WEBVTT - Before The Whistle: SDSU

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<v Speaker 1>The 2026 football season is here, it's happening, and so

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<v Speaker 1>far so great. A spirited win on the road against

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<v Speaker 1>an old rival, Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens with you, the

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<v Speaker 1>second installment of the UCLA Football Preview Podcast. Every week

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<v Speaker 1>we'll chat it up. and break down what to watch

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<v Speaker 1>for and what to expect when Saturday is upon us.

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<v Speaker 2>Mr.

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<v Speaker 1>Stevens, it sounds like you're in some office. I'm at

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<v Speaker 1>a ball game, a baseball game. I'm finishing up my

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<v Speaker 1>Baltimore Orioles season. So we're in two very different places,

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<v Speaker 1>about 3,000 miles away, but I know you share the

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<v Speaker 1>same level of excitement I've got for how this season

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<v Speaker 1>has begun.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I mean, Cal was a really good football team.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, they had a really good quarterback. I know

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<v Speaker 3>he's a sophomore. They were a big football team. The

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<v Speaker 3>Memorial Stadium was sold out. You know, UCLA, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>they got scored upon, you know, right when Cal got

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<v Speaker 3>the ball, they came back, they scored, you know, and

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<v Speaker 3>the game went back and forth. And it looked like

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<v Speaker 3>UCLA could, you know, put Cal away right before the half,

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<v Speaker 3>but an interception and more score. And then the third

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<v Speaker 3>quarter was so dismal. But UCLA just showed so much

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<v Speaker 3>character and so much energy there. during that entire game.

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<v Speaker 3>And the coaching staff, I can't say enough about Bob

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<v Speaker 3>Chesney and those two coordinators. They just were in full control,

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<v Speaker 3>and there was so much buy-in by all the players.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, Bob Chesney debuting as a Bruin in Berkeley. So

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<v Speaker 1>did 37 of his players. It went very, very well.

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<v Speaker 1>Wayne Knight, three touchdowns. A guy who didn't have any

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<v Speaker 1>power for conference offers when he graduated from high school

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<v Speaker 1>in Delaware, and then playing for a UCLA program with

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<v Speaker 1>these high expectations. He runs for three touchdowns. Tayshaun James

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<v Speaker 1>played three years at Iowa State, never had an interception there.

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<v Speaker 1>He had two and two minutes in his Bruins debut.

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<v Speaker 1>It's almost like whoever put on the uniform or wore

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<v Speaker 1>the logo on his chest became an instant superhero. I

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<v Speaker 1>love that the new guys, coaching staff and players, have

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<v Speaker 1>served notice right away.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, Wayne Knight, he's special.

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<v Speaker 3>I keep thinking about Maurice Jones-Shrew when I see him play.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, he has acceleration. He has big legs. He

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<v Speaker 3>can catch the ball. he's a complete back. And I'm

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<v Speaker 3>really happy for the other backs too, Javion Thomas and

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<v Speaker 3>Anthony Woods. But Wayne Knight is going to be a

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<v Speaker 3>real key player in this offense. And, you know, you

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<v Speaker 3>look at UCLA, they scored six rushing TDs. Josh, in 2025,

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<v Speaker 3>UCLA all season just had eight rushing TDs. They almost

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<v Speaker 3>eclipsed that in the first game.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, well, in the year before, they only had four

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<v Speaker 1>rushing touchdowns. So if you actually extrapolate it back, I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>the last 25 games that the Bruins had played into

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<v Speaker 1>this season, 12 rushing touchdowns. So yeah, to have six

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<v Speaker 1>in one game, first time in 11 years UCLA has

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<v Speaker 1>had a six rushing a touchdown game. And Wayne Knight

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<v Speaker 1>was named the Paul Horning National Player of the Week.

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<v Speaker 1>That's the award you get for being the most versatile

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<v Speaker 1>player in college football. And yeah, he had four terrific

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<v Speaker 1>kick returns too, as well as all those touchdowns. So

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<v Speaker 1>why not? Paul Horning, by the way, for those that

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<v Speaker 1>don't know or remember, the golden boy, a halfback and

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<v Speaker 1>kicker who played for the Packers, was on teams that

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<v Speaker 1>won four NFL titles in the very first Super Bowl,

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<v Speaker 1>but he also won the Heisman Wall at Notre Dame.

