The Triple Option - Bulletin Board Material, Illinois' Bret Bielema Joins, & Miami Hurricanes' Preview

Episode Date: June 25, 2025

Is two months before the season too soon to talk trash? Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone talk about Thomas Castellanos taking shots at Alabama after transferring into Florida State. Urban gets into some of the top moments he used bulletin board material including the Michigan "Revenge" Tour that fell one stop short of being completed. Illinois football has had 10 wins just a few times in their school history and that's what Bret Bielema did last year. So what's next? The head coach of the Illini gets into what makes this team special, his past run ins with Urban, and...his singing voice? You're not going to want to miss it. The 2024-25 college athletics season concluded over the weekend, but how close knit are athletes and coaches from other sports? According to Mark and Urban, extremely, including one story on how Billy Donovan helped set up Florida for their first championship under Urban. Speaking of Florida, what can Carson Beck and the Hurricanes accomplish this season? The guys look into the Crystal Ball. #ItsAllAboutTheU New episodes of The Triple Option drop every Wednesday. Make sure you’re subscribed on YouTube and following on all podcast platforms. Also make sure you’re locked in on social @3XOptionShow on all platforms for highlight moments, bonus content, and to engage with the guys and the TO community. (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tripleoptionshow.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The Triple Option is presented by Wendy’s.  Find your new favorite Frosty Fusions™ flavor today with choices like OREO®Brownie, Caramel Crunch, and Pop-Tarts® Strawberry. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://m-wendys.app.link/frostyfusion25⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Thank you to our additional sponsors   BetMGM BetMGM is giving you the chance to win a prize every day during the baseball season! Step into the batter’s box for BetMGM’s Swing For the Fences free-to-play game! Visit BetMGM app to access the game and you’ll score a prize if you hit a single, double, triple or home run. See ⁠BetMGM.com⁠ for Terms. This US promotional offer not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER, available in the U.S. For New York, call 877-8-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY (467369). For Arizona, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP. For Massachusetts, 1-800-327-5050. For Iowa, 1-800-BETS-OFF. For Puerto Rico, 1-800-981-0023. For West Virginia, visit www dot 1 800 gambler dot net. Subject to eligibility requirements. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I don't know. I think if I saw a bunch of teammates crying before we kicked off, I'd be a little a little hesitant. Not crying. Come on, Rob. Emotional. It's not like crying like boohoo like my feelings are hurt. It's like an alligator tear, dog. What kind of crying are we talking about? Tell me the level of crying. Like emotional tear it up. Not crying. It's like an alligator tear like I'm about to kill someone. An alligator tear. No, no, you just...

AHHHHH! Welcome to the Triple Option presented by Wendy's. Try Wendy's new Frosty Fusions with flavors like Caramel Crunch, Oreo Brownie, and Pop Tart strawberry. Light it. I will never tire of that, Mark. I don't know why it's so simple and silly, but it brings a smile to my face. That's fire, man. That intro go hard, man. It is awesome. Mark, intro go hard,

man. The coach, Herbert Meyer here with you as always. Thanks for joining us on The Triple Option presented by Wendy's. Remember to rate, subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts, as well as across social media. You can find us at 3X Option Show. New episodes every Wednesday on YouTube, wherever it is you get your podcasts. This is going to be a fun one. I have a funny feeling Mark might be provoked by the start.

Oh, by the way, a little bit later in the show, how about the conversation we had with Illinois head coach Brett Bielema? You were really going to enjoy that. He's a ball coach, man. Man, always a pleasure to have him around and coach, you guys go way back and had an interesting introduction. An interesting introduction. We'll talk about that a little bit later. But guys, when is too soon to start talking trash? Mark, I'm guessing for you, it's like, what are we waiting for? Let's get the trash talking going. It's never too soon.

Never too soon. All right, so this is a good one. Florida State quarterback, Thomas Castellanos, remember, was at Boston College last season. So he was asked about Florida State's August 30th opener with Alabama. again Castellanos new to the program Told on three quote. They don't have Nick Saban to save them. I just don't see them Stopping me out

Roll damn tight is that what you say? I like I don't even have to ask a question I'm just gonna say the quote and I'm gonna let mark mark ingraham go mark half on behalf of albamination. The floor is yours Good for him stone good for him Let him run his mouth. Let him talk You're supposed to be confident as an athlete as a dog. He's supposed to be confident. So let him run his mouth And give them dogs at al at Alabama a reason to go in Make him regret what he said, you know, I mean so Bama coming out with a vengeance this year. We need some get back

We need some bounce back and just go ahead and sprinkle a little extra motivation on top a little bulletin board material Cuz I know they gonna use it. I know DeBoer in Alabama, I know they're going to use what this man's saying. Coming from Boston College at Florida State, who just had probably one of the worst seasons ever. So, yeah, good for him, man. I'm glad he's confident. Feel free to keep talking. Is that what you're saying?

Yeah, yeah. Just keep talking. Good for him. I'm glad he's confident in himself and his abilities. He said he's been dreaming of this moment. So we'll see if it's a dream or a nightmare soon. That's why they play the game. I find, here's the angle I find interesting about it, Marc. I don't think Coach DeBoer cares about this at all, right? Like this is just water right off his back. That quote

doesn't bother him. But I bet deep down, he hopes it bothers his players. Exactly. Because that would mean his players are bothered that they're going after the coach, right? And this is year two for Cailin DeBoer and trying to follow a legend. Nobody should sign up for that. And things didn't go the Alabama way last season, correct? And if he really does have that locker room, if he really does have that football program standing behind him Those guys in the locker room should be pissed off that they went after their guy you went after my guy exactly And Ryan Williams just said like in an interview like a week or two ago

he was like every person every player who had any doubt about the bore or the You know the program and the process that the program is going through was gone. Everyone in that program right now wants to be there. So with that being said, they're going to take this to heart and they're going to try to punish Ole Thomas for his remarks. Coach, did you have like a bulletin board guy, like some GA that would just scour the internet and papers and try to find stuff to

Dig up for motivation. Yeah, sure I the one thing though that you made a comment I'm gonna argue with this that you said that coach the board doesn't care He does when his name is dragged in and there's you know The whole country is kind of talking about Nick Saban left and there's a drop-off and all that We're all human beings coached the board's got one of the best records out there of any college football coach, but you're damn right he cares. When I hear people say I don't care, sure he does. He's a human being and he sees you know a little bit of dragging going on. But let me say this about the whole bulletin board. I've used

it a million times and there's two reasons you move you use it. It's for preparation for that game and for the start of the game. After the game, and Mark will tell you, after the game gets going, you don't, I mean, you get damn about what was said before the game because you're in it now. You're in it.

But what I used it for is that preparation, you know, and that was, if I saw something or, you know, people knew that I had plenty of people searching for things coaching a pissed-off team in Preparation and then the start of the game But once the game gets rolling you go question those guys in the middle of the second quarter say what did that guy say again? they're gonna be you know, they're gonna be worried about the the field pressure the middle plug X or the Or the you know, the split zone whatever, you know Whatever, they're two players and coaches are too caught up in it.

