WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.080 --> 00:00:05.440 All right, what's going on Drive time on a Wednesday afternoon, 2 00:00:05.559 --> 00:00:10.919 about fourteen minutes past the hour, two o'clock. Chili Cold Gray. 3 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:14.279 It's called January on a Wednesday afternoon, But as is 4 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:16.039 every single day, it's good to have you along for 5 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:16.399 the ride. 6 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:17.920 Spence check. It's behind the mic. 7 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:21.559 That's Portal Arson behind the glass producing the program today 8 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:23.920 on a jam packed Wednesday show. We will get you 9 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.000 halfway through your work week. We will get you one 10 00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:29.120 day closer to the weekend. It's your one day closer 11 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:33.840 to football. The CFP semi final is tomorrow, and then 12 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:35.920 obviously throughout the course of the rest of the week. 13 00:00:36.039 --> 00:00:38.560 Second game will be on Friday, and then we launch 14 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:41.079 into the wild card weekend in. 15 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:43.920 The world of pro football, in the world of the NFL. 16 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:47.479 So we'll get to the latest college football storylines on 17 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:50.280 the show today to get you ready for what are hopefully, 18 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:53.960 least on paper, I believe will be good games. We've 19 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.799 seen some random blowouts, We've seen some games we thought 20 00:00:56.840 --> 00:01:00.200 would be blowouts actually end up being pretty close. But 21 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:03.039 this expanded twelve team CFP that we're all kind of 22 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:07.200 experiencing for the first time continues, and we'll see how 23 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:07.640 it plays out. 24 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:08.799 We'll get you ready for these games. 25 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:11.519 Notre Dame Penn State coming up in the Orange Bowl, 26 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.719 Ohio State Texas on Friday, and the Cotton Bowl. The 27 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:19.040 lines have been pretty steady, which is always interesting. Ohio 28 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:21.640 State remains a five point five point favorite. That over 29 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:25.760 under is a healthy fifty three point five not gonna lie. 30 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:27.120 That line feels small. 31 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:29.319 Not telling you what to do with your money, nor 32 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:32.680 would I ever outside of saying just don't bet on sports. 33 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:34.519 You work too hard for your money. Keep it in 34 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:37.319 your pocket, keep it in your bank account. It feels 35 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:39.680 like it's only that close because the game will be 36 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:43.040 in the great State of Texas. Of course, a little 37 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:45.599 bit of a home field advantage for the University of Texas, 38 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:47.599 but Ohio State kind of feels like the side there. 39 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:50.120 Notre Dame Penn State more of like a piccome as 40 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:52.719 the line would indicate one point five points is the 41 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:56.000 spread there. So one day closer to what should be 42 00:01:56.040 --> 00:01:58.519 some fun college football as we'll get a little football 43 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:01.000 back in our lives coming up tomorrow, and then the 44 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:04.120 NFL takes center stage on Saturday with the Chargers and 45 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:09.439 the Texans Steelers and the Ravens. Sunday's Tilt Broncos Bills, Packers, Eagles, Commanders, 46 00:02:09.479 --> 00:02:12.000 Bucks Monday night game will be the Vikings in the Rams. 47 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.240 Don't forget we are your home of the best and 48 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:18.199 biggest live football events in this market. We'll let you 49 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:19.960 know what the schedule is coming up throughout the course 50 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.120 of the week and over the weekend as well. It's 51 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:27.639 not too often that we get an NBA game in 52 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:32.120 early to mid January that elicits the excitement that Thunder 53 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:36.680 Calves seems to be generating today. Both these teams are 54 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:40.240 on pace for over seventy wins in the regular season. 55 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.599 Calves are thirty one and four, the Thunder thirty and five. 56 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:46.080 That game is at Rocket Mortgage field House in Cleveland. 57 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:48.479 The Caves are a slight favorite, but a lot of 58 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:51.400 people going to be watching this one tonight. Was looking 59 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:54.280 forward to Little Celtics Nuggets last night. But Yokic didn't 60 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:58.680 play the Utah Jazz. You know, in a way that's 61 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:02.080 like the perfect in my opinion. You know, I think 62 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:03.960 there are a lot of people that have a bunch 63 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.400 of different opinions on what the Jazz are doing right now. 64 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:09.120 If you can play a close game against a pretty 65 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:12.159 good team. The Hawks are good, not great, and end 66 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:13.439 up losing like that. 67 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:15.280 It's almost like best case scenario. 68 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:16.919 But I'll say this, the Jazz have been a lot 69 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:20.000 more competitive even in losses as of late, and you're 70 00:03:20.039 --> 00:03:24.319 starting to see some things that indicate Will really is 71 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:26.759 a very bright offensive coach and some of these players 72 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:28.680 are starting to pop it away that I think is 73 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:29.240 good news. 74 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:31.039 We'll talk some jazz basketball. 75 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:33.879 But Trey Young with a half court heave at the 76 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:36.240 buzzer to send Atlanta to a one to twenty four 77 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:37.360 to one to twenty one win. 78 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.560 Quinn Snyder in town texted him. 79 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:40.759 I told him I was a big fan of that 80 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:42.680 last play call, and he said it's better to be 81 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:44.520 lucky than good. But good to have Quinn back in 82 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:48.960 town and some jazz basketball on the show today. Utah 83 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:53.039 men hoops, Oh man, you know, it started off so well, 84 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:56.439 started off so well, and Gabe was making some shots 85 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:58.520 early and it was actually a pretty close game early 86 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:02.439 on last night in Ames, Iowa, a place where Iowa 87 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:04.960 State does not lose basketball games. That makes it twenty 88 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:08.319 seven straight games Iowa State has one at home, and 89 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:12.000 after that decent start for the Utes. It escalated very quickly, 90 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:14.919 eighty two to fifty nine. You're a final score there, 91 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:16.879 and the Utes are still looking for their first big 92 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:21.600 twelve win. Will it come at the Huntsman Center against 93 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:25.480 Oklahoma State coming up? So get to some Utah men's basketball. 94 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:28.399 The women are having an excellent year. They've got a 95 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:30.680 big game tonight against k State that's going to be 96 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:33.000 at seven o'clock. You can see it on ESPN Plus. 97 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.120 Of course you can hear it on this radio station, 98 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:37.120 so we'll get you ready for that game as well. 99 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:39.560 So a lot to do on the program today. 100 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:42.439 Of course, still a lot of football to talk about, 101 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:45.480 both college and pro. Lean into a little Utah Jazz 102 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:48.240 and NBA today. Some college hoops on the Utah men's 103 00:04:48.279 --> 00:04:51.000 and women's side BYU lost again last night at home 104 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:51.800 to Texas Tech. 105 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:54.639 They could not make a shot, could not hit the 106 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:55.439 broadside of the barn. 107 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:58.279 So a couple of losses last night for our local 108 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:01.240 college basketball teams. Good S lists on this Wednesday to 109 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:03.839 get you halfway through that work week and one day 110 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:06.000 closer to the weekend. We'll start things off with the 111 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:09.839 voice himself, Bill Riley, Voice of the Utes, Roules will 112 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:12.079 stop by Neil Smith behind the glass tack a little 113 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:16.199 Utah Hockey Club from NHL our guy Ck, Chris Comerannie 114 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:17.079 will be live. 115 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:19.839 In studio coming up at three point thirty, and. 116 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:22.600 Then Sarah Todd stops by as well, the Utah Sports 117 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:25.720 Writer of the Year for the second time. So we'll 118 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:29.360 bring in Sarah Todd today, Bill Riley, Neil Smith, Chris Comaradnie, 119 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:31.759 Sarah Todd, Me, Spence Checkings, all of you, the great listeners, 120 00:05:31.800 --> 00:05:35.319 and that guy Porter Larson on a Wednesday afternoon, Were 121 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:37.199 you watching in real time when Trey hit that half 122 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:37.720 court shot? 123 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:39.759 I was not, but I was. 124 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:43.319 This is the funny part about about covering sports and 125 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:45.720 having to keep up with him. I was like twelve 126 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:50.560 minutes behind, right, and I got the notification right as 127 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:53.160 he hit the shot, so it spoiled the ending. But 128 00:05:53.399 --> 00:05:55.920 that's uh, that's kind of par for the course. That 129 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:58.199 seems to happen to me a lot. Because when you're 130 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:00.319 trying to catch up and watch all of the games, 131 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:03.839 you gotta you gotta pause, you gotta gotta go in 132 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:07.439 and rewind record, and that's that was the case yesterday. 133 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:10.639 But I did did catch the majority of the second 134 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:13.560 half and man, a really fun game. And yeah, I 135 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:16.639 was in here producing the Utes game and watching that 136 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:21.199 kind of the result you want if you're a jasmin 137 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:21.680 right now. 138 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:24.879 If in my opinion, yes, I mean, people can think differently. 139 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:28.399 The Ute started out so well, man, there's so much promise. 140 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:30.680 Gabe was hitting some shots, they were guarding, getting some 141 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:33.800 offensive boards, and then boom, well you bottom fell off. 142 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:34.959 You heard what Sean Mooney. 143 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:37.240 Had to say on the show yesterday, which was if 144 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:40.160 you talk can shoot the lights out, which they're capable 145 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:41.879 of doing, they can stick in this game. That's what 146 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:44.639 happened early on. And then, like you and I talked 147 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:47.360 about Spence, I just thought, if they could keep it 148 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:50.160 around that spread, right, I think it was sixteen seventeen, 149 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:54.240 eighteen points or something last night, that's that would be 150 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:57.360 a positive result for Utah. Now, they lost by twenty three, 151 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:00.839 but the game was within that fifteen to twenty points 152 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:03.680 spread for the majority of it. And man Iowa State 153 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:06.600 when we get into February and March, keep an eye 154 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:10.000 on that team because they are really, really good. And 155 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:11.839 I think that even though Utah lost by twenty three, 156 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:14.120 it's the best they've looked so far in conference play, 157 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:17.279 think that, think of that which you will. 158 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:21.959 God bless you. Good job. What No, that's as positive 159 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:24.319 as you can make Last night, I can't do any better. 160 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:24.879 Is that better? 161 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:26.839 Is that not the best they've looked in conference play? 162 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:27.160 Well? 163 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:32.120 Sure, Utah basketball don't lose by seventeen our new mantra. 164 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:33.959 All right, we'll bring in Ryles right out of the 165 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.480 gates today before we get to Bill on a Wednesday. 166 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:40.279 Courtesy of our friends at Standard Restaurants Supply your tailgate 167 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:42.560 headquarters get everything you need to make your tailgate epics. 168 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:45.519 Stop by their location thirty five hundred Southwest Temple or 169 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:47.319 online at Standard restaurant dot com. 170 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:48.759 It's time now for your opening tip. 171 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:51.839 Welcome to the Drive with Spence Check. It's on Utah's 172 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:55.480 number one sports talk Now into the studio of ESPN 173 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:58.480 seven hundred to set the scene for the show. The 174 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:00.480 opening tip of the Drive is brought to you by 175 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:03.839 Standard Restaurant Supply, your one stop shop to build the 176 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:08.519 best tailgate in town. Standard Restaurant Supply thirty five hundred 177 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:09.560 Southwest Temple. 178 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.399 So I'll just say I was caught a little bit 179 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.680 off guard last night after the show when I was 180 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:20.000 sent a link to an article by Joe Coles of 181 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:22.480 the Deseret News. Shout out to Joe Coles forgetting the 182 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:25.759 exclusive with Mark Carlin. Mark Carlin decided to give his 183 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:29.720 exclusive to the Deseret News. And you know, so Mark 184 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:33.240 will be on the program tomorrow with Sean O'Connell. So 185 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:36.080 Sean's show in the midday, Mark's going to stop by 186 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:37.600 to chat with Sean. We tried to get Mark on 187 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:40.440 a couple of different times and it has not necessarily 188 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:42.799 come to fruition. Maybe at some point he'll hop back 189 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:46.080 on the show. But Joe sat down with Mark and 190 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:49.639 it's a two part conversation. Part one is out right 191 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:51.639 now if you want to go check out the Deseret 192 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:55.960 News portion. And Joe is on social media. Joe Coles 193 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:57.720 is on social media. You can get the link up 194 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:59.799 on his page. And they talked about a lot of 195 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:02.200 the things, and maybe throughout the show we'll sprinkle in 196 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.559 a couple of different elements. 197 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:05.519 Of this piece that Joe wrote. 198 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:09.960 But really a couple of months after Mark decided to 199 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:13.960 take the podium following the BYU Utah game and that game, 200 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:16.720 you know, when we look back on that game in 201 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:18.600 ten years, I do think it's going to be the 202 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:19.440 Mark Harland game. 203 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:21.679 And it wasn't just taking the podium. 204 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:24.559 Mark ran out on the field while the game was 205 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:27.000 still in action at the end and had some very 206 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:29.519 colorful things to say to the officials. At least that's 207 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:31.159 what it looked like from my vantage point. I was 208 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:33.440 down there on the sideline, and we know what he 209 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:35.559 said after the game. That does not be that does 210 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:37.720 not need to be rehashed. We've talked about it quite 211 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:40.240 a bit. Mark was publicly reprimanded by the Big Twelve. 212 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:43.679 They find him forty thousand dollars. But in his sit 213 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:46.360 down with Joe, he was a little bit more reflective, 214 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:49.159 and I think probably this was the approach he should 215 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:51.559 have taken right right after the the. 216 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:52.600 Incident went down. 217 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:54.720 But nonetheless, here we are, so here, here's a couple 218 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:56.120 of the highlights before we catch a break. 219 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:57.679 To bring in Bill quote. 220 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:59.799 I think, as we talked about last season, just like 221 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:02.120 I would say there are things that need to improve 222 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:03.799 as we head into the next year, and I would 223 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.000 say the same of myself. I think that night, obviously 224 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:09.759 I reacted emotionally and my frustrations were expressed in a 225 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:11.440 way that was not worthy of a true leader of 226 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:14.879 a program of this stature, and certainly, as any leader should, 227 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:18.320 you learn and you grow from the experiences. Reflecting, I 228 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.000 felt I could take away from their victory and the 229 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:22.759 hard earned victory of those student athletes and that program. 230 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:23.679 He said. 231 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:26.120 He reached out to Brett Yormark to apologize. 232 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:27.960 He said, he reached out to Tom Holmo and Colonie 233 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:31.639 said TAKEI to apologize. He continues, quote bringing the Big 234 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.159 Twelve and diminishing our participation of the Big Twelve was, 235 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:37.840 in my view, inappropriate. As my statement said immediately after 236 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:40.320 the game, I don't want at all anyone to think 237 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:42.919 that Utah's participation of the Big Twelve isn't something that 238 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:46.480 we're proud of and frankly were honored to be competing. So, 239 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:48.799 as I said, you learn and you grow, as I 240 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:51.399 asked our student athletes and staff to do in these situations, 241 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:53.240 I was not a great example of that, but certainly 242 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:55.480 I feel I have learned from it and look forward 243 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:58.879 to continuing this great rivalry the right way. He goes 244 00:10:58.919 --> 00:11:02.840 on to talk about Kyle Whittingham coming back to the program. 245 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.639 He actually goes on to talk about a number of 246 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:10.320 different things that are worth your time, including nil endeavors 247 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:13.759 and what should be perceived as good news as far 248 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:16.360 as fundraising for the University of Utah saying they've been 249 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:19.679 able to double their output to pay student athletes. You know, 250 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:21.840 we are high speed ahead to that reality coming up 251 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.120 this year of the twenty point five million dollar I 252 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:26.840 guess I'll call it a soft cap that each school 253 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:29.320 will be allowed to play, you know, pay their players, 254 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:31.600 and we'll see how each school goes about this because 255 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.879 there are still so many things that need to be 256 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:39.120 put in place, guardrails, rules, quite frankly, stipulations as far 257 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.799 as what you can and cannot do. But the main 258 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:45.080 piece I thought was really feeling like he has been 259 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:49.240 more retrospective about this situation where he took the podium 260 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:52.159 after the BYU game and those comments made national news 261 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:55.120 really really quickly. So it's worth your time. We'll talk 262 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:57.120 about it throughout the course of the show with some guests, 263 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:59.960 but Mark Carlin sitting down with Joe Coles the Desert 264 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:01.879 News and March's going to be in studio coming up 265 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:07.000 tomorrow with Sean one day away from the college football 266 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:10.080 playoff semi final, and do some college football on the 267 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:13.120 show today. Then it's signed for the wild card weekend 268 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:14.120 in pro football. 269 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:16.559 But let's welcome in our first guest on a. 270 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:20.279 Wednesday batting leadoff because of his blazing speed, he can 271 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:23.480 lay a bunt down and get to first. The voice himself, 272 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:27.159 Bill Riley on a Wednesday afternoon. Rile's happy Wednesday, Sir. 273 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:29.159 How are we doing, Spence? 274 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:33.679 I'm good And just so you know, as I listened 275 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:38.519 in to the end of the Drive yesterday, I respect 276 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:43.759 the sanctity of the Sportscaster and Broadcaster of the Year award, 277 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:47.320 So I was very happy for Craig Bowler Jack because 278 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:52.399 it's very important as a former winner myself to respect 279 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:55.759 the sanctity of the Sports Broadcaster of the aarward. 280 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:58.559 See, I'm very grateful to that's your attitude, because I 281 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:00.879 have my questions written down and right out of the gates. 282 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:03.440 I was gonna ask you about the beef because now 283 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:07.600 you've got company. You got so here's what we could do. Okay, 284 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:11.000 you could be a little upset that now next to 285 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.879 you is Craig who has also won this award three times. 286 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:16.679 Or do we get robes and treat it like the 287 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.320 Five timers? Club at SNL where you and Craig can 288 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:21.639 just wear robes and brag about your awards. 