Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Cam Ward is the Best Miami QB since...

Episode Date: March 8, 2024

In this episode, Candace and Kenton talk Cam Ward returning ACC QBs and Fan Friday! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So is Cam Award kind of giving you that the Eric King vibe where they're going to come in, change the game and flatline? Who knows? But for Miami fans, I think it's time to get excited because the side is turning down there in Coral Gables. We'll talk about why Cam Ward just might be the answer for the Cains and more here on Locked on ACC. You are Locked on ACC. Your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference, part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Your team every day. What's going on, everybody?

Welcome to today's edition of Locked On ACC. I'm your host, Candace Cooper, joined by Kenton Gibbs of Locked on Wolfpack. Each and every day, you can find us where I be listed podcasts. Make sure you download, subscribe to the pod from anywhere. We are so close to 2,000 subs. It hurts. So tell five of your friends that they need to subscribe to that channel so we can get to get in.

All right, we've got a lot to go over here on today's show. Not only we're going to talk about Cam Ward, Miami, be the best returning quarterback for the ACC. We could have that discussion early. I know that Kinson has an opinion on that one. As well as some fan comments. Let's get into it. Kinson, how are you feeling?

Oh, I feel great as always. And just so we're clear on this thing, you know, the term returning, do we mean who's coming back to college football in general? Or do we mean that was in the ACC last year and it's coming back? Because, you know, the fans like to jump us and get technical. So let's get technical just so we. fans know the parameter. Well, that's crazy because we're not even at that parameter. So when we get to that one, we shall address. But the one that we should address first here is Cam Ward coming

from Washington State by way of, what is it? That ever that coined the phrase? Help the church. He's here in Miami. People say he's good. Yes. He could be great. He's got a little, a couple more inches than Deerring King in height. And make sure, you know, people here. We're on the show in height. I think he has a little bit better arm strength. He's getting the Canes fans really feeling some sort of optimism towards what the season can bring. Mario Cristobal, some say he's a quarterback whisperer.

You know? I think... Are there some in the room with us today? Dick Cainte, they could be our friends, imaginary, if you will. I think that the canes have a lot of positivity rolling their way. They could be a dangerous program. They have a good defense, but is Cam Ward the answer for them? So Cam Ward is the answer at quarterback.

Cam Ward is the answer for Miami to be better. So what do I mean by that? Miami on paper always has it. Coming into last year, we talked about TVD and how he was one of the more special talents and not just the ACC in all the college football. We talked about how that team, you know, they were young in certain spots, but they were really good in others. We talked about the offensive line rebuilt with Matt Lee.

You had Zion Nelson. You had all these guys that were like, hey, baller, baller, baller, we're going to be fine. You talked about a defensive line that you knew they were going to be deep and they were going to be talented. You talk about a secondary, Cam Kitchens. You talk about Williams as well back there, one of the tallest, one of the most rangy, lanky, as you can name. And so you say to yourself, this team is going to be. going to be just fine. They'll be in contention for the ACC championship. Were they in contention

for the ACC championship, Candace? Not quite. Not quite. Better than before, but not quite. They were going tooth and now to the wider teams like Georgia Tech. They had their offensive linemen over here questioning what his purpose was. So yeah. But that's what I mean. Cam Ward has looked impressive, right? We all saw that pass to Xavier Restrepo, which I think it was a really, really good. I think everything about it was good in terms of some people would say, oh, he needs to lead them over the top and that's the perfect pass and all that. Well, yes, but the game ain't about perfect. It's about getting it right.

So, you know, he throws it to a spot where Restrepo has a shot at it. Restrepo makes an absolutely phenomenal, phenomenal catch there. The chemistry building with wide receiver number one, you love to see that. The talents and abilities from everything that Cam Ward brings. from the neck down. We're seeing it. It's on display, right? He is impressing. He is the answer at quarterback. Is he the answer to Miami being a better team? No, that answer is them playing like a team, be a fist instead of five separate fingers. So you basically telling me, what's your favorite football movie? Before I make this record. Remember the Titans. Remember the

Titans. Right. So you're telling me that Mario needs to take them to the cemetery. Yeah. And have some hard man in the mirror at conversations with each other, some team bonding,

if you will. So here's the thing. I don't know if there are any cemeteries that were relevant to the Civil War in Florida. I doubt it.

I could be wrong. You could be wrong. That's what I'm saying. I could be wrong. I'll admit that. I'm not a history. A fane is going to give us a whole history lesson in the comments.