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<v Speaker 1>I want to get you back to Bob Chesney, who

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<v Speaker 1>had 15 winning seasons and is 16 as a head

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<v Speaker 1>coach coming in. I look around the rest of the

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<v Speaker 1>Big Ten partner. There's a lot of new blood on

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<v Speaker 1>the sidelines. Matt Campbell replaced James Franklin at Penn State.

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<v Speaker 1>Pat Fitzgerald is now in at Michigan State. Kyle Whittingham

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<v Speaker 1>at Michigan at the age of 66. Michigan hired Willingham

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<v Speaker 1>to do a couple things, really, I think, which is

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<v Speaker 1>win games, but also polish up the Wolverines' somewhat tarnished

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<v Speaker 1>image with the scandals involving Jim Harbaugh and then Sharon Moore.

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<v Speaker 1>Now they have a tarnished win, by the way, that

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<v Speaker 1>13-12 clock debacle against Western Michigan in Week 1. It

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<v Speaker 1>was just so refreshing to see Bob Chesney. I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>there's no talk about controversy. There's no clock weirdness. It

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<v Speaker 1>was just a well-put-together, well-fought win. which, by the way,

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<v Speaker 1>featured a 21-0 pull-away in the last nine minutes of

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<v Speaker 1>the game.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, Bob Chesney, I mean, he's very engaging along the sidelines.

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<v Speaker 3>He's always talking to the referees. What I did notice, though,

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<v Speaker 3>he lets his coaches coach. The coordinators were in control.

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<v Speaker 3>Hichler and Kennedy, they were able to do their game plans.

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<v Speaker 3>It doesn't seem like Coach Chesney's in the way. I

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<v Speaker 3>also like the fact that there's high energy, but also

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<v Speaker 3>you see Chesney Bob Chesney's family, his father was on

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<v Speaker 3>the sidelines. He was talking to everybody. I mean, that

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<v Speaker 3>guy was going on and on. His son was on

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<v Speaker 3>the field before the game. It's just it's something that

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<v Speaker 3>I think college football should get back to where it's

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<v Speaker 3>more family and it's not stressful. You know, everyone is involved.

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<v Speaker 3>It's a big village. And that's the environment that Bob

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<v Speaker 3>Chesney is creating.

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<v Speaker 1>Another thing I find interesting about Chesney is how he

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<v Speaker 1>seems to be right in the sweet spot age-wise, to

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<v Speaker 1>do this. The average age of the coaches who were

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<v Speaker 1>replaced this year in college football was 57. The average

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<v Speaker 1>age of the new coaches in their places is 44.

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<v Speaker 1>That's not to say older coaches don't have a place,

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<v Speaker 1>because Kurt Cignetti is 65, Whittingham is 66, Kirk Ferens

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<v Speaker 1>in Iowa is 70. But I just like that Chesney

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<v Speaker 1>seems to be, yeah, kind of in that little... Valley,

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<v Speaker 1>I guess, where you can enjoy that the guy's got

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<v Speaker 1>a young family. He's still got aspirations on what to

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<v Speaker 1>accomplish because he hasn't done everything he's wanted to yet.

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<v Speaker 1>He's got a lot of good stuff ahead of him.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and he really wanted to come to UCLA.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, he knew UCLA had sort of lost its

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<v Speaker 3>sort of swagger. And he knew he had to do

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<v Speaker 3>a rebuild, but it's not a rebuild. I mean, he's saying, hey,

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<v Speaker 3>you know what? We can win right now if everybody

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<v Speaker 3>has the same attitude. And I think that's great for UCLA.

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<v Speaker 3>And you can tell UCLA fans this week, and they're

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<v Speaker 3>going to be playing at the Rose Bowl at 4

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<v Speaker 3>o'clock against San Diego State. I mean, there is a

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<v Speaker 3>lot of buying with the fans. Everybody I know is

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<v Speaker 3>going to be going to that game, and it's against

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<v Speaker 3>San Diego State. But Bob Chessie just created this energy

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<v Speaker 3>and enthusiasm back into the football program.