What's the difference between a pissed off team and just a normal team going through week preparations? Oh my God, a grown ass man team that's pissed off? Oh my God. They gonna come out there with some physicality. Yeah, you're getting better. That's what I'll tell you. Your Tuesday practice and Wednesday practice

with a pissed off team, I used to walk off the field and look at my coaches and go, damn, you know, let's strap it on now. This is gonna be a good one. As opposed to a lethargic team. So you got two ends of the spectrum, pissed off. Yeah, and then non-focused lethargic. Well, you have a team that has goals

and aspirations anyway. And so now you have a player for a team that you're playing in the opener talking mess about they don't think they Can't stop me which you're supposed to feel like that You're supposed to have that confidence but to put it out there for the other team to be able to have extra motivation I think that's you know Benefiting the other team. It's a roll down tie. Coach, could you ever have a pissed off team all season long?

Is that manageable? Is that something that's possible to have or create? Yeah. Yes. Yeah, I've seen that before. And I mean, I guess the 2008 team was an example when I was at Florida. Mark can tell you his 2009 team.

How about you brought that up? That's exactly right. We were pissed the whole year. Yeah. We, uh, Georgia beat us the year before and that, that, that one from January, February, March, April, May, all the way in through October. It carries you. Yeah. It carries you.

But once again, once it gets cranking, I use it for preparation and the start of the game. Yeah. Mostly preparation. How did you use the Michigan Revenge Tour in 2018 to your advantage? That was most of our players. Once again, we had a good group that year. What was that? 2018? 2018.

Wolverines had a bad year and then they had a great year in 2018 and they were beating all the teams that beat them the year before. And I remember I used to go out in the pregame warmups, I quit going out, so I would stay in the locker room. And I mean, it was like a fire was lit in that locker room, man. And I was like, what the hell's going on? And I think one of the coaches told me,

he says, all those guys are wearing Revenge Tour t-shirts. And it had Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State. Check. And they already checked the box at the Revenge Tour. I think they were favored doing that game Code but the common denominator in all this is the players in your locker room, right? Yeah, if you got those leaders those Alphas in your locker room real leaders. Yes, the real ones not the wannabe was not the ones that think that they work that

There are self leaders No The real leaders the real dogs when you have those in your locker room on your team that is a great motivating factor for that team because it just kind of rallies the team together if you have this mentality like it's us against the world when you have that mentality like it's us against the world you go out there you just mark what was the most pissed off you and and your team ever was the most pissed off you and your team ever was? The most pissed off?

Yeah, well 2009 for sure man. We had a 12-0 season. We went to the SEC Championship. We played Coach Meyer and his Gators We were winning for three quarters and we did not finish the game and they won they went went to national championship and they won the national championship. And that pissed us off because we knew that we were that close. And so that next season, all we did in the fourth quarter program in the spring, in the summer, we did everything we could possibly do to get back to that moment. And when we got back to that moment, we went 12 and O it was one verse two again in the SEC championship game, us versus coach Meyer. How often do you get time for redemption like that?

You know what I mean? We were in that locker room, boys were crying, boys was ready to roll. I knew we was finna get it done that day, even though they had a tremendous team, a tremendous coach. We were up for a challenge. They were crying before the game?

People were ready. We was ready. Well, are you ready if you're crying? Yes. It is emotional and you are ready to kill something. Do you cry before you kill? I don't know. I've never killed.

Like Colgate soccer. Hey, hey. Colgate soccer, man. It's fine, Coach, but I'm never crying in the locker room. Go watch the game. Go watch the game, Coach. You tell me if Muggs ready to play or not. Oh, yeah.

I don't know. If I saw a bunch of teammates crying before we kicked off, I'd be a little hesitant. It's not like crying like we do. Come on, Rob. It's like, why are we talking about? Tell me the emotional tear it up. Not crying. It's like, it's like, it's like an alligator tear. Like, it's like, no, no, it's not like, it's not like crying boo here to your, it's like an alligator tear.

Like a little puppy, like a little puppy whimper over there. All right. Oh my God. We're talking tears. And by the way, we broke a triple option record for saying the phrase pissed off the most. All right. All right. So we got some reaction on that one.

Here's another one that is, that is good. That really kind of kicks you between the teeth. Wisconsin thinks it might be pursuing some legal action here. They filed a lawsuit against Miami, claiming that a Miami staff member and a prominent alum met with defensive back Xavier Lucas and his family at a relative's house in Florida, offered him money to transfer shortly after Lucas had signed a contract with the Badgers in December, an NIL deal. So, the lawsuit states that Miami committed tortuous interference by knowingly compelling a player to break the terms of his deal with Wisconsin. This NIL deal at Wisconsin, it prohibits an athlete from making any commitments

to enroll or play sports at other schools. Seems fair as they are being paid to use their name image likeness in promotional material. The Big Ten, props to the Big Ten and how they're handling this one right now. They totally have the back of Wisconsin right now. I'm looking for what the big 10, yeah, saying, as alleged, the University of Miami knowingly ignored contractual obligations and disregarded the principle of competitive equity that is fundamental to collegiate athletics.

So let me get this rice donor. Yeah. This player, he plays for Wisconsin last year as a freshman, right? Yeah, and signed a deal. Xavier Lucas. After his freshman year, he signs a new NIL deal with Wisconsin.

Two-year deal. And then after he signs the deal, Miami comes in and steals him. Pretty much. Yeah, pretty much. I think that's what they're saying is that they illegally contacted him, tampered with him, and etc. And this is, I'm gonna throw this, this is the failure of the compliance at which we've had this conversation over and over again. You've been talking about compliance.

It's a power. Yeah, that's if if you don't have, you know, the NSA with teeth or a governing body that controls these, now you're going to get the government involved or law involved. I mean, stop. All we need are more lawsuits in this society, right coach? That's just what we're asking for. But at the end of the day, it should be this way. If you sign a deal with a team in the NFL, how do you get out of that deal? It's by the other team picking the deal up. So it's like, I don't know, man. This is all crazy to me, dog. Like, oh, you're not, Mark, you're not as upset by this that as I thought you would be, but like stoner, like you had to deal mad in Miami hey well yeah now listen now I'm kind of cheering for Wisconsin to be like all right we're gonna go Wisconsin Wisconsin should be I agree to what are they looking for they looking for money back

is that what they are they're looking for reimbursement at a minimum yeah they're looking for the money back looking for an eligible player or they look you know that's what I don't think they're looking for the money back. They're looking for an eligible player. Are they you know, that's what I don't think They're looking for a trade like we're gonna take your second Compensation back to they want some compensation also, you know, their their name has been has been Sullyed a little bit right and the power of the NIL So, you know all that legalese stuff that that you and I don't really feel crazy to me like all it is I

Just don't understand what's going on. Well, again, when it's this lawless society, you just keep doing these things. Coach, it goes back to your point. Have somebody that can enforce and has real teeth. And when that group is finally formed and that first infraction comes up to them, guess what? It's not going to be a little slap on the wrist. They need to come down big brother and like, uh-uh, there needs to be serious ramifications more than just, I think she's like show cause right now.

Coach is probably the biggest thing that you can ding a coach with. But what has to happen is they have to sign a piece of paper saying they will not litigate. Because the world changed. We talked about this, I think it was 05 or whenever that Tom Mars, the super lawyer that started every time the NCAA penalized anybody, it was litigated. And they won. So I get it.