289 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:26.000 We were gonna get brandy, sniffs and cigars to go 290 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:29.000 with the robes and just kind of sit back and 291 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:30.200 enjoy ourselves. 292 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:30.639 See. 293 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:31.639 I think that's the play. 294 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:34.120 I think we could create like a YouTube series, the 295 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:36.320 Three Timers Club, which is you and Bowler. 296 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:39.440 But I'm relieved. 297 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:41.159 That there's not anger. I was just afraid there was 298 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:43.919 gonna be a beef, you know, no beef. 299 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:47.480 No beef again, much like Hot or Not Wednesday, since 300 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:51.200 it is a Wednesday and peace. Indeed, I respect and 301 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:55.279 preserve the sanctity of the sports broadcaster of the award. 302 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:57.679 Thank goodness. That's such a relief, and it is an 303 00:13:57.720 --> 00:14:00.559 appropriate day. And if the kids don't know what how 304 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:02.519 or Not Wednesday is, it's probably good. So we can 305 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:05.559 just move on from it, all right, Bill Man. It 306 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:09.399 started off last night and it looked okay. You know, 307 00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:12.360 Utah basketball. Gabe was able to get loose a couple 308 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:15.399 of times, Early made a couple of shots. Sharav Jams 309 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:18.360 hit that opening three, and they were getting offensive boards, 310 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:21.519 they were getting stops, and then the bottom just completely 311 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:24.480 fell off so give me your thoughts and look, Iowa 312 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:27.360 State is awesome. They might be a Final four team. 313 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:30.840 That's their twenty seventh straight home win. That's the fourth 314 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:33.639 longest streak in the country, I believe, so nobody wins there. 315 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:37.320 But what happened after that strong start that allowed Iowa 316 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:39.720 State to just run away from Utah last night. 317 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:44.159 Too many turnover spence. They ended up I think first 318 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:47.840 half twelve eighteen for the game. And the thing about 319 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:50.919 a team like Iowa State, especially when you've got great guards, 320 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:54.240 is you know, they punish you when you turn it over. 321 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:58.320 They turned those eighteen turnovers into twenty five points and 322 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:01.799 to twelve in the first half. Eighteen points. You just 323 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.759 the game plan was sound. They played hard in those 324 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:08.480 first few minutes. But you can't coach against turnovers. And 325 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:11.320 when a team can punish you by going to you 326 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.480 know what do they call it? Turnovers equal touchdowns? That's 327 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:17.519 that's what it was. Those two guards just got out, 328 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:20.960 applied the pressure, and they made them pay on the 329 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:23.240 other end. I honestly, and I know the final score 330 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:25.279 doesn't show it. I'm not trying to shine a light 331 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:27.919 where there shouldn't be light, but I thought of the 332 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:30.759 three Big Twelve games they played. I thought their effort 333 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:33.799 from start to finish was good. I thought there were 334 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:36.360 some bright spots, Gabe finally getting going again he had 335 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:39.080 been in single digits since the Eastern Washington game, and 336 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:42.559 some of that stuff. But again, when you're playing in 337 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:45.159 the Big Twelve and you're playing teams like Iowa State 338 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:48.799 and Baylor and Texas Tech and Kansas, and you know, 339 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:51.879 you just you got to be strong with the basketball. 340 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:55.639 You cannot have live ball turnovers because those teams turn 341 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:57.279 live ball turnovers into points. 342 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:01.279 And in a way, Bill this team lacks what I 343 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:04.279 think Craig's team has lacked for the most part. There 344 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:08.399 have been some exceptions here or there, but there just 345 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:12.840 continues to be no ball in hand playmaking initiator who 346 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:15.879 can get his own or get it for his teammates. Now, 347 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:20.159 that's not a mandate, right, So like, for instance, Will 348 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:22.519 Hardy and the Utah Jazz, they play a free flowing 349 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:25.519 San Antonio Spur type system because they don't have a Shay, 350 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:28.399 they don't have a Luca, they don't have a Jalen Bronson. 351 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:31.679 So everybody shares the ball and everybody eats, and ironically 352 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:34.440 enough where Utah ranks well in conference play is both 353 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:37.799 assist per game and assist of turnover ratio. So you know, 354 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:40.399 they share the ball, they play as a team. But 355 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:44.080 I think in college basketball specifically, you just have to 356 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:47.559 have one of those initiators. Iowa State has like three. 357 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:52.080 Are are there any candidates that you've seen that maybe 358 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.360 can grow into that role. 359 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:58.320 I think the hope is Miro Little can become that guy. 360 00:16:58.679 --> 00:17:02.960 Obviously a highly to guy, four star kid. He just 361 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.400 didn't play very much at Baylor last year. He had 362 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:08.079 a lot of veteran guards in front of him. Plays 363 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:13.079 internationally point guard for Finland. You know, he's growing into that, 364 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:15.200 and I think the hope is because he's a pretty 365 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:18.000 sturdy kid at the point that he can grow into it. 366 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:21.200 He's not there yet, he's not, but I think the 367 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:23.880 hope is with a little bit more seasoning that maybe 368 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.920 Miro Little can be that guy. When you talked it 369 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:28.200 their best and you saw it a little bit last night, 370 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:30.000 and you hadn't seen it in the last couple of games. 371 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:32.079 As you were saying, they share the ball, but they 372 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:34.119 move it, they move it, they move it, and they 373 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:36.559 did that a few times last night and Gabe actually 374 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.279 had some open looks, which he hasn't had in recent 375 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:42.200 weeks because what teams are doing is they're blitzing him. 376 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:44.279 They're just running two guys at him. Every time he 377 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:45.960 gets it. He's at the top of the scatting import 378 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:47.839 they're saying, this guy's not gonna be this You talked 379 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:50.680 did a pretty good job early against Iowa State moving 380 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:53.559 the ball, making that extra pass. But to your point, 381 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:55.920 and you're right about it, they need to find that 382 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:58.480 ball and hand guy, and I think they hope that 383 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.559 Miro Little might become that guy as this season wears on. 384 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:07.119 Man, I'm just looking at the Big Twelve standings. 385 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:08.200 I'm looking at the schedule. 386 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:12.079 Oklahoma State's going to be here in Sault Lake, and 387 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:14.839 you know, I'm not going to be overly dramatic to 388 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:16.920 wonder whether or not they're going to win a Big 389 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:20.359 Twelve conference game because it's college basketball. Game will get 390 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:22.240 hot one night, you know, the other team will show 391 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:25.319 up and not necessarily be into it. Oklahoma State might 392 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:28.000 be a good shot for them to get a win 393 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:29.920 coming up here in Saul Lake. So give me your 394 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:33.119 thoughts before we move on from this on what we 395 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.640 all should hope to see as Oklahoma State rolls into 396 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.119 Salt Lake. 397 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:39.880 Well, I think you hope to see the fight and 398 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:43.200 the effort that you saw last night. You're right. Oklahoma 399 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:45.279 State hadn't won a game in Big Twelve play till 400 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:48.319 last night, and they beat Kansas State, I think, by 401 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:52.720 fifteen in Stillwater. And Kansas State's not been quite the 402 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:55.200 team we thought, but that's a fifteen point win, any 403 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:57.160 kind of win in the Big Twelve in conference play, 404 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:59.759 you beat somebody by fifteen, that's a good win. So 405 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:02.839 what you're gonna have to see is the kind of 406 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:05.400 effort they showed for most of the game last night 407 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:09.960 against Iowa State, minus the turnovers. And you're right, nobody 408 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:12.200 goes undefeated in the Big Twelve. There's gonna be nights 409 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:16.960 where you get hot. But Utah's margin for error isn't 410 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:19.759 as big as an Iowa State or at Texas Tech 411 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:23.000 or at Kansas Tech. Arizona's coming on right now, and 412 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:25.640 they've got a lot of talent. Utah has to play 413 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:29.559 again because they don't have superstars. They've got to play well, 414 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:33.759 collectively together and play hard, and they're gonna have to 415 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:35.440 do that Saturday against Oklahoma. 416 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:38.519 State actually had one more question because on the broadcast 417 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:41.200 last night, you know, we used to have this saying 418 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:44.920 for Quinn it was February Quinn. When the camera would 419 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:47.079 catch Quinn Snyder, he looked like he hadn't slept for 420 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:50.720 like five weeks, looked like he's not eating any like 421 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:53.720 real food, and it just got a little loose for 422 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:57.839 our guy. And typically I don't see that on Craig's face, 423 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:01.480 but I did last night. Under the eyes are big. 424 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:06.440 You can tell he's wearing this, you know, on his shoulder. 425 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:08.839 You can tell, you know, this is affecting him. You 426 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.559 can just see it on his face in a way 427 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:12.319 that I'm not sure that I've seen it on Craig's face. 428 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:12.480 Now. 429 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:15.119 Look, as you know, he is a prince of a man. 430 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:17.960 He's the best guy, and he's one wherever he's been. 431 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:20.240 It's not like he forgot how to coach. I just 432 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:22.839 don't think they have the horses night in and night out. 433 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:25.039 And hopefully that can change. But you do the Coaches 434 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:27.400 Show with him, you travel with the team. How do 435 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:29.359 you think this is wearing on their head? Coach? 436 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:30.599 How do you think Craig's holding up? 437 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:31.519 Well? 438 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:33.640 He has joked about it on the Coaches Show and 439 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:36.680 even with me on some pre games. Yeah, he is. 440 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:40.000 He is a guy that wears it because he is 441 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:44.240 so driven to win. And he said, you know, I've 442 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:47.480 spent a lot of late nights watching tape, breaking down tape. 443 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:49.920 And it's not just that, it's you know, when your 444 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:52.799 team's not doing what you want them to do, you 445 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:55.559 start being introspective. Craig talks about this all the time. 446 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:58.599 It's one of two things. Are they not getting it 447 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:01.000 or are we not teaching it right way? Do we 448 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:03.640 need to simplify things a little bit more for these 449 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:05.799 for these guys? And I think Craig's kind of looking 450 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:09.400 at all these different aspects saying, Okay, we know what 451 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:11.880 we need to do, but are we conveying it the 452 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:14.000 right way? And I think in addition to you know, 453 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:17.559 hours of tape breakdown the Coaches do, I think that 454 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:19.640 he and his staff are trying to figure out the 455 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.920 best way to get that message through to teach what 456 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:24.759 they're trying to teach to his guys too. 457 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:26.960 Let me just follow up and ask you how it 458 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:30.079 seems to be affecting these young men, these players you know, who, 459 00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:32.079 of course, are trying to put in the work to 460 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:34.039 get better. But as you travel with the team, do 461 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:38.119 they feel like they're connected, motivated, in good headspace or 462 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.640 is it do you think it's getting to them as well? 463 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:45.079 Well, I think losing probably frustrates anybody. But I'll say this, 464 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:48.079 this is a really good bunch of kids and really 465 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:52.039 well connected. And I've not seen any you know, in 466 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:55.680 fighting or anything like that. They are still a group 467 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:58.200 that likes each other a lot. You're not seeing anybody, 468 00:21:58.279 --> 00:22:00.480 you know, pout at the end of the bench or 469 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:03.519 walk off or be by themselves. It's a good group. 470 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:06.440 So I think if you're a coach, you're like, Okay, 471 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:09.039 you know, these guys are connected, they like each other, 472 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:11.279 they're playing together. Now let's figure out how we can 473 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.960 get them into the best position possible. 474 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:15.680 All right, let's do a little college football before I 475 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:17.640 set you loose for a Wednesday and before we land 476 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:21.839 on Utah, specifically on Monday morning. I just sat down. 477 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:23.359 I thought this would be a fun little thing to 478 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:25.440 do for the show, and I'm like, all right, just 479 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:27.599 do the best you can to try to see where 480 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:31.680 you're at for Big twelve football next year. Just like I. 481 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:33.279 Don't know, Man, I have no clue. 482 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:36.599 I keep talking about I keep using this line where 483 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:40.440 I've kind of leaned into diagnosing instead of prognosticating. Because 484 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:44.519 college football is this new, like living organism that we're 485 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:47.519 all witnessing for the first time, with a new playoff format, 486 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:51.319 new rules to add talents, the ability to pay players 487 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:54.319 and unlimited transfers and all those things. But if I 488 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:57.079 asked you in January, like where's your head at as 489 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:59.119 far as how the Big Twelve will look in the fall, 490 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.680 like what's you're in, it's sure reaction. 491 00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:05.319 I have no idea because Arizona State was picked dead 492 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:08.359 last and they finished first this year. I mean, there's 493 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:11.279 reasons why Utah struggled this year. It's namely injuries at 494 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:15.960 the quarterback spot. But this league's it's a good league, Spence, 495 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:18.880 there's not I know, as bad as badly as people 496 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:22.359 want the Big Twelve to have a powerhouse, they don't 497 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:25.440 have anybody that's on par with Notre Dame or Texas 498 00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:29.920 or Ohio State. But the league overall, it's good. And 499 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:32.519 I don't have a clue, right, I think we almost 500 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:35.599 have to wait until spring football because there's gonna be 501 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:39.079 another portal window to try and figure out what rosters 502 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:41.799 look like. But here's what I will say. I think 503 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:45.200 there's probably I thought last year there were five teams 504 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.519 that might have a chance to win the league. Maybe 505 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:49.680 we expand that to seven or eight next year that 506 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:52.079 might have a chance to win the league based on 507 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:56.000 the competitive nature of what we saw this year. But 508 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:59.039 to be fair, I don't have a feel. I just 509 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:02.680 know the league is is competitive. But for me to 510 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:06.079 sit here today and say, noh, yeah, Arizona State's going 511 00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:09.720 to be the favorite next year, well it's January eighth. 512 00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:13.359 What's their roster going to look like August eighth, that's 513 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:16.960 seven or eight months away. Guys could leave programs today 514 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:20.000 that are seemingly happy. So I don't know. But what 515 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:22.960 I do know is I think the league zuber competitive. 516 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:25.960 It was such an exercise and futility. I'm like, dude, 517 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:28.960 move on to something else, like focus on there's no 518 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:31.480 content here for the show. Move on to something else. 519 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:33.480 But I will ask you this. So I was thinking 520 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:36.319 about this tough the prism of K State because K 521 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:39.920 State and Utah are kind of built in a similar way. 522 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:42.640 They're a recruit and develop program. 523 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:45.160 Both of them are and Most of the success for 524 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:47.440 k State in the past and Utah in the past 525 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:50.920 has been from second year, third year, fourth year. You know, 526 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:52.680 guys that have been in the program for a long 527 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:56.720 time and understand what they're asked to do. As Kyle says, 528 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:00.119 are you physically capable of doing what we're asked in 529 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.559 you to do? 530 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:03.240 And do you mentally understand the task? 531 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:07.920 Is it still possible to be successful in college football 532 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:11.480 with that mode of operation, with that being your ethos, 533 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:14.279 recruit and develop and then rely on your players that 534 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:16.519 have been there two, three, four years, like both case 535 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.839 State and Utah have in the past. 536 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:21.400 I think you can to a point spence, but I 537 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:23.839 don't think that that can be the only thing you 538 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:26.559 rely on anymore. I think that's got to be part. 539 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:29.720 I don't think that there's a one way. This is 540 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:31.960 how we do it, this is how we've always done it. 541 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:35.240 I think you have to have multiple paths to that. Yes, 542 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:38.519 I still think you have to recruit. It's eighty five guys. 543 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:42.240 You can't roll your roster every year. You've got to 544 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:45.640 develop some guys in your program. But you've also got 545 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:48.480 to be wide open to the portal and the transfers. 546 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:52.319 And identify those right guys that can come into your program, 547 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:54.599 knowing that you're going to lose some guys from your 548 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:56.839 program that you don't expect to and you're going to 549 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:59.359 bring some guys in as well. But to say that 550 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:02.400 we're going to recruit and we're going to develop, and 551 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:04.599 that's how we're going to do it, that can't be 552 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:07.200 the only way anymore. It could be part of the way. 553 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:09.759 It's got to be that way, but it can't be 554 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:11.400 the only way. The way it was, and I think 555 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:14.519 Kyle Whittingham said as much in some of his postseason comments. 556 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:17.400 You know, he said, you know, we can't expect to 557 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:21.000 have guys in our program for three or four years anymore. Yeah, 558 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:23.359 you'll have some that are but a lot of guys 559 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:25.640 might just be here for a year or two. And 560 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:28.200 so we've got to develop an offense that guys can 561 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:32.079 assimilate quickly into. And you've got to identify the right 562 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:34.079 guys in the portal to fit with what you want 563 00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:36.319 to do, and then you you know, and then you 564 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:38.000 mix those in with the guys that have been in 565 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:40.079 your program already. I think I don't know that you 566 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.960 can have all new guys. I think you have to 567 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:44.319 have a base of guys that have been there because 568 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:46.640 they're the guys that know the culture of the program. 