SEC Media Days has arrived| Player interviews and notes from Tampa| Mac & Cube

Summary

Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning
Episode: SEC Media Days has arrived | Player interviews and notes from Tampa | Mac & Cube
Date: July 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode broadcasts live from Tampa, Florida, at the kickoff of SEC Media Days. Hosts Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic set the table for a week full of interviews and analysis, focusing on Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. The show features in-depth conversations with Missouri linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, Missouri offensive lineman Kaden Green, Oklahoma offensive lineman Eddie Pierre Louis, and SEC commentator Paul Finebaum. The tone is lively, detailed, and carries the usual blend of spirited debate and locker-room camaraderie.

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Key Discussion Points and Segments

1. Setting the Scene: SEC Media Days Kick Off

• Timestamps: 00:05–03:00
• Live from Tampa, hosts grapple with what to call the evolving "Radio Row" ("Digital Row," "Digital Drive"), noting the excitement and weirdness of the new location.
• Preview of teams and guests for the day: Kentucky, Mizzou, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, as well as interviews with high-profile media figures and players.

Greg McElroy: "Is it still Radio Row? Is it Digital Row, the digital center, the digital alley, whatever we try to call it now, Digital Drive?" (00:20)

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2. Kentucky’s Roster Turnover and Offensive Line Hype

• Timestamps: 01:00–03:00; 13:53–18:20
• Attention on Kentucky’s upgraded personnel—especially transfers at running back and the offensive line.
• Blake Brockermeyer's pre-season O-line rankings have Kentucky at #3 behind Georgia and Ohio State, raising eyebrows and sparking debate about the reliance on transfer talent.

Cole Cubelic: "Anytime you have this much new, this much turnover, they're really jump starting the engine, if you will... I think they have upgraded their personnel." (01:03)

Greg McElroy: "An interesting choice at number three on college football's top offensive lines heading into the season: Georgia at 1, Ohio State at 2, and Kentucky at 3 right out of the gate." (02:51)

• Skepticism about how much the portal can truly rebuild an O-line after Auburn’s failed experiment last year.
• Will Stein’s priority on building through the trenches—even at the expense of splashy wide receivers—seen as a key storyline.

Cole Cubelic: "The fact that he [Will Stein] prioritized knowing this league... I gotta get offensive lineman. You know what, I'll figure it out at wide receiver because frankly I think they're a little... underwhelming at that spot." (16:54)

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3. Missouri Player Perspective: Nicholas Rodriguez (LB) Interview

• Timestamps: 03:27–07:24
• Rodriguez excited about Missouri's new-look front seven and returning experience; emphasizes growth, leadership, and “iron sharpening iron.”
• Discounts the "returning starters" stat, emphasizing internal competition and trust over preseason perception.

Nicholas Rodriguez: "At the end of the day, every year it's a new team, and you still got to prove yourself to that... we're going to prove ourselves through that and prove it to each other that we could trust and rely on each other.” (04:36)

• On the offense: praises new OC Chip Lindsey’s tweaks; sees quarterback Austin Timmons as a playmaker but expects continuity in team approach.
• Addresses emotional situation with running back Amad (recovering from a gunshot wound), but lauds backup Jamal Roberts’ readiness.

Nicholas Rodriguez: "Jamal is as good of a back as you could get. He's a dog, he's a leader. The offense won't change much. He's still going to run that rock." (06:00)

• High praise for coach Eli Drinkwitz—“he’s a stand-up guy... somewhat of a comedian... at the end of the day, he's leading this team in the right direction.” (06:31)

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4. Missouri’s Reputation and Schedule Outlook

• Timestamps: 07:24–13:44
• Cubelic and McElroy analyze Mizzou's "get the gettables" philosophy—consistently beating teams they should, struggling vs. ranked opponents.
• Projected to face half a dozen ranked teams, increasing the stakes for momentum and confidence-building early in the season.

Cole Cubelic: "They seldom—name the last time they got upset in remarkable fashion... You look at last year, he loses to number 8 Bama, number 10 Vandy, number 3 A&M, number 8 Oklahoma... every team they're supposed to beat, they beat." (10:26)

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5. Missouri O-Line Insight: Kaden Green (OL) Interview

• Timestamps: 21:14–28:10
• Returning three starters, feeling bullish with veteran presence and quality transfers.
• Emphasizes the importance of practice reps and off-field chemistry, particularly when integrating transfers on the O-line.

Kaden Green: "We get... I don't even know how many reps a week. Like every day after practice, we're doing something together... so we can build that continuity fast." (22:28)

• On having a left-handed QB: “Doesn’t change much for me. I do my job either way. Maybe helps that he can see the rusher coming if I get beat.” (24:22)
• Lauds running back Jamal Roberts: “The folks that don’t know about Jamal Roberts, they’re going to get to know him this year.” (24:56)
• Eager for the completed stadium renovations, predicting a stronger home field advantage.

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6. Oklahoma O-Line and QB Culture: Eddie Pierre Louis (OL) Interview

• Timestamps: 28:31–37:57
• Describes a focus on returning to “basics”: hands, eyes, feet, and running the ball with attitude.
• On working with young starters: credits close-knit culture and communication, believes young players now have experience to be impact contributors.
• Elaborate discussion of center–quarterback dynamics, singling out John Mateer for his leadership and unique personality (including his low-rider car and motivational presence).

Eddie Pierre Lewis: “He’s actually very caring... the way that he comes out with his words, that makes me want to run through a wall.” (33:30–33:47)

• Notes SEC practice challenge—facing Brent Venables’ hyper-aggressive, shifting defense in practice makes playing actual games feel easier by comparison.

Eddie Pierre Lewis: "You can have this call but get ready for the other three things that we're about to see." (37:00)

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7. Paul Finebaum on SEC Vibes & National Narratives

• Timestamps: 38:35–47:28
• Discusses the mood of Media Days in Tampa—enjoyable, but lacking in headline-grabbing drama compared to years past.
• Notes a shift in Alabama’s national perception under Kalen DeBoer—fans split, team less featured in preseason projections, but some see “apathy” turning into cautious optimism after last season’s playoff performance.

Paul Finebaum: "It has been a remarkably long period, probably 2007, since Alabama has been disrespected at least according to the national media.” (41:00)

• Recruiting rankings versus results: Consensus that recruiting alone is no longer destiny (citing Georgia’s 2025 championship with just eight 4-stars), and the transfer portal/roster management are becoming equalizers.
• Texas called out as the league’s most loaded roster—thus, expectations are now “championship game or bust.”

