Mailbag: The WORST Title-Winning QBs, Spring Game Lookahead & More! | College Football

Summary

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Cover 3 College Football Podcast

Episode: "Mailbag: The WORST Title-Winning QBs, Spring Game Lookahead & More!"

Date: April 9, 2026
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell (Bud Elliott not present in transcript)

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Overview

In this lively Thursday mailbag episode, the Cover 3 crew dives into fan-driven topics from the week, ranging from spring game previews for SEC standouts to the ever-controversial debate: who are the worst quarterbacks to win a college football national title? Along the way, the hosts riff on new and lost rivalries, the logic of Notre Dame's auto-bid playoff path, favorite (and infamous) fight songs, and more, with their trademark blend of sharp analysis and collegiate banter.

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1. Spring Game Weekend Lookahead

[04:01] – [10:55]

Key Points:

• Notable Spring Games: Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee’s spring games aren’t televised this year, which is rare for SEC powers.
  • Tom Fornelli (05:45): “I think it also incentivizes coming to the game... Fine, we'll give you your fan and family experience, but get your ass to the stadium if you want to have it.”
• Why No Broadcast?
  • Hosts speculate coaches want to control scouting and make it a premium fan experience.
• Team-by-Team Interest:
  • Alabama: QB battle is the biggest storyline, some curiosity about Ryan Williams-Coleman (now with a hyphenated last name).
  • Florida: Newfound optimism; program trending up under John Sumrall, with fans hungry for “physicality” in the spring game.
    • Danny Kanell (08:36): “Spring game might be the only one anybody in Florida loses this year.”
  • Tennessee: “Plug and play” QB system but questions on offensive line and secondary replacements. Tom finds himself “slowly upgrading” expectations for the defense under new DC Jim Knowles.

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2. Viewer Mailbag: National Title Without SEC/Big Ten Teams

[15:07] – [16:07]

• Listener “Yovi” asks: Pick a national title matchup without any SEC or Big Ten teams.
  • Tom Fornelli (15:31): “No, it's not. The easy answer is Notre Dame over Miami.”
  • Hosts agree Miami and Notre Dame are top non-SEC/Big Ten contenders.

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3. Mailbag Main Event: The WORST QBs to Win a National Title (CFP/BCS Era)

[20:04] – [31:08]

Main Discussion:

• Ground Rules: Focus is primarily on the CFP era (2014–present), but hosts extend to BCS era (1998-on) for context.

Notable Names Submitted:

• Jacob Coker (Alabama 2015): “I don't think Jacob Coker was asked to go and win a lot for Alabama. That was Derrick Henry, especially down the stretch.” – Chip (21:38)
• Ken Dorsey (Miami 2001): Great supporting cast, not himself a star talent.
• Craig Krenzel (Ohio State 2002), Greg McElroy (Alabama 2009), Cardale Jones (Ohio State 2014): Managed games more than won them.
• J.J. McCarthy (Michigan 2023): Chip (23:09) suggests he’s in the discussion; “He was a really good game manager, but I think he's probably in this group.”

Who Wouldn't Count?

• Generally, the QBs who had occasional low stat lines but were highly efficient or key on third downs (e.g., McElroy) can be unfairly maligned.

Would Indiana Still Be Great With Those QBs?

• The crew evaluates how the hypothetical “average” title-winning QBs would do at Indiana in place of current star Fernando Mendoza.
  • Danny Kanell (25:38): “Only a few guys, I think, can truly step in there and Indiana would be as dominant as they were.”
  • Most of these so-called “worst” QBs would lower Indiana’s ceiling to 9-3 or so; Mendoza's X-factor is his difference-making talent and mistake-free play.

Notable Quote:

• Tom Fornelli (26:31): “Fernando didn’t make mistakes.”
• No love for Stetson Bennett as “worst”—hosts agree his play was too solid and intangible heavy, even if he sometimes flies under the radar.

Fun Side Debate:

• Tim Tebow in the modern game? Would a 2008-style Tebow-led team even win a title today, given how offenses and defenses have changed?
  • Danny (29:00): “Could any team win a national title with Tim Tebow as their quarterback right now?... That was 20 years ago.”
  • Hosts posit you’d need an elite defense and very different offensive design.

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4. Best QBs to Lose a National Title Game

[31:14] – [33:22]

• A reversal of the earlier debate. Noted names:
  • Tua Tagovailoa (2018 Alabama)
  • Trevor Lawrence (2019 Clemson)
  • Bryce Young (Alabama)
  • Justin Fields, Marcus Mariota, Deshaun Watson, Colt McCoy, Michael Vick, Michael Penix (BCS and CFP eras)
• Consensus: More “truly great” QBs have lost a title than won it, given the fierce competition.

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5. New College Football Rivalries We'd Create

[33:37] – [37:19]

• Prompt: What currently doesn’t exist but should be a major rivalry going forward?

  • USC vs. Michigan State: “Trojan Horse Trophy,” a literal matchup of Trojans vs. Spartans – Danny Kanell (34:22)
  • Clemson vs. LSU: The “Death Valley” naming rights.
  • Indiana and Notre Dame: “Now that Indiana is good, make Notre Dame play Indiana instead. So much fun!” – Danny (34:57)
  • Oregon vs. Ohio State: Recent series and playoff matchups, “Ducks and Bucks.”
  • Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma: Reignite Big 12 feelings.
  • Rapid-fire regional rivalries: North Dakota St. vs. Iowa; West Virginia vs. App State (“Battle of the Mountaineers/‘Nears vs. Eers’”).

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6. Why Does Notre Dame Get an Automatic Playoff Spot?

[39:42] – [43:09]

• Danny (40:02): “They had a gun and it was loaded, and they demanded it and nobody's gonna say no because it's Notre Dame.”
• It’s about TV and product value. With the new contract and 12-team playoff, guaranteeing a spot for conference champions led ND to demand equal (fast pass) treatment, as an independent.
• Concerns about optics: ND gets in without a conference title game risk, while others must win a 13th “data point.”
• Tom (43:09): “Notre Dame, which in the CFP construction has as big a seat at the table individually as each of the conferences. That makes sense to me.”

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7. Official & Unofficial Fight Songs

[44:15] – [47:30]

• Unofficial favorites:

  • “Enter Sandman” (VT), “Mr. Brightside” (Michigan), “Mo Bamba,” “Neck” (LSU), “Jump Around” (Wisconsin), “Sandstorm” (South Carolina), “Nuck if You Buck” (Georgia Tech)
  • Tom: “Everybody claiming Mr. Brightside. I'm not saying that. I'm just giving more of, like, what I would say, consider unofficial types.”

