1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to the solid verbal. 2 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 2: Come for me. 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: I'm a man, I'm. 4 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 2: For I've heard so many players say, well, I want 5 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 2: to be happy. You want to be happy for Dake 6 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 2: Edith Steak is that woo. 7 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: Woom and tom over. 8 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 2: You must be in a good place. You're really going 9 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 2: for it today. 10 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: I like that. This is your captain, Ty Hilton ran 11 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: that fine gentleman over there, Lieutenant Dan Rubinstein, welcome back 12 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: to the Tues cruise. We've got a lot to discuss. 13 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: Of course, go back and listen to the week thirteen 14 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: slash Rivalry week recap if you have not done so. 15 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: That dropped early on Sunday morning to the general public. 16 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: But yeah, there's been some coaching moves Dan, We've got 17 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 1: coaching news that we need to We need to get 18 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: transmissions on and coming. 19 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 2: For it in coming tramp. 20 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: Man incoming transmissions here. Yes, post the college football regular 21 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: season all pretty much pertained to things going down in 22 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: the coaching world. Mike Elko hired by Texas A and 23 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: m Jonathan Smith hired by Michigan State, Jeff Leby hired 24 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: by Mississippi State. We of course have other openings that 25 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: we will do our best to recap here over the 26 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: next half hour or so. But sir, how are you? 27 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: I'm good, Ty. I have a lot of thoughts with 28 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 2: all of these coaching moves, and I know you want 29 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: to start, I assume with Texas A and M. But 30 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 2: that was an especially fun one because as we started 31 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: report recording excuse me Saturday night, it was well, it's 32 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: looking like Mark Stoops everybody, And then like forty four 33 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: minutes into the recording session the live stream, I messaged 34 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: you privately just on our slack that said, Hey, I 35 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 2: don't think it's going to be for Zoops because more 36 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 2: news started breaking and it will be fun if we 37 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: get a full reporting. I know there are rumors about 38 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: what happened, but a full reporting on the sort of 39 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 2: psyche that happens mid session, mid process of hiring a 40 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,799 Speaker 2: new coach to come into College Station and hopefully take 41 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 2: the Eggies to the next level, that'd be great. But man, 42 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 2: I think I still feel like this is just the 43 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 2: beginning of this cycle. 44 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: Do we feel like they put Mark Stoops out there 45 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: and they didn't like the pushback that they saw on 46 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: Twitter and then they just went control Z on the 47 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: whole thing. What is your opinion of what transpired. 48 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 2: I don't think it was a trial balloon, because there 49 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 2: seems to be at least conversations about texts A and M. 50 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 2: I am not privied, I'm not reporting anything. I am 51 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 2: just talking about what people are talking about. Ty, how 52 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: about that that there seems to be fracture behind the scenes, 53 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 2: maybe money fracture behind the scenes at texts A and M. 54 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: A certain subset of donors wanting one thing, a certain 55 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 2: subset of donors wanting the other thing, and ros Byork 56 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 2: the ad trying to navigate that in the administration a 57 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 2: text thing and I'm trying to navigate the wants and 58 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 2: needs of the money behind the scenes. So it seemed 59 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: like the Mark Stoops camp pushed it through, but there 60 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: was a lot of apprehension internally, and then when it broke, 61 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: they used the reaction to say, oh maybe not, oh 62 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 2: maybe not, and went back to square one and felt 63 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: like they could get more people behind the Mike Elko move. 64 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 2: I don't think it's a situation where Mark Stoops decided 65 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 2: that yes, I want to be the coach, and then no, 66 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: I don't want to be the coach. I think you 67 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 2: just kind of are all in once you let it 68 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 2: be known, you would love that job. And so it 69 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: seems like it's from the Texas A and M side 70 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: of things where they backtracked. Does that make sense, Well, 71 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 2: it does, it. 72 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: Does, And I mean, look, Mike Elko's a smart higher 73 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: Mike Elko. There's a reason that Mike Elko was a 74 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: top the targets list, not just for this job, but 75 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: now reportedly Michigan State as well. Sounds like he may 76 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: have been offered that job and turned it down. Mike 77 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: Elko has been at Duke for two seasons, sixteen and nine. 78 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: He's gotten them to back to back Bowl eligibility, which 79 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: is something It's meaningful this year because they lost their 80 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 1: quarterback Riley Leonard for a good chunk of the season. 