I wish I had an easy answer. And unfortunately, Rob and Mark, remember what they said is they think this new college football commission is a lot of skepticism It's going to be old problems are still problems so but like this has this has been happening like so Like I don't I just don't understand like What are we supposed to do? Like i'm glad so last year right kate and proctor our best left tackle He'll be one of the

best tackles in the one of the top one or two tackles in the NFL draft next year. In the spring, after Saban retires, he goes and transfers to Iowa. Gets paid. Now, I'm glad that he came back, you know what I mean? But in this, after the spring, he comes back to Alabama. So he takes the NIO money from Iowa, comes back to Alabama, and I'm happy he's Alabama because he's a huge player and a huge part of what we're gonna have this year. But what's the difference? Like, you know what I mean?

Like, I just don't know. Until you put rules in place that punish the teams that do it or punish the individual that does it, like, this stuff is gonna continue to happen. So I agree with Wisconsin. They should be, you know, getting whatever they're compensating compensate whatever they gave the player. They should get it back. But like They should get it back and plus plus some right? It's not just they lost a player late So what's the plus some though? I don't know what that plus is

So you're getting money from a player and and money from the team for damages. Yep. Yep. That type of stuff. That's what we're talking about. I don't know where else you could attack the Miami NIL. I don't know where you could hit them and hamper them. And I don't know who's even going to do it. But it's more than just saying we want our money back.

I think there has to be greater punishment than that because otherwise people are still going to do it. Like it didn't, that's not going to's a Miami we got the guy we wanted and here's your money back great and off they go that's yeah they say in Miami knowingly did it so Miami has to be punished as well yes I good luck I would think so yeah yes and yes my problem you're both talking about all are the things we're talking about. What's happening, Coach? What's happening? All right.

You know what will put us in a better mood? Brett Bielemann will put us in a better mood. The Illinois head coach joins us next on the Triple Option presented by Wendy's. We're going to talk a little baseball as well with Coach Bielemann. We'll hear about his singing pipes and his fear of throwing from the mound. Coming up next on The Triple Option. The One Skipper. Light it.

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And oh yeah, we are going down to Champaign, Illinois. We are bringing in the head coach of the fighting Illini Brett Bielma. Coach, last year, 10 and three, first 10 win season since 2001. And guess what? Expectations are even greater this season. We're going to talk about the Illini going forward here. But first, I want to take you back in the way back machine. All right. So, so if you could remember back in 2012, uh, you were kicking tail up there in Madison, Wisconsin, and some young buck comes into Columbus, Ohio. And with all this little SEC swagger. And I understand some guy named Urban came in and took multiple recruits from right underneath you. Now, why would you start with that Rob? That's how we roll on the triple option. Coach, do I have that right?

Uh, sort of. Um, sort of, sort of. I remember one, there was really just one Genesis of one, um, who if coach remembers, I don't think he ever really played much. Um, no, it was offensive lineman. Um, but yeah, like honestly, like I, I preach all the time to our guys. Like I think as a head coach, I always tell our coaches, you know, two things you can bring into building every day that really helped us all function as consistency and communication. And one of the things that I probably did in that scenario was communication. I had, uh, there was a prospect that was committed to us.

He got some calls from Ohio state players, which I understood, but then all of a sudden he got calls from Florida players. I'm like, Oh, Rutrow. No, no, we can't do this. Right. Like, uh, so I, I went to my ID and I said, what should I do? And coach Alvarez said, call him. I'm like, call urban. He's like, yeah, call her. And so I called urban and, and coach, if I remember right, you, you, you listened to me, you addressed it and took care of it. And then my misstep was when I was at the press conference on signing day, someone asked me if I'd had interaction with coach. And, and, uh, I said, yeah, actually I called him about an issue and he took care of it and it kind of went good.

And I got done with the interview and coach Alvarez goes, Oh, you opened one up there. I'm like, what he goes, they're going to say that they were cheating. And I'm like, I didn't say that. He goes, well, that's what they're going to say because you said there was an issue. So that was what led to that. What I didn't realize is there was also a couple of coaches in the league that came after urban unbeknownst to me in a 48 hour stretch there that really probably did come at him a little aggressive, but obviously, you arrival changed our league in my opinion to a different level instantly.

Just because of where he was at and what he brought to the table. It really, in my opinion, there was two major transitions in Big Ten history. The first was the addition of Joe Tiller, which turned our league into a league that basketball and grass, however you wanna say it, Drew Brees was a big part of it as well. But Joe was the genesis of that. And I really think urban was the, the first really, that kind of brought, uh, uh, thinking and ideology from the sec into our conference. And it had never been seen before.

Right. And, and I think that changed our conference literally in those moments to where we are today, as good as anything in our, our history. Well, well, let's, let's go back to that. So 2012, I just was, uh, as you were talking there. So Penn State, obviously the, one of the most legendary coaches of all time, a dear friend of mine, and I'm not sure how you got along with coach Paterno. He was a great, great friend of mine.

Uh, we lost him or he, uh, obviously he got fired and then he passed away just months later. Then Jim Tressel, another dear friend of mine got, Ohio State got put on probation, lost nine scholarships. The Wolverines were going through their turmoil and here was Wisconsin, was having first round draft picks, Heisman candidates and winning the Big Ten Championship under your direction. And also Mark Dantonio had, I thought Wisconsin and Michigan State were really the best development programs

in the country back then and they were winning the Big Ten going to Rose Bowl and then Nebraska under Bo Pelini, I believe they played you in 2012 in the Big Ten Championship. So here you are back then, I'm gonna fast forward now. I came from the SEC, you went ironically went to the SEC. How proud are you and amazed at the transition the big the Big Ten Conference, certainly at the top of the conference is the best conference

in College Hope the last two years. You can't argue that. You know how about the transition that is experienced in your lifetime? Yeah coach I think you're nailing ahead. It's a different world. know, part of the reason I left Wisconsin to go to Arkansas was, uh, at that time, the big 10 coaches weren't getting paid, uh, at the same level. Um, the reason I took the move more than anything was my assistant coach's salary at Wisconsin went from three and a half, uh, to 6 million, right? And I was able to, a guy like Chris Ash, the guy that, uh, eventually ended up at Ohio state, um, and head coach of Rutgers, I was paying him, I believe at that time, maybe a little over

200. I remember there was a coordinator at Minnesota that we had beaten every year that I was in the league and that DC was making 550,000. And I'm like, hey, we just won our third straight Big 10 title. They haven't been very good. And my coordinator is making you know less than half and I just that's what the genesis of it was but now to come back in the league I told Josh this when when we knew that the portal was coming that the

NIL world was coming I was interviewing for the job of the Giants and I told Josh I said hey there's never been a in my opinion a better time to be coming into this league because I think the world is about to get flat. I think it's about to become more of a even playing field for everybody in college football and it's exactly what's happened. Yeah, Coach, man, we always talk about the powers of college football, the SEC and the Big Ten. No one better to speak on that than you.

You played at Iowa, coached at Wisconsin where I took an official visit when you was the head coach. Now you're at Illinois, but you took a stop in Arkansas. Just how do the SEC and the Big Ten match up and how far ahead are they from the other conferences? Well, I think first off, and I get it, you guys got to drive likes and value and all that goes into your podcast as well. But really, it's like arguing about like two premium businesses, like whether you're like Chevy or Ford, or maybe it's maybe more a Jaguar or a Rolls Royce. Whatever you want to say, two incredibly gifted leads.