• Official classics: “Hail to the Victors” (Michigan), “Fight On” (USC), “Rocky Top” (Tennessee), “Boomer Sooner” (Oklahoma)

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8. Mailbag Grab Bag (Miscellaneous Qs)

[47:30]–[54:49]

• Could Cam Newton drag a middling team to a title in 2025?
  • Tom & Danny speculate that even as the game evolves, Cam’s singular skillset (see 2010 Auburn) could still put some lesser teams in the playoff hunt.
• Middle School Listener asks: What do you think of Chad Morris (Clemson)?
  • Danny Kanell (51:33): “...your coach has gone with the comfortable safe option or the familiar option a little too often...I’m not optimistic.”
  • Chip: There are promising backs; Morris should emphasize the run and bring less friction between coach and OC.

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9. Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On QB legacies: “More great quarterbacks have lost title games than won them in this modern era.” – Chip (33:13)
• About fan experience: “If you want to have it, get your ass to the stadium.” – Tom (05:45)
• On modern Tebow: “Could any team win a national title with Tim Tebow as their quarterback right now?” – Danny (29:00)
• On Notre Dame's playoff access: “They had a gun and it was loaded, and they demanded it...” – Danny (40:02)
• On Chad Morris at Clemson: “I'm not super excited...I feel like your coach has gone with the comfortable safe option or the familiar option a little too often...” – Danny (51:33)

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Notable Timestamps

• 04:01 — Spring Game TV blackout, SEC
• 20:04 — Main mailbag: "Worst" national title QBs and Indiana hypothetical
• 29:00 — Tebow in the modern game debate
• 31:14 — The best QBs to lose championships
• 34:22 — Fun hypothetical rivalries
• 39:42 — Notre Dame’s playoff deal
• 44:15 — Fight songs, official and unofficial
• 47:30 — Reverse Cam Newton hypothetical
• 51:33 — Clemson’s Chad Morris future evaluated

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Tone & Style

Consistently energetic, collegial, and irreverent, the hosts blend deep football knowledge with an easy rapport and regular inside jokes. They welcome absurd hypotheticals and embrace a social, tailgate-friendly storytelling vibe, poking fun at themselves and each other throughout.

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For fans who missed it: This episode is a snapshot of college football banter at its best—mixing real analysis with light-hearted debates, nostalgia, and audience engagement. Whether pondering the ceilings of game-managing QBs or jamming to college stadium anthems, Cover 3’s hosts keep it smart, sharp, and fun.

Transcript

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[Chip Patterson]

Welcome Back to the COVID 3 podcast with your hosts Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Cannell and Bud Elliott. It's your call for the best college football coverage from national signing day to the national championship and everything in between. CBS Sports presents the COVID 3 Podcast.

[Tom Fornelli]

And welcome back to the COVID 3 Podcast here on CBS Sports. That's Tom Fenelli, that's Danny Cannell. I'm Chip Patterson. Come to you [e-mail] cover3 and everywhere. Get your podcast on demand. Thanks for hanging out. Smash that subscribe, smash that like and come and join us in the chat. Aka the COVID 3 tailgate where at 9:17am Eastern Time our guy Nick jumped in and he even said popped up in a cold one and brought his TV to the pregame so he can watch the Masters which yes, you can watch on Paramount. Plus a mountain of Entertainment and 18 Holes of Glory from Augusta National. They are off and running there as we are open with great weather, crispy first round action there from Augusta National. But Nick wants to celebrate the big success on the recruiting trail for John Sumrall. That's right. Maxwell hiller, the number two offensive tackle in the class of 2027, committed to Florida. So congrats Nick. You know any? I, I don't have a good scouting report on him yet. I would say what that's a good, good day to be a Gator, right? He said first Florida's first five star offensive line in, in a decade.

[Chip Patterson]

That really surprising.

[Tom Fornelli]

Wow. Yeah. I mean they've had big guys right? We, and we've had players who've developed into NFL draft picks like this year. Right. We've barber Slaughter like they've, they've had players who eventually have gone on to be the pros. But yep, congratulations to the Gators. Big recruiting win all along the way. So we have because it's a Thursday, questions from the big old bag of mail where if you've gone and you've left us a five star review, you put your mailbag question in, you get there. If you've reached out to us individually, got one from, from Twitter, a couple others that we can grab from the YouTube comments as well. And for those of you like Nick who jumped in to get the conversation going, Colin, Jerry, Yovi and more, we will be getting to your comments and questions all throughout. Now we're not going to jump into this yet, but just a reminder based on the headline worst quarterbacks to win a national championship, it's a tough conversation but there's a wrinkle to the question that I think will make it a lot more fun. But let's begin with because we do have a couple spring games coming up this weekend. I I had it my spring game calendar set guys. Alabama, Florida, Tennessee. Oh yeah. Let's go Danny. None of them are on TV oh,

[Chip Patterson]

not even no SEC network, no ESPN plus, no, you know, espn, Ocho, nothing. Now, do you think this is. Do you think this is by design? You think the coaches are like, hey, yeah, we don't want you scouting our talent. We don't want you. I mean, even though they could easily go and get a ticket to the game, just watching the stands, they're that die hard. But I think ease of access, well,

[Tom Fornelli]

I think it also incentivizes coming to the game. I think that what they did was incredibly smart. They heard all of our criticism and commentary last spring as spring games are getting canceled left and right. And the most like, earnest part of the discussion that we offered was about the fan experience, the family experience. So the coaches came back and said, fine, we'll give you your fan and family experience, but get your ass to the stadium if you want to have it. So Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, if you cannot get there, which I will not be able to get there myself this weekend, we will be relying on the fantastic work of 247 sports and the, the many sources that can help give us some reaction and some feedback from some of these spring games. But let's, let's do a quick run through. Outside of the quarterbacks, is there anything else you're keeping your eye on for Alabama, at least in terms of takeaways that we'll get from the spring game?

[Danny Cannell]

No. I mean, it's the biggest question. It's one we've discussed. I mean, obviously there are other positional battles going on. They've got guys to replace, but I don't think it's anything that's like, you know, earth shattering.

[Chip Patterson]

Dk, we get Ryan Williams Coleman and a new number and a new hyphenated name after a pretty disappointing year. 2. Curious to see if he steps it up a little bit.

[Danny Cannell]

When did he add the Coleman? I didn't know about that.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, yeah, he added. All right, well, exactly how can you not tune in to see that?

[Tom Fornelli]

I do in. If I do wonder in those situations, like if I was to, you know. I know, I know. Kaylin Deborah is a huge fan of the COVID 3 podcast. I'm not going to ask him to show his cards now, but. No, I would ask him if he was tuning in.

[Danny Cannell]

You.

[Tom Fornelli]

You dial one up for him. It's the spring game, right?

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

That's gotta thing, right? You would.

[Danny Cannell]

Totally.

