The Triple Option - Gambling and the NCAA, Ohio State Buckeye Julian Sayin Joins, and the Ingrams Go to Pittsburgh

Episode Date: May 6, 2026

Beating the Team Up North in November, surfing in May, that's just the life of QB1 in Columbus. Coach Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone discuss gambling in college sports with Texas Tech's $5 million man currently being investigated by the NCAA. The guys talk about Brendan Sorsby's future, how to better monitor and support student athletes, and Coach shares a story about Pete Rose trying to get an edge. Last year Julian Sayin finished 4th in the Heisman voting, only losing to the two teams that would eventually face off in the National Championship, so what's next? The Buckeye signal caller discusses new OC Arthur Smith, another year with a loaded wide receiver room, and what he needs to improve to win it all. We wrap raising our glasses to Mark Ingram III after he walked into Pittsburgh, joined his former Ravens running back and father on stage and stared down the haters at the 2026 NFL Draft. Chapters 00:00 Show Start 02:31 Gambling and the NCAA 14:44 Julian Sayin, Ohio State Quarterback 26:53 The Ingrams Take on Pittsburgh 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. Try Wendy's® New crispier than ever Spicy Chicken Sandwich. ⁠⁠⁠https://m-wendys.app.link/gm-spicy-chicken-26-display-banner ⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to or additional sponsors Arkay - Arkay Zero Proof delivers the taste, aroma, and even the burn of real spirits — without alcohol, sugar, or carbs. Shop now at ⁠⁠https://www.arkayzeroproof.com⁠⁠   #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFP #OhioStateBuckeyes #BigTen #ACC #SEC #Big12 #NFLDraft #HeismanTrophy #AlabamaCrimsonTide #TexasTechRedRaiders #BrendanSorsby#WillHammond #Gambling #BaltimoreRavens #PittsburghSteelers #PeteRose #Surfing #RyanDay #JeremiahSmith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've already been in the Pacific, right, since you got home, Julian? Oh, yeah, that's like first day. Got to get back in. It's good for the soul. Did you get on the surfboard, too? I didn't. I didn't. The waves haven't been great so far, but they should be picking up maybe this week next week.

Coach has no idea what you're talking about. Yeah, I don't always talking about if I was in. Get your ass out of the water, Julian. You're not allowed to do that. Why are you hating on my boy, man? It's summer vacationing. Nighting. The triple option is presented by Wendy's.

Wendy's invented the spicy chicken sandwich, and now we're reinventing it, making it crispier than ever. before Wendy's spicy chicken, we're so back. Welcome into the triple option. Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram the second. Rob Stone here with you. A gambling scandal may have ended Texas Tech's new quarterback's career before it really even started in Lubbock.

Ohio State, QB 2025 Heisman, finalist Julian. Sayan joins the show. Plus, we're going to go behind the scenes of the NFL draft with Deuce, Deuce and his son. I cannot wait for that, Mark. It was such an awesome moment in Pittsburgh. But first, where's coach? Let's play.

Where is coach right now? Let me guess it's around golf and around veterans. Yeah, I'm at beautiful Liberty National. The whole number 14, your T-shot mark. You're hitting 140, 145 shot right? This Statue of Liberty, incredible spot. I'll get to here at some point. And then Veterans Golf Association, they're having their,

it's called the Liberty Cup. rider cup format with the top golfers from Air Force, Army Navy Air Force Marines and Coast Guard. So incredible event. Mark Ingram, what's the over-under on days coach plays golf? Per week? Or throughout the year? Man, I don't know. Throughout the year is a big number, like scary number.

Over 150 rounds. I think that's right, coach? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I just should be better than I am. Damn, Mark. It's a humbling game. It is, man. We had about a 25-hour-an-hour wind.

I played Trump-Edmissor two days ago. What a spot. And then I'm a collusive Friday. And the three of us are on a golf course next week in Florida as well for a Wednesday. At the concession club. Yeah. That's a great shot. All right.