Paul Finebaum: "If Texas fails to make its way deep... then I think a lot of people are going to go this was a wasted era in Texas football." (45:22)

• Finebaum expresses curiosity for Georgia and Auburn this year, acknowledges Kirby Smart’s growth and draws parallels with doubts around DeBoer’s capacity to "figure it out" at Alabama.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Greg McElroy (on SEC Media Days in Tampa):
  "When I think NHL, I think SEC Media Days—same level of verbatim right there together." (20:31)

• Nicholas Rodriguez (on Mizzou’s new defense):
  "Opportunity, chance, players stepping up to take on bigger roles... front seven is going to be one of the core of the defense. And it starts with stopping the run." (03:37)

• Paul Finebaum (on Alabama's expectations):
  "It has been a remarkably long period, probably 2007, since Alabama has been disrespected at least according to the national media." (41:00)

• Eddie Pierre Louis (on Oklahoma’s O-line culture):
  "Running the ball is also a mindset. You got to be willing to work, willing to dominate your opponent right in front of you." (34:56)

• Kaden Green (on stadium renovations):
  "It added a couple thousand more seats, so it's going to be loud. I'm excited." (27:55)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Day Overview: 00:05–03:00
• Kentucky’s O-Line Hype: 01:00–03:00, 13:53–18:20
• Nicholas Rodriguez (Missouri LB) Interview: 03:27–07:24
• Mizzou Schedule & Perception: 07:24–13:44
• Kaden Green (Missouri OL) Interview: 21:14–28:10
• Eddie Pierre Louis (Oklahoma OL) Interview: 28:31–37:57
• Paul Finebaum Interview: 38:35–47:28

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Tone & Style

The episode is loose but studiously analytical, blending inside jokes with sharp football insight. Banter among hosts, players, and guests feels authentic and reflective of the deep relationships in SEC football circles. There's substantial skepticism toward preseason lists and transfer portal hype, balanced by optimism about coaching mindsets and the evolving nature of rosters.

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Conclusion

This episode provides an energetic, in-the-trenches preview of the SEC season as seen through the eyes of players, coaches, and the media. Listeners get unique player perspectives, media debate on roster-building, and a candid sense of how expectations are shaping up for Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, and more as the 2026 college football season approaches.

Transcript

[Greg McElroy]

All right, welcome in McElroy and Kubelik in the morning. It is 8am Eastern in Tampa, Florida where we are, 7am Central where you are in Birmingham. Appreciate you tuning in. SEC Media Day coverage begins now. Monday, July 20th. Greg McElroy, Cole Cubic live on Radio Row. Is it still Radio Row? Is it Digital Row, the digital center, the digital alley, whatever we try to call it now, Digital Drive. And we got Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee on tap today. Paul Feimau gonna sit down with us here on the show today. Andy Staples gonna sit down with us. Cody Goodman will talk Missouri with us an hour. Number three, Nick Rouse will talk Kentucky with us as well. But the schools that are gonna be here today, gmac, Kentucky, Mizzou, Oklahoma, Tennessee, obviously we talked a lot about a couple of these, maybe a little bit less about some Start with Kentucky. Will Stein, what do you want to try to hear, try to learn about maybe his football team he could potentially give us here today?

[Cole Cubelik]

Well, just how all the new pieces are coming together. I think anytime you have this much new, this much turnover, they're really jump starting the engine, if you will. I mean, I don't know if you see it similarly to me. I think they had a chance to be dangerous. I think they have upgraded their personnel. If you look at the two running backs they've added, I mean those are two big time guys when they're going look at what they've added along the offensive line, really, really big improvement. Feels like an upside talent there. You also have added some defensive personnel as well. So I think there's a lot of energy around the program. I want to know how he's harnessed that and how these kind of brought a lot of these new faces together and how hopefully they'll be able to create continuity.

[Greg McElroy]

I'm glad you brought up offensive line. Not that we normally wouldn't bring it up and wouldn't talk about it, but this one specifically a couple days ago. I don't think you and I have had a chance to do a radio show since I saw this. CBS Sports has put out their top 10 offensive lines heading into this season. Blake Brockermeyer has released these. Are you ready for these? Blake Brockermeyer, Any relation imagining dad? I don't know at Blake Brockermeyer, FW College Football ANALYST Definitely his dad. Is that him in the middle?

[Cole Cubelik]

I mean all of his boys. It looks like the Matthews family. Yep, that's Brockermeyer.

[Greg McElroy]

But is that an extra brother?

[Cole Cubelik]

Maybe there's always one.

[Greg McElroy]

Looks like there's a Bill Brockermeier that just got offered by Army. So here we go. So obviously has a little bit more insight, has a little bit more understanding of the position. An interesting choice at number three on college football's top offensive lines heading into the season. Georgia at 1. We could probably get started right now. Ohio State at 2 and Kentucky at 3 right out of the gate.

[Cole Cubelik]

That's pretty early.

[Greg McElroy]

So we can get going here. Hold on one second. We'll get going. Get going right away. And Nicholas Rodriguez, linebacker from. Yeah, you put those headset on. Yeah. Grab that microphone and we can get going here. Nicholas Rodriguez, linebacker from Mizzou. Gonna go ahead and hop on the show. We weren't expecting to have players this early. Nicholas, how you doing today, man? We got to get his mic going. Get that as well. His mic on. Please speak now.

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

Check Jack.

[Cole Cubelik]

There it is.

[Greg McElroy]

We got Nicholas Cole now. Good stuff. This Mizzou defense. Front seven going to be a little bit different than a year ago. But what excites you about what it has the potential to be this season

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

under Cory Platoon, Opportunity, chance players stepping up to take on bigger roles. We have Marquis Gracia in the middle. We got Hopkins and Darius Smith on the edge, and then we got our linebackers. Like, front seven is going to be one of our. Like, one of the core. Core of the defense. And it starts with stopping the run. So I'm excited for the opportunity to lead that.

[Cole Cubelik]

You know what's funny? It's like everyone always looks at, oh, how returning starters. Is there a more overrated stat in the history of the world that quote returning starters? Because I look at a lot of the guys have been called a handful of Yalls games last year even down the stretch. And a lot of the same guys on my board from that game are just stepping up and maybe increasing their snap total by five or six snaps a game. So how would you assess the perception of what everyone thinks of this defense versus what reality actually is?

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

At the end of the day, every year it's a new team, and you still got to prove yourself to that. So whatever you did last year doesn't matter. We have spring ball in camp, and we're going to prove ourselves through that and prove it to each other that we could trust and rely on each other. And through that, we're going to win games this year.

[Greg McElroy]

Nicholas Rodriguez, linebacker for Missouri, joining us here at SEC media days. I'm interested in your view of the new offense, Chip Lindsey. I don't think it's going to be totally different, but you Got Austin Timmons coming in at quarterback. Chip Lindsay brings a little bit of a different flavor to add. Maybe a few things subtracted. How has the offense looked with you going up against practice every day?

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

It's been great. You know, we've been competing against each other. Iron sharpers, iron making each other better every day. Like our passing game has improved and it's just all around looks like a great offense and we're just working day by day to get better.

[Cole Cubelik]

A lot of us have been kind of working throughout the offseason with heavy hearts on Amad and knowing that his gunshot wound and his availability up in the air, moving beyond that because I know as a teammate we're all hurting for him and we're hurting for you. I feel like there's a guy in Jamal Roberts though that's really not being talked about enough. I got a lot of run last year, so God forbid. And hoping that Amad can return this year in the event in which it is Jamal. What will the offense look like with him running the show at running back?

