← McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning
McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning
SEC Mike says WHO is a CFP contender? | Birmingham Stallions are gone| Mac and Cube
00:43:00
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- [00:03]
Cole Kublick
Lincoln, Riley. Hot seat. Scorching warm. Lukewarm, toasty. Where is that? As USC has made their rounds of Big Ten media days, we'll get another round of Big Ten media days today in Chicago as Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Washington, we'll all make appearances at Big Ten media days today. Indiana Edge Tristan Abram has entered the transfer portal. I didn't even know that was a thing right now. I didn't think you could enter the portal right now.
- [00:38]
Damien
I thought it was closed.
- [00:39]
Cole Kublick
I think kids announced that they will enter and then. So therefore, the next time a window does become available, that's when everybody knows they're recruitable. That's how I feel like that works. So you just announce it to these outlets. So they say you're heading to the portal, but really it's. It's almost like, you know, at the airports, you have the flat escalators that go, you know, like 800 yards. I think this is him just stepping on that. But the portals at the end of it.
- [01:05]
Damien
Gotcha.
- [01:05]
Cole Kublick
Like, I'm. I'm getting on the flat escalator to the portal, but I can't get in the portal for another however many months.
- [01:13]
Damien
So is he, like, practicing? Is he playing or at Indiana?
- [01:17]
Cole Kublick
I'm going to say probably not.
- [01:19]
Caller/Listener
Right.
- [01:20]
Cole Kublick
I don't view Kirk Signetti as the. Yeah, we'll let you practice and give us some reps knowing you're leaving the program. He doesn't take me as that kind of guy.
- [01:27]
Damien
He doesn't.
- [01:28]
Cole Kublick
A little bit more of a kick rock, sir.
- [01:32]
Damien
So he's. He's working out with the common student.
- [01:34]
Cole Kublick
We'll throw your bags on that escalator for you.
- [01:36]
Michael Bratton
Bye.
- [01:38]
Damien
That's wild.
- [01:38]
Cole Kublick
Nah. Sports Illustrated also has their national quarterback rankings out. We'll discuss that a little bit later in the show. And also, we need to. We haven't had this conversation on Josh Pastner's comments about UNLV hoops essentially being for sale, like, all of it. He had to release a statement yesterday to clarify that technically the program is not for sale.
- [02:00]
Damien
Okay.
- [02:00]
Michael Bratton
Okay.
- [02:01]
Cole Kublick
Some people thought that's exactly what he meant, but yeah, no. Let's go to the Higginbotham hotline now. Welcome in Michael braddon of that SEC podcast who decided to title a YouTube video in a disparaging manner towards myself, essentially why Cole Kublick Sucks was the title of the YouTube video that came out in the last few days. Why did we decide to go that direction, Mike?
- [02:26]
Michael Bratton
Well, I. Traffic in the truth, and I just felt obligated to get the truth out there. And that was actually one of the main topics that a true friend, Josh Pate, wanted to discuss on the show, Unprompted. So I felt, I felt the need to title it as such.
- [02:45]
Cole Kublick
Yep. And you did. And seemingly videos doing pretty well, right? Doing pretty good numbers for you?
- [02:51]
Michael Bratton
Oh, yeah. It's so far it's our number one video for media days. So I appreciate that from a true friend, Josh Tate.
- [02:59]
Cole Kublick
Oh, I thought you were going to say you appreciate that from me by utilizing my name, image and likeness on your video to garner views. So you're welcome.
- [03:08]
Michael Bratton
Well, I mean, you were. You revealed your true character down in Tampa. And when someone shows you who you are, then you gotta believe them.
- [03:16]
Cole Kublick
Did you have any massive takeaways from SEC media days? Did you shift your opinion on any teams, any programs?
- [03:25]
Michael Bratton
Honestly, no, not really. But I think that's, that's no stranger to me because I again, we Follow this stuff 365 days of the year. But I did, I did like a lot for what I saw, obviously from Pete Golding and John Several and just there again, is that really going to help them on Saturdays, how they prepare at media days? No, but I and you go to Will Stein. I just think that all this new blood in the Southeastern Conference, at least from a media standpoint, I think it's going to be really, really valuable to us. And that was kind of my main takeaway. Everybody wanted to talk about the playoff and if a 9 and 3 will get in, I could care less about all that. I care that the SEC seems to be injected with a lot of more enthusiasm and excitement from the coaching ranks.
- [04:16]
Cole Kublick
Let's stay with playoffs and Michael Bradden of that SEC podcast joining us on the Higginbotham hotline. There were a, there was a team or two that I was surprised didn't get more playoff buzz at media days. Like, when you look at it right now, what teams do you feel confident from the SEC saying will be in the College Football Playoff this year and what teams did you feel like? Most people at Media days kind of share that confidence with you.