[Tom Fornelli]

Let's get out there. He kind of became a little bit divisive within some of the fan base. You know, Alabama fans always critical of their own, you know, Ride or die. An Alabama quarterback might have shown up with some of these worst title winning quarterbacks. As the conversation got started in the tailgate before we got going at Florida. I think I'm just looking for a little bit of juice, you know that

[Chip Patterson]

first we're gonna get juice. There has been more optimism and excitement around this Florida program since a year ago or two years ago. I mean it happens every year, but it does feel like here they are back again. A lot of good pieces. The summer all returns feel really good so far. Just kind of side to see. I want to see some physicality which I think you'll get in Florida spring game.

[Danny Cannell]

I mean the spring game might be the only one anybody in Florida loses this year.

[Chip Patterson]

That's right.

[Tom Fornelli]

Is there Favorite against 15 of 12 opponents?

[Danny Cannell]

Favored against everybody. Best team in the country.

[Tom Fornelli]

Then Tennessee. Gotta be the quarterbacks.

[Chip Patterson]

That one.

[Tom Fornelli]

I'll go low hanging fruit on that.

[Danny Cannell]

Well, I mean, yeah, for the most part, but I also feel like with that offense there's a certain level of competency that you can expect because it is somewhat plug and play. Now obviously some guys flourish in it and do much better than others, but you're never going to see Tennessee with like a terrible performance from their quarterback, whoever ends up winning the job. But yeah, that's something to pay attention to. But there's also the offensive line. Kind of got a lot to replace. They've got plenty to replace on defense the last couple years. They're losing two of their, you know, starting corners. Like they didn't have McCoy last year because he was hurt. But still you're, you're replacing two corners so your secondary is going to be an issue for you. So that's something to keep an eye on because it's, it's not as easy to replace those guys.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't know if we will see it in the spring game, but as I've continued to do some of my work, I think I'm finding myself slowly upgrading my thoughts on Tennessee's defense going into the season which. And that's not even looking at our new defensive coordinator. Right. Jim Knowles.

[Danny Cannell]

That's part of it too because defensive backs are very important in his defense.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, I think the personnel on paper and there's some new pieces there. I thought they did some. Sometimes the portal additions come so fast and furious, especially with the time of year that we're in that a solid edition that answers a question doesn't always rise to the top of my radar. But as I'm going back and I'M looking at this, I'm like, you know what? This is a pretty, pretty solid defense now under the direction of Jim Knowles. Again, spring game. The defense can be as dominant or not dominant as the coaches want them to be, especially against the quarterbacks that you're breaking in, offensive linemen that you're breaking in. But that's another big picture Tennessee piece that I'm excited to. To see for the Falls as they try to get back into the College Football Playoff picture. Were you just watching Xander's putt? This is the most.

[Danny Cannell]

I was watching Cam Young's putt because, I mean, I have. If. If he. It was for par and it wasn't a gimme, he made it, but it was on a par 5. And I feel like if you bogey a single par 5 in Augusta, you are not winning the tournament.

[Tom Fornelli]

Well, that'd be Bryson. He's out. He bogey. Yeah, he barked the second already. Yeah, we'll. We'll see.

[Chip Patterson]

Along Jack talk about his duck hook off the tee in the ceremonial first tee shot.

[Danny Cannell]

That. That looked like me in my first tee shot last week when I played my first check.

[Tom Fornelli]

Jack Nicklaus, like one of, if not the greatest of all time. High ball. What was. That was always his thing at Augusta, right? He throw that thing way up high. He hit it high.

[Chip Patterson]

As I'm watching now, they're promoting Kevin Hart coming up live on espn. What do you think of the degradation of the hallowed ground known as Augusta with. I mean, just the. The level of hijinks that's taking place? Are we. Are we uppity on the golf or are we.

[Danny Cannell]

I don't care. I mean, is that only on ESPN or is that, like, on the actual Augusta coverage?

[Chip Patterson]

It's on. I mean, it's on ESPN's coverage, but it was at the par three yesterday. I mean, they're letting. Which always. The par three is the. You know, not.

[Danny Cannell]

Not saying this is wrong. That's just espn. That's the way they do things. It's never really about the event. It's about what we can. The spectacle we can make of the event.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, I think the Masters lost a lot when they let dude perfect out there. Put a bunch of stuff on there. Like, that was a few. I think it's. That was. The downfall was started right there.

[Danny Cannell]

Didn't Fred Ridley say something?

[Tom Fornelli]

Hey, listen, Danny, I'm. You. You are only echoing the sentiments of the chairman. So I. I don't think those are controversial statements. I think you're probably. You're you're speaking. You're singing from the same hymnal as the Brain Trust right there.

[Chip Patterson]

Everybody that's there loves it because it's different. No cell phones. Like, you're supposed to be like, hat forward tucked in shirts. Like, let's look. I mean, it has a certain sandals

[Tom Fornelli]

on if you like. Like you kick your shoes off. Just they're going to come and tap you on the shoulder.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. And it sets it apart. And so when you let some of this other stuff come in, it just kind of. What are you doing the Phoenix Open here or what? Just letting people all over the place like it is Augusta. Kind of like it that way.

[Tom Fornelli]

Chain smokers doing a nice little set, like out there on the England corner.

[Danny Cannell]

There was like an hour between games because of that.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, there was.

[Tom Fornelli]

It was.

[Chip Patterson]

And it was kind of out of place.

[Tom Fornelli]

I'm just. I was so Inspired, you know, 10

[Chip Patterson]

years ago would have been banging.

[Danny Cannell]

What.

[Chip Patterson]

They are a little past their prime.

[Tom Fornelli]

So the target demographic keeps. Continues to move. My thought overall is it's the par three, like the second that we went way over the top with, you know, and not a bad thing, but we went way over the top with all the different. I mean, Jack had his grandsons hitting shots and everyone.

[Chip Patterson]

That's usually what it's been, though. Family members, you know, not celebrities, but like.

[Tom Fornelli]

And even in the practice rounds, skipping the balls across the water has started to slow the pace of play of the practice rounds. You know, things start to get a little backed up. So.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah, I might.

[Tom Fornelli]

I might be seeing where you're coming from right there. All right.

[Danny Cannell]

See Lyndon Clark's quote yesterday about it?

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, he did a hard launch with his new.

[Danny Cannell]

Not that, but when he was talking about the part three, he said, it's excellent birth control control.

[Chip Patterson]

That's pretty good. It was a hard launch.

[Tom Fornelli]

All right.

[Danny Cannell]

Speaking of hard launches, shout out to Victor Hovland, too.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

Very happy for Wendy and Vic.

[Chip Patterson]

They've had absolutely well done. The golfers used to be dorks. Now they're getting all the hot girls. Good for them.

[Tom Fornelli]

Hey, I don't know, buddy. There's some. There's some ones out there that still qualify as a capital D dork.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh, yeah. But now they're getting the girls. That was always the case.

