Miami HC Mario Cristobal, CFB With Tom Fornelli, Jerry From Meow Mix + Playoff Baseball, Jaguars Big Win And FAQ's

Summary

Pardon My Take – Episode Summary

Date: October 8, 2025
Episode: Miami HC Mario Cristobal, CFB With Tom Fornelli, Jerry From Meow Mix + Playoff Baseball, Jaguars Big Win and FAQ's
Hosts: Big Cat & PFT Commenter (Barstool Sports)
Special Guests:

• Mario Cristobal (Miami Hurricanes HC)
• Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports CFB Analyst)
• Jerry from Meow Mix (Carolina Panthers podcast)

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers quintessential PMT chaos, featuring playoff baseball reactions, hot seat/cool throne, college football breakdowns, NFL talk (with a Jaguars-centric focus), a revealing interview with Miami HC Mario Cristobal, genuine perspective from a retired Panthers podcaster, and a batch of listener-submitted FAQs.

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Key Segments & Insights

1. Baseball Playoff Reactions

Timestamp: 02:53–41:03

• Aaron Judge’s Heroics:
  The show opens with Big Cat and PFT reliving Aaron Judge’s season-saving home run, marveling at the gravity of the moment for the Yankees and baseball at large.

  • “It was an insane, insane moment...if the Yankees somehow go on and win this series, it will be because of that moment.” (Big Cat, 04:25)
  • Even as known Judge/Yankees haters, the hosts admit it was a “cool-ass home run” (PFT, 03:23).

• Cynicism & Conspiracy:
  The crew debates whether MLB would "rig" series to keep big-market teams alive, spinning wild fan logic and jokes about juiced baseballs.

• Memorable Fan Moment:

  • Reference to the Mariners’ “Dump It Here” guy who caught Cal Raleigh’s home run, wore layered shirts, and became a cult hero.
  • “The guy was wearing two shirts, and now he’s ready. And then Big Cat and I looked...I think he might have been wearing a third shirt.” (PFT, 15:33)

• Personal Torture:
  Max and Big Cat vent about the downward spirals for their Phillies and Cubs, struggling with failed bats and manager decisions.

• Philly & Cubs Meltdown:

  • “The Cubs have struck out 19 times in the first two games of the series. Balls in play!” (Big Cat, 40:39)
  • “Our top three hitters...have a combined .143 batting average and .544 OPS.” (Memes/Max, 37:27)

• Pascal’s Wager for Overalls:
  With superstitions running rampant, Max contemplates donning overalls for Phillies luck, while Big Cat refuses to accept a “big check” at Wrigley on elimination day, citing destiny and sports-jinx logic.

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2. NFL Talk: Jaguars, Chiefs, and Division Politics

Timestamp: 46:18–54:49

• Jaguars Defeat Chiefs:
  Discussion centers on Jacksonville finally overcoming their “always lose this game” curse, while Kansas City’s “black magic” fades (PFT, 47:47).

  • “Jaguars win a game the Jaguars never win...something shifting.” (Big Cat, 47:03)
  • “The losses the Chiefs are experiencing...they look like all of us now.” (PFT, 47:47)

• Chiefs Regression:

  • “Maybe their regression back to being just a normal good football team” (PFT, 47:47)

• Creative Tangent – NFL Division Commissioners:

  • Team proposes fake “division commissioners” to hype up the AFC South.
  • “Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a commissioner for each division? Hey, here at the AFC South, we actually play winning football now.” (Big Cat, 51:53)

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3. Hot Seat, Cool Throne

Timestamp: 57:13–65:28

Key Hot Seats:

• NCAA Tournament / March Madness
  • Expansion is coming, bubble-watch drama may be lost.
  • “A lot of the fun...is the lead-up and the bubble watch.” (Big Cat, 57:41)
• Jerry Jones (for ‘flipping off’ fans), Drake (passed on streaming by Travis Scott), Human Brain (can supposedly hold 150 relationships)

Key Cool Thrones:

• Amazon Prime Day, Connor McDavid,
  • “Team-friendly deal...very easily tradable.” (Big Cat, 63:27)
• Jaylen Hurts
  • Viral Hail Mary: “He literally threw the Hail Mary and then sprinted to the end zone to try to get it.” (Big Cat, 67:59)

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4. NCAA/College Football Deep Dive ft. Tom Fornelli

Timestamp: 75:30–114:39

• Penn State’s Future / James Franklin’s Seat:

  • “These games against UCLA are just games Penn State always won...no excuse for what happened.” (Fornelli, 75:30)
  • Comparison to Bo Pelini/Nebraska “grass is greener” syndrome.

• SEC Surprises:

  • “Texas A&M...are legitimately good. Back end of defense looked like ass, but figured it out. Suddenly a team exceeding expectations.” (Fornelli, 80:28)

• Texas & Arch Manning:

  • “Offensive line can’t block anybody...Arch has been a huge problem, but not the only problem.” (Fornelli, 82:09)

• Michigan/Ohio State Analysis:

  • “Ohio State this year is better than last year.” (Big Cat, 87:42)
  • “Defense is very, very, very good. The offense is not quite to where last year's was.” (Fornelli, 89:51)

• Miami's Path & PIT trap game:

  • “Miami’s biggest speed bump is always Miami.” (Fornelli, 94:28)

• SEC Outlook & Alabama:

  • “I do think it’s Alabama...Ty Simpson might be the best QB in the country.” (Fornelli, 96:21)

• UNC Dumpster Fire:
  “Awful...it’s a dumpster fire, players look like they’re completely unprepared.” (Fornelli, 104:01)

  • Mike Lombardi process letter “Sam Hinkie for college football” jokes.

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5. Mario Cristobal Interview (Miami Hurricanes HC)

Timestamp: 115:27–143:10

• Culture Change/Program Building:
  “It’s almost like real estate...when you see a place that’s got a ton of potential but just hasn’t been taken care of...it starts with just changing the DNA.” (Cristobal, 116:16)

• Relentless Work Ethic:
  “We work at a level, an intensity that’s pretty insane.” (Cristobal, 121:54)

  • Key influences: Jimmy Johnson, Dennis Erickson, Butch Davis, Nick Saban

• Recruiting Philosophy:

  • “I learned the value of recruiting very quickly and how the magic is in the players.” (Cristobal, 118:15)

• Handling Success:

  • “We have massive improvement to be made to accomplish what we want to.” (Cristobal, 121:50)
  • “Busting your ass. This is a vocation, not a part time job.” (Cristobal, 125:46)

• Secret Service Almost-Career:

