Green Light with Chris Long - Stanford Steve! March Madness, Lack Of Upsets, Florida Over UConn & Cam Ward's Potential!

Episode Date: March 25, 2025

Stanford Steve joins Macon to talk the best time on the sports calendar - March Madness! Brackets are busted but we're still betting away. Steve and Macon cover Florida's survival vs UConn to send Dan Hurley home, Maryland's buzzer beater, the last of upsets and Cinderella's in this season's tourney and a Sweet Sixteen LITE preview then the fellas wrap the show up with a little FOOTBALL! (00:00) - Intro (6:15) - 2025 NCAA Tournament (27:50) - CBB Head Coaching Hires (35:35) - Cam Ward (39:28) - Heisman Trophy Lookahead Green Light Podcast March Madness Tournament! Click the link below to fill out the form granting you entry into the GLP bracket! Prizes include 1st place $500, 2nd place $250, 3rd place $100 in Bet MGM gift cards. Must be 21+ to be eligible for a prize. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbnomKvB7t2zNKqvKNMstq_P2HClxciUC95moAHD-mDIKcyg/viewform Have some interesting takes, some codebreaks or just want to talk to the Green Light Crew? We want to hear from you. Call into the Green Light Hotline and give us your hottest takes, your biggest gripes and general thoughts. Day and night, this hotline is open. Green Light Hotline: ‪[phone]‬ In need of sweet threads to vibe like Chris and the fellas? Check out https://greenlightpodcast.org/ for everything merch wise and then some! Also, check out our paddling partners at Appomattox River Company to get your canoes, kayaks and paddleboards so you're set to hit the river this summer. https://paddleva.com/ Green Light's YouTube Channel, where you can catch all the latest GL action: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgxWFAA-wuB7osdiAJyLOcw Green Light with Chris Long: Subscribe and enjoy weekly content including podcasts, documentaries, live chats, celebrity interviews and more including hot news items, trending discussions from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA are just a small part of what we will be sharing with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could Kevin Willard leave Maryland? No, I don't know. I thought the way he's handled this publicly at press conferences has been pretty impressive. But now I don't see how. I really don't with what he's instilled in this program and the backing that he has. I know it's one of your favorite fan bases, but they're all in. They travel. Got them.

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Welcome to the Greenlight podcast. Great episode for you today. Enjoy it with Macon and Steve. Stanford Steve joins Macon for a rip around March Bandist. We talk college basketball. The biggest games from rounds one and two in the NCAA tournament. Obviously, it was Florida and Yukon, Maryland with a big buzzer beater. Look ahead to a few of the matchups in the Sweet 16 round.

And then we talk a little football. We'll see you later this week. We've got some heat coming here. Greenlight Pod directly after rounds one and two of the NCAA tournament. Cowboy Reeds here. We need to talk to Stanford, Steve, the man, the myth. On all things, college sports. Sports.

Chris tapped out of this one because, you know, collegiate athletics. He was good. Doesn't mess with amateurs. Chris is on his way back home. Well-deserved little birthday outing, pre-birthday outing to the beach, and he'll be back later this week. We've got some heat for you later this week, too. I just want to not to cut you off.

So much heat. No, I mean, you cut me off. But it was welcome. You can do whatever you want here, Cowboys. It's your world. Keep it locked. Here's Stanford Steve. Hope you all are doing so very well.

Peace and blessings. Steve, White Steve, welcome to the show. What's up? Gentlemen, you're all confusing me in different chairs, but it's great. to see your spectacular faces. How's Florida? How's the state of Florida?

Let's see. Hour 25 for lunch, Uber Eats. Asked the person if I could walk somewhere for dinner. And she responded with, do you have a car? And I said, that's why I asked if I could walk somewhere because I don't have a car. So that was a great conversation that got rewound about three different times. It's great.

Weather's fantastic, but I've never been in Palm Beach Gardens. I've never been here. So I'm very unfamiliar with this part of Florida. Palm Beach Gardens, that'll be north of Fort Lauderdale. Way north. Way north. Yeah, I think it was like 12, 15 miles north of West Palm. Do you want to hear about my first and second round setup?

It was pretty sweet. As a, you know how you have like a home and away, cowboy. I got the New Orleans trip for the Super Bowl to hang out with you folks with Steve, although I didn't see much of Steve, even though he was at our house most of the week. You were working, man. You were grinding. I was really grinding. Out on that four lane.

