1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: All right, welcome in Lake Kick is Live. It is 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: Thursday night. Strange though it may seem we thought it 3 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: was Saturday for like half today. It is, though, March nineteenth, 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: year of our Lord, twenty twenty. We've got a jam 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: packed show tonight, in fact, so packed, as I tweeted 6 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,119 Speaker 1: out earlier today, we actually had to shave stuff out tonight, Colin, 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: So like half of our Sunday show, God Willing is 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: already prepared and ready to go. We're going to talk 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 1: a lot about balances of power tonight. A lot of 10 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: you have been asking questions that either directly or indirectly, 11 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: or along those lines. Anyway, We're gonna do the SEC 12 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 1: East and SEC West in reverse order tonight. I'm also 13 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: going to touch on just the machine like nature of 14 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: Ohio State football, every facet of the organization there. For 15 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: Ryan Day and company, it's operating at a level totally 16 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: detached from the rest of the Big Ten. But I 17 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: don't even view them as competing against the Big Ten 18 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: right now. More on that a little while. A quick reminder, 19 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: if you haven't already and you're watching so you're obviously 20 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:00,639 Speaker 1: on the channel, subscribe to the I click the bell 21 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: for notifications, and those of you who continue to ask, 22 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: I will continue to tell you, Yes, the Late Kick 23 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: podcast is live. Search for it wherever you download your podcast. 24 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: All that I humbly ask is, if you do that, 25 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: give us one of those five star reviews and a 26 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: brief comment, because that really really really helps us out. 27 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: So let's get into this. The battle at the top 28 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: of the SEC West. A lot of you may term 29 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: it balance of power in the SEC West. The balance 30 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: of power in the SEC West shakes out like this 31 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: for me right now, even though we just had a 32 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 1: team from this division win a national championship, I still 33 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: view Alabama if I'm power rating this in any given year, 34 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: which I guess we're doing because we're doing the segment. 35 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: I put Alabama still at the top reasons. I'll mention 36 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: in a second LSU right there at number two, a 37 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: gap and then Auburn at number three, Texas A and 38 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: M at number four. Fascinating though, is the dynamic here. 39 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: I want you to think about this for a second, 40 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: and I want you to forget about division for just 41 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: a moment, and then we'll dive back into it. Just 42 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: think about the salaries that I'm a to mention, think 43 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: about these guys being independent. They're all Notre dames. For 44 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: a second, Nick Saban is the head coach of Alabama. 45 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: He makes nine million or thereabouts a year. Jimbo Fishers 46 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: at seven and a half a year. That stuff's guaranteed, 47 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: by the way, that entire contract is guaranteed. Gus Million 48 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: is at seven or Gus Malsan rather, it's not a 49 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: bad nickname. Is it seven million a year? And Ed 50 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: or Jeron is it seven million a year? He just 51 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:28,119 Speaker 1: got himself quite the hefty rays. All of those salaries 52 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 1: are good. By the way, guys for top ten nationally. 53 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: Four coaches in one division of one conference are in 54 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: the top ten nationally. I think they may be like 55 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: the top eight in terms of overall salaries. So why 56 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: do I say think of them independently? Well, the reason 57 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: is this, if any of these guys were an independent 58 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: and they just put together their own schedule and let's 59 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: say it rated, you know, twenty fifth, thirtieth in the 60 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 1: country in terms of strength of schedule, so good enough 61 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: to avoid serious criticism, all these guys be winning ten 62 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: games a year. I have no doubt about that. They're 63 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: I think they're all capable. I think they're all probably 64 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:04,839 Speaker 1: worth what they're being paid. And even if I don't 65 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: believe it, their employers believe it. And that's what value 66 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: really is. It's a combination of what do you think 67 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: I'm worth and how replaceable or irreplaceable am I right now? So, 68 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: for instance, in College Station, Texas, they looked at their 69 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: program and they said, top to bottom, we check all 70 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,119 Speaker 1: the boxes. The only thing that we don't have right 71 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: now is the right guy in the driver's seat. We 72 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: think Jimbo Fisher is that guy. It's no mystery. He's 73 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: won a national championship before. So let's give him seventy 74 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: five million dollars guaranteed. And that's what they did. I 75 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: don't have a problem with that. I'm not here to 76 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: tell anyone they're overpaid. In fact, you could make the 77 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: opposite case, but we're not going to go down that 78 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: road tonight. So the bottom line is, if all these guys, 79 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: if one of these guys was in the Big twelve, 80 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: and one of these guys in the Big ten and 81 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: acc there would be enough wins to probably go around. 