Speaker 1: Dental Pros of Utah is located in American Fork at
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Cougar's This is Cougar Sports with Ben Krittle at It's
time for the Cougar Beat. Getting the dish from the
local reporters that covered Cougar athletics.
Speaker 2: Welcome back to Cougar Sports here on one O, three,
nine and ninety eight three esp and the fan Ronald
the three man Weaver. We salute Brett always bringing the
hammer a farewell he has taken off. Appreciate Brett joining us.
Just a reminder as we get into the last hour
here on your one to three, nine and ninety eight
three network, you ta ESPN, RADED Network that Ben is
going to be back tomorrow. We appreciate everyone that's been
showing up and showing out. We have had a great cast,
the likes of Matt Brown of Extra Points dot Com.
We played the Colonies of Hockey sound from media availability
as well as Andrew Gentry. I think that's funny that
you know he ran into j Hill at the airport.
I think the guy actually who we're going to have
on the line. He actually asked him, you know, the
question about the full circle moment of Michigan and all
that and Kyle Whitningham. That was pretty crazy. But I
don't know, I just feel like the old is community small.
I feel like this whole Michigan Utah BYU thing Andrew
Gentry running into you know, Jay Hill at the airport,
like this is the that's the way it goes. I
don't have a small airport from Chicago, but I can
tell you that after being there, and it's pretty interesting
that everybody said that the lines are going to be long.
And I walked right into Terminal five Delta on Sunday
at six o'clock and my flight boarded at six thirty,
and maybe I'm just blessed and there was no line
and I walked straight through. I've gotten through security going
to and from Chicago within less than ten minutes. I
can tell you that it was probably somewhere between the
six of the seven minute mark. So I guess I'm
just blessed. But you know, all you can be blessed.
You can be blessed because I'm gonna give you an
opportunity to get some tickets. Wu Tank Klang is coming
to Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater September twenty ninth. You
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dot com without further ado, let's get out to the
esp and the fan the hot line. The second to
last time before we end our show. We got Jaydrew
of the Desert News today. Jay, thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 3: My pleasure is great to be on.
Speaker 2: Of course. I mean, look, I gotta have the with
this beautiful weather, this beautiful Tuesday, March twenty fourth, I
got to have the best golfer in the state of
Utah that covers the BYU beat on. Have you golf today?
Do you got anything planned? I know you were looking
around the sky yesterday, smile and I already talked about
a little trip. I know you're planning some golf stuff, Jay.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I had a company meeting today, so I wasn't able
to get out. Then I had a project due that
I just wrapped up kind of a BYU basketball season rap,
okay article that I did, But yeah, I'm gonna try
to get out tomorrow. It's you just this weather right now.
You cannot pass it up. That's for sure.
Speaker 2: I agree with it. I'm thinking of a beautiful walk
and maybe some ice cream with the little one. You're
not wrong. You can't beat this weather, no doubt about it.
You said BYU basketball season recap, you were out there.
I believe it was in Portland. Take us through. Fans
are going to say heartbreaking last summer, call it the
most disappointing season in BYU history. That's all left up
there for debate. But how would you recap the season
as a whole.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean there's so many ways to describe it,
up and down. Rocky, it's the word AJ used, disappointing.
I don't. I I saw where some media outlets have
called it a waste of a season. I think that's
way too harsh. I think you can say it was
unsatisfying or disappointing. But I mean they still, you know,
they still did some amazing things, obviously centered around AJ
Debonca and everything that he did. I was just thinking though,
if you'd told me at the start of the season,
if you'd say, Aj Debonsa is going to maintain his status,
is the number one pick in the draft. AJ Debuonca
is going to lead the country in scoring. AJ Debonsa
is going to be a candidate for National Player of
the Year. Aj Debonsa is going to be a consensus
ap all our consensus, all American ap A Smith, all
the different ones that put one out. I would have
said by used final four. I honestly would have if
you had just told me what Aj was going to accomplish.
So he accomplished all that. So I got to say,
in that realm, you have got to say that this
was a wildly successful season. Maybe not imediately, maybe ten
years down down the road, when when you look back
at this season and say Aj debounce has changed BYU basketball.
And so in that aspect, I've got to say that
it was a successful season. Now, because of the expectations,
the anticipation everything, the Final four or bust, all the
logan slogans that were out there. Because of all that,
I will I will admit this was a disappointing season.
Because of those expectations, but I think if you dig
a little deeper, I think a lot was gleaned from
this season that will really help BYU in the future,
that will really set this program up to succeed. We've
already seen it with Bruce Branch committing to play for BYU,
a five star prospect, and and but I just think,
you know, to call it a waste is really way, way,
way too harsh. To say it was not satisfactory. Yeah,
you can go there, but that's kind of where I
stand on it. If that makes sense, it does.
Speaker 2: I agree with you. I don't think I'm in the
conversation of waste. I can hear disappointment. I'll say that
even there are disappointing moments. I think that's fair. That's
on the table. But you just gave all the reasons
of why it wasn't. And we've heard Jason Mcat how
we played that sound. A lot of people are saying
that it wasn't. You know, the numbers of the nial
of influx of all this, they're saying to be why
you get the best return on investment, and it is
Bruce Branch. The third is that the return on investment,
because we've seen it now right, number one year old,
number one high school, number one jugal now have committed
to be all you. Kj's play, kJ, Perry's youet to play.
