1 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: And just like that, we're back another episode of Late 2 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: Kick Extra Thursday morning here, January seventh. It is now 3 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one. Been a long year so far. If 4 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: I had to be honest with you, it has been. 5 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: But this is not the platform nor the place where 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: we try and say profound things that will be remembered 7 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: one hundred years from now. No, we just keep at 8 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: college football here. Imagine the nerve. So we've got a 9 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: lot of good questions this morning. Actually, we've got a 10 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 1: national championship game less than a week from now. We've 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: got a Bama and Ohio State. Plenty of that talk 12 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 1: coming tonight on the twenty four to seven Sports YouTube channel. 13 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: We'll have our official well of course, have the official 14 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: game breakdown prediction. We'll have our game capsule, our pick, 15 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: the pick against the spread. We'll have everything you need 16 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: to know. And I got to be honest with you, 17 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: I got a lot to say about that game. So 18 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: I don't know how long that preview is going to go, obviously, 19 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: we only have one to do. Could go thirty minutes 20 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: on a game, I don't know. We'll see. So we've 21 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: got a Q and a session this morning. It's a 22 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: good old fashioned mail bag episode, as is every Late 23 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: Kick Extra podcast. How do you get in touch? Well, 24 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: you can follow me on Twitter and then DM me 25 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: there at Latekick Josh, or you can email me Josh 26 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: pat seven zero six at gmail dot com. Now some 27 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: of you have taken the training to hit me in 28 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: the dms on Instagram. Not the best of ideas I 29 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: checked out about once a year. Not the account, but 30 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: just the inbox. So hey, I don't mind that you 31 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: follow me over there. I think it's at Latekickjosh on 32 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: Instagram too, But the main ways are Twitter and email 33 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: to get in touch and to submit a question like, 34 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: for example, this one. Patch twenty three said, that's probably 35 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: not his real name, but that is what he goes by. 36 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 1: Patch twenty three says, with Cincinnati falling to Georgia in 37 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: the Peach Bowl, does that really silence the G five 38 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: playoff talk? Well, I don't think it will, nor do 39 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: I think it should. Now let's very very carefully frame this. Okay, 40 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: So some of you may be new and you may 41 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: not know how I feel about this. I'm a believer 42 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: no G five team should ever be in the play off, 43 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: not because they're not good enough as teams I believe 44 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: that their schedule could never be good enough. So it's 45 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: never been a personal thing between me and any given 46 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: G five team. I think UCF has had some really 47 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: quality teams. I think that this year's Cincinnati team was 48 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: very strong. I've there have been boise teams in the past, 49 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: so it's never been a thing where I look at 50 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: the team and I say, oh, they could never compete. 51 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: But there is a minimum baseline requirement I think you 52 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: should have to meet in terms of your strength of 53 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: schedule in order to qualify for the playoff. Otherwise you 54 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 1: have to expose yourself to a certain degree to injury, 55 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: to having a bad Saturday and getting beat. You don't 56 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: expose yourself to that playing the schedules that most of 57 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: these teams play. Now, there was a Houston team a 58 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: couple of years back that I think played Oklahoma one 59 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: other Power five team in the regular season. They had 60 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: a legitimate schedule that I think if they went undefeated 61 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: against would have put them in the playoff. They didn't 62 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: go undefeated, Okay, So that's my stance. The schedule, the 63 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: strength of schedule, the burden of responsibility. To play a 64 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: stronger schedule, you don't meet, and it's not your fault. 65 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: You're playing the schedules you can play. I get that, 66 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: but it's also not Auburn's fault. It's also not Virginia 67 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: Tech's fault. It just is what it is. So my 68 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: proposition has always been half two separate playoffs, a G 69 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: five playoff and a P five playoff. And I get 70 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: pushed back for a million different reasons, but there's no 71 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: other viable solution in my mind. Expanding the playoff is 72 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: not giving an autobid to the G five is not. 73 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: I'm not for any of that, not for it at all. 74 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: So that's my stance now, having said that, no, Cincinnati 75 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: losing to Georgia doesn't prove the G five doesn't belong 76 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: at all. Absolutely not, And it's always, honestly, it's been 77 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: these kinds of situations in postseason play that have always 78 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: been able to distinguish my beliefs on this from most people. 79 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: So most people who don't believe G five teams should 80 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: be in the playoff, they look at a situation where 81 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: a Cincinnati loses to Georgia in a New Year six 82 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: game and they'll say, see, told you they couldn't even 83 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: beat Georgia. Well that's not the evidence. That's not the proof, 84 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: because I mean, the same folks are sitting there saying, well, 85 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: Utah did beat Alabama, or yeah, Central Florida did beat Auburn, 86 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: but they weren't really motivated to be there. So you know, 87 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: this bowl game doesn't really tell the whole story. Well, 88 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: you're right in those situations. I certainly believe you're right. 