Tony Vitello On How He Landed Historic San Francisco Giants Manager Role + From CBB To MLB | Bussin'

Summary

Bussin’ With The Boys – Tony Vitello On How He Landed Historic San Francisco Giants Manager Role + From CBB To MLB

Episode Date: November 4, 2025
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Guest: Tony Vitello (San Francisco Giants Manager, former Tennessee Vols Head Baseball Coach)

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Episode Overview

This episode of Bussin’ With The Boys brings on Tony Vitello, the newly minted manager for the San Francisco Giants and former head coach of Tennessee baseball. The conversation dives into Vitello’s unprecedented jump from the college ranks to MLB, the state of modern college and pro baseball, the shifting NIL landscape, and the emotional process of leaving Tennessee.

The Boys (Will and Taylor) keep their trademark locker-room humor and candid insight, peppering Tony with both baseball deep-dives and lighthearted banter. The episode is packed with practical insight, emotional reflection, and inside stories—perfect for both sports diehards and fans of the brand.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. **Life & Football Banter, Holiday Transitions

[00:46 – 41:40]**

• Wrap-up of Spooktober and transition to Thanksgiving and Christmas season, with classic Boys banter about costumes, trick-or-treating, family dynamics, and the “Tickle Turkey” tradition.
• Taylor discusses dealing with gout during Halloween and his commitment to going "all in for the kids" despite pain.
  • Memorable moment: “Let me tell you something about gout. It's no joke. I wouldn't... I would not wish this on. Gout is horrendous.” (Taylor, [19:41])
• Bemoaning the temptations of holiday eating, candies, and starting Christmas decorations early.
  • “If you can't beat them, join them type of vibes.” (Taylor, [40:58])
• Spooktober accountability: Reflections and joking “contract year” analogies regarding commitment to podcast/brand holiday bits.

2. **Uniforms, NIL, and the State of the Game

[46:01 – 122:16]**

Baseball's Big Picture and World Series Chat

[64:01 – 71:09]

• The Boys recount Game 7 of the Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series—energy, player heroics, the feeling of “rooting for the underdog” vs. dynasty teams like the Dodgers/Yankees.
• Salary cap debate: Is dominance by franchise spenders (like the Dodgers) bad for baseball?
  • “You can't just buy your way to a championship. There’s still gotta be the right people in place.” (Tony, [65:02])
  • “I do like when things are even… in the spirit of competition.” (Tony, [110:08])

The Unprecedented MLB Hire—How Did Vitello Get the Giants Job?

[68:17 – 70:02]

• Tony gives detailed background on how the Giants’ interest formed:
  • “It was kind of organic… a little bit of a co-op started there. And then… someone floated the idea of basically trying something new. San Francisco is about as innovative… so just an innovative idea. I feel blessed to be the guy but I'm also the guinea pig.” (Tony, [69:46])
• Reflections on the coaching trend: Return of the ‘old-school’ hands-on coach dynamic contrasted with analytics-driven approaches.
• Emphasis on “energy” and “clubhouse culture” as an asset he brings.

Emotional Exit from Tennessee and Impact on Players & Staff

[74:54 – 79:07]

• The boys press Tony on the emotional difficulty of leaving Tennessee, especially after initial news of his candidacy broke before he’d even made a decision.
  • “It was a three-parter… the way those kids texted me, talked to me in person, and the way the coaches basically said, ‘Do what you gotta do.’ I will forever be grateful…” (Tony, [77:53])
• The realities of how breaking news spreads in the social media age and how it impacts staff and player communication.
  • “This news broke on a football Saturday in the middle of one of our scrimmages… all got skipped over by a tweet…” (Tony, [76:15])

NIL & The Transfer Portal: What’s Broken, What’s Next?

[94:25 – 106:48]

• Vitello pulls no punches about college baseball’s scholarship inequities and the unpredictable, “foggy” NIL landscape.
  • “It's a disaster… It’s like you're driving in the fog and you can’t really see but about 100 or 200 feet in front of you… it’s very frustrating when you don’t know the rules to the game.” (Tony, [95:13])
• Explains 11.7 scholarships, NIL’s role in sometimes helping offset cost barriers, and how some players now walk into his office asking for straight cash offers.
  • “Two kids literally walked in my office like, ‘What am I? What is it?’ And I was like, ‘Nice to meet you…’” (Tony, [97:35])
• Coaches are often unable to “coach hard” for fear of transfer threats; predicts player development and on-field quality will suffer as a result.
  • “If you can’t coach a guy hard, he’s not going to get better at the small things…” (Taylor, [99:01])

The Bridge: College to Pros & MLB Salary Cap?

[109:50 – 111:08]

• Tony cautiously supports a salary cap “to an extent,” musing on America's capitalist edge vs. the need for fair competition.
• Talks about the upsides/downsides of college players now weighing MLB draft vs. lucrative NIL deals.
  • “There’s reasons why a club can show kids it’s an advantage to get into the organization and start your pro career, and there’s also college coaches that can say, ‘If you’re playing in the SEC, you’re actually speeding up the process…’” (Tony, [120:01])

Perseverance, Legacy, and Advice

[123:46 – 142:58]

• Tony gets reflective about what he’ll miss, what he’s proud of, perseverance through rejection, and sticking it out as a player and coach—even when he “just wanted to quit.”
  • “There were a couple days where I was just going to quit as a player… But if I would’ve quit… it wouldn’t have worked out as a coach.” (Tony, [124:31])
• Ultimate advice for the transition:
  • “The right decision is the one you make… Just make a decision and do it like hell.” (Tony, [142:14])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Giants hiring him, “the guinea pig”
  “I feel blessed to be the guy but I'm also the guinea pig. We'll see how it goes." – Tony, [69:47]

• On NIL and chaos in college baseball:
  “It’s a disaster. … You’re grasping for what’s real, what you can do, what you can’t do… very frustrating when you don’t know the rules to the game.” – Tony, [95:13]

• On what he would do for a World Series or national title:
  “We have a non-handshake deal for the non-handshake deal. For the record.” (Tony, joking about giving the Boys his salary if he wins the World Series, [113:38])

• On player development in the transfer portal era:
  “All of us at some point have tiptoed around something because of the threat of the transfer portal. … For a player, it's like, 'it's not going well, I'm out.' But you gotta respect the sequence of development.” – Tony, [100:16]

• On what he’ll miss about college sports:
  “Just the youthful energy. … You get to see guys being in that character of being a kid, but you're seeing it at the highest level.” – Tony, [120:55]

• Advice for anyone making a decision:
  “Make a decision and do it like hell. … The right decision is the one you make, unless you look back on it and regret things.” – Tony, [142:14]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Holiday banter, Spooktober reflections: [00:46 – 19:41]
• Gout struggle & Halloween for parents: [19:41 – 23:24]
• Candy temptation & parenting: [26:12 – 31:31]
• Christmas décor & holiday moods: [38:36 – 41:40]
• Dodgers World Series & salary cap talk: [64:01 – 71:08]
• How Giants’ job happened, bridging college to MLB: [68:17 – 72:15]
• Leaving Tennessee, emotions, breaking news: [74:54 – 79:07]
• NIL & transfer portal chaos: [94:25 – 106:48]
• Perspectives: college vs. pro coaching: [73:49 – 75:05, 120:55 – 121:32]
• Reflections on perseverance, advice for new challenges: [123:46 – 124:31], [142:14 – 142:58]
• Iconic World Series Bet (“Salary” joke): [112:14 – 113:43]

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Tony Vitello: Episode Highlights

• Why San Francisco hired him: Giants sought innovation, liked his “energy,” and wanted to try a new path blending “old school” coaching with new analytics.
• Leaving Tennessee: News leaked before he had decided, forcing awkward communications—but he expresses deep gratitude for the empathy and support from his players and staff.
• NIL/Portal Realities: He calls the current system a “disaster,” worries for the sport’s future, and details the wild new recruiting landscape (“Kids walk in like, ‘So what’s your number?’”).
• MLB Salary Cap: Supports fair competition but acknowledges the American ethos of pushing boundaries; it's delicate.
• Transition to MLB: Embracing uncertainty, motivated by being a trailblazer, and dedicated to proving the “guinea pig” concept can work.
• What he’ll miss: Youthful energy of college sports, but notes the “spirit of the kid” is alive in MLB playoffs too.
• Final words of advice: Make a decision, commit, and embrace the journey ahead.

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Closing Note

Tony leaves listeners with authenticity, humility, and energy—undefensive about his future, grateful for his time at Tennessee, and ready to lead the Giants into a bold new era.

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If you only have a few minutes, don’t miss:

• [69:46] How the Giants hire happened
• [77:53] Tony on telling his players he was leaving
• [95:13] Raw take on NIL chaos
• [124:31] Perseverance and what he hopes his journey proves
• [142:14] “Just make a decision and do it like hell.”

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Enjoy this rare, honest inside look at one of baseball’s most innovative coaching transitions, through the signature lens of Bussin’ With The Boys.

Transcript

[Host 1]

All right, we're good.

[Tony Vitello]

Be like busing with the boys, hanging with the fellas, betting on a game.

[Host 2]

No woman's gonna tell us what to do.

[Tony Vitello]

And I bet we'.

[Host 2]

Just drinking beer and making that noise, baby. I'm hanging with the fellas.

[Tony Vitello]

Busing with the boys, bro.

[Host 1]

Welcome to Busting with the boys. Episode 353 the Boys Spooktober is over. We are now into Thanksgiving season. Christmas season is upon us. We have Tony Vitello joining us on the bus today. New San Francisco Giants manager, the former head coach of the Tennessee Vols. He will be on the show with us today. If you're watching or tuned in right now, just make sure you are subscribed to the episode. If you're watching on YouTube, make sure you're following the boys. If you are listening on audio as always, we are brought to you by the one, the only FanDuel sportsbook. America's number one sportsbook. And we've got another week of football starting Thursday night. And you already know how we like our Thursdays. We've got specials with the FanDuel Sportsbook. We've got another giveaway on Thursday with the FanDuel Sportsbook. We even got another little same game parlay with the FanDuel Sportsbook. But we want to tell you about something that we can all get on with the FanDuel sportsbook, the Thursday Night Football Touchdown Jackpot. Three easy steps. Three easy steps, boys. I'm going to say it. I'm going to go through this one time. Step one, open up the app. Crack open your app and if you don't have the app, it's all good. No judgment. Just head over to FanDuel.com Bussin to get that taken care of. Step two, you're going to opt into the promo and place an anytime touchdown score bet on the game. Whoever you think scoring on Thursday. We have our picks. You've got to make yours. Just pick and select an anytime touchdown score. And step three, this is the best part. Watch the game. Easy as that. Just watch the game and tune in and see if your player either scores first or the last touchdown. That's right, the first or the last touchdown. And if they do, you'll win your bet and a share of the two million dollar jack jackpot. Like we said, FanDuel.com bus is the place to go download the app and get ready for the week. Tennessee, how we doing? How we doing fellas?

[Host 2]

Doing well.

[Host 1]

Good football recap show yesterday.

[Host 2]

Great.

[Host 1]

Broke down a lot of good balls.

[Host 2]

A lot of good ball football porn episode if you like to get in the weeds of football and the X's and O's. Greg Olson he eats great 1213 personnel the evolution of the game basically coming from the tight end position. Yeah tight ends have changed everything about football in the NFL. If you're wondering how does we'll feel about the Nebraska thing, we recap how we're feeling about South Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, Miami. Everything that happened that is in the recap show. This is the bus and intro and boys, Spooktober is over.

[Tony Vitello]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Host 1]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Host 2]

Another year has gone. Another year has passed. Moment of silence for Spooktober. It's been an interesting year for sure. Last week I sat on this bus while you fine gentlemen were dressed up in your best Halloween costumes. It was beautiful. It was wonderful. There's only one thing missing. The head of Spooktober, the man who dubs himself number one of all spookiness, was not wearing that. I like to believe I wrote the ship a little bit throughout the week. That's not for me to say. Put it in your core. I'm basically putting words in your guys's mouth. I will take the compliment, thank you. But a hell of a spooked over for the Lawan family. The Lawan family as a whole. Myself didn't watch as many spooky movies as I want. Didn't get my adult fix of spooktober that I like to get. But from a family standpoint, Disney World, Mickey Mouse is not so scary. Halloween, we had the trick or treating. We carved pumpkins. We had. I think my kids trick or treated three. Three separate times, including a Halloween party as well. So overall, I have to get.

[Host 1]

We hit Nicole Lane, by the way.

[Host 2]

Dude, if I'm ever going to move from my house in Nashville, Tennessee, that's the neighborhood I'm moving into. It is. They bought in. You could tell there's a couple of bad apples. Like, there's four or five houses out there that either they're too old or they're anti Halloween. But that whole neighborhood, dude, lined up. There was a tent where adults could go and get their adult beverages. While the kids were hitting the trick or treating, Willie C. Hit me up. Hey, we went to this place last year. My neighbor's telling me this is the spot to go. And I was dealing with gout, which we'll talk about in a little bit. But that was the. That was trick or treating. That's trick or treating on steroids, dude. Everybody's dressed up. Everyone's having a good time. Parents are making jokes at other parents of, like, what costumes we're in. We're all kind of staying in character with each other. Your family was dialed in.

[Host 1]

I thought out.

[Host 2]

Every time I looked at Charo, I. I laughed, bro. I. I would see just here, just Charles voice coaching. Oh, hey, Taylor. I'm like, oh, all right. Bing bong. But, dude, just so funny. It was. It was outstanding. And there was, like, roadblocks with the police officers. You get down the street, and it was like a firework display where, like, the finale was the last house on the left, dude. Their display. I looked at town, I go, we gotta step our up, dude. Like, this is. I. I like, take a lot of pride in the decorations you put in the lawn household, this house, their lights, their decorations. I was like, this is incredible. That is amazing. And Charles parents, too, being there, too. I didn't even realize it was them.

[Host 1]

What do you got, jb?

[Host 2]

What's tough about that?

[Host 3]

He's like, ah, just Will having to be fear. And he. I mean, he crushed it. He owned the role. He crushed the role. But it just doesn't sit right with me that he was. That he was assigned to be feared. Yeah, that's not Will.

[Host 2]

That's not Will.

[Host 1]

I hate that. That got used against me immediately.

[Host 3]

That's what I'm saying. Like that. And it won't be the last time.

[Host 1]

Nebraska, anytime they show up and play a top 25 team, it's just me, bro.

[Host 3]

It's now there forever.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

You put in way too much work to have that be your legacy.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Yeah. I don't disagree with that.

[Host 2]

I thought you knocked out of the park. Couple things, too. You got a little piece of green in your teeth.

[Host 1]

Oh, thank you.

[Host 2]

You. Yeah, we're gonna get that out of the way. Other side, other side, other side, other side. Ah. Yep. One over to the one over. Yep, that one. Did you get it? Smile at me. Boom, he's back.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Dude, the whole dove fit was. It was outstanding.

[Host 3]

Who was the winner that y' all saw? Like, everybody looked and was like, dang, that's a good costume.

[Host 2]

I saw one dad in a. A Willy Wonka fit.

[Tony Vitello]

Yes.

[Host 2]

But it was, like, very well. Like a very well. Like, actual three piece. Like, probably got it custom made.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

I'm like, this dude. Really sold out.

[Host 1]

Good looking cat. Good.

[Host 2]

Yep. Had the longer hair, had the big hat on the cane.

[Host 1]

I saw him.

[Host 2]

I was with that. Yeah, I saw a couple times.

[Host 1]

The second time around, he's like, what's up, Will? And I was like, oh, okay. We were both just not awkwardly staring at each other. I thought he just looked great in the Willy Wonka.

[Host 2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think the first time I met he. Wow. Like, bro, you really. That's awesome. He's like, yeah, you too, Dobby.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

I was like, oh, all right. You kind of know. You understand my game. You understand my game a little bit. Look at that hot dog. Yeah. Anyway, dude, Spooktober was awesome. It was awesome for the Lawans. I'm sure the Competence had a great time as well. Do you guys call pumpkins?

[Host 1]

No, carving pumpkins. We kind of gave up after last week, dude. I shut down the entire house. Taylor quit on Spooktober.

[Host 2]

No, don't say that.

[Host 1]

We gotta pack it in.

[Host 2]

Don't say that.

[Host 3]

We gotta. So just to be clear, are you stepping down or are you not?

[Host 2]

I can't step down. If you. If you guys think there's somebody that's more fit at this bus, I can't stop you. This is a democracy. There's. There's no hierarchy here. I would love another opportunity because you're right. Listen, the multiple gambling shows, the espn, My brain got too, like, focused on my weekly routine that when Spooktober came, I didn't give it what it should have been. I see where I went wrong, and I apologize for that. I Could be better. And then it was just. I just mashed a bunch of it in the last week. Mashed.

[Host 4]

I do want to throw it out there. I don't think it would be like a democracy type thing of like, oh, we vote for somebody to replace Taylor, they would have to challenge you head on to a spook off. I think it's like a 1v1. Battle of the spook.

[Host 2]

Battle of the spook.

[Host 4]

I don't think anybody's going to challenge you, though. I think you still are the prince of darkness. But I just wanted to put it out there. A spook off. If somebody wanted to challenge you.

[Host 2]

The person that I think would challenge me and probably have the most likelihood of success is the person that was just talking on the mic.

[Host 4]

I did. I don't have it. I ain't got it.

[Host 1]

We'll break it down, you know, look at. We'll look at the winds of Spooktober. We'll look at what worked, what didn't.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Where there's opportunity and it'll be a collective brand. Like, we're going to have to get more guys involved because again, we were in a. This was a big, massive contract year for Taylor. And I said, if you're looking at it front office wise, you're going to have to figure out something replaceable for what we did.

[Host 2]

I didn't like any of that.

[Host 4]

Yeah, if you haven't.

[Host 2]

I like the way that felt at all. I know it's uncomfortable and this is.

[Host 1]

No, it's uncomfortable.

