WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:07.000 It's time for coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's on 2 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:13.400 Sports Talk seven nine day. Now here's Nick coffee. 3 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:17.320 That's right, it is coffee and Company fueled by Thornton's 4 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:19.960 here on Sports Talk seven ninety hour number two in 5 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:23.920 the final edition of this show, which again I know 6 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:27.719 I've mentioned it many times, and I guess I should 7 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.079 say both things. I'm not leaving, like I'm not. Actually, 8 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:31.800 it's not like you're never gonna hear me again. I mean, 9 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:33.240 if you don't want to hear me again, you can 10 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:35.880 certainly choose not to. But I'm just moving up your 11 00:00:35.960 --> 00:00:39.320 radio dial and at a much earlier time slot five 12 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:40.079 am to nine am. 13 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:41.240 So this is the last show. 14 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:41.520 Again. 15 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:43.520 We've talked about it a lot throughout the last few weeks, 16 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:47.000 but with the four o'clock hour hitting potentially a new audience. 17 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:49.640 I mean when I mentioned it in passing and don't 18 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:51.799 really lay things out, I get people that hit me 19 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:54.759 up that I guess. You know, they listen when they can, 20 00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:57.320 and they aren't aware. You know, It's wild how people 21 00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:59.920 aren't totally consumed by what's going on in my life. 22 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:00.520 It's crazy. 23 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:03.640 I figured everybody was always keeping up with me and again, 24 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:06.319 I hope you can. You can since the sarcasm there, 25 00:01:06.439 --> 00:01:08.719 my poor attempted humor. But yeah, we've got two more 26 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:11.120 hours left and I'm gonna gonna make the most of them. 27 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:14.200 And this is fun. I've said it each time we've 28 00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:16.439 come back from break. I'll say it again. Not letting 29 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:19.000 people know who the next guest is. I can just 30 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:21.079 feel that you are on the edge of your seat 31 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:24.879 in anticipation, and that excites me. And I don't know 32 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:26.920 if he's excited, but I'm excited to bring this guy on. 33 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:29.920 He's a former Louis of a Cardinal played in the NFL, 34 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:32.560 which I told him one time, and I meant it. 35 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:34.359 I would say that to everybody. I would tattoo that 36 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:35.640 on my head. I played in the NFL. I'm an 37 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:37.799 NFL player, not just you know. He actually was on 38 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:40.120 a roster for a couple of seasons, had an NFL career. 39 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:42.079 He's a friend, He's been a big part of the 40 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:44.319 show when it comes to talking football. He is mister 41 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:45.120 Alex Cupper. 42 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:45.840 Cupp. 43 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:47.400 How are we doing, brother, I'm sure it's an honor 44 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:48.480 for you to be here today. 45 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:54.319 It is the solar, the you know, the celebratory send off. 46 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:57.040 That's right to be a part of it. Great congratulations. 47 00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:00.599 So I'm moving up to the the big time and 48 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:01.680 whs and all that. 49 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:04.280 My friend, let me ask you and thank you. By 50 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:06.120 the way, let me ask you you. You went from 51 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:09.000 being a I mean, you're a football lifer. We've talked 52 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:11.120 about your story. A great story, by the way. Something 53 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:13.280 you see in a movie. A kid locally walks on 54 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:17.159 at the hometown program, earns a scholarship, plays, has a 55 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:19.240 great career, was a big factor on one of the 56 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:21.039 best teams we've ever had. Here goes to the NFL. 57 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:22.680 I mean, you're not one to brag, so I'll brag 58 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:26.319 for you. But you then switched to being a career guy. 59 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:28.639 You now are in the you know, you now don't 60 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:31.680 work in football, and obviously you're doing really well in that. 61 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:34.719 What was the transition? I hear all the time about 62 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:38.360 how when you've put so much, I mean, the biggest 63 00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:40.080 part of your life is probably up to that point, 64 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:42.599 you know football and it and it consumes you. You 65 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:44.319 work your ass off at it. That's how you end 66 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:46.439 up in the position that you were in. What was 67 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:49.120 the transition like when you walked away and you decided, Okay, 68 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:51.639 I'm ready to start this next chapter, as I'm starting 69 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:53.879 a different chapter, still doing radio, but obviously a different 70 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:54.879 world from what I'm used to. 71 00:02:56.439 --> 00:02:57.159 No, for sure. 72 00:02:57.639 --> 00:03:01.319 I mean that's a really yeah, it's really a interesting 73 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:03.120 to look back on it, because I don't i mean, 74 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:06.919 now consumed with so many other things. Football is still 75 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:09.520 fun and now I get to get the privilege of 76 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:12.520 trying to bring my kids up through it. But really 77 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:17.520 the bridge of not playing ball anymore and still being involved. 