WEBVTT - The OTP | Draft Recap 0:00:15.080 --> 0:00:19.160 This is the OTD presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. 0:00:19.480 --> 0:00:22.120 See how much you can save on your healthcare coverage 0:00:22.160 --> 0:00:26.280 with Farm Bureau Health Plans. Get a quote at FBHP 0:00:26.800 --> 0:00:30.400 dot com with Amy Wells. I'm Mike Keith, and we 0:00:30.440 --> 0:00:32.840 are very glad to have you with us on this Saturday. 0:00:33.440 --> 0:00:36.400 As the draft has wound up and the Titans have 0:00:36.680 --> 0:00:40.240 six new players added to the roster. Amy and I 0:00:40.240 --> 0:00:42.200 are pleased to be joined right now by the head 0:00:42.200 --> 0:00:45.960 coach of U T. Martin, the longtime head coach, I 0:00:46.000 --> 0:00:49.360 should say, Jason Simpson and coach. At pick number two, 0:00:49.479 --> 0:00:55.360 twenty eight, the Tennessee Titans select Skyhawks wide receiver Colton Dowe. 0:00:56.320 --> 0:00:58.480 What are they getting in young mister Dowell. 0:00:59.200 --> 0:01:01.920 I'll tell you what. We are so excited for. 0:01:01.960 --> 0:01:05.160 Colton, a young man we recruited out of Wilson Central 0:01:05.480 --> 0:01:08.679 High School there I side of Nashville, uh six years ago, 0:01:10.319 --> 0:01:14.520 you know, graduated from UT Martin over a year and 0:01:14.560 --> 0:01:17.200 a half ago, could have left and today's time and 0:01:17.240 --> 0:01:21.160 going to the you know ncaa transfer portal. You know, 0:01:21.640 --> 0:01:24.959 was committed to UT Martin and loyal to the program, 0:01:25.040 --> 0:01:27.880 and you know had over a thousand yard receiver this year, 0:01:28.520 --> 0:01:31.720 you know, ran great numbers in his testing date. But 0:01:32.120 --> 0:01:34.480 more importantly, the type of person that he is, the 0:01:34.520 --> 0:01:37.560 type of family comes from and been the head coach 0:01:37.600 --> 0:01:39.920 here going eighteen years, Mike, But I don't know if 0:01:39.920 --> 0:01:42.720 I've had a you know, a better person and teammate. 0:01:42.440 --> 0:01:46.520 Than Colton now coaching your time watching Colton throughout his 0:01:47.000 --> 0:01:49.440 career at UT Martin, was there a time or a 0:01:49.480 --> 0:01:52.640 moment where you realize this kid's got potential to take 0:01:52.680 --> 0:01:54.000 his game to the next level. 0:01:55.000 --> 0:01:56.880 Yeah, there was a lot of those moments, guys, There 0:01:56.880 --> 0:02:00.200 really was from the standpoint of, you know, everybody that 0:02:00.240 --> 0:02:02.320 we played and you're talking about a guy that's almost 0:02:02.320 --> 0:02:05.560 sixty three, that's two hundred and ten plus pounds, and 0:02:05.640 --> 0:02:08.400 it didn't matter, you know, in the OVC. You know, 0:02:08.440 --> 0:02:10.800 he ran past everybody, and it didn't matter if we 0:02:10.800 --> 0:02:15.200 were playing Knoxville, Boise State, uh, you know, Florida, whoever 0:02:15.240 --> 0:02:19.359 we played, you know, And so for his opponents that 0:02:19.400 --> 0:02:21.800 we've you know that we played throughout the years, he 0:02:21.960 --> 0:02:27.080 was always running past corners and so extremely great body, uh, 0:02:27.120 --> 0:02:29.840 physical receiver and tremendous outside speed. 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:33.680 Jason. When you talk about his speed, what are we 0:02:33.800 --> 0:02:36.000 exactly talking about time wise. 0:02:37.160 --> 0:02:40.360 I believe in his pro day it was four four three, 0:02:40.760 --> 0:02:43.120 you know, with uh four four three forty one and 0:02:43.120 --> 0:02:44.960 a half, it's vertical. 0:02:46.040 --> 0:02:48.760 What do you do then? Uh two twenty five. 0:02:48.800 --> 0:02:51.560 I think he did twenty three twenty four times forty 0:02:51.600 --> 0:02:52.480 and a half vertical. 