[Host 2]

You make the bed, you have to be able to sit there and be like, hey, why is he saying that? Why does it hurt? Because there's truth in it. That's why it hurts. And I have to sit there and I have to realize, listen, it's November 3rd right now. Correct. I got a long ways to the next booktober. The longest ways you can possibly get. And there's a lot of reflecting. I need to do you as well, the front office. You guys, you guys need to have your internal conversations that I shouldn't be a part of because I didn't earn that right. And I just hope at the end of the day we get to September and we know Spooktober's in the horizon. You guys can look at me and be like, we're gonna give you one more shot. Yeah, that's all I'm. That's all I'm hoping for.

[Host 1]

How many days are we until Spooktober.

[Host 2]

Has to be 331?

[Host 1]

Let me just type that out right now on Twitter.

[Host 3]

It's not 31.

[Host 1]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. 60s. Yeah.

[Host 2]

61. No, because Spooktober starts October 1st.

[Host 1]

Oh, yes. That's another great point.

[Host 2]

Might be 31, 32. Are you just tweeting that? Did you just tweet that out?

[Host 1]

I might have to be the guy.

[Host 2]

There's a guy here that's gonna hold it. It's not gonna be you.

[Host 1]

I might have to, like next year, like, when merch comes out and everything else. I just might have to be the guy for Spooktober.

[Host 4]

A spook off.

[Tony Vitello]

A spook off.

[Host 4]

Will Daler's food.

[Host 2]

Yeah, listen, we could absolutely have that. No, I haven't. And I know that I just did.

[Host 1]

You lying. No, I didn't. I'm. No, I'm like. I'm like now, Will I. When this episode comes out. So that way everybody's in on the inside joke. But yeah, it's more of that. It's like mere Monday, we just got to take a good hard look in the mirror. We have to get uncomfortable and be like, what's going to push If Spooktober is going to be a real thing for the brand? We got to remove the. We had fun as a family. Is like, do we want this to be a hobby or do we want this to be a thing for the. For the brand?

[Host 2]

But let's look at the last week. Right? You're only as good as your last week in Spooktober. And I think if you only one brought it home.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

We're talking about eight different. Eight different costumes in espn.

[Host 1]

You needed a lot of motivating.

[Host 2]

I say.

[Host 1]

I would say the starting point was last Monday when we were sitting here.

[Host 2]

To not be motivated by others, be motivated by yourself. How do you beat yesterday? That's what. That's the goal here.

[Host 3]

He's being Michigan. It's like last year, they're having a. A down year, but they come in and they beat Ohio State at the end.

[Host 1]

Yeah, it's kind of. It's a reflection. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a lot of like. It's like. If there's an analogy, it just feels like the. Mitch's fandom. Mitch's fandom in this last spook.

[Host 2]

Right. Okay.

[Host 1]

And like, when I was really challenging him about.

[Host 2]

I think we're just kind of starting to try to hurt at this point. Like, we've really driven a point home. If we would have to spook off, that's fine. But it's like whenever I just get scary Whenever I press. You really want this? It's like, yeah, I do. It's like. But you think about it. Yeah, but I still want it. But I could also. Yeah, but I still want it. Like, hey, I could be better. No doubt about it. Did I drop the ball? Especially in the middle of Spooktober. No doubt. Did my. Did I kind of have a massive Lawan family Spooktober? No doubt. But when it comes to busting with the boys, yeah. Could promote the merch better.

[Host 1]

Could.

[Host 2]

Came in with more outfits. Could have done a whole. There's. I could have done a little bit more work for a much better result, and that's really what you look at. It didn't take much to have the last week that I did. It's just a little motivation, and I need to zoom out a little bit and realize what we did on ESPN there, that could have been every single week here. So I'll be better. Someone wants to have a spook off. We can have a spook. That's fine. By the end of the day, what's the most important. It's celebrating Spooktober. That's the most important thing. So it doesn't have to be about Taylor or Will or JP Or Mitch's fandom that randomly just takes bullets. This is about the opening season of the holidays, and we've opened the season we had. It was a little bit rough. We got a good one at the end. Now we're looking forward. What's next? Is it Christmas? Is it. Is it Thanksgiving? Like, that's the now debate. What's going on here? Yeah. And let's get. Let's. Let's have fun. Let's enjoy it, because at the end of the day, we know, hey, this product wasn't good enough, Taylor. All right, I understand that. We understand that.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

If you want to feel like there's another thing you want to say, you're more than welcome.

[Host 1]

You know, if there's ever space, we get to say a few things. It's like, were really coming down hard on Matt for turning off the tv. It felt like this was a moment where you've turned off the tv. You turned it back on. There's some redemption in here.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And I think the team, like, we've. We've all. We've all realized, like, how do we get the best out of our guy? Like, how do we motivate our guy? And I think we've kind of found those. I think we've kind of found those buttons.

[Host 2]

Yeah. And I think the goal now for me internally, when I have my own internal conversations with me, is, okay, they motivated you this year. How do you bring the motivation and stay consistently motivated through 31 days of fright without having them have to come and pull you out of the weeds? Totally fair. I see that. Let me get back it. Let me. I'm starting to work. It's like, dude, it's like Santa and his elves. Like, I'm working towards Spooktober now. Like, we. It's. It takes 365 to have them with them. 31.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host 2]

But is there another analogy you want to use?

[Host 1]

No, I'm just. If I'm having internal conversations with myself, it's like, all right, you know how to motivate your guy. You got to continue to coach him hard when those opportunities come. And so collectively, we will be. We'll all be doing that, right?

[Host 2]

Yeah, we'll all be better. Yeah. Forget the fact that I just said I can motivate myself and all that, but.

[Host 1]

I know. But I'm just saying, I know a player feels that way, but sometimes it's like, hey, this is how you got to coach this player.

[Host 2]

Right?

[Host 1]

This is how you got to motivate this.

[Host 2]

And then a lot of times, the player is going to find out, are you going to mature as a player? Are you not? And I feel like this is an opportunity for me to mature as a player.

[Host 1]

But, yes, that coach is like, this guy's been on the roster for four or five years of this player for.

[Host 2]

Four or five years, and I had it down. You're gonna throw me away right now. There's not been several down years. Last year said, last year was the.

[Host 1]

Best year after you guys TP'd my house. That's why it was the best year.

[Host 2]

Every single week. We went out and we got. We went to Spirit Halloween together. We went and got pumpkins together. We display. We got pumpkins. To say, these are the personalities. Last year was a great year. You can't look at this year and look at last year and be like, now both years are bad. This is not a great year. That was not a great year. Did it get better at the end? Yes. But do we know, like, hey, one blip on the radar. One blip on the radar is all of a sudden going to change the last four or five years? That's how losing franchises continue to lose. We want to be a winning franchise. Let's not make it. Let's not steamroll. Let's not just, hey, this is a step At a time. Look at the mountain now. Look at the first step. Let's take the first step. That's November.

[Host 5]

I think we're going into a contract year.

[Host 2]

Going into a contract year.

[Host 1]

New contract year as a contract signed for another year.

[Host 2]

And we know we're in a contract.

[Host 1]

We know collectively the things we got to do to just push. Continue to push this thing forward. He's a good player.

[Host 5]

Great player. We franchise tagged him. We need one more.

[Host 2]

One more perfect year.

[Host 1]

Yeah. You got to get good pieces around him. That's where he flourishes.

[Host 2]

Nope. And I'm sitting here saying, coach the new pieces. I can do this. Yes. I'm grabbing you by the collar. I can do this.

[Host 1]

I know, I know.

[Host 5]

We all.

[Host 2]

We need. We all. We. Yeah. Who. We don't need anybody else. We got everything we can have is right in here. Regardless of negativity. We're not going to have negative.

[Host 1]

Not negativity. It's just a learning. This is a learning moment sometimes. It was a learning.

[Host 2]

It was a learning. It was a learning moment the first three times.

[Host 1]

Going to have to get a chipper out there.

[Host 2]

Now it's just negativity.

[Host 1]

No, there's no negativity.

[Host 2]

And I was like, hey, I learned from it. You're like, yeah, but. But I learned from it.

[Host 1]

Yeah, but the goal is how do we make it better?

[Host 2]

How many times you have the conversation, right? If you're. If you're explaining to somebody an issue and they say, I got it, are you going to continue to mansplain at them or you're going to let them count a fucking. They say they got it. Let me see if they actually got it. Yeah. Because I've got it. I understand.

[Tony Vitello]

This is.

[Host 1]

This is more for the team, Mitch's fandom.

[Host 2]

It's like, all right. Crazy, but all right. I understand what you're trying to say. Yeah. But it's also like, Matt turning off the. It's like, all right, I still got it. Like, what. What are we doing here? At some point, I got to be like, hey, I got to defend myself now.

[Host 1]

Yeah, this is. You are exactly what I need you to be right now. Okay, so we got.

[Host 2]

Can we.

[Host 1]

We got the sport going. Yeah. We need to talk about. Guys, we got it.

[Host 2]

Where we need people talk about Dylan Raiola, broken fib, throwing out wristbands and like, no one's talking about Taylor1 having gout on Thursday, switching to eight different outfits. No one's talking about Taylor one have a gout, sitting on an airstrip for 45, 90min to take off and whether that could have taken out planes when we made it to Nashville. No one's talking about Terror Lawn having got with no medicine and his kids walking multiple miles during trick or treat and not flinching because his kids got to have the trick or treat. All right? They know their dad's going to be there. They know this is his dad's holiday. All right? Yes. Saturday, November 1st. Was I up on the couch with my foot elevated hitting rice all day? Yes, I was, but it was because of Spooktober. It was for Spooktober. Am I in pain right now sitting on this bus? You bet your ass I am. But it was because of Spooktober. So don't come at me and say my dedication is not there. All right? After I've said I've got it, and then you want to pile on. But boys, hey, let me tell you something about gout. It's no joke. I wouldn't. I, I would probably wish this on my, my worst enemy. But like, people I just don't like, I would not wish this on. Gout is horrendous.

[Host 3]

How do you get rid of it?

[Host 2]

Diet. Like, I used to think gout was like a. For heavier set. Gentlemen who treat their body. Yeah, like that. Treat their body like, like. I try to be pretty good in the, the health and wellness category, especially as how many, you know, how many times you dive head first into a pile. You gotta stay ahead of the chains a little bit. I've treated my body like the last month. No doubt. There's been a couple Snickers laying around late at night in a dark alley, and I think, you shouldn't be here all by yourself. I go and take them boys down. I'm paying for it. I earn this. I have to essentially change my relationship with food because this is like, I hope you guys never have to deal with gout. It is.

[Host 1]

Is it something you have that's just like genetic to where your diet?

[Host 2]

I don't know. That'd be good for the comment section because I don't think my dad ever had it. I don't know anybody in my family ever talking.

[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

You know what I mean?

[Host 1]

It's just like a month of just having some fun with some food. It's like, I do that all the time.

[Host 6]

Is it a constant pain or is it sharp when you step?

[Host 2]

It's. Dude, it is sharp. Like third. So Wednesday night, we get there, my foot was a little sore, which I didn't think much of. Of Go to sleep, wake up for, like, whatever, five, whatever, AM for espn. Stand up, literally fall to the ground. It feels like a gunshot, like, similar to what you're talking about when you hit your foot injury. Like a gunshot going off in your foot. Like, that hurts. But a lot of times, gout's like, very, like, acute. It'll be in one little area of your foot so you can overcompensate to, like, okay, I'll just stay on, like, the outside of my foot and kind of alleviate that pressure. This one, for whatever reason, it was like, the whole bottom of my foot, kind of like the middle area to where if I was going to push off, it was just so painful. And then through espn, like, it kept getting worse and worse. And every time I had to go and change into different outfits. I'm, like, in pain where I'm looking at Jack going. I'm in every commercial break. I'm like, dude, I'm hurting so bad. We get to Friday, and I, like, it's kind of feeling better. But after all that walking, like, the next day on Saturday, I went to, like, get out of bed, and I, like, literally, it took me, like, 25, 30 minutes to get out of bed to where, like, Nathan Worksman and Taylor are in the room. And I'm like, like, how can we help you? I was like, please, just leave me alone. Like, I feel so vulnerable right now in my underwear while you guys are trying to get me out of bed. Like, I'm, like, crawling to the toilet just to take a morning piss. Like, I would think to myself, like, I would drink. I'll be on the couch drinking a bunch of water, and I would think, I got. I kind of have to pee right now. And I would be so afraid to stand back up and go to the bathroom that another 45 minutes would go by to where, like, I'm rushing to the bathroom, but I'm in so much pain that, like, I'm borderline pissing on myself.

[Host 1]

That's how much pain delivered to the dog.

[Host 2]

I would have. There was a couple times I was laying there and be like, peeing myself right now over. Getting up is kind of a win.

[Host 4]

Oh, my God.

[Host 2]

That's how painful this was, dude. And it's like, it's not like, oh, I lay down and put it up. It feels better. It's like I any. Like, there's no. It's discomfort all day. And when I stand up, like, you would see the discoloration of my foot toward my oldest when she'd come up to Me like, dad, why are your feet, like, completely different colors? And like, my left foot would be, like, raised when I had both feet on the ground because there was so much swelling in the bottom of my foot, dog. And it's like needles. It's like needles, like, sticking in the joints of your feet. It's so painful.

[Host 6]

Do you know how, like, one of those carts from the ACL where you.

[Tony Vitello]

Put your knee on it and it.

[Host 6]

Keeps your foot up?

[Host 2]

No, but I had some crutches in the basement that Taylor went and got. But a lot of times the crush is like, you'll put the injured limb down and like, assist. I couldn't even put my foot on the ground. I had to, like, hover. So I'm like, doing like, the kid thing where you're like, swinging yourself all around. Kids, toys everywhere. Because I got my two kids and then Nathan has three kids that are all under four, so there's toys everywhere. It was a minefield out there.

[Host 6]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

The point where I just go to the man cave and just put my foot up and be like, hey, you guys enjoy the trip. I'll be in here. Just. And then I fight. Like, I'm a big, like, anti. Antibiotic guy. Like, I don't want to take antibiotics. I don't want to take, like, Tylenol or anything. I eventually gave in and I'm just like, I need it. So I'm like on a Medrol dose pack now. I'm on a. Yeah, I'm on all of it. And it's gotten better to where, like, literally, if it was Saturday, if I was feeling the way I felt Saturday, I'd probably call in sick. I, like, would not be able to make it into work. That's how bad it was. Like, just sitting. I'd have to have it up. It was awful. It was awful, dude. Still is pretty bad.

[Host 1]

Yeah, it's. Honestly, it's crazy thinking, like, any injury that feels debilitating just feels like this is the worst thing that possible.

[Host 2]

The end of the world. It's the end of the world. Like me, dude.

[Host 1]

Even, like, even, like, say I would, you know, strain my, like, UCL playing football. And it's like in my elbow. And you, like, can't do a pull up. You, like, can't really press against anything. And you just think, God, this is the worst thing of all time. And it's like, well, would I rather have this or would I rather have a shoulder, whatever. Rather have a knee, a foot, a groin. And anytime you're going through any of the injuries, you're like, this is just the worst pain.

[Host 2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everything hurts. And it's like your foot starts to hurt, but then once you're in pain for a long time, like, everything else just starts to hurt also, like, you start to feel, like, achy almost. It was a terrible weekend. It was awful.

[Host 1]

T's and peas, man. Still battling.

[Host 2]

Still battling right now. Am I actually in a sweat thinking about it right now? No, it's like a once a week thing for me right now. I gotta reevaluate everything, bro. I gotta. I gotta re. Look at.

[Host 1]

It's just funny because I feel like you've been pretty good for the most part.

[Host 2]

Yeah, dude. But my diet, like, yeah, I'm pretty good at, like, at my diet, exercise. This last month, though, I've kind of, like, let go of the reins and I've kind of only getting, like, two workouts a week. I'll like, I'll see something in the corner. You know, Klump's wife brings in those pies, and I'm like, I'm not gonna eat that. But then I get done with the two gambling shows and I'm, like, kind of hungry right now. So you have a slice.

[Host 1]

Everybody in the shop's talking about it tastes.

[Host 2]

Yeah. How good it is. And I'm just thinking, I got to. I got just. I got to get powerful about saying no to myself. Like, this is an internal battle.

[Host 5]

We might need to make like a morning lift group here at the shop. Get over it with the sword next.

[Host 2]

Maybe, man. But it's also like, where are we gonna shower?

[Host 5]

The issue is the smelly boys.

[Host 1]

The issue is it's just holiday season's kicking up.

[Host 3]

It's only gonna get worse.

[Host 1]

The colder weather now that we fell back, it gets darker sooner. Charlie, chocolate chip cookies. Last night we had chili, and of course, I had two peanut butter sandwiches with it. But it's just. It's that time of year.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Leftover candy. Like, I've just been going to, like, Rooso, pumpkin, little bucket. And just one at a time. You do every hour. You just make your way over there and grab one. You know, it's a little mini. Eat this right now, grab a second one, eat the first one real fast and walk out of the laundry room with one. Like, I had to get a piece of candy thinking that the first one didn't even count.

[Host 2]

Hey, that's so real.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Do you all do the Switch Witch with Rue?

[Host 1]

The what?

[Host 2]

The Switch Witch.

[Host 1]

The Switch Witch. I don't think so.

[Host 2]

It's a little. It's a little put you guys on game for. When you have kids, they have their. They trick or treat and it's like, hey, if you want to do a switch witch, if you put out some candy, the switchers will come at night and maybe bring you something. So it's kind of like you get like a little 20 toy or something like that, and you switch out the candy. So they make the decision, I'd rather have a toy than candy. And so you just kind of like, get rid of that candy can.

[Host 1]

Because I'm thinking, I gotta stay on top. I can't let Ru eat all this candy, right? So I'm gonna eat all this candy.

[Host 2]

And dude, yeah, yeah. With. With Win, I don't know where it went. We have had, like, Taylor saw this thing. Like, if you don't. If you don't let your kids have, like, sugar for the first three years of their life, like, once they have sugar, their bodies, they'll know it's bad for them. And so the first can, the first piece of sweet Win ever had was from Will during Thanksgiving. Gave her a piece of crumble cake or something like that. Not a big deal, but she was like two and a half at that time. Or it's like, oh, we've gone long enough without giving wind sweets. Her body is probably going to be like, anti sweets. There's probably not another child on this earth that is obsessed with sweets more than witness. It's like crack to her, dude. Maybe, but she's eight, bro. And I'm like, when you got to make a decision, Because I know it's bad for me, but I just can't stop that. We have, like, legitimate conversations. Like, honey, like, you eat this candy, like, it's going to be so bad for you. She's like, I know, but I just can't stop. She's like an addict. She's an addict. Win is an addict, bro.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Sponsor Voice]

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[Host 2]

Oh. And it's like, dude, you gotta stop eating this candy. Because it's like she'll jump through hoops for a piece of ice cream. She'll jump through hoops.