- [04:42]
Michael Bratton
I think the only three that I'm confident will make it are Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas. And I have it in that order, too, so. But most people have Texas up there as one or two. I'm not saying that. I mean, God forbid I put them third. Right. But that's kind of where I have them. Whereas I think any combination of Ole Miss, A and M, Tennessee, LSU and then even outliers like Alabama, Florida and Carolina, I think they could all compete for a college football playoff spot, but I think the SEC is probably only going to get four. Hopefully they get more, but I think it'll be just four this year with a nine game schedule.
- [05:22]
Cole Kublick
One of the teams that I was surprised at, and I don't like saying disrespect because I don't think people are doing it intentionally. I just think if you like other teams, it's okay. It's fine. I was shocked, Mike, at the amount of people, or let me just say how few people realistically discussed Ole Miss as an SEC championship game participant, championship contender, or college football playoff team. Did that surprise you at media days as well? And where are you on Ole Miss heading into the season?
- [05:51]
Michael Bratton
Yeah, believe it or not, Cole, I had a couple people I spoke with that they're picking Ole Miss to win the national championship. So, I mean, people are kind of all over the spectrum with them and speaking with people that cover that team, they said, you know, they're telling me that the thing you really got to watch out for, everybody gets enamored with Trinidad and Keween, as they should. Those are phenomenal players. And Ole Miss just announced Heisman campaigns for each of them. But people that cover the team are saying that the defense is going to be incredible. I've heard you talk about the defensive line, but I think they're pretty fired up about all the linebackers they've added via the transfer portal as well. So it wasn't that long ago, what, Just two years ago, Ole Miss had arguably the best defense in the Southeastern Conference. If they have anything close to that, I mean, maybe Ole Miss can win the SEC and compete for a national championship.
- [06:46]
Cole Kublick
Did you feel like I did it media days, that this was probably the least amount of Alabama chatter we have had at an SEC media days, at least that I have attended. And it ramped up on Alabama day, of course, but before and after they were in attendance, it just felt like very little buzz, both positive and negative. It's almost like people didn't know what to say about Alabama. Where were you on the. On the Bama conversation in Tampa?
- [07:10]
Michael Bratton
Yeah. Hey, to go back to what you were saying of anything I picked up, now you've kind of jogged my memory. I mean, I did talk to some people. Where? I don't know, man, I. I know people take me as like a hot take, say crazy stuff guy, but people I spoke with basically said divorce, just dead man walking. And in the same breath they say, guys are really good Coach, I, I don't think anyone denies the, he's a. His record is undeniable, but I don't think he's got any support with former players. I think he's lost a lot of support with the people that really matter down there. I just don't think a guy's going to make it. And I have them as like an 8 and 4 type team now. If I'm wrong, maybe he'll be fine. But if he has that type of year, I think he's going to be wishing he took that Michigan job.
- [08:03]
Cole Kublick
It's going to be interesting to see kind of where I think that there are more Alabama fans that actually do believe in the board. I just think the louder majority of fans are the ones that are echoing some of the things that you said. You mentioned some of those new head coaches in the sec, they were impressive. I was glad to see some of them get in front of people so they can get to know them because I think they all have a chance to be successful. But their personalities are going to be infectious. I think that's why they are where they are. Which one of those coaches moves the meter the most this year? Let's leave Lane out of this. I don't, I don't think he counts as a new coach in the league. I'm, I'm surprised that Pete. People don't think Pete golden can even just win games. We'll leave him out of this as well since he's already won two playoff games as the Ole Miss head coach. But of the other new coaches, who are we sitting here a year from now saying, man, it was impressive what they did year one at their new school.
- [08:56]
Michael Bratton
I think it's got to be John Sumrall and you could even include Kiffin and Golding in this. And I think they'll do really well obviously at ole Ms. And LSU. But I think John Sumrall, I mean all the guy does is win. And I've been hearing his name for seems like 10 years of a guy. Keep your eye on rising up the coaching ranks. I have searched high and low, not that I for someone to say something bad about John Sumrall. I can't find it. And it's hilarious because I think Florida fans were honestly, I think they were a little bit upset when they hired him another G, you know, lower level Coach Billy Napier 2.0. I mean he, he destroyed that in about a week's time. So it, I don't think Florida can make the playoff this year. I think they're too flawed of a team, but I think they're going to compete for it up until the final month of the season. I really do. And I think if he could revive Florida, I think that's something that the SEC really needs. When Florida and Auburn and all these teams are down, I think it really hurts the perception of the league. So I think he turns that around immediately.
- [10:06]
Cole Kublick
Michael Bratton of that SEC podcast joining us on the Higginbotham Hotline. We discussed Alabama. You just mentioned Auburn. How does the first year of Alex Golis as a head coach go for the Tigers on the plains? What are we. What's the discussion point at the end of the season on year one for him, you think?