Just how hot. You like that? That come together nicely for you? It did, man. You were very patient in your ways. You know, I have a text to one of Rosillo's friends called Mike at 432 in the morning on Friday night. And I have a memory of our like talking about our entire lives for about two and a half hours. It could have been 25 minutes.

And I think we were going to test each other the next day by like acknowledging that the conversation had had happened. And all I have is a text that says my name to him at 432 a. I am. No response ever. That's going to be the end of that relationship. I feel like everybody, you know, when they go to the Super Bowl has about ten of those things in their phones going out. Names, late

hours. The name is key though. That starts it, but it might not end it, but it starts it. And I know if that's Mikey, if that's Mikey that you're talking to, oh boy, is he a legend. I have first and last name and he was way more

nice, entertaining, engaging, et cetera than Ryan has ever been. Oh, yeah. So I may continue to grow with that relationship. That says more about you, I think. What I gave up, and I didn't realize it at the time, was a late March weekend where my wife went to a spa with a friend for roughly 48 hours,

and more than that. Midday Friday to late Sunday and I was solo dad with three kids under five during the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament. How'd that go? Kids into the tournament so far. Like their

attention is held for like a possession and then it's gone. So I set up the hoop next to the TV. There's a lot of possessions though. That's good. I set up a hoop and the four-year-old girl she wants to go by a basketball Gunter, which is pretty cool.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So I introduced her. It's like at Guard from Virginia, 3 foot 10, number 89. She wants to be number 89. Basketball, Gunter. And then she'll go fire a Nerf ball off the underside of the rim. It'll come back smack her in the face. She'll start crying, but then she'll want to do it again. So it was

not the ideal viewing experience. for what's been an okay tournament, Steve, what say you about this perceived lack of parity only powerful for schools or in the Sweet 16, high margins of victory on average? Is this going to be the new norm with great players on Cinderella-type teams going to Power 4 schools or is this just one of those tournaments,

which we get every few years. You know, everybody wants their data points, right? This is like considered one data point for me because every tournament is its own. Tough to tell trends. What I did wonder going in was when everyone's picking their high point and Akron and Montana

is I just started to wonder, like these teams, to your point, all their best players are moved up. like all the big boys took them and what was that discrepancy going to be and it turned out i thought it was pretty high level because you to those point like high point i got scared they haven't played a quad one game in two years and people are just picking them because they think of peru i'm like peru went to the national championship last year you know and everybody just has their trends and their likes and i get it um so yeah everybody wants the upsets everybody has their story about the

small school when they pick them mostly it's just relatives that gone there. That's not enough validation for me. I did think McNeese was better than I thought they were better last year than this year. They proved me wrong. So it's a lot. It's a lot to dissect. I do love entrenching myself during championship week to try and learn about these teams and start watching conference semis and, you know, while the other guys are playing regular season games. And I thought there were a couple teams that could compete and they couldn't. So it's not to everybody's liking, but I think you also got to give the credit to the teams that got here. I mean, they built their rosters, you know, read a lot about Duke and how they went about thing.

You heard to Jeremy Roach story. He was a kid. It was a four years, was the point guard during the transition to Kay to Shire, Virginia Kid. And it was a mutual part of the ways. How CBS cut away before him and Shire had a, you know, moment in the handshake line. I'll never know. Things are flying fast in that truck, man. Ready, camera two, take two.

There's one thing. They talked about during the game. The story of the game was that. Ready, camera three, take three. Hey, I will say the team that likes to give it out the most and maybe the most talkative conference, the Big East, they're nowhere to be found. And I think that was a real humbling weekend for the Big East folks,

seeing how St. John's magical season, no doubt. then you got to give it to you and then Yukon, you know, it's been a long time since we've seen them in the underdog role and gave it their all. And they're going home now too as the quest for three beats over. So there's plenty of, plenty of awesome

stuff in the tournament and I think the really good teams are in. I look at this week as, you know, now you're playing, you're basically your conference tournament semifinals Thursday and Friday night. And then it's that conference title. You get to the final four. The matchups are incredible.

You know, I do a list on Valentine's Day every year on teams that I think would win the national title. But your wife loves that. And Duke was given a cakewalk to others. And I said they had the toughest road because I had five teams that can win a national title in that region. And four of them are left. And the fifth was Wisconsin. So I think they got their work cut out for them. But I can't wait.

I mean, BMA, BYU, what's that total? It's like 179. Like, that's awesome. So I'm super fired up for these matches. But wherever you guys want to go and what we watched, I'm here because I did not have zero help with the kids. We were invested. We were over at the beach and we had all eyes on everything. I'm a big homework guy.