81 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: He's still managed to get to a Bowl. Before that, 82 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: he was A and m's defensive coordinator for four seasons 83 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: from twenty eighteen through twenty twenty one. Before that, I 84 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: know him. He's at Notre Dame. Saw what he was 85 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: able to do with the Notre Dame defense. So he's 86 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: a guy who's if you go back through his track record, 87 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: he's succeeded at pretty much every level. He's a sharp guy. 88 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: One of the things that I know a lot of 89 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: people are talking about is the fact that he's organized, 90 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: that he's disciplined, that he's a no nonsense coach. He's 91 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: the type of guy that also resonates well with players, 92 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: also resonates well with boosters. So if all of that 93 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: is to be believed, that is a really good fit 94 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: at a place like Texas A and M, which is 95 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: not like every other place. Nope, Texas SANAM is very nuanced. 96 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: Texas A and M is a place where you've got 97 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: a lot of outside influence, and so being able to 98 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: herd those proverbial cats is definitely a skill. 99 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think Jimbo's failings are probably much more on 100 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: field than off field. I know there were stories about 101 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: how he wasn't super fond of the glad handing circuit 102 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: around the state of Texas and going to high school 103 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: coaches conventions like other coaches in state did. But obviously 104 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 2: he resonated enough early on had the year in twenty 105 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 2: twenty that I think gave a lot of people behind 106 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: the scenes a ton of faith that that was just 107 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 2: going to be the start when they go I think 108 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 2: it was nine to one yea and or just outside 109 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: of the playoff. Yeah, and then the recruiting class subsequently, 110 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 2: you know, surely brings a ton of enthusiasm and optimism 111 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 2: to the program, but just doesn't get it done on 112 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 2: the field, doesn't make savvy hires. You know, has some 113 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: quarterback bad luck. But you know, the secondary of this 114 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 2: year was questionable. His ability to navigate close games against 115 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: good teams obviously pretty questionable, and it was clear that 116 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 2: they things weren't trending in the right direction. Mark Stoops, 117 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 2: I think is a fine hire. It does not get 118 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 2: me all that excited. And I don't need a flashy 119 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: name if I'm a text A and M fan. We 120 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 2: talked about this before. We just want a good football coach. 121 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 2: We just want a coach who is going to put 122 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: his players. And I say we as in like the 123 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: college football community who doesn't love nor hate Texas A 124 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 2: and M right that what Texas A and M needed 125 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: was somebody who was going to win close games, give 126 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 2: his players the best ability to win those games, put 127 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 2: them in the best position, and acquire the best possible 128 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 2: talent in a place that it's easier than most given 129 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: the financial advantages and geographic advantages. And so I don't 130 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 2: necessarily view texts A and M as a sleeping giant, 131 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 2: as our friend Ari Wasserman likes to point out, but say, 132 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 2: certainly can succeed on a pretty high level with the 133 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: right guy. And if I were a tax A and 134 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 2: M fan, I'd be more thrilled with Mike Elko than 135 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: Mark Stoops. Mark Stoops has fielded I think one top 136 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: fifty offense in the last six or seven years. That 137 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 2: one Will Levis, Liam Cohen, Wandel Robinsonier. That's important to 138 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 2: me to see what a defensive minded coach does on 139 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 2: the opposite side of the ball. And they've had some 140 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 2: absolute clunker offenses. And if offense has been the big 141 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 2: issue these past few years at Texas A and M, 142 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: that doesn't inspire me. That doesn't say Mark Stoops can 143 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 2: find a system, has a vision for offense, has a 144 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 2: vision for offensive coordinator that is different than where we've been. 145 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 2: So I like Mike Elko and the direction he's gone 146 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 2: on offense in the offensive minds he's been associated with, 147 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 2: including a Texas A and M. 148 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: I was a little bit concerned on the A and 149 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: M front that they would go for the shiniest possible car. 150 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 2: Sure, Ryan da Dabo throw eighteen million dollars. 