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Speaker 1: Is Cougar Sports with Ben Kretel, and it's time for

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the Cougar Beat getting the dish from the local reporters

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that cover Cougar athletics.

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Speaker 2: Welcome back, Ugar Sports. What O three nine ninety two

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point three ESPN the van I've met fortal broadcasting from

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our Vanderwelt Studios Vanderwelt dot Com. Get on that free

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Q and A, no obligation to advest Q and A

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with our tax small Wealth Advisor Certify Financial Planners NFLPA

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Certified Financial Planners. He's been aiding and supporting Blaine Blaine

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Anderson's been aiding supporting the student athletes for a long time.

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Now he wants to support Cougar Nation. Hit him up,

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call him, set up a Q and A today. It

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is top for a little Cougar Beat. Gonna welcome into

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Cougar Sports Insider to delve into what's going on on

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the beat all day, every day, representing the desert Red

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News got to be brought to you by Utah Protective

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Window ten as well as chrome deletes. Let's get out

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to the hot line. Welcome in Cougar Sports Insider representing

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the Desert News. We got Jay Drew on the line. Jay,

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how you live it?

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Speaker 3: I'm doing fantastic.

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Speaker 2: It's a great day to talk some BYU football and

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BYU basketball. Jay, where's your where's your bandwidth been allocated?

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Over the last couple of weeks?

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Speaker 3: I would say mostly the words basketball. I am working

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on a football story right now, but a couple actually,

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But yeah, basketball's taking up a lot of my time,

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and and not to lubb it on Saturday morning for

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the that game, so that'll even keep me more involved

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with YU basketball. But then looking forward to next week

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when YU has a kind of a mid week by

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They don't play until Saturday against Utah, so that'll be

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a little bit more time to get back into football

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a little bit. So that's kind of where I am

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right now.

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Speaker 2: Basketball be a your ranks tenth in ESPN's latest men's

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basketball Power rankings. The ap pole hasn't been so friendly

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to BUYU. What gives J Drew?

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I think the media voters, guys and gals that

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vote on that probably looking at the game against Utah

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where BYU was a double digit favorite and only one

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by five, I think that might have nicked them a

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little bit. And I think, let me, let's face it,

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up until that point, a couple other teams kind of

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elite frogged them. I think it was Nebraska and Villanova

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if I'm not mistaken. So yeah, there's just so many

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elite teams this year. There's so many teams with zero

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or one law that it's just hard to break into

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that top ten. There's it's just this is as many

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good teams as I can remember in a long time

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in college basketball.

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Speaker 2: Great players, great teams. This by basketball team the best

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in BYU basketball history. Do you think are you willing

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to go.

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Speaker 3: On record on that, I would say it's the most talented.

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I don't think it's the most accomplished yet. So when

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you say you know best, I you know, until they

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get to the lead eight like that Danny h Steve Trumbull,

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Fred Roberts team did and I was it nineteen eighty

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eighty one, I think I'm not ready to go that far.

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In fact, I'm not even sure. We were talking about

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this last night Darnell and me. If this team is

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better than last year's team, obviously with Rob and AJ,

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they're probably more talented. But man, last year you had

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Foos who was a really good low post scorer, Dallen

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Hall was a valuable guy off the bench, Dawson Baker

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was healthy, and obviously you had Yegor, who you know

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is really turning ahead to the NBA right now. So

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I think it's more talented this year than last. But

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until this group does what last year's group did, which

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was get to the sweet sixteen, I'm I'm gonna have

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to say the jury is out on that one.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, what is missing do you think from this roster?

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If you could put your finger on it, what's missing?

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Is it a particular style, particular you know, you know,

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type of player, What do you make of it?

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Speaker 3: I think they're missing a sniper, a guy off the

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bench that can come in like Trevin Nill did last year,

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hit a bunch of threes in a row. I you know,

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they were obviously counting on Tyler marss and to do that.

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And then obviously with Dawson Baker and Nate Pickens getting

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hurt and suffering season ending injuries, that's hurt him a lot.

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But I would just say, I just don't know if

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the Big three is sustainable moving forward of scoring. You know,

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all ast what is it, seventy percent of their points.

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They just need some other scoring from somewhere off the bench.

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Just one of those guys that can just instant offense.

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Type of guy. Maybe you substitute a little defense. I'm

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not saying that Dawson Baker was not a great defender,

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because he was adequate, but a guy that can just

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come in like he did and give you some points

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and or like Trevin Nell did. And I just don't

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see that right now. Maybekennard Davis can pick up offensively

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a little bit. He obviously averaged eighteen points a game

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at Southern Illinois last year, So we're kind of still

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waiting for that. And granted, you know, he's not gonna

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get the ball, he's not going to be priority one

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when he got three superstars on your team. But but yeah,

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that's where I think they need just they need something

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off the bench. They need I would I haven't looked

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it up, but I bet they're one of the ten

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least productive benches in the country or somewhere in that

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range of maybe ten percent in that range of teams,

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So that that's where they really need some help with.

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Speaker 2: Yes, me, is there anyone that is on the roster

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currently that you could that you think could step into

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that role and become that bench bucket getter for by U?