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

The offense will be the same. Jamal is as good of a back as you could get. He's a dog, he's a leader. I mean the offense won't change much. He's still going to run that rock and it's going to be a great scene to see.

[Greg McElroy]

How do you describe coach Strinkowicz to folks that aren't in that facility every day, that run around this football team every day,

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

repeat that.

[Greg McElroy]

How do you describe Eli Drinklitz, people who just aren't on your team in that building every day?

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

He's a leader, he's a stand up guy, he's gonna make jokes. He's not going to be like overly serious in the room when he doesn't have to be. But then if something goes wrong, he's gonna, you know, be that stern guy. But he's always gonna make some jokes and be somewhat of a comedian. You know, he's a funny guy, funny coach, but at the end of the day he's a great person and most importantly he's leading this team in the right direction.

[Cole Cubelik]

It's amazing how different the perception is versus when he got there to where you're at now, to where every year it's like, alright, we can go get 10 this year. And it's harder to do now with the schedule as we know. So how would you say, what would you say are your realistic expectations? What are yalls goals internally this year heading into the season?

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

Our goals this season is just to Play for each other one game at a time, don't look ahead of the schedule and just knock the schedule down one game at a time and compete.

[Greg McElroy]

Nicholas, we appreciate you hopping on. Thank you so much. Best of luck this year to un the Missouri Pigers. So Nicholas Rodriguez stopped by SEC media days. Missoula linebacker right out of the gate going ahead and getting some run there on what that defense may look like. And you mentioned a couple of the names, gmac. We know a couple. We saw him a little bit last year. But the front seven is going to be retooled to an extent. Can it be a strength to this football team like he told me?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thought it could.

[Cole Cubelik]

It's retooled though. But you heard the name. First of all, he played a decent amount. You get a transfer too. And you also have Derek Smith. It's like there's guys that haven't played like grassy all played a lot last year. Like I think they've done a pretty good job over the last couple years, really rolling their guys. So when you roll your guys, it makes the transition to the next year. Yeah, there might be some growing pains in the short term, but when you lose, quote, unquote, 11 starters, it's not going to feel quite as significant. So I think it'll be fine. On defense with Batoon calling, I'm never worried about that group. I'm just a little bit more concerned about the schedule toughening, which is definitely tougher it's this year than it's been the last couple years. And also the some of the challenges surrounding the running back spot and the lack of depth there because if a mod can't go, it's really Jamal Roberts and that's about it.

[Greg McElroy]

Talking to some of the people here around it yesterday afternoon evening, I feel confident, I believe, Greg, that this is not a direct quote from anyone, but it sounds like I get the feeling there's a level of confidence he's going to play this year.

[Cole Cubelik]

Yes.

[Greg McElroy]

And it was brought up to me like maybe uncertainty about the open. I'm like none of us are expecting the opening. I gonna get him back to be able to play football at all. And it does feel like that part of maybe him his career is looking better than it was a while back. So that would be exciting. You bring in Robert Woodyard from Auburn. You bring in Chris Graves on the back end. Has been at Miami most recently Ole Miss. So like you said, you're adding experience to that defense and whether it's Landon, Kitchen, Darris Smith, Marquis Gracial they've got guys who have played who have snaps up front and then you bring in more snaps from other places. So we talked a lot this off season about that leadership where we fought that know how defensively it feels like Missouri is going to have a chance to be pretty good. That's fine. The difference is you had legitimate disruptors up front last year.

[Cole Cubelik]

Yes.

[Greg McElroy]

And we've kind of forgotten about those because they weren't huge names anyway. But you and I tried to tell people like, man, this D line is problematic. Like pretty gnarly. They get after you, they cause problems and do you have. Those kind of individuals are going to be back. But Chris McClellan was great for him last year. Sterling Webb was great for him last year and they just. There's not a lot of conversation about what those guys did for him a season ago.

[Cole Cubelik]

But their system though, they do a pretty good job of creating disruption in and of itself, so that's helpful. You know, the thing about Missouri, where I struggle with Missouri is I feel like when they play against teams they're supposed to beat, they always beat them.

[Greg McElroy]

Right.

[Cole Cubelik]

They seldom name the last time they got upset in remarkable fashion. Like I think Eli always has his guys ready to roll.

[Kaden Green]

Yep.

[Cole Cubelik]

Like, I really respect his process. You look at last year, he loses to number eight Bama, number ten Vandy, number three A&M, number eight Oklahoma. You lose to Virginia in the bowl game, but take that with a grain of salt. So literally every team they're supposed to beat, they beat. They just lost to four top 10 teams in the regular season. That's tough sledding. The year before, you beat a, at the time, a ranked Boston College team. Boston College, you beat a Vanderbilt team in double overtime. That ended up being pretty good. You lose badly to a ranked A and M team, you lose badly to a ranked Alabama team, and you lose close at a ranked South Carolina team. So once again, same year, similar result. Boston College student 03 against ranked SEC teams in 24. Look back at 23. Going back one more. Not trying to bury anything, but it's just the honest truth. You do beat a ranked Kansas State, you lose to a ranked lsu, you beat a ranked Kentucky. I don't even know where that ranked Kentucky team. You gave Georgia all you wanted and then you did beat convincingly a Tennessee team. So over the last couple years you've seen a little worse performance against ranked competition. And. And if you look at their schedule this year, Cole, just take a peek at it. I'll pull it up for you. Look at their schedule this year. How many teams you think are going to be ranked on that schedule?

[Greg McElroy]

On the Mizzou schedule, like ranked going into the season or at some point

[Cole Cubelik]

in time ranked when they play them?

[Greg McElroy]

I'm going to say at least half.

[Kaden Green]

All right.

[Cole Cubelik]

Florida probably not. Let's just say, let's just be bearish for a moment. But believe it or not, Florida could be 4, 0 and we'd like 100%.

[Paul Feinbaum]

All right.

[Cole Cubelik]

A&M probably right?

[Greg McElroy]

Yes.

[Cole Cubelik]

Ad Ole Miss probably yes. Texas probably. Georgia probably. Oklahoma probably most likely. So given your trend of not performing well against ranked SEC competition and you might have hive on the schedule, potentially six. Just seems like a tall order, man.

[Greg McElroy]

That may make kind of the Runway, the building of momentum, sort of getting some confidence going more important than anything. And that's going to be tough at Kansas. Not as tough of a game as it has been, but night game on the road, Troy, and then that early matchup with Mississippi State. Then like you mentioned, potentially being 4, 0 going to Florida. Greg, you might have to build as much confidence as you can right there and maybe be able to go get an upset or two specifically at home. Texas, Texas A and M, Oklahoma, all at home. I would imagine you need to get most of those if you're going to put the kind of season together that Missouri fans want at Arkansas, Kentucky at home, thrown in there as well. So, so it's like you say sometimes if you get the getables, you take care of your business there, which it's like Missouri has mostly done. Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Kentucky, Troy, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Kentucky would be six. How many could you get? You mentioned as Florida being realistic, no

[Cole Cubelik]

doubt you can get Florida.