569 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:50.240 But I think what you were saying is that being 570 00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:52.640 the only Monstra I think that has to be part 571 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:54.319 of the plan. It can't be the only plan. 572 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:57.519 And it does change the way that you have to coach. 573 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:01.160 I mean there's more urgency now right like when you 574 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:03.519 get your hands on these kids, when you're able to 575 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:06.480 get them on campus, when you're able to hold workouts, 576 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:08.480 when you're able to start to show them what you do. 577 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:12.319 You cannot rely on the knowledge they're absorbing now to 578 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:14.160 pay off in two or three years, like as soon 579 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.200 as they're on the ground. 580 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:19.960 It's like go. And it's always urgent. But for you know. 581 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:24.079 For coach with and Utah football to continue, and it 582 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:26.440 would to continue what is still the golden era. 583 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:28.319 We're two years removed from Rose Bowls. 584 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:30.720 To get the team two years ago to eight wins 585 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:32.880 wasnts I mean last year sucked, we all know that. 586 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:36.880 But for Kyle and Morgan and that staff to continue 587 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:39.519 what I perceived to be the golden era of college football, 588 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:42.960 the urgency to try to acclimate right away when the 589 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:45.119 kids get on the ground, it's like heightened. You know, 590 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.799 that's got to be a tough task to try to 591 00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:49.160 get these Now, the good news is, I guess everybody 592 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.839 else is doing it as well. But how would you 593 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:54.839 articulate how the process has to be expedited with this 594 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:57.240 new reality of maybe only having players for a year 595 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.400 or two at the most. 596 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.720 Yeah, I think it goes back to what I was 597 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:02.880 saying a minute ago. I think you have to simplify 598 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:06.519 your philosophy just a little bit. So guys that are 599 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:10.000 coming in that have played football other places, you know, 600 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:14.319 again it's you're still speaking the same football language. It's 601 00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:17.160 just kind of different dialects. So I think you have 602 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:19.720 to simplify it down a little bit to what they 603 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:23.359 are and who they are. But you know, you have 604 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:26.640 to find the right football players for you that fit 605 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:28.400 you and you think are going to be able to 606 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:31.279 You're not going to overhaul completely who you are, but 607 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:33.519 maybe you just have to tweak that a little bit. 608 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:35.480 And to the point you were just making a second ago, 609 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:39.400 I know that Utah fans were disappointed by this year, 610 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:41.799 and you know, the standard is high. It's the first 611 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:45.200 losing season in eleven years. But it is just one 612 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:49.680 losing season, and we all know average quarterback play would 613 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:51.279 have had you right there in the mix for a 614 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:56.160 big twelfth title game, you know, appearance. So I don't 615 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:59.680 think the sky has fallen. I don't think Kyle Whittingham 616 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:02.839 and more scally and those guys up there have forgotten 617 00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:05.720 how to coach football. I think they, like everybody else, 618 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:08.440 are adapting in a new era. But I also think 619 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:11.519 that a healthy quarterback and a good offensive system this 620 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:13.559 year as you right back in the mix again. 621 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:16.680 And you know, to the point of continuity, I suppose 622 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:19.240 if that's kind of the deal. When it comes to 623 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:22.640 familiarity right out of the gates, it can only be 624 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:25.839 good news that Devin Dampier played last year for Jason, right. 625 00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:28.920 I mean, it would probably be different if Jason wasn't 626 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:32.559 bringing his quarterback with him. But because Devin is familiar 627 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:35.079 with what he's being asked to do, that continuity is 628 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.880 not something you have to build from the ground up. 629 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:38.200 I guess that's one way to look at it. 630 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:43.200 Yeah. Absolutely, And your most important position on the field 631 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:46.680 is in lockstep with your offensive coordinator. You've also brought 632 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:49.680 a couple of other new Mexico players to the program 633 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.960 as well, and that's not going to hurt. You bring 634 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:55.319 a wide receiver to the program that now can help 635 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:57.319 the wide receiver room. You bring a running back to 636 00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:59.599 the program that can now help the running back room. 637 00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:02.640 So I I think all of that certainly helps. On 638 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:05.559 the defensive side of the football. You don't have to 639 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:08.920 worry about that because Scally and that defense and the 640 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:12.960 majority of those guys are back, and so I think, 641 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:15.680 but you're absolutely right. The assimilation of the offense certainly 642 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:18.519 helps when the quarterback and a couple of new pieces 643 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:20.400 know that offense inside. Now. 644 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:23.319 So it's been a few weeks since we've been able 645 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:25.000 to catch up with you, and since we last spoke, 646 00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:27.960 Keanutanavasa has decided to head down and play for Kilane 647 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:31.359 and head down to Provo. And you know, he took 648 00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:33.359 some heat and you understand why. I mean, he took 649 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:36.160 to social media to kind of chastise players who claimed 650 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:38.480 they were all in and then left. Like Cameron Calhoun, 651 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:42.119 I always I continue to give a little PSA every 652 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:44.160 day on the show. You always have the option to 653 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:47.279 not tweet. You always have the option to you know, 654 00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:49.079 maybe even type it out put it in the draft. 655 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:52.200 You don't have to send it. And that's players, that's parents, 656 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:55.319 that's fans, that's all of us. So this has been 657 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:58.039 a hot button topic over the past couple of weeks. 658 00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:00.559 And look, in a way, Keanu should take some of 659 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:05.839 the pushback as a compliment because he's awesome. It's hard 660 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:08.279 to lose a good player to your rival. But how 661 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:10.680 have you digested this and what do you think the 662 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:13.599 loss means for about BYU and Utah. 663 00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:17.240 Well, here's the thing. I've always said that kids need 664 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:20.079 to go where they're happy and where they're going to thrive. 665 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:22.960 You know, we don't tell a kid that's a that's 666 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:26.599 an engineering major that he can't leave. These kids are 667 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:30.079 football majors. Let's just say that right now. Counta Tatabasa. 668 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:32.240 He is a guy that's going to play on Sundays. 669 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:34.480 He's a professional football player. He's going to be that 670 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:36.960 at some point in time. And if he's going to 671 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:40.440 be happier someplace else, more power to him. I think 672 00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:43.920 fans just have to get used to that's the era 673 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:48.039 we live in now. You know, it's not what it 674 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:51.400 was five or ten years ago, and it's not going 675 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:53.559 to be the norm, but there are going to be 676 00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:57.839 some outliers like this. But Utah football was not going 677 00:31:57.880 --> 00:32:01.839 to rise and fall on a defensive It just simply wasn't. 678 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:05.160 He's a very good football player, and go play where 679 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:08.279 you're happy. Utah will be able to find a replacement 680 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:11.400 for him. But I just think we have to reconfigure 681 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:13.599 our minds just a little bit to what this new 682 00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:19.279 reality is, Spence, And this new reality is guys aren't 683 00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:21.200 going to stay. A lot of guys, not all, but 684 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.680 a lot of guys aren't going to stay in the 685 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:25.960 same place for three or four years anymore. And even 686 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:28.880 if they seem happy in one spot, people have different 687 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:32.920 reasons for wanting to go. Whether it's financial, whether it's emotional, 688 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:36.480 whether it's religious, whatever it might happen to be, people 689 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.200 are going to go for those reasons. And if the 690 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:40.240 rules are there that allows it to happen, we just 691 00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:41.759 have to get used to the fact that it's going 692 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:42.200 to happen. 693 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:45.799 Yeah no, well said, well said, real quick. One more 694 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:50.079 football thing. Now, Look, as you reference, there's another transfer 695 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:52.599 portal window that opens up in the spring. But it 696 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:55.759 feels like for now this is the group right feels 697 00:32:55.799 --> 00:32:59.680 like for now it's twenty five incoming freshmen, sixteen transfers, 698 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:02.640 forty one new players. So is that your understanding, like, 699 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:05.000 for right now, this is the group we're kind of expecting. 700 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:07.200 Maybe for springball, Yeah. 701 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:10.960 That would be my guess. There might be maybe an 702 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:13.599 addition here and there, but I think most for most, 703 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:16.680 for the most part, where Utah is right now and 704 00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:18.920 where most of these teams are right now is pretty 705 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:21.200 much what you what your spring window is going to 706 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:24.960 look like. Now. The post spring portal has generally always 707 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:28.920 been guys that went through spring football and then figured 708 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:30.880 out where they were on the depth chart and they 709 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:32.640 didn't get a lot of playing time in the spring, 710 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:35.160 so they wanted to go someplace where they felt like 711 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:37.519 they could play in the fall. I'm not sure what 712 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:39.880 the portal is going to look like in the spring anymore. 713 00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:41.839 Is this just going to be a new round of 714 00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:45.559 guys deciding, hey, I'm on the market, come for me now. 715 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:47.960 Or is it going to be guys that are, you know, 716 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:50.400 looking for more playing time that maybe they didn't get 717 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:52.920 in spring football. That's that's going to be the interesting 718 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:54.680 thing I keep an eye on on the portal later 719 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.920 this spring, all. 720 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:58.200 Right before I say you lose. I want to circle 721 00:33:58.240 --> 00:34:00.640 back to a topic that we've discussed. You and I 722 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:03.599 have discussed it, and everybody has discussed it for years. 723 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:08.039 But every time basketball season rolls around, we talk about 724 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:11.360 and debate and try to maybe find solutions, be solutions 725 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:14.360 orientated as to why that building is empty and has 726 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:17.079 been for look a long time, if we're being real, 727 00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:20.719 there has not been consistent attendance outside of a year 728 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:23.800 or two spike since probably the late nineties when I 729 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:25.719 was in school up there and Rick was the coach. Now, 730 00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:27.599 I'd never want to be the guy that's like, hey, 731 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:28.760 can we get it back to what it was like 732 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:32.119 when Majeris was here. That's unfair. And Bill, this really 733 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:35.679 is a chicken or the egg conversation, because the fact 734 00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:38.719 of the matter is, if you are a Utah fan 735 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:41.199 that cares about the basketball program, the best thing you 736 00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:44.920 can do is to pack that building. Because kids who 737 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:47.199 Craig are trying to recruit, they want to play in 738 00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:50.920 front of fans. Now, they want money, they want opportunities 739 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:52.440 to go professional. 740 00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:54.079 It's not the only thing they want. 741 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:56.920 But if Kyle has a recruit in town for a 742 00:34:57.000 --> 00:35:00.239 Saturday night game at Riceycle Stadium. He can just point 743 00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:02.559 up to the stands and say, look, do you want 744 00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:05.440 to play in front of this? Now, on the other side, 745 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:07.760 if I'm a Utah basketball fan, I'm saying, give me 746 00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:10.840 something to cheer for consistently. So I'm not blaming anybody 747 00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:14.119 one way or the other. But what's the Bill Riley take, Like, 748 00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:16.280 how do we fix this thing to get people back 749 00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:19.480 in that building and therefore maybe give Craig a better 750 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:21.400 chance to recruit better players. 751 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:26.679 Well, I think it's you know, some sustained success probably 752 00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:29.480 brings more people back to the games. I know there's 753 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:31.039 a lot I talk to a lot of people and 754 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:33.800 they're like, yeah, I like Utah basketball, but I want 755 00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:35.840 to see them win a little bit more. And I said, 756 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:37.639 you know, like you said, it's kind of a chicken 757 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:41.039 in the egg. Well maybe if you show up, you 758 00:35:41.079 --> 00:35:43.679 know that that helps the winning, That creates a little 759 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:47.320 bit more of an atmosphere. I don't have an answer. 760 00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:52.440 I just know where teams win, generally fans come. And 761 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:55.679 I think just a little bit more success on the floor. Well, 762 00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:58.559 I mean you've seen it with women's basketball, what Lynn 763 00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:02.960 Roberts built. Nowvian Peterson is continuing on. I mean, I 764 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:05.800 remember days where they'd be lucky to have a fifteen 765 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:08.840 hundred people in a women's basketball game. Now they're drawing 766 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:13.079 five thousand plus routinely six thousand fans. Well, the product 767 00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:16.039 is good, they're winning. They play an exciting brand of basketball. 768 00:36:16.360 --> 00:36:18.599 I think a little bit more success would certainly bring 769 00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.440 more people out. 770 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:21.519 Chiefs win the Super Bowl. And if not, who keeps 771 00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.920 you up at night? Who you're most scared of? 772 00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:32.280 Probably the Bills. They they're just Josh Allen and hey, 773 00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:35.400 Lamar is fantastic. The funny thing is the Chiefs have 774 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:38.119 beaten both Josh Allen and Lamar in the playoffs in 775 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:42.639 recent years. But I think one of those teams are 776 00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:45.480 probably going to knock each other off. But there's something 777 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:48.880 about Allen when he just seems he seems to put 778 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:53.519 that tape on and go nuclear. They make me probably 779 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:57.239 most nervous. However, the games are at Arrowheads, so I 780 00:36:57.280 --> 00:37:00.079 feel pretty good about it. Maybe somebody in the NFE. 781 00:37:00.360 --> 00:37:03.000 I think maybe the Lions might be that team too, 782 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:06.000 but I don't know about you, Spens. I don't completely 783 00:37:06.039 --> 00:37:08.400 trust Jared Goff yet. Now, maybe if they win the 784 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:10.480 NFC and get to the super Bowl. That changes my mind. 785 00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:14.320 But I still don't completely trust Goth. What about you? 786 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:16.760 Yeah, I just think with fifteen hunderd Center, you're gonna win. 787 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:18.719 I just think you're gonna figure it out. And yeah 788 00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:23.599 that look, there's there's something about Jared Goth that still 789 00:37:23.800 --> 00:37:26.239 gives you the you know, just just makes you a 790 00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:27.920 little bit nervous about what it's going to look like 791 00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:30.280 in the biggest of moments because he's never been able 792 00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:33.360 to break through. But that that offense right now, you know, 793 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:36.880 it seems incredibly potent with a bunch of different dudes 794 00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:38.920 who can beat you in Detroit. That's why Ben Johnson 795 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:41.239 is such a hot commodity. But I just I think 796 00:37:41.239 --> 00:37:42.840 your boys have it again. Man, I think you're gonna 797 00:37:42.840 --> 00:37:43.880 be celebrating three straight. 798 00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:47.119 I hope. So, uh do you want Rex Ryan back? 799 00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:50.960 As the head goes, No, absolutely not, of course not. 800 00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:51.840 No. 801 00:37:51.960 --> 00:37:55.719 Mike hire Mike for Abel, hire a coach. That makes sense, 802 00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:57.079 And you got to break it down. You got to 803 00:37:57.119 --> 00:38:00.760 get like, go take some ayahuasca, talk to a caterpillar, 804 00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:03.760 enjoy your remaining years. Aaron like, you have to move 805 00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:06.039 on from the entire mess. But no, I do not 806 00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:07.599 want Rex Ryan back in charge. 807 00:38:08.320 --> 00:38:09.719 Is there a candidate you love? 808 00:38:10.039 --> 00:38:10.400 Rabel? 809 00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:12.639 I want Mike Grabel. It makes it makes sense. But 810 00:38:12.880 --> 00:38:14.119 he might go to the Pats. 811 00:38:15.159 --> 00:38:17.079 If I were I don't know where i'd want to 812 00:38:17.079 --> 00:38:19.000 go if I were Vrabel. I mean, the Pats are 813 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:22.760 certainly there. There's been the buffer coach with Grod Mayos. 814 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:26.480 You're not following Belichick directly, but yeah, they also have 815 00:38:26.559 --> 00:38:29.000 a quarterback, and the Jets are a little little wonky 816 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:33.199 at quarterback right now. So I'd probably lean toward the Pats, 817 00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:34.239 but I'm not sure. 818 00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:38.320 Yeah, we'll see. Well. Enjoy uh once again cheering for 819 00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:39.960 the team that's probably gonna win the Super Bowl. 820 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:41.480 It's good to be a chief sand Bill. Thanks for 821 00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:42.000 the time, buddy. 822 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:45.199 Okay, Uh, Bowler and I we've you know, we would 823 00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:48.199 be glad to wear the robes, the snifters and the 824 00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:49.760 cigars and come in studio together. 825 00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:52.760 Wait a second, porter, did you hear that I got 826 00:38:52.840 --> 00:38:58.679 that recorded? Okay, Bill Bowler robes, sifters, whiskey, three times 827 00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:00.519 Sports of the Year, the Three Timers Club rows. 828 00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:01.440 We're gonna make this happen. 829 00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:03.440 Thanks Ben, all. 830 00:39:03.400 --> 00:39:05.760 Right, voice of the You, It's Bill Riley. One hour down, 831 00:39:05.800 --> 00:39:08.440 three hours to go. We've got Neil Smith coming up, 832 00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:12.599 Chris Camroanian Studio, and another trophy holder, Sarah Todd. Utah 833 00:39:12.599 --> 00:39:14.760 Sports Ride of the Year. Busy show on a Wednesday, 834 00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:18.599 don't go anywhere. Utah Hockey Club is about to start 835 00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:23.159 a seven game home stands. So a bunch of home 836 00:39:23.199 --> 00:39:25.360 games now for the hockey club, who as of late 837 00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:28.519 they have not been playing well at all, but coming 838 00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:30.440 up tonight, one of the best teams in all of 839 00:39:30.519 --> 00:39:34.239 pro hockey, Florida, is in town. According to the current 840 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:37.400 odds for Florida Panthers are that they have the second 841 00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:40.119 shortest odds to win the Stanley Cup. Only the Edmonton 842 00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:44.760 Oilers have shorter odds than both Carolina and Florida, who 843 00:39:44.760 --> 00:39:47.320 are at plus eight eight hundred. So let's bring in 844 00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:49.599 our guy, Neil Smith to talk a little puck little 845 00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.480 hockey on Wednesday. 846 00:39:50.519 --> 00:39:51.760 Neil, Happy Wednesday, sir, how. 847 00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:52.000 Are we doing? 848 00:39:52.880 --> 00:39:55.840 Happy Wednesday? I'm good. I missed you last week. I 849 00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:57.840 was stuck with a little bit of COVID there and 850 00:39:58.599 --> 00:40:00.920 miss Christmas and miss Star time together. 851 00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:03.519 Well you miss Christmas? How do you miss? Like Christmas 852 00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:05.679 still happened? Neil, you just couldn't be a part of it. 853 00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:06.440 Is that what you're saying. 854 00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:08.480 I just couldn't be a part of it. I didn't 855 00:40:08.480 --> 00:40:09.840 want Santa getting COVID. 856 00:40:10.039 --> 00:40:11.679 Oh do you know what you are? A prince of 857 00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:13.719 a man, because if Santa got COVID at your house, 858 00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:14.800 he cannot deliver gifts. 