Steve, you know that about me. I'm fully learned up on all of these games, teams, teams, matchups, et cetera. Let's go to the West. I saw a clip of SV. Todd, is that how we say it? And this was back whenever ago, where you included Maryland in that list of teams that could win national title. So that's all I needed to be high on Maryland. I have a little West Region regional final of Maryland and Texas Tech.

Oh. It'll be, yeah. Now, I think Derek Queen is still moonwalking across the court to get that shot up and off the back. How did I know this was going to be the start? No, it's fine. Hey, I wouldn't have called it either. Thank you. It's only a travel in slow motion. It's fine. Let them play on. Love that Nico Medved. Congratulations to the Golden Gophers.

Great coach. It'll be Florida and Maryland. I wasn't super impressed with Maryland last night. Do they have what it takes to compete with Florida who's gotten its scare in the round of 32? Yeah, the things coming into this, I thought Florida was super impressive coming back because I thought five minutes in a game. Yukon was going to win. They got any shot they wanted. And what was crazy was Florida could not get shots off at the rim, which they did all tournament long in the SEC tournament. Like they buried teams winning every game by double figures.

And you see the success of what that conference has become. And I thought, you know, the idea that it was overrated coming in the tournament was absurd because I watched the games. But Maryland, they got to have their A plus. And Florida needs to be off again. I think that's pretty evident. I think Maryland would tell you that also. The depth thing is enormous.

I mean, Florida rolls, I think 11, whereas everyone knows the crab 5 and they're last in the country and bench points. I think they get six per game. But that starting five is real, man. They could shoot it. Every guy could put it on the deck. Every guy knows their roles. And they got older guards. The thing that's impressive about Florida is how their guards rebound.

And Florida is going to be a lot bigger than them at that position. And so we saw Florida win that game with getting, keeping balls alive on miss free throws at the end. So that's a big deal. But Maryland's good is as good as anybody in the country, but they know they got to be their best. And that's what I hope for when you get to this stage and you get your team to enjoy that next weekend and practice together. I don't believe Maryland's coming home having to play in Seattle and then going to San Francisco. So, I mean, that's the good stuff about those teams hanging out. You got your one and done.

You got your transfers. but that time when you're all together is awesome. So I just hope, like I said, these teams get to this stage. You want them to play well because you don't know when you're going to be back on this stage, and that's most important. Steve, you said it the other day, and we have to give you credit that Yukon was going to struggle against good guards, and that's what they ran into with Florida.

Walter Clayton, like three straight threes on the wing. Is he the Iona guy? Yeah, he lost 50 pounds at Iona playing for Patino. Yep. Speaking of, I mean, is this just Cal's dream of all dreams? You come in as a 10 seed. You have all the talent in the world. You've advanced to the Sweet 16.

You do it going through Bill Self and Rick Petino. And the guys kind of look good doing it. Boogie Flans back. John Will Davis, great player. I mean, Florida's super good. but could they keep this rolling? I believe so. The funny thing about,

it's the most Calpiry thing ever is, you know, we're waiting on Sunday morning on Selection Sunday and Cal puts out a statement, hey, we're going to get Boogie Flam back. And I'm like, okay, I don't know. They were winless in the SEC when he was playing.

Oh, and five. He didn't win an SEC game. But to coach Cal's credit, he gets them back and he was a major difference maker. in the win against Kansas, and he had a couple of monster plays against St. John's. So I found myself this year rooting for Cal just because everyone threw him to the side. I still appreciate what he's done for the sport. He was a bulldog about the way he went about things at Kentucky.

You know, how close. He gets, you know, the Rick Barnes thing is interesting to me. I find myself rooting for him also because everyone just watched championships. And, you know, with that, I think coaches should get a lot more credit for going to final fours, but even more so, Barnes is with the one final four, but there's a ton of sweet 16s and elite eights in this tournament. And you guys know, it's super hard to win in this freaking tournament. So I've always thought the world of Cal, the way he recruited, the way you guys, guys ready, being the favorite all the time. And I think those guys relish.

You saw Yukon relish the idea of being an underdog yesterday and how well they played. but also Cal Pair, like, you know, I don't want to say no pressure because that fan base is as crazy as anyone, but you could see the freedom what they played. And then the game plan to go by guys with the dribble, knowing that he had belief in his guys that they could do it. You didn't see that all year against St. Johns. They body to everybody. And then they wore you out in the last eight minutes.