[Host 1]

Imagine you as a young, as a young lad, like that's just. You chase them. Sweet chase.

[Host 2]

It's like you're high, bro. It's not. And we, we saw that mostly at Disney World where it's like early morning to get to Disney World because we only had Friday and Saturday coming back Sunday and we get up super early on Friday and it's like, like, well, Taylor and I are having coffee. We kind of realized like you give them a couple pieces of sugar kind of resets their little, resets their energy a little bit. So we're kind of keeping them alive with candy, which is like the weirdest thing ever. But the backfire the next three, four days, dude, it's like kids coming down, like they're itching, they're moving around. Dad, you sure you don't got one more skittle in there for me? It's like, we gotta keep you away from the skittles a little bit.

[Host 5]

I feel like the way to get this happened to me for a little like when, when I was a kid, I was like, kind of like win. Once you get that, go to that first dentist appointment and you got a cavity or like you need a filling. Like the pain from that would be like, okay, I can't eat sweets anymore because I do not want to go through that again.

[Host 1]

That happens for what, a couple weeks maybe.

[Host 5]

I.

[Host 1]

It's it. You get back in that saddle.

[Host 2]

No, he's right. He's right. Because we went in and went. Had a couple feelings. She had to get in and it was like, I'm not having sweets. I'm not doing that. And it was probably two weeks. Exactly. And wins back in there, like my pantry, I try to keep as clean as possible, but we'll get like these like, healthy, like, chocolate things. And Taylor's all about like lesser of two evils kind of thing. Like, she's gonna have the things in there, but it'll be like the healthiest version of the bad thing. My kids will sniff that out, dude. And, you know, sometimes I'll wake up a little later than they are in that. Pantries taken down, step stools are put up. These kids are, they're innovative, bro. The way that I'll put up at the top shelf, they're swinging, catching it, getting it back. It's just crazy. What? They'll go the lengths. They'll go to the lengths.

[Host 1]

I respect it.

[Host 2]

I had a tube, so I was telling me, hey, look at me.

[Host 3]

You want your kids to be better than you?

[Host 2]

Yeah, bro. It's tough, but yeah, man.

[Host 1]

Spooktober's over 3% body fat. Quick break from the episode to shout out one of our newer sponsors. Olipop. Introducing the new Olipop Times spongebob collaboration. The pineapple Pineapple Iest soda from Bikini Bottom. Five limited edition spongebob can designs hidden in each four pack. Each pack's little treasure hunt. You never know which one you're going to get. Collect them all and unlock Sweet [e-mail] Spongebob I love soda, but most of the time it doesn't. Love your boy back. Olipop actually supports gut health with 9 grams of prebiotic fiber and only 2 to 5 grams of sugar per can. It tastes like soda, but it's actually good for you. They have a phenomenal lineup of flavor here. Vintage cola, classic root beer, cream soda, orange squeeze, Dr. Goodwin, lemon lime and more. Get $2 off a four pack of Olipop at drinkollipop.com Bussin works on any flavor of four pack including the spongebob and they're at any retailer. Olipop is sold online, drinkolipop.com and Amazon and available in almost 5,000 retailers nationwide including Costco, Walmart, Target, Publix, Whole Foods, Kroger and Heb H e B. Guys, I love Olipop. Drink Olipop and my favorite one that they did not mention is Classic grape. Go drink some Olipop. We are also brought to you by Blue Diamond Almonds. The snack of busting with the boys and Big ten football. Blue diamond almonds are a super nut that hits you with that little extra protein punch to keep you going. Available in 20 plus flavors like Honey roasted wasabi and soy sauce. That's a really good one. And smokehouse. My personal favorite is the blueberry or dark chocolate. In this football season, you can win a $10,000 grand prize or one. Hundreds of other instant win prizes with Blue Diamond. Just visit BDSweeps.com for a chance to win. No purchase necessary. Ends November 30th of 2025. Open to 50 US states and DC18+. For rules, visit BDSweeps.com void We're prohibited. Blue Diamond Almonds, the official snack of big ten football and football fans everywhere. Back to this episode.

[Host 2]

Spooked over is over now. The Tickle Turkey lives. The Tickle Turkey lives.

[Host 1]

Yeah, explain the Tickle Turkey.

[Host 2]

So Tickle Turkey, I kind of got from one Jack Conklin and the movie thanks Killing, you guys. Have you seen the movie thanks Killing?

[Host 1]

Oh, is that. What is that?

[Host 2]

There's the turkey. Yeah, it's like it's a low budget culture film or whatever. But the Tickle Turkey essentially is this. I will go and I'll tickle my kids. And every time I tickle my kids, I go and that's a Tickle Turkey. Tickle Turkey lives from November 1st to Thanksgiving. That's when the Tickle Turkey is alive. That's the. That's the thing's Killing Turkey. Funny ass movie, dude. The movie opens up with just a nipple. Like it's the funniest. It's hilarious. But yeah, the Tickle Turkey is fun. He'll just kind of. Jack Conklin would do this after, after Halloween. Jack would just go in and like tickle other players throughout the locker room. Walk up behind me and tickle him. And then. So once I had kids, I was like, bro, I gotta. The Tickle Turkey's gotta be a thing in my household. So now my kids, every time I'm around them, they're like, they're kind of doing this like.

[Host 1]

So the Tickle Turkey is just always active.

[Host 2]

Tickle Turkey is always active. Can always get you. He's not just gonna come out though, when you want him to. Like Willow will be like that. We can bring out the ticklers. Oh, he doesn't do that.

[Sponsor Voice]

That.

[Host 2]

But when she turns her back, boom. Tickle Turkey.

[Host 1]

Is it like A thing, though, to where it's like on. What's it called? Leprechaun day, Irish Day, St Patrick's Day, St Patrick's Day. To where if you're wearing green, you don't get pinched.

[Host 2]

No, that protects you from the turkey. If you wear. Yeah, yeah, if you wear. I guess if you wear a turkey. If you're wearing a turkey hat or a turkey shirt, I guess he can't get you. That's a fun little. That's a fun wrinkle. But the Tickle Turkey's out from November 1st to Thanksgiving. The day Thanksgiving I told. Well, I was like, the turkey dies, we eat that, we eat the Tickle Turkey, and then it's Christmas.

[Host 1]

Okay?

[Host 2]

So, yeah, Tickle Turkey's out, boys. And that's for everybody in the shop, too. You can get tickled. Just know your boys can get God around here, huh? What are you gonna say, jp?

[Host 3]

Oh, I have a, like, hilariously embarrassing story about. Similar to the Tickle Turkey. We were at this, like, party at one of our friends houses, and there was this hallway that a bunch of the people were lined up in. And anytime someone walked through the hallway, they're tickling them. Tickle Turkey, basically. So I'm like, I want to be a part of this. This would be funny. And I don't know if they were just scheming on me the whole time. And I'm like kind of first in the order. And this girl comes walking through that we're friends with, and I go and tickle her. And nobody else goes and does it.

[Host 1]

And I'm like.

[Host 3]

And it wasn't ticklish. So I'm just like, oh, my God. Yeah, I know her, but not like that close. I'm like, I'm sorry.

[Host 2]

I mean, she's looking at you like, what?

[Host 3]

Yeah, she's like, what are you doing? Like, do you have a. At the time, like, you have a girlfriend? I'm like, yeah.

[Host 1]

Did you make any noise when you're trying to tickle her?

[Host 3]

I mean, I like, I don't really know. Off top of my head, just a silence. But, man, I was so embarrassed. I was like, I gotta leave, dude.

[Host 2]

I don't. I.

[Host 3]

This is a prank set up.

[Host 1]

Yeah, like, what the. What are you doing?

[Host 2]

How old are you when this happened?

[Host 3]

This is like three years ago.

[Tony Vitello]

Oh.

[Host 2]

Middle school.

[Host 3]

It was so bad, dude.

[Host 1]

Did you go for the armpits? Where'd you go?

[Host 3]

Side.

[Host 2]

Armpits is crazy. Crazy. Got to go for the side. If anything, it's a discomfort of people Being insecure about the little hips.

[Host 3]

Right?

[Host 2]

They'll be. Get a little movement in them.

[Host 1]

It was funny, though.

[Host 2]

The tickle turkey, man. It's a fun. You should bring it to the Compton household.

[Host 1]

Oh, I will.

[Host 2]

Yeah. All right. Rusin for some damage.

[Host 3]

Y' all think you can make me dress up as fear?

[Host 2]

Yeah. I'll tell you who's in a bad position at our office is Derek. His back to that hallway. Like, that ticket turkey is getting his ass a lot.

[Host 1]

He's got to wear a turkey. When we were.

[Host 6]

When I first started working here, Clump wanted me to have that desk spot. And for that reason, you know, like, you ever walk into a restaurant, the old. Like, I have to have my back to the wall so I can see everything.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 6]

That's how I felt about that. I was like, people walking down the hall, and I can't see him.

[Host 1]

That would freak me out to this day.

[Host 2]

If I go. If I'm at a restaurant, I always prefer to have my back to the wall. Like, what am I gonna do? Like some sort of SEAL team six guy? Like, I'm gonna protect everybody in here. I'm just gonna get. You know, you're back to the rest of the crowds. Terrifying.

[Host 5]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

I don't know how Derek gets any work done in the shop.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 6]

And he's.

[Host 3]

He's clean.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Yeah. Never know what's going on.

[Host 1]

Are your Christmas decorations up yet?

[Host 2]

You know, they are.

[Host 1]

They're up full force.

[Host 2]

I Not. Christmas decorations are like, the. In, like, Spooktober is already down in my household. Like, all the decorations. Like, we had a crew of people come in November 1st. I'm laying there on the couch, leg up, dude. Just. Everybody. 10, 15 guys, just carrying. I'm looking at them like, please just don't even make eye contact. Me in this vulnerable state. But all this stuff is done. Lights are up now. And I know, bro. I know this is like a disgusting look to you guys, but I've just lost that battle of my household. I don't. I don't wear the pants. Like, Thanksgiving's already happened in Canada. Taylor's beating me down. Like, have it. Take it.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

But, yeah, you. It's a winter wonderland. You want to drive past my house? It's absolutely beautiful.

[Host 1]

The up. The upside of it, like, if I had an optimistic. Outside of, like, disgust that your Christmas decorations are already up. It's just that you have the theme, like, you have the vibe that you just yearn for when Christmas time does come. Or it's. It's getting dark early. You got, you know, lights are on, living room. Just. The ambiance of Christmas is just so pure and good.

[Host 2]

It definitely has a good. Because, like, the front side of our house is all, like, white lights, and then the backside of house is more like a colorful 90s vibe. And outside of my master bedroom, like, there's like, a bunch of little trees that are all, like, in colored lights. And it does give you that. Regardless of it being November 3rd when we're shooting, it's like, you look at it and you're like. Like, yeah, it does give you that cozy feeling.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Like, if. If. If. Like, if I'm you and I was battling and you're, like, trying to come to a middle ground. It's. We can do the interior of the house, but the Christmas lights on the outside don't go up until after Thanksgiving type of vibe. Because, again, it's like, at least you're in the vibe of. Of feeling nice, all warm and cozy with some lights and some decorations around. To be fair to the public, like, just an asinine.

[Host 2]

Yeah. But to be fair to Taylin having that feeling, like, what other feeling you're gonna get between November 1st and. And Thanksgiving? Like, it's kind of like a dead spot, because Thanksgiving is very much like a long weekend type of vibe as opposed to, like, a celebrated holiday throughout, like, a whole month period. So there is a level of, like, kind of cheating the vibe a little bit for an extra long time, because it's not Christmas vibe, is not one that kind of dies off as you get farther and farther down it. Like, you're kind of enjoying it more and more and more as you kind of get up to Christmas. So it's kind of nice. I've. I've. I've bent the knee, and I've kind of like, if can't beat them, join them type of vibes.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host 2]

Don't. I mean, don't you do that?

[Host 1]

Can't beat the Canadians. Join them. That's what you kind of.

[Host 2]

You saw what happened this past weekend with the Canadians. Dodgers. Dodgers beat the Blue. The Blue Jays. And I. Quinn was texting me, hey, we own hockey. We're about to own baseball as well. It's a totally different game, like mlb. You have a couple of Canadian teams, all good. But that was nice for the Dodgers to take that one. So I have that over my wife's family. It's become a complete rivalry ever since the four nations tournament. Yeah. Where it's like they kind of. They've Been talking crazy to me ever since that Four nations game. And it's. It's nice to have one we got. I don't really view this as one, but they kind of do. So it's like, yeah, we got you guys.

[Host 1]

That is a fun. That's a fun family. Like, for me, it's like I just gotta wait and see if Pacquiao fights again.

[Host 2]

Yeah, there's not a whole lot like.

[Host 1]

No, there is this tennis. There's this tennis player. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's this tennis player.

[Host 2]

Yeah, we need. But have you. Did you guys watch that game? Yeah. Game seven. Incredible. Like, I was. I had zero plans to even watch that game. And then Nathan, you know, he's a big baseball guy. I grew up in la. He's a Dodgers fan, but he's. He's the worst type of fan. You went to the game with him last year with the game with him last year. It was his idea to leave. He's the worst type of fan.

[Host 1]

Taylor was beating him up on the plane because he flew back with us from New York when we came from espn, because I was kind of asking him for. For whatever reason, I thought he was like a Michigan State fan or we were talking football. He's like, I don't watch any football. He's like, I am all baseball. So he was fired up for the World Series, but then Taylor was beating him up. He's like, you got me killed for leaving that World Series game last year.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Because to me, it was like, I checked the box of being there, but I've never been like, since I've been 12 years, I've never been like a baseball. I'm gonna watch baseball. But, like going to a first World Series game, this is awesome. And it's so fitting that Nathan's like, you're tired, right? I'm like, I'm good. He's like, you're pretty tired. We should go. It's like, all right, let's. Yeah, I'll go. And as soon as we leave, like, fireworks take off in the entire game. That's when Freddie Freeman had the walk off grand slam.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

So we get to this year, Dodgers are back in it. That is Nathan Worksman's team. Like, he grew up going to Dodgers games. They have a whole. They go to this one spot that all Dodgers fans go to. They get these, like, Philly cheesesteak type of sandwiches. I did the whole experience. He's looking at me saying, I hope Toronto wins. I'm like, bro, you grew up a Dodgers fan. What are you talking about? He's like, well, my team already won. It wouldn't be as fun for us to get another one. I'm like, no, like, you want your team to win another one, because how cool would be to that 3p. Like, that's what it's about. It's like, you just want. You just want to win them all. And he was anti. That bad. Anti. And bro.

[Host 1]

So he's room for the Blue Jays.

[Host 2]

He was rooting for the Blue Jays. He's. Yeah, he's the weirdest fan ever. And we. We were watching the game, and it's the bottom of the ninth, whatever, the Dodgers score, run to take it into extra innings. I kept calling it overtime. He was laughing at me about that. He gets up, he's like, I got an early flight tomorrow. I'm gonna. I'm gonna leave. I'm like, game seven, you're a baseball fan. Your team, who you're rooting against just caused the game to go into extra innings, and you're gonna go to bed. And he's like, yes, he left. And Bo, that. That game was incredible. Was it Yamamoto? Who's the guy?

[Host 5]

Yoshinibo. Yoshiniba Yamamoto.

[Host 2]

Okay, that guy.

[Host 1]

Mitch, dude.

[Host 2]

Game six, this Yoshinido Mamamoto guy pitches 92 pitches and plays an incredible game. They're in game seven, and it's starting to get in this. Like, are they. Are the. Are the Toronto Blue Jays gonna run away with it or the Dodgers gonna come back? They get Yamamoto, who's just thrown 92 pitches the day prior to come back in and finish the game, and pitches three innings. And it was incredible, bro. Guys like 511 throwing, like, after doing all those pitches, still throwing, like 97, 98. Like, just watching the intricacies of, like, he's down in the pitch count, then he's getting guys to chase wide. He's jamming guys in. It's like, one of the most fun games ever. And then this Rojas was a. Miguel Rojas.

[Host 5]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

In the ninth of the. Yeah, the ninth inning. Top of the ninth, top of the ninth inning. They're down one. No one's on base. Miguel Ross has not had a hit in all of the World Series. Hits a home run, and they're now tied up. Yamamoto comes in three up, three down, gets him off. We're now in extra innings. And then I think Yamamoto had all had. The Blue Jays had three guys on base, correct. First, second, and third, and they go.

[Host 1]

Broken back because they had that play at the plate. That was like his foot comes off.

[Host 2]

And goes back on. And then Mookie bets from shortstop, hits a. Gets a ground ball, steps on second, wins the game by having a double play. Like, it was like, probably the only time since I've been like, 12 years old, I'm watching a baseball game. Like, this is unbelievable.

[Host 5]

It was a sick game. But the Dodgers winning is awful for baseball because.

[Host 1]

Why is that?

[Host 5]

Because the super rich franchise. Yeah. The biggest thing that's been going.

[Host 1]

Are they the highest paid?

[Host 5]

Yeah. So Shohei, like, Shohei's contract alone is, like, more than the entire Pittsburgh Pirates, like, payroll. Like, so it's these teams. Like, the Dodgers can just afford to pay all of this money to all of these players, but it's, like, not even fair. Like, the Pirates will never win a World Series. All of these lower tier teams will never win a World Series because they can't afford all these players. Like, that's why you see all of these really, really good guys going to the Yankees, going to the Dodgers, going to the Mets, because they can afford to. To, like, pay them and, like, get. Give them all this money.

[Host 1]

Because there's no cap, right?

[Host 5]

There's no cap. So that's what. But, like, it's bad for baseball in the sense of, like, this just continues to happen, but it's good for baseball in the sense of, okay, this is proven, like, that we may need a salary cap. But it's insane because Bryce Harper, or like, earlier in the season there was.