  • “I was gone. That was what I wanted to do...and then I woke up in the middle of the night and said, hell, no, I want to coach football.” (Cristobal, 119:56)
  • [Funny Q] “When Super Mario comes out, how does 15-year-old Mario Cristobal feel?”
    “I didn’t play it much. I’m a Pittsburgh Steelers die-hard fan.” (Cristobal, 141:31)

• Program mentality:

  • “We’ve thrown that ‘Miami's back’ thing out...Everything we are doing is going straight ahead, not back.” (Cristobal, 134:53)

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6. Retiring from Team Podcasting: Jerry from Meow Mix

Timestamp: 145:08–156:08

• Burnout and Heartbreak:

  • “I turned the game off. First time in 10 years I actually stopped mid-game… I can’t do this.” (Jerry, 145:46)
  • “It’s becoming more of a chore than a fun hobby.” (Jerry, 146:00)

• Advice from PMT:
  “We appreciate the ecosystem of sports podcasters...it’s important to the sports community.” (PFT, 147:17)

• Possible Return:

  • “Is there any chance we get the boys back together?”
    “Maybe, just because I don’t know where his headspace is at with coming back.” (Jerry, 152:04)

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7. Listener FAQs & Show Wrap-up

Timestamp: 156:50–end

• Handling Team Rebuilds as a Fan:

  • “If your team says, ‘we’re gonna try to rebuild’, and you have the right people in charge, rebuilds can be fun.” (Big Cat, 158:30)

• Grit Week Roadtrip Memories:

  • Recounted adventures: receiving beer from fans, playing darts on mushrooms in Boulder, Atlanta’s Northside Tavern blues night, storm chasing.
  • “Grit Week, Colorado—climbing Everest, doing mushrooms, one of my favorite dive bars…that was sick.” (Big Cat, 162:04)

• Fastest 2 Minutes:

  • “We do it after the games...around six o’ clock every Sunday, just being like, oh, we got to do this.” (Big Cat, 164:25)

• Booth Smell:

  • “Individually, they’re not bad smelling guys. Put them together…different story.” (Big Cat, 164:47)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Playoff Baseball:
  “I'm happy for Aaron Judge...You can't deny that sports are cool when you watch a home run like that that could potentially save the Yankee season.” — Big Cat [04:25]

• On Coaching Mentality:
  “I refuse to allow any...‘relax mode’...to creep into myself. It's my job and our staff's job—the adults set the tone.” — Mario Cristobal [124:17]

• On Fan Suffering:
  “There’s only so many times I could say, ‘Hey, Dave Canales, you got a big O-line, run the ball with 2000 yard backs.’ And they don’t do it.” — Jerry (Meow Mix) [150:14]

• On Team Rebuilds:
  “If your team actually says, ‘Hey, we’re going to try to rebuild because...’ The worst place to be is a team that cannot win a championship, but the owners keep running it back.” – Big Cat [158:30]

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Episode Structure & Flow

1. Opening / Playoff Baseball Recap & Banter
2. NFL Recap (Jaguars/Chiefs, divisional commissioner jokes)
3. Hot Seat / Cool Throne
4. Tom Fornelli on CFB – Penn State, Texas, SEC, ACC, Michigan, Miami
5. Mario Cristobal Interview – Building Miami, recruiting, discipline, legacy
6. Retiring from Meow Mix — Podcasting Pain & Panthers Futility
7. Listener FAQs—Fandom, roadtrip nostalgia, and show inside-baseball
8. Show Closer—Banter, lottery ball, outro track (“Peaked in High School”)

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Overall: Rich in original tone, whip-smart sports analysis, doses of dumb joy, and unique glimpses into the professional and emotional lives of athletes, fans, coaches and content-makers. A must-listen for PMT fans and anyone seeking the intersection of sports obsession, culture, and self-deprecation.

Transcript

[Big Cat]

Hey, pardon my take listeners. You can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. Golf season is in full swing and getting out there to work on your game is bound to make any day even better. And if you're looking to improve your drive, Chevy Equinox EV is the smartest choice you can make. Bold athletic styling, a commanding presence, award winning tech, an impressive range, all with an affordable msrp. Chevy Equinox EV will put a smile on your face no matter how your scorecard shakes out. On today's part of my take presented by DraftKings. We've got a packed show for everyone. We've got Tom Fornelli talking college football. We've got Mario Cristobal, head coach the Miami Hurricanes. We have Jerry from Meow Mix, the Panthers podcast that had to retire because the Panthers are so bad. We just wanted to get to the bottom of it, hear from him. We don't want to have this become an epidemic where more podcasters are retiring in their prime. We're going to talk playoff baseball. It's been awesome, Max and I. The Phillies and Cubs are facing elimination. We're going to do Hot Seat, Cool Throne. We have listener submitted FAQs and we're talking about the Jaguars. The Jaguars win a game they never win and take down the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. Tons of sports to get to and it's all brought to you by our friends at game time. The NFL is in full swing and tailgates pack stands that buzz before kickoff. But getting in nightmare cues, price jumps, getting logged out midclick. All you want is to be there, beer in hand, losing your voice with the crowd. The Game Time app gives the advantage back to fans. It's the hack for unlocking amazing tickets and experiences in a few taps. It's incredibly easy to use in the Game Time guarantee means you can Trust you'll get 100% authentic tickets on time and at the best price. Plus fees are always included. So so what you see is what you pay. We're looking at tickets, Hank. What game are we looking at?

[PFT Commenter]

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[Big Cat]

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[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Part in my Take.

[Big Cat]

Welcome to Part in My take presented by DraftKings. The crown is yours. Today is Wednesday, October 8th, and Aaron Judge did it. What an absolute insane moment in the Bronx. The Bronx is burning. Pft. That was incredible. The Yankees stave off elimination in an awesome, awesome scene. Aaron Judge hits a three run homer to tie the game. They end up winning the game 9 to 6.

[PFT Commenter]

And the Yankees have life as an Aaron Judge hater. More specifically, a Yankees hater. I don't like to see him win. I even have to. That, that was a cool ass home run. That was the coolest. He hit it in the coolest part of the ballpark to the coolest part of the foul pole. It looked like it would have gone like 450ft. I know that stat cast said like 473. I don't believe that for a second. That thing hit like 70ft up in the air. It was an awesome home run. It answered a lot of questions that people were asking about Aaron Judge because he hasn't been the best postseason hitter until this season, which he's been pretty good this postseason, but that's always been the knock against the guy. And this was like his big clutch moment that he had, even though it was earlier on in the game, but it was an important home run. It completely changed the momentum of the game in a game that it looked like the Blue Jays were just going to continue to shit down their throats. And yeah, credit to Aaron Judge. That was a very, very cool home run. I, I, I put a, I, I cracked a smile watching Aaron Judge hit that, which is something I would not have believed that I, I was capable of doing.