151 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, you've got a lot of money and a lot 152 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: of egos to massage. That tends to be one of 153 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: the byproducts. And maybe that was part of how they 154 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: got Jimbo in the first place. I don't know. I 155 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: was a little concerned that they would make the move 156 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: for the Dabo Sweeney, which at this point I don't 157 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: think is the right No, definitely not so. I like 158 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: the move to get Elco. I think it is a 159 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 1: smart hire. 160 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 2: What is it that you like about Elco? Obviously you 161 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: talk about the success of you know, Bowl eligibility, but 162 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: you rooted for a team that briefly employed Mike Elko. 163 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 2: You've watched Texas A and M defenses, You've watched Duke 164 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 2: these past couple of years. You've you know, seen Mike 165 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 2: Elcho out in the wild. What is it about this 166 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 2: pairing that you know ceiling wise or rose colored glasses 167 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,239 Speaker 2: wise should have A and M fans excited. 168 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: Well, two things. The first is I referenced it earlier, 169 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: the organization. But to win it a place like Duke 170 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: sixteen and nine in two years at Duke, yep, to 171 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 1: win it a place like that that has historically been 172 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: a very very difficult job. Requires you to get everybody 173 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: on the same page, and Texas A and M has 174 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: very much not been on the same page. I think 175 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: that's been one of the failings for Jimbo on the field. 176 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: There's plenty of talent to go around. The fact that 177 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: he could not get everybody swimming in the same direction. 178 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,439 Speaker 1: The fact that they did not have more success, I 179 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 1: think speaks to coaching, and that's why they got rid 180 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: of them. Mike Elko has not had that problem at 181 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: Duke different place. He was able to reboot that program 182 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: very quickly, right, and so that in and of itself, 183 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: I think is really exciting. Secondly, he got the most 184 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,719 Speaker 1: out of talent he had on hand. It wasn't just 185 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: an organization thing, it was a fundamental thing. He got 186 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: that offense playing at I think, all things considered, given 187 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: the talent on hand, a pretty high level. He got 188 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: that defense playing in a very fundamentally sound way. It 189 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: didn't need to be sexy, but it was very efficient, 190 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 1: and it was clear that he had an eye for 191 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: player development. 192 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, and by the way, to piggyback on what you're saying, 193 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 2: didn't hit the portal herd. No, that's not really an 194 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 2: option at schools that have academic bars to clear, like 195 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 2: Duke and Stanford and Northwestern and Vanderbilt. Like, that's not 196 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 2: really a dramatic option at a place like Duke. And 197 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 2: so he did it with the players he inherited, which 198 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 2: is especially impressive. 199 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: We will talk about this when we talk about Jonathan 200 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: Smith here terribly at Michigan State. But there's definitely a 201 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: common thread, at least I think with the two most 202 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: prominent hires so far, the cycle player development, keeping your roster, 203 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: finding a way to get marginally better, and turning in 204 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 1: seasons that make you raise your eyebrows a little bit. Sure, 205 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: both of them have been very good at doing that. 206 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: So I think if you're an A and M fan, 207 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: knowing all the talent you've got on hand and the 208 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: money that you've got on hand to try and bring 209 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: a new talent, now you've got a guy in place 210 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: who seemingly knows how to optimize that, make it better, 211 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: get it to its ceiling. That's exciting. 212 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. So he inherits a program that seemed to hit 213 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 2: rock bottom under David Cutcliffe, and year one they were 214 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 2: points per drivewise, which is you know, my pet SAT 215 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 2: because it adjusts for tempo twenty first nationally on offense, 216 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 2: forty second on defense. The year before in twenty twenty one, 217 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:58,719 Speaker 2: you know, the rock bottom year, that's one hundred and 218 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 2: thirteenth on offense, one hundred nineteenth on defense. Texas A 219 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 2: and M does not have that type of uphill climb. 220 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 2: It's a much tougher conference. You can get better quicker, 221 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 2: I think in the ACC and you had mentioned the 222 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two duke schedule was especially advantageous, and you 223 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 2: know they came right out and beat Clemson to start 224 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 2: the year this year, and so to still have a 225 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 2: pretty good duke team this year, making a Bowl without 226 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 2: Riley Leonard for a large swath or a healthy Riley 227 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 2: Leonard for a large swath of the. 228 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: Season loftist an ultra duke name. Yeah, absolutely backup quarterback. 229 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 2: Yes. So here's I guess if there is concern on 230 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 2: the other side of that coin. Well, one is everybody 231 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: seems to have in the modern era hit a very 232 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 2: specific ceiling at Texas A and M, both in the 233 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 2: Big twelve and SEC. Obviously, SEC lately has been more 234 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 2: difficult to break through, but there has been that obvious ceiling. 