0:02:52.520 --> 0:02:54.160 Like I said, eleven to one broad jump. 0:02:54.280 --> 0:02:57.520 So, you know, tremendous athletic, but with a you know, 0:02:57.639 --> 0:02:59.120 big strong, durable body. 0:02:59.360 --> 0:03:02.040 Were you surprise he was not invited to the combine? 0:03:02.760 --> 0:03:03.000 Yeah? 0:03:03.040 --> 0:03:03.480 I was. 0:03:03.600 --> 0:03:05.399 You know, he was hurt a little bit last year 0:03:05.919 --> 0:03:08.400 in twenty one. I think he went down our fifth game, 0:03:09.680 --> 0:03:11.840 you know, and had to miss the rest of the season. 0:03:12.000 --> 0:03:14.600 So you know, we knew how good he was, and 0:03:14.680 --> 0:03:17.040 you know he only played five games, made a whole conference, 0:03:17.120 --> 0:03:18.239 you know, in our league. 0:03:18.000 --> 0:03:19.799 So a little bit. 0:03:19.960 --> 0:03:22.800 He's certainly, you know, based on his numbers and stuff, 0:03:23.080 --> 0:03:25.280 I knew he would he would certainly represent himself well 0:03:25.320 --> 0:03:26.919 if he got that invite, but he didn't. 0:03:26.919 --> 0:03:29.480 And he's the kind of kid. He's very low maintenance. 0:03:29.639 --> 0:03:33.480 He's very great humility about himself and he'll put his 0:03:33.480 --> 0:03:34.440 head down and go to work. 0:03:34.760 --> 0:03:36.640 Now, coach, you've talked a lot about him and his 0:03:36.720 --> 0:03:38.960 attributes on the field. I want to talk about him 0:03:39.000 --> 0:03:41.680 off the field because you keep saying this couldn't have 0:03:41.680 --> 0:03:44.040 happened to a better guy. He's he's a great kid 0:03:44.080 --> 0:03:45.880 to work with. What is it about him that makes 0:03:45.960 --> 0:03:48.720 him such a good guy. 0:03:49.160 --> 0:03:54.720 He's a great teammate. He's a great friend to his teammates. 0:03:55.800 --> 0:03:58.800 You know, last weekend, I spent the weekend with him. 0:03:58.800 --> 0:04:02.880 He was in Tuscaloosa with our quarterback dresser dresser Win 0:04:03.040 --> 0:04:07.480 and there to see my son Ty at his spring game. Uh, 0:04:07.560 --> 0:04:10.240 you know, down in Tuscalooso. So he's just a very 0:04:10.280 --> 0:04:14.440 loyal you know, there to support others. I remember Mike 0:04:14.520 --> 0:04:18.200 McIntire son was our receiver coach uh in twenty season, 0:04:18.240 --> 0:04:21.360 twenty twenty one season, and I think just about every 0:04:21.400 --> 0:04:24.680 morning seven am, Colton was in the building with Jay McIntyre, 0:04:24.760 --> 0:04:26.920 you know, having a Bible study. So he's very grounded 0:04:26.960 --> 0:04:31.440 in his face and like I said, just gave our 0:04:31.440 --> 0:04:34.360 guidance in our locker room for anybody that was struggling 0:04:34.480 --> 0:04:37.520 or needed you know, needed a friend. Him and his 0:04:37.560 --> 0:04:41.320 family or just just just great you know, just great 0:04:41.360 --> 0:04:42.560 people and very grounded. 0:04:42.760 --> 0:04:44.880 This is Jason Simpson, the head coach at U. T. 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:48.760 Martin talking about Colton dal the Titans seventh round pick 0:04:48.800 --> 0:04:51.360 wide receiver out of U. T. Martin, a couple of 0:04:51.360 --> 0:04:55.279 football questions to wrap up coach Simpson. Number one, where 0:04:55.320 --> 0:04:59.280 does he play most comfortably in terms of lining up 0:04:59.279 --> 0:04:59.839 on the field? 0:05:01.000 --> 0:05:03.080 You know, I had a lot of NFL scouts call 0:05:03.200 --> 0:05:05.720 me and you know, different people have you know, had 0:05:05.720 --> 0:05:08.680 those opinions. You know, early in his career here he 0:05:08.720 --> 0:05:12.440 played inside some from the standpoint of of we have 0:05:12.560 --> 0:05:15.040 some other good receivers that are playing in the NFL now, 0:05:15.120 --> 0:05:16.799 one with Pittsburgh Steelers and one. 0:05:16.600 --> 0:05:18.279 With the Jacksonville Jaguars. 