It was an absolute grind to try and beat him. And Arkansas, I thought he even fast forward more, saying the first five minutes out of the second half was the most important. and in Arkansas game a dose. The way they got to the rim was, was spectacular. And I give that coach's staff credit for getting their guys ready and having a plan to go at St. Johns, who looked unbeatable at times this year.

Does it bother you that Duke is more likable now with John Shire, with White Mike? It doesn't matter to me. It's one of my favorite teams I've watched from that program, the balance, the defense. That's what I keep going back to. the versatility defensively, how hard they play. And Shire's done a great job of wheel and dealing the roster and

in spots. I did say, I think it was, I texted with you, because they came to Virginia, and that's when Malik got hurt for the first time. And I didn't think they could win a national title without him. I think he's that important because of his versatility and switches and the length. I know you were blown away by seeing them in person. They are spectacular, the size, the speed they play with. But if Cooper Flag is going to make three balls, two off the bounce,

that's something that we haven't really seen this year. And if they play like they did yesterday, I mean, they're not going to lose. But you know they're going to put up against them. But again, winning the ACC tournament without them, I thought gave the guys a lot of confidence. And you saw that coming in. They played pretty free yesterday and rolling to a win. You're right. They played, it was incredible.

They played so hard against Virginia for 40 minutes. with Cooper Flag bringing the ball at the floor. Con Cinnipple was as big as our power forward, and he's running all around the court. He was committed to Virginia, right? Con Cinepple,

word has it, was verbally committed to Virginia, which is a little bit different than signing the letter of intent. But he was good enough to let our coaches know when he publicly committed to Duke in the million dollar bag that he received in Durham, which was sweet. Our coach retired shortly thereafter.

You may have seen that. Leonard Hamilton said this was one of the most connected Duke teams that he had ever coached, which is pretty impressive because these guys are around each other for five months at a time. Let's go around. But they look sweet. The team I know least about in the Sweet 16 is their opponent, and that's Arizona. I don't know if it's because of this Big 12 switcheroo. Big 12, Arizona.

I mean, it's, Oregon and Arizona, a classic Big 12, Pac-12 match up the other day. Does Arizona provide any sort of threat to the Blue Devils? Absolutely. Absolutely.

Because as a Duke fan, it's like an old movie with Freddie Kruger, Jason, whoever you want, Michael Myers, Caleb Love, and what he did to Duke in that run that they went to the title game, you know, gave it to Coach Kay in his last home game gave it to him in the final four,

and now he's at Arizona. And watching that game, Arizona played Duke earlier in the year in Tucson. And you saw both teams were totally different. Arizona's got great guards, speed, and they really play good defense with their guards, which you want in March. So I think the idea of Arizona haven't already seen the length in connectedness of Duke totally helps them.

and Caleb was unbelievable last night against Oregon and his good is as good as anyone in the country. How he's not on the NBA, like his game is just made for the NBA and how he could create his own shot and make it. So he's not afraid to shoot from anywhere. That gets him in a little bit of trouble sometimes, but they get that version of Caleb.

They're going to beat you. If you're hiring a new coach from this, group is 16. Isn't it Chris Beard? I know there's baggage, Steve. I know there's a little bit of baggage. Yeah. All he does is get players and win.

Ole Miss is in the sweet 16. They have Michigan State. Yeah, and what they did, you don't see out of a six seat, like they coasted. I mean, the Carolina game got tight late, but they had double digit leads early in both games and really, I mean,

lead start to finish comfortably, which you don't see, but that's a credit to the coach. Had his team ready. I love how he breaks down the game with matchups and ways he wants to attack. And that's a good sign of a team executing a game plan to come out and be that crisp offensively

when you're in neutral sites and you're playing different teams. But to see the ball going the hoop, Padua has been an unbelievable transfer. I believe he's the last guy to beat K in the ACC tournament. And he's been incredible as far as shot-making ability. and they're not big, but they play a lot bigger than they are. They're undersized guys, but they rebound, and they did a great job against a team in Iowa State,

I think the world of, and they gave it to Carolina and building that lead early. So I am fascinated with Kevin Young at BYU making. He's been an NBA assistant forever, and when you watch BYU, how good they are, spacing, shooters, everybody knows, each other's role. They have a big, big funding.