859 00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:16.679 So I appreciate you being selfless that way. 860 00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:19.280 And that's what I was thinking about when I when 861 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:22.039 I said to Santa, had put out a sign don't 862 00:40:22.039 --> 00:40:22.480 come here. 863 00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:24.760 I love I love it, I love it, sir, Thanks 864 00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:27.480 for the time. So let me start with the Florida Panthers, 865 00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:30.519 as I just reference, only the Edmonton Oilers have shorter 866 00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:33.159 odds in Vegas to win the Stanley Cup. What do 867 00:40:33.199 --> 00:40:34.840 we know about this team who's in Salt Lake to 868 00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:36.199 play the hockey Club tonight. 869 00:40:37.239 --> 00:40:39.199 Well, what you should know about them currently is it, 870 00:40:39.719 --> 00:40:42.760 believe it or not. As good as they are, they're 871 00:40:42.760 --> 00:40:45.679 in a gold drought. They can't score goals. They're having 872 00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:49.119 real trouble scoring goals, which I know sounds ridiculous for 873 00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:53.800 that team, but it's true. They've had real problems in 874 00:40:53.840 --> 00:40:57.639 their last couple of games. Said their goaltending has been 875 00:40:57.960 --> 00:41:00.360 has been pretty good. But Bobrovski, who you're going to 876 00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:03.119 see tonight, he's got you know, he's the guy that 877 00:41:03.480 --> 00:41:05.400 back stopped him to the Stanley Cup, and you're going 878 00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:06.880 to get him right there in Salt Lake City for 879 00:41:06.920 --> 00:41:09.800 the first for the first time ever that the Florida 880 00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:14.159 Panthers ever play in Salt Lake City, Utah. So you 881 00:41:14.280 --> 00:41:16.599 see a good goal kinner. But at the chance for 882 00:41:16.719 --> 00:41:20.719 the hockey club will be if the Milka naturally has 883 00:41:20.760 --> 00:41:22.800 to come through for them and then they can get 884 00:41:23.159 --> 00:41:28.280 some goal support and hopefully the guns are dry still 885 00:41:28.280 --> 00:41:29.679 for the Florida Panthers tonight. 886 00:41:30.360 --> 00:41:33.320 So the recent form for the hockey club has not 887 00:41:33.480 --> 00:41:36.159 been good, and this Neil has been a theme of 888 00:41:36.199 --> 00:41:39.719 the season. After a red hot starts, they got all 889 00:41:39.760 --> 00:41:42.559 of our expectations probably out of whack. It simply has 890 00:41:42.599 --> 00:41:46.440 been up and down, up and down. From mid December 891 00:41:46.519 --> 00:41:50.079 to nearly Christmas. They had a streak where they won 892 00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:53.320 six of seven, and over the past seven games they 893 00:41:53.480 --> 00:41:57.960 lost six of seven, two of those overtime losses. So 894 00:41:58.199 --> 00:42:00.559 what gives as of late is this the nature of 895 00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:02.159 a young team? Do you think this is what we're 896 00:42:02.159 --> 00:42:03.679 going to see all year long. 897 00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:09.280 I think you're going to see mountains and valleys all year. 898 00:42:09.320 --> 00:42:11.800 But remember that they played really well against Dallas and 899 00:42:11.880 --> 00:42:13.840 Dallas as a contender for the Cup as well, and 900 00:42:14.400 --> 00:42:17.559 it took over time to beat Utah in Dallas, so 901 00:42:18.360 --> 00:42:20.400 I thought they were playing really well. And usually what 902 00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:25.239 happens in a losing streak is that you play really 903 00:42:25.320 --> 00:42:28.159 well in the last couple of games before you break 904 00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:30.480 out of it, and that's what I'm hoping. Because they 905 00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:33.079 did play well in Dallas, they did play well in Calgary. 906 00:42:33.679 --> 00:42:36.320 They've got as you mentioned before, they got a seven 907 00:42:36.360 --> 00:42:39.280 game homestand here's the problem with the home stand. They've 908 00:42:39.280 --> 00:42:43.280 only won five games of their sixteen that they've played 909 00:42:43.320 --> 00:42:46.719 in Salt Lake, they've only won five in regulation. So 910 00:42:46.960 --> 00:42:49.079 they got to get more comfortable and get better on 911 00:42:49.119 --> 00:42:53.039 their home ice. You know, for example, if you when 912 00:42:53.039 --> 00:42:55.239 you talk about the team that they're going to play tonight, 913 00:42:55.280 --> 00:43:01.159 the Florida Panthers, they're twelve and eight at home, and 914 00:43:01.599 --> 00:43:04.880 you go to Utah and as I said, they're five, 915 00:43:05.079 --> 00:43:07.800 seven and four at home, and that's not good enough. 916 00:43:07.840 --> 00:43:09.920 You've got to take advantage of your home lice. 917 00:43:10.679 --> 00:43:13.880 Now, having said that, there's still only four points behind 918 00:43:13.880 --> 00:43:17.840 the Vancouver Canucks. As far as the wildcard race, you know, 919 00:43:17.880 --> 00:43:20.599 the Avalanche would be the first wildcard team with fifty one. 920 00:43:20.719 --> 00:43:24.920 Vancouver has forty five points, and it's Calgary. It's the Blues, 921 00:43:24.960 --> 00:43:27.559 only one point a head of the hockey club, and 922 00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:29.719 the hockey club's at forty one points, so they're not 923 00:43:29.920 --> 00:43:33.679 far out. Neil, I mean, in coach Tourney to your point, 924 00:43:33.840 --> 00:43:37.760 often talks about even during these roughs patches that he 925 00:43:38.079 --> 00:43:40.519 likes the way they're playing. Sometimes you can do the 926 00:43:40.599 --> 00:43:43.480 right things and the results just don't go your way. 927 00:43:43.559 --> 00:43:45.840 So even though they've lost six of seven with a 928 00:43:45.880 --> 00:43:48.920 couple of overtime losses in there, they're still right where 929 00:43:48.920 --> 00:43:50.960 you said that they would be this point in January, 930 00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:52.280 knocking on the wildcard door. 931 00:43:53.239 --> 00:43:56.360 Yeah, and they've got three games in hand on a 932 00:43:56.400 --> 00:43:58.800 couple of teams they've only played thirty nine. They've got 933 00:43:58.840 --> 00:44:00.679 three games in hand on the same Lewis. So when 934 00:44:00.679 --> 00:44:02.599 you see s Lewis is one point ahead, well they're 935 00:44:02.639 --> 00:44:05.360 really not, because if the games were even, you'd have 936 00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:08.360 to give Utah at least four points out of those 937 00:44:09.679 --> 00:44:11.880 the points that would be available in those games that 938 00:44:11.880 --> 00:44:15.760 would be you know, three games would be six available 939 00:44:15.840 --> 00:44:18.960 points max and then and you'd have to think they 940 00:44:19.039 --> 00:44:21.719 get let's say three. So they got three. They're now 941 00:44:21.800 --> 00:44:27.039 at forty four. They're one point behind Vancouver, but Vancouver's 942 00:44:27.039 --> 00:44:29.599 played less games as well. So what it's going to 943 00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:31.320 take is it's going to put They got to put 944 00:44:31.360 --> 00:44:35.440 some games together, wins together. They're plus minus isn't bad. 945 00:44:35.480 --> 00:44:38.360 They're only a minus five, which is of the teams 946 00:44:38.400 --> 00:44:42.760 that are a minus in the in the conference. Uh, 947 00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:45.079 you know they have the least. They're just a minus five. 948 00:44:45.119 --> 00:44:47.559 You can get over that, and they can they can 949 00:44:47.599 --> 00:44:49.639 turn this run. But they got to put some wins together. 950 00:44:49.679 --> 00:44:51.760 And my thing is, Fence, is that they got to 951 00:44:51.800 --> 00:44:54.159 do it in Salt Lake City, where they're home, where 952 00:44:54.159 --> 00:44:56.599 they're comfortable, where they have their fans. They got to 953 00:44:56.679 --> 00:44:59.639 put some wins together at home during these seven games 954 00:44:59.679 --> 00:45:02.159 right now is when they need to jump on this. 955 00:45:02.239 --> 00:45:07.679 And hopefully the Dallas game is an inspiration to these 956 00:45:07.719 --> 00:45:08.760 games coming up. Now. 957 00:45:09.360 --> 00:45:12.320 You know, it's interesting with this home record as you reference, 958 00:45:12.480 --> 00:45:16.039 you know right now five seven and four, and you know, 959 00:45:16.360 --> 00:45:18.320 I don't know if there's anything here, Neil, but I 960 00:45:18.360 --> 00:45:23.960 wonder and look home ice advantage in the NHL oftentimes 961 00:45:24.079 --> 00:45:27.679 is not as prevalent as home court advantage in pro basketball. 962 00:45:27.760 --> 00:45:30.960 I mean, for whatever reason, teams can go on the 963 00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:33.559 road in the NHL and certainly Stanley Cup playoffs and 964 00:45:33.559 --> 00:45:36.840 get wins, and that's not a rare thing. But I 965 00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:40.039 wonder if the Utah Hockey Club's lack of home success 966 00:45:40.760 --> 00:45:42.960 has anything to do with this has been their home 967 00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:44.079 for a matter of months. 968 00:45:44.400 --> 00:45:47.119 Does that make sense? Like this is not a spot. 969 00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:49.440 Where these players have lived for years and years and years, 970 00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:51.280 and maybe that's one of the reasons they don't seem 971 00:45:51.320 --> 00:45:53.159 to be as comfortable at home. I don't know, I'm 972 00:45:53.159 --> 00:45:54.440 just thinking out loud, what do you think about? 973 00:45:54.519 --> 00:45:54.960 You know what? 974 00:45:56.199 --> 00:45:58.400 We can't read into the psychology of it. I don't 975 00:45:58.440 --> 00:46:00.639 know either, But I do know that when they were 976 00:46:00.679 --> 00:46:03.400 playing in that little bandbox in Arizona and in Phoenix, 977 00:46:03.480 --> 00:46:06.880 in that Mullet Arena, which was a college arena, they 978 00:46:06.880 --> 00:46:09.280 had a great home record. Teams would come in there 979 00:46:09.679 --> 00:46:11.760 and you know, they weren't used to it, they weren't 980 00:46:11.840 --> 00:46:13.719 used to playing in a college rink, and they would 981 00:46:13.760 --> 00:46:16.239 throw them off, I guess, but Arizona had a great 982 00:46:16.239 --> 00:46:17.920 home record now you turn around and they're in a 983 00:46:17.960 --> 00:46:20.920 beautiful building in Salt Lake City and they can't get 984 00:46:20.960 --> 00:46:23.440 it going at home, and they will, they will get 985 00:46:23.440 --> 00:46:28.119 it going at home. But you know, it's they just 986 00:46:28.159 --> 00:46:30.239 got it. They just got to get used to the 987 00:46:30.280 --> 00:46:32.880 fact that they're there now and that their fans are there, 988 00:46:32.880 --> 00:46:36.079 and that they got to be more confident at home 989 00:46:36.119 --> 00:46:39.320 and not be worried sometimes, Spence, don't you think that teams, 990 00:46:39.639 --> 00:46:42.159 when they're performing in front of their own fans squeeze 991 00:46:42.159 --> 00:46:44.119 a stick a little bit harder because they want so 992 00:46:44.239 --> 00:46:46.679 badly to do well in front of their fans. But 993 00:46:46.760 --> 00:46:48.920 when you're on the road, you sort of, you know, 994 00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:51.280 you're a little bit more at ease because everybody in 995 00:46:51.280 --> 00:46:53.639 the building wants you to lose. So what the heck, 996 00:46:53.880 --> 00:46:57.079 you know, I'm I'm going to play this as hard 997 00:46:57.119 --> 00:46:59.559 as they can. I just think this can happen, and 998 00:46:59.679 --> 00:47:03.639 especial with a younger team. So let's hope tonight when 999 00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:07.079 the Panthers come in, who are not been scoring goals, 1000 00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:12.000 they can get a couple by Bobrovski and Florida can't 1001 00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:13.719 get any by the Milica. 1002 00:47:14.280 --> 00:47:17.960 On the other side, Neil, they have twelve road wins, 1003 00:47:18.039 --> 00:47:23.039 which is good for fourth in the conference. Only Minnesota, Winnipeg, 1004 00:47:23.280 --> 00:47:26.840 and Colorado have more road wins than the Utackey Club. 1005 00:47:26.880 --> 00:47:28.719 They have more road wins in Vegas, they have more 1006 00:47:28.800 --> 00:47:30.800 road wins in Edmonton, Vancouver. 1007 00:47:30.920 --> 00:47:31.679 I could keep going. 1008 00:47:32.079 --> 00:47:34.360 What does that say to you that this young team 1009 00:47:34.480 --> 00:47:36.800 seems to be able to go away from home and 1010 00:47:36.840 --> 00:47:38.199 get good results. 1011 00:47:38.559 --> 00:47:44.400 Well, what it says to me, in my intuition, is 1012 00:47:44.440 --> 00:47:47.239 that they're a group that's very close together, and they're 1013 00:47:47.280 --> 00:47:50.360 bond well together because when you're on the road. I 1014 00:47:50.360 --> 00:47:54.039 can't emphasize this enough. There's twenty five or thirty in 1015 00:47:54.079 --> 00:47:57.199 your traveling party, whatever it is. There's twenty players and whatever, 1016 00:47:57.239 --> 00:48:00.559 trainers and coaches and all that stuff. The only ones 1017 00:48:00.599 --> 00:48:03.000 in those building, in that building on the road that want. 1018 00:48:02.880 --> 00:48:04.519 You to win, just you guys. 1019 00:48:05.199 --> 00:48:08.760 The rest of the eighteen thousand all want you to lose. 1020 00:48:09.039 --> 00:48:11.599 So there's sort of a thing there. It's us against 1021 00:48:11.639 --> 00:48:13.679 the world, and sometimes when you're on the road you 1022 00:48:13.719 --> 00:48:16.000 can use that, and if you like each other, it's 1023 00:48:16.039 --> 00:48:20.440 even better. And it seems to me that you can't 1024 00:48:20.519 --> 00:48:23.320 do well on the road if you're not a team 1025 00:48:23.400 --> 00:48:26.559 that's close. I just don't see how it's possible. And so, 1026 00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:30.320 you know what, they'll figure this home thing out and 1027 00:48:31.119 --> 00:48:34.159 get it going at home and continue doing whatever they're 1028 00:48:34.159 --> 00:48:35.880 doing on the road that's made them so good. 1029 00:48:36.440 --> 00:48:39.159 You know. I was, as we referenced earlier, I was 1030 00:48:39.159 --> 00:48:41.119 looking at the Vegas Ods as far as who they 1031 00:48:41.239 --> 00:48:44.480 like to win the Stanley cub Utah Hockey Club plus 1032 00:48:44.599 --> 00:48:45.880 seven five hundred. 1033 00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:48.239 Nobody thinks the hockey club is winning the Stanley Cup. 1034 00:48:48.440 --> 00:48:52.079 But right in front of the Utah Hockey Club is 1035 00:48:52.119 --> 00:48:56.280 the New York Rangers at plus five thousand. What's going 1036 00:48:56.320 --> 00:48:58.719 on back there, Neil, what's going on with my Rangers? 1037 00:48:59.320 --> 00:48:59.960 Well, it's create. 1038 00:49:01.039 --> 00:49:03.360 You know, the team imploded. We talked a little bit 1039 00:49:03.360 --> 00:49:05.519 about this two weeks ago, and since you and I 1040 00:49:05.559 --> 00:49:08.800 have talked, it's it's not gotten any better. They played 1041 00:49:09.599 --> 00:49:12.880 Dallas last night in Madison Square. Garden got a three 1042 00:49:12.960 --> 00:49:17.960 nothing lead on them early in the game. Dallas scored 1043 00:49:17.960 --> 00:49:19.760 it near the end of the first period to make 1044 00:49:19.800 --> 00:49:22.519 it three to one Rangers going into the locker room. 1045 00:49:23.039 --> 00:49:26.239 The game ended on an overtime goal by Dallas to 1046 00:49:26.280 --> 00:49:29.280 win four to three. So or five to four, sorry, 1047 00:49:29.800 --> 00:49:31.760 five to four. So the Rangers had a lead of 1048 00:49:32.119 --> 00:49:35.239 three nothing, three to one, and then four to three, 1049 00:49:35.320 --> 00:49:38.840 and couldn't hold any of those leads. So Chris Cryder's 1050 00:49:38.880 --> 00:49:45.719 out on on ir injured reserve, and the captain's gone, 1051 00:49:45.840 --> 00:49:48.880 troupe is gone. They're just they're in They're in a mess. 1052 00:49:49.119 --> 00:49:50.760 They're a mess. I don't think they're going to make 1053 00:49:50.760 --> 00:49:54.719 the playoffs. And I would never have said that, you know, 1054 00:49:54.800 --> 00:49:58.280 a month or two ago, but they have just spun 1055 00:49:58.320 --> 00:49:59.119 out of control. 1056 00:50:00.159 --> 00:50:03.000 What and you know, I'm putting you on the spot here, 1057 00:50:03.119 --> 00:50:06.719 but we're gonna expand our imagination in the New year deal. 1058 00:50:07.079 --> 00:50:10.480 We're going to get really weird. And I know there's 1059 00:50:10.719 --> 00:50:13.719 like the Carolina Hurricanes, I think in the early two thousands, 1060 00:50:14.400 --> 00:50:16.360 you know, the Mighty Ducks, who are no longer than 1061 00:50:16.440 --> 00:50:19.679 Mighty Ducks. I know there have been long shots that 1062 00:50:19.719 --> 00:50:22.320 have won the Stanley Cup. I don't know that that's 1063 00:50:22.360 --> 00:50:24.880 ever been there's ever been a plus seven thousand, five 1064 00:50:25.039 --> 00:50:27.679 hundred team to win the Stanley Cup. But when you 1065 00:50:27.679 --> 00:50:31.400 look at where the Utah Hockey Club are, despite their 1066 00:50:31.440 --> 00:50:34.159 recent run of play, despite the fact they're not even 1067 00:50:34.400 --> 00:50:38.000 in the playoffs right now, they're really mid table. I mean, 1068 00:50:38.039 --> 00:50:41.239 they're not near the bottom where Anaheim is and San 1069 00:50:41.320 --> 00:50:46.400 Jose and Chicago and Columbus. So is there an example 1070 00:50:46.559 --> 00:50:48.639 off the top of your head of like the biggest 1071 00:50:48.679 --> 00:50:52.280 Cinderella run to a Stanley Cup in the history of 1072 00:50:52.320 --> 00:50:55.440 the NHL, And are we allowed to expand our horizons 1073 00:50:55.440 --> 00:50:57.920 to believe that could be us year one? 1074 00:51:00.159 --> 00:51:03.559 Know, if you should really be smoking whatever that would 1075 00:51:03.639 --> 00:51:05.320 be that would make you think you could win the 1076 00:51:05.360 --> 00:51:09.880 Stanley Cup. But I will tell you that the biggest 1077 00:51:10.119 --> 00:51:15.519 long shot win had every series. They were the road 1078 00:51:15.559 --> 00:51:19.159 team on every series, meaning that the other club played 1079 00:51:19.159 --> 00:51:22.000 four at home and only three in this team I'm 1080 00:51:22.000 --> 00:51:24.159 going to say's building was the La Kings when they 1081 00:51:24.159 --> 00:51:28.320 won their first Stanley Cup. They were an eighth seed 1082 00:51:28.880 --> 00:51:31.679 in the West and ended up winning the Cup, and 1083 00:51:31.960 --> 00:51:35.599 that was mind boggling to me. You never see that happen. 1084 00:51:36.840 --> 00:51:39.599 But that's the one I can say truly was a 1085 00:51:39.639 --> 00:51:41.039 Cinderella team. 1086 00:51:41.440 --> 00:51:44.199 So what you're saying is, maybe don't put money down 1087 00:51:44.280 --> 00:51:46.280 on the Utah Hockey Club to hoist the cup this. 1088 00:51:46.280 --> 00:51:48.039 Year, not this year. 1089 00:51:48.079 --> 00:51:49.679 If you want to put money on them to hoist 1090 00:51:49.719 --> 00:51:52.239 the cup, just wait at least till the summertime. 1091 00:51:52.480 --> 00:51:55.719 Okay, fair enough. Let me fill up with this because 1092 00:51:55.760 --> 00:51:59.559 according to the Vegas ods, they're essentially saying there are 1093 00:51:59.599 --> 00:52:03.880 three teams that have a legitimate chance. And look, I'm 1094 00:52:03.920 --> 00:52:07.119 just talking about the odds because crazy things that could happen. 1095 00:52:07.159 --> 00:52:10.239 As you said, eight seeds going on to win. But Edmonton, 1096 00:52:10.360 --> 00:52:13.760 Carolina and Florida are the only teams that have short 1097 00:52:13.960 --> 00:52:16.360 I'll call them short odds in Vegas. Everybody else has 1098 00:52:16.400 --> 00:52:20.760 at least plus one thousand, including Dallas, New Jersey, Toronto, Colorado. 1099 00:52:20.960 --> 00:52:21.760 I could keep going. 1100 00:52:22.119 --> 00:52:25.039 Do you believe that the Stanley Cup winner will come 1101 00:52:25.079 --> 00:52:28.000 from that group of three Edmonton, Carolina or Florida. 1102 00:52:31.199 --> 00:52:35.639 You know, Vegas likes they love Edmonton. I don't know 1103 00:52:35.840 --> 00:52:39.159 why when I mean, I know they went to Game seven, 1104 00:52:39.599 --> 00:52:42.639 but they've never really to me, shown that they've got 1105 00:52:42.679 --> 00:52:45.800 that Stanley Cup pedigree. They've got two of the best 1106 00:52:45.880 --> 00:52:50.400 players in the league, for sure, but I think and Carolina, 1107 00:52:50.519 --> 00:52:53.000 I don't know that they have the goaltending to win. 1108 00:52:53.159 --> 00:52:56.400 They you know, they're going to have a goaltender to 1109 00:52:56.920 --> 00:53:00.519 prove that he can win, has to do it. In 1110 00:53:00.559 --> 00:53:03.480 other words, you never like Bobrovski. Nobody ever thought that 1111 00:53:03.559 --> 00:53:06.119 he would win and now that he's won the Stanley Cup, 1112 00:53:06.119 --> 00:53:09.599 you know he's capable of it. Darcy Kemper, who won 1113 00:53:09.679 --> 00:53:12.079 it for Colorado a few years ago, now you know 1114 00:53:12.119 --> 00:53:17.639 he's capable of it. I think that Florida and Edmonton 1115 00:53:17.679 --> 00:53:22.599 are probably the favorites. But I you know, Colorado is 1116 00:53:22.639 --> 00:53:26.480 really good if they get their goaltending straightened around. Dallas 1117 00:53:26.559 --> 00:53:30.440 is really good and so and you know, the Devils 1118 00:53:30.440 --> 00:53:34.280 are surprising in the East. I don't think they're there yet, 1119 00:53:35.079 --> 00:53:40.079 but I think my thing right now, if and I 1120 00:53:40.119 --> 00:53:43.360 hope nobody takes my advice, I would call it between 1121 00:53:43.440 --> 00:53:45.559 again Edmonton and the Panthers. 1122 00:53:45.960 --> 00:53:49.320 Why does in Vegas like Winnipeg who just won't slow down. 1123 00:53:49.360 --> 00:53:53.000 They're plus sixteen hundred, I mean, they're smoking everybody, and 1124 00:53:53.039 --> 00:53:54.639 I ask you about them every week, but they're not 1125 00:53:54.679 --> 00:53:57.440 even close as far as the betting outs go to 1126 00:53:57.519 --> 00:54:00.679 even making the Stanley Cup or hoisting the thing. 1127 00:54:00.719 --> 00:54:01.760 Why do you think that is? 1128 00:54:02.920 --> 00:54:05.920 I don't know unless the guys in Vegas don't have 1129 00:54:05.960 --> 00:54:08.519 a clue where Winnipeg even is on the map, you know, 1130 00:54:08.639 --> 00:54:13.800 I mean, it's it's probably antithesis of Las Vegas is Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1131 00:54:13.840 --> 00:54:16.880 where my mother was born and raised one of the 1132 00:54:16.880 --> 00:54:21.519 coldest places on earth. But you know that Winnipeg's even 1133 00:54:21.559 --> 00:54:25.800 behind Toronto, and Toronto has not had the year that 1134 00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:30.280 Winnipeg is having and enjoying. They and Winnipeg has Connor 1135 00:54:30.320 --> 00:54:32.760 Hellibuck who won the Visita last year, and I will 1136 00:54:32.800 --> 00:54:35.400 tell you is in my mind is the odds on 1137 00:54:35.480 --> 00:54:39.119 favorite to win it again this year. So I can't 1138 00:54:39.159 --> 00:54:41.320 answer that why they're not, why they're not there? I 1139 00:54:41.360 --> 00:54:44.880 think that you know what, why is Edmonton there and 1140 00:54:44.960 --> 00:54:48.039 this team not? I don't know unless everybody's just in 1141 00:54:48.079 --> 00:54:50.440 love with Connor McDavid and Leon dry Sidle of the 1142 00:54:50.440 --> 00:54:54.559 Oilers and and they're not in love with the guys 1143 00:54:54.599 --> 00:54:55.199 on Winnipeg. 1144 00:54:55.719 --> 00:54:58.119 So we already saw Chicago move on from their coach, 1145 00:54:58.280 --> 00:54:59.079 Luke Richardson. 1146 00:54:59.360 --> 00:54:59.639 Is there? 1147 00:55:00.000 --> 00:55:02.199 I think, are there any other coaches out there you 1148 00:55:02.199 --> 00:55:05.440 think are in danger based off of a poor I 1149 00:55:05.440 --> 00:55:11.199 guess I'll say halfway home almost start to the season, Well. 1150 00:55:11.159 --> 00:55:13.400 I thought Derek Lalan was in trouble for a long 1151 00:55:13.400 --> 00:55:16.039 time in Detroit, and then he did get let go 1152 00:55:16.159 --> 00:55:21.360 and and they brought in Tom McClellan to coach the 1153 00:55:21.400 --> 00:55:24.400 Red Wings, and so then they have actually gone on 1154 00:55:24.480 --> 00:55:27.119 to win, gone on to a winning streak right now. 1155 00:55:28.440 --> 00:55:32.079 Who knows why, but Derek Lalande was gone to I 1156 00:55:32.119 --> 00:55:37.039 don't know if in the other situations we saw three 1157 00:55:37.039 --> 00:55:41.719 coaches fired so far, Drew Banister of course, Jim Montcomery four. 1158 00:55:41.920 --> 00:55:47.199 I think Jim Montgomery in Boston, as I said, Derek 1159 00:55:47.320 --> 00:55:51.239 Lalande in Detroit. And was there one other you just 1160 00:55:51.679 --> 00:55:52.679 mentioned or is that it? 1161 00:55:52.920 --> 00:55:53.000 No? 1162 00:55:53.199 --> 00:55:55.119 I was just asking you because I honestly don't know. 1163 00:55:55.199 --> 00:55:57.440 I'll just kind of that time of year, I. 1164 00:55:57.480 --> 00:56:01.440 Think those three have been, those three are have changed, 1165 00:56:01.440 --> 00:56:04.559 and I don't think any others will. I hope none do. 1166 00:56:04.679 --> 00:56:09.360 I hate firings. I just hate them, but we'll see. 1167 00:56:09.400 --> 00:56:11.920 I mean, the problem in pro sports, as you well know, 1168 00:56:12.079 --> 00:56:15.480 is there's so few moves that an owner has or 1169 00:56:15.519 --> 00:56:18.440 a general manager has, that he can do to try 1170 00:56:18.480 --> 00:56:24.119 to get his team, you know, jump started. The coaches 1171 00:56:24.199 --> 00:56:26.920 are the first thing that always goes well. 1172 00:56:26.920 --> 00:56:30.960 And as you know, organizations that usually find the most 1173 00:56:31.000 --> 00:56:35.960 success have ownership, front office and the coaching staff really 1174 00:56:36.039 --> 00:56:38.840 all on the same page, pushing in the same direction. 1175 00:56:39.079 --> 00:56:41.519 And when you have a meddling owner, which I think 1176 00:56:41.559 --> 00:56:44.960 you experienced, that thinks he knows better than anybody else 1177 00:56:45.119 --> 00:56:46.920 or someone else, you. 1178 00:56:46.840 --> 00:56:48.599 Know, not pulling in the right direction. 1179 00:56:48.679 --> 00:56:52.320 Oftentimes, these things never really are fully baked because you 1180 00:56:52.360 --> 00:56:54.199 have to have everybody on the same page, which is 1181 00:56:54.199 --> 00:56:56.800 pretty rare. But it seems like the most successful teams 1182 00:56:56.840 --> 00:56:57.880 have kind of that trinity. 1183 00:56:59.199 --> 00:57:01.440 They absolutely you hit the nail right on the head. 1184 00:57:01.639 --> 00:57:05.519 You sound like the offspring of a sports executive, because 1185 00:57:06.920 --> 00:57:10.880 that's absolutely true. If you don't, if it starts at ownership, 1186 00:57:11.320 --> 00:57:14.159 and if the ownership doesn't hire and trust the people 1187 00:57:14.199 --> 00:57:16.320 they hire and let them do their job just the 1188 00:57:16.360 --> 00:57:18.400 same as they would want to do their job in 1189 00:57:18.519 --> 00:57:21.039 whatever made them all their money that they could afford 1190 00:57:21.079 --> 00:57:24.360 a pro sports team, they are not going to win. 1191 00:57:24.480 --> 00:57:25.519 And when you look. 1192 00:57:25.400 --> 00:57:28.639 Around the league and look at teams that have been successful, 1193 00:57:28.679 --> 00:57:31.639 and what we say successful, we just mean a contender. 1194 00:57:32.159 --> 00:57:34.400 You don't have to win the Cup every year, but 1195 00:57:34.440 --> 00:57:37.239 they're not meddling teams. And the ones that are meddling 1196 00:57:37.360 --> 00:57:40.440 all the time, I think they've got a better way 1197 00:57:40.480 --> 00:57:46.000 of doing things. They rarely get anywhere because you just 1198 00:57:46.079 --> 00:57:49.119 can't operate in those conditions. If you're a sports guy, 1199 00:57:49.519 --> 00:57:51.920 you know there's certain things you've got to do and 1200 00:57:51.960 --> 00:57:54.159 you know it. You've been trained to do it, and 1201 00:57:54.400 --> 00:57:56.360 if the owners don't let you do it, well, then 1202 00:57:57.280 --> 00:57:59.119 you're not going to get anywhere. 1203 00:57:58.880 --> 00:58:00.920 From your advantage point. Before I say you, Louise, I 1204 00:58:00.920 --> 00:58:01.480 will ask you. 1205 00:58:01.519 --> 00:58:03.639 And I know you don't know this ownership group well, 1206 00:58:03.679 --> 00:58:06.880 and it's their first go around trying to own a 1207 00:58:06.920 --> 00:58:08.840 hockey team, so I'm sure they're going to learn as 1208 00:58:08.840 --> 00:58:12.119 they go. But what would you say to our community 1209 00:58:12.519 --> 00:58:15.400 about your knowledge of Bill Armstrong and his staff and 1210 00:58:15.440 --> 00:58:18.360 coach Tourney and his staff and kind of the synergies 1211 00:58:18.360 --> 00:58:20.559 that exist between the two and the right people to 1212 00:58:20.639 --> 00:58:22.079 kind of build this thing moving forward. 1213 00:58:23.199 --> 00:58:25.800 Well, well, they've been together for quite a while now, 1214 00:58:25.840 --> 00:58:29.840 this group, and I mean they were completely handcuffed in 1215 00:58:29.880 --> 00:58:34.400 Arizona financially, and now that Ryan Smith has bought the 1216 00:58:34.440 --> 00:58:37.599 team and moved into Salt Lake City and has I 1217 00:58:37.639 --> 00:58:41.280 think Ryan Smith has shown some great patients by bringing 1218 00:58:41.320 --> 00:58:45.159 everybody from Arizona and keeping the same crew and letting 1219 00:58:45.199 --> 00:58:47.559 them prove whether they belong there or prove that they 1220 00:58:47.559 --> 00:58:51.360 don't belong there. So you know, I think it's the 1221 00:58:51.440 --> 00:58:54.800 right group. I like what they've done, and I believe. 1222 00:58:54.519 --> 00:58:57.480 In them all right, Neil, Where can our listeners, our 1223 00:58:57.519 --> 00:59:03.119 new hockey fan listeners in the community find podcast to yours. 1224 00:59:02.679 --> 00:59:06.320 On any platform that you can find podcast, Spotify, Apple, 1225 00:59:07.119 --> 00:59:11.079 YouTube and everything else. And it's called NHL Wrap Around. 