The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Jboy Show - Who is the Next Power in the SEC?

Episode Date: October 21, 2021

Jake and the boys break down who could be the next dominant SEC powerhouse, plus Jordan Battle, Tony Barnhart and Cole Cubelic join the show. Make sure to check us out LIVE on Youtube every day at 3pm... EST, plus follow us @thejboyshow on all social media platforms! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.
Starting point is 00:00:23 Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.
Starting point is 00:00:42 Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.
Starting point is 00:01:07 I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I Heart Radio app,
Starting point is 00:01:32 Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English.
Starting point is 00:01:47 Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:02:11 The Volume. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games, with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app,
Starting point is 00:02:41 Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.
Starting point is 00:02:57 Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes
Starting point is 00:03:16 of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me
Starting point is 00:03:32 or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, learn the hard way with me, your host,
Starting point is 00:03:50 and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,
Starting point is 00:04:06 we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person
Starting point is 00:04:24 while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different. intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines,
Starting point is 00:04:35 as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. Do you remember when Diana Ross
Starting point is 00:04:49 double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George? George Bush got to do a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay.
Starting point is 00:05:03 And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.
Starting point is 00:05:30 Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. How have fans across the country been amping up the excitement every college football Saturday this season? They've been playing Colin Cowherd's Saturday spreads on,
Starting point is 00:05:57 fan duel for a free shot at big prizes. And for those who missed out on the fun earlier this season, there's still time to start playing. The game is simple. We'll choose 10 of college football's biggest matchups each week, make your picks against the spread for each one, and the fans who get the most right win a share of $5,000 in prizes. That's a share of five grand in prizes up for grabs every week. Here's what I'm thinking this week. I'm loving Notre Dame minus six and a half at home against USC. Don't believe in USC in the middle of a coaching. change. Will it be James Franklin? Seems like he's a leader right now. I'm going to take LSU plus 10 and a half at Ole Miss. Old Miss is beat up. LSU is two. LSU's found a little bit, especially in the gap scheme running game,
Starting point is 00:06:37 which is going to run the clock and Ole Miss's defense isn't exactly the steel curtain. Give me Penn State minus 23 and a half against Brett B. Lema and Illinois. Brett came out this week saying nobody that was on the team that was there before him has really made a contribution. So I don't think it's exactly rainbows and lollipops in that locker room. So I'm going Penn State big. Clifford, hopefully, back, you need to make sure you go to Fandle.com slash Saturday spreads or download the Fandall app to check in on Colin and Mize weekly picks
Starting point is 00:07:05 to get your picks in before for your free shot at $5,000 in prizes. No purchase necessary. Age restrictions apply depending on location, voidware prohibited. See fandle.com for terms and conditions. Live from the college football Hall of Fame, welcome to the J-Boy show on the volume, presented by Fandul
Starting point is 00:07:24 and hosted by Jake Crane. This is Roman This is Derek Stigley Jr. This is David Pollock, and you're watching the Jay Boy Show. And you're watching the Jay Boy Show. And thanks for watching the Jay Boy Show. All right, everybody, thanks for hopping in here on a Wednesday live from the College Football Hall of Fame. Shout out to the Booster Club.
Starting point is 00:07:42 Actually, through a little booster club question out on Twitter, going to be reading those as we go. It's a great day here from the College Football Hall of Fame. Got some college football tonight. Abstate versus Coastal going to be giving you our picks at the end, but have a hell of a show playing for you today. I'm going to start out in my monologue, making the case for four to five teams. And it's probably not the four to five teams that everybody would pick that have a chance to kind of upgrade themselves, to jump into a new tier, not only in college football, but in the southeastern conference.
Starting point is 00:08:10 And really the abilities and the ceilings of those teams. I think you'll find that interesting. Jordan Battle from Alabama, starting DB, had a pick six last week against Mississippi State. It's going to talk about their week of practice, getting ready for Tennessee and kind of how it was an awakening the loss at A&M. We're going to play some punt or go as we use. usually do. The SEC Network's Cole Kublich is going to join us live. We're going to talk everything, national landscape, SEC landscape, where he kind of sees it right now and project a little bit into the future. Tony Barnhart, Mr. College Football is going to join us as well to talk a lot of
Starting point is 00:08:40 SEC. Is this the year for Georgia? And we're going to talk about which new coach, whether it be Brian Harsen, whether it be Shane Beamer, whether it be Clark Lee, whether it be Josh Heiple, which one of those guys has done the best job in his overall thoughts, excuse me, on each job that they're doing. And then, of course, we're going to give you our bets for tonight, gave our Sharps Monday, going to give you our bets for the night, a little Wednesday's fun belt, sunbelt, in what is a showdown between App State and Coastal Carolina. But I want to start with making the case here.
Starting point is 00:09:08 On this first team, they're having a heck of a year this year, and how could they become a power in the SEC? When you look at Kentucky, and you know your grandfather's Kentucky from a football standpoint, you think basketball school, football is good every now and then. They're not super in love with it. But if you look at the breath, and I'm not even talking about what Mark Stoops has done, when you look at the breath of the Kentucky fan base, how many basketball fans that they have?
Starting point is 00:09:34 They're all over the country. The passion is at an all-time high. You know you have the numbers. You just haven't been sexy enough to bring everybody in to the fold. But what's sexier than a new team on the block starting to reach for aspirations you never thought the Kentucky program could? And it's not like it's a one-off. It's not like Mark Stoops got there, inherited a bunch of players from a successful coach that went somewhere else. He's built this thing to last.
Starting point is 00:10:02 How do you build it to last? You build it from inside out. They're good enough up front to win a lot of fights. You look at how physical they were against Georgia. Georgia was the superior team I know. But Kentucky, if they handle business the next two weeks, which they likely will, is staring down the barrel of going 11 and 1. And this has been a turnaround that's been going on. It's been happening.
Starting point is 00:10:23 They'd basically been running an offense that was stuck in the 1920s until Liam Cohen came in, changed it a little bit. Their personnel is still run heavy and they're smart enough to play to their personnel. But Kentucky, I feel, as long as Mark Stoops is there, as long as that culture is there, as long as that identity is there, and as long as it keeps spreading through the breadth of the Kentucky fan base, which we know is a sleeping giant, I think Kentucky can vault themselves from a mid-tier to lower-tier SEC team to their. to the next tier out from being able to compete for a championship every year. It's a long way to go, but Mark Stoops has them on the track, he has them on the path, and he's doing it on the trail.
Starting point is 00:11:04 And when you add that with the resources that Kentucky has, how new this love for Kentucky football is, the journey that Kentucky fans will take going from relative, you know, doesn't matter when it comes time to football season to we may actually have a chance every year. I think you will see Kentucky start to make more and more commitments to that football program. Not that basketball won't be important, not that it still won't be the best thing on campus or the biggest thing on campus, but football is creeping up and that's good, not only for
Starting point is 00:11:32 the fans, but for the institution as well. So watch out for Kentucky jumping from mid to low tier to the next tier out and knocking on the door to once every three to 40 years, maybe even once every three years, take a shot to win the east and change, you know, we talk about changing the complexion of your family. Kentucky is changing their complexity in the SEC family right now. Once snap at a time, one offensive linemen at a time, one defensive lineman at the time, and I don't see Mark Stoops slowing down, especially if they go 11 and 1, are 10 and 2. Who do we got next? Auburn. Auburn. We all know that the ability to win at Auburn is there. It's a brand name. It's proven you can win championships there. And Brian Harsen comes in, a hire from outside of the box,
Starting point is 00:12:16 really outside of the box, you go around the corner, get another box, go around another corner, and jump in that box is where they got Brian Harsen. And the biggest thing Auburn has to do here is make sure they don't get in their own way. When Auburn football is going good, there's a new sheriff in town and it's going good. Everybody wants to help. Everybody wants to jump in. Everybody wants a part of it. And that's fine.
Starting point is 00:12:38 That's not a bad thing. But Auburn cannot get lost in the forest before they get to the ocean. Brian Harsen has a plan. You can see that he is implementing that plan. from accountability to a new system to doing things a different way, not militarily or that type of style, but there's a whole heck of a lot more accountability. And there's to me a better culture and a longer lasting culture
Starting point is 00:13:04 that he's building at Auburn. Auburn just needs to keep doing what they're doing and let Brian Harsen control how it goes. Now, are there bumps in the road? Yes. I mean, we talked about the firing of Cornelius Williams here, you know, the almost the loss to Georgia State almost, but you see how they're bouncing back
Starting point is 00:13:20 and you know that Auburn has the capability. It's will they continue to give Brian Harsen the ability to reach out and do it his way? What does do it his way means? It means recruiting on a national level, not just a southeastern level. You need to take care of your backyard. He's doing that at Auburn High School right now
Starting point is 00:13:38 with Drew Bobo and Estin Harris. But being able to go get kids from California, go get kids from Washington, get kids from the Northeast. Really expanding that footprint is going to make up for some of the battles right now that they just haven't had the winning record or they're not the sexiest name to win
Starting point is 00:13:53 some of these five-star defensive linemen and five-star offensive linemen. But the style that Brian Harsen preaches, not only schematically, and he lets his coordinator's coach, whether it's Mike Bobo, whether it's Derek Mason, but the accountability at Auburn is back. The putting on the jersey and understanding
Starting point is 00:14:09 that you're playing for something bigger than yourself and the expectations and the standard should be high. You should measure yourself to the best. Auburn is back there right now. They've got a lot of momentum. Will they hit another bump in the road this season? I wouldn't be shocked. His personnel isn't where it needs to be.
