1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Hello Texans fans, and welcome to the program that takes 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: you inside n RG Stadium. I'm your host, Mark Vandermer. 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: Getting ready for a big Memorial Day weekend. As you 4 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: can check out the Texans app for coverage, John OTAs 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: and that sort of thing. Players off this weekend. They'll 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: be back at it next week and we will be 7 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,159 Speaker 1: back out there as well. So let's get to a 8 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: player right now. Christian Kirksey, new linebacker, played for the 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: Browns and the Green Bay Packers. Interesting guy played at Iowa. 10 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: Let's get into a conversation. John Harris and I had 11 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: a chance to catch up with new Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey. Christian, 12 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: first of all, once again, welcome to Houston. I know 13 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: you've been here for a while now, but what's it 14 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,160 Speaker 1: like being out there? OTA's being with your teammates, mixing 15 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: it up a little bit. Man, It's been fun. It's 16 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: been fun. You know. One thing, I into the rain 17 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: as much in Houston. This has been raining like almost 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: every day. But now it's been good just coming out here. 19 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: You're just having fun meeting my new teammates. Um, you know, 20 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: just getting the feel of things, you know, building that 21 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: team buying and just going out there just playing football. 22 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: You know. Uh, we all know that. You know, the 23 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: offseason could be long, and you know you can get 24 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: some time to you know, get away from ball and 25 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: then you know that first week when you get a 26 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 1: chance to you know, get introduced to your coaches and 27 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 1: you know, get back into the group of things. You know, 28 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: that's a lot of fun for me. So I'm excited 29 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: to be here. Christian. I've been asked this question. I've 30 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: asked this question a lot more so than I've ever 31 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: asked it in any offseason to all the guys we 32 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 1: talked to, why did you choose Houston? Well, first of all, 33 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: I got family out here, Um, so you know, always 34 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: being close to the family, to get a chance to 35 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: play in front of your family and everything like that. Um, 36 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: you know, have a daughter, you know she should be 37 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: around you know, her grandma and things like that. So, 38 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: um that that definitely played in effect on my decision. 39 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: And also just Lovey smith Man. Um, yeah, he's a 40 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: He's a legend, you know, and from coming from a linebacker, 41 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: it's like you know how you see him, uh, you know, 42 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: put his linebackers in position to just make plays. AND's 43 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: go out there and ball out. You know, It's it's 44 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: almost no brainer. Uh you know, I love he's coming 45 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: from college and you could tell that he's hungry. You know, 46 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: he's trying to win. So uh, you know I was 47 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: I was ready to get on board with that. And 48 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: then just being a part of this rebuilding this organization 49 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: and you know, just I think this probably the most 50 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: that you know, the NFL team had with bringing in 51 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: you know, new guys, and you know, I just want 52 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: to be a part of that. You know, I know, 53 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: you know where this team want to go. I know 54 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: the group of men that's that's that's on this team 55 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: right now, that's you know, trying to make the team 56 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: and you know, trying to you know, win games. I 57 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: know what type of mindset we have, and I'm just 58 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: glad to be on board with that. So with all 59 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: of that that, they really just made my decision to 60 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: you know, want to come here. Well, it's got to 61 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: feel great to be back out there after what everybody 62 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: went through last year, Christian with COVID and not being 63 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: able to help any OTAs and training camp with no 64 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: preseason games. How important is this time of year for 65 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,119 Speaker 1: you guys? I mentioned that's so many new players in particular, 66 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: to get to know each other and collaborate together. Yeah. Man, 67 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 1: this this, this time is important. Like you said, like 68 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: last offseason was was different. You know, Um, last season 69 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: was different and just to you know, have this opportunity 70 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 1: to get together, um, you know, get to know one another, 71 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: you know, get that get that bond with the guys 72 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: that we're going to go to to to to battle with, 73 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: you know, each and every day. UM. I think that's 74 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: that's where this time is important. You know. Uh, we 75 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: are from you know, a different part of the thirty 76 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: two NFL teams you know in the league, and you know, 77 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: we all here and it's like we are trying to 78 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: go for one common goal. So it's like, you know what, 79 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: why not get to you know, notice man uh on 80 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: a deeper level. So I think that that's really what 81 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: the off season UH program is about, is really building 82 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: that team chemistry and building that bond. So, um, that's 83 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: definitely important right now, so we got to take advantage 84 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: of it. Christian, I know you've been around for a while, 85 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: so I'm sure Texans fans have seen you play, but 86 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: maybe they haven't seen you play. If you know what 87 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: I mean. Yeah, what would you tell the fans about 88 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: you and what you're bringing to this organization into this defense. 89 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: Oh man, I'm bringing I'm bringing that energy. You know, 90 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: I'm bringing that passion to the game. Uh. You know, 91 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: I played with a lot of fire and uh, you know, 92 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: regardless of you know, win, it was a draw. You know, 93 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: I'm always gonna bring them all and uh, just bringing 94 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: that swag and that leadership. You know, half of the 95 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 1: games it's one off talent, but when you got guys, 96 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: it's like really good out there and they're playing their 97 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: butts off and there you know, they're playing like it 98 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: is their last game and that's when you you know, 99 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: you get over the hump and you win those close, 100 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: closed games and things like that. So um, I'm just 101 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: bringing that passion and leadership and the energy and uh 102 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: just having fun out there. So all yeah, Texas fans, 103 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: just look out five eight because because we're coming. Christian 104 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 1: took you a while in your career to get your 105 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: first pick, and you're a linebacker, so linebackers aren't gonna 106 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: get that many. But then you showed a knack for 107 00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: getting picks. So what is that all about? How hard 108 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: is it for linebackers to get interceptions and what's important 109 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: to getting them? Man, I mean, I know, you know 110 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: it's these quarterbacks in this league is