Time to talk college football. 114 days until the season kicks off on any given Saturday. So Texas Tech, they went to the transfer. portal got one of the top names to be their number one quarterback. Brendan Sorsby transferring from Cincinnati down to Lubbock, Texas. But it was recently revealed. Sorbsby is believed to have placed thousands, guys, thousands of online bets on a variety of sports via gambling app. That includes bets on Indiana football while he was a member of that program. I remember back in 2022, he was in Bloomington. So based on the NCAA's guidelines, which were revised back in 23,

student athletes who wager on their own games or on other sports at their own school can potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility. Remember, he signed a $5 million NIL deal. He was receiving monthly payments since he arrived, but those payments have been paused, according to sources over at On 3. So Mark and coach, this is troubling. This is also the way of college football and all college athletics right now. I got a college kid. I hang out with his roommates and I see them on their phone and it's more than just texting their buddies and where they're going to be. They are 100% just dropping quick little bets and coach. This is this is a big problem. Not a big problem. Let's go bigger. Big big problem. Yeah, I got a real issue with it is, you know,

as parents. Mark, you got, I think, 46 kids, you know, or you got five. But I got three kids. I got six grand kids and as a coach you you treat your players like your kids and i i mean what in the hell are people thinking making gambling legal for young people to stick on their phone saying you're allowed to gamble this but don't go here i mean who i'd love to meet the politicians and i'm at the point in my life i don't give you i can say what i want what do you think it you're dumb ass don't don't put that what are you doing well let's make this legal let's make drug legal let's make this legal And I talk to people, I make, I know, take, I know people in the FBI, and they say the young people, it's 10,000 percent or some number that is hard to comprehend of young people under 21 under 18 years old that are addicted to gambling now. Yeah.

Because it's, you're right. They stare at their phone. And I even ask, I say, what are you doing? And they're gambling. Yeah. And here's the difference, Mark. Back in the day, you asked, was this a big problem? it wasn't because it was illegal and it was easy to monitor.

How do you monitor that now? I guess you can because this player is in trouble. But to throw temptation at a 19-20-year-old that now has money in his pocket, by the way, a lot of money, yeah, it's certainly his fault and he's going to pay a hell of a price, and so is that coach and team and a fan base at Texas Tech because he's a hell of a player. But I guess my appeal is like, what are you doing? You idiots make that stuff legal? Money.

Do you get in trouble for saying you idiots? I don't care. You're an idiot if you made gambling legal for young people. That's wrong. And so this, think about this. Money, money, money, money. You just invested $5 million. Texas Tech is no longer the Texas Tech of old.

They have expectations of being in the playoffs. You lose that kid and the backup's got a bad knee. Your chance going to playoffs is dropped. Well, number one, we want the best for Brendan Sorsby. He has checked himself into an addiction. facility and absolutely, Mark, this is an addiction because we see it, we see it everywhere. And yes, people can do it in moderation. But boy, it is, it's a slippery slope, right?

When all you have to do is literally just tap something in a way you go. And then that money, that money, money, money can start getting away from you fast. Man, they tell you to gamble responsibly, right? But how many people are actually doing it responsibly? people can't watch a game without putting a bet on it like people can't just sit down and watch the game for entertainment anymore they watch the game they're like oh I gotta have something on it

oh I gotta have somebody going over or this amount of yards this amount of carries this amount of points they're gonna hit this frito right they need that juice right they need that adrenaline you need that adrenaline they got something on it but it's just crazy you know it's just easy access everywhere you go you open up an app

place your bet, place your little, you know, your parlay. And you see you won a couple times. Now you're addicted. Now you want to get that win again. But now you're taking L's. But it's just way different than when I was in college or when I was in the league. Like, you knew gambling was off limits. It's something that you couldn't touch.

And so it's just way different now with having so much access and how easy it is to gamble. But, you know, when I was playing, like, it was always gambling was no. So it's just way different and something that I didn't have to deal with. So it's just tough, man. It was like the old drug campaign, right? Just say no, right? And that was so simple and understandable and relatable and don't do it because I'd like to play college athletics. But let's be honest, right?

Coach, wagering and gambling have been around for as long as all those other vices have been around. and one of the greats in the sporting world definitely had an issue with gambling and might have reached out to you for a little help unbeknownst to you. A little inside info. Yeah. Yeah, I'm a Cincinnati, Ohio guy, a big red machine.

