Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - ACC Has 2 Of CFB's Most Underrated Teams? | Miami Leadership Change | Will McCord Silence Doubters?

Starting point is 00:00:00 So you're telling me two of the four most underrated college football teams in the country are in the ACC. Okay. You are Locked-on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Shout out to the everydayers for making Locked-on ACC your first listen and your first watch each and every day. We're available free wherever you get your podcasts. We're free on YouTube. We're part of the Locked-on podcast.

Starting point is 00:00:35 network, your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code Locked-on College for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. He is Kenton Gibbs from Locked on Wolfpack. I am Alex Dono from Locked on Cain's. On this episode, we will discuss quarterbacks. There are some ACC quarterbacks who are possibilities who will silence their critics in 2024. We're looking at a certain Syracuse quarterback. with an opportunity to do that this year. The team that I cover, Miami, has got a change of leadership coming at the very top. The university president is on the way out.

Starting point is 00:01:17 Will the next university president potentially be aggressive on matters like conference realignment? But Kenton, I want to start with most underrated teams in college football. So pro football focus, and this was this metric was created on the college side by Max Chadwick, who's a very good dude. They consider the four most underrated teams in college football heading into this season to be two of them in the Big 12, two of them in the ACC, from the Big 12, UCF and West Virginia from the ACC, SMU and Virginia Tech. So we'll focus on the ACC side. And actually, Kenton, something I want to say here, I think the secret is getting out when it comes to Virginia Tech.

Starting point is 00:01:58 We'll talk about SMU as well, but correct me if I'm wrong. But the last time you and I several weeks ago talked about betting totals over unders heading into the 2024 season. Virginia Tech a few weeks ago, several weeks ago, they're over under with seven and a half wins. As of Wednesday afternoon, I go back on Fandual, and Virginia Tech is now at eight and a half. So apparently a lot of people betting on the sports books are listening to Locked on ACC. Because we've been telling you, don't let the Hokies sneak up on you this year. Well, listen, we're not going to talk about all the action. that the national media has taken from Lockthold ATC.

Starting point is 00:02:35 We're not looking at anybody in particular. But with that in mind, very seriously, Virginia Tech is a team that is they're in a position to do good things this year because they're starting to gain the identity back. It's not the old Virginia Tech identity. It's slightly different, but this is a new and adapted version that can be just as good. You think about Virginia Tech and you always thought about vaunted defense, great special teams. But what if I told you now, you're looking at a situation where you have explosive quarterback play and very agile defenses, right? That's how you get around.

Starting point is 00:03:11 That's how you win. You can look at Virginia Tech's defense to say they're undersized, but you could also look at them and say they're going to have a quickness advantage on almost every team they play. That's just the reality of the personnel that they've stacked defensively. The question about Virginia Tech is going to be how well do they hold up against a run defensively? offensively, can the weapons get open enough and can caron drones find them? He was not a guy who I would say was one re-pull it and run, but I don't think that he held on in the pocket long enough sometimes to kind of, all right, I'm going from

Starting point is 00:03:45 we read one to two to two to three to three to four. All right, four is open. Let's hit him. I don't think that he did that enough to get this team to where they wanted to be at, but you combine his talent, by Shaw to Tudin's talent, a defense that again, While they are undersized, let them get you behind the sticks. And you'll find out just how massive that speed and quickness advantage is. You combine that with a schedule that is it's softer than marshmallows. They've been chilling in hot chocolate for about a week.

Starting point is 00:04:15 So, you know, you combine all those factors. And you could be very easily looking at a situation where that seven and a five, indeed turns out to be too low. Because again, they don't get the national credit and that schedule. that could mesh to make something special up in Blacksburg. Strength of schedule is going to be a huge factor for both of these teams for Virginia Tech and SMU. And it's an important metric that people don't talk about a whole lot.