[Big Cat]

He's been better than a, a pretty good hitter. He's been hitting.500 in these playoffs. He hadn't hit that big, like moment power. That was his first home run. But 500 in the playoffs is insane. He's 11 for 22. Yeah. And I, I, like, I sat back, I was just like, you know what? That was an awesome, awesome sports moment. Because if the Yankees somehow go on and win this series, it will be because of that moment. Like, I know that it was earlier in the game, but the Yankees were, were, it felt like they were dead. They had, you know, everyone was blaming Aaron Boone. They left in radon for way too long. Like he just kept on giving up singles and, and, and in that whole moment, it was like almost the inning Starts with that error. And Aaron Judge stepping up in that moment to tie the game, hitting that pitch, which is insane for a guy like him. I mean, I know he's an insane hitter. He's the best hitter in baseball, but to hit that pitch that was 100 miles an hour, like, so far inside to get around on that at six, seven. It's just insane. It was an insane, insane moment. I'm happy for Aaron Judge, the look into the camera after his. He was really trying to, you know, milk that moment, but it was. You can't. You can't deny that sports are cool. When you watch a home run like that that could potentially save the Yankee season, because that's really what it is. Like if the Yankees win this series, it's because that home run and that moment, if he strikes out in that moment, the whole air comes out of the. Out, out of the stadium. Everything feels lost. They're still down 6, 3. Instead, he reverses it, hits the home run, ties the game. They win nine to six. And they have life. And they've actually been like, ever since. I. I saw. They said it on the broadcast, but I think it was through the first. The. The Blue Jays scored 23 out of the first 26 runs in the series, and the Yankees are. Are now up 14 to 6. Since then, obviously, the Blue. The Blue Jays have the lead, by the way. I need to say Jays. Some Canadian corrected us. Pft. They said if you say. If you're talking about the Blue Jays, you just got to say Jays, so I'll say Jays. Now, I didn't know that was.

[PFT Commenter]

That's not true. No, no, that's not true.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's.

[PFT Commenter]

They're the Blue Jays. They're the Toronto Blue Jays.

[Big Cat]

So that's what he said. It's like a Shaq o' Neal thing. If you say Toronto, you say Blue Jays. If you just talking about the team, you say the Jays.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm. I'm going to. I'm going to say it how I want to say it. I'm not going to let a Canadian dictate to me the terms of America's pastime.

[Big Cat]

That's what k told me. Four Js.

[PFT Commenter]

Listen, I respect the Blue Jays. I did. I. Okay, Jay's fan. How about this? I ran a mental simulation last night because I was pissed off because it seems like the Dodgers were going to win the World Series. There's nothing anybody else could do about it. I did mental 2000 mental simulations. I was laying in bed envisioning a team that I could picture beating the Dodgers in the World Series. And the only team that fits my mental criteria is the Blue Jays. I could actually imagine that. So I'm going to call them whatever I want. I respect them enough on the ball field. So let's not get greedy and start demanding that I start. Start dropping blue to stuff. Okay.

[Big Cat]

I'm just saying. They said Jays. I'm going to say Jason. On. But now the Yankees have Cam Schlitler going in. In game four on Wednesday. Today. If they win that one, who knows? I mean, it really does. It did feel like one of those home runs that could just change the course of the postseason. It felt that massive. And it was. It hit so far up on the pole, it was crazy. That thing was absolutely smashed. Hit so far up on the pole and the place. I'm saying, bonkers.

[PFT Commenter]

When they say, like, 373ft on. On their, like, internal measurement system, there's no way that was only 373ft, right?

[Big Cat]

No, I don't believe any of.

[PFT Commenter]

No chance.

[Big Cat]

No, I never.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't believe it at all. Yeah, I don't.

[Big Cat]

I don't.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't care. If you looked at the camera, there's so many cameras at Yankee Stadium. They got drones flying around. You're going to look at some camera no matter where you're looking. I just care that he pissed on that ball. And it was. It was an awesome home run hit. The. Out of it. I respect the. Out of Aaron Judge for doing that with. With all the pressure in the world on him, because it felt like as Aaron Judge goes, so go the Yankees big time. And he needed to. To go out there and do it himself, to get everybody else involved, and he did it. Congratulations to him. That was. It was a. It was a cool moment. I respect him.

[Big Cat]

Hank, what'd you think about the moment? He's muted.

[PFT Commenter]

You're muted.

[Tom Fornelli]

He's muted.

[PFT Commenter]

Perfect. I'm muted. It was.

[Big Cat]

It was.

[PFT Commenter]

It was fine. Long way to go. I mean, if. When they lose this series, no one's really going to remember it.

[Big Cat]

Okay, well said.

[PFT Commenter]

He's right. He's right. And guess. And guess. What if they make it to the ALCS and he shits down his leg in the alcs, we're not going to remember this moment either. Oh, I think if the World Series.

[Big Cat]

I think if.

[PFT Commenter]

And they don't win the World Series and he sucks. No, we're gonna. We're gonna forget about this.

[Big Cat]

I think if they make it the ALCs, we'll remember that moment, if they come back from down 2 0, that moment will be remembered. It won't be remembered. Same as if they don't win the World Series, but absolutely that moment will be remembered if they come back down two zero and win this series.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, but it's gonna be. Worried about Schler. Yeah, he's, I, I, I hate that I like him, but he's, if, if he comes out and does that again, it's like this.

[Big Cat]

If he does that again, he's just a fucking legend.

[PFT Commenter]

Like, and I think he, I think.

[Big Cat]

He might be, he might just have the, like that, that postseason stuff. But, yeah, no, I think if they win this series, that would, that will be absolutely a remembered moment for a long time.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, it'll be, remember. It'll be a footnote, though. Like, if the Yankees make it to the ALCS and Aaron Judge has a terrible series and the Yankees lose in large part because of his performance, it's going to be a footnote. It's an awesome moment. Don't get me wrong. But, like, we're not, we forgot about Vladdy Jr's grand slam from the other night already. Like, that's, that's already kind of in the past.

[Big Cat]

Well, that was just the nature of sports, but that was different circumstances. They were facing elimination and looked dead, and that could have brought him back to life. Like, that's what I'm saying. Like, if they win this series, that moment is the moment. What a game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. It was a lot of fun. More baseball. I, I want to see more of these two teams play. I like, I like watching. Playing baseball in New York, too.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Hank, I don't, I said this, and you kind of got mad at me before the show, but I was watching this, and again, I, I would much rather the Cubs or the Phillies win.

[Big Cat]

I didn't get mad at you.

[PFT Commenter]

As this was unfolding, I was like, this is bad for the Cubs or Phillies because if the Yankees had got swept, it's in, like, MLB needs to do something territory. Someone's, you know, someone's got to extend the Series.