82 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: But you and I both know that's not reality. Here's reality. 83 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: There aren't enough wins to go around in the SEC West, 84 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: saving and Alabama are going to be good as long 85 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: as he's there. I believe that ed Orgeron and LSU 86 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: did not accomplish merely a flash in the pan performance 87 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: last year. I think there's a lot of staying power 88 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: about the program's DNA and their culture right now. I'll 89 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: get back to LSU in just a second. And then 90 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: you look at Gusmuson at Auburn, and you look at 91 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: jimbo Fisher in college station at Texas A and M, 92 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: and you ask yourself, all these guys. Our reason I 93 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: mentioned their salaries is they're all getting paid ten plus 94 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: win per year salaries. Because with those high numbers, obviously 95 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: and understandably come high expectations, there aren't enough wins to 96 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: go around. So where does the balance of power shake 97 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: out here? Well, I told you that one year does 98 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: not a dynasty, undoe. So LSU just took down Alabama 99 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: this last year. This is a lot more macro in nature, 100 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: so I'd still put Alabama as the top program in 101 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: the SEC West. I wouldn't argue with you too much 102 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: if you wanted to throw LSU at me. Obviously I 103 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: have LSU as a clear number two. Right now, you 104 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: beat Alabama again this year, go to Atlanta again this year. Hey, 105 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: two years in a row, a little more of a trend. 106 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: And I'm not calling you a flash in the pan 107 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:08,679 Speaker 1: to begin with, but I know some people out there would. 108 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: I think LSU's going to prove a lot of people 109 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: wrong this year. But I think regardless of or irregardless, 110 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: because I love using that word so much, of how 111 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: you view the top two, the gap and then subsequently 112 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 1: the three and four spots. It's where it's really really 113 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: fun to talk about this year. In the likelihood that 114 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: we get a season at some point, I want to 115 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 1: tell you specifically where I was this time last year. Mentally, 116 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: at least where I was this time last year is 117 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: I thought the LSU and Auburn game and overall rivalry 118 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: was the most important within the context of this conversation, 119 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: the balance of power sec West conversation. It's cause I 120 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: didn't think Sabin was going anywhere. I didn't think Bama 121 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: was going anywhere as long as he's there, and I 122 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: had supreme confidence in Jimbo Fisher. A year later, I 123 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: still have confidence in Jimbo Fisher. I think it's a 124 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: do or die, not do or die in terms of 125 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: his job security, but it's a show me kind of 126 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: year for him this upcoming year. Got his quarterback returning, 127 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: got his top pass catcher return he got four offensive 128 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 1: lineman returning. It's a very complex offensive system they run, 129 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: so I'm not so sure they may not need to 130 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: tweak a little bit to maybe more properly utilize the 131 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: strengths of their quarterback. But I digress. That's another show 132 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 1: and another topic altogether. But this time last year I 133 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: viewed it as Orgeron Malson, like, who's going to take 134 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: that third spot at the table, ultimately allowing the division 135 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: to cannibalize whoever number four is. And yet we look 136 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: here a year later and I think that Auburn's still 137 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: in that equation. I just think it's an Auburn Texas 138 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 1: A and M question right now, an Auburn Texas A 139 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 1: and M dilemma. The reason why, to me, it's so 140 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: clear to put Auburn ahead of Texas A and M 141 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: when you're talking balance of power is well Auburn first 142 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: off fishers yet to beat Auburn in his two years 143 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 1: at Texas A and M, including at home last year 144 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: in a game I thought that was a must win 145 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: for them. Secondly, think about what Auburn was able to 146 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: do last year. Played Georgia close, and okay, A and 147 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: M played Georgia close, but they then they being Auburn, 148 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: beat Alabama. Alabama went into college station and pretty much 149 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: smoked Texas A and M. Auburn also was very competitive 150 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: at LSU and LSU crucified Texas A and M on 151 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: national TV in front of parents of players and everything. 