Just because you said that. I'm not a history boss. So if y'all know somewhere near Miami, near Coral Gables, Nevada of Coral Gables is probably a thing. Maybe. But with that in mind, I really and truly am not going to, you know, he needs something. He needs something to get them to jail and mesh as a team. Being perfect on paper is nice, but at some point in time, that potential that's on paper has to be realized in young men putting on helmets and shoulder pads and knocking somebody's stuff loose. That's what's got to happen here. And it just hasn't materialized in the way that Miami has wanted to despite the fact that they've had the talent.

They've had first rounders. They've had guys who are impactful in the NFL to this day. It's just they can never piece it together. So Mario needs a miracle because if he wants to stick around a little bit longer than this through this contract, he's going to have to figure it out. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. Miami is one of, I talk all the time about how many schools are there really that winning eight games a year, not enough. Miami is one of those schools.

And rightfully so. Miami has a history that is, I mean, when they're good, they're great. Phenomenal, national champs, most first round draft picks ever at the time, all that type of stuff. That's the type of stuff Miami fans were accustomed to. You can't, you know, it's like Jay Z said about. about Beyonce, she used to a million dollar vacations. What's y'all going to do with that? You know, you can't, you can't just bring that down to a level of like, hey, we stand

at the Ramada. You can't do that. Come on. Come on. We definitely know Ramada around here. No hotels with outside number. They ain't doing it ever again. Okay.

I had flashback. All right. We've got to not. Okay, at the end of the day, we've got to talk more about more QBs than just can. But I'm feeling good. It's giving a little bit of the Eric King where I might get too excited and feel like Miami could really take this thing. But the injury that the Eric King had trying to recover from and do all of that good stuff is not quite scam stories. So the jury is out of positivity for right now.

There's other quarterbacks to talk through. But first, I want to remind you guys that passion, drive, impatient, what patience, what brings home the winning trophy is also what keeps your ride or die a lot. eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain. your vehicle and level it up to peak performance. From supercharged roof racks and LED headlights, whether you're into speed, power, or style, eBay Motors has got you covered. With over 122 million parts for your number one ride or die, you'll always find exactly what you're looking for. And with eBay guaranteed fit, your part is guaranteed to fit your ride every time or your money back. Because with eBay motors, you're burning rubber, not cash. With all the parts you need at the prices you want,

it's easy to turn your car to an MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride or die live at eBaymotors.com. Eligible items only exclusions do apply. eBay guaranteed fit only available to U.S. customers. So Kenton Gibbs and I here talking through some quarterback play for the ACCCCCCCC ward being at the top of list of returners to college football. But as Kenton had mentioned, what kind of criteria we were bringing here. here to discuss might be the best returning quarterback in the ACC.

I'll let you have a curveball here. Anybody who's going back to college football, who's the best that is now going to be playing in the ACC? Everybody going to be mad at me. Everybody going to jump me about this. And I'm all right. And my hands work, okay? Give me the young man up in Blacksburg, Chiron Drones. That is a bad, bad brother.

I mean, I don't think that anybody outside of Blacksburg, and I know everybody going to say, oh, King Leo must have sent Ken to cash out. He did not, I promise. But the reality is this is a young man who, when you look at the weapons that he was given, when you look at the fact that Ali Jennings was largely hurt and unavailable for most of the year,

when you look at the fact that he was out there working with, a group of no names in essence, right? He was working with guys who, let's just be honest, they would be maybe starters at the island of Miss Fit Toys University, and yet he goes on to put on a special, special show. And don't get me wrong, Byshaal Tootin is a stud.

He's a baller in that backfield. But Kyron drones, he looked really special, and I have seen him do it against the caliber of defenses that he's going to be facing this year as well. I have seen him put on the show, I have watched him lead some comebacks where you're like, no way, no way. They're dead in the water.

And yes, he has had some games where your left head scratching and said, really, that's the guy. But to me, it's not just about what you saw in terms of what they did. It's also about projecting going forward. And I think that there will not be a, I'll say this. I don't think there will be a single more important player to their team than him next year. 100%. I'm honestly shocked. You didn't say Thomas Cassiana.

But I'm thinking you did it because Bill O'Brien and your love for him. Yeah, it's about, like I said, it's about projecting forward. Y'all know I love Cassiano's. Y'all know that. Watching him play is he's one of the few quarterbacks, right? The first one to ever do it to me was Lamar when I watched the game and I said, you know what, I'm glad to be retired. I'm glad not be chasing guys like that around anymore.