- [10:23]
Michael Bratton
Well, I don't know if it's right, Cole. I mean, obviously you're much closer to that program than I am. But I just want to see Auburn be fun again, particularly on offense, because it's just been dreadful with the offense and quarterbacks in recent seasons. So we haven't had a winning season right. In what, five years? So start right there. And I don't think the bar should ever be six, seven wins at Auburn. But I'm okay with that Year one, as long as it's an exciting brand of football. I kind of compare it to Tennessee when it was under Jeremy Pruitt watching that thing and how like, you know, it was just not even fun to watch a Tennessee football game and then insert Josh Hill and it's just fireworks and how explosive and scoring. It's like, wow, I didn't know you could do this in college football. That's what I want to see from Auburn, make it fun again. But they're another one where I think the. Obviously the schedule is difficult and I think the roster is a little flawed, but if they can. If they can win six, seven, maybe even eight games, I signed up for that right now, if I'm an Auburn fan, year one and hope for a big year, too, I just want to see Auburn fun again.
- [11:37]
Cole Kublick
You have, you have more confidence in Georgia or Texas right now, accomplishing more this year.
- [11:43]
Michael Bratton
Georgia, because I don't really believe in Steve Sarkeesian. I think he's. Anytime he gets matched up with an early, I guess, an elite coach, it kind of shows.
- [11:54]
Cole Kublick
Is that more on how the team plays or you think his coaching acumen, his X's and O strategy? Like, where do you put the fault with Sark?
- [12:05]
Michael Bratton
Well, I mean, again, he's a, he's a offensive genius. I was told Colt yet the last three years, the Offense has regressed with Quinn Ewers, who by the recruiting services was, is literally the highest rated quarterback of all time. And then Arch Manning, who we've been covering since he's about eighth grade, you know what I mean? So how is the offense regressing with these quarterbacks and this talent you have? I don't know. And just in those big time matchups, they seem to get kind of overwhelmed. And, you know, what was the issue last year? I thought clearly it was the offensive line. So, yeah, of course we got to switch the defensive coordinator. I mean, how does that make any sense? I don't know. And the fact that he's out here touting, well, now I can just focus on offense. Is he taking credit for the defense? I mean, I don't understand any of that logic. And they're talking a lot about grades. I don't know if you picked up on this, but, you know, we take real academics, we do basket weaving down here in Austin. I mean, this is a coach that. I don't understand the messaging here. They're all ships on the table, obviously. And, you know, it was also kind of weird where you're saying we're upgrading the talent via the transfer portal all around Arch. Well, these are all the guys you picked last year. You got to coach these guys up, you got to develop them. I don't understand the messaging from Austin, but they better win and win big this year. Otherwise, I think, I think this is the last year in Austin.
- [13:36]
Cole Kublick
We talked about that. Michael Bratton joining us on the higginbotham Hotline. That SEC podcast, a little bit of it was the grade stuff and then it was the Texas Tech stuff, and then it was like some of the, some of the recruiting stuff and it was like we asked the question on the show multiple times, like, what is Sark mad about right now? Like, who has, who has poked the bear over there? Because it felt like there were multiple instances where public comments were made that were almost unnecessary. I still, I never really got any final answers as to some of the things that were going on, but it did feel like multiple times what you referenced different things were coming out of there.
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Caller/Listener
Yeah.
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Michael Bratton
And again, I mean, I hadn't forgotten Cole. I bet you haven't either. Last year, you know, when they were struggling so much, at the beginning of the year, he makes a weird comment. You know, what if we put a camera and watch you go to the bathroom? You know, he said this to the media. I mean, this is word for word. That's what he said. Like, I don't know, I think the guy's kind of cracking under the pressure now again, they turned it around and they. Can they recapture that? If they play like they did at the tail end of last season, they're going to be just fine. But I don't know, Cole, it seems like the man is kind of not, not able to handle the pressure in my opinion.
- [14:53]
Cole Kublick
Mike, who has a better year, Tennessee or Vanderbilt this year?
- [14:58]
Michael Bratton
Come on, man. Tennessee's going to the College Football Playoff and Vanderbilt's going back to the gutter. We all know that.
- [15:05]
Damien
Okay.
- [15:06]
Cole Kublick
That I don't view it that way actually neither. I don't think Tennessee's in the playoff and I don't think Vandy goes to the gutter. But do you. Are you with me? And that the middle of the SEC is going to be fascinating this year. Just looking at Missouri, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, who else could we throw in there that I'm not thinking of? Middle of the sec. Mississippi State is in that mix. Absolutely. It's going to be incredible to see who can extend and who maybe falls back just a little bit.
- [15:38]
Michael Bratton
Yeah, I mean I think it's going to be just so chaotic, so full on weekend week out this year in the sec. And don't buy into the, the narrative from the coaches. You know, the nine game sec. Oh woe is us making eight, nine million dollars and that's, that's on the bottom line. We got to play all these difficult games. Hey, this is going to be amazing for the fans. It's going to be awesome and I'm ready for it. I think this could be the best year in the SEC we've had in a long, long time.