152 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: So Texas A and M for those reasons, forget about 153 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: Bama at the top LSU two. I got Auburn at 154 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: number three. Right now, balance of power in the West, 155 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: Texas A and M is most intriguing team in the 156 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: country to me, bar none, any division, any conference. It's 157 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: Texas A and M. The reason is because of the 158 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: expectation combined with the climate that they're in, combined with obviously, 159 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: because of that climate, the challenges they have, they have 160 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: a more workable schedule this year. That's the good news. 161 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: I look at their schedule right now. If I'm an 162 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: odds maker, I'm probably favoring them in nine of their 163 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: twelve regular season games. You tell me right now, is 164 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: nine and three good enough for you this year? Aggie Fans, 165 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: Does that quench your thirst? I don't know. I think 166 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: the answer probably and the camp would be very split there. 167 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: They are not going to an all likelihood face a 168 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: ranked opponent until Week seven. That's when they go to Auburn. 169 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: This is not a front loaded schedule at all. Now 170 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: they have the luxury of returning some experience at quarterback, 171 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: so unlike some of their peers in the SEC, they're 172 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: not looking to install a new offense with a new 173 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: coordinator and a new quarterback. So they do have a 174 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: lot returning in a year where, more so than any 175 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: other year, returning starters and experience is probably going to 176 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: be at a premium here the quarterback positions always like 177 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: that question Aggi Fans have is Okay, well, what are 178 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: we returning at quarterback? Kelln Monye cam on late in 179 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: the year. But I mean, we haven't been winning big 180 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: games here. Is it that we're not talented enough at quarterback? 181 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: Is it maybe that the system that we run here 182 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: is probably a little too complex given the fact that 183 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: we can recruit stud athletes, I mean, we can out 184 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: athlete some people, maybe we don't need to do it 185 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: the way that we've done it. Those are not really 186 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: questions for a fan base or myself. Those are questions 187 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: for Jimbo to answer. Talking to some people last week, 188 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: the best read that a lot of folks get around 189 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: the Texas A and M program is you look at 190 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: Kellen Mond. I mean, it's no mystery his legs or 191 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: a vital part of his game. Probably need to use 192 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: them a little bit more. But Texas A and M 193 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: and the SEC West, because of all these reasons, it's 194 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 1: the team when we eventually get to a college football season, 195 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 1: I am most excited to watch this year because that's 196 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: a really good team, it's a really good roster, it's 197 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: a really good coach, and they could go eight and 198 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: four because that's how deep the division there in is. 199 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: Right now? What about the SEC East because depth in 200 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,319 Speaker 1: the East. A lot of adjectives used as of late 201 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: to describe the East deep not one of them. The 202 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: picture and the stack that you look at in the 203 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: East right now, there's no mystery. Who's at the top 204 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,719 Speaker 1: the balance of powers Georgia, it's everyone else. It's been 205 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: that way for a few years now. I have not 206 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: viewed Georgia within the context of the SEC East for 207 00:09:56,280 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: a couple of years. The reason is because every every 208 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: facet of their program is operating at a higher level. 209 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: They are recruiting at a higher level than whoever number 210 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: two is. They have investment financially to a degree way 211 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: higher than whoever number two is. Their coaching staff is 212 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,839 Speaker 1: the best in the SEC or has been in the 213 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: SEC East over the last several years. Everything they're doing, 214 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: it's been done at a higher level. They've been developing well, 215 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: everything they've done has been done at a higher level. 216 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: So I viewed them within the context of can they 217 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: win the SEC? That's how I enter every year thinking 218 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: about Georgia, Can they win the SEC? And who are 219 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: they going to face in Atlanta if and when they 220 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: get there. It's been pretty safe to pencil them in 221 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: there for a few years now. But every aspect of 222 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 1: that program is operating at a higher level. That's not 223 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: a mystery. The big question, of course, billion trillion dollar 224 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,079 Speaker 1: question on everyone's mind in the East is is there 225 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: anyone here currently you can talk program or head coach 226 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: of program. I'll do both. Is there anyone here currently 227 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: capable of unseating them, of dethroning the champ. If you 228 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: really want to write it or say it in headline form, 229 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: what do we have? Well, we got Florida and Tennessee. 