[Big Cat]

I wish, I wish Yankees being the.

[PFT Commenter]

One to do it is not great.

[Big Cat]

I wish we were recording because I did not get mad at you. We hopped onto the Zoom, and the very first thing you said was, that's bad for the Cubs and Phillies. I was just like, all right.

[Memes]

I agree, I agree with you. That's good for, that's good for the Cubs and Phillies.

[Big Cat]

Well, I, I'm actually not making a. I think the Cubs and Phillies have Nothing to do with the Yankees and Blue Jays. Sorry.

[Memes]

No, I think it's Jays.

[Jerry]

I think it's good.

[PFT Commenter]

I think it's good.

[Big Cat]

You think it's good?

[PFT Commenter]

I don't.

[Memes]

I think it shows. It shows the guys that it can be done. You can look that you can be dead and come back.

[Big Cat]

It has nothing to do.

[Jerry]

But.

[Memes]

But the Yankees just gave the blueprint of how you get back into it, and the clubhouse can see it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Bryce Harper just saw what Aaron Judge did, and he's like, that's gonna be me.

[Big Cat]

Feed off the crowd.

[PFT Commenter]

I like how the analysis is like, well, if. If. If every other team makes it.

[Memes]

Serious, I am not joking.

[PFT Commenter]

If every other team makes it to five games, that mean. Does that mean that we're gonna make it to five games, too, or does that mean that we'll definitely not make it to five games?

[Memes]

My logic is sound, okay?

[PFT Commenter]

My logic was complete conspiracy. Like, MLB is gonna rig games to advance the series. So, yeah. Like, it wasn't, you know, here.

[Big Cat]

All right.

[PFT Commenter]

Sticks here.

[Big Cat]

If we're doing. If we're doing idiot logic, I have an idiot logic for you. I think the Cubs are screwed because I saw Tom Fornelli, our good friend who's on later on in the show who does not like the Cuban Cubs tweets. So we're going to get three out of four of the DS Series as sweeps. And now the Yankees won. That means the Phillies are going to win, and the Cubs are going to be the only team that gets swept. So that's. If we're doing idiot logic.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it's kind of. It's similar.

[Memes]

Yeah, I. I wanted. On the record, I am not doing idiot logic. I'm doing real logic.

[PFT Commenter]

Because Bryce Harper didn't know that it was possible to. To hit until he saw.

[Memes]

It's just a little. Sometimes you just got something. You just got to change your vibe, and that is something that you can build off of seeing how it can be done.

[PFT Commenter]

My dog didn't know that getting a.

[Memes]

Read off of a putt speaker 3.

[PFT Commenter]

My dog didn't know that he should lift up his leg to go pee until he saw another dog do it. That's what you're saying that Bryce Harper.

[Big Cat]

Did with Aaron Judge, but Hank is saying the opposite. Hank is saying if the Yankees got swept, MLB would have stepped in and been like, we need these other series to go longer.

[PFT Commenter]

And how would MLB rig it? Because I feel like baseball might be the hardest one to rig. The baseballs.

[Big Cat]

The baseballs. Well, yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

Was Right.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, they. What would they do?

[Big Cat]

He's right.

[PFT Commenter]

They would give the. They would give the. When the brewers and Dodgers are pitching, they'd give them the. The juiced ones. Yeah. Okay.

[Memes]

Got it.

[Big Cat]

I have a question because this, this came up. I saw there were Yankee fans complaining about. They were like the blue fire behind home plate. The. The Jays must be cheating.

[Tom Fornelli]

You.

[Big Cat]

You can't cheat anymore with pitchcom, right? How would you cheat?

[PFT Commenter]

You can. You can pick up on like the grip of the ball. Are you talking about like the sign stealing at second base?

[Big Cat]

That's not.

[PFT Commenter]

You're allowed to steal signs on the field.

[Big Cat]

I'm not. Yeah, I'm not talking about that. So how would you cheat?

[PFT Commenter]

Cheating in baseball is legal, except if you use electronics. That's my. That's my rule.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

If you use electronics, then if a battery is involved, then that's against the rules.

[Big Cat]

But pitchcom is kind of eliminated. All this like I. When I saw people. Cause someone posted the numbers of like the blue. The blue, sorry, the Jays at home versus on the road. And they're like, they must be doing something. And then I, I was like, oh, yeah, they're probably cheating like the Astros. Then I said, I. I took a second. I was like, wait a second. They're using Pitchcom now? That's. Unless they're hacked into Pitchcom. I don't understand how they'd be cheating in an illegal way.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, that's possible. A team could hack into pitch, but then I just have to tip my hat.

[Big Cat]

Then the players would also have to have an earpiece because no way would. Would they have someone blatantly doing signs or banging on trash bat. You know, they wouldn't be doing the same thing as the Astros anymore.

[PFT Commenter]

No vibrating anal beads. That's right, Chess.

[Big Cat]

That's right. That definitely could happen. We should also mention the other series. That was it. So it was rain delay. Mariners are up to one. Mariners just. They're awesome. Cal Raleigh is the man. The odds of that guy. So there was a guy in the. In. In the outfield. What it said dump here was his jersey.

[PFT Commenter]

So I saw this guy. I saw this guy on TV before the game.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, when we were in the studio. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

He was wearing his dump here 61 custom made shirt. He had it made because Kyle Raleigh is on home run. He was sitting on number 60 tonight. And this guy was sitting in left center field. And he's the one dot of green and like a sea of dark like navy blue. Tigers fans. Raleigh hits the home run it one hops in the bullpen right into the guy's lap, and then he's just standing there holding the baseball up. Even the Tigers fans around him had to just sit there and laugh and applaud him. They're like, hey, good job, man. You called your shot. And then in a tremendous sense of the moment, the guy takes off his shirt and he's wearing a dump it here 62 shirt. The guy was wearing two shirts, and now he's ready. And then Big Cat and I looked at a close up of this guy. I think he might have been wearing a third shirt underneath. I love that was dump it here 63. I don't know how many shirts this guy had, but shout out to this dude because he's awesome.

[Big Cat]

Also, he got a picture with Cal after the game. The Mariners brought him into the clubhouse.

[PFT Commenter]

They brought him back there. Yeah, they need that guy. Buy that guy tickets in left center field for every game and just let him ball Hawk. He's better. He's better at his job than foul ball guy is because, well, he called his number and he called his player. Foul ball guy has, what, 18 times the likelihood of catching his intended target than that guy did.

[Big Cat]

I. Yeah, I mean, I. I like the idea. I agree. You have to have him at every playoff game from here on out. He's just the dump here guy.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Now, I saw me and Big Cat were advised to bet on the Tigers tonight, so we did. I don't want to name any names. Max did as well. There's a guy that works at our company and Hank did also. You too, Hank.

