1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody's Bill Courtning. Welcome to the shop. Hi Alex. 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: How's everything going. 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 2: It's going great? Really, like four days this week, maybe 4 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 2: five days. I think I'm coming here every single day 5 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 2: this week. 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: Are you really? Yeah? A lot of work. Yeah, it 7 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: is a lot of work. Oh, we love it. How 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: are the are the kids all? Actually the last. 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 2: Reason is thanks to you you're giving me your Grizzlies 10 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: tickets on Friday. 11 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: Well that was nice of me. That was nice of you. 12 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,279 Speaker 1: Very Christmas. Thank you. How was are the kids all 13 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: stoked about Christmas? Yeah? Yeah? 14 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: So we just spent Emilia Island in Florida, where my 15 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 2: parents are. That's cool, and our first time exploring Savannah. 16 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 2: I've always driven through it but never spent a Savannah, Georgia. 17 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: There's a lot of history there. Yeah, did you go 18 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: do any of the Civil War history? Really? 19 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 2: We just I mean we were just there for twelve 20 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 2: hours or something, but we uh at Forsyth Park is 21 00:00:57,880 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 2: beautiful and just walking around the squares. 22 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 1: Yeah, river Front, it's cool. It's a great time, all right, everybody. 23 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: We as you know, we number all of our shop 24 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: talks and candidly we record them a little early. Then 25 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: you hear them probably a week, two, three weeks, and 26 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: then do some editing on them because I might screw 27 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: up and put the music to them. So a shop 28 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: talk that you're listening to typically was produced two or 29 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: three weeks before you hear it, and Alex and I 30 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: constantly struggle with the numbers of them to make sure 31 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: the numberings right. Well, because this one's actually a current event, 32 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: very topical, we're recording it now and you're gonna hear 33 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: it two days later, which means it's coming in front 34 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: of two we've already done that are numbered. So this 35 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 1: is shop talk A. Yeah, that's why I don't have 36 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: an umper, but it's shop talk A. If we never 37 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: get to do a b oh, we're going to do it, 38 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: it's gonna happen. Yeah, that's right. An alternative numbering system. 39 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: That's well, no system. Any weird impulsive ones we have 40 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: to stick in before we've done. The numbered ones are 41 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: now lettered shop talks. 42 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: So what are your favorite things that start with the 43 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: letter as Apple, Apple. 44 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: Alex, Alex. You go, this is the A for Alex 45 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: episode Apple Cobbler. Right now, that sounds pretty good. But yeah, 46 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: so everybody, the reason we're shoving it in here is 47 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: to keep a topical is we're going to talk about 48 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: the Lane kiff and saga. And for those of you 49 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: who don't know the saga because you don't follow college 50 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: football really closely, I'll set it up. But I really 51 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: do think it has lessons for things much greater than 52 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 1: just college football. And we'll get to my thoughts on 53 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: the Lane Kiffin saga right after these brief messages from 54 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: our general sponsors. Hey, everybody, welcome back to shop talk. 55 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: Hey for alex Mas, Bill yeah, no, Cloud Uh, we 56 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: were finally but B will be B for Bill. Yeah. 57 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: And then see, I don't know, we'll go on from there. 58 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 2: People are going to be so unsettled that you didn't 59 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: say like my pain and the producer like put them 60 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: behind a curtain, like you were actually nice to me 61 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 2: this morning. 62 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: It's gonna really unsettle. It's it's the holiday, festive season. 63 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: It's time to be kind. So here's the deal. Lane 64 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: Kiffin has a really kind of a checkered pass in 65 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: the coaching circles. See. First of all, his father, Monie Kiffen, 66 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: is a revered defensive coordinator who actually invented what's called 67 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: the Tampa two. I don't want to get into that, 68 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: but it's a defensive coverage where when the offense has 69 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: three receivers to one side, the safety split and the 70 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: linebacker covers the number three receiver down the middle of 71 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 1: the field. It was never done. That's a really rudimentary explanation, 72 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: but he was at Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he kind 73 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: of invented it and it became the Tampa two defense 74 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: and it's now part of defensive ethos. So Monie Kiffen 75 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: has been a name in defensive coaching circles for decades 76 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: that has been revered. And his son Lane went to 77 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: Fresno State as a quarterback, and before he left there 78 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: he kind of quit playing and became a graduate assistant. 