Starting point is 00:14:25 But the longer he's able to bring in his guys, specifically on the offensive line, specifically at quarterback. I think Auburn will be better for it. You just have to trust the process and stay out of the way. Make the case for Arkansas being a powerhouse. Well, we know Arkansas has the resources. I mean, you look what their athletic department as a whole is doing right now
Starting point is 00:14:45 from baseball to basketball. ball to football they have proven that they are relevant. You look in the past at the top 25 winning his teams. We know Arkansas has the ability to be a problem and they've been down in the cellar. And Sam Pittman has led them out of the darkness into the light a little bit, even though some of them want to crawl back into darkness after the last couple of weeks, but you see what he is building. And similar to Mark Stoops, and really the best way to do it, Sam Pittman is making the line of scrimmage fun again at Arkansas. Because when you think of Arkansas, you football purists, guys that have kept up,
Starting point is 00:15:20 girls that have kept up with it for a long time, when you think of Arkansas, you think of running the ball, you think of physicality, you think of a swarming defense, you think of huge offensive linemen. Sam Pittman is bringing that back. But for Arkansas to continue to take the next step, they have to continue to understand that from a personnel standpoint, at least right now, they're not nearly where they're going to be. But you got a glimpse of when Arkansas beat Texas and when they beat Texas A&M. America can fall in love with Sam Pittman. The college football landscape can fall in love with Sam Pittman. And that's what
Starting point is 00:15:56 Arkansas needs. Because when Arkansas is rolling, their fan bases is dedicated. It's as wide. It's as deep as anyone's. There are people that are coming out of the woodwork even now looking at the national exposure that Sam Pittman has gotten. But there is also another thing. thing that we have to take into account here. When you look at the SEC West in recruiting, how do you separate yourself? And Sam Pittman and that staff have separated themselves by being genuine. Not that other staffs in the SEC, particularly the SEC West aren't genuine, but they're doing it in a very real way.
Starting point is 00:16:33 And the real way lasts. And the longer that Arkansas is stockpiling talent up front on both sides of the ball and then adding in the wide receiver from Florida, adding in the deep. from Texas and kind of recruiting a little bit outside of just that Arkansas corridor there with Texas and Louisiana, you're going to continue to see them climb up the ranks. And I know Arkansas fans may be down now. It may not look as cool as it did a couple weeks ago. Not as many people are putting out videos about Sam Pittman, this, that, or the other. But make no mistake, Arkansas has dug in for the long haul. And while they may not win nine games this year, while they may not win 10
Starting point is 00:17:08 games this year. Do not be shocked if over the next two to three to four to five years that Arkansas is making runs and winning games that they should not win, at least not to this point. And they will get to the point where they're able to physically and athletically compete with each team in the SEC. That's how good of a recruiter Sam Pittman is, but most importantly, that's how good of a person that Sam Pittman is. Talk to us about Texas A&M. Look, to me, if I had to pick somebody, and I said this before the year, if I had to pick a program to really challenge in the next three to five years, the Alabama and Georgia kind of monopoly that they've had on the SEC, A&M is up there.
Starting point is 00:17:47 They are up there. Not just because Jimbo's a good coach, but it is easy access, it's easy resources. The fan base is as big as any in the country, and they will do whatever they have to do to get to the point where they are one of the big dogs. You could feel a little bit this offseason. You know, it's coming back. They've lost to Mississippi State. They lost to Arkansas.
Starting point is 00:18:08 injuries, this, that, and the other. But when you look at the type of athletes on both sides of the ball that Texas A&M is bringing in, they are a very, very high caliber. I think the Texan A&M is probably closer than anybody right now from an athletic depth standpoint up front, even though they've got some young guys on that offensive line, when you look at an Alabama and you look at Georgia. But Jimbo Fisher knows what it takes to win a championship. He just took down Nick Sabin. That's a huge feather in the hat. That's something on the recruiting trail that you can use. And while it may not be the difference,
Starting point is 00:18:43 it may be what gets you in the door to have something that makes the difference. With NIL, it's huge for A&M. I already mentioned the resources, the alumni, they have more money than they know what to do with. And they're not afraid to spend it. So when you look at Texas A&M and you mix in Kyle Field, you mix in the resources, you mix in the fan base, you mix in their ability to go out and sign any kid at any point in time
Starting point is 00:19:06 at anywhere in the country, including the state of Texas, I don't care that Texas is coming to the SEC. In my opinion, they are knocking on the doorstep. And all they need is one foot in the door of that playoff, whether it be four, whether it be eight, whether it be 12, and then they're going to turn the corner. So to me, if I had to pick, point at somebody gun to my head right now and say, these guys will compete against Georgia and Alabama very, very well over the next two to three years and try and cement their place. In that upper tier, Texas A&M is right up there.
Starting point is 00:19:36 And even though they have two losses, even with the injuries, they're right on track still, in my opinion. How about LSU? Look, LSU recruits itself. Okay, we all know the way that LSU dominates the state of Louisiana, a state that is rich in talent every year. Now, they don't have the most linemen, especially offensive linemen, but from a skill position standpoint, linebacker standpoint, running back standpoint, you know, guys that can gain 20, 30 pounds and be hell off the edge, LSU has it for days. and those kids will most likely always go to LSU.
Starting point is 00:20:08 But what LSU has is somewhat of a nuanced niche to me. LSU has a ton of swag. It's almost got that Miami swag feel, that difference. When you're out there recruiting and you walk in with an LSU logo and you see Death Valley and you see how it's treated, there's a coolness to LSU that allows them to get into doors that other people can't just walk in. Not that Auburn's not cool. Not that A&M's not cool, but there's something about LSU. There's something about the bayou, and kids love it. You look at all the people they've put in the NFL. It's a pipeline to the NFL there. And that state, I would put that state up
Starting point is 00:20:51 against a lot of states per capita in talent. But you have to make the right higher. This is the higher. This is the higher when you're in a nuclear arms race in the SEC. see when the west is there it is where it is right now when nick sabin is probably three to five years being out this is the higher that you cannot get wrong because as cool as lSU is as much swag as there is down there there's just too many dogs in the yard to take a step back or make the wrong decision and if lSU makes the right decision they're one of the few programs in the country that can go from the ugly step sister to Cinderella in one flip of the coin. We know about how crazy LSU fans are about football down there.
Starting point is 00:21:39 We know about how LSU gets when it's cooking down there, how the environment is, how the recruiting it is, how the recruiting it is, how contagious it is to be a part of that LSU swag. And that brand will always be that way. But you got one shot to make a great hire here. Well, Scott Woodward do it? We know he's not afraid to pay, but at the end of the day, you make these decisions and you live with them.
Starting point is 00:22:02 And I think that's what we'll tell if LSU is able to jump in that next tier consistently. And I'm not talking about a 2019 national championship. I'm not talking about a 2010 championship. I'm not talking about being relevant or being elite once every little bit. It's every year going, oh, hell. Bam and Georgetown, we got to play these guys. We got to recruit against these guys. Man, I'm feeling them catch up on the recruiting trail.
Starting point is 00:22:26 I can feel it a little bit. Any Florida fans in there wondering what they have to do? Play defense. Tackle somebody. Stop the counter. LSU to me, LSU's like that girl that's super hot, but has like a great personality too. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:22:40 Right? It's just hard to find. It is hard to find. You can't, you're un-ex-LSU is just sexy to me. I don't know why. It's cool. Look, it's cool. The juices a little bit different.
Starting point is 00:22:52 Weird stuff goes on around in the bayou, man. I've had guys from LSU legitimately look me in the face and say, I was like, you know, what do y'all do for fun? We chase rabbits. Yeah. Like, look. You know how? And catch them.
Starting point is 00:23:04 And the type of athlete that's in the state of Louisiana, they're different too mentally. Like, they're not, there's no afraid down there. Like, there's not a, oh, man, you know, I'm in eighth grade and I'm playing varsity, man, I'm nervous. They're not like, when I was at South, we had a bunch of kids from Louisiana. Never once did any one of them be like, no, coach don't put me in. Our coach, I know.
Starting point is 00:23:27 We'd have to grab them and pull them back from going in, whether it's inside drill, whether it was one on one day it didn't matter and and they really are some of the most competitive people from everything i mean we used to have to go over to the dorms and be like y'all got to calm down playing 2k because you're so loud they think y'all are brawling in here they're like coach we're just talking and i'm like i know because i know you guys i know that but y'all are screaming at the top of your you're six foot three 245 pounds and y'all are screaming at each other and you're very loud because you're getting dogged on 2K. And you know what?
Starting point is 00:24:04 I like my players like that. I would rather say woe than go. I would much rather say well than go. That's why they need that father figure that you were talking about a few weeks ago. I'd like to know which state has the highest in-state retention for its recruits. It would have to be Louisiana, right? If you have a top recruit in Louisiana, they'd go to LSU. You would think.
Starting point is 00:24:23 I mean, maybe some of the Florida schools, maybe some of the Florida schools. And you would have to look at like the top players too, because if you look at everything in aggregate, you can only sign a certain amount of guys. It's tough. But when you look at the top guys, the four stars, the five stars that are staying home, it is so hard to go to Louisiana, really anywhere in Louisiana. Now, there's spots where the high school coaches may not be happy with the staff that's
Starting point is 00:24:44 there right now in their circumstances. But you go from the top of Louisiana to the bottom of Louisiana. Those guys love LSU football. They love LSU football and they love the Saints. Yep. Those are the two things they love. You said the best. You said, look, LSU can go get a top quarterback recruit from California.
Starting point is 00:25:00 but California schools aren't coming to Louisiana and getting that top quarterback recruits. I don't see a bunch of, you know, I don't see a bunch of USC recruits and UCLA recruits coming down to Ed in the car. You know, I don't see a lot of that. You know, you really don't. But LSU, to me and again,
Starting point is 00:25:19 you saw it in 2019, just that way, just that swag, just that juice. It's different. It's different when team, not that Alabama doesn't have swag, but they go about it. a different way. LSU, it's almost like
Starting point is 00:25:32 a kind of a, you know, looser deal. It's hard for me to explain, but cultural offense know exactly what I'm talking about. It's just different. Yeah, it's just the, we're better to you and we know it type of thing. We're not going to, we're not going to say it, but we're going to show it. That can be a double-edged sword, though. It can. Like with Miami,
Starting point is 00:25:48 Southern Cal, you know, they can go downhill. That's why you've got to hire the right guy. You've got to have the right guy in there to control it. It's a, it's a superpower power, but with great power, going Spider-Man right here. Oh, wow. You're going Toby? I'm going Toby. With great power comes great responsibility. I didn't think we'd get to Spider-Man until it was pick time. Yeah, who knows at this point? It's a who's who. But speaking of Spider-Man,
Starting point is 00:26:14 a guy that's able to make plays all over the field, had a big pick six last weekend against Mississippi State. He's always smiling. I know he was smiling when he had the pick six. Let's bring Jordan Battle in here. We're going to get to the Bustle Club soon. All right, everybody, as we usually do bringing in Alabama standout DB coming off a good game, how to pick six. Mr. Jordan Battle. Jordan, what's up? What's up, man?