1226 00:59:11.599 --> 00:59:14.639 We do it four times a week now, Spence, we're 1227 00:59:14.639 --> 00:59:18.119 doing it. So we have NHL wrap Around, We have 1228 00:59:18.400 --> 00:59:21.519 New York Centric, which is just about the three New 1229 00:59:21.599 --> 00:59:24.840 York teams, and then we do two updates a week 1230 00:59:25.239 --> 00:59:28.920 called short Shifts on Wednesdays and Fridays, just to bring 1231 00:59:28.960 --> 00:59:31.280 the listeners up to what's been happening in between. So 1232 00:59:31.960 --> 00:59:33.599 you know, I'm not up to your level yet, but 1233 00:59:33.639 --> 00:59:34.840 I'm trying to get there. 1234 00:59:35.840 --> 00:59:37.760 I'm sure you far sur pass my level on the 1235 00:59:37.800 --> 00:59:39.639 hockey side, Neil. I'm just doing the best I can 1236 00:59:39.679 --> 00:59:41.400 and bring you on and ask you questions. It don't 1237 00:59:41.400 --> 00:59:43.840 sound dumb, but I appreciate use. 1238 00:59:43.960 --> 00:59:44.719 You sound great. 1239 00:59:44.800 --> 00:59:46.960 You sound, as I said, you sound like you're from 1240 00:59:46.960 --> 00:59:49.400 a sports family, and I don't know if I'm right 1241 00:59:49.440 --> 00:59:49.920 about that or. 1242 00:59:50.119 --> 00:59:52.079 Yeah there's something to that. I should look into it. 1243 00:59:52.079 --> 00:59:54.280 I should look into it. But look, I really appreciate 1244 00:59:54.320 --> 00:59:56.960 your time. We'll get you back on soon and keep 1245 00:59:57.000 --> 00:59:57.920 up the great work on the pod. 1246 00:59:57.960 --> 01:00:01.119 Okay, thanks so much for having me, all right. 1247 01:00:01.159 --> 01:00:04.400 The great Neil Smith, former general manager of the New 1248 01:00:04.480 --> 01:00:06.679 York Rangers and the New York Islanders, won a Stanley 1249 01:00:06.719 --> 01:00:08.880 Cup with the Rangers in ninety four, spent some time 1250 01:00:08.880 --> 01:00:10.840 as the chief scout for the Red Wings back in 1251 01:00:10.880 --> 01:00:17.280 the eighties. He is a hockey encyclopedia, a historian, and 1252 01:00:17.320 --> 01:00:18.880 it's great to have him on every week to help 1253 01:00:18.960 --> 01:00:21.679 us learn about this new sport, pro hockey in our market. 1254 01:00:22.079 --> 01:00:24.239 If you haven't been to a Utah Hockey Club game, 1255 01:00:24.320 --> 01:00:28.400 the Florida Panthers are really good. The third shortest odds 1256 01:00:28.440 --> 01:00:30.480 actually tied for the second shortest side to win the 1257 01:00:30.480 --> 01:00:32.920 Stanley Cup. At games at eight o'clock to night at 1258 01:00:33.000 --> 01:00:36.119 Delta Center. You can watch it on Turner Sports. All right, 1259 01:00:36.159 --> 01:00:38.159 coming up on the other side, it is time for 1260 01:00:38.280 --> 01:00:43.480 one hour of intellectual conversation with Chris Camaradi. Big Dave 1261 01:00:43.559 --> 01:00:46.880 loves himself, Little Neil Young good. It is good, but 1262 01:00:47.400 --> 01:00:49.719 it's one of those things where it was overplayed, Like 1263 01:00:50.159 --> 01:00:53.000 you're your old man was into the metal stuff, right, 1264 01:00:53.039 --> 01:00:56.679 the nineties, metal stuff, yeah, little hair metal yeah. And 1265 01:00:56.760 --> 01:00:58.960 if he gets overplayed, then you become an adult. You 1266 01:00:59.000 --> 01:01:00.719 don't love it as much as you because you heard 1267 01:01:00.760 --> 01:01:01.719 it a ton It's fair. 1268 01:01:01.960 --> 01:01:05.440 Yeah, Nil's a little timeless, in my opinion, not fair enough. 1269 01:01:05.519 --> 01:01:08.840 Chris Camaradnie live in studio Hot Neil Neil young Tek, 1270 01:01:09.840 --> 01:01:11.039 Let's get it there. Yeah. 1271 01:01:11.119 --> 01:01:13.360 I think for me, the Eagles are kind of the 1272 01:01:13.440 --> 01:01:18.199 quintessential overplayed band, and I always think of the Lebowski 1273 01:01:18.239 --> 01:01:22.960 scene He's just getting out of my cab. I love 1274 01:01:22.960 --> 01:01:25.199 that he had to take a cab from Malibu all 1275 01:01:25.239 --> 01:01:27.719 the way back to the city. That's an expensive cab, 1276 01:01:27.800 --> 01:01:28.280 right it is. 1277 01:01:28.360 --> 01:01:29.840 Then he throws him out of the cab because he 1278 01:01:29.840 --> 01:01:32.559 doesn't like the Eagles. But Big Dave also overplayed the Eagles, 1279 01:01:32.559 --> 01:01:34.960 so I can't absolutely, I can't do it. It was 1280 01:01:34.960 --> 01:01:36.960 there a band that was overplayed in your house when 1281 01:01:37.000 --> 01:01:37.559 you were younger. 1282 01:01:37.960 --> 01:01:40.760 No, my mom has really really good taste in music. 1283 01:01:41.119 --> 01:01:44.719 She like went with the times, so we never overplayed anything. 1284 01:01:44.800 --> 01:01:49.519 It would it would, you know, evolve sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties, 1285 01:01:49.559 --> 01:01:51.079 I mean like we had we had a pretty good 1286 01:01:51.119 --> 01:01:53.559 repertoire going. I mean we would we would go from 1287 01:01:53.639 --> 01:01:59.199 like you know, Jefferson Airplane to the Eagles A lot 1288 01:01:59.199 --> 01:02:02.079 of you know, almost famousy stuff. And then as the 1289 01:02:02.079 --> 01:02:03.960 eighties and nineties came around. I was born in the eighties, 1290 01:02:04.000 --> 01:02:06.000 like you know, she started getting hit with it, Whitney 1291 01:02:06.000 --> 01:02:07.039 Houston Voice to Man. 1292 01:02:07.199 --> 01:02:07.400 Nice. 1293 01:02:07.480 --> 01:02:11.599 We had a pretty good catalog of music in our house. 1294 01:02:11.639 --> 01:02:14.840 See, I kind of nobody cares about this, but I care, 1295 01:02:15.079 --> 01:02:15.559 do you think so? 1296 01:02:15.679 --> 01:02:16.079 I think so? 1297 01:02:16.639 --> 01:02:19.159 Frank Layton has advice to me, was who cares? Nobody's 1298 01:02:19.199 --> 01:02:20.719 listening when I first took the job. So that's kind 1299 01:02:20.719 --> 01:02:22.800 of how I do the job. Nobody's listening. I was 1300 01:02:22.880 --> 01:02:27.599 lucky that deb My mom Motown. Oh yeah, loved it. Yeah, 1301 01:02:27.679 --> 01:02:29.639 so learned about all that as a kid dreams. Yeah, 1302 01:02:29.639 --> 01:02:33.239 oh yeah, for sure. Dana Ross, no doubt anyway, Chris, Happy, 1303 01:02:33.480 --> 01:02:35.639 Happy Wednesday. Why are we getting you on a Wednesday 1304 01:02:35.639 --> 01:02:36.039 this week? 1305 01:02:36.519 --> 01:02:37.679 Because my kid's a taken? 1306 01:02:38.480 --> 01:02:41.320 Oh I see, you know usually you're on our Friday staple. 1307 01:02:41.440 --> 01:02:43.800 Yeah, free days. The kid is not in daycare on Fridays. 1308 01:02:43.880 --> 01:02:46.599 Okay, fair enough. How's your January going? Things going? 1309 01:02:46.639 --> 01:02:46.800 Well? 1310 01:02:47.079 --> 01:02:48.639 Yeah? Was I in here last week? 1311 01:02:48.679 --> 01:02:48.960 You were? 1312 01:02:49.280 --> 01:02:52.480 And it was after Yeah, yeah it was I got 1313 01:02:52.519 --> 01:02:54.119 back from Rosebwell, yeah, so I've seen you sin since 1314 01:02:54.119 --> 01:02:56.320 the New Year. But yeah, January's good man, Yeah, yeah, yeah, 1315 01:02:56.320 --> 01:02:56.960 everything's cool. 1316 01:02:57.039 --> 01:02:59.119 Just the first Monday in January, as I talked to 1317 01:02:59.159 --> 01:03:00.480 you about it, just kind of it's where. 1318 01:03:00.320 --> 01:03:02.320 You're like, it's like a Seinfeld episode. 1319 01:03:02.440 --> 01:03:05.199 Yes, and I tore my rotator cough. I don't know 1320 01:03:05.199 --> 01:03:08.239 if I told you this, No you did. Yeah, it's 1321 01:03:08.280 --> 01:03:11.159 a partial tear. Shout out Dave Petron, my guy imaging 1322 01:03:11.320 --> 01:03:16.400 imaging imaging, Yes, imaging X ray as well as the ultrasound. 1323 01:03:16.679 --> 01:03:18.880 And I saw it's a partial tear, not a full tear. 1324 01:03:19.000 --> 01:03:19.639 No surgery. 1325 01:03:19.719 --> 01:03:21.559 But do you want to tell the people how you 1326 01:03:21.599 --> 01:03:21.960 tore it? 1327 01:03:22.320 --> 01:03:27.360 Shoulder presses, how many moving weight around? M oh Man, 1328 01:03:28.119 --> 01:03:30.000 I don't know what RepA was. All I know is 1329 01:03:30.039 --> 01:03:31.840 I dropped the dumbell because I heard so bad. 1330 01:03:31.920 --> 01:03:33.960 So what described the pain? As soon as like? 1331 01:03:34.039 --> 01:03:36.400 Was it a meaning stinging shooting pain? It felt like 1332 01:03:36.440 --> 01:03:37.800 somebody shot me in the arm. 1333 01:03:38.199 --> 01:03:40.679 Not like so I mean, first people, there's a lot 1334 01:03:40.719 --> 01:03:41.639 of people who have been shot. 1335 01:03:41.760 --> 01:03:45.159 So is it like I also have never been shot. 1336 01:03:45.239 --> 01:03:47.159 Let's be like a like a when you get a 1337 01:03:47.199 --> 01:03:47.960 shot at the doctor. 1338 01:03:48.039 --> 01:03:49.960 A little bit big needle tar, yeah, a little bit 1339 01:03:50.119 --> 01:03:51.800 just like it wasn't like a dull pain. 1340 01:03:52.079 --> 01:03:53.119 I didn't feel pop. 1341 01:03:53.199 --> 01:03:55.480 It was just like a stinging pain right away. 1342 01:03:55.480 --> 01:03:57.079 And as soon as you put the weight down, did 1343 01:03:57.119 --> 01:03:58.559 it alleviate or no? Continue? 1344 01:03:58.599 --> 01:04:01.320 No? Continued. So I went home, called my guy. Yeah, 1345 01:04:01.400 --> 01:04:04.159 and the bummer is that it happened on a Friday, 1346 01:04:04.480 --> 01:04:07.000 and so I had to wait until the ortho was 1347 01:04:07.039 --> 01:04:07.880 open on a Monday. 1348 01:04:08.039 --> 01:04:08.519 Yeah. 1349 01:04:08.679 --> 01:04:09.920 So I'm just ibuprofen. 1350 01:04:10.079 --> 01:04:12.480 I scene, you know, did you get the sling? 1351 01:04:12.920 --> 01:04:15.679 No sling, because again, partial terror. I can do this, right, 1352 01:04:15.800 --> 01:04:18.519 I just I can't do the side. Okay, how's your. 1353 01:04:18.400 --> 01:04:20.199 Health, by the way, it's great, man. 1354 01:04:20.360 --> 01:04:23.000 What's the worst. What's the worst injury you've ever had? 1355 01:04:23.440 --> 01:04:27.960 Oh? I I've had like lots of minor ones. It 1356 01:04:28.039 --> 01:04:31.440 tore my MCL when I was like nineteen, didn't get surgery. 1357 01:04:32.440 --> 01:04:35.239 To me, the most debilitating injury I've had was like 1358 01:04:35.440 --> 01:04:38.519 a I don't know what the official diagnosis was, was 1359 01:04:38.559 --> 01:04:42.079 like a lower back issue. Right before COVID. My friends 1360 01:04:42.079 --> 01:04:45.519 and I were playing spike ball a lot, okay, when 1361 01:04:45.519 --> 01:04:47.719 we were younger. This was like, you know, in my 1362 01:04:47.800 --> 01:04:51.920 early thirties, and it requires a lot of diving and 1363 01:04:52.199 --> 01:04:55.280 just one one jump one dive. I just felt it 1364 01:04:55.320 --> 01:04:57.800 and I was just in a very bad state, like 1365 01:04:57.840 --> 01:05:00.559 I was on muscle relaxers, and it was not a 1366 01:05:00.599 --> 01:05:00.960 good thing. 1367 01:05:01.079 --> 01:05:03.639 And that was a back issue. Back issue. Back issues 1368 01:05:03.679 --> 01:05:07.639 are the worst. Anyway, there you go, enough enough conversation 1369 01:05:07.679 --> 01:05:11.039 about aging and hurting yourself all the time. Let's see 1370 01:05:11.039 --> 01:05:12.119 where do you want to start today? 1371 01:05:12.159 --> 01:05:18.239 C K or not Wednesday? I'll tell you probably not. 1372 01:05:18.360 --> 01:05:20.239 I'll tell you what's not hot? Back injuries? 1373 01:05:20.280 --> 01:05:23.519 What is okay? Not hot? Well, okay, back injuries not hot? 1374 01:05:23.559 --> 01:05:23.800 Hot? 1375 01:05:23.840 --> 01:05:24.920 What's hot on a Wednesday? 1376 01:05:25.000 --> 01:05:25.320 Right now? 1377 01:05:26.239 --> 01:05:27.440 Going to the gym? Apparently? 1378 01:05:27.559 --> 01:05:30.280 No, I'm not hot, not hot at all? What do 1379 01:05:30.400 --> 01:05:32.800 how many listeners have any frame of reference for what 1380 01:05:32.880 --> 01:05:35.360 we're talking about? As far as we. 1381 01:05:35.360 --> 01:05:37.199 Can talk about traggers if you want. 1382 01:05:37.039 --> 01:05:40.320 An old feature back in the day, now we can 1383 01:05:40.360 --> 01:05:42.519 move on from it, all right? The uh uh the 1384 01:05:42.679 --> 01:05:44.639 you know what, here's what I'll ask you, and uh, 1385 01:05:44.679 --> 01:05:47.239 you know, I'm quite sure if we could find an answer, 1386 01:05:47.960 --> 01:05:50.440 we do people uh big time favor. 1387 01:05:51.360 --> 01:05:51.719 I am. 1388 01:05:51.800 --> 01:05:54.639 I am still stunned, even though it's been a number 1389 01:05:54.639 --> 01:05:59.679 of years that the Utah basketball program cannot consistently find 1390 01:05:59.719 --> 01:06:03.320 their way back to even semi relevance, And I feel 1391 01:06:03.400 --> 01:06:06.599 bad being overly critical because I like Craig and he's 1392 01:06:06.639 --> 01:06:11.360 one wherever he's been prior to this stop, and I 1393 01:06:11.440 --> 01:06:13.880 watch every game I watched last night. I don't view 1394 01:06:13.880 --> 01:06:16.199 this as a coaching issue. Craig enters the gym every 1395 01:06:16.280 --> 01:06:19.880 night with a talent discrepancy and a talent gap that 1396 01:06:20.039 --> 01:06:23.159 in the Big twelve is undeniable. But it's hard to 1397 01:06:23.239 --> 01:06:28.000 recruit to a basketball program that does not have fans 1398 01:06:28.039 --> 01:06:30.360 to show up to watch the games. And I'm not 1399 01:06:30.400 --> 01:06:32.639 blaming the fans, because you have to have a product 1400 01:06:32.679 --> 01:06:36.960 that's engaging, that's entertaining. And so there's this chicken or 1401 01:06:36.960 --> 01:06:38.599 the egg thing that I've been talking about this week. 1402 01:06:38.639 --> 01:06:40.719 I do think if that building was full, it would 1403 01:06:40.719 --> 01:06:43.159 help Craig recruit because players want to play in front, 1404 01:06:43.320 --> 01:06:46.079 in front of fans. But I also understand a fan base. 1405 01:06:46.119 --> 01:06:49.679 It's like, dude, they they get housed every Big twelve 1406 01:06:49.760 --> 01:06:53.000 game they play. So I'm just wondering where your thoughts 1407 01:06:53.000 --> 01:06:55.000 are you You were around the back in the day 1408 01:06:55.039 --> 01:06:58.280 when Utah basketball, I mean, you remember when Utah basketball 1409 01:06:58.480 --> 01:07:00.239 was at its Hey, Dan, And I'm never going to 1410 01:07:00.239 --> 01:07:01.400 be the guy that says, how do we get it 1411 01:07:01.400 --> 01:07:04.840 back to the Jerish years? Yeah, but your thoughts on 1412 01:07:04.840 --> 01:07:07.400 this program the year in and year out just can't 1413 01:07:07.440 --> 01:07:08.440 find its way back. 1414 01:07:09.079 --> 01:07:13.440 Well, I'll go back in time. My junior year of 1415 01:07:13.480 --> 01:07:16.760 college was Jim Boylan's best year. 1416 01:07:16.840 --> 01:07:19.599 Jim Boylan, Luca Dertca, a little five seed. 1417 01:07:20.119 --> 01:07:25.199 I believe Tyler Kepke, Carlon Brown, Kim Tilley was that 1418 01:07:25.280 --> 01:07:28.400 Luke Neville. Yeah, yeah, they made They were a five 1419 01:07:28.480 --> 01:07:31.239 seed that year and then they got they drew Arizona's 1420 01:07:31.679 --> 01:07:35.159 twelve and they lost. But I know Larry had a 1421 01:07:35.199 --> 01:07:38.119 couple of good teams. He had some pros, Kyle and 1422 01:07:38.159 --> 01:07:42.920 Delon and yakob Ah. I don't even think you need 1423 01:07:42.960 --> 01:07:45.440 pros in college basketball. You just need to have an 1424 01:07:45.559 --> 01:07:48.559 engaging style of play. Look at what Utah State's been 1425 01:07:48.599 --> 01:07:50.960 able to do in the last decade with five different 1426 01:07:51.000 --> 01:07:53.960 head coaches. And I know there is a cultural difference 1427 01:07:54.000 --> 01:07:57.840 where Utah State is more of a basketball school historically 1428 01:07:57.840 --> 01:08:02.679 than Utah is, but we off for forty fifty years, 1429 01:08:02.800 --> 01:08:05.519 Utah was primarily a basketball school. Now it's become a 1430 01:08:05.519 --> 01:08:10.159 football school. So how does Utah I don't know, find 1431 01:08:10.320 --> 01:08:14.400 somewhat of an even footing on that point. I don't know, man, 1432 01:08:14.519 --> 01:08:18.680 Like I think it's just getting good players playing engaging basketball, 1433 01:08:19.000 --> 01:08:21.600 and like there was a talent discrepancy for many years, 1434 01:08:21.640 --> 01:08:23.399 even in the Pac twelve. I don't even think this 1435 01:08:23.439 --> 01:08:25.640 is a Big twelve thing. This is a this is 1436 01:08:25.680 --> 01:08:29.800 an issue that stems beyond Craig, beyond Larry. I mean, 1437 01:08:29.840 --> 01:08:32.800 this is something that the Utah basketball program hasn't been 1438 01:08:32.840 --> 01:08:36.279 able to figure out for I mean, what twenty years now. 1439 01:08:36.319 --> 01:08:39.079 I mean Jim had one good year, Larry had a few. 1440 01:08:39.319 --> 01:08:41.520 So you're talking about like four or five out of 1441 01:08:41.600 --> 01:08:44.079 twenty ish, I mean Ray, Jack Lady had a good year. 1442 01:08:44.079 --> 01:08:46.119 But like I'm just saying, like that is a very 1443 01:08:46.119 --> 01:08:46.680 low clip. 1444 01:08:46.840 --> 01:08:47.439 Well and jack a. 1445 01:08:47.520 --> 01:08:50.239 Larry's good year was with Bogut who rick recruitre Right 1446 01:08:50.359 --> 01:08:52.560 And all due respect to Ray, you always seem like 1447 01:08:52.560 --> 01:08:54.880 a nice guy or whatever, but you bring up an 1448 01:08:54.920 --> 01:08:58.399 interesting point, and I don't think this is mutually exclusive, Like, 1449 01:08:58.439 --> 01:09:01.039 for instance, Alabama has an all basketball team and an 1450 01:09:01.079 --> 01:09:05.039 awesome football team. But it does seem that the Utah 1451 01:09:05.119 --> 01:09:09.399 basketball program kind of started its slide into somewhat irrelevance 1452 01:09:09.479 --> 01:09:12.720 as the football program started to evolve. Yeah, do you 1453 01:09:12.720 --> 01:09:14.800 think there's anything where our fans are kind of like. 1454 01:09:14.880 --> 01:09:17.000 Well, they're probably spread thin. They probably don't want to 1455 01:09:17.039 --> 01:09:20.680 necessarily shell out shell out money bus season tickets for 1456 01:09:20.760 --> 01:09:24.399 both and I know that, you know, college basketball season 1457 01:09:24.399 --> 01:09:27.159 tickets are much cheaper than college football tickets, even though 1458 01:09:27.159 --> 01:09:31.600 there's more home games. But I think it's I just 1459 01:09:31.640 --> 01:09:33.920 don't know if we're in a market where people are 1460 01:09:33.920 --> 01:09:36.760 going to be locked in from August all the way 1461 01:09:36.800 --> 01:09:39.720 to April, I just think that's asking a lot. And 1462 01:09:40.800 --> 01:09:44.319 I mean, frankly, if you're somebody who wants to invest 1463 01:09:44.359 --> 01:09:47.439 in a good product, as we've seen the last couple 1464 01:09:47.439 --> 01:09:49.399 of years, it makes way more sense at the moment 1465 01:09:49.479 --> 01:09:52.640 to invest in going to watch Utah women's basketball because 1466 01:09:52.880 --> 01:09:56.079 they're very good. They play a very entertaining style of basketball, 1467 01:09:56.760 --> 01:09:59.439 and I don't know, it's just more fun and it's 1468 01:09:59.479 --> 01:10:01.439 more fun when you win, and it's more fun when 1469 01:10:01.439 --> 01:10:06.279 you play, like I say, when you play a style 1470 01:10:06.359 --> 01:10:07.640 that's engaging the fans. 1471 01:10:08.039 --> 01:10:11.600 So it could be something as simple as consistent performance 1472 01:10:11.640 --> 01:10:13.720 and showing that you have the ability like because to 1473 01:10:14.039 --> 01:10:16.479 your point, there's always been this one year spike where 1474 01:10:16.479 --> 01:10:18.600 it's okay, we're back in the tournament and then then boom. 1475 01:10:19.119 --> 01:10:23.880 So maybe I don't know, three four five years of consistent, winning, 1476 01:10:24.199 --> 01:10:27.520 entertaining basketball and I don't know how you do it 1477 01:10:27.560 --> 01:10:29.560 these days. But players that stay here used to be 1478 01:10:29.640 --> 01:10:32.640 kind of the thing. And again I'm doing the Majeri's thing. 1479 01:10:32.680 --> 01:10:35.359 But all those guys van Horn and Britain and Andre 1480 01:10:35.439 --> 01:10:38.079 and Dolea, like they were three four year guys, so 1481 01:10:38.359 --> 01:10:40.960 the community got to know them. But maybe that's not 1482 01:10:41.119 --> 01:10:43.319 a reality of how to do. And he brought up 1483 01:10:43.359 --> 01:10:49.000 something else like really the emotional, economic whatever you want 1484 01:10:49.039 --> 01:10:54.239 to reframe the investment as for that long the of 1485 01:10:54.319 --> 01:10:59.000 the calendar. When it comes to college basketball, that's Yukon, 1486 01:10:59.399 --> 01:11:03.520 it's Hockey, it's Duke, it's Caroll. Like seven or eight 1487 01:11:03.560 --> 01:11:05.800 programs get that type of year long support, if for 1488 01:11:05.880 --> 01:11:06.640 honest agreed. 1489 01:11:06.760 --> 01:11:10.560 But and you're also talking about schools that get that 1490 01:11:10.720 --> 01:11:14.960 from a single sport, not necessarily the two big revenue 1491 01:11:15.000 --> 01:11:17.279 earning sports. Yeah, I'm trying to think, like off the 1492 01:11:17.279 --> 01:11:20.159 top of my head, like you mentioned Alabama, but Alabama 1493 01:11:20.199 --> 01:11:22.680 really hasn't really come on from a men's basketball standpoint 1494 01:11:22.720 --> 01:11:25.479 until like the last four or five years. Traditionally they were. 1495 01:11:25.520 --> 01:11:28.960 They were pretty bad, fair even you know, before Nick 1496 01:11:28.960 --> 01:11:31.720 Saban got there and changed their fortunes. I guess Auburn, 1497 01:11:31.840 --> 01:11:34.039 like Auburn was good, but now it's kind of like 1498 01:11:34.119 --> 01:11:36.239 the football team's not good, right, basketball team's very good. 1499 01:11:36.680 --> 01:11:40.960 It's hard to find one athletic program where they're always 1500 01:11:41.000 --> 01:11:43.079 really really good at football and always really really good 1501 01:11:43.119 --> 01:11:43.920 at men's basketball. 1502 01:11:44.279 --> 01:11:48.720 Yeah, consistently. Yeah, there's always Texas As Spurts here there 1503 01:11:48.800 --> 01:11:50.720 on the basketball side. But no, it's a fair point. 1504 01:11:51.359 --> 01:11:54.119 Just curious to get your thoughts because again, I feel 1505 01:11:54.159 --> 01:11:56.640 bad saying this. I'm watching them play these Big twelve 1506 01:11:56.680 --> 01:11:58.640 games and it doesn't even feel like it's a fair fight. 1507 01:11:59.359 --> 01:12:02.720 Yeah, going back to your point about guys who stay 1508 01:12:02.960 --> 01:12:08.560 like it is hard to recruit in this current landscape 1509 01:12:08.600 --> 01:12:11.079 of college athletics, I get it. But you're also if 1510 01:12:11.119 --> 01:12:13.239 I'm and it might be unfair to compare to other 1511 01:12:13.359 --> 01:12:15.960 programs in the state. You look at a place like 1512 01:12:16.079 --> 01:12:18.680 Utah State. Yes, they lost their head coach, they lost 1513 01:12:18.960 --> 01:12:22.119 great Olsibor, who's a great player, no pun intended, But like, 1514 01:12:22.319 --> 01:12:24.600 you have lots of guys that are still in that program. 1515 01:12:24.720 --> 01:12:26.319 One of these guys who used to be a Utah 1516 01:12:26.399 --> 01:12:28.960 you Ian Martinez who's been there for several years now 1517 01:12:29.039 --> 01:12:32.439 bouts around. But like, if you get players who find 1518 01:12:32.439 --> 01:12:35.119 their niche and have a role and can help you 1519 01:12:35.199 --> 01:12:38.680 build a winning culture, odds are you'll be able to 1520 01:12:38.720 --> 01:12:41.640 get them to stay, especially in college basketball. I mean, 1521 01:12:41.680 --> 01:12:45.000 I I don't think the poaching is at a level 1522 01:12:45.600 --> 01:12:47.760 and I could be totally wrong. I just I think, 1523 01:12:47.840 --> 01:12:50.960 considering the size of rosters, I don't think the poaching 1524 01:12:51.039 --> 01:12:54.840 is at the same level of football in that like 1525 01:12:54.920 --> 01:12:57.079 you're fifteen players compared to one hundred and five, you 1526 01:12:57.159 --> 01:12:59.760 know what I mean. And there's and it's proven and 1527 01:13:00.079 --> 01:13:02.039 college basketball that you can be good no matter your 1528 01:13:02.079 --> 01:13:04.199 size and you can make a run if you're good. Again, 1529 01:13:04.239 --> 01:13:07.640 I'll use Utah State as an example, Like, how many 1530 01:13:07.640 --> 01:13:11.000 players on that team are Utah players? A few? Quite 1531 01:13:11.039 --> 01:13:11.279 a few? 1532 01:13:11.359 --> 01:13:14.039 Yeah, yeah, most. I believe how many. 1533 01:13:13.960 --> 01:13:16.840 Utah players are on Utah's roster currently, I honestly don't know. 1534 01:13:16.880 --> 01:13:18.760 I mean, I know the Hunter Erickson kid is a 1535 01:13:18.800 --> 01:13:22.600 bench player, he's a Utah kid. Yeah, But the Mats 1536 01:13:22.640 --> 01:13:26.039 and brothers are not from Utah. They have the Finnish player, 1537 01:13:26.760 --> 01:13:28.760 the big guys, the tall guys on the team. I 1538 01:13:28.760 --> 01:13:30.800 don't know their names. I don't think they're from Utah. 1539 01:13:30.880 --> 01:13:33.840 So it's like, I don't think you necessarily have to 1540 01:13:33.880 --> 01:13:37.479 recruit local players to be good. But I don't know 1541 01:13:37.960 --> 01:13:41.079 if you're talking about at least within the last decade, 1542 01:13:41.720 --> 01:13:46.079 the best college basketball programs to come out of the state. 1543 01:13:46.159 --> 01:13:49.039 Between our three big schools generally have been able to 1544 01:13:49.399 --> 01:13:52.960 lock up local talent, especially Utah State and BYU. 1545 01:13:53.119 --> 01:13:56.000 Jake Wahleeen is from Provo, but you already do that, Yeah, 1546 01:13:56.000 --> 01:13:58.800 Wallen Hunter Erickson is from Provo as you referenced, and 1547 01:13:58.880 --> 01:14:00.479 our guy Brady Smith is Logan. 1548 01:14:01.279 --> 01:14:03.520 Wait, Brady Smith didn't he used to produce this program. 1549 01:14:03.880 --> 01:14:06.359 No, that was Brady Clark. Okay, shout out to our 1550 01:14:06.359 --> 01:14:08.680 guy Brady Hope. He's hanging in. He's a Utah State 1551 01:14:08.960 --> 01:14:10.319 and so he's probably having a good year. 1552 01:14:10.880 --> 01:14:13.000 But like, I don't understand you. You're a basketball guy, 1553 01:14:13.079 --> 01:14:15.199 so you can tell me how this works, Like how 1554 01:14:15.279 --> 01:14:17.439 is UTAs State able to do this? And I know 1555 01:14:17.479 --> 01:14:21.439 they're playing at a conference level that is way different 1556 01:14:21.439 --> 01:14:23.199 compared to the Big Twelve, which you can argue is 1557 01:14:23.199 --> 01:14:25.920 the best in the country. But like UTASA was doing 1558 01:14:25.920 --> 01:14:27.800 this when Utah was in the PAC twelve two, and 1559 01:14:27.840 --> 01:14:29.960 they were doing it when the PAC twelve wasn't that good. 1560 01:14:30.119 --> 01:14:32.439 So how is it that it works at Uta State, 1561 01:14:32.560 --> 01:14:34.439 which Craig had a direct hand in before. 1562 01:14:34.520 --> 01:14:35.800 Yes he did, Yes he did. 1563 01:14:35.840 --> 01:14:37.840 So how are they able to spin it forward? 1564 01:14:38.199 --> 01:14:40.800 All due respect to our friends about forty miles down 1565 01:14:40.840 --> 01:14:44.359 south watching a college basketball game of the Spectrum, it's 1566 01:14:44.359 --> 01:14:46.520 the best, is second level. I mean, it's one of 1567 01:14:46.520 --> 01:14:49.960 the best college basketball environments in the whole country. And 1568 01:14:50.000 --> 01:14:52.640 I've been to a grip of college basketball menus, and 1569 01:14:52.680 --> 01:14:54.520 I do think there's something there. If you're a high 1570 01:14:54.560 --> 01:14:57.800 school kid, and let's say you're a top shelf high 1571 01:14:57.800 --> 01:15:01.199 school recruit and you go out to Provo and watch 1572 01:15:01.239 --> 01:15:03.199 a game of the Marriott Center, You're like, this is dope. 1573 01:15:03.319 --> 01:15:05.560 It's rolled out the game ops. They do a good job. 1574 01:15:05.600 --> 01:15:09.680 The kids are having a grand time, smashing cougartails and 1575 01:15:09.720 --> 01:15:12.840 milk and just enjoy life. And then you roll up 1576 01:15:12.880 --> 01:15:16.520 to Salt Lake and you're like, oh, do people know 1577 01:15:16.600 --> 01:15:18.760 that there's a game tonight? And then you go up 1578 01:15:18.760 --> 01:15:20.840 to Logan You're like, this is awesome. 1579 01:15:20.960 --> 01:15:23.760 Agreed, Yeah, it's true. I mean like the spectrum will 1580 01:15:23.760 --> 01:15:25.640 be full for like San Jose State, and it's cool 1581 01:15:25.680 --> 01:15:28.560 and it's cool. Yeah, I agree, Yeah, the ambiance matters. 1582 01:15:28.880 --> 01:15:31.039 All right, We'll save our football for the next segment. 1583 01:15:31.079 --> 01:15:34.119 And also our guy Joe Cole's got the exclusive with 1584 01:15:34.159 --> 01:15:36.159 Mark Carlin today, We'll save that from the next segment. 1585 01:15:36.560 --> 01:15:37.000 Let's do it. 1586 01:15:37.359 --> 01:15:39.359 We got a couple of minutes with this this segment. 1587 01:15:39.439 --> 01:15:41.720 Let's do a little basketball, a little more basketball. And 1588 01:15:41.760 --> 01:15:44.279 here's what I want to ask you, because you and 1589 01:15:44.319 --> 01:15:47.359 our guy TJ. Tony Jones, a few years back, you 1590 01:15:47.439 --> 01:15:51.000 did a really good piece on Donovan, so you know, 1591 01:15:51.239 --> 01:15:53.319 chattered with him. My guest has got to know him 1592 01:15:53.319 --> 01:15:56.880 a little bit here or there. And tonight we've got 1593 01:15:56.960 --> 01:16:00.560 the Calves and we've got Okac. And it's the first 1594 01:16:00.560 --> 01:16:02.560 time in NBA history that at this point of the 1595 01:16:02.560 --> 01:16:04.680 season there are two teams on pace for more than 1596 01:16:04.840 --> 01:16:07.840 seventy wins. The Cavs are thirty one and four. Oh 1597 01:16:07.920 --> 01:16:11.439 case is thirty and five. And Donovan has started to 1598 01:16:11.439 --> 01:16:14.159 figure it out. He started to figure out like if 1599 01:16:14.159 --> 01:16:16.600 you look at his numbers, they don't jump out. They're 1600 01:16:16.640 --> 01:16:19.680 the same as they were here. But he's not taking 1601 01:16:19.680 --> 01:16:22.840 as many shots. He's admitted this year that he's tried 1602 01:16:22.840 --> 01:16:25.760 to play defense, and all of us in Salak are like, thanks, dude, 1603 01:16:25.840 --> 01:16:29.560 all right, glad you're trying to play defense. Now. I 1604 01:16:29.600 --> 01:16:31.800 still think Boston's the best team in the East, and 1605 01:16:31.880 --> 01:16:33.840 I don't know that Cleveland can beat them four times 1606 01:16:33.840 --> 01:16:36.600 in seven tries. But it's undeniable that what they're doing 1607 01:16:36.680 --> 01:16:40.880 is real coaching change, different system, and Donovan is really 1608 01:16:40.920 --> 01:16:42.920 starting to evolve or I think he's going to have 1609 01:16:42.920 --> 01:16:44.840 a no questions answer. 