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Speaker 3: You know, I mentioned that Tyler Marrass had a good

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career up in Idaho. I know the costitch is it

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alexis Uh. He showed a few signs early in the

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season preseasons on conference. I don't think we've seen him

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on the court for quite a while. Uh So no,

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I you know, I mean, I totally frank with you,

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I don't I just don't see it. I just they're

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just gonna have to ride or die with with uh.

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They got one of the best starting fives in college basketball.

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It's not the best with you know, especially when Keba

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is going good and out of foul trouble. But there's

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just a big drop off now and uh, you know,

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obviously all Matt has come in and been a good

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valuable back up to Cada, really valuable because Cada gets

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some tout trouble a lot. But he's not a type

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of guy that's going to fill up the you know,

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the basket with points for you. So yeah, frankly, I

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don't you know, I don't want to be a negative nelly.

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I don't want to be an e or. I want

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to be positive, as we've gone over in the past.

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But I don't know what about you guys, who do

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you see maybe is on that bench that could do that.

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Speaker 2: I mean, I keep on leaning into Mihilo bucket Viitch.

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I'm like, bro, like, you're better than this. Bro, Step up, bro,

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get it get it straight. Like you have the skill set,

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you have the ability to do so much defensively offensively,

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got to be that stretch five. Obviously you can block shots.

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You've seen that pretty consistently over the last couple of games.

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He's got good length, He's never seen a shot he

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doesn't like. He's just got to get that stroke back.

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And also, you know, have a head on a swivel,

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be a distributor when given the opportunity. When if he

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does start hitting, you know, defenses will collapse. I'm at

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my Hilo bucket, Viitch. I've been saying this from the beginning.

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We need Mahilo to be my highlight bucket, Viitch. If

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he's not, I agree with you, we're going to struggle

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in the NCAA tournament.

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Speaker 3: Yeah. And to be fair, he did have a huge

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bucket last night in that second half, a huge three

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pointer that really got him going, like Kevin said, when

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they were struggling a little bit to score. So I

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agree with you, Ben, I think it's in him. If

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you look at you know, his playover in Europe and

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the Surbbian leagues, and that he could do that. He's

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definitely got that ability. I had. I wrote a story

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about him last week and had a good conversation with him,

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and I think it's just with him. It's just a

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confidence thing. I think he can he knows he can

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do it. But I think he gets in there and

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he gets a little bit worried about what happens if

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I missed? Am I going to get pulled? And that's

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just every college basketball player goes through that. It's just

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something you have to work through. But I definitely think

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he has the potential to be honest with you, When

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I was just talking about guys, I kind of forgot

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about him a little bit because I picture him more

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of the as an inside player, although he does step

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out and shoot threes quite often.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, how devastating do you think now that we know

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what we know? How devastating was that Dawson Baker injury?

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Hate that one.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's big. I hope it's not the

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difference between you know, last year Sweet sixteen and their

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their stated goal of Final four or beyond, but it

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very melt very well might be. I mean, that could

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be the difference. He's you know, Dawson was the what

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do they call him? The bucket maker Dawson.

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Speaker 2: Dawson the bucket the bucket Baker, the bucket getter Baker,

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That's what I called. Yeah.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it's just sad because that was a huge injury,

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and uh it's probably the repercussions are going to be

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felt for for quite some time.

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Speaker 2: J Drew desrat News here on your Utah being Ready

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Network discussing b WAU men's basketball and uh uh b

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y U athletics and by you is trending in an

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awesome direction right now in both football and basketball, and uh,

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you know, I feel like football, their retention efforts were

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pretty pivotal.

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Speaker 4: Uh.

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Speaker 2: Everyone was fearful what Jay Hill and Gennaro with their departures.

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You did retain Gary Anderson, but you lost two key

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cogs and in the wheel that really made b Why

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you go over the last two seasons? Uh? What how

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would you evaluate the retention efforts of this coaching staff

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and the culture that Kloone's built.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that the retention rate it's been fabulous.

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I mean, uh, you know, there are a few guys

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that have left that maybe could have helped them. Max Alford, Uh,

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somebody on X excuse me of being a Max Alford lover,

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but I just think he you know, I thought it

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was a valuable contributor when he got in there and

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helped him out a lot until he got hurt. So, uh,

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of course he's going to Michigan to be reunited with

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his uncle, who's the running backs coach. There Tony Alford,

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but I would give I would give him an A

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A minus maybe B plus uh range for roster attention.

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It's in fact, I got a good mone a. I mean,

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I can't think of one, especially in the day and

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age where everybody's losing guys. I mean we're talking about everybody.

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Uh even Texas Tech. To only lose what they've lost

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eleven so far and no starters, it's been pretty it's

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been pretty great, no.

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Speaker 2: Doubt about it. Uh. Which one are you most optimistic

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about here in the next few years? Is it basketball?

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Is it football? Which one has the better trajectory right

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now in sustainability? Do you think?

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Speaker 5: Yeah?

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Speaker 3: I definitely think it's football. You know, you got beaar Bachnier,

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you got some really good up and coming players. Thoughts Walla,

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it's basketball, you know, it's the one and done. H.

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You know, obviously Aj is probably not going to be

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back here next year. Uh, he's a generational talent. I

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just don't see by you getting a guy like that

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every year. So Rob Wright, who knows what he's going

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to do, but he's obviously a great talent, and they'll

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they'll lose Richie. I don't really see anybody in the

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pipeline coming up at least on the roster is now

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constituted that can replace any of those big three guys.