0:05:18.320 --> 0:05:22.920 So early in his career he played some inside and. 0:05:22.160 --> 0:05:24.120 Was able to work on safeties. But the last couple 0:05:24.160 --> 0:05:26.960 of years, Mike, you know, he's been an outside guy. 0:05:27.160 --> 0:05:30.599 Running vertical is running post, you know, running shat of crosses. 0:05:31.360 --> 0:05:33.560 You know, to me, that's that's what he's really good at. 0:05:34.000 --> 0:05:37.520 Special teams attributes. Where could he help the Titans in 0:05:37.600 --> 0:05:40.080 twenty twenty three on special teams? 0:05:40.480 --> 0:05:42.560 Well, like I said, he's very willing and with a 0:05:42.960 --> 0:05:43.719 really good body. 0:05:43.880 --> 0:05:46.359 Like I said, he's he's big as you know some uh, 0:05:47.000 --> 0:05:50.279 bigger than most safeties and you know, probably the size 0:05:50.279 --> 0:05:52.800 of some linebackers that you know, two fifteen or so 0:05:52.920 --> 0:05:55.800 whatever he's weigh in. But you know, I could see 0:05:55.839 --> 0:05:56.560 him on punt team. 0:05:56.640 --> 0:05:58.560 I can see him on you know, kickoff return, on 0:05:58.600 --> 0:06:02.320 punt return. Very willing, long arms and like I said, 0:06:02.839 --> 0:06:05.159 you know, just a great physical body. 0:06:05.720 --> 0:06:09.880 Jason Simpson, the longtime successful head football coach at U T. Martin, 0:06:10.240 --> 0:06:13.200 Another big moment for you and the Skyhawks today as 0:06:13.240 --> 0:06:16.080 the Titans draft one of your guys, Colton Dow. Thank 0:06:16.120 --> 0:06:17.719 you so much for the time on the OTP. 0:06:18.640 --> 0:06:20.800 Hey appreciate that. A matter of fact, one of our 0:06:20.800 --> 0:06:24.279 coaches is now in your staff. That's right, Matt Jones. 0:06:24.320 --> 0:06:27.200 So you know we we've always been Titan fans. 0:06:26.960 --> 0:06:28.600 Here in the stay of Tennessee. So now we got 0:06:28.640 --> 0:06:30.320 a chance to pull even harder for him. 0:06:30.400 --> 0:06:33.159 Thanks very much, coach. We appreciate you. Thank you guys, 0:06:33.240 --> 0:06:38.320 all right, Jason Simpson obviously excited about Colton Dowe six three, 0:06:38.440 --> 0:06:42.560 two fifteen out of Lebanon this year. Sixty seven catches 0:06:42.560 --> 0:06:45.400 for one thousand and thirty six yards and six touchdowns 0:06:46.440 --> 0:06:49.560 in his career, one hundred and seventy seven catches for 0:06:49.640 --> 0:06:53.240 nearly twenty eight hundred yards average, nearly sixteen yards of catch, 0:06:53.279 --> 0:06:57.120 and nineteen touchdowns. So he's got speed. I mean, you 0:06:57.520 --> 0:06:59.760 hear what coach Simpson was saying, and the Titans were 0:06:59.760 --> 0:07:05.240 certainly looking for a big bodied guy with speed local day. 0:07:05.760 --> 0:07:11.200 He was here, and they they didn't exactly make him available. 0:07:11.520 --> 0:07:14.560 Uh No, you didn't hear much about much about the 0:07:14.600 --> 0:07:15.640 fact that he was here. 0:07:15.680 --> 0:07:19.800 He was kind of hmmm. I mean, they didn't talk 0:07:19.800 --> 0:07:20.440 about it much. 0:07:20.480 --> 0:07:24.360 So let's wrap up Day three. Moving backwards, the Titans 0:07:24.440 --> 0:07:27.880 drafted three players on Saturday. We mentioned Colton Dale wide 0:07:27.880 --> 0:07:31.120 receiver Ut Martin at number two twenty eight. They go 0:07:31.160 --> 0:07:35.200 with an offensive lineman, Jalen Duncan at one eighty six. 0:07:35.480 --> 0:07:39.760 Jalen Duncan has primarily been a left tackle at Maryland. 0:07:41.080 --> 0:07:44.440 Many thought he would go earlier in this draft. There 0:07:44.440 --> 0:07:47.000 were some who thought he could be a third round pick. 0:07:47.040 --> 0:07:50.680 He was projected by most a fourth or fifth round pick. 0:07:50.720 --> 0:07:54.040 He goes early in the sixth to the Titans. Excellent 0:07:54.200 --> 0:07:58.600 size nearly six to six three oh six, some questions 0:07:58.640 --> 0:08:03.120 about his consistency, too many penalties in his career, but 0:08:03.360 --> 0:08:07.720 an incredible physical talent and a guy that the Titans 0:08:07.720 --> 0:08:09.480 are going to be excited to see if they can 0:08:09.520 --> 0:08:10.440 get into the rotation. 