[Greg McElroy]

So you throw Arkansas in there. Can you get, you can get A

[Cole Cubelik]

and M at home. I think all those forgettable get them. It just, it's going to require near perfect precision and that has not been the case for the last two seasons.

[Greg McElroy]

Well, we'll see how that Mizzou defense look. I saw Kaden Green walking around. I'm like, how do we not get the Mizzou offensive lineman that's here? Like, how does he not stop by

[Cole Cubelik]

the I don't like you.

[Greg McElroy]

Well, maybe I wanted to go back to that list, though, that I read you a moment ago. We opened up the show talking about Kentucky. When you look at the top offensive lines going into this College football season, Mr. Brockemeier, Blake Brockermere has Georgia 1, Ohio State 2, the Kentucky Wildcats 3.

[Cole Cubelik]

Where do you come up with how do you feel about That I think

[Greg McElroy]

that is leaning heavily on transfer world rankings.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Gosh.

[Cole Cubelik]

Really?

[Greg McElroy]

Which is, which is dangerous in fairness.

[Cole Cubelik]

Like his sons have had success in

[Greg McElroy]

the parents report, no doubt.

[Cole Cubelik]

Right. So like which you did a good job.

[Greg McElroy]

Which really did a good job.

[Cole Cubelik]

Really good job. So like maybe he knows the, the transfer pool portal pool a little better than we do. I, I don't like going on transfer portal rankings personally because I got burned by last year. Well, I didn't. You did.

[Greg McElroy]

We've gotten burned by a lot of years. We've gotten burned a lot of years. I mean Auburn evaluator in the portal. Auburn last year is kind of the poster child of that. But let's be honest. Like who, who had a heavy plug and go offensive line that was not good one year and then was good or really just above average the next year. Like you say, it worked for Miami. It worked for him individually. But they had some stalemates on that offensive line also that had been there for a while. Like they had guys that came up in that program, grew up in that program. And then I think you also the mentality was built in there. There was no Mahler offensive line mentality built into Auburn when you went and got two or three guys last year. And I think when you run your program like Mario does, you can get away with that just a little bit more. When you run your program certain ways that that sort of mentality, then yeah, you can plug it in and be pretty good. I think that's why Alabama was more of a surprise for us last year because we just expected like, hey, it's been pretty good for a while. This is a group that probably have a bounce back season. They go at them guys and it just didn't work. So Lance Hurd has played really good football in the sec. Multiple posts by the way. All us leaning. I mean he was a high rated prospect coming into Alabama. Have we seen him play a ton? No, we don't know exactly what that's going to look like. I like Tegra to Cebola's film. I think he can play. I like what he can do. I like how he moves.

[Cole Cubelik]

But still, point being here, whether Tigris Chabola can play or not, it's an Ohio State guy.

[Greg McElroy]

Same thing.

[Cole Cubelik]

Look at Ohio State getting off the bus.

[Greg McElroy]

Yeah, big time prospect a lot. They're going to have talent, they're going to look good. I'll say this, you can, we can go back to some of those big blue wall offensive lines and they were fun to watch and they, they pushed you around and they played the game the way it was supposed to be played. This group is probably more talented than any of those we talked about as

[Cole Cubelik]

far as high side like the Darren

[Greg McElroy]

Canard, those offensive lines like the upside on talent. It's better than it's been. I don't think there's any doubt but that doesn't always mean it's going to work because Alvin's O line was more talented than it had been the previous three or four years. Last year, yeah, that didn't work.

[Cole Cubelik]

What's amazing to me though is with the success Will Stein has had with quarterbacks, weapons, all that stuff. The fact that he prioritized knowing this league. He said I gotta go get offensive lineman. You know what, I'll figure it out at wide receiver because frankly I think they're a little. I think they're a little underwhelming at that spot. I'll figure it out at wide receiver but I gotta get alignment so that my quarterback survives. That tells you all you need to know. That to me is the more interesting story here he go out and get a high price tackle in Lance Heard a high priced guard in Tee Geek or Chabola that I'm sure a lot of people wanted. I have no idea how much demand Olass Olenin was but I do know that Lance heard was. I know that Tigrish Ebola was. So I just take that with. And the fact that they are only able to go get a a wide receiver in Nick Anderson that who's a good player when he's healthy but hasn't been healthy in two years. Like I just amazing to me the perception of the league. Like if you just look at how Will Stein put his roster together that is an indicator to me more than anything else of what he thinks the league is going to what you're going to need to survive in the league.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Right.

[Cole Cubelik]

And I don't know if that's the case anymore frankly. Like I might disagree with him. I might say all right, give me adequate offensive line play and give me dudes at wide receiver super skill. He sees it differently which I'm fascinated by. I'm just really curious to see how it works out.

[Greg McElroy]

All right, so we'll come back, talk a little bit more about. I want to go a little further into some of the Kentucky skill because I'm hearing some things from some people that the numbers don't necessarily back up. And we don't always just lean on the numbers but obviously no, we lean

[Cole Cubelik]

on the PFF ratings.

[Greg McElroy]

Yes, more times than not. But, you know, there are some other things that we'll potentially lean on and discuss here in just a moment. Celebrate the kickoff to college football with us at the Bill Smith Buick GMC Jocks Kickoff Party in the ballroom at Regents Field. To win a pair of tickets for you and a guest, text the keyword season and your Full name to 205-834-9450. That's 205,834,9450 keyword season, and your full name to 205-834-9150. Winners drawn and notified daily. It's the Bill Smith Buick GMC Jocks Kickoff Party, presented by Myers Tree Service. For more information, visit jocksfm.com back more live from SEC media days, day one, next on Jocks. Back in McElroy and Kubelik in the morning. Day 1 SEC Media Days live from Digital Avenue right here in Tampa, Florida. Has it sunk in that we're in Tampa yet, Greg? The weirdness of it. I mean, outside the fact that we have like a waterway behind us here outside the hotel.

[Cole Cubelik]

Well, the weirdest thing last night was trying to find the hotel at 1:30 or 2:00 clock in the morning.

[Greg McElroy]

Flight issues. Huh?

[Cole Cubelik]

Flight issues, delays, cancellations, Atlanta disaster. But I'm here, which is a win. But this is one of my favorite cities in Florida. I just think it's a phenomenal place. I think it's awesome. If you told me, all right, Greg, you have got to move to Florida. Tampa by far and away, number one. If I can't choose the panhandle, if I can choose a panhandle, we got action. But Tampa is awesome. Big fan, but I will say it does feel strange driving by, seeing the Tampa Bay Lightning sign on one side, SEC Kickoff on the other.

[Greg McElroy]

Yep. That's because when I think NHL, I think SEC Media days, same level of verbatim right there together. That's, that's our people. That's our fan base. We were talking Kentucky a little bit earlier. Let's move on to some of the skill they're bringing in. Before we do that, tell our listeners about Crocker Moving Services.