78 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:20.719 So those those few years I did the color commentary 79 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:22.919 with Paul was very. 80 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:24.840 Very helpful because it still felt involved. 81 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:27.319 It still felt like, you know, I would listen to, 82 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:29.800 you know, a game plan, you know, a Petrino game 83 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:33.680 plan and kind of understand you know, ways of ways 84 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:37.759 of working, still a little bit without the physicality part 85 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:40.280 of it. So that was that was a helpful tool 86 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:42.039 because really, yeah, the mental side. 87 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:42.479 Of it is tough. 88 00:03:42.520 --> 00:03:46.039 It's hard to shift your mind to thinking about, oh gosh, 89 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:48.360 you know, I need I need to look at life differently, 90 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:50.080 and you know, there's not as much of a. 91 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:52.719 Demand on my body, but a demand on you. 92 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:56.240 Know, how I think about things and and how I you. 93 00:03:56.199 --> 00:03:57.919 Know, I mean it really is a different it's a 94 00:03:57.919 --> 00:03:59.439 different life within your life. 95 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:04.159 Right, Oh yeah, no, absolutely, And then you know as kids, uh, 96 00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:06.560 as the kids started growing it it made you know, 97 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:10.000 made that transition obviously a lot more, a lot more seamless, 98 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:12.520 and there's there's way there's way more of a focus 99 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:15.520 and attention on on that. And obviously as you know, 100 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:19.160 that is that is the primary. That is the the tertiary. 101 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.399 That's everything. So everything you you know, all the all 102 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:25.879 the decisions and in all of the you know, essentially 103 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:28.959 non work items is is your family life. So those 104 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:33.160 two pieces in general or were the big bridge. But 105 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:35.920 you know, people ask me quite a bit on on what, 106 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:39.319 you know, would I go back and do and play long? 107 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:43.040 You know, it's like an obvious would be yes, would 108 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:45.399 miss miss that part of it? Just because the competition, 109 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:47.240 the things that I talk to you about all the time, 110 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:52.160 sure during the season, just just that itch on the thrill. 111 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:54.480 There's there's nothing that there's nothing that. 112 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:58.439 Can match that, that level of competition, that level of 113 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:02.120 you know, angst and and energy that you can get 114 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:04.560 and the thrill you can get on being successful in 115 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:06.199 that it's second to none. 116 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:09.279 Look, a lot of people who really put a lot 117 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:10.759 into it. And I don't want to say you weren't 118 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:13.800 blessed with God given talent, but obviously I think you've 119 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:15.720 always been a guy that really put in the work 120 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:18.160 and let the results speak for themselves. And you know, 121 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:19.759 when you get the good results that you got, like 122 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.720 the career you had in football, you know, it's not 123 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:23.519 a surprise to see that you can transition that to 124 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:26.279 really a second a second life. And I don't want 125 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:27.959 to act like you had no life in all you 126 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:30.480 did was football. You were a robot, just some dumb jock. 127 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:32.720 But you know, it's you have to put everything into 128 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:34.560 it if you want to be super successful at it. 129 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:37.120 But when you did, when you did say okay, I'm 130 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:39.839 gonna hang up the cleats, I mean, was it were 131 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:41.480 you still trying to see if you could get a 132 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:44.800 practice squad thing, or were you content thinking, okay, I 133 00:05:44.839 --> 00:05:46.680 could still try to grind it out. But you know, 134 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:49.240 I'm ready because I feel like it would be a 135 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:51.720 really hard thing to do, because it's you