They have the number one player, Batanza coming in next year, who some people believe is on a higher ceiling than Cooper Flagg. So what he's done, I absolutely love that team. And I thought they had a tough draw with getting VCU and then playing a really good Wisconsin team who was on my list. So that's my most fascinating game is BYU and L. When you look at Sweet 16, just because of the ability to put the ball in the hoop, both those teams have it. Alabama, my issue with them, and it's the only one, is I still don't know who their best five is.

And they're going to need it against BYU and their next game if they're going to want to go to San Antonio. Alabama giving four and a half points and 174.5 is the total. Yeah, it's going to be up and down, man. Both those teams like to do that. So it's, it'll be awesome, watch. could Kevin Willard leave Maryland? No, I don't know. You know, I thought the way he's handled this publicly at press

conferences has been pretty impressive. But now I don't see how. I really don't with what he's instilled in this program and the backing that he has. I know it's one of your favorite fan bases, but they're all in. They travel. Got them. Got them. You said it.

I did not. So, no, I don't see that happening. Okay. What's transpired? You know, I'll pat myself on the back. Cowboy will tell you I had this being a chalky tournament. And part because of what we talked about, the teams that were upsetting these teams in years past have been together for three or four years.

Now they're together for five months and their best players are at other. schools. And I thought there's a good chance of four one Cs advancing to the final four. Houston being one of them. But are we overlooking last year's national finalists that boasts lawyer Smith, Ray Kaufman Wren, first is a guy's name? I'll imagine if they still had Mason Gillis. Matt Painter is a great coach. Could this Midwest a little fun here in the Sweet 16. Well, you see where they're playing the games, right? I do.

They're in Indianapolis. And Kelvin Samson's got to be like, my God, what did I do to people? Like, you know, he has to play Gonzaga to get to the Sweet 16. But yeah, I thought Purdue was as impressive to anybody because, again, everybody just wanted to poop on them because of not last year, but the years previous in how they got knocked off. And knowing that with those guys that were a part of. of the the bad losses. I loved what I saw from them

because they knew this was a you know, they've had some demons and McNeese had all the billings. You know, with the jukebox or boom box, whatever you call it. I don't know what it is. There's so many sponsors on it, but congrats to the aura creating his deal.

But McNeese tried bullying him and Purdue just gave them punch after punch and Braden Smith was spectacular. I know there's a lot of talk about Big Ten player a year, but he showed why he deserved it in that game because they couldn't get the ball away from him. And your point card's got to be rock-solid against that running jump stuff that McNeese likes to do. And I came right off the jump just gave it to him. And they weren't in-place shy.

You know, they shot threes. They made him. And Ren was awesome inside. And I don't think I've seen a team foul as much as McNeese did. And that could get intimidating. But Purdue responded as well as anyone in that round to get to the Sweet 16. I liked Will Wade's pressers. He was just missing the sentence that was,

but right now we're focused on bringing a championship back to McNeese. Like, yeah, I'm talking to other schools, one in particular, and I'm going to bring some of these guys and the other guys have opportunities and everything's good. But right now, we're laser focused. That was the only thing he was missing, in my opinion. In 2019, we had a very similar tournament. It was 1, 2, 3, 4 in the Sweet 16, 1, 2, 3, 4 in the sweet 16, 1, 1, three four one two three five and one two three twelve and and that tournament had some of the very

best sweet 16 elite eight final four games and virginia got perdu in louisville in that elite eight game and i don't know that i've ever left more impressed with the fan base than those boilers filling up the Yom Center and being loud as hell, beaten Tennessee two nights before, and Carson Edwards given Virginia everything he had. So I can't even imagine what it'll be like in Indianapolis. Yeah, that was, I know you guys laugh at it. That was one of the worst beats I've ever saw.

Purdue Money Line that night, and that was a rough one. What year was Joe Harris got beat by Michigan State at Madison Square Garden? Was that 17? That's 14. Wow. I was at those games. That was awesome.

That's where I gave respect for the UVA people. That was Chris's birthday. Speaking of, Chris turns 40 on Friday. So, you know. Damn. Would you guys get him?

He's not going to listen to this, so you could just tell me. No kidding. I'm getting him. I will come to your house on a Friday night to celebrate you for 70 to 90 minutes. No spa days? Friday? No, no spot days. Good. Read? Are we right on the year, Cowboy? Yep, 2014. That was the Tevin Jones year.