I mean, the greatest baseball team of all time in the 70s. So I was a huge Pete Rose fan and still am. We lost him several months ago, but became a friend of mine. When I got hired Ohio State, they asked me to come down and throw out the first pitch for the Reds. And I did with my son. And I walk in the clubhouse there's Pete Rose.

And I'm like, oh, my God, Pete Rose. And so we sat and talked for a couple hours, the exchange phone numbers. You know, I just, I can't get enough talking about Big Red Machine and he wanted to talk college football. And I'm pretty naive about the gambling thing. I never really gambled in my life. So I, we text each other, you know, it's great to see you another. And then during the season, my first year in 2012, Every once in a text from, not every once in a while, but early in the season,

hey man, how's the, how's the team look and how's, you know, how's Illinois look? How's Braxton's shoulder? Braxton's shoulder or something like that. And, you know, I texted back, yeah, we're doing fine. And I told that to someone, they said, you're an idiot. You know, he's trying to get information from you for gambling and you could get in trouble. I was like, whoa. And so, you know, I never gave lunch.

But, I mean, I was like, from that point forward, how's Braxton's shoulder? You know, I'd say, and so, you know, how the Reds are doing? You know, I just kind of moved on. Not fair, man, because you want to have a conversation with a legend like Pete Rose, right? You don't want to nip that in the bud. So Pete Rose, I saw him out in Vegas one time. He would sign, I believe, at Mandalay Bay, and we went and sat with him for a while. And I said, so what do you do?

You know, now you're 70-some years old. You're the greatest baseball player of all time. He said, I get up, I go work out. I go sign autographs for six hours, and I go home, and I gamble. Legally. you know, just legally gambling. So legal gambling is an addiction. And just to go full circle back to the way we started, I really feel for this kid, man. Yeah. I really do. It's an addiction. I've witnessed it. I've seen people ruin their lives over it. And as a parent, as a coach,

you want to not have more and more temptations thrown up people. And whoever made these decisions to legalize gambling for young people, shame on you. Shame on you. It's wrong. It's wrong. taking the conversation back to Lubbock real quick. You know, Sorsby was arguably the most in-demand quarterback in the transfer portal. So congrats to the Red Raiders for going out, spending, and getting him. Now there's a real, real chance he's never going to suit up for the Red Raiders. And what's their quarterback room look like right now, four-star Will Hammond? Remember, Tora's ACL back in October, there is a quote, though,

the knee is getting better at a rapid pace, which is good news, played eight games last year. They opened up September 5th against Abilene Christian, then on the road at Oregon State, and then Big 12 ball with Houston, Sam Houston State, and then Colorado. The backup Tulsa QB transfer, Kirk Francis could be waiting in the wings as well. There was talk coach that Hammond might be ready by the third week. Maybe they're going to accelerate that a little bit. And then for Sorsby, Mark, you know about this. There's this little thing that is used once.

a while called the NFL supplemental draft. And maybe that's a place that Sorsby has to go to if he's going to continue his college football playing in the near future. A lot of good people have come out of that supplemental draft. So let's go back to Texas Tech. Oh, I'm sorry. No, no. Like Bernie Cozar, Chris Carter, Bobby Humphrey, like some real, real good names have come out of that. Go ahead, coach. You want to go back to Love it? Yeah, I'm just going to say that's one of our favorite places on Big Noon. And Coach McGuire is one of our favorite guys, and we pull for them. You're not supposed to have favorites.

That's one of our favorite spots. And you just read that schedule? It's not bad. They might, I thought this might be a major hit because that quarterback could get going by that because they have really good players. They've invested a lot of money in that roster. They're going to be favored still in all those games. You just mentioned five games, I think.

I think they'll be favored in all five. I would think so. I think Houston is much improved. Colorado has struggled October 17th, home to Arizona State. And then guess what? The 24th Texas Tech at Cincinnati. Wow. Very, very interesting when they closed the campaign.

