1 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: Welchman Lake Kick on the air Thursday night, February fourth, 2 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: the Year of Our Lord twenty twenty one. Got a 3 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: slightly different recording style for this show, only because we 4 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: have a different format. We never have guests on Late Kick. 5 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 1: You have told me repeatedly you don't really like the 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: guest as much as you just like commentary. And if 7 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: you have guests, hey, let's just treat it as its 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: own podcast. And we're going to have some of those 9 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: over the summer, by the way, the off season that 10 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: O word. We're gonna have some of those over the summer, 11 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: but they won't be in the normal pods. They'll be 12 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: an addition to what we normally do. However, when Nick 13 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: Saban says he's ready to come on the show, we 14 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: drop what we're doing and we make some time for 15 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: him on the show. So you're going to hear our 16 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: interview with the head coach at the University of Alabama, 17 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: Nick Saban. That's coming up in just a couple of minutes. Also, 18 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: we've got several more Signing Day takeaways going really in 19 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: depth there. So happy to have you listening to the 20 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: podcast edition of Late Kick Live without further ado toss 21 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 1: it to the show National Signing Day obviously, where we 22 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: kick it off. We've got so much to talk about. 23 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: Here's what I'm not going to do because I see 24 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 1: it all the time, and I drown in numbers when 25 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: people throw too many numbers at me. And so the 26 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: numbers are the numbers. We got to make them relatable. 27 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: What do they mean? So I could throw out all 28 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: these different stats that tell you how historic Alabama's signing 29 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,479 Speaker 1: class is. It's the highest rated class of all time. 30 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: It's the highest player rating on average in the entire country. 31 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: But that to you, I don't really think drives the 32 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: point home as much as the stat I'm about to 33 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: give you. So I'm perusing the Alabama message board Bama 34 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: online dot com, really good site for Alabama fans, and 35 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: the message board over there. I think it's the roundtable. 36 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: I saw this stat, so I can't take credit for it, 37 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: although it is public knowledge. When we pull up my 38 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: trusty notebook pad, here here's all you really need to 39 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: know about how dominant this class was. The Alabama average 40 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: player rating take all their commitments. The average player rating 41 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: is ninety five. There are only one hundred and ten 42 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: players in America rated ninety five or higher. Their average 43 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: signee is rated ninety five. So now I'm putting the 44 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: trusty notebook pad down. So I really don't think I 45 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 1: need to read all the other numbers. That's out of 46 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: this world. That is, you know, video game type stuff, 47 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: that's cheat code type stuff. You could go through their 48 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: class and I could pick out like fifteen different guys. 49 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: That would be the absolute crown jewel of many other 50 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: signing classes. And so I think obviously noteworthy is the 51 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: wide receiver signing class. We're going to talk to Nick 52 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: Saban about this later in the show. We've got him 53 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: exclusive with us, and so the wide receivers, I'll save 54 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 1: that you can listen to him. But man Jojo Earl, 55 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: out of many other names, is a name that I 56 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: love in that group. I just think it's insane, you 57 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: know what they're doing. On the offensive line, there were 58 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: two offensive linemen rated in the top five in the 59 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: overall player ratings this year. They were both offensive tackles. JAYC. 60 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: Latham was number one, Tommy Brockermeier was number two, and 61 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: Bama got them both and neither one was from the 62 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: state of Alabama. So they're an absolute national recruiting machine 63 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: at this point, and a lot of people have broken 64 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: down that class. You've got plenty of time to talk 65 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,119 Speaker 1: about it. It's just a complete and total machine. It's 66 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: incredible to watch. And talking to some people last night 67 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: and sort of putting out some feelers leading up to 68 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: signing day, I think you'd be kind of surprised at 69 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: some of the folks who may have wanted into that 70 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: class that they simply didn't have room for. I also 71 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: think you may be surprised at guys who were in 72 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: that class that they recruited, but they certainly didn't go 73 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: into it in full out knife fight mode. It's like, 74 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: we'd like for him to commit. If he doesn't commit, 75 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 1: that's not the end of the world. We have other 76 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 1: options there, and that would probably amaze you if you're 77 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: just an onlooker. It would depress you maybe if you're 78 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: a rival fan. But that's what Nick Saban has going 79 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: at Alabama right now. But outside of the number one 80 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: class there with Alabama in no particular order, here just 81 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: some other things that caught my eye. You know, I 82 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: went into yesterday already pretty impressed with what Oregon had done. 83 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: I think right now, like I said, on the show 84 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: because of the PAC twelve sticker, you know, the PAC 85 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: twelve logo on the helmet. I think a lot of 86 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: folks may overlook them. They may overlook Southern Cal. This 87 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: time last year, you know, we were way down on 88 00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: Southern Cal because they were ray down in the rankings. 89 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: And I'm gonna talk about the Trojans in just a second. 