Worst, yeah, Tevin got foul. Yep. The worst loss in program history, Steve, worse than Shamanaut and worse than UMBC is 2016 Syracuse in the United Center, up by 10 with 10 to go, and Malachi Richardson went crazy. Steve, how do you like the Virginie? Steve, how do you like the Virginia higher, speaking of Maryland, Baltimore County. Ryan Odom is the next men's basketball coach at UVA. I don't know why you texted me, not this past Saturday, but the Saturday before. And I held off, which I'm shocked. But you texted me, like I said, the Saturday prior, I was at UMBC watching my nephew play lacrosse.

And I was going to take a picture of the golden retriever on the field that sent it to you. but I didn't. I did not. So, thank you. Speaking of UMBC and Ryan Odom, I think it's wonderful. What he's done at every stop is like instant success.

And, you know, growing up at ACC, you know, I always thought the world of his dad at Wake Forest and how the different ways and players that he got to go there, which we haven't seen Wake do in a while. So I look at this higher,

because you want stability, you want a guy that's done it, right? And that's exactly what you guys need. It feels like it's got to be, you know, not a piece change. It's got to be a wholesale change. And now you got a guy that is going to be coming in that's done it at different places. And I also saw he got the Longwood head coach to be his associate, right? Like that's, that tells me that, that tells me that, you know, you're spending,

you're spending money to get guys that your coach wants. and, you know, now you find out because it's funny how it keeps coming back to us. But the first weekend of college game day this summer in Ireland, Nick Saban said, if you paid a wrong guy, you should out of luck. And that's what it's about now, you know, as we talk about these rosters and these teams. So that's what it's about now. I think everybody knows that. I think everybody's ready for a big change in Charlottesville.

And I'm fired up because you got it as a, as an. established guys you could get for this moment and having success in this recent climate, too, I think is exactly what the doctor order. Yeah, it'll be cool. A little bit of a war chest here in Seaville now to play with. He got a four-star point guard on day one in Chance Mallory. And I think his presser's Monday at 3 p.m. He's going to get the UMBC question, I don't know, 25 times.

And I think what you need to understand, Steve, and what Coach Odom shortly will, is that we kind of like that part of the story now. It's kind of the beginning of what led to 2019. Correct. The adversity, as our former coach used to say, it'll buy you a ticket to a place you couldn't gotten to any other way. Cowboy. Cowboy knows that well if you learn to use it right. I can't wait to hear how he answers those questions today. Are you going?

Yeah, I'm going. Am I going? You're going to ask a question? No, no, I'm not. I'm not going to ask a question. I'm staying in the back. You should ask him who his favorite player was from Virginia growing up. His dad was an assistant here under Terry Holland.

They lived here. Ryan was age 8 to 15 or so. It's probably going to be like. That's too young for Bryant. stiff? Probably. Yeah. I think Dave had left, but maybe not. It's right around there.

All right. What's your, behind Ryan Odom, what's your other favorite hire in this cycle? We got Medved to Minnesota. That one. That one. That one. Medved's phenomenal. I mean, you saw how he had his guys going last night in their biggest spot.

They went 11 in their last 11 games, covered everyone. They covered last night. So that's 12. But you talk to anybody in the profession of how he, you know, coaching against him with his sets, ability to get players to Fort Collins should be a lot easier to get him to the barn in Minnesota. Can you win there?

Can anybody win there? Sustain success. Basketball? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yep. Okay.

All right. Okay. Okay. Who do you like? You like Sean Miller to Texas? Not particularly. I think Will Wade and NC State's a perfect fit. Oh, man.

I mean, they're going to spend money. You had one word to describe to NC State fan base. What is it? What a great question. Thank you. Trashy. What about you? Loud.

Loud. Okay. They don't have a whole lot to cheer about these days, but loud. But they're still loud. All right. What the hell else do we have for this guy? You can redo it. You don't have to stick to your bracket. Who's your national champion now that you've seen the first weekend? Ooh. And who are they beaten in the title game?

I want to say Florida beats Tennessee. Florida beats Tennessee. I like that a lot. Have you ever had a root canal, Steve? I want to say multiple. Really? Yeah. They're not so bad. No, no, no, no, not even close.

