1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:01,200 Speaker 1: It's a fan morning show. 2 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 2: Kevin Bowen, James Boyd, I'm Jeff Rickard, and tonight the 3 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 2: college football playoff semi final, the Indiana Hoosiers taking on 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 2: the Oregon Ducks, rematch of a regular season game, and 5 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 2: we can't wait to get going. If you don't go 6 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 2: watch it DONA ESPN Radio and you don't get the 7 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 2: chance to listen to us tonight, you certainly want to 8 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 2: tune into ESPN TV. Sean McDonough has the play by 9 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 2: play and nothing screams big game more than my friend 10 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 2: Sean McDonough on the call. Shawn, it's good to talk 11 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 2: to you again. Thanks for joining us early this morning. 12 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 2: Everybody in the Indiana they are fired up here. I'm 13 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 2: sure you could imagine that. 14 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, just hearing that rejoinder that you just played would 15 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: get me fired up too, even if I wasn't an 16 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: Indiana fan. Great to talk to you again, Jeff, and 17 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: to Kevin and James, and we're fired up too, you know, 18 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 1: looking forward to seeing this team tonight that has been 19 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 1: clearly the best team in the country all season long. 20 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: As you guys know, it's an excellent opponent. I think 21 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: it will be like last night, another really competit is 22 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: an exciting game and can't wait to get started. Sean 23 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 1: can't thank you enough. 24 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 3: Last year you joined us quite often throughout the run. 25 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 3: You were kind of the notre dame, if you will, 26 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 3: I guess play by player throughout that run, and so 27 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 3: we appreciate the time here again with obviously a different opponent, 28 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 3: albeit you saw Indiana last year in that first round matchup. 29 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 3: Let's kind of start there, Kurt Signetti, what is different 30 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 3: in your interactions maybe before last year's opener versus what 31 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 3: you've seen from him this year from Afar and now 32 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:29,639 Speaker 3: obviously up close for tonight. 33 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: I really didn't notice anything different. You know. I think 34 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: that's a part of his success. Excuse me, is he's 35 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: pretty consistent, the same guy more often than not. You know, 36 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: he has a great belief in himself, the staff, the players, 37 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 1: the system, and you know, I thought it was interesting 38 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: yesterday his facial expressions have become a thing, especially after 39 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: the Rose Bowl against Alabama. He was asked about it 40 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: yesterday and he said, you know, one of the reasons 41 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: he kind of wears that expression all the time is 42 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: he tells players he wants them to be the same 43 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: play the same from play one to play whatever one 44 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty. So he doesn't want to be up 45 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: there up and down with his emotions on the sideline 46 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: and not practicing what he preaches. So not much different 47 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: within our interaction with him yesterday than it was last year. 48 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,519 Speaker 4: Sean, thanks again for the time and congratulations on being 49 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 4: in the name the National Sportscaster of the Year from 50 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 4: the National Sports Media Association. A big honor there and 51 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 4: rightfully deservedly. So going to you and looking at this 52 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 4: matchup again, what do you think could be different from 53 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 4: when we saw these teams a couple months ago. 54 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: Well, you know, I think if you're Oregon, the number 55 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: one thing you need to figure out is not upsacks. 56 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: You know, it was unusual for them to give up sacks. 57 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: They've only given up sixteen all year, and six of 58 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: them were in the game against Indiana and they had 59 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: eight out of their fourteen games they didn't give up 60 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: a sack. So I think they need to figure out 61 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: the protection. You know, I give Brian Haynes and the 62 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: defensive staff and players a lot of credit for that. 63 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: You know, they're hard to defend that way, as you 64 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: guys know, a lot of simulated pressures, they move people around, 65 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: they have talented people who can get after the quarterback. 66 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: So I think for Oregon, if it's going to be different, 67 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: that has to be job one for them. 68 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 2: Sean McDonough ESPN has to play by play of the 69 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 2: game tonight Indiana and Oregon, joining us on the Paylesslikers Hotline. Sean, 70 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: You've seen so much college football over the years, and 71 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: when I look at this Indiana team, the thing that 72 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 2: really jumps out to me is how physical they are, 73 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 2: and then at the skill positions, how strong and fast 74 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: they are. Is well, they look like what used to 75 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: be like an SEC team. What do you see when 76 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: you watch this team getting ready for the game. 77 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, they are definitely that. And I think just the 78 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: most impressive thing I don't ever remember preparing for a 79 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: game where the team looked like they were so well 80 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: co coach that executed so well in all the things 81 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: that you would say are important in the game. I mean, 82 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: they're the best team in the country on third down 83 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: when they're on offense. On third down, on defense, they're 84 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: third best in the country behind Texas A and M Virginia. 85 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: They're plus eighteen in the turnover margin that side with 86 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: Arizona for the best in the country. You know, they 87 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: don't give up explosive plays. That's another big thing. To 88 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: go back to the previous question about tonight. Your Oregon 89 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: is more explosive country twenty yard plays or more, ninety 90 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: five of them. Indiana doesn't give those up. They don't 91 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: hurt themselves with penalties. You know, you guys have seen 92 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: it all year long. I mean, if you're a coach 93 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: and a staff and you're looking at your team and 94 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: you want them to demonstrate that they're a beautifully coached team, 95 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: they really do everything that would suggest, wow, this is 96 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: a really well coached team. So I think that's the 97 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: thing that jumps out to me. They have guys who 98 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: love football, play hard. Obviously they have the best quarterback 99 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: in the country. Well we shall see, right, that's another 100 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: interesting backdrop to this tonight. The NFL people, I think, 101 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,280 Speaker 1: look at Fernando and Dante. More is one in one 102 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: A and probably the top two picks in the draft, 103 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: and you know, talking to mel kiper emailing with him, 104 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 1: you know he's not sure which one is number one 105 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: and which one's number two. So that's not the most 106 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: important thing tonight, but it is certainly a small part 107 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: of the story. 