Starting point is 00:26:37 How you doing? Man, I'm doing good. It's good to see you again coming off a win after a tough loss at A&M. And Jordan, I want to start before we get to the win against Mississippi State. You guys coming back for practice last week. I know you guys are always focused and it's very structured. Was there anything different, though? Was it turned up a notch last week?
Starting point is 00:26:58 Was it something a little bit maybe out of what has been going on lately? Yeah, the intensity was definitely a lot better than it usually was last week. We put a big emphasis on how we can recover from that loss and how we can not let that one loss determine how we can be for the rest of the year. So that was really the big thing and just focusing on what we can become and not just putting ourselves, putting ourselves, down just because of one loss. Yeah. And, you know, Jordan, too,
Starting point is 00:27:33 you're a guy, you're a student of the game. What were some things defensively? And I'm going to ask you to get in the weeds or give us any of the special sauce, but what were a few things defensively, especially in the back end that you guys talked about? Maybe tightening up that zone a little bit, getting your eyes in the right spot. What were some, what was some of the messaging this week?
Starting point is 00:27:50 Yeah, some of the, you know, just covering the slot, you know, a lot better. Getting down on guys, you know, hook and swatting, you know, because sometimes we're in position, but we just don't make the plays and we put a big emphasis on um you know coming down and making open field tackles and not letting the ball across our face so so those are just some some little things that we could have tweaked in the game that would have you know turned out well yeah and at this level at the level you guys play at and in the SEC every second count so so fundamentally if you're not
Starting point is 00:28:19 perfect or on time uh that's something you've got to be able to fix and i know you guys did that and you know playing a mississippi state team and when you're playing an air raid team Jordan being a db I know you love coming downhill and you're not afraid of contact at all. You'll meet anyone in the alley. We've seen that. But going against an air raid team, you've got to be thinking to yourself, hey, you know, I might have some opportunities this week to catch a couple balls, and you sure did.
Starting point is 00:28:44 Yeah, you know, the big thing is patience. Let the play come to you. Just break on the ball every time the ball is thrown because, you know, usually you play eight drops when you play an air raid team. So, you know, everybody has to break on the ball when the quarterback's off-end come off. So that was just the biggest thing was breaking on the ball, you know, creating a turnovers. For sure. Now take me, Jordan, inside the helmet.
Starting point is 00:29:07 You picked the ball off. You're rolling down the sideline. I know they're screaming, set up the wall, set up the wall, set up the wall. What was going through your mind? And I knew you knew you were going to score. About halfway, you could tell you knew you were going to score. I kicked in that extra gear a little bit. But take our audience inside the helmet there.
Starting point is 00:29:26 Yeah. Yeah, mainly it was just from the break of the receiver's route, the corner route, I saw, I just broke on to him and then I saw his eyes get big and I turned around and I saw the ball and that's when usually I'll make a deflection or anything, but this time I decided, you know, go for the interception. And as you can see, I caught it. And I was about to cut across field, but I saw my team block him, like Malachi. Yeah, Malicca and Armour Davis and Phil Matthews, I think got a block for me down the sideline and Henry. So I just decided to follow my guys down the sideline and to the end zone. Yeah, you know, I always thought it was cool because you work in practice and you're always told, hey, once you pick a side and the wall set to that side, don't cut it across the field.
Starting point is 00:30:19 Now, you get in the NFL, you can do whatever the hell you want. They really cut it back. They've been pitching it to each other in the NFL and stuff. But, no, I mean, that was great technique by you guys. And, you know, moving forward, Jordan and looking at the matchups you all have, again, controlling your destiny in the SEC West, got some big games, including this one against Tennessee, which we know is a big rivalry, even though Alabama's really dominated it. What does this weekend mean to you with Tennessee coming in running that style of offense,
Starting point is 00:30:46 the up-tempo, full speed? How much does that change the preparation for you guys? There almost goes back to Ole Miss week. We have to be intensely prepared. We line up quickly, get the call, you know, and execute the call, because when we're all on the same page, we're a dangerous team. And when we're not, we're not. So we have to be on the same page every play, get the call,
Starting point is 00:31:10 and make sure everybody can execute the call before the snap. True. And from a communication standpoint, Jordan, and this is something that I find fascinating, when teams are going that fast, you have to speed up your communication as well because you don't just want to stay in base the whole time that's half the reason they're doing what they're doing
Starting point is 00:31:28 so does the communication change I know you guys do hand signals I'm not asking for all that but how much faster does the communication have to be on y'all's end reacting to what you're getting from a team going so fast yeah usually um like from the DB aspect corners don't even look the corners like if they can see the far side corner doesn't even look at the sideline just looks at the safety for the call So usually the communication does change this because we don't have as much time for everybody to look at the sideline and get the call and execute the car.
Starting point is 00:32:00 So usually the corner just looks at the safety and we'll just give them the call or tell them the coverage and they just play from there. Definitely. And my last question for you, Jordan, I know you guys are excited to get back home. We know Brian Denny's going to be rocking. What is it like for you to be able to play at home and have the advantage on your side and all that noise going on when the defense is out there? They're trying to get that offense to get a few procedure penalties. Yeah, man, there's nothing like playing in Brian Denny. You know the fans always rocking for us.
Starting point is 00:32:31 It's a night game, so, you know, the lights will be flashing. And we just hope to give the fans what they want. This is a big game, big robbery for all the alumni. And we're hoping to give them the game that they want to see. Well, Jordan, you always give me the interview we want to see. Brother, I appreciate you. Congrats on the success last week. Good luck this weekend at home.
Starting point is 00:32:51 We'll talk next week. Thank you, my guy. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.
Starting point is 00:33:13 Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.
Starting point is 00:33:38 Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.
Starting point is 00:34:11 So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.
Starting point is 00:34:33 And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in, in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done
Starting point is 00:34:56 enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keir Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.
Starting point is 00:35:36 I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex In. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack.
Starting point is 00:36:06 So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:36:29 Jordan's always a good time, man. My guy. My guy. I feel like I started that. You didn't start that. I started that. Hey, what's up my guy? I feel like I.
Starting point is 00:36:39 Mute. Mute. Blank Raphino. Mute. Shut. Ask Blake Refino and he'll tell you the truth. I don't believe it. Speaking of the truth, that's good at the booster club.
Starting point is 00:36:46 Yeah, David Elon with the questionnaire. He says, David. Can anyone tell me why Arkansas has never been able to recruit the football program? In 25 years, we have never finished in the top half of the SEC. Right now, we are averaging 13th in the SEC for 2022. Well, look, and I've talked about recruiting rankings on here, you know, they're great to look at. You know, most of the ones that are four and five stars are going to hit. you have your bus and stuff like that.
Starting point is 00:37:13 But look, it's not always about that. And if you go back and look at teams, especially in the NFL, you look at the average star rating and this, that, and the other. And then again, you're looking at how many teams. But if I'm Arkansas, you guys are going to get up there in the recruiting rankings just over time. It's going to happen. But the thing about Sam Pittman is he's signing guys that fit what he wants to do as well. It's not all about stargazing.
Starting point is 00:37:35 You don't work for NASA. You're a college football coach. You want the stars that fit the type of. culture that you want and act and that are going to act the way that you want because again it is a team sport football is the greatest team sport in my opinion on the planet but you have to have the right recipe you have to have the right mixture that's why sometimes you look at georgia alabama and you're like man you know they sign that three star they offered a three star they could care less about about what a star is now it looks cool and people get bonuses and stuff like that for four and five
Starting point is 00:38:07 stars at some places but at the end of the day it's about winning it's about winning and you can take a bunch of teams that have won championships and go through that roster and re-rank the stars. See who mattered the most. And you will be shocked to see the correlation between the stars that were coming out of high school and the stars that are at a place now that I'm talking about that just won the championship.
Starting point is 00:38:29 But in that same token, it is a balance. You want to sign the best players in the country that are also the best people in the country. That is the race. And there's a lot more good players that aren't great people, then there are great players that are great people. And it's finding that.
Starting point is 00:38:46 And sometimes it may not be the five star or the four star. It may be the three star that you're watching on tape. And you're saying, man, like, I think we can get this kid. And if you put 20 pounds on him, or maybe he's in an area that's, not that it's not heavily recruited, but people just aren't love with in recruiting and say, this guy is 25 pounds away from being what we want him to be. You look at our roster.
Starting point is 00:39:07 We need to sign a guy at this position. But we can red shirt a guy. at this position, put him in the wait room, get in there. He's a 3-8 student. He does great in the community. We've talked to the counselor. We've talked to the lunch lady. They all love them.
Starting point is 00:39:19 Those are the type guys that you're willing to take a chance on. And a lot of times, does that mean they're going to be, you know, Cadillac Williams or they're going to be Darren McFadden every time? No. Sometimes, but you tend to always get more out of those guys for longer, especially in a society today where you can just get in the portal if it doesn't work out good. You want guys that kind of have that, I guess you'd call it moxiness, but that salt of the earthness mixed with the ability.
Starting point is 00:39:47 And you'll take maybe a guy that needs to get a little more flexible, but you see the potential and he handles his business off the field and he treats people with respect as opposed to a guy out there that's got all-world potential, but you have to worry every night when he leaves practice. You've got to worry every Friday night before a game or any time he leaves the facility. And you get too many guys like that. it's amazing how they start finding each other. We all know those guys.
Starting point is 00:40:11 Everybody in the booster club has played with some guy who's so athletically gifted, right? He's always gotten by on that talent and maybe a person of low character. And look, you can make it, if you're athletically gifted enough, you can play athletics at a high level. But at some point, the amount of work you have to do with these top programs is so strenuous that a bad character, a low character will shine through eventually. That's true. And I mean, if you're a guy that ends up signing with an Alabama or a Georgia,
Starting point is 00:40:37 are one of these elite teams. And you go in there, yeah, you're athletic, but so are all these guys. So what separates you now? Your ability separated you in high school from a lot from 99.99% of the country. What separates you now? And that's the difference. And when you start getting a culture in your locker room and in your program where you have a bunch of talented guys that aren't even worried about how talented they are, it's not about that anymore.
Starting point is 00:41:03 It's how well they can do the stuff outside, how well they can embrace the routine, how early they can show up, how much extra film they can watch, how much they can do as a team off the field, whether it's just throwing during the summer and stuff like that, that's when you start seeing that machine crank it out. And guess what? Great players want to be coached hard. Kids that are coming out of high school that think I have a chance to make the NFL,
Starting point is 00:41:27 but I know the work that I'm going to have to put in, go to these places and watch that. And that's what jumps off at the page. It's not only are these guys stars, but they handle their business. And they police. And they police. The players police.