[Cole Cubelik]

Well, Crocker moves there's a local company owned by an Iraq War veteran, Eric Crocker. Crocker believes in hiring movers you could trust to complete full background checks and run drug tests on every single employee. These are good guys and you can trust them in your home, in your whole home packed up. Move your company headquarters, which cross country or you just want them to come Rearrange your living room. They got you covered. They also deliveries for furniture that you purchase need to get to your home. So call. Visit them online today for a free quote. Websites Crocker movieservices.com that's Crocker. Movingservices.com Support your veterans by choosing Crocker Street.

[Greg McElroy]

All right, not going to do that anymore. Let's sit right here. Kaden Green instead. Kaden Cole. Cuba. Good to see you again, man. Missouri offensive lineman coming in. Are you staying at this hotel? Okay, because I. You got the sweat towel? Because Greg and I are staying like four blocks away and I decided to walk over this morning and that was a bad idea because I was. I was. I was soaked at the end.

[Cole Cubelik]

Yeah, I've resisted that.

[Greg McElroy]

The heat is a little bit. It's. It's brutal. It's a yellow breeze, but it's brutal. How are we feeling about the Missouri offensive line coming together for this year so far? You're good.

[Kaden Green]

I'm excited. You know, we returned three. Three starters and then we returned a guy that played lap for us last year. And then we get some really quality transfers that have brought a lot to the room. So I'm excited.

[Cole Cubelik]

What's it like? I know y' all aren't the best example. We were just talking Kentucky a minute ago. Kentucky's got a million transfers. New coach. Understandable, right? New guys, especially on the offensive line. I would think that off of line group, probably the toughest one to bring in a bunch of transfers to kind of bring it all together. So when you add a new guy that might be starting for you, how does that work? Throughout spring, summer, and fall camp, you

[Kaden Green]

just got to be sure to get a lot of reps with the guys. I mean, we get. I don't even know how many reps a week. Like every day after practice, we're doing something together. Make sure we're all together so we can build that continuity fast. So it just comes down to reps, does it?

[Cole Cubelik]

Like day one of spring, you go out and get this big time transfer or whatever. Like day one of spring. Or they line it up with the ones. Like, how does that work? Because back in the day it's like, all right, freshman comes in, just put him in the back of the line and he'll work his way up. Now you have a junior that might be coming in. So how does that usually work when you start spring ball?

[Kaden Green]

I mean, it's usually some growing pains at the beginning. Like, we bought we've had new right tackles Every single, like the past two years. Every year. So it was definitely some growing pains. But like by practice like six or seven, we're jealous. Like I said, we get a bunch of reps together.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah.

[Kaden Green]

After practice. We're doing stuff together after to try and build that continuity.

[Greg McElroy]

I know he's not your direct position coach, but how has added Alex Atkins helped you guys out? I'm a guy he knows a position position as good as anybody. He'll mainly be with the tight ends which they need all the help blocking they can get. But how has he sort of helped your group?

[Kaden Green]

Oh, he's helped us out tremendously. You know, he's an O line coach so he coaches a lot like an O line coach. Our tight ends were always on the same page. We're always in communication and it really helps our run game a lot more.

[Cole Cubelik]

It's different this year.

[Greg McElroy]

Move it up a little bit.

[Cole Cubelik]

Move that mic up just a hair. Yeah, is wrapped.

[Kaden Green]

There it is.

[Greg McElroy]

There we go.

[Cole Cubelik]

Now we got, now we got action. So this year I left handed quarterback more than likely depending on. I know there's still competition, all this other stuff, but we're assuming it's going to be Austin NBA lefty. You being a left tackle normally it'd be all right. I'm the blind side. How does having a left handed quarterback adjust your approach to the season knowing that you're now the front side tackle as opposed to backside?

[Kaden Green]

It doesn't change much for me. You know, I'm just, I do my job either way. Like my job's the same either way. Like I said, definitely helps when he can like you. Everybody gets beat so you get beat and he can see it a little better.

[Cole Cubelik]

Yeah. Less pressure.

[Kaden Green]

Yeah. But other than that, I mean it's the same thing for me. So.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah.

[Greg McElroy]

Craig brought up earlier, we don't know the status of mod Hardy yet and we're all hoping that he plays. We're all hoping he makes 100% recovery. But for folks that don't know about Jamal Roberts, how would you describe him to them?

[Kaden Green]

The folks that don't know about Jamal Roberts, they're going to get to know him this year. I'm excited for him. They're pretty much like the same players. You know, he breaks a lot of tackles too. He makes a lot of. He has a lot of yards after contact too. And he makes our jobs a lot easier too, so. So I'm excited to see what the future holds for him as well.

[Greg McElroy]

How much does it help you when Norfleet lines up Next to you from

[Kaden Green]

a blocking perspective, him, Jordan, Jude, they all just love to block, so it's fun comboing with them. And you know, I think like I said, Coach Atkins has helped a lot too. So they know like a lot more of their assignment now, so it should be really fun this year.

[Cole Cubelik]

You have a lot of new faces along the defensive line, but to us they're not really new, I think to the normal, you know, the everyday fan. To the everyday, you know, writer, publisher, what have you.

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

What have you.

[Cole Cubelik]

They look and they say, oh, well, 11 starters are gone. To me, I see Gracie all's back. I see Derek Smith back. I see all these guys that played a lot of football, good football for y' all last year. So even though maybe they didn't get the same reps last year as they're going to get this year, how fair is it to assume that the defensive line's performance and really the front Sevens performance, performance going to kind of stay the same?

[Kaden Green]

Yeah, I mean, they're underdogs. Like a lot of people are counting them out, but we know what we got in them and they get us better every day. We get them better every day. So I know they're going to have a big season this year. I'm excited for them.

[Greg McElroy]

What's going to be different for you, for you guys in this, in this little, I don't want to say different offense, it's Chip Lindsay, but it's not going to be different. I know Drake's not going to let it just completely be an overhaul, but there has to be a few intricacies that are a little different for you guys. What does change for you?

[Kaden Green]

Not much. I mean, it's a little bit faster, but other than that, you know, the principles are still the same.

[Greg McElroy]

So nothing protection wise different, like less slide protection or more play action, like anything like that, A little bit different

[Kaden Green]

under him, not much we got, I mean, the principles are still the same. Like there's play action, we got screens, we got, you know, it's pretty much the same, it's just, you know, a little faster.

[Cole Cubelik]

And this is a question that every college football fan's been wondering forever. And it's no disrespect to the incredible contractors up the in Columbia, Missouri. The stadium's gonna be done finally. I feel like that thing took eight years to build it. I remember when they announced it, I think I was like still in my rookie year at espn and now here we are a handful of years later, but the thing's finally ready to Roll, like, I know that that's something that maybe we put too much stock into, but knowing that there were times, especially in one end of the end zone last year where it was quiet because fans couldn't be there because they're in construction now, it's going to be rocking. How much will that affect your home field advantage here this year? It seems like it could be significant.