- [16:10]
Cole Kublick
You know, Auburn's in that mix. Kentucky would be in that mix. South Carolina would be in that mix. It's going to be fascinating to see. Mike, appreciate the time. Again, I apologize for not being able to. I did offer to come on your show and you guys turned me down and then asked me, I think at 5 o' clock on Thursday if I could join your show. So sorry, I couldn't fit that in at that point.
- [16:30]
Michael Bratton
But that was also the same day you told us, hey, I can't come on today. And I said no problem and I'm a busy guy. I lined up the full slate of schedule and we're about to interview someone and Cole come over and he's like, hey, can I come on now? I was like, no, no you cannot.
- [16:46]
Cole Kublick
There you go. Okay, so therefore you go make a headline. Cole Kublick Sucks. So got it noted. That's how we handle our business. So we will. We'll keep that in mind, Mike. Appreciate the time, man. Great stuff. Let's catch up soon.
- [16:58]
Michael Bratton
Okay. See ya.
- [16:59]
Cole Kublick
Michael Braddon of that SEC podcast joining us on the Higginbotham hotline. Some opinions on the SEC and takeaways from SEC media days of the middle of that pack. Like, if we had to say who extends, who goes backwards, where would that be?
- [17:14]
Caller/Listener
And
- [17:17]
Cole Kublick
another version of are you tough? This one might actually be frightening in a little bit more of a realistic way because I don't think a lot of us are trekking up 10,000ft with hiking poles in the near future. Some of you listening may be. I know Damian and I are not.
- [17:35]
Damien
No, no, no.
- [17:36]
Cole Kublick
But this one might be a little bit more. Okay. Could find myself in that situation. How would it go? We'll discuss it right after this on jocks. All right, we have some breaking news here involving the city of Birmingham that we'll get to in just a moment. Also, another edition of are you tuf? And the phone lines are open. Higginbotham Hotline, 205-834-9450. You can call in or text in there tweeting ackincube. Want to get to Billy in Nashville, who is listening, wants to talk some college football. Welcome into the show, Billy.
- [18:17]
Billy
Hey, Cole, appreciate you for taking my taking the call. Listening to Mike's interview there, talking about, you know, I thought you had a good question. Who has a better season, Vanderbilt or Tennessee, in my opinion. I mean, I don't. He was probably joking about. I hope he was joking at least about what he said. You could correct me if I'm wrong there. And a lot of people have the sentiment that Vanderbilt's going back to the gutter. It was all about Diego Pavia. And that's it, you know, because he's done. Vanderbilt will. Will go right back to where they were. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised by what they see from this team this year, this defense. And obviously Jared Curtis is young, but Tim Beck is in. In my opinion, one of the most underrated offensive coordinators in the country that nobody talks about. You talk about Cedric Alexander all the time as well, being the most underrated running back in the conference. Junior Sherrill is a receiver. So I think Vanderbilt once again, and it's Vanderbilt. That's why a lot of people aren't talking about him. But on Tennessee side of things, am I missing something with Tennessee right now? And I've heard a lot of people hype up this Tennessee team heading into this season. And a lot of the reasoning is because of Josh Hyple. Well, this is Josh hypo scheme and his offense and in this defense. And I get their defense will likely be a lot better when they're Jim Knowles. But in my opinion, Cole, this Hypo offensive, really the last couple years and ever since Nico left, I thought obviously last year with Aguilar they found ways to be somewhat competent. But I just don't understand the sort of blind faith in Tennessee this year when most likely it's going to be Faison, Brandon, a guy that hasn't played a single snap in the sec. I get that's the case for Vanderbilt as well, but Vanderbilt was a team that went 10, 3 on the cusp of the playoffs last year. Tennessee just seems to me Cole going downhill. I mean, is this Vanderbilt Tennessee rivalry starting to shift in Vanderbilt's favor in your opinion?
- [20:17]
Cole Kublick
A little bit. Yeah. And I think it's an explanation. Point was put on it in that game last year when we thought it was going to be competitive and we thought it was going to be close and it was not for any amount of time. That was pure dominance. And I get it. Eli Stower's gone, Diego Pavia gone. Like there's a lot of pieces of that team going to be gone. But I'm with you. You've rebuilt the offensive line with some pieces that I think can be pretty good. You have a running back you're going to be able to lean on to go to wide receiver. You'll take some of the heat off the quarterback in different ways. Both coordinators underrated. The defense has got everybody back. The defense can be really good, I think. So I'm with you. I'm interested to see. That's why I asked the question. I don't think Tennessee will be even really knocking on the door of the playoff this year. I think they can still have a good season. And I don't think Vanderbilt goes backwards a ton some. I mean, listen, you still gotta have good quarterback play, right? And whether it's an inexperienced quarterback or a freshman quarterback, like it's not going to be what it was last year, but still there are ways that they can maneuver around that and work around that. So I appreciate the call, Robert. Appreciate you listening up in Nashville. Robert in Greenville wants to talk college football. Welcome into the show, Robert.