The passion from their fan bases is unparalleled. The differences I would say probably jump out right away is just the venues you play in. Like Ohio State's an incredible stadium, but Michigan is the big house is, uh, you know, the big house, the great stadium. I think our place is, is going to turn into that. We just had our first sell out in over 20 years, but in the SEC, it's so small market values, right. And the passion in those little, I remember, you know, the furthest you had

to stay away from a game, a hotel when you're playing the big 10 was 20 minutes. You go to the SEC and you might have to drive an hour and a half to get to the hotel that you could stay at right and that was literally said something to me right away. But the fan base is the way they they follow their people. You know, obviously in the South one thing that is everything's kind of played I would say in pretty conducive weather environments in the North and the big 10, you know, you're going to play in bad weather with cold. You're going to play in bad weather with cold. You're going to play in all four seasons. Um, uh, you're going to play in all four time zones now. And we're really different.

The sec nap model is just that you're going to, you know, and for me, I use this one all the time. Like, you know, if I was recruiting a young Mark Ingram again, right. And, and I was, if it was down to Wisconsin and Alabama, I would just, you know, share with them that, Hey, you're going to prove to 32 NFL teams that you can play in all types of climates and weather, right? You go to the South and you play at Alabama, you're really playing in that environment. You're around, you're training in it, you're living in it.

So if the New York Giants, the Jets, the Vikings, the Packers, the Seahawks, the Chiefs want to select someone, they're going to want someone that plays in all four seasons because that then, and it's proven that they can do it. So there is a little bit of an advantage there but otherwise two really premium conferences for all the right reasons. I want to go back something with your Brett that I thought and I remember my wife actually met with Gene Smith about this that when I first got the Big Ten in 2012 I didn't feel the investment in the stadium atmospheres. You know I thought and and Shelly was shocked.

She experienced the SEC for that seven, eight years. And then you come up there and it's not the same. Some places were good, but even Ohio State in my mind wasn't great. The Wolverines weren't great. And then in the last decade, you've seen an incredible investment in whether it be music being played, the crowds crowds are it's a completely different animal

Do you see the same thing the big ten just the atmospheres are completely different now a hundred percent I would also you know coach to back up what you're saying like One of the things that I'll never forget Jim Delaney who's an incredibly gifted commissioner and was awesome I remember sitting in my first ever head coach meeting and Jim Trussell and Lloyd Carr took me aside and said, hey, you just finished your first year as a head coach, 12 and one, shoot, I thought I was Dick Buck, or Mike Ditka, Tom Landry, Bill Belch,

I thought I was all that in the bag of nuts, right? Like I thought I was really big time. And those guys said, hey, you really have to understand, you going to be a guy in the future that's going to have to really watch out for our game and our conference, right? And I'll never forget that moment because when I came in, I didn't know anything other than what I knew. And then when I went to the SEC and I saw Mike Slive said at the front of the room with a cigar and he sat in every meeting and he talked about the importance of football, football, football, football, football. That jumped out to me and the way that it was put on a different level.

So when I came back to the league, I'd literally, and I know James had said the same thing because it was time of Andy, the precedents at the sec put on football above all else jumped out and now Tony Petiti, who in my opinion has really been an incredible, uh, lifeline for the Big Ten the last couple of years, has really championed that moment to our ADs. And in our day, our ADs have championed that moment on our campuses. And that's probably been one of the bigger changes. Like that environment at Penn State, but also the environment at Wisconsin, Ohio State, to its own regard, Nebraska, like we went into that place last year.

I mean, it's impressive. And I think that's definitely changed the conference. You talk about changes. There's constant changes in college football right now. Just a few weeks ago, we had the introduction of the College Sports Commission, the NIL clearinghouse, this fact that universities are going to have 20 plus million dollars to play with. How has that impacted Illinois football in the last couple of weeks? Rob, it's been something that we've been hoping was going to come, and I mean this with all

due respect, one of the biggest things that has separated college football in the past is the have the have nots, right? And it's not just a history, it's the resources available. And I think a world that we're getting to now, for instance, right now in our recruiting world, you know, we're, for the first time in my 17 years at HECOS, I've had some good teams, and I'm not basing this on anything other than what's being given to me by my outside voices.

You know, we have a class that's ranked in the top 10, which I really don't care. I don't want to care. But the idea is this, I know right now we are beating schools I've never beaten before. We can go head to head with any SEC Big Ten school. I don't care if it's Ohio State or if it's the team that finished last in our conference last year or the team that finished first in the SEC to the team that finished last in the SEC. If we won, then we're going to go after them. And I've never been able to feel that we've had that level playing field. And now we have it.

Um, I've used this line a couple of times now, like, I don't care if we're all shopping in Louis Vuitton or if we're all Walmart, we're all in the same store. I'm good. Right. And I think that's coming. And I would say also the element that I hope this new world is going to live in is the accountability for actions that are not legal are pretty big, right? And if you're not doing things the way they're set up to be done,

that there's consequences because in the NFL, they have selection, they don't have recruiting, right? But on the flip side too, they also have a salary cap that everybody has to abide by. Yep. And if that can be maintained, like that was the true juice, right? Like in the NFL, everybody's got the same set up now, however you want to use it, how you want to use it. So my three years in the NFL have been invaluable during our building here because now I think it's, it's more like the NFL than any other time in our lives.

Right. Well, you know, Rob brought up the college football commission and I was kind of James Franklin, we had a conversation with him and I, I don't't know if I don't want to say misled but my understanding was that this College Football Commission was gonna have subpoena power I talked to a gal I knew Julie Rowe that was at the NCAA and she clarified that says that's not true to have subpoena power it's got to be federal or state jurisdiction and it's not a criminal offense. And so the two game changers to me that you brought up about compliance, and I know me and you have talked about compliance before,

is the normal one thing is subpoena power. It expedites the investigation, and it holds people accountable that don't tell the truth. And number two is the unionization that you mentioned, the NFL, everybody operates under the same rules. That's not true in college football. That's not the case. But she clarified she thinks that old problems are going to be new problems are going to be old problems. Old problems are going to be new problems. She doesn't see a big change.

Do you see a big change coming? I hope big change is coming, but I think it's going to be a little bit of a blending of what what she's saying and what the, uh, the people that founded this new way of doing things are all about. I think the one, the one X factor that no one's kind of taking into consideration is, uh, I believe as a head coach, you know, everything that goes on in your building, right? And, and if you have to sign a document that you basically say, Hey, I am aware and understand everything that has taken place in this NIO world was done prior to June six. Right. When the, when

the court case was settled, some of these teams are having guys signed documents July 1st or August 1st. And that's a fireball offense. Like you start telling these coaches that are signing contracts for 50, 60, $80 million, myself included. And you have to have accountability at that level that that whole contract that you think was yours, no matter what. And now you have a fireball offense that that changes the tone of head coaches, in my opinion, in a big way. And then the other thing is this NIL go that like, we'll look back at high school students.