Starting point is 00:04:41 Now, it's a double-edged sword because it, you know, trying to predict exactly how easy someone's schedule is in June is can be a fool's errand because some teams are going to surprise you. It's like, wait, that. I thought that'd be a really easy and not so easy. But listen, you can obviously, you know, base your strength of. schedule metrics based on what a team did last year in combination with how much talent they lost, how much talent they acquired. And, you know, for example, on their on their schedules, Virginia Tech and SMU this year, you know, we've talked this week about the Phil Steele College Football Preview Magazine, which dropped earlier this week. In national strength of schedule, he's got Virginia

Starting point is 00:05:18 Tech at number 67 in the country and SMU at number 76. You're going to be hard pressed to find easier schedules than that for power four teams, right? I look at the hokey schedule, for example, Kent, and, you know, they open up big, big SEC showdown against Vanderbilt. They've got Marshall on the schedule. They've got Old Dominion. They've got Rutgers. They're on the road at Miami. They've got Stanford. They've got Boston College. They've got Georgia Tech. They've got Syracuse. They do have Clemson. That will be a home game. They've got Duke and they've got Virginia. So you could obviously argue that, hey, maybe three wins, three losses there, potentially maybe only two losses if they pull off an upset along the way.

Starting point is 00:06:03 Yeah, and the thing about this team is very simple, right? They are in a prime position to have a good year based on schedule. You still got to show up and play the games. And I know that I've talked about deficiencies in terms of the ability to stop the run. And you think, well, most teams aren't very good at running the ball. But here's the reality. you will find out that people, these coaches are better at exploiting weaknesses than most of us give them credit for. Like that's just the reality.

Starting point is 00:06:30 These guys are making hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars for a reason. That's going to happen. Teams are going to say, where's the lack of debt at? You know what? Forget it. We might have to dedicate some extra bodies to the box and make somebody not named Tudin or make somebody who, um kairon drones has to throw the ball to beat us and i think that virginia tech has some quality wide receivers in certain situations i think they have guys that can go up and win 50 50 balls i don't

Starting point is 00:07:00 think they have a ton of guys that can get a lot of separation i really and truly don't when i look at their roster and if that's the case if you've got low on corners and you can say you know what i think that we'll take our chances with that that could create an entirely different dynamic because I think while Byshaal Tutan is mostly viewed as this dynamic kick return or punt return, all that stuff, that man is electric with the ball in his hands regardless of where he's at, regardless of where he's at. So if you can create a situation where you force the ball out of his hands and say, Kairon Jones, we won't let you beat us with your legs even. We're going to take away everything on the ground.

Starting point is 00:07:35 Y'all got to beat us through the air. There are a lot of questions that will arise for this team. That's just the fact of the matter. And then you get to the other part of if you get them down. how do they react then? Because that's a de facto eighth man in the box. When you are down a significant amount and you cannot just run the ball and be, play your regular game and you're forced to chuck it.

Starting point is 00:07:59 Yeah. What happens then? So, you know, this is, this is a Virginia Tech team that they have a good schedule. They have talent. They have many things working in their favor. But it's still, the question still loom large because their weaknesses, we don't go into detail of bottom. and we don't make them their main features, but they do exist.

Starting point is 00:08:17 They do exist. So it'll be interesting to see how it plays out for it. Yeah, and, you know, Virginia Tech, they do have the luxury of continuity. They're number two in the country, according to Phil Steele, number two in the entire country and percentage of returning talent, number one in the ACC, of course, in that regard. A lot of continuity also with SMU. Now, the continuity obviously comes from their roster. Their conference is a huge change for SMU this year.

Starting point is 00:08:42 but, you know, Rhett Lashley is a great offensive mind. Their head coach, their Preston Stone, their quarterback comes off an excellent season. They've got a three-headed running back attack. They've actually got, at least projected to be one of the better offensive lines in the country. They look good on paper in that area. And, you know, another pretty easy schedule there for SMU. I'll take a look at their opponents for this year. They open at Nevada.