Maybe we'll be there. D.C. Maybe we will be there. All right, coming up next, Ohio State's Heisman-Contending quarterback. Julian Sayan joins us on the Triple Option, presented by Wendy. Light it. Training Ground has discovered potential in over 20,000 Canadian athletes and counting. Your story could be next.

If you've got the drive, they'll help you find your path to the Olympics. Let's see what you've got. Sign up for free at rbc trainingground.ca. Welcome back to the triple option presented by Wendy's. I'm Rob Stone, Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram the second. Let's bring in the starting quarterback at the Ohio State Julian Sayan finished fourth in the Heisman ballading last year. He is not in Columbus

He is hanging out guys In sunny Southern California Over there in Carl's bat He's already been You've already been in the Pacific Right since he got home Julian Oh yeah that's like first day Got to get back in

It's good for the soul So Healing Did you get on the surfboard too? I didn't I didn't The waves haven't been great so far But they should be picking up Maybe this week next week

So just should be ready to go You gonna get out there Shred him or what? Coach has no idea What you're talking about No no yeah I don't know what he's talking about If I was the headcloth, say, get your ass out of the water, Julia. You're not allowed to do that.

I'm just kidding you. Why are you hating on my boy, man? It's summer vacation. I love the guy. That boy just weathered the Columbus winters, and he's out here in sunny, Southern Cally, shredding waves. You want to hate on my dog, man? Hey, Julian, thanks for joining us.

You go from California to a place called Tuscaloosa. We have a Crimson Tide guy on this show, and then you join the Ohio State. You have a buck guy right here. what went under the decision to leave? I think it was after Saban, Coach Saban retired. Was that a tough transition? Was it a no-brainer when you had the opportunity? Coach, I'm going to tell you, it was a tough transition for all of us in Tuscaloosa.

It hurt. I'll tell you that. Yeah, really. So once Coach Saban retired, I mean, he was a huge reason of why I wanted to go to Alabama. And once he retired, I felt like it was just, you know, the best decision for me to enter the transit portal. And, you know, I was, you know, looking at Ohio State and, you know, the question. quarterback pedigree that they have there, you know, what Coach Day has done. And it was, I think it was just the all-around best fit for me. And so I was really glad to make that decision

and, you know, couldn't be happier. Man, you had a huge year last season, man. Great season. Obviously, I know you guys didn't accomplish your ultimate goal, but you have everything ahead of you. You have a new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith. What has that relationship been like getting to know him so far? He's been great so far. You know, it's been, fun. You know, it's, it's been fun. We got some new receivers. We got, you know, the new O.C. It's, it's been, it's been good to kind of learn each other and, you know, just kind of learn this new system and learn how we're going to be this year. So it's been, it's been a lot of fun.

Connected with these guys. And then obviously having guys returning to, it's, it's been great. You know, the off the line returning, you know, having Jeremiah, Brandon outside. So it's good. Julian, what's been new about that system? Does it feel more, I guess, NFL-esque because of Coach Smith and his background? Yeah, I think the quarterback has a lot of responsibility at the line of scrimmage in this system. And, you know, the play calls are long. And, you know, it's, it's, it's been a lot of fun. Play calls are long.

Like, give me, give me an example. Super long. I mean, we're going, you know, we're going formation, motion, you know, play. Then we're going can can to this play, you know, if we get the certain look. So I think it's just, you know, it starts to build up once you start tagging these routes on everything. And it starts to build up. Do you have the vocabulary? You're all caught up on it?

Yeah. I'm all caught up. We're good. Run a play. So being it. Haller a play with the can. All right. We're just going to go,

you know, we're going to Duff right Ace, 19 won, the can, the 18 quacher on the double, the double. There you go. Okay, what did he say?

