1 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: And wellcome in the lake AGAs Live. It is Thursday, 2 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: July twenty first year of Our Lord twenty twenty two. Jam 3 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: Pack a lot in store and the key word there 4 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: is jam packed and store. Day four of SDC Media Days. 5 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: We are live in High Top, downtown Atlanta and Georgia. 6 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,479 Speaker 1: We're wrapping things up, but we're just gonna unfail some 7 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: stuff on our own side of the fence. So it's 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: a really good day to be watching the show live. 9 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: We've got Josh Hipel on the show. Tennessee head coach 10 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: Brian Harson had a lot to say here today. Jimbo 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: Fisher it's a day that ends and why so he 12 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: had a lot to say. Also got some things to 13 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: talk about from the ACC Media Day event with Dabo Swinny. 14 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: How about Dabbo after dark. I know some of you, 15 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: in fact most of you have probably heard those comments 16 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 1: by now if you haven't do yourself a favor after 17 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 1: the show and go listen to them. Just looking at 18 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: the words really don't do it justice. But we've got 19 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: a jam packed show, so happy to be able to 20 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: do this all week. They're watching us in Tifton, Georgia. 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: By Tye Ti Georgia. They're watching us in Dallas, Texas, Dayton, Ohio. 22 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: Stay tuned. The Late kickstore will be opened and you 23 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: will be given that link by the end of this show. 24 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: And I'm only giving it out in the live show 25 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: because you deserve award for watching the show live. Let's 26 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 1: dive into this thing. Brian Harson and Auburn. They came 27 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 1: into SEC Media Days today. They were one of the 28 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: first teams to arrive here, and you knew that we 29 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:26,199 Speaker 1: were gonna get a lot of talk about that stuff 30 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: that happened off the field back in February. It feels 31 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: a lot further back than that. And if you're unfamiliar, 32 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: do the research. I think most of you who are 33 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: watching the show familiar. But there was a lot of 34 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: stuff that was done by people in the Auburn sphere 35 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: to you know, trying aust Brian Harson, and he kind 36 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: of stepped up on the main stage podium today and 37 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: said a definitive it didn't work. Those were his words, 38 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: it didn't work. We got him to ourselves and we 39 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: talked with him extensively about that. But also, you know, 40 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: I've noticed this and I think a lot of you 41 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:59,559 Speaker 1: guys have noticed this. Anytime Brian Harson has said something 42 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: about this, which has been rare, but today, anytime he 43 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: says something about it, there was always this group of 44 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: like five to seven either regional or national types out there. 45 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: Don't need to mention of my name. They got a 46 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: little snippy response and basically they insinuate, well, he won't 47 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: be there that long anyway. You know, he's out of 48 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: here in a year. If I didn't know anything about Harson, 49 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: if I didn't know anything about the Auburn program, it's 50 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: which I do. But if I didn't and I just 51 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: saw the reaction that he gets from a certain group 52 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: of people, it would default me over to the Brian 53 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: Harson side of the fence. Now as it stands, I 54 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: do know something about him. We did get to meet 55 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: with him, and I do intimately know the Auburn program 56 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: because it's the closest one that I grew up to 57 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: down in Columbus, Georgia. But Brian Harson, I want to 58 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: make something very clear, Brian Harson has no clue if 59 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: this is his last year, and I'm not talking about 60 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: something that's already been decided. But you know as well 61 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: as I do, the expectation level is not high for 62 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: that team. The over under preseason win total is six, 63 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: not eight or nine. Six, So I think go so 64 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 1: and five. They are viewed as an overachiever. Well, that's 65 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 1: not the standard at Auburn, obviously, you and I both 66 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: know that. But there are a lot of folks out 67 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: there who would tell you he's done this year because 68 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: they don't have a good enough team, and so the 69 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:13,839 Speaker 1: follow up would be and they know it. I've heard 70 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 1: folks say that and they know it. No, they don't 71 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: know it. Brian Harson, when you talk to him, when 72 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: you listen to him, or when you meet him one 73 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 1: on one, he talks like he has Nick Saban's roster. 