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So so yeah, I would have to lean towards football.

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It's uh, you know, football, it seems like a really

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solid foundation. They're developmental. They got not only bringing in

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valuable transfer portal guys, kind of more plug in guys,

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but the basis of this program is and the culture

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of this program is still getting guys developing them. A

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guy like Parker Kingston just gets better every year. Satuala,

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It's got a lot better you go just down the list.

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So I think football, I would say, has a better

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trajectory right now because of the nature of the beast.

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I mean basketball. All throughout college basketball, it's like the

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Kentucky and the Dukes and by you kind of joining

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those is using one and done players and that's kind

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of hard to sustain from year to year to maintain

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a high level of excellences. As football, I think you

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can do once you get that foundations set like BYU have.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, it's interesting. It feels like bou basketball is more

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I don't even know if this is a word like mercenario,

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like it's all, but it's based on more like acquisition

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via the portal and maybe recruiting. I mean, AG is

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a refreshman and football seemingly is more retention base. It's

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more developmental based in a get old, stale manner. It

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seems like a little bit different. I'm not to say

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that there wasn't retention. There was with Richie and and

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Dawson and Mihailo and others, but it does seem like

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there's a little bit more mercenarial type of activity in basketball.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure. I often wonder, you know, Mark Polpe's

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been a little heat down there at Kentucky in his

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second year, and I always wonder if what if Richie

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had and he was close to going to Kentucky, What

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if Richie had gone to Kentucky, what would the trajectory

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of these two programs are where they are right now?

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Speaker 2: I mean, yeah, I.

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Speaker 3: Think I just think that was a whoever convinced Richie

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to stay, and I guess it was Kevin Young. I'm

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not positive that was huge. That's absolutely huge and really

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changed two programs pretty pretty pretty immensely.

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Speaker 2: You wonder like the type of impact that Richie would

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have had the last two years at Kentucky. Does it

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get Kentucky last year to an elite eight because the

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top Kings going off, does does that Kentucky team that

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has struggled a little bit this year have a leader

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to look towards, to be a stabilizing force, a creator,

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a facilitator, a culture guy, a glue guy with playmaking

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ability to get them into uh, you know, to keep them,

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you know, in that elite status of college basketball. So

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really point at commentary and obviously we know what he's

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done for BYU over the last two seasons. He's been

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a massive boon. I think you're right, man, that's like

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a keystone. It would have been a keystone for either

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one of the programs, and luckily BYU retained the top king.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure, it's I mean you kind of look

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at Colin Chandler and the height that he got out

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of high school and coming and by you got him

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and then he went on the mission and obviously he

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went followed Pope to Kentucky. But the Richie Saunder story

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is pretty amazing. I mean, you know, when he signed

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with BYU out of watchach Anatomy and then obviously went

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on a mission. But I'll bet very very few BYU

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fans could have realized just how good this kid could get.

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I know I did, and I watched him as freshman

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year even at BYU, and you know that's a role

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player for life. So the Richie Saunders story, it is

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going to be a good movie someday, and obviously it'll

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be sponsored by Tater.

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Speaker 2: Talks, no doubt about it, Jay Drew, Ladies and gentlemen, Jay, Jesus,

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what are you going to be writing about? You're surely

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what's going to be dropping on the Desert News website.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I mentioned I'm going to Lovevick, So I'll be

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writing about that game. But then next week earlier, I'm

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writing this thing kind kind of like a history of

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historical perspective of that week where Kyle Whittingham signed with

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Michigan and all that transpired. I'm kind of calling it

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the week that shook the college football landscape in Utah

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with all the repercussions. I mean, it touched every program

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in the state. We were stayed so in Utah, Utah State,

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just one man's decision and all that kind of weaving

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that tale of and following those shock waves, trying to

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trying to write about that and called a couple of

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old buddies Kurk Kragthorpe from the old Salt Lake Tribute

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columnists and Mike Sorenson and tapping into Dick Harmon's kind

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of knowledge and trying to weave kind of kind of

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like almost like a written history, oral history of a

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week that will really reverberate for years and years in

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Utah College football.

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Speaker 2: No doubt about it. J Drew. Ladies and gentlemen, Jay,

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we appreciate you, We salute you man. Thanks for hopping

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on for Cougar Beat.

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Speaker 3: My pleasure. Thanks for having me on having.

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Speaker 2: That's J Drew. Make sure you're following the mix and

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00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,200
make sure you're reading them at the deseretnewsdzrat news dot com.

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That segment was brought to you by our good friends

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take a brief time out. We'll be back. It's a Thursday,

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and his crew today. It is time to read between

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the lines. I want to get into a few sound

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by set we didn't get into a few days ago

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when Kelly Pipinka was announced as the defensive coordinator for BYU.

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We had Brian Keel the Keel Zone, former BAYU linebacker,

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former Boa You're great discuss what he what he knew,

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what he knows about k Pop, his relationship with K Pop,

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and why he believes K Pop was the right guy

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for the job. Was great. Download the podcast as you

359
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get him minute and a review that interview. So I

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was like, I was kind of thinking, like I was pondering, like, hey,

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you know, K Pop had a great interview with bay Sportstation.