Starting point is 00:09:07 They play against HCU. I'm not even sure what HCU is. Is that Holy Cross? Oh, yeah, probably is Holy Cross. Yeah, it just says HCU on there. Holy Cross. Yeah, they've got BYU at home, TCU at home, Florida State at home, at Louisville, at Stanford, at Duke, home against Pitt, home against Boston College at Virginia, and home against Cal. That's SMU schedule.

Starting point is 00:09:35 But I think the big question, Kenton, for SMU is how much of their success, they're were a nine-win team and a conference champion last year, how much of that is going to translate now that they're in the Power 5? I think that's going to be the big adjustment for that team. Oh, absolutely. And beyond that, I'm sorry, that is not Holy Cross. HCU is, I believe, Houston Central or something, Lone, those lines? This is a university I've never seen in my life, the HCU Huskies, which is better win that game. Yeah, they ought to. They ought to. But with that being said, I look at this, I look at this team, and you know how big of a Red Lashley fan I am. I've talked about it publicly many of times.

Starting point is 00:10:14 I think he's special. Y'all know how much I love SMU. Free shirt, Willblood, free the guys over there. Pony Express, baby. It's time. It's time. What was it, the gold transam? What kind of car was that?

Starting point is 00:10:25 Hey, listen, listen, I remember seeing him in that picture with the white transam in the middle of that core fit. I'm still, he's putting it on. But on the field, they absolutely do have a lot of talent in a lot of ways. I question how good is that offensive line? That's my biggest question because it's a difference when you talk about and I hate to use this as an example

Starting point is 00:10:48 but this is the last example of somebody jumping levels. Shador Sanders, when he talked about the difference between Colorado and Jackson State, he said the defensive linemen are different. It's different. You have less time.

Starting point is 00:11:00 They get there a little bit quicker. They stop to run a little bit. They're a little bit different than what they used to be. That is a situation where despite the fact they're supposed to be one of the better groups in the country, where was one of the main areas that Red

Starting point is 00:11:13 Lashley addressed in the poor offensive line? So that to me, I'm not saying that I'm worried about them and I think they're going to be bad. I'm not saying that. The question is, how good are they? Because moving up a level, I don't think it's ever easy, but that's a question. And then obviously, you have an offensive head coach, who is your defense? That becomes a question as well.

Starting point is 00:11:37 How does a defense that was middle of the road last year and the American hold up? against much better offenses. And that's no disrespect to the American. It's just a fact of life that you're looking at much bigger budgets, physically bigger players. You're looking at a very different situation. So who is their defense? You know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:11:56 How do they hold up against some of these teams that have had, like you said, with the continuity of a Virginia Tech, the physicality of a Boston college, or in Miami, another team that prized themselves on being physical downhill with no frills. How do you hold up against those situations is the question that you ask yourself for an SMU. And I will say this for SMU. Another great part about them being an expansion team and out towards the West, they get to play all the West Coast teams. So that's another thing that works out for their favor. Because with all due respect, I love Ott from Cal. I really think that

Starting point is 00:12:31 NMAO is a really good receiver. Other than those two guys, I'm not sure how many guys those teams have that are going to play on Sundays. So they've got some things working for them. They've got some things working against my biggest concerns, offensive line, defensive depth. What does it look like? Well, coming up next year on Locked on ACC, up to this point, Miami has been not really aggressive whatsoever in possibly challenging the ACC's grant of rights or exploring realignment.

Starting point is 00:13:00 Could that change with a leadership change at the top? You want to keep it locked right here. We're only getting started on this brand new episode of Locked on ACC. My friends, the only ticket service that Kenton Gibbs and I use is Game Time. The Game Time app is absolutely incredible, including the opportunity you have to find the best last minute deals. Tickets right before the game or concert starts. Sometimes you can get tickets there even an hour after an event begins. And guys, if you're going to NBA Finals games, how cool would it be to go to a game?