- [21:29]
Caller/Listener
Good morning, Cole. First of all, I appreciate the coverage that y' all had for Rescue media days last week. I thought y' all did a job. But what I wanted to talk about is I disagree with what Michael Bratton said. I do not. First of all, I think Alabama's program. Well, I know there's some concerns about the offensive line and the quarterback situation. I think they're in a lot better shape than what he's making out to be. I, I disagree. They said that Alabama is an afterthought because when you got the best secondary in the country coming back and you've got a very one of the best young group of wide receivers and you went out transfer portal and addressed the defense, the offensive and defensive lines, I don't know what else the board could have done. Maybe he could have gotten Hollywood smothers. But look for him to say that the player four players and does and fans do not have support of the board. I think it's a little bit going out of bounds. I think it's ridiculous. And the other thing is there's no way that Tennessee is a college football playoff team. They've got too many holes on their defense to fix. It takes a year to learn that system under Jim Knowles even though I know he did a great job with Ohio State. But them a year to learn. Okay. And then the quarterback situation. Yeah, I know Alabama's got experienced quarterback but Leaf, Austin, Mack, Keon Russell has taken a few some snaps and I just think that for him to say Tennessee is a college football playoff team is out of bounds as well. Has he seen how tough Tennessee schedule is? I mean you lose the key linebacker first. I think that was totally wrong by the ncaa. But still he's not going to be there for the Georgia Tech game. And then they got Texas, they got Alabama, they got Auburn, who's going to beat them? They got Texas A and M on the road. They got lsu. I mean there's no way Tennessee is going to make college football playoff. And I think Josh Hyple may be on the hot seat by the end of the year. I mean is he be watching? I don't know what it is. I mean as he's paid attention to what's going on in Tuscaloosa besides listening to the fine bomb people griping and complaining all the time about what's going on with Alabama's program. I mean it just seemed like. I just don't agree that Vanderbilt's going in the gutter either. I mean Vanderbilt to me is a seven win ball club. I think Vanderbilt will beat Tennessee the last Saturday of the season, of the regular season. It Just, I mean. And they're going to beat North Carolina State. They're going to give Georgia scare. If you look at where they are at on the schedule after Oklahoma, before Alabama. So I'm sorry, I don't agree with anything he said about Alabama and Tennessee. I'm guessing he's been. What? I don't know. I just don't agree with Winston Bratton.
- [24:39]
Cole Kublick
We appreciate the call. Appreciate the time. Let's go to Coach Hughes in Santa Rosa. Tuned into the show. Appreciate it. Doing well. How are you, dude?
- [24:48]
Caller/Listener
Love the show. Hey, these people's taking the bait from old Michael, man. He's such a heel. They're eating it up anyways, this is my thing about Alabama wearing a patch. They can look like NASCAR out there for all I care. I just wanted to win. I'm at with it.
- [25:05]
Cole Kublick
I think that's where a lot of people are. If this means grab more talent, being more successful in different ways, then go for it. People are, People are all in.
- [25:13]
Caller/Listener
I don't care what color you wear, all. Whatever. I don't care. Just win. That's where I'm at with it.
- [25:20]
Cole Kublick
Where do you see the season this, this year for Alabama?
- [25:26]
Caller/Listener
I don't know.
- [25:27]
Michael Bratton
You know, I'm a. I'm such a
- [25:28]
Caller/Listener
homer about it at times. I'm always like, man, they're going to be good, they're going to win. Even back when all the mics was there and stuff. But I don't know, I'm interested to see the quarterback. I went to that Florida State game last year and that was atrocious. But watching those two guys move on the sideline, they look pretty good.
- [25:47]
Michael Bratton
So maybe the quarterback will be all right. Surely the offensive line has got to be better. It's got to be better than last year.
- [25:53]
Cole Kublick
Geez, you would imagine. But be careful. It's. That's what Oklahoma fans are saying. That's what Bama fans are saying. That's what Auburn fans are saying. Like it doesn't. Just, just because it was bad last year doesn't mean it's going to be better this year. So.
- [26:09]
Caller/Listener
That is so true. You just know. And at the end of the day you're dealing with 19 and 24 year olds. Who knows, you know, it's like old Pate says, at the end of the day, it's always them.
- [26:24]
Cole Kublick
It comes down to the players, the
- [26:25]
Caller/Listener
coaches and the players.
- [26:26]
Cole Kublick
Yeah, that's it. Appreciate the call, coach. Thanks for tuning in. And Santa Rosa, man, thank you. All right, so I don't think anybody on the show realistically believes Tennessee is a playoff team, including guests who have appeared on the show today. But I appreciate the stir.