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We need to reach out to the BAU s I

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d we need to get to Mario and k Pop

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on to discuss the future. Maybe you're trying to get

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Gary Anderson on to discuss the future of the BAU

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defense under the tutelage, the mentorship of the leadership and

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vision of those three individual alongside Justin Ena Chad K.

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I think coach Chad K is also going to be

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part of that as well. So very excited about it.

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But we're gonna delve into a few of the sound bites,

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the Cougar bytes, if you will, and it's gonna be

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00:21:17,599 --> 00:21:21,319
check this out. Kpop joined the BWAU Sports Nation this

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past week and delved into a few elements like this

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one was interesting. He states, I feel like I've been

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prepared for this moment for a long time. Let's listen

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in as Kpop discusses his emotions on being named the

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new defensive coordinator of brigham On University.

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Speaker 4: Which when I say, BYU defensive coordinator, Kelly popinga, what

401
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kind of emotions settle into your mind? I just feel

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extremely honored, blessed. I feel like I've been prepared for

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this moment for a long time, going back to my

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playing days with Bronco and my coaching days with Bronco

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and just his defensive mind. And then I got a

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credit you know, Coach Howell and Coach Tidwell and coach Kafusi,

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those guys that I was around for a long time,

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and then just my time to Virginia and then getting

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here with Klannie. Yeah, I've just learned a lot from him,

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a lot from Jay Jay was you know, great mentoring

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this deal and coach Anderson as well, Gary Anderson. So

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I just feel like there's been a lot of people

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put in my path along the way that have really

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prepared me for this moment, and so they'll be. Yeah,

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00:22:27,039 --> 00:22:29,759
the defense will be I think, you know, maybe a

416
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little taste of Bronco in there, a little taste of

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what we've done last year. I mean just I've just

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learned so much. But the base of the defense will

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be what it's been, and I'd be an idiot to

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change much of what we were doing. But there'll be

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a little thing here and there. But I'm just excited

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and honored for just the opportunity and grateful coach when I.

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Speaker 2: Say excited for the opportunity, grateful that opportunity. The base

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of the defense ain't get a change munch. There'll be

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some new oance Wo's some subtleties, but k Pop taking

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the bull by the horns, and we're gonna see where

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he takes us here. A couple of things here. One

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of the things that BYU fans and former players have

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been impressed by is the retention of the coaching staff

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as well as the players. You lost two great coaches

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in Genaro and Jay Hill, but the players had stayed

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in provo. Why is that? Kelly Papinga discussed this a

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couple of days ago on how they were able to

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retain so many of the key players that were on

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the roster. Let's see what he had to say.

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Speaker 4: One of those days where it was constant talked to

437
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the players, letting them know. And at the time, I

438
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hadn't been offered the job, but I was, you know,

439
00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:43,920
Klannie and I had been talking of that whole day

440
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and just kind of feeling the way I knew I

441
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was staying.

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Speaker 5: I wasn't going anywhere, and so, you know.

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Speaker 4: As just a defensive coach, I wanted to keep us

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all together as much as I could.

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Speaker 5: And so, you know, calling fole it out.

446
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Speaker 4: Immediately and Schmid immediately, and all these different players in

447
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Glasgow immediately, all these guys that were key pieces that

448
00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:02,880
we knew had a chance to potentially go to the

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NFL or come back or whatever it may be.

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Speaker 2: And yeah, that was a lot of work.

451
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Speaker 4: And that was like three days of phone calls I was.

452
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Speaker 2: I was on the phone.

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Speaker 4: Basically Thursday, Friday, Saturday for twelve hours each of those days.

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And between Wow talking to players talking to coaches, and

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I wasn't by myself all of our other defensive coaches

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that we're still here. We're doing the same exact thing,

457
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trying to just keep this intact and letting everybody see

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the vision that it is. And ultimately, I just think

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the players love Klawonnie. I mean that's that was the

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00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:32,519
main stay, right. They knew that Klanie was going to

461
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be here, and a lot of those guys, I mean

462
00:24:35,079 --> 00:24:37,079
you could say all of them came to play for Kawane.

463
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So I just think and Coachill would say the same thing.

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Coachill is a very humble guy, and he sees things,

465
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he knows how things work. Is that no person or

466
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player is bigger than the program. And so this thing

467
00:24:49,839 --> 00:24:52,440
is going to continue to move forward. And the thing

468
00:24:52,519 --> 00:24:55,000
that's great about it is, I think the players run

469
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this deal right. Obviously, us coaches got to put them

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00:24:57,559 --> 00:25:00,160
in the right positions and and make sure that we're

471
00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:01,799
making the right adjustments and doing the right things. But

472
00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:03,839
when you have great players in great leadership, I think

473
00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,880
everything else else takes takes care of itself. And it

474
00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:08,119
was just one of those days.