[Host 1]

I saw that.

[Host 5]

Yeah, there was a meeting about, hey, we're gonna have a salary cap. And Bryce Harper went up and was like, if you're here to talk about a salary cap, get the out of here. Because we do not. We do not want that. But it's, like, insane because it's just. Imagine like, the. The biggest market teams in the NFL always win. And like the Titans, they're the smallest media market, have no chance to win whatsoever.

[Host 1]

Is there for any baseball guys? Chef, you seem like you're itching to get in this conversation. For the baseball guys, is there a leverage play for the league to make it a salary cap? Because. Because it's. It just sounds like they just don't have. They wouldn't have the leverage if you're.

[Host 2]

If you're a player, you don't want to sell.

[Host 1]

If you're a. Yeah, if you're. If we're speaking for, like, if this was going down in the NFL, you'd want the biggest stars to be saying the same thing Bryce Harper said.

[Host 2]

Yeah, you want this conversation taking place in the NFL when it was Kirk Cousins getting a guaranteed contract. Right?

[Host 1]

You want. Yeah, you're one of your superstar guys, like throwing their weight around to get basically no salary cap. You just get paid as much as you possibly can.

[Host 6]

Yeah. So it's gonna look, it's looking like that the MLB and the players association could possibly go into lockout. And then it becomes basically the MLB will have a lot of more leverage going. Hey, the Dodgers are.

[Host 1]

Is that the man right there? A great guy to come in on the conversation.

[Tony Vitello]

How we doing?

[Host 2]

What's up, brother? Good to see you, man.

[Tony Vitello]

What's up, man?

[Host 1]

What's up, fellas? Before we get into Tony Vitello, we got to finish off the episode. There is a new buffalo ranch sauce that has arrived at McDonald's. McDonald's is now a sponsor of busting with the Boys Boys massive brand. And what was that? Did we hear a little. Did somebody toot that must have been. Yeah, the Mickey D's. There's a new buffalo ranch sauce that has arrived at McDonald's and it pairs perfectly with your snack wrap, a McCrispy sandwich or those new McCrispy strips. I will let Sherm speak to that in a second. It's got the tangy zang of buffalo with the creamy cool of mild ranch. It's mild and wild at the same time. It's a sauce that balances itself and complements our crispy chicken. Fellas, look. The snack wrap jumps out at me. The McChicken or the McCrispy chicken sandwich jumps out at me. Using this buffalo. This zesty zangy, tangy buffalo sauce. Yeah. Mild and wild.

[Host 2]

I'll tell you what I used to love to do as a kid and I still continue to love to do now, is going to that little. The regular cheeseburgers, the 2 for 99 cents deal that it used to be like to chew cheeseburgers. I would get Mac sauce on those things. This new little sauce we got talking about, I think I'm gonna find myself in a drive thru real soon getting those two cheeseburgers. But go and put that zesty buffalo ranch on there. You know what I'm saying?

[Host 1]

Yeah. Sherm, you were just talking about the chicken strips at McDonald's. I have yet to have the chicken strips.

[Host 2]

I'm.

[Host 4]

I'm a big chicken nuggies guy. I've always loved the McDonald's 20 piece chicken nuggies.

[Host 2]

Yeah, right.

[Host 4]

That's the staple. But these new McCrispies, they are really, really good. I Usually dip them in honey mustard. I have yet to try this new sauce. I know what I'm having for lunch today.

[Host 1]

Big sauce guys today. Big sauce guys on the bus.

[Host 2]

And there is proved that with a photo too.

[Host 1]

Yeah. And they're sherm dog. There's a new sauce in town at McDonald's. The tangy creamy buffalo ranch. Order now. And there is this final bite segment that we're going to dive into of which something that we want people to be thinking about as they're dipping their sauce and eating whatever little combination they're going to have with this buffalo. Tangy, tangy, creamy buffalo ranch.

[Tony Vitello]

Ooh.

[Host 1]

Maybe a final take. Maybe a take a thought. Something we want people to be thinking about going into this football weekend.

[Host 2]

I like that. Do you mind if I go first?

[Host 1]

Go ahead.

[Host 2]

Something off the top of my head right now that we kind of talked about in the reaction show and I'm going to bring it over to the bus and intro. Part of the show is let's talk about the NFC east for a second. It's done, it's over. We might be in November, but as far as I'm concerned, the Philadelphia Eagles are taking that thing. They're running with it. It's over for the rest of that whole entire division because they're just falling back, back and back. So if we want to look at playoff implications, I'm already going to go in. Not just pencil. I'm going to pen in the Philadelphia Eagles into the NFC champions is you.

[Host 1]

Want Dallas fans that tune in, Washington fans that tune in, and Giants fans that tune in to be Sad dipping their McCrispy strips in this buffalo tangy sauce, thinking that this season is over for us.

[Host 2]

I know what the golden arches has provided to this beautiful country for many, many years. And if it can cure one thing, it's broken hearts and the broken hearts of the commanders, the Cowboys and the Giants. Listen, Giants, I think you've got nothing to be upset about. Like you lost Cam Scatter boo. But Jackson dart quarterback of the future, Day ball saved his job. Cowboys. Yeah, I can see you guys getting sad because you have a Super bowl caliber offense, but your defense is poo poo magoo. Now you look over at the Washington commanders and you just dislocated your best quarter, your quarterback's elbow. When you're down 38, 7, those two have a lot to be sad about. The Giants you can go over, hit that drive through, get that zesty buffalo ranch and you're gonna feel all right about having the McChicken strips. What are they called?

[Host 4]

The McCrispy strip.

[Host 2]

McCrispy strips. And the Eagles to grease the poles. Grease me up, send me to McD's, you know what I'm saying? Get you some of you a little Happy Meal, you know what I'm saying?

[Host 4]

I like that take.

[Host 2]

I like it. I'm having fun with it. And you know, I, I was, I was dating the Cowboys for a minute. I was in love with the Cowboys for a hot second, but that flame burned bright. Now I'm kind of thinking to myself, boys, it's time to back up. We got to get out of this toxic relationship and just realize the Eagles are going to keep flying this new.

[Host 1]

Buffalo ranch that people are going to be dipping into this week. I want Husker fans to think about this. TJ Lateef. Lateef over 300 all purpose. Over 300 yards. Through the air, combined through the air and on the ground.

[Host 2]

Through the air, combined through the air.

[Host 1]

Yeah. TJ Lateef going out to UCLA night game. Gonna be tough getting up after this emotional loss to the USC Trojans. As you were in sad boy season. Thinking about what's TJ Lateef going to do this weekend? I'm telling you right now, it's over 300 yards.

[Host 2]

It's so funny you say that because.

[Host 1]

Do you know what Latif is French for buffalo sauce?

[Host 2]

Zesty. Buffalo Ranch. That is actually what it's French for. Yeah, I think. Google that real quick. Make sure. But I'm, I, I took French in high school.

[Host 4]

Yeah, it's.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 4]

Buffalo Ranch. Creamy.

[Host 2]

Buffalo. Creamy. Buffalo ranch.

[Host 4]

Latif.

[Host 2]

Latif.

[Host 1]

And when he does. 9 and 3 is alive and well.

[Host 2]

9 and 3 has never died. No fibula is going to stop. 9 and 3 in Nebraska. Cornhuskers.

[Host 1]

That's mine. Do you have, gentlemen, do you have any back there? Final bite. Going into the weekend, as you're, as.

[Host 5]

You'Re dipping into that creamy buffalo ranch sauce, just think to yourself real quick, could 40 year old Joe Flacco win the MVP? Just think about it as you're tasting that sauce. Eating the McCrispies. Could he, could he win it? Something to think about. Be in the conversation.

[Host 2]

Be in the conversation. Have a conversation. Ignore everything else that's happening in the NFL world and just focus on Flacco. Joe. Cool 700 yards in the last two games.

[Host 1]

About Joe Flacco.

[Host 4]

Mine is separate to football. Is that against the rules?

[Host 2]

It feels like it is, but go ahead.

[Host 4]

Insulated denim jackets are back. That's what the people are saying.

[Host 2]

Really?

[Host 4]

And just as you're dipping those, somebody.

[Host 1]

Might have an insulated. What are they? Insulated? What?

[Host 4]

Denim jacket.

[Host 1]

Insulated denim jacket on right now. Dipping. Oh, bro.

[Host 2]

If there's dipping in a denim. Come on.

[Host 4]

And just think about it as you're dipping. Like, there's. We're not wearing enough denim right now. Denim's like. I think it's back.

[Host 2]

I don't have any denim on right now. That's how kind of naked I feel after you talking about that. If there's an individual out there that is listening to this, thinking, I'm dipping in denim right now. Please tag us in a photo. Tag us in a photos. We'd love to see you dip it in denim.

[Host 4]

Denim dipper.

[Host 2]

Yeah. You know what? That's my favorite take. That is my favorite take. And I think we need as bust with the boys might need to go to a McDizzles. Set the tone for a dipping in denim. Hashtag, dip it in denim.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

See what we can do, Willie.

[Host 1]

Or just go. You just. We get a photo together and we just drop it. No caption. And the tier one sickos know they.

[Host 2]

Let the world know that we're doing what?

[Host 1]

Denim. Denim and dipping.

[Host 2]

Nope. Enough times. Set enough times for you to remember. I'll do it in denim or dipping. And denim or dipping.

[Host 1]

By the way, this new Buffalo sauce available for a limited time at participating McDonald's while supplies.

[Host 2]

Are you serious?

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah. I think it's going to be a hit.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Well, this is a sauce country.

[Host 2]

Think of all the things that McDizzles has done back in the day that has been hit over. Hit like nostalgia. But the McRib, the McFlurry, the smell of hot breakfast. Oh, pancakes. You open that thing up, dude, it's like, what? This is a fast food place? I don't know. It's fine dining out here, man. It's incredible. Syrup sauce, the Egg McMuffy's. Dude, the McGriddles.

[Host 1]

Let me talk to you about a McGriddle.

[Host 2]

Let me know about the McGriddle.

[Host 1]

I would have this. It was basically a plus hour in high school as a senior to where a plus you could. If you were gifted this luxury, you could go off campus and go to. For me, it was middle school. I would go and shadow my eighth grade football coach in his, like, health PE Class. I don't even know because I never went to it. He would just give me the sign. He'd give me what I needed. And me and a couple of my boys we'd rip over to McDonald's and it'd be like our, it'd be our, it'd be our breakfast every morning, second hour and we pull in and we talk about this cashier behind the register as he's like a Rivals recruit. Like, he's like a five star. He understood the game and the operation of McDonald's. We thought he should own one one day because of how much work this guy put in. But we get the, the little breakfast burritos, the little twofer fire, by the.

[Host 2]

Way, little chunks of sausage in there.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway this fall, take care of the little ones in the family with Baby Club Savings now through November 4th. Spend $25 on select Baby Club products and save $5. Shop for items like Pediasure bottles, Pedialyte powder packs, Huggies baby wipes, Huggies diapers, Gerber puffs and Gerber pouches. And save $5 when you buy $25 or more on participating products. Offer ends November 4th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Sponsor Voice]

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[Host 1]

Get the meal with the McGriddle and I would unpack that thing. Like there's a. Like I was in the dark and the candle was next to my nightstand and I would be unpacking this McGridd. I pick it up, we'd have this foreplay we'd do with it where I'd smell it. I just, I'd take the entire environment in before I took a bite of the McGriddle and taking a bite of that McGriddle. I don't know if you can hear my voice right now, but my mouth is watering.

[Host 2]

Oh, buddy. And that was a faucet. Talking through a faucet right now.

[Host 1]

We would throw roast sparks in and just enjoy a good.

[Host 2]

In seventh grade.

[Host 1]

No, we were. I was a junior senior in high school.

[Host 2]

Okay, okay. I thought you said something about middle school earlier.

[Host 1]

That was my football coach. And we'd enjoy every day. Second hour it'd be where are we going? We know where we're going. That was a stupid question.

[Host 2]

Dumb throw up.

[Host 1]

What is it? Stone sour. Looking at you through the glass I'm looking at you through the glass don't know how much time has passed oh God. It feels like forever no one ever tells you that forever feels like home Sitting alone inside your head that was. How do you feel?

[Host 2]

How do you feel?

[Host 1]

So much to question.

[Host 2]

Yeah, dude, I know that one.

[Host 1]

We throw that on.

[Host 2]

I actually do know that one. I just don't know that one.

[Host 1]

Throw that tune on or to be hindered. Touch like an angel Touch like an angel Kiss like an angel Lips of an angel Lips of an angel hey honey. Why you calling me so late? It's kind of hard to talk right now. Those would be the bangers. You guys just took me back to a moment.

[Host 2]

My girls in the next room. Sometimes I wish it was you. I guess we never really moved on.

[Host 5]

That was good. That was really good.

[Host 2]

Wanna hear your voice saying my name.

[Host 1]

It sounds so sweet. People tuned in. They're like God, we can't wait to listen to Tony Vitello.

[Host 2]

Yeah. But then no idea. They start dipping in denim. That's what they didn't know about. Dude. Can I just give you. I know Will just told a cute little story. Can I just give you mine real quick? Young, 34 year old Lawan. All right. Just freshly into Scottsdale, Arizona. My father, he worked late hours. He worked. He worked early mornings as well. But every Saturday your young till the one would get at the crack ass of dawn around 5:36am and right around the corner from our house was what a McDistles. And my dad would take me across the 101 sit in that McDizzles, get me a couple of them pancakes, couple of them breakfast burritos. I don't even believe the McGriddle wasn't even a thing at this time. All right. We're talking about the 90s babies. And I would sit There. And my dad would read the morning newspaper with a McDonald's orange juice while I ripped apart that ball pit alone. Because ain't no kid got the luxury I did on a Saturday morning that my father gave to me when I was just a young buck, man. So shout out McD's. Keeping families together since 93.

[Host 1]

Keeping families together since 93. Before we do get into the episode, we are doing this collaboration with Folds of Honor. Do you mind bringing up? So we have these hats here that you can go on our site right now. And what we're doing is in honor of National Veterans Month, Bustle with the Boys is partnering with Folds of Honor to provide scholarships for the families of fallen or disabled service members. 50% of net proceeds from every purchase will support this mission. We had the. We had the privilege of playing in a couple of their softball games here in Nashville. And the team at Folds does such a great job, so we wanted to kind of do our part and collab with them on National Veterans Month Month. All you have to do is go to bwtb.com to pick up some merch and support their mission. Again, 50% of net proceeds will be going to that mission.

[Host 2]

Don't forget about this shirt as well. The shirt is out there. Folds of Honor shirt.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Got the red, white, and blue on there, too. But yeah, man, anything you can do to help our vets, our people that are affected on a daily basis, keeping our freedoms free, man, this is a beautiful time.

[Host 1]

Yes. And you'll see it at the top of this interview with Coach Vitella. We also, the licensing deal that we got to do with Tennessee is now going through. So these hats for Tennessee Vols fans will be up in our shop as well. @bwtb.com we gifted Coach Vitello the first ever one.

[Host 2]

The first ever one. We should have signed it for him.

[Host 1]

Yeah, we should have as his gift to go to San Francisco. We will love him forever. We will miss him forever. This was an incredible interview. I think you're going to love the conversation. We were very ripe in the. In the baseball industry, Right? Thank God. I watched Team 7, had a lot of questions.

[Host 2]

Yeah, yeah. Just remember this, boys, as you go into this episode. The Giants are going to be contenders this year. San Francisco Giants. The Eagles are going to win the NFC east, and by God, we're dipping in denim. That's what we're doing out here. Let's get into this episode. Subscribe, please, for the love of God.

[Host 1]

And rate five stars before we jump into this interview. With coach Tony Vitello. This interview is brought to you by Bud Light. Bud Light is always brewed for simple ingredients for a clean, crisp taste. And Bud Light is the official beer sponsor of The Boys, the NFL, NFL Draft, Titan University, the UFC, and Shane Gills 2025 tour, and partners include Peyton Manning, George Kittle, Baker Mayfield, Emmett Smith, Shane Gills, Post Malone and Dustin Poirier. Stock up now on Bud light. Head to www.budlight.com locator to find a store near you. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Enjoy this interview with coach Tony Vitello.

[Host 2]

We were just talking baseball.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah. Just talking about the Dodgers Wild Game 7. Wild World Series.

[Host 2]

Yeah. And then we're. Oh, yeah, toss that over here.

[Host 1]

So let's start with the first.

[Host 2]

Let's start with a gift.

[Tony Vitello]

Thank you so much.

[Host 2]

Let's start with a gift. I know you just left.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

But this just got. I think we just.

[Host 1]

We just got the licensing deal with the University of Tennessee to, like, make these hats, and we want to give you.

[Host 2]

Give you the first one.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, I still want to represent. Got a lot of blood, sweat and tears with that recruiting class. That's. That's there now and I guess coming in, too.

[Host 2]

God.

[Host 1]

So on this conversation, what were you going to ask?

[Host 2]

Ask.

[Tony Vitello]

What was the consensus on the.

[Host 1]

Okay, so I'm not a massive, like, baseball guy. Like, I'll watch the Cardinals if they go to the playoffs and stuff and get fired up with everybody else. But they're sitting there breaking down the World Series game I caught until they went extra innings, and then that's when I went home because Nebraska just lost the usc, so I need to go home and go to bed because I was miserable. But Mitch is saying, like, la, winning is bad for baseball because of how much money that they have to afford the team.

[Tony Vitello]

I mean, I think it's great to have.

[Host 2]

Put that mic a little close to your face. Sorry, you just get thrown in the fire right there.

[Tony Vitello]

I got. I got gifts. Anything I say about the Dodgers is certainly going to be of interest in San Francisco. But, no, this is a pretty badass setup. I appreciate y' all having me. And I think, you know, whether it was the Yankees back in the day with baseball or it's the Chiefs and football, I think it's good for sports in general and the sport that's in specific to have kind of a target or a standard that's set. And it's college now, too. Like it or not, money talks, and it's going to be a big part of it. But you can't just buy your way to a championship. There's still got to be the right people in place. And then eventually, too, those people got to, you know, make the plays. And I'm sure you guys were diagnosed in that game there were a million different plays that could have went one way or the other. And. And then you get stories too, of people rising up. One. One pitch, it could have went the other way. And now you got the Blue Jays is, you know, the brewers were kind of trying to do this. The little engine that could. And obviously those. Those teams got stud players too. But it's fun to cheer for the underdog. And then it's also, it's good to have that, you know, enemy number one or, you know, Americans, I think are hard workers overall, but it's a lot easier to. It's a little lazy and a lot easier to cheer for who the best is.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

You know, so there's always going to be people that pick a side, I think.