74 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: He talks like he has Kirby Smart's roster. He talks 75 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: with that air of confidence about himself. It's really a 76 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: bunker mentality, and it is something that competitors have. And 77 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: there are a lot more folks out there who claim 78 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: to be competitors than there are true competitors. There are 79 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: a lot of folks out there who say, oh, I 80 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: hate to lose. There are far fewer out there who 81 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: really do what it takes not to be a loser. 82 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: Brian hars is not a loser. I'm not telling you 83 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: he's about to go ten and two and make a 84 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: Sugar Bowl run this year. I'm just telling you everything 85 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: that can be done and is possible at Auburn will 86 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: be exhausted this year. The other thing to keep in mind, 87 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: this goes back to my own expectation level for Auburn 88 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: is I mean, the quarterback situation is what we're paying 89 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: attention to across the SEC because it's a really deep 90 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: year at quarterback. The guy last year who was the 91 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: preseason Heisman favorite is in the SEC and no one's 92 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 1: even talking about him. He's overshadowed so much. His name 93 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 1: is Spencer Rattler, by the way. He plays football now 94 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 1: for South Carolina. But at Auburn that's one of the 95 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 1: places where there isn't one guy who's standing out. Zach Calzada, 96 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: the A and M transfer you think may end up 97 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: winning the job, he didn't get to go through spring. TJ. 98 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: Finley was there last year. You've already seen him. Did 99 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: he look like a guy who can lead them to 100 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: nine or ten wins? Brients to be seen there. Robbie 101 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: Ashford's the Oregon transfer point being you can have the 102 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: right mentality, you can do everything right and still lose 103 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: football games in this conference. I'm not ignorant enough to 104 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: suggest otherwise. What I am saying is if you could 105 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: be around Harson, Yeah, if you're a certain kind of person. 106 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: Let me put it that way. I'm one of them, 107 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: and you could be around Harson, and then you listen 108 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: to a lot of the chatter outside from another kind 109 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: of person, and you'd end up probably pulling for Brian 110 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: Harson unless you grew up a Georgia fan. You grew 111 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: up an Alabama fan or LSU fan, in which case 112 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: I get it. But I really appreciate how he handles 113 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: his business. That's what I'll say about him, win, loser, draw. 114 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: I appreciate how he handles his business. I appreciate how 115 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 1: he handled the mess, the garbage that was thrown his 116 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: way off the field up to and including today. And 117 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: so that's my takeaway from Brian Harson. Nothing about what 118 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: he said today or the way he carries himself changes 119 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: what they will be on the field this fall. But 120 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: you know, we don't have football talking. We're on football 121 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: happening right now to talk about. We do have that 122 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: to talk about. We'll have a lot more to say 123 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: about Auburn in the coming days and weeks. Academy Sports 124 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: and Outdoors, we've been thrilled with him forever. We've been thrilled, 125 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: especially this week that they've taken us on the road. 126 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: You know, the last time that I saw someone wearing 127 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: something like this fancy little headset I have on it 128 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: was in the movie Twister, and Evil Jonas on the 129 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: Evil Stormchasing team was wearing one, and I swore that 130 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: day I'll never wear an evil headset. But it's not 131 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: so evil. These things are actually really pretty snazzy, especially 132 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 1: forget Jays in here to put it on for you. 133 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 1: You just throw your hands out and he puts it 134 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 1: on for you. But we appreciate Academy for making that 135 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: all possible. As I'm touting it, it's fallen off my ear. 136 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: That's a sign Academy Sports and Outdoors is there for you. 137 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: They're there for us, and I know they're there for you. 138 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: Anything you need outdoor sporting good related and if you 139 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 1: can't get there in person, Academy dot com that's your hookup. 