know, you're 136 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:53.959 gonna have the belief in yourself, You're probably gonna be 137 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:55.439 able to stick around. And look, you could have played 138 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:58.120 in CFL done those kind of things. But when that 139 00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:00.800 moment happened, did it, did it hit you that, Okay, 140 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:02.920 I'm doing it. I'm actually gonna you break free. 141 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:09.160 Yeah, I mean the unfortunately, the the UFL and and 142 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:12.120 XFL and all there, that hybrid. I guess the spring, 143 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:16.639 the spring alternative. I guess you could say professional leagues 144 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:21.399 warnt a thing. Unfortunately. Uh so the CFL never never 145 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:22.360 really entertained it. 146 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:22.680 I did. 147 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.439 I mean, I kept kept working and and actually tried 148 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:26.560 out a few more times. 149 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:28.120 But I'd say it like. 150 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:29.879 They missed out. 151 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:35.639 Yeah, they're lost skinning at the six month mark. I 152 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:39.000 appreciate that. It was when I, you know, came to grips, 153 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:42.839 got got re enrolled and finishing up you know, some 154 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:46.160 of the master studies that I had started and started 155 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:47.040 down the career path. 156 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:50.959 Well, congrats on career, Congrats on all your success. And 157 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.439 I can tell how much you love being a family man, 158 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:55.560 and and I can I can't relate to a lot 159 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:57.319 of things, I believe it or not. Folks did not 160 00:06:57.360 --> 00:06:59.360 play in the NFL, never played a snap of football 161 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:02.120 in my life. But you know, I can tell how 162 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:05.120 much you're into being a family man. And I'm now 163 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:06.959 more so. Inter you know, I'm still going to talk 164 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:08.879 sports on HS and it's going to be always a 165 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:10.920 big part of my life. But now what really gets 166 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:14.040 me excited and the passion I have is experiencing it 167 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:16.120 with my with my son. And I'm sure you know 168 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:17.759 you're going through the same thing on your end, and 169 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:20.160 it's a beautiful thing, no doubt. But I have to 170 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:22.319 pick your brand quickly before we let you go and 171 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:25.560 get your weekend started. The era that you were at 172 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:28.279 U of L, I feel like is monumental to where 173 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.360 the program is, and there's been few there's been a 174 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:32.959 few instances throughout where it feels like, okay, that was 175 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:35.680 pretty big as far as Louisville continuing to be able 176 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:37.240 to say as a program, we were thrown in the 177 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:40.600 microwave and and we've had some big jumps throughout and 178 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:43.680 we're not a power program by any means, but we're not. 179 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:46.160 You know, we're pretty successful and I think the success 180 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:48.360 is going to be there moving forward. Is there's something 181 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:50.079 you could share and I'm putting you on the spot here, 182 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:53.759 but that when the transition happened from Steve Kragthorpe to 183 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:58.240 Charlie Strong and the culture change, and within a few years, 184 00:07:58.279 --> 00:08:00.839 you guys were, you know, we were, we were losing 185 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.439 our minds because you beat who was its Southern Miss 186 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:05.680 and the Beato Brady's Bowl and Saint Pete. I mean 187 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:07.839 that felt like the Super Bowl. And I don't mean 188 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:10.399 to to to poke fun. I mean literally we were. 189 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:12.319 We were brought back to life and it was exciting 190 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:14.319 as hell. There was clearly a lot of energy on 191 00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:17.279 the roster or on the field with just the enthusiasm, 192 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:19.680 and then a couple years later, you're beating Florida in 193 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:23.199 New Orleans in the Sugar Bowl. Is there maybe something 194 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:25.639 that you don't think people realize about sort of that era? 195 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.560 I mean again, I think it's pretty straightforward. You guys 196 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.439 were coached hard, you played hard for your coach. I 197 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:32.320 think you had a really good stat that maybe people 198 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:35.559 don't know about, but that that run that team really 199 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.200 it's it's it's my favorite season as a fan just 200 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:38.840 because it was. 201 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:39.559 It was awesome. 