475
00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:12,000
Speaker 2: Where they they go K Pop discussing a number of

476
00:25:12,079 --> 00:25:17,200
different things there. Ultimately the retention was it was multifaceted,

477
00:25:17,279 --> 00:25:21,000
but it also ultimately fell. And the person who deserves

478
00:25:21,039 --> 00:25:24,319
the most credit is Kalani Sutaki, the figurehead, the head

479
00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,920
coach for the BUA Cougar football team. The culture that

480
00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:31,039
he's built is singular in nature and really can't be

481
00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:35,519
replicated anywhere else. In my opinion, it's that unique, it's

482
00:25:35,599 --> 00:25:38,880
that special. One of the first moves that K Pop

483
00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:43,240
made was hiring Damaro Warren. Why was Jamario Warren the

484
00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:46,400
right guy for the job. There was one guy he

485
00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:48,119
said he wanted to go out and get. He got

486
00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:50,079
his guy and tomorrow Warren, this is what he had

487
00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:51,279
to say last week.

488
00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,720
Speaker 4: Hey, for that year it was it became clear to

489
00:25:54,799 --> 00:25:56,880
me if I ever was in a position to hire him,

490
00:25:57,279 --> 00:25:58,880
that was going to be my first call. And so

491
00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:02,759
initially when Gennaro was here, there was about a day

492
00:26:02,799 --> 00:26:04,920
there where with Jenna and I thought we're going to

493
00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,039
be doing this together. And then you know, an opportunity

494
00:26:07,079 --> 00:26:09,319
came for him to go to Michigan. We're gonna have

495
00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:10,839
him come coach in safety. So it was gonna be

496
00:26:10,839 --> 00:26:13,039
Gennaro at the corners and that was our first call

497
00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,119
no matter what. And then when Gennaro decided to make

498
00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:19,920
his decision, then I immediately called the Mario back and said, hey, listen,

499
00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:21,559
I want you to be our pass game coordinator with

500
00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,920
Gennaro leaving, and so that was that was easy for

501
00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,160
me to do. There was nobody on the list. There

502
00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,240
was one guy, and we went after him hard to

503
00:26:29,319 --> 00:26:30,519
make sure that he got here, and he did not

504
00:26:30,559 --> 00:26:32,400
want to leave Boise State, and Boise State fought back,

505
00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:38,000
but ultimately he came met with the administration, you know,

506
00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:40,920
our vice president and president, met with Brian, met with Klawnie,

507
00:26:41,319 --> 00:26:43,359
and he left that day sold like this is that

508
00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:47,319
he saw the vision, He sees the uniqueness of what

509
00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:48,839
b Way you can provide as far as just a

510
00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:51,640
family atmosphere, and I just think he felt like this

511
00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:53,160
was the right place at the right time.

512
00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,400
Speaker 5: So I'm excited to get him here. And he's already working.

513
00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,200
Speaker 4: He's been on the phones with Portal guys all day

514
00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,680
to day working on corners. We need a couple of

515
00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:02,920
corners to replace and build our depth. But I think

516
00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,279
what people are going to see is a super hard

517
00:27:05,319 --> 00:27:06,839
work or a great recruiter a guy that's been a

518
00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:09,799
head coach, that's very organized and structured. I sat on

519
00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,240
a sat in a meeting with recruit recruit the other

520
00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:15,079
day with him, and Uh, I was like wow. I

521
00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:17,599
mean just just sitting there and listening to him coach

522
00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:19,799
this kid and the techniques and fundamentals and the details

523
00:27:19,839 --> 00:27:20,000
of it.

524
00:27:20,079 --> 00:27:21,640
Speaker 5: I was like, this is We're great. You wanted to

525
00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:23,359
go play again? I was. I was just like, we're

526
00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:24,039
in great hands.

527
00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:25,759
Speaker 4: Our corners are going to be in great spot and

528
00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:28,960
great positions, and our safeties are going to be coached

529
00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,160
by this guy too as well. There are past our

530
00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,240
past game should be very very good and it's been great,

531
00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:36,799
so just excited to build on that.

532
00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,599
Speaker 2: Kind of an interesting note here, when it was looking

533
00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:45,400
as if Kelly Pepinga and Jennar would be Cody C's

534
00:27:45,559 --> 00:27:47,200
and they were going to do that thing together before

535
00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:50,880
Jennar took the job at Michigan, K Pop was going

536
00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:52,880
to go out and get to Mario Warren. It sounds

537
00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:56,759
like it's a safety's coach. I thought that was interesting.

538
00:27:58,319 --> 00:28:01,440
So you wonder if that's still the docket. Is Tomorrio?

539
00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:03,640
I know he's listed as a cornerbacks coach right now.

540
00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:06,279
But you know, obviously he's gonna be coaching up the

541
00:28:06,279 --> 00:28:09,920
safeties too, is there If the right hire is available

542
00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:14,640
for cornerbacks, does Tomorio move over to safeties coach and

543
00:28:14,799 --> 00:28:18,200
passing game coordinator. You can do it either way. You

544
00:28:18,279 --> 00:28:19,720
can keep it at corners and then you can bring

545
00:28:19,799 --> 00:28:23,119
in a safeties coach. But if you've got a guy

546
00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,240
on the docket that you really like, that would like

547
00:28:25,319 --> 00:28:28,240
to be at b YU, that can booy up BYU

548
00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:30,720
and recruit at a high level, you may want to

549
00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,759
take a look at it. I know certain names have

550
00:28:32,839 --> 00:28:35,559
been floating out and I had a list of guys

551
00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:38,400
that I was intrigued by. One of those guys at

552
00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:40,359
the top of my list is Brian Mitchell, who was

553
00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:44,160
my cornerbacks coach for a season at BYU. Really enjoyed

554
00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:46,759
getting coached up by Brian Mitchell. He's at NC State.