[Kaden Green]

Yeah, I think it'll affect it a lot. It's awesome. Have you seen it?

[Cole Cubelik]

I've seen. Yeah. I mean, I saw it well during construction.

[Kaden Green]

Yeah, I think it's about finished now. It's awesome.

[Greg McElroy]

Yeah, it looks like it's going to be crazy.

[Cole Cubelik]

It looks like it was going to be amazing.

[Kaden Green]

Yeah. That's awesome.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

So.

[Kaden Green]

And I think it added a couple thousand more seats, so it's going to be loud. I'm excited.

[Greg McElroy]

Well, Kaden, we appreciate you hanging out with us, man. Best of luck this year.

[Paul Feinbaum]

All right.

[Greg McElroy]

And tell them all we're happy for him. Excited to see him back on the field this year. Hope he makes full recovery.

[Kaden Green]

Sir, thank you.

[Greg McElroy]

Thank you very much. Kaden Green, Missouri offensive lineman, joining us here live from SEC media day. Day one on the digital circle. I'm gonna get it right at some point. I think it's just keep drive, keep making things up. Then, you know, digital loop. Yeah, yeah, let's go. Keep it going. Like we're going to go from one offensive lineman to another.

[Cole Cubelik]

What's up, man? Greg McElroy.

[Greg McElroy]

Hey, Peter Lewis going to join us here now. Day one, SEC media days. We go from Missouri offensive lineman, well, former Oklahoma offensive lineman now to a current Oklahoma offensive lineman. I do appreciate the Boomer Sooner pin. That's a good look right there.

[Cole Cubelik]

And the color, you got crimson going. So is that official? Is it official school color? Because I have said crimson and white before and I know at Oklahoma it's crimson and cream.

[Greg McElroy]

Be careful.

[Cole Cubelik]

Like, you got to be very careful with the colors.

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

Right.

[Cole Cubelik]

Is that accurate?

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Crimson and cream has always been. Go to.

[Greg McElroy]

There you go. You're good. You're perfect person.

[Cole Cubelik]

And creams go to. But it looks great.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Appreciate it.

[Greg McElroy]

Eddie, how do we get this offensive line back to where the standard of Oklahoma football has been the last couple seasons? This. You guys had so many different players. In, out, could practice, couldn't practice, couldn't practice. Then had to play in games, play in games, but couldn't practice. It was just. It was a bit of a max unit and it was confusing just how you had to sort of sort it out. How do you guys get back to being one of the strengths of the team this year.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

First off, we always have to go back to the basics. Offensive lineman, it really starts with hands, eyes and feet and base. Then one thing as well is always running the ball. That's something I always overemphasize with my guys across the line of scrimmage. And also, like, we got a lot of guys coming back, those returning starters as well, so we got a little bit of competitive depth as well. And we got a lot of guys that's able to step up and bring in a leadership role and help us.

[Cole Cubelik]

Well, it's kind of a. We always wonder. Look, Plano lion, the SEC is a true freshman to beast and you had a handful on the front last year. True freshman retrofection. But Vasusi out at left tackle, me having to communicate with him. And you're the between Michaela, the center and him at tackle. And you had to make that communication. How hard is it working with a true freshman? Not Fasussi specifically, but working with the true freshman as the guard to make sure that you're all on the same page.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Actually, it's not that hard because we spend a lot of time outside of football just hanging out and communicating. And I feel like when you play offensive line, the first thing is communication as well. So communicating with your offensive line, like, including like Michael Fasusi, we had him as a true freshman. We also had Ryan Fogey, that was a true, true freshman as well. So those guys that were coming in and they came into work that kind of made like the older guys make work a lot harder and that bring a lot of passion into the office and line group. And I feel like even though they were young guys, they still played like they were older. And now that they got that one year under their belt, now year number two, they're more experienced and they know a lot more football than when they first came in. So I feel like, man, it's just. They just taking it day by day and keep working and they've been doing a good job.

[Greg McElroy]

Eddie Pierre Lewis, Oklahoma offensive lineman, join us here at SEC media days. I feel like it. I'm not in there. I don't see it. I don't know. But I kind of had that center quarterback relationship when I played. So I have an idea of kind of like what it can or can't be. I feel like John Mateer is kind of the offensive lineman's quarterback. Like, he's hitting the smelling salts. He's like, you know, front squatting 400. Whatever it is. Like he's trying to run people over. What is your relationship like with him? Not just you individually, but that room. What's it like with Jon Mattier?

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

It's actually really good because now having Jon, you're number two as well. I'm saying, like, now we have a lot of returning guys that came back and that played recently. So I feel like having John here again, you're number two, is going to be great for us because we already develop a great relationship with John as well. And him having a good enthusiasm and good energy each and every day and bringing juice, that's something that US Office alignment look for. And we just look at. All right.

[Greg McElroy]

But past, like, the coach speak. We're not even on the air right now, so this is just us football guys talking like he. Have you seen the program?

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

What program?

[Greg McElroy]

The movie. The program. God, it's a dumb question.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I probably.

[Greg McElroy]

Shouldn't you ask? Okay, here's your homework assignment.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Desert.

[Greg McElroy]

Go back to Norman and find. I don't even know where you would stream the program. You need to watch it. All right. Because John Matier kind of reminds me of Joe Kane, the quarterback in the movie. Like, everybody just kind of rallies around him. He's one of the guys, one of the dudes.

[Cole Cubelik]

Does he ride a motorcycle?

[Nicholas Rodriguez]

That.

[Cole Cubelik]

Basically. That's what Cole's asking.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Oh, he got a low rider, though. He got a low rider?

[Greg McElroy]

Tell us about this.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Hold on.

[Greg McElroy]

He's got a low rider, man.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

It's crazy. He just got it recently. A couple weeks ago, he came up to practice and he was driving it.

[Greg McElroy]

It was like a Cutlass supreme, or. What are we talking about?

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

It was kind of like. It kind of was like a Cutlass, too, because now he kind of tinted it, add a new exhaust on it, man. It's pretty nice.

[Greg McElroy]

Does he have another car, too? Like, does he have, like, a daily driver or is that all? So he's got multiple vehicles.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Just two.

[Greg McElroy]

Just. Just two.

[Cole Cubelik]

That's not bad.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Perfect.

[Cole Cubelik]

How many more you need?

[Greg McElroy]

Like what? Give us something unique about him. Like, just something he does at the line of scrimmage. Like, something he does in practice. Like, the dude just feels like he's built different. Like, there's got to be something about him that, like, either gets you guys going or you love. Like when he's. When he gets you started. Something about Mater. Say that we give us something about Mater, we might not know.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Something about Mater.

[Cole Cubelik]

Yeah, about Mater.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

He's actually very caring. And he. He watches what he says a Lot of the times, but the way that he comes out with his words, that makes me want to run through a wall.

[Greg McElroy]

And there you go.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

It makes me want to run through a wall. And offensive lineman, like, you got to get me in that mode to turn up and be dominant because offensive line position is dominant. And like someone that I'm leading behind is John Mateer. So I'm going head first for him for sure.