[Host 5]

You know.

[Tony Vitello]

I'm not at Tennessee anymore, so I don't say it arrogantly, but our 22 baseball team was one that a lot of people just picked aside. They either hated them or they liked them. And I think overall it was good for college baseball.

[Host 1]

Oh, 100% because you're getting the join up with. Who is the psycho that has all the celebrations?

[Tony Vitello]

Drew Gilbert.

[Host 2]

Yeah, Psycho loves being choked from the video they show us in the pre.

[Tony Vitello]

Production meeting that could be diagnosed host a lot of different ways.

[Host 2]

Yeah, there's gonna be a therapist in the back end of that career at some point, but you gotta love what's going on.

[Host 1]

Like humping the dugout, slapping the side.

[Host 2]

Some dudes are just walking up to him, choking. He's just loving it. Like, this is the type of cat you want around.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, no doubt it'll be a good bridge for me. Obviously, I'll be learning a lot on the fly, but to have someone like that in your clubhouse, no matter where you're at, you constantly have energy. And our sport has a bigger sample size than any other. So it's very repetitive. And if it's boring or there's lack of personality, it's. It's not going to be fun to come to work come August or later in the season.

[Host 1]

Is. That was something too. Like when you were with Tennessee, it's like you guys did have kind of this bad boy image, but just allowing your players to like, be themselves to kind of keep that energy during all those monotonous, repetitive days.

[Tony Vitello]

I think so I mean, I think.

[Host 1]

Now you got 162 games, you got to do it.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, it'll be different, that's for sure. And during the press conference, the first question out of the shoot was reminding me that I not only not in the big leagues as a player, one even close, but haven't been in pro ball. So I don't know what. I don't know. But yeah, every day for us in the fall and in the spring in college was a new day. And you try and some are better or more entertaining than others, but it's a blank slate. And you try and make it something fun and something memorable and, you know, there's nothing more fun and memorable than winning.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

How did the conversation. How did this job even happen?

[Host 1]

Right.

[Host 2]

Because this is the first head coach of a college football team, a college football, college baseball team team.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

To become a manager, MLB team. Is that. Am I correct in saying that?

[Tony Vitello]

Yes.

[Host 2]

And so how did this conversation start? Your agent call, you say, hey, by the way, the Giants are looking at you. Like, explain to me the process.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, it was a little bit. It was organic. And if you really reflect on it was kind of drawn out because the conversations have always gone on with college coaches and big league teams, especially in the summer. And, you know, I remember taking a call on our guy, Gavin Keelan. He was the second baseman, shortstop for us. The Giants took him first overall. All one of our best players this last year. So there was a lot of conversations, not just about him, but like, what's going on with our program? How do you guys like to do things? Just idea sharing. And then with Drew Gilbert also came over, Blade Tidwell, one of our pitchers. They were both involved in that trade. So, hey, what can you tell us about these guys? And so with those conversations, a little bit of a co op started there. And then, you know, I don't know who gets full credit. I mean, Zach, the GM buster, is obviously, you know, in charge as well. Somewhere along the line, someone floated the idea of basically trying something new. And San Francisco is about as innovative. I mean, there's AI stuff everywhere, buildings and corporations and so just an innovative idea. And I feel blessed to be the guy, but I'm also the guinea pig.

[Host 1]

Yeah, that is true.

[Tony Vitello]

We'll see how it goes.

[Host 1]

I am sure it's going to be hard to just hammer your ego, but what do you think it was for San Francisco and the things that you're doing or the things that they were hearing that dove deeper into getting you to San Francisco?

[Tony Vitello]

I think. And it's easy to be humble because I think it was more the concept. And so I was a guy who maybe fit that profile. So we're going through that now with trying to hire a coaching staff is what's the profile we want. And then pick out of a group of guys that maybe fits that profile. And it was. It was something new. Pat Murphy has been looked at, I think. I mean, I don't get on social media a lot, but Pat Murphy's a former college coach at Notre Dame, at Arizona State, and now he leads the brewers to, if I'm not mistaken, the best record in MLB baseball this year. And he's kind of got that more. I don't. I don't want to say it's not really about college versus pro ball, but just a little more of the old school coach mentality when coaching his team. You know, when we grew up, like. Like, you knew Bobby. Bobby Cox, and I could. Whitey Herzog, where I grew up in St. Louis, like, he was a manager that everybody knew, and there was a certain approach to it where his teams all kind of have the same culture. And I think baseball swinging back a little bit towards that coach deal, as opposed to the analytic guy in the office. Yeah.

[Host 2]

Moneyball.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Is it like that old school? Is it like old school, too? Kind of mixed with the younger. Like a younger swag. You know what I mean? Like, I would say you're like a young. You're like a young Thundercat kind of coming up into this situation.

[Tony Vitello]

I think energy. I think when you're around guys like Drew and then our fan base, like, a lot of times our. The fans at Tennessee are about as good as it gets. And so when they come up with an idea, whether it was yours or not, you're kind of. If you're wearing orange, you're involved in it. So I think people think I got a lot more swagger or confidence than I truly do. I mean, if I was more confident, I would have been a better freaking player, but I was. But I'm. I'm fortunate to be in the dugout with guys like that. And so I don't know that it's more swagger. I think naturally what I do have is energy. Like, at the field, it just is. It's a vibe. It's fun to be there. And so I think it's more of an energy thing. And again, winning will bring about swagger more than anything. So hopefully that's the case. There's. There's some good players on the roster, but I think energy is a part of it.

[Host 1]

Yeah, just a Missouri boy doing it big, man. Doing it, doing it big, boys.

[Host 2]

How. How much time have you spent in San Francisco so far?

[Tony Vitello]

It was really three days with the press conference and. And again, trying to hire some staff and things like that. But when I was younger, I played college ball in a summer league out in Selenas, California. Small town, great people just south of San Jose. And a guy that played for my dad, Bill Miller, if you've watched the specials on the Red Sox coming back from 3. 0 against the Yankees, he's actually the guy that gets a hit off Mariano Rivera to start that the first comeback game, and then ultimately they win. Bill was with the Giants, so we'd go watch him play, get free tickets, and you're in what I thought was the coolest park I'd ever been in, and you get to explore the city. And fortunately, Twitter didn't exist then, and I didn't have a job, so it.

[Host 1]

Was a little bit.

[Tony Vitello]

A little bit more free. Reign. That's a little bit more free. Yeah, it's a pretty cool area.

[Host 2]

So now what's the process for you? You. Are you selling? Are you keeping a place here in Nashville?

[Tony Vitello]

Nashville, definitely in Nashville, for sure. This place is phenomenal. Whether it's, you know, just running into you guys, like, at the restaurant or the grocery store, I'm sure you get bothered everywhere. So sorry if I bother you guys, too, but running into you guys, the connection with country music, some friends I've formed, you're. You're in the middle of the country, so both coasts are kind of accessible. This is just a phenomenal place. So, yeah, definitely looking forward to sticking to a place here. And probably even the fans were awesome to me at the football game Saturday. So as long as that continues, I'd like to still be in Knoxville a little bit. I mean, like I said, I. I mean, the other coaches had a lot to do with it, but for the next three or four years, I'm going to be pretty closely tied to some of those players.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

What are the biggest differences in being, like, the head coach of a college baseball team and then being a manager in the mlb?

[Tony Vitello]

I think just that recruiting, you can have a voice, maybe with trades or free agency, and. And I think that's, you know, something that pro players look at is what park do I want to play in, what city I want to live in, what coaches. So it's not like recruiting completely goes away, but you're not in charge of your roster anymore. Which hell free up some more time to go to UFC or you know, you know, whatever it might be. Maybe. But then to the amount of sample size and then the kids you work with in college are so impressionable, they'll latch on to about anything you'll give them and I haven't again, what I don't know what I don't know. But I assume a 35 year old that's in the big leagues for a while, he's, he's pretty much got his system figured out.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

And so it'll be a little bit different of a co op or relationship there.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

With when you got the news that you were going to be the next Giants manager. I, I'm gonna have a hard time not saying head coach. How do you tell the team? The Tennessee team?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah. No, my, my non friends or non baseball friends are all like manager. Like are you managing a Walmart?

[Host 2]

You're the head coach for the title Manager Skipper.

[Tony Vitello]

You know, our pitching coach, Frank Anderson would always call me skipper and it's kind of, I don't know, I kind of like that concept. So whatever it is you're serving that role of, of writing out the lineup, you know, so it's interesting. I, I gave. With recruiting, you have to respond to every email and every text possible, but I had to give up on my ph, apologize to everybody. And one of the first texts was nice but also sarcastic. I think for me it was basically like, I miss you and love you or so I don't mean to put words.

[Host 1]

I think I said, I'll miss you. I sent you when they were starting to be like, hey, they're closing in on a deal.

[Host 4]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

I sent him the link from Twitter and just put I'll miss you forever.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So sorry to throw the love out there where it was a little aggressive. But I, I bring that up just because how this thing broke was very unconventional. And it's the day and age we live in and we, we were not, we were not even at a point where I was going to make a decision. And this news broke on a football Saturday in the middle of one of our scrimmages that I was going to do this and our assistants were like, you know, I had kind of kept any of the conversations out of the locker room because it can only be a distraction, especially with recruiting.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

And now if it was going to get to a point where this is something I really got to decide on, I was going to involve everybody. Everybody. Well, that all got Skipped over by a tweet or what? Again, I'm not on there, but I think you know, Ken Rosenthal or somebody. And, and I've had a couple people apologize to me, like, hey, I just got a job to do. They get word that talks are at least serious and now all of a sudden it's like, you're doing it. And so I got these texts on Saturday, like, I don't know if it's true or good luck. And I'm like, I don't even know how to respond.

[Host 1]

So that the initial reaction is you're, you're probably pissed off.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, I was. So I was kind of mine.

[Host 1]

I'm thinking like, if all, if this, this, if this profile is posting about it, it seems like this is going to happen. First manager. It's like congratulatory, like, hey, I'm going to miss you forever. But now that makes sense. On the no response, you're probably like, who in the is leaking this stuff?

[Tony Vitello]

Well, I was trying to watch Alabama Tennessee and I, I'd thought about going to the game with a donor after our scrimmage and when this popped is like, well, I'm not going anywhere. And I just sat and was watching the game and it's on the ticker and, and I even kind of quit watching the game a little bit, to be honest with you. And I, I just for the night, kind of shut it down. And then the next day some things picked up. Ironically, it ended up being, instead of one conversation with the team and being like, this sucks and crying and everything, it was a three parter and it gave those guys time to share their thoughts on it a little bit with me, including our coaching staff half. And I mean, this is a tough setting to break down and cry, so I won't do it here.

[Host 2]

But we've cried a lot.

[Tony Vitello]

All emotions are welcome here, 100%. I, like, I will forever be grateful. The way those kids texted me, talked to me in person, and then the way the coaches basically said, do what you got to do. And that really opened up the freedom to think about it selfishly. Just like, what do I want to do? As opposed to how is this going to impact. Impact other people.

[Host 1]

Yeah. So waiting on some tears.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

You're trying to go Barbara Walters approach.

[Host 1]

It is very hard, I'm assuming, being in your spot even as a player, like, if I'm a player on your team and I absolutely love you. It's like when Coach Eckler left Nebraska, he recruited me there.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And whenever he left to Go be like a co defensive coordinator or something at Indiana. And he's kind of telling the linebacker room after practice on around like the 30 yard line, like, we're all breaking down because you, you're like, fuck, man. A part of you comes to a place for a staff or for a guy and you're galvanizing around this, this roster. So I can only assume how hard that was on trying to be like, you don't feel like you have the freedom to think selfishly. You have so many people involved. Some of them aren't tipped off. Now they're finding out on the Internet. How do I even approach this conversation? Because I know there's going to be broken hearts. It's broke. I'm assuming you're broken hearted. It's just, dude, it's tough.

[Host 2]

And you're sitting in a situation where you haven't made the decision yet and it seems like the decision's been made for you.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Publicly. And now you have to go put out what you're assuming is a bunch of fires and you're met with like, it seems like empathy and love.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah. No, it affected things greatly. And at the end of the day, it was a difficult decision. And if, you know, props to any college coach out there. Coach Eckler's a stud and back at Nebraska now, but when you switch in college, you don't get to breathe for a year minimum just because of the nature of the turnover. And now I'm in this weird stage where it's not like we're. We're hiring a staff, there's work to be done, press conference, all that, that. But it's not that drinking from a fire hose that you have. So in a bad way, it's freed up a lot of time to just reflect on those relationships and things like that. And it's. It's tough. But, you know, staying in motion is a good thing. You guys are doing what you're doing because you guys are constantly kind of pushing the envelope. And shoot, Dana White did what he did when no one else was doing anything. Active. He got active.

[Host 1]

Right.

[Tony Vitello]

And now he's reaping the benefits of it. And I don't know that the sport would be that popular if he didn't push the envelope during COVID or during a time where people weren't in motion. So hopefully, who knows how this thing will go, but I, I think staying in motion is healthy and. And hopefully it'll benefit me. Again, kind of a selfish decision, but Tennessee, Tennessee will be all right. There's some players in that dugout the next few years, so.

[Host 2]

The future Giants.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, I'm all for that. We got. That's going to be a touchy sound.

[Host 2]

I bet that's going to be hard for you too, because is. Are you now as a manager, are you. You're not the gm, so you're not, you're not pulling the trigger on draft picks. Correct, Correct.

[Tony Vitello]

But it's such a.

[Host 2]

You sit there and you're like, hey, this guy. And you're. You're the one evaluating the ball players as well. Yeah, I'm sure there's a level of bias you're gonna have.

[Host 1]

If I'm a player, I'm hitting them up.

[Host 2]

Hey, listen.

[Tony Vitello]

A little higher, a little more money. But I think the, the, the Giants organization has always been very well thought of and kind of a family vibe. So far it's been. Been enormously welcoming to ideas and, and to working together. So I think all of us are going to have a voice when it comes to stuff like that. But like the decision you were talking about being skewed because of personal feelings or stuff that's out there, probably got to be a little careful about not loving on those guys too much from my standpoint.

[Host 2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That is. Was there ever a point when this news starts to break where you're like, it, I'm just gonna stay here. Did you like, was there ever that much second guessing involved?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, when they. That first hit, it was like, you know, any competitor kind of bows up when someone tells you one thing that it's not true or you don't believe in it, you bow up and want to do the other. And so I got good advice from a guy who was a mentor of mine, Sean McCan's name. And he, he's like, dude, just take a timeout. You don't know where that came from or why. And so it was good to kind of take that night to reset. And then, you know, it's like these kids I talk to on the phone with college decisions, I mean, I mean, when you're getting recruited by SEC schools, you can't really choose wrong. I mean, you're going to think it if you're working at Tennessee and they choose Mississippi State or, you know, South Carolina or whatever, but the only way to make a decision right is just to move forward and make it the right one. So, no, no going back now was.

[Host 1]

Getting in the MLB always like a North Star for you?

[Tony Vitello]

Never. Just because I didn't think it was possible. I mean, I I knew enough as a son of a coach coach that I wasn't skilled enough that wasn't going to happen as a player. And then I always thought one of the reasons I went to Missouri and walked on University of Missouri was I always thought you pretty much. And this is true for the most part, you finish or you coach where you finish playing like that level. And I know there's exceptions. So I would took a big risk and walked on at a, at a Division 1 school because that's what I wanted to do. But having never even been in pro ball, I didn't think it was possible. Possible. And then the last couple years some conversations have started where the interest was peaked and you know, I'd hate to finish coaching without at least trying it and.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Were there any other MLB teams you said in the last couple years that were interested?

[Tony Vitello]

Nothing significant. You know, you mentioned agent. You know, Jimmy Sexton's got his hands full now since every.

[Host 2]

He's your agent.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, that, that stems more from a guy you don't know how it leads. Well, that, that stems from more of a friendship and a tie. He went to Tennessee, so that's kind of more. And of course baseball is not. It's become more his field and really he's impacted the game in a great way. He gets a lot of credit for coaching salaries and where the trend is going right now. So kudos to him. But that's kind of how that relationship worked out. Obviously he started with Reggie White and he's been in football and man, these guys. I, I can only imagine how much you guys have discussed college football, this firing guys in the middle of the season.

[Host 2]

Dude, that's crazy.

[Tony Vitello]

I get it.

[Host 2]

But.

[Tony Vitello]

I get it. But it happened at an SEC school, baseball wise, and I wasn't there. So I'm not talking ill about any decisions. But you looked at a schedule this guy had in front of him and it's like this team is going to win a lot of games and if you get in the postseason, anything can happen. But they get rid of the guy in the middle of the year. And again the schedule got a little more favorable. They had good players. Just you guys are athletes. The, the season has a lot of ebbs and flows and I've been on teams especially two out of the last three, three years of Tennessee. We started out really weak and we finished really strong this past year. We started out like a ball of fire and we finished okay, but we were doing so well at the beginning. Everyone thought we were just going to steamroll everybody. So a season is an entire body of work. And I, I get it. It's a different sport. You guys know it better than I do. But right now is wild, bro. I mean, Lane Kiffin can only take one. Or stay. Or stay.

[Host 1]

Or yes. Or even stay. It is nuts. It's like we were talking about it. What is it? Arkansas, Auburn, lsu, Florida, Florida with possibly Old Miss with Link and talk. Ole Miss.

[Host 2]

That's. Yeah, that's an insane. And then not to men.

[Host 1]

Still more jobs out there. Still more jobs to go.

[Host 2]

Lot of ball. Lot of ball.

[Host 1]

Michigan's out there. I'm just saying.

[Host 2]

What are you doing? You know, right now he's just doing the thing. We shot a reaction show a little bit ago and we're really having a good conversation about football and college lit, all these head coaching jobs. Then I started talking about Michigan and how like I want to see the passing game develop.