555
00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,279
I think I think he's happy at NC State. I

556
00:28:49,359 --> 00:28:54,720
think he's enjoyed his his trajectory as a coach. He's

557
00:28:54,799 --> 00:28:57,960
been a DC as well, and he could leverage and

558
00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:01,079
offer you know, there at ncc State for additional money

559
00:29:01,079 --> 00:29:03,920
if b way he comes knocking. But you have to

560
00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:07,599
wonder is Brian Mitchell, you know, is he an option

561
00:29:08,279 --> 00:29:11,000
to come back to b YU if the cornerback position

562
00:29:11,839 --> 00:29:15,240
job he is open. I also really like the idea

563
00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,319
of bringing Gavin Fowler back. I love Tanner Jacobson as well.

564
00:29:18,319 --> 00:29:21,400
Both those guys are currently at Weaver State. Both under

565
00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:23,680
contract right now though, so you're gonna have to pick

566
00:29:23,759 --> 00:29:25,640
them off out of their contract. So not to say,

567
00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:28,200
I mean, any coach right now that's worth their SALID

568
00:29:28,319 --> 00:29:31,759
is under contract. So no matter what, you're gonna have

569
00:29:31,759 --> 00:29:34,240
to go out there and find a guy that fits

570
00:29:34,319 --> 00:29:36,640
the mold. And I do think Gavin would be a

571
00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:42,799
nice pickup, a nice retention piece for that safety's room

572
00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:45,000
because those guys have been coached up for the last

573
00:29:45,039 --> 00:29:47,599
few years. I mean, Gavin's had has over ten years

574
00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:52,440
of experience within that program. That is a robust and

575
00:29:52,519 --> 00:29:54,599
not only as a player, but as a gas like

576
00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:57,039
a student assistant and then I was an analyst and

577
00:29:57,119 --> 00:30:02,480
an assistant safeties coach. He's definitely a guy that I

578
00:30:02,519 --> 00:30:06,119
would evaluate and could be him, could be that guy.

579
00:30:06,279 --> 00:30:08,319
So I don't know, Ronnie, You've been hearing a lot

580
00:30:08,359 --> 00:30:11,119
of things. You've been reviewing. Some of these sound bites

581
00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,480
and some of these conversations. What's standing out to you

582
00:30:13,599 --> 00:30:16,480
right now about the situation Bali's defenses with K Pop

583
00:30:16,519 --> 00:30:20,640
and Tomario Warren heading things up along with Gary Anderson,

584
00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:21,960
Justinetta and Chad k.

585
00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:25,119
Speaker 1: Well, if you listen to all the commentary around it,

586
00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,960
let's just first start with Gary Anderson, right, because I

587
00:30:28,039 --> 00:30:30,079
was kind of the package deal you could say, you

588
00:30:30,079 --> 00:30:33,440
could say the three amigos, Gary Anderson, Jay Hill, Gennaro right,

589
00:30:33,519 --> 00:30:36,720
and Jay was leaving. Then you know, we get information

590
00:30:36,839 --> 00:30:39,720
Cody c Per, Kelly Pipingka and then Gennaral is like, Okay,

591
00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:41,519
I'm gonna go elsewhere. And then just to give Cougar

592
00:30:41,559 --> 00:30:44,680
fans more information, Eddie Hacker was supposed to be on

593
00:30:44,759 --> 00:30:46,599
the staff at Weber State, but now is the assistant

594
00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:49,240
DB's over there at Michigan. So follow j Hill, who

595
00:30:49,279 --> 00:30:51,680
he played for, Followed Gennaro go For who he played

596
00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,279
for his position coach at BYU. So just want to

597
00:30:54,319 --> 00:30:56,640
give the fans that if you're if you are tuned

598
00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:58,640
down and don't know what's going on, but you're able

599
00:30:58,680 --> 00:31:00,680
to keep Gary and Gary said he you know, joined

600
00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:05,720
him another interview and said and he spoke and talked

601
00:31:05,759 --> 00:31:08,519
about that. You know, he wants to be able to

602
00:31:08,599 --> 00:31:10,920
do this when he wants and be the best grandfather,

603
00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,119
to be the best analyst he wants.

604
00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:16,000
Speaker 5: And at By used that. So that was one of

605
00:31:16,039 --> 00:31:16,440
the reasons.

606
00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:18,519
Speaker 1: So it started with that you kept him, you retained him,

607
00:31:18,559 --> 00:31:21,079
and then after that you promote from within, you promote

608
00:31:21,119 --> 00:31:24,039
Kelly Pinpincken with that Kelly Pipinka his you know, he.

609
00:31:24,079 --> 00:31:25,119
Speaker 5: Has a network of people.

610
00:31:25,559 --> 00:31:27,559
Speaker 1: He said if he ever became in charge and we

611
00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:29,640
just listened to it, he would go get this guy tomorrow,

612
00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,640
warn and listen. He said that Boise State fought hard,

613
00:31:32,759 --> 00:31:36,119
they fought hard, and that coach Warren didn't want to leave.