202 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:42.159 But is there something you could share that maybe people 203 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:43.840 would be surprised by. I don't mean like giving us 204 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:46.120 dirt on your teammates or anything, but I would have 205 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:47.720 loved to have been a little bit more connected to 206 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:49.759 the program back then. I was a lot younger, but man, 207 00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:50.559 it was a lot of fun. 208 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:57.360 Oh absolutely, and it yeah, I mean all those things 209 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:00.879 just to turn the you know, the turnaround six games, 210 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:03.600 it felt like we won twenty, you know, like it 211 00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:06.039 was it was really you that passion that the fan 212 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:07.279 base felt. 213 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:09.600 It was tenfold in a locker roo. 214 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:11.519 It kind of reminded me a little bit of basketball 215 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.679 this year, Cut because you know, I think you know, 216 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:16.159 you guys then could sense that you were bringing us 217 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:18.200 kind of back to life and we were really energetic. 218 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:19.720 And I think that's exactly what played out with Pat 219 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:20.519 Kelsey this year. 220 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:22.519 Oh for sure. 221 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:27.799 And really the big I mean, although they're in basketball, 222 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:29.879 is a little different, just based on the track for 223 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:32.120 it and the coaches that we we did have prior 224 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:36.480 to you know, our turbulence that we've gone through. But really, 225 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:39.960 if you leave Louisville fans with anything, it's it's the 226 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:45.519 resiliency and not as much consistency. So just how how 227 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:49.320 resilient the program can be and basketball, you know, finally 228 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:52.799 finding its footing. Football's always been that way where it's 229 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:56.399 if you have the passion, you have the support from 230 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.279 the fan base from the athletic department. 231 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:01.840 The programs set up in a way or gout. 232 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:05.159 You know, kids, guys, you know, young men want to 233 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:08.399 come be a part of it and really try and 234 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:10.759 push the program forward. You know, you have that pipeline 235 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:13.679 that started in Florida. It's still there. And then I 236 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.720 think coaching wise, I mean, it's it's it is. You 237 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:18.960 can call it a stepping stone job, and that's what 238 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:21.120 people you know usually refer to it, as. 239 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:23.360 You know from AFAR. 240 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:25.639 But but really it is one of the top notch 241 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:29.120 programs just based on how much focus you have and 242 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:32.559 how much you know, how much people care about it 243 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:34.759 really and how big the town is. I mean, it's 244 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:37.159 it's a it's a large college town. People always talk 245 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:39.519 about it. So being a part of it, being a 246 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:42.799 small part of it was you know, a pleasure and 247 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:44.440 a gift that I'll. 248 00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:47.519 Cherish for for a very long time. So always happy 249 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:48.480 to chat about it too. 250 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:51.360 Oh yeah, and I again, I don't think you tell 251 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:52.960 people enough and I don't know how you would do it. 252 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.879 You don't bring it up in conversation, but you do 253 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:56.480 have a really cool story. It's been great to get 254 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:57.759 to know you and call you a friend over the 255 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:59.799 years because I was a big fan of yours and 256 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:02.399 I still am today. So I'll leave you with this, 257 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:03.679 and I'm not gonna put you on the spot. I 258 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:05.399 found a way to where I'm not gonna make you 259 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:08.240 like pick which teammates you think are better, because that 260 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:09.799 would be a cruel thing to do. But I, in 261 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:12.279 the last couple of days, have been tasked by one 262 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:17.399 of our listeners to give my top four Louisville football quarterbacks, 263 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:21.840 running backs, receivers, and then defensive players. And I'm not 264 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:23.679 going to tell you how you'd rank them. I'm gonna 265 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:25.960 give you my four. You give me a grade in 266 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:29.039 the A would mean that you really agree, in like 267 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:32.240 a D would mean that you totally disagree. And I 268 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:34.200 won't press you to tell me which, because I don't 269 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:35.879 want your teammates find that out. You know, you know 270 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:38.440 you didn't have them in the top four. So you 271 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:39.919 and I are relatively the same age. So some of 272 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:42.399 these guys you played with, and some of these guys 273 00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:44.039 I know you grew up watching them because you know 274 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.320 you're you're you're a Louisville guy like me. So I'll 275 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:48.639 start with quarterbacks. To me, this was pretty easy. Lamar 276 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:53.039 number one, Teddy number two, I went, I went with 277 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:56.600 I don't remember how I ordered him because it's really tough. 