Starting point is 00:41:41 The players, kind of what Saban said, there's nothing like a team where your best players are also your hardest workers. That's the whole goal. And once you have that, you either conform or you get the hell out.
Starting point is 00:41:52 That's how it should be. That's how a winning program operates. Let's play some punter go. Okay. Let's see here. I got the first one for you. All right. The Matt Corral injury
Starting point is 00:42:02 will lead to an LSU upset. Punter. go. I'm going to say punt, but barely. And I'm not saying that Matt Corral's not going to play. What I'm saying is, if he is limited running, that takes a big tool out of the toolbox, not just him escaping and getting 15 yards in the run, but extending plays, making one guy miss and then finding a guy downfield. But looking at this injury, being a lower body injury, if it's a, hey, we're going to have to do it from the pocket. Not that he can't. Matt Corral's one of the most talented, if not the most talented thrower in college football,
Starting point is 00:42:37 but you're taking a huge wing away from the offensive department of what Ole Miss does. Because now you look outside what Braylon Sanders is beat up. Jonathan Mingo has the broken foot. They're down a left guard. Ole Miss is a little bit beat up. It's not just Matt Corral. And the LSU game scares you, not just because LSU still has good players, but they're playing with house money.
Starting point is 00:43:04 Were they going to do Fire Ed Orgeron? They can go down there and do, you don't know. You really have no idea. And LSU's like, hey, wait a minute, we can run the counter really well. Or we're a gap scheme team. Like a bunch of us have been saying all season, but they've got nothing to lose. If they go play bad, well, hell, they play bad.
Starting point is 00:43:20 But typically, if you go down there and play free, it's a lot scarier than it is a team that goes down there and they're uptight. Or they're worried about making a mistake. LSU's got no worry in the world. And when you blend those type of athletes with really not any worries in the world, as Lane Kiffin or that almost coaching staff, and I know they've been talking about it all week, guys,
Starting point is 00:43:40 they could blitz every down on defense. Why not? If you say, all right, Matt Corral can't run that well, why would you not just heat them up? I'm not looking out there and seeing Elijah Moore. I'm not looking out there and seeing Kenny Aboa.
Starting point is 00:43:52 I'm not looking out there and seeing Jonathan Mingo. Braylin Sanders is beat up. And I'm LSU, who cares? Y'all want to run screens, run screens. we'll just retrace and try and knock it down. So it's a scary combination for Ole Miss. I still think they win, but I don't think they cover. Gotcha.
Starting point is 00:44:08 Okay. All right. Oklahoma will win out with Caleb Williams at quarterback. I'm going to punt. I think they lose a game, and it may be the Bedlam game against Oklahoma State. Just because Oklahoma State, it's not super flashy. Those are the type teams that give Oklahoma trouble.
Starting point is 00:44:24 You look at the Kansas states of the past. You look at the Iowa states of the past. TCU. It's not. super flashy, but they just kind of hang around. Kind of like Ed O. They just hang around and hang around and hang around. And then you look up in the fourth quarter, you're like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, we're up by three and they're driving. Like they're at the 10 going in with six minutes to go. And Caleb Williams is a big talent. We know that. We know how talent that he is.
Starting point is 00:44:49 But I don't, there is a game coming where he does not play well, where he tries to force them because everything's going good. It's rainbow candy and lollipops right now. But the minute it starts going bad, we're going to see how he reacts to it because it's not always going to be candy and rainbow and lollipops. And I think Oklahoma does drop a game, which those another wrench and know who's going to make the Final Four is we kind of get to stretch time here. Yeah, it's going to be
Starting point is 00:45:11 interesting to see if they trend even better now that they've kind of gotten the Spencer Radler problem out of the way, or if like you said, his youth will shine through. Here's the next one I want to know. Josh Heipel will beat Alabama at least once in his tenure. Hey, spread, spread punt, spread punt, spread,
Starting point is 00:45:29 spread punt where I'm putting this okay look they haven't beat them since I was like gosh how long as I was what 17 maybe shorter than that younger than that I'd had to be younger than that I don't see it I still believe this NCAA cloud if I'm a Tennessee fan just it bothers me
Starting point is 00:45:49 it bothers me and I talk about this a little bit with Tony Barnhart like just tell me what we got like what's what's the penalty because you can't start fresh until you you know what the penalty is? Is it a postseason ban, which sucks? Is it reduced scholarships? What is it?
Starting point is 00:46:09 You need to know. And I still don't think Tennessee has near the personnel, because they don't. It's the truth that Alabama has. They're not going to beat them Saturday. It's going to be ugly Saturday. And they are at least, I mean, I think four or five, maybe even six years from being able to bring in the type talent and stockpile the type talent that Alabama is going to have and they're going to continue to have.
Starting point is 00:46:29 Because if Nick Saban retires, it's not like everybody's going to stop going to Alabama. They won't be as dominant as they were, but they're going to bring in a guy that can recruit. In Alabama, the machine, the players going to the NFL are still going to be there, and the new staff is going to try and pick up off that and just ride off that. And just add to it and add to it. They've already got the blueprint. But no, I don't think Josh Hypo, I'm going to put on that. I don't think Josh Hype will beat Alabama once.
Starting point is 00:46:52 All right. So understanding that Wake is the only undefeated team in the ACC left, The ACC will not produce a playoff team this season. Go, I'm going to go on this. I think the ACC, you know, you look at Clemson, they've been the flagship team in there. Florida State, not pretty right now, even though they're doing better. Miami, not pretty right now, even though they're doing worse. When you look around the Conference of Wake's been a great story.
Starting point is 00:47:16 Look, they play an Army team. This is a weird game this weekend. This is just an interesting matchup. Army's been playing pretty well. They have their identity. We know they're the triple option. get it wide, run, run, run, and wake while they're undefeated. Hasn't been clean all the way through.
Starting point is 00:47:33 It's not like they're mopping people up. You know, they've had good wins and this, that, and the other. They escaped in Syracuse. There's been multiple other games. They're going to slip up, but the ACC will not have a playoff team this year, and they shouldn't. They're not good enough. All right. So Outback Steakhouse with all the NIL deals is the best restaurant chain in the country.
Starting point is 00:47:56 Well, it's just so funny. We got Cole Kublick coming on here in a minute. And Cole, you know, is eating the blooming onions on camera. It's kind of a great segue. Look, Outback is up there, man. I like Outback. Alice Springs Chicken hits, man. Look, it hits hard.
Starting point is 00:48:13 It hits hard. Always been a Blooming Onion fan. I really like the vibe. It would be a higher ranked. I'll say go on that. I'll say go on that. Outback is up there. Always had clean bathrooms.
Starting point is 00:48:25 Never had a bad situation. It's not a big fan. You're not a big fan. Not a big fan. Really? He's not, guys. Why not? Why don't you got any reasons?
Starting point is 00:48:34 You're just not a big fan. You know, it's just not that good to me. Really? So what's good? What's the best chain restaurant that you think? The best chain restaurant? Yeah. Don't put me on the spot.
Starting point is 00:48:47 No, we're going to dive. You're already on the spot. You said outback is trash. Okay. Trash, that's not what I said. Trash is a whole. I pull words. I pull words in his mouth.
Starting point is 00:48:56 That's like I call someone a clown. That's different. Fighting words. You said they were trash. It's on the tape. I just don't think they're that good. You don't think they're upper tier. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:49:08 You know what? You know, I was, you know, I'm a, I'm an, Applebee's. I mean, chilies with me and my boys. Here we go. Chili's with him and his boys. Outback should reach out to us. Free food to get Blaine convinced.
Starting point is 00:49:20 We got to get Blaine convinced. We got to get Blank convinced. On the Alice Springs chicken with the honeymuster. Actually, you know what? Outback sent us. your hottest wing saw. I really want you guys to take the clip. I want you to take the clip of Blaine saying that.
Starting point is 00:49:31 What's this wing situation? What's this wing situation I keep talking about? Of just the hottest stuff you got and just put it all together. A real Witch's Brew. Outback style just to watch Blaine Eat it. I think everybody can enjoy that. That's an interesting last question. Yeah, that's, uh, you know, we used to go when I was younger to Outback.
Starting point is 00:49:49 We used to think it was a, I tell you what, we used to go to Red Lobster all the time. The best game. But the problem, here's the problem, though. You go to red, at least for me, you go to red lobster. And I'm like, all right, man, I'm going to get the lobster or something like that. And then they bring out those cheese biscuits. And there's no way you can't eat too many of the cheese. By the time the meal comes on bull.
Starting point is 00:50:09 My dad always complains about that. Man, they're so good. I used to walk in. Look, you think Pringles? You think the fun, you can eat one of those in the fun, don't stop? I would like to find the psychopath that can eat one red lobster cheese biscuits. and just put the rest down. They're like, all right, I'm good until dinner.
Starting point is 00:50:27 Show me that, but you want me to show you that person? You want to know why? They don't exist. That's why. I used to walk in the Red Loss. I went to Red Losser, mostly when I was a kid. You know, when you walk in the Red Lobsters, they got all the lobsters. Right in front of you in the carriers.
Starting point is 00:50:40 I used to look at them like, man, y'all don't even know. No, they're like, man, we're out here. You know, we're in a tank. It's a great situation. They can grab you. And they boil you alive. Yeah. That's how every movie ends at Red Lops. That's tough.
Starting point is 00:50:53 It's hard out here for lobster. Yeah. The biscuits are great. The biscuits are great. All right, speaking about people that do exist, Cole, Kublich does exist, and we're going to bring him in right now to prove it. There he is. Hey, Cole, what's up, man? Hey, how's it going, man?
Starting point is 00:51:10 It's going good. You know, my brother over here with the blasphemy about Outback Steakhouse, I'm kind of reeling from that after he said he didn't think it was the top chain restaurant. I know you've obviously had, I know, that's what I said. Yeah. Really Tennessee. to me. Well, you know, you're really on one tonight and you need to stop. Why the bad attitude, you need to stop because you're doing too much. All right. Cole, let's get in here. We can talk about blooming onions all day. But let's talk a little bit national landscape before we get to the SEC.