1610 01:16:44.520 --> 01:16:47.279 Comes spring, right, but I think he's gonna answer them. 1611 01:16:47.640 --> 01:16:48.640 I don't think they can. 1612 01:16:48.520 --> 01:16:51.359 Win it, but in pro basketball, there's a saying if 1613 01:16:51.399 --> 01:16:54.239 you got a shy, you've done a good job. I 1614 01:16:54.359 --> 01:16:57.439 was never on board to believe that, and Quinn was 1615 01:16:57.479 --> 01:17:00.279 here last night, and I never thought that group was 1616 01:17:00.319 --> 01:17:02.920 going to win an NBA championship, But there were a 1617 01:17:02.960 --> 01:17:05.159 couple of postseasons where I thought they've got a shot. 1618 01:17:06.600 --> 01:17:11.359 So as we sit here watching Donovan potentially evolve into 1619 01:17:11.439 --> 01:17:13.760 the space as a first team All NBA guy for 1620 01:17:13.840 --> 01:17:15.760 one of the best teams in pro basketball, and maybe 1621 01:17:15.760 --> 01:17:19.640 they go and win something special this year, I still 1622 01:17:19.840 --> 01:17:23.520 maintain I'll always maintain that there was meat left on 1623 01:17:23.560 --> 01:17:27.199 that bone when this front office decided to trade everybody, 1624 01:17:27.239 --> 01:17:30.199 And for the most part, all of the players have 1625 01:17:30.279 --> 01:17:33.239 gone on to play well elsewhere. Royce O'Neill has had 1626 01:17:33.279 --> 01:17:37.479 a much better stretch elsewhere. Our guy Bucket O'Neill one 1627 01:17:37.479 --> 01:17:40.479 Bucket O'Neill played well in Brooklyn. He's got a good 1628 01:17:40.560 --> 01:17:46.119 role in Phoenix the Minivan. George solid role player in Philly. 1629 01:17:46.960 --> 01:17:48.920 Ingles is just old now, but he went elsewhere and 1630 01:17:48.920 --> 01:17:51.680 played well, and he he can't walk anymore, but he's 1631 01:17:51.720 --> 01:17:55.039 still on a rosh. He does one time the other night. 1632 01:17:55.359 --> 01:17:58.960 And Rudy still Rudy. Like the front office made a 1633 01:17:59.039 --> 01:18:02.439 calculated move to trade star players in their prime to 1634 01:18:02.479 --> 01:18:05.000 start this rebuild that in three years has not bread 1635 01:18:05.079 --> 01:18:06.880 anything very exciting. 1636 01:18:07.000 --> 01:18:08.159 Just I wanted your thoughts on that. 1637 01:18:09.199 --> 01:18:13.439 I don't think it's I don't think it's hyperbolic to 1638 01:18:13.439 --> 01:18:16.359 just say that the team didn't gel, they didn't like 1639 01:18:16.439 --> 01:18:19.239 each other, like they played well together. And it's I'm 1640 01:18:19.279 --> 01:18:22.279 not saying every team that you know me, I'm with you. 1641 01:18:22.479 --> 01:18:24.079 I'm a results over a vibes. 1642 01:18:23.880 --> 01:18:25.960 Guy, John Paul, hope you're listening. 1643 01:18:26.640 --> 01:18:27.119 But like. 1644 01:18:28.680 --> 01:18:32.479 The they came to the end of the road. Spence like, 1645 01:18:32.520 --> 01:18:34.600 I just don't really think there's really any other way 1646 01:18:34.640 --> 01:18:37.279 to put it, because Quinn left before they traded those guys. 1647 01:18:37.399 --> 01:18:41.279 Wrong, wrong, Okay, Yes, and that's what I I'll always wonder, 1648 01:18:41.359 --> 01:18:44.319 See I got my timelines off, yeah, and I'll always wonder. 1649 01:18:44.840 --> 01:18:47.399 Now I'll have to look at the exact timing. They 1650 01:18:47.479 --> 01:18:50.600 may have started, as Rudy was first correct, and they 1651 01:18:50.640 --> 01:18:52.560 may have alluded to like, hey, we're going to break 1652 01:18:52.560 --> 01:18:54.119 this down and Quinn, we want you to leave this 1653 01:18:54.159 --> 01:18:57.359 next rebuild. So I'm not completely dismissing your point, because 1654 01:18:57.680 --> 01:19:00.520 as as soon as Quinn decided but he did not 1655 01:19:00.600 --> 01:19:02.760 want to work for this ownership group for whatever reason, 1656 01:19:02.960 --> 01:19:05.239 maybe at some point he will say out loud what 1657 01:19:05.279 --> 01:19:08.920 it is. I've got guesses. And when Dennis Lindsay had 1658 01:19:08.920 --> 01:19:11.279 a meeting with the new ownership group and he's like nope, 1659 01:19:11.760 --> 01:19:13.520 I viewed that as a really bad sign because I 1660 01:19:13.600 --> 01:19:15.319 have a lot of respect for both of those two 1661 01:19:15.760 --> 01:19:19.039 and this is revisionist history for sure. But I you know, 1662 01:19:19.159 --> 01:19:22.239 I even believe like you trade Mitchell, you bring in 1663 01:19:22.319 --> 01:19:24.479 market In, you put market in next to go Beert, 1664 01:19:24.680 --> 01:19:27.600 you keep Conley and Royce and Yang and all those guys. 1665 01:19:27.680 --> 01:19:30.079 But you're still in the middle, man, But. 1666 01:19:30.079 --> 01:19:33.479 Could you have found your like if if Larry was 1667 01:19:33.560 --> 01:19:35.520 what he was two years ago? Next to go bear 1668 01:19:35.720 --> 01:19:39.159 with the rest of those pieces. Is that a championship team? No, 1669 01:19:39.800 --> 01:19:42.359 but it's not breaking down to the studs and really 1670 01:19:42.560 --> 01:19:44.920 show at this point no clear direction in a rebuild, 1671 01:19:44.960 --> 01:19:46.760 which I think is frustrating a lot of Jazz fan 1672 01:19:46.880 --> 01:19:47.359 But you are. 1673 01:19:47.279 --> 01:19:49.800 The first guy to point out that you can't tie 1674 01:19:49.960 --> 01:19:54.880 forty percent of your cap whatever. It's no offensive big yeah, 1675 01:19:54.920 --> 01:19:57.880 and like it might make more sense in Minnesota where 1676 01:19:57.920 --> 01:20:00.840 you have a superstar player, like a Truce star player. 1677 01:20:01.039 --> 01:20:03.720 But clearly, I mean, I don't know what Minnesota's record 1678 01:20:03.760 --> 01:20:07.479 is right now, but I know it's somewhere around five hundred. Yeah, 1679 01:20:07.720 --> 01:20:11.680 so there are I'm of two minds of this. I've 1680 01:20:12.199 --> 01:20:13.840 always told you that the worst place to be is 1681 01:20:13.840 --> 01:20:15.800 in the middle, where the Jazz have existed for a 1682 01:20:15.920 --> 01:20:20.119 very very long time, albeit for a couple of years. 1683 01:20:20.479 --> 01:20:23.039 I ultimately think they made the right move trading those 1684 01:20:23.079 --> 01:20:28.800 guys because Donovan wasn't gonna stay here. We know that. 1685 01:20:30.199 --> 01:20:33.720 I mean, that's obvious and for as awesome as Rudy is. 1686 01:20:34.039 --> 01:20:37.000 I think you kind of saw the height of his 1687 01:20:37.079 --> 01:20:39.640 potential impact on the roster. I don't think you were 1688 01:20:39.680 --> 01:20:42.760 going to see him reach another level with other different 1689 01:20:42.760 --> 01:20:43.560 players around him. 1690 01:20:43.600 --> 01:20:45.520 I agree with that second point. I wonder do you 1691 01:20:45.560 --> 01:20:47.960 think there's anything because Donovan had two years left on 1692 01:20:48.000 --> 01:20:48.359 his deal. 1693 01:20:49.920 --> 01:20:51.279 I mean you could have waited another year. 1694 01:20:51.359 --> 01:20:54.920 Well, and you also chatted with Donovan, and if my 1695 01:20:55.000 --> 01:20:58.520 memory is serving correctly about you know it was COVID. 1696 01:20:58.600 --> 01:21:00.560 It was this summer of Black Lives Matter and the 1697 01:21:00.640 --> 01:21:03.319 murder of George Floyd, and Donovan started thinking differently as 1698 01:21:03.319 --> 01:21:05.840 a black man, right, and he admitted it, like he 1699 01:21:05.960 --> 01:21:08.359 learned things about his history that he didn't know about 1700 01:21:08.399 --> 01:21:11.479 and leaned into being more of a voice, which there's 1701 01:21:11.520 --> 01:21:14.640 nothing wrong with that at all. How much of that 1702 01:21:14.800 --> 01:21:19.119 do you think led Donovan too deciding he simply did 1703 01:21:19.119 --> 01:21:21.079 not want to live in Salt Lake because prior to 1704 01:21:21.199 --> 01:21:25.319 that time, my man was at fourth July barbecues, my 1705 01:21:25.359 --> 01:21:27.720 man was Spider Man. When there was a car accident. 1706 01:21:27.760 --> 01:21:29.239 I mean I always thought it was interesting there was 1707 01:21:29.279 --> 01:21:32.199 a camera cia like, oh wait, Donald was at a 1708 01:21:32.199 --> 01:21:33.279 party and people know about. 1709 01:21:33.119 --> 01:21:35.680 It, being like super handsome with his cool sig but. 1710 01:21:35.640 --> 01:21:38.119 Rudy is donating millions to Pete and no one knows 1711 01:21:38.159 --> 01:21:41.039 about that, so that was always a little odd. But 1712 01:21:41.199 --> 01:21:45.119 the first few years here Donovan and I look, obviously, 1713 01:21:45.279 --> 01:21:47.640 was it Stuart Adams who was like, go learn about 1714 01:21:47.640 --> 01:21:51.159 your own history? Obviously dumb ass thing to say, period, 1715 01:21:51.199 --> 01:21:54.399 end of story. And I don't begrudge Donovan for not 1716 01:21:54.439 --> 01:21:56.920 necessarily feeling as welcome here. I don't know what it's 1717 01:21:57.000 --> 01:21:59.319 like to be a black man in saw Lake where 1718 01:21:59.319 --> 01:22:01.399 there's two point three percent of the city that looks 1719 01:22:01.439 --> 01:22:04.000 like you. I'm sure that's difficult. But how much of 1720 01:22:04.039 --> 01:22:06.159 that do you think led to him souring on a 1721 01:22:06.199 --> 01:22:08.159 place that for the first few years he seemed to 1722 01:22:08.199 --> 01:22:12.239 really love and people seem to really love him. 1723 01:22:12.319 --> 01:22:14.000 I think it played a role in it, for sure, 1724 01:22:14.159 --> 01:22:17.079 but I don't think it was a major part. I 1725 01:22:17.119 --> 01:22:21.880 think he is a guy that realized that whether it 1726 01:22:21.960 --> 01:22:24.359 was the ownership group or the front office or the roster, 1727 01:22:24.960 --> 01:22:27.680 he just feel like he felt like he couldn't reach 1728 01:22:27.720 --> 01:22:32.840 his apex here. His apex mountain was not here, And 1729 01:22:33.199 --> 01:22:35.880 I guess he was right in a sense. But to 1730 01:22:35.920 --> 01:22:40.279 your point, he isn't a markedly different player right now. 1731 01:22:40.319 --> 01:22:43.600 His stat line is pretty much the same. He's on 1732 01:22:43.680 --> 01:22:46.720 a team that has more talent, more versatile talent, and like, 1733 01:22:47.319 --> 01:22:50.000 I know that you could compare like the go Beart 1734 01:22:50.079 --> 01:22:52.880 with the Allen and the Garland with the Connley, but 1735 01:22:52.920 --> 01:22:55.960 the Jazz never had an Evan Mobley, you know, I 1736 01:22:55.960 --> 01:22:56.920 mean not even close. 1737 01:22:57.640 --> 01:22:59.920 Yeah, go Beart is more like more like a Jared Allen. 1738 01:23:00.039 --> 01:23:02.560 I mean, I mean, I feel like you would know. 1739 01:23:02.600 --> 01:23:04.319 I feel like people thought at one point that Evan 1740 01:23:04.319 --> 01:23:06.840 Mobley could be like an MVP caliber player. In this second, 1741 01:23:06.920 --> 01:23:09.880 I mean, he's proven to be very good this year. Again, 1742 01:23:10.359 --> 01:23:13.359 I think it worked out for the Jazz because he 1743 01:23:13.479 --> 01:23:17.239 wasn't going to stay here. They got a really good 1744 01:23:17.279 --> 01:23:19.600 player in return, which is something that we should never 1745 01:23:19.720 --> 01:23:22.359 like underscore, because I think you could have traded him 1746 01:23:22.359 --> 01:23:26.000 to the Knicks and got a bunch of Obi Toppins 1747 01:23:26.079 --> 01:23:28.920 and the one kid that doesn't even play for him anymore, 1748 01:23:28.960 --> 01:23:32.880 Winching Grimes or Miles McBride. We had lots of guys 1749 01:23:32.880 --> 01:23:35.479 around here doing Miles McBride team cool, a six to 1750 01:23:35.520 --> 01:23:37.279 one guy that can shoot when they have one down. 1751 01:23:37.319 --> 01:23:43.359 Penny Mills breakups are ugly, man. That's how I would 1752 01:23:43.399 --> 01:23:45.600 put it, and there are layers to them and for 1753 01:23:45.640 --> 01:23:50.039 the jazz they were. They have been lucky for several years, 1754 01:23:50.079 --> 01:23:52.319 decades even to avoid where they are now. And now 1755 01:23:52.319 --> 01:23:54.720 they're here. Sure, And it's just the reality of the NBA, 1756 01:23:54.840 --> 01:23:56.319 which I think, and I've said this on your show 1757 01:23:56.319 --> 01:23:59.239 a billion times, I think it's why viewership is down. 1758 01:23:59.239 --> 01:24:02.439 I think it's why in is down. It is so 1759 01:24:02.720 --> 01:24:06.560 impossibly hard to get involved and throw your heart into 1760 01:24:06.640 --> 01:24:09.119 a league where you know, like two or three people 1761 01:24:09.359 --> 01:24:10.800 have a true shot at winning it every year. 1762 01:24:10.840 --> 01:24:13.119 Yeah, no, one hundred percent. And when you don't have 1763 01:24:13.199 --> 01:24:16.520 the ability to retain the talent you drafted and developed. 1764 01:24:16.039 --> 01:24:18.079 Like there's no chance. It's hard. 1765 01:24:18.319 --> 01:24:21.520 All right, there's there's a little basketball on a Wednesday. 1766 01:24:21.560 --> 01:24:24.000 But coming up next we'll react to what Mark Carlin 1767 01:24:24.079 --> 01:24:28.000 had to say with today's desrat news piece. The CFP 1768 01:24:28.159 --> 01:24:31.000 semi Finals get rolling tomorrow. Chris Camaradi Live in studio 1769 01:24:31.079 --> 01:24:34.680 on a Wednesday right here on ESPN seven hundred, Chris 1770 01:24:34.720 --> 01:24:38.359 Tom Ronnie Live in studio for one more big segment. 1771 01:24:39.600 --> 01:24:43.960 Wait a second about this? Diego, Luna, oh A, Mecca 1772 01:24:43.960 --> 01:24:47.439 and Nelly shout out in a bench called into US 1773 01:24:47.520 --> 01:24:49.159 Men's national team camp in January. 1774 01:24:49.279 --> 01:24:51.960 Huge, pretty exciting. Yeah, I mean it's it's the camp 1775 01:24:52.000 --> 01:24:54.800 where all of the fringe guys get a shot. Okay, 1776 01:24:54.920 --> 01:25:00.119 but it's cool that your guy, Mariso Pochettino's giving some marsl. 1777 01:24:59.800 --> 01:25:01.319 Guys some looks. 1778 01:25:00.800 --> 01:25:03.720 Is one of the great great Spurs managers in club history. 1779 01:25:03.760 --> 01:25:05.640 Indeed, the Spurs are playing right now, aren't they. 1780 01:25:05.960 --> 01:25:08.720 They were playing in the Carabell Cup, which against Liverpool, 1781 01:25:08.760 --> 01:25:10.119 which I know you know a bunch about. 1782 01:25:10.239 --> 01:25:10.960 Tell me they won? 1783 01:25:11.439 --> 01:25:13.439 They did they it's the first leg. 1784 01:25:13.680 --> 01:25:17.119 Come on you, Spurs, big Spurs man over here. That's 1785 01:25:17.119 --> 01:25:19.560 what you're supposed to say. That's that's like the fan thing, 1786 01:25:19.600 --> 01:25:20.039 Come on. 1787 01:25:19.960 --> 01:25:25.920 You, Spurs. Impressive for Mecca for a number of reasons, 1788 01:25:25.960 --> 01:25:31.039 like the most prototypical like MLS development story guy smart 1789 01:25:31.039 --> 01:25:33.399 ivy league dude who got drafted to be a right 1790 01:25:33.479 --> 01:25:37.000 back in Salt Lakes or Sandy let's be honest, Harriman 1791 01:25:37.159 --> 01:25:38.960 and has now developed into a guy who's made the 1792 01:25:39.039 --> 01:25:41.880 national team camp. Luna I think is a bigger deal 1793 01:25:41.960 --> 01:25:44.319 because I do think Mexico at one point wanted to 1794 01:25:44.319 --> 01:25:48.319 see if he would be willing to switch switch to 1795 01:25:48.359 --> 01:25:51.000 play for the Mexican national team. But we'll see. I mean, 1796 01:25:51.520 --> 01:25:53.720 I think anytime you can be an attacking player and 1797 01:25:53.720 --> 01:25:56.079 play for a guy like Pacha, I think that's interesting. 1798 01:25:56.119 --> 01:25:57.560 So I'm fascinated to see how he does. 1799 01:25:57.680 --> 01:25:59.560 Do you think there's any shot either those two playing 1800 01:25:59.560 --> 01:26:02.359 a World cid M you think the team is kind 1801 01:26:02.359 --> 01:26:02.800 of set? 1802 01:26:03.479 --> 01:26:05.840 I mean, they're so good right now. I mean, all 1803 01:26:05.880 --> 01:26:08.720 their best players, if they can stay healthy, they're just 1804 01:26:08.920 --> 01:26:11.479 their players are starting now at these big clubs. I 1805 01:26:11.479 --> 01:26:15.600 mean Milan has like two starters, Juventus has two starters, 1806 01:26:15.640 --> 01:26:19.800 Peppi is finally coming on in the Dutch League, Luna 1807 01:26:21.319 --> 01:26:24.640 and Nelly maybe, but Tyler Adams has been hurt a lot. 1808 01:26:24.720 --> 01:26:30.279 But McKinney Adams musa. It's hard. But I guess said, 1809 01:26:30.319 --> 01:26:33.119 I'm just fascinated to see how they look playing in 1810 01:26:33.159 --> 01:26:34.119 a national team Jersey. 1811 01:26:34.159 --> 01:26:36.119 Yeah, it'll be fun. So is this like the Gold 1812 01:26:36.159 --> 01:26:36.920 Cup cycle? 1813 01:26:37.600 --> 01:26:39.840 Kind of? This is kind of like the first look 1814 01:26:39.840 --> 01:26:42.600 of the potential Gold Cup roster, because. 1815 01:26:42.680 --> 01:26:45.600 Kyle essentially parlayed a really strong Gold Cup into a 1816 01:26:45.880 --> 01:26:46.319 World Cup. 1817 01:26:46.399 --> 01:26:46.640 Yeah? 1818 01:26:46.640 --> 01:26:51.399 Correct, Yeah, So I just think unfortunately for both those guys, 1819 01:26:51.399 --> 01:26:55.239 they play positions where the US is currently pretty stacked. Yeah, 1820 01:26:55.520 --> 01:26:58.239 I mean Luna as you know, more of a central ten. 1821 01:26:58.399 --> 01:27:00.760 Obviously we don't I call the moon, but that's me. 1822 01:27:01.039 --> 01:27:04.199 We don't. We as the US don't really employ a 1823 01:27:04.319 --> 01:27:08.199 prototypical number ten. And but you know, Potch moves things around. 1824 01:27:08.560 --> 01:27:11.960 We're no longer under the casting spell of Greg Berhalter, 1825 01:27:12.079 --> 01:27:12.560 so who knows. 1826 01:27:12.680 --> 01:27:14.399 So this is this is a little bit like when 1827 01:27:14.399 --> 01:27:16.399 Tony Beltrom got a call up and you're like, sweet, 1828 01:27:16.560 --> 01:27:17.800 but you'll be back here soon. 1829 01:27:18.520 --> 01:27:20.800 I think, like Tony played against Mexico at one point. 1830 01:27:20.840 --> 01:27:23.199 If I'm not miss you're in like a pretty like 1831 01:27:23.600 --> 01:27:25.520 big game. I think it was one of his very 1832 01:27:25.560 --> 01:27:27.960 limited caps. I think I just remember because he got 1833 01:27:28.000 --> 01:27:33.760 to wear the really dope lollipop jersey. But it was 1834 01:27:33.800 --> 01:27:35.359 like the red, white and blue stack. 1835 01:27:35.479 --> 01:27:37.399 Yeah, yeah, yeah, and that was the coolest one. 1836 01:27:37.439 --> 01:27:37.680 I think. 1837 01:27:37.720 --> 01:27:40.119 Yeah, now I remember that, good, good memory, all right. 1838 01:27:40.680 --> 01:27:44.000 Shout out to our guy, Joe Coles exclusive with Mark Carlin, 1839 01:27:44.279 --> 01:27:47.479 University of View to Athletic Director and you and I 1840 01:27:47.680 --> 01:27:51.680 spoke about the situation following the BYU game the week 1841 01:27:51.720 --> 01:27:55.039 that it happened, and we don't need to go back there. 1842 01:27:55.119 --> 01:27:57.359 But of course, as the story goes, I was walking 1843 01:27:57.359 --> 01:28:01.039 home from the stadium. You were typing away with your piece. 1844 01:28:01.439 --> 01:28:03.840 Lovely photo we got that day with you, me and Aaron. 1845 01:28:03.960 --> 01:28:05.159 Good good picture, look good. 1846 01:28:05.239 --> 01:28:06.880 We did show my wife and she's like, dang, you 1847 01:28:06.880 --> 01:28:07.239 look good. 1848 01:28:07.479 --> 01:28:10.439 Nice. Okay, yeah, we'll take that from shout out Amanda, 1849 01:28:11.079 --> 01:28:12.399 And suddenly fun blows up. 1850 01:28:12.520 --> 01:28:15.119 Are you listening to Harlan? No, here's the link? Oh 1851 01:28:15.159 --> 01:28:16.439 my gosh. 1852 01:28:16.479 --> 01:28:19.600 And I thought his statement after the fact was something 1853 01:28:19.600 --> 01:28:21.439 I missed the Mark, and I said that on airon 1854 01:28:21.640 --> 01:28:24.880 My guess is Mark probably wanted that moment back, and 1855 01:28:25.000 --> 01:28:28.039 what he expressed to Joe I think was probably a 1856 01:28:28.079 --> 01:28:29.960 little bit more on lockstep what I thought he should 1857 01:28:29.960 --> 01:28:32.359 have expressed in the moment. But hey, we all make mistakes, 1858 01:28:32.359 --> 01:28:36.199 and then sometimes time can give us perspective. And we 1859 01:28:36.279 --> 01:28:38.359 now know that he called Kilani, and he called Tom Holm, 1860 01:28:38.520 --> 01:28:42.279 he called Bret Yormark to apologize for the comments he 1861 01:28:42.359 --> 01:28:45.680 made after that game. So I won't read everything he 1862 01:28:45.720 --> 01:28:47.840 had to say to Joe. And then he went on 1863 01:28:47.880 --> 01:28:49.600 to talk about some other things. But let's just stay 1864 01:28:49.600 --> 01:28:52.479 in that space as far as your thoughts on what 1865 01:28:52.560 --> 01:28:54.399 appeared to be a little bit more of a contrite 1866 01:28:54.439 --> 01:28:56.720 approach a couple of months after the fact. 1867 01:28:58.239 --> 01:28:58.439 Yeah. 1868 01:28:58.600 --> 01:29:02.680 Reading part one of the two part series, to me, 1869 01:29:02.760 --> 01:29:06.159 what stood out the most was Mark pushing back a 1870 01:29:06.159 --> 01:29:11.439 little bit on the notion that Utah wasn't able to 1871 01:29:11.520 --> 01:29:16.399 retain its best players. I think he found a let 1872 01:29:16.439 --> 01:29:20.760 me find this quote, something along the lines of, I 1873 01:29:20.800 --> 01:29:22.680 look at this last year and buy and large, we've 1874 01:29:22.680 --> 01:29:24.760 been able to retain all the key players that we 1875 01:29:24.800 --> 01:29:27.439 believe will lift us back to success in twenty five 1876 01:29:27.479 --> 01:29:31.680 and beyond. You also lost two of your best defensive 1877 01:29:31.680 --> 01:29:34.880 players to the portal, which is absolutely you know, part 1878 01:29:34.880 --> 01:29:37.000 for the course for pretty much any team in college football. 1879 01:29:37.039 --> 01:29:42.159 I get it, but I think I think this is 1880 01:29:42.239 --> 01:29:44.600 kind of what maybe frustrates fans a little bit. It's 1881 01:29:44.640 --> 01:29:48.880 like acknowledge that there have been some tough times, acknowledge 1882 01:29:48.880 --> 01:29:51.560 that there have been some losses, and don't necessarily try 1883 01:29:51.600 --> 01:29:56.920 to not puff out your chest, but just make it 1884 01:29:56.960 --> 01:29:59.079 seem like everything is honky dory all the time, like 1885 01:29:59.119 --> 01:30:01.520 it's not. It's and that's the case for every program 1886 01:30:01.560 --> 01:30:05.399 in the country. I mean, you know, we talked to 1887 01:30:05.479 --> 01:30:07.800 Joe about the revenue sharing bit, which was interesting, you know, 1888 01:30:07.840 --> 01:30:12.680 Mark talking about you know how they're planning on delineating 1889 01:30:12.720 --> 01:30:15.119 the twenty point six million that most schools will get, 1890 01:30:15.119 --> 01:30:17.640 which is going to be a fascinating component to this 1891 01:30:17.680 --> 01:30:22.840 next you know, college sports cycle. I would imagine most 1892 01:30:22.880 --> 01:30:25.199 of it for most schools goes to football and basketball, 1893 01:30:25.239 --> 01:30:30.800 but I understand there will still be some nil components 1894 01:30:30.800 --> 01:30:33.720 to this as well. But yeah, I mean, it's been 1895 01:30:33.720 --> 01:30:36.359 two months since you know, Mark took the took the mic. 1896 01:30:37.159 --> 01:30:39.800 I was surprised that it's taken this long, and you know, 1897 01:30:39.840 --> 01:30:42.479 hopefully he talks to some other local media outlets and 1898 01:30:43.359 --> 01:30:46.000 gives people a chance to ask him some questions because 1899 01:30:46.000 --> 01:30:49.800 I think right now, for somebody like Mark, you're in 1900 01:30:49.920 --> 01:30:52.960 such a unique position where everything is moving so fast 1901 01:30:52.960 --> 01:30:56.720 around you in real time. He also has the luxury 1902 01:30:56.720 --> 01:30:59.159 of having, you know, a stalwart like Kyle come back. 1903 01:31:00.600 --> 01:31:03.399 And obviously he's based on his comments to Joe, he's 1904 01:31:03.439 --> 01:31:08.319 very optimistic about what the immediate future holds for Utah. 1905 01:31:08.439 --> 01:31:12.119 But we'll have to see how they look starting next year. 1906 01:31:12.399 --> 01:31:15.479 Yeah, and you know, obviously, if you're the ad, you're 1907 01:31:15.479 --> 01:31:18.840 going to try to spend the most positive you know, 1908 01:31:18.920 --> 01:31:21.880 you know, you know, storyline and narrative surrounding your program. 1909 01:31:21.880 --> 01:31:24.319 But I think to your point, and this is what's 1910 01:31:24.399 --> 01:31:26.840 kind of bled over into the political discourse in our 1911 01:31:26.880 --> 01:31:29.800 country and pretty much discourse across the board, like just 1912 01:31:29.960 --> 01:31:32.479 don't tell me I'm not seeing what I'm seeing, please, 1913 01:31:33.000 --> 01:31:35.600 And from a fan perspective, like, don't tell me everything 1914 01:31:35.680 --> 01:31:38.600 is incredible when it's clear right now that things are 1915 01:31:39.119 --> 01:31:41.079 not as good as we're used to them being. And 1916 01:31:41.119 --> 01:31:44.119 that's Kyle being a victim of his own success and 1917 01:31:44.199 --> 01:31:46.680 changing standards here in the market. But you know, since 1918 01:31:46.720 --> 01:31:49.359 Mark took over, he's the one that fired Larry and 1919 01:31:49.439 --> 01:31:51.439 hired Craig, and that wasn't met with a lot of 1920 01:31:51.560 --> 01:31:54.680 enthusiasm from certain people in the market that actually thought 1921 01:31:54.760 --> 01:31:58.880 Larry was making some headway. That's that's to be debated, right, 1922 01:31:58.920 --> 01:32:00.640 But that was Mark's choice to move on from Larry 1923 01:32:00.680 --> 01:32:04.159 and bringing Craig. He inherited a football program where he 1924 01:32:04.199 --> 01:32:06.720 didn't have to touch it, and don't think he has 1925 01:32:06.800 --> 01:32:09.560 to touch it now. I wonder if part of the 1926 01:32:09.560 --> 01:32:13.000 messaging is just trying to forward this situation to make 1927 01:32:13.079 --> 01:32:15.239 it a little bit rosier than it actually is because 1928 01:32:15.279 --> 01:32:15.760 he's the ad. 1929 01:32:16.520 --> 01:32:20.680 Yeah, and in this culture, we have to do our 1930 01:32:20.720 --> 01:32:23.800 best of not overreacting to one thing, and by one thing, 1931 01:32:23.840 --> 01:32:26.279 I mean just one calendar year. And I've said this 1932 01:32:27.000 --> 01:32:29.640 often on the show recently. It's like, seventeen out of 1933 01:32:29.640 --> 01:32:33.079 twenty is a pretty good clip for winning, winning programs 1934 01:32:33.119 --> 01:32:36.720 in Utah football, you know, men's basketball, we've talked about. 1935 01:32:36.920 --> 01:32:40.720 The women's team is really turning the corner and becoming, 1936 01:32:41.039 --> 01:32:42.680 you know, a. 1937 01:32:43.800 --> 01:32:46.680 One of the best products locally to watch consistently. 1938 01:32:46.720 --> 01:32:46.840 Too. 1939 01:32:46.920 --> 01:32:50.960 It's the Larry thing, to me is interesting. I mean, 1940 01:32:51.640 --> 01:32:54.640 Chris made Larry a top ten paid coach in college basketball, 1941 01:32:55.319 --> 01:32:58.359 which is which is impressive if you consider some of 1942 01:32:58.640 --> 01:33:01.319 some of the programs that were way ahead of Utah 1943 01:33:01.399 --> 01:33:03.760 for a long time. And I think the last time 1944 01:33:03.920 --> 01:33:08.359 Utah made the tournament was like twenty sixteen. It had 1945 01:33:08.399 --> 01:33:11.600 been a while, and I don't think that necessarily was 1946 01:33:12.239 --> 01:33:15.800 the wrong move. I mean, I didn't know Larry that well, 1947 01:33:15.840 --> 01:33:17.560 but I knew him well enough. I don't know how 1948 01:33:17.640 --> 01:33:21.039 Larry would have really enjoyed the nil E A very 1949 01:33:21.079 --> 01:33:26.680 old school type of yeah. But I think ultimately, if 1950 01:33:26.840 --> 01:33:30.399 you know, based on what part one was able to show, 1951 01:33:31.239 --> 01:33:34.079 you know, Mark is bullish on how Utah is going 1952 01:33:34.159 --> 01:33:38.640 to attack this new fangled you know, world of NIL 1953 01:33:38.760 --> 01:33:41.760 and revenue sharing and all that stuff, because it's going 1954 01:33:41.840 --> 01:33:44.239 to be way more in your face, you know, like 1955 01:33:44.399 --> 01:33:48.000 in the past it was, you know, everyone assumed that, 1956 01:33:48.239 --> 01:33:51.520 you know, teams in the SEC were quote unquote cheating 1957 01:33:51.640 --> 01:33:54.960 or you know, paying players or whatever. Now, especially if 1958 01:33:54.960 --> 01:33:57.520 you're at a public institution, a lot of the stuff 1959 01:33:57.560 --> 01:34:00.680 will be able to like be like Grammar foy, it 1960 01:34:00.720 --> 01:34:04.199 be public public record, So you have to figure out 1961 01:34:04.239 --> 01:34:06.239 where you're going to put your money and how you 1962 01:34:06.279 --> 01:34:09.960 want to invest it. The stakes are higher now than 1963 01:34:09.960 --> 01:34:12.600 they ever were before. To your point, like Kyle is 1964 01:34:12.640 --> 01:34:15.720 a victim of his own success locally and nationally, which 1965 01:34:15.760 --> 01:34:20.840 is why programs come for a players. So we'll see 1966 01:34:20.840 --> 01:34:23.119 what happens. I'm fascinated to see what part two brings. 1967 01:34:23.680 --> 01:34:26.720 Yeah, and it's worth your time. He talks about nil, 1968 01:34:26.880 --> 01:34:30.960 he talks about, you know, raising money at this point, 1969 01:34:31.000 --> 01:34:34.560 which is probably as important as anything else you're doing 1970 01:34:34.640 --> 01:34:36.880 on the fundraising side of things. He said they've been 1971 01:34:36.920 --> 01:34:41.079 able to double their output to their athletes. And the 1972 01:34:41.159 --> 01:34:43.800 problem without really any data is you just kind of 1973 01:34:43.880 --> 01:34:45.720 have to take people at their word, and that's hard 1974 01:34:45.760 --> 01:34:48.840 to do. And there I don't think there's any proof 1975 01:34:49.159 --> 01:34:50.560 or any data one way or the other. 1976 01:34:50.680 --> 01:34:51.479 The Utah is. 1977 01:34:51.479 --> 01:34:55.640 Having a problem keeping talent because everybody loses talent every 1978 01:34:55.640 --> 01:34:58.359 single year. The national champ will and some of the 1979 01:34:58.359 --> 01:35:01.359 best teams in college football already have. So it makes 1980 01:35:01.399 --> 01:35:03.479 it hard to understand what real and what's real and 1981 01:35:03.520 --> 01:35:05.239 what is And the nice thing about sports is there's 1982 01:35:05.239 --> 01:35:08.600 a scoreboard, as we say, So, if what Mark is 1983 01:35:08.600 --> 01:35:11.520 seeing is true, next year should be better for the 1984 01:35:11.520 --> 01:35:13.359 football program, then this year. 1985 01:35:13.560 --> 01:35:21.159 Was, well, yeah, if you get average to above average 1986 01:35:21.199 --> 01:35:25.399 quarterback play, Utah this year is probably in a much 1987 01:35:25.439 --> 01:35:29.199 different place. As Bill said earlier on the show, next 1988 01:35:29.239 --> 01:35:30.760 year is just going to be a question Mark man, 1989 01:35:30.840 --> 01:35:35.960 And I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. They're 1990 01:35:36.000 --> 01:35:37.920 just going to have a bunch of players that nobody's 1991 01:35:37.960 --> 01:35:41.680 ever watched, a lot of new players on offense, a 1992 01:35:41.720 --> 01:35:44.800 lot of guys that you don't know how they'll be deployed. 1993 01:35:45.000 --> 01:35:49.199 You know, an offensive philosophy that is markedly different than 1994 01:35:49.239 --> 01:35:52.680 what Andy you know, deployed, which when it worked, when 1995 01:35:52.680 --> 01:35:53.680 it was humming, it was awesome. 1996 01:35:54.239 --> 01:35:55.960 When he got a healthy quarter exactly. 1997 01:35:55.640 --> 01:35:59.840 Well, healthy quarterback, healthy weapons, healthy running back, deep running back. 1998 01:36:00.319 --> 01:36:01.039 It worked. 