278 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:59.919 I know I went Stefan. Did I go Stefan? 279 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:00.159 No? 280 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:04.120 I went Brom three, Stefan four, And I'm content with that. 281 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:06.879 But I was really close to putting Stefan at three. 282 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:08.399 But I don't know if it's just because I was 283 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:11.039 just so obsessed with that. I still think that twenty 284 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:13.720 four team, with the coaching staff and that roster, despite 285 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:15.639 it being a Conference USA team, that team was special. 286 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:16.759 A lot of guys that went on to play in 287 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:18.720 the NFL. How do you grade that? 288 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:22.879 So you had you had Brahm at three and Stefan yeah, 289 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:26.759 fo yeah, yeah, I would be in line with that. 290 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:29.679 Okay, so an A, you know the Red Redmond were 291 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:33.759 as the as my you know, you know those guys. 292 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:37.000 Hey, look we're spoiled as hell. A quarterback. Yeah, I mean, 293 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.360 I mean again, Tyler Schucke. 294 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.759 He only played her one year, so it's gonna be 295 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:43.480 really weird to think about how he's thought about down 296 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.840 the line. But we know he had we had a 297 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:46.799 pretty good quarterback here last year. And it sounds like 298 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:49.559 he's doing well with the Saints, all right, So with 299 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:52.720 with uh, let's go, let's go with receivers. I went 300 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:55.000 to Vante number one. I don't know if that's just 301 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:57.200 my era. I feel like he was just a weapon 302 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:59.320 and there was a good chance that if you throw 303 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:01.360 it up, he was going to go make something happen. 304 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:04.399 I then went with Harry Douglas or no, I'm sorry, 305 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:08.279 Deon Branch, then Harry Douglas and then at number four. 306 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:10.960 I think it was more just with those three. Is 307 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:13.879 that aligned with you give me A you're thinking, B, 308 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:14.360 you think? 309 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:15.919 And C. Is there somebody I'm leaving off that you 310 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:16.799 would have had on there? 311 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:21.000 Yeah? Or I mean urridy it was another one. 312 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.799 Yeah, I mean production wise, it's hard to beat, hard 313 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.679 to beat Harry and yeah. 314 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:28.799 So with Mario he was he was great, But I 315 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:30.960 feel like he doesn't get forgotten. But I think maybe 316 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:33.559 I'm guilty as others as far as maybe not realizing 317 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:35.000 how good he was because he played with some other 318 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:36.000 really good receivers too. 319 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:41.000 Sure, No, I know we are aligned all right now? 320 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:45.279 With running backs, I went and again, this is really 321 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:47.799 my lifetime what I can remember. Obviously, you know, there's 322 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:49.200 some guys that I know are great, but I can't 323 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.480 tell you I watched him play because I wasn't a 324 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:52.120 live where I was too young. So running backs, I 325 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:56.519 went Mike Bush number one. I went with the low 326 00:13:56.679 --> 00:14:00.080 pal number two, just because of how special he was 327 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:01.759 in that last year, and obviously he had some other 328 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:04.039 good moments before that. And then three, I got a 329 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:06.519 wild card for you. I think most people forget this guy, 330 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:08.639 and it's unfortunate because the timing of what was going 331 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.519 on in the world. He will be forgettable, but he 332 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:13.679 was special. Jadane Hawkins was bad. He was I mean, 333 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:17.440 that guy was really really talented, and I think it's 334 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:19.320 easy to forget because there wasn't a who lot of 335 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:21.559 accomplishments