talented, you know 111 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. They're smart, um, and they're throwing the 112 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 1: ball on a dime. So uh, you know it's hard 113 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: to come across, you know, interceptions. But you know, when 114 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: you can like diagnose plays and you know you can 115 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: be at the right place at the right time and 116 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 1: you know kind of you know, see things before it happened, 117 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: then that's when you know you start getting your hands 118 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 1: on the ball. But um, you know it's hard though, 119 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 1: because like I said, these quarterbacks is good and you 120 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: know the players are good. So um, I'm a firm 121 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: believer that they come in bunches though, when you get 122 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 1: your first one and they start coming and you start 123 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: getting more and more confident and catching the rock. So um, 124 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 1: you know, hopefully I get plenty this year and uh, 125 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: you know, maybe getting to the end zone. That's what 126 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: I'm trying to do. I need my first time. Well, Christian, 127 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: if two, if you get to two, you would have 128 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 1: been the team leader from last year. So I'm hoping 129 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: that you got two or more in you. There's no doubt, 130 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 1: And I really feel like Christian I should ask you 131 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: to give us the most PG story you can about 132 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: a guy that we knew for a long time, c J. Fordrowitz. 133 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: But I got a feeling, um, that would be kind 134 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: of a crazy story. So I'll ask you this. As 135 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: you come into the room and you said there's a 136 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: lot of veterans in the in the room, in the 137 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: locker room, was there anybody or any particular person in 138 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: there where you're like, man, I played against that guy. 139 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: That guy's the truth. That guy is Tom. I'm glad 140 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: he's on my team. Is there anybody like that that 141 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 1: you've had, um that you thought about as you've walked 142 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: into this room like you faced, be it mark Ingraham 143 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: with the Ravens or somebody along those lines that you 144 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: face that you're like, man, that dude's tough. Now he's 145 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: on my team together, that's kind of cool. Have you 146 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: had that instance at all that I that I faced, Um? Ah, 147 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: Well I faced uh David Johnson. Yeah, I faced him 148 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: when he was in college when he played for you, 149 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: You and I and I played at Iowa and uh 150 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: so he's the linebacker that got beat on the long passed. No. 151 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: Remember I remember this game because he called one for 152 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: like seventy five yards on yard. I remember there's a 153 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: linebacker chasing that wasn't you, was it? Man? I don't 154 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: recall him, Man, I remember. I remember he was bawling man. 155 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: And you know, they they they had our car at 156 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: that game. And uh, they end up winning, which you know, 157 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: we all know that Iowa's number one school in Iowa, 158 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: and you know, to do it against you and I 159 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: you know that definitely was was was a heartbreaker for us. 160 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: But I just remember that he was boling man and 161 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: you know, just to see him, you know, do this 162 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: thing in the league and finally be teammates with him, 163 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: you know. Uh, you know, I was definitely you know, 164 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: glad to be on on you know, his side and 165 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: not the opposing team. Christian, you came into the league 166 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen Cleveland Browns and actually that season got off 167 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: to a really good start for the Browns and you know, 168 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: win record and a couple of really nice wins along 169 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: the way, uh, and then things chipped considerably after that. 170 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: What did you learn from your experience as a pro 171 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: football player in that town when things got tough and 172 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: you had to play well no matter what happened, and 173 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: you did. You put up some good numbers, but the 174 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: team wasn't going so good. What did you learn about 175 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: that as a player as a person, man, I learned 176 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: so much from from you know, being being on that 177 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: side where you know you're struggling to find a win. 178 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: I mean, dude, you really got to revert back to 179 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: to to why you play the game, you know, Um, 180 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: and you go back and you find that passion and 181 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: you find that love and say, Okay, this is really 182 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 1: why I played because I really enjoyed doing this. And uh, 183 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: you find out who's really invested. You know, that's that's 184 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: on the squad because we all know that we get 185 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: paid to play football. Um, you know we're only playing 186 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: for you know, a part of a year, and you know, 187 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: so so certain guys can check out and be like, Okay, 188 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: we're not going to the playoffs, we're not winning, so 189 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: you know, I'm just gonna collect these techs and do 190 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: what I gotta do to you know, make it through 191 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: the season. But you know, when you when you go 192 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: through tough times like that, you really find out like, 193 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 1: all right, this dude really loves football. When you see 194 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: guys day in and day out, still pounding, still grinding, 195 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 1: and still trying to go win, and it reminds me 196 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: of the year that we went one to fifteen in 197 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 1: Cleveland and the fact that we won our first game 198 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: Week fourteen showed you that guys are still going out 199 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: there trying their best to you know, ball out win 200 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: and you know, do everything that they can. And I 201 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: always go back to that season because you know a 202 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: lot of guys could have checked out and said, you know, 203 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: we're not winning his Week fourteen, let's hurry up and 204 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: just finish these last two games and you know, go 205 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 1: by the way. But the fact that we end up 206 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: winning that late in the season, our first game, you know, 207 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: it spoke valium to me, just you know, seeing what 208 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: type of guys you got in that locker room or 209 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: on that team. So when you go and and you 210 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 1: see usself losing that much, it really builds character. You know, 211 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 1: you go back on your morris, you go back on 212 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: why you do it and why you love it, and 213 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: they give you, you know, opportunity each and every week 214 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: to continue to compete. Christian, We've got a lot of 215 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: guys that obviously are new to Houston, to the new 216 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: to Houston, Texas, but they're also new to Houston. Yeah, 217 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: so when they come down here, the culinary scene to 218 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: them is like, oh my gosh, it's like this incredible 219 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: thing because there's so many different kinds of foods down here. 220 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: You said you have family from Houston, so this should 221 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: be a pretty easy