90 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: But as for Oregon, man, like, they're sitting there at 91 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: number six overall, they went I think they went into 92 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: the day number six. Yesterday they did nothing to disappoint 93 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: They landed Avonte Dickerson, and so they're at number six. 94 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: But I want you to think about this, So it's 95 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: not just where the class is rated. Someone's going to 96 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: be number six every year and five and seven. So 97 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: what you needed Oregon, I think is you need bona 98 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: fide star quarterback play. And I think a lot of 99 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: folks when I say that, they think to themselves, what 100 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 1: about Marcus Mariota. Yes, but that's in another generation. That 101 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: was another coaching staff. So then in this world, in 102 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: this coaching staff with Mario Christopaul in there, then the 103 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: next thing that comes to people's minds is, well, we 104 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: recently had Justin Herbert here. That's true, but think about 105 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: the Herbert Oregon version versus the Herbert NFL version. When 106 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: he was at Oregon, he was a good player. He 107 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 1: was a very good player, but it was always you're 108 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: looking at a mock draft. You see Justin Herbert in 109 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: the top five, and it's much more on projection and 110 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: tools than proven college production. They haven't had a guy 111 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,359 Speaker 1: recently who's done it there. And that's where Ty Thompson 112 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: enters the equation. That's a guy who is a high 113 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: four star quarterback out of Arizona, and I've talked to 114 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: some people who, hey, they would easily rate him five stars, 115 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: like they think he may be the most underrated player 116 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: in the class, especially at a premier position. And so 117 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: the reason I bring him up is because when you 118 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: look at all the other supporting cast members that they're 119 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: bringing in, they're doing a really good job. They go 120 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: coast to coast, they have to. There is virtually no 121 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: in state talent any given year in the state of Oregon. 122 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: You certainly can't do there what Mack Brown did at 123 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: North Carolina and just hang out in your backyard all 124 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 1: day and just kind of yell over your fence. Hey, 125 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 1: you want to come play here because it works in 126 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: North Carolina. That was a loaded in state class this year. 127 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,559 Speaker 1: But as for Oregon, they go all over the place, 128 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: and so they go to Arizona, they get Ty Thompson. 129 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: If he comes in and he is their version of 130 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: what Deshaun Watson did to Clemson. If he's their version 131 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 1: of what Tua ended up doing at Alabama, I mean 132 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: revolutionizing the quarterback position. You've seen what's happened at those 133 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 1: places since then. It's a conveyor belt of elite wide 134 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: receiver talent. Think about right now, for instance, an Xavier 135 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 1: Worthy who comes from the West Coast and of all places, 136 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 1: ends up at Michigan but leaves the West Coast. Is 137 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: the theme I want to talk about there. If they 138 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 1: can keep elite perimeter skill, West Coast talent on the 139 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: West Coast and make Oregon the destination, they become a 140 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: national championship contender. That's absolutely going to happen. It's going 141 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: to be predicated on whether Ty Thompson lives up to 142 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: the billing. If he does. This was a big day 143 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: for Oregon because this isn't the first elite class they've had, 144 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: like they're stacking classes on top of each other. So 145 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: that's a program to be excited about. It's a really 146 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: good thing for the Pac twelve and probably even a 147 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: good thing for Oregon that Southern col ended up rated 148 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: as high as they were, because that's a program I 149 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: think a lot of us have had serious questions about. 150 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: I mean, after last year they finished as low as 151 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: they did, and it wasn't because a coaching staff got fired, 152 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: like Clay Helton has been the head coach here the 153 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: whole time. Well, they brought in, you know, the quarterback position. 154 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: They got guys like Miller Moss. But the really important 155 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: art here is the number one player overall in the 156 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: country was Corey Foreman, and they kept him home. And 157 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: that was the guy who was linked at any given 158 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 1: time to Clemson. He had been committed to him previously, 159 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: Georgia Lsu. It looked like that was going to be 160 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: another case of an elite West Coast guy leaving the 161 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: West Coast. Well he ends up staying home. And so 162 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: they got a couple of quarterbacks. I mentioned Moss, Jackson Dart, 163 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: They've got him in there, but they kept a lot 164 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: of guys home. They are a top ten class, very 165 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: good thing. So Pack twelve football not dead, not dead 166 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: quite yet. But let me talk about Michigan. So I 167 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: said Xavier Worthy's name a second ago. Xavier Worthy is 168 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: one of three players I'm extremely excited about with Michigan. 169 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: You got to always phrase this and frame it against 170 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: the backdrop of where the program's at right now. Xavier 171 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: Worthy is an elite wide receiver, high four star receiver. 172 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: You can choose whether you want to call him very 173 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: good or elite. He's got burner speed. That's what they've lacked, 174 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, on both sides of the ball. 175 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: But they've lacked it at the perimeter skill positions, and 176 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: they've lacked elite presence at running back and quarterback to 177 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: go along with all that. Obviously, it all works off 178 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: the quarterback position. So JJ McCarthy could be one of 179 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: the very most important players in this entire recruiting cycle. 