140 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: So Academy Sports and Outdoors, thank you so much forever 141 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: for making the show free to everyone and for making 142 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: this week possible. Keep in mind, as you guys are 143 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: tuned in live Late Kickstore about to open back up, 144 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 1: and I'm going to tell you it's happening before the 145 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: end of the show. The next thing that I wanted 146 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: to draw your attention to that did not happen in Atlanta, 147 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: but has happened in the last twenty four hours. Daboswheney 148 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 1: over at ACC Media Days. I mean, he was on 149 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: the main podium and he spoke like Daboswhenny normally speaks. 150 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: Now I happen to like him, Mike, I've been a 151 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: big fan of the way Dabbo carries himself. I'm not 152 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: a big fan of the US against the world stuff 153 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: all the time, even when you're favored by like ninety 154 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: against most of your opponents. But I am a fan 155 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: that he speaks his mind, and regardless of whether I 156 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: agree with it or not, all the time, he speaks 157 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: his mind. Well, Dabo spoke his mind yesterday and I 158 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: called it Dabbo after Dark if you were following on Twitter, 159 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: because he got on there. Man, he was throwing around 160 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:14,559 Speaker 1: some terms. Now. I don't even know if CBS allows 161 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: us to say him on air, so I'm not. But 162 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: he was speaking very much in what we would call 163 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: a closed booster setting kind of vernacular. You know, the 164 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: kind of stuff you can say on the back porch 165 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: at the family reunion that probably is not best reserved for. 166 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: I think it was serious XIM with Logan Bill and 167 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: the guys yesterday. But Dabba let it rip. At one 168 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: point he said, slap Dick. At one point he said 169 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: milkbone underwear. He ran the gamut yesterday. Everything he ever 170 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: heard growing up in and around Pelham, Alabama. He just 171 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: took that barrel. He turned it upside down and he 172 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: let it all out. Who was he talking about? He 173 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: was talking about dj Uyangola Lea, his starting quarterback, or 174 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: at least if you open a preview magazine, the guy 175 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: listed as his starting quarterback. Now, you and I both 176 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: watched him last year. He struggled. Dab would it as 177 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: much yesterday? It's impossible to say otherwise. Dabo's got like 178 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,679 Speaker 1: infinite amounts of confidence that he is going to bounce 179 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: back this year. Now, this is where he and I differ. 180 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: He gets to see him every day. I don't. I 181 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: don't have this this mountain of confidence that magically six 182 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: months of not playing meaningful games is all of a 183 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 1: sudden going to rectify some of the actual mechanical issues. Now, 184 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: listen to some of the quarterback guys out there talking. 185 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: I don't expect you to trust me to break down 186 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: a quarterbacks mechanics. I wouldn't trust me to break that down. 187 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: But there are some people out there equipped to do it. 188 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: And you hear him on the record. Sometimes we get 189 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: to talk to him off the record and they'll tell you. 190 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,599 Speaker 1: They'll point out ABC and D and what it contributes 191 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,439 Speaker 1: to is a lack of poise and a lack of accuracy. 192 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: And if you can't stay poised. I know offensive line 193 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: was an issue last year. I understand that, but if 194 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: you can't be accurate with the football, you don't you're 195 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: not long for that world. And that was a couple 196 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: of the problems actually with DJ last year. Well, anyway, 197 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: Dabo was talking yesterday and he's talking about how all 198 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: that's going to be wrecked. This guy was an awesome 199 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: true freshman and then last year, yeah, he struggled, But 200 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: then he listed all the reasons why he struggled. You 201 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 1: may call him excuses, he called them reasons. Whatever we're 202 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: gonna find out this year is the whole point. This 203 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,959 Speaker 1: is a fantasy football or it's not a projection. How 204 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: would DJ have done? The season's gonna come, and I 205 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 1: keep going to that first game against Georgia Tech. You 206 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: know we're in Atlanta right now. No one's talking about 207 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: Georgia Tech here. They're lives, that coaching staff's professional lives 208 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 1: are on the line, and they sold out the game. 209 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: It was announced today and I think it's I think 210 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: it's the Benz