- [26:46]
Billy
Right.
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Cole Kublick
I guess it works.
- [26:48]
Damien
We just said they'll be, they get it right. Like they'll be okay.
- [26:51]
Cole Kublick
Well, no, Mike said they're a playoff team. So I don't, I don't think that he meant that that way.
- [26:56]
Damien
But, but maybe he did. And what if he.
- [26:59]
Cole Kublick
Surely not. Oh, no.
- [27:04]
Chris VanVleet
All right.
- [27:04]
Cole Kublick
Some unfortunate news for the city of Birmingham that we need to discuss. We will, we will get to another. Are you tough today? But we got to have this conversation. It's unfortunate. I'm open up the phones. 205-834-9450. When we come back, another professional sports team gone in Birmingham. We'll discuss it next on Jocks. All right. Welcome back in McElroy and Kublick in the Morning. Appreciate you guys tuning in. 205-834-9450. You can text in or call in there. You can also Tweet in @mackincube. You want to be a part of the show. Al.com is reporting that there will be an announcement today that the Birmingham Stallions are no more. Craig Stevenson of AL.com reporting that the Birmingham Stallions are going to be done and that the UFL make a decision later today to cease operations in the city of Birmingham. Roy Johnson helping him report that story today. Damien, your thoughts?
- [28:40]
Damien
Ah, it's kind of conflicting because it felt like, it felt like this season was kind of a make or break anyway because of how, how it, how it played out when Repoli took ownership and kind of just played with Birmingham there for a while. And then the product on the field didn't necessarily live up to expectations this past year. And it kind of felt like this was like our, our final hoorah. I, I mean, it stinks. It stinks because I do think that the people, we were balding, you could tell, I mean, television markets, you could tell like we were watching. And I can understand crowd size and things like that. But I felt like everybody, he's trying to Compare everything to St. Louis when St. Louis is like, I mean, they've had a professional team, like they've had an NFL team. And they were kind of the, the motivation that they have is almost like a middle finger to the NFL saying like, y' all should have never taken them from St. Louis. So of course they were going to show up to the Battle Hawks. I mean, you could talk about, you know, the calendar in which spring football is played it's tough. It's different down here in, in Alabama. It's different in Birmingham. But I do think the support was there, but it just, it just stings because it did feel like, I mean, we look at the first four years of spring football, I mean, we won three championships and, you know, this past season kind of was a stinker. But all in all, it's just kind of a, it's kind of a gut punch. It's just kind of like, like, dang, man. I felt like we had some momentum here and now it's, now it's being taken away from us.
- [30:24]
Cole Kublick
All right, from roy johnson@al.com Three time champions will ride no more. After five seasons, the longest stint in professional spring football in the city's history, the UFL will announce today that it's ceasing operations in Birmingham. According to public officials, quote, Birmingham has been home to the stallion since 2022. Mayor Randall Woodfin told AL.com We've been proud to see the team's success on the field and its growth in the market over that time. We wish the organization well. That's coming from the mayor. So that's essentially him saying, yeah, this is done. I will say this. I had, I had multiple people within and that cover the UFL reach out to me yesterday asking me if this was done. I had not gotten official word but had heard from numerous people involved that they believed it was going to be over. Now it looks like it will be. So I'm with you, Damien. I, I, I had, I couldn't go to a lot of the games as a fan because I was covering other games, other places. But the games that I did have a chance to cover, I enjoy being a part of them here. I understand crowd size. One of the things that I am a little bit frustrated on is some of the commentary from people within the UFL about the stadium size, protective stadium size. And one of the things that I did not see countered with was the NCAA rule of the minimum size stadium. You have to have to house Division 1 football and that cannot be a 12,000, 15,000 seat stadium. So would that be cool for the Legion and the Stallions, potentially other professional teams that wanted to play a sport in said stadium? Like, I think these new little soccer stadiums are the future. In a lot of ways, these behemoth stadiums are going away. It's premium seating, it's quaint seating. It's that tight environment that when you only have 8,000 people or 11,000 people can still feel electric and give you a Great environment. It's hard with the way protective stadium is built when you see what they have in Louisville, what they have in D.C. what they have in Houston, and I get that, I understand that. But in order to house the. Like, the University of Louisville is not playing in that stadium. They're not like Maryland's not playing in that stadium. So per Division 1 rules, it couldn't be that and it had to house uab, so therefore it couldn't be both. Do I feel one of those stadiums is perfect for the ufl? I do. Is it perfect for MLS and other levels of soccer? Yes, probably. And from a concert venue perspective, it can still get probably a good crowd. Not the crowds that you want for the kind of acts you're trying to bring in, but you also have an amphitheater now a mile away. So, yep, that kind of changes that mindset of where that stadium is and what that stadium is. It's of no one's fault. I don't believe, and I also don't believe anybody built protective stadium saying, by