1 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: Everybody, and welcome to another edition of the Dave Pash Podcast. 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: I'm your host ESPN and Arizona Cardinals play by play 3 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: announcer Dave Pash. Our guest this week is the Commissioner 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: of the Southeastern Conference, Greg Sanky. Greg is somebody who 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: has become one of the most powerful voices and faces 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: in all of college sports. We'll talk with Greg about 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: potential NCAA tournament expansion as well as college football playoff 8 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 1: expansion and will it happen in twenty twenty four. The 9 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: board was clear that comes twenty six. Their clear expectation 10 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: as we have a twelve team format to the extent 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: it's possible we could go early. We've got some conversations 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: over the upcoming weeks that may move us to that conclusion, 13 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: to that finish line, but I'm not really clear that 14 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: that still can happen. There's there's still work to be done. 15 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: Greg has spent a lot of time here in Arizona. 16 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: He cites one of the early championship games at State 17 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: Farm Stadium as being a springboard to the current success 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: of SEC football. We are presented by BETMGM, the official 19 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals and by Hila 20 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: River Resorts and Casinos get ready for a football season 21 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: like never before with betmgm, an official partner of the 22 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals. Sign up today using code cards one thousand 23 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: and get your first bet risk free up to one 24 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: thousand dollars. Visit betmgm dot com for terms and conditions 25 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: twenty one and over Arizona only. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling 26 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: problem called one eight hundred. Next step. All right, now 27 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,919 Speaker 1: it's time for our conversation with the Commissioner of the SEC, 28 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: Greg Sankey. Well, first of all, Greg is somebody who, 29 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: like me, has ties to Central New York. He went 30 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: to grad school at Syracuse. Tell me about I know 31 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: you're probably pretty busy and don't get a chance to 32 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: watch a lot of NFL. Obviously, you guys have turned 33 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: out a ton of players into the NFL, including here 34 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: in Arizona. Who's your NFL team, the Bills. So back 35 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: when I was young, you could watch the Giants, Suggets, 36 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 1: and the Bills. None of them were very good in 37 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: the seventies, at least at that point, and I went 38 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: with the Upstate New York team, which you know, people 39 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: in like New York City consider where I'm from an 40 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: upstate New York, Canada close even further so. I'm a 41 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: Bills fan, which was great for those four Super Bowls, 42 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 1: except they lived in Dallas, which made it more difficult 43 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: going to Super Bowl watching parties. Since two of them, 44 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: two of the four ward against the Cowboys. They might 45 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: be the team to beat this year the way Josh 46 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: Allen is playing. No. They you know, they got to 47 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 1: win over Kansas City this week and I didn't see 48 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: any of it. Last year, I watched exactly one full 49 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: NFL game, and it was the game against Kansas City 50 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, which was heartbreaking. I don't I don't 51 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: end up emotionally invested in a lot of football sent 52 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: I usually have multiple teams playing, and that was the 53 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 1: one and it went the wrong way. Yeah, if you're 54 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: going to pick one to watch, it was a great 55 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: one to watch just as a fan. But at the 56 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: same time, if you're a Bills fan, yeah, I totally 57 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: get that. As somebody who spent time at Syracuse, you know, 58 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: when you graduated from there and you got your masters, 59 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: I think the year was ninety three, what did you 60 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: think you would do? You've been at the SEC now 61 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: for two decades and commissioner since twenty fifteen. What did 62 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: you think you'd do when you left there? When I 63 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: was born and raised in central New York, so I 64 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: grew up about twenty miles from campus towards the west, 65 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: outside a little town called Skinny Atlas. And when I 66 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: finished my undergrad degree, like my horizon that I could 67 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: see towards was about, you know, Aubany to the east, 68 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: Buffalo to the west, down to Binghamton, maybe a little 69 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: bit further north than Syracuse, but not much because of 70 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: the lake effects snow. Kind of working in teaching and coaching, 71 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: that was my idea. And then I was at Syracuse 72 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: for my grad school because I was a full time 73 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: employee Utica College and they paid for my grad school, 74 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: which is great and at the end, which is really 75 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: where your question started, but the lead up was I 76 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: had to complete an internship to graduate. So at the 77 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: end of my actual class work, I could have stayed 78 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: up there and worked in like summer camps about there's 79 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: some basketball camps if you remember the Empire State Games, 80 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: if they were around when you were at do some 81 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: of that work. And I just decided to see if 82 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: Division one athletics was something where I could find an opportunity. 