0:08:10.680 --> 0:08:10.880 Oh. 0:08:10.920 --> 0:08:11.520 Absolutely. 0:08:11.560 --> 0:08:15.640 I mean we're talking depth, depth, depth at that position just. 0:08:16.040 --> 0:08:16.880 All off season. 0:08:16.960 --> 0:08:19.440 That's what we've been talking about, and being able to 0:08:19.440 --> 0:08:22.800 bring someone in with an incredibly high ceiling, someone that 0:08:22.840 --> 0:08:26.040 you can really coach up and mold into what the 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:28.840 Tennessee Titans need him to be. I think is a 0:08:28.840 --> 0:08:30.240 great choice. 0:08:30.360 --> 0:08:32.640 And then Josh Wiley was the first pick of the 0:08:32.720 --> 0:08:35.679 day in the fifth round at number one forty seven. 0:08:35.760 --> 0:08:39.079 Josh Wiley is nearly six ' seven, roughly two hundred 0:08:39.120 --> 0:08:41.640 forty five two hundred and fifty pounds out of Cincinnati, 0:08:42.320 --> 0:08:46.320 really really good athlete who caught eighty eight passes in 0:08:46.360 --> 0:08:50.280 his career eighty six over the last three years to 0:08:50.320 --> 0:08:53.760 be exact, and fifteen touchdowns, so he knows how to 0:08:53.800 --> 0:08:56.000 get in the end zone. And playing for Luke Fikel, 0:08:56.320 --> 0:08:59.600 he's had to block The Titans knowing that there was 0:08:59.800 --> 0:09:04.520 X depth in this tight end class, understanding that they 0:09:04.559 --> 0:09:06.600 would be in a position to get a guy on 0:09:06.720 --> 0:09:09.240 Day three, they choose to do it, and the guy 0:09:09.280 --> 0:09:12.880 that they select is Josh Wiley. It's spelled w h 0:09:13.600 --> 0:09:16.559 y l E. But it is pronounced wiley. 0:09:16.720 --> 0:09:19.920 Oh that's good, Mike. You always come through with the pronunciation. 0:09:20.120 --> 0:09:21.600 Well we try, yeah, we try. 0:09:21.720 --> 0:09:23.480 That's what we do here on the OTP, of. 0:09:23.400 --> 0:09:28.439 Course on day one. Peter Skronsky uh in here and 0:09:29.320 --> 0:09:33.320 Scarronsky is a big offensive lineman. And as I have 0:09:33.600 --> 0:09:36.559 described him through the interview that I did with him yesterday, 0:09:38.679 --> 0:09:39.800 he's an offensive lineman. 0:09:40.080 --> 0:09:41.600 Mm hmm through and through. 0:09:41.720 --> 0:09:44.120 He acts like an offensive lineman. He walks like an 0:09:44.120 --> 0:09:47.680 offensive lineman, he talks like an offensive lineman. He's got 0:09:47.720 --> 0:09:51.559 the mentality of he And again I'm being a bit repetitive, 0:09:51.600 --> 0:09:53.920 but I know everybody hasn't had a chance to hear 0:09:54.080 --> 0:09:57.000 everything we've done this weekend on Titans Radio. 0:09:57.440 --> 0:09:58.120 He is. 0:09:59.559 --> 0:10:04.559 Very in interested in just being below the surface. He 0:10:04.760 --> 0:10:08.960 was very courteous to me. He gave a good interview. 0:10:09.040 --> 0:10:12.000 If you heard the OTP last night, you know it. 0:10:12.400 --> 0:10:14.800 But it wasn't all about me. It was I mean, 0:10:15.240 --> 0:10:17.679 so you just got the sense this is a guy 0:10:17.760 --> 0:10:20.120 who's going to be ready to come to work, understanding 0:10:20.160 --> 0:10:22.200 his role and understanding the job. 0:10:22.520 --> 0:10:26.280 He is a tried and true offensive lineman. He is 0:10:26.400 --> 0:10:28.120 when you think about him, and you think about some 0:10:28.160 --> 0:10:30.400 of the great offensive linemen that have been with the 0:10:30.440 --> 0:10:34.000 Tennessee Titans for the most part, that's what you think 0:10:34.040 --> 0:10:37.040 about it. That's exactly right, guys who were just here 0:10:37.360 --> 0:10:41.760 kind of running below the radar, doing their jobs, getting 0:10:41.800 --> 0:10:45.800 it done, being consistent, contributing to this team. But you 0:10:45.840 --> 0:10:48.160 didn't hear a whole lot from him. That is an 0:10:48.200 --> 0:10:48.920 offensive lineman. 