230 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 1: I think there was obviously the two most likely candidates, 231 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: with South Carolina maybe being a to B or to See. 232 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: I don't know how you'd want to align them. I 233 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: would put a spotlight on Florida and Tennessee right this second, 234 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 1: before I would Carolina. Where is Florida? Though? Who are they? 235 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: You know? I was making the independent argument about the 236 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: SEC West. The funny thing about Florida is if Dan 237 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: Mullin's team, if his program, if they weren't independent, think 238 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: about what they did last year and think about them 239 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 1: not in the context just for a second, of the 240 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: SEC East. If you got a team that's now racked 241 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: up back to back double digit win seasons. They just 242 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: won eleven and two, they won a New Year's six game, 243 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 1: they won the Orange Bowl. They finished number six in 244 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: the country come season ZM. That's a great year. That's wonderful, 245 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 1: and yet there's a lot of dissatisfaction. There's encouragement and 246 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: there's optimism, but ultimately you're left feeling unsatisfied because you're 247 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: not an independent. You happen to be parked in the 248 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:05,839 Speaker 1: same division as one of the best in the sport. 249 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: That's Kirby Smart and Georgia. So eleven and two last 250 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: year that was Florida New Year six win, that was 251 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: Florida Top six finish, that was Florida. And yet in 252 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:20,199 Speaker 1: every metric they're left looking up at their biggest rival, 253 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 1: and that's the University of Georgia. So who are they, Well, 254 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,319 Speaker 1: they're a really good program. That's who Florida is right now. 255 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: They're a really good program. They got a really good 256 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,319 Speaker 1: to a great head coach. Their staff. Talked about this 257 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: with Steve Wilfong some the other day on another broadcast. 258 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 1: The recruiting aspect of that staff is what continues to 259 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: elevate inch by inch by inch. And I was talking 260 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,079 Speaker 1: to someone else down there who didn't necessarily want to 261 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: be named, but one of the things that the people 262 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: inside the Florida program are excited about is the behind 263 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: the scenes aspect, the support staff, the infrastructure, the analysts, 264 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: all the folks that you need to run a true 265 00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 1: recruiting machine that maybe they didn't feel like they had, 266 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: certainly to the degree that a Georgia or in Alabama 267 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 1: or Clemson has it a couple of years ago. They 268 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: feel like they're still not where they want to be 269 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: to call themselves great. They're a lot further along maybe 270 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 1: than they were a couple of years ago. That's the 271 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,959 Speaker 1: feeling right now in Gainesville. But Florida, who are they? 272 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 1: They're really really good in a division where you have 273 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: to be great to be the best. Who's Tennessee Tennessee. 274 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: There's a little bit of a gap below obviously Florida. 275 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: You saw it on the field last year. You don't 276 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,599 Speaker 1: have to have watched that game to understand there was 277 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: a lot more mountain to climb for the rebuild project 278 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: that Jeremy Pruitt inherited. But to me, along with Texas 279 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:36,679 Speaker 1: A and M, if you look over to the east, 280 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:40,719 Speaker 1: Tennessee is the SEC Eastern Division version of Texas A 281 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: and M. They are my team that I'll be watching 282 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: the most. I would love to have seen a lot 283 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: of Harrison Bailey, for example, the incoming quarterback, the guy 284 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: who probably the day he steps on campus, is the 285 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: most talented, just raw talent, the most talented option that 286 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,079 Speaker 1: they have at quarterback. You know how spring went, We 287 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: didn't get to see things. What's it going to take, though, 288 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: to unseat Georgia. I'll answer the question for any of 289 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: these teams what it takes to unseat them. You can 290 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: do one of two ways. You can either out recruit them. 291 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: I don't think there's a staff in the SEC East 292 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: capable of out recruiting Georgia right now. I'm not saying 293 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: it's impossible. I'm saying, with current staff makeups that I 294 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: see in Gainsville and Tennessee, I don't think that either 295 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: of those programs are finishing higher than Georgia. Reserve the 296 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: right to change my mind. They reserve the right to 297 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: change their staffs. So we'll see about that. But if 298 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: you're not going to go the route of just out 299 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: recruiting them, therefore out athleting them, you gotta have a 300 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: great quarterback. You got to have a precision passing attack 301 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: and great quarterback play. You can take Kirby Smart's career 302 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: all the way back to when he was at Alabama. 