God, if we can just get spring football here, right? That wasn't a real part of it. You'd love to have it on top of it and for that to be something that also could be housed there. But the reality is that wasn't at the forefront of, hey, we definitely need to get this here. It just wasn't. It's not real. So I hate it because, listen, at the end of the day, I love live tackle football. I was watching CFL again over the weekend in a hotel room in Pittsburgh. I mean, if live tackle football is on and I'm sitting around, which is not very often, I'm going to watch it. I mean, I have friends in town that will tell you I've been to different get togethers at their homes and put a UFL game on or put a CFL game on. Like, we didn't even know this was going. I'm like, yeah, it's tackle football. Like, let's watch. To me, it's more enjoyable than a lot of other things that we're going to be watching right now and trying to consume. But it felt like with the success of the team early and the support early, that it was going to be able to be sustainable. And this is where I think Birmingham had the biggest disadvantage is in the usfl. It was all housed here. So you had not only players from Birmingham, but from other teams that were at your radio stations, at your TV stations, at your schools, at social get togethers. The marketing was automatic because it was right here. And of course, being in Birmingham, the team that was going to be marketed the most was going to be the Stallions. So you had inherent advantages there. When that was removed, it hurt mainly because it was different. It was automatically different and it wasn't marketed as much and it wasn't marketed the same way again, to no one's fault, because the players weren't here anymore. And when they were here, they did a good job of getting out there and getting in front of people. And Skip Holtz tried. I mean, we saw. We. We've got the local news monitors on in the station every day. I saw him doing the zoom calls, I saw him trying to market. But it's not the same when they're not in person. It just isn't. And then I do think the league pulled back on a little bit of its marketing and it hurt. Like you need to be marketing more, not less. And like the Memphis crowds were atrocious. Nothing you can say about that. I don't think the Birmingham crowds were atrocious by any stretch of the imagination. I didn't think the San Antonio crowds were atrocious by any stretch of the imagination. And the confusing part to me is instead of trying to reinvigorate a crowd who has been there before, it's this automatic. We're going to put it somewhere else, right? And you're not going to get St. Louis in a lot of other places, you're just not. Those fans have a chip on their shoulder and they do an amazing job showing up, and it's an amazing environment that they have. And still, even though it's old, a pretty cool indoor stadium that gives you a comfortable place to go. Watch whether it's hot, whether it's raining, whether it's cold, whatever. It's just different. Like, some of this is situational. It's timing, and there it's. Some of it's not controllable, like the St. Louis situation. I don't think it's controllable because it's more circumstance. Like you have an indoor stadium with the crowd that's pissed off, that's trying to prove a point, and they take advantage of it. Like, do I think that the original XFL said, watch us do this in St. Louis? If that was the case, you would have figured out more markets that had something close to that that you could have taken advantage of and you didn't. But I do think the success that Birmingham had and the love for football that's here had a chance to be reinvigorated or reignited in certain ways. And I don't personally, I'm not sure all the effort was put into that to be able to pull that off. 205-834-9450 if you want to get in, 205-834-9450 you can text in, you can call in your thoughts on the Stallions being no more here in Birmingham. You can tweet into the show as well. Acincube like I see some of you doing. We'll get to those next right here on Jocks.
- [38:01]
Chris VanVleet
Hey, I'm Chris VanVleet. Go behind the scenes and beyond the headlines with the biggest names in pro wrestling, wrestling and beyond. Jeff Jarrett, great to see you in this business.
- [38:10]
Cole Kublick
The story behind the scenes, so much
- [38:12]
Chris VanVleet
more entertaining than what you see on camera.
- [38:15]
Cole Kublick
Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman.
- [38:17]
Chris VanVleet
Mr. Heyman, you are a master at the little things. That's how you turn good into great.
- [38:21]
Cole Kublick
What does it take to achieve greatness?
- [38:23]
Michael Bratton
Whatever it takes, I'm willing to do.
- [38:25]
Chris VanVleet
That's an Emmy winning performance.
- [38:27]
Caller/Listener
How about it?
- [38:27]
Chris VanVleet
Insight with Chris Family. Follow and listen on your favorite platform.
- [38:34]
Cole Kublick
All right, welcome back. In McElroy and Kublick in the morning, Birmingham Stallions. Apparently no more here in the city of Birmingham. Roy Johnson for AL.com reporting early this morning that city officials have let him know an announcement will be made later today that the Stallions will no longer be housed here in Birmingham. And I don't know exactly what that means. Does that mean that the team name goes to another city? Is it a completely different franchise in another city under another name? I have no idea. Like, we didn't see the Memphis Showboats go to Louisville. So I don't think that the Birmingham Stallions would go to Oklahoma City or Salt Lake. I think it would probably just be a completely new franchise, new uniforms, everything, which for that city wouldn't be terrible because Louisville won it last year. Fresh start, new team, whole new deal, new coach, new players.