0:10:49.160 --> 0:10:52.760 That's an offensive lineman, and that's exactly who this guy is. 0:10:52.800 --> 0:10:56.040 I'll talk more about what's going on with the Titans 0:10:56.120 --> 0:10:58.840 draft picks as we review on this edition of the OTP, 0:10:59.040 --> 0:11:02.240 But I remind you who is it time for a 0:11:02.360 --> 0:11:03.680 dunk and run Titans fan? 0:11:03.920 --> 0:11:04.160 Yes? 0:11:05.480 --> 0:11:07.800 Is it the coffee, the one dollar classic donut, the 0:11:07.840 --> 0:11:10.800 two dollars stuffed bagel mini, or the three dollars sausage, 0:11:10.840 --> 0:11:13.360 egg and cheese that you can add to that coffee, 0:11:13.520 --> 0:11:16.440 or the fact that you can actually leave the office. 0:11:16.440 --> 0:11:18.720 But see, if you'd left the office today, you'd have missed. 0:11:18.480 --> 0:11:19.080 A draft pick. 0:11:19.280 --> 0:11:21.320 Now, put on the radio, turn on something. 0:11:21.360 --> 0:11:24.760 There you go, Rett Bryan on Titans Radio. Yep, the answer, 0:11:24.840 --> 0:11:27.000 of course is yes, it's always time for a dunk 0:11:27.040 --> 0:11:29.560 and run. Great deals on food for one two or 0:11:29.559 --> 0:11:32.640 three dollars with a medium or larger coffee. And as 0:11:32.679 --> 0:11:35.960 we always like to say, America runs on Duncan. The 0:11:36.000 --> 0:11:41.480 Titans will be running some on TAIJ spears. TAIJ spears, 0:11:41.520 --> 0:11:44.240 thank you. A little over five to ten, a little 0:11:44.240 --> 0:11:48.240 over two hundred pounds. A guy that had a knee 0:11:48.280 --> 0:11:53.840 problem in high school in Ponta Lucha, Louisiana and injured 0:11:53.880 --> 0:11:56.760 a knee there. He gets to college, he has another 0:11:56.840 --> 0:12:00.520 knee injury. It was no secret we certainly discussed during 0:12:00.559 --> 0:12:03.320 our time at the Senior Bowl because he was one 0:12:03.320 --> 0:12:08.120 of the standouts at the Senior Bowl. Seeing him play 0:12:08.160 --> 0:12:10.680 against some of the best players in the country with 0:12:10.760 --> 0:12:13.360 an offensive line that he had never worked with before. 0:12:14.040 --> 0:12:20.880 He was one maybe the most dynamic player we saw 0:12:20.920 --> 0:12:23.920 in mobile at the Senior Bowl. He can catch it, 0:12:24.120 --> 0:12:27.240 he can run it, he takes contact, he can make 0:12:27.280 --> 0:12:31.240 people miss. I mean, he is a really really special player, 0:12:31.640 --> 0:12:33.959 which is why the Titans took him at number eighty 0:12:33.960 --> 0:12:38.400 one and many say, well, a running back, why I 0:12:39.320 --> 0:12:44.400 this running back is somebody that you say for a 0:12:44.440 --> 0:12:47.920 third round pick and a late third round pick, mid 0:12:47.960 --> 0:12:52.520 to late he is a very dynamic player that is 0:12:52.559 --> 0:12:54.000 going to help you score touchdowns. 0:12:54.200 --> 0:12:56.760 Yeah, you find a way to use a player like that, 0:12:56.840 --> 0:13:00.360 You find a ways to add him into what you're 0:13:00.400 --> 0:13:04.200 trying to do. He does something that is so different 0:13:04.200 --> 0:13:08.480 from what the Titans currently have that you find ways 0:13:08.520 --> 0:13:10.360 to make that work. You want that guy on your 0:13:10.400 --> 0:13:14.400 football team just because having that person with that skill 0:13:14.400 --> 0:13:16.240 set makes your football team better. 