108 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 3: You certainly know that boy Sean McDonough, he will be 109 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 3: on the call here in about twelve hours. I guess 110 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 3: we'll be in the first quarter at this point of 111 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 3: Indiana and Oregon. Tonight's of course on ESPN. Let's focus 112 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 3: on Mendoza for a second and maybe more of just 113 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 3: kind of away from on the field stuff. He certainly 114 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 3: quite the unique personality. The Heisman Trophy speech I know 115 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 3: had my wife in tears about fifteen seconds into it. 116 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 3: Your interactions with him and just what you've observed from him, 117 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 3: maybe away from football. 118 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: Well, yesterday it was the first time I've ever talked 119 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,919 Speaker 1: to him in person, and I share your thoughts. You know, 120 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 1: I watched him obviously to give the Heisman speech, and 121 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: it's seen him interviewed other times and seen him featured 122 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: previously and always came away super impressed. I don't know 123 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: how you could be anything but and that was just 124 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: more the same yesterday. It was wonderful to hear his 125 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: teammates talk about him. You know, it's not phony. He's 126 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 1: not trying hard to win public affection. You know, that's 127 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: the way he is around them. And you know, his 128 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: three teammates that we talked to in the meeting yesterday 129 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: and his coaches all said the same thing. You know, 130 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: he became a team leader very quickly because of you know, 131 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: his infectious personality and his character. So you know, he's 132 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: the whole package. I think, you know, as you said, 133 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: you could debate is he the number one pick the 134 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: number two pick, But I think whoever drafts him is 135 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 1: going to be awfully happy that they did. 136 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 4: Sean last one for me and I'm just curious from 137 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 4: a broadcasting standpoint, but what is the preparation like for 138 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 4: a game of this magnitude If you could just kind 139 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 4: of take us through your behind the scenes to be 140 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 4: coming the voice of this moment for so many people. 141 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's intense. You know, it would have been a 142 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 1: little easier for our group if we had the other 143 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: game last night, only because you know, we had had 144 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: both Miami and All miss in this playoff, and we 145 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: had both of them in the regular season. As a 146 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: matter of fact, we turned out to have Miami and 147 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: the most important game of the regular season maybe for 148 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: any team, because we had their opener against Notre Dame, 149 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: and ultimately that's the game, the win that got them 150 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: into the field ahead of Notre Dame. Had that game 151 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: gone the other way, the Irish I'm sure would have 152 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: been in in Miami, wouldn't have even been in the playoffs. 153 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: You know, we were very familiar with those two teams, 154 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: not anywhere near as familiar with Indiana and Oregon because, 155 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: as you guys know, MAYBEC and ESPN we don't have 156 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: the broadcast rights for the Big Ten anymore. And I 157 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: really miss it, you know, loved going to those places 158 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: and loved Big Ten football and those venues and coaches 159 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: and the people the SID So really miss it. But 160 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: it's been fun to dive back into this. As you said, 161 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: we in Indiana last year, so brought out my spotting charts. 162 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: But going to answer your question here, I've got a 163 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: ninety eight page press release from ore again with all 164 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: their notes and stats, a huge clip file of features 165 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: about the players and coaches, very similar information from Indiana. 166 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: ESPN has a great research staff that helps us. I've 167 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: watched the regular season game that these two teams played, 168 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: the two or three recent games that they both played, 169 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: including the games in the playoff. Here. You know, meetings 170 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: yesterday with the players and coaches. I'm sitting here furiously 171 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: jotting as any notes on in my chart as I can, 172 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: and then once the game starts, you know, the thing 173 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: is to not have the temptation to get all this 174 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: information out, you know, just use what's pertinent. You know, 175 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: hopefully it's a close game, and we don't tell a 176 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: lot of personal stories, even though we love because it's 177 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 1: part especially for the people. Right that we'll have a 178 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: huge audience tonight. A lot of these people will not 179 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: have seen either one of these teams have played this 180 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,319 Speaker 1: year and won't know much about their players. So you know, 181 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: you try to pick the right stories to humanize the 182 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 1: people as it goes along. Thanks for joining us, Sean. 183 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 2: I know it's early for you. We really appreciate you 184 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 2: taking the time to get up with us. I just 185 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,719 Speaker 2: wish sooner or later you and I can talk more 186 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 2: hockey again soon, but we got business tonight. 187 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: Well let's do that. I'll be rolling in the hockey 188 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: here after the National Championship game and we'd love to 189 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: do that. 190 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 2: All right, buddy, we'll talk to you soon. 191 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 3: Thanks Sean. 192 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: Thank you guys. Have a great day.