79 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: I didn't know that makes a lot of sense. Yeah, 80 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: he actually quit playing. He got an argument the coaches 81 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: quit playing and the next day came out, didn't have 82 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: on equipment. Was a coach as a like a junior 83 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: or senior at Froseno State. 84 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 2: I met that he was a quarterback, but that part too. 85 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 2: He looks like a sunshine all other Yeah, that's that's 86 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: the truth. From there, he bounced around. 87 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: He was the quarterbacks coach for USC and Pete Carroll 88 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 1: back in the heyday before Pete Carroll went to Seattle 89 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: and he became the coach at the University of Tennessee, 90 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: where he went seven and five or seven and six. 91 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: But Tennessee was excited about him, and one night he 92 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: decided to leave, and he took the job at USC 93 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 1: and left Tennessee high and dry, and Tennessee fans with 94 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: nuts and burnt mattresses, and damn near caught the campus 95 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 1: on fire, and he went to USC because that was 96 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: quote his dream job. After two and a half seasons, 97 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: in a very poor third year at USC, was famously 98 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: fired on the tarmac in the middle of the season 99 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: and Pat Hayden, the athletic directory, sc loaded the team 100 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: up and went back to USC and left him at 101 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: the airport. He was the football coach, the youngest NFL 102 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: football coach in the history of the NFL, when Al 103 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: Davis hired him to be the coach of the Oakland Raiders, 104 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: and he was summarily dismissed before that first season was over. 105 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: His career was resurrected by Nick Saban as Nick Saban's 106 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator at Alabama, and when they were famously on 107 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: one of their national championship runs. Only a week before 108 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: the national Championship game, Nick Saban fired him because Kiffin 109 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: had been offered the job at a Florida school FAU 110 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: to go be the head coach the following year, which 111 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: is just fine, but coach Saban thought Lane was spending 112 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: more time on preparing for his FAU job than he 113 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: will is preparing Alabama for the National championship. Nick Saban 114 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: had had enough and let him go. If you can 115 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: see a little bit of a theme here, seems to 116 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: be that the guy is a talented play caller and 117 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: a talented coach, but chaos seems to follow him everywhere. 118 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: He resurrected himself at FAU, had three great seasons and 119 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:34,679 Speaker 1: ole Miss after the Hugh Freeze debacle and subsequent Matt 120 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: Luke being the coach there and he was unsuccessful, they 121 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: hired Lane to resurrect the program. Lane spent six years 122 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: at ol Miss and did what by all counts as 123 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: a phenomenal job, returned ole Miss football to revelance. Won 124 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: more games in his time there than Johnny Vault, who 125 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: the football stadium is named after, and despite his quirkiness, 126 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: his aloofness and a lot of his drama. The ole 127 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: Miss faithful supported him, raised money for him, raised money 128 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: for the nil to pay players, and really supported him. 129 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: And only five days ago Lane Kiffen went ole Miss 130 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: for the first time in its history, is in the 131 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: football playoffs and a legitimate National Championship title contender. Lane 132 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: Kiffen left and he is now the head coach at 133 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: LSU because he wants to chase the national championship at 134 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: LSU when he has a team at ole Miss that 135 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: could win the national championship. Kind of Kaida has people 136 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: in Oxford not real happy. That should catch you up 137 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: on the Lane Kiffin story. Is that about right out? Yeah? 138 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 2: Okay, I mean you missed hot yoga, you missed his 139 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: Uh well, find Jesus fair enough in this. 140 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: I was joking around, but it's true. In the six 141 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: years at Old Miss, he has readily said I needed 142 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: Oxford more than Oxford needed me, meaning yeah, won a 143 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: bunch of games and helped the program get better, but 144 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,319 Speaker 1: he's got better. He's reconciled with his wife, who he divorced. 