So some of these guys that change graduation dates, you know, this 2026 class is gonna have a 30 for 30 for sure written on it, right? Because, you know, they've been able to change, you know, class, you know, moving their time up. And now they're giving money while they're in high school. Well, that money has to be accounted for when you submit to the NIL GO

two years prior to your enrollment in college. So if you start looking at kids two years out before they get to college, and what they were giving and that value has to match what their actual value is you can say kids worth a million. But if, if Deloitte comes back and says, Hey, he's only worth 100,000, and you paid him a million, well, somebody's gonna have to answer to that. And well, from my opinion, that that's probably going to be the game changer for everybody. Well, that's crazy. We talk about changes, a whole bunch of changes going on in this landscape of college football. But one of the changes I think we can all agree on is the change to the transfer window. How many windows do you think there should be? And when in your opinion? I think there should be one and should be as early as human possible. I know there's a lot of discussion between January, February, March, April. I think all coaches would want it sooner than later.

The only thing that I see as a problem or problematic is when the portal was actually in the playing season. Right. Even if it's just down to a couple of teams that are playing the championship game, I would ideally love to put it like championship game is on a Monday. I'd love to open it on Wednesday for a 30 day window. Yeah. But I also get January allows you to get the kids in school. So I think we have taken the consideration, you know, the calendars,

how it lays out. I think our student athletes, the one thing that scares me to death and, and Mark, obviously you lived as student athlete and coach you and I know this, you know, they had a thing a couple of years ago that basically tracked your APR, which is your annual progression rate of graduation for coaches. And it used to be a really big deal. I haven't had anybody ask me about graduation rates in 10 years, right? Because all these other things become on the forefront.

And we just had our fifth straight semester of a 3.0 GPA. That's never been done in Illinois history. So I'm really proud of that. But I just don't think some people put that importance at that premium. And I really am scared about the graduation rates of this current world of college football that we all want to talk about how great it's gonna be for these guys as players, but bottom line, not everybody makes a living for the rest of their lives in the NFL, so we gotta take care of everybody.

Can we talk about Illinois football now, coach? Sure. Can we talk about this program that you've got? There's a lot of hope for this program right now. The last time Illinois was a preseason top 15 team. Coach, you were a nose guard, a 20-year-old nose guard grinding in Iowa City. And Illinois has everything, on the resume at least to

be a top 15 team to start this program. You have a Big Ten best 17 starters returning. You have your quarterback coming. You have your entire offensive line returning. How are you managing these expectations? Are you embracing them or are you trying to downplay them? Absolutely no. I think you know one of the great things I'm glad I'm in year 17 rather than year seven, because I just know so much more about the game. I used to get really, to coaches point to beginning, I used to be a little feisty and would fight things rather than accept, but I've really learned, you know, just tell me the rules and let's all play. And I'll

tell you that I don't think Rob, in my opinion, I would have been able to keep these 17 guys, if the world we live in wasn't what it is now I was able to prioritize, you know our top 10 15 players I got them set right away then I filled in the rest of my roster with the money they had available Went out recruited we bought in 21 high school players and we brought in about 15 portal players So we have about you know close to, 40 new players in our building that weren't with us at the end of last year for that, that championship or that Citrus bowl championship against South Carolina.

I really excited. I have both offensive defense and special teams coordinator back in their third year or more. So my AD has allowed me to have some revenue there to really take care of my coaches. I really get excited. I'm sure coach Meyer would share with you the best seasons are usually around your best players, but also your best staffs, right? And, and to be very, very comfortable with the guys I have in that room.

It allows me to do my job. I think a lot better. So, uh, super excited, but you're, you're right. I got a quarterback that, you know, I'm not oblivious to the fact that others came after him, right? And he couldn't have me for more money. I'm sure of it. Um, he never called me one time and asked for anything never never gave us any privy

he denied the things that came at him but I think he knows what our room brings to him right he knows that he walks in this building every day and help him get to where he wants to be he got a draft value of about a six-rounder a year ago my goal is to make that a second round or better right and and you know that's kind of how we kind of build this thing up. Three of your first four are on the road. You do not have Oregon, Michigan, Penn State. You do have Ohio State, but you have them home October 11th.

You also have USC home. You look at the totality of your schedule. What does it say to you? And then how are you messaging that to your team? Yeah, so Rob, we have a, you know, every school in the country has a 12 game schedule. I always tell our guys, you know, what you do with those 12 games determines, you know, that success of the year. But if anybody tried to go to game 12, which is our home game against

Northwestern, a protected game that we play a cannon trophy for, if you try to jump to the end of the rainbow, we're never going to make it, right? Everybody takes that pot of gold. It's never there. It's just an emphasis on our game one opener against Western Illinois. We go on the road to Duke, which is a very good football team, has a lot of really good players coming back, a very talented quarterback,

came back, played Western Michigan, but then game four is at Indiana. Oh, well, they were just in the college football playoffs last year, one of the best teams in college football. Kurt Signetti is an incredibly gifted coach. He's got a really good staff. His old line coach was a guy I was with for seven years. He's one of the best offensive line coaches that I've ever been around.

So we got a tremendous challenge. Come back game five against USC here at home, which is one of the most productive programs in college football history. Got a really good coach, got some really good players. Go on the road and play at Purdue another trophy game and come back in game seven and play Ohio State. Yeah, the defending national champs who got a lot of really good players and a good coach.

So we are the only team in college football, or I'm sorry, in the Big Ten Conference. We don't have a bye week until week eight, which I think is a really big deal. But I think those bye weeks are an important part of the college football year and we have the latest in our conference. So listen, everybody can get anybody on any given Saturday because we've had a little bit of success a year ago. We definitely are, I think a program that is very well noted and I think people are preparing for us right now today that probably weren't in the past.

So we've got our work out out for us. I had this quote I stole stole from Coach Belichick. After our first year with him, I was with him and we're going to our second year and they asked about expectations. And he said, well, I hope my expectations are obviously thought of, but it's really about what our player expectations are. We expect our players to have even higher expectations and that's what I hope is happening.

I think our guys are hungry. Much as I want things as a coach, how they want it as a player is the true source. Coach, you know that schedule like the back of your hand, man. I got one last question for you, Brett. And that's, first of all, I've always respected Illinois. I've said that many times. I could never understood why they,

it's in a great location. You got a lot of good players all the way around you but Just a big picture question. You saw the award man. You're the athletic director at For the Wolverines talk about a 20 million dollar They're gonna lose money. You see it one Washington another Big Ten team now is gonna eliminate, I think, track and field or the field part of it. And I had two girls play college volleyball. I'm just, you know, I grew up in the environment where you didn't have open budgets, you know,

it's like a spend, spend, spend world now. Where the hell is that money coming from? And at some point is it gonna break? You know, when you start talking about the Wolverine, one of the top brands in the, in the game is going to have a, they're predicting over a $20 million shortage in revenue. Where do you see the stopping or, or where's the money come from? You know, coach, I mean, it's a great big picture item. For me, I go back to what I've known, right? So I grew up in this business as a young coach in the University of

Iowa under Hayden Fry, who turned that program into something that is still being lived today. You know, there's been only two coaches for over 50 years of the Iowa's history, him and Kirk, right? And they're continuing to print money over there, I think, because they keep that stadium as full as they can and obviously a lot of other things. Then I go to Kansas state and Bill Snyder built that place into something that has been unprecedented.