actually wherever they play the game. Can 211 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 1: you imagine if after all this offseason hype out not outside, 212 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: it's internal. That's the head coach there Clemson talking if 213 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: after all of that, I'm pulling for the kid now, 214 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: But if he can't follow up and follow through on that, 215 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: and it's like thirteen to nine midway through the third quarter, 216 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: it's just this absolute clunker. I don't think people appreciate 217 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: how radically this thing can turn on a dime. From 218 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: months and months and months of talking about how DJ 219 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: is going to have a bounce back year two, all 220 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: of a sudden, we got this guy named Key Klubnik 221 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: on our bench. We didn't have him there last year, 222 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 1: and when are we going to pull the trigger? Like 223 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: how long or short? Rather is the least this year? 224 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: Cause because it was as long as you could imagine 225 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 1: last year, there was no option on the sideline, there 226 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,079 Speaker 1: is this year. That's what my mind keeps going back to. 227 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: It's great to have supreme confidence in your guys, and 228 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: I'm sure it did nothing but boost the confidence of 229 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: dj Uyangila Ley when he heard his head coach talking 230 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: about him like you did yesterday. I just I don't 231 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: have a problem with it because I know eventually football 232 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: is going to happen and so talking is irrelevant at 233 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: that point. But I will say, if you don't follow 234 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: through on, you know, as a player, what your head 235 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 1: coach said yesterday, there's going to come a time in 236 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: the season where there will be a change at quarterback. 237 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,679 Speaker 1: And if your results don't follow up in a ten 238 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: win or better kind of scenario, there's gonna be a 239 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 1: lot of looking back. And here's what that's gonna sound like. 240 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,319 Speaker 1: Hypothetical land now, but here's what it sounds like. Rumson 241 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: is a three loss team. Again, let's just say worst 242 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: case three or four lost team. Here's how December would sound. 243 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: They would play the sound bites from Dabo from yesterday, 244 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: and they would ask, how did this guy have such 245 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: supreme confidence in a player that ended up being not 246 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: much improved from what we saw last year? Or or 247 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: god forbid, if he's worse than what we saw last year, 248 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: and they'll say, huh, how did daboswhen he not see that? 249 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: Because I mean, at that point, you'll have a lot 250 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: of doubters who were on record as saying DJ is 251 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: not going to be good, and they'll be pointing back 252 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: to their own proclamations in the summer and saying, even 253 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: I saw that it wasn't going to be a good 254 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: year for Clemson, how did Dabo not see it? And 255 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 1: then the overall credibility factor will be called into question. 256 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: This is how this happens. Okay, that's why coaches, for 257 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: better or for worse, a lot of times play it 258 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: close to the vest in the preseason. Will Dabo chose 259 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,199 Speaker 1: a different tact? It's great to believe in your guys, 260 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: Please don't misunderstand me. I'm just telling you there's a 261 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: pro and a con to that, And the con if 262 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: things go downhill is your own words get turned against you. 263 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: About four months from now, so let's hope for Clemson's sake, 264 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:09,719 Speaker 1: it becomes irrelevant. Okay, we just in what would you say, 265 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: stony like the least thirty minutes we talked to Jimbo Fisher. 266 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: Jimbo was the last one to come through today. If 267 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: you want to call that a grand finale, okay, if 268 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 1: you want to call it saving the best for last, okay. 269 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: But Jimbo Fisher came into Atlanta ad SEC media days today. 