145 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: All his kids except for one who plays volleyball usc 146 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: as kids have moved to Oxford, his son is a 147 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: star quarterback on Oxford High School. He got a football team, 148 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:38,679 Speaker 1: His daughter is enrolled at Old Miss and in a sorority. 149 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: And ESPN even did a really heartfelt documentary on lane 150 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: Kiffing finding himself and he's founded purpose and he's happy 151 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: and he's doing high yoga and meditation and prayer. And 152 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: this narrative that Lane Kiffin had changed his ways and 153 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: everything as a result of slowing his life down and 154 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: being an Ole Miss and finding success and happiness there. 155 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: And here's this guy that's gone through this entire rebooting 156 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: of his life. And then he blows up a national 157 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: championship runt and leaves. He goes to LSU. So there's 158 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 1: that too. All of this is not really why I'm 159 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: going to read to you something I wrote as an 160 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: op ed, because honestly, as usual, I think we as 161 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: an army of normal folks, even with regard to this 162 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: need to take a look in the mirror. So here's 163 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: what I wrote. The experience of watching the Lane kiff 164 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: and saga has helped me to see very clearly a 165 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: reality that I really think all fans of college football 166 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 1: need to get their arms around. We have now built adopted, accepted, 167 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 1: and are financially invested in assist them. That supports, encourages, 168 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 1: and rewards impressionable teenagers and young men, often those whose 169 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: brains are still developing, and many of whom come from 170 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: already difficult backgrounds, to break their word, abandoned commitment and 171 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: put themselves before a team with whom they are supposed 172 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 1: to be ready to sweat and bleed. Why should we 173 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: expect more from their coaches? We donate to the system, 174 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,559 Speaker 1: We purchase the tickets and share it on. We obsess 175 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: over the decisions made by people inside this system, and 176 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: then find ourselves amazed and heat prays or consternation on 177 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: these people based on which team's colors we wear. With 178 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: hundreds of millions of dollars at stake annually, the system 179 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:57,199 Speaker 1: that we claim to a bore while emptying our pockets 180 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: to support, is not lean Kiffing creation. Certainly, he is 181 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 1: not a victim of it either. Rather, he is profited 182 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: in ways most people in the world can't ever dream of. 183 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: But truthfully, he is also just another pawn inside the system. 184 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: Nothing he has done to leave is illegal, and he 185 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: and his representatives have simply figured out how to shrewdly 186 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: work inside the system to gain as much as they 187 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: can from it. Is it moral? Is it ethical? Is 188 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: it right? Is this what we want our society and 189 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: culture to behave? Like? Well, those are other questions and 190 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: ones we should really consider, but we need to do 191 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: so outside the context of Lane Kiffen and his most 192 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 1: recent decisions, because he is only operating inside a system 193 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: that can't exist without our support. Yet, every stadium for 194 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: the upcoming playoffs will be sold out and packed. The 195 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: networks will sell millions and ads and major sponsors will 196 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: line up ready to pay for the time. Hundreds of 197 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: podcasts like this one we'll be listened to about the 198 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: games and its coaches and players. ESPN will broadcast hours 199 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 1: and hours of coverage as we remain glued to our 200 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: couches to hear what the pundits have to say. Soon, 201 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: we will celebrate a victor, the national champion, crown this 202 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: year's king of the system, and everyone will get paid 203 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: handsomely with our money as we continue to look for 204 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:55,959 Speaker 1: answers in our empty pockets. We'll be right back. When 205 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: you think about that, elex. 206 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 2: I thought it was really well read for once. For once, Wow, 207 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 2: that's mean, actually I was gonna plug it. If you 208 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 2: aren't following Bill follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Ax. We 209 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 2: actually posted this and has got a lot of good feedback, 210 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 2: but also other things that we post in the future. 211 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: I think you'd find of interest following him. 212 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, but what do you think about I mean, I 213 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 2: think it's a really interesting perspective to look outside of Lane, Like, 214 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 2: you know, I'm living at Oxford and you're just seeing 215 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 2: people constantly. 