Starting point is 00:51:39 And I've talked about this a lot. The parody in college football this year. Outside, I mean, Georgia to me looks like the most dominant team. Alabama, we know how elite their players are and the ceiling that they have. But just your thought on the super seniors and the overall parody this year. It's been fun. The narratives have been a little bit different. I think it's been interesting to see a couple of different teams that are maybe in a position to play their way into the playoff or play into the playoffs discussion. We've already had a couple different ones and Cincinnati's there. Iowa obviously was there for a while, bad loss of Purdue over the weekend. And then I think too when you look at sort of what's next and some other teams that may have that
Starting point is 00:52:18 opportunity, Michigan State's going to be there, Michigan is still there. And you look at what those two teams, along with Ohio State, still have to play the rest of the way. That's going to be a lot of fun to watch. So I wouldn't say Oregon's out of it by any stretch of the imagination. So it's, yeah, it's been pretty cool. I don't really know. I think we all thought going into it that some of the super seniors and the transfer portal were going to be the big reason that was going to take place.
Starting point is 00:52:41 I can't really point to a team and say, oh, well, they had seven, eight guys back. So this is definitely the reason that super seniors have made this big of a difference. I think it's helped a lot of teams. I just don't think we have as many elite quarterbacks in college football this year, and that's probably why we're seeing it. I mean, some of the usual suspects, be it Clemson or a couple other teams that we're used to be in there, they're not getting the same kind of play from that position, and I think it's making a big difference. True, and it's amazing defense is getting an actual spring and then a true fall camp,
Starting point is 00:53:14 I think, is taken a little bit out of the offense explosion that we saw last year. But I want to get to LSU, Cole. This is a huge hire. It's always a huge higher when you come down the SEC, but you look at really the nuclear arms race that we have and you look at the West right now. Who are a couple guys in your mind that you think would be a good fit at LSU that are a realistic possibility?
Starting point is 00:53:37 I'm going to give you one that I think should be a realistic possibility, but probably isn't off the jump. And it's Billy Napier. I think he's 45 minutes down the road at Lafayette right now. He's got his – he's dug into Louisiana as far as recruiting is concerned. I think he understands how to build an entire football facility as opposed to just a roster. He's already recruited the state. I think he could put an amazing staff together.
Starting point is 00:54:01 And he's a culture guy. He's someone who understands that you don't just go accumulate talent, throw him on the field, and then you're going to be able to win games. So I also just don't think that the LSU brass is going to go for that. I think that there are going to be folks that say, we can't allow ourselves to go hire a coach from Louisiana Lafayette to be the next head coach at LSU. So then I think you're going to see James Franklin. I think you're going to see Bill O'Brien.
Starting point is 00:54:24 I think you're going to hear about Lincoln Riley. I don't know how real that is or not. I don't really know what Lincoln wants. I don't know if he thinks a change of senior would be good for him. We hear the NFL rumors the last few years. I don't think those happen for no reason. So I doubt that he would go to another Power 5 school before he might make that jump. It's Scott Woodward's got a track record of making some surprise hires
Starting point is 00:54:45 and going and finding big-name coaches to move in. Here's the problem with that. I've heard described a couple of different ways. Splash hire, Monster hire. He has to bring a star in. You know, it has to be a big name that's going to resonate.
Starting point is 00:55:01 All right. How many of those names are out there? I mean, honestly, how many that fit that description are out there? And then how many could you immediately take off your list that just aren't going to take it? Because I don't,
Starting point is 00:55:13 I mean, Davo might leave one day, but I don't think he's leaving for LSU. Sabin's not leaving. Ryan Day's not leaving. and if Lincoln Riley's not leaving, who's left on that list, Jimbo? By the way, I wouldn't leave A&M for LSU right now.
Starting point is 00:55:27 Not today. Most days I would, but not right the second, not with what Jimbo's already done, and not with some of the other stuff happening behind the scenes at LSU, but it is a top five job in college football. So there will be names that you and I aren't even thinking about and aren't even talking about that become a real possibility for that job.
Starting point is 00:55:45 Yeah, well, I always say on here, the first guy you hear that's going to get it never gets it, typically in this situation. Another name to me, and it's not a sexy name our splash higher. I may go talk to the guy that just drug you at home at Kentucky, Mark Stoops, maybe just see how it's going with him because that guy, to me, you know, while it wouldn't be the sexiest name out there, this, that, and the other, the guy can obviously coach and he understands how to build it from the inside out.
Starting point is 00:56:09 But, Cole, speaking about having to build it from the inside out, Brian Harsin and Auburn, you know, Bo Nix, they go to Arkansas, took what Arkansas gave them. You know, Bo Nix looks like a completely different guy. I don't think Mike Bobo gets enough credit as a position coach. You know, you hear about coordinators and play calling, but this is what he does. Just your overall thoughts of Auburn right now as a team that still controls their own destiny
Starting point is 00:56:30 as we sit here on October 20th. I think it's easy, Jake, to say ahead of schedule. It's easy to say improved. I mean, you watch that offense like I do, and I can't help but watch it every week and think, good God, they are just, this is a patchwork deal. They are really just sort of mixing and matching and, you know, tinkering with things
Starting point is 00:56:51 to be able to find a way to consistently move the ball a little bit. And it's morphed and it's changed throughout the course of the season. When you go back to go back to LSU and look how they put in some of the misdirection and some of the heavy formations and then how they really started to focus and emphasize on quarterback run, probably saying to themselves,
Starting point is 00:57:08 this is what the guy does best. We might as well use it. We might as well put it out there and give him the option to pull it and put him out on the perimeter and give him the option to keep it. And we know now we got a guy, behind him that's not a complete liability so maybe we can afford to let him take
Starting point is 00:57:21 five eight ten more hits a game and we'll be comfortable with that but i think you're right not just about bobo as a quarterback coach but bobo and harsen also with the way that they've put the plans together offensively you know now you saw a few more shot plays in the arkansas game i think some of that has to do with the confidence of the receivers i think the receivers are playing a little bit better and bobole a bit better i mean you go back to that georgia game the body language was terrible. It was awful. It needed to improve. I saw a little bit of improvement in that department with him. And then obviously the touch and the feel on a couple of those deep balls against Arkansas actually giving the receivers a chance to adjust and go make a play. That hasn't really been there
Starting point is 00:58:02 in many other times in his career. So that's improved. I mean, I think I counted it up today. The tight ends have accumulated for around 34 catches and almost 100 yards. We haven't seen that in, I don't know how long. What does that mean, Cole? What are those numbers mean? A little bit involved. Yeah, it means that guys know how to formation you and use different people at different position
Starting point is 00:58:24 that can do multiple things on the field at one time and they're going to make you more difficult to defend. And again, that's just something else that that group has done. That's pretty impressive. And I'll ask you this question because I thought it out loud and I asked it on my show this morning with Greg. If the Georgia State game goes in a similar fashion to the first two non-conference games,
Starting point is 00:58:45 games, even half of that, let's just say it was 34 to 10 and it was a boring, comfortable non-conference win. How different is the perception of Auburn and Brian Harsen right now? Because I think that's the one thing that is holding people back from being impressed with what's happened. Yeah, and you know the funny part about that, the irony and that is I think that's probably the best thing that happened to this Auburn football team the whole year was to barely win that game against Georgia State and the coach is able to go back. But I agree with you. I mean, they're always going to look back and people, you know, we'll always look back and say, oh, well, how can I have my faith in this guy if you guys had to beat Georgia State on a last
Starting point is 00:59:21 second drive? Well, I can go back and tell you multiple times that national championship teams struggle with teams that they should have beaten very badly. Now, it may not be from a Georgia State standpoint, but I watched Auburn go up to Lexington and have to kick a field goal with Cam Newton in 2010 to win the game in a game. They should have won by a lot more. That's exactly right. They didn't throw almost a Hail Mary at halftime to to win that game when you go back and look at it. So no, look, a win is a win, but to me, when I look at markers for Auburn through the season,
Starting point is 00:59:52 I go back to that Georgia State win, and I think that win from an internal standpoint and using that to go forward and watching the way they've played since then may have been the best blessing in disguise that Auburn has had the whole season, which is exactly the opposite take that a lot of people will have when they look at where Auburn is right now.
Starting point is 01:00:11 But Cole, my last question, but before I let you out of here, I know you've got to run. Give me two teams, if you don't mind, from national landscape, from across the country outside of Alabama and Georgia, that you think would have a chance to beat either Alabama or Georgia. Ohio State would be one of those teams.
Starting point is 01:00:29 Just because of the offense, I think they'd be able to generate. It has nothing to do with their defense. I think the offensive line has gotten a little bit better across the course of the season. I just think that they would potentially be able to go out there and score and be able to find a way to beat those. beat those teams. And I'll probably say the same. I'm a little more wait and see on this one,
Starting point is 01:00:48 but Oklahoma would be the other one. Since they've made the change at quarterback, it looks like it's supposed to look. And it's gotten a little bit better. Now, they're still beat up in some areas that I wish they were healthy. And the offensive line under Bill Beedenboe still hasn't really come around the way that I thought it would this year. But they are now dynamic at the position that they have to be dynamic in. And those will be the two teams that I think on that stage possibly could be able to go out and get a win and it's only because confidence in their ability to score. True. And everybody talks about the past with Lincoln Riley
Starting point is 01:01:20 and don't realize how everything, a lot of what he does is predicated off the run game, especially the Gap Scheme run game. They do play action power, play off to power about as good as anybody and he always has. And now that you've got a quarterback that can run, I think that's kind of eased a little bit of their run game as well. But Cole, it's always great to have you on. My friend, I appreciate it.
Starting point is 01:01:38 Thanks, man. Appreciate it. We'll do it again soon. All right. Talk soon. Cole, Kubekman. always great. A real one. Yeah. He's a real one. Smart guy. You either know what or you don't. And Cole knows. And he brings out some great points to. The Georgia State points a great point.
Starting point is 01:01:50 Blaine, let's get to the booster club. Yeah, we have a $2.69-cent donation from Eric. Eric. I see what you did there, Eric. And he said, how bad will the ducks beat UCLA this weekend? You know, look, I like Oregon this weekend. I do. You're coming off a game against Cal. You didn't play.
Starting point is 01:02:09 Losing Verdell hurts. Anytime you lose. because he was their witch. You know, he really was. C.J. Vredel was, and they lost him. But they have some other guys that are starting to figure it out. You know, the quarterback's dynamic. He's able to extend plays.