614
00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,559
You know that that's tough to when you have something good,

615
00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,599
Ben and you don't want to leave and things are

616
00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:43,920
great for another opportunity, even if it's good.

617
00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,480
Speaker 5: Sometimes you like where things are at. You're comfortable. The

618
00:31:46,519 --> 00:31:49,480
hardest part in life, you know, whether that's with the

619
00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:51,039
job he spiritually is.

620
00:31:51,079 --> 00:31:53,079
Speaker 1: To get uncomfortable. It is to leave what you have

621
00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:55,680
that's good for something that's better that you you might

622
00:31:55,759 --> 00:31:57,279
not want to do. You might want to stay put

623
00:31:57,319 --> 00:31:59,519
where you are and b A you came knocking and

624
00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:01,480
Kelly being his first call is that and you heard it.

625
00:32:01,519 --> 00:32:03,799
He's been on the phone with recruits all day. Right

626
00:32:03,839 --> 00:32:05,920
away he's on the job. That just shows you the commitment.

627
00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:07,880
So you gotta like this higher. You gotta like that

628
00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:10,680
he's gonna be coaching. The safety is the secondary. It's

629
00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,119
gonna be great. What better way to learn. And I

630
00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:15,839
know that people it might take some time, some adjustment,

631
00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:17,559
but I mean for the fact that General was under

632
00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:19,960
him first and then Jay Hill, I like this guy

633
00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:20,200
a lot.

634
00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:21,559
Speaker 5: I really liked that they did that.

635
00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:23,839
Speaker 1: And the biggest thing that they did and I'm going

636
00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:26,000
to go that route and I have to is they

637
00:32:26,079 --> 00:32:28,400
brought in a guy that's a double minority, like the

638
00:32:28,519 --> 00:32:29,640
cornerbacks coach would be.

639
00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:30,000
Speaker 4: Why you.

640
00:32:31,519 --> 00:32:34,039
Speaker 5: Has to be a double minority. It just has to be.

641
00:32:34,599 --> 00:32:37,519
Speaker 1: It always would need to be, I think, or someone

642
00:32:37,559 --> 00:32:39,559
that was maybe a double minority at one point. That's

643
00:32:39,599 --> 00:32:42,160
trend that's converted over because they understand you have to

644
00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,480
have that relationship and connect and it's one of the.

645
00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:46,680
Speaker 5: Toughest positions to recruit.

646
00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:50,200
Speaker 1: And I believe look to me when I see Trey Alexander,

647
00:32:50,279 --> 00:32:53,119
when I see other safeties, let's get to work coach like,

648
00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:56,039
you know, Trey's very hyped and Emma Johnson coming back

649
00:32:56,119 --> 00:32:58,559
and retweeting that. You know, when when guys are happy

650
00:32:58,599 --> 00:33:01,559
and excited for who the new defensive excuse me for

651
00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,359
not only the new defensive coordinator, but their positions.

652
00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:04,599
Speaker 2: Coach.

653
00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:06,720
Speaker 5: That just told me a lot. So these are good hires.

654
00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:08,880
Still a couple other positions you know, to work.

655
00:33:08,799 --> 00:33:11,079
Speaker 1: Out, you know, you would love to see, you know,

656
00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:12,720
who else is going to be on this staff, and

657
00:33:13,119 --> 00:33:16,160
those might come a little bit later, but you have

658
00:33:16,319 --> 00:33:18,200
to think. And Ben, I'm making a list right now.

659
00:33:18,319 --> 00:33:20,799
But tomorrow is the last day of the transfer portal,

660
00:33:20,839 --> 00:33:22,440
so you'll have until I think six pm. And the

661
00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:24,799
reason why I say six pm is because business people

662
00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:28,519
go to bed aka the information, coaching staff and directors.

663
00:33:28,279 --> 00:33:29,160
Speaker 5: Will leave the building.

664
00:33:29,519 --> 00:33:31,279
Speaker 1: But for the most part, BOA used to retain this

665
00:33:31,559 --> 00:33:34,920
entire you know team. From what I've looked at secondary wise,

666
00:33:35,319 --> 00:33:37,839
I you lost obviously a few pieces on both sides

667
00:33:37,839 --> 00:33:39,880
of the ball that's known to happen, but no key

668
00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:42,400
starters that we've heard from the couple of interviews from

669
00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:44,599
Jay and from Brian. I think the last guy that

670
00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:46,599
I'm looking you know, forward to coming back and I

671
00:33:46,599 --> 00:33:48,200
haven't seen anything, and maybe you can correct me if

672
00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:48,480
I'm wrong.

673
00:33:48,519 --> 00:33:52,079
Speaker 5: With Tasilia Kama, that's the last guy really looking forward.

674
00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:55,000
Speaker 1: You keep him being and with everything that you brought

675
00:33:55,039 --> 00:33:57,720
in Bo, he's got a really good shot going into

676
00:33:57,759 --> 00:33:59,720
the Big twelve next year to be in the title

677
00:33:59,759 --> 00:34:02,000
game once again, compete, win it and go to the

678
00:34:02,039 --> 00:34:03,160
college football playoffs.

679
00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:05,839
Speaker 5: And it all starts because you know, you got Kelly

680
00:34:06,039 --> 00:34:06,720
Peping at.