89 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: But I'm also right here in saying, Okay, well, maybe 90 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: we can apply the reverse logic and maybe this bowl 91 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: game didn't tell the whole story. You know, maybe, and 92 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 1: I don't believe this to be true necessarily, but I 93 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: could reasonably make the argument that maybe Cincinnati was a 94 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 1: little bit let down from having their goal of making 95 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 1: the playoffs swiped out from under their feet, and maybe 96 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: they didn't fully show up. Again, I don't believe that, 97 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: but you couldn't totally dismiss it, especially if you accept 98 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: the counter arguments. When the big boys lose to the 99 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: G five's, you got to accept both sides. So I 100 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: don't go down that road. Period. Nothing that happens in 101 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: the bowl game changes your true body of work, your 102 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: true body of work, your resume to make a Bowl. 103 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: In other words, is your regular season, that's it, and 104 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: maybe a conference championship game. It's not let's make the decision, 105 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: but then let's wait to see what you do in 106 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: the bowl game before we really decide if you should 107 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: have been in the bowl game. He say, how backwards 108 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: that is. That's stupid, And this is not like. It's 109 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: not like you play one regular season game and then 110 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: it's playoff time. You get. Even in a shortened year 111 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: like this, most teams played anywhere between seven and a 112 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: twelve games, so everybody got a nice sample size. And 113 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: in a normal year, everyone's played twelve games minimum. So 114 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: everyone's got a very strong body of work with which 115 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: you should be able. If you know the sport, you 116 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: should be able to look at it and you should 117 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: be able to tell one way or the other. Do 118 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 1: they deserve, do they not deserve? Do they belong? Do 119 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: they not belong? In fact of the matter is Cincinnati 120 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: played a heck of a game against Georgia. Okay, here's 121 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: what I tweeted afterwards. Well, I'm gonna have to paraphrase 122 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: myself because I don't feel like looking it up, but 123 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: here are my thoughts about that. It's not could they 124 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 1: beat Georgia? It never has been. It never has been 125 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 1: could a G five team beat a Power five team? 126 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: That's never been the question in my mind, at least 127 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: because the answer is always yes, They've done it plenty 128 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: of times. That's not the question. The question is about 129 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: whether they belong in the playoff or not. And what 130 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: you heard me say about my thoughts on their schedule 131 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: year in and year out not meeting the minimum baseline. 132 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: Here's what I find myself thinking. When I see Cincinnati 133 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 1: barely lose to Georgia, I think the same thing is 134 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: if I saw them barely beat Georgia. You know, let's 135 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 1: say the scores were reversed. Okay, so Cincinnati edges Georgia. 136 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: That's not the question. The question is not could you 137 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: do that? My question would be could you then go 138 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: to College Station, Texas seven days later and play on 139 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: the road against A and M. Could you then come 140 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: home to play Kentucky and then have Alabama in there 141 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: the next week? And after you play Alabama you got 142 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 1: a bye week, but then you're going to go play Florida. 143 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 1: This is what we call a Power five schedule. This 144 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: is what any team that comes from where Georgia came 145 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: from has to go through in the SEC. That is 146 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 1: how you prove yourself. Okay. One of Cincinnati's toughest games 147 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: of the year was their conference championship game against a 148 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: good Tulsa team. They barely beat them. That Tulsa team 149 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: turned around and got beat by Mike Leach in Mississippi 150 00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: State in a bowl game. Just to give you an 151 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: eye idea of how relative strength of team is and 152 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: how relative it is to what schedule you play, because 153 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: chances are there are a lot of teams in some 154 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: of these Power five conferences. When I say a lot, 155 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: I mean anywhere from six to ten that I could 156 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: take and give Cincinnati schedule to and see them go undefeated. Well, 157 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: do we really think that there were six to ten 158 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: other teams that are playoff worthy in America this year? No? 159 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: I mean. I asked one of my odds maker buddies 160 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: the other day if I gave North Carolina Cincinnati schedule 161 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: this year, would they be favored in every game? Answer 162 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: was yes, they would be favored in every game. Well, 163 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: what would have changed about North Carolina? Because if they 164 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: played that schedule and went undefeated, I'm guaranteeing you a 165 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: lot of you would be calling for them to be 166 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: in the playoff. Why they're no different a team than 167 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: the team we're looking at currently that none of us 168 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: believe was a playoff worthy team. Well, what changed? Their 169 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: schedule changed, and some folks out there are still blind 170 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: enough in college football to believe that you are what 171 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: your record says you are. This is not pro sports. 