180 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: He is a five star quarterback coming to Michigan, and 181 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: unlike the Shaye Patterson experimentation, I actually think this one's 182 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: going to play out very well for Michigan. Let's hope 183 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: it does. So let's assume it does. For a second, 184 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: JJ McCarthy comes in, He's got all the intangibles you want, 185 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: he's obviously got the physical traits you want, and he 186 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: ends up being the guy that takes the job as 187 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: a true freshman. Let's just say for a second he 188 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: takes the job. Well, Josh Gaddis certainly hopes that's the 189 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 1: way it plays out, because that would mean Josh Gaddison 190 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: Michigan hit a home run on the offensive recruiting side. 191 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: But also he's got his guy now, and he's got 192 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: the guy that other players like Edwards and like Xavier 193 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: Worthy came to Michigan to play with. And then all 194 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: of a sudden you look at some of the speed 195 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: they're infusing outside of just the guys I just mentioned offensively. 196 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: It could be that, you know, let's say it's November 197 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty one, look back a year prior, and 198 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: the biggest question was is Jim Harbaugh going to be 199 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: here next year? Well, it could be that in November 200 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: of this year, twenty twenty one, a year later, you're 201 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: looking for and you're saying, man, who would have thought that? 202 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: Not only are we not talking about job security, we're 203 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: talking about Michigan being a fringe Big ten title contender, 204 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: and if nothing else, we're looking forward to twenty twenty 205 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 1: two and saying, boy, this team, they're good already. They're 206 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: just scratching the surface. That's the kind of stuff that 207 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: you have to put in motion, and to put it 208 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: in motion, you have to do it Yesterday National Signing Day, 209 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: that's when you have to do it. And they took 210 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: really good steps in doing that. They finished in the 211 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: top ten. That's a really good thing. It's a really 212 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: good start for Michigan because it wasn't just that they 213 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 1: went out and signed a lot of like safeties and 214 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: linebackers and just loaded their class, but they didn't address needs. 215 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: They addressed a ton of needs. So you know, I 216 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: can still remain somewhat skeptical but also be extremely hopeful 217 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: because that's where I am with Michigan at the present moment, 218 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: and we'll stay in the big ten. Just kind of 219 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: skipping around here again, I'm not going in any particular order. 220 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: Ohio State. I mean, obviously in the spring it looked 221 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: like they were going to not only be the number 222 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: one class in this cycle, but they may be the 223 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: one we were talking about contending for having the number 224 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 1: one class of all time. And only by that metric 225 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: could you label this class of disappointment, Because it is 226 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: an incredible class. They're finishing number two, They are certainly 227 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: by far the number one class in the Big ten 228 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: and have been for quite a while now. So there 229 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 1: are difference makers up and down this entire commit list. 230 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: But I'll tell you what stood out to me really 231 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 1: more than any one player, And trust me, I could 232 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: spend an hour individualing these players. We had Ryan Day 233 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: on the show and he was nice enough to join 234 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: us for a few minutes yesterday. That entire replay, by 235 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: the way, is on the twenty four to seven Sports 236 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: YouTube channel, so in its entirety you can watch that. 237 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: So I asked Ryan Day the same question I've asked 238 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 1: a few coaches. How did the differences in the way 239 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: you had to go about recruiting in this cycle with 240 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,719 Speaker 1: zoom instead of in person communication and whatnot? How did 241 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: that impact the class? So he took it a different 242 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: direction than I thought. Number one. He took it the 243 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: direction of I think it probably in ways made this 244 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 1: class closer than ever, even though you would think the 245 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: distance would create more separation. He said it had the 246 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: opposite impact. But then Ryan Day also said, you know, 247 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: we've learned at Ohio State that you've got to be 248 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: and in this particular era with zoom and whatnot, you 249 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: have to be as brutally honest as you can with guys. 250 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: It's kind of the Nick Saban approach. We've heard him 251 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: talk about this several times. It's no coincidence all these 252 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: elite coaches at elite programs keep saying the same thing. 253 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: Ryan Days said, we cannot rely on just talking guys 254 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: and to come into our program anymore. It's not the 255 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: way it works. Now I'm gonna paraphrase, but here's what 256 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: he's actually saying. We're too loaded. Our roster is too loaded. 257 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: We can't just talk kids into coming here. In other words, 258 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: you can't just dangle a piece of candy in front 259 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: of them and then they get here and they see 260 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: how loaded the receiver room is or loaded the linebacker 261 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: room is and expect him to just say, oh, Okay, 262 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: you know, I'll sit for two or three years if 263 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: I have to. That's not the way it works. You've 264 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: got to be honest with them up front. You got 265 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: to tell them you're gonna have to fight your you 266 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: know what off every day in practice to ever even 267 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: get on the field here. And if that doesn't appeal 268 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:59,839 Speaker 1: to you, just like we talked about with Alabama last week, 269 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: that doesn't appeal to you, then Ohio State may not 270 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: be the place for you. And he's right, he said, 271 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: you got to be authentic with him, but you got 272 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: to present the actual picture and then let them decide 273 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: if that's a picture they want to be a part of. 274 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 1: And if they don't, that's fine. Ohio State's not for everybody. 275 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: And more and more, the filter is becoming more refined 276 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: as to what makes it through in terms of a 277 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: recruiting prospect, but the ones that are left, because see, 278 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: if you take that process, you're going to miss out 279 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: on some really good players. But what the process is 280 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: designed to do is make sure that all the players 281 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: that make it through that filter that you very rarely 282 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: miss on them. And that's why you don't really see 283 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 1: a whole lot of off field issues anymore at Alabama. 