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<v Speaker 1>And we're going to scout San Diego State in just

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit. But before I forget to bring this

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<v Speaker 1>up to you, Matt, I was looking at Lindy's annual

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<v Speaker 1>the other day. There used to be five or six

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<v Speaker 1>publications every year. Now there's just a couple that preview

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<v Speaker 1>the season for us in college football. But they've got

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<v Speaker 1>UCLA's quarterback situation as mid-pack at best in this very

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<v Speaker 1>competitive Big Ten conference, 11th as a matter of fact,

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<v Speaker 1>with the running backs room and receivers room both at

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<v Speaker 1>15th and the offensive line at 14th. You've seen just

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<v Speaker 1>one game live so far, only the Bruins live. But

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<v Speaker 1>does that seem right to you? It seems like they're

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<v Speaker 1>maybe underselling things a little bit.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, first of all, in pregame, I went down to

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<v Speaker 3>the field and I was looking at the offensive line.

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<v Speaker 3>They are gigantic. I mean, I've never seen bigger guys

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<v Speaker 3>at UCLA in my life. The tackles are 6'8.

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<v Speaker 1>6'7, 6'5.

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<v Speaker 2>Jordan Davis looks like he was born as a left tackle.

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<v Speaker 3>You talk about Riley Robel, the center. I was worried

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<v Speaker 3>about his weight, 284 pounds. His shoulders are massive. And

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<v Speaker 3>he was walking on his hands.

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<v Speaker 2>He's a wrestler.

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<v Speaker 3>So he was walking on his hands going 20 yards

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<v Speaker 3>up and 20 yards back in warm-ups. And I'm like,

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<v Speaker 3>who is that guy?

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<v Speaker 2>I love him.

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<v Speaker 3>He's my favorite player from now on. And then your

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<v Speaker 3>right tackle is named Paul Smith. I mean, just think

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<v Speaker 3>about that.

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<v Speaker 2>Paul Smith. If you think about that, he's the right tackle.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, that's a perfect name for him.

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<v Speaker 3>So UCLA understands that it takes big people to win

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<v Speaker 3>football games. And then, yeah, I think, you know, the

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<v Speaker 3>quarterback and the wide receivers, they still got a lot

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<v Speaker 3>to prove.

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<v Speaker 2>But the running backs, they're number one in the Big Ten.

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<v Speaker 2>No doubt about it. After that performance, they just went

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<v Speaker 2>right up to the top.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, certainly not 15th. I thought that was a little off. Defensively,

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<v Speaker 1>the units check in at 17 out of 18 on

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<v Speaker 1>the D-line. Much better in the secondary and the linebackers.

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<v Speaker 1>They're 10th and 11th, respectively. And with Pagani kicking their

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<v Speaker 1>respectable 11th out of 18 on the special teams rating, but...

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<v Speaker 1>My big takeaway, I guess, from all that, Matt, that

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<v Speaker 1>in seven different total categories, there isn't one of them

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<v Speaker 1>where the Bruins have a unit considered to be top

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<v Speaker 1>10 within the Big Ten. And I know it's only

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<v Speaker 1>one game and we're UCLA honks, but I just kind

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<v Speaker 1>of reeks of disrespect right there because the eyeball test

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<v Speaker 1>tells you that there is not 12, 13, 14 units

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<v Speaker 1>better than what the Bruins run out there.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I mean, the Bruins didn't do much last year.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, I can understand the low rankings, but that

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<v Speaker 3>linebacking core for UCLA could be one of the best

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<v Speaker 3>in college football. I mean, the linebackers for UCLA, Jalen

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<v Speaker 3>Woods and Sammy Omosego, are almost like running backs, the

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<v Speaker 3>way they hit the hole and stop running backs. You

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<v Speaker 3>look at the secondary in their lockdown quarters, Scooter Jackson,

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<v Speaker 3>Roderick Pleasant, they're probably two of the best in the business.

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<v Speaker 3>They're going to have NFL careers, and that enables the

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<v Speaker 3>safeties to roam around the field and make some plays.

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<v Speaker 3>But You know, at the end of that football game,

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<v Speaker 3>the defensive line of UCLA began to show up. I mean,

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<v Speaker 3>there was a definite push. Cal quarterback was going to

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<v Speaker 3>the ground. Say you're West, of course, the edge rusher.