83 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 1: And my wife and I were just married. We've been 84 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 1: married like three or four months when I started sending 85 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: resumes out and we're about to celebrate our thirty fourth 86 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: wedding anniversary. And just said to her, you know, I'd 87 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 1: like to find out if I could work in college 88 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: athletics at the Division one level, and if I can, 89 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 1: how far might go? And you know I've clearly answered that, 90 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: Ques yes to the top. You're one of the most 91 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: powerful people in college sports and you're running the top 92 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: football conference. A lot of people say to me and 93 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: others that work for ESPN, you guys are biased against 94 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: the SEC. Bias is the wrong word, because that has 95 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 1: a negative connotation that somehow it's unfair. But the SEC 96 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,280 Speaker 1: is the best, that's the best football, and we've seen 97 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: a lot of players come through the Cardinals that played 98 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: in the SEC, and we're great players in the SEC 99 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: and have gone on to become great players here with 100 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: the Cardinals. You're pretty active on social media, and one 101 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 1: of the things you've you've tweeted over the years has 102 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: been your love affair with Marathon, something that I can't 103 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: say that I share with you. You've run over forty 104 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: and is it true that you ran a marathon per 105 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: month for a year? I did. Yeah, that was my 106 00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 1: midlife crisis. So it's like cheaper than a sports cars, 107 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 1: morally objectionable, and so many other outlets that people explore, 108 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: and it was I enjoy the running. Obviously there are 109 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: the cardiovascular benefits, but the mental aspect, the mind clearing, 110 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: the ability to just kind of get away and think 111 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: and deal with the challenge had a lot of meaning 112 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: for me. And once I started. The first marathon I 113 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: ran was actually in nineteen eighty eight, the Sunday morning 114 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: after my wife and I were married on a Saturday night, 115 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: so I've i've like introduced the level of her tolerance 116 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: and patience of my career explorations and running. And then 117 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: I was in my early forties when I ran my 118 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: second one, and since it's been so long, I decided, 119 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: a since I'm in shape, I'll just kind of keep 120 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: going a little bit like the Forrest Gump movie. And 121 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: I think it was oh eight, I realized if I 122 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: had thought about it, I would have run one a 123 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: month for that year, and I became intentional about doing so. 124 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 1: I think I actually ran sixteen consecutive months I ran 125 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: a marathon in and there was one of those months 126 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: where I ran back to mac marathons with about eight 127 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: days one week basically apart, which I don't recommend actually 128 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: based on how the second one went. How do you 129 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: train for that? How much sleep do you have to get? 130 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: How much running do you do as part of the training. 131 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: I'm assuming you gotta stay hydrated. What do you eat 132 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: like during that training period? I would I had a 133 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: route in. I didn't follow a rigid training plan, kind 134 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: of listened to my body. I knew that my peak 135 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: preparation run would be twenty miles, which is its own adventure. 136 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: And I live now in Birmingham, Alabama. When I trained 137 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: for the first one, I ran in Utica, New York, 138 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: and between the hills and kind of a running community 139 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: there that was that was pretty easy. But where I 140 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: lived in Birmingham, I had about a six to eight 141 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: mile route around our neighborhood and then I was on 142 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: the shoulder of a state highway. As I told people 143 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: what I was doing, they thought I was like out 144 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: of my mind. But I could run the grass and 145 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: this is not like the sophisticated elite training plan. But 146 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: I had I had on my route any number of 147 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: convenience stores where I could go out and get a gatorade. 148 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: And it was really about doing the distance in total. 