[Tony Vitello]

Sure.

[Host 2]

He's like a lot of head coaching jobs.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

Hey, everyone. Ed Helms here.

[Host 2]

And hi, I'm Kal Penn, and we're.

[Host 4]

The hosts of Irsay The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Jenny Garth, host of the iHeart podcast. I choose me to discuss the new Audible adaptation of the timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. This is not a trick question. There's no wrong answer. What role would I play?

[Tony Vitello]

You know what? I can see you as Mr. Darcy. You got a little Colin Firth.

[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

Okay, that's really sweet. I appreciate that, but are you sure I'm not the dad? I'm not Mr. Bennett here, listen to Irsay the Audible and I Iheart Audiobook Club on the iheartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Host 2]

I was open out there. I'm just like, yeah.

[Host 1]

What are you doing?

[Tony Vitello]

That's harsh. Well, if anything, you got Morgan Wallen coming to the stadium.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Was that July?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

That'll be nice. That'll be nice to see. Zach. Brian, he did that, set the record. And now Morgan's like, not on my watch. Gotta get that thing done.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, that place gets rowdy, huh?

[Host 2]

But there's a lot of them there.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

I think that's probably Michigan's biggest knock on a game day atmosphere is it's not very loud for how many people are in the building. Yeah, but I think it's a structural thing. Has to be.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Can't have 115,000.

[Tony Vitello]

It's sprawling.

[Host 2]

Tennessee straight up. It's like. It is a way different sound. Tennessee, LSU, A&M. We went to Nebraska. Even 92,000 there.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

It's very, very loud. Then you go to Michigan. It kind of just bows out a little bit.

[Tony Vitello]

Bit, sure.

[Host 2]

We were talking about this before. If you just take yet the sweets that they were putting in when I first got there, if you just kind of put those in next to the. The big screens and then take out the. The wood and put in aluminum. I think you've changed the game right there. Couple hundred mil. That's all you got to do.

[Host 1]

I. I don't.

[Tony Vitello]

I don't know why they wouldn't outsource you for this information.

[Host 2]

This is it, man.

[Tony Vitello]

And then you.

[Host 2]

I got a lot of good ideas.

[Host 1]

What happened. What happened in Tennessee against Oklahoma.

[Tony Vitello]

I don't know. That was rough. And even more rough was trying to keep one eye on the TV of watching game seven and then watching the game as well. But, you know, I was up there in Peyton, and those guys can Break down football better than I can. But it was just a real frustrating game. And, you know, people seem to be a little sour on our defense, but I don't know, you win and lose as a whole team and, you know, Coach Hypoel's always done well with the offense and the quarterbacks, and the vibe is always good over there, you know, in the building, so. So it's the SEC and it's the same for you guys, too. I mean, when it's that high level of competition, it can go one way or the other. And unless you're in the locker room, you don't know if there was a vibe that swung it one way or the other.

[Host 1]

And we were just talking about the chaos and people just these emotional decisions on firing coaches mid year. It's like after the Oklahoma game, even Hyp's name's getting brought up in Lane. Kiffin coming back to Tennessee. We've got to.

[Host 2]

We gotta relax.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, I'm sure.

[Host 2]

I'm sure Kiffin's gonna make $50 million a year at the same time. So he's got a bidding war going crazy right now.

[Tony Vitello]

I'm sure he's been known to get back with an X or two back in the day, but. But consider. There's something to be said for consistency. And when I was coming up at Missouri, I spent more days on the bench than I did on the field, unfortunately. But I knew I wanted to coach. I was surveying. It's like, what's consistent about some of these best programs. And a lot of it was that word, consistency. When a group can stay together and build some synergy and keep things going, you know, the recruits stay on board and relationships with the donors. I think there's a lot, maybe because I'm defensive of coaches, but there's a lot to be said for riding out some storms and giving somebody some freedom. Because if you're in our league or one of the best leagues in the country, you're going to take blows, you're going to dish out blows, but you're going to take some, too.

[Host 1]

What's the consistency look like? Like, this will be a very broken question, but I'm very curious, like, you being a player, and you'd be like, I spent more time on the bench, unfortunately, than playing. But as you're observing, what is the consistency like? What are the things that in your mind you're trying to build a resume or a portfolio for. For you knowing you want to be a coach? What are things you're seeing, like, when you are in the locker room as a player that you're observing. It's like I'm going to take some of these things knowing that I've experienced it as a player into coaching.

[Tony Vitello]

I think probably even on the sheet of what to do is even on the sheet of what not to do and you know, how to approach guys and, and what freedom to give them reaction wise, you know, the freedom to be who they are. You took kind of mentioned that earlier. That's all good, but it's gotta be under the framework of the team. So it sounds real vague and real easy to say. But balance is huge. And like I said, that balance sheet of learning and watching probably equal to what not to do is just as valuable and there's just as many lessons learned there as what to do.

[Host 1]

You're probably learning it too in real time. Like a coach might have a wrong message of trying to address something and be like, I know my teammate or this player, he's not taking it kind of the correct way way. This could be a way to get the messaging that the coach wants across and you know, mixing it in with kind of the player mentality. I've always been fascinated with that because I my thought if I wasn't podcasting is I was, I would get into coaching. So I'm just not too late, curious.

[Tony Vitello]

It's not too late.

[Host 1]

I know. You never know, man. Look, if rule can't get it done.

[Host 2]

You know, Willie, see, give me five, six more years with this man. He can go do what he wants after that. I'm really enjoying doing bus with the boys right now.

[Host 1]

He just needs me. It's like, give me a couple more, give me a couple more.

[Host 2]

That's a real thing too. That's a thing that could happen in the next couple of years is maybe like the linebackers do well in Nebraska and they will call Will. But hey, can you just coach the linebackers for a couple years? That conversation is real between me and Will. We've had the conversation of like if you go, what's our game plan?

[Tony Vitello]

I think it should be, I mean, I mean as far as the thought of who to hire as a coach so many times, you know that I've been a part of interviews or co workers and we're kind of doing this now. We just talked to a guy. I was like, I'm thinking about just quitting my job and starting a company with this guy. Like it doesn't matter if it's working at a pizza parlor or tech industry or coaching or podcast. Like this guy would be good. Good. And I think, you know, there's some similar traits for people that are successful across the board. And like I said, fortunately or unfortunately, I was sitting on the bench a lot, so I, I, I didn't have any skills in, but I got to watch a lot of people that I think had the, that set of skills.

[Host 1]

You had a good correlation. What were the nerves like and stuff as you're interviewing for this job in.

[Tony Vitello]

The mlb, you know, because you, you.

[Host 1]

This is a different, like, first ever.

[Tony Vitello]

It is. Well, the other thing is you're talking to Buster positive, and that's, that's a guy that I had started coaching. But I looked at him, you know, in college and watched him in college almost as a fan, and then to see what he did in, in Major League Baseball. He's one of the biggest winners ever in pro sports. And I know that was the concept of bringing him on and making him a part of the front office now. So to talk to him, I mentioned to Jimmy a couple times like, hey, you, you got to let me talk to some people other than Buster, because it's impossible not to talk to him. Him and see him for who he is, you know what I mean? And just keep it normal and regular. So that was a big part of the process. But I guess when you're in a good position and, and I didn't, I didn't hand in a resume or seek this out. It kind of presented itself to me. So I felt rock solid in what was going on at Tennessee and, you know, new stadium being built there and the next couple recruiting classes are ranked real high for whatever that it's only worth so much. But, but yeah. So I think that kind of changed the tone of it too.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Now that you're out of it, how is the nil speak on the nil. How, how has it been changing the game in college athletics, particularly at a baseball level?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, it's a disaster. I, I'm in this weird. Again, we all have thoughts that are probably. You dream a little bigger than. I kind of have this weird fantasy or vision of like, like, okay, can college and MLB merge together a little bit and help each other? And I wouldn't be the main, you know, I certainly shouldn't be the patron of either, but I could connect the right people and get this thing where it's a little more fluid. But the one part MLB can't affect is just where NCAA sports are in general, and it's, it's just a mess. And I would say the biggest I'm doing this off the cuff. Hopefully no one wants to slash my tires.

[Host 2]

But.

[Tony Vitello]

But it's like you're driving in the fog and you can't really see but about 100 or 200ft in front of you and you know, you're grasping for what's real, what you can do, what you can't do. And again, I'm sure someone will throw out that I did something wrong or I, I didn't do this or. But overall it's very frustrating when you don't know the rules to the game. And it's. I hate to keep beating up the topic. Of course there's judges in UFC or boxing, but I love those two sports because it's two guys, guys locked in one spot. Or it could be gals and just who's better. And that's what I like more about anything. I mean, I almost wish too, like Oregon, you should only be allowed to have a certain amount of uniform combinations. You should only have certain square footage in a locker room. Like let's find out. That's the whole point of, of athletics or competition is like, let's find out who can do it better. But when you really don't know what the rules of the game are or they're so lopsided in favor of Tennessee over Middle Tennessee State. State. It's kind of hard to have that nose to nose competition.

[Host 2]

Yeah, yeah. It's definitely. It's the Wild West. There's gonna be like a crazy documentary about all the nil that's taking place. How does it work for baseball players? Like do baseball players get full scholarships now? Because when we were in school it was like baseball was getting like 8, 40. Like the most you could get is like 50. That's like, hey, this is a really good baseball player, right? This percentage. But now Nils come in. So you're paying these guys, guys. But do they have full scholarships? Like how does it all work?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah. So to make it overly simple so they're used. When I first started coaching, it was 11.7 pretty much for every major program.

[Host 2]

11.7, what does that mean?

[Tony Vitello]

Scholarship scholarships. So if, if I sit down with you and your family and we, we love on you all weekend official visit. You go down on the field for the football game. It had finish in the office with a here's your scholarship offer. And you try and do your best to make it seem as big as it can be. Because it's not, not in average. If you do the numbers 11.7, you'd get to about 43%. So not even half of your cost would be covered. And it's like, we love you, but to come here, you're gonna have to pay 20 grand a year. Out of state, kid, let's say.

[Host 2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

It's just awful dealing with that. And then the nil is actually like, ah, this is in football, this is a mess. But in baseball it's kind of helping. Like, hey, you got no cost. We'll just figure out a way to combine everything. And then we go into the new territory where the rumors became true. And it's like, I'm in the portal. You want me? My first phone call, they said, this number, what do you guys got?

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

And some of those con, like kids, two kids literally walked in my office like, what am I? What is it? And I was like, nice to meet you. You know, like, are we even, you know, so and so now some of.

[Host 2]

These kids are getting so over the top bat, they're not even really introducing themselves. They're not. There's no small talk. It's like, what are you willing to offer me to come play at your school?

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

And again, no offense to them or no, no foul on them. I mean, it's what I keep saying. What you don't know, you don't know. I mean, if their phone call they get from university of whoever is right out of the shoot, this is what we're offering you, then that's kind of what his expectations are. And now we're at this new place where we can offer full scholarships. At Tennessee, not every school did that. And I mean we're talking big time program. Athletic departments did not boost their scholarship. So you can offer full scholarships if you want as an athletic department, but it's not available. And then you got this rev share thing, which is real money, but some don't get any. And then you got nil, which again is hopefully getting sorted out. But we're still in a very gray place with that.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And are you even able to like vet if they're getting this offer outside from another university?

[Host 2]

That's a great question.

[Host 1]

I'm sure you can eventually, but it's like, you know, coach, I was talking to, even with college football, you're like, you're not even having real exit meetings to talk about about what the player can work on or develop. They're kind of walking in and be like, hey, this is what I'm hearing from my agent. There's really no conversation to be had unless I get X, Y and z. It's kind of the bulk. It's. That is the exit meeting which is.

[Host 2]

Bad for the development of players in the football world at least. I don't have a works in baseball, but yeah, if you're not. If you can't coach a guy hard, he's not going to get better at these small things. And you're going to see it in the next couple of years where the level of play on the field is going to get worse because the technique's not as good, because the guys aren't getting coached the way they should. They're just getting more and more money because they're naturally taking talented.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, I think it's kind of already started that way to backtrack a little bit. The one thing is, what. And again, no foul play on an agent. If you're an agent, why wouldn't you say, hey, my guy's been offered already kind of between this number and this number. And maybe you make it seem a little better than it is. How are we supposed to know? And in the recruiting in the summer goes like that. I mean, it's a whirlwind. So. But I think development, a word that I kept coming up with is sequence. I think there's a sequence that takes place in the development of an athlete. And for some guys, it comes quickly, quicker, some guys have come slower. But there's definitely a sequence you have to respect. And I think all respect for that has gone out the window because coaches are. You got to make a choice. What's your approach? But all of us at some point have tiptoed around something because of the threat of the transfer portal or a guy being disgruntled. And then two, for a player, it's like it's not going well. It's not going as well as I thought it would. So I'm out. And I thought the coolest thing and I'm not.

[Host 1]

Not.

[Tony Vitello]

I just. I know I'm fortunate enough to know Peyton because of the university, but when people talked about Arch Manning leaving Texas, one of my favorite individuals I've ever met is Archie Manning. And if you know that family, it's like that dude ain't going nowhere. He's going to see that thing through and he's going to make it happen. And I followed a little bit. It seems like it's going decent.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Last couple games, last couple weeks, sure has been going.

[Tony Vitello]

But I think because of the background of that family, there's a respect for that sequence of development. And at some point, point you're going to get knocked down and you're going to have to overcome some challenges and if you wait till too long in your career, you might not know how to handle it.

[Host 2]

Yeah, it'd be very off brand for Archman to be in the transfer portal and he wouldn't. I think it'd be a massive shock to anybody if he was going to go somewhere else. Based off of the diversity that was having up until these last couple of games you talked about there. Every coach at some point is kind of tiptoed around some things. What are some examples of you tiptoeing around and you're like, ah, I shouldn't.

[Tony Vitello]

Thanks a lot.

[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

Maybe.

[Host 2]

Well, hey, we're out now. Wait, this, this was fair game. Game. Say names.

[Tony Vitello]

Well, I mean, there's one that's pretty well documented. I mean, the thing is, sometimes you find out a guy is leaving and.

[Host 2]

You find out via news or a text.

[Tony Vitello]

Well, on the recruiting side you get a phone call and, and we had kind of blossomed and now all eyes are on us. And I think we could have coached a kid that was a superstar. But you get a call and it's like, hey, this Guy's got, got 7 or 8 sec offers. What's your guys offer? And it's like, well, and trust me, I'm no saint, but at the time it's like we got too many eyes on us and people are throwing out, you know, certain things. We didn't move on it at all. But it's so weird because it's like I just watched this guy on tv, he's playing for a different school and yet shopping these other ones. So there's so many different situations in recruiting that pop up and that's one. And then with coaching, coaching had to coach a kid that was really talented, that we knew he was out the door. We knew the minute we made kind of a change in role that he was going to be out the door. And we had a short conversation in the locker room like, what do we want to do? And finally I, I just, I mean, we made a lot of group decisions. In this particular case, I was just like, this is what we're doing, but he's going to leave. And then knowing that you still have season left, it's kind of like, like, you know, the firing coaches in the middle season of college football. Sometimes it's a different way you get there, but you might still be able to have a successful season if you can just kind of keep things on board. So that, that was a tough. Yeah, that was Tough one to deal with.

[Host 2]

Yeah. These decisions. Of all the schools, when you're getting calls from agents being like, hey, we have an offer from this school for this much, what's one school that came up the most was like, hey, LSU. LSU's got a big baseball pro. They're always kind of offering the mo. Like, what school does it seem like to you is, like, always offering the most? Most.

[Tony Vitello]

Well, you know, I. I think. Oh, as far as nil.

[Host 2]

Nil, yeah. Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

Like, you're talking about me.

[Host 2]

No, no, no, no, no. I'm talking about, like, you're fighting.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah. You know, I think there's a few, certain ones that seem to be more organized out of the shoot. But, you know, you. You brought up lsu, it's like, that's a religion down there. That culture is so different. And not just in sports, but just in life. Life, it's pretty cool to be around just the vibe. You're not going to go hungry if you're walking around down in Louisiana and. And that vibe is sports is life. And then in the state of Texas, it's, you know, everything's bigger. It is true in a lot of different ways. And down there, it's like, who can throw out the bigger wallet or the bigger amount? So. And then there's traditions at other sports, too, and there's some quirky niches that are out there. So. So it. It honestly, it varied. It'd be, now I'm not in college, maybe I could throw something out there. But it honestly varied. Where some were really organized out of the shoot, and then others made adjustments. Oil money's real. And then you guys see it, like, fan bases are loyal. And I don't, you know, I've been in Columbus, but Ohio, it's a big city. And Ohio State football is. It is a it. That's the main deal going on.

[Host 2]

They got all the money there, don't they?

[Host 1]

What are a couple guard rails you'd put up in college baseball with the Nil and the Portal, it's like for football, like, I don't know, the portal windows and stuff. But in football, I want to say the main one opens up in December. Yeah.

[Host 5]

Or like the last. I thought it was the first week of January.

[Host 1]

Yeah, it might be that. I know it's shifted a couple times, but makes it very hard to where it's like, hey, if we're going to do all of this money stuff and everything else, like, just. Just make it a. Like a free agency type window.

[Host 2]

Let it happen.

[Host 1]

Kids, like some of These decisions aren't getting made where. Right. If there's still some season left or like right after it's happening and there's.

[Host 2]

Teams playing for in the playoffs that are focused on the playoffs. Other teams are not making a bowl game. Some bowl games, yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

Being, you know, with our sport being a spring sport and this is totally off the cuff. I don't have a stance one way or the other, but some people are in favor of guys being able to transfer and play if you transfer it. Some Matt. So right now, somewhere out there in the sec, there's a kid that's realizing this isn't the place for me and. But he's good enough to be in the sec. Why can't he transfer at December, at the end of the semester and be eligible? You know, that that creates a big mess. But that's an option out there. And then, you know, moving the portal dates, you know, I don't know that it affect our deal too much because so many of these conversations start, start before they start, you know. So our deal does start, you know, I think in the middle of regionals and it creates a bit of a mess. And now you're trying to win a regional and you know, recruit a kid or a kid's trying to win a regional but he's already, you know, got one foot out the door. So I think it's kind of nature of the beast. A lot of this stuff starts before it actually happens. And I, I don't know how you safeguard or put up, you know, rails against that. But. But that's why they're smarter people than I. And higher paid positions.