172 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: Stop allowing people to try and compare the college model 173 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: and the pro model. Stop allowing people to say, well, 174 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: the NFL's got it figured out. Every winner of every 175 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: division gets an autobid of the playoff in the NFL. 176 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: That's good. Watch Sunday football if that's what you're about. 177 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: This is not the way this sport should be run. 178 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: Pro sports models should not be applied to college football. 179 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: The gap between the best team and the worst team 180 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: in the NFL point spread any given Sunday is normally 181 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: between fourteen and twenty points, and that's in an extreme year. 182 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: The gap between Alabama and Kent State is fifty five, 183 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: and that's just because Alabama doesn't feel like scoring more. 184 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 1: The difference in the strengths of teams, and therefore the 185 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: strengths of schedules in college football makes it totally unique 186 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: under anything else on planet Earth. So to a lot 187 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: of folks out there who say, well, we could just 188 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:45,079 Speaker 1: solve all this by making conference championships necessary to make 189 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: the playoff, that means that we would have room for everyone. Oh, 190 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 1: I'm not interested in that. It sounds fair until you 191 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,079 Speaker 1: realize it's not. You know, if you got one conference 192 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: that's sixty three percent stronger than another conference, well chances 193 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: are you could have two or three of the best 194 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: teams in America in that thing. Too bad they lost games, right, 195 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: you are what your record says you are? Well no, 196 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: because I'll tell you this. What if they were to 197 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,199 Speaker 1: just all label themselves as an independent tomorrow? You know 198 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: what if what if a bunch of teams in the 199 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,439 Speaker 1: SEC just decided we're gonna label ourselves independence and then 200 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: you know what we're gonna do. We're gonna go schedule 201 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: a lot of the teams that Cincinnati plays every year. 202 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: I'm not picking on Cincinnati, I'm using them as an example. 203 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: The same some of the same crowd that cried for 204 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 1: Cincinnati to make the playoff this year would lambasted Florida 205 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: if they seceded from the SEC and scheduled Cincinnati's schedule, 206 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: they'd say, were you guys who are just trying to 207 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: schedule easy teams to make the playoff? You don't say, well, 208 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: who set the precedent? Who set that argument? We didn't. 209 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: We were happy down here the way it was. But 210 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: if you guys are going to cry out that undefeated 211 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: is undefeated, and if you don't win your conference championship, 212 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: tough luck. Well we're gonna remove ourselves from a conference 213 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,199 Speaker 1: and play the schedule you play and hop skip and 214 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,719 Speaker 1: jump into the playoff every year. Does that sound fair? No, 215 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: it doesn't. So figure out a better way to field 216 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: your playoff than just did you go undefeed it? Because 217 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: if you do, you automatically in did you win a 218 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: conference championship? If you didn't, no way we can let 219 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: you in. One of the best ways I ever heard 220 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: the summarized one time was this question. And for those 221 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: of you who believe in conference championships being a requirement, 222 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: for those of you who believe in autobids for conference 223 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: champions just listen to this. If you and I, okay, 224 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: let's the rest of the room is not there. You 225 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: and me, we walked into a school and our sole 226 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: purpose was to find the four smartest kids in that school. 227 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: What would we do We would probably want to gather 228 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: all the kids and then test them. However, we're going 229 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 1: to test them, right, and then the four highest grades, 230 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: we're just going to take them. And we found the 231 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: four smartest kids, right, Okay, that sounds very simple, and 232 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: that is the way it should be done. But then 233 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: what if all of a sudden we found those four 234 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: smartest kids and then the principal walked up to us 235 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: and whispered it in our ear. Hey, I know that 236 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: you had your methods here, but we got a problem. 237 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: The problem is three of those kids are in the 238 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: same class, so you can only take one per class. 239 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: I mean that's obvious, right. You would say, no, that's 240 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: not obvious. What are you talking about. We're looking for 241 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 1: the four smartest kids, period. And he says, well, I mean, 242 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: let's be real now, if the kid here, kid be 243 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: and kids see, if they're not even the smartest kids 244 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: in their own classroom, then I mean, how could they 245 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: possibly be the smartest in the school. Well, you would say, no, no, no, sir, 246 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 1: We're not looking for the smartest kid in the school. 