 335 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:12.240 When he first took that job at the age of 336 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:14.720 thirty five, there's the home loss against Marshall, a lot 337 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:17.360 of noise about is he ready. It's wild that his 338 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:20.159 first coaching job is the head coach of Notre Dame. 339 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:24.080 But this meteoric rise now at the age of thirty nine, 340 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:27.080 there's a little like McVeigh to this, and he's become 341 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:30.320 one of my favorite coaches to listen to. I think 342 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:33.960 he's a pre eminent communicator. His players clearly love him, 343 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:36.639 but nobody, at least in my opinion, and from what 344 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.639 I understood listening to people who I respect, break this 345 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.360 thing down. 346 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.320 I don't think there are. 347 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:43.559 Very many people, if any people at all that had 348 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:47.200 Notre Dame in the college football championship game coming up 349 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:49.159 on Monday. So what do you make of their path, 350 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:51.759 how they got here, and your thoughts on their head? 351 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.039 Coach? 352 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:56.960 Yeah, it's funny because in August they were, at least 353 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:58.480 from what I was listening to, a lot of people's 354 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:01.720 sleeper team, just because you got Riley Leonard who at 355 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.600 one point in time mel Kiper had him as a 356 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:06.640 first round quarterback at least last season before that ankle injury, 357 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:08.839 and so you go and got a big time at 358 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:11.319 least on paper signal caller. And then Notre Dame had 359 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.200 a bunch of guys coming back, so you know, there 360 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:17.400 was hype and obviously a relatively easy schedule, especially when 361 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:19.839 you look at Big ten schools and SEC schools having 362 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:21.559 to play each other and beat up on each other. 363 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:24.559 So I think in August I saw a trajectory where 364 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:26.920 they could be in the in this scenario at least 365 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:29.400 in the final four and in the conversation. But then that, 366 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:32.319 then that and IU game happened, and I remember watching 367 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:34.400 that game and I called and I used game a 368 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:37.559 couple of weeks later, and you watched that game. Notre 369 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:41.000 Dame left a ton of offense, especially on the field, 370 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.640 and I tweeted this out at the time. I was like, 371 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:45.279 don't be surprised if they figured this thing out and 372 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:48.160 find themselves at that point, you know, with one loss, 373 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:51.000 facing a USC team to potentially go into the playoffs. 374 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.279 And that's kind of how it how it how it 375 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:56.000 played out. The big difference that I noticed, though not 376 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:58.720 only with Marcus Freeman, and he deserves credit because you know, 377 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:01.359 you're giving up play calling or he doesn't handle play 378 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:04.640 calling duties, so you're trusting your assistant coaches. And I 379 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:08.000 think Mike Denbrock, their offensive coordinator, totally pivoted after the 380 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:11.279 NIU game and said, Hey, the reality is Riley Leonard 381 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:13.680 is not an NFL quarterback. And that's the camp that 382 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:16.799 I'm in. And I know, you know Colin Coward saying, 383 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:18.880 oh he's the next Josh Allen. I'm not there. I 384 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:22.680 don't think he's asked to do nearly nearly the amount 385 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:25.119 in the passing game on a down in, down out 386 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:27.039 basis as some of those other guys. But he shipped 387 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:30.079 the offense and said, I'm gonna lean on Riley Leonard's legs. 388 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:32.480 It's going to be run centric first and second and 389 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:34.480 we're going to pass on third down and have that 390 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.640 bri identity, not try to force him to win on 391 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:40.359 first and second down as a progression passer. And the 392 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:43.079 team took a liking to that identity. They deserve a 393 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:45.359 ton of credit for doubling down in that identity and 394 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:47.039 it's got them to the place that they're in. And 395 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:50.039 the redemption story of Marcus Freeman. You said it. He 396 00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:53.680 started off a little it was rocky, for sure, but 397 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:57.319 I think his overall vibe of it, of you know, 398 00:18:57.400 --> 00:19:01.240 resurrecting a notre dame that pretty much my entire adult 399 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:03.799 life has been. Even when Brian Kelly was winning games, 400 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:06.319 it was still a little bit stale and stiff. Those 401 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:09.480