235 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 2: And the sort of term that either you said or 236 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 2: were dancing around was alignment. That it's sometimes very difficult 237 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 2: to big if everybody behind the scenes is in aligned, 238 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 2: pulling it in different directions, and that's something that needs 239 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 2: to be overcome. There's a hurdle right there too. Mike 240 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 2: elcho inherited Riley Leonard, if memory serves Okay, so he 241 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: has not gone out and found his quarterback of the future, 242 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 2: developed his quarterback of the future. Yet doesn't mean he can't. 243 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 2: Doesn't mean he's not bringing Riley Leonard with him to 244 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 2: College station at this time. I haven't seen that story. 245 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 2: I haven't seen any portal story of Riley Leonard following 246 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 2: him to A and M and three. There is something 247 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 2: about Okay, so text A and M hasn't technically they're 248 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 2: not at rock bottom as a program, right It's I 249 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 2: think it's easier to take over when you're like, Okay, 250 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 2: you've hit rock bottom. We're starting things completely different my way, 251 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 2: like he did it Duke right, like it was clear 252 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 2: that David cutcliff Era had come winding down and that 253 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 2: was going to be it, and so Mike Elko comes 254 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 2: into a situation where he was like, look, you guys 255 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,079 Speaker 2: haven't been winning a ton. It makes sense to start 256 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 2: doing things a new way and using a new language. 257 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 2: And here's the new practice schedule, and here's the new vision. 258 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 2: Here are the new coaches. Right. It was a great 259 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,199 Speaker 2: marriage for everybody involved, especially with Mike Elco's history in 260 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 2: the state and relationships in the state. Also has relationships 261 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 2: in history in Texas. The other element of that is 262 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 2: to start over at a power five place twice in 263 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 2: essentially two years. Right. I don't know what the actual 264 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 2: calendar number of days it is. I think that's difficult. 265 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 2: I think a lot of the coaches who succeed at 266 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 2: big places they're either internal and keeping success going. It's 267 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 2: their first time and so they have the most amount 268 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 2: of energy that they're going to have. This is finally 269 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 2: the debut of their vision. This is not the debut 270 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,439 Speaker 2: of Mike Elco's vision. That was a duke. Doesn't mean 271 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 2: you can't succeed at Texas A and M. But you're 272 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 2: talking about scrapping everything, starting over and then kind of 273 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,839 Speaker 2: scrapping everything. But you still want things working the way 274 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 2: they were working. If they were working, but also starting over. 275 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:54,839 Speaker 2: So there's like this sort of gray area where you're 276 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 2: not starting from scratch personally or as a program. And 277 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 2: so can Mike Elko some in that balance to grow 278 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:04,839 Speaker 2: on what was working at Texas A and M and 279 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 2: fully scrap and start over what wasn't working. And so, 280 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 2: whether that's recruiting, whether that's offense, whether that's culture behind 281 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 2: the scenes, whether that's dealing with donors, whether that's dealing 282 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 2: with players inside the locker room, and how things are 283 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 2: going to operate, it's yet to be seen. I just 284 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 2: think that's a tall task at a place as high 285 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 2: profile as Texas A and M. 286 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: The other thing that we should mention, he's going to 287 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: have to re recruit that roster. 288 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 2: He's going to have to re recruit, Yeah. 289 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: And I don't think that's going to be any picnic 290 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: because the second that it became public knowledge that Jimbo 291 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: has gone, all of the big Power five programs that 292 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: have money to spend in NIL, even those that don't, 293 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: they were licking their chops. It is very rare you 294 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: get a roster like this loaded to the teeth that 295 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: is essentially on the open market. Right. We haven't seen 296 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: that a whole lot. The nil era is still relatively new, 297 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: but this roster was built, remember when it was put together? 298 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: Historic in terms of recruiting classes, and A and M 299 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: has led the charge with respect to nil. 300 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 2: Which is why it might not be as dramatic of 301 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 2: a situation of players fleeing right because sure tech AEM 302 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 2: has the money. If it's a negotiation thing and Mike 303 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 2: Elko really wants a player to stay and there's an 304 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 2: offer from Alabama or Oregon or Ohio State or wherever, 305 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 2: I don't think they're going to lose out because of money. 