247 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: We're looking for the four smartest kids in the school, 248 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: and so it stands to reason maybe more than one 249 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,079 Speaker 1: of the smartest kids is in the same classroom. Okay, 250 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: how long would that conversation go on? How long would 251 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: that argument go on? It wouldn't go on very long. 252 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: I mean, if the principal stonewalls you, then you just 253 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: I don't know what you do. I mean this is 254 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: a hypothetical, but the point is the principal puts something 255 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: arbitrary in the way of you and your task. Your task, 256 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: and your task alone is to find the four smartest kids, 257 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: just like our task and our task alone is to 258 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 1: find the four most deserving teams. I don't even say 259 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: four best all the time, because wins and losses do matter, 260 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 1: but you have to understand how to properly characterize them 261 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: and how to properly interpret strength of schedule. Our task 262 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: in college football is to find well, the four most 263 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: deserving teams. Right. Well, when you start putting these barriers 264 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 1: in place like rooms or conferences, then they're arbitrarily getting 265 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: in the way of carrying out what the true task is. 266 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: And in the words of former Alabama All American Forest 267 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: comp that's all I got to say about that all right, 268 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: let's move on. Jesse asked a question about Jeremy Prewett 269 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: that was right in line with well, it's a version 270 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:18,839 Speaker 1: of what many of you have asked to be honest 271 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,719 Speaker 1: with you, And you know what, Jesse, I'm going to 272 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: paraphrase your question. You know what you sent So here's 273 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: basically the deal. Everyone wants to know, what in the 274 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: world is going on at Tennessee. What's the deal with 275 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: Jeremy Prewett? Why is there so much smoke? When are 276 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 1: we going to know something? And for the record, Jesse 277 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: and the rest of you, I share those questions. I 278 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: share that sentiment. So let's just set the stage briefly, 279 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: very briefly. It's not a long podcast. And then I'm 280 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: going to tell you where I think things are right now, 281 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: where I think they're going. Jeremy Prewitt entered this season 282 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: on an eight game winning streak. All was well in Knoxville. 283 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: People were looking really forward to this season. Tennessee had 284 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: bad COVID issues in the preseason. Tennessee did not have 285 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: a good season on the field. They finished below five hundred. 286 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: Towards the end of the year, you started to hear 287 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: whispers about internal investigations there, and there was a lot 288 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 1: of hot seat talk on radio and message boards and whatnot, 289 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: but that I didn't think was going to have a 290 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: lot of traction until we started to hear about this 291 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: internal investigation. And then the morning of the Texas A 292 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: and M game, which was the final regular season game. 293 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: I think that was the nineteenth I think it was 294 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: SEC Championship Saturday, then the news breaks there is an 295 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: internal investigation going on at Tennessee. Hasn't been a ton 296 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 1: of really tangible evidence that's just been put out there 297 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 1: for the public size since then, and so there's been 298 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff that's in limbo. And I'm going 299 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 1: to tell you the one thing that I think is 300 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: detached from reality. The more that I've talked to some 301 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 1: people about this, Initially, I think it was thought, and 302 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 1: I think it's totally fair that you thought this, if 303 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: you did, it was thought that this is an inside job. 304 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: Look at what they're doing. They're releasing details of an 305 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: investigation the morning of a game, so pru It has 306 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: no time to get ahead of it. And this is 307 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: ultimately probably from people inside the program who want him fired, 308 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: and they're trying to figure out a way to fire 309 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: him with cause they don't have to pay his buyout, 310 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: and the timing and release of this story that's just 311 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: meant to really torpedo any kind of credibility and leverage 312 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 1: he has. I totally understand why it would look that way. 313 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: I think more and more as time goes on, you're 314 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 1: going to come to realize that wasn't the way this 315 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: timeline went. It's just the way it happened to fall. 316 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: So I don't think that's the case as much as 317 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: maybe I did when I first heard it. When I 318 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: first heard it, that's how it struck me too. You know, 319 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: it's far too convenient a timeline, But it does turn 320 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: out I think it was not convenient. I think it 321 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: was just happenstance that it went that way, so independent 322 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: of the timeline. Now here's where we are. We don't 323 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: know what's going to happen and when you and I 324 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: don't know. Sometimes people behind the scenes know, but in 325 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: this case, people behind the scenes really don't know. And 326 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: that includes Jeremy Pruitt. That includes his coaching staff, that 327 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 1: includes his current roster, that includes new signees, that includes 328 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: kids they're trying to lock up for the final signing 329 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: day coming up next month in February. There's a lot 330 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: of unser You can't run a program that way. If 331 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: you