[Tom Fornelli]

All right, let's. Let's. Let's have some. Some fun here with the tailgate. Before we got started in the 10 o' clock hour, Yovi jumped in and said, good morning, fellas. Thursday question. Kind of going off the bold predictions pick the Natty without using SEC or Big Ten teams. I'm going to interpret this as. Let's get both of them. Miami, Texas Tech.

[Chip Patterson]

That's the easy answer.

[Tom Fornelli]

No, it's not. The easy answer is Notre Dame over Miami.

[Danny Cannell]

Oh, yeah. Notre Dame could work too. Yeah, I, I feel like. Yeah, yeah. Now which one of those teams is you'll be a fan of? Because that is a very, very targeted question.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, man. Our guys see law with Cold Blooded. That's kind of like saying pick the Super Bowl.

[Danny Cannell]

Also picking Notre Dame in Miami for that one. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

I mean the ACC was right there last year.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

You know, not that crazy to see

[Tom Fornelli]

27, 21 driving with a chance to win.

[Chip Patterson]

Yep.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean the past didn't have a chance to win.

[Chip Patterson]

No.

[Tom Fornelli]

Like the, the possession indicated there was a chance to win. Yeah. So thank you, Yovi. We've got a couple others out there also. What Yalls Masters setup? Is it out? So I don't know. You got four days there. I have multiple master setups.

[Danny Cannell]

It's right there. That's my master setup.

[Chip Patterson]

Same right there.

[Danny Cannell]

I might be out on the deck having a cigar, watching it later. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Nice out today, but it's pretty much everywhere. I'll have the one outside. If it's nice out by the pool, put it on out there. But it'll be on the main screen inside. Quad box. Can we get the quad box with the, the different, you know, can you get the feature group, the main telecast? Because I haven't seen that yet, but I would really like a quad box featured.

[Danny Cannell]

I, I don't know if they have that for the Masters.

[Chip Patterson]

I know they do it for the other majors, but it is Augusta.

[Tom Fornelli]

I, my. I, I think that, that sometimes for me is a, it's a little bit overload. I can do a quad box with football. I could do a quad box with basketball. I think, I think with, I think with golf, I want the whole screen,

[Danny Cannell]

you know, the best, the best quad box sport is baseball.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah. Because you can take all four pretty much without really. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Flip on when there's a good brawl. I didn't know Jorge Tony Vitello's trashing his ball boy.

[Danny Cannell]

Listen, I, I love the tradition that they do with, with season ticket holders being odd to be ball boys. But I do feel like maybe we should have an age cap. Yeah. Because there are times where it's like, you see that 85 year old man getting up off the stool, sprinting at top speed, that 100 yards or so to go get that ball.

[Tom Fornelli]

I didn't know that Jorge Solaire charged the mound after he hit the home run the other night.

[Danny Cannell]

He hit a home run and then he got beaned in his next at bat. And then the third at bat, he got buzzed up and in.

[Tom Fornelli]

And then that's when he charged. Goodness gracious. All right, coming up on the other side, who are some of the worst quarterbacks to win a national championship in the modern era? And then the wrinkle that I didn't tell you about. Would they have won if they were Indiana's quarterback instead of Fernando Mendoza? All that and more next.

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[Tom Fornelli]

Back here on the COVID 3 podcast, we do enjoy to spend this time of the week going into your question. So Mikey, let's go down to the Mailroom. All right, this question does come from the five star big old bag of mail from Apple username Matt Campbell's Soup. And that's a good one. Love the show. Great way to keep up with the sport and have some laughs. Question. Fernando Mendoza was one of the best quarterbacks we've seen on a national championship winning team. So who are some of the worst quarterbacks to win the national championship in the CFP era? And how would Indiana have fared with them? Would they still have competed for the Big Ten title? Would they have even made the playoffs?

[Chip Patterson]

CFP era, are we going 2014?

[Tom Fornelli]

And if you, if we wanted, for the purposes of the conversation to expand it to BCS and take it all the way back to 98, you can

[Chip Patterson]

really rip a lot of guys.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't, I don't add quarterbacks in the CFP era.

[Danny Cannell]

Well, we've had a couple weaker, but yeah, there haven't been any. Like, truly. I mean that's the thing. Like I'm looking at this list and I see names, whereas it's like the. These are obvious choices. But I also think that going back to when they played, they weren't really terrible at the time. They just seem worse now,

[Tom Fornelli]

I think. I don't think Jacob Coker was asked to go and win a lot for Alabama. That was Derek Henry, especially coming down the stretch, carrying the ball 35 to 40 times a game. Yeah, that's very. And he had big plays because he had Lane. It wasn't Lane. OC for the 2015 team, I want to say. So. So, so that means, guess what, you've got one to two plays a game that are 65 yard touchdown passes to be able to really help bolster your efficiency and you know, overall yards and things of that nature. But in terms of the way that that Alabama offense attacked defenses, to me it was very much a king. Henry's running down your throat and look what you try. Try to see what you can do to stop it.

[Danny Cannell]

On that case, can we go with Ken Dorsey? Yeah, listen, that was a team full of like first and second round picks, but he wasn't one of them.

[Tom Fornelli]

To BCS ERA is where we got Craig Krenzel into the conversation where he very much managing the game.

[Chip Patterson]

McElroy gets mentioned all the time because in the title game I think he threw for 86 yards or something like that. But he was, he was like all Alabama quarterbacks like was really good, you know, because you didn't ask him to do a whole bunch. So I think he unfairly gets ripped sometime just for that title game.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah, I don't, I don't include McElroy in the list of worst quarterbacks here.

[Chip Patterson]

You guys are not going to like this take. I don't think J.J. mcCarthy was outstanding. He was a really good game manager, but I think he's probably in this group of guys that had a lot of talent around him. You know, he made some big plays on third downs, but I don't. How many games over 300 yards did he have? I don't know if he had one.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah, I, I get that. But you said he had all those plays on third downs. Those were the only times they were having him throw like the offense was third and jj, they would hand off on first and second down getting third and seven and then JJ would get moved the chains. So I, I don't. Yeah, I, I don't think JJ was one of the worst. I don't even think JJ was one of the worst of the Big Ten's run here. I think the worst of the Big Tens run was probably Will Howard. Oh,

[Tom Fornelli]

That's a good. Hey, this is.

[Danny Cannell]

Hey, I didn't say he's the worst of all of them, but I'm saying if I'm looking at Fernando Mandoza, J.J. mcCarthy and Will Howard, I'm putting Will Howard is the worst.

[Tom Fornelli]

Ooh, this has turned into a fun question because the problem is there's not a lot of bad ones. So now we're having. All right, so where's Cardano?

[Danny Cannell]

National Championship winning.

[Tom Fornelli]

Where's Cardano?