We're expecting anticipating him to play next season. But if
Age's number one pick yiggor was a lottery pick last year,
top ten, it's just Bruce Branch commits five three five
stars in the last three years. To me, I think
that's what quality and if that is. And I don't
know what the national media wants.
Speaker 3: Yeah, certainly, I mean I don't think the national media
understands how AJ embraced this community and how in a way,
if AJ had not had a good experience at b YU,
if it had gone sour for whatever reason, it would
have been kind of disastrous for BYU. But the opposite happened.
He embraced the place. Everybody loved him, He loved BYU.
And he said that from the podium after the Texas loss,
when he easily could have been discouraged or sad and
you know, vented some frustration. Instead, he basically said what
was really in his heart and on his mind. And
so yeah, I when people talk about return on investment,
I mean, look at the Merihit Center's been packed. Look
at the schedule they were able to put together only
because of AJ schedule that I don't think non conference
schedule that will ever be duplicated because they just do
not have that type of guy that did say hey
we want you know. I mean the fact that they
were put in primetime, that Texas game up primetime when
all the other games were going on. That's the game
that CBS, TBS, all the stations chose to put in
primetime in the East. And it was because of AJ
DEBATSA even over Duke all the other teams that were
playing that day. So yeah, I think I think BYU,
I think it was worth every penny and then some.
I mean, I think he was worth millions more to
BYU in the big picture.
Speaker 2: I agree with you. I think when you look back
on it five ten years down the line, you just said,
Agy debonds have changed to bye to have a player
like that Jay. And look, you've covered BYU way longer
than anyone else. You've been doing this this beat a
long time. This is the first time we've seen a
player of that caliber. From everything I've heard in my
short time covering come to BYU be this successful elevate
the program and probably a change Biu's trajectory as long
as Kevin Young is here, probably for you know, all
time and eternity. I hate to go like spiritual and
say that, but I believe as long as Kevin Young
c if AG is the number one pick J, the
floodgates are just going to open, like BYU is gonna
get I shouldn't say whatever they want, but the high
level talent is going to be like BYU's the spot
that I can be in, especially if they the right
cultural fit.
Speaker 3: Yeah, certainly. Kevin always uses the phrase proof of concept
and the next time he goes into a home. You know,
obviously with Bruce Bratt, she's already done it. But the
next time he, I mean, AJ Debonca is proven of
concept if there ever was such a thing. The fact
that you know, I mean, as of right now, it
looks like all the momentum is in his favor to
be the number one pick. And I mean that's all
he could ask for, you know, when Kevin Young recruited
him to BYU, and I mean, what more could you
ask for? Of course, they're not going to promise that
you're going to win a national championship and all that
other stuff. But the one thing that they could promise
him was that he would develop and he would be
an NBA, you know, top three pick, which he's certainly
gonna be. So AJ delivered on his promise, and Kevin
Young and Byu delivered on there. So win win, I mean,
I know they didn't get a win in the NCAA tournament,
but win, win all the way around, and on almost
every other aspect that you look at.
Speaker 2: Win, win all the way around. A lot of people
are gonna be happy. And he gave fans the season that.
I mean, you drop forty on Utah forty point triple
double baptisms highlights. I mean, look, you're gonna look back
and be like, yeah, the return on investment was there.
Let's discuss the future though we know what AJ is
gonna do the rest of this roster. Where do they
go from here? Your counterpart, Jackson Pain has said, back
to the basket big. It seems like they're missing that
k Baketa was great. I don't know if I agree
with the be too experiment how that worked. Maybe he
doesn't need another year development. I'll be happy to eat
crow if I'm wrong, but you look at the schools
that are competing, even like a Tuggler with Houston, you
gotta even need a freak defensive guy, a guy that
can post up because it just it seems like the bigs,
you know, let him down and it was to injury
a little bit this season as well.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think they definitely need. Kevin said they needed
a more rugged player, more rugged inside players. Kevicaida had
a good career. He was slightly undersized and you know,
otherworldly athletic as everybody saw. He could jump out of
the gym, but he he had some liabilities offensively, He
couldn't shoot free throws very well. But most importantly, he
was not a low post scorer other than on lobs.
He cannot catch the ball with his back to the
basket and make a move and score like Foos could
a year ago, even despite being as undersized as he was.
So yeah, I agree. Kevin Young said it several times
the other night after the Texas lost the Holy Grail,
and college basketball is shooting and they need shooters. And
if you look at March Madness, you look at all
these teams that are advancing, they're the teams that most
of them can hit the three pointer consistently, and byu,
especially when Nitchie went down, But even before that, they
were showing cracks did not make shots. They did not
have consistent shot makers from the outside. Alexa came in
and helped him a little bit in that regard, but
he was wildly inconsistent. So I would say those two
things they need. They needed shot makers, and they need,
like Jackson said, a big, burly kind of a low
post score with some rebounding skills. I personally, I think
they had to keep Beato. I don't know what they're
paying him. It's obviously quite a bit if they got
him out of the G League, But personally, I think
you keep him because not of the starting center. I
don't think he was a starter in a Power Flour
conference on a Power four conference team, But I think
he's a good enough rim protector and guy down there
that can swallow up some minutes, take up some fouls
that you maybe keep him if he's guy, if the
value is right for both sides. But certainly they need
to get a guy that can score down low on
a consistent basis, and obviously they didn't have that this year.