What is that, Coach? What's happening? Yeah. Back in the day, we went fast and just signals. That was it. Hey, Julian,

congrats on your season. As a Buckeye, proud of you, man, proud of the team. And so Columbus, Ohio, when Zeke Elliott became

Zeke Elliott, when Haskins became Haskins, when, I mean, Columbus is out of control. You know, you have to have a lot of self-discipline, and I'm sure I can tell you, raise the right way. When you were, you know, just on the team, then now you're the starting quarterback, how did you manage to just stay, you know, feet on the ground as opposed to? They want to make you a god in Columbus, Ohio. It's really, you know, you've got to watch yourself. Yeah, I think, you know, we have so much support from the fan base here, and, you know,

there's how much they care is awesome to see. And, you know, I was able to see it my freshman year, you know, watch Will Howard go win national championship. So it was awesome to, you know, get that learning experience and see, see what it was like and, you know, see the great things about it, and also see, you know, what happens when you do lose a game like that. So I think it's, it was great to see. And, you know, I'm blessed.

I have my sister. She's in grad school, actually, at Ohio State. So my mom and my sister are out there too. So it's nice to have family close. That's dope. And your brother's out there too, playing in the UFL for Columbus? Yeah, so they're in Dallas. They stay in Dallas and then they go to the game.

So I've been to two games so far. They like fly back and forth for their games. But I've been to two games and they just had another game at Columbus recently. Hey, man. We know this NIL world is crazy, man. You know how you got to re-recruit your players. We heard in the offseason Jeremiah Smith mentioned there were offers from other schools

to transfer. Did you experience any of that? I'm sure you did. And like, how did you, how did you handle that, man? No, I was, you know, I was, I think everybody knew I was coming back to school, coming back to us. Yeah, but there wasn't nobody like, hey, Julian, we need you and we got to have you.

They weren't calling me personally. So maybe they were calling other people, but they weren't calling me personally. So, you know, everybody knew I was a buck guy. That's what's up. Let's talk about the receiver. room. What Brian Hartline did, Coach Hartline actually first worked for me, and then he brought in Garrett Wilson and Chris Olavet, and that started that run. And even before that, you Mike Thomas,

Terry McClorin. And then I think it's unprecedented. The receiver room that you and your previous quarterbacks have had an opportunity to throw to. I mean, at such times, is it just shocking the talent level that you have to throw to out there? Yeah, I mean, we always have some great guys that receiver and that's that's you know something you can bet on um and you know i think uh coach harline obviously did a great job with those guys i think coach hankton coming in is doing is doing a great job and you know it's it's that's a lot of fun as a quarterback to have those guys on the outside you know when you get one-on-one um and you know your coach is say i get my shot let's get to him you got a new toy too with chris henry junior in the fold how is that relationship

grown and what should the big 10 and the nation expect from him this season? Yeah, I think he's a great player. You know, got a lot of potential and, you know, had a great spring this spring. And it's been fun to kind of build that relationship with him and build that connection on the field. How do you build that relationship? What are some of the things that you do on the field off the field to get a tighter bond? Yeah, I think it's, you know, just getting the reps with him, whether it's seven on seven, whether it's team. And then off the field, you really just got to spend time with those guys, you know, just build that connection.

I think as an offense, this spring, we've done a good job of spending time and, you know, kind of continue to that. over the summer of just bonding and doing off-the-field team events and just going out to eat, going out to do things. Now, I want to ask you a question about we were there at the Big Ten championship game and the season you guys had been, you play this team called Indiana that, you know, for most of our lifetimes, they've been the worst team. You know, it's just a bad team and then all of a sudden this new staff comes in. It's not just the staff.

They're great players. As the quarterback facing that deal. What was the biggest issue? Obviously, I know great players, but was there something that caught you or as you prepared for that team, their defense? What was the biggest issue for you? Yeah, I think they were really well coached. They were really disappointed in their zone drops. They were, you know, getting to the right spots. There wasn't a lot of, you know, tons of open zones. Even when they're bringing sim pressures, so they're able to eat up the back and then, you know, really get a, get seven guys out in coverage in zones and really make it tough as the quarterback to, you know, find those zones. Man, my last question for you, man, is you had a great season, man, individually. And you have a new OC. When you self-evaluate yourself, what are some things that you think you need to prove on to get you to the next level and the team to the next level? Yeah, I think there's a ton of things this offseason that I was looking at to get to get better at, you know, whether it's, you know, having cleaner feet in the pocket, having a little bit better pocket presence.

and then no one when to extend plays and take off in third down and nothing's open. We got to go pick it up with our legs and get the first down. My last question, Julian, just the rivalry game. Congrats on get back on track in that game. To go up at the Ann Arbor and to get ready, did you feel, you know, I'm not sure you played in the Iron Bowl. Were you there for the Iron Bowl? No, I was only out of Alabama for a couple months. Yeah.