[Chip Patterson]

I know why I had looked at Cardell. It's like such a short body of work and it wasn't, you know, too. But he got hot at the right time, made some big throws and I

[Tom Fornelli]

just like him so much.

[Chip Patterson]

I know.

[Tom Fornelli]

Total bias there. You know, just really enjoy Cardell Jones.

[Danny Cannell]

I mean, we could make the argument that his coach thought he was the third best quarterback on his own team.

[Tom Fornelli]

So why would

[Chip Patterson]

Will Howard stats are way better than J.J. mcCarthy.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah, well, yeah, they died.

[Chip Patterson]

Their offense did more Will.

[Tom Fornelli]

How A great point from Austin, the tailgate. Will Howard in the playoff was leveled up as Ohio State's offense kind of opened up. I thought Will Howard had a really good CFP run to help the Buckeyes there. So what about the second part? So if we're talking about Jacob Coker, Craig Krenzel, Greg McElroy, JJ McCarthy, Will Howard, Cardale, put, put some of those names on, on Indiana's team, what's their ceiling? What's. What was the true difference of Fernando Mendoza in terms of where Indiana would have been with another one of those quarterbacks.

[Danny Cannell]

I'm just, I'm gonna go through all these QBs and list the ones that I think Indiana still wins the title if they had, not the ones that Josh Hyp, Matt Leinert, Vince Young. I don't know if they win with Debo. I just feel like that'd be a very play.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

Cam Newton, McCarron, Jamis Desean Tua Trevor, Joe Burrow, Mac Jones, Bryce Young and maybe that's it because I like the video we put out of my Big Ten bold prediction yesterday. Getting a lot of, a lot of love from Indiana fans for it. Who clearly out of my mind to think that Indiana would fail to make the College Football Playoff. But part of the thought process behind it is I've said it like about the difference between two years ago and last year. Mendoza was the difference. We saw it with Curtis Rourke. They couldn't get over the hump against the top team. So last year, now you could, I could hear arguments otherwise but I, I would argue they had the best quarterback in every single game they played. Now maybe you want to argue Dante Moore is better. Maybe you want to argue fine, that's. You can make that argument. But I think they had the best quarterback in every game. Will they have the best quarterback in every game they play this year? Probably not. And I like Josh Hoover so I think that's something you have to consider. So if you take Mendoza off that team, I mean the guy's going to be the number one pick in the NFL draft. Now he might not have been the number one pick in every single NFL draft the last few years, but he's still a very good quarterback. So only a few guys I think can truly step in there in Indiana would be as dominant as they were.

[Chip Patterson]

What would be the go ahead nine and three.

[Tom Fornelli]

The floor. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Like with some of the average ones. Yeah, yeah, I think so. Because I mean they destroyed a lot of opponents.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right.

[Chip Patterson]

You know, that's the other thing.

[Danny Cannell]

Like Fernando didn't make mistakes.

[Chip Patterson]

Right.

[Tom Fornelli]

Do you. We did not. We are several minutes into this conversation clearly showing our, our biases as formerly and potentially again a Georgia pod. No mention of Stetson Bennett, the two time national champion.

[Danny Cannell]

I. They could have won with Stetson. I don't know for sure because a lot of what Stetson did was out of the pocket. Fernando was very much in command of the offense in the pocket. So I don't know.

[Tom Fornelli]

I'm pulling this off the top of my head, I don't remember laying a lot of criticism at Stetson's feet for decision making and turnovers.

[Danny Cannell]

No, but he had his moments. But overall he was fine. I mean, like, he. He was kind of like in a similar situation what Michigan was doing with McCarthy where they would run the ball most of the time on first and second down, and then if Stetson had to make a play to keep things going, they were relying on their defense far more than anything.

[Tom Fornelli]

So if Tim Tebow was on Indiana, Indiana's not winning the national title. Yeah. God, that's a good clip.

[Danny Cannell]

But see, that's. That's.

[Chip Patterson]

Wonder if they adapt their offense and they build. You know, you build around a running quarterback and you make his physician account like, that's. Kirk Signetti's a great coach. You know, do you just have an entirely different look, which I would imagine they would do that if they had Tebow here.

[Danny Cannell]

I'm going to. I'm going to submit my own mailbag question. Could any team, with the way college football is currently structured and the way it works with offenses, could any team win a national title with Team Tebow as their quarterback? Right now? It doesn't take away from what Thibaut did at Florida. You can make the argument he's the greatest college football quarterback of all time. I might not agree with you, but I would. I'd say you're not insane.

[Chip Patterson]

You'd have.

[Danny Cannell]

That was 20 years ago.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. I would say you'd have to have a defense like Ohio State or Texas Tech last year and you would have to have entirely different offenses than both of those teams ran.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

Could we not argue that Texas Tech had Baron Morton at quarterback last year?

[Chip Patterson]

They were asking him to throw like he was incompetent as a thrower. You know, like. That's what I do think. But I. But to like. Does Tim Tebow's offensive style, does that work today? I think it might. I think because, you know, we've seen a return of the run game. You know, we've seen teams running the ball more. You know, could he withstand that beating that he would take?

[Tom Fornelli]

He. Do you know what, you know what Tim Tebow would be. He could work at Iowa.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

You know, like John Mateer.

[Danny Cannell]

But yeah, we saw Oklahoma when they ran into, you know.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

Not saying that their team would think. I just don't know if. I just don't know if you can win a national title with Tim Tebow in this modern era.

[Tom Fornelli]

Interesting.

[Chip Patterson]

Fun thought about games like totally discounting the intangibles to the, the team aspect and the inspiration and I mean you would have had 316 yards passing every game or 316 yards rushing or both.

[Tom Fornelli]

The combined.

[Chip Patterson]

Yes.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. The, the, the, what was it? The Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers? Was that a playoff?

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, that's the one that was like 3:16 in the afternoon and 3:16 on the clock and that was unbelievable.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, crazy, crazy stuff. And then, let's see. This was a fun piece of it. Who's the best quarterback to lose in a championship game?

[Danny Cannell]

God, I don't looking back at who lost these games, did 20.

[Tom Fornelli]

So 2018 to was awesome. That was 14 and oh, Alabama against 14 and O Clemson. Both teams were just monsters. We remember Quinn and Williams joining us here on the COVID 3 podcast and just talk about what practice was like for that 2018 team. The problem is the 2018 Crimson Tide team is not celebrated because they got dog walked by Clemson in the title game. So we kind of forget how good they were leading up to it. But Tua in that season with those wide receivers was something special. You mentioned Trevor the next season. He just went toe to toe with Joe Burrow and at the LSU war machine. But Trevor at that time had won 29 straight games or no, he was not a part of all 29. Clemson had won 29 straight games. Trevor, I think the starter for like 25 of them or something like that. I'm not sure who, who else would be on that conversation.