284 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: You're not really seeing a ton of off field issues 285 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: at Ohio State. Doesn't that fly in the face of 286 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: what conventional wisdom used to be. I remember back in 287 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 1: the day, back in the nineties when I was kind 288 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: of growing up and I would listen to the older 289 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: folks talk. They would say it was kind of a joke. 290 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: No one would ever say this publicly, but everyone would Joe, 291 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: you know that you're getting close to having a really 292 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 1: good program when you start seeing some players get arrested. Okay, 293 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: now it was very crude, but it was basically a 294 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: way to say, you've got to have a certain caliber 295 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: of athlete on campus, and with that caliber athlete, it 296 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: was just assumed you have to take the risk off 297 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: the field. They're going to get in some trouble, but 298 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: they're also going to win for you. Do you notice 299 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: how that's been turned on its ear? Essentially what major 300 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 1: programs have done. Clemson is the same way. They don't 301 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: have a ton of off field issues. I'm not saying 302 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: there's never a blip on the radar screen, but you 303 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: used to think that you had to pay a price 304 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: to have high caliber athletes on campus. Well, what has 305 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: been discovered is Number one. I think with the proliferation 306 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: of social media, players at a young age are now 307 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: aware they can't make a false move. Everything is seen. 308 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: So I think guys from the time they're twelve years 309 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: old understand that. But there are also enough elite athletes 310 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: out there that are not bad character guys to where 311 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,319 Speaker 1: it's possible to load a class up like ohiost did 312 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: yesterday and not have to stay up late at night 313 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: checking your phone every five minutes if you're Ryan day 314 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: just waiting for that text, Oh who do we got 315 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: to go bail out? Who We're going to have to 316 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: suspend for two weeks. That's not the way they operate. 317 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: And if you stop to think about that for a second, 318 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: that in and of itself is really incredible. So those 319 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: are some of the programs that I was really impressed with. 320 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: Obviously I didn't hit them all. I could go thirty 321 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: minutes on North Carolina right now, look at there. If 322 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: you want to have some fun, go pull up twenty 323 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: four seven sports dot com. In fact, I'm going to 324 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: do it for you right now as we wrap this up. 325 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: Go to twenty four seven sports dot Com, go to 326 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: the team recruiting rankings, and then go to North Carolina's 327 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 1: class and ask yourself, as I was talking about Oregon 328 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: having to go out of state constantly for their players 329 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: and I mentioned North Carolina, this is the total opposite. 330 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: I'm going to read you North Carolina's highest rated commits. 331 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: I'm just going to go in order and I'm going 332 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: to read their location. Okay, so let's just start down 333 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: the list. I'm not gonna mention names. North Carolina, North Carolina, 334 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: North Carolina, North Carolina, North Carolina, North Carolina, North Carolina, 335 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: North Carea, Carolina, South Carolina, South Carolina, North Carolina, North Carolina, 336 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: North Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia. 337 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: Did you notice the theme? I think there was one there. 338 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: I can't quite put my finger on it, but I 339 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: noticed the theme. So the point is there are many 340 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: different ways to skin the old cat and recruiting, because 341 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: Oregon and North Carolina both finished top fifteen and that's 342 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: about all that their classes have in common. And we 343 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: roll on here. So I did not mention Miami there 344 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: only because I wanted to talk about Miami on their own. 345 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: So I'll give you a nice little clean and cut 346 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: here at colin Miami recruiting. What do you think Miami football? 347 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: What do you think right now? Well, pretty good program. 348 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: You know, they flirted inside the top ten for a 349 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: little while this past season. Manny Diaz now a couple 350 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: of years end of the tenure. They are number twelve 351 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: in the overall twenty four seven sports team recruiting rankings. 352 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: For this life cycle, it's not bad at all. They 353 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: kept some big time players at home in South Florida. 354 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: Leonard Taylor, five star defensive lineman, James Williams, big safety, 355 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: Jumboat defensive back. They kept those guys in South Florida. 356 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: It's a really good deal. So do you think of 357 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: them as elite? No, you don't. I don't either. Their 358 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: fans don't. Right now, do you think of them as terrible? 359 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: No don't, you don't, Their fans don't. It's just kind 360 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: of somewhere in between, probably closer to elite than terrible. 