Then I go to Wisconsin and Oh, um, Barry Alvarez turned that place into a money machine. I didn't know it when I was growing up, but I was around three guys there with Hayden Fry to Kirk Ferentz to Bill Snyder to Barry Alvarez, four guys, first year Hall of Famers. They probably did more with less than anybody they've ever been around before. Right. And then I think other people, when they were so available, just spent it because they could spend it. Right.

And I told our AD, Josh Whitman, when I got here, I'm going to spend your money. Like it's my money, right? Like I'm going to be very conscientious about what we do, but I just don't think people are wired that way anymore. So it's going to be an intriguing time. I think college football is at a place. It's never been any better. But I do know this, like I have a lot of good friends

that work in our department at Intercollegiate. You got DIA here at Illinois. Our men's baseball coach Dan Hartlip is a guy that extended his hand to me the first day on the job here. Our men's golf coach Mike Small is an incredible person. My next door neighbor is Shawna Green, who has our Illinois women's basketball program at a place that's never been in a long time, right?

So I think that I've tried to tell Josh, I know the more success we have, the more success we'll have. And I don't know if that's shared everywhere else. That's what makes Illinois kind of special to your point. I've been eyeing this job for a long time, man. Like we were right next to Ohio or a lot of great players in Ohio. We have a direct flight in from Dallas. Uh, you know, so we get the access to Texas.

Um, I've signed over 190 players from Florida, so I have a good name down there. So we've got a lot of players from Jersey, but we really concentrate on five hours outside of Champaign, uh, Florida and Jersey. That's the meat and potatoes of our recruiting market. And we kind of stick to that and what we do. Yeah. Well, the coach, Hey man, I remember you recruit, you recruited me, man. And it was a great experience.

I went to Wisconsin, man. I had a great time. I respected you and what you were building in Wisconsin. You have some beasts in the running back room. Um, tell me about your running backs, man. I want to know who I need to be on the lookout for this year. Yeah. You know, uh, uh, Mark, I'm very excited.

We have, uh, you know, three guys last year that are coming back to us that very special and it's kind of like what I had when I was at Wisco, I had a roster one year, John Clay was a fifth rounder to Pittsburgh, big 260 pound bruiser, just a poor daddy, uh, behind him was this guy by the name of Monte ball. We ended up being a second round pick to Denver Broncos. Uh, and behind him was this young guy by the name of James White, who was a freshman big 10 player of the year. And then there's this other guy, Melvin Gordon, who became a first rounder.

Right? Those four guys were on one roster. All four of them were just a little bit different. And that's kind of what I got going now. Caden Fagan, big bruiser, uh, really, really talented. Unfortunately lost him about middle of the season last year, but he's back healthy a hundred percent, eight and law free was the final game of the year for us in the Big Ten. He was a Big Ten player of the week, very small.

And not small, small, but he's a little bit smaller, very powerful, very athletic. He can turn ten into 100 in a hurry, our fastest players. And then Kahlil Valentine was a true freshman a year ago, weighing 180. He's now at 205, got all the bumps in the right place, is really, really excited about him and have two freshmen come in the room. We did lose a guy at Georgia. Somehow he found his way to the portal and 12 hours after being in the portal, he was on a flight to Georgia.

I don't know how that happened, but it's crazy. Weird, weird how that happened. But with Josh and all the best, he took advantage of that opportunity. So we've been able to build a running back room in a really good way. And excited about these guys coming back. But we have all five of our offensive linemen back. We have a center. That's sexy.

That's sexy for running back there. Josh Crute has been a three-year starter. Left tackle, J.C. Davis, two-year starter, Melvin Priscil, right tackle, two-year starter, left guard, Josh Geske, three-year starter, three-year starter, a quarterback, have a room full tackle, two-year starter, left guard, Josh Geske, three-year starter, three-year starter, a quarterback, have a room full of tight ends that have played a lot of really good football. So super excited to see how this thing plays out.

I love it. Coach, let's put a smile on your face. Your dad grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan. And as kids like to do sometimes with the old man, they like to antagonize him. So you started leaning into the Chicago Cubs, right? Right. And now how many times have you been to Wrigley Field to sing the seventh-ending stretch? I think this one was number five. So I had times my yeah, I can I got some pipes now I can carry But I know you don't need the words handed to you, you know, you know, it was funny

The first time I ever did it I'm the head coach of Wisconsin. They found out I was a Cubs fan my dad We always listen to Cardinals games growing up on my grandpa was a Cubs guy And so I remember early on, you know learning the learning the song and all the builds that do it But in 2006 they called me and some guy left a message And he would just with the Cubs love to have you sing the stretch and I thought it was a BS phone call I had some name. I'm like, okay Harry, whatever your name is, right? so I did it and

I'll never forget just the feeling of that moment and then when I came here to Illinois they do it every spring and I'm like Oh sign me up. I'm in but this year I'm like, let's do some little different So I asked Luke my quarterback to join me and he absolutely rocked it It was awesome. So I'm hoping next year I get to do the duet with my daughter. My oldest Briella sings it all the time. So hopefully next year I'll get a duet with her. Let's go.

Did you, uh, here it is. There you are. Did you let him take the lead or was it more of a duet? The two of you, it was a duet and I will full transparency. We went through it twice. I kind of of I shot him So when Harry Carrey was retiring, he did one with Eddie better and I sent that one to Luke I said, hey, we can beat these guys right and you're not any better brothers

Plan we're talking Pearl Jam brother. So we actually Luke and I did a little One he did a two and then I actually stole one of his lines and he quickly just joined in. So it was actually pretty good, good adaptation, but he handled it like a million bucks as he does everything. You know, Luke, I had four, four game ending winning drives last year. So like as coach Mark knows, this is a player, Rob, you've seen it as a guy doing the sidelines. Your quarterbacks are defined by the most difficult moments. Yes.

And Luke Altmeyer had four scenarios where he put the icing on the cake at the end of the game in a way that no one else has ever done it before for me. I've been very blessed to have some really good quarterbacks in my program, but this kid handles the moment as good as anybody and the seventh inning stretch was just another great example of how good he could be. Did you throw out the first pitch? Have you done that? No, we deferred that one to Brad Underwood and Shona Green or coach Underwood did. All right. I did it. And I will say this. I think it was a one hopper. I'm not going to. No, those would stress me out more than absolutely take me out to the ball. I know I can sing, but

you sure as hell ain't going to get me to throw a pitch. I promise you. I will. That'll be a internet chatter. Throw it to the man. Like in the general vicinity, you have not seen me throw man. I promise at the Detroit Tigers game, North from Michigan. So I threw me a heater at the Tigers game. You know what I mean? I always say in gym class when I was little, I was the first guy taking in every sport, volleyball, whatever, but baseball, they knew I was last man standing. I could not play baseball to save my day off that. So I'm not about to throw myself into that world. Coach, I want to end with this. Is it fair to put Illinois in this preseason college football playoff conversation right now? I think we've done some really good things.