were to ask me now, as we move forward 332 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: whether Jeremy Prewitt is going to be the head coach 333 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: or not, do I think he will be? I think 334 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: it's fifty to fifty at best right now, To be 335 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: perfectly honest with you, I don't have a lot of 336 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 1: confidence either way. It would not surprise me at all 337 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: if we woke up tomorrow and he had been relieved 338 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: of his duties. It also wouldn't shock me at all 339 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: if you know, in February March come around and there 340 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: have been some internal staff moves. There's some guys that 341 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: used to be with the Tennessee program that are no 342 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: longer with him. But Jeremy Pruett is still there, and 343 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: he goes into twenty twenty one, albeit on uncertain footing, 344 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: but at least with his job. I think the biggest 345 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: parts of this story have yet to come out. I 346 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: also think that there are going to be public opinion 347 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: matters and then there are going to be procedural matters. 348 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: So in other words, there's going to be some stuff 349 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: that may look or sound a little sketch, but by 350 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: and large, it all comes down to you know what 351 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: you think about it. Whereas there may be other things 352 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: where the letter of the loss, as this right here 353 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: was wrong. You can't do this. Someone has to be punished. 354 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: But in due time we're going to find out about 355 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 1: all that. It's not going to be a secret forever. 356 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: So eventually there will be a day, maybe in the 357 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: not too distant future, where investigators meet with the head 358 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: coach there himself, Jeremy pruittt this is the absolute worst. Okay, 359 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: So I know this is like a stream, so it 360 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: all sounds live. There was about a fifteen minute pause 361 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: there because I had to get updated on, as it 362 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: turns out, the very topic that you and I were 363 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: talking about. So even when we're not doing live shows, 364 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: we have a breaking news. So again, as I was 365 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: just talking about, you and I are going to have 366 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: to wait and see together, we're going to see procedure reliever, 367 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: very important word there. How this turns out at Tennessee, Well, 368 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: one of these stories that I was hinting at coming 369 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: the other day is out. It's from Mark Schlayball at ESPN, 370 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: who I can tell you has been well. At least 371 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: the rumor on the street was he had been working 372 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: on a story here for a while. So news from 373 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: Mark schleay Ball Tennessee is not extending contracts of football 374 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: assistance and has imposed a hiring freeze as it investigates 375 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: possile recruiting violations within Jeremy Prewitt's program. Okay, this is 376 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 1: essentially the chancellor president, however you want to term it, 377 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: of the university saying I've got to sign off on 378 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: this stuff. You're under investigation. I'm not giving you the 379 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,919 Speaker 1: ability to make any staffing moves until this is figured out. Okay. 380 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: And then in the football world, Jeremy Pruitt probably throws 381 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: up his arms and says, how do you expect me 382 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: to conduct business over here if I can't even hire people? 383 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: And then the chancellor probably looks back and says, not 384 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: my problem, bub How do you expect to conduct business 385 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 1: if you can't conduct business the right way? And so 386 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: to me, my first thought is, for all intents and purposes, 387 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: Jeremy Pruitt has done at Tennessee. Even if this doesn't 388 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: immediately cost him his job, this will put Tennessee so 389 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: far behind the eight ball that it's all but a 390 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: formality that if not now, then this time next year 391 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 1: he'll be gone. So I think in a lot of ways, 392 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: the book on Jeremy Prewit's tenure is in its final 393 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 1: chapters in Knoxville. Okay, so let's reset. Now, enough breaking 394 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: news for a pre recorded podcast. In my opinion, we 395 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: got Lake Kick live tonight. Listen. I mean I was 396 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: formatting that as we speak. I was just going to 397 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 1: do the game breakdown Ohio State Alabama. Well, now it 398 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:09,199 Speaker 1: looks like something else got added onto the plate. So 399 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: Director Colin will be thrilled to hear that when I 400 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: send it to him. But he didn't have to know 401 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: about that yet. Okay, so let's keep going. We got 402 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 1: a good question actually about the national championship game. We 403 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: will tackle that no pun into Yeah, I guess pun 404 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: was intended. We will tackle that head on right after this, 405 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: all right? Stacey asked about Alabama. So Stacey frequent contributed 406 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: to the program. She's a big Alabama fan, and she asked, well, 407 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: she said she's nervous about the Ohio State National Championship 408 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: game Monday night. Understandable, Stacy, that's a very good team. 409 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: You guys are going up against and she said, I'm 410 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 1: nervous because I remember when we were favored against Clemson 411 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: and the last National championship game we played in and 412 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: we got blown out. Convinced me this won't be different. Well, 413 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: I can't necessarily confirm that it won't be