270 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: He was asked about the saving stuff a lot, and 271 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 1: you got exactly what you thought you would get from 272 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: Jimbo Fisher talking about the Nick Saban stuff. Now, my 273 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: favorite quote from him was Nick and I said some 274 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: things back and forth, and unfortunately it went public. I 275 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: need to remind you it went public because Jimbo Fisher 276 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: called a press conference the next day with the express 277 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: intempt to make it public. I'm not blaming anyone. I'm 278 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 1: having fun with it. Settle down, I'm having fun with it. 279 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: What I am saying, though, is if you didn't think 280 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: those guys were going to have this ironed out by 281 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 1: the time you got to Atlanta two months later, and 282 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: then you were crazy. They had that taken care of 283 00:12:58,120 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 1: and even if they didn't have it taken care of, 284 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: they knew it serves no purpose for us to continue this. 285 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,839 Speaker 1: We're not going to give them the satisfaction and they're 286 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: not going to give you the satisfaction that they may 287 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: hate each other behind the scenes, but they're not going 288 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: to let you know about it anymore. However, what I 289 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: did like and what I noticed is he did he 290 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: being Jimbo Fisher, he did go back to the same 291 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: theme that we talked about on Late Kick the night 292 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:22,959 Speaker 1: after that happened, and that is, look, we want the 293 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: same thing Nick Nick Taban tonight, we want the same thing. 294 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:30,199 Speaker 1: We just want uniformity. At that night, they both called 295 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: for federal help. And you know, whereas I maybe haven't 296 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: gone that far because I know what that means. They're 297 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: singing from the same hymnal. That's twice in as many 298 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: days as we've said that on this show. But they're 299 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: singing from the same hymnal. They want the same thing 300 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: a lot of these coaches do. It was a theme 301 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: on and off the record all week. I mean, as 302 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: Harson was walking into our room earlier today, there were 303 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: rumors and news about new legislation that's being passed from 304 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: the NC Double A and coaches didn't even know, and 305 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: so they're looking around said, hold on, what does that mean? 306 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: What's that going to mean for rosters at this point 307 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: of the year and that point of the year. That's 308 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: how they all sound. That's what's aggravating so many head coaches. 309 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,559 Speaker 1: This is a group of folks who need to control. 310 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: That's not just a college thing, man, that's an every 311 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: level thing. The coaches are the most comfortable when they 312 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: control things. They don't control the outcome of the game, 313 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: but if they control the structure of the practice to 314 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: get the players that they recruited ready to play the 315 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: game that they are on the sideline for, that's control 316 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: to them. When people or entities are throwing things at 317 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: them that they don't control, or when they're having to 318 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: operate in a world where they don't even know what 319 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: the rules are going to say twelve months from now, 320 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: that's not control. And they're not experts in the NIL field. 321 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: They're not experts in the conference realignment field. That's what 322 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: aggravates a lot of them. So Jimbo pretty much sounded 323 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: like everyone else, albeit speaking a little bit faster when 324 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: talking about that today, But he also talked about his 325 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: quarterback position, did Jimbo Fisher, And yeah, he mentioned Haines King, 326 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: and he mentioned Max Johnson. But he circled right back 327 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: to something that he said on our show on National 328 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: Signing Day, and that is, I think I have the 329 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: best freshman quarterback in the country in Connor Wegman. Remember 330 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: I asked him several months ago, why didn't you get 331 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: more involved in the Quinn you were sweepstakes Texas ended 332 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: up getting him. Maybe it wouldn't have changed if A 333 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: and M was in it, but A and M was 334 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: never even in it. He said, we didn't get in 335 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: it because I thought we had the best guy in 336 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: the country in Connor Wegman. And he included viewers in that, 337 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: even though yours is technically not a true freshman, pay 338 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: attention to that. I know that everybody, including myself, honestly, 339 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: everybody's looking at that quarterback battle and it's an ab baabba. 