149 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: And I wasn't worried about, you know, pace. So if 150 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: I ran an hour, grabbed the gatorade, walked a half 151 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: a mile, then re engaged, that really prepared me pretty well. 152 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: You know. Again, I wasn't elite. I'm six two way 153 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: probably two hundred and five pounds at the time, so 154 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 1: I was in the Clydesdale division. My best time was 155 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: a three hour fifty three experience, which is pretty good. 156 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: And I got to the point where I could control 157 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: my pace pretty well through the entirety, right around four 158 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: hours a little bit under. And again the mental challenge, 159 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:05,719 Speaker 1: I was always nervous at the beginning. I had a 160 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: whole routine. You know, I wouldn't eat much while I 161 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:14,439 Speaker 1: was actually running, you know, I'd be careful about what 162 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: he ateh the night before, I will confessor a couple 163 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:19,599 Speaker 1: of times, eight ribs like the day before. And I 164 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: still made it through. But the experience for me and 165 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: I did New York, I did Boston, Zoula, Montana. One 166 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 1: of them was up in Prescott, Arizona. At altitude. It 167 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: was a pretty neat experience. It was kind of like 168 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: nine miles uphill, then four miles down the other side, 169 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: then four miles back up and nine miles back down, 170 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: and one of those memorable experiences. Speaking of Arizona, you've 171 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,719 Speaker 1: been out here for Fiesta Bowls and national championships. Just 172 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 1: your thoughts on State Farm Stadium obviously the home of 173 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: the Cardinals, and your experience is here in the Phoenix area. Yeah, 174 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: the first one out there, I remember. So the stadium 175 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: was relatively new, the Florida Ohio State National Championship game, 176 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 1: which really set off our string of successes over the 177 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 1: last fifteen or so years. I walked in to the 178 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,599 Speaker 1: stadium kind of down to where the stadium floor was, 179 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: next to Senator John McCain. And as I'm walking by myself, 180 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: Senator McCain's there. He's got a couple of staffers, and 181 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,959 Speaker 1: I'd just like, I'm going to introduce myself to him, 182 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: just out of respect for who he was and how 183 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: he led and what he what he did over his lifetime. 184 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: The POW experience, and so I said hello. I told 185 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: him my name. I told him I worked for the 186 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: Southeastern Conference. He said, you guys are gonna feel good tonight. 187 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: You're you're gonna get this one. And remember this wasn't 188 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: at the end or in the midst of an area 189 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: of era of dominance. This was the beginning. LSU had 190 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: won a couple of years before, and then we've got 191 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: a couple of years without having a team in and 192 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: I would say it was one, Florida was two. And 193 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 1: I said, well, you know, I hope you're right. I'll 194 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: have to play really, I said, no, the difference will 195 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: be the defensive line speed that Florida has. And if 196 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 1: you remember the game, that was a huge factor. And 197 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: I've often thought about that. Either he paid a lot 198 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 1: more attention than I would have thought, or he had 199 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: a staff member brief him. And I've had enough conversations 200 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: with senators that they pay a lot of attention to this. 201 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,319 Speaker 1: So I've credited him for knowing and he was exactly right. 202 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: And then my first National championship experience as commissioner was 203 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,959 Speaker 1: in January of twenty sixteen. You know the Clemson Alabama game. 204 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: Remember the onside kick that Alabama executed so well, we won, 205 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: which was a really fun experience. And on a personal side, 206 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: in my family and I have been into Phoenix and 207 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,079 Speaker 1: then driven down south the Tucson to Sells, Arizona and 208 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: done some work through a church group there. So we've 209 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: had any number of experiences in the state, but have 210 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:09,839 Speaker 1: really enjoyed the successes when the National Championship Game has 211 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: been held in the Phoenix area, Well, you've done a 212 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: tremendous job. The SEC is on top of the sports 213 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: world in college and in particular the college football world. 214 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: What will the addition of Oklahoma and Texas mean for 215 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: the SEC and do you still see the SEC East 216 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 1: and SEC West in the future or do you think 217 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: eventually you will get rid of the divisions as it 218 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: relates to the meaning. You know, the cliche that we 219 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: use is it will just mean more. And I think 220 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 1: the addition of those two may have us like really 221 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: typing in big letters in bold print that tagline because 222 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: uniquely for expansion of members we restore rivalries. Obviously we'll 223 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,319 Speaker 1: be able to maintain the Oklahoma and Texas rivalry. A 224 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: lot of folks us on Texas A and M and 225 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 1: Texas playing again. But the history of the Arkansas Texas 226 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: games is really quite spectacular and has deep meaning for 227 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: both universities Oklahoma and Missouri. I've actually had conversations about 228 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: their wrestling teams and you know how that plays out. 229 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: You know, might that be something we could explore via 230 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 1: the SEC network because of the success and prominence that 231 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 1: both of those teams have. We don't have that as 232 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: a sport sport, but it speaks to the relationship Oklahoma 233 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: and Missouri had through their Big Eight membership in twenty 234 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 1: five percent of the old Big Eight will soon be 235 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 1: part of the Southeastern Conference, and then as you think 236 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: about you big brands in the level of competition, that 237 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: will just be magnified. And as it relates to scheduling, 238 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,839 Speaker 1: my observation upfront when we added the tour, announced the 239 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: addition of Oklahoma in Texas was that we kind of 240 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: engage in blue sky thinking like big pictures, step away, 241 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: remover straints, think about all the options, but we also 242 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: want to see our teams come through our campuses more frequently, 243 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: you know, particularly in football. You take Missouri played at 244 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: Auburn this year as an example that game has not 245 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: been played in Auburn before. George is not played in collegation, 246 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: and we have that in our current configuration, the crossover games, 247 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: it may be ten or twelve years before those teams 248 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: meet up, and so we want to see that happen 249 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: with greater frequency. One of the ways we can do 250 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: so is to have a single division format that has 251 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: become the focal point. That doesn't mean it's a done deal, 252 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: but if we are in a single division, the question 253 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: will be are we going to play eight or nine games? 254 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: There's mixed views on that, and it's about being able 255 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: to maintain some rivalries that will be prominent games in 256 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: either eight or nine games. Allows us to cycle everyone 257 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: through home and away over a four year period of time, 258 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: so being able to see Texas and Georgia play home 259 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: and a way that would happen twice in four years. 260 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 1: You know, Texas m playing Florida, it happens later on 261 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: in this year's schedule. It happened every other year in 262 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: that new format, and you can multiply that for it. 263 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: So we think that's a smart strategy. We still have 264 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: some decisions to make, but the fundamental is, let's see, 265 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: our big brands are big teams and there are going 266 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: to be sixteen of those moved through all of our 267 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: campuses with greater frequency. Do you see adding more schools 268 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: or is sixteen a good number for the SEC? My 269 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: view is sixteen's a very healthy number. At our media 270 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: days was very intentional to say we're not on their 271 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: recruiting trail. We're confident in our decision making. We're comfortable 272 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: with who we are as a conference. We know our identity, 273 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: we understand our fan base, and we don't think it's 274 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: necessary to just shoot for a number when we made 275 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: the decision around Oklahoma and Texas. We have philosophically aligned 276 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: athletics programs that want to provide incredible experiences for young 277 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: people who seek to compete at a national championship level 278 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: on university campuses that are on the cutting edge and 279 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: among the leading universities in the nation, and we've done 280 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: that in a contiguous way. We don't have some of 281 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: the travel that our colleague conferences face. And I don't 282 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: just mean that about the Big Tens move, but some 283 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: of our other colleagues have very distant trips. Our longest 284 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: trip when we go to sixteen will be Columbia, South 285 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: Carolina to Austin, Texas, which is eighty or ninety miles 286 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: longer than the College station to Columbia, South Carolina trip. 287 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: And if there are changes that happen around us, we're 288 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:53,359 Speaker 1: certainly mindful of the chatter that exists. Will be prepared 289 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: if there are more pieces of the puzzle that are moving. 290 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: But we're not ones that are looking at a number, 291 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: are looking to be the recruiter, if you will, in 292 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: this conference membership movement. Sure. Sure. In terms of expansion 293 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: of the college Football Playoff going to twelve teams in 294 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, how optimistic are you that that's going 295 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 1: to happen? What has to happen, and what are the 296 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: financial benefits of getting it done sooner than twenty twenty six. 297 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: I know that's a multi pronged question there. Well, my 298 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 1: sense is that there's a desire to facilitate early onset 299 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: of an expanded playoff. Your question about the likelihood, I 300 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 1: think that really remains to be seen. There are a 301 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 1: number of realities in front of us that don't just 302 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: go away because we want to make it work. The will, though, 303 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: is there to make it work, and you know one 304 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 1: of those issues is dates for first round games. We 305 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 1: focused on on campus sites. There's a lot that happened 306 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: around campuses across this country with final exams, the end 307 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: of semester classes, December graduation. You have an NFL schedule 308 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: that's expanded its number of games, which means it's it's 309 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 1: covering more weeks. That creates some challenges. And so those 310 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: are just two that are top of mind. I think 311 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: the board was clear that come twenty six, their clear expectations. 