Starting point is 01:02:21 We talk about extending plays here. The zone read games real. The quarterback run game there is real. And I'm just not sold still on UCLA offensively. Can't throw it. You know, the Dorian kid at quarterback, I don't trust him. I don't trust him. And Oregon does a really good job.
Starting point is 01:02:37 And Mario Cristball does a really good job of either coming off a loss of when they don't play well, they tend to play well the next couple of weeks. And that shows you kind of his grip on that team, kind of the culture's grip on that team. So I think Oregon is going to go beat UCLA, get a little bit of momentum. And look, I love talking Pac-12 and this, that, and the other. You've just got to give us something to talk about. You know, you've got to give us something to talk about. I'm not going to sit up here and talk about Oregon State for no reason.
Starting point is 01:03:05 I'm not going to talk about Washington State for no reason. But right now Oregon's been the flagship. USC's looking for a head coach. UCLA's had somewhat of resurgence under Chip Kelly, and they returned a lot. Spanked LSU the first week. But I like Oregon under the radar this week against UCLA, Eric, and I appreciate the donation, all $0.69.
Starting point is 01:03:25 Absolutely. You got a question here from Grant Brown. Grant Brown. How big of an impact does it make that is the first time some players are playing in full-away game stadiums? Oh, well, it makes a huge impact. I mean, if you're a guy that, hasn't experienced it. Now, there's guys that, you know, have been here a while and the COVID
Starting point is 01:03:44 year was kind of an anomaly and they're used to the stands being like this. But imagine if you're a freshman, a true freshman coming in last year or a redshirt freshman or a transfer that hasn't played. Because look, it's different when you're on the sideline in uniform and it's loud and then you're playing. And it's loud. It's a totally, totally different thing. So to me, if I'm a freshman going on the road, you saw a little bit, you know, Bamette, Florida a little bit with some of the new guys. Bammit A&M with some of the new guys. But across the college football landscape, you are seeing some teams go into places that have young guys at important positions, whether it's your starting corner, is your field corner, is your boundary corner, whatever,
Starting point is 01:04:23 having a little bit of trouble and more of it is offensively with the procedure penalties and stuff like that, young offensive linemen. You saw Texas young offense, Texas A&M's young offensive line struggle a little bit early with the noise and making sure everything was flowing. You have your false starts and this, that, and the other. So it's huge. Anytime you are messing with the communication of players, multiple players and players at multiple important positions, it's going to have an overall effect on the game.
Starting point is 01:04:50 So it's a great question. Yeah, I got a question here from Q-Woof, and he says, first of all, what's up, Jay Boy? What's up? And he says, will Tank Vigsby finish his career as a better running back than old Trey Mason? I think so. You know, now I think Tank's going to be gone after his junior year.
Starting point is 01:05:08 I think he's going to be one of the first back. tanking taken. I still think I don't know if his hips 100%. Something's a little bit nicked with him. You can tell. Not that he's shying away from contact, but just the big runs. And Auburn's offensive line hasn't opened up a ton of holes
Starting point is 01:05:23 for him and stuff like that. So when you watch, you've got to use every circumstance that you have. How good is your offensive line? The players around him, the system, how does it fit? You know, with Nick Marshall, you had to run it a lot more than you had to throw it, even though you did your RPOs and stuff like that.
Starting point is 01:05:39 That was basically the offense. And you were running to be able to throw a couple passes and take a couple shots a game because that's what Nick Marshall was. Imagine if you had Tank Bigsby with Nick Marshall running what they were running. So I think he will. Now, if you're looking at pure yardage and the amount of ground that was covered, I don't know if he'll have as much as Trey, but from an ability standpoint, from an explosive play standpoint, from having a huge effect not only on the game as it goes, but the game as it's planned, Tank Bigsby has just as big an effect. Where does my boy Kenny Irons rank on that list?
Starting point is 01:06:11 Dude, Kenny's up there. I love Kenny. Kenny was a dog. Kenny went down to LSU and before the game, looked at the camera and said, I'm going for 200 and went for 220. We got to get Kenny in here. We got to in the studio. I saw him at this, there was this dinner thing that I went to and he was there,
Starting point is 01:06:26 and it was a great catch-note. But I'm shouted out you and stuff like that. Kenny is a good guy. David, too. David was a heck of a player. Heck of a big picks. Yeah, for sure. And I think the kind of with that Nick Marshall,
Starting point is 01:06:36 and that offense was so nuanced. to the game. It was kind of new. It was fresh. You know, so it's a lot more availability with that. It's got a question from Mike and Mary Hogger. What's on Mike and Mary? Hashtag, Ask Jay Boy. Do you think the NLI money would get to the point where college athletes might stay in school that extra year
Starting point is 01:06:56 instead of going to the NFL? You know, I think, and that's a great question, I think what you're going to see in that circumstance is when people get that draft grade back, I think there's going to be a higher standard for me going. Like if, all right, well, you know, I went from a third round to a mid-second round now. You know, I don't have a chance to make any money while I'm here in college, so I'm going to
Starting point is 01:07:16 go ahead and go. Now you come back and say, wait a minute, I'm talking Alback Steakhouse. I'm talking to Miningke. I'm talking, you know, monsterjobs.com or whatever it is. And I'm going to be a mid-second rounder. No, I think I'm going to come back in and try and improve my grade. I think that's where you're going to see the difference. Because, again, you will have guys too now that kind of come out of nowhere.
Starting point is 01:07:37 junior year, maybe their Richard sophomore year, that before the season maybe didn't have a ton of NIL deals, but come on the scene and make a splash and scouts are like, wow, and they're like, we got to consider this guy and you see those guys leaving, but you'll always have that. But I think the standard to leave
Starting point is 01:07:53 now with NIL will get, I guess you could say, higher but lower in the draft picks, if that makes sense, to when you leave. And it used to get offset with like insurance policies. I remember when I was at Michigan and Chad Hennie was going through this trying to decide if he was going to leave after a junior year.
Starting point is 01:08:10 You can pay those insurance premiums, right? But this is such a better way to do that in terms of getting paid for something and waiting for that high, high draft stock. And it's legal. Yeah. And it's legal. You know, and, you know, the cool thing, too, is they're making relationships that are going to last them for a long time. If they play it right. Yes, they play it right.
Starting point is 01:08:29 If it doesn't work out, the NFL, I'm just telling you, there's so many good doors that it opens up. But that's a great question by Mike and Mary there, because that's a real thing. Let's go one more. We're going to get Tony. Okay, a couple things here. Put out a poll is Outback Steakhouse top tier to the boosters. I want to find it out. The word's in. It's 52% yes, 47%. Majority wins, though. It's tight.
Starting point is 01:08:50 We need to get the booster club some of their honey mustard, man. Wow. See, y'all got me thinking about blooming onions now. See, like, to me, the blooming onion in that sauce, it hits. It hits like Ichero. I just don't. I swear. I sound like blooming onions. Maybe that's my thing.
Starting point is 01:09:05 What else did they say? That's it. We got a $3.33. $333.3. 3.33. A lot of three is in there. From the one and only convicted harsenist. Oh, no.
Starting point is 01:09:17 That's a great name. What a beautiful name. What's the toughest stadium that you've coached in? I know the answer. Well, you know, you got to separate cool from toughest. It was cool when we went out and played at Navy, like in Annapolis, like that whole situation, like just the way it is with them, the way they walk out in uniform, the way it's just, it's different.
Starting point is 01:09:44 You know, the campus and seeing that stuff. That was the coolest. The hardest or the loudest was Neeland. I mean, Neelan was, it was rock. Like I said, we had to, like, put our hands over the helmet holes on the side and scream at people right next to us for them to hear. And the ground moves. Like, that's the thing.
Starting point is 01:10:03 The ground moves. But you get done coaching in there. And, like, your voice is just gone. But the weirdest one, and I will continue to say this, the Nebraska game at Nebraska, because it was just reverse psychology. And people had told me that. Like, buddies in mind that a coacher said, listen, when you all pull up, it's going to be different than, like, you're used to be people flicking you off and telling you you suck and, like, you guys are going to lose and, you know, this, that, and the other. You get off the bus at Nebraska, and all the Nebraska fans are like, hey, guys, good luck today.
Starting point is 01:10:35 Really? Oh, they're like, good luck. They're like, glad the hope you guys traveled. Like, I'm looking around. Good for them. I'm looking at my guys like, no. That scares me more. Yeah, I'm looking at our players.
Starting point is 01:10:45 Like, they really hate you, though. Like, don't fall for it. No joke. It's just weird. You know, we're out there. And they had, this is when Riley was still there, and they had the bone yard, like the DJ and then playing. And we went out. And typically it's like, boo, you know, boo.
Starting point is 01:11:00 And they were clapping and like looking at us, like giving us thumbs up. And I was looking around. I was like, I don't like this at all. It's a propaganda. Yeah. I don't like I don't believe you and then at halftime and we didn't play very well the first half But at halftime we're down like 15 or somewhere around there and we're going in and it's just lined up with Nebraska fans by the gate we're running in and they're like you guys can do it in the second half And like I'm trying to find something to get my guys pissed off about and I came like you hear how much how respectful they are to y'all
Starting point is 01:11:29 You hear how much courtesy they're showing you right now It's disgusting to me it's an illusion that's like it's like it's like Job off the rest of development. His dad's like, I don't want any more your magic tricks. He's like, illusions, father. They're illusions. Like, that's what it was. It was just the most interesting thing I've ever seen in my life.
Starting point is 01:11:48 And they told me about it, but it's just reverse. I swear it was reverse psychology. You know, that's like Iowa with the pink locker rooms. We went to Iowa to have the pink locker. And they were like, man, you got to watch out for Iowa and the pink lot. I'm like, these are the biggest locker rooms of any away stadium. Do you care? Do you think I care?
Starting point is 01:12:03 Like Northwestern, we're three to a locker. And here I have a locker. The visitor's locker room at Tennessee is just like an ice chest and a little room. They're like, I don't know. Y'all figure it out. I know. And I'm like, man, paint them pink all day. Just give me my own locker.
Starting point is 01:12:17 The shed they keep the equipment in is better than what the visitor. And you know what? That's how it is. And you kind of like it like that. And from a coaching standpoint, you're like, look at what they've given us. Look at the disrespect. Then a Nebraska guy comes up. He's like, hey, you want some vitamin water?