216 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: Mark. I'm a huge old misfan and supporter, so it's 217 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: very personal to me too. But when I sat back 218 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: from him, I looked at it and I thought, we 219 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: sit here and think about it, but we pour our money, effort, 220 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: and our energy into it. Once again, it's not Lane, 221 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: It's it's not the NCAA. It's really the problem here. 222 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: We are the problem. We are the problem. 223 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 2: And I've said that too about other things about higher 224 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 2: ed and I'm not going to get because it's more political. 225 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: I'm not going to go into it. 226 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 2: But I'd say this to my friends all the time, 227 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 2: like you complain about this stuff nationally, and yet you 228 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 2: give your boed ole miss and you send your kids 229 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: old miss and like what are you doing? Like you're 230 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 2: allowed to have some hypocrisy when it comes to your 231 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 2: beloved institution and just look away. 232 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: Well, I think, and here's the thing, maybe this system 233 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: gets exactly what we wanted to. It's exciting, we root 234 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: for it. It gives us something to do. But I'm 235 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: just saying, when the very system that we pay for 236 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: and support gives us stuff that we don't like, don't 237 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: be a hypocrite and gripe about it. It's it's we're 238 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 1: sharing it on And if it really is an issue 239 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: and everybody's like things got to change, what's the answer. 240 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: The answer is in your pocket. Don't support it. But 241 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: if you do support it and you don't like what happens, 242 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: don't sit there and say woe is me. Look again, 243 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: I don't think Lincoln's a changed man at all. I 244 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: think it's a really a really good narrative to help 245 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: his brand. You know, all you got to do is 246 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: follow him on social media. It's it's it's very superficial, 247 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: very contrite. Not it reeks of someone begging to be 248 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: seen as deep through a very shallow lens. So whatever. 249 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 1: But I'm also not going to vilify link Kiffen for 250 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: doing anything. He's done inside a system that we continue 251 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: to pour money into, support and cheeron. You know, Link 252 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: Link Kiffin is just a pawn. Link Kiffen is just 253 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: a spoke in the system that we continue to support 254 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 1: and drive as fast as we can down my way. 255 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: So that's what I was. The point I was trying 256 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: to make is as usual, It's not the few actors 257 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: at the top that really matter. It's the army of 258 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 1: normal folks below it that can change it, support it, 259 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: or collapse it if we wanted to. 260 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean as a Christian, it came to me 261 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,719 Speaker 2: this week, like what if we had this much attention 262 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 2: on Jesus this week as we did about Lane Kiffin, right, 263 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: and all the conversations you know about that. And I've 264 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 2: had similar thoughts in the past about Trump or you 265 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 2: could say it about Kamala or Obama or whoever, Right, like, 266 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 2: if we spend that much time on the things that 267 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 2: actually mattered, or an army of normal folks. And I 268 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 2: think similar to kind of your point in here too. 269 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 2: I mean that's kind of a more difficult thing to say, 270 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 2: so people don't get pissed off, But I think frankly, 271 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: Americans watch too much sports and are too much involved 272 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 2: in that whole ecosystem, and it's I think it's obviously more. 273 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 2: We all need breaks, right, so that's healthy, especially if 274 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 2: you've got one or two teams whatever, that's great. But 275 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 2: like a lot of Americans just watch it all day 276 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 2: on Saturday or Sunday and and it's a huge problem. 277 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 2: Or just like watching in the same thing with all 278 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 2: the social media stuff, you are watching other people do 279 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 2: stuff rather than acting yourself, and your life will be 280 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 2: much more fulfilling if you're acting yourself helping another person. 