1999 01:36:01.439 --> 01:36:05.199 Jason Beck's offense is a little more tantalizing, a little 2000 01:36:05.239 --> 01:36:09.960 more New Age by all accounts, less intricate, less difficult 2001 01:36:09.960 --> 01:36:12.239 to pick up, and you're bringing in the quarterback that 2002 01:36:13.239 --> 01:36:15.680 I'm not gonna say mastered. Because while everyone's freaking out 2003 01:36:15.720 --> 01:36:18.960 about Devin Dampierre, he did get thirty one total touchdowns 2004 01:36:19.000 --> 01:36:20.720 last year, but he through twelve picks, he threw twelve 2005 01:36:20.760 --> 01:36:23.760 touchdowns and twelve interceptions. The hell of a player on 2006 01:36:23.800 --> 01:36:26.840 the ground, he ran for like twenty touchdowns. So but again, 2007 01:36:26.920 --> 01:36:29.560 like if Utah is going to contend for the Big 2008 01:36:29.560 --> 01:36:31.159 twelve title next year, they're going to need him to 2009 01:36:31.159 --> 01:36:34.199 be a much improved passer because this league isn't great, 2010 01:36:34.399 --> 01:36:36.119 but you can get beat by anybody, and it's just 2011 01:36:36.159 --> 01:36:41.399 it's pack twelve, back in the back twelve. So yeah, 2012 01:36:41.520 --> 01:36:44.720 I'm I think next year we'll just bring so many 2013 01:36:44.920 --> 01:36:50.119 new lessons for people to find out how Kyle's evolving 2014 01:36:50.159 --> 01:36:52.800 as a head coach, who Jason Beck is, who these 2015 01:36:52.800 --> 01:36:55.119 new players are, and like, just like last year, I 2016 01:36:55.119 --> 01:36:58.439 would caution everybody to take a breather when state media 2017 01:36:58.479 --> 01:37:00.199 is telling you that, you know, all these guys are 2018 01:37:00.239 --> 01:37:02.720 going to be Heisman Trophy finalists and Utah's going to 2019 01:37:02.800 --> 01:37:04.880 run the table. We have to see how it looks, 2020 01:37:04.960 --> 01:37:06.600 and we won't see for a very long time. 2021 01:37:06.720 --> 01:37:09.960 You've covered Utah football for a long time. For a while, 2022 01:37:10.000 --> 01:37:12.760 you were the Utah guy for the athletic You have 2023 01:37:12.840 --> 01:37:15.960 moved on from that beat and you do more macro 2024 01:37:16.159 --> 01:37:18.159 level things and you have freedom to do other things, 2025 01:37:18.159 --> 01:37:20.159 which is good for us that are a fan of 2026 01:37:20.199 --> 01:37:23.239 your work. But you know as well as anybody. And 2027 01:37:23.279 --> 01:37:25.039 I drew the parallel to ky State because I was 2028 01:37:25.079 --> 01:37:27.880 listening to this Big twelve podcast. There they were going 2029 01:37:27.920 --> 01:37:30.399 through the exercise of how this conference will look next year. 2030 01:37:30.479 --> 01:37:32.239 I'm like, dude, all right, good luck. 2031 01:37:32.600 --> 01:37:34.600 I tried to do it myself. I've a zero clue. 2032 01:37:34.720 --> 01:37:37.159 You can pull up the rosters, you can see who's returning, 2033 01:37:37.439 --> 01:37:39.760 and you can kind of see who's already the transfer portal. 2034 01:37:39.760 --> 01:37:41.479 But it's such an exercise and futility. 2035 01:37:41.479 --> 01:37:43.920 But the way they were talking about k State is 2036 01:37:43.960 --> 01:37:47.760 exactly the way Utah football has been built under Kyle, 2037 01:37:47.800 --> 01:37:50.600 which is recruit and develop, And the most successful Utah 2038 01:37:50.640 --> 01:37:53.640 football season is just like k State have been. When 2039 01:37:53.640 --> 01:37:56.600 these programs have players in their third fourth fifth years. 2040 01:37:57.319 --> 01:37:59.399 Is that still a way you can build a contending 2041 01:37:59.439 --> 01:38:01.840 winning football team in college football in twenty twenty five. 2042 01:38:02.039 --> 01:38:04.760 I think you could look at the Big Twelve title 2043 01:38:04.800 --> 01:38:07.920 game as a dichotomy of how you can do it. 2044 01:38:08.000 --> 01:38:11.039 I think Arizona State a lot of transfers, a lot 2045 01:38:11.039 --> 01:38:14.680 of new guys, young head coach was able to galvanize 2046 01:38:14.680 --> 01:38:18.199 that group to a surprising season. Iowa States in the 2047 01:38:18.199 --> 01:38:20.560 same boat as the Utahs in the Kansas States. You 2048 01:38:20.600 --> 01:38:22.439 know a lot of guys that have been there in 2049 01:38:22.439 --> 01:38:25.640 that program for a long time, longtime head coach. There 2050 01:38:25.640 --> 01:38:28.000 are a lot of recruit and developed programs in the Big. 2051 01:38:27.880 --> 01:38:31.560 Twelve, is BYU or recruiting developed and that obviously worked 2052 01:38:31.560 --> 01:38:32.119 for them this year. 2053 01:38:32.159 --> 01:38:36.359 Absolutely. I mean, like if you're trying to think out 2054 01:38:36.399 --> 01:38:39.439 of their kind of quote unquote breakout players this year, 2055 01:38:39.800 --> 01:38:41.640 Like I said, nobody took a flyer on Jake. J 2056 01:38:41.720 --> 01:38:43.079 didn't have an offer, he had to go to a 2057 01:38:43.159 --> 01:38:48.640 community college, and nobody does anymore. David running back. 2058 01:38:49.920 --> 01:38:50.079 L. J. 2059 01:38:50.199 --> 01:38:53.399 Martin recruit and developed elst the offensive line outside of 2060 01:38:53.439 --> 01:38:58.119 the kid who went to Oklahoma State, receivers Aaron and 2061 01:38:58.159 --> 01:39:00.359 those guys did a good job BESSI they went got 2062 01:39:00.680 --> 01:39:07.159 guys like Lassiter, Marion, transfer guys, Chase, local guy defensively, 2063 01:39:07.560 --> 01:39:12.600 defensive line, mostly local guys, linebacker, room, very very good, 2064 01:39:12.640 --> 01:39:17.720 all local guys, secondary, some some some transfers, but some 2065 01:39:17.760 --> 01:39:21.640 local guys. I'm just saying, like that conference is a 2066 01:39:21.680 --> 01:39:23.920 recruit and developed conference really if you think about it, 2067 01:39:24.000 --> 01:39:26.479 maybe outside of Colorado, yeah, yeah, yeah, you know what 2068 01:39:26.560 --> 01:39:30.119 I mean, But ultimately it is. I agree, it's an 2069 01:39:30.119 --> 01:39:34.319 exercise and futility to try to pontificate where people will 2070 01:39:34.319 --> 01:39:37.520 be come August. But I don't think there's going to 2071 01:39:37.560 --> 01:39:39.960 be that much more movement because coaches want to have 2072 01:39:40.039 --> 01:39:42.760 quarterbacks in place. I think you can look at who 2073 01:39:42.840 --> 01:39:45.640 the odds on starters will be for like each quarterback 2074 01:39:45.640 --> 01:39:47.800 in the Big twelve right now and kind of get 2075 01:39:47.840 --> 01:39:50.640 a sense of who could be waere. But again, at 2076 01:39:50.640 --> 01:39:52.479 the same time, like we thought that last year, I mean, 2077 01:39:52.520 --> 01:39:54.600 we thought Cam Rising and Alan Bowman were going to 2078 01:39:54.640 --> 01:39:56.279 be two of the studs in the Big twelve, and 2079 01:39:57.039 --> 01:39:59.760 those guys got hurt and weren't really playing at the end, 2080 01:39:59.800 --> 01:40:02.520 Like Bowman got benched off and on and Cam got hurt. 2081 01:40:02.600 --> 01:40:05.479 So like this conference is kind of wacky man. 2082 01:40:06.319 --> 01:40:09.159 It is since you referenced Colorado, every time an NFL 2083 01:40:09.279 --> 01:40:11.680 job comes open, and a lot of people think the 2084 01:40:11.720 --> 01:40:14.760 Cowboys job could come open pretty quickly, although they didn't 2085 01:40:14.840 --> 01:40:17.199 let Mike McCarthy interview with the Bears, which is weird. 2086 01:40:17.920 --> 01:40:20.720 Raider's job is open, Giants' job is not. Thought it 2087 01:40:20.800 --> 01:40:24.000 might be, but maybe it's just the media trying to 2088 01:40:24.000 --> 01:40:26.199 create a story, because Dion is a story no matter 2089 01:40:26.279 --> 01:40:29.399 what he does. But if the right team that has 2090 01:40:29.439 --> 01:40:31.760 the right pick comes along and says, hey, we'll hire you, 2091 01:40:31.800 --> 01:40:32.600 We'll drop your. 2092 01:40:32.479 --> 01:40:34.279 Son Dion in Vegas, is that. 2093 01:40:34.319 --> 01:40:36.720 Enough to make Deon jump and Lee boulder? 2094 01:40:36.840 --> 01:40:39.520 I don't think so. Like I think one thing people 2095 01:40:40.159 --> 01:40:46.279 overestimate is people overestimate Dion's Like I don't want to 2096 01:40:46.279 --> 01:40:51.079 say ego because I know Dion believes in himself to 2097 01:40:51.199 --> 01:40:52.840 a level that a lot of people don't, and for 2098 01:40:52.920 --> 01:40:55.920 good reason. He's an NFL Hall of Famer and is 2099 01:40:56.079 --> 01:40:59.680 clearly has proven people wrong in the in the coaching realm, 2100 01:41:00.199 --> 01:41:03.199 but the NFL, man, it is unforgiving. You've seen so 2101 01:41:03.279 --> 01:41:05.560 many coaches in the last few years get their first job, 2102 01:41:05.600 --> 01:41:07.840 get their first taste, finally made it fired after one 2103 01:41:07.920 --> 01:41:10.800 year fired after two years. It is not a place 2104 01:41:10.840 --> 01:41:13.399 for job security. It's not, which is why I don't 2105 01:41:13.399 --> 01:41:16.640 think Dion will leave Colorado. Now he might, but like 2106 01:41:18.319 --> 01:41:21.319 you can, you can beat Colorado. You can do it 2107 01:41:21.359 --> 01:41:24.760 your way. You walk on water there, you made the 2108 01:41:24.800 --> 01:41:30.920 most irrelevant power power for conference team in the country. Relevant, 2109 01:41:31.359 --> 01:41:33.720 You're gonna get paid more because of the success that 2110 01:41:33.720 --> 01:41:38.159 you've had. You can do things your way. I just 2111 01:41:38.199 --> 01:41:41.199 don't see it unders and he said it himself, like 2112 01:41:42.840 --> 01:41:47.000 Dion's kind of bravado. I don't think that goes over 2113 01:41:47.199 --> 01:41:51.680 all that well with you know, veteran professional players, like 2114 01:41:52.119 --> 01:41:54.239 I'm sure a lot of those guys, I mean, I 2115 01:41:54.239 --> 01:41:56.039 guess we're old, I don't. I doubt a lot of 2116 01:41:56.039 --> 01:41:58.479 those guys watched him growing up for more past that 2117 01:41:58.479 --> 01:42:02.000 that's that's our era. But I just don't think that 2118 01:42:02.439 --> 01:42:06.319 would go over the same in a professional locker room 2119 01:42:06.399 --> 01:42:09.319 compared to, you know, trying to convince a bunch of 2120 01:42:09.680 --> 01:42:12.319 young players to come give Boulder Colorado a chance. 2121 01:42:12.399 --> 01:42:15.359 Yeah it's fair. Then you've done stories on him, so 2122 01:42:15.840 --> 01:42:17.920 I knew you'd have good perspective. All right, let's end 2123 01:42:17.920 --> 01:42:22.079 on this. I can ask you a philosophical question Orange Bowl? No, 2124 01:42:22.520 --> 01:42:24.239 who do you like in the Orange Bowl? Who'd you 2125 01:42:24.279 --> 01:42:24.680 like to win it? 2126 01:42:24.680 --> 01:42:25.840 Who's playing in the Orange Bowl? 2127 01:42:26.000 --> 01:42:28.960 That's the cotton is Ohio State, Texas. So the Orange 2128 01:42:29.039 --> 01:42:30.119 is Notre Dame, Penn State. 2129 01:42:30.159 --> 01:42:31.159 I'm gonna go to Notre Dame. 2130 01:42:31.479 --> 01:42:33.680 Who do you got in the cotton Ohio State? Does 2131 01:42:33.720 --> 01:42:35.119 anyone getting in Ohio State's way? 2132 01:42:35.920 --> 01:42:36.000 Not? 2133 01:42:36.800 --> 01:42:38.920 If they can make life hell for Will Howard that's 2134 01:42:38.960 --> 01:42:39.520 the only way. 2135 01:42:40.680 --> 01:42:41.279 Yeah, we'll have to. 2136 01:42:41.279 --> 01:42:42.279 Say ak to philosophy. 2137 01:42:42.439 --> 01:42:45.920 So I have a philosophical question for you, because topically 2138 01:42:45.960 --> 01:42:49.800 on the show, we've discussed because we're a basketball market, 2139 01:42:49.920 --> 01:42:52.520 you know, we're a jazz market, We're a pro basketball market. 2140 01:42:52.560 --> 01:42:56.479 We do not have an NFL team. If college football 2141 01:42:56.800 --> 01:42:59.960 transitions into a pro model and BYU and Utah and 2142 01:43:00.000 --> 01:43:01.760 involved in that, it will be as close to an 2143 01:43:01.840 --> 01:43:03.640 NFL team that we've ever had here, and it will 2144 01:43:03.680 --> 01:43:06.359 have that field because we'll have blue bloods in town 2145 01:43:06.399 --> 01:43:08.760 every week. Let's just hope that if that happens, Utah 2146 01:43:08.880 --> 01:43:13.319 VYU get that invite. But it's pretty clear now for 2147 01:43:13.479 --> 01:43:16.800 about a generation. The last time the NBA was even 2148 01:43:16.800 --> 01:43:20.680 in the same stratosphere as the NFL, as it pertains 2149 01:43:20.680 --> 01:43:23.920 to interest or ratings. Was the nineties? Was the late nineties. 2150 01:43:24.399 --> 01:43:27.560 We have the highest watched basketball game in the history 2151 01:43:27.560 --> 01:43:28.880 of the world played here in Salt Lake. 2152 01:43:28.880 --> 01:43:30.079 It was Michael Jordan's last game. 2153 01:43:30.199 --> 01:43:35.119 So crazy, yep, but it has not been And to 2154 01:43:35.199 --> 01:43:39.680 be frank, it wasn't close then, but the NBA was experiencing. 2155 01:43:39.199 --> 01:43:40.920 Growth while the NFL was kind of flatlined. 2156 01:43:40.920 --> 01:43:43.960 Then they never closed the gap and they never will. 2157 01:43:44.000 --> 01:43:47.520 But why do you think it is? I mean, concussions, 2158 01:43:48.039 --> 01:43:53.760 domestic of violence, everything that pretty smart people have predicted 2159 01:43:53.800 --> 01:43:57.239 would put a dent in the world of football consumption 2160 01:43:57.359 --> 01:43:59.319 in this country has not come close to it. 2161 01:43:59.359 --> 01:44:01.199 In fact, it's only ground. 2162 01:44:02.000 --> 01:44:04.960 Why do you think our appetite for football in America 2163 01:44:05.800 --> 01:44:07.680 is what it is to the point where it's the 2164 01:44:07.760 --> 01:44:10.039 number one sport and no one else even lives in 2165 01:44:10.039 --> 01:44:10.720 that cold desact. 2166 01:44:10.800 --> 01:44:12.199 I mean, this is not a hot take, but this 2167 01:44:12.319 --> 01:44:14.720 is my opinion. The savior of the sport was fantasy football. 2168 01:44:14.840 --> 01:44:17.760 M h yeah, like it. 2169 01:44:17.760 --> 01:44:23.000 It revolutionized the approach to fandom. It got even fringe 2170 01:44:23.039 --> 01:44:27.560 people involved. It's one game a week for not very long. 2171 01:44:28.359 --> 01:44:33.439 It's September to January. It's during generally the harder months 2172 01:44:33.439 --> 01:44:35.880 of the year where you want to be inside because 2173 01:44:35.880 --> 01:44:37.760 it's cold. If you live in a cold weather place. 2174 01:44:37.840 --> 01:44:40.000 A lot of these places that our NFL markets are 2175 01:44:40.079 --> 01:44:45.319 cold weather places. I think the demand of basketball is 2176 01:44:45.359 --> 01:44:48.119 just a lot. I think it's asking a lot for 2177 01:44:49.279 --> 01:44:52.720 people my age, you know, young parents. I can't imagine 2178 01:44:52.720 --> 01:44:55.640 a world where I'm like, hey, I know it's bedtime, 2179 01:44:56.319 --> 01:44:58.000 but I got to see Johnny Jusing. 2180 01:44:58.760 --> 01:44:59.399 I gotta. 2181 01:45:00.720 --> 01:45:03.159 I know it's bedtime, but I gotta se Johnny jusaying 2182 01:45:03.159 --> 01:45:06.880 in the corner. I'm just being honest, like, just it's 2183 01:45:06.960 --> 01:45:10.920 asking a lot. And I understand that every back and 2184 01:45:11.000 --> 01:45:14.319 what's really cool and something we don't eat. We complain 2185 01:45:14.359 --> 01:45:16.520 a lot about everything. It's insane that you can basically 2186 01:45:16.520 --> 01:45:19.279 watch whatever team you want to watch on any level 2187 01:45:19.319 --> 01:45:22.000 of any pro college model. These days, you can find 2188 01:45:22.039 --> 01:45:24.359 a way to watch. Back in the day, we were 2189 01:45:24.399 --> 01:45:27.159 pouring through the box scores on the paper or trying 2190 01:45:27.159 --> 01:45:30.000 to listen on the radio to hear the scores. Now 2191 01:45:30.039 --> 01:45:31.880 you can find anybody that you want to watch. It's 2192 01:45:31.920 --> 01:45:36.199 just asking a lot. Man and football, I think there 2193 01:45:36.279 --> 01:45:41.399 is this very unfortunate part of the American subconscious that 2194 01:45:42.319 --> 01:45:46.640 really really loves to pride itself on this idea of 2195 01:45:46.640 --> 01:45:50.720 glorifying the gladiator component of this thing. I recently watched 2196 01:45:51.199 --> 01:45:53.319 one of my favorite movies, Friday Night Lights, which is 2197 01:45:53.319 --> 01:45:55.920 a great book. It is great show and I hadn't 2198 01:45:55.920 --> 01:45:58.319 seen the movie in a very long time, and it's 2199 01:45:58.479 --> 01:46:01.560 really good. Man, I should have head Portodo Explosions. 2200 01:46:01.239 --> 01:46:03.159 Tim mcgride and where he had the big chew as 2201 01:46:03.199 --> 01:46:03.560 the dad. 2202 01:46:03.720 --> 01:46:05.840 The dad was great. It did a good Jobsane like 2203 01:46:05.840 --> 01:46:09.560 one of his first acting jobs. But we're on the 2204 01:46:09.560 --> 01:46:12.439 West coast, man, like we are. I talk about this 2205 01:46:12.479 --> 01:46:14.239 with my colleagues at the Athletic all the time. It's 2206 01:46:14.279 --> 01:46:17.399 like some of my friends cover Ohio State or Texas 2207 01:46:17.439 --> 01:46:20.640 or Penn State. Like there are places in this country, man, 2208 01:46:20.880 --> 01:46:25.439 that are twenty four to seven, three sixty five, no 2209 01:46:25.479 --> 01:46:27.640 matter what day of the year, no matter who's in 2210 01:46:27.680 --> 01:46:31.319 the hospital, you are going to go to the message 2211 01:46:31.319 --> 01:46:33.720 boards to see did we get the four star? And 2212 01:46:33.760 --> 01:46:35.760 that is part of the DNA of this country. 2213 01:46:35.840 --> 01:46:38.600 Yeah, I know I have homework, but sphe Makai Luke 2214 01:46:38.680 --> 01:46:42.119 is starting tonight. Who's at no it's your take on 2215 01:46:42.239 --> 01:46:44.439 I know it's bedtime, but Johnny Jews AG's gonna shoot 2216 01:46:44.439 --> 01:46:48.479 corner threes, all right, c K. Great to see my friend. 2217 01:46:48.880 --> 01:46:51.319 Best to Amanda and lit Leo and now will Chattoo. 2218 01:46:51.479 --> 01:46:51.920 Thanks man. 2219 01:46:52.359 --> 01:46:57.920 That big NBA game tonight, really big NBA game tonight 2220 01:46:57.960 --> 01:47:01.000 in just about twenty minutes from right now. Actually it 2221 01:47:01.079 --> 01:47:04.359 is the Cavs and the Thunder the first. It's the 2222 01:47:04.399 --> 01:47:07.680 third time in NBA history two teams on fifteen game 2223 01:47:07.720 --> 01:47:10.079 winning streaks have played each other. Both teams are on 2224 01:47:10.199 --> 01:47:13.760 base for over seventy wins. So little NBA action. The 2225 01:47:13.840 --> 01:47:16.479 Jazz were in action last night with the chaotic ending. 2226 01:47:16.680 --> 01:47:18.439 And I got to say the first time Sarah Todd 2227 01:47:18.479 --> 01:47:21.119 won the Utah Sports Writer of the Year award, I 2228 01:47:21.159 --> 01:47:23.359 had to call her my queen for an entire year. 2229 01:47:24.000 --> 01:47:26.840 So Sarah joins us now after your second win, Sarah, 2230 01:47:26.880 --> 01:47:28.359 First of all, congratulations. 2231 01:47:28.399 --> 01:47:30.840 Second of all, how do I refer to you moving forward? 2232 01:47:32.520 --> 01:47:35.199 Thank you so much? Since I mean I think that 2233 01:47:35.439 --> 01:47:39.520 now that I've taken once again my rightful place atop 2234 01:47:39.600 --> 01:47:44.840 the throne, let's just say you refer to me as 2235 01:47:44.880 --> 01:47:46.920 you see fit and we'll see how it works out. 2236 01:47:47.880 --> 01:47:51.079 My extreme queen, Sarah Todd joins us on the program 2237 01:47:51.119 --> 01:47:52.560 today I mean I. 2238 01:47:52.479 --> 01:47:57.760 Should say jokes aside, like I'm proud of the work 2239 01:47:57.760 --> 01:48:00.800 that I do, but I just, you know, when I 2240 01:48:00.840 --> 01:48:03.920 got the news that I'd been given the award again, 2241 01:48:04.000 --> 01:48:07.760 it just it feels like on a daily basis that 2242 01:48:08.079 --> 01:48:11.560 I'm this isn't a job, right, Like I get to 2243 01:48:11.600 --> 01:48:14.600 watch basketball every day and I get paid to do it, 2244 01:48:14.680 --> 01:48:16.720 and I think that basketball is the greatest sport in 2245 01:48:16.760 --> 01:48:19.319 the world, and so I'm just really really lucky and 2246 01:48:19.359 --> 01:48:20.279 I'm proud to be. 2247 01:48:20.239 --> 01:48:23.479 Doing But how good does it feel every time you win? 2248 01:48:23.560 --> 01:48:25.920 It that Andy lost again, I mean, that has to 2249 01:48:25.960 --> 01:48:26.640 feel so good. 2250 01:48:27.760 --> 01:48:31.039 I mean, I sometimes I don't even think that like 2251 01:48:31.079 --> 01:48:34.279 I'm getting an award. I just think, like Tony and 2252 01:48:34.279 --> 01:48:35.560 Andy are not getting an award. 2253 01:48:37.319 --> 01:48:40.000 That was my reaction was that was my reaction, But 2254 01:48:40.399 --> 01:48:42.720 obviously we could. We love our guys, but very happy 2255 01:48:42.760 --> 01:48:46.439 for you, very well deserved Sarah. So congrats Sarah Todd 2256 01:48:46.520 --> 01:48:48.720 Utah sports Right of the Year for the second straight time. 2257 01:48:49.079 --> 01:48:52.000 I got to know what the reaction was last night 2258 01:48:52.159 --> 01:48:54.680 over where you guys sit after that chaotic ending. 2259 01:48:56.119 --> 01:49:00.079 It was so funny because usually on press row, you know, 2260 01:49:00.119 --> 01:49:03.840 we're pretty stoic. I think that you know, during a 2261 01:49:05.279 --> 01:49:09.600 during a tanking season, we have to find smaller ways 2262 01:49:09.720 --> 01:49:12.760 to keep engaged throughout the season kind of, you know, 2263 01:49:13.199 --> 01:49:17.439 as the beat writers and so so at the beginning 2264 01:49:17.439 --> 01:49:20.520 of the game yesterday, right, Patty Mills comes in and 2265 01:49:20.560 --> 01:49:23.359 he takes nine shots in the first six minutes on 2266 01:49:23.399 --> 01:49:25.479 the floor, and so then at that point it became 2267 01:49:25.520 --> 01:49:27.840 a game for all of us, like, yeah, let's let's 2268 01:49:27.840 --> 01:49:30.520 see can Patty take twenty four shots tonight? And you know, 2269 01:49:30.560 --> 01:49:32.720 it's something to laugh at, but also something kind of 2270 01:49:32.760 --> 01:49:36.840 like to root for and and and just funny things 2271 01:49:36.880 --> 01:49:40.520 to add levity. But then by the end of the game, 2272 01:49:41.039 --> 01:49:45.119 when Colin Sexton hits a shot with four seconds to 2273 01:49:45.239 --> 01:49:47.680 tie the game, it looks like it's going into overtime. 2274 01:49:47.800 --> 01:49:50.720 You know, we nearly raised out of our seat, not 2275 01:49:50.880 --> 01:49:53.039 because of the timing, but because it was on a 2276 01:49:53.079 --> 01:49:58.399 broken plate. The Hawks almost stole that inbound pass, and 2277 01:49:58.840 --> 01:50:02.039 Colin came in from the side, swiped the ball, barely 2278 01:50:02.039 --> 01:50:04.720 got control of it, dribbled a couple times for a 2279 01:50:04.760 --> 01:50:08.239 step back, and it was a good look, but it 2280 01:50:08.279 --> 01:50:10.720 was such a chaotic moment. And then when it went through, 2281 01:50:11.199 --> 01:50:13.760 we all kind of like raised a foot or so 2282 01:50:13.880 --> 01:50:17.159 out of our seats. And then obviously a couple seconds 2283 01:50:17.239 --> 01:50:20.560 later when Trey Young pulled up from you know, fifty 2284 01:50:20.560 --> 01:50:24.319 feet out and that ball went through, we completely stood. 2285 01:50:24.039 --> 01:50:25.039 Out out of our seats. 2286 01:50:25.159 --> 01:50:28.840 It was it was just an insane moment. I'm frankly 2287 01:50:28.880 --> 01:50:31.039 like it looked good is the second that it left in. 2288 01:50:31.079 --> 01:50:33.039 Hand, you know, that was the thing. 2289 01:50:33.239 --> 01:50:35.479 As I was watching it, watching a real time when 2290 01:50:35.520 --> 01:50:37.399 it left his hands, I said, that's got a shot, 2291 01:50:37.439 --> 01:50:41.399 because Trey's one of those that practices those shots, right. 2292 01:50:41.600 --> 01:50:44.600 I mean, we see certain players in the league and 2293 01:50:44.640 --> 01:50:47.039 I always say to people, and it's not always possible, 2294 01:50:47.079 --> 01:50:49.399 but if you go into a Jazz game, try to 2295 01:50:49.439 --> 01:50:52.720 get there early to see Dirk warm up back in 2296 01:50:52.760 --> 01:50:55.560 the day, which was amazing to watch to see Steph 2297 01:50:55.720 --> 01:50:59.439 warm up or Dame. And Trey's one of those players, 2298 01:50:59.439 --> 01:51:02.800 Sarah that I believe pregame, you see him practicing these 2299 01:51:02.840 --> 01:51:03.600 half court heaves. 2300 01:51:03.680 --> 01:51:06.880 Yeah, yeah, I mean there's a number of players that 2301 01:51:06.920 --> 01:51:09.359 are practicing him. And I think that a lot of 2302 01:51:09.399 --> 01:51:13.800 people will see players practicing these types of shots or 2303 01:51:14.800 --> 01:51:17.840 putting up a few of these shots pregame, or maybe 2304 01:51:17.880 --> 01:51:19.960 they see some clips on social media of them doing 2305 01:51:20.039 --> 01:51:22.760 a couple of them during practice, and they think that it's, 2306 01:51:23.199 --> 01:51:26.520 you know, for fun, and sure there is an element 2307 01:51:26.560 --> 01:51:29.039 of fun to it, but as you said, like a 2308 01:51:29.039 --> 01:51:32.960 player like Trey, he's actually practicing like it's not just 2309 01:51:33.000 --> 01:51:36.760 for fun. There's a chance that he expects that he'll 2310 01:51:36.760 --> 01:51:38.880 have to take that. I mean, even just this season alone, 2311 01:51:38.960 --> 01:51:42.119 he's already taken and making a thirty nine foot shot, 2312 01:51:42.159 --> 01:51:45.279 a thirty seven foot shot, thirty four Like it's not 2313 01:51:45.399 --> 01:51:47.960 out of his it's not out of his bag, right, 2314 01:51:48.079 --> 01:51:50.880 Like that's in his bag to hit those long shots, 2315 01:51:50.880 --> 01:51:54.199 to do it under pressure. And so yeah, get getting 2316 01:51:54.239 --> 01:51:55.359 there early to see those. 2317 01:51:55.159 --> 01:51:55.840 Guys do that. 2318 01:51:56.279 --> 01:51:58.840 I keep in mind also when you're seeing it that 2319 01:51:58.840 --> 01:52:01.840 that's not always just you know, for the fans, they're 2320 01:52:01.880 --> 01:52:03.119 getting a couple of reps in. 2321 01:52:04.039 --> 01:52:05.800 Let me ask you this before we move on to 2322 01:52:05.960 --> 01:52:09.039 just more Jazz exclusive stuff. You know, it's been an 2323 01:52:09.079 --> 01:52:12.800 interesting few weeks where the Jazz have either welcomed in 2324 01:52:12.960 --> 01:52:15.680 old friends or they played old friends on the road. 2325 01:52:15.760 --> 01:52:19.119 How should Jazz fans remember Quinn Quinn Snyder his eight 2326 01:52:19.159 --> 01:52:20.359 year stint here as the head coach. 2327 01:52:22.560 --> 01:52:25.359 Yeah, I mean I think that you know, Quinn came here, 2328 01:52:25.520 --> 01:52:30.119 and I don't think that he necessarily had an easy 2329 01:52:30.279 --> 01:52:33.159 job of it at the beginning, right, Like, there was 2330 01:52:33.239 --> 01:52:37.359 nothing certain at all about the team or the players 2331 01:52:37.399 --> 01:52:41.760 that he was getting. And to have the kind of 2332 01:52:41.920 --> 01:52:46.560 sustained success, albeit not the success anyone would have wanted, 2333 01:52:47.359 --> 01:52:50.359 but the rise to that success and that sustained success 2334 01:52:50.399 --> 01:52:53.079 for the amount of time that he was here, I mean, 2335 01:52:53.119 --> 01:52:55.560 I don't think if you asked Jazz fans, think you'd 2336 01:52:55.560 --> 01:52:59.039 be hard pressed to find anyone that didn't enjoy that 2337 01:52:59.199 --> 01:53:05.079 era of jazz basketball. And you know, you think about 2338 01:53:05.079 --> 01:53:08.199 the what ifs, and you know, what if they would 2339 01:53:08.199 --> 01:53:11.840 have moved away from Quinn before. What if that Donovan 2340 01:53:11.880 --> 01:53:16.159 and Rudy Jazz team had had someone else at the Helm. 2341 01:53:16.399 --> 01:53:19.159 What if they'd been given one more year, all of 2342 01:53:19.199 --> 01:53:21.239 them to run it back one more time and see 2343 01:53:21.239 --> 01:53:23.039 if it would have worked. Like, there's always going to 2344 01:53:23.079 --> 01:53:26.680 be those what if But no matter how you feel 2345 01:53:26.720 --> 01:53:30.239 about how it ended, while it was happening, Quinn Snyder 2346 01:53:30.359 --> 01:53:33.079 was great for Utah and for the Jazz. 2347 01:53:34.439 --> 01:53:36.000 I'm glad you brought that up because I want to 2348 01:53:36.039 --> 01:53:38.079 move over into that space next tonight. 2349 01:53:38.079 --> 01:53:40.680 It's a massive, massive, NBA game. 2350 01:53:40.720 --> 01:53:42.520 We don't get a lot of these regular season Like, 2351 01:53:42.560 --> 01:53:44.920 holy smokes, is this historic start real? 2352 01:53:45.119 --> 01:53:47.039 And on one side, we'll be the thirty one and 2353 01:53:47.119 --> 01:53:48.239 four Cleveland. 2354 01:53:47.800 --> 01:53:53.319 Cavaliers with Donovan Mitchell really playing a different brand of basketball. 2355 01:53:53.359 --> 01:53:55.279 I don't know how much of this is Kenny Atkinson. 2356 01:53:55.359 --> 01:53:57.159 I don't know how much of this is Donovan aging 2357 01:53:57.199 --> 01:54:00.279 a bit. The numbers are about the same as they 2358 01:54:00.279 --> 01:54:02.359 always have been and they were here, but he's taking 2359 01:54:02.439 --> 01:54:05.239 less shots, and he's admitted on a few occasions that 2360 01:54:05.279 --> 01:54:07.960 he's actually trying on defense, which I'm sure Jazz fans 2361 01:54:08.039 --> 01:54:11.479 just love to hear. But I do think there is 2362 01:54:11.520 --> 01:54:15.479 a world where and Donovan on a couple of occasions 2363 01:54:15.760 --> 01:54:17.680 has said that he thought there was more. 2364 01:54:18.039 --> 01:54:21.199 I don't know. I'm paraphrasing meat on the bone here 2365 01:54:21.239 --> 01:54:21.880 in Salt Lake. 2366 01:54:21.960 --> 01:54:22.119 Now. 2367 01:54:22.199 --> 01:54:25.199 I tend to roll my eyes at that, because really, 2368 01:54:26.000 --> 01:54:27.960 behind the scenes, it was Donovan who was kind of 2369 01:54:27.960 --> 01:54:30.039 blowing the whole thing up. Everybody knows that. I've talked 2370 01:54:30.039 --> 01:54:32.279 to people in the front office, and you know, it 2371 01:54:32.319 --> 01:54:34.159 was odd Sarah, you covered him for the first like 2372 01:54:34.279 --> 01:54:37.840 three years here. He walked on water and seemed to 2373 01:54:38.000 --> 01:54:40.640 really love it here, and he was awesome, which helped, 2374 01:54:41.199 --> 01:54:44.680 and it was so fun because like, Okay, see for 2375 01:54:44.680 --> 01:54:47.960 instance right now, you know, they had a playoff experience 2376 01:54:48.039 --> 01:54:51.399 last year and Shay's awesome, but the role players around 2377 01:54:51.439 --> 01:54:53.399 Shay kind of let him down. So like his Jalen 2378 01:54:53.439 --> 01:54:55.520 william is going to be better this time around in 2379 01:54:55.560 --> 01:54:58.600 a playoff run. And one of the reasons I was 2380 01:54:58.640 --> 01:55:01.600 so excited about that group is that with Donovan's early 2381 01:55:01.640 --> 01:55:04.720 evolution and with the team that was around him, he 2382 01:55:04.840 --> 01:55:08.159 got a deep ish playoff run experience as a young 2383 01:55:08.199 --> 01:55:11.560 player and a primary scorer on a team that beat 2384 01:55:11.600 --> 01:55:13.800 an OKC team that was thought to be a super 2385 01:55:13.840 --> 01:55:15.760 team put together. I'm like, Okay, if he can get 2386 01:55:15.760 --> 01:55:19.800 this experience, now we fast forward four, five, six years 2387 01:55:19.840 --> 01:55:20.760 and that's where we're at. 2388 01:55:20.840 --> 01:55:21.159 Now. 2389 01:55:21.279 --> 01:55:23.439 He's going to learn how to do this and at 2390 01:55:23.439 --> 01:55:26.119 some point we'll have some playoffs success. But as you 2391 01:55:26.199 --> 01:55:29.439 watch Donovan evolve into the stratosphere as maybe a first 2392 01:55:29.680 --> 01:55:33.199 team NBA guy and a team that is legitimately a 2393 01:55:33.199 --> 01:55:36.199 contender to win the thing, do you think it stings 2394 01:55:36.279 --> 01:55:38.760 Jazz fans a little bit to hear him say that 2395 01:55:38.840 --> 01:55:42.239 he thinks there was meat left on that bone? Did 2396 01:55:42.279 --> 01:55:44.359 you think it was as untenable as most and do 2397 01:55:44.399 --> 01:55:46.680 you think the Jazz should have tried to maybe squeeze 2398 01:55:46.720 --> 01:55:49.039 a little bit more juice out of that roster. 