Speaker 2: They didn't. I brought up the conversation of you know,
could Ali Khalifa helped the team?
Speaker 5: Now?
Speaker 2: I know Ali, His game shape readiness is different at
Louisville than it was at BYU. But when he was
on a hitting threes, it really stretched a defense. So
we'll see what they do in the offseason. How much
roster turnover do you expect, though, because the guys on
this roster didn't perform, I have to assume that Kevin
and the players themselves are going to probably look at
what's the best for them too. I think he said
it's not just us, it's what do other players want
to do. How much roster attrition do you expect going
into the next season.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I was looking at it. They lose
for five guys if you count aj for sure, then
so that brings eleven guys on the roster right now
or eligible come back, including kJ Perry the junior college transfer,
and Dawson Baker and Nate Pick and some other guys
that are maybe questionable because of the injuries. I think
of that group of eleven, I think six come back
or six or seven ish in that range. So I
don't you know they don't have. I don't think the
turnover is going to be huge like some schools and
the whole rosters turned over, but yeah, I think it's
going to be significant. I think I think some guys
are going to be showing the door basically, you know,
pat on the back, thanks for what you did, but
you just basically don't provide enough value. And that's what
it's all about in this day and age of nil
and rev sharing is is the player's got to provide
value the value that you're paying him. And some of
these guys frankly don't want to name names, but just
did not this year, and that was one of the
reasons for the kind of why the season collapsed a
little bit is I think they overvalued some of these
guys out of the transfer portal that got him in here,
and then they just the talent evaluation was off. These
guys were not as good as they were supposed to
be and and wouldn't be why you suffered a few
injuries and they were in a major hole.
Speaker 2: Yeah, you bring up a good point. Whatever the resources
allocated to the guys were, it doesn't matter at this
point the season's over. But even then, it didn't get
the return on investment like it did with other things.
I think you did see some stuff down the stretch
from obviously Alexi coach Cunard. I think Dominique's defense. There's
there's a couple of guys who I think if they
wanted to come back, you know, might have their place.
But we'll see. I don't know who it will be,
but the name that has been flowing out there. Kevin
was pretty declarative in the post game, and we know
Kevin Young doesn't say anything Jay that he doesn't want
to say. He says that to your point about shooting
more shooting around Rob Wright, I was like, oh wow,
did that conversation already happen? You know, is he anticipating that?
But more shooting around Rob right? Is if Rob Wright's
gonna come back now he told you. You know, when
you're at the Big Tel Tournament, it's either by you
or pro there's no in between, go to another school.
So it's either Rob Wright comes back for one more year.
He's taken off the go start his professional career. Do
you believe Rob Wright comes back for once one more season?
Speaker 3: B YU, Yeah, I do, I really do. I believe
based on what Kevin. Kevin said of building the roster
around Rob Wright, Uh, with shooters, based on that, based
on what Rob told me. There's a few other signs.
We've just Rob's done something for Coasta Vita. It's been
out there. I think that's pretty much a local Utah restaurant,
So I doubt they would be, you know, putting all
these commercials out there if and all that, if Rob
was was leaving, so all those things stacked up kind
of lead me to believe that, yes, he is staying.
And Uh. And you know, let's one of the things
you guys have probably talked about ad on him on
your show is that these guys can make more money
in college nowadays than they can in the NBA, you know,
especially if you're not a first round NBA draft pick,
and Rob almost certainly wouldn't be. So, yeah, he can
make I don't know what he's making. I'm assuming it's
you know, it's well above a million dollars a year,
and he frankly could not make that in professional basketball NBA,
Europe anywhere. So it would you know, financially, it just
would be if he's going to stay in call, if
he's not going to you know, go to the pros.
It would be really behoove himself to stay at BYU. Yeah,
in college in particular.
Speaker 2: Yeah, you're not wrong. And I think he likes BYU.
And I look, I know this is how it is
when you look at Rob and this is what you know.
Sometimes it looks like on the court maybe I know
people say the body language. He's just a very mellow guy,
so it looks like, oh, he might not like it.
But when he's at the women's basketball game last night
and watching at the WBI T and he's with Tyler,
he's with Xavion, he likes it here in Provo. He
likes the fans, like taking pictures with people, dabbing people up.
But sometimes you know, when you're calm, cool and collected
and laid back, it doesn't get that vibe. But I
think Robin Joyce's time in Provo from what I'm seeing.
Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure. I never I haven't had a really
a one on one conversation with Rob since mid January
by on phone, other than the little time we had
after he lost his tooth in Kansas City. But I've
asked him several times how with it going, you know,
as a double minority and all that in provo and
every time he's just said he loves it, loves the
kind of laid back nature of the place. He's okay,
kind of what he called being in a fish bowl
where everybody recognizes you. He said that was something he
had to get used to. But yeah, he's never said
anything remotely negative in my conversations with him about about
being at BYU.
Speaker 2: This is going to be He's gonna be a big
part of the offense if he comes back. I remember
talking to Jordan Brady in the off season and Jordan
straight up said, hey, we expect him to have a
big year and improving. He did. He had career highs
I think in a lot of things. So I'm not
surprised that Kevin Young wants to bring him back. If
that would be the case, j We'll get you out
of here on this. How does that coexist? I guess
with you know, the kJ Perrys of the world, because
you have to think with kJ Perry, Dawson, Nate rob
that's I love all those guards. When you look at
what their skill set brings. How do you get the
chemistry and make it co exist?