Castiano falls in that category as well. I don't believe in Bill O'Brien at all, at all. That's very fair. I think when you're coming into a season where you're trying to figure out, you know, how your head coach is, just style, discipline and all the things, definitely could be a challenge. I think one that we're sleeping on here, and I know you actually mind in fact, John me, is K Clubbing. I think Mr. Clemson man himself got his offensive coordinator for another year. They're probably out to dinner a couple more times than, you know, normal. They're figuring each other out. and learning each other's quirks, kinks, and all the things. And so I really feel like Cade might be someone to where we should, we should toes her head a little bit. Clemson is still Clemson. They figured out ways to win when they probably shouldn't have a couple times last season.

So let's not write Kate off just yet. Are they? Are they still Clemson? All right. I mean, they've been a long time without a playoff appearance. They've been a long time without that 11 double-digit win season. I don't know. No, but here's the thing.

I'm rocking with Mark because Mark rocking with us. I'll give you that one because I can see the vision if you're talking about projecting. But if we're talking about what we saw purely, I'll tell you. That's the other. Like I said, we are projecting here. We're projecting baseball.

Yeah, that's what I said. Yeah, we projected. I'll give you K. I'll give you K. But I think that this is going to be a year that's surprising. in terms of quarterbacks. I think this is going to be, because remember, we had the year where it was all of these great quarterbacks

where you had Sam Howe, Devin Leary, Brennan Armstrong, Tyler Van Dyck, you had all these guys that everybody was super excited about. Or I believe it was Dierre King, if not TBD. But either way, you had all these quarterbacks that everybody was so excited about. Kenny Pickett as well, Sam Hartman as well. you had so many guys that everybody was excited about.

And there was a little bit of a letdown, right? I think this year is going to be the exact opposite. I don't think that people are giving proper credit to how good some of these quarterbacks can be. I don't think that, you know, we're properly talking about, everybody's talking about Cam Ward, but let's talk about the other guy who transferred into a Florida school. DJU, he's gotten more mature.

He's worked on certain things that he struggled with at Clemson, and let's be honest. We're starting to look at Clemson's offense like, it might not have been DJ. Definitely. It might not have been a problem, brother. And moving forward from there, we've got so many quarterbacks. Everybody loves getting on me when I talk about the young man from UVA, not Muscat, Calandria. Everybody loves getting on me when I talk about Calandria, but he's got, the kids got gumption.

There's something to him that it's interesting to watch him play. you've got so many really quality quarterbacks. You've got so many guys who have done this thing at a really high level or who you can project can do this thing at a high level that if things work out for them, this will be, in the words of Indyiree, it'll be a beautiful surprise. I love Chiron, Cam, DJU, Thomas. That feels good for my spirit. You don't got no love for Max Johnson?

You don't got no love for Johnson Johnson. y'all know? You knew who I named and why I named them. You knew who I named and why I named. And listen, all I'm saying is I want you to be... I'm going out guns blazing. I'm just letting you know that now. I want you to be able to come back to the Rams Club events.

That's all I'm saying. I'm going out guns. I have no expectations for that defense, therefore I have no expectations for that offense. And I really don't know that man. Sorry to that man. Sorry to that man. That's fair.

So there's that. But as much as we talk through, you know, quarterback play, ACC play, all the things. And before we get into our fan comments, right, we just want you guys to know that we try our best to be as honest and fair as possible. So

I got to preface that before people get in their fields. And I didn't even mention Grayson McCall, who was a guy with over 100 touchdowns, under 20 turnovers in college, but I know y'all say I'll talk about this. He stayed too much. So that's all I'm going to say about Grayson McCall. I thought you were going to say Mr. Shuck, and I just feel like the best. Stop playing with me.

Stop playing with me. Because you're going to me real now. Remind the folks of what the bet is. Oh, if Tyler doesn't throw for what is it, 25 touchdowns, you got to eat a Baconator on there. You got to eat a baconator on there. But if he does, I owe you how much, $100 or is it 200? What is it?

I think it's foe for foe, but I don't know. Oh, okay. All right. Well, whatever it is, you know, I'll happily pay it up, okay? I'll happily pay. If Tyler's shucking job, the offense, down the field, and it gets that. I think we doubled or nothing, my, our Duke bet

from last year. And what was that? What was that? A hundred? Three hundred. Okay. All right. Listen, all I know is betting is legally in North Carolina. Canis does. It is. Welcome to Carolinians, getting Fandle, getting, you know, draft kings and all the like. I hope you guys enjoy that during the men's ACC tournament, which will kick off in D.C. The women's tournament is going on right now. We'll talk about that tomorrow. Of course, we also got to talk tomorrow about Duke versus North Carolina because it does still matter, right? There are implications for regular season championships and all those fun things. So we will definitely have that for you.