question. You gotta dive in. What's 222 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: your best cheat meal here in houstore anywhere? What's your 223 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: favorite cheatman? We talked to the football, We want to 224 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: know about food. Now, what do you love and here? 225 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: What have you been able to get out to see 226 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: and eat? So my uncle actually took so the first 227 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: time I came down here. Uh well, I wouldn't say 228 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: my first time, but I haven't been out here in 229 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: a while. And when I first got out here, my 230 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: uncle took me the turkey leg cut. Oh my god. Yeah, 231 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: Oh my lord, that's that. I think that's the best 232 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: turkey leg I've ever had in my life. You know, 233 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: the line was like an hour loan, but you know, 234 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: I got there when it was already close to the front, 235 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: So I thank god I didn't have to wait that long. 236 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: But I could say to that that place right there. Man, 237 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,959 Speaker 1: it's super good. It's super good. So that's what We've done, 238 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: a lot of them, and I know you get a 239 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: chance to try them all. Christian, thanks so much for 240 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: being with us today. We appreciate the time. Best of luck, 241 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: all right, appreciate yah. Somehow food always seems to come 242 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: up in these conversations. Why not. Look, the show is 243 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: on during a time when people eat, and I get 244 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: hungry talking about all this stuff, So I'm gonna have 245 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 1: to start doing some snacking during the break. But after 246 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: the break, we've got more likely to happen and some 247 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: interesting things. Will Tim Tebow's name come up? Yeah, probably 248 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 1: because it comes up an awful lot in sports conversations lately. 249 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 1: But some AFC stuff and popular sports in the United 250 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: States of America. We know which is the most popular. 251 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: But let's see how the rest of it might play out, 252 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 1: especially in the future, as we go Futuristic Friday. Next 253 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: after that, it's gonna be David Fletcher visiting talking about 254 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: lone Star sports and entertainment. In other words, the Texas Bowl, 255 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: the Texas Kickoff, Battle of the Piney Woods, in addition 256 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: to some other stuff. Johnny and Fletch talking about the 257 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: college sports landscape. It's all on the way here on 258 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: Texans Radio. Welcome to Texans All Access. We are brought 259 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: to you in part by apatche Corporation. Nearly three billion 260 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: people worldwide live in energy poverty, meaning they lack access 261 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:29,079 Speaker 1: to reliable electricity or clean cooking fuels. 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That's apatche corp dot com. 268 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: Now here's the show, Okay, Texans fans, Mark vandermar and 269 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: John Harris with you after our interview with Christian Kirksey. 270 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: By the way, if you miss that, it'll be up 271 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: on the app soon enough for you to enjoy, and 272 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:08,439 Speaker 1: maybe even on Texans three to sixty this week or 273 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: next week. I apologize for not knowing off the top 274 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 1: of my head. But Johnny, more importantly, well, nothing's really 275 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: more important than talking to a player. But additionally, important 276 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: or of importance? Is playing more likely to happen? Are 277 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: you ready to go? Of course, let's go, let's do it, Okay, 278 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: Johnny more likely to happen, more likely to be the 279 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: AFC champions in twenty twenty one. I'm only going to 280 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 1: narrow it data two teams. Not that I don't want 281 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: to win it ourselves, right, and not that I think 282 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: that no one else can win it. But between these 283 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 1: two teams, you tell me they were matched up in 284 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: the title game last year, the Bills and the Chiefs. 285 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: Are the Bills ready more likely to win the AFC 286 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: Championship between those two Chiefs? And here's why. Yes, the 287 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: one major Well, I've felt like they had two major 288 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: glaring issues. I still feel like the defense is not 289 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: quite there yet. But I felt like the offensive line 290 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 1: we all saw it in the Super Bowl. It was 291 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: got awful and Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher weren't coming back, 292 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: So what were they going to do on the offensive line? 293 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: Then they traded for Orlando Brown Junior. Then they drafted 294 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: Creed Humphrey. Then in the six or seventh round they 295 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: drafted a guy that I thought had his medicals been 296 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: one hundred percent, he would have been a first or 297 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: second round pick. And that's Tray Smith that guard. Not 298 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: to mention, they signed Joe Tuney in a free agency, 299 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: So not only have they replaced ably seemingly the line 300 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: they had last year, it's better. I mean, Humphrey, Tray 301 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: Smith and Joe Tuney inside is as good as it gets. 302 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: If those rookies hit, and I think they will, I 303 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: think it's a very good possibility they will. And then 304 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: of course you've got Orlando Brown Junior on the outside. 305 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: Now my assumption is he'll play the left side and 306 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: then they'll figure out the right side. But I just 307 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: think the biggest hole they had was the offensive line. Now, defensively, 308 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: I don't know how great they are and that that 309 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: still is going to be something that hangs out there 310 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: for them. But I think match them up on a 311 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: neutral field, I'm taking Chiefs over Bills. Okay, match them 312 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: up on a neutral field, that's not going to happen. 313 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: But of course, in all likelihood, in case that AFC West, 314 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: it's not the only thing you have to deal with. 315 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 1: I mean, the division is six games, and now that's 316 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: a smaller percentage of the total pie with the seventeen 317 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: game schedule. But AFC East versus well, I guess New 318 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: England's gonna better this year versus a AFC West. We'll see, 319 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: all right, More likely to happen the next one, more 320 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: likely to happen, more likely to win the NFC title, 321 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: Bucks or anybody else at the NFC, the Bucks of 322 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: the field, Johnny, who are you gonna take? Because look? 323 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: What are the Packer is gonna be? What's going on 324 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: with Aaron Rodgers? Are they gonna have another run to 325 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: the NFC title game? What are the Saints gonna be? 326 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: Drew Brees. That's one of the teams that Tom Brady 327 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: had to get through last year. They're not the Drew 328 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: Brees Saints anymore. What's gonna happen is the Matt Stafford 329 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: Ram experiment gonna work to the point where they can 330 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: get to the NFC Championship Game and knock off the Bucks. 