And I know, you know, Irwin got to walk this walk with Gene Smith, who, in my opinion, is one of the best athletic directors in the history of the game, right, of the sport, of college athletics. Gene is phenomenal. I get to walk this walk every day with Josh Whitman, my AD. He played here. He was a two-time academic all-american went on to play in the NFL for five years for about four or five different clubs

which tells me he's a survivor right and now I get to be at this job every day with him as an AD and that is worth its weight in gold so I think the two of us together have talked all the time about sustainable success I didn't want to do this as a one-year flash in the. I want to do it to build success. We were really good two years ago, took a step back and then last year got back at it. So I think wherever we're at, you put us where we're at. I think we carry a chip on our left shoulder and our right. We don't have this, but we just got to carry that thing every day with us.

And, and, um, you know, I just want to get to that first game and see where we can go. I'm super excited about this group of people. Our fan base is absolutely awesome. I think because they've been starved for a long time, they're really enjoying some, some rewards they haven't seen in the past. And, and with that, all of us have success. It's really an exciting time to be here at the program. I'm hoping we pull up the champagne for shell.

There you go. There you go. The three of us, our goal for a while has been to take big noon kickoff to champagne. And I've got a sneaky suspicion we're going to, we're going to find you this year. If so, please join us on set. I know you're busy. I know you're busy before kickoff. We would love to have you on set that opening segment and get that crowd crowd pop. And we also might need a dinner recommendation. Otherwise we're just going to be knocking on your front door and crashing. So champagne is eager and excited. I do think I know we were on the dock at last year.

We probably didn't take care of business as good as we needed too early. But if we see you guys, we see it. You guys are always welcome. Champagne will always take care of you. Love it. Thanks for your time, coach. Thanks for your time, man. Have a great summer. Thank you very much. You guys as well. I'll root for you coach. Thank you, Mark. Yes, sir. you coach. Thank you Mark. Yes sir. Welcome back to the Triple Option presented by Wendy's,

Coach Meyer, Mark Ingram, Rob Stone back here with you. Time now for Treat of the Week presented by Wendy's. Try Wendy's new frosty fusions with flavors like caramel crunch, Oreo, brownie and my favorite pop tart strawberry. So with LSU winning the men's college world series, the 2024-2025 college sports year has finally concluded. Here in June, meaning football is coming up next guys. Eight schools, it's almost here buddy. Eight schools, BYU, Northwestern, North Carolina,

Penn State, Texas, USC, Stanford, and Georgia won multiple national championships this year. I'm curious, both of you guys, how much cohesion, interaction is there between different sports on campus? Mark, I'll start with you as a student athlete. Did you guys hang out with other teams a lot? Of course. I mean, you're in study hall with our student athletes.

Your weight room, there's other student athletes, your weight room, there's a student athletes who was in the weight room. I was very close with, I had friends on the men's track team, I have friends on the women's track team, I have friends on the men's basketball team, women's basketball team. So it was just a family really.

You guys are always working, you guys kind of all have to deal with the same kind of things. You're going to school, you're freaking working hard at your craft, at your sport. And study hall, you guys are all together at study hall, man. You know, doing tutoring and making sure your academics is right as well. So definitely have a lot of friendships and a lot of relationships that I grew with other student athletes from other sports, man.

So it's a special time being a student athlete in college, man, and walking campus and being able to, you know develop a camaraderie with other athletes man so this is big it's big especially Alabama was huge and I know it is at these other campuses as well. So much driven by the athletic director and I've had four great ones at Bowling Green and then Utah, Florida, Ohio State and it's easier when they're in the same building it's a little different like Ohio State football is a whole separate entity it's easier when they're in the same building. It's a little different, like Ohio State football's on a whole separate entity. It's all by itself, but it was great. And that's something, the best I've ever witnessed

is with Billy Donovan was my neighbor. He won two national championships, and I remember he invited me to Indianapolis to watch them beat UCLA, and that's the first time I witnessed something like that. And I get a text from his operations guy. There's 30 seconds, 45 seconds of timeout, TV timeout. I get a text message from his operations guy,

hey, Coach wants you in the locker room. I almost, I'm like, start shaking like, what? So I walk down behind the bleachers, all Gator fans everywhere, and I walk in the locker room and I watch, you know, it's Al Horford and Brewer and Joe Kim Noah and they, you know, the three, two, one, boom, confetti goes. And I started ballin'.

I'm watchin', that's my boys, you know, I used to go watch them practice, it's my neighbor. They come in that locker room and I'll never forget this, Mark, I looked at those players and I thought, if there's any way I could get my football team in here to experience this moment with these guys, they'll stop all the nonsense, they'll start getting real serious about their trade if they can

somehow see what this is like and and that's why I started something called Champions Day and Billy Donovan spoke at the first one and I tried to get that point and Billy Donovan used to always say just give me four months, just give me four months of it put all the nonsense away all the you know human element stuff that's out there in college campuses for four months of it put all the nonsense away all the you know human element stuff That's out there in college campuses for four months and that was a result of the relationship with the basketball team We want it. How about that? We went at nine months later, you know, we beat the Ohio State and the national championship and I know that the

2006 Florida basketball team impacted our team. Tell me more about what Champions Day was coach. Champions Day, I just, I thought that gave me that idea when I was watching Billy Donovan and these players and most people never experienced the championship locker room. I never really had, you know, I saw, you know, maybe conference championships. That was the first one and I was overwhelmed with emotion. And I'm a 50 year old, whatever I was,

45 year old dude at the time. I'm thinking, how do I get my 18, 19 year olds in here and see this, a witness sit and they knew they loved those guys. Those Joe Kim Noah Brewer, Horford, that whole team, they were awesome. And so, so every year I would have a champions day and I brought in Tony Dungey, I brought in Chris Card, I brought in people that won championships. And we showed the videos of not so much the plays on the field, but the whole idea was to take them

in the locker room. Yeah. And Mark, you know, with that locker, after you win it, of the great, other than your family and your faith, you put me in a locker room after a championship, oh my God. It's not like it.

I mean, it's heaven. It's not like it. When you're with the people you love and everything is on the table. I mean, there's every defense mechanism is down and you got people you love and everything is on the table. I mean there's every defense mechanism is down And you got players you love all the Warriors you you won with and so I wanted to somehow bring that to the players. Yes Special it's nothing like it mark. That's a situation where I think crying is acceptable in the locker room Listen stoner, you don't know real dogs

You don't know real dog you Stoner. You don't know real dogs. You gotta quit saying I'm crying like it's like, Mark, Mark, you gotta mess that cat up next time you see him. Hey, Stoner, hey, hey, Coach, he don't know real dogs. Like, when you got boys who have been working for something for a whole year, you have the opportunity to redeem yourself. I'm just reeling you guys in, man. You guys are biting everything I'm throwing out there.

It's not crybaby tears, it's alligator tears. Triple option crystal ball. It is brought to you by our great friends at BetMGM. BetMGM has given you the chance to win a prize every day during the baseball season. Step into that batter's box for BetMGM's Swing for the Fences free to play game. Visit BetMGM app to access the game and you'll score a prize if you hit a single, double, triple or a home run. All right. So last week, coach, we looked at your Gators. Today, we're going to stay in the great state of Florida, head a little bit further south and talk about the U, Mark. All right. An early peak at the Miami Hurricanes We talked about Miami a little bit earlier in the show right now bet MGM has the regular season win total set at nine point

Five they've always got the hook. It's never have you noticed that mark? It's never just a flat number Of course, there's always got to be a decimal point there to mess with you. So go ahead at nine and a half You can get the over at plus 135, the under at minus 160. These lines is always subject to change. Last season. So the under is the favorite, and I'm going with the favorite. Mine is.