different. I 414 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: could also tell you Alabama could blow someone out, so 415 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:57,880 Speaker 1: it could happen on the opposite side of the coin. 416 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,239 Speaker 1: I guess now, I would expect a close game here. 417 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to show you what our model has on 418 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: this game and give you my predictions tonight on Lake 419 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: Caick Live. But I'll say this so I remember I 420 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: was talking to someone who covers Alabama the other day 421 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: and I was reminiscing about that game that twenty it's 422 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: a twenty eighteen season. The twenty eighteen National Championship game 423 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: out in California. It was in Santa Clara, and so 424 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,640 Speaker 1: I was out there. Did not like the setting at all. 425 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: Don't think a National Championship game ever belongs in Santa Clara, California. 426 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: But be that as it may, that's where it was. 427 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 1: So Alabama played Oklahoma the week leading up to that. 428 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 1: Clemson played Notre Dame the week leading up to that, 429 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: well not the week, yeah, about the week and a 430 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: half leading up to that. There were problems, I mean 431 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: big problems behind the scenes for Alabama. It was the 432 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: worst chemistry that I've ever experienced behind the scenes for them. 433 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: There were all kinds of issues on Nick Saban's staff. 434 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: I think he had the weakest pair of coordinators relatively speaking, 435 00:19:57,760 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 1: on that team that he's ever had, and that was 436 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: going to be a challenge enough. But compounding matters was 437 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: the fact that everyone was leaving, like his entire staff 438 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: was about to be gone, some by choice, some by 439 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: requirement to pack your bags and get out of here. 440 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,439 Speaker 1: They had just it was a very bad dynamic, I 441 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 1: thought leading up to the game. It was a supreme 442 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: testament to how good Nick Saban is that he had 443 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: a team that fractured behind the scenes in the National 444 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: Championship game. You know a lot of times when teams 445 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 1: go off the rails, you look at him and you say, well, 446 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,880 Speaker 1: see there there's a sure fire example of a team 447 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 1: that doesn't have his act together behind the scenes, and 448 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: this is the result. Well, some teams that are achieving 449 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 1: on the field still have those problems, and that drama 450 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: behind the scenes that Alabama team did. Let me tell you, 451 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 1: there was some very un Alabama esque problems that particular year. 452 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: And so they go into that game and they were 453 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 1: behind the scenes just a mess. But yet they were 454 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: still favored in the game. It's still Alabama, so you 455 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 1: still think they've got it to get the job done here. 456 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: And then true freshman Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etn and 457 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: that crew, they end up running away with the game 458 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: and they just dominated in the red zone defensively. That's 459 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: how they did it. And I remember it was just 460 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: such a weird feeling to watch that because here's what 461 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 1: you felt like, or at least I felt like. I 462 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: felt like I was watching such an anomalous result to 463 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: where if I ran that game back the next week, 464 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 1: Clemson may win the game again. I certainly don't think 465 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: it's going to be forty four to sixteen. But yet 466 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: that doesn't matter because you play the football game one time. 467 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: So I guess it kind of sounds like I'm trying 468 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: to rain on Clemson. No I'm not at all. I'm 469 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: not doing that whatsoever. That's how winners operate. You play 470 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: the game, you win the game, You win the championship, 471 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 1: and then everyone else gets to complain. My point is 472 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: I think this Alabama team would smoke that Alabama team 473 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 1: because this Alabama team is a well oiled machine compared 474 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: to that Alabama team. Now, it's not that the talent 475 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:59,359 Speaker 1: levels better, although it is, but it's not that. It's 476 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 1: that this is an actual team that was a collection 477 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: of dudes. That's what that was. That was so good. 478 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: It was still able to make it to a championship game, 479 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: but when it came up against a better team, you 480 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 1: saw the result. This right here is one of Nick 481 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: Saban's best teams. He's not shy about talking about it 482 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 1: publicly or behind the scenes either. So I say all 483 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,199 Speaker 1: that to say this Ohio State is perfectly capable of 484 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: winning this game, but they will have to take it 485 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,880 Speaker 1: from them. And when Alabama is operating at peak efficiency, 486 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,679 Speaker 1: history has taught us that's a very hard thing to do. 487 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: Not impossible, but a very hard thing to do. All right. 488 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,959 Speaker 1: Jeffrey's up next, he said, Well, I guess he asked, 489 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,640 Speaker 1: and I will say, do you expect Oregon to dominate 490 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:43,199 Speaker 1: the Pac twelve for years to come? All right? So 491 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 1: I think there's two part answer here. The first part 492 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: applies to Oregon, the second part applies to all of 493 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,439 Speaker 1: college football. Firstly, I think they're set up to do 494 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: very well. I don't think that you can look at 495 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: Southern Cal and the talent that they will continue to acquire. 