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Starting point is 00:14:55 Locked-on Sports Today is here for you 24-7 covering the top sports stories of the day with the local experts of Lockdown, plus our national shows covering every league. Find Locked-on Sports Today now available on the free Fire TV channels app. Alex Dono and Kenton Gibbs with you. So Kenton, I had heard that this was going to happen at some point soon. I didn't expect it to happen this soon. I thought that the University of Miami president was going to get through the centennial, which is coming up the 100-year anniversary and then, you know, right off into the sunset after that.

Starting point is 00:15:25 But I got the news on Wednesday afternoon that University of Miami president, Dr. Julio Frank, is actually leaving to become the chancellor of UCLA. So he's out the door. Now, I think there's opportunity here on a number of fronts, Kenton. I'm not going to bore people with the academics of my alma mater, but under Dr. Frank's watch, the overall academics had slipped a little bit. A big area that he addressed, because he's actually the former minister of health of Mexico. So he's got that health care background.

Starting point is 00:15:58 He really helped improve the health care system. Miami owns a chain of hospitals down here. The university does. That became very profitable under his watch. the medical school benefited from that. His approach to athletics was an interesting one because I never got the sense that he took personal interest in sports or really understood how all that stuff worked. But he did have a pretty hands-off approach with the athletic department and his top advisors. He kind of allowed them to increase the budgets and spend more on football and basketball facilities,

Starting point is 00:16:31 on assistant coaches and head coaches in Marta Christobal's case, which I did not mind. But I have to wonder, you know, how much of Miami's kind of very non-aggressive attitude towards that ACC grant of rights that we talk so much about, the seemingly unwillingness to try to challenge it the way that Florida State and Clemson, possibly North Carolina are doing. I wonder who the next permanent university president is if they take more of an aggressive interest in trying to, increase athletic revenues, right, through exploring other conferences. Now, Miami currently has an acting president. I don't know if this is going to be the guy that they appoint permanently, but the acting president, Joe Etchevaria, actually very interested in athletics.

Starting point is 00:17:17 He was instrumental in increasing those budgets and hiring Mario Cristobal. He had been Julio Frank's kind of right-hand man and top advisor. He's the acting president right now. I don't know if he's going to get the gig permanently, but if he does, I feel like that's someone who will not lead any. stone unturned when it comes to exploring, you know, the most ways to make revenue possible in this new era of college athletics. Yeah, I think that the laissez-faire approach is not necessarily what is going to work today for a lot of universities. Even if you are not actively making

Starting point is 00:17:49 the biggest move or the biggest job to sue and get out, you still need to be actively exploring. Is that worthwhile? I think that that's something that a brand as large as Miami is and as big as Miami's because I'll be very honest. Growing up as a kid, now I was born in 95, you do the math on that. When I was coming of age and falling in love with football, Warren Sapp is the reason I always wanted to wear 99. Granted, he didn't wear 99 in Miami, but you get my point. He's a Miami guy, you know what I mean? And there's a long story tradition there. And so that's a massive brand. And I think that it would do them some good to look into it. So what am I saying in terms of the president here? What I'm saying is having a president who takes more of an interest in sports,

Starting point is 00:18:30 is willing to push the envelope in certain ways in sports, that's absolutely beneficial. And to pretend like it isn't is a fool's errand because, again, I'll say this as simply as I can, right? Having a president, having the main decision maker, the person who is most responsible for pulling the trigger, deciding whether or not we spend the money, deciding whether or not we do the exeter look for a new conference, having that person deeply interested in sports, I guarantee you. as sure as the sun rises on the east and sets on the west. Just like the former president had a background in history and health,

Starting point is 00:19:07 and then all of a sudden the hospitals get better, the med school gets better. Guess what's going to happen if the new guy's a sports guy. Take a while. Right. Come on. Come with me now. If he was a business guy, what do you think would happen?