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<v Speaker 3>But I was impressed with Tyson Ford.

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<v Speaker 2>He really had a good game.

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<v Speaker 3>They put two defensive linemen in and out during the quarters.

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<v Speaker 3>And I think that really helps him stay fresh at

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<v Speaker 3>the end of the game. But Tyson Ford really did

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<v Speaker 3>a good job closing out that game against Cal.

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<v Speaker 1>You mentioned staying fresh, and that brings us to the

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<v Speaker 1>game coming up this Saturday, 4-15 kick. I do think

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<v Speaker 1>it's going to be decently attended now that there's this

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<v Speaker 1>push to get everybody there. But what about, and look,

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<v Speaker 1>you know just as well as anybody because you walk

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<v Speaker 1>around outside, it has been a weirdly hot and humid summer,

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<v Speaker 1>and it's not ending anytime soon. I mean, it's just crazy.

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<v Speaker 1>how your clothes just stick to you now, like you're

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<v Speaker 1>walking around in a rainforest, and it's been for a while.

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<v Speaker 1>There's going to be a little bit of that this weekend.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a 4-15 kick, so I don't know how that computes.

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<v Speaker 1>You've played it basically every game time, and I don't

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<v Speaker 1>know if it's better or worse than being at 415

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<v Speaker 1>and say at 1215 or 715. But what do you

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<v Speaker 1>think it's going to be like for the players just

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<v Speaker 1>to stay fresh?

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I mean, for the players, the heat and also

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<v Speaker 2>the humidity. I mean, they're used to that. They've been

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<v Speaker 2>practicing in it.

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<v Speaker 3>They've had a couple of weeks where they had to

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<v Speaker 3>endure practices when it's been that hot.

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<v Speaker 2>So they're going to be OK.

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<v Speaker 3>And actually, you're wearing a helmet and all the pads

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<v Speaker 3>and everything. It's it's sort of shade you from the sun.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm worried about the fans. They're going to be sitting

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<v Speaker 3>in the sun side. So bring a lot of refreshments.

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<v Speaker 3>And when you come into the Rose Bowl, but yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>the healer play a factor, but it's the same for

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<v Speaker 3>San Diego State and UCLA. I'm just like I said,

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<v Speaker 3>if you're your fans, you're bringing kids, make sure they're

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<v Speaker 3>going to be OK.

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<v Speaker 1>So let's talk about San Diego State and Troy Aikman's

0:11:03.330 --> 0:11:05.130
<v Speaker 1>first ever game as a Bruin, by the way, was

0:11:05.170 --> 0:11:07.430
<v Speaker 1>against San Diego State when he won the starting job

0:11:07.470 --> 0:11:10.360
<v Speaker 1>as a junior in 87. That actually ended a six

0:11:10.400 --> 0:11:14.220
<v Speaker 1>year run of nothing but fifth year seniors at that position. UCLA,

0:11:14.580 --> 0:11:17.620
<v Speaker 1>a 47-14 route that day. And that set a tone.

0:11:17.679 --> 0:11:22.610
<v Speaker 1>UCLA always, with one exception, has knocked San Diego State around.

0:11:22.800 --> 0:11:25.069
<v Speaker 1>The one loss to the Aztecs was at the Rose

0:11:25.090 --> 0:11:28.450
<v Speaker 1>Bowl in 2019 under Chip Kelly. Lost that game by nine.

0:11:28.470 --> 0:11:30.790
<v Speaker 1>That was just big yikes, top to bottom, as the

0:11:30.809 --> 0:11:33.970
<v Speaker 1>kids say. But at San Diego State three years ago,

0:11:34.830 --> 0:11:38.560
<v Speaker 1>the Bruins outgained the Aztecs 550 to 259. That sounded

0:11:38.600 --> 0:11:41.380
<v Speaker 1>a little bit better, looked a lot better. So I

0:11:41.420 --> 0:11:44.309
<v Speaker 1>know it's been a while. I mean, three years, it's

0:11:44.350 --> 0:11:47.010
<v Speaker 1>almost a complete turnover of both rosters and certainly the

0:11:47.050 --> 0:11:49.890
<v Speaker 1>coaching staffs as well. But from what you remember of

0:11:49.929 --> 0:11:53.480
<v Speaker 1>where the San Diego State program is these days, what

0:11:53.500 --> 0:11:54.520
<v Speaker 1>do you expect from them?