340 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: It may very well play out that way, or it 341 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: may be that neither one of those guys totally takes 342 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: the job by the throat, and Jimbo Fisher keeps looking 343 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: over there at the guy running with the threes and 344 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, that guy's running with the two's, 345 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: or at least getting some reps with the twos, and 346 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: then he gets some reps with the ones, and first 347 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: thing you know, they're struggling in a game or maybe 348 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: someone gets nicked up, and Connor Wegman's in there a 349 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: lot sooner than you ever thought he would be. The 350 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: other thing, here's the theme I have picked up on 351 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: talking to coaches behind the scenes about Texas A and M. 352 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: A couple of personnel folks too, the phrase get them early, 353 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: getting sad. It's what they said about Bama last year. 354 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: Get them early. And the reason they're saying that about 355 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: A and M, it's because they know there's a little 356 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: uncertainty a quarterback. I don't think it's doubt, but it 357 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: is uncertainty. They understand there are a lot of young 358 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: pieces that are going to be integral to their overall success, 359 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: thinking Evan Stewart for example, at wide receiver. And they 360 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: know the team that you see in September, the team 361 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: that plays Miami in Week three, for example, is going 362 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: to be a far cry from the team that plays 363 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: LSU at the end of the year. Now, if that 364 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: team playing LSU already has two or more losses. They're 365 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: not on the playoff radar. They're probably not on the 366 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: SEC championship radar. But if they only have one loss, 367 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: maybe it's to Alabama. You know, maybe they're not, maybe 368 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: they're behind the Crimson Tide and they're not vying for 369 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: the SEC Western Division title. But you and I both 370 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: know you got one loss in the SEC West and 371 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: it's Tobama that matter. If you go to Atlanta, you're 372 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: probably still in the college football playoff conversation. And at 373 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: that point, a lot of those freshmen are really no 374 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: longer freshmen anymore. At that point, you for better or 375 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: for worse. In this case better, you've got quarterback figured 376 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: out already. A lot of folks want to get A 377 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: and M early. Theyn't want to play him early, but 378 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: they want to make sure they bite him a couple 379 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: times early because they don't want to see that roster 380 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 1: given time to gel and they don't want to see 381 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: what could be that machine in twenty twenty two. Come together, 382 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: all right? We had Josh Hipel today. I kind of 383 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: wanted to save the interview for last year. So Tennessee's 384 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: Josh Hypel rolled in earlier today. They got here about 385 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes late. Whether our guys had a warning because 386 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 1: they have my number, Tennessee apparently didn't want to check 387 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: with me last night, but they eventually got here. Tennessee 388 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 1: head coach Josh Hypel nice enough to sit down with 389 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 1: us even through the delay, and we got I thought 390 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: some really good stuff from him. Take a look. This 391 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: is Josh Hipel with us earlier. Tennessee head coach Josh 392 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: Hipel finally fine, an emphatic entrance at the SEC. Many days, 393 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 1: weather gets you a little bit this morn. 394 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, we got held up in Knoxville. It was crackling 395 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,680 Speaker 2: and thunder in a little bit this morning. But great 396 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 2: to be here in Atlanta. 397 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: Not quite a Kansas A Big twelve situation last year. 398 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: They just had to pull the noose show. So it's 399 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: good to have you here. A lot of people want 400 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: to ask a lot of questions. I want to just 401 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: start with the program. When you look at it right now, 402 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,199 Speaker 1: if you're able to zoom out in your role, what 403 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: do you see? 404 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 2: What is Tennessee footba I have to zoom out in 405 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 2: my role at certain times, and so much excitement that 406 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 2: surrounds our program right now. A year ago, so much 407 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 2: uncertainty as we were embarking on the challenge of rebuilding 408 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 2: the Tennessee brand on the football field. But there's so 409 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 2: much excitement that surrounds Tennessee Football Interathletic Department as a whole. 410 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,239 Speaker 2: There's so much success that's happened over the past three 411 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 2: hundred and sixty five days. It's been so much fun 412 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 2: to be a part of. And you know, for me 413 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 2: and our family, it's the first time we've got a 414 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 2: chance to really soak in Knoxville and the fan base 415 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 2: and engage and immerse ourselves in it, and so much excitement. 