along the way, although he was acc Freshman of 336 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:23.600 the Year in his first season, but again all that's 337 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.759 a blur. And then at number four, I went Brandon 338 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:28.799 Radcliffe just because I felt like consistency was there. But 339 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:30.720 there's other good options that you know you could throw in. 340 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:33.360 I mean, even guys like Colby Smith, who who obviously 341 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:37.039 got a lot more run whenever Mike Bush got hurt. 342 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.039 So we've been pretty spoiled. A lot of positions. That 343 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:40.440 one was a little bit more difficult for me. It 344 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:43.759 wasn't at the very top. But you know me give 345 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.679 me your assessment of that. 346 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:46.799 Yeah, I mean. 347 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:50.279 I always look like looking back on like the Eric 348 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:51.360 Sheltons of the world. 349 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:52.919 Yes, Shelton's a good one. 350 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:55.320 It's funny how I look at it. 351 00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:58.440 It's just the way the uniforms looked, and just how 352 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:00.759 they looked in the uniforms. Just how you know, It's 353 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:04.080 like you see their their pictures and they're the Montague. 354 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:04.759 Yeah, you're that. 355 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:06.960 You're looking at Eric Shelton in his uniform and you're 356 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:09.320 you're you're you're at Trinity High School or almost there, 357 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.600 and you're thinking, you want to you want to be 358 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:12.399 wearing that uniform, right, I get it. 359 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:14.360 Oh yeah yeah. 360 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:18.000 Yeah, so no, But I mean Bush obviously for obvious reasons, 361 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:20.799 and and we we all think about what could have been, 362 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:24.159 but what could what did happen was he he was 363 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:28.440 extremely successful, so was Blau in the NFL and had 364 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:31.639 had very fruitful careers. So those those two are the obvious. 365 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:35.159 The one too, Hawkins was Yeah, that was god. He 366 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:37.840 It felt like he was our only option there in 367 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.919 that first year of sadderfield, and he was. He was 368 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:45.039 productive as hell running behind Beckton and and that offensive line. 369 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:47.960 So that was that's that's a really sneaky one because 370 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:48.799 you do forget about it. 371 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:50.159 But he was. He was the hell of a back. 372 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:51.919 And this is this is not nice that we got 373 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.840 our legit to. 374 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:55.360 Oh, no doubt, we're spoiled in a lot of ways. 375 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:57.159 It's and you mentioned it. It's been proven if you 376 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:00.480 can coach stepping stone or not, you can win. And 377 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:03.360 it's been proven many many years. And if you can play, 378 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:06.240 you'll get on the field and you'll stand out. I 379 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:09.120 mean that's been proven as well. Now with defense, we 380 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:13.279 did a I just just before the sake of toime yesterday. 381 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:15.879 I just went through defense as a whole, not specific positions. 382 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:18.919 I had Elvis Dumerville number one. I went with a 383 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:21.039 Mobia Koye at number two. And I can't remember if 384 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:23.399 that was justified based off of like production or just 385 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:25.840 knowing that he was sixteen years old when he started 386 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:28.559 playing in college and he was an early draft pick. 387 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.600 And then after that, man, it's tough and a lot 388 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:32.679 of these guys that I was on the fence about 389 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:34.559 putting in the top four you played with. I mean 390 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:37.960 Calvin Pryor, he was good. I mean that guy was 391 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.879 dangerous out there, and I mean that in a good way. 392 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:42.840 Drodd Holloman. It never made any sense to me how 393 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:44.440 he got fourteen interceptions. And I don't mean that to 394 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:46.960 insult him, but like right place, right time, consistently, that 395 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:49.559 guy was just I mean, fourteen interceptions in a year 396 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:52.200 is insane. And then two guys that you played with 397 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:55.480 that I hope are remembered in a good way, Lorenzo 398 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:58.440 Mauldon and Preston Brown, not that people would remember them 399 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:01.039 in a bad way, but like Charlie Strong put some 400 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:07.839 defensive studs here on campus. Oh absolutely, and un forget. 401 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:13.359