[Big Cat]

We had a source.

[PFT Commenter]

He's a source. I don't want to say who the source was, but a source hit us up 20 hours before the game saying, huge Major League baseball bet coming tomorrow. And so then, of course, like, if you have 20 hours to prepare yourself for a bet, you're going to take it. You feel like you're launching a nuclear missile. And it was the worst bet of all time.

[Big Cat]

Yep. The thing that pissed me off the most is, like, it's an off day for the Cubs. We're going to talk about the Cubs and Phillies in a minute when we're back in studio. It's an off day for the Cubs, so I was just going to watch some baseball. I was going to enjoy some baseball. Then I got the text 20 hours beforehand, and I got myself ready. And then I basically just watched the AL Cubs compete in the Tigers, where Logan Gilbert just shoved down their throats for six innings. I think he had like seven strikeouts. And I was just, I was just watching the same team. I was like, well, I didn't need to do this on my off day to watch a non competitive baseball game and the Mariners down the Tiger's throat. I didn't, I didn't appreciate it. I didn't need that, but I did it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it was. And then they just kind of teased you at the end.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, the, the, the, the mayors brought in that guy who just couldn't, who just got teed off on and then they just pulled him right out. They were just like, all right, that's enough. I think he gave up three hits in a walk and they're like, get the out of here, dude. And then they shut him down. So good, good playoff baseball, though. Great playoff.

[PFT Commenter]

Great playoff baseball. Also, Senor Smoke is a great name for a leaf pitcher.

[Big Cat]

Yes, great.

[Mario Cristobal]

Absolutely.

[Big Cat]

Absolutely. Zach, did you enjoy the playoff baseball? I just want to get you some HD camera time. I did enjoy it.

[PFT Commenter]

The Aaron Jones home runs.

[Big Cat]

Pretty sick. I mean, that thing was gone now.

[PFT Commenter]

So how do you feel if you're.

[Big Cat]

Go ahead.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, no, nothing.

[Big Cat]

No, how do you feel if. What?

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, how do you feel if you're that guy who kind of set it up with that drop ball before?

[Big Cat]

Oh, brutal.

[PFT Commenter]

I guess he just. As a tough day for him.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Oh, I think we should ask Memes. Memes. What do you, you hate the Yankees? Did you think it was a cool home run? Hate Yankees.

[Tom Fornelli]

It was a, it was a cool home run.

[PFT Commenter]

Finally got a good baseball game.

[Big Cat]

Also, hockey started tonight and the Rangers are.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, and one last of the Metro.

[Big Cat]

They were like minus 220 to win that game, weren't they?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, they lost three. Nothing.

[Jerry]

Wow.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It's too early for hockey. I can't, I can't deal with hockey right now.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, the Blackhawks, I, that actually was like very offensive that they made the Panthers raise a banner at like 4 o' clock in the afternoon. Yeah, it's kind of crazy, wasn't it?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it was stupid.

[Jerry]

I don't know.

[Big Cat]

Okay, great baseball. Let's talk some more baseball on the other side when we're back in studio. And then we got some great interviews. What do you got?

[PFT Commenter]

I got, I got one more thing. What did you guys. What was your reaction to the Giannis story from this morning?

[Big Cat]

Didn't care.

[PFT Commenter]

Nothing.

[Memes]

That was the biggest nothing story of all time.

[PFT Commenter]

Because I saw it. I got so confused. Why, why Shams was reporting on this. He reported that over the summer, the one team that Giannis would have agreed to a trade to that the Bucks talked to for a little bit was the Knicks, but they never really got close to a trade. But the situation remains ongoing. Did I, did I sum that up correctly?

[Big Cat]

Yeah. This to me screams of the Knicks basically being like, hey, make sure you mention us so that people think that we're, you know, the Giannis really wants to be here and like, make sure you mention us. So it's like our fans would be like, oh, yeah, they're, they're close to getting Giannis.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, memes disagrees.

[Big Cat]

Oh, I think, I think the Bucks leaked this because they want to move on from Giannis so they could rebuild.

[PFT Commenter]

The Knicks don't have any first round picks, so they want a team that has first round picks to be like, oh, he is available for trade. Let me come in.

[Big Cat]

I like get a team that has.

[PFT Commenter]

First round picks and trade them there.

[Big Cat]

Because mix have no, no picks to trade.

[PFT Commenter]

And there was also a report that his wife's moving to Greece, so he might go play in Greece. So it's, it's just fingers.

[Big Cat]

Fingers.

[PFT Commenter]

But aren't. Then they'd also be waiting for another team that Giannis would like. Yeah, in theory. But, but I mean, them putting out there that he would be okay with being traded to the Knicks. That's, that's what made me think that it was leaked by like James Dolan. Yeah, but the, the Knicks don't, don't have anything to trade. I think it's just get. Getting you conditioned, getting you prepared for an eventual trade to the Knicks. I'd be cool with it. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So we think it's real.

[PFT Commenter]

I think, I think the Knicks aren't going to get it done. I don't think it's going to happen. But I think that the Knicks wanted their fans to be like, hey, we're, we're in talks for Giannis right now.

[Big Cat]

I agree with pft, but I kind of like memes.

[Tom Fornelli]

New theory.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Memes]

Hank.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't think he's going anywhere. Yeah. Nothing ever happens.

[Big Cat]

No. Unless it's Luca. That was a pretty big thing that happened.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

No one knew.

[Big Cat]

No one knew. Yeah, no one knew. No one knew. Okay, let's kick it to ourselves. We'll talk some more. Playoff baseball Monday football. Tom Fornelli, Mario Cristobal, and male mix Jerry. Okay, before we get to the rest of the show, DraftKings, NFL fans, what's your favorite touchdown? There's over a hundred years of TDs to pick from. For me, it's the next one. Because with DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting part of the NFL, every touchdown could bring you closer to cashing in. DraftKings Sportsbook delivers the unmatched intensity of the NFL right to your fingertips. From first touchdown score to anytime TD props or the thrill of live in game betting, every snap is loaded with opportunity. I'm going to look real quick on a first on on a touchdown score for Thursday Night Football and I'm going to give you one. And it's not a correct one. It's just one that I will be betting. I'm going to do camp scatter boo plus 140 didn't score last week for us. He's going to score this week for us.

[PFT Commenter]

He's due.

[Big Cat]

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[Tom Fornelli]

Gambling Problem Call 1-800- gambler in New York. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling.

[Big Cat]

Call 887-897777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas.

[Tom Fornelli]

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[Big Cat]

Bet must win to receive reward minimum minus 500 odds required bonus bets expire seven days after issuance.