416 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 2: And you know, for us, this fall, our kids, our culture, 417 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,679 Speaker 2: inside of our building, the way that we've worked, you know, 418 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 2: gives us a ton of excitement heading into to training 419 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 2: camp and then into the regular season. 420 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: When I was watching your hire happen, I'm on the 421 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: outside now, and it even felt to me like, man, 422 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: things are moving so fast. He comes in. It was 423 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: a little bit later in the cycle than it normally is. 424 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,359 Speaker 1: There's a whole lot of transfer portal stuff, portaling, I guess, 425 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: and I don't know, it had to feel like things 426 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: were moving a million miles of the hour. So once 427 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 1: you're finally a little bit removed from it and you 428 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 1: can breathe a little bit, do you finally feel like 429 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:18,400 Speaker 1: you have your legs under you fully. Yeah. 430 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 2: In year one, I don't care. When you take over 431 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 2: the year and the cycles happening so fastts, I'm not 432 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 2: sure you're playing from ahead. You're trying to catch up 433 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,679 Speaker 2: all the time. And certainly, you know, the timing of 434 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 2: our hiring two months later than most hirings are, you know, 435 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 2: it was even more sped up. At the same time, 436 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 2: I think that gave us some a unique opportunity. When 437 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 2: I first got on campus, I got a chance to 438 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 2: watch and evaluate because our kids were already in their 439 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 2: off season program. It gave me a chance to evaluate 440 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 2: some of the things that were going on inside of 441 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:51,439 Speaker 2: the program and the personnel there too. So that was 442 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 2: one of the positives. But certainly in year two and 443 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 2: the continuity that we've been able to keep inside of 444 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 2: our program from our old coaches and young coaches and 445 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 2: port staff groups has allowed us since we got back 446 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 2: after the Bowl game in January, to really just push ahead. 447 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 2: There's a clear understanding of what we're going to be 448 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,600 Speaker 2: how we're gonna function in the ability building, the accountability 449 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,360 Speaker 2: and culture that we're going to create inside of the building. 450 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 2: And now it's been about our daily work habits, and 451 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 2: this group of players, this football team, has been a 452 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 2: lot of fun to beat around. Their buying and their 453 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 2: care factor and their ability to care and be connected 454 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 2: to their teammates is a special one. 455 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: We give you four words. You can just react however 456 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: you want to recruiting in the SEC. 457 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, three hundred and sixty five days out of the year, 458 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:37,479 Speaker 2: and I'm not gonna say it's twenty four hours out 459 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 2: of the day, but it's day near that. It's an 460 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 2: endless battle of competition, and you've got to recruit great 461 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 2: players that fit the right culture piece as well into 462 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 2: your building. But you got to be relentless and do 463 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 2: what every single day. 464 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:54,680 Speaker 1: There's a to me, a misnomer that a lot of 465 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,439 Speaker 1: people look at the state of Tennessee and they at 466 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,360 Speaker 1: one point it was a national recruiting power. I don't 467 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: know where it shifted, but a lot of folks nowadays think, man, 468 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: you got to kind of be regional at best there, 469 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 1: and maybe there's not enough in state talent. I speak 470 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 1: very pejoratively because I personally don't share that opinion, but 471 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: I'm interested. You came in, You've had a year to 472 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: assess sort of the lay of the land. When when 473 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 1: Tennessee recruiting is operating at one, when you're at cruising altitude, 474 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: what does the Tennessee recruiting model look. 475 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, you can see that I disagreed just by my 476 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 2: body language as soon as as soon as you started 477 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 2: saying those things. I grew up in an era where 478 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 2: Tennessee was on the forefront offensively, defensively, cutting edge, the 479 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 2: type of players that they were able to recruit, competing 480 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 2: for championships, you know, a year in and year out, 481 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 2: and one of the strongest and biggest brands in all 482 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 2: of college athletics, and certainly on the football side of 483 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 2: it too. You know, a year ago, probably our footprint 484 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 2: mattered and we were a little bit more regional in 485 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,640 Speaker 2: that way. As we got a chance