Speaker 3: Though, Yeah, that's gonna be a big, a big task
for Kevin and his staff. Of those four guys you mentioned,
I wouldn't be surprised if maybe they lose one of
those guys, gotcha, because of what you just said. How
you know, there's only a certain amount of minutes that.
Speaker 2: Go along, so much ball to go around, Jay, right, You.
Speaker 3: Know Dawson can play the two a little bit, and yeah,
other positions, he doesn't necessarily need to have the ball
in his hands a lot like like we know that
Rob does. So it'll be interesting to see it.
Speaker 2: Definitely will be interesting to see Jay. Before I'll let
you go, appreciate you joining us today. What's the best
way we can support you? What you do, how you
do it? Where the socials? Where's the website?
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm on mostly on ax at Drew ju and
then on our website Deseret Dot, Calm, Backslash BYU Sports
you can find all my coverage Jackson Pain, Dick Harmon,
Dave McCann. The list goes on and on. Now we
try to cover BYU as best as we possibly can.
Speaker 2: Well, you guys do a good job. The only thing
I'm gonna make sure I tell Brett Kenny and all
of that none of you four can be on the
golf team. That is not okay, all those names you mentioned,
We will get smoked in June if all of you
are allowed to be on the same team.
Speaker 3: We're gearing up. I'm throwing out that throwing this out
right now, we are gearing out.
Speaker 2: I do see every year the Desert dudes just comes in.
It takes about it. Don't think I've never surprised y'all
got some good dudes that could golf. But you know,
make some room for you know, the three man weave.
You know, you need a little bit of a you
need a little bit of flavor. I can stand out
like Rob right in the group. You know, I can
stand out, you know, a little bit o kJ appreciate
your time today. We'll let you go.
Speaker 3: Thanks for joining you, bet Ronnie, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2: Of course I was Jay Drew of the Desert News
and the Cougar Bead. Appreciate Jajo and I had to
throw that little joke there at the and hey, look
I got I got a little bit of flavor. I
got some good here. I got some good melanin in
the skin. You know, I'm a little bit of a
vibe so come join me. Come join me, but you
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Speaker 6: Banni Duo has you covered with the latest dot expansion
Talks Tree. It's a in depth analysis of AT America's past.
Speaker 4: Time only on one O three nine at ninety eight
three ESPN The Fan. This is a one oh three
nine at ninety eight three ESPN Sports Center updates.
Speaker 7: BYU Women's basketball keeps on Dancing. Last night, the Keegers
defeated the Missouri Tigers in the second round of the
WBIT by a score of ninety three to seventy five.
Delandy GiB led the way for BYU, scoring twenty nine
points and did so with a career high three pointers.
Give also eclipsed the one thousand point mark in her career,
and it's the thirty fourth year to do so. Being
the third fastest. King Ry Barbert joined in on the fund,
having her third career double double. Next up for BYU
is the Elite eight of the WBIT where they will
take on Stanford, who is the number two seed in
their legion, on Thursday in the Marriott Center. The winner
of that game on Thursday, we'll head to the Final
four in Wichita, Kansas for a game next Monday. Speaking
of winning, BYU, men's golf is currently underway and the
GCAA Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, and after the thirty six holes
played yesterday, they sit in first place. Not only is
the team in prome position to win, but freshman's stand
out Kiya Keenez it's a top.
Speaker 2: The leaderboard at twelve hunder.
Speaker 7: Today will feature the final eighteen holes will play in
that tournament, as well as two more games on the diamond.
Speaker 8: The UAA baseball will head up north to.
Speaker 7: Face crosstown rival Utah and what will be the three
hundred and eighty fifth matchup between the two squads, and
BYU softball heads up University Parkway to take on the
Wolverines of the Utah Valley for the fifty seventh meeting
between the two squads all time. First pitch for both
games is at six o'clock. I'm Cameron Clark and this
has been your ESPN The Fan Cougar Sports Center Update.
Listen every morning seven to ten on your Utah ESPN Radio.
Speaker 6: Now, your new home of UVU Wolverines Baseball is one O, three,
nine and ninety eight three ESPN The Fan. What's going
on in the world of Cougar athletics. Here from players, coaches,
and experts on all of the latest happenings with the Cougars.
Speaker 2: Now, welcome back to Cougarer Sports here on one on three,
nine and ninety eight three ESPN The Fan of Ronald
the three man Weaver Brett always bringing the hammer by
my side. We've had a great show. We appreciate everyone's
showing up and showing out for this Tuesday edition. Lots
that we talked about, talked about just to recap a
little bit. Parker Kingston we started to show off with
that got into some Kalini satake sound Cam Clark joined
us to discuss Bollioman's basketball advancing to the quarterfinals of
the WBI t the only basketball program in the state
that's still play I believe that's everything that's going on
right now in the state of regarding basketball BAU basketball
now and the off season, and then obviously had Matt
Brown stopped by the program to discuss why teams don't
want to schedule Miami, Ohio and some other college football news,
and then got into some Andrew Gentry then just finished
up with Jadre gonna get into this water Bou Sports segment.
It's going to be brought to you by one of
our mini sponsors, Utah Protective Films. If you need a wrap,
a tent or a chrome delete, you need to hit
the former BYUI receiver Jared Bletzo. Look, the weather's getting nice.