2399 01:55:50.279 --> 01:55:53.760 I think both things can be true. I think that 2400 01:55:53.800 --> 01:55:58.840 you can think and it's hard to say it. I 2401 01:55:58.920 --> 01:56:01.199 think that there's probably different perspective and it's hard to 2402 01:56:01.199 --> 01:56:05.359 look at it and say it from like me saying 2403 01:56:05.399 --> 01:56:07.880 it versus Donovan saying it, like we're going to feel 2404 01:56:07.920 --> 01:56:10.079 different things. He's in it, I'm not right. And so 2405 01:56:10.800 --> 01:56:14.079 like I think when you're in the trenches and you're 2406 01:56:14.359 --> 01:56:18.079 you're battling, and if someone were to walk up and say, 2407 01:56:18.119 --> 01:56:21.880 like you can't do it right, like it's over, you're 2408 01:56:21.920 --> 01:56:24.000 not going to be able to achieve the success you 2409 01:56:24.079 --> 01:56:27.680 want to achieve. I think it's really natural actually to 2410 01:56:27.760 --> 01:56:30.279 be like no, like no, we could have done it. 2411 01:56:30.399 --> 01:56:32.079 There was a little bit more meat on the bone, 2412 01:56:32.159 --> 01:56:36.479 like there's there's something here. And for those that were 2413 01:56:36.520 --> 01:56:39.199 in it, I think that that's probably true. I think 2414 01:56:39.199 --> 01:56:41.359 there's probably a lot of people on those teams that 2415 01:56:42.199 --> 01:56:45.359 believed that they could have done something more. And I 2416 01:56:45.399 --> 01:56:47.640 also think that it's a lot easier for those of 2417 01:56:47.680 --> 01:56:50.880 us on the outside that thought to say, I think 2418 01:56:50.880 --> 01:56:53.399 that you've reached your peak here, but I think that 2419 01:56:53.840 --> 01:56:56.279 you know, even if you tried, you probably only get 2420 01:56:56.319 --> 01:56:58.279 to the same spot. And I think that that's that's 2421 01:56:58.319 --> 01:57:01.319 where the Jazz were at that point, is that team 2422 01:57:01.359 --> 01:57:07.399 had run its course. There were problems, and I don't 2423 01:57:07.439 --> 01:57:12.720 think that like that kind of that phrase, there's a 2424 01:57:12.760 --> 01:57:16.239 little bit more meat left on the bone. I don't 2425 01:57:16.279 --> 01:57:20.239 think that that necessarily means that that team could have 2426 01:57:20.279 --> 01:57:22.319 done it. I think that everybody felt like they could 2427 01:57:22.319 --> 01:57:24.520 have tried, that they had they had more to give, 2428 01:57:25.119 --> 01:57:26.960 But I still don't think that that team would have 2429 01:57:26.960 --> 01:57:28.079 been able to do any better. 2430 01:57:28.119 --> 01:57:29.840 And so I think that it. 2431 01:57:29.800 --> 01:57:32.039 Can be true that like it was time to move on, 2432 01:57:32.520 --> 01:57:34.399 blowing the team up was the right thing to do 2433 01:57:34.520 --> 01:57:38.000 for the future of the team. But that doesn't mean 2434 01:57:38.000 --> 01:57:41.680 that Donovan doesn't have more to give elsewhere and that 2435 01:57:41.680 --> 01:57:43.720 that can't be placed somewhere and we and we see 2436 01:57:43.760 --> 01:57:45.880 that with the Cavaliers right now. As you said, I mean, 2437 01:57:45.920 --> 01:57:49.800 I think it strange him having sort of the same 2438 01:57:49.920 --> 01:57:53.640 numbers and and saying you know that he there's more 2439 01:57:53.640 --> 01:57:56.319 effort on defense at times. But I think Donovan is 2440 01:57:56.359 --> 01:58:02.000 also someone that winning cures everything is a true thing 2441 01:58:02.079 --> 01:58:06.239 for athletes throughout sports, and I think that it's particularly 2442 01:58:06.279 --> 01:58:09.880 true for Donovan that you know, he is a person 2443 01:58:10.039 --> 01:58:13.720 who's whose level is raised, and you can see his 2444 01:58:13.800 --> 01:58:17.239 confidence change, and you can really see like a tangible 2445 01:58:17.279 --> 01:58:20.439 difference when there's winning, when there's something to fight for, 2446 01:58:20.680 --> 01:58:22.520 when you know he can see the light at the 2447 01:58:22.600 --> 01:58:25.039 end of the tunnel. And so I think that those 2448 01:58:25.039 --> 01:58:27.560 things go hand in hand. It's kind of cyclical, like, yes, 2449 01:58:27.600 --> 01:58:30.600 the calves are great and it's working out right now. 2450 01:58:31.520 --> 01:58:33.640 You probably wouldn't be hearing the same things out of 2451 01:58:33.640 --> 01:58:36.119 Donovan if maybe the record was a little bit different. 2452 01:58:36.960 --> 01:58:39.680 Yeah, now that's very fair. All right, Let's move over 2453 01:58:39.760 --> 01:58:44.119 to the Jazz specifically, and this iteration of the Jazz specifically, 2454 01:58:44.159 --> 01:58:48.680 as you referenced earlier in a tank season, sometimes from 2455 01:58:48.720 --> 01:58:51.199 a fan perspective, it's hard to see the forest through 2456 01:58:51.199 --> 01:58:51.680 the trees. 2457 01:58:52.319 --> 01:58:53.640 I'll ask you this just from a. 2458 01:58:53.600 --> 01:58:57.479 Macro standpoint, What are the positives that you're seeing that 2459 01:58:57.560 --> 01:59:00.119 you can share with Jazz fan. This is such a 2460 01:59:00.199 --> 01:59:03.600 tough ask of a basketball community, and the Jazz certainly 2461 01:59:03.600 --> 01:59:05.439 aren't the only ones to do it. Philly ask their 2462 01:59:05.439 --> 01:59:07.399 fans to do it for like six years and then 2463 01:59:07.399 --> 01:59:11.239 they got embid. And I'm always sympathetic to a fan 2464 01:59:11.319 --> 01:59:13.920 base that is accustomed to winning basketball, that's asked to 2465 01:59:13.920 --> 01:59:17.239 invest in the team that's unseerious about winning in the 2466 01:59:17.279 --> 01:59:19.520 name of hopefully getting back there at some point if 2467 01:59:19.520 --> 01:59:21.159 things kind of fall their way. But what are the 2468 01:59:21.239 --> 01:59:23.520 positive things you're seeing from the Jazz team this year? 2469 01:59:25.720 --> 01:59:31.479 The positives are, I think, first and foremost, the improvement 2470 01:59:31.520 --> 01:59:35.960 that we've seen out of Walker Kestler, the kind of 2471 01:59:36.039 --> 01:59:39.000 glimmers of potential and slashes here and there that you 2472 01:59:39.039 --> 01:59:42.479 see out of some of the young players. That all 2473 01:59:42.479 --> 01:59:45.000 comes with a caveat that like they're going to need 2474 01:59:45.039 --> 01:59:46.960 a lot more time than people think they are going 2475 01:59:46.960 --> 01:59:49.159 to need to. You know, I'm not ready to call 2476 01:59:49.439 --> 01:59:51.880 anybody a bust after a year and a half. I 2477 01:59:51.920 --> 01:59:54.479 think that that requires a little bit more time, and 2478 01:59:54.880 --> 01:59:56.960 that's a good thing, because that's what the Jazz have 2479 01:59:57.119 --> 02:00:00.920 right now is time. And then I think kind of 2480 02:00:01.359 --> 02:00:04.199 maybe secondary to seeing like Walker break out and know 2481 02:00:04.319 --> 02:00:06.520 that he could be a part of the future and 2482 02:00:06.600 --> 02:00:09.520 the continued success of Larry Markinen and those things, is 2483 02:00:09.840 --> 02:00:14.479 that these guys have haven't won ten games this season 2484 02:00:14.720 --> 02:00:18.279 and they're still happy, they still fight for each other. 2485 02:00:18.439 --> 02:00:22.159 There's so much buy in in this locker room, and 2486 02:00:22.239 --> 02:00:26.239 that is kind of at a strange level, how how 2487 02:00:26.359 --> 02:00:29.479 much buy in there is. And you have to attribute 2488 02:00:29.520 --> 02:00:31.720 most of that, I think to Will Hardy. And so 2489 02:00:32.000 --> 02:00:34.359 if you've got a coach that you are hoping to 2490 02:00:35.039 --> 02:00:37.399 lead you through what are probably going to be the 2491 02:00:37.520 --> 02:00:41.039 darkest years of this rebuild, and he's got guys feeling 2492 02:00:41.119 --> 02:00:43.399 in the way that they feel and buying in the 2493 02:00:43.439 --> 02:00:46.399 way that they buy in. Like, Will Hardy has done 2494 02:00:46.439 --> 02:00:51.479 an incredible job you working this locker room and dealing 2495 02:00:51.560 --> 02:00:54.840 with personalities and making sure that guys believe in him, 2496 02:00:54.920 --> 02:00:57.159 they believe in the future, and that they believe in 2497 02:00:57.199 --> 02:01:01.640 the plan, and that he's made every player feel like 2498 02:01:01.720 --> 02:01:04.720 you can when we're ready to go and when we 2499 02:01:04.880 --> 02:01:07.439 have the talent. I'm trying to build you up to 2500 02:01:07.439 --> 02:01:10.319 have the skills and the experience to be ready to 2501 02:01:10.399 --> 02:01:11.720 go and you can be. 2502 02:01:11.680 --> 02:01:12.119 A part of this. 2503 02:01:12.279 --> 02:01:14.439 Now, that's not true for every guy on this on 2504 02:01:14.520 --> 02:01:17.680 this team, like certainly many of them will probably not 2505 02:01:17.760 --> 02:01:20.000 be a part of that future, but they believe they 2506 02:01:20.039 --> 02:01:23.159 can be. And I think that you know, we don't 2507 02:01:23.199 --> 02:01:27.560 know a lot about how Will Will will hardy will 2508 02:01:27.640 --> 02:01:30.000 coach and if he's going to be successful once the 2509 02:01:30.039 --> 02:01:33.039 team is actually trying to be successful and so there's 2510 02:01:33.079 --> 02:01:36.199 you know, coaching question marks there. But so far, what 2511 02:01:36.239 --> 02:01:38.880 we've seen is like he has done an incredible job 2512 02:01:38.920 --> 02:01:39.199 with this. 2513 02:01:39.199 --> 02:01:42.680 Team, and he does a really masterful job because I 2514 02:01:42.760 --> 02:01:46.640 listen to I've always been a sucker for coach's post game, 2515 02:01:46.800 --> 02:01:49.439 So whatever game i'm watching, I want to listen to 2516 02:01:49.439 --> 02:01:52.039 the coach after the game. And you know, he and 2517 02:01:52.159 --> 02:01:56.319 Quinn have much different approaches. Quinn could get how shall 2518 02:01:56.359 --> 02:01:58.880 we say, a little agitated, and then he would look 2519 02:01:58.920 --> 02:02:00.880 at Andy Larson like he was to behead him if 2520 02:02:00.920 --> 02:02:04.680 Andy asked a bad question. And Will can be sarcastic 2521 02:02:04.760 --> 02:02:07.560 and pithy and dismissive, but when he gets into the 2522 02:02:07.560 --> 02:02:10.960 coach speak in the realm of like speaking of his team, 2523 02:02:11.119 --> 02:02:14.000 he does give you a lot if you listen, and 2524 02:02:14.039 --> 02:02:17.720 he's done a really good job of acknowledging. And I 2525 02:02:17.760 --> 02:02:19.920 think lately they've been more competitive. And look, I'm not 2526 02:02:19.960 --> 02:02:22.239 a moral victory guy. I'm just not. But when we 2527 02:02:22.319 --> 02:02:25.039 all know what time it is and we all know 2528 02:02:25.079 --> 02:02:27.800 what they're trying to do. We have to analyze something 2529 02:02:27.840 --> 02:02:30.079 beyond winning or losing, because if you do the whole 2530 02:02:30.119 --> 02:02:32.279 like your record says you know you are what your 2531 02:02:32.279 --> 02:02:34.840 record says you are, then you're embarrassing, empathetic and the 2532 02:02:34.880 --> 02:02:35.880 Jazz are not serious. 2533 02:02:35.920 --> 02:02:37.680 But if you hone in. 2534 02:02:38.199 --> 02:02:40.399 On more of the trends that seem to be encouraging 2535 02:02:40.439 --> 02:02:42.279 with some of the young players, Will talks a lot 2536 02:02:42.319 --> 02:02:46.079 about the process and how things actually went really well tonight, 2537 02:02:46.119 --> 02:02:48.439 and yes, Trey Jung hits a fifty footer, but what 2538 02:02:48.479 --> 02:02:50.960 can we do? So I'll ask you what have you 2539 02:02:51.079 --> 02:02:54.239 seen as of late that's allowed them to be more competitive, 2540 02:02:54.760 --> 02:02:57.279 even more often than not leading to losses. 2541 02:02:58.760 --> 02:03:03.439 Yeah again, I'll say Walker Kessler has been incredible. I mean, 2542 02:03:04.159 --> 02:03:07.640 he had ten rebounds last night against the Hawks, eight 2543 02:03:07.680 --> 02:03:12.680 of them were offensive rebounds. Like his strength, his body 2544 02:03:12.720 --> 02:03:17.319 position and kind of just like the force that he's 2545 02:03:17.319 --> 02:03:20.279 playing with, it has been raised to a different level. 2546 02:03:21.039 --> 02:03:23.319 It makes me think so much more about his potential 2547 02:03:23.359 --> 02:03:26.800 than I did even in his rookie season. The fact 2548 02:03:26.840 --> 02:03:30.319 that he had such a down year and I'm not 2549 02:03:30.520 --> 02:03:34.680 just you know, by the numbers, but man like it 2550 02:03:34.720 --> 02:03:37.760 took a toll on him emotionally last year and to 2551 02:03:38.079 --> 02:03:41.479 have kind of this rebound year knowing that they're not 2552 02:03:41.640 --> 02:03:44.560 gonna win anything. Also like that in the back of 2553 02:03:44.600 --> 02:03:48.159 his mind, I think that it's just been so impressive 2554 02:03:48.239 --> 02:03:51.079 and it's really really great and it's allowed them to 2555 02:03:51.119 --> 02:03:57.119 be competitive and it's hugely important for the future. I 2556 02:03:57.119 --> 02:04:00.239 think that in addition to that, like i've i mean 2557 02:04:00.560 --> 02:04:05.600 more defense and kind of better awareness out of Larry Markinen. 2558 02:04:05.680 --> 02:04:06.800 You know, like we know a lot. 2559 02:04:06.640 --> 02:04:09.359 About his offensive game, but kind of when you're thinking 2560 02:04:09.399 --> 02:04:11.079 about the future, it's like you need a guy like 2561 02:04:11.159 --> 02:04:14.079 Larry Markin to actually not be a negative on. 2562 02:04:14.079 --> 02:04:17.279 The defensive end too. And so that's been. 2563 02:04:17.159 --> 02:04:21.479 Great for a lot of the a lot of the 2564 02:04:21.520 --> 02:04:25.319 young players. You know, there's there's good and bad, and 2565 02:04:25.439 --> 02:04:29.159 like I said before, like a lot of them probably 2566 02:04:29.199 --> 02:04:32.479 won't be here, but the little things that we've seen, 2567 02:04:32.640 --> 02:04:36.760 like Cody Williams needs thirty pounds, right, Like, he just 2568 02:04:36.880 --> 02:04:39.680 needs to be stronger. No one's asking him to like 2569 02:04:40.319 --> 02:04:43.840 buke up like a player that he's not. You know, 2570 02:04:43.920 --> 02:04:47.319 he doesn't have his brother's body type, but he's also 2571 02:04:47.520 --> 02:04:51.039 just like he's got a kid's body still, right he 2572 02:04:51.720 --> 02:04:55.479 I think he literally just recently didn't like came out of. 2573 02:04:55.439 --> 02:04:56.279 His teenage years. 2574 02:04:56.479 --> 02:04:58.720 So that's what we're dealing with, and the Jazz understand that, 2575 02:04:58.760 --> 02:05:01.000 and he's going to be given to time to like 2576 02:05:01.079 --> 02:05:05.039 grow into his body. But he's in the right spots. 2577 02:05:05.119 --> 02:05:08.720 He's making good decisions. It's not like he uh is 2578 02:05:08.760 --> 02:05:14.159 completely out of position or he is making mistakes a 2579 02:05:14.159 --> 02:05:16.520 lot on the court. That's not it's not perfect all 2580 02:05:16.560 --> 02:05:19.079 the time. He's still a rookie and there's there are mistakes, 2581 02:05:19.079 --> 02:05:21.479 but like, for the most part, he makes really good decisions. 2582 02:05:21.600 --> 02:05:23.840 He gets bumped off a spot. He can't keep up 2583 02:05:23.840 --> 02:05:26.159 with guys right now, but I think with time it's 2584 02:05:26.159 --> 02:05:29.520 gonna look a lot better because there's slashes with him. 2585 02:05:29.560 --> 02:05:32.800 That's like, he's a really smart decision maker. He thinks 2586 02:05:32.800 --> 02:05:34.680 the game really well. And you could say the same 2587 02:05:34.720 --> 02:05:37.359 thing about Kyle Philipowski. You could say the same thing 2588 02:05:37.399 --> 02:05:41.880 about Isaiah Collier, Bryce Sensiba, Taylor Hendrix. You know, you're 2589 02:05:41.920 --> 02:05:44.880 thinking about what could could have been this season with that, 2590 02:05:45.520 --> 02:05:48.680 and I think they're you know, obviously a lot more 2591 02:05:48.840 --> 02:05:52.199 play from kyat George out of that like larger young 2592 02:05:52.239 --> 02:05:55.199 group than some of the other players, and so there's 2593 02:05:55.279 --> 02:05:58.119 more of a sample to look at and more to 2594 02:05:58.199 --> 02:06:01.720 critique because there's more of a sam But there's been 2595 02:06:01.760 --> 02:06:04.720 improvements with Kyante too, and I'm looking forward to kind 2596 02:06:04.720 --> 02:06:06.920 of seeing how the rest of the season plays out 2597 02:06:06.920 --> 02:06:09.800 with him once he does come back. But you know, 2598 02:06:10.000 --> 02:06:12.720 like you said, moral victories are what they are, and 2599 02:06:12.800 --> 02:06:15.399 people can appreciate them if they want to, and you know, 2600 02:06:15.840 --> 02:06:17.399 toss them to the side if they want to. But 2601 02:06:20.239 --> 02:06:22.840 for this team, you've got to find something. You've got 2602 02:06:22.880 --> 02:06:25.119 to find something to at least motivate you. And right now, 2603 02:06:25.159 --> 02:06:27.359 like moral victories is the thing that has to motivate 2604 02:06:27.399 --> 02:06:31.199 these players. I have to be able to see that 2605 02:06:31.279 --> 02:06:32.800 there are things that are going right. 2606 02:06:33.640 --> 02:06:36.560 Yes, no, well said, and it is important for the process. 2607 02:06:36.600 --> 02:06:38.359 But before we say you lose saracence, it's been a 2608 02:06:38.399 --> 02:06:41.840 little while. Every time I pull up like a trade guide, 2609 02:06:41.920 --> 02:06:44.880 primer or somebody rights that you know, this could potentially 2610 02:06:44.960 --> 02:06:47.840 go down prior to that February trade deadline. The Jazz 2611 02:06:47.880 --> 02:06:50.680 are involved in every single, every single trade and you 2612 02:06:50.680 --> 02:06:54.399 know it's every single preview and it's easy to understand 2613 02:06:54.399 --> 02:06:57.479 why because they have some bets. John Collins has been 2614 02:06:57.520 --> 02:06:59.000 better this year than I ever thought he could be 2615 02:06:59.159 --> 02:07:01.960 quite frankly, and maybe there's a GM out there that 2616 02:07:02.000 --> 02:07:04.039 thinks John can help them down the stretch, or it's 2617 02:07:04.039 --> 02:07:07.119 Clarkson or it's Sexton or whatever. What are you hearing 2618 02:07:07.239 --> 02:07:09.039 prior to the trade deadline? You think we'll see an 2619 02:07:09.039 --> 02:07:11.520 active Jazz team? 2620 02:07:11.840 --> 02:07:16.359 Yeah, it's it's interesting that I think generally what I'm 2621 02:07:16.399 --> 02:07:19.920 hearing is that there's more of a chance that they're 2622 02:07:19.960 --> 02:07:22.640 not active than there is that they are. I don't 2623 02:07:22.680 --> 02:07:24.239 think that this is going to be like a big, 2624 02:07:24.319 --> 02:07:29.560 flashy trade deadline or even one that we've seen over 2625 02:07:29.560 --> 02:07:32.039 the last couple of seasons where you see a lot 2626 02:07:32.079 --> 02:07:34.760 of moves. They're obviously not flashy, but the Jazz kind 2627 02:07:34.760 --> 02:07:36.640 of getting rid of as many guys as they can. 2628 02:07:36.920 --> 02:07:40.840 You know, I don't anticipate that being the case this 2629 02:07:40.920 --> 02:07:47.079 season because the Jazz are having the quote unquote success 2630 02:07:47.239 --> 02:07:50.319 or lack of success that they would like to so far, 2631 02:07:50.880 --> 02:07:53.800 and so there's no real reason to kind of pull 2632 02:07:53.840 --> 02:07:57.000 the rug out. They can still sit guys, they can 2633 02:07:57.039 --> 02:08:02.159 still you know, extend injuries, be as cautious as they 2634 02:08:02.239 --> 02:08:05.359 want to be with injuries, and massage the injury report 2635 02:08:06.119 --> 02:08:08.640 if they need to. As the season comes into the 2636 02:08:08.680 --> 02:08:14.600 second half. If I was a Jazz, I would certainly 2637 02:08:14.640 --> 02:08:17.560 be looking at options to maybe get off the contracts 2638 02:08:17.560 --> 02:08:24.119 with Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, considerating, considering maybe Colin Sexton. 2639 02:08:24.199 --> 02:08:27.399 But at the same time, those are all guys that 2640 02:08:28.119 --> 02:08:30.720 have been really great in the locker room and could 2641 02:08:30.760 --> 02:08:33.119 be great in the locker room still moving forward, and 2642 02:08:33.159 --> 02:08:37.239 if you're looking at maybe having them as an expiring contract, 2643 02:08:37.720 --> 02:08:39.760 you have to weigh that against what you could get 2644 02:08:39.760 --> 02:08:42.720 for them. And so I think that's going to be 2645 02:08:42.840 --> 02:08:46.119 where the Jazz are at the trade deadline, is weighing 2646 02:08:46.159 --> 02:08:48.279 whether or not what they're going to get in return 2647 02:08:48.439 --> 02:08:51.720 is actually worth making the move, because I think this 2648 02:08:51.800 --> 02:08:54.640 season they don't really have to pull the trigger as 2649 02:08:54.760 --> 02:08:56.319 much as they would have had to the last couple 2650 02:08:56.359 --> 02:08:56.960 of years. 2651 02:08:57.640 --> 02:09:00.920 Well, Sarah, what do I say about it back that 2652 02:09:00.920 --> 02:09:03.119 we're at two time Utah Sports Rider of the Year 2653 02:09:03.159 --> 02:09:05.960 Other than thank you for gracing us with your presence. 2654 02:09:06.000 --> 02:09:08.000 The honor is all on this side of the table. 2655 02:09:08.039 --> 02:09:11.199 Okay, oh oh, the honors all mine? 2656 02:09:11.279 --> 02:09:12.279 Please all right? 2657 02:09:12.359 --> 02:09:14.520 The Great Sarah Todd covers Utah Jazz for the des 2658 02:09:14.600 --> 02:09:17.399 Red News. The Utah Sports writer of the year, appreciate 2659 02:09:17.439 --> 02:09:20.960 her time on this Wednesday. All right, wrapping up the 2660 02:09:20.960 --> 02:09:24.560 program for this Wednesday afternoon, don't forget K State Utah 2661 02:09:24.640 --> 02:09:27.520 women's hoops tonight. K State fifteen and one. They're the 2662 02:09:27.560 --> 02:09:30.640 number twelve team in the country and the Lady Utes 2663 02:09:30.680 --> 02:09:32.840 are twelve and two. They're the number twenty two team 2664 02:09:32.840 --> 02:09:34.880 in the country. So it should be some fun basketball 2665 02:09:34.880 --> 02:09:37.680 tonight up at the Huntsman Center at seven o'clock. Big 2666 02:09:37.800 --> 02:09:40.880 night NBA hoops highlighted by a historic game in Cleveland 2667 02:09:40.880 --> 02:09:43.720 with the Cavs and the thunder Jazz are off tonight. 2668 02:09:43.800 --> 02:09:47.600 They're back in action tomorrow against Miami. So some fun 2669 02:09:47.680 --> 02:09:51.920 basketball tonight. By the way, the NFL has announced and man, 2670 02:09:51.960 --> 02:09:55.119 these fires, these scenes from the Pacific Palisades in Los 2671 02:09:55.159 --> 02:09:58.000 Angeles are just horrifying. So this is not the most 2672 02:09:58.039 --> 02:10:00.119 important thing at all. But the NFL has announced and 2673 02:10:00.119 --> 02:10:04.399 stiff they cannot play Monday night's game between the Rams 2674 02:10:04.439 --> 02:10:07.000 and the Vikings in Los Angeles. It will be moved 2675 02:10:07.039 --> 02:10:10.760 to Phoenix for a backup venue. But I don't know 2676 02:10:10.760 --> 02:10:13.199 how big we are in Los Angeles. But if anybody's listening, man, 2677 02:10:13.279 --> 02:10:17.039 stay safe. That looks like some horrifying scenes there in 2678 02:10:17.359 --> 02:10:21.680 Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles. 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Prize Picks run your 2713 02:11:56.239 --> 02:12:00.640 game all season long, all right, before we get out 2714 02:12:00.640 --> 02:12:03.119 of here, do you do you believe in UFOs? 2715 02:12:04.079 --> 02:12:10.159 Good question, based on the definition, yes. 2716 02:12:10.439 --> 02:12:12.680 Like literally an unidentified flying object. 2717 02:12:12.920 --> 02:12:15.239 Yes, but I don't know that that's necessarily an alien. 2718 02:12:15.600 --> 02:12:17.479 I think it's probably our government if that is fair. 2719 02:12:17.960 --> 02:12:18.439 Look at you. 2720 02:12:20.000 --> 02:12:21.960 Are you a conspiracy theorist guy. 2721 02:12:22.880 --> 02:12:27.119 Uh, it's a dangerous question in the mind of I 2722 02:12:27.119 --> 02:12:30.319 don't know, because it depends on you know, what is 2723 02:12:30.319 --> 02:12:33.840 a conspiracy? No, not really, Like I'm not one that 2724 02:12:33.840 --> 02:12:35.920 thinks everything's a conspiracy, because if that is the case, 2725 02:12:35.920 --> 02:12:39.159 then nothing is. I like to have some reason and 2726 02:12:40.279 --> 02:12:43.000 you know, semblance of science or something behind it. 2727 02:12:43.439 --> 02:12:44.439 But I don't know. 2728 02:12:44.520 --> 02:12:47.560 I I think there's probably things in the sky that 2729 02:12:47.760 --> 02:12:49.399 folks have seen that they don't know what. 2730 02:12:49.399 --> 02:12:51.640 It is, and that unidentified. 2731 02:12:51.720 --> 02:12:54.279 But you're not saying it's some extra terrestrial from a 2732 02:12:54.319 --> 02:12:56.520 far away galaxy that's here to steal our soul. 2733 02:12:56.600 --> 02:12:57.840 I don't necessarily think so. 2734 02:12:58.600 --> 02:13:01.640 But I also do you have a deep belief that 2735 02:13:02.600 --> 02:13:06.319 believing that we are the only things out here, like 2736 02:13:06.359 --> 02:13:11.960 with this conscious thought and you know, modern way of 2737 02:13:12.039 --> 02:13:15.880 living in the entire universe, knowing how small we are. 2738 02:13:17.239 --> 02:13:18.520 I think that's a little selfish. 2739 02:13:18.560 --> 02:13:22.039 I think a little egotistical for our our human race 2740 02:13:22.079 --> 02:13:25.319 to think that way. There's something out there somewhere. I 2741 02:13:25.399 --> 02:13:27.039 don't know if it's close enough to like be in 2742 02:13:27.079 --> 02:13:31.880 our galaxy. But I'm not a I'm not a astro. 2743 02:13:32.319 --> 02:13:32.680 What are they? 2744 02:13:32.680 --> 02:13:33.760 What are they called physicist. 2745 02:13:34.159 --> 02:13:36.840 I'm not a I'm not an astronaut. 2746 02:13:37.319 --> 02:13:40.640 We are we are just in a simulation, spinning around 2747 02:13:40.720 --> 02:13:43.279 on this blue marble. We're essentially a speck of dust 2748 02:13:43.560 --> 02:13:46.159 bro right in the in the galaxies. 2749 02:13:46.399 --> 02:13:50.399 Yeah, yeah, we're monkeys on a spinning rock, a speck 2750 02:13:50.439 --> 02:13:54.840 of dust in a much larger thing. But does that 2751 02:13:54.880 --> 02:13:57.279 mean that there's like green guys flying around and spying 2752 02:13:57.279 --> 02:13:57.640 on us? 2753 02:13:57.960 --> 02:13:58.880 I don't necessarily think so. 2754 02:13:59.000 --> 02:14:00.640 Yeah. For me, like, if it's it's a real thing, 2755 02:14:00.920 --> 02:14:03.039 I'll deal with it when it comes. In the meantime, 2756 02:14:03.039 --> 02:14:06.199 like I'm busy, I can't story myself with things like this. 2757 02:14:06.279 --> 02:14:09.359 How long are we going to do this where it's like, oh, 2758 02:14:09.600 --> 02:14:13.000 maybe we kind of have some evidence, but not really 2759 02:14:15.239 --> 02:14:17.479 like seventy years plus that we've been doing this. If 2760 02:14:17.520 --> 02:14:19.960 you go back into like petrol glyphs and stuff, they 2761 02:14:19.960 --> 02:14:24.439 were drawing UFO, So we've been doing this for like 2762 02:14:24.439 --> 02:14:27.039 two thousand years and they haven't said hello yet. 2763 02:14:27.079 --> 02:14:29.720 So, like you said, I'll wait until they do. 2764 02:14:29.880 --> 02:14:30.239 All right. 2765 02:14:30.319 --> 02:14:32.920 Well, in the meantime, maybe that gives you some perspective 2766 02:14:33.000 --> 02:14:35.560 to not worry so much about mundane things. 2767 02:14:35.920 --> 02:14:38.039 How about that exactly brought it back around. We're a 2768 02:14:38.039 --> 02:14:38.600 good message. 2769 02:14:38.640 --> 02:14:41.159 On a Wednesday, all right, port before we get out 2770 02:14:41.159 --> 02:14:42.000 of here, what comes our way? 2771 02:14:42.039 --> 02:14:43.640 On a Thursday edition of the show. 2772 02:14:43.720 --> 02:14:46.119 Yeah, in a Thursday edition of the show, we'll welcome 2773 02:14:46.119 --> 02:14:49.159 back our friend Tony Jones, a little NBA chat with TJ. 2774 02:14:49.640 --> 02:14:52.279 We'll have a big hour both Craig Bowlerjack and Gordon 2775 02:14:52.319 --> 02:14:56.359 Monson in studio with us. Of course, as we do 2776 02:14:56.439 --> 02:14:59.640 each Thursday, little sports court action, catching up the legal 2777 02:14:59.680 --> 02:15:04.039 story in sports. And I think still TBD on this one, 2778 02:15:04.079 --> 02:15:06.960 but I think Ted Robinson will join us. Of course, 2779 02:15:07.640 --> 02:15:10.199 I don't really know what Ted's January looks like. I 2780 02:15:10.239 --> 02:15:12.720 don't think he's doing much on the broadcast beat. But 2781 02:15:13.560 --> 02:15:16.079 that's our Notre Dame guy, that's our our resident Notre 2782 02:15:16.159 --> 02:15:20.399 Dame insider slash fan. So we're gonna we're gonna check 2783 02:15:20.439 --> 02:15:23.239 with Ted Robinson. If he can't join us, still TBD 2784 02:15:23.359 --> 02:15:25.680 on that, We'll still talk college football in that second. 2785 02:15:25.800 --> 02:15:27.840 Also keep in mind Mark Harlan will be live in 2786 02:15:27.920 --> 02:15:30.399 studio to catch up with Sean O'Connell, So tune into 2787 02:15:30.399 --> 02:15:32.880 The Sean O'Connell Show from eleven to two and then 2788 02:15:33.279 --> 02:15:35.920 spend your afternoon with us on a Thursday Well say 2789 02:15:35.920 --> 02:15:39.000 good Night special. Thank you the voice himself, Bill Riley, 2790 02:15:39.119 --> 02:15:42.479 Neil Smith, Chris Comroddie, as well as Sarah Todd for 2791 02:15:42.680 --> 02:15:45.239 the sound he made. Miss from the show. Website is 2792 02:15:45.560 --> 02:15:48.399 ESPN seven hundred sports dot com. Download our mobile app, 2793 02:15:48.399 --> 02:15:49.920 Take us on the goat. That's how I listen to 2794 02:15:49.920 --> 02:15:52.399 our station. The ESPN seven hundred app is available in 2795 02:15:52.399 --> 02:15:54.840 the App Store or the Google play Store. And then 2796 02:15:54.880 --> 02:15:56.399 for what we do. If you miss any of it, 2797 02:15:56.520 --> 02:15:58.720 check out our podcast page. It's called The Drive with Spence. 2798 02:15:58.800 --> 02:16:02.199 Check it's that's available where ever you get your show. Subscribe, rate, review, 2799 02:16:02.359 --> 02:16:04.359 say nice things in the comments. 2800 02:16:04.000 --> 02:16:05.600 Give us all the stars. It helps. He's porter. 2801 02:16:05.640 --> 02:16:08.920 I'm Spence saying tonight, joy some Utah women's hoops tonight 2802 02:16:09.039 --> 02:16:11.560 and we'll talk to you on a Thursday Drive as always. 2803 02:16:11.560 --> 02:16:14.359 You can find it right here on ESPN seven hundred.