0:13:16.760 --> 0:13:20.280 That's right, that's right. And so these are the stories 0:13:20.400 --> 0:13:24.920 of the weekend to this point again, Peter Skoronsky offensive 0:13:24.960 --> 0:13:28.920 lineman at number eleven, Will Levis quarterback at number thirty three, 0:13:29.559 --> 0:13:33.520 Taj Spears running back at number eighty one, Josh Wiley 0:13:33.600 --> 0:13:37.720 tight end at number one forty seven, Jalen Duncan offensive 0:13:37.760 --> 0:13:42.079 tackle at one eighty six, Colton Dow wide receiver at 0:13:42.120 --> 0:13:45.520 two twenty eight. That is the Titans draft class for 0:13:45.640 --> 0:13:49.839 twenty twenty three. The story of the weekend, though, remains 0:13:49.880 --> 0:13:54.080 Will Levis. And when the Titans picked Will Levis last night, 0:13:54.760 --> 0:13:57.400 everything went crazy. 0:13:57.840 --> 0:14:03.880 Yes, oh yes, everything crazy across not just in Nashville, 0:14:03.960 --> 0:14:08.200 not just amongst Titans fans, but the whole league has 0:14:08.240 --> 0:14:09.640 been talking about this. 0:14:09.640 --> 0:14:12.280 This has not been a small moment in time. 0:14:12.440 --> 0:14:15.320 This has been a major point of conversation, and so 0:14:15.440 --> 0:14:16.840 Mike I say, we also converse. 0:14:17.000 --> 0:14:20.600 Yeah, I want to talk about it because I think 0:14:21.480 --> 0:14:26.880 as there's there's been a disconnect between what the ratings 0:14:26.920 --> 0:14:30.200 are in terms of a lot of the national guys 0:14:30.400 --> 0:14:34.040 think this was absolutely one of the steals of the draft. 0:14:34.640 --> 0:14:37.360 You can pick up a lot of articles by some 0:14:37.400 --> 0:14:39.720 of the best people in the business and they're saying, 0:14:40.480 --> 0:14:43.080 it's an A it's it's an A minus, it's a 0:14:43.160 --> 0:14:46.880 I mean to get this player a quarterback with you know, 0:14:46.960 --> 0:14:49.920 six four, two thirty, all kinds of athleticism, we know 0:14:49.920 --> 0:14:54.800 about the arm. To get him at thirty three, you 0:14:55.040 --> 0:15:02.680 essentially gave up a move back in the third round 0:15:02.880 --> 0:15:05.040 of nine spots, and then you gave up a third 0:15:05.120 --> 0:15:09.320 round pick next year. If this works and if he 0:15:09.440 --> 0:15:11.760 ends up being your starting quarterback and he ends up 0:15:11.800 --> 0:15:16.920 being successful, then you got him at a tremendous rate 0:15:17.080 --> 0:15:19.280 in terms of salary cap for the first part of 0:15:19.280 --> 0:15:22.280 his career for a second and a third round pick. 0:15:23.080 --> 0:15:25.800 There are some people who aren't crazy about this pick, though, 0:15:25.880 --> 0:15:29.640 and some of the national pundits are chiding those people. 0:15:30.640 --> 0:15:34.400 They're saying, how can these fans not absolutely love it? 0:15:34.480 --> 0:15:38.000 And there's a bit more to it, and I think 0:15:38.000 --> 0:15:40.240 the context is important. I don't know that any of 0:15:40.280 --> 0:15:43.600 the national pundits will listen to the OTP, and I 0:15:43.640 --> 0:15:45.840 know there are some of you literally around the world 0:15:45.880 --> 0:15:49.480 who are wondering why there is such a hubbub. He 0:15:49.560 --> 0:15:53.480 has been a lightning rod to start with. Correct in 0:15:53.560 --> 0:15:54.239 the whole. 0:15:54.000 --> 0:15:56.680 Thing, yes, from the beginning. 0:15:56.400 --> 0:16:00.600 And the whole draft process. But here he has been 0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:04.120 a lightning ride. Because we're inn sec country, yeah, and 0:16:04.160 --> 0:16:09.800 in particular we're in Kentucky Tennessee territory. Yes, and we 0:16:09.920 --> 0:16:13.640 have a lot of fans, a lot of Titans fans 0:16:13.640 --> 0:16:16.160 in the Bluegrass. Obviously the majority are in Tennessee, but 0:16:16.560 --> 0:16:18.680 probably have a few more in the Bluegrass now, so 0:16:19.240 --> 0:16:22.560 we are innately connected with both states in a different way. 0:16:22.600 --> 0:16:25.960 I think you have to start. Mark Stoops has done 0:16:26.000 --> 0:16:28.000 a very good job as the head coach of Kentucky. 