331 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: What are you thinking? Bucks? I hate even doing that 332 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: because that feels like you just jumping on chalk. But 333 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: I've been watching this NFC thing the whole time, Like man, 334 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: I don't think Seattle is better. I don't think Green 335 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: Bay is better. I don't think even with Stafford. I 336 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: think the Rams are are static. The NFC East, you 337 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: can't convince me any of those teams are are that good. 338 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: I just I mean the NFC South. You know, the 339 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: the Panthers are probably what they were last year, maybe 340 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: a little bit better with Donomy, who knows. But you 341 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: know the Saints are gonna take a step back without Breeze. 342 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: The Bucks have everybody coming back. So even if Brady 343 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: struggles or um, I don't I wouldn't think he gets hurt. 344 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: If he gets hurt, then okay, now it's playing Gabbert. 345 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: You know, all bets are off. But if everybody stays 346 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: relatively healthy, I just don't see a team that is 347 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 1: kind of on the horizon like that's the team. I 348 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: know a lot of people will say the Cardinals not 349 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: buying it, not buying it as yet. I just not 350 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: there with the Cardinals being kind of hot team Rams. 351 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 1: If you're buying the Rams and you're buying Matt Stafford, 352 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 1: and I'm not ready to go all the way in 353 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: on that, I'm I'm really not so what other team 354 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 1: can really kind of step up and be in the 355 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: mix with the Bucks And I don't I don't see 356 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: it unless the Packers make first of all, fix things 357 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers and then make a deal at the trade deadline, 358 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: where you're like, WHOA, Okay, Now, I can see them 359 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: going toe to toe with the Bucks and winning it. 360 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: But I just can't see it with a second year 361 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: all those guys together, the Bucks not winning NFC. I 362 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: just think the NFC is. I think it's down, to 363 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: be honest with you, I think the DFC is very 364 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: very good, with the Browns, the Bills, the Chiefs, the Ravens, 365 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 1: still the Dolphins on the upswing that the Patriots where 366 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 1: they were all able to do this offseason. The NFC 367 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: to me is kind of down. So I think the 368 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: Bucks over everybody else. Yes, okay, all right, next one, Johnny. 369 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: As we move right along here, I'm more likely to happen, 370 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 1: more likely to happen, more likely to be more successful. 371 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: Tim Tebow tight end or Tim Tebow the baseball player, 372 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: and the baseball player career is in the books, by 373 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 1: the way, as I will give you the career minor 374 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: league statistics here the important ones batting average two twenty three, 375 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: on base two ninety nine being a little generous here 376 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: because the high he moved up the worse it got. 377 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,959 Speaker 1: But that's really what I want to highlight right there, 378 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: air for you eighteen home runs and how many app 379 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: bats nine hundred forty total in the minor leagues for Tebo, 380 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: so more likely to be more successful Tebow the baseball player, 381 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: Tebow the tight end. Well, that's a tremendous question. That 382 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: is a tremendous question. Here's what's in Here's what's in 383 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,639 Speaker 1: Jacksonville right now at the tight end position. Luke Farrell 384 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: a fifth rounder, Tyler Davis a sixth rounder from last year, 385 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: James O'Shaughnessy, who we've seen plenty been kind of around, 386 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: if you will, Chris man Hurts. They signed from Carolina 387 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: Ben Elifson. He was a college free agent last year. 388 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: I think I am in North Dakota State. Oh yeah, 389 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: I remember him and Tibo. So as I look at that, 390 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:55,439 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, Wow, he's got a shot makes this roster. 391 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: It's already above what he did in the minor leagues. 392 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: Right if he makes the fifty three man roster, it's 393 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 1: beyond what he did in the in the minor league. 394 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: I think he's got a shot of making this roster. 395 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 1: I do I know it sounds crazy, but I look 396 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:13,439 Speaker 1: at that group of tight ends, I'm like, they're in 397 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,920 Speaker 1: one of them that blows you away. No, not at all, 398 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: So I think he's got a shot of making this roster. 399 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: At that point, I'll say, Tebow the tight end more successful. Okay, 400 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 1: I guess we'll go with it, because I'm in agreement 401 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: when I hear that roster of tight ends, I mean, 402 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: that does not give me the warm and fuzzies if 403 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 1: I'm shot Khan, and no wonder why they're doing this. 404 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,239 Speaker 1: They're trying to find some diamond in the rob some 405 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: kind of hidden gold in the sock drawer. And for 406 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 1: all the people to say, he never would have gotten 407 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: this chance without knowing Urban Meyer, and I've been one 408 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: of them. But I don't have any problem with that 409 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 1: with Meyer giving him a shot, because in any business, 410 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 1: it's who you know, not the only thing, but it 411 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,880 Speaker 1: certainly helps. And the people who complain about that are 412 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: usually people who don't have the contacts. Believe me, as 413 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,400 Speaker 1: soon as they do have a contact, they stop complaining 414 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 1: about it. So that's the deal with that. And there's 415 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,640 Speaker 1: no guaranteed money in his contract, so he's the ninetieth guy, 416 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: You bring him to camp, and if he proves it, 417 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:17,639 Speaker 1: he gets the money and he gets paid because he 418 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 1: will have proven it. So that that's the that's the 419 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: thing to me. And you think, no, no offense to 420 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: Tim Tebo here, but you think Urban Meyern, his first 421 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: year in Jacksonville, is gonna give up a roster spot 422 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: just as somebody that he coached in college, just as 423 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 1: a favor. Heck, no, Irban Meyer is coming to win. 424 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: He's coming to win. And if that means that he's 425 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 1: got to cut his cut his guy to move on, 426 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 1: he'll do it, no, no doubt, no doubt, and no 427 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 1: doubt in my mind on that. Yeah, I think. Look, 428 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: the risk reward is pretty good because they're already selling 429 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 1: a ton of jerseys and creating attention and buzz and 430 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: all that. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. If 431 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 1: he does make the fifty three, then a lot of 432 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: people have to go eat crow, and me being one 433 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: of them. So we'll see if it works out for 434 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: Tebow and the jack's all right. Next one here, more 435 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: likely to happen, more likely to happen, more serious contender 436 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: for the second most popular sport in the US. In 437 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 1: twenty years, So it's two decades from now the more 438 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 1: serious contender for the second most popular sport in the 439 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: United States. In twenty years, I'm assuming pro football still 440 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: there as the most popular. I think it's a very 441 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: safe assumption considering the incredible gap between the NFL and 442 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: every other sport. I mean, it's gigantic, it's the Grand Canyon, 443 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: It's huge. But then you stack them up relatively close 444 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: because you have the NBA, Major League Baseball, you have MLS, NHL, 445 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,360 Speaker 1: wherever you want to put them. But Johnny, is it basketball? 