361 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: But they're in that good to pretty good range. I 362 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: want you to think about the future. Now. How I 363 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: know things are going to evolve. It's cause they always have. 364 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: I mean, in sports and life like nothing ever just 365 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: stays the same. It's all ways evolving. I want you 366 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: to think about your experience as a fan, your experience 367 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: as a fan on National Signing Day alone ten years 368 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: ago versus ten years later, yesterday, ten years ago. If 369 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: you're die hard, if you're like me, then you circled 370 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: that date, and you were working. By Christmas time, you 371 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: were working on a way to find out how to 372 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 1: make the first Wednesday in February your Christmas. How you're 373 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: going to get off work, How are you going to 374 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: make sure that you don't have all kinds of responsibilities 375 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: during the day. Ten years later, National Signing Day February 376 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: what was it, February third, twenty twenty one. Some of 377 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: you told me, Hey, I'm more interested in the transfer 378 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: portal at this point than i am National Signing Day. 379 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: I've listened to you, by the way, I have listened, 380 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 1: So just stay tuned on that, both from a company 381 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: standpoint and a late kick standpoint. Just stay tuned the 382 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 1: transfer portal. You are right to be interested in it. 383 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: It's not going anywhere. In fact, it's the impetus for 384 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about here with Miami. So Miami finished 385 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: twelfth yesterday. There is no bright red beacon blinking light 386 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,920 Speaker 1: on this program that says, uh oh, they're right there. 387 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: They're one step away from being a perennial national title contender. 388 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: I just want you to think about the evolution so 389 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: as I told you, even your fan experience, even your 390 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: viewership and Internet surfing experience has changed when it comes 391 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: to college football over the last decade. Think about the 392 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 1: next five years. I'm telling you Miami could be on 393 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: the border of benefiting greater than any program in America 394 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: from what twenty twenty one through twenty twenty five has 395 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 1: to offer in the sport of college football. Two things 396 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: are in motion right now. The first already in motion 397 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 1: is the transfer portal. The transfer portal, we've seen very 398 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: recently a program like the University of Florida take advantage 399 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: of it by bringing Eric Gilbert him. I mean just 400 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:12,400 Speaker 1: a year ago around this time, we were talking about 401 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 1: Eric Gilbert. Is it going to be Georgia? Is it 402 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: going to be Alabama? Oh my, he swerved everyone. He 403 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 1: went to LSU. Well, my point there is none of 404 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: those programs are named Florida, and yet a year later 405 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: that's where he's at. That's how the transfer portal is 406 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 1: going to be from now on. Well, I want you 407 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: to think about how popular South Florida is as a 408 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: recruiting destination. I mean, one of the big storylines from 409 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,199 Speaker 1: Miami has been can they keep their guys home? And 410 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,199 Speaker 1: they did it to a certain extent this year, But 411 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: For every Leonard Taylor, there was a Dallas Turner. You know, 412 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 1: for every James Williams, there was a Jacory Brooks. Like 413 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: they got guys leave in the States still and they 414 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: always will. You cannot lock down Florida. So how in 415 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: the world am I saying that this is going to 416 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 1: heavily benefit Miami. Well, here's what's going to happen. A 417 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: lot more guys as they leave home from South Florida 418 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: and they go off to Arizona or California or Alabama 419 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: or Clems and like wherever is when they go away, 420 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: more and more guys are gonna look for the escape 421 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,199 Speaker 1: route after year one. That's just the way it's gonna be. 422 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: A lot of guys are gonna get homesick. They're not 423 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: gonna like their playing situation, They're not gonna like the 424 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: depth chart. Maybe they just don't fit in culturally on campus. Well, 425 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: the fallback option is going to be, more times than not, 426 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: something closer to home. That's what you're gonna want. Well, 427 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: guess where home is, South Florida. For all those kids, 428 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 1: they're gonna be a ton of South Florida kids looking 429 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: to get out after year one. And if they're looking 430 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 1: to get out, and home is a factor, proximity to 431 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: family is a factor. Then by default, Miami's sitting there 432 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 1: because you got the benefit. If you went to American 433 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: Heritage in Florida and then you went off to Clemson 434 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: to play your college football and you don't like it 435 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 1: after year one and you're looking to go back home, 436 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: then all of a sudden, Hey, I got the added 437 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,679 Speaker 1: benefit of having a Power five program right in my backyard. 438 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 1: It's Miami. They recruited me anyway, I like their staff anyway, 439 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go play for them. And what I'm telling 440 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: you is Miami is going to become a program that 441 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: is in position to do every year what a program 442 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: like Oklahoma just did. Like Oklahoma has nailed the transfer 443 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: portal this year, Miami can do it every year. Guys. 444 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,360 Speaker 1: They're going to be able to do it every year. 445 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: Notice I didn't say that's going to be their complete 446 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 1: and total strategy. I said they're going to be able 447 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: to do it. So you could see Miami's plan as 448 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: a recruiting power in the future evolve to where they 449 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: plan on taking mid size classes fifteen to twenty guys 450 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: any given cycle, and then they leave instead of one 451 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: or two spots open, five or six spots open for 452 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 1: the transfer portal because they know, without even knowing specific names, 453 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: they know they're going to be able to leverage it. 454 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: That's part one. Part two is name, image and likeness. 