306 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: They're not going to lose out because of money. But 307 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: if you're Evan Stewart, if you're a guy like a 308 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: Connor Wegman, I could list names on the offense, But 309 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: if you're a guy like that, maybe not knowing the 310 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: specific offensive vision causes you to start looking elsewhere, dipping 311 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: your toes in other waters. And that's where I think 312 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: things could get interesting. So we'll see what Elco can do. 313 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: I like the hire. I think it was a smart hire. 314 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: I'm glad they didn't go for the shiniest possible object. 315 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: You get a guy with a lot of familiarity within 316 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: the program. Somebody who's been around college football has got 317 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 1: a good wealth of experience, and I ross B York. 318 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: Maybe they tried for Mark Stoups and didn't work, but 319 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: ultimately end up with a guy who I think is 320 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: a pretty good coach. 321 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 2: By the way. Also, the good news here is everybody 322 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 2: seems to like Mike Elko. Everybody who comes across Maybe 323 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 2: not current Duke players understandably so, but beyond that, I 324 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 2: think they it seemed like the proof was they really 325 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 2: enjoyed playing and developing under Mike Elko and his staff 326 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 2: at Duke. Everybody who's come across Mike Elco says he's 327 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 2: just a sharp dude who people get along with. And 328 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 2: you know what, that kind of goes a long way 329 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 2: when you're recruiting at a huge place, when you're building out, 330 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 2: you know, a staff, a roster, re recruiting a roster. 331 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 2: As you mentioned, like, his reputation is pretty high up there, 332 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 2: both as a football mind and as a human. So 333 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 2: that's a terrific place to start and feel optimism about 334 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: if you're an A and M fan. 335 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: The other big hire that we do need to discuss 336 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: is Jonathan Smith. Yeah, so Jonathan Smith, forty four years old. 337 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: A lot of his familiarity is on the West coast, right. 338 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: He was an offensive coordinator and or quarterbacks coach at 339 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: places like Idaho, Montana, Boise, Washington. Obviously, he's been at 340 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: his alma mater for the last couple seasons, six seasons 341 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: coaching Oregon State. Oregon State in a bit of flux, 342 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: given conference realignment and whatnot. Thirty four and thirty five 343 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: over six seasons. That number, you see, it does not 344 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: do the job justice that he has done. He has 345 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 1: rebooted that program, rebuilt it in his image, and as 346 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: I said with Mike Elko, I think the common thread 347 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: has been getting more with less. It is not easy 348 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: to recruit to Oregon State. He was able to go 349 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: out and hit the portal to get guys like Dju 350 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: to come in and hopefully take that offense to another level. 351 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: It's been a good Oregon State team. Obviously, they got 352 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: beaten pretty badly by the Oregon Ducks this past week. 353 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: But the fact he was able to get as much 354 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 1: with the talent on hand as he did, I think 355 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: is damn impressive. We won a bunch of games with 356 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 1: Ben Gilbranson last season, all right. That has been very 357 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: much the mo in his time at Corvallis. 358 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 2: I mean, that's the connective tissue between these two names 359 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 2: in Mike Elco and Jonathan Smith, is the perception of 360 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 2: winning more with less. Now what can they do with 361 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 2: more resources and a higher ceiling in terms of talent 362 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 2: acquisition both through the portal. Although Jonathan Smith was very 363 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 2: savvy in the portal for. 364 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 1: Very savvy this season, the expectations were high with they're 365 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: a fringe top ten team, they're good enough to be 366 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,679 Speaker 1: in that top ten, top fifteen discussion, no questions asked. 367 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: So given I think the state of affairs at Oregon State, 368 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: given the fact that they're going to be maybe in 369 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: the Pac two for a couple of years, then some 370 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: merger with the Mountain West, that program and its path 371 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 1: forwards seems very much influx. That was probably the impetus 372 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: to get him to move elsewhere, because this is his 373 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 1: alma mater. It's tough to leave places like that. 374 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 2: I oh, absolutely, And I saw a quote that he 375 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 2: had been thinking he was going to leave for this 376 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 2: job for a while but just wanted to sleep on 377 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 2: it one last night before making that announcement On Saturday 378 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,400 Speaker 2: before making things official with Spartans. Yeah, everything you said 379 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 2: is correct. He is, you know, one of the architects 380 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 2: of you know that Chris Peterson run at Washington, which 381 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 2: is why he got the Oregon State job. I like 382 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 2: that both of these guys, Mike Elco and Jonathan Smith 383 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 2: have major, major program experience. Elcho with Notre Dame obviously, 384 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 2: Duke is an acc team an Texas A and M 385 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 2: and coming back to college station. And Jonathan Smith spending 386 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 2: time at Washington, spending time at Oregon State, even though 387 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 2: those Oregon State is not on the level of Washington. 