281 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:30,400 Speaker 1: It's true. And when Lebonn james commentary on some political 282 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 1: element of the day carries weight, it may have gone 283 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: too far. Lebron's comment on basketball, it's probably an expert 284 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: opinions and one we should really pay attention to. But 285 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:53,239 Speaker 1: when sports figures have been exalted to a place that 286 00:18:53,320 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: we get our social compass from, it's gone too And 287 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: with regard to this whole lane Kiff and Saga, I 288 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:11,439 Speaker 1: was pissed because I've been an ole Miss fan my 289 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: whole life. I'm a graduate of ole Miss, and on 290 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: the eve of the greatest season we've ever had, not 291 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: only does he leave, but he takes our assistant coaches, 292 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: or many of our assistant coaches with them, And I 293 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: know damn good and well that he's going to be 294 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 1: trying to poach some of our players. And that really 295 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: makes me angry, because we finally have a chance at 296 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 1: ole Miss to do something really, really special, and on 297 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 1: the very precipice, looking over the edge of that excitement, 298 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: here comes the guy that built it, blowing it up. 299 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: And I was angry. And then I thought, hold on, 300 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: how does Lane Kiffen even exist? How does any of 301 00:19:54,640 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: this even exist? If not but four the millions, millions 302 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,399 Speaker 1: and millions of dollars of support that we give a 303 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: system that he's operating in, And if I don't like it, 304 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 1: and if I'm spending too much time obsessing over it 305 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: instead of much more important things in the face of 306 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: the planet, maybe I need to look in the mirror 307 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:21,439 Speaker 1: a little bit. And so, uh, instead of looking for 308 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: answers in my empty pockets, I've decided to uh put 309 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 1: my focus on much more important things elsewhere. And that's 310 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: my challenge to my readers on this particular op ed. 311 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 2: I do think he is an interesting reflection too, on 312 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 2: how much money is enough. It's like you give you 313 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 2: give basically given away being the king at Oxford and 314 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 2: building this really you know, really interesting thing. 315 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: What for the money you're and the ole mis administration 316 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: matched every dollar, I mean LSU's paying him. Lane was 317 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: making nine million ear, which is already insanity, and LSU 318 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 1: offered him thirteen and the most administration said, fine, we'll 319 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: pay you the same thirteen. I didn't know that. Yeah, okay, yeah, 320 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: they matched the money. It's it's it was not about 321 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: the money. It was about the perception that at LSU 322 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:21,400 Speaker 1: he can get more better players and win a national championship. 323 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 1: But it's still chasing an idol, and the idol is 324 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: the mortality of a national championship, of coaching a national 325 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:33,880 Speaker 1: champion or ongoing national champion. But here's the thing. He's 326 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 1: got a team that's eleven and one that's in the 327 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: playoffs to win the national champion and he just left 328 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 1: to go to a team who was not in the playoffs. 329 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:50,920 Speaker 1: Because of the traditional history of the power of LSU, 330 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 1: which some could argue is an easier place to recruit to. 331 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:59,880 Speaker 1: It's a bigger school, it's got deeper pockets. All of that. 332 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: The point is why take down the school you're at 333 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: on the way out, and that's what's got everybody exercise. 334 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: But the end of the day, it's football. It's a game. 335 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:18,679 Speaker 1: It's not life and death. And it doesn't exist without 336 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 1: the millions of dollars supporting these people that make these 337 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:28,479 Speaker 1: decisions based on our money that we pour into it. 338 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: So it is an interesting reflection of society today. And 339 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: I just thought it's the army of normal folks who 340 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: are supporting it. If you want to continue to support it, 341 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,719 Speaker 1: do so, but don't gripe about what happens inside it, 342 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: because we have created it with our own money. 343 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 2: Sounds good, good, So there it is. 344 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: That's that's the Lane Kiffin thing from my perspective. Shop 345 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: Talk number A, shop letter let shop Talk letter A. 346 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this episode, please rate it, view it, 347 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 1: share friends and on social join the army at normal 348 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 1: folks dot us. Do any and all of these things 349 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 1: that can help us grow an army and normal folks. 350 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 1: If you have any ideas for shop talk or people 351 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: that fit the profile of those we like to highlight 352 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: on an army of normal folks, you can write me 353 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: anytime at Bill at normal folks dot us. I'll respond 354 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: I will always send information Alex, who will vet it 355 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: and if it's something we think we can add something 356 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 1: to or a person that that fits into what we 357 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 1: try to highlight, we will do it. So that's it. 358 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoyed shop talk a for Alex. We'll 359 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 1: see you next week