Okay, so you think it's gonna be nine or less. Let's talk last season real fast. They finished the regular season 10 and two. They went to the great Pop Tarts bowl in Orlando and lost to Iowa State. I love the Pop Tarts Bowl. What they've done with that bowl game is so amazing. I actually have in my garage, like a Halloween costume of a Pop Tart that they gave me. It's still, I'm like, at some point I'm going to use this in my life. I don't

know when or who in my family, but it might get used. Halloween would work for it. All right, so last season lost at Georgia Tech, lost at Syracuse, no ranked wins. Again, the big story, Miami no longer with Cam Ward at quarterback. He went number one overall. The story with Miami, who they do it now have a quarterback is Carson Beck, who they brought in through the transfer portal. Let's take a look at their schedule real quick. And oh boy, it gets going right off the bat. They are home for the first four games, two of them to schools from the Sunshine State but it starts with Notre Dame so Miami three or four on Notre Dame five Wow L L I know the Notre Dame W Bethune W South Florida L to Florida. Oh wow, two and two start.

Yes. Okay, then at Florida State. Win. Win. Louisville. Win. Stanford. Win.

Win. At SMU. L. Okay, okay. Syracuse. Syracuse Revenge Tour. Syracuse win. Six, North Carolina State.

Win. Seven, at Va Tech. Win. Eight, at Pittsburgh. North Carolina State win seven at Vatech win eight at Pittsburgh late in the season that's nine So they didn't hit it Nine and a half was the last lady passer lost the leading rusher lost the leading receiver. It's a lot of loss I swear added Carson Beck a lot of holes to feel no Clemson on that schedule though, by the way, no Clemson I don't care how you put it. I got nine wins or less I'm going with the under so I'll take that minus what the minus was again

I'll score line half right? Yes, nine and a half is the magic number So so interesting they have all the first five games are in the state of Florida might have said that already Rob And that's that's deep south. You're in Miami. So Notre Dame, that's a tough trip for the Irish. I was at Notre Dame for many years. Oh, it is going to be hot. You know, you got to, I think what they'll probably say what you do is you put them in the indoor arena and then just turn up to 95 degrees with humidity. I forgot about that.

You can't do a hot yoga for football. You can't simulate that. You can't. You can't simulate that. I forgot about that. It's the September. They're gonna die out there. That's gonna be August. And that's awful. August, August, it's still gonna be ugly.

But Florida, Florida State, here's the issue I have with the ACC. I just don't know. There used to be arguments that that was one of the top conferences. They've been down. You know, there was a day when you had Florida State, Louisville, Virginia Tech,

and probably, you know and NC State, Miami. Think about those are top 10 programs at one point. They're not right now, they're not. And so I just, I don't know enough about that conference. But I think those Vegas dudes, man, they're unbelievable. I sit and stare at that and I see nine and a half. Right? I stare right at that, like in most of them,

I stare at nine and a half. An impossible number to reach, but yeah, I bet they can see nine and a half. You can see ten, but you can see nine too. So what's so much is like, we say Pitt's a W. Pitt's got a good coach, man. I mean, you got North Carolina State. Those are rugged games. Virginia Tech, NC State, SMU.

We know the Syracuse coach. That guy's a nut job, man. He's a he's a fiery guy. Fran Brown. Florida State, you know they coming back. So yeah, I like that SMU, at Virginia Tech when enter Sandman's blasting. I don't know is Carson Beck the guy though? That's the big question. I see three losses in that game somewhere. I don't know where you put them. It might not be Notre Dame. It might not be Pitt. I see three losses within that schedule somewhere. Carson Beck turned that ball over all the time. Yeah, Mark, are you a Carson Beck believer or a-

Carson Beck, let's go back to a year ago. We were talking about him being the number one quarterback in the draft. Right. Let's go back a year ago. We were talking about him being the number one quarterback in the draft coming up and the one that just passed. Right.

So I'm like, is the potential there? Yes. Sure. Now, potential is just exactly that, potential. Just a word. Yeah, if they lose two of the first four No trouble if there's a weapons that he had at Georgia, so Man, they got a good coach too. Yeah, I think the ACC is gonna surprise some folks whether it's this year or next year over The next three to five years Start I'm gonna start working their way back up there.

I got nine wins. The crystal ball says. Hey coach, you flew in hot today to record the triple option. Where were you? I was on the board of the Folds of Honor, American Interior chapter up there, and we did our event.

We had Boots on our podcast. He's an American hero, Mike Barker, a Navy SEAL, CTM-6 member. And, you know, without, you know, our country just dropped bombs and I ran and, you know, no political statements here other than my world has changed so much ever since I've been involved with these military organizations, VGA and the folds that when I see these situations. Catch a lift, right coach? Catch a lift up in New York with me? I look at the veterans, man, and as much as I love the country, I love the men and women who served that country even more because I've gotten so close with them over the last 5-10 years.

I was with a gal called Ginger Gilbert. She lost her husband. He was an F-16 pilot and he passed away in Afghanistan. She had five children, and Folds of Honor took care of all educational expenses for that family. And ironically, she married another F-16 pilot that lost his wife to cancer. I mean, it's a god thing. And so every time I leave that, they fly the flag in, Mark. I mean, the pageantry is unbelievable. And you leave that room, raise a ton of money for arguably, in my

mind, one of the greatest causes out there, and that's our veterans. And I was lucky, I grew up in a family that first responders, you never walk by a police officer is out saying hello, and thank you. Same with the firemen, any first responders, and same thing with military. I just grew up that way. So I'm very appreciative and had a great two days at American Interior is full of honor. Awesome. Coach, thanks for what you do for all those people who need the help. And I know you love it. I know it's a passion of yours as well. And you guys know what's next week, don't you?

July 4th, baby. Oh, we go crazy for July 4th. We go crazy for July 4th in my house. I bet those five beasts are go crazy. We go crazy for my house Do you what he's five those five beasts are going crazy? We have all the friends and family over we throw it down on the grill. We do the fireworks show big It's hot down here Mark. It's hot Beauty of living in Florida and get those fireworks on the side of the road would be up with the fireworks Ain't nobody messing with us with the fireworks anytime. They come over with us with the fireworks. Ain't nobody messing with us with the fireworks. Anytime they come over with us with the fireworks, they ain't messing with us, dog. Good to have Mark back.

Yeah. All I do on July 4th is go out and buy that medication, the medication for my dog. You know what I mean? Dog would not be happy with us. Dogs do not enjoy July 4th now, people. Dogs do not enjoy July 4th. Love seeing you guys again. As always, thank you for listening. Thank you for watching out there. Follow, subscribe, rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts,

as well as across social media, 3X option show. Thank you to our sponsors, Bet MGM Wendy's, and thank you Brett Bielema for joining us this week. Have a great week. Hope you enjoyed the show. Remember to give us some love, send us some questions. Be good, boys. Peace.

Da da da da da da da da da. Okay, man. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out.

I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out.

I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out.