388 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 2: You know, you're not hiring a G five coach who's 389 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 2: just been in smaller places, and so there is that 390 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 2: element that I think should have Michigan State fans feeling optimistic. 391 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 2: It's a tough, tough climb though at Michigan State. That's 392 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 2: a situation where you are starting from square one, where 393 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 2: you have to be receptive to what Jonathan Smith is saying, 394 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 2: because where Michigan State fell to this year these past 395 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 2: couple of years. Obviously, when mel Tucker's dismissed early on 396 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 2: in the season, that's an advantage for Jonathan Smith because 397 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 2: everybody can start on the same page from square one. 398 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 2: This is rock bottom right now for Michigan State. What 399 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 2: they lose to Penn State forty two to nothing. Forty two, Yeah, 400 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 2: that's about as low as it gets. And not that 401 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 2: losing a Penn State is any great shame, but like 402 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 2: they should be competitive with Penn State when they're operating 403 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 2: at a reasonable level, and they're not. So that's a 404 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,639 Speaker 2: nice advantage for Jonathan Smith and for Michigan State. I 405 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 2: am hopeful for Michigan State fans that recruiting can get 406 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:31,439 Speaker 2: to a good place. I don't think he's known, you know, 407 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 2: as a dogged recruiter, a high school recruiter though. Corballis 408 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 2: is just going to be tougher when you're competing against 409 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 2: you know, USC, Oregon, Washington, and a number of national 410 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,680 Speaker 2: schools for West Coast talent. I think he'll do a 411 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 2: pretty good job. He's bringing in a number of key 412 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 2: staff members, not bringing in Tyler Bray, who has been 413 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 2: a good defensive coordinator for Oregon State. I don't know 414 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 2: if it's because he is waiting to see what will 415 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 2: happen with the Oregon State job, or if USC's going 416 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 2: to throw a bunch of money at him. He's one 417 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 2: of the names rumored for that job, so Will. I 418 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 2: don't know how much closer it gets Michigan State. I 419 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 2: mean their ceiling is a playoff team in the old system, 420 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 2: and it becomes more tenable in a twelve team system 421 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 2: to make the playoff if you're very good. But with 422 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,239 Speaker 2: where Michigan is, Ohio State, Penn State, like it or not, 423 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 2: still a ten and two program tie and now with 424 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,200 Speaker 2: the addition of Oregon, who I believe Michigan State opens 425 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 2: the Big Ten season next year at outs and Stadium, 426 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:32,479 Speaker 2: So you're adding in Oregon, USC's offense, Washington's offense, whatever 427 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 2: you believe about UCLA's future doesn't become easier in the 428 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,679 Speaker 2: Big Ten for Michigan State. So I think it's a 429 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 2: savvy hire. I'm crazy curious to see what their class 430 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty five looks like. Twenty twenty four is 431 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 2: not really fair, twenty twenty five, twenty twenty six, I 432 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 2: think Will go a long way and pointing out where 433 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 2: he is as the top of a recruiting machine that 434 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 2: desperately needs to go back into overdrive. 435 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: I like that he was creative and use the Portal 436 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: and State. Good quarterback developer, very good quarterback developer. I 437 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 1: think it's a really good hire. I am surprised that 438 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 1: the West Coast didn't find some way to keep Jonathan 439 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 1: Smith out there because he's from southern California. 440 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 2: Well, USC wasn't going to open this year. UCLA at 441 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 2: the time of recording. Will see that surprised me. 442 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: I always assumed that Jonathan Smith would would end up 443 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 1: somewhere on the West Coast. Maybe in due time he will, 444 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: who knows, but at least for now, I'm surprised that 445 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 1: he ended up moving east and not south. For Michigan State, 446 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: I think it's a good move. I think given the 447 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: state of the program, as you said, the fact that 448 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: they essentially did rock bottom. Yeah, this past week against 449 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: Penn State was just. 450 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 2: For the second time in like four years. Yeah, just brutal. 451 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: The defense has really never been good under Meltucker. They 452 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 1: had moments, but for a defensive guy it the defense 453 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: was a real real Achilles heel. 454 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 2: For thatl Keimith Walker. 