He took care of our car and he says, wait
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Speaking of Utah Protective films. Let's welcome in. He's here
in studio with us. We got the owner operator prepared
of it, Jared Blets. So I'll be doing today. Brother.
Speaker 8: What's that man? How are you?
Speaker 2: I'm great, I'm doing good man. Let's get right into springball. Actually,
I'll get your thoughts on this really quickly. BYU women's basketball,
the only team in the state still playing basketball. Look,
if they beat Stanford on Thursday, they go to this
in my finals with an opportunity to go to the finals,
and they'll be in Wichita, Kansas. I just think Lee
Kamard has done a great job with this team. In
his first year. He tied Jeff Jenkins for the most
wins by a first year head coaching program history last night.
Speaker 8: That's great. Sounds like we need to allocate some money
that director.
Speaker 2: Look, all I gotta say is this Delaney Gibb. You
know you're gonna have to resign her and then Olivia Hamlin.
They got a good roster. Just like with BA football players,
they show up. Shot, you got to maintain. It's all
about retention these days in the world of in iol.
All right, that's off the table, listing. Go ahead, Hey,
let me.
Speaker 5: Let me let me on one comment on this re
signing thing. So I'm gonna leave the player's name out.
I was chatting with the player of basketball and it
struck me that and and he read shirt it this year,
and I was having a conversation with him, and he
was talking about resigning his contract.
Speaker 8: It wasn't sure if he was gonna resign, and.
Speaker 5: Bro it blow my mind that you can come to
a school, collect money, red shirt and then have the
ability to renegotiate the contract.
Speaker 8: And maybe not even come back.
Speaker 5: So you got paid to red shirt, but you might
not even come back the next year. I just can't
understand this process that's going on. There's got to be
something in place here soon where there are expectations of players,
like if you're gonna come in and you're gonna collect
a check and red shirt, you got to give us
some one more year, right, I mean that, I just
couldn't believe that that that's even on the table for
people to renegotiate a contract after a red shirt year
and then maybe leave, you know, after collecting money for
the whole year. Right, It just doesn't make sense to me.
And I at some point, some groundwork needs to be
really laid out for these this nil transfer portal option.
You know, I keep going back to the thought, if
the NBA or the NFL had the ability and each
player had the ability to renegotiate their contract at the
end of every single year, we wouldn't even have a league.
Speaker 8: You know.
Speaker 5: You wouldn't follow teams anymore, You'd follow players because that's
all there are is players going everywhere, and every team
would be different every year.
Speaker 8: And I feel like that's what we're going to.
Speaker 5: Deal with with BYU basketball, you know, is that you
and any sport, you know, you have that unless you
have a system and a set like Kilani is running
with the football team where you set a standard and
you're bringing guys in that are buying into the process
instead of buying into the check, you know. And I
feel like we're basketball is going to run a real
tight line here for a while if we continue to
just bring people in for the check and for the
expectation of the win versus buying into a culture. And
I think that's what Kevin Young needs to start focusing
on as a culture. Start looking at why Kilani's players
are coming back, why they aren't transferring out why the
best players here aren't out seeking bigger contracts, but are
negotiating their their their deal to stay here. That's their goal,
you know. So I think that that although we had
these high expectations going to this year, and had it worked,
you know, without the injuries and things and at panned
out the way that everybody dreamed it would, it maybe
would be different. But I think the long term positive
effects are to build a culture that people want to play.
Speaker 2: In culture over paycheck. As I'm taking away and listening,
it's it's difficult. Look, basketball parameters are not football. I
always reiterate this, and I'll continue to preach this. I
can I only have to play for one year in
basketball and I'm gone football I have to play for three.
So I think that are already pigeonholes you and uh
handicaps you a little bit as well. So but nothing
beach culture does any today. People always say this. With
a job, people quit either a supervisor or they leave
for a better opportunity. And when they quit a supervisor,
they quit a job, they're quitting a culture because they
probably don't like their coworkers, they don't feel valued and
things like that. And you see that as as we
discussed earlier in the show. You know that it's crazy
just how quickly you know, kids jump in. But yeah,
I'm I'm. I think the re signing every year, regardless
of what sport that is, that's crazy to me. I
wish I could negotiate my my paycheck every single year
of Hey, you know, I did this much for the podcast?
Can I get more? I love to do that, but
that's just not that.
Speaker 8: We guess what would happen if we did that? Hey,
thank you, we can't afford you. We're gonna move on.
You know that.
Speaker 2: You Yeah, I feel that it's it's it's tough. All
I got to say is I'm grateful that I don't
have to make those decisions. And uh, I report on
what how the how it goes, So we will we
will definitely see hopefully. I just you hope that that
the basketball team doesn't have six season any injuries like
last And at.
Speaker 5: Some point I think it's advantageous for for everyone to
know what these contracts are.
Speaker 8: I'm kind of confused that, but why most of them
are hidden.
Speaker 2: You know, we don't private university, they don't have to
necessarily do that. The reason, Yeah, the by US A
private and U university. I don't have to tell you anything.
They can create.
Speaker 5: The public universities can opt out if they want to.
Speaker 2: But you got a lot of information from public university
that you do. They just choose not to deliver that.
They're saying yes or no BYU is not obligated by
any law or anything to say anything.
Speaker 5: Because I just think the NCAA needs to step in.