446 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: Is it baseball? Is its soccer? And I don't just 447 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: mean MLS because Premier League. Look, twenty years ago, I 448 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 1: couldn't have told you that Premier League would be as 449 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 1: popular in the US as it is right now. And 450 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 1: never mind all the other leagues around the world that 451 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: attract attention. But what do you think and it or 452 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 1: is it a wild card? What are you thinking here 453 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: in two decades? Well? As much as I would like 454 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:15,880 Speaker 1: to see spike ball end up being a fantastically attended 455 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:21,239 Speaker 1: and executed sport, that won't happen, it still feels like 456 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 1: to me it's the NBA. I know, Major League baseball. 457 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 1: That's I think for some old heads that's very romantic, 458 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: like yeah, baseball, But I just don't know if they've 459 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:37,679 Speaker 1: got if they've got the genesic hui if you will. 460 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: Of the younger folks, I think younger folks want to 461 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:42,879 Speaker 1: play INBA two K, they want to watch the NBA 462 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 1: highlights in basketball. I mean I think, well, I think 463 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: younger people are more focused on that. I think baseball 464 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 1: when in twenty years this older crowd starts to pass on, 465 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 1: I think the NBA is going to be that sport. 466 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,679 Speaker 1: But it was funny when you said it. I was 467 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: like Premier League. Absolutely, soccer has grown leaps and bounds 468 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 1: in this country. And I know Premier League is in London. 469 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 1: But the TV contracts with NBC Sports with with CBS 470 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: for Champions League, that's huge. My guys are playing this weekend. 471 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 1: Man City's playing Chelsea for a Champions League. I will 472 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: be front and center. Twenty years ago I would never 473 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: have sat in front of a TV to watch a 474 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 1: soccer match. I will watch all ninety plus minutes and 475 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 1: be completely and totally into it. I think that soccer's 476 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: got a great chance in twenty years to be that 477 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: sport that may not be number two, but I could 478 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: very well. I could very not easily, I could see 479 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 1: it surpassing Major League Baseball definitely NHL into the third 480 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 1: spot behind football and basketball. I think people look twenty 481 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: years You look at twenty years ago. It was two 482 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: thousand and one, that was the Brady first Super Bowl 483 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: year and all that. It feels like it's flown by 484 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 1: to many of us. If you're younger, you feel and 485 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 1: the Texans are playing their twentieth season right now. If 486 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: you're younger, you feel like that was a long time ago. 487 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: And whatever the case is, Baseball has dropped considerably in 488 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:14,640 Speaker 1: the last two and a half decades. I mean, let's 489 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: be honest, and you wonder are they gonna be able 490 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 1: to rise up again. I still say basketball's number two, 491 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: but soccer does have a chance to be number three. 492 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: We'll see if soccer really makes more strides than that. Johnny, 493 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:26,640 Speaker 1: thanks so much for being with us, and we look 494 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 1: forward to hearing you and fletching the next segment. You 495 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: got him a man, Thanks Mark, John Harris and David 496 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: Fletcher gm Lone Star Sports and Entertainment. We've got a 497 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 1: Texas BOWLD date We've got great events coming up at NRG. 498 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 1: Let's dig into the college sports landscape. Next on Texans Radio, 499 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: Mark Vandermer with you Memorial Day weekend. Let's have a 500 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 1: great weekend. Those of you who have to work this weekend, 501 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 1: we really appreciate that. I've worked plenty of holiday weekends myself. 502 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 1: Not doing a ton this weekend, but always focused in 503 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: on what is happening with your Texas with OTAs in 504 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 1: full bloom, mandatory mini camp coming out, then the long 505 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 1: break that I call the desert, and then training camp. 506 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:12,360 Speaker 1: But there's never a shortage of topics, never a shortage 507 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:14,679 Speaker 1: of things to talk about. We reflected yesterday and what 508 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: we saw out there at OTAs and look, they're not 509 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: going to reveal state secrets now right Training camp will 510 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,879 Speaker 1: see a whole lot more. Obviously during the preseason games 511 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: we'll all watch together. It'll be cool stuff. NRG Stadium 512 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:32,439 Speaker 1: first game will be August twenty eighth, preseason finale against 513 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 1: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That's going to be cool. What's 514 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 1: also cool is all the other events that go on 515 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:40,160 Speaker 1: at NRG Stadium, and that's a product of Lone Star 516 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,959 Speaker 1: Sports and Entertainment. So many of them with the Texas 517 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,600 Speaker 1: Kickoff and the Texas Bowl Battle of the Pontywood. Sam 518 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 1: Houston State just won the national championship in FCS and 519 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: they're playing Stephen F. Austin October second. But why hear 520 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 1: about it from me? Why not get Johnny Harris, college 521 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: sports expert and David Fletcher. You have a lone star 522 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: sports and entertainment together to talk about what is happening. 523 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: Let's how you doing, my friend, Johnny, I'm doing great. 524 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: I'll give the listeners a little insight. I had a 525 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:15,880 Speaker 1: blast hanging out with you watching our friends at sam 526 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:18,680 Speaker 1: Houston State when the national championship a couple of weeks ago. 527 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: If you ever if you ever get the privilege of 528 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: sitting and listening to the insight, I mean, y'all did 529 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,200 Speaker 1: get to hear it every single week on the sideline, 530 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 1: but this guy watching a game is just so much fun. 531 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:31,959 Speaker 1: And I had a blasting man, and congrats to our 532 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: friends up there. I know they've been celebrating and well deserved. 533 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 1: A national championship doesn't come easily, and that was a 534 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 1: fun one to watch. I know we've gotten news to announce, 535 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: so when we're gonna get there and we're going to 536 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,199 Speaker 1: discuss that. However, I want to step back to that 537 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 1: what you just talked about, and we've never had this, 538 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: You've never had this question because it's never happened, Fletch, 539 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: But a national champion is coming to the NRG Stadium 540 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 1: to play in the Battle of Piney Woods. How awesome 541 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 1: is that? I mean, how cool is that to have 542 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 1: same use to stay as the champs coming in against 543 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 1: their rival Stephen f for the Battle of Piney Woods 544 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: this year. I think I think it's it's it's it's 545 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: certainly exciting for for Bearcat fans. It's exciting for the rivalry. 