312 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: We have a twelve team format for the college football Playoff, 313 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 1: and to the extent it's possible we could go early. 314 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 1: We've got some conversations over the upcoming weeks that may 315 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: move us to that conclusion, to that finish line, but 316 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 1: I'm not really clear that that still can happen. There's 317 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 1: there's still work to be done. Can you elaborate on 318 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: some of the things that are hurdles or obstacles to 319 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: getting it done sooner? Greg? Yeah, Yeah, Well one is, 320 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:01,119 Speaker 1: you know, we introduced an idea, and we spent a 321 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: year not really acting on the details because we had 322 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 1: conferences that were just opposed. And this summer some circumstances 323 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: changed and the presidents regathered and now we have a 324 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: twelve team format. Expectation The reality is the loss of 325 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: the time to deal with the issues comes at a price, 326 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: and that price is we're trying to move rapidly and 327 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: we still have to be thoughtful on our decision making. 328 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: So I'll go back. You know, we've got championship games 329 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 1: scheduled that first weekend in December. That's our tradition. Where 330 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: do you fit in first round games, some of which 331 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: are with teams who may have played in playoff are 332 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: achieving in conference championship games? So how do you provide 333 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: for rest, recovery and preparation. You have that campus conflict. 334 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: Where do you place games for TV windows? If in 335 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: the NFL tradition is at that point, like the third 336 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: week of the season, there are games on Saturday, Sunday 337 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:05,880 Speaker 1: and Monday, Well, that creates window limitations for college football 338 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: playoff expansion. You then go forward to the bowl games. 339 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 1: We have agreements with six bowl games that extend through 340 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 1: the twenty five season, which is part of a twelve 341 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: year contract cycle. There has to be work done to 342 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: adjust those dates. It's not simply saying we were going 343 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,640 Speaker 1: to play your bowl game on a different date. Cities 344 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:31,159 Speaker 1: have to adjust, hotels have to adjust. I think you 345 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: to my earlier comment, Dave, there's a will to move 346 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,719 Speaker 1: that forward. We also have to adjust the back end 347 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: the semi finals and championship gate date timing and where 348 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: those games are played and when. Even though it's a 349 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: couple of years out, you know, there's a lot of 350 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: demand for hotels and convention space and planning and preparation 351 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: around those citywide type activities that are important revenue drivers 352 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: and economic engines, and those elements have to be adjusted. 353 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: And then you go back to kind of the small 354 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: ball type issues are in the weeds. The details of 355 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 1: campus hosting is brand new to college football. So we 356 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: host games every week, but in the postseason we're used 357 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:18,159 Speaker 1: to neutral sites generally hosted in bowl games that have 358 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: great experience and a wide array of support. And so 359 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: we're talking in about twelve days to go to some 360 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:30,199 Speaker 1: small college towns with enormous competitive experiences, and we need 361 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 1: to we need to make sure that we've got the 362 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: ability to support those games and the most positive way possible. 363 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,920 Speaker 1: So that's a quick list with high level headings, and 364 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: you can unpack that, and we could probably put people asleep. 365 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: If I get well, and I know you're pressed for time, 366 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: as well, but a couple more we'll let you go. 367 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,440 Speaker 1: How realistic is it given what you said about the 368 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:56,479 Speaker 1: NFL extending its season on the back end, with regular 369 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: season games ending January eighth now instead of the first 370 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: of the year, moving up college football a week, so 371 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: Week zero becomes week one, and then you have two 372 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 1: weeks of college football essentially before NFL starts. Is that realistic? 373 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 1: I don't know, As the honest answer, it's an idea 374 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:23,360 Speaker 1: that has been identified previously. The NCAA has a Football 375 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 1: Oversight Committee. That committee looked at this issue a few 376 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: years ago. At that time with the idea that you'd 377 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: have a standard fourteen week season and everybody would have 378 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: two weeks, two open weeks embedded in their season. Ultimately, 379 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: the view of the bowl subdivision representatives, it was not 380 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: to advance that moved back to week zero. I expect 381 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: that will be reconsidered, particularly as we look towards the 382 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 1: twenty sixth season. I'm not necessarily an opponent or an advocate. 