455 00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, So this is a guy who I think has 456 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: opportunity to come in rebuild a program and his image 457 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: he did at Oregon State. If you can have that 458 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 1: level of success, Michigan State will be in a good spot. 459 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 1: It is a very difficult conference, There's no two ways 460 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: about that. But I think every conference has gotten more difficult. 461 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:16,719 Speaker 1: So we'll see. But I on its face, I think 462 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: this is a good. 463 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 2: Move, easier place to succeed than Indiana, who is now 464 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 2: looking for a new coach after parting ways with Tom Allen. 465 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 2: We got briefly, I think some groomers, but John Gruden 466 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 2: rumors that is, and then they sort of faded into 467 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 2: the mist. 468 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 1: We have a bunch of openings that we're going to 469 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: need to cover here. Obviously, the Duke job is open now. 470 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: Houston is open now. They did fire Daniel Holgerson. Some 471 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: smoke on Jeff trailer to Houston, which I think would 472 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: be an awesome move elsewhere. San Diego State opened because 473 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: of Brady Hoak retiring. We knew about Boise. They made 474 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: the move on Andy Apolis like two weeks ago. Oregon 475 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: State is now open. You mentioned Indiana. Syracuse is an 476 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: interesting job for a variety of rigas the holy Cross coach. Yeah, 477 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: and it's not going to be Dan Mullen who come 478 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,239 Speaker 1: up with Houston. Yeah, new Mexico's open. They got rid 479 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: of Danny Gonzalez, utep Is open, Terry Bowden got fired 480 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: at ULM, and I think just earlier today, Middle Tennessee 481 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:17,199 Speaker 1: made the move on Rick stockstill as well, so a 482 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 1: bunch of G five jobs open. Mississippi State no longer open. 483 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: They hired Jeff Lebby. Yep, they make the move on 484 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: Zach Garnett. A few weeks early. They decide they're going 485 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: to go with Jeff Lebby. So after like ten weeks 486 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 1: whatever it was of trying to go with the defensive 487 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: guy at the Helm, they go, Jeff Lebby, do you 488 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 1: like that? Hire? Nah? 489 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 2: Really, it doesn't do much for me, and I hope 490 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 2: it works out, just because you know, the last year 491 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 2: year and a half of Mississippi State both like the 492 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 2: highs of the Mike Leech era, then the tragedy of 493 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 2: the end of Mike Leach's life, and then you know, 494 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 2: trying to go on with an interim turned head coach 495 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:00,360 Speaker 2: in Zach Garnett. It's just, you know, I I'd love 496 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 2: to see a competitive Mississippi State, but I don't know. 497 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 2: He was at Ole Miss with Lanekiff and he was 498 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 2: at UCF. He's a Brill's son in law. I believe 499 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: there's a deep connection to the Brill's tree, and there 500 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:16,159 Speaker 2: was the weirdness at Oklahoma. I don't doesn't strike me 501 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 2: as somebody who is going to get that place. Firing 502 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 2: could be wrong. I think the offense can be very good. 503 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 2: There's talent in the South. Obviously, there's talent in Mississippi. 504 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 2: He has relationships in that state. There is, you know, 505 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 2: a good amount of upside offensively on the horizon. But 506 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 2: I don't know. In the SEC West, without the experience 507 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 2: i'd love and without the background i'd love. I don't know. 508 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 2: That's already a tough place to win, and I don't 509 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:43,200 Speaker 2: see it. I don't know if they could have done better, though, 510 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 2: so maybe that's the best they could have done. It 511 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:48,159 Speaker 2: doesn't strike me just immediately as like, oh, this is 512 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 2: obviously going to work out, which is not saying much 513 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 2: because almost nobody works out. But I don't know. Something 514 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 2: strikes me as off there. 515 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 1: The first red flag for me is I saw a 516 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: lot of reports in the immediate aftermath of this move 517 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 1: not to hire Levy but to fire Zach Barnett that 518 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: they might be looking to rehire Dan Mullen. I like 519 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: Dan Mullen. I think Dan Mullen's good on TV. 520 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:13,120 Speaker 2: Terrible decision. 