I agree with you to if that's some ground.
Speaker 8: Rules for how this process works, yep, because the.
Speaker 2: Free for all is a CBA. They need something, they
need something to negotiate. And look, I said this was
my biggest thing. My biggest gripe was, Hey, look, I
think it's great to pay players. I think that's a
great thing. They should. They work really hard to put
in a lot of time. But if that's the case,
then you have to treat them like professional athletes and
everything that comes with that, like if they if they
make a mistake, then they can get bounced. If coaches
don't perform in the year and you're saying, all right,
make a change, Look, I think all of that's all
of that's now on the table when you when you
treat it like a business. Then they have to it
all has to be acted like a business. But in
that same breath, this is the problem now because they
didn't have rules.
Speaker 8: Yeah, when you sign a contract, you have to fulfill
the content. I agree with you. Otherwise there's penalties.
Speaker 5: And what we're seeing is guys don't have to fulfill
a contract and they leave and there's no penalty, you know.
And so I see, so there are some universities that
are starting to throw out penalties and trying, but they're
having to go through court to try to get these.
Speaker 8: Yeah, but they're legal contracts.
Speaker 5: And I just think that that if if the groundwork
is set, should have been in the beginning obviously, but
where we're at now, they just need to have some
ground rules set where I mean, the transfer portal has shrunk,
you know, where they only have limited time. That that helps,
but I think that there is some.
Speaker 2: And if you're a transferportal player, you're only going to
impact right away. You're not going to you're going for
more playing time or you're an impact player. I feel like,
well that's what it is.
Speaker 8: You know.
Speaker 5: What I see too, is that the guy who transfers
in is more likely to transfer out than the freshman
who's been here for two years. You know that you
start to see this, this trajectory of guys transferring once,
the likelihood of them transferring twice and a third time
is extremely high. Even at BYU, typically they're on their
second or third transfer.
Speaker 2: Darius Laster came from you know, to Miami exactly. Look
at Harrison Taggered. Uh no, I mean I did the
math right after Darius Lasher and Keeling like came in. Jared,
I think the average kid transfers looking at the number
one point eight or nine times, So that's two times
that a college athlete's gonna transfer these days before they
find their home. You look at Keeling, you look at
Harrison Tagger already mentioned a couple. Obviously Darius came over
like that's how it is. And obviously the Jake Reds laughs.
Guy guys and Darius are differently playing Juko and coming up.
I feel like those are different. But for the most part,
I you know, in the way of nil like, I
still bring it up of I thought you shouldn't let
Kiln Maryan walk out of door. You needed him, and
look what happened, you know, And that's three I mean
only exactly.
Speaker 8: It wasn't.
Speaker 2: I mean, he wasn't moriy I guess because he didn't
run a four to two seven, you know. And again
I'm being tongue in cheek when I say that, but
I'm being serious in the same breadth of like that,
Like I feel like that could have helped to be
why you know, it might not have been an end
all bial but I believe, I don't know, I firmly
believe having played sports, Jared talking to about that, as
we've watched, when a guy's on the field, you have
to game plan for that if you know what guy's
gonna play, and that just changes how a defense does
the same in basketball, right when when certain players out
double that guy, Okay, it's way easier that receivers out
double this guy.
Speaker 5: That's just not The Texas coach said, how you when
he was asked, how are you going to stop stop
aj We're not, but we're gonna stop it.
Speaker 2: He said, oh no, you just can't let him get
you in foul trouble and then it's over. But he's like, no,
we're not. We can't stop that guy, but everybody else
we could stop.
Speaker 8: What a great game plan. You know, Look a year
stopping this guy.
Speaker 5: You know, we if we can't stop Agent, but we
stopped the other four on the court, they can't win.
Speaker 8: It's true and and that's the truth. And that's kind
of what you know.
Speaker 2: You think about the injuries and maybe other things, but no,
all important things. But look, we're in a crazy day
and you know we talked about around about it in
the early days. I think something's coming down to Pope.
I don't know what, but I do agree you're one point.
I am a fan of this because this is how
I am. If you've agreed to something, especially written on
paper or contract, and you go leave. Look, I'll say this,
if another school wants you and they're willing to pay
the buyout like coaches, I got no issue with that.
That all should be written in, no problem. But if
you're just gonna up and leave and says no they
want to pay me more you signed, especially if you've
taken money for sure, even if you haven't. I still
frown upon.
Speaker 8: All of that.
Speaker 2: Like you agreed, and there's just no college athletics is
all transactional now, there's nothing transformation. And I think that's
why to your point, people like BYU and I think
it's a lot more attractive and becoming a lot more
because it's like, oh, it's not just yes, you're getting
your market rate, but it's more than just that, you're
building your future for the entire lifetime. You get to
be with people that you care about, that you love.
Like I caught up with traycon Borgae at practice yesterday
and Trayson said, I had opportunities to go and leave.
I could have done that, but it we'll put an
interview tomorrow, you know, on Wednesday. But he said, no,
like I wanted to be at BYU. It's bigger than
just you know, it's a football. It was just football exactly,
Like it's not just about money. You can't He's like,
that's gonna come and go. But if you just look
at it from that standpoint, He's like, I just don't
think that's the right way to go. And I think
what you hear from the players, not us, not you know,
not you the form player, not me the medium, when
they hear from the actual players playing in this day
and age, especially Trason, who's not a member of the church,
has no reason to bring this up. Hey, I want
to be here for this purpose. I think that's great.