383 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: I'm a realist to know that the conversation will take place. 384 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 1: That brings me back to the honest answer, as I 385 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: don't know. There were reasons that we collectively did not 386 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: move to week zero when it was explored previously. We'll 387 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 1: have to consider those reasons. We'll have to look at 388 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:20,880 Speaker 1: the fit of the preseason, practice period, the regular season itself, 389 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: it's conclusion then leading into a playoff, to see if 390 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: the structure might be supported and if you will defend 391 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: it in a positive way. Knowing we've got summer school, 392 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: we have varying start dates for fall semester classes or 393 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 1: in some circumstances, fall quarter classes. All of those things 394 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: play into the decision, which again was considered not that 395 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: long ago and ultimately not advanced sure in terms of 396 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 1: men's basketball, women's basketball as well NCAA tournament expansion, I 397 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: believe the quote was you said, fresh look is something 398 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 1: that you want to explore, and Jim Phillips, the ACC Commissioner, 399 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,119 Speaker 1: just recently touched down that as well. Can you elaborate 400 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 1: on what expansion of the NCAA tournament like look might 401 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:11,400 Speaker 1: look like and would there be a rewarding of regular 402 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: season champions that would be involved in that. My entry 403 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: into this conversation has an entertaining backstory. I was in 404 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 1: the middle of an interview with Pat Forty and he 405 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: asked me about you know, NCAA championships. I cod share 406 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 1: a transformation committee's have been labeled for the nca And 407 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: I said, look, Pat, because I've been through a set 408 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: of meetings where people were all concerned about things being 409 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 1: taken away, I said, look, I don't want to make headlines. 410 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 1: And Dave, when I learned is when I say to 411 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:48,440 Speaker 1: someone I don't want to make headlines, I should just 412 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: shut my mouth. Whatever follows is going to be reported. 413 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: And that's you know, Pat, like, what's kind enough to 414 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: call back and said, hey, that's news. And what I 415 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 1: said was, there's so much, if you will, tension in 416 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: Division one about things being taken away like access to championships. 417 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,120 Speaker 1: But why don't we change flip the script and talk 418 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: about growth? And have I thought about what the growth 419 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: might look like? Uh? You know generally, yes, Do I 420 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: have a plan or do I demand that this take place? 421 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: I don't, But I do know that we've watched the 422 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: men's tournament grow from sixty four to sixty eight to 423 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,120 Speaker 1: facilitate a few more teams. We've seen some of those 424 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: teams advanced as far as the final four that played 425 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: in Dayton. That we're part of this this at large edition, 426 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 1: and I think it's a relevant conversation. Some people will 427 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 1: say you should go to eighty or ninety six. I 428 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: can be flexible around the number. I am comfortable with 429 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 1: conference champion access continuing what I've learned, and my example 430 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: is was really Texas and them being left out this 431 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:05,919 Speaker 1: year when they were playing really high level basketball. NET 432 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: was good, but not good enough. You know Oklahoma had 433 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:10,680 Speaker 1: an even better NET was left out. When you look 434 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: at Old Miss. In baseball, when's the College World Series, 435 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: is generally recognized as the last team in and you 436 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: wonder about the first team out. Wow, if the last 437 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 1: team in is that quality, and you've seen in men's 438 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 1: basketball teams advance out of that eleven seed spot playing 439 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:31,159 Speaker 1: each other in Dayton to the final four, perhaps we 440 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 1: should think differently, and that's what created the introduction. I 441 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:37,439 Speaker 1: think there are a variety of different formats that can 442 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: be explored. My view is we should be more thoughtful 443 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 1: than just thinking that we're stuck, and we should overcome 444 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 1: the fear that something is being taken away. We have 445 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: opportunities to add and likely even enhance the level of competition. Well, 446 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 1: if it was up to my college basketball broadcast partner 447 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 1: Bill Walton, every Pack twelve team would get it in, 448 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 1: so you would have to expand you would have to 449 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 1: I've heard that advocacy or two above many other interesting things. 