496 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: Last year's recruiting class is going to be a decade 497 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:03,199 Speaker 1: from now. I'm going to use this word again, one 498 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: of the biggest anomalies in the history of college football recruiting. 499 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: I mean, they were abhorrent last year because everyone thought 500 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:10,959 Speaker 1: Clay Helpton was going to be fired. Then he went 501 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: undefeated in the regular season, and they've locked up a 502 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 1: really good recruiting class, just landed the top player in 503 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: the country and Corey Forman, So I mean they're gonna 504 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: be okay, like they're going to be there. So it's 505 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: not necessarily domination that I expect, but Oregon is quickly 506 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 1: on its way to having the best talent roster on 507 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: the West Coast as good as Southern Cal just did 508 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 1: in recruiting. I mean, Oregon's right there, if not better. 509 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: And so I think at the last check they were 510 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 1: the number six overall class per the twenty four to 511 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: seven Sports Team rankings and that's pretty incredible. I mean, 512 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,159 Speaker 1: that's really incredible, especially considering you have to go out 513 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 1: of state for virtually all your talent. That's the answer 514 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: to part one. Part two is this, what's it gonna matter? 515 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,199 Speaker 1: This is a scary question if you really think about it. 516 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: So the beginning of this podcast this morning, I was 517 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 1: talking about the G five, right and I was talking 518 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 1: about how even if a lot of those teams go undefeated, 519 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 1: I don't think they merit playoff consideration because they don't 520 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: meet the minimum threshold requirements scheduling wise that I think 521 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: you should meet. In other words, they don't play a 522 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,920 Speaker 1: strong enough schedule to where they've proven themselves no matter 523 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 1: how good the team is. Could that happen in the 524 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: PAC twelve? Is my question, because I'm telling you right now, 525 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: as much as I'd say that about the G five, 526 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 1: you know, G five, that's not a conference. The G 527 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: five are five conferences, the group of five kind of 528 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:28,640 Speaker 1: like when we say P five power five, Well, that's 529 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: not a conference. That is kind of a description that 530 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 1: we've put on the SEC, the ACC, the Big twelve, 531 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 1: the Big Ten, and the PAC twelve. I think it 532 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 1: is time at the moment at least to stop categorizing 533 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: the PAC twelve as being in the same conversation as 534 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: the big ten in the SEC. It's not comparable. They're 535 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 1: not even comparable. And so here's the situation you have. 536 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: Situation you have is the PAC twelve's fallen behind, and 537 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 1: it's only falling further behind as the days go by. 538 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 1: I'd be lying right now if I told you I 539 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: thought there was separation between the bottom of the power 540 00:24:57,920 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 1: five and the top of the G five. In fact, 541 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 1: I think it's quite the opposite. If you were to 542 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: ask me today over the next five years, which conference 543 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: will be stronger going forward, the PAC twelve or the AAC. 544 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: I picked the AAC. You give me a conference full 545 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: of Houston's and Cincinnatis and Central Florida, Memphis. I mean, 546 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: you give me those teams and then you give me 547 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: the next five years, versus the downward trajectory that the 548 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: PAC twelve seems to be trending. I'd have to take 549 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: the AAC, which means the top of the G five 550 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: and the bottom of the power five has blended to 551 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: the point where you either replace one in your mind. 552 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: It's not like it's an official designation. You either replace 553 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 1: them in your mind, or you just start saying power four, 554 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 1: Cause I mean, we can't in good conscience keep saying 555 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 1: power five knowing full well the bottom of that totem 556 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: pole there is weaker than the top of the other 557 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 1: totem pole. Well, at that point it dissolves the entire 558 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: purpose behind separating one and the other. And so here's 559 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: my concern, and here would be my concern if I 560 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: were Mario Christoval, Clay Helton, Kyle Whittingham, whoever you're talking 561 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: about out on the West coast. Is my best going 562 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: to be good enough to achieve at the highest levels 563 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 1: of this sport? Is my best going to be good enough? 564 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: Or are we approaching a point, an inflection point, if 565 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 1: you will, in the college football world where maybe one 566 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:16,119 Speaker 1: day undefeated won't be good enough in the Pac twelve. 