[Cole Cubelik]

When you look at an off season storyline or an in season storyline, people pointing to, well, you know, they had a hard time running the football last year. We've talked about it with y'.

[Paul Feinbaum]

All.

[Cole Cubelik]

We talked about Alabama, we talked about the bunch of teams in this league. First of all, we know the D line personnel in this league. League's a beast. All right? Especially run against Yalls defense. Impossible. All right, so when someone says, hey, you know, they need to do a better job running the football, taking pressure off the passing game, what does that mean to you as an offensive lineman?

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

We're saying. We're saying what?

[Cole Cubelik]

Say, well, just anything. Like we talk about with Alabama, we talk about South Carolina, we talked about a bunch of teams last year that for whatever reason, just consistency in the run game. Wasn't there some games you get the Tennessee game for y', all, for example, it's like, all right, whoa, you know what happened there, right? And then other games, like, man, just not going today. How do you make sure that the offensive line or the. The run game stays consistent throughout the season? How does that happen for all these teams? Really? Not so much just for Oklahoma, for everybody.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Also, I feel like running the ball is also a mindset.

[Cole Cubelik]

I agree.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Running the ball is also a mindset. You got to be willing to work, willing to dominate your opponent right in front of you. And sometimes the offensive line, you. You gonna get beat. You were going against great guys. Like you said, we in the SEC going against a lot of top D linemen. But running the ball, you can't really be thinking too much, you think? But also, you just got to be willing to run off the ball and run through a person's face.

[Cole Cubelik]

Yeah.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

And that's something that we've been overemphasizing across the whole board this whole offseason. And I've been feeling like a lot of the guys been doing a lot better, like running off the ball with a base. And what I was saying, we always got to go back to the basics. Base hands, eyes and feet. And now pad level is one big thing as well, that you got to continue to keep Adding if we're going to be able to run the ball how we should.

[Greg McElroy]

So why are you taking all the Olan questions?

[Cole Cubelik]

Well, I just have an interesting one because I feel like he's in a very similar situation to me. Like, I play for Nick Saban, you play for Brent Venables. I feel like every single practice was scripted for the defense's success. Like, seriously, like every single one, it's like, all right, well it's third.

[Paul Feinbaum]

All right.

[Cole Cubelik]

Hey, it's third down and 12. It's third down and seven. It's third down and nine. Like we didn't even practice. Third and three. Hey, word is short 100%. We're going to get, we're going to have a productive first down play. But no, they want to run all their exotics. They want to just heat you up. Like that was what it. So I feel like we were always as an offense going uphill playing against the head coach of the defense. I get that. Is that what it's been like for you or is coach Venables pretty cool with the offense or is it one of those where if the offense wins the practice, it's a bad practice.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

So I actually, if an office wins the practice, he appraised the offense really. But then after, he's definitely going to

[Paul Feinbaum]

be bad at the defense 100%.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

But sometimes I tell a coach, I be like, man, we need a couple 30 shorts.

[Greg McElroy]

Oklahoma offensive line. It's funny because I was going to ask you something along the same lines. Like, does your defense move as much practice as they do in games?

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Absolutely.

[Greg McElroy]

Cuz it's got to be like, come on guys, can y' all just sit still for one snap? I mean, goodness gracious.

[Cole Cubelik]

They're probably calm. They're probably calm on games compared to practice. They experiment, practice, even call the front

[Greg McElroy]

sometimes because you know it's not going to be what you call anyway. So like it's almost pointless to call it bare or odd or whatever because it's going to be something totally different

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

every snap because they love to shift a lot. And also like, man, like that first call, you got to always be ready to shift it again.

[Greg McElroy]

Yeah, you're almost like, you can have this call but get ready for the other three things that we're about to see.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Sometimes you can also have like a thought in your mind of what it could possibly turn into. Then like also we're saying sometimes with the office in line where we grew a lot better, knowing a lot more football as well. Like even with true freshman Michael Fasucci and Ryan Fogey, they learned a lot more. So. And the communication has been a lot better and we've been playing a lot quicker. So even if they do stand a lot, move a lot, we've been able to pick it up a lot better because we're able to know it a lot more and we've been having a lot more reps, man.

[Greg McElroy]

Thanks for hanging out with us. We love talking football, specifically O line.

[Cole Cubelik]

I like your team this year, dude. We both like your team a lot.

[Greg McElroy]

It's going to be fun to watch and tell Eden Bo we say hello.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

Yes, sir.

[Greg McElroy]

All right, Eddie Pierre Louis joining us here live, Day one from SEC Media Days. Back with more right after this. All right, welcome back in SEC Media Days. Day one. Gonna be joined now as we are each and every week thanks to our friend craneworks by Paul Feinbaum. Lift it, load it, grade it, grind

[Cole Cubelik]

it, move it, haul it, rig it, dig it. Crane works.

[Kaden Green]

Yeah.

[Eddie Pierre Lewis]

The big dog's got it.

[Greg McElroy]

Paul Feinbaum on Back in Cube in the Morning is brought to you by Crane Works. Lift it, buy it, rent it. The big dog's got it now. Paul Feinbaum. Paul, thanks for hanging out with us here at SEC Media Days, Day one. You had a live show last night. First off, just your overall impressions of this event being in Tampa.

[Paul Feinbaum]

It's interesting. It's pretty. I mean, it's nice to look out.

[Cole Cubelik]

It is pretty.

[Paul Feinbaum]

You know, the one thing I wanted to say before we started, for those at home, there's about 40 TV cameras around us right now. They're all pointed at Greg McElroy because we're hoping to recreate a year ago at this very moment when McElroy blew up media Days with Nick Saban coming back.

[Cole Cubelik]

Which brings me to the next question. There's a lot of buzz. There's a lot of people on the know that believe that Steve Spreeer and Philip Fullmer are coming back this year. Any truth, Paul? Have you heard something similar?

[Paul Feinbaum]

There they are. I heard it at a golf course yesterday and I can't remember who told me.

[Greg McElroy]

It was funny, Paul, because when I came over to get my credential yesterday, John and I were sitting here talking and somebody brought that up. They said, so what's Greg going to do this year to. To get everybody going and to make everybody mad? I had totally forgotten about the Nick Saban deal last year. So now's your chance, Greg, if you want to step out.

[Cole Cubelik]

Well, funny. The funny thing is I didn't think anything of it. There are just people that thought, you know, hey, if. If the right situation came about, whether it's the Buffalo Bills or whatever, maybe. Maybe consider it. I just asked Paul.

[Greg McElroy]

I didn't even think it would go viral.

[Paul Feinbaum]

But in fairness to you, it was a conversation that, once again, the media completely blew out of proportion.

[Cole Cubelik]

In fairness, I also talked to Cole about this last week. When was the last time, in all seriousness, with the exception of Texas and Oklahoma joining the league? What was that, 2021? In that vicinity? When was the last time we had something really newsworthy at media days?