[Danny Cannell]

I mean, Bryce Young was the number one overall pick. He lost a, he lost the title

[Chip Patterson]

game and he was awesome all like throughout his career. You know, put up great numbers, just didn't get the title, which is kind of crazy. He might been one of the best at Alabama and didn't win one.

[Danny Cannell]

Justin Fields lost a title game. Trevor Lawrence lost the title game. Like there's a lot of good quarterbacks who have lost title games.

[Tom Fornelli]

Justin Fields, Bryce Young, Marcus Mariota.

[Danny Cannell]

Marcus Mariota.

[Tom Fornelli]

Marcus Mariota in his Heisman season, DeSean lost title games. Colt McCoy was so good they had to knock his ass out of the title game.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah, yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Marcel Darius snap where you, you mentioned

[Danny Cannell]

Jake Coker, like at the very start is one of the worst. Jake Coker beat Desean Watson in a 45 to 40 game.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, he played great in that game.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

If we take it all the way back to the bcs, Michael Vic, you know.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

A lot of good quarterbacks have lost title games. More great. You know, I, you could probably make the Argument. More great quarterbacks have lost title games than one of them in this modern era.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

So let's see. Michael Penix. I'm trying to think like the most recent title game losers. Carson Beck, naturally.

[Danny Cannell]

Greatest ever do it.

[Tom Fornelli]

Greatest ever do it. Come on, let's keep things rolling from the big old bag of mail. This one's a little bit fun. John Apple. Username John Phipps. Hey guys. Love the show and have been a long time listener question for y'. All. We talk about rivalries we would bring back like bedlam, Colorado, Nebraska and more. But what's a new rivalry that you would create given the opportunity? John continues. It doesn't have to be state or region specific. What are two teams that you would want pitting against each other for a new rivalry in this new era?

[Danny Cannell]

Off the top of my head, when I said the very day that USC was announced they were coming to the Big Ten Trojan Horse trophy between USC and Michigan State, literally the Trojans versus margins. Spartans. The Spartans.

[Chip Patterson]

That and the question is only the new in conference, new conference rivals, anywhere.

[Tom Fornelli]

Anywhere. Yeah, teams that you think would based on fan bases, teams, colors.

[Chip Patterson]

We got it the last year, we'll get it this year. Clemson, LSU for the Battle of Death Valley naming rights. Yep, is a good one.

[Tom Fornelli]

Love that.

[Danny Cannell]

Give me Indiana and Notre Dame every year. Drop out Purdue now that Indiana is good. Make Notre Dame play Indiana instead.

[Tom Fornelli]

So much fun.

[Danny Cannell]

You know, how many, how many freaking, you know, like houses divided there are there between Notre Dame football and Indiana basketball fans who, you know, share allegiance with both schools.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah,

[Danny Cannell]

we're suddenly now Indiana football fans too.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, man, that's crazy.

[Chip Patterson]

I mean, some of these new games that we've gotten like Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas, Ohio State, those have been really fun. And you could see those being rivalries with great fan bases, high quality of play. Like, sign me up for those long term. But what's kind of interesting is like when we start rolling through these and we get other ones, they might be just as good.

[Tom Fornelli]

So Oregon and Ohio State have the 2014 national championship game. They've got that killer game in Austin. They're starting to build up a nice little profile over the last 10, 15 years of some, some really, really fun rivalry sort of back and forth between two proud programs with big fan bases but not a lot in common, except for the recent Big Ten alliance there.

[Danny Cannell]

Virginia Tech, Penn State.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh, it's a good one.

[Tom Fornelli]

Texas A M, Oklahoma, you know, get Those old Big 12 feelings going again. That's pretty good. Notre Dame, Indiana, of Course, also, you know, we talk about how sometimes the games will build the rivalries. Them playing in that playoff game on that Friday night when it was snowing in South Bend, and that was our very first on campus playoff game. It's pretty awesome, you know. Nice. Nice way to kick start. Kickstart. That little rivalry right there.

[Danny Cannell]

Northern Illinois and Hawaii.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, natural Mountain west rival.

[Bob's Discount Furniture Spokesperson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Can't wait to see that one. Yeah. Ducks and Bucks does have a nice ring to it. All right, Any. Any others before we hit a break

[Danny Cannell]

versus USC from Bernie.

[Chip Patterson]

That's a good one.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's a great.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah. That's the last thing South Carolina needs is. Let's add USC to our schedule every year, too.

[Chip Patterson]

The North Carolina. South Carolina. We saw that in the kickoff game a couple times. Funny. Battle of Carolina, you know, Stupid.

[Tom Fornelli]

When I was in college, they had a home and home. And South Carolina's visit to Chapel Hill was one of the most fun football weekends while I was in college. I mean, it was just a lot of people came in, a lot of people turned it up. It was a. It's a good on campus. Contrary to popular belief, it can be very fun around North Carolina football from time to time. North Dakota State versus Iowa.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Is there a connection with North Coast? Coda. State beat them not that long ago. I was like, within the last decade, they beat them. Maybe that's it.

[Danny Cannell]

I mean, it's regionality. It's style of play. But I also feel like Iowa has enough rivals at this point. They don't really need a new one.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

West Virginia App State. Battle of the Mountaineers.

[Danny Cannell]

That'd be fun.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think that's nears versus ears.

[Danny Cannell]

Yes.

[Chip Patterson]

Yep.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yep. Always be sure that you. Always be sure you get those right. They'll come for you. That's for sure. All right, coming up on the other side, more of your questions and. And our answers and more next.

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[Tom Fornelli]

Little to the left. No, wait. Yep.

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Should have gone with Wayfair. Or what if it doesn't hold up?

[Tom Fornelli]

That sofa was four days old.

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Should have ordered from Wayfair. Or what if it's that material that makes that noise?

[Tom Fornelli]

It was a sofa. I swear.

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[Tom Fornelli]

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[Tom Fornelli]

Back here on the COVID 3 podcast. Getting interactive here on a Thursday. Let's see, this one came from Colin. He was asking for just some, just questions on this one. He said how did Notre Dame get the deal to be automatically in if they are in the top 12?

[Danny Cannell]

They had a gun and it was loaded and they demanded it and nobody's gonna say no because it's Notre Dame.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, like, I mean

[Danny Cannell]

it's a, it's a television product, folks. They want to give big television. Like Notre Dame's not in a conference, but we want to make sure they have access to it because them being in it is good for the product. So yeah, sure, you're in, boys. Just finishing the top. Hell, you know what, just play 12 games and you're in.

[Chip Patterson]

I'll be really interested to see because they're going to be top five. They're probably going to be undefeated when they play Miami. If Miami beats them, do they drop them and hold them right at 13? So there's some debate of, you know, are they in, are they out, you know, where, where do they put them if they can make it dramatic.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think that the integrity that Gus Malzahn is bringing to this new committee along with Jeff Tedford, you know, I just, I can't, I don't.