Starting point is 00:19:20 Right? If he was a former psychology guy and he's all about organizational therapy and things like, what do you think would happen? So if we're looking at it, that sports and the guy who is a sports guy being the right hand man and acting president, I don't think this could be a bad thing for Miami in terms of the effect on sports if the acting president who was the right-hand advisor and leader in sports becomes their permanent leader in terms of the university overall. Right. And that's why, you know, I've been telling people

Starting point is 00:19:50 in the short term, nothing, nothing's going to change, at least not in the negative because, yeah, the guy who's at the wheel right now is he's a Miami alum and he's a big Miami. sports fan. I'm definitely going to be looking to see who they appoint to be the permanent successor, whether that's Etchevaria or somebody else. Like you said, you hit the nail on the head, what their background is, also where they've been before, right? Because if anyone thinks that, hey, Miami might maybe be interested in the Big Ten, if they maybe bring somebody in who's got a history of being a former president or administrator in the Big Ten or in the SEC, what have you, you would definitely try to read the tea leaves there. And, you know, listen, at the end of the day,

Starting point is 00:20:29 I also, I don't know how much direct influence the university president will have over something like conference realignment because it's worth noting Kenton that like if you look at the Florida state lawsuit, for example, the plaintiff, it's not the university president. The plaintiff is the board of trustees of Florida state, right? So again, I don't know. Is that something the university president signed off on? Is that something that they did on their own? I would think there would be some chemistry there between the university president and the board of. trustees. But again, I don't know directly how influential a president would be on that. But it's definitely going to be something to monitor because I think anytime you look at a leadership

Starting point is 00:21:08 change, North Carolina, UNC just had one. They've got a new chancellor there. They seem to maybe be exploring, being more aggressive to trying to get out of the ACC. I would have to wonder if maybe Miami would follow suit. But again, I won't know until I see who the permanent successor is. Yeah, and that's definitely, it's tough to just. jump the gun and say one way or another, hey, this is going to be positive for athletics, it's going to be a negative for athlete. Because we just don't know. There are lots of variables in this thing.

Starting point is 00:21:39 But I will say if the acting president becomes a president, I would expect an uptick in Miami sports. I would buy stock in Miami sports because, again, you got a sports guy, right? And that uptick may not be easy. It may not be comfortable. It may include some incumbents seeing their way out of the door. It may include some mainstays at Miami. you know, no longer being those in those positions and going back into a consultative role that older coaches get relegated.

Starting point is 00:22:08 Oh, I'm sorry, older coaches volunteer to go into nudge, nudge, wink, wink. But, you know, either way you cut it or slice it, this is a situation where, again, a sports person will lean more into sports. And if this is not a sports guy, I still believe that the acting president will still be kept on as an advisor. because I would say that overall, Miami sports as a whole, has never been as relevant outside of football, of course, because we know, you know, that's a different beast. But baseball being good and being a team that's constantly viewed as an NCAA tournament threat, you've got basketball making a Final Four doing the things that they did

Starting point is 00:22:46 in these past years, you know, since last year, which was a little bit of a struggle because of injuries and things along those lives. You have multiple sports in Miami being really, good that historically weren't. So, you know, all in all, I think that whether or not he stays as the full-time president or whether he slides back into his advisory for sports role, I think that this young man or this gentleman has done a fantastic job in his role. And I highly doubt that they would let him go because of it. Now, he may go on to greener pastors and say, hey, I want to be the main guy. I want to be the big ball and shot caller. But he's done a fantastic job in Miami.

Starting point is 00:23:23 And I highly doubt that there's any incentive for them to get rid of it. You know, some people might listen to this conversation and say, wow, you guys just live in such a sports bubble, right? That there are, you know, there are many other factors when it comes to picking university president. But I would argue that given the state of college sports, no matter who your university president or chancellor is, sports is more important than ever, Kenton. Because you think about if you have specifically football, because football is the biggest cash cow, basketball to a lesser extent. But football, you're in a power for conference, the opportunity that teams from especially obviously the Big 10 and SEC, but ACC and Big 12 as well, the opportunity you have to print money through your football program.