[Paul Feinbaum]

It's been a while. And that. That was probably as big a thing as I have seen in recent time, maybe since Philip Fulmer was arrested or subpoenaed or whatever, about 20 years ago. But these things are more for descending fireworks up into the sky to let everybody know the college football season is soon. And it's amazing how fans get into it, and I'm with them. Why not? It's been a long summer, and I think a lot of people who love the World cup, though, are happy to see it end, because now college football can at least get its place back in the pecking order.

[Greg McElroy]

I felt like last night you were trying to set some firework off. Is there a team that you have anything nice to say about that you like to go?

[Paul Feinbaum]

I got criticized last night, even today, in conversation for defending Lane Kiffin. Jordan Rogers was on a program with me, and he said that, you know, it's national championship or bust this year for Kiffin, and I really don't see it that way. I mean, I know what's behind. Everyone knows the Kiffin story, but I think if anybody in this league has a little bit of grace, it's Lane Kiffin.

[Cole Cubelik]

Right now, I don't see it as a national championship or bust year at all. If you want to be aggressive and say playoff or bust, I can potentially get on board with that. But even that, to me, would be a pretty significant achievement given their schedule and all the new.

[Paul Feinbaum]

One other thing I noticed last night, we were running the graphics on this SEC show. And I mean, I've done this a long time in recent for the least since the SEC network. I mean, it was hard to find Alabama in the conversation. Some could interpret that as bad news. Some might say it's good news, that they're literally. I mean, you saw, I mean, 4% chance of winning a national championship, what, 10% winning the SEC. It has been a remarkably long period, probably 2007, since Alabama has been disrespected at least according to the national media.

[Greg McElroy]

It was on your show last week. Paul, I don't feel like your callers, your audience has ever been as split as they are right now. Some would call in defend Caitlin deboer. We like him. They're in the playoffs last year, the other side, completely opposite spectrum. And it is. Gotta go. Not gonna get it done. Can't have it. Don't like him. I don't know when the last time we saw that either. As the fan base almost split down the middle on an Alabama head coach.

[Paul Feinbaum]

The one thing that I'm encouraged by Alabama fans a year ago, I felt in. In the spring and into the summer, almost an apathy. The first year didn't go over well and nobody really knew how to interpret it. I think at least getting that playoff win has emboldened some people to say, hey, this guy, like the record or not, is capable of doing a good job. And for all the hue and cry over contract extension, I don't know a rational person connected to college football who said it was the wrong decision. Now, the fans may say so, but what is Alabama supposed to do in that situation?

[Cole Cubelik]

He had leverage, a blank check and got what he deserved, what the market said he deserved. So to me, it made all the sense in the world. And I think he's good for two wins a year just on his own coaching acumen and being able to manage a game. Look at the games last year he won that were close, in which Alabama did not play great, and yet they found a way to win it. I think there's a lot to like about Caleb, and I am a believer and will be for as long as he's the coach at Alabama, that's for sure. However, I do think this is a unique time in which we saw a team last year with four star players, just eight of them win the national championship. Four star players, eight won the national championship. And yet everybody still believes that recruiting rankings matter. Why is it that people have yet to untangle the recruiting ranking connection to winning a national title? Because it's not. They're not one in the same anymore.

[Paul Feinbaum]

No. And I think speaking specifically of Alabama fans, they've lived off of recruiting rankings for so long, and even when things were dipping, they could still say, yeah, but look, we're winning the state or winning this. And you know, now I get people from Alabama say, well, I'm really worried about this recruiting season. We've already heard why this recruiting. Recruiting is different. Deborah said that ad nauseam, but it's not about that anymore and how you manage all these other things. And that is a concern though for Alabama in terms of where is their priority and where is their direction and are they as confident and as successful in the portal as some of these other schools.

[Greg McElroy]

So last night you guys talked about roster too. You were quick to jump out there and say no, Texas has the roster in the league right now. Where does that put their expectation for you heading into the seat like we mentioned it with with Lane Kiffin, championship or bust. Is that the expectation with Texas and Stark right now?

[Paul Feinbaum]

I think it is only because of, you know, starting with Archbanning and then working your way down to all the names that we've talked about here constantly. I think getting to a championship game is pretty important. There's so many non absolutes when you talk about the Big Ten, whether it's Oregon or Ohio State or Indiana coming back or Notre Dame. But I think if Texas fails to make its way deep and deep is the final game of the year, then I think a lot of people are going to go this was a wasted era in Texas football.

[Cole Cubelik]

Anyone else, Paul, that we should be talking about this week that you're excited to hear from?

[Paul Feinbaum]

I mean I'm really fired up by Georgia and I know that's cliche but I mean Georgia to me is better than I think some people are giving them credit for now. How good are they defensively? Certainly better than they were a year ago. What does Gunner Stockton do? Somebody mentioned Auburn last night or Byron Brown. I think it was Tebow and I feel really good about Auburn. I don't like their schedule but you could say that about 13 of the 16 SEC schools. But I really can't wait to see what this new era looks like. And it kind of galled me a little bit every time I heard somebody talk about Cam Coleman and to see how little Auburn got out of him.

[Cole Cubelik]

The other thing, Paul, is I feel like some of the things and we've all acknowledged Kirby Smart is one of the top two or three coaches in America. No one's going to disagree with that. Just what number do you have, Matt? And yet some of the same criticisms of KIRBY Smart in 22 we're going to go back to 20, 21 are being heaped on Calen DeBoer. Kirby Smart figured it out. Why are people so pessimistic about Caleb being able to figure it out?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, I think some of it is he just gives you a reason and you know, not to re litigate the beginning of last season. But, but that is going to be mentioned a few times. And, and I agree with you on the coaching. I mean, he, he willed Alabama through a couple of games last year and that's I think the other, the underbelly of it. Had he not, and of course he's a head coach, Alabama would be in much worse shape over these last two years than they were in because there are a couple of games that they literally shouldn't have won.

[Greg McElroy]

Yeah, Paul, great stuff. Thanks for hanging out with us.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Appreciate.

[Greg McElroy]

We'll talk to you next week. See you here throughout Media Days. I'll see you on your show later today. Paul Feinbaum joining us, thanks to our friends at craneworks. Back with more from SEC Media Days right after this. All right, welcome back in McElroy and Kubrick in the morning. Live from SEC media days. Day 1 Monday, July 20 if you are lacking energy, lacking sleep, feeling on edge, go check out Game Day Men's Health today. Go to gamedaymenshealth.com Sign up for the free consultation, get the free PSA test, free testosterone test. They'll give you your baseline health and help you solve any of the issues that you may be having. Peptides in stock can be customized just for you. Sleep, skin feeling better, aches and pains being gone. All that can be taken care of at GameDay Men's Health. Go to gamedaymenshealth.com and sign up for that free consultation today. Andy Staples going to join us on the other side. Continue picking up folks that run by players coaches here live from SEC Media Days. Nick Rouse, Cody Goodwin talk Kentucky, Missouri, the rest of the way as well. A lot happening right here on Mac and Cube in the morning. Live from SEC Media Days continuing after this.

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