[Chip Patterson]

No more hijinks, no more.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't think they would reverse engineer it. I think that they would just. Because look what it takes to be in the top 12 does not. This changes from year to year because you're only being judged against the other teams. So I, I would expect that they would maintain, they would maintain all of the, the utmost integrity. But what was the give and take here? Because it was all about expansion. Right. I was trying to unpack this in my head that it's in order to get to the 12 teamer and in order to sign up then after getting the 12 teamer for the next six year contract, they had to be able to get everybody on board. So the conferences wanted to make sure their conference champions got in. Right.

[Danny Cannell]

And Notre Dame can't win A conference

[Tom Fornelli]

title and Notre Dame can't win a conference title. So Notre Dame said, well, if you guys are going to automatically have a fast pass selection because pri in the four teamer, there were no promises of anything. Right. And the initial 12 teamer, no promises of anything.

[Danny Cannell]

Right, Correct.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

So the conferences step forward. I would say that Notre Dame wasn't the one who started it. It was just a response that if the SEC and the Big 12 and the ACC and the Big 10 are going to be making the moves to guarantee at least a spot, which something that as recently as last year wasn't there. I mean, do you remember looking at the scenarios of the ACC being left out of a 12 team playoff that's not going to happen again in the next six years. No, they'll get at least one. So I actually don't think Notre Dame was out of place for asking for it. I mean, obviously in negotiations ask for whatever you think you can get. But if those other teams are going to get this guaranteed spot that did not exist in the previous format, then yeah, they had to settle on 12. But I, I think I'm okay with Notre Dame getting the automatic pass

[Danny Cannell]

television show.

[Chip Patterson]

I don't love the automatic pass for optics, but I get why they have it.

[Tom Fornelli]

For optics. For optics. It looks silly that, you know, the ACC champion, the Big 12 champion, they have to go and win that game in the 13th data point, risk losing it and missing out entirely with Notre Dame doesn't have that. I understand that. But in general, that was not something that was there for those conferences before. So yeah, Notre Dame, which in the construction of the CFP has as big a seat at the table individually as each of the conferences. I mean, that makes, makes sense at least on my. If it makes sense at least to me. All right, let's go back into the big old bag of mail. This one actually comes to to us from Twitter where the question was. Ah, here we go. Twitter username Matthew Mailbag Question Favorite official and non official college fight songs.

[Chip Patterson]

His is Fernando's song is that. That's an unofficial fight song with the ABBA Fernando. That was really cool. I mean when they played that in the national title game after when they're winning and the whole crowd is singing along the course now you can't really roll with that for the rest of time, so that makes it tricky. But that was kind of a cool theme song.

[Tom Fornelli]

I would say. Inner Sandman is like unofficial. Fernando is be up there.

[Chip Patterson]

Enter Sandman. Unofficial has to be probably number one.

[Tom Fornelli]

Everybody claiming Mr. Bright side. You know, I'm not saying that. I'm just giving more of, like, what I would say, consider unofficial types. Mo Bamba. Everyone's using Mo Bamba now.

[Danny Cannell]

The, like. The ironic thing about Mr. Brightside is Michigan fans realize what that song's about, right?

[Tom Fornelli]

No, they don't. They absolutely do not. No, they.

[Danny Cannell]

Hell, yeah. Let's get. My favorite official is also my least favorite official because I enjoy it the first few times I hear it, but then by the fourth quarter, I'm pretty damn tired of it.

[Tom Fornelli]

Rocky Top. Yeah, do it. I like Rocky Top.

[Danny Cannell]

I think it's just. They play it a little too often.

[Tom Fornelli]

Classics.

[Chip Patterson]

I mean, hail to the victors, you know, there's some ones that you just instantly recognize that you're like, oh, that's. Yeah, just. It goes with the program. There's some classics that you have to put up there.

[Tom Fornelli]

USC's fight song. I don't know what it's called, but,

[Chip Patterson]

yeah, you know, the Fight On. Is that the name of it? I don't know.

[Tom Fornelli]

Probably. Good one. Yeah, the. Oh, shoot. I was just thinking about. Oklahoma's got a good one.

[Danny Cannell]

Boomer.

[Tom Fornelli]

Huh? Is it called Boomer Sooner. I just.

[Danny Cannell]

I'm thinking that's what I call it. I don't know if it's got another name.

[Tom Fornelli]

Okay. Tribute.

[Danny Cannell]

Tribute.

[Tom Fornelli]

Detroit to South Carolina get to claim the Space Odyssey?

[Chip Patterson]

I think so.

[Tom Fornelli]

Okay. Or is it Sandstorm at kickoff?

[Chip Patterson]

Sandstorm.

[Tom Fornelli]

Sandstorm, that's right.

[Chip Patterson]

No one else really does it. They definitely don't do it like they

[Tom Fornelli]

do LSU and Neck. That is extremely unofficial.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, Extremely unofficial.

[Danny Cannell]

Extremely. Wasn't Georgia Tech playing Nuck if you buck for a while? I don't know if they still are.

[Tom Fornelli]

Respect.

[Danny Cannell]

But that was always fun, watching a game. Like, is that what I think it is?

[Tom Fornelli]

Danny, you were in Wisconsin for what I'm assuming was a sad jump around.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. They still did it, though. They still did it, and it was still pretty good. Even though they were 20, whatever the score was, 28, nothing. Zero points. They still all lined up. Boy, the way they enter the stadium there is really kind of bizarre.

[Danny Cannell]

One tunnel. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Single file. And you see them, like, snaking in. It's. It's kind of weird.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah. And it's never, like. It looks bad because at kickoff, it's never full because.

[Chip Patterson]

Because they're waiting on them to file through.

[Tom Fornelli]

Huh?

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah. So it's like, wow, the students didn't show up. And then by the second quarter, you're like, oh, okay, there they are.

[Progressive Insurance and Thumbtack Spokesperson]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

There they are.

[Tom Fornelli]

Because it just takes them so long.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, it takes them forever. That's a good one though. Jump around's a good one.

[Tom Fornelli]

Any others that we are missing?

[Danny Cannell]

Nope, we nailed them all.

[Tom Fornelli]

They do swag surf at Auburn.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. That is pre game.

[Danny Cannell]

If you were to like rank fan bases by amount of swag, would. Would you argue that Auburn has no right to play that song?

[Tom Fornelli]

If you can still drift off Cam Newton's aura for as long as you want, that counts. Hey, how about this? And call back to earlier. This was in the tailgate. What's the worst team that Cam Newton could have led to a national championship in 2025? We did that. It's almost like the reverse Tim Tebow. Like, I understand the style of offense that we're talking about, but who. Who could Cam Newton have dragged to a national championship?