455 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 1: So take all these things and combine them. We're layering 456 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 1: them like a cake, which I've never baked before, but 457 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: I've seen it done. So think about name, image and 458 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: likeness and think about all the opportunities that you will 459 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:53,919 Speaker 1: have now they know this, they've seen this coming for 460 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: a while, being in South Florida, being in Miami, having 461 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: all the marketing potential and all the name image and 462 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: likeness potential, and the profitability just flat out profitability for 463 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 1: me as a prospective student athlete. I'm a four star 464 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: tight end with potential from Columbus Georgia and I'm looking 465 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,880 Speaker 1: around and Alabama's got a lot to offer me. Georgia's 466 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: got a lot to offer me, and they're recruiting me 467 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,639 Speaker 1: and I grew up watching them. But Miami's got a 468 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 1: lot to offer me too. They're competitive on the field, 469 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: but they also add such a bigger total compensation package 470 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: from my name image and likeness perspective. If I go 471 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: down there, because there's just bigger market down there, and 472 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: I don't want to go all the way across the 473 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: country to LA. And so the next closest thing to 474 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 1: LA for me if I'm in Georgia is I could 475 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 1: go to South Beach Man. I could go down to 476 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: Miami and I could be involved in all sorts of things, 477 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: and I could play for a really storied, tradition rich 478 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: football program. I mean, the side of that helmet still 479 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,719 Speaker 1: means something without you. So think about all these things layered. 480 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 1: No one of these things is going to let them 481 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: dominate the sport. And I'm not telling you they're going 482 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: to dominate the sport. I'm telling you, if we're going 483 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: back to the old stock adage which arrow is pointing up, 484 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: it's Miami. Miami's already in a recruiting hot bed any 485 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: given year. Miami's got a nice foundation laid right now, 486 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 1: they got a solid coaching staff, They're continuing to tweak 487 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: it and overhaul it. They just brought in some more 488 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 1: big time names. And now you think about the proliferation 489 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: of the transfer portal, by default, how many South Florida 490 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: guys will be looking to get back close to home 491 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: any given year that they could benefit from. Compounding that 492 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: is the name, image and likeness on the horizon that 493 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 1: could greatly benefit kids and attract them to South Florida, 494 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:33,879 Speaker 1: And all of a sudden, you got Miami that's just 495 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: kind of always been there. You know, they're kind of 496 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,679 Speaker 1: sitting in the right place, and the right time is 497 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 1: finally finding them again. The right time is coming along 498 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 1: and the college football world, it's almost like, if you 499 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,400 Speaker 1: think about it from a grand design perspective, if there 500 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:51,239 Speaker 1: were a grand design in college football, every one of 501 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: these designs would be tailored to making Miami a contender. 502 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: I mean, that's kind of the way it feels. And 503 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that's the way it is. That's the 504 00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: way it feels. So if you want some stock advice 505 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 1: on top of the ones we already talked about. The 506 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: more and more I think about it, the more and 507 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: more I love where Miami football is positioned. Manny Diaz, 508 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 1: just as an individual, as a coach, walked in the 509 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 1: door at the exact right time. And if they can 510 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: get stuff figured out right now, they don't have to 511 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: be elite. Just put yourself in position, put yourself on 512 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:23,479 Speaker 1: the starting line, No, get yourself in the air. If 513 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: you're a pilot, and I'm not, so I don't know 514 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about right now. But if you think 515 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 1: about how easy it is to fly west to east 516 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: as opposed to east to west, it's easier because you 517 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: have the jet stream at your back. That's why it 518 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 1: takes a lot less time to fly from LA to 519 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: New York than it does New York to LA. And 520 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: so that is college football's jet stream. Miami's just got 521 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: to get playing off the ground and the jet stream 522 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: will end up pushing them. They'll have a nice tailwind. 523 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,640 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean you can't crash. It just means it's 524 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: a lot easier. You're not going against the grain. You 525 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 1: don't have a million forces working against you like it 526 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: has seemed in the past, maybe externally, maybe internally. So 527 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: Miami football, Bye bye bye. All right, moving on, So 528 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: National Signing Day in the books, Nick Saban was nice 529 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: enough to join us yesterday coming off the heels of 530 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 1: obviously Alabama's highest rated class of all time, highest rated 531 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: class in the history of the twenty four to seven 532 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 1: sports team recruiting rankings. So it was a banner day. 533 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: Likes of which we've never seen. And so of course 534 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: Nick Saban, in the middle of all of that said, 535 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 1: you know what, I think I need to be on 536 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 1: late kicking. So here's our conversation with Nick Saban. I 537 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:25,679 Speaker 1: recorded this yesterday on national signing Day. We'll play it 538 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 1: here and I'll talk to you some more on the 539 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: back end. Alabama head coach Nick Saban joining us now 540 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: on kind of the heels of what's been around the country. 541 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: A pretty action packed signing day for the University of Alabama. 542 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: It's stellar as always. I thought it was really interesting coach, 543 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: Like you and I talked a few months ago, and 544 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:44,640 Speaker 1: at the time it was the beginning of COVID, and 545 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 1: you know, camps are out the window, evaluation process is changing, 546 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: and at the time, you guys, at least as far 547 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 1: as we knew, had one verbal commit. Fast forward, the 548 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: class looks pretty much the same it always does. What 549 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: was the process like between that point and this point though. 550 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 2: I think that you know, we always go through a 551 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 2: process of trying to get guys here that fit what 552 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 2: we want from a criteria standpoint at each position, whether 553 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 2: it's size, speed, character, all those things. And early on 554 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:17,159 Speaker 2: last year, you know, sometimes, you know, we go through 555 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,400 Speaker 2: a process, so sometimes we want to complete that process. 