I think that's what that's why I want to highlight
that stuff for that particular purpose. So I think that's
a very valid point.
Speaker 5: Well, and I think we're creating a culture that they
start to see that even after BYU, the relationships that
you've built here will continue on as the opportunities in business,
the opportunities down the line. Because you were an athlete
at BYU, that opens doors as well. And I think
that that's starting to play into a little bit more
of just you know, keeping people here and understanding that
there we do build a culture that has opportunities down
the line, and people people from b why you remember
who you are and want to give you the opportunity
to either grow your business or give you the opportunity
to run a business or to be employed by that man.
Speaker 8: And so there's a lot more opportunity.
Speaker 5: And I think that the mindset is a little more
open here at BYU than it is in some of
the other schools as well.
Speaker 2: Not wrong, and I think that's why Killine's thriving and
this culture is succeeding. For sure. I've heard from multiple people.
I will continue to ask the members of the football team,
but specifically those who aren't of the faith why they
are here because look, in the world of everything going on,
I'm serious, Evan Johnson, don't need to be here if
you don't want to, Dason boordg you don't need to
be here if they don't want to. And that's not
a shot, but that's just me pointing out and painting
the perspective and a picture of why guys want to
be here, and that it's bigger than just Okay, I'm
getting everything that I've worked hard for the return on investment.
It's bigger than just you know, setting my family up
financially for the future. It's I'm setting myself up for life, relationships,
good people, and you see that, and I love what
you know they're doing. And I hope that for all
programs across BA Athletics, not just one. I hope that
for the entire universe. And I think Shane reason, Keith
working all of those do a great job of leading
and guiding.
Speaker 8: Hopefully.
Speaker 5: I think we're the focus on recruiting the right kids,
is there too, Absolutely no, It's it's.
Speaker 8: Not just the best athletes.
Speaker 2: The right athlete who can be the athletes that.
Speaker 5: Are going to come in and are going to buy
into the program and are going to want to put
in the time and stay, yeah, and earn, earn their
opportunities to start.
Speaker 8: Well.
Speaker 2: When you hear from Kilanie, I mean you've heard from
Klannie a Rod Jay Hill when he was here. Uh
And what did they say? They said, if a kid
starts off a conversation with an il, that's that's not
how it goes. We don't talk about planning time or
we recruit, we don't talk about nil. That's not how
we pitch. And you see that, and you can see
that in the athletes. Look, football is not perfect, basketball
is not perfect, soccer, whateveryone looks. There's going to be
some bad apples here and that's a part of it.
That's life. There's gonna be those individuals and look, I
say this, I think those individuals will see what it's
about and not like it and they'll weed themselves out.
That's kind of how I look at it. They will say,
let me leave because I'm not doing AYZ. I don't
think it has nothing to do with the culture and
those I think it's those individuals that they don't like
the direction that it's head and they might have a
different agendas, I like to say, and that agenda just
doesn't line up. And that's okay. There are places where
your jenda does line up, but it's not going to
be here at b YU. Let's get into the springball
talk now. I want to ask you this. You're way
too early. Why receivers coming out of springball? We had
asked a Rod, because there's no transport window I think
for spring, so the depth chart. But I've heard a
handful of names of talk to Trason, he said, legend,
we know Kyler, Kasper JoJo's on the list. Tatani Kua
has been mentioned a bunch. But look, I like the
Pula kid. From your standpoint, who you're going with? Who
are the three or the four? You think if they
were if they were to release it too deep? Who's
coming out? I guess as though starting three out of
springball in a week or so.
Speaker 5: Well, I think I think that A Rod, I think
I was talking the other day and he said, you know,
we really don't run the two deep when it comes
to receivers because it's who can who who can play
and make play on this particular.
Speaker 2: Drive said, I'm just.
Speaker 8: The right guy to make this play.
Speaker 5: And I think there's like six guys in that receiver
room that have unique abilities that can make different plays
at different times. So it's gonna be really I mean,
you know, Taana Kub he's standing out to me, and
I think he's forcing the hand, you know, to get
some playing time.
Speaker 8: You know, JoJo's going to get a lot of catches
this year and get a lot of opportunity.
Speaker 5: Uh and and it just there's just a handful of
guys in there that.
Speaker 8: That are ready to go. And I think it's great.
Speaker 5: You know, usually it's three, three or four guys that
you know are the go to guys. I think we
have five or six guys that can compete and actually
get playing time every game, which which is cool as
a coach because you're situational, you have options like this
guy is great and third and long, we need a quick,
quick hitter, you know, a quick middle screen or something
we can use this guy, you know. So having that
handful of guys that you can use now, I do
think once the season starts, a few of these guys
are really going to stand out above the other ones.
But I do think that there's still gonna be a
good five or six guys that get a consistent amount
of playing time and really have opportunities to show. But
but there's always a few that stand out, you know,
that are gonna But right now I think there's there
those five or six I have a pretty even playing
field and all have that opportunity to be that one,
two or three stand out in the group. It just
who's gonna make plays, who's gonna get open and uh
and I think we'll be able to tell that going
into fall camp.
Speaker 8: I really don't think he's going to release a two D.
Speaker 2: No, they're not. You know they say that, but they're
not going to No.