681
00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:09,159
Speaker 1: The helm, so great hire with the Mario Warren and

682
00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:11,159
hopefully we'll see what the rest of the hires are

683
00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:13,880
as as we get more towards springball. Crazy to think

684
00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:16,360
that by the time basketball season's over, but not even

685
00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:18,880
by the time basketball seasons over. I apologize when by

686
00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:20,920
us in the NCAA tournament, because they will be. That

687
00:34:21,039 --> 00:34:23,400
is a known fact. They will unless they just completely

688
00:34:23,559 --> 00:34:25,719
just go on a ten game losing streak, which will

689
00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:28,599
not happen. That we will be in springball again. So

690
00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:31,800
we are what just eight weeks away if that, and

691
00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:33,840
it'll be back at it and we'll get to know

692
00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:35,840
who these new additions are. We'll get to talk to

693
00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:38,639
coach Papinga Moore and we'll get to talk to coach Warner,

694
00:34:38,679 --> 00:34:41,760
So I'm excited the countdown is officially begun again.

695
00:34:42,559 --> 00:34:45,360
Speaker 2: Let's go. That was a reading between the line segment

696
00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:48,119
brought to you by Primo Golf Apparel. Premo Golf Apparel

697
00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:50,159
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698
00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:53,960
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699
00:34:55,199 --> 00:34:58,199
everybody wants to know where you got it from our listeners,

700
00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:02,119
and Ronald, you can and piggyback off of this, like

701
00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:05,599
I believe, Premo Golf Parl is no longer advertising with

702
00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:09,840
any other radio stations in the state of Utah. They

703
00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:13,360
are only advertising with our show and our station, ESPN

704
00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,599
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705
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706
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your fifteen percent off. The ESPN coupon code gets your

707
00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:27,320
fifteen percent off. Ronald, did we get official numbers on this?

708
00:35:27,559 --> 00:35:29,639
By chance? We got to give a big Cougar Award

709
00:35:29,679 --> 00:35:31,280
to the to the Cougar Nation.

710
00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:31,639
Speaker 5: Yeah.

711
00:35:32,119 --> 00:35:34,679
Speaker 1: We from the numbers that I got, this is what

712
00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,559
I'll go with from what I was told, sixteen hundred

713
00:35:37,639 --> 00:35:39,199
coupon codes over use.

714
00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:41,480
Speaker 5: So that is that is all of you gugar Nation

715
00:35:41,599 --> 00:35:43,440
at a second, like just last year or what was the.

716
00:35:43,639 --> 00:35:45,800
Speaker 1: Over the last two years since they've been since starting

717
00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:48,679
at two thousand and twenty into twenty three, twenty four

718
00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:51,360
us around there till now. Is that if you do

719
00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:53,079
the math on that, it's about five hundred and thirty

720
00:35:53,079 --> 00:35:55,679
three a years. So cougarnation people that are listening, those

721
00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:57,840
in the car right now, if you're on the app

722
00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:00,159
the old fashion while you're listening, even on the podcast it.

723
00:36:00,199 --> 00:36:03,159
Speaker 5: Afterwards, thank you very much. I don't think you guys understand.

724
00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:04,760
Speaker 1: I don't get to say a lot of this, but

725
00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:08,239
you guys don't understand, like you guys using the sponsors

726
00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:11,599
and like supporting this pays my bills. Like I never

727
00:36:11,639 --> 00:36:13,840
really get a chance to like say that. And I've

728
00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:15,239
been more open about that because I like to be

729
00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:17,440
a private person that regard, because it's just a weird thing.

730
00:36:17,559 --> 00:36:19,679
But I'm not trying to get emotional. But like I

731
00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:21,079
have a family to support, you know, I have a

732
00:36:21,119 --> 00:36:23,119
wife and kid, and so I just want to let

733
00:36:23,159 --> 00:36:24,840
you guys know, like when you guys show the value

734
00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,360
of that, that really the reternal investment for yourself, but

735
00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:29,760
like it really helps us not only here at the show,

736
00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:31,400
but it helps me personally in my life to be

737
00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:31,880
able to do this.

738
00:36:32,039 --> 00:36:33,559
Speaker 5: So that's why I love this business.

739
00:36:33,559 --> 00:36:35,159
Speaker 1: I love this job because it has nothing to do

740
00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:37,119
with me, but it's all about the fans and the

741
00:36:37,159 --> 00:36:39,000
stories I get to tell. So thank you guys for

742
00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:42,199
supporting the sponsors. As always, we always want to give

743
00:36:42,199 --> 00:36:44,639
you guys the best reternal investment, and Primo Golf has

744
00:36:44,679 --> 00:36:45,239
definitely seen that.

745
00:36:45,639 --> 00:36:49,239
Speaker 2: Premo Golf Apparel premogolf apparel dot com utilize that ESPN

746
00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:52,000
coupon code get fifteen percent off your order today. Let's

747
00:36:52,039 --> 00:36:53,760
go to break, don't go any We're more to get

748
00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:56,480
to On a Thursday, January fifteenth edition of Cougar Sports,

749
00:36:56,519 --> 00:36:58,480
here on what O three to nine ninety eight point

750
00:36:58,519 --> 00:36:59,639
three e SPA