- [39:25]
Caller/Listener
They did.
- [39:26]
Cole Kublick
205-834-9450. Your thoughts? Frustrated care at all. Mad scout in Birmingham wants to chime in. Welcome in, scout.
- [39:38]
Caller/Listener
Hey, Cube.
- [39:40]
Michael Bratton
Yeah, it's just, it's, it's.
- [39:42]
Billy
Yeah, I'm mad about it. Having to deal with that for five years. I felt like the experience, like the fan experience was going down every year. And it's like, why do people not want to show up? Why do people not want to Pay, you know, $80 to park, eat and enjoy the game? Right? And I think the biggest Thing was like, went, dude, when they lost Skip, that was like, you know, I was like, your uncle passed away or something, right? Like, oh, like, everyone loved that man. And I know that, like, Skip Holt, pre Stallions, like, yeah, he had success, a lot of tech, but like, he had no attachment to the state of Alabama. But you win some championships in Alabama and all of a sudden everyone loves you, right? And I think that the biggest mistake was obviously getting rid of Skip. But on top of that, just like every game, like, with it being hot in Alabama and all that, but like, it just this year especially, it's like you get that first game, that first home game, and you just come out so flat and I'm like, you have all those fans come out and they get disappointed, right? And then every game after that, even
- [40:44]
Caller/Listener
the games that they were good, even the games.
- [40:52]
Cole Kublick
Appreciate the call. Scout. Yeah, phone breaking up on you just a little bit there. But I think the, Your. Your point was driven home there, that there is real frustration about the team and game situations. Listen, any of these games this day and age are going to be pretty expensive to attend. I mean, some of that is just where our economy is right now. But I felt like the support was pretty good for the majority of it. And you could say you wanted more, can say you needed more. I get that. I understand that everybody would like to have more. I'm sure you look at the crowds in D.C. and St. Louis and say, well, there's an extra 5,000 seats. I mean, there's. You could get 10,000 more in there. Like, you'd love to have more everywhere. It's never just going to be enough. But did we honestly feel like the crowds, the situation, the support was bad enough to where it needs to be moved, it needs to be taken away?
- [41:49]
Damien
See, that's where. That's where I'm with. It's all right. So we had one not so good year. But if you go back, like, I mean, if you go back the past four, three, four springs, I mean, attendance wasn't. Wasn't the issue. Like, I mean, the product on the field was amazing. I don't know, man. Like, it's. It's so. It's so frustrating because it just felt like this should work. It should have worked because kind of, to your point, the success that we had early on, and you brought up a great point of because everything was housed here. We. We had it. It felt like hours. And that's what it genuinely felt with Birmingham, even. Even with them being the hub in Texas. Like, it felt Whenever they came back, it was still us. And then this past season just kind of, ah, you left a sour taste in our mouth. But I still thought, I still think the future was still going to be on an upward trajectory, if that makes sense.
- [42:44]
Cole Kublick
Yeah, yeah, it's frustrating, man. I think a lot of people and I, I will, I will say the bigger picture question for me as we got the coach, Wim Sanderson and Ethan Veith. Coming up in our next hour, the bigger question for me, is this it for good as far as spring football is concerned in the state of Alabama? It's been too many times because people asked it after the iron and then you tried it again. People were saying, no, not again. Like, you fooled us too many times. And I wonder, is this the death knell for spring football in the state of Alabama? There's just there, there have been too many opportunities that have been yanked away. And I wonder if too many people now are going to feel burned to even support whatever could be next. Scrolling with Hayley. Join Haley Caronia as she scrolls through the biggest headlines.
- [43:34]
Hailey Caronia
If you haven't watched this show before, we do blind reactions. I have not seen these videos so I am seeing them for the first time with all of you. We're going to implement the Tinfoil hat Times segments and all the stuff you know and love and I'm going to finish the show and answer some of your questions. Someone asked me what made you get into podcasting and I was producing podcasts for other people then. I was like, I could do this for myself. And here I am.
- [43:56]
Cole Kublick
Scrolling with Hailey. Follow and listen on your favorite platform.
- [44:01]
Chris VanVleet
Hey, I'm Chris Van Vliet. Go behind the scenes and beyond the headlines with the biggest names in pro wrestling and beyond. Jeff Jarrett. Great to see you in this business.
- [44:10]
Cole Kublick
The story behind the scenes, so much
- [44:12]
Chris VanVleet
more entertaining than what you see on camera.
- [44:14]
Cole Kublick
Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Haynes Heyman.
- [44:17]
Chris VanVleet
Mr. Heyman, you are a master at the little things. That's how you turn good into great.
- [44:21]
Cole Kublick
What does it take to achieve greatness?
- [44:23]
Michael Bratton
Whatever it takes, I'm willing to do.
- [44:25]
Chris VanVleet
That's an Emmy winning performance. How about it Insight with Chris Family? Follow and listen on your favorite platform.