0:11:55.880 --> 0:11:57.500
<v Speaker 2>Well, you know, you think about Sean Lewis.

0:11:57.559 --> 0:12:01.300
<v Speaker 3>He was the office of coordinator at Colorado and also

0:12:01.340 --> 0:12:02.000
<v Speaker 3>at Kent State.

0:12:02.480 --> 0:12:04.179
<v Speaker 2>And he put up big numbers offensively.

0:12:04.240 --> 0:12:06.490
<v Speaker 3>Well, last year, San Diego State was successful because of

0:12:06.510 --> 0:12:09.290
<v Speaker 3>their defense performance. They had three players that went into

0:12:09.330 --> 0:12:14.050
<v Speaker 3>the NFL. They only returned one starter from last year's defense.

0:12:14.070 --> 0:12:17.589
<v Speaker 3>They also lost their defensive coordinator, Rob Orridge. So there's

0:12:17.630 --> 0:12:20.570
<v Speaker 3>a new defensive coordinator now that's going to be guiding

0:12:20.590 --> 0:12:25.210
<v Speaker 3>the San Diego defense, Demetra Sumler. So now San Diego

0:12:25.230 --> 0:12:27.220
<v Speaker 3>State is going to rely on their offense, try and

0:12:27.250 --> 0:12:31.120
<v Speaker 3>put points on the board. Defense against Portland State last Saturday,

0:12:31.160 --> 0:12:34.080
<v Speaker 3>they gave up some points. They won the game because

0:12:34.120 --> 0:12:38.040
<v Speaker 3>of special teams and turnovers, but still. the offense is

0:12:38.059 --> 0:12:39.660
<v Speaker 3>going to have to put up a lot of points

0:12:39.720 --> 0:12:43.420
<v Speaker 3>to overcome, I guess, the lack of experience on that

0:12:43.440 --> 0:12:44.640
<v Speaker 3>San Diego State defense.

0:12:45.309 --> 0:12:49.209
<v Speaker 1>You mentioned Sean Lewis, who was really considered, it sounds like,

0:12:49.250 --> 0:12:52.050
<v Speaker 1>to maybe be the Bruins guy if they hadn't landed

0:12:52.250 --> 0:12:55.250
<v Speaker 1>Bob Chesney. His only other coaching stint was at Kent

0:12:55.309 --> 0:12:59.200
<v Speaker 1>State and moved on to be Colorado's offensive coordinator, quarterback's coach.

0:12:59.620 --> 0:13:02.360
<v Speaker 1>Does he have enough in his pantry to make a difference?

0:13:04.530 --> 0:13:05.280
<v Speaker 2>He's going to struggle.

0:13:05.340 --> 0:13:08.280
<v Speaker 3>I think the offense of San Diego State, it's more

0:13:08.400 --> 0:13:11.140
<v Speaker 3>geared towards running the football. Lucky Sutton is a really

0:13:11.600 --> 0:13:14.420
<v Speaker 3>good running back from Cathedral High School here in San Diego.

0:13:15.100 --> 0:13:17.780
<v Speaker 3>They do have Burt Emanuel will come in. He'll play

0:13:17.800 --> 0:13:23.809
<v Speaker 3>a little wildcat. Jaden Denigle is a good quarterback. He's 6'5,

0:13:23.790 --> 0:13:26.630
<v Speaker 3>240 pounds. He has a pretty good arm. He can

0:13:26.730 --> 0:13:29.109
<v Speaker 3>run around a little bit. But, you know, to run

0:13:29.150 --> 0:13:32.010
<v Speaker 3>the ball against UCLA with those fast linebackers, that's going

0:13:32.030 --> 0:13:33.339
<v Speaker 3>to be a challenge for the Aztecs.