[Tom Fornelli]

For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG co Audio.

[Big Cat]

Okay, let's we're going to talk Monday Night Football, but let's first maybe Barry Maxson and I are our baseball team. It was a bad Monday night. The phils are down oh 2. The Cubs are down oh 2. Do we have any hope, Max? Do we have any hope?

[Memes]

Realist no, we have.

[Tom Fornelli]

We have no hope.

[Big Cat]

We have no that was so that was the meekest fight I've ever seen.

[PFT Commenter]

But by the time the next game comes around, you're going to convince.

[Memes]

By the time game time starts tomorrow, I'm going to I'm still going to say no hope. But don't let us win tonight. Don't let us win tonight. Territory is coming.

[Big Cat]

Okay, I heard a rumor around the office that Wednesday Night Game 3 Phillies Dodgers might be an Overalls game.

[Memes]

Something's Got to change. Something's got to change.

[Big Cat]

I mean, the stream was electric.

[PFT Commenter]

That's huge. I mean, that's. That's taking one for the team. That's.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Memes]

I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it at all, but I feel there's a chance that. I feel like I'm. That I have to. The only thing that people keep asking me is, where's your overalls? Where's the overalls? And I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it. I just. It's the only thing that I haven't done yet.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, no pigtails.

[Big Cat]

Pigtails.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Well, I'm start. I. I gotta start overall because you gotta. You gotta save something in the chamber.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Right.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

The pigtails game is Thursday.

[PFT Commenter]

The big. That's. That's the emergency button.

[Memes]

No, like, we go down.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, we go down looking like a clown. Yeah. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

By the way, the rumor was Max came up to me. He goes.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think.

[Big Cat]

I'm thinking overalls. That was. That was where I heard the scuttlebutt.

[PFT Commenter]

Even though. You know, even though it might be a bad look if they lose, he's trying to give his team a spark and. And be a reason that they could win, and that's. That's admirable.

[Big Cat]

Absolutely.

[PFT Commenter]

You're such a jerk.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I am, too. I'm going to game. I'm. I will be attending game three. Hank is such a. I'm worried about the Cubs finally putting together the Maybe submit bats. They stink offensively so bad. This is the second half Cubs that we saw showed it was bad. We talked about the Matthew Boyd disaster that Craig Counsel got the Cubs into on Saturday. They can't score. They have three runs or less in every single game in the playoffs. They went. The. The. The brewers just. I don't even know if the brewers plan was to go all bullpen. I think they just were like, let's start with bullpen and see where it goes.

[Mario Cristobal]

And.

[Big Cat]

And they just. Just started striking out every single guy. We had one hit after the second inning. We suck offensively. Everyone strikes out. The approach sucks. The pitching is out of gas. We knew that was happening, though. Showed us been out of gas for a while now. Matthew Boyd been out of gas. Had a little bit of resurgence at the end of the year, but then also pitching on short rest. The Cubs are in a bad spot, so. Very bad spot.

[PFT Commenter]

So the. The brewers rookie reliever that they brought in, he. He started for a little bit this Season. Jacob Mizrowski, we talked about him like, after his first show because he throws the ball harder than. Yep, he throws like 104 miles an hour. Apparently he's just back to being good because brewers fans at the end of the season were like, yeah, I don't even know if we want this guy on the postseason roster because it might be too. He might be too young, still learning how to pitch in the big leagues. And then he came back and he hit 104.3 miles an hour, three innings, no runs.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, he, I mean, we, we tuned him up in August and that was like, hey, we. He's not nothing special. He can't, you know, he can't locate.

[PFT Commenter]

He's.

[Big Cat]

He's has a ton of walks. But then he came in on Monday night and was absolutely phenomenal in. The entire brewers bullpen was phenomenal. Yeah, they had like 10 strikeouts and things started out. One hit in the, in the last six or seven innings.

[PFT Commenter]

Whatever it was, it started out so good when, say, I hit that home run.

[Big Cat]

Both games. Both games at top of the first have been awesome. And then it's just completely non competitive baseball. That's the part that drives me insane, watching non competitive baseball where it's like, you're not trying to work counts, you're not trying to do anything different. You're going up there, you're trying to swing, getting struck out, no one on base. Just non competitive baseball. And it's, it's so frustrating to watch. And I do think Craig Counsel has done a bad job in this series. But as much as, like, I want to be like, hey, you fucked this up with the Matthew Boyd thing. The Cubs cannot hit. That's just plainly what it is outside of Michael Bush and say Suzuki, they cannot hit. So what are you going to do? Like, Kyle Tucker's hurt and he can't hit. PCA is, Is strikes out. I thought he broke out of it at, you know, game three with the Padres. He can't hit.

[PFT Commenter]

He almost had.

[Big Cat]

Can't hit none of these guys. Nico's the only one who hits the outside of him.

[PFT Commenter]

PCA almost had maybe the, the home run robbery of a lifetime.

[Big Cat]

Oh, my God.

[PFT Commenter]

I actually, I respect it too, because, like, I've done that before playing softball. Yeah, the ball was hit probably like, would you say like a hundred feet past him?

[Big Cat]

It was a good 50 to 75ft above his head.

[PFT Commenter]

Above his head and he goes back to the wall. Makes it just all out effort, tries, tries to. High point was a very Funny situation in a moment where I'm sure, Big Guy, you were very upset and pissed off. But I saw that. I kept replaying and watching it, because I do respect it, too. It's like, you never know he's going all out. You never know unless you try and credit.

[Big Cat]

Credit to the brewers, by the way, because Pat Murphy's been coaching, managing this series perfectly. He threw off the Cubs with Ashby. The opener on Monday night got Michael Bush out of the lineup, which I understood. Michael Bush can't hit lefties. He has. It feels like the brewers are just doing moves, and then Craig Counsel's on his heels trying to do counter moves. And the brewers are the opposite of the Cubs in the fact that they get guys up, they make contact, they don't strike out a bunch. They have productive playoff at bats, and the Cubs do not. And that's what the Series comes down to.

[PFT Commenter]

So I read a stat today about Mizrowski in case they bring him back because he did pitch so well.

[Big Cat]

Dorkiest, dorkiest celebration after that first inning that he was in.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it was.

[PFT Commenter]

I. I would agree.

[Big Cat]

That's all I have right now. He's a R. Give me that. He's a R. Give me that.

[PFT Commenter]

He is. He is the least masculine guy that I've ever seen.

[Memes]

Sucked.

[PFT Commenter]

That I've ever sucked.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Memes]

I'm on your side. That was so lame.

[PFT Commenter]

He's the lamest dude that can throw 104 miles an hour.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, but I have to. This is. I. I know that I'm in a bad spot and I'm coping, and this is loser talk, but I need to at least be like, that was lame.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, no, I. I hear you 100%. But the good news for you guys is that this. The second and third times teams see Ms. Rowski, they get way better offensively. Like, way better. The stat is.