[Danny Cannell]

Probably not as many teams as he used to be able to.

[Tom Fornelli]

I bet he could have taken. Sure as hell could have taken Auburn.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Swap out.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

You put Cam Newton on this year's Auburn team.

[Danny Cannell]

They're in the playoffs. I don't know if they'd win it.

[Tom Fornelli]

They do have. They do have more offensive NFL picks because they had Cam Coleman. They had more offensive NFL picks than that Auburn team did in 2010. That's for sure.

[Chip Patterson]

Iowa, we mentioned that before everybody. I thought Mark Gronowski was going to be. I mean, he won two titles in the FCS level. I thought he was going to come in and take the world by storm.

[Danny Cannell]

I would just love to be there for like the meeting room between Cam and Ference. Just what are you wearing during the week?

[Chip Patterson]

That would be worth the price of admission.

[Danny Cannell]

You know, Kirk would be like, you know what? I don't care what you're wearing. Just keep playing the way you're playing. Yeah,

[Tom Fornelli]

Kirk don't get enough credit for

[Danny Cannell]

wear a literal dead Hawkeye on your head. I do not care.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, exactly. Just because he's. Is he the oldest right now? Because we've gotten Snyder out, we got like him.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah, I think so.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

I mean, how old's Belichick?

[Tom Fornelli]

73.

[Danny Cannell]

74, I think. What's Kirk?

[Tom Fornelli]

That's kind of what we're talking about. That kind of range. I. I don't think Kurt gets enough credit for still. Still having the spirit, you know, 70.

[Danny Cannell]

And Bill is 70.

[Chip Patterson]

Older.

[Danny Cannell]

73. So, yeah. No, Kirk's not the oldest. Like North Carolina literally hired a coach last year older than Kirk Ferenc.

[Tom Fornelli]

Hey, but the basket.

[Danny Cannell]

What are your thoughts?

[Tom Fornelli]

Basketball Coach is under 60. We're good.

[Chip Patterson]

That's right.

[Tom Fornelli]

Let's go. Hey, listen. They both had an intimate knowledge of what it was like to talk to a college age athlete. You know, one of them was his daughter or the other was. All right, let's. This one came from the big old bag of mail. Username Clemson16 1618. Great podcast. Oh, gosh. Oh, gosh. Oh, I'm reading this one right off top. Great podcast. I am in middle school and it puts me to sleep every night. I'm a huge Clemson fan and was wondering what you think of Chad Morris and the future of Clemson football.

[Danny Cannell]

Oh, you're in middle school, buddy. I'm sorry. You missed all the good times.

[Tom Fornelli]

Or he was. Those were formative. If it was. No, you're right. He missed him.

[Chip Patterson]

No, he missed it.

[Tom Fornelli]

His parents fell.

[Chip Patterson]

Hopefully he's falling asleep already at this point.

[Tom Fornelli]

Was he born at the 2015 ACC title game? Did your parents have an uptown Charlotte hotel reservation nine months before you were bored?

[Danny Cannell]

Listen, what's his name?

[Tom Fornelli]

It's just Apple. Username Clemson1618.

[Danny Cannell]

Clemson1618. I said a word on the show earlier that you might not understand. Don't worry about it.

[Tom Fornelli]

Don't worry about it. Parents definitely don't Google it.

[Danny Cannell]

Wow, I didn't realize we had middle schoolers listening. Yeah, I. You know what? I'm not super excited about Chad Morris. I feel like your coach has. He's gone with the. With the comfortable safe option or the familiar option a little too often during his tenure. And that's been the one thing that's gotten him in trouble at this point. And I feel like Chad Morris is doing that exact same thing. So I don't know. I've been wrong a lot. You've listened to the show. You know that. So we'll see. But I'm not optimistic.

[Chip Patterson]

I'll say this, you got a couple running backs this year for the first time that, you know, it's been a couple years since you've had a workhorse running back. I think you'll run the football better. Chad Morris is going to emphasize that and then we'll see if the Zenith can put it all together and relive the glory days. I'm assuming he doesn't bet or else I would tell him to save his money and don't put any money on Clemson. But you never know. They are starting earlier.

[Tom Fornelli]

Well, if he's in the state of South Carolina, he's got no dagum chance, right? You know, you got to get to get into Lumberton if You want to be able to take advantage of, you know, play your game or anything else. I understand why the transition from Garrett Riley to Chad Morris has done a lot of, you know, exposing or bringing out how tough things were before and how excited they are about the future. From a messaging standpoint, that does make total sense. But if I'm to like try to get in the human side of this, Garrett Riley had to feel not uncomfortable in that position. And how many times did we see Dabo staring at him around those play calls and you, you just, you could tell that they weren't on the same page. And the reporting and even Dabo's own comments have agreed as much that, you know, he didn't totally feel comfortable. And Dabo was never a coordinator, but he was a wide receivers coach. He has been part of an offensive staff. I mean this, it was the side of the ball like when he hired Brent, you know, hey Brent, you just go take this. Right, right. Get, get stops. But he's always had a little bit of an interest in what's happening and having his hands on those key red zone, third down, those big time decisions. And how many times did we just see those places not work? I mean Cade Clubnik just running side to side when all they needed to do was go forward for three yards or you know, the. An over complicated, slow developing play that when just something very simple, straightforward and downhill. I, I don't want to criticize Garrett Riley because I don't know the play calls. I wasn't that deep in with Clemson's offense, but I just can't imagine that what you want from your play call or what you want from your offensive coordinator, which is like a clear conscience, you know, feeling loose, feeling confident. Just for a lot of reasons, I don't think it was a, I don't think it was there with Garrett riley. So. To Clemson, 16, 18. Listening to this as you fall asleep. I wish you sweet dreams and at least know that there will not be at least we think, as much friction from head coach to offensive coordinator as there might have been before. Right?

[Chip Patterson]

Yes. Should be pretty, should be pretty. Good relationship, good communication.

[Tom Fornelli]

They. They tried to make Dabo make a splash higher. He tried to make a splash higher. He got Garrett right off the TCU sun run, you know, just never really came together.

[Chip Patterson]

Was that the first game against Duke when they're like, why are they throwing it sideways all the time?

[Tom Fornelli]

And they lost, right?

[Chip Patterson]

And they lost.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. Tough, tough scene. All right, we will be back on Monday. Come and hang out 11am eastern time. YouTube.com cover3 and you can follow him on Twitter at Tom Fernell. You can follow him at Danny Cannell. You can follow me at Chip Underscore Patterson. Gentlemen, thank you very much.

[Danny Cannell]

Good night, buddy. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile.

[Chip Patterson]

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[Danny Cannell]

but anyone can get the same premium

[Chip Patterson]

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[Danny Cannell]

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