0:13:34.030 --> 0:13:35.970
<v Speaker 1>The other thing I'm looking at, they've got Scott White

0:13:36.230 --> 0:13:39.960
<v Speaker 1>in it as the linebacker's coach and defensive run game coordinator,

0:13:40.059 --> 0:13:43.960
<v Speaker 1>another UCLA tie-in there, a former Bruin assistant, and we

0:13:44.000 --> 0:13:46.440
<v Speaker 1>heard his name a little bit as well. So we've

0:13:46.559 --> 0:13:49.939
<v Speaker 1>articulated what the Bruins' run game looks like right now.

0:13:50.660 --> 0:13:52.600
<v Speaker 1>I don't know if I'd want to be Scott White

0:13:52.800 --> 0:13:54.920
<v Speaker 1>up against this three-headed monster that you talk about.

0:13:56.250 --> 0:13:59.190
<v Speaker 3>Well, Antonio State's base defense is a 4-2-5. I mean,

0:13:59.210 --> 0:14:03.370
<v Speaker 3>they're in the new Pac-10 now. and that's more geared

0:14:03.390 --> 0:14:06.030
<v Speaker 3>towards throwing the football. UCLA, they're going to come out,

0:14:06.130 --> 0:14:08.050
<v Speaker 3>and they're going to, of course, run the ball. And

0:14:08.470 --> 0:14:10.870
<v Speaker 3>I got to say, too, Josh, I was very impressed

0:14:10.890 --> 0:14:13.030
<v Speaker 3>with the tight ends. The tight ends that don't catch

0:14:13.250 --> 0:14:16.730
<v Speaker 3>for UCLA, they just block better than any tight ends

0:14:16.809 --> 0:14:17.429
<v Speaker 3>in the country.

0:14:17.990 --> 0:14:19.490
<v Speaker 2>And it's led by Joshua Pfeiffer.

0:14:19.530 --> 0:14:22.050
<v Speaker 3>I mean, these guys really know how to seal the edge,

0:14:22.090 --> 0:14:25.030
<v Speaker 3>give an opportunity to run it back. So San Diego

0:14:25.050 --> 0:14:26.970
<v Speaker 3>State's going to have to make an adjustment on defense.

0:14:27.030 --> 0:14:28.330
<v Speaker 3>I think they're going to have to have at least

0:14:28.410 --> 0:14:30.680
<v Speaker 3>seven or eight guys in the box trying to stop

0:14:30.700 --> 0:14:31.780
<v Speaker 3>the run against UCLA.

0:14:32.320 --> 0:14:34.240
<v Speaker 1>You know, it's funny you bring up tight ends because

0:14:34.340 --> 0:14:37.320
<v Speaker 1>for a while, I'm talking about three, four, five, six

0:14:37.360 --> 0:14:39.460
<v Speaker 1>years ago, the tight ends were such a big part

0:14:39.900 --> 0:14:42.300
<v Speaker 1>of the UCLA offense. And a lot of those guys

0:14:42.340 --> 0:14:45.680
<v Speaker 1>went on and did some things in the NFL. You

0:14:45.710 --> 0:14:48.530
<v Speaker 1>got Greg Dulcich and before that, Caleb Wilson, a bunch

0:14:48.550 --> 0:14:51.290
<v Speaker 1>of guys that actually took the next step.

0:14:51.870 --> 0:14:52.590
<v Speaker 2>And I think you're right.

0:14:52.630 --> 0:14:54.390
<v Speaker 1>It's not so much about catching the ball now. It's

0:14:54.430 --> 0:14:56.410
<v Speaker 1>about blocking it. I don't know if you saw what

0:14:56.490 --> 0:14:59.670
<v Speaker 1>I saw on the 53-yard run that sealed the game.

0:14:59.720 --> 0:15:02.540
<v Speaker 1>But Harry Lodge, one of those other tight ends in

0:15:02.560 --> 0:15:06.740
<v Speaker 1>the mix, what a block he made to spring that sideline. And, yeah,

0:15:06.960 --> 0:15:10.180
<v Speaker 1>it's stuff that maybe you don't notice live when you're

0:15:10.200 --> 0:15:11.620
<v Speaker 1>first seeing it, but then you go back and watch

0:15:11.660 --> 0:15:13.860
<v Speaker 1>the tape and you're like, man, those tight ends are

0:15:14.040 --> 0:15:14.760
<v Speaker 1>getting after it.