to showcase who 486 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 2: we were going to be culturally and how we were 487 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 2: going to play, you know, the brand of the power 488 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 2: Tee started to spread its wings, and certainly that that 489 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 2: in state recruiting, our natural footprint within five hours is 490 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,119 Speaker 2: going to be extremely important. To us. It always has. Traditionally, 491 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 2: when we've been successful, we've been able to go out 492 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 2: and recruit the best in that area, but we've also 493 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,120 Speaker 2: been able to go coast to coast and recruit specific 494 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,159 Speaker 2: individuals that are highly talented, that fit the culture to 495 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 2: come in to make an impact inside of our program. 496 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 2: And I certainly believe we're in that space right now. 497 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:25,919 Speaker 1: How close were you last year offensively to be what 498 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: a perfect version of the Josh hiphel Tennessee offensive? 499 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know if you ever get to a 500 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 2: perfect version of what we're going to be. We're always 501 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 2: going to change year to year based on the personnel, 502 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 2: and you know, guys that are ready to compete at 503 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 2: a championship level, we got to find a way to 504 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,199 Speaker 2: put them in a position to be successful. I do 505 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 2: think in year one we operated as efficiently as we 506 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 2: have any of the places that we've been I do think, 507 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 2: you know, we've pushed forward. We have a lot of 508 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:55,119 Speaker 2: young talent that's got to step up in some major 509 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,640 Speaker 2: pieces and roles that left a lot of guys got 510 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 2: drafted in the NFL. But that's a great thing about 511 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:04,400 Speaker 2: college football is that there is opportunity a year ago, 512 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 2: nobody had heard of Cedric Tillman at this point. Now 513 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 2: he's one of the premier college football players at his 514 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 2: position in all of college football. 515 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: I'll get you out of here on this. When you 516 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: as a staff are meeting right now, I know there 517 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: are a million things you focus on, but what's the 518 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: one bullet point you continue to hammer hammer hammer. 519 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's always about accountability, culture, and being 520 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 2: great teachers. You know, we have highly competitive individuals that 521 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 2: king to Tennessee to chase and compete on and off 522 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 2: the field, but to win championships on the field. We're 523 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: starting to work in a way that we're creating expectation 524 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 2: inside of our locker room. We've developed great leadership. We 525 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 2: have to be great teachers, great mentors, and inside of 526 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 2: our coaching staff. 527 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 1: Tennessee head coach Josh Hipel, I appreciate. 528 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 2: It great being here with you. Thank you. 529 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:54,199 Speaker 1: Appreciate Josh Hipel joining us. That is a major wildcard 530 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: team in the SEC. But I don't think you care 531 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 1: about wildcards right now. You care about this index finger 532 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: going over to this live chat and hitting send because 533 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 1: the store is once again open. Peytstatemterial dot com is live, 534 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,440 Speaker 1: but the world doesn't know because the only time I've 535 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: announced it, and the only place I've announced it is 536 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: right here on the live show. It's open, it's live. 537 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 1: There's the link right there. Remember it because we're about 538 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: to end the show. I appreciate you guys so much 539 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: for being a part of this. I'm telling you right now, 540 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 1: what we do have in that store is probably going 541 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: to sell out again, so I'm giving you first dips. 542 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 1: I appreciate you guys watching live. It really helps us. 543 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,880 Speaker 1: It's helped us all week. Our entire staff and crew 544 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:29,680 Speaker 1: have helped us all week. Academy has helped us all week. 545 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: I got unprecedent of access. All the sids and the 546 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 1: coaches were great to us. If we didn't hit you 547 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: and you still want a spot on the show, and 548 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 1: I've already talked to a couple of you. You know 549 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 1: where to come, you know how to get in touch 550 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,120 Speaker 1: with me. We will be back live in Nashville Sunday night. 551 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,640 Speaker 1: Until then, for our entire staff and crew here and everyone, 552 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: I'm Josh Pate. Have a great rest of your weekend, 553 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 1: early start to the weekend. If you're lucky, God bless