546 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: It's certainly exciting for our community and organization. You know what. 547 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,880 Speaker 1: I think it's also exciting for I think it's exciting 548 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,679 Speaker 1: for the the SFA Lumberjacks, for Coach Carthil and that 549 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 1: entire organization. Great rivals embrace the successes of their of 550 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:34,719 Speaker 1: their closest rivals, but they also gives them that edge. Man, 551 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: it just adds to what is going to be a 552 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: really exciting event. Nonetheless, it is every year, but now 553 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: you've got that edge, and I know both coaches know that. 554 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 1: Both Casey Keeler and Colby Carthiel know that that game 555 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: come October second is gonna have more meeting than maybe 556 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: any of them had in the ninety six years, which 557 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,200 Speaker 1: is a lot of fun to see. I don't know 558 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: if i should uh say this live on air, but 559 00:28:57,840 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: I'm about to because I went up to the game 560 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 1: at JMU and it was amazing because as I'm walking in, 561 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: I see Josh McCown. So I talked to Josh mccollun 562 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 1: for a little bit and then I'm about to hop 563 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: on the elevator to go up to our spot where 564 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 1: we're watching the game, and there's the head coach of 565 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: Steven f Hasta Kolbe Kartha getting on the elevator with me. 566 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 1: It was really cool to see him there to sort 567 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: of take it all in. It was it was kind 568 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: of surreal, like, hey, coach, how you do it? It 569 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 1: was just sort of strange, but it does. It just 570 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: goes to show that, you know, these two are, these 571 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: two schools, and these two coaching staffs are actually very 572 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 1: very close and they follow each other, and that's gonna 573 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: be one heck of a ballgame when we get there 574 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: in October. But Fletch we've got football before that and 575 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: after that, and that was the news. It came out yesterday, 576 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 1: but I want to make sure that we hit it today. 577 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: And let's start with the Texas kickoff prime time Saturday night, 578 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 1: September fourth, Kog's Read Raiders. I'm stoved for this one. 579 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 1: I mean, we've had the Red Raiders before, we've had 580 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 1: the Kougs before, but I don't remember us having these 581 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:11,720 Speaker 1: two together before. And on a Saturday night. It's gonna 582 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: be awesome, Luck Giant. The opening of the season, no 583 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 1: matter who's in our events, is always the one of 584 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 1: the most exciting moments because everybody's undefeated, everybody has a chance. 585 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 1: And for these two schools, I know that both of them, 586 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: their staffs, their fan bases are just looking at their 587 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 1: chops to get a chance to bounce backward from what's 588 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: been at was a tough twenty twenty, not only off 589 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 1: the field well documented we all have experienced didn't know it, 590 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 1: but on the field. For both of these programs, they're 591 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: they're looking for a fresh start and they get to 592 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 1: do it under the bright lights here at NRG, which 593 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 1: we're just incredibly excited about. So you know, circle your calendars. 594 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 1: Great day of tailgating out here, two of the best 595 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: in the business between Red Raider fans and Kuge fans, 596 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: and I promise you you're not gonna want to miss it. 597 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 1: It's gonna be one of the higher scoring, one of 598 00:30:57,080 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 1: the more fun affairs to start the college football season. 599 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: And we got that primetime broadcast on ESPN the National 600 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: Windows six o'clock, which is just going to add to 601 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,760 Speaker 1: the to the fire. Um. You know, anytime you get 602 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 1: Dana Hogerson on the field and what he's doing, you 603 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 1: know what what he's known to do with the offensive 604 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 1: side of the ball, um, you definitely want to want 605 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: to get your popcorn ready. And with Matt Wells and 606 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 1: Texas Tech, I mean, I don't even need to say it. 607 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 1: Texas Tech in the history they have and in the 608 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 1: situation that they've got at quarterback too, an exciting young 609 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 1: player coming in from Oregon for them, and Tyler's schoff 610 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 1: and I think that's gonna add some some excitement. And 611 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 1: I just hope our scoreboard can keep up with all 612 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 1: the points, That's all I'm hoping for. Yeah, I'm not 613 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 1: totally sure how much defense will we played, but it 614 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: will be kind of fun to see, uh, these two. 615 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 1: The place is gonna be decked out and read when 616 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 1: I say decked out, fletch. We've talked about this with 617 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: the Texans on track to have one hundred percent attendance 618 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:58,440 Speaker 1: there if possible. What's that like going in? Is that 619 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 1: kind of the thought that there will be no quote 620 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 1: unquote restrictions on spacing and all that in the stadium 621 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,200 Speaker 1: that we can get as flotal a lot man of 622 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,200 Speaker 1: people in there as we possibly can. That is our plan, Johnny. 623 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:12,040 Speaker 1: You know, certainly we're working closely with the Texans, with 624 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: local officials to and with ESPN our partners to ensure 625 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: a safe environment no matter what the capacities are. Um. 626 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: But but our intention is to to move towards that 627 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:25,960 Speaker 1: and uh in line with what the community has has 628 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 1: been as of late. And for us, that just adds 629 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 1: a lot more excitement. So you know, UM, I just can't. 630 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,760 Speaker 1: I just can't. I can't tell you how excited we are. 631 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:36,520 Speaker 1: I know we've talked about it on air here and 632 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 1: certainly in the office of about the idea of getting 633 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:41,200 Speaker 1: back to what we do best and for us here 634 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 1: at Loans our Sports Entertainment, certainly the event side is 635 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 1: a really important part of that. We'll get a we'll 636 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 1: get an opportunity as an organization to host the COCKACAF 637 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 1: Gold Cup semi Finals, one of the biggest soccer matches 638 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 1: in the country, in the world, um in late July 639 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,000 Speaker 1: as a little bit of a tune up, and then um, 640 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:00,960 Speaker 1: you know, we'll roll into to Bucks and Bucks and 641 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 1: Texans in the preseason along with our national Battle of 642 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 1: the Band's event. But you know, college football is something 643 00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:08,720 Speaker 1: that we all know is near and dear to many 644 00:33:08,760 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: in this community. It's certainly to our organization, and the 645 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 1: idea of being able to do it as we've known 646 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 1: is something we're really excited about and we're looking forward 647 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 1: to and preparing accordingly as we head into this offseason. Fletch, 648 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 1: one of the things about the NFL schedule, it's eighteen 649 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:31,960 Speaker 1: weeks one by. However, there is that week zero by, 650 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 1: if you will, that there's two weeks in between the 651 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 1: last