Starting point is 01:12:31 Yeah. Can we get you guys anything? Is there anything that you guys? That's hilarious. We got Barry Switzer's about a. coming here and give you all pregame speech he's going to do it himself they hooked up the pregame speech dude dude i will tell you this though i will tell you this downtown lincoln pretty sick is it pretty sick see they weren't the big ten when i was there see and that was the
Starting point is 01:12:49 cool thing like the younger coaches you don't go out and do anything crazy but you go you know friday night may hang out have a beer or two talk about the game there was this cigar bar down there you know it was just a cool situation and nobody was mean to us like we had sideline like hey good luck in the game tomorrow guys good for them they're like i hope y'all are all healthy and everybody has a lot of fun. I hope Scott Frost gets them back, man. It'd be a great story. I just don't see it from the Frost to a freeze.
Starting point is 01:13:14 You know what we get to Tony Barnhart? You know what it's time for. It's time for the Wickels. Pickle of the week. I came up with the name of that segment. Can you believe it? I love it. Hit us with that. I'm going to put it right here.
Starting point is 01:13:26 I'm just let everybody just, number one, if you haven't had Wickels Pickles are the Wickels Relish, you know, number one, what are you doing with your life? And number two, they're easy to find. You can follow them at Wickels. Pickles Pickles on Twitter, they're awesome. And we've had some pretty interesting situations. And if you're new to this segment, the Wickles Pickle the Week is when we go over a problem
Starting point is 01:13:43 in coaching or a decision that you really got to think about. It's a true pickle. And this one is Dino Babers and Syracuse. Okay, let's set the scene. You're playing Clemson. You're down by three. Been a hard fought back and fourth game. At home.
Starting point is 01:13:58 You got a at home. You got a good kicker, solid kicker. It's a 48-yard field goal under a minute. 48-yard field goal, and it's fourth and one. Do you try and make it a shorter field goal by going for it? Or do you say, well, I'm afraid we're not going to get it if we do go for it, and then we don't even have a chance to tie it. Or potentially go in and score touchdown, too.
Starting point is 01:14:20 Or potentially go in and score a touchdown. But there's a caveat. He also took a time out on fourth and one to make the decision to kick the field goal. Here's where I sit on this, because when you look, or here's where I stand, When you look at the situation, you have to look at your personnel. Always. Always. You're down by three.
Starting point is 01:14:40 So a field goal ties it. Touchdown wins. It's pretty simple, right? You have a monster at quarterback. Syracuse's quarterback is huge. Like Jack and the Beanstalk's worried about him huge. You've run a lot of quarterback draws or quarterback sneaks during the game. He's had success.
Starting point is 01:14:57 He's been able to fall forward. Clemson's a little banged up on defense. You call the timeout. to me, even though you have a solid kicker, you have an NFL running back as well. That kid is one of the best running backs in the country. I mean, he went over like 130 yards, I think, by halfway through the second quarter. And your offensive line hasn't been horrible. Really at all.
Starting point is 01:15:20 But to me, it falls more under having the big quarterback and saying, guys, listen, if we can't get one yard and there's a little bit less than a minute to play, to make this a shorter field goal to tie it, we don't deserve to win the game. Syracuse is built more to get one yard from a quarterback run than to have to get in some crazy formation and find a way and scheme away to steal a yard and a half away from Clemson's defense. To me, because of the personnel you have, and you're, you know, not that you're playing with house money, but nobody really expects Syracuse. You are what, 13 and a half point dog? Yep. At home?
Starting point is 01:15:58 To me, you go for that. You make it closer. And now hindsight's always 20-20. If they make the field goal, you can say, wow, it was a great choice. They didn't risk it. But to me, you're the dog. You're at home. And you've had success in short yardage with lurch at quarterback.
Starting point is 01:16:16 He's huge and can move. And was shaking off tackles the whole game. To me, you call a timeout to get yourself in a play, and it doesn't have to be an exotic play to be able to get that yardage. Would your decision be different if they were almost? down by two and the field goal puts you up instead of tying no gotcha no because to me you know you're trying to extend the game to win the game anyway and overtime so it almost makes it even more of hey let's go for this because if we get this thing close enough we are going to win the game
Starting point is 01:16:53 and you can run the rest of that minute down that's exactly right but but nothing is too if you're going to kick the field goal don't call the time out Now you've given Clemson time if you make it in a tie game to run a couple plays and kick a field goal to beat you. And they have athletes that are good enough to go up and get one or get a pass interference or do this and the other. So it was kind of bungled on both sides. But if you're down two or down three, I think you try and get the one. And you know what? If you don't get the one yard, if you don't get the one yard, the players can look at you.
Starting point is 01:17:26 You can look at the players. Say, well, we went down. Well, we went down swinging. I went down because I was confident in y'all. Because a 48-yard field goal, and I know guys make it look pretty easy nowadays, that's not an easy kick. I don't care if it's indoors or outdoors or how solid the kicker is. That's not a guarantee by any stretch to the imagination.
Starting point is 01:17:48 Because think about it, you go for it, you get it, you line up, you either spike it or you get it to a 35-yard field goal or a 42-yard field goal. Your margin for error is so much different. and you get that first down. Now I can control what hash the ball's on. Where does my kicker feel the most comfortable at? From 40. He likes it right middle.
Starting point is 01:18:11 That's his honey hole. All right. Well, time's running down. We got a time out. We'll run power to the right side. Get it put on the right hash or the right middle. Here you go. 36-yard field goal to win the game.
Starting point is 01:18:23 36-yard field goal to tie the game. I just felt like you took the most unnecessary risk out of both of the risks, because there's risk in everything. Yeah, this is the type of thing is what has the game been like? Yeah. What has the line of scrimmage been like? And I pulled it up because I wanted to see. So, Syracuse, you're two for two already on four downs.
Starting point is 01:18:44 So good. You're 100%. All right. You're averaging five and a half a carry. Five and a half a carry. So you're getting more than four yards than what you need right now. And you were beating Clemson between the tackles. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:19:00 Right? If the games like that and the momentum's like that and you're somewhat winning up front, you don't put your kicker up there to make a 48-yard. You put it on your offensive line and your quarterback and your running back who's been doing it the whole game. True. You got to dance with the one that brought you to me. And that's our Wickel's Pickle of the week.
Starting point is 01:19:22 Check out Wickel's Pickles. It's not just pickles. It is so good. I love it. Dill Pickles is even good. I don't even like Dill Pickles for disclosure, but I will destroy the Wickels Dill Picles. They're a little bit different.
Starting point is 01:19:33 Dilly Dilly. Dilly. Anyway, speaking of Dilly Dilly, you want to bring Tony Barnhart in here? Let's do it. Let's bring Mr. College Football in here to round this bad boy out. All right, everybody, one of our favorite guests are bringing in here to talk some college football. Mr. College Football himself.
Starting point is 01:19:48 You can see him all over the college football landscape. I'm going to let him plug it in. Tony Bardhart. Tony, good to have you back in, man. Jake is. Always good to be with you. For sure. And I just want to start out kind of generic, you know, looking around the
Starting point is 01:20:01 Southeastern Conference, starting with the East. Is this the year for Georgia, Tony? I mean, you look at everything else and it's all circumstantial. You've got to look at the team and then the surroundings. I don't think Georgia's been in a better spot to win the whole thing than they are right now. Yeah, I would agree with that. I think Georgia is, without question, the most complete team that I've seen, particularly now that they're playing better on the offensive side of the ball.
Starting point is 01:20:23 the defense we know is generation, one of the best Georgia's ever had. And so, yeah, this is the, all the stars are lined up. They've got the opportunity, but, you know, everybody understands there's a bunch of games still left to play, and there's always a possibility that Alabama is going to be waiting in Atlanta, and that has a whole other set of issues they've got to deal. Yeah. Well, you know, with JT, do you think there's a timeline? I mean, is it by the Florida game?
Starting point is 01:20:51 Is there a point of no return with J.T. Daniels, if you're Georgia, I think it's the best way to put it. Well, I think the best way to put it now, Jake, is that Stetson Bennett has done nothing that would constitute him losing the job. I mean, he's playing at a very high level. He's so much better now than he was before. Now, Kirby has not told me this, and I don't know that he's told anybody this. But to me, at this point, you stick with Stinson Bennett as long as he's leading. this team and the players obviously respond to him. He played great against Kentucky the other day. I was there.
Starting point is 01:21:29 And so I think on a need basis, Georgia's got a hot hand right. They do, and I'm with you. You look at the chemistry, the team seems to be winning the way that they want to win every week that they play. And Tony, staying with the East, one more there, looking at what Mark Stoop's done at Kentucky. You look at the rest of the schedule. they handle business the next couple weeks.
Starting point is 01:21:51 They're staring 11 and 1 down the barrel. It's one of the best coaching jobs I've seen from a three to 40 year period. This isn't just a one-off. Hey, he came in and inherited a bunch of good players and they're playing well. He's really built that place up a little bit. Well, I did a column last week about that. And the fact of the matter is, after three seasons, he started 0 and 8, 2 and 6, 2 and 6 in the SEC. And there were some loud people that wanted him gone.
Starting point is 01:22:19 Mitch Barnhart said, no, we're sticking with this guy. I know the plan. Plus, they invested in the football program, almost $200 million in facilities, improvements. And so they stuck with him. And now he is on a role. He had the courage to make some offseason changes on his coaching staff and the philosophy of offense hiring Lee and Cohen from the Rams.
Starting point is 01:22:42 And all that has paid off. So Kentucky is in a very good situation right now. Yeah, they are. And again, like I said, you look at the rest of that schedule. If they handle business, I don't know how he's not in the running for coach of the year. Now, obviously, Kirby's smart. They go undefeated, win the whole thing. First time since 1980, you almost have to give it to him, and it's well deserved.
Starting point is 01:23:01 But looking at the West, Tony, a little more open than I think a lot of people thought. And where we're at right now, when you look at Alabama, may not be as a lead, especially in that front seven on defense as we've seen in the past. What are your thoughts on the West right now before we get into some specifics? Well, obviously, that was a big win for Texas A&M over Alabama. of it. Now, Alabama's awake, okay? They're awake and they're, they only have one path to the college football playoff now. And that's to win the rest of their games and play Georgia and beat Georgia in the SEC championship.