0:15:15.900 --> 0:15:17.840
<v Speaker 3>Well, Harry Lodge is a really small guy at 6'7,

0:15:17.810 --> 0:15:19.310
<v Speaker 3>247 pounds. I mean, all the tight ends, you know, 258,

0:15:19.280 --> 0:15:26.920
<v Speaker 3>244 pounds, I mean, they're big tight ends and they

0:15:26.940 --> 0:15:29.500
<v Speaker 3>know what they do. And what Dean Kennedy does to

0:15:29.540 --> 0:15:32.600
<v Speaker 3>the offensive coordinator, he'll put his tight ends in motion

0:15:33.000 --> 0:15:35.580
<v Speaker 3>and they'll become a lead blocker and go through like

0:15:35.680 --> 0:15:38.120
<v Speaker 3>behind the guard or behind the tackle. And they're not

0:15:38.320 --> 0:15:40.950
<v Speaker 3>afraid to mix it up. And by the way, Dean

0:15:41.010 --> 0:15:43.870
<v Speaker 3>Kennedy is a really good coordinator. There were just some

0:15:43.990 --> 0:15:47.510
<v Speaker 3>shifts in motion where he moved the Cal defense and

0:15:47.610 --> 0:15:51.450
<v Speaker 3>created a hole for the UCLA running backs. He's special

0:15:51.630 --> 0:15:54.479
<v Speaker 3>along with Hitchler, the other coordinator. I mean, These coaches

0:15:54.840 --> 0:15:56.900
<v Speaker 3>from top to bottom are very good for UCLA.

0:15:57.800 --> 0:15:58.810
<v Speaker 2>And back to the Aztecs.

0:15:58.850 --> 0:16:01.710
<v Speaker 1>You referenced their season opening win. It was against Portland State.

0:16:02.270 --> 0:16:05.030
<v Speaker 1>And they scored 29 points to the Aztecs over four

0:16:05.070 --> 0:16:07.930
<v Speaker 1>straight possessions at one point in basically about 16 minutes.

0:16:07.950 --> 0:16:10.840
<v Speaker 1>And that was the ballgame. Special teams deserves to be

0:16:10.880 --> 0:16:14.260
<v Speaker 1>talked about. They had two blocked punts and a 100-yard

0:16:14.300 --> 0:16:18.540
<v Speaker 1>kickoff return for a score. So, yeah, I certainly had

0:16:18.580 --> 0:16:21.160
<v Speaker 1>my head turned by their special teams. I know it's

0:16:21.200 --> 0:16:23.710
<v Speaker 1>only one week and it's only against Portland State. But

0:16:23.750 --> 0:16:25.450
<v Speaker 1>that's a lot of special teams.

0:16:27.210 --> 0:16:28.790
<v Speaker 2>And that really would turn the game around.

0:16:28.830 --> 0:16:30.890
<v Speaker 3>I mean, Portland State was able to move the ball,

0:16:30.930 --> 0:16:33.990
<v Speaker 3>throwing it all over that Aztec defense. I mean, the

0:16:34.070 --> 0:16:37.110
<v Speaker 3>Aztec defense, like I said, only returns one starter from

0:16:37.130 --> 0:16:42.410
<v Speaker 3>last year's team. The linebackers, they're good, but Latuli is

0:16:42.490 --> 0:16:46.200
<v Speaker 3>coming off ACL surgery. There's a couple other players that

0:16:46.240 --> 0:16:50.180
<v Speaker 3>are coming off surgery. So it's not a real big group,

0:16:50.960 --> 0:16:52.250
<v Speaker 3>and it's a group that's played together a lot.

0:16:53.620 --> 0:16:56.230
<v Speaker 1>And this is San Diego State's first year, as you mentioned,

0:16:56.450 --> 0:17:00.290
<v Speaker 1>in the new look Pac-12, which changes their schedule up some.

0:17:00.350 --> 0:17:02.150
<v Speaker 1>It's actually kind of quirky, but kind of fun to

0:17:02.210 --> 0:17:05.260
<v Speaker 1>note that the Aztecs, after they play UCLA this weekend,

0:17:05.740 --> 0:17:09.400
<v Speaker 1>they've got Bob Chesney's old team, James Madison, the following weekend.