Okay. So you're getting ready for that game and obviously the pressures. mints. Did you feel it leading into it and then walking down that damn tunnel in Ann Arbor? Did you feel it before you took the field? You know, I think we had a, the team had kind of a great mindset going into it. You know, we weren't really feeling a ton of pressure. We know how much it means to, you know, the state of Ohio and to our fan base. But, you know, walking in that stadium, it was just, it was a ton of fun. And we had, you know, a bunch of juice. And, you know, obviously off the bat, it had through the interception. And then after that, I felt like we were just, you know, you know, you know, in control. Let's get to the red meat here as we conclude this conversation. Your schedule.

From the outside, it looks brutal. At Texas Week 2, on the road at USC, at Iowa, at Indiana, home with Oregon, home with Michigan. How is the schedule being talked about in the locker room and how is it being managed, you know, right now in the summer leading into the fall? Yeah, I think, you know, a lot of the guys are excited. It's exciting, you know, playing those big games, you know, going down to Austin and week two, going out to USC, you know, playing Oregon at home, playing up north at home. It's going to be a lot of fun. I think a lot of the guys are excited and, you know, just making us prepare this summer and, you know, keeping that chip on our shoulder this summer and making us grind because, you know, we have a big season out of us. How has Coach Day approached that schedule with you guys?

Yeah, he's been talking about how we're going to, you know, have a great schedule and then it's going to make us better for, the, when we get in the playoffs. All right. So you're a Southern Cal guy. You're on summer break, right? Like, how long is your summer break when you're the starting quarterback at Ohio State? Yeah, you get about two and a half, three weeks, three weeks out here. And then you're back to it in summer workouts and, you know, summer workouts thrown with the guys and all that.

All right. So what do you need to accomplish in that two and a half three weeks? Yeah. I say this with a smile on my face. What are some things that you need to do to be a kid again, right? You definitely have to, you know, reset. You know, we play it kind of a year-round sport. So you got, they don't have to reset and, you know, kind of chill and hang out with some friends and family.

And then also know, you know, when it's time to work and when it's time to, you know, improving those things that you thought about all summer and all spring. You know, I was with Coach Mick when he was younger. He was much tougher than he was now. Is he be a little soft in his old age? No, no, I don't think so at all. I don't think so at all. He's pretty hard, especially the quarterbacks.

I know. You should be. Julian, we appreciate. Thanks for joining us, man. Yeah, man. We appreciate the time. Try to enjoy that summer, right? Don't get caught up doing too many podcasts.

Get out there, get some of that California sun and get those waves as well. That was never cutting quarters. You deserve it. That's right. Presented by Wendy's. Wendy's new spicy chicken sandwich is crisper, cruncher and more flavor packed than ever. Wendy's, we're so back. Coming up next, we raise our glasses to Mark Ingram the third.

Not you, Mark, the third on the triple-house. option presented by Wendy's. Light it. In communities across Canada, hourly Amazon employees earn an average of over $24.50 an hour. Employees also have the opportunity to grow their skills and their paycheck by enrolling in free skills training programs for in-demand fields, like software development and information technology.

Learn more at aboutamazon.ca. Time now for Cheers of the week. presented by our good friends at RK Zero Proof, making a appearance on the show at my house and at your years as well. Good job, Marky Mark. RK Zero Proof delivers the taste aroma and even the burn of real spirits without the alcohol, without the sugar, without the carbs. Our very own deuce-duce, this was one of my greatest moments at the gym while I'm working out on the treadmill. He announced the Baltimore Ravens. It was your second round pick, right?

Second and third. Second and third. But the second round pick in the Steel City, you know how Baltimore and Pittsburgh feel about each other. But it was Mark Ingram the third that stole the show in enemy territory. Roll it. This the hospitality you got for your boy. Oh, boy.