[Host 5]

Yeah, that'd be like tampering.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah. And that's a word that gets thrown out a lot. You know, I think what the actual definition of that needs to be put out there and I think, you know, again, someone will say I did this or that, but I think pretty staunch penalties against that would be wise. But there's always back channeling stuff when agents are involved. And again, again they've got a job to do when agents are involved and they can technically be a middleman or a third party. It. It throws everything out of whack a little bit.

[Host 2]

Yeah. I mean even NFL like there's a tampering period before the free agency period that's like well known. It's like these guys, soon as like free agency starts, if it's like 2pm on this day, it's like 201pm These 10 guys are getting signed to these massive contracts. There's Always tom foolery about.

[Tony Vitello]

Sure.

[Host 2]

But it's like, how do you. That's like the. The name of the game, right? Like, you find the rules. Rules. And then you exploit the rules with the way they're written to put your team in the best advantage you possibly can.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, I've, I've tried to say, I mean, with the NCAA in particular, I've seen a bunch of rule changes and again, I don't know necessarily what's best. You just find out what they are and you try and do your best job. But anytime you make a rule or a law, to me, you should always hire a criminal and say, how we getting around? You know, if we're going to start a casino, you would want, you know, I think you had some time at the table.

[Host 2]

Yeah, right. I played a couple hands. Not as a criminal. Fair game every single time.

[Host 1]

How do we hire a criminal?

[Host 2]

You know, he's not about right.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, well, actually, yeah. But, you know, find, find out what are the ways around this and maybe you can prevent it. But there's probably always going to be a gray area. And you know, I guess if anything, kudos to people that are aggressive trying to make it happen.

[Host 2]

It's such an interesting world. The nil is just so crazy right now.

[Host 1]

All right, quick potty break. We are brought to you by Neutral Vodka Seltzer. Have you tried neutral? If not, you are missing out. Neutral. So much better. Better than any seltzer that the boys have tried. It's made with real vodka and real juice. That's what makes it delicious. Comes in a variety of flavors. Watermelon and orange, to name a couple. On their new flavors. Lime and strawberry. Perfect to bring when hanging with friends because it's such a crowd pleaser. Whether you're bar watching the game. Let me try that again for you guys listening. Whether you're at a bar watching the game in the backyard with friends or at a tailgate, bring neutral. Neutral. Keep it tasty. We are also brought to you by Roe. Roe Sparks are a 2 in 1 prescription treatment for guys who need a secret weapon against softness. Guys, get Roe in your life if you are having problems downstairs. Rose Sparks can give guys bigger, thicker, longer erections because they get fuller faster and they dissolve and work in 15 minutes on average. And if prescribed, new sexual health patients get $15 off their first order of Sparks on a recurring plan. Plan. Connect with a provider at Rode Co Bussin to find out if Prescription Row Sparks are right for you. That's Ro co bussin for 15 off your first order. And to bring it all the way home, we are brought to you by True Classic. The new curve Pima shirts are incredible. New softness, new material. Fit very well. Got a little curve in the side, a little length in the front and back. Back and snug your arms and chest very well to bring out those broad shoulders that you do have. And with holiday season coming up, you want to hide the gut a little bit. That's what True Classic does for everybody. You can find True Classic at Amazon and Costco, Sam's Club and Target nationwide or [e-mail] Bussin look good, feel good, play good. Let's get back to Tony Vital. In the MLB world, we in favor of a salary cap.

[Tony Vitello]

To an extent. To an extent.

[Host 2]

We need you to draw a line in the same right now. Yes or no?

[Tony Vitello]

I'm trying to stay out of trouble.

[Host 2]

Although you've done a great job of doing the allegedly. And people will say I did this, but would you like to see a.

[Host 1]

Salary cap in college baseball?

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, yeah. Again, I do kind of like it's. It's delicate because America is built on pushing the envelope and trying to outdo people in capitalism and things like that. But in the spirit of competition, I do like when things are even. So, you know, where the. Where the balance is between those two. As far as what you can pay people, I don't necessarily know, but yeah.

[Host 1]

Look at the example of the. Oh, ESPN and YouTube TV right now.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

As far as fighting for capital viewers. Yeah.

[Host 2]

Viewers are losing right now on both ends. Yeah. But we were just some of the Dodgers and how the Dodgers. It's bad for baseball. The Dodgers won. This is Mitch's take because they can pay more money for basically people. Also they have a crazy, like, vet tunnel from like Japan. The most disciplined people ever. Like the people from Japan love Dodgers. If you from a Giant, works out time zone, works out the whole thing. They got a nice little tunnel, though. They had a nice little tunnel with the Dodgers. When you look at the Giants, is this like a. A franchise that can spend a lot. Do they spend a lot of money?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, they're aggressive.

[Host 2]

Okay, good, good. So we're in a good spot.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, I think so. You guys want to jump on board?

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

Listen, we have some money that hasn't.

[Host 1]

Hit our account right now. Now to where a couple years ago, somebody was on the podcast and said.

[Host 2]

They say.

[Host 1]

I think they said that they would Give their salary, salary 2. Busting with the boys to win a.

[Host 2]

National title and did that person win a national championship?

[Host 1]

He did that year.

[Host 2]

Did bust with the boys get their salary?

[Host 1]

They did not see a dollar.

[Host 2]

Can you pull up that individual salary from the last year?

[Host 1]

Tuning in, whether it's.

[Tony Vitello]

Don't pull that.

[Host 1]

San Francisco new viewers rooting on your next manager. Coach Tony V. Was on. We sat down with him out in Tennessee for busting with the boys an episode, and.

[Host 2]

Oh, damn.

[Host 1]

The question we like to ask is, what would you be willing to do to win, like, a national title or a Super Bowl? Super Bowl. And Tony V. Was on. He said he'd give us a salary if he won a national title that year. We went on through the first pitch here in Nashville. They go on to win a national title. So we've been having guns pointed at Tony V. Like, hey, you have. Where's that salary? I fail or we getting it?

[Host 4]

We.

[Host 1]

We. Dipping into the new salary.

[Tony Vitello]

We.

[Host 2]

We could.

[Tony Vitello]

We could come up with an agreement, especially because I failed. I've been running around. We're interviewing people, but the plan was to come in with a brief briefcase full of IOUs. 275,000. You might want to hold on to that one.

[Host 2]

I want to hold on now. It's a big one. You might want to hold on to that one. Yeah. So we could. We'll get on a payment plan. We'll figure it out. Yeah, maybe like, I don't know, like, 10,000.

[Tony Vitello]

I mean, how about a beverage? Like, now that at least I'm not a molding young men, and. And having to recruit, I. I actually won't be fearful of being seen with a beverage in my hand or anything like that.

[Host 2]

So we'll.

[Tony Vitello]

We'll start with a. If I see you guys a. A free cocktail, and then we'll just keep the tab, run until it.

[Host 2]

Every time we run, you, like, buy us a coffee or something like that.

[Host 1]

Knowing how the national title went, you might have to have us out to throw a first pitch to get that world series.

[Tony Vitello]

I'm 100% down with that.

[Host 2]

Yeah, we need that. We're going to need that.

[Host 1]

Here's where it starts. Would you be willing to give us your salary this year with the Giants if you win a World Series?

[Tony Vitello]

Series a good chunk. A good chunk.

[Host 1]

Yes, exactly. What you need to say right now is yes, then we do the first pitch thing, and it might just be written in the stars.

[Host 2]

Written in the stars.

[Host 1]

Then you never give it to us.

[Tony Vitello]

I would do that. I would do that.

[Host 2]

You would actually give it to us?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, and then I'd you know, roam the streets of San Francisco and there's got to be a company that's having enough success there, that amount of chump change to them, get it on an.

[Host 1]

Equity deal out there.

[Host 2]

That's a perfect city to just. Yeah, so we give out more money.

[Tony Vitello]

Yes. We have a non handshake deal for the non handshake deal. For the record.

[Host 2]

Oh, bro.

[Host 1]

What else do I have? Oh, I have a question. Oh, so it's like coming up through high school when we were younger, it's like it seemed like if you get drafted or going to the farm system, that could be a better route to the MLB versus like going to college. Has that shifted a lot due to the nil stuff going on in college baseball?

[Tony Vitello]

You know what?

[Host 1]

Is that a good question?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, I think scouts were real fearful of, hey, we want to give this guy, guy, you know, $800,000 in the third round, but he's going to get pushed to college. And I think there's been examples people can point to like, hey, they bought this guy out of the draft. I think there's probably more of that with returning players like a, a sophomore, a junior that could have left college X and gone to the draft. Maybe he's more inclined to come back because he's already ingrained in the community. He's getting this nil set up. But I think it's like anything, it's case by case. I don't think it was as rampant as, as maybe scouts fear of, yeah, man, I'll put all this work in on this guy. I know he's the guy I want. I go to the front office. But when we call him on draft day, he's like, no, I'm good. I'm getting six figures from a college.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

So it skewed it a little bit, I think. But so my follow up.

[Host 1]

Is that where you could. Is that where some collaborative efforts on bringing college baseball or the NCAA into like the MLB in some sort of a way?

[Tony Vitello]

I think if anything, and understand instead of both sides wondering what's going on. And hey, I, I always kind of kept my distance because I've just kind of been a live. I've lived my life in the clubhouse. I mean, that's my family, away from my family.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

But there's probably already been some continuity between college coaches and pro teams, but might as well open up the avenues and everybody have a full understanding of how it works and what goes on so that people can make the best decisions without, you know, looking back on it with regret.

[Host 1]

At yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel there's a lot, there's a lot more nuance as a high school player coming out.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Potential to get drafted. Potential to go make a lot of money in college.

[Host 2]

Yeah. It's still.

[Host 1]

So the development in a certain organization that you might want, like I'm just assuming here, like if I'm a player and you're a massive fan of, of you or development of you and you could get a call coming out on draft day and you're kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place of wanting to go into this organization but getting a lot more big dollars to go play college baseball. I could just see where there's it's a very nuanced decision that an entire family is making.

[Tony Vitello]

I think it can be an X factor. At the end of the day, I think a lot of decisions are made ahead of time and it's like maybe a fallback on something like that. It makes me feel, it confirms that's what I want to do or just has more gives more conviction to the decision.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway this fall. Take care of the little ones in the family with Baby Club Savings now through November 4th. Spend $25 on select Baby Club products and save $5. Shop for items like Pediasure bottles, Pedialyte powder packs, Huggies, baby wipes, Huggies diapers, Gerber puffs and Gerber pouches. And save $5 when you buy $25 or more on participating products. Offer ends November 4th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Sponsor Voice]

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[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

Hey, everyone.

[Sponsor Voice]

Ed Helms here and hi, I'm Kal.

[Host 2]

Penn and we're the hosts of Irsay.

[Host 4]

The Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Jenny Garth, host of the iHeart podcast. I choose me to discuss the new Audible adaptation of the time timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. This is not a trick question. There's no wrong answer. What role would I play?

[Tony Vitello]

You know what? I can see you as Mr. Darcy. You got a little Colin Firth.

[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

Okay, that's really sweet. I appreciate that. But are you sure I'm not the dad? I'm not Mr. Bennett here.

[Tony Vitello]

Listen.

[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

Listen to Earsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, but I think a lot of these guys, man, it's in their DNA, what they want to do ahead of time. And then you've got the first round is unique. It's if they're making you their number one, you know, they're committed to you more than any other player in that draft class to make it to the big leagues. It's hard to say no when of course there's finances that come with it.

[Sponsor Voice]

But.

[Tony Vitello]

But I think there's very few swing guys where you can change their mind. I think more times than not, it's kind of in the DNA, so to speak, what a guy wants to do.

[Host 1]

I appreciate you being open. I'm very ripe when it comes to all this baseball talk.

[Host 2]

Yeah, yeah, same. How long if someone's picked in the first round, what is like the average amount of time it takes him to get to the big leagues?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, I mean, we've got a kid now that it'll be interesting to coach him because he said no to us and committed to Alabama. But, but Bryce Eldridge is a guy who's, you know, 21 years old probably and is already. Already seen what it looks like in the big league. So again, that sequence can happen different for various guys. But to go from high school to the big leagues, you got your outliers like Brett Anderson was a left handed pitcher and Andrew Jones who can make it at year 2021. But I think on average it's price six, seven years.

[Host 1]

Really.

[Tony Vitello]

So, you know, and again I'm throwing that out. All this stuff is just my vantage point. There's other people you could bring on that are either have varying opinions or are are different experts. That's cya. But. But, yeah, I think in general, you're looking at a long march into the big leagues. But there's. There's reasons why clubs can. Can show kids it's an advantage to get into the organization and start your pro career. And then there's also college coaches that can say, look, if you're playing in the sec, you're actually speeding up the process to make it to the big leagues because you're learning how to handle media and, you know, compete at a high level. Deal with fans knowing what you got on your Instagram and yelling at you and. And then you've seen it, too. There's proof in the pudding with guys who almost go straight from our league to the. To the big leagues, whether it's skin or Christian Moore, guys like that.

[Host 1]

What do you think you'll. What will you miss most about coaching college baseball?

[Tony Vitello]

I think just from seeing this weekend with a college football Saturday, just the youthfulness, the youthful energy. Energy. Having said that, there's a donor who lives here. Really good, dude. I'm watching game seven of the Blue Jays Mariners, and he's texting me because it kind of gotten hot and heavy at this point. You know, you're better around kids and. And that energy thing. And I'm watching the game, and I get that, and I agree with it. But if you were watching Mariners versus Blue Jays game seven, and you don't see two dugouts full of kids, you know, and again, you guys have experienced it in pro sports, it's like it's recess. You're wearing a damn uniform and still.

[Host 2]

Playing, still having fun.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah. Yeah. You're. You're behaving as if you were a kid and you're playing a kid's game. And then when you take the uniform off, your life is different because you're an adult or you have a family. But I think that's the essence of the fun moments of sports, is you get to see guys being in that character of. Of being a kid, but you're seeing it at the highest level. Athlete.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Especially when you're in the playoffs.

[Tony Vitello]

Why.

[Host 1]

Why does MLB have 162 games?

[Host 2]

Why do we do that?

[Host 1]

Just so many games.

[Host 2]

How many games are in college baseball?

[Tony Vitello]

56 regular season.

[Host 2]

Okay.

[Tony Vitello]

And then, of course, you start the postseason with the conference tournament, all that. So you can end up playing about 70 games if you have a successful year. Maybe a little bit more earlier in the pod.

[Host 2]

You're talking about you starting off slow and then getting real Hot towards the end. Then this past year starting real hot and they kind of being okay towards the the end. How is it as a coach, manager like motivating guys when you have that many games? Because football, it's like every game kind of counts. If you lose one, it's like guys, we can't. We. If we lose one more like right. We're in a bad spot. Making the playoffs with you guys, it's like you drop three or four, it's like, hey, who cares?

[Tony Vitello]

Right? Well, the, the biggest thing is and, and that was something people caution against me. A distaste for losing can really hurt you if. Because even a good season you'd lose 60 games. So you better learn how to deal with that. And again, I haven't personally experienced it, but on the college level, even at 56 games, it's like we beat Alabama. Coach Hypo is good enough to have me in the locker room and the guys have cigars and things like that. You can't. You got a game the next day. So you really can't do that in baseball. And then when you lose, you know, after a loss of you prepared all week and it comes down to the last play. I can only imagine how down of a feeling that is as a coaching staff. Next morning see in the office at 6am Breakdown video. I'm sure Coach Eckler would just sleep there. You can't do that. It's go home, get a good night's sleep. When you take, you know, the old one, one kind of mental deal is when you take your jersey off, the game is over. In baseball, some guys will roll with that. So yeah, it's a lot, lot bigger sample size and you got to learn to roll with the punches a little bit more and you can't get as hyped up and you as you do running out of the tunnel.

[Host 1]

Dude, it is, it is so cool that you were the first manager to kind of make this crack into going from college to the mlb. When you are in your reflective stages, your reflective state, like what are some moments you look back on that you're proud of, that you persevered and stayed the course. Knowing that you are now in this spot, it's. I mean it's awesome, bro. Especially if you're, if you go on win World Series and than like yeah, you've had.

[Host 2]

You're like, hey, we'll see if it works out. It's like we all know the competitor and you is like, you obviously you're gonna crush this, but it's like you're the guinea pig, and you're kind of figuring out, like, is this gonna work? Because if this works out for you, you're opening up a door to every college baseball coach, and it's like, it's a sick opportunity that you're being able to pave the way and be different than everybody else.

[Tony Vitello]

No, that's a source of energy, too, that. That other people might be able to do something that they normally wouldn't. And it's. It's not going to be me. It's going to be just the general concept. And I think there's starting to be an understanding of, yeah, I didn't ride all the buses in the minor leagues or I didn't have the talent to make it to the big leagues. And I'm speaking on all college coaches. But the time these guys have to invest in recruiting and learn how to deal with people and watch games, I mean, you. You watch five or six games on any given day in the summer through recruiting. So you're around baseball as much as anybody. So if there's a little bit stronger of a bridge there there, that would be pretty awesome to be a part of. But, you know, reflecting on what I persevered through as a player, speaking of crying at Missouri, there's a couple times where I was just like, I'm working my ass off and I'm not getting rewarded the way that I should. Is this worth it? And there were a couple days where I was just going to quit as a player, and I didn't, you know, see it working out like this. But if I would have quit as a player, it wouldn't have worked out as a coach. And then, too, as a coach, it's kind of like being an insurance salesman. Recruiting. I've heard no so many damn times. I think, again, you only see the successes, so maybe people think it's different, but even at Tennessee, you hear no all the time, and it's negative feedback, and it can beat you up. So to keep pushing through it is. Is pretty huge. But, yeah, that was. It would take me a while to reflect on the whole career. There's. There's a lot of ups and downs, strikes and gutters, as the big Lebowski says.

[Host 1]

But.