0:17:09.420 --> 0:17:11.800
<v Speaker 1>So they're going to see Chesney one way or another here.

0:17:11.900 --> 0:17:14.350
<v Speaker 1>But I do want to ask you, Matt, you know,

0:17:14.710 --> 0:17:18.490
<v Speaker 1>We're now getting used to saying Big Ten, right? UCLA

0:17:18.550 --> 0:17:21.420
<v Speaker 1>plays in a Big Ten. To me, it was almost

0:17:21.580 --> 0:17:26.420
<v Speaker 1>easier when the Pac-12 evaporated because nobody was saying Pac-12 anymore.

0:17:26.780 --> 0:17:29.260
<v Speaker 1>But now that the Pac is back, do you find

0:17:29.280 --> 0:17:33.500
<v Speaker 1>yourself being just a little bit wistful, a little bit bittersweet? Because, yeah,

0:17:33.540 --> 0:17:37.560
<v Speaker 1>when you said Pac-12 or even new Pac-12, I had

0:17:38.160 --> 0:17:41.320
<v Speaker 1>that little lilt in my heart for just a moment

0:17:41.340 --> 0:17:42.979
<v Speaker 1>because I was like, oh, yeah, that's where we used

0:17:43.000 --> 0:17:43.280
<v Speaker 1>to live.

0:17:44.510 --> 0:17:46.550
<v Speaker 3>Well, I mean, think about the Pac-12, you know, when

0:17:46.590 --> 0:17:50.310
<v Speaker 3>it had Washington, Oregon, UCLA, and USC. I mean, that

0:17:50.350 --> 0:17:52.970
<v Speaker 3>was a great conference. I mean, in Arizona, Arizona State,

0:17:53.090 --> 0:17:56.550
<v Speaker 3>Utah joined. It was just completely mismanaged.

0:17:57.109 --> 0:17:59.300
<v Speaker 2>That was the problem. I mean, they didn't get the

0:17:59.320 --> 0:18:00.980
<v Speaker 2>TV contract set.

0:18:01.040 --> 0:18:03.460
<v Speaker 3>I mean, Larry Scott was at the helm, and I

0:18:03.500 --> 0:18:07.760
<v Speaker 3>think he just dropped the ball because everyone loved the Pac-12,

0:18:07.800 --> 0:18:10.920
<v Speaker 3>and they had really competitive teams. And these four competitive

0:18:11.910 --> 0:18:14.380
<v Speaker 3>Pac-12 teams that went to the Big Ten I mean,

0:18:14.420 --> 0:18:16.300
<v Speaker 3>the Big Ten now is sort of scratching their head.

0:18:16.940 --> 0:18:18.560
<v Speaker 2>You know, we got the big boys. We didn't get

0:18:19.140 --> 0:18:19.899
<v Speaker 2>the medium boys.

0:18:21.160 --> 0:18:24.370
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, there's no Texas State in the Big Ten, that's

0:18:24.410 --> 0:18:27.350
<v Speaker 1>for sure. But it's going to be a really fun afternoon,

0:18:27.390 --> 0:18:30.270
<v Speaker 1>a really warm afternoon, as you suggested. So, yeah, please

0:18:30.310 --> 0:18:32.810
<v Speaker 1>do hydrate and please do come out. We hope to

0:18:32.830 --> 0:18:35.340
<v Speaker 1>see you out there. Matt, thanks so much for the preview.

0:18:35.359 --> 0:18:37.899
<v Speaker 1>We'll do it again when it's time to check out Purdue.

0:18:39.200 --> 0:18:41.060
<v Speaker 2>Go Bruins. See you at Sandy. Go stay at the

0:18:41.100 --> 0:18:42.590
<v Speaker 2>Rose Bowl. Right on.

0:18:42.630 --> 0:18:44.510
<v Speaker 1>That is Matt Stevens. I'm Josh Lewin.

0:18:44.550 --> 0:18:45.090
<v Speaker 2>Four's up.

0:18:45.130 --> 0:18:46.169
<v Speaker 1>Thanks so much for listening.

0:18:46.450 --> 0:18:46.850
<v Speaker 2>Take care.