556 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 2: And even though we're in on a lot of good players, 557 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 2: you know, it took a little more time. We were 558 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,640 Speaker 2: waiting to go out and see spring practice in some 559 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:33,920 Speaker 2: cases when this all happened last March, and then when 560 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 2: we didn't have the opportunity to do that, we just 561 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 2: move forward on, you know, the guys that we knew 562 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 2: the most about, but we knew quite a bit about 563 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 2: lots of players last year. I think this year is 564 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 2: going to be a little different challenge because we don't 565 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 2: know as much about the players you know coming up 566 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:49,680 Speaker 2: next year. 567 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: So I mean, in a way, are you telling me 568 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 1: you kind of have to backload your evaluation process, whereas 569 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:57,680 Speaker 1: you know, you had the front loaded nature of this one, 570 00:25:57,720 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: so you got to find out about guys a little 571 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: bit later on in the cycle than in a normal 572 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: year you would. 573 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 2: Well, I think that if you get too aggressive and 574 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 2: you don't know enough about players, whether it's their character, 575 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 2: whether it's how big they are, how big they can get, 576 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 2: whether it's do they have the physical skills to do 577 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 2: the things that you want them to do at their position, 578 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,679 Speaker 2: that you end up maybe getting some guys that you 579 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,360 Speaker 2: find out later on that there are guys that fit 580 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 2: your criteria even better, but you can't take them because 581 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 2: you're already full. So that's why we sort of make 582 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:34,360 Speaker 2: sure we go through the process and make sure these 583 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 2: guys are people who are a good fit for our 584 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:38,439 Speaker 2: culture here at Alabama. 585 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: You guys change the way that you run the football program. 586 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 1: A few years ago. Offense is now out of this world, 587 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: the likes of which we may have never imagined circa 588 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 1: Alabama ten years ago. And everyone's looking at the wide 589 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: receiver talent exiting Tuscaloosa. And yet you know, we here 590 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,439 Speaker 1: twenty four seven sports like we're fascinated with the Jojo 591 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 1: Earls or Christian Learys of the world. But I'm looking 592 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: at the receiver class you're bringing in and some of 593 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,640 Speaker 1: the physical traits that these guys have, whether it be 594 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: like a Jacori Bruggs or an Aggier Hall. There are some, 595 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 1: at least to me, some bigger bodied receivers in this 596 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 1: class than maybe we've seen on the field the last 597 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: couple of years. And I'm wondering, was that a conscious 598 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 1: effort in your evaluation or is that just the kind 599 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: of player that was available this cycle. 600 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 2: Well, we always want to recruit the best players that 601 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 2: are available in the cycle. And you know, the year 602 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:26,960 Speaker 2: that we got Smitty and Rugs and Jerry Judy all 603 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,439 Speaker 2: in the same class, we thought that was you know, 604 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,919 Speaker 2: that those guys were all really special. You know, we 605 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 2: feel like some of the guys that we got this 606 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 2: year could be really special. But it's all going to 607 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,360 Speaker 2: be about how they developed, you know, in the program here, 608 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 2: how they learn, how they grow, how they become consistent performers, 609 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 2: take advantage of you know, the opportunities that they have. 610 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 2: But we feel good about them and I think they 611 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:51,199 Speaker 2: have a lot of opportunity because of all the players 612 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 2: that we lost as well. So, but it really wasn't 613 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 2: a conscious effort to get a different type of player. 614 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,159 Speaker 2: I think receivers are a little bit like basketball teams. 615 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 2: You know, you can have a power forward who is 616 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 2: a great player. You can have a point guard that's 617 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,120 Speaker 2: a great player. You can have a shooting guard that's 618 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 2: a great player. They're all a different, little different skill set, 619 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 2: but they all can impact your team and help your 620 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 2: team be successful if they're dominant at their position. So 621 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 2: it's not a certain type of guy. But it's a 622 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 2: combination of the guys that you get, and I thought 623 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 2: we got a really good combination of guys this year. 624 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 1: One of the most awesome things I saw from this 625 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: past year's actual football team on the field was how 626 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 1: often you went out of your way to talk about 627 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,320 Speaker 1: how together and close and knit a group it was, 628 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 1: and I mean, how emotional you were once you crossed 629 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: the finish line with that team in the National Championship game. 630 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 1: And the way I know it's not coach speak is 631 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: because I don't always hear you say that. And so 632 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 1: in the recruiting world, now, this class you guys just 633 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 1: put together. You had to do it a different way 634 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: than you've ever done it before. I had Ryan Day 635 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: on the show today and he was talking about how, 636 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 1: because of the unique way with Zoom and everything that 637 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 1: we had to recruit and our players had to recruit 638 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: other players, this may be the most closely knit recruiting 639 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 1: group that I've ever had. I'm kind of curious if 640 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: you've experienced that. 641 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 2: Well, it seems like the guys that are here now, 642 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 2: which is all you can judge it on the fifteen 643 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 2: guys that came in at mid semester. They seem to 644 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 2: be a really together bunch, and I think they developed 645 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 2: relationships different ways, just like we've all had to develop 646 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 2: relationships different ways. In this recruiting class, it wasn't as 647 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 2: much face to face as it was on zoom and virtually, 648 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 2: but I think, you know, players kind of like I 649 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 2: thought it really was an impact on our team this 650 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 2: year that when football got sort of taken away in March, 651 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 2: April and May, that the communication that the players had 652 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 2: on Zoom was even greater than when they were together. 