Starting point is 01:23:37 That's how they get to the playoff. And they've proven that once they get there, they can absolutely win it up. They won it as a four seed in 2017. Yeah. No, and, you know, it's crazy when you look at the. rest of the season. You look at where Auburn is right now, maybe a little bit better than what people thought with the personnel they've had. The wide receivers stepped up last week at Arkansas. I want to talk about the new coaches for a second. Let's start with Brian Harsen. Your thoughts on what
Starting point is 01:24:01 he's done for the Auburn program, where they sit right now, still controlling their own destiny, something that you always want to have to further you go into the season. Well, let's look at what Auburn has done. They're five and two. They have two losses. One is at Penn State, which is by eight, which is number six or seven, one of the ladies. bowl is and the others to number one. Clearly the best team in college for a while. They're five and two. They've won the rest of their games.
Starting point is 01:24:27 I think they, what they hoped was, what Brian Harrison hoped was by bringing in Mike Bobo to work with Boe Nix that Bo Nix would become steadier, make fewer mistakes, play better on the road. Well, guess what? It's steadier,
Starting point is 01:24:44 you make fewer mistakes, and they went on the road to Arkansas last week and that was a huge win. for Auburn to go on the road and beat that team, no doubt. Yeah, well, Tony, it's such a good answer. We had the Boys and Girls Club or something here. They're all celebrating the back, listening to how great your answers are, as they're kicking field goals and throwing footballs around here.
Starting point is 01:25:02 One of the cool parts about being here at the College Football Hall of Fame. But also kind of, you know, transitioning down toward the middle of the west. You look at Arkansas, Sam Pittman. I know he's in year two, has done a great job. But let's look at Shane Beamer. You know, they snuck one by Vanderbilt. How do you think he's done so far? and he didn't inherit much, Tony, at the end of the day, from a personnel standpoint.
Starting point is 01:25:22 Maybe the least out of anybody outside of Clark Lee. Well, yeah, and what we said at the beginning of the season was South Carolina is going to be successful under Shane Beaver, but it's not going to be this year. He just simply doesn't have the roster. Jake, he's got a former graduate assistant coach as his starting quarterback, okay? Luke Doty's heard he's out for the rest of the year, and he's got a guy who came to South Carolina to start his graduate, I know the graduate degree as a graduate assistant and start his coaching career.
Starting point is 01:25:57 Now he's the starting quarterback. That tells you about where they're rostered. That's exactly right. And we've got kind of a Bobby Boucher situation going on over there. It always makes me think about during the movie when Michigan tried the towel boy and he just gets wrecked going across the middle. He's like 16 years old. But Tony, Josh Heiple, and I know the stuff at the end of the game with
Starting point is 01:26:18 Tennessee, them throwing trash on the field. It was a horrible look. But he's actually fared a little bit better, not that they've been outstanding, running that style of offense with the lack of depth personnel as on defense. What are your thoughts on Josh Heipel and Tennessee so far? Well, we thought going into the year that six and six would be a good year and seven wins would be a great year. And they're still in position to win six games. I thought they played well at home.
Starting point is 01:26:44 And obviously, if they had a chance to win that football game, it could have gone either way. I think here's the thing, Jay. Tennessee under Josh Heppel now has an identity. We know who they are. We know what they want to do. We know the kind of players they're going to recruit to run that offense.
Starting point is 01:27:02 And they seem very comfortable with it. And Tennessee fans, I was in Knoxville last Monday to speak. And the Tennessee fans were so excited about where they're heading. And so I think Josh Heifle's done a really good job. Yeah, and they need to get that NCAA cloud just out. Tell them what it is. The longer it hangs over, people use it in recruiting, and you really don't get a start from scratch type of situation. But Tony, before I let you
Starting point is 01:27:27 plug all your great stuff, man, when you're looking this season, do you still feel it's Alabama, or excuse me, it's Georgia, Bama, and then everybody else? Is there a team outside of those two that you think could give them a run for their money? Well, on a good day, Texas A&M has a chance to be in that discussion. Obviously, they beat Alamos. Alabama, they beat them at home. But in terms of share talent and they have a lot of really good players, I just think Alabama and those of you who follow recruiting know that Alabama and Georgia recruit at a different level than everybody else, particularly in the SEC.
Starting point is 01:28:06 But on a good day, Texas A&M can be in that conversation, but it's really Georgia and Alabama. I agree. I think you're going to see those two teams probably play twice. But again, Tony, you look, if Alabama lose. loses to Georgia in the SEC Championship and has two losses. It's going to get really weird here at the end. But tell everybody where that can find all your great work. Well, all the stuff that we write is on our website with two of my longtime buddies.
Starting point is 01:28:31 TMG College Sports. It's under the SI umbrella. You go to sI.com slash colleges slash TMG. TMG stands for the media guys. Obviously, we're still doing work with the SEC Network. and we do a little radio here in Atlanta and Nashville. That keeps us out of trouble. For sure.
Starting point is 01:28:51 Well, Tony, I appreciate it. Brother, let's do this again soon. I'm sure the storylines will continue to write themselves as the season goes on. I appreciate it, my friend. All right, Jake. Good to talk to you. TB bringing it old school, baby.
Starting point is 01:29:04 Tony. Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony. Tell you what, man. I tell you what, Tony's going to tell you what. Speaking about telling you what, rumor has it the dark emperor is making an appearance Thursday just got that sent down from corporate he's going to be here
Starting point is 01:29:20 old palp old palp old palpeteen old palpeteen old palpeteen all right not o'clock you did there before we wrap before we wrap this up like like j z and conier we got a little ballgame by the way are you ramping dude that Kanye West david letterman interview
Starting point is 01:29:40 wild bro seen it. Wild. You never ramped before? You never ramped up? Pass. You never ramped? Anyways, that's neither here.
Starting point is 01:29:50 Here's what I got. Coastal and App Tonight. Guys, I've gone back and forth on this. I've thought about this. I've thought, you know, about as much as Socrates thought about anything. Aristotle thought about the future. Nostradamus. You went more in depth, though.
Starting point is 01:30:06 I went way more in depth. Obviously. Way more in depth. And here's what I've came up with. You know, part of me wanted to take the under. 61 and a half. I had a conversation on myself. And I said, would future Jake forgive present Jake
Starting point is 01:30:21 for taking the under in this game when I felt it could get weird? And what do you say? He said no. So future Jake is taking App State Coastal over 60 and a half. I'm feeling 3427. I'm feeling it, which my math is correct at 61. And that's what both those TTPs are, aren't they? 33 and a half and like 27 and a half something you're right on going over all right i'm feeling a 34 31
Starting point is 01:30:51 when but 3427 will help out blaine and is sharp so i hope it's 3427 that's what i got blano blano you know i'm you already have some action on this one i've been on yeah i've been on coastal since day one you have you know back when the program started i was in the room you know and there's a lot of great thoughts and good ideas going around so you know You know, it feels good to be part of that foundation for that program. I heard that. I heard you have a plaque in there in the facility. More than one.
Starting point is 01:31:20 You were sitting in there. I actually have a statue that only a certain people allowed to see. Yeah. You know, Cohn, I wouldn't expect you to know. Are you going to go on with your pick or what's the deal? Yeah, so I am. So I took a Sharp Monday, a three and a half. Coastal.
Starting point is 01:31:32 A Coastal, right? And it's up to four and a half. You love to see it. It got up to five and a half. It got up to five and a half. It did. It did. It did.
Starting point is 01:31:39 It did. I look at this game, and other than the Sharp, you know, a lot of things didn't pop out to me. Yeah. All right. But I found it. You found it. You found the golden ticket. You wears it.
Starting point is 01:31:48 You wears Waldo. This thing? Second quarter over. He always does this, man. 16 and a half. Over. Over. Over.
Starting point is 01:31:58 Right? It's going to be like this. Okay. I can tell you exactly. I can just put it in your head right now. Tell them to me. In the first quarter. Preach.
Starting point is 01:32:05 Right before the end of the first coastal is going to be on apps 20. 7-7. 25, maybe a 7-7 game. You're going to get that score within probably the first minute of the second quarter. It would be huge for you. And then, you know, at that point, guys, we're just free falling. You need a touchdown and a field goal. We're sailing down.
Starting point is 01:32:21 This isn't a game you look at and like, you know what, guys, I'm going to take the under. That's what I had to talk with myself. So I got a three and a half sharp out there. And my today's bet is the over 16 and a half. Your boy's been hot. We've all been hot. Let's stay hot. You're dub 78 and 53, so you're doubling it up tonight.
Starting point is 01:32:36 I like it. I don't know you're Irish. You're from Dublin. Listen, I expect. App State at home to get up for this one. Hopefully play better than they did against Louisiana. But if they, if their performance is anything that resembles that game, Coastal will ride. Okay. I'm going to take Coastal first half minus two and a half. So all that stuff you're saying can play out. They can be at the 7, 7 all and all this. I like this. I just need them up by a field goal or
Starting point is 01:33:00 more in the first half. Let's go coastal. Just to recap, I've got over 16.5. Blaine's got Coastal minus 3 and a half and he got down the Sharp and he's taking second quarter over 16 and you're taking Coastal to be up by three or more by halftime. So Coastal minus two and a half. I love the picks, guys. Let's see if we can stay hot. I also love Wickels as well. A little bit hot but not hot enough to scare you away from the table.
Starting point is 01:33:22 That's why it's good. It's a little bit of dangerous but also safe. Hot enough to get you in the door. That's exactly right. Hot enough to get you in the door. That's a great way. You're on the list. You're not on the list.
Starting point is 01:33:32 You can come in. So anyway, appreciate you guys. You're always on the list. Shout out to the booster club. Great show today. Thank you, Tony Barnhart. Cole Kublick, Wickels Pickles, Wicill of the Week. Dino, you should have gone for it, man.
Starting point is 01:33:43 Make sure you hop in tomorrow. Got another great show. Going to be talking about everything happening in college football. I'm sure there'll be some more news. Enjoy your college football watching tonight. And like Abstates, halftime lead, are not halftime lead against coastal tonight. We're going, going.
Starting point is 01:33:58 Done. The J-Boy show is produced by David Cohn, Associate producer, Blaine Crane, Audio Engineer, Faison Shereef, Executive Producers, Jake Crane, Vince Thompson, Steve Chamberlain and David Cohn, voiceover announcer, Mark Ashton. Please subscribe to The Volume on YouTube,
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