[Tony Vitello]

But, you know, it's been. Been awesome to be a part of some of the teams I've been around, and ultimately it starts with players. So again, I think the concept started of maybe a college coach involved, but it started with them having an interest in our players, and then two, I've Gotten credit for being around guys like Kyle Gibson's a major league all star guy coached any. We could go pick somebody up off the street. They could have coached. That guy was just fortunate enough to get a yes from him in recruiting, you know, and Max Scherzer is Max Scherzer. But every time I address a team team, I can bring him up because everybody knows him and I'm friends with him and I coached him and you can almost kind of take credit for some of the things he's done. But you've seen that guy pitch. I mean he is the definition of creating your own future.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

So that's sick, man. You will be successful and whatever moments you do reflect on and come up with it can be part of your book one day. It just won't. You know, Wiley will not go biased that we got to have him on the bus. Yeah. As you're going in the majors. And not only that, but we got to sit with you like before you went on that. The national title run. And I, it's. To me, it's just sick that you. You've. You. We have this relationship and you've allowed us to interview you and you've came on the bus and when you are successful one day and you do win the World Series, like I know for us this will be. This will just be a moment to look back on.

[Host 2]

But you talk about taking credit for what some guys have done. Like you're a perfect example for us when you win a World Series. We're like, look what we did.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

The three of us, we helped will. Will the Giants into a World Series.

[Tony Vitello]

I'd known. Well, let's.

[Host 2]

Okay.

[Tony Vitello]

If we are going to manifest or whatever and we win a World Series, if you guys get to be in the clubhouse with the champagne and everything. What is that worth dollar wise? Do you see that being like.

[Host 2]

That's a good.

[Tony Vitello]

Put me some 500 grand a piece.

[Host 2]

That might be worth 500. Put the cool goggles on.

[Host 1]

Dropping. Dropping the GR for a moment.

[Host 2]

Snowboarding goggles.

[Tony Vitello]

Now I remember the. I mean you were out there and you threw out that first pitch and I was like, well did. Or do you have eligibility or.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

But then did you have. Again, I'm not on social media.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Be not on social media, but go ahead.

[Tony Vitello]

Then there was there one that wasn't as successful.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

And I'm not being facetious. I'm trying to.

[Host 1]

Because the way he looked like a good big long lefty when he threw that first pitch here in Nashville.

[Tony Vitello]

It was Good. It was real good.

[Host 2]

Thank you. And I. You brought that up because everyone wants to look at St. Louis and be like, that's the sample size. Like, people forget what happened in Tennessee. Here's what happened. I tasted the success.

[Tony Vitello]

Sure.

[Host 2]

And I felt good about it. Couple of your, your guys and the volunteers were like, hey, not bad. I'm, you know, used to throw a little bit back in the day. So we go to this Cardinals game, and I'm thinking, I'm just going to throw it as hard as I can. I'm going to try to throw heat, get on, like, ESPN top 10.

[Tony Vitello]

Sure.

[Host 2]

And yeah, got away from me. Got away from me. Didn't bring it around.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

And can I be honest? Since that day, I, I, I've had the yips which, where we go and we go to the Royals game and I throw one that's a little too high, and it's better than that one, but it's like, what are. Let's get back to the basics.

[Tony Vitello]

Sure.

[Host 1]

So you working on the side. He gets the ball in his hand, and you feel the confidence. But the moment you step in the big leagues and he's got that ball in his hand, it's like it just starts shaking.

[Host 2]

I'm, yeah, I'm a, I'm a AAA guy. I'm never going to be. I'm a dude that's going to ride the bus for 15, 20 years.

[Tony Vitello]

Well, I don't have all the answers, but I'm in Nashville, so maybe we need to play catch and train a little bit.

[Host 2]

You, I should have called you during this process.

[Tony Vitello]

You know, the, the. If anyone's listening out there that is. Has that opportunity. The number one advice I would say is don't try and throw it hard. And you did better than, like, 50 Cent tried to throw hard and he's muscled up, and Conor McGregor tried to do the same thing. So, yeah, just a little feel, a little touch pass, if you will.

[Host 2]

That's the thing, though, is I, we. It would be very easy for me after that Cardinals game to go and just kind of throw a muffin. Get it in there, no problem. But I, it's like, am I going to take that way or I have to, like, kind of keep the same process? Try to throw hard. Yeah. Now I have to conquer throwing hard.

[Host 1]

So maybe we can do it on safe ramp.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, we're going to have to.

[Host 2]

Maybe after this podcast we get out there, we get a couple gloves. Yeah, you give, just give me a couple pointers. Throw the ball 10, 15, times.

[Tony Vitello]

I should have brought all these materials. I'm upset. The. No suitcase with the IOUs. Should have brought a ball and some gloves.

[Host 2]

That's right. I can guarantee we'll be out in San Fran sometime. Yeah, I can guarantee that. That for you.

[Tony Vitello]

Bring it on.

[Host 2]

We'll be out. I think we're officially a bus with the boys. San Francisco Giants fans, right? Is that what we are now?

[Host 1]

Very.

[Tony Vitello]

Please. I'll send some gear. Yeah, we will have black and orange, you know, spooky. Now, the Super Bowl's in San Francisco, right?

[Host 1]

Yes.

[Tony Vitello]

Will you guys set up shop out there doing anything?

[Host 2]

We will be out there.

[Host 1]

Yeah, we'll be out there. We haven't got it set in stone yet. Yeah.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

You got a spot for us today?

[Tony Vitello]

We can arrange that. I've got a.

[Host 2]

What's going on?

[Tony Vitello]

I. I don't know that I should. Gabe Kapler. There's a place that's been talked about, you know, Bob Melvin was the last manager, and I didn't get to say it in the press conference. Shame on me. But he reached out to me and was a class act and was very helpful. And then the manager before him was Gabe Kapler, and Gabe is in pretty good shape and I think. I think enjoyed the city. So I'll explain how that involves a living arrangement when we're all. When we're off the.

[Host 2]

Yeah, fair enough. Sounds like we'll have a big enough place to stay when we come out. We.

[Tony Vitello]

We'll make sure that happens anyway. But, yeah, there's the official invitation and, man, what a cool. I. I want to see that stadium as well. I mean, our park. You guys will absolutely fall in love with. But I. I want to go out there. And John lynch reached out right away. Obviously, he's involved in the organization. Great dude.

[Sponsor Voice]

Dude.

[Tony Vitello]

And then if I can meet Coach Shanahan, because those guys like Al Wilson and Peyton that know him through, you know, his father with the Broncos, I always asked about him, and they say the guy's an absolute superstar.

[Host 1]

Yeah. You got a great football team that would very much probably rally around the Giants.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Good crew. Good locker room.

[Host 2]

Good locker room.

[Tony Vitello]

I probably shouldn't have it, but I was given George Kittle's number and, boy, would it be fun to take part in some shenanigans with that guy.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Have you reached out to George yet?

[Tony Vitello]

I had. Well, it was a group message, so.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Yeah. George is the perfect guy. He's the type of dude that he'll. He'll get dms from guys and become friends with them.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

And they'll be at his part. His. George. Kittle Fest.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And not just dms from guys. I'm talking like, this is, like, meme group dm. Yeah. People. He doesn't know that. Like, Xbox fans. And they'll be out at Kittle Fest.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Because he's like, oh, you're my guy. So, like. And I'll be like, oh, how'd you meet George? Are like, oh, we're. We're on the same kind of, like, Xbox team. Like, we just kind of DM every week, and people drop, like, different. Just memes in the DM and George will respond. And now they're out here at K Fest in Nashville.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

So George.

[Host 2]

George is. He's the perfect guy to get in with the 49ers.

[Tony Vitello]

That's a true clubhouse team. That's why every kid should be at least be on one, you know, take part in one team sport. That clubhouse mentality, it sounds like he's the definition of it. What the hell is Kittle Fest?

[Host 1]

Kittle Fest. He.

[Tony Vitello]

As he here. Yeah.

[Host 1]

Kittle Fest. Where? Yeah, it's K Fest. You don't know how to explain it.

[Host 2]

But every year is a different theme. It's out at his farm.

[Tony Vitello]

Okay.

[Host 2]

Food trucks, Jelly roll. He just randomly comes and plays.

[Host 1]

Yeah. People performing beer games. George just throws a party.

[Tony Vitello]

That's awesome.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Tony Vitello]

Jelly Roll, man. That guy says something to you, even if it's just a regular sentence. It feels like a sermon. It's awesome. We might have to have him speak to the team if we. If we go through any portions. Streaks.

[Host 2]

Absolutely. He is the nicest guy ever. He really does have.

[Host 1]

Do we want to hit him with the Bud Light question? What an opportunity for him to say, I'd be willing to give my entire salary to you guys if we win the World Series. But we can hit him with the Bud Light question. So Bud Light, people would do anything for an ice cold Bud Light?

[Tony Vitello]

Absolutely.

[Host 1]

What is something that you would do anything for?

[Tony Vitello]

I wouldn't stand in front of a gun with Kid Rock. That's for sure. It was just Halloween. For an ice cold Bud Light, I'd be willing to go back to my. My. I didn't wear a costume this year, but kind of the one that I regret or look back on the most was Kramer and Seinfeld once was trying to be a. An underwear model. So there was one time I roamed the streets of Columbia, Missouri, with just tidy whiteies and some Doc Martens. I Think. Or some shoes. So I'd revisit that Halloween costume for a nice cold butler.

[Host 2]

Hey, that's out there. That's a good one.

[Host 1]

That's a good one. Columbia, Missouri.

[Tony Vitello]

It's a fun town. Yeah, it's a fun town.

[Host 1]

You're a part of some interesting teams.

[Tony Vitello]

It's a little chilly. Yeah. A lot of personalities there and yeah, it's interesting. I like the loyalty thing and being a part of one place, but when you explore new areas, you meet people that you never would have met and you pick up on different cultures. And I look back on the four colleges I worked at and wouldn't have it any other way.

[Host 1]

So to. To juice up the Seinfeld clip, would you be willing to throw us an image of you back in the day again?

[Tony Vitello]

Is this an off air thing or is this going up on?

[Host 2]

This would be social media now.

[Tony Vitello]

I can't. I can't. I got to do something between now and spring training. I got to get in shape if I'm going to be in uniform around these guys. But back then I was in decent shape. But I don't think it was anything to brag about and have the whole world looking at, that's for sure.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Bro, that's. AI sure you'll handle that? No problem.

[Host 1]

This is a throwback photo. Him wandering the streets and tidy whities.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Well, dude, congrats on all your success.

[Tony Vitello]

Thank you.

[Host 2]

This is. It's awesome. Ground floor.

[Host 1]

I appreciate it and thank you for taking the time to come here.

[Tony Vitello]

No, this is awesome. Anyone who would ever get a chance to do this would be floored. And, you know, Coach Eckler was good enough to. To hook us up a few years back and fortunately it went well enough. I didn't screw it up. But, you know, you guys had floated the invite. I knew something crazy had to happen to actually step foot on this bad boy. And I appreciate it. Maybe, maybe one day down the road we can do it again.

[Host 2]

What do you guys do?

[Tony Vitello]

Scottsdale, Arizona, the.

[Host 1]

The Mecca.

[Tony Vitello]

And I've never got to do the waste management thing. My buddies do that every year. And I'm in a group text. Bruce Bochy, you know, he was another guy guy these, man. Like, I'm blown away because, you know, in the SEC there's high level of respect, but you're at each other's throat more than you want to be. And I got the job. And all these guys reached out to me with either text messages or phone calls. Managers now in the MLB or former managers and. And Bruce Boi, who was with the Giants and with Buster. He lives here and I was able to sit with him. But one of the things he said, a lot of great advice, but maybe the thing that jumped out the most was he said Scottsdale, Arizona, during spring training is like Marty Gro.

[Host 2]

It is, dude. It's a zoo. I grew. I mean, I grew up in Arizona and every time, every spring training, it was like a flood of people coming in. Always something to do, somewhere to go. You're going to love Oldtown Scottsdale. And if I could just give you a piece of advice, if you want a team bonding experience.

[Host 1]

Yes.

[Host 2]

Take your boys to Zips. Go to Zip. Hey, am I wrong? Hey, there it is.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Get some golden wings calls.

[Host 2]

Zips. Tell rent out this place, get yourself some golden wings for the boys. Some Monaco fashas. You get the whole team in there, buddy. You're going to spend 1200 bucks to feed your entire team, but you're going to walk away. Full bellies and full hearts. You guys might win it all based off of this one experience.

[Tony Vitello]

We will set that up 100% it is.

[Host 2]

And we'll come.

[Host 1]

How awesome would that be? It's like the players are like, Coach apparently has some nice dinner set.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Drops a location. They pull up, see Zip Sports Sports bar.

[Host 2]

And he's just like, taylor told me to go here.

[Host 1]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Host 2]

Zip sent us a gift card for $250, which is like a month worth of Zips. And we have talked about, like flying into Arizona for one day just to get Zips and come back.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

But now spring training, boys, let's go spring training.

[Tony Vitello]

And then also. So those guys are training for the. For the big league season. You come down, you train for a first pitch in spring training.

[Host 2]

I love it.

[Tony Vitello]

And then we get you ready for. Yeah, yeah. A real game in San Francisco.

[Host 2]

I would love.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah. Zips is the icing on the cake.

[Host 2]

Zips is the icing on the cake. We're do a full day of training, get the elbow nice and sore, then we're going to go feed some Zips and that elbow will be just fine. It's going to be awesome. It's going to be awesome.

[Host 1]

Coach B, he can just tell him we got a couple sponsors that lined up at dinner for us.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Bring all the fellows, man. Dinner on the boys. I'd be. Hey, that's. I'm telling you. I'm telling you.

[Host 1]

Chef, before we get off or Jack, any questions for Coach V. Being sicko. Vol.

[Host 2]

Fans, not a question but a thanks. You truly embody what it is to be a Tennessee Voll and took Tennessee baseball into the forefront. Brought us first Natty truly incredible the whole fan base I can wholeheartedly speak for them. We will miss you and wish you the best of luck with the Giants and yeah I'll be telling the Giants now moving forward so GBO and whatever the go Giants.

[Tony Vitello]

Thank you brother SFG I appreciate it.

[Host 6]

It yeah also thanks here you're actually the reason I have a job here. I did the documentary on Hunter I don't know if you remember and I interviewed you that's the reason Jared when I was an intern he said just off of that alone is kind of how I got started here. So appreciate it.

[Tony Vitello]

Appreciate everything you did.

[Host 6]

Ball baseball has been such a great like since you got there and turned the program into what it is now it's added just another sport that we get excited for and it feels you know anything that we can root on the orange and white is the best. So thank you and best of luck.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah well thank you man. That's a cool story and you did the work so it's.

[Host 1]

It goes to show I didn't even know that with the the documentary that is.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah I mean if you do good work someone's going to notice. So good on you for that to happen but I'm glad we had a part in it and overall just it almost like anytime you're talking to a Vol fan you feel like you're talking to the whole group. It's just a representative at that so. So as far as that exchange goes I got more out of it than anyone else did and it couldn't have happened without all the ingredients are there in a great city obviously phenomenal place in the fan base and then you mix in college baseball. If you haven't been to a college baseball game and you're listening you got to go no matter where it is. It's become a party and it's a lot of fun and you're seeing future big leaguers for a much cheaper price. You know not that there's anything wrong with the San Francisco Giants prices.

[Host 2]

But.

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah but no I the appreciation is mutual and dude walk. I didn't know my dad's like how was the feedback or whatever because he cares and you got to grow thick skin but I went back to the football game Saturday and just entering the stadium stuff that people were saying on the street I was like again to use the tears theme like I was like I gotta Duck my head and get in the stadium because this is emotionally overwhelming and people don't have to do that. So I appreciate it.

[Host 6]

I think part of it, Josh Eland Lander stepping in. I think a lot of people have trust in him and do you want to speak anything on that and kind of, yeah, God, tell Balls fans what they can expect. I've heard some really cool stories about him being in Canada and wildfires or maybe it was California and drove home for, like, his wife's. He was doing recruiting, wife pregnant and then got back out. Like just these crazy hard ethics, hard work ethics stories. Do you have anything you can attest to that?

[Tony Vitello]

Yeah, to a fault. Going back and forth and being on top of the recruiting thing, for sure, sure. But no, that was. I feel like, you know, again, I. I get the hat. I feel like I'm still a part of all nation, but really, truly being a part of a victory. That was the last victory I was a part of. And it was a small part of it, really. It was the players spoke up, the agents that he worked with, the summer coaches, the players that are in our recruiting classes. He was the guy that was heading all that up. And, you know, just because there were some moments maybe you accidentally, definitely touch an umpire or bump into an umpire, I should say you get a little more attention than. Than you deserve. There was a massive group effort in that building to try and get the thing, you know, going, and he was just as big of a part of it as any. So he's the right leader, but there's also the right players on the field. And then also it'll keep that culture going. And there's something, like I said, consistency of that culture. Tennessee baseball, for whatever reason, has evolved vibe, and the fans contribute to it. So the fact that vibe's going to keep rolling fires me up. Should fire everybody else up, too.

[Host 6]

Fires me up.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Good.

[Host 1]

Before we get off, do you have a piece of advice that you've latched on to as you're making this transition again?

[Tony Vitello]

I. I think make a decision and do it like hell was something that a family we talked about earlier kept. Kept revisiting with me and. And the thing I've always latched on to from a mentor of mine with these recruits, boots is the right decision is the one you make, you know, unless you look back on it and. Or you second guess or you regret things. So those are somewhat corny ones, but I think impactful at this point. But more than anything, I'm just going to enjoy it again. I'm the guinea pig. So whichever way it goes, I'm blessed to be able to experience it and the organization has blown me away so far and how they do things. So I'm going to learn a lot and have fun doing doing it and we'll, we'll see if we win enough games for you guys to be in the locker room one day.

[Host 1]

Let's go, Coach B. You're the man, bro.

[Tony Vitello]

Thank you guys. Appreciate you.

[Host 2]

Thank you, thank you. That's for the boys. Official giants fans official.

[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

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[Ed Helms/Kal Penn]

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[Host 1]

All alone.

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[Tony Vitello]

Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap.

[Host 2]

You're almost at the finish line. But first.

[Tony Vitello]

There, the last one. Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes. This is an I Heart podcast.