303 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: They would occasionally get beat and there was this misconception 304 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: for a while that he was getting beaten because all 305 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: these hurry up up tempo, no huddle offenses. They're tying 306 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: them in pretzels. That was never the case. The games 307 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: where Alabama lost, the games where Georgia loses, go back 308 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: and watch them, guys. It's not a quarterback running for 309 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: two one hundred and fifty yards. It's a quarterback threading 310 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: the needle into really really good coverage. Whether it be 311 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: Bo Wallace a couple of years ago, Old Miss turned 312 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: the trick a couple of times on him. But whatever 313 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: the case may be, if you're not gonna out recruit him, 314 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: you better have really good quarterback play and you better 315 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: have a red hot Saturday afternoon against him. So let's 316 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: ask the question. Is Jared Garantano that guy at Tennessee? 317 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: My brutally honest answer is, I don't think he is. 318 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: Is Brian Mauer that guy? No, I don't think he is. 319 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 1: It's why you have bright red sharpie circled around the 320 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: name Harrison Bailey. I don't know anything about what Harrison 321 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: Bailey is going to be like as a as a 322 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: college quarterback. What I do know from people I trust is, again, 323 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: like I said, the moment he steps on campus, that 324 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: guy you're watching b roll of him right now. That 325 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: guy is the most talented option that they have that 326 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: mean he's the best quarterback that they have, most talented option. 327 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: So is Tennessee in a situation where they can capitalize 328 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: on all that this year? I don't know that. But 329 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: shift the road down the ways a bit to Florida 330 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: and you get a lot closer to having some folks 331 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: say yes to the question do you have the quarterback 332 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: play to beat Georgia? Because Kyle Trask is what he's 333 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: he a red shirt senior now he's like twenty seven 334 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: years old Colin, so he's got some experience, and they've 335 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: got some talent around him, and you've got a head 336 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: coaching staff down here a few years in now to 337 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: building a roster. So I think the answer from Florida 338 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: folks is a hesitant. Yeah, we kind of think we're there. 339 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: I don't know that they're ready to bet their lives 340 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: on it, or life savings at least, but I think 341 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: they feel like maybe they're a lot closer. So you 342 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: either got to out recruit them or you got to 343 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: outplay them at the quarterback position. And the answer to 344 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: either one of those, in the terms of can someone 345 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: in the SEC Eastern Division do it? Is right now? 346 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: To me, it's a maybe at best. I can tell 347 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: you this, though, if you thrive on disrespect, then it's 348 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: going to be a good year for Florida or Tennessee. 349 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: Because I don't get the sense that very many people 350 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: outside of Gainsville, or maybe outside of Knoxville. I don't 351 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: get the sense that many people believe there's anyone in 352 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,199 Speaker 1: the East capable of knocking Georgia off. And I'm not 353 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: going to try and make my living of picking the 354 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: year when it happens. My default stance is, until further notice, 355 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: Georgia is the favorite. Georgia runs this division. And then 356 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: once someone proves me wrong and proves that addage wrong, 357 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 1: that's great, and I'll be the first to rush to 358 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: the front of the line and embrace them. Until then, 359 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: still a Georgia's division, and everyone else speaking of just 360 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: thoroughly owning a division a conference has anyone I don't 361 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 1: You guys have probably been busy. There has been a 362 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 1: fair amount going on. Have you noticed what Ohio State's 363 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,360 Speaker 1: been doing most recently, They've been lapping the field and recruiting. 364 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: They've got like Ohio State, and then you got a 365 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: lot of room, and then you got the number two, three, four, 366 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 1: teams right now. Granted it's March and we're in the 367 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: middle of a national crisis, so I don't think a 368 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: lot of people have college football recruiting on the forefront 369 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: of their mind. But that's just one aspect of this program. 370 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: They're recruiting is a total machine right now. Their infrastructure, 371 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: everything about the Ohio State football program is operating with 372 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: machine like precision. There's no distraction up there. Their coaching 373 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 1: staff is a plus, their roster is a plus. Quarterback 374 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: right now is a plus. Their investment is a plus. 375 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: The resources are a plus. Where is the red X? Like? 376 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 1: What box do they not check? Here's the problem. The 377 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: problem is no one in the big tens close to 378 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: them right now. You can watch on the field. But 379 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 1: even if you just paid attention to everything butt football 380 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: games and you saw what Ohio State's doing and the 381 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 1: level with which in every aspect of their program they're 382 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: peaking the meter at ten plus, it wouldn't take a 383 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: rocket scientist to realize, Man, they're probably winning football games 384 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 1: Saturdays in the fall, aren't they. Here is what I've noticed. 