This the hospitality you got for your boy? Yeah. Don't worry. Don't worry. Yes, it is. Because on behalf of me, my son, these wonderful young ladies, and all the flock nation. We got a special message for y'all in Pittsburgh.

Steelers still suck. No, boy. And we bought that. You got a part with that. Come see me. Big trust. The flock nation in the flesh. Oh, boy.

Yes, sir. Did anybody come see you, Mark? No, man, I was walking through the streets of Pittsburgh that later that night. There didn't nobody press me or nothing, man. They showed love. So I appreciate Pittsburgh, man, because they understand. They understood. They understood.

You know what I mean? But the whole thing about it was, you know, Baltimore asked me to do this pick for them. They're like, it's in Pittsburgh. I'm like, you guys are asking me to do the Ravens pick in Pittsburgh. Like, that's a heavy lift there, right? That's enemy territory for sure. Yep.

And then so my son, he didn't have any, like, baseball or anything. I'm like, I'm going to take him with me, right? And so we go up there and I'm like, hey, man, you know the Ravens and the Steelers do not like each other. And so I'm like, we go out there. They're probably going to boo us. I was like, if they boo us, we got to be able to pop our stuff back to them, all right? So I watched, I watched the, the Ravens had posted, Pallodi-Nata announcing a Ravens pick with his three sons one time.

And he was like, all my sons were born in Baltimore. And they were all raised to say one thing. And they all went to the mic. They said, the Steelers suck. And so I'm like, okay, I got that little, my wheels got to spin. And I'm like, all right. Well, Mark, if we go up there and they're booing, they're tripping, I'm going to to go and I'm going to say we got a message for you guys Pittsburgh.

I mean, we got a message for you guys, Steelers. And he's going to say, Stillers still suck. So, uh, hello, de Nata and his sons. We got that kind of, uh, we got the vibes from them. We had to go to Pittsburgh and hold it down for the Flack Nation. And my son loved it. We walking through the airport going home. People are stopping him.

Steelers fans are stopping him like, hey, little dude, you did such a good job. You did such a good job. Why did you say that about the Steelers? All this stuff. They're showing them love. He's like, we're walking to the gate. He's like, Daddy, me famous. I'm like, you ain't damn famous, man.

But, man, what a special opportunity, man. I appreciate the Ravens for having me and my son, requesting us to go up there and do the pick for them in Pittsburgh. I appreciate the NFL showing the love, allowing me to bring my son on the stage. And I also appreciate Pittsburgh because they helped me create a core memory for my son. You know what I mean? He'll always remember that.

We'll always be able to see that. And I've been saying jokes all, ever since I'm like, watch the Steelers end up drafting him. When he's like, watch the Steelers end up drafting him. He's a best one. And roll that clip back, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He's going to be like, my dad made me do that. I was eight years old.

How about the NFL and Goodell and that whole marketing? I mean, they should write every book possible. They're a beast. They're a, they made the NFL draft what it is. Listen. It used to be, but it used to be, you know, they draft New York. I think it was New York, whatever was. Now you're getting Pittsburgh.

You're seeing people hundreds of thousand deep. 386,000 people on the first night. You can't see the stage, Mark. Yeah. And a three day of that. 386,000. 386,000 in the first night. The second day, the second and third round picks, it was over 280,000 people.

Yeah. So you talk about the NFL being the, the, the model, the example of what to be of how to market, how to, you know, pump to your city and transform a whole city. The NFL is that, man. There's nothing like the NFL. They had a go to show. Let's throw a hypothetical out here. Let's say there was a college football draft.

And Ohio State is up. Urban Myers out to do the pick. And the draft is being held in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I'd take a, I'd bring my kid up like Mark did and say the Wolverine still suck. I can't, you know, I can't. Can I still say that with Kyle Whittingham there? You can. Yeah, you can.

Yeah, we all love Kyle. But yeah, you have to say that. I think you're contractually obligated to say that. Perfect way to end it. That does it for the triple option member follow. Subscribe, rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast, as well as across social media 3X option show. Thanks as always are a great sponsors.

Wendy's and RK Zero Proof. Coach, you're on the clock. I can't wait for your pick.