But fan comments is always our fave. We know that you love to talk to us and certainly talk bad. Kenton will lead that bad boy. But I want to make sure you guys know about Amazon Fire TV. But Fire TV is your destination for sports from live games to highlights to in-depth analysis. Fire TV offers amazing viewing experiences with Smart TV. as well as the fire stick that you can plug into your existing TV that provides access to millions of movies and TV episodes as well as free and live TV.

Whether it's opening weekend for baseball or the basketball college basketball tournament, you're going to want to have a fire TV. Check out fire TV channels on fire TV and Alexa devices. If you haven't checked out fire TV channels, you should. Trust me on this to learn more, visit amazon.com slash locked on fire TV. All right, Kenton, we'll end with this. Fan comments, you get the floor. Sometimes it's better when I lead, but I feel like today the vibes are you.

Well, the fans got very spicy with me, so it's understandable that you wanted to let me lead here. So we have from X Mocito X, C, L-O-L at anyone wondering if the third Big Ten team is better than the second ACC team. Check the past six years. ACC can barely get their second team in the top 20 and sometimes not even ranked. The Big Ten has had three to five top 14 teams every year when you add Oregon. I know you have to support your conference, but aside from Clems and FSU, and never in the same year, the other ACC teams can barely crack the top of it. The ACC needs two automatic qualifiers just to actually get a second team. Oohie. Any thoughts there, Kansas? because I have many, but I'm going to let you take the floor because I know you like to say that I like to talk too much. I'm going to let you get the...

I don't like to say you talk too much. You talk too much. Like, that's just what it is. Um, but anyhow, I feel like, sure, Mixa-XMani. I think that for you to feel so strongly about the ACC is interesting, considering the Big Ten just got Michigan. And now y'all just really into the Big Ten and how much they bring to college football. I don't see the vision necessarily. I've looked at Ryan Day enough to not really see the vision clear. I've seen Harbaugh choke a couple times, you know, when it mattered. And so beyond those two, please enlighten me on who else should really be getting the love, if you would. Well, well, it should be Dan Landing, who they're playing for substance and not clicks, but somehow they got whooped on twice by Washington last year when they were, I want to say, what was it, nearly 11-point favorites in the Pac-12 championship game? Hmm. Hayden had to be them.

Hayden had to be the substance team. Or I know what you're talking about because you don't believe in Washington out of the board's going or Oregon with Dan Lennon. You believe in James Franklin, don't you, brother? Well, don't worry. I've got the out-of-conference schedule since they start rescheduling out-of-conference games after the COVID year for them in terms of the Power 5 teams they played out of conference. They beat a six and seven

Auburn team that finished their season on a five-game losing streak. How about that one? They beat a five and seven Auburn team that had two power five wins all year that year, by the way. And they did be the nine and four West Virginia team. But here's the funny thing, because everybody loves to talk about the ACC and what our conference is or is it. Two of that West Virginia team losses, they had a tough time for the state over over. Understandable. However,

14 point lost to Oklahoma State. 39 point lost to Oklahoma. So. Say all that to say. Which team are we referencing? That's so much better. And mind you, you're saying, oh, their third best team is better because of the merger, because of the super merger with the best teams out of the Pact 12 in essence.

Sure, but not really. Not really. Let's just be honest. Oh, you would argue every year, Oregon can beat the loser. between Florida State and Clemson? I wouldn't say so. I wouldn't say so, though. Hell, I'd throw NC State in that ring,

if I'm going to be honest. Hello. If I'm going to be honest. Again, Penn State looked like a real contender. You didn't North Carolina almost be Oregon in the ball game? Yeah, no. I digress. I digress.

So, long story short, there are plenty of times where... A long story, sorry, you should have just said to each food, but he couldn't. Sit there and each food. Sit there and each food. Because again, we're not here for the slander of the ACC in lieu of James Franklin and Dan Lannick. You got a thing for James Franklin. We can unpack that later.

Next comment. Oh, yes, absolutely. The next comment that we have here is from Mega Frank Garcia, formerly known, FCA, Slamtana. So coming from a fan base of a team that has been beaten by everyone or that has been, and everyone it doesn't storm the court no matter who we beat they can't take away court storming teams have to get off the court we've been court stored 12 times in the last three years only losers cry about it and j beless j billis rather go cards no players are being attacked come on guys hey listen we right there with you you know i mean we're right there with you in terms of we're also

very yeah we're also very grateful that kyle was able to make such a valiant heroic Come back. Speediest recovery you evidence. You know, they said that he tore is ACL, MCL, PCL, the carburetor and everything was gone. Blown head gas and everything. And by the grace. And by the grace. A little healing, a little touch from you.