653 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 2: And I also think that when you take something away 654 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 2: from somebody, sometimes they develop a little greater appreciation for 655 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:01,120 Speaker 2: what they had and how much they missed football, how 656 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 2: much they missed their teammates. So that kind of made 657 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 2: them even, you know, sort of more together when they 658 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 2: got back together in June. So I think that same 659 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 2: thing can happen in recruiting. 660 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 1: I'll wrap it up with you here, coach. I appreciate 661 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 1: you joining us. You guys have recently at least made 662 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: official some staff additions, and just I won't even go 663 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 1: a specific guy, but just overall, how pleased are you, 664 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: How satisfied are you with the way that this latest 665 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 1: round of staff departures and additions came about. 666 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 2: Obviously, the guys that departed were all very good coaches 667 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 2: and did a great job for us. And we're always 668 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:40,560 Speaker 2: happy to see people get better opportunities to become head 669 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 2: coaches or coordinators or whatever might happen. But I also 670 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 2: think that, you know, it gives us an opportunity to add, 671 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 2: you know, very talented people to our organization. And I 672 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 2: think you know, in this case, even though we're sorry 673 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:56,959 Speaker 2: to see people leave, we're excited about the people that 674 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 2: were able to attract to get here to sort of 675 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 2: helped develop our players personally, academically and athletically. So I'm 676 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 2: really pleased. 677 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 1: With the group. Alabama head coach Nick Saban, coach, it 678 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 1: is always an honor to talk to you. Awesome as always, 679 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 1: have a great day, man, all right, thank you. That's 680 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: the greatest to ever do. It always a pleasure when 681 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: Nick Saban joins us. And I also want to tell 682 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 1: you that was right before they got Terry and Arnold. 683 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: He already knew it. He already knew it. So they 684 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: have again to reiterate the stat that I gave you 685 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the show. They have an average 686 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: player rating in this recruiting class of ninety five. There 687 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: are one hundred and ten players in America with a 688 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 1: rating of ninety five or higher. And again Alabama's average 689 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: player rating at ninety five. So that was fun. Hopefully 690 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: not the last time we talked to Nick Saban before 691 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 1: the start of the season. Have some plans. We'll see 692 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:49,240 Speaker 1: how things go. I think it's going to be a 693 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 1: really fun off season. I don't like saying that word 694 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 1: because we don't believe in it around here, but I'll 695 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:55,959 Speaker 1: just give you a little piece of advice. Okay, if 696 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: you're a casual college football fan, but you kind of 697 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,680 Speaker 1: lean more on the side of it saturating your life. 698 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: And then, of course, if you're a diehard fan, this 699 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 1: is not a place that you want to walk away 700 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: from and then come back in August. You can do that, 701 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 1: and certainly we'll have a lot of folks who do that. 702 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:11,760 Speaker 1: But what I'm telling you is we're not just going 703 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 1: to pass the time, especially with Lake Kick, We're not 704 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: just going to pass the time in the off season. 705 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 1: Like I've been asking you guys for a while, what 706 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:20,040 Speaker 1: are you interested in? The reason I keep asking you 707 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:22,600 Speaker 1: and I'm asking you again now, Josh paid seven zero 708 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 1: six at gmail dot com, at Latekickjosh on Twitter. I 709 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 1: talk with you guys constantly because I want to stack 710 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 1: the show and format the show for you and the 711 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 1: off season, excuse me, off season. It's being formatted for 712 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 1: you right now. And there are a lot of really 713 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:37,680 Speaker 1: unique ideas that I think we're in a position to 714 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:40,840 Speaker 1: execute that is really going to appeal to our audience. 715 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 1: It is curated by our audience, and so it's fool proof. 716 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 1: I know it'll work because you guys came up with 717 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 1: the ideas. But we're going to take some of the 718 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 1: access we have. We're going to take some of the 719 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 1: intel that we have access to, and we're also going 720 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 1: to take well the company credit card essentially, and we're 721 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 1: going to make some stuff happen. So we're in a 722 00:32:57,240 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 1: position to do it, we want to do it, and listen, 723 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:00,600 Speaker 1: we got some time to do so it's going to 724 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 1: be a really fun offseason. Remember follow me on Twitter 725 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 1: again at latekick Josh. A lot of stuff happens that 726 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: we're not live on the air for and a lot 727 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:10,360 Speaker 1: of back and forth happens there too, so be sure 728 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:13,240 Speaker 1: you're doing that also anyone looking to book a zoom session, 729 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 1: want to get in sports media, want to start your 730 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:18,160 Speaker 1: own podcast or YouTube channel for anything sports or otherwise. 731 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: Hit me up the email Josh pat seven zero six 732 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:25,000 Speaker 1: at gmail dot com and again on Twitter at Latekickjosh, 733 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,160 Speaker 1: and subscribe to the Late kickpodcast while you're at it. 734 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 1: We want to get two thousand five star reviews by 735 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:34,320 Speaker 1: the end of spring practice hashtag goal season. So for 736 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: director Colin Ford producer Jordan on the podcast side of things, 737 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:39,600 Speaker 1: I'm Josh Pate. Have a great rest of your evening. 738 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:41,760 Speaker 1: It's been a fun filled week and I'm sure we 739 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 1: have plenty more to come. Have a great rest of 740 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 1: your night. God bless