Speaker 5: No, because there's you know, we've got three on the
field that most times there's three receivers. And then with
with these two excellent tight ends that we have coming
in and I'm telling you, man.
Speaker 2: Robert, Robert and I'll Walker, they've raved a bottom Klanni
and a rob Bolt.
Speaker 8: Media Visions.
Speaker 5: Well, yeah, so I and I spend some time talking
with Kevin Gilbrad the other day and I think I
mentioned it on Friday, But Kevin knows NFL talent.
Speaker 8: You know, He's spent around the NFL with his.
Speaker 5: Dad for his entire life and coaching the NFL and
when he one of the best things that he told
me about these two new tight ends is he said
they are coachable. You know, and a lot of times
when you get these high end guys that are big
transfers and big time guys, sometimes their attitude isn't as
coachable as maybe some of the guys that know that
they're trying to fight to get on the field and
being hearing from their position coach that these guys are
coachable and their athletes, and he said, we can have
two Carson Ryan's on the field at the same time.
Speaker 2: You know that's a privilege in college football.
Speaker 8: Yeah.
Speaker 5: So now you've got three wide receivers, two tight ends.
You know, there's so many options. And then you got
LJ in the backfield. You know, you've you've got sim
I think that whoever's putting out those Cauchy numbers for
for by you to not make the Big I think
there's six percent chance of winning the Big twelve.
Speaker 8: I need to find out where to place my bet because.
Speaker 2: I have endoor scambling on the airways and will get
me if I don't say.
Speaker 8: That it's a it's a monopoly.
Speaker 2: Money, monopoly money.
Speaker 8: Okay, yeah, But at any rate, there's the odds out
there that they're putting out there.
Speaker 5: I think are in our favor because I think this
team is gonna come out and really show that that
there's a reason everybody came back.
Speaker 2: Look they're gonna be in the Big twelve title, no doubt.
And look they're going to have a chance, and I'll
be there again. I think I will be too. We'll
see if I can get Ben out there. But no,
they they have the positions and needs. I think the
biggest thing you saw was depit tight end, no doubt
about it. I think also having depth, you know, at
the receiver position was something that was also a position
to me. Either are a couple of the things. Linebacker, you know,
guys are dinged up, uh, And you know the biggest
thing is running back. You know, you got to have
a bunch of guys to be able to run the ball.
When you see what Texas ticket. They have the tight
ends that can line up in the flag out and
catch passes. Then they also had running backs that could
run the ball. So b Yu I think has done
their due diligence with that. So we're gonna see what's
going to happen.
Speaker 9: And I think I think with these receivers too, is
that a lot of well not a lot, but well
they are they aren't all game game tested, right, so
they're susing well, they're performing, they're making plays.
Speaker 5: But man, we get in the game, that's where some
some of these guys are gonna separate themselves. But we
need these guys to be gamers, you know, to get
in the game.
Speaker 2: And just playmakers immediately, kind of.
Speaker 8: Like what I'm expecting myself next week in the in
the am game.
Speaker 2: Yeah, a gamer, That's what it is, cannect. Can I
can I expect a couple of touchdowns? What can I expect?
Speaker 5: No, No, you can't because I can't get hurt because
I'm going to Hawaii four days later.
Speaker 8: But yeah, I are low. I have a play in
mind that I'm going to pass on to coach Bosco.
Speaker 5: I think you need to run and h but but
I'll be happy with a catch or two.
Speaker 2: Uh.
Speaker 5: And you know, I'm just happy to be out there
and the opportunity to go and throw the ball around
and pretend like we're still super athletes for.
Speaker 2: Sure, Jared, Before I let you go, tell us about
Utah Protective Films of Utah Protective Films really quickly.
Speaker 5: Yeah, so we as as Ronnie was saying, we'd love
to have you come in. We are Our ceramic window
tent is phenomenal going into summer.
Speaker 8: The heat rejection is worth it, and they give us
a chance.
Speaker 5: During your business, make sure you mentioned that you heard
us here on ESPN, the Fan or Ben Krittle. You
can even mention Ronnie's name and all three men. Oh no,
a discount as well, Yeah, bet at fifteen percent off
if you let us know that you heard us on
the radio and we'd love to have you come in.
Speaker 2: Love to have you come into Utah Protective Films. Always
appreciate Jared you coming in and we'll let you go
and we'll catch up with you next week.
Speaker 8: Thanks, ron appreciate it.
Speaker 2: Of course, that was Jared Bletchel of Utah Protective Films.
You tap Protective Films dot com. I appreciate him stopping by. Yeah,
World of an Il is crazy. The re sign every
year crazy but yeah wide receivers. Who out of those
five guys will make a name six all can't get
planned time you heard Festi Sataki say it to me
at the golf tournament for the media last year. He
really sticks with three four guys that the max. So
will see if that gets extended. And like Herod said
to Meat Availability last week, if guys are make us
play you, that's what it is. Can people on this
roster make BYU coaches play them? I think you all
think you're gonna have a bunch of people guys. That's
our show, sticking to it. Download the podcast iTunes, Speaker,
google Play, iHeartRadio, Spotify, give us a rating and give
us a review. Appreciate Brett always bringing the hammer, showing
up and showing out. Jared Blefts to the former b
y U Y receiver j J he's a one O
three nine.
Speaker 6: That's ninety eight three Sports Center update.
Speaker 2: And then you got a women's