450 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 1: That may be one of his Duller observations. I had 451 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: him on this podcast Greg last year and he told 452 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,359 Speaker 1: a story about how Wilt Chamberlain threw a ball a 453 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 1: football ninety yards underhand on a rope somehow. Either that's 454 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 1: a true story and there was some enhancements involved to 455 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: get to that point or build misary members well that 456 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: we're in the entertainment business. Either way, it's still entertaining, right, 457 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: and last question for you, and certainly in my mind, 458 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:40,479 Speaker 1: the most important question that I've asked today. The picture 459 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: that you tweeted out with a Delirian was that the 460 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 1: real Delirian from Back to the Future. I was in Atlanta. 461 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 1: It was two in the morning when I pulled next 462 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: to that car. It was at something called Dragon Con, 463 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,159 Speaker 1: where people spent three or four days in Atlanta on 464 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: Labor Day weekend dressed up as their favorite characters from 465 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 1: Star Wars to some things I don't even know and 466 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: can't even imagine what they're supposed to be, and I 467 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 1: pulled up and there's Doc Brown's DeLorean. I'm not certain 468 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:13,919 Speaker 1: that one could get up to eighty eight miles per 469 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: hour and cross into I guess the past or in 470 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 1: the future. I don't There was no certificate of validity. 471 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 1: I think somebody is passionate about Back to the Future, 472 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: more passionate than me, and I would rank in in 473 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: one of the great movies of all time when you 474 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:37,639 Speaker 1: look at the irony involved in the connections and the 475 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: guest appearance by Huey Lewis himself. Oh yeah, I mean 476 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: that was huge. Yeah, the I think that was just 477 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: a fan and that was his stick. And there was 478 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: a parade. So I rolled in there Thursday night late 479 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 1: actually Friday morning, and Saturday there was a parade with 480 00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: all kinds of things like that involved. I also feel 481 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 1: like that was the first time. Now it's all over 482 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: the place because of social media, but that was the 483 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: first time in my childhood I remembered where a rock 484 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:11,960 Speaker 1: star and a and a football Hall of Famer were 485 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: great friends. And you saw Huey Lewis at all the 486 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 1: forty nine er games because he and Joe Montana were tight. 487 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: Now it's everywhere, but that to me was my first recollection. Anyway, 488 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: Well you can you can appreciate my Central New York routs. 489 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:28,240 Speaker 1: I saw them in uh eighty five at the Wheat 490 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: Sports Speedway and Weed Sport, New York. Nice, which you 491 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 1: know what summer when they're rocking at weed Splace. Oh yeah, 492 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 1: then you tagline back in the day. Yeah, yeah, those 493 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: are those are good things. Well, listen, man, I really 494 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 1: appreciate the time. Greg. You're great to talk to. You 495 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: do a phenomenal job, and I know you do a 496 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,040 Speaker 1: lot of these and you probably asked a lot of 497 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:50,960 Speaker 1: questions that at this point you can't answer. But I 498 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: appreciate you being as candid as you possibly can. And uh, 499 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 1: best to luck the rest of the season. Always enjoy 500 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:00,040 Speaker 1: calling your games. Well, happy to do so. I I 501 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 1: didn't expect the DeLorean question, and I will just say, 502 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 1: if you're able to lobby those at ESPN to assign 503 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 1: you to a Labor Day weekend game in Atlanta, you 504 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:13,120 Speaker 1: ought to take it and go just sit and watch 505 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 1: the scene that plays out because it is it is 506 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: high level interesting. You know. I missed it then because 507 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 1: we did the Monday night game. We did the Clemson 508 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 1: Georgia Tech game in Atlanta. I had no idea what 509 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 1: was going on. I must really go to the highatt 510 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,959 Speaker 1: and sit and watch. Oh man, I missed all right? Greg? 511 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: Thanks again, Bud, Take care, take care. We covered a 512 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 1: lot there with Greg. Really appreciate how candid Greg was given, 513 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: how many questions he's been asked, and at this point, 514 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 1: how much we really don't know about a If the 515 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 1: College Football Playoff Committee will vote on expanding the twelve 516 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: teams prior to twenty twenty six, will the SEC go 517 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 1: to just one sixteen team division when Oklahoma and Texas 518 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 1: men and then also with regard to the NCAA men's 519 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:07,000 Speaker 1: basketball and women's basketball tournaments, will they expand into how 520 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 1: many teams? Also, just Greg's great stories on being a 521 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: marathon runner and his love for Huey Lewis and the news, 522 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: which I think if you grew up in the eighties, 523 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 1: you have to love Huey Lewis and the news. We 524 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 1: are presented by bet MGM, the official sports betting partner 525 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Hila River Resorts and Casinos. 526 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: You can follow us on Twitter at pash Pot. Thanks 527 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 1: to Commissioner Greg Sanky from the SEC, and thanks to 528 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 1: you for listening to another edition of the Dave Pash Podcast.