521 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: Bringing Dan Mullen back after he did not recruit at 522 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 1: Florida in the way that he did not recruit after 523 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 1: the game has changed, I think dramatically in the last 524 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,159 Speaker 1: three seasons. I don't think that would be a good 525 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 1: move at all. That worried me when I heard that. 526 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: Now they didn't do that. They went with Jeff Levy. 527 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 1: Jeff le Levy has obviously been a pretty bright offensive. Mind. 528 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 1: What I would caution Mississippi State fans against doing is 529 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: reading what some of the Oklahoma people had gonna say. 530 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 1: Lebby never a good sign when the place you're leaving 531 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 1: says good riddance. I can't tell you the number of 532 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 1: tweets that were sent in emails that were sent in 533 00:26:55,840 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 1: Patreon messages, Discord messages that I leaf through this season 534 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:04,719 Speaker 1: from Oklahoma people wondering what exactly is Jeff Lebby doing 535 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: with this offense. This is a good offense, mind you. 536 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: Dylan Gabriel was outstanding. They obviously put up a ton 537 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 1: of points. They went ten and two, so there's a 538 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 1: lot to like about what Oklahoma did do, but there 539 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 1: were plenty of puzzling moments with how he called that offense, 540 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: and just something to commit to memory doesn't mean the 541 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 1: coaching hire won't work. 542 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 2: And obviously fans are not privy to all information about 543 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 2: why an offense is what it is, why a decision 544 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,120 Speaker 2: was made the way it was made. Of course, fans 545 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 2: are going to be overly emotional, but you raised my 546 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 2: hand as one of them. 547 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: But you saw them too. You know I'm not making 548 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 1: that up. 549 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:38,119 Speaker 2: No, you're not. Here's the thing too, Ty, and I 550 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 2: speak from personal experience. My school, University of Oregon school 551 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,880 Speaker 2: I enjoy. Hired a high profile coordinator from a high 552 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 2: profile place, and to the person, every Georgia fan who 553 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 2: reached out to us, who are in like the YouTube comments, 554 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:57,919 Speaker 2: who are emailing us whatever on Twitter, every single person was, 555 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 2: you guys got a good one. He's going to have 556 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:05,160 Speaker 2: your program humming sad to see him go. He was huge, 557 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 2: He's going to recruit the hell out of that place. 558 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:12,400 Speaker 2: That was every single opinion from Georgia fans after Dan 559 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:16,119 Speaker 2: Lanning was hired away, and so fans, No, fans are 560 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 2: overly emotional, but we're not dumb people by and large. 561 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 2: There are some of us who are extremely dumb some 562 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 2: of the time. But yeah, that's the interesting thing to 563 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 2: weigh here. 564 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 1: Well, we'll see about some of these openings. We'll do 565 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: our best to keep our finger on the pulse. The 566 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 1: Houston job, to me, is extremely interesting. The Oregon State 567 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 1: job is interesting for a variety of other reasons given 568 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 1: the state of college football. And who knows, maybe we're 569 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 1: not done yet. Sure, we'll see, We'll see if anything 570 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: else comes open. Always does, always does, always seems to 571 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 1: happen this time of year when you least expect it. 572 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 2: A retirement, an NFL job. 573 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, head on a swivel. It is the coaching carousel. Yes, 574 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: all right, you know the way it works here on 575 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: the Twoes cruise. We've got the full episode available for 576 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 1: our friends out at verballers dot com. We took just 577 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: a boatload of questions, get it boat, Thank you again. 578 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: We're going to go through those here now as part 579 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,959 Speaker 1: of the full episode. Again. You can go on out 580 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 1: and join at for bowlers dot com if you want 581 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: to help support with Dan and I do. If not, 582 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: thank you for stopping on by. Make sure you hit 583 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 1: subscriber follow on your podcasting app of choice so that 584 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: you can be with us all throughout the college football 585 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:33,960 Speaker 1: off season. Listen. We've got our Big Week fourteen slash 586 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 1: Championship Week preview that's going to drop on Wednesday afternoon. 587 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: We've obviously got the midnight recording of the Championship Week 588 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: episode that we're going to put to get thanks Saturday Night, Tie, 589 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: Thank you Dan. Yep, we're going to put that out 590 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 1: there into the ether, bright and early on Sunday morning, 591 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: and then we're going to launch our big old bullpool, 592 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 1: our Winter Wonders Bullpool, which I'm so excited about. 593 00:29:57,920 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 2: You. 594 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: We'll be hearing more about this. I'm sure sure you're 595 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 1: gonna get sick of hearing me talk about this for 596 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: the next month. But we really put a lot into it. 597 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 1: I just sent you the artwork for the Championships ship excited. 598 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: All are welcome to play this year, FYI. It's not 599 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: just a Patriot everybody everybody. Everybody can play in this 600 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: game this year. We want it to be as big 601 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 1: as possible. So details forthcoming on that. We are not 602 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 1: going to be slowing down here just because the season 603 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: is coming to an end. We've got bulls, we've got coaches, 604 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,239 Speaker 1: we've got transfer stuff. College football is more flush than 605 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: ever with news 606 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 2: The second season begins right now.