567 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 1: You never think that day will come. You always assume, 568 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: because of that imaginary P five sticker on your chest, 569 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 1: that undefeated conference champ, that'll always be good enough. And 570 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 1: maybe it will, and I'm sure if your Southern Cali 571 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: or Oregon, it probably would be. But just I think 572 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 1: that I don't know that, And so just think about 573 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: this for a second. Moving forward, you know what, if 574 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: your best is no longer good enough when you're in 575 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,360 Speaker 1: the PAC twelve, that's what worries me. I think that's 576 00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: what worries them out there. And again, this is not 577 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 1: something that's been steadied. This slip, this fall down down 578 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: a mountain, it's not been steadied yet. It's still in 579 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: the process of happening, like the PAC twelve is still 580 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: tripping and stumbling down the hill. And the other bad 581 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 1: part about this is some of your P five brethren, 582 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: they're not standing there watching you fall. They're climbing, so 583 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: they are further separating themselves from you. And it won't 584 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,800 Speaker 1: be too long before people in those conferences they're looking 585 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: at you the same way they look at some of 586 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 1: those G five schools. And they're sitting there looking at 587 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: maybe Oregon, saying, hey, I think Oregon's a really good team, 588 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: but it doesn't matter. They're not playing anything out there. 589 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:22,119 Speaker 1: They're not playing anyone. I mean, what is it proving 590 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 1: to us that they beat the one hundred and first 591 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,120 Speaker 1: best team in the country, and then the ninety third 592 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 1: best team in the country, and then number sixty four 593 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: and then oh look, big game here at number thirty 594 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: two but then they play number seventy eight the next week, 595 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 1: what is that proving? You know? That would be a 596 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: good point. Hopefully it doesn't come to that. I'm certainly 597 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: not rooting for it, but I'm telling you we're not 598 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 1: that far away from that. And so that's what I 599 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,399 Speaker 1: would watch. If I were asking about Oregon, I wouldn't 600 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: be asking are they going to have a good team? Oh? Yeah, 601 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: They're going to have a good team. Absolutely, But if 602 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 1: I'm going to apply the same logic that I applied 603 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: to the G five I've told you before, just to 604 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 1: prove my point about how it's about scheduling for me 605 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: over quality of team, I could take the Kansas City 606 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 1: Chiefs and drop them into the MAC, and if they 607 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 1: played a MAC schedule, I would not qualify them for 608 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:09,160 Speaker 1: the playoff. I wouldn't put them in the playoff. They'd 609 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: be undefeated, conference champ blah blah blah, and they would 610 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 1: be the Chiefs. So they're clearly the best team in 611 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 1: America by ten miles. They'd be favored by four touchdowns 612 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,439 Speaker 1: or five touchdowns over Alabama, and yet I would not 613 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: qualify for them for the playoff because they would not 614 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 1: have met the minimum baseline requirement of a schedule. That 615 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 1: could be Organ's problem in the not too distant future. 616 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 1: So that's my concern for them. It's not quality of teams, 617 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: not quality of coach. They just re up to Mario Christobaul. 618 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: That's great, here's what you need. And this seems counterintuitive, 619 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 1: but it is the boat that the PAC twelve is 620 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: in right now. You have to start rooting for your rivals. 621 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: That's something that the University of Alabama never has to do. 622 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: They don't have to root for LSU. They can root 623 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: for their demise. They don't have to hope that Brian 624 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: Harson works out at Auburn. They don't have to hope 625 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 1: that Jimbo Fisher keeps it rolling. They don't have to 626 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,200 Speaker 1: wish that Kirby's smart. Really it's Georgia over the hump 627 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: and wins something. They don't have to do that because 628 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 1: they know the brand of the SEC and the inevitable 629 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 1: strength of schedule a year over year in the SEC 630 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 1: that will carry them. They don't have to worry about 631 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: what the rivals are doing well in the PAC twelve, 632 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 1: you do have to worry about that, just like in 633 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 1: the upper levels of the g five right now. You know, 634 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: if you're a Memphis fan and you think you've got 635 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: a strong team coming next year, really subconsciously, you guys 636 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 1: know this. You've experienced it before. You got to pull 637 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: for UCF. You gotta pull for Cincinnati, SMU, Houston like 638 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 1: you got to pull for those teams to be good 639 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 1: until you play them. That could be the boat very 640 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 1: quickly that Oregon finds themselves in where you're having to 641 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: pull for usc You're having to pull four oh Washington. 642 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: Can you imagine? And if someone's going to beat them, 643 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 1: it needs to be you. But then hopefully no one else. 644 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 1: All right, As I said, we have got late KICKLVE 645 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 1: coming up tonight and we are going to do the 646 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,920 Speaker 1: Ohio State Alabama full breakdown. We are going all over 647 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 1: the place, different angles, preview game capsule, prediction, straight up 648 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,720 Speaker 1: and against the spread. Could be juicy. In fact, it 649 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: will be juicy. Hope you'll join us there. Thank you 650 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: so much for the five star reviews on the podcast. 651 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 1: Keep those coming in. We're over thirteen hundred now and 652 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: hope to let's push it over two thousand. Why not, 653 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: we can do it until then. For producer Jordan on 654 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 1: the podcast, side of things. I'm Josh Pate. Thanks so 655 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: much for listening to Late kickxst for this morning, Have 656 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 1: a great day and God bless