Starting point is 00:24:09 Absolutely. It's never been this big before. So it's like, you know, when you talk about the, because really, university presidents, one of their most important roles is fundraising and raising money. And the previous Miami president did a lot through the medical system. It really built up their coffers through the hospital system. But it's like you have a similar opportunity with college sports these days. So it's definitely something that cannot go ignored.

Starting point is 00:24:32 Here's another thing that can't go ignored. Quarterbacks in the ACC who have an opportunity to silence critics this year. My friends, you want to keep it locked on this brand new episode of Locked on ACC. Thank you so much for making Locked on ACC your first listen and your first watch today. So Kenton, 24-7 sports put out an article written by Carter Bonds about college football quarterbacks poised to silence critics during the 2024 season. And I think this is a great place to start. And, you know, there are a couple of other ACC quarterbacks on the list.

Starting point is 00:25:15 Maybe we can get to those later on this week. But Kyle McCord at Syracuse, he has an opportunity, Kenton, because yeah, he played for a powerhouse program that had a very good season last year in Ohio State, not Michigan good, but Ohio State had a very good year last year. But Kyle McCord, who he transferred from the Ohio State University to Syracuse, you know, for those of us who watched McCord all season last year, you saw a guy who didn't do a whole lot with great talent around him. But he wasn't the reason why Ohio State won double-digit games last year.

Starting point is 00:25:52 In fact, you figure they may have run the take. and possibly even beat Michigan had they had, you know, a better quarterback under center. So he's built this reputation of a guy who did less with more. Now he goes to a program that, what did I say? Oh, I mean, he's built a reputation as a guy who did less with more. That's the first time I've ever heard that one. Really? I mean, it's true, though, right?

Starting point is 00:26:14 It's true. You're not wrong. And now he's going to a program that has less. So can he elevate the talent around him at Syracuse? So, and this is why. And this is why anybody who listens to this show, Dono is a, I'm telling you, this man's going to be a legend in the game when it's all said and done for this reason. He's so intentional with his words. He said the opportunity to silence critics.

Starting point is 00:26:38 You are absolutely right, Dono. This is a massive opportunity. Outside of Miranda Gaston, I challenge you. You and I both watch Syracuse football. You and I both watch ACC football. Name me three playmakers from Syracuse. You named the one that I could name. But that's what I'm saying.

Starting point is 00:26:54 So, Cal McCourt has a hell of an opportunity to prove everybody wrong. If he throws for similar stats to what he did last year, even if he is not excellent and perfect this year, he will have shut everybody up and said it wasn't a Buka. It wasn't Marvin Harrison Jr. It wasn't all these playmakers out of the backfield. It was me. I was the guy. I was the glue. I was the one who was more than just a serviceable point guard.

Starting point is 00:27:22 I made plays if he can do that. The question is, can he? I like Fran Brown, love a Ronde Gaston. I don't think he can. But if he does, hey, I'll eat my crow. I ate micro on Louisville last year. I didn't buy stock early. By the time I wanted to buy stock, it was too late.

Starting point is 00:27:42 And if Kyle McCor comes around and makes me eat crow again, I'm okay with that. I know forever orange girl going to get on me in the comments about that. We love you, baby. We love you. But I'm not going to lie about this tape. I think that Cal McCourt has the biggest opportunity out of every quarterback in the conference to, again, prove that he's that guy or show us why he had to transfer. One of the other is going to happen. That's well said.

Starting point is 00:28:06 So we'll talk about some more ACC quarterbacks on this list next time Tyler Shuck from Louisville made the list. But if we start getting into that one, we're going to need to extend this episode. So we'll get into that one next time. He is Kenton Gibbs from Lockdown Wolfpack. follow him on X at TGIF underscore Kenton. I'm Alex Dono from Lockdown Cains. You can follow me at Alex Dono. And we will talk to you next time on another episode of Lockdown ACC, part of the awesome

Starting point is 00:28:32 Locked on podcast network. Your team every day.

Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - ACC Has 2 Of CFB's Most Underrated Teams? | Miami Leadership Change | Will McCord Silence Doubters?

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