You know, Duke Divinity School don't play. No one. This was at it. No one. Just was at it. Them dead fathers don't play. I'll tell you something. I'll tell you something.

But now, you know, I. Listen, Slamtah, I want to agree with you. But again, I'm very much so looking at this from a step foot of like, yes, they did cry and be very extra about it. You don't want to be in that situation where things could go bad. That's my only argument. You don't want to be in that situation where somebody does. I mean, it's happened. There was a kid who got paralyzed, like way back, you know, if you really do the research.

But to me, I go to why do we still do it then? Like, what is the joy, the real reason of course for me? Like hard look. What do we get from it? Well, is folks wanting to be a part of the moment? Is folks wanting to be a part of that? Oh my God, we just took down such and so and like we're going to storm this thing. You know, that's that's what that is.

And so I get it. I get why people want to do it. I also understand why folks are pushing so hard to stop it. 100%. Do we have another comment that we can go over here? Our last comment from W.L. Thomas 8, FSU, Miami. isn't in all caps, a story rivalry question mark. Dot, dot, dot.

Slap yourself. All right. Mr. Willie. Okay. So let me make sure that I say this correct and I say this clear. When I say there is not as storied of a rivalry as Michigan, Ohio State and all of college football, I mean that. FSU and Miami is a very storied rivalry. It does not mean that it is as storied as Michigan, Ohio State.

That's just giving them love and respect to that brand and what they meant. It's not a front to Florida State. Do you think this is a regional thing for you, though, like when it really boils down to? Because we've seen some, you know, our show, we've seen some absurd fans from both sides. But it's funny because we've never seen them absurd towards each other. just us, but it's, you know, not trying to say anything. Well, well, here's the thing. Here's the thing.

I understand that I didn't grow up with some of these rivalries, rivalries in the same way that I did Michigan, Ohio State. I get that, right? Y'all know I'm from Detroit. I talk about that openly. Very proud of city I'm far. With that in mind, I also grew up during the time where Miami was great, and so was Florida State.

I grew up during some of the peak. I fell in love with college football watching ESPN classics of some of those Miami, Florida State games. I watched wide right and wide left. I watched it in real time. I'm not saying that it is not story, right? If I was to say that, hey,

Beyonce or Kelly Rowland is not the most famous member of Destiny's Child, it doesn't mean that she's not famous. It just means she's not as famous as Beyonce. You get what I'm saying? Like, it's not a disrespect. It's not saying that, you know, that it's, that's what this is, right? That is the Beyonce of college football rivalries.

And again, Kelly Lowe. To you, to you, though. At the end of the day, to you. Okay. It's the highest rate of game in college football regular season every year. But it's just to me. And to who. With that in mind

With that in mind Agree to disagree. Please don't Willie, please don't beat them up. Please understand. I'm not disrespecting anybody's school or their robberies. There are plenty of story robberies

in the ACC, right? The things that I look at in terms of what makes a robbery story, I like when people really hate each other. When they get to the point where you got to put hands on each other. I mean, not a Michigan, NC State and UNC assistant way back when Mac was first at at UNC.

gotten to it start tussling on the field. That's the type of stuff. You know, Virginia Tech UVA. They really hate each other. It's a story rivalry in its own right. But again, it is not as story. It's not. No disrespect.

Just telling you the truth. Just telling us the truth. And the truth will set us free. Will it not? It will. Come on somebody. But at the end of the day, right, we have to give you how we feel. So if you feel differently from Kenton,

and remember, these are opinions. Just Kenton. Please hit up our ACC YouTube channel. Leave a comment. Let us know how you really feel because we cannot wait to see more Kenton in the comments of people being like, man, of course he says something mess like that.

So that's what I wanted to know. It was Kenton with these opinions. Wow. It's crazy because it was almost like you was backing me up saying that the ACC was competing with the Big Ten and then you just jumped in. You just jump him. But you did, you know.

It's funny how that works. All right, guys, we'll come back tomorrow. We've got Carolina Duke. We'll get ready for that big rivalry and what it means. Rivalry. Hey, crazy, crazy concept. Crazy. I know.

Don't jump me. All right. We'll talk about that and get you ready for some ACC women's tournament final matchups here for Kainis Cooper and Kenton Gibbs. Until next time.