Impacted molar is some of the most pain I've ever had. When we were young bucks, it was like, oh my gosh. Yeah. That'd be like a root canal. Routine procedure, kind of enjoyable. I nearly fell asleep, cowboy. Shout out Dr. Katie Lee. never thought of the

not a lot of people know what it means where our high school coach used to say when a team was really good defensively it was like trying to swim in a taffy pool I like that that was his not a lot of people get it but when you think about it that's

like freaking impossible I like that a lot I had a kid and you have three picture yeah yeah but I had the third one and my wife you know fuck it we're in the hospital and they

there's a picture taken of me and the three kids, and I smile under those beautiful, bright hospital lights, not unlike the lights we have in the studio. And then I zoom in on me because I want to see how I'm looking. And there's this darkly shaded tooth. You know, like a Tiger Woods sort of situation brewing. I was like, what is this? And so flash forward a year and three quarters,

I start to get it looked at because the healthcare system in this country, is just absurd. Dental insurance specifically. Anyway, go to see this Dr. Katie Lee. She does a root canal last week. The things, it's, it's the right shade. Didn't even do anything to it. She said it was definitely a trauma. I had been hit and it could.

That's how I had mine. Yeah. She said it could have been when I was 10 years old. Yeah. Yeah. Look at that adversity. Yeah. you're sadding cowboy

I'm fired up man I'm showing I'm showing teeth and smiles Steve love it's great okay this is a football show Steve I know you said you really want to talk a little football

before we get out of here do you want to take your victory lap on Cam Ward because it wasn't too long ago when you were telling us about an incarnate word quarterback called Cam Ward who is now the odds on favor to be the number one overall pick minute in the NFL draft. It's pretty nuts.

I actually was doing somebody brought it up. There was like we do our ESPN college football meetings in August and this was the year his, the year going into Wazoo and we had like

Dark Horse Heisman guys and my two were him and then that's when Dylan Gabriel went to Oklahoma and I'm just like look at where those they didn't even end up they had their most success at the school after I thought they were going to have a ton of success. No, going back and watching the games, too, with Cam Ward,

like, I mean, even the bowl game, when nobody thought he was going to play, how comfortable he is amongst chaos is pretty insane. The issue I have is we love Caleb Williams because of that, and it didn't improve. at the next level because of the size and speed that those guys are going to see. So I think he's smart enough to know that.

I think that's going to be the number one thing put in his head. But you talk about ability, man. That dude did it. They knew they had the score, you know, 40 plus to win games. They get burned at the end of the season because their defense can't hold up. But what a way he's come back because he didn't end the Wazoo's career. Great. I mean, he was bad at the end of that season.

And, you know, the naysayers were, you know, what's the big deal he's going to Miami but he proved all those people wrong and man what a position he's put himself in what position does Travis Hunter play I think I think it depends where he goes because if he

goes let's say Tennessee you know something happens or whatever like that's they they are starving for some kind of wow factor like you got to give the people a taste and I mean there's no one like him in this draft

I mean, he does things we've never seen before. So I'm going to say both to start because that wherever he goes needs some juice offensively. And that's why they're at the top of the draft. So I'm going to say both. I would wave obviously more towards the snaps on the defensive side. But when you watch the ball skills, man, like everybody's like, oh, what's he better at? I mean, I would think he's putting in more time physically into defensive back. And if he put the time in offensively,

he'd be just as good on that side too. And finally, hard to take a flyer in round one. Would you take a flyer in round one on quarterback Jackson Dart, Mississippi? I would not. I think this draft is so deep in places where you can make your team better instantly. When you look at the defensive line,

especially in the interior, which you saw how important that position is in the Super Bowl, edge rushers. There's more guys. You know, the one guy that I, you know, I guess it's a flyer because he's a guard and I think he's the best offensive lineman in the draft is Booker out of Alabama. Like, you want to make your team better? I absolutely love them and starting to see people come around on that.

But I've said going into the season, he was the best offensive lineman. and when I say that's obviously centers guards and tackles and I think he's better than all of them and we'll make your team better as soon as you take him. Heisman look ahead won't hold you to it but

won't hold him to it. He's taken victory labs from two years ago. That's actually three. Yeah, it really is. Who do you like at the time, you know, to stand there in New York 2020, end of 2025?

Do you have odds in front of you? Enhance. Yeah. Arch madden. Arch madness. It's plus 700. Garrett Nussmeier. You got it.

Plus 850. Kade Klubnick plus 1100. Jeremiah Smith plus 1,200. Jew Aller plus 1,300. Go to the next guy. Nico, you're going to have to help me, Steve. I amalia. Boom.

Plus 1,400. Dante Moore plus 18. Lenora Sellers plus 18. one time Virginia commit North Sellers. Oh, I would look at who was right after Nussmeyer? Oh, Clubnik.

I would look at Clubnik. Yeah. Yeah. Really? Yeah. They took those steps and they're only going to get better. They needed success on the perimeter.