0:16:28.600 --> 0:16:34.840 They are more successful, more consistently than quite possibly anytime 0:16:34.920 --> 0:16:38.640 in Wildcat history. They've had good teams over the years, 0:16:39.440 --> 0:16:43.000 but they've rarely been this solid and able to compete 0:16:43.200 --> 0:16:44.160 this consistently. 0:16:44.440 --> 0:16:45.040 I agree with that. 0:16:45.600 --> 0:16:49.880 So Wildcat fans are fired up about this. They should be. 0:16:50.280 --> 0:16:52.840 They get to talk a little smack, they get to 0:16:52.920 --> 0:16:55.320 join in. You know, they've won some big games in 0:16:55.360 --> 0:16:58.520 the SEC, so they've gotten to enjoy it. And in 0:16:58.640 --> 0:17:01.520 twenty twenty one it was a high water mark. They 0:17:01.600 --> 0:17:04.119 start six and oh they end up winning ten games. 0:17:04.760 --> 0:17:08.200 It's a really, really good season for the Wildcats. Their 0:17:08.280 --> 0:17:11.320 quarterback is the transfer from Penn State, Will Levis. He 0:17:11.440 --> 0:17:18.439 played well, not necessarily over the top statistically phenomenal, but 0:17:18.480 --> 0:17:22.440 he played well, but well. He's still through thirteen interceptions, 0:17:22.840 --> 0:17:25.560 but amy he accounted for thirty three touchdowns in a 0:17:25.600 --> 0:17:29.159 ten win season, and they have not really had a 0:17:29.280 --> 0:17:33.800 quarterback that got them this excited since Tim Couch, who 0:17:33.880 --> 0:17:36.879 was a native of the state of Kentucky and is 0:17:37.280 --> 0:17:40.199 a legend in that state and always will be. So 0:17:41.400 --> 0:17:45.480 they fell in love with Will Levis in the Bluegrass. 0:17:46.400 --> 0:17:50.159 The fans were gushing, the media was gushing, and that 0:17:50.240 --> 0:17:54.439 he's returning for twenty twenty two. So then everybody starts 0:17:54.480 --> 0:17:56.640 the gushing to a point that you would say, did 0:17:56.680 --> 0:18:02.120 they go overboard? Well, that's subject debate. The other thirteen 0:18:02.240 --> 0:18:07.040 SEC schools would say they did, and the ones that 0:18:07.080 --> 0:18:10.480 would be sort of most offended by all that gushing 0:18:10.640 --> 0:18:14.960 would be the Tennessee fans. Now here's what you need 0:18:14.960 --> 0:18:17.359 to understand about this if you don't know the backstory. 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:27.640 Kentucky fans hate it when Tennessee fans brag about volunteer basketball. 0:18:27.720 --> 0:18:33.160 They hate it. Kentucky has massive tradition in basketball. They 0:18:33.200 --> 0:18:36.880 are one of the blue bloods for sure. They think 0:18:36.960 --> 0:18:43.080 Tennessee basketball is fraudulent. They're complete pretenders. You know. They 0:18:43.680 --> 0:18:47.240 dismissed Tennessee basketball with the wave of a hand. Now 0:18:47.280 --> 0:18:53.000 the flip of that is Tennessee football fans hate it 0:18:53.320 --> 0:18:58.119 when Kentucky gloats about their own football success, like what 0:18:58.240 --> 0:19:02.600 has happened in recent years. They see UK football as 0:19:02.680 --> 0:19:06.560 completely beneath them, like Miles beneath them. They don't want 0:19:06.560 --> 0:19:09.960 to hear it. So they have this tie in. Kentucky 0:19:09.960 --> 0:19:13.640 fans do not want to hear about Tennessee basketball. Tennessee 0:19:13.680 --> 0:19:17.800 fans do not want to hear about Kentucky football. Right now, 0:19:17.800 --> 0:19:19.919 the two sides will actually agree on that. That may 0:19:19.920 --> 0:19:22.800 be the only thing they will agree on, but that 0:19:22.960 --> 0:19:26.359 is something. So let's go back to last spring and summer. 