[Big Cat]

But we've seen them before.

[PFT Commenter]

No, but I mean, like, okay, so if it's in the. If they see him multiple times, it gets better. You haven't seen him for a while, though, right?

[Big Cat]

We saw him in August.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, in August.

[Big Cat]

But that. We've seen him multiple times. Like, it's.

[PFT Commenter]

But it's been.

[Big Cat]

Stink.

[PFT Commenter]

But it's been a long time. Because the stat is that the ops jumps from.600 to almost 700.

[Big Cat]

Is this in a game or.

[Memes]

Or second time through a lineup? Yeah, this is. Oh, yeah.

[Big Cat]

He's not gonna. He's not gonna pitch, so.

[PFT Commenter]

No, no, no, no. Not. Not in the same game.

[Big Cat]

How many times does he face.

[Memes]

Oh, you're saying, like, ever?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So when hitters. When they face him multiple times in the regular season, they.

[Mario Cristobal]

They.

[Big Cat]

Right. But that. The only problem is we've seen him and we didn't get better.

[PFT Commenter]

All right, well, I'm just saying it should get better.

[Big Cat]

I don't even know like, he. He doesn't. That's the thing is the. The brewers have like, they. They didn't use Priester. They can use him. They can bring back Peralta Quintana, who's not very good and doesn't scare me, but he can. He can pitch like they're. They have the. They have slanted this series so perfectly against the Cubs where it's just. Cubs are out of. Out of any type of answers. And yes, it sucks not having starting pitching that's been a killer in this series.

[PFT Commenter]

You think Christian Yellich is going to give you a wink at the game?

[Big Cat]

Maybe. Probably not. He's probably gonna be locked in. I'm gonna try to save the season on Wednesday and then I'm trying to save the season on Thursday and then don't let us get to Saturday because we probably won't. I don't know what else to say.

[Memes]

It sucks.

[Big Cat]

Sucks. Max, what do you. What's your game plan? Who are you throwing? I think we're.

[Memes]

You talk about how Craig count. You think Craig Council's doing it?

[Big Cat]

Yeah. That bunt was bad.

[Memes]

It's every decision that he makes seems like the stupid one all series. He's such a good manager in the regular season and for some reason he. The playoffs come around and he shits his pants. He plays scared. He coaches scared.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Why do you.

[PFT Commenter]

Why do you bunt in that situation? It feels like at. In the moment you guys need how many runs? Three more runs?

[Memes]

No, you need one run to tie. But there's no out. You have for the first time all game. The stadium is actually into it. You're actually using Red October to your advantage and you just kill it by a bun. Even if you get that bunt down, it's not like the place is gonna pop off.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Memes]

Like trust. Trust your guy to pull a ground ball or pull a fly ball. It's a left handed hitter. I get it's a lefty on lefty matchup, but the chances of winning the baseball game go up so much more if you don't just give up that out. Getting a bunt down is not a guarantee that that man is getting over to third base, which we saw. Trust your hitter in that Situation, Trust the crowd, the vibes of the crowd to build him up and to build up that team. You just. You just killed. You just killed everything with that.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, no, Max said it.

[PFT Commenter]

He.

[Big Cat]

So I was with him because it was the switch over in the cave. And he said, I do not like bunting here. So this is not hindsight. This is what he said in the moment.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I'm. I'm a big fan of small ball. I love it when, like, scrappy teams just manufacture runs. Just like figure out a way with duct tape and string to get one guy across the plate. But that's. You don't do that that late in the game.

[Big Cat]

No, that's a bunt that you. You put down in the fourth.

[PFT Commenter]

It'd be great in this. In the second. Yeah, it'd be an awesome.

[Memes]

Or even if it's like, I. I understand it even more if it's like the. The extra innings in the regular season, because there's no, like that sec. That guy on second just got. Just Is a ghost runner there.

[PFT Commenter]

That's how smart.

[Memes]

It's not like you're. You're feeding off of any momentum. Like, it's the momentum that. That just really pissed me off, is that it was the first time the stadium was feeling something and just ride it. Just ride it. Trust your guys. And the fact that after the game, he's like, yeah, I was playing for the tie. I liked where our bullpen was in that spot. Play to win the game, don't play scared. And also just make plays. The difference between the Dodgers, difference between the Phillies, is that Max Muncie made a perfect play to throw to third and Trey Turner. There's a screenshot out there right now of where Trey Turner was when he fielded that ball at short and where TE Oscar Hernandez, one of the slowest guy on the Dodgers, was going down the base path. And that should be an out 100 times out of 100, if you just make that throw anywhere near the left side of the plate, he is out. Just make the plays. This team is just not making plays to win the game. Rob Thompson is coaching like a loser. We have Aaron Nola. We have Aaron Nola pitching game three. Must win, basically just because Aaron Nola has been there a long time. Yeah, it's the only thing that can make sense. I get it. Aaron. Ranger Suarez can come out of the pen. Aaron Nola can't come out of the pen because he's never done it before. But the stats are insane. Aaron Nola's postseason stats in his career he has a above 4 ERA in 53 innings. Ranger scores has a 14 in 37 and 2/3 innings. Throw your better pitcher. His. His reasoning for Aaron Nola is that he's a. He's a big time pitcher. Ranger Schwartz is a big time pitcher. Pitch your best guys. I'm sorry.

[PFT Commenter]

No, no, Max, I gotta. I got a question also like credit to credit to Freddie Freeman. That was an awesome scoop at first base, right?

[Memes]

It was. It was fine scoop. I think he put on the theatrics of it a little bit.

[Big Cat]

It was.

[Memes]

It was a good play. You're a first base and you're. You expect yourself to make you thought.

[PFT Commenter]

Too too much theatrics after the scoop. I mean it did save the game.

[Memes]

I know but that's me. That's me you know, being.

[PFT Commenter]

I've never heard you turn down a scoop.

[Tom Fornelli]

That's.

[PFT Commenter]

That's. It must be bad. Max, have you thought. Have you thought about. You can call me short. It's okay.

[Memes]

No, no, that was. That was fair.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Have you thought about what this series means for this group of guys?

[Memes]

Done.

[Big Cat]

That's it.

[PFT Commenter]

This is the end for this group of guys.

[Memes]

If, if they go down. If they go down like this there it means over the the line. They're already one of the oldest like cores in baseball and a lot of people are contract is up after this year. So you can't just go throw more money at something that isn't working. So like you have to try something else.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, it did work. It did work for a while. Like you guys, you never won a World Series.

[Memes]

Never worked.