preseason game and the start of the season on 652 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:42,480 Speaker 1: September twelve, and you neatly fit right in that week 653 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:46,719 Speaker 1: of playing that game. How important is it that you 654 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: really have the college spotlight all to your self on 655 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 1: that particular weekend that there is no NFL at all. 656 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,720 Speaker 1: It's just college football from Thursday all the way through Monday. Yeah, 657 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 1: we're we're excited for the opportunity to UM to leverage 658 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: that for the first time this year. And and you know, 659 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:08,440 Speaker 1: when you get the history of an event like we've 660 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 1: had in the Texas Kickoff, the great teams that have 661 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:13,360 Speaker 1: played in our event, from the LSUS and the Texas 662 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: Is to Oklahoma. You know, go back to twenty sixteen 663 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,440 Speaker 1: when you have H was in this game previously, in 664 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:24,080 Speaker 1: addition to nineteen. I mean I watched on social media yesterday, Johnny, 665 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: and it just gave me goosebumps thinking about it. You know, 666 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:29,760 Speaker 1: the pageantry and the and the electricity from that twenty 667 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 1: sixteen game. I know we've had a lot of great 668 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 1: ones in this building, but um, when you have H 669 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:36,880 Speaker 1: in Oklahoma squared off in that game to open up 670 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:41,000 Speaker 1: the college football season, two top ten teams and and 671 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:45,680 Speaker 1: just the incredible atmosphere that was in our community and 672 00:34:45,840 --> 00:34:48,640 Speaker 1: in the stadium, that's something that we live for. That's 673 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:51,640 Speaker 1: something we're really excited to be able to deliver upon. 674 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:54,680 Speaker 1: And as we put together our game week schedule, not 675 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:58,320 Speaker 1: only are we gonna certainly look to embrace the energy 676 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:00,800 Speaker 1: and the excitement around the start of the college football season, 677 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:02,640 Speaker 1: but we want, we wanted to be able to deliver 678 00:35:02,719 --> 00:35:05,279 Speaker 1: that to the fans through the experience they have. We're 679 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 1: finalizing our event week schedule right now, which will include 680 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: some fans centric events on Friday night of course game 681 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:14,479 Speaker 1: day out here I mentioned already, tailgating will be full force, 682 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:18,520 Speaker 1: and our Carbock text Fest will be headlined by some 683 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 1: great Texas music and just you know, the passion and 684 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:24,480 Speaker 1: patagery you see out here, the spirit walks, the spirit groups, 685 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:27,399 Speaker 1: the cheerleaders, the mascots, you know, it's all the things 686 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 1: that that make the bands. That's all the things that 687 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 1: make college football so special to to this community. And 688 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:37,600 Speaker 1: we're really we're really appreciative for the opportunity to bring 689 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 1: it back to Houston in a big way. Also coming 690 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:45,480 Speaker 1: back now, there was a plan last year, but COVID 691 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: nineteen shut that down for TCU in Arkansas. So it's 692 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:50,919 Speaker 1: gonna look weird in the annals of history, the fact 693 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,480 Speaker 1: that there was a Texas Ball played in twenty nineteen 694 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:56,280 Speaker 1: and the next one was played in twenty twenty two. 695 00:35:56,719 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: It's gonna look weird from that perspective, But fletch, we 696 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:05,080 Speaker 1: fast forward to January fourth of twenty twenty two, the 697 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 1: Texas Bowl gets a primetime spot. How you feeling about 698 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 1: Texas Ball moving to Tuesday, January fourth, twenty twenty two 699 00:36:12,160 --> 00:36:15,280 Speaker 1: in primetime. I couldn't be more thrilled in college football 700 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:18,200 Speaker 1: fans have responded accordingly. I mean for us, you know, 701 00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:21,280 Speaker 1: he mentioned the weirdness of that. Trying to put together 702 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:23,440 Speaker 1: the press release was just a little hard because it 703 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:25,759 Speaker 1: was like, we're doing the fifteenth edition, but it's the 704 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:28,759 Speaker 1: sixteenth year because last year's game got canceled and it's 705 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:30,959 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty one Texas Ball, but it's being played 706 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:34,000 Speaker 1: in January twenty twenty two. And you know, we talked 707 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,080 Speaker 1: to a lot of our friends and colleagues around the industry, 708 00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 1: and that's where we landed. So the twenty twenty one 709 00:36:38,680 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 1: Texas Bowl will be on January fourth in primetime here 710 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:45,880 Speaker 1: at NRG Stadium, January fourth, twenty twenty two. And for us, 711 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:49,120 Speaker 1: you know, we're bringing back the incredible, big twelve sec 712 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:51,560 Speaker 1: matchup that has been so good to our event, to 713 00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:55,279 Speaker 1: the community over the last seven eight years. Now we've got, 714 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:58,080 Speaker 1: you know, a primetime window, which is it's our tenth 715 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:02,600 Speaker 1: straight year of a primetime again, primetime event on ESPN. Um, well, 716 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 1: we'll be the last game played before the College Football 717 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:10,839 Speaker 1: Playoff National Championship game the following Monday. And so for us, 718 00:37:11,320 --> 00:37:14,120 Speaker 1: you know, that is just an incredible opportunity to showcase 719 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:18,280 Speaker 1: Houston as the premier destination for college football in this country. Um, 720 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:22,280 Speaker 1: we expect an incredible atmosphere, a great a great showing 721 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 1: of two elite conferences, and uh, you know, I don't 722 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:28,600 Speaker 1: even know what I was like I can add to that, Johnny. 723 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:30,200 Speaker 1: It's it's just gonna be a lot of fun to 724 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:33,920 Speaker 1: be back um in bull season again and and doing 725 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:37,640 Speaker 1: it in a window that really really puts Houston first 726 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:40,520 Speaker 1: in a in a position as as a destination that 727 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:42,520 Speaker 1: people are gonna want to be able to watch and 728 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:44,920 Speaker 1: we hope come out and be a part of. So 729 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:51,000 Speaker 1: for the old heads like myself, we would love a 730 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 1: Texas A and m Arkansas. No, you can't have that. 731 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:57,640 Speaker 1: It'd have to be Texas and Arkansas matchup because then 732 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:01,560 Speaker 1: four teams from the old Southwest Conference will be matching 733 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:04,439 Speaker 1: up in the kickoff and the Texas Bowl. That would 734 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:06,799 Speaker 1: be kind of cool because that to me the old 735 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:10,160 Speaker 1: Southwest Conference seeing Houston and Texas Tech. I think about that, 736 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:13,360 Speaker 1: and there's a possibility. There's a possibility. It's possibility for anything. 737 00:38:13,560 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 1: But I know you in the Texas Bowl want to 738 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:18,200 Speaker 1: just see a great game, which we will get a 739 00:38:18,239 --> 00:38:21,359 Speaker 1: great game. The games have been phenomenal and they really 740 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:23,480 Speaker 1: have been fletched, and I want you to comment on 741 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 1: this a precursor to the following year. You look at 742 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:30,040 Speaker 1: Baylor a few years ago, came into the game one 743 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:32,560 Speaker 1: night game against Banner Vanderbilt, and they were a top 744 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:35,040 Speaker 1: ten ranked team the next year a m same thing. 