385 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: What I've noticed with Clemson is they had to do 386 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 1: this in the acc They rose to such a degree 387 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: that no one in the ACC challenged them. Now, the 388 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: rest of the Big Ten is a lot closer to 389 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: Ohio State then the rest of the ACC is to Clemson, 390 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: but there's still a sizeable gap between either one of 391 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 1: them and their respective conferences. Follow me for a second here. 392 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:12,640 Speaker 1: A lot of folks, I think have a misconception about Clemson. 393 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,719 Speaker 1: They look at Clemson and they look at the pillow 394 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 1: fight that is the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference, 395 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 1: and they think to themselves, Oh, Clemson's got it made. 396 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 1: That's really really easy to go through that. Now, it 397 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: is easy to beat the teams they have to beat 398 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: in conference, just like it is easy for Ohio State 399 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 1: to pacete Purdue or Northwestern or whoever they need to. 400 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: The difference is, it doesn't matter on a given Saturday, 401 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: if Ohio State beats Indiana by twenty three points or 402 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 1: forty three points, doesn't matter. A wins, a wins comfortable 403 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:50,959 Speaker 1: three plus score win. Just like with Clemson, it doesn't 404 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: matter if they beat Wake Forest by twenty or forty. 405 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter if they show up with their C 406 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 1: plus game. Sad reality, right now, Clemson's C plus game, 407 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: in most cases good enough to go unfeed him. Ohio 408 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: State got to be a little better than C plus, 409 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 1: but Ohio State can show up far from perfect, and 410 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: just by the nature of how superior their roster is 411 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,199 Speaker 1: to the rest of the Big Ten, including some of 412 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: the big boys in the Big Ten, they can still 413 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: win the vast majority to all of their regular season games. 414 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: Here's what I respect about what Clemson has done, and 415 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: here's what I think that Ryan Day and Ohio State 416 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: are well on their way to doing. Clemson realized, we 417 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 1: can't hold ourselves to an acc standard. It doesn't matter 418 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 1: if we are ten rungs above everyone else on the ladder. 419 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: You notice with Clemson they annihilate in the good years, 420 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 1: they still find ways to annihilate everyone. They don't have 421 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: that sleepy Saturday again. In the good years, they don't 422 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,640 Speaker 1: have that sleepy Saturday. And the reason that they're doing that, 423 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: it's because they're not holding themselves to a wake Forest standard. 424 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 1: In all due respect to a Virginia standard, and Virginia 425 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: played for the conference championship last year. What they're doing 426 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,959 Speaker 1: is they're getting ready for January. And so I wonder 427 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: we talked about this couple of weeks ago and I 428 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: almost wonder if we're shifting into a territory right now 429 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 1: with Ohio State, where whereas previously you would have said, 430 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: all right, well, they got Penn State coming up this year, 431 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: and then of course you got the big win against 432 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: Michigan at the end of the year. Guys, I don't 433 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: even know that I'm thinking that way right now. With 434 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: Ohio State. What I'm thinking is, how do they match 435 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 1: up with Alabama? How did they match up with LSU Georgia, 436 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: How do they match up with Clemson? You know, what 437 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: does Ohio State versus Oklahoma look like? That's the context 438 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,239 Speaker 1: they're in right now. I don't even think about them 439 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: as being in the Big Ten because they have become 440 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 1: so superior in that conference that it is college Football 441 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: Playoff as a starting point for me with them. Obviously, 442 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: they can't afford to think like that, But that's what's 443 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: so impressive. That's not what they're thinking. Like. Let me 444 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,119 Speaker 1: tell you what a lot of people would do in 445 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: Ryan Day's position, or in Ohio State's position. A lot 446 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: of folks in a lot of programs would look around 447 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 1: at the distance between them and number two in their conference, 448 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: and subconsciously they would check into cruise control mode, and 449 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: that's not what they're doing. In fact, if anything, they've 450 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: put the foot even harder down on the pedal. And 451 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: that's what I respect about it, because they're painting the 452 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:11,479 Speaker 1: walls with everyone's blood and their conference. But that's not 453 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 1: what they're gonna do to win a national championship. What 454 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: they're gonna have to do to win a national championship 455 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 1: is show up in Glendale, Arizona, pop Clemson early, but 456 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 1: then hold on and get the win instead of having 457 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:24,919 Speaker 1: Clemson come back on them. And it doesn't matter if 458 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: you're up by thirty three or fifty three against Purdue 459 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: in the middle of November. It matters that you maintain 460 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: the standard even against inferior teams that you're going to 461 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:39,159 Speaker 1: need to play at come January. It's all about January 462 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: right now. With Ohio State, they have totally transcended the 463 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: Big Ten Conference. And given the prestige and given the 464 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 1: magnitude of some of the programs up there, and given 465 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 1: the amount of investment into those programs up there in 466 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:56,120 Speaker 1: the big names of those coaches, I'm not sure that's 467 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 1: something a lot of folks thought they'd be saying, especially 468 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: if we go back, and I will to laugh at 469 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 1: this because fortunately I was at least not in this 470 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 1: camp the day urban Meyer retired. I'll never forget scrolling. 471 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 1: I picked up the eye Josh, and I scrolled through Twitter, 472 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: and all these folks, a lot of you know who 473 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: you are, a lot of folks thought it was the 474 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 1: beginning of the end, or at least the beginning of 475 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: Ohio State, sort of descending back to the pack among 476 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:24,439 Speaker 1: those of us who were merely normal. And then you 477 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 1: heard they didn't have this national coaching search. They just 478 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: promoted Ryan Day. And you thought to yourself, huh well, okay, 479 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: then all right, well let's see. Is is it Michigan 480 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: going to be the favorite here? Who's going to be 481 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 1: the favorite the big ten? Oh? Never mind, They're actually 482 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: going to improve their program. What I saw, and I 483 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: didn't just observe this. I had a couple of people 484 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: who I really really have opinions that I value. They 485 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:51,920 Speaker 1: text me when I was asking them, what do you 486 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: think about this Ryan Day? What do you think about 487 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,119 Speaker 1: this higher or this kind of promotion to head coach? 488 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 1: They said, all you need to know is they got 489 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:02,439 Speaker 1: their first choice. And the people who said that to me, 490 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:06,399 Speaker 1: combined with common sense, led me to believe this dude's 491 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 1: about to torch the barn and kill the rats in 492 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: the Big Ten. And that's exactly what he's done. Ohio 493 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 1: State could have had a whole lot of folks, That's 494 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 1: the whole point. They knew they had the right guy 495 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 1: inside the on four walls of their athletic complex up there, 496 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:21,679 Speaker 1: and so they got the guy they wanted to replace 497 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 1: urban Meyer. Now, a couple of years later, everyone looks 498 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: around and says, Ryan Day's a monster. Where did he 499 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: come from? Well, he was right there the whole time, 500 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: and they knew they had him right there the whole time. 501 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:35,439 Speaker 1: That's why there was a whole lot of gnashing of 502 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 1: teeth in Columbus, nearly as much as you would have 503 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: expected there to be externally when urban Meyer stepped down. 504 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: So Ohio State hats off man. They are rolling right now. 505 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 1: A reminder again, as you can tell, we're live tonight, 506 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: we are still isolated here. It is essential personnel only, 507 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:56,679 Speaker 1: which translates to Colin and I have just been walking 508 00:24:56,680 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: around the business park all alone all afternoon. Even the 509 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: vending machine people are here, the vendors are here, so 510 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: that's we're starving, but we are going to be here 511 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:09,159 Speaker 1: Sunday night. That's the plan unless our overlords at CBS 512 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: Sports hand down an ultimatum that says we can't come 513 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 1: in here anymore. So reminder, we'll be here Sunday night, 514 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,640 Speaker 1: seven Central, eight Eastern time. If you haven't already subscribed 515 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:22,199 Speaker 1: to the channel, click the bell for notifications. Also give 516 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: us a thumbs up on the YouTube video that you're 517 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:26,680 Speaker 1: watching right now because it really helps us. And the 518 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: Late Kick podcast is available. You can find it wherever 519 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: you download podcast. The Late Kick with Josh pp five 520 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: star reviews and comments always appreciated there as well. Have 521 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 1: a great weekend, have a saint and clean weekend. I'm 522 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: Josh Pate for Colin, for Aaron, for everyone else here. 523 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: This is the Late Kick. We'll see you Sunday night.