[Big Cat]

They never won.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, that's right. That you had our top three hit.

[Memes]

Our top three hitters since game six of the of 2023 NLCS have a combined.143 batting average and 544 OPS. There's like 200. There's like 200 million a year between these three guys.

[PFT Commenter]

That, that's the saddest part about like I feel like baseball is the. The biggest sport when it comes to that is like the end of this group playing together. Especially when they played well for so long. So Max, you might not believe me, but I am rooting for you this series.

[Memes]

Yeah, no, it would be a miraculous comeback. I wish we had our best pitcher pitching in a must win game.

[PFT Commenter]

But you got overalls.

[Big Cat]

Got overall.

[Memes]

We're going to try the overalls and hopefully Rob Thompson, you're leading by example.

[PFT Commenter]

Like should look at you vibes of Baron Nola.

[Memes]

Are going to be right here. Even though he has an above 60 RA in the regular season to Rangers 2 2. And that's not that 22 is a lie. But NOLA is above 6. I think. I think no Rangers 3.

[PFT Commenter]

2.

[Memes]

But I don't know.

[Big Cat]

Let's go get a win. Let's go get a win tomorrow.

[Memes]

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe we just. Nola just finds it and you just win. Game three, Sanchez comes out. Game four, shoves again. And then anything. Anything can happen. Game five, the bank is dead. The bank.

[Big Cat]

See, that's why you might actually be in a better shop. The Cubs. Because the Cubs, I do actually think can win Game three. But then I don't know what we do when we have to go back to Boyd and back to. Sha's been cooked for a while now. He just gives up home runs every game.

[Memes]

That. Yeah. That's the difference is that's why, you know, in your head, it's like, win, win, game, win, game three. See what happens? Because then you get your ace back on the mountain. We don't have an ace so good all year.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

We got no ace.

[PFT Commenter]

Hank, what are your thoughts?

[Big Cat]

Got no ace.

[PFT Commenter]

The Phillies game was tough.

[Big Cat]

I think the Phillies still have a.

[PFT Commenter]

Better chance to win than the Cubs.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Memes]

But the Dodgers are so good like that.

[Big Cat]

Dodgers are so.

[Memes]

I think the Phillies are better than the Cubs, but the Dodgers are way better than the Brewers.

[PFT Commenter]

If the Phillies can blow out the Dodgers, though, then they can. They can get some momentum.

[Memes]

That's the thing. Now. Now we say. See, Yamamoto, they just.

[Big Cat]

Only Right.

[PFT Commenter]

But if they. If they. If they show them.

[Big Cat]

They gotta show them.

[Memes]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

No, that, like, you need the bats to come alive.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I need the best.

[Memes]

I need them. I need our top three of the order to hit over 143.

[PFT Commenter]

You need your starting pitch to settle down, and then you need.

[Memes]

Our starting pitchers have been fantastic.

[Jerry]

Then he.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, you're talking about the starting pitcher for.

[Memes]

Oh, no. Yeah.

[Jerry]

Right.

[Memes]

Game three.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Nola needs to settle down. Especially like he gives up a couple hits in the first. Don't panic. Settle down. And then. And then you need the bats to wake up.

[Memes]

No. Yes. I want. Because Ranger Suarez.

[PFT Commenter]

I come alive, actually, because.

[Memes]

Out of the pen.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Memes]

If he. If Noah gives up one run, I'm. I want him out.

[PFT Commenter]

Because then you won't give him a chance to settle down.

[Memes]

Zero chance.

[PFT Commenter]

You have to.

[Memes]

Zero chance to settle.

[Big Cat]

You have.

[Memes]

I give him zero chance to settle Down. Get him out as soon as possible.

[Big Cat]

Get him out.

[PFT Commenter]

Short leash.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I. Quickest leash.

[Tom Fornelli]

I need.

[Memes]

Smallest of leash.

[PFT Commenter]

Isn't. Isn't your dog named Nola?

[Jerry]

No.

[Memes]

It was.

[PFT Commenter]

That's kind of crazy, isn't it? Now you got a short leash on Nola.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I just need balls in play. That's what I'm asking for. I need balls in play. The Cubs have struck out 19 times in the first two games of the series. Balls in play. 19 is a lot.

[Tom Fornelli]

We both know what we need.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Balls in play. And what was your.

[Memes]

I don't know. Our stars to show up. I need our top. I need our top three guys to show up.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Tom Fornelli]

What?

[Big Cat]

Hank, it's bad. It's dire. Hank. Dire.

[PFT Commenter]

He hates seeing you guys. Like, it's all hands on deck.

[Big Cat]

It's all hands on deck. You gotta fucking do whatever you gotta do. Just win. Just focus on winning.

[PFT Commenter]

Spark.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Go ahead, Hank.

[Tom Fornelli]

No, I.

[Big Cat]

Go ahead. Go ahead.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm. I'm.

[Jerry]

Go ahead.

[Big Cat]

Go ahead.

[PFT Commenter]

You Spark. What's the subtext behind all these. All these little things that you've just been jabbing?

[Big Cat]

I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't. I'm just saying.

[Big Cat]

All right, I'll explain it real quick. I was supposed to. There was a plan for me to get my big check for winning the 5050 on Wednesday before the Cubs game. I said I do not want to get the big check. I need to have all my focus on the Cubs winning this game. Hank is trying to set me up for failure to go. No, no. The Cubs at home this postseason are 2 and.

[Memes]

Oh.

[Big Cat]

In games that I have nothing to do with the 50 50, they are. Owen 1. When I've won the 50 50, I am worried that if I go and accept this big check, they'll be 0 and 2 on games where I've gotten a check, gotten the big check, or won the 50 50. I'm not willing to risk that. I need to focus on the game. It's not about a big check. It's about the game. The Cubs have to win the game. I'm not getting a big check on a potential elimination day. I feel strong about my decision.

[Memes]

I think there's one caveat to this.

[PFT Commenter]

That's destiny, though. You can't choose that. It's not your fault it happened to be an elimination game, but it's like, that's destiny.

[Big Cat]

Well, no, that's not destiny. They figured out who won the 50 50, and then they invited me. Right? That's that. They literally were like you can come on Thursday too. And I was like, I. It's also elimination. Also elimination game. So what?

[PFT Commenter]

I think you should accept the check. It's going to be the spark plug that turns the Cubs around and then it's the same thing as Max in the overall.

[Big Cat]

I don't want to get it. I don't want to get a fucking check on season ends.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, but imagine if you accept the check and they come back.

[Big Cat]

I'm going to try to get them to come back by being there.

[PFT Commenter]

So Hank sharing my balls off. Hank walked in the room when Big kid and I were talking about the situation. I was telling Big Kid I wouldn't. I wouldn