And they've struck out a bunch with who they recruited. And now they have guys. And I think he took huge steps. this past year. And I look at him as now being the guy where, you know, you get all the accolades and you don't have success right away. And you look at who he followed at that university.

That's a big-ass shoes to fill. And he took the right steps last year. And I think he's going to have a monster year for Clemson this year. One guy on here, he hadn't played, I think maybe but a few snaps. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayan. Like, just saying, is that, he's also plus 1,800. That seems wild to, you know, annoy him with a, with a Heisman odd equal to a few guys who have played two or three seasons.

Plug and play, cowboy. Yeah, it's a situation. Situation he's going into. The issue is how much, you know, Ohio State feels like we run into that all the time. Whether you, you know, going back to, who was it, I'm trying to think of the running back, but it was also the receivers. It was like, all right,

which guy's going to get the votes? Like these people, you know, it's the worst voted on award in sports. Did they like the receiver better? They like the running back better. But Jeremiah Smith, obviously, is the best player in the sport. But saying, I've seen him throw.

He could sling it. He's not as tall as you think. But everyone around him really thinks the world of them. And, you know, that's pretty, big pressure cooker situation. But he's got the goods and the surroundings to be successful. So I expect big things from him, but I still lean clubbing. Steve, we've got no more use for you.

Where can we see you on television or telephones or? We got big TGL playoffs down here in Palm Beach Gardens. We'll be on after that Monday, Tuesday. SV Pod is out. Recap in Maryland's win. Scott talking about the emotions. of finally winning a game at the buzzer knowing they lost five this year in the last seven seconds. So that was fun.

And yeah, we just went through the brackets and that'll be out this week. I'm not saying I was, let me say I was rooting for my bracket and not actually Maryland. But when that kid hit that three, perhaps a bit of me felt bad for the Terps. But again, we finally got one. Chris, we're here. He'd be talking about how terrible this tournament it is, how bad college sports are. We know.

How we need to be talking about whoever the hell, James Winston. I'm also very much looking forward. Are we, what's, what, do you have, what is it?

Do you have April, do you have April 3rd, 4th and 5th open? April 3rd and 4th, we're going to see it here. That's soon? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, like a month earlier this year. Good God.

The biggest disappointment of this weekend of the April 3rd and 4th is that UVA plays baseball away. So we don't have a baseball game to go to on Friday. Can we just go there where the beer and, like, is that open year-round? Yeah, we can get in there. We just go hang out in there. Are you coming down, Steve? What day?

I'm going to come down Thursday morning. Okay. We can watch the women's final four on the 4th. Okay. Perfect. Fat Perez is going to be here. Steve, so we'll need you to, you know. Boy, is he blown up ever since coming last year?

Yep. Steve's going to be here in 10 days? 10 days. We're just getting off the Super Bowl. Yeah. Lucky us. Can I just, can I pump your guys' tires for a little bit, though? Yeah.

I haven't been able to talk to you. I think I texted Macon. But what you guys put on in the, the energy you need and have for that Super Bowl week, and you guys don't mess around. You're there seven days or actually eight, I felt like. But leaving the Greenlight House Friday night and just looking down and seeing

345 and just, you know, Irish exit, goodbye, walk back home. And then to wake up Saturday, which had to be close to 80 degrees. Oh, yeah. And open the old bird and see you guys at an outdoor. party getting after it again i am still amazed at the wherewithal that your crew has it was i i can't tell you like i almost got sick seeing like if i like putting myself like if i had to do that today i don't i think i have to tap out and it was hot oh it looked it looked unbelievable the sun was beating down on us all the credit goes to the two other people in this room tanner and

the in the cowboy but steve When I tell you that Cowboy came up to me about 5 o'clock just after we got off stage that Saturday and said, hey, no big deal. Take a deep breath. But Chris is talking about not going home right now and instead going home tomorrow morning. I nearly began to violently throw up. And instead, I held it together, got all my bags, put them, on my shoulders and then walked three inches in front of Chris's face and just stared at him until he said something. And what he said was, oh, you want to, you want to get back? I was like, yeah,

I want to get back. Just a little bit. Oh, my gosh. You really did hold that together. And I felt terrible telling you that, but I think you needed to know it. I would have walked home. Yeah. I would have walked home. That was about to be bad. Thank you, Steve. We love you. All right, boys. Have a good one. We'll see you soon, a little too soon, but we'll see you soon. Yes. We'll get Ivy dripped. We'll go with Super Bowl style. Get after it.

All right, man. Later. Later.