0:19:26.440 --> 0:19:29.320 Let's go back to twenty twenty two. Kentucky's coming off 0:19:29.359 --> 0:19:34.080 the ten win season. Will Levis is the darling of 0:19:34.119 --> 0:19:37.920 the state of Kentucky. He's doing TV commercials, he's got 0:19:38.040 --> 0:19:43.760 nil deals. Many think he's a serious Heisman candidate. UK 0:19:44.680 --> 0:19:49.960 is hyping him in every way they can, almost as 0:19:49.960 --> 0:19:55.520 if he's a Peyton Manning type figure. I know, and 0:19:55.720 --> 0:19:59.760 a lot I know, but they're hyping the program in 0:19:59.800 --> 0:20:03.560 the because Mark Stoops has them in a place where 0:20:03.600 --> 0:20:06.440 they've never been before. This this is a moment where 0:20:06.480 --> 0:20:08.320 they're thinking, we're on the threshold. 0:20:08.400 --> 0:20:09.960 You've got to take advantage of the moment. 0:20:10.040 --> 0:20:13.240 Yeah, Tennessee fans don't like that so much. No, No, 0:20:13.359 --> 0:20:16.240 other SEC fans don't too, but the Tennessee fans are 0:20:16.800 --> 0:20:22.280 are really not amused by all this. It continues into 0:20:22.400 --> 0:20:26.800 October of twenty twenty two. Kentucky gets off to a 0:20:26.840 --> 0:20:28.680 four and oh start. They go to number seven in 0:20:28.720 --> 0:20:31.479 the country. It looks like it's going to be another 0:20:31.600 --> 0:20:34.760 year like twenty twenty one, But then the wheels start 0:20:34.800 --> 0:20:38.439 to fall off the wagon. Kentucky loses a couple of games, 0:20:38.480 --> 0:20:42.000 will Levis does not play well. Finally, they come to 0:20:42.040 --> 0:20:45.840 Knoxville for the rematch of the twenty twenty one game, 0:20:46.080 --> 0:20:49.360 which Tennessee won in Lexington forty five to forty two, 0:20:49.920 --> 0:20:53.920 much to the delight of all fans. Even though Kentucky 0:20:53.960 --> 0:20:57.280 had the great ten and three season, they didn't beat Tennessee, 0:20:57.400 --> 0:21:01.639 and so Tennessee fans loved that well. Tennessee never let 0:21:01.720 --> 0:21:05.320 him get off the bus. They tortured will Levis. He 0:21:05.359 --> 0:21:08.200 did not play well. The final score was forty four 0:21:08.240 --> 0:21:10.800 to six. It was not a close game. The score 0:21:10.880 --> 0:21:16.840 was very indicative of the game. The Wildcats see all 0:21:16.880 --> 0:21:21.280 that hype that's been out there. It doesn't age well. 0:21:22.200 --> 0:21:24.280 You know it never it happens to all of us. 0:21:25.040 --> 0:21:28.119 Happens to all of us in sports. When you hype 0:21:28.160 --> 0:21:30.920 something and it doesn't work out, it doesn't age well, 0:21:31.000 --> 0:21:34.400 and so your opponents are only thrilled to remind you. 0:21:35.200 --> 0:21:36.919 And that's the nature of sports. It's kind of the 0:21:36.960 --> 0:21:40.080 fun of sports too. Yeah, but not great if you're 0:21:40.160 --> 0:21:41.439 the team having to take it. 0:21:41.920 --> 0:21:42.359 What happens. 0:21:43.040 --> 0:21:45.000 Will Levis doesn't play as well as he did in 0:21:45.040 --> 0:21:51.200 twenty twenty one. He did, and opposing fans are quick 0:21:51.240 --> 0:21:53.840 to remind Kentucky fans of that over and over again. 0:21:54.440 --> 0:21:56.560 Tennessee fans are right at the top of that list. 0:21:56.720 --> 0:22:01.119 But remember, folks, this isn't new. Tennessee and Kentucky have 0:22:01.160 --> 0:22:03.000 been doing this to one another for one hundred and 0:22:03.040 --> 0:22:08.640 thirty years. I mean, so this so this is a thing. 0:22:08.760 --> 0:22:12.480 So the draft process starts and Will Levis has a 0:22:12.480 --> 0:22:18.359 few missteps on social media. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee's quarterback, has 0:22:18.400 --> 0:22:22.040 no missteps on social media. But because of his ACL surgery, 0:22:22.960 --> 0:22:27.480 he can't throw. So Levis among the between the two 0:22:27.520 --> 0:22:32.240 of them, gets way more attention, and people are talking 0:22:32.280 --> 0:22:35.200