745 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:37,880 Speaker 1: They came into twenty nineteen one night game against Oklahoma 746 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,520 Speaker 1: State that propelled them to have top five ranking the 747 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:43,520 Speaker 1: following year. The Texas Bowl seems to be a catapult 748 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:46,920 Speaker 1: into the following year. So you're gonna see a team 749 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:50,520 Speaker 1: potentially I could catch a little bit of fire in 750 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:53,319 Speaker 1: that bowl game, which leads to the offseason least the 751 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:55,160 Speaker 1: next season. Maybe you're looking at the top five team 752 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:57,760 Speaker 1: the future year. Well, no doubt, And don't forget twenty 753 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,839 Speaker 1: seven team, the Texas Longhorns. When they at Texas Bowl, 754 00:39:00,840 --> 00:39:03,520 Speaker 1: and then finished with a Sugar Bowl victory in twenty 755 00:39:03,560 --> 00:39:06,040 Speaker 1: eighteen and a top ten finish. So you know, that 756 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:09,960 Speaker 1: is something we very much know is part of our history. 757 00:39:10,280 --> 00:39:12,040 Speaker 1: You know, you look at just pack at this past 758 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:17,240 Speaker 1: draft that happened the NFL Draft. Thirty players, thirty alums 759 00:39:17,239 --> 00:39:19,680 Speaker 1: from the Texas Bowl were drafted in this past year's event. 760 00:39:19,719 --> 00:39:21,520 Speaker 1: And that's players that have been in the game in 761 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:23,799 Speaker 1: the last five years. Johnny, I don't I don't know 762 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:26,440 Speaker 1: math very well, but that's more than ten percent. That 763 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:29,120 Speaker 1: is a huge amount of star power that you see 764 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:31,600 Speaker 1: here on the field at NRG Stadium with that event 765 00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:34,360 Speaker 1: every year. Not surprising given the types of teams that 766 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:36,800 Speaker 1: we have the conference affiliation with the Big twelve in 767 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:40,400 Speaker 1: the SEC, but but certainly we pride ourselves and putting 768 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:42,200 Speaker 1: our best foot forward in A big part of that 769 00:39:42,320 --> 00:39:45,600 Speaker 1: story is the fact that we have teams that are 770 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:47,879 Speaker 1: on the way up. And that's what's great about bull 771 00:39:47,920 --> 00:39:50,080 Speaker 1: season as a whole, you know, is that you have 772 00:39:50,160 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 1: teams that are able to practice more. You have teams 773 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:56,880 Speaker 1: that are able to get themselves set up with younger 774 00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:00,279 Speaker 1: players for their future success the next year. You use 775 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:03,040 Speaker 1: the momentum of being in the in the bowl season 776 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:05,759 Speaker 1: to really kind of build out your program in the 777 00:40:05,840 --> 00:40:10,799 Speaker 1: recruiting and in the offseason programming and so as a whole. 778 00:40:11,239 --> 00:40:13,000 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot of value in the college 779 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:16,560 Speaker 1: football postseason here in Houston as relates to the Texas Bowl. 780 00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:20,000 Speaker 1: We've built it into an elite level event, the most 781 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,120 Speaker 1: attended non New Year's sixth game in the country, a 782 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:24,960 Speaker 1: top five game in attendance, a top ten game, and 783 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:28,440 Speaker 1: TV audience. We're delivering on the promise we made to 784 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:30,919 Speaker 1: this community when we started this game back in two 785 00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:33,600 Speaker 1: thousand and six to be a celebration of the culture, heritage, 786 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,680 Speaker 1: and football tradition of the Lone Star State. And we're 787 00:40:36,719 --> 00:40:39,480 Speaker 1: looking forward to doing that again. A revamped week of 788 00:40:39,520 --> 00:40:42,920 Speaker 1: events around it that we'll be announcing soon and certainly 789 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:46,800 Speaker 1: encourage listeners to go to the Texas Bowl dot com 790 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:50,000 Speaker 1: or LSS dot net and get more details on that. 791 00:40:50,719 --> 00:40:53,320 Speaker 1: But we're really excited to be back at events, and 792 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:57,359 Speaker 1: these two events in particular are something that I think 793 00:40:57,440 --> 00:40:59,600 Speaker 1: Houston is ready to bring back and bring back in 794 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:03,040 Speaker 1: a big way. Looking for tickets like flesh at LSC 795 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:05,520 Speaker 1: dot net also ticketmaster dot com, or you can call 796 00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:08,880 Speaker 1: eight three two sixty seven two three nine zero. You 797 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:11,120 Speaker 1: want to be in there for Coops and Red Raiders. 798 00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:14,360 Speaker 1: And I've been to every kickoff game and every bowl 799 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:16,759 Speaker 1: game because I work, but I would also be there 800 00:41:16,760 --> 00:41:19,160 Speaker 1: if I weren't working, and it is. I've been to 801 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:26,560 Speaker 1: numerous bowl games, numerous big games, NFL playoff games, these games, 802 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:29,719 Speaker 1: kickoff and Bowl rival anything that you're gonna see. And 803 00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,560 Speaker 1: I love the padget treat you will as well. LSC 804 00:41:32,719 --> 00:41:36,239 Speaker 1: dot net, ticketmaster dot com, and flesh. I know you 805 00:41:36,280 --> 00:41:38,200 Speaker 1: got one other thing well, And I was just you 806 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:40,080 Speaker 1: hit the nail on the head, Johnny, but I was 807 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:42,520 Speaker 1: gonna say you talk. You opened up this interview talking 808 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:46,120 Speaker 1: about Nashville champions Because of the success that these events 809 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:50,040 Speaker 1: have been for our community. Houston will be hosting the 810 00:41:50,120 --> 00:41:54,759 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four College Football Playoff National Championship Game. That 811 00:41:54,920 --> 00:41:57,840 Speaker 1: is something that many in this community are just thrilled 812 00:41:58,120 --> 00:42:00,800 Speaker 1: that we have the opportunity to host. Wait, a national 813 00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:04,279 Speaker 1: champion will be crowned in that event come January eight, 814 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:07,200 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. But it's because of the success of 815 00:42:07,239 --> 00:42:09,760 Speaker 1: these events. It's because of the atmosphere that the fans 816 00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:12,960 Speaker 1: and the listeners create here in our building, in our 817 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:16,160 Speaker 1: community around these events. It's why we were selected to 818 00:42:16,239 --> 00:42:18,399 Speaker 1: have that opportunity, and I know over the next three 819 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:21,600 Speaker 1: years we're gonna do everything we can at our organization 820 00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:25,120 Speaker 1: and also in this community to continue to showcase what 821 00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:28,080 Speaker 1: we're doing on the biggest of stages and show why 822 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:29,960 Speaker 1: we earned that right to host that event. So we'll 823 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:33,000 Speaker 1: crown another national champion in that event. But but just 824 00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:35,160 Speaker 1: leading up with these next three years and certainly starting 825 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:38,120 Speaker 1: this fall, it's exciting to think about what's ahead of us, 826 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:40,760 Speaker 1: and we're looking forward to seeing everybody back, no doubt 827 00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:42,959 Speaker 1: my man, David Fletcher getting it done for the city 828 00:42:42,960 --> 00:42:45,480 Speaker 1: of Houston, community of Houston for the Big Twelve, the 829 00:42:45,560 --> 00:42:49,279 Speaker 1: sec for the Battle of Potty Woods and Steven f 830 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:51,600 Speaker 1: and Sam Houston. We are in great hands. Fletcher, the 831 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:54,040 Speaker 1: best man. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you, Johnny, 832 00:42:54,280 --> 00:42:57,640 Speaker 1: John Harrison, David Fletcher talking about Lone Star Sports and 833 00:42:57,760 --> 00:43:01,160 Speaker 1: Entertainment events this year at r Stadium. I am so 834 00:43:01,239 --> 00:43:03,840 Speaker 1: happy that we are all going to get to experience 835 00:43:03,920 --> 00:43:07,520 Speaker 1: game day together, whether it's Texans games or those games 836 00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:11,160 Speaker 1: that they just mentioned. Now go to the Texans app 837 00:43:11,200 --> 00:43:13,600 Speaker 1: for everything related to your Houston Texans. We have the 838 00:43:13,719 --> 00:43:16,120 Speaker 1: roster with all the numbers up there on the website 839 00:43:16,200 --> 00:43:18,960 Speaker 1: and the app, and we've got videos you can get 840 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:21,160 Speaker 1: a glimpse of OTAs just see what some of the 841 00:43:21,160 --> 00:43:23,040 Speaker 1: new Texans look like. We'll get a lot more as 842 00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:26,000 Speaker 1: the weeks go on here as we approach mandatory minicamp. 843 00:43:26,239 --> 00:43:30,880 Speaker 1: And also Texans three sixty Saturday Night at eleven, ABC thirteen. 844 00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:32,600 Speaker 1: This is a weekly show. Don't want to miss it. 845 00:43:32,840 --> 00:43:34,879 Speaker 1: I usually tweet it out on YouTube the next day, 846 00:43:34,920 --> 00:43:36,440 Speaker 1: but it's fun to watch it on the big screen 847 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:39,719 Speaker 1: on ABC thirteen with our partners. It's good stuff. I 848 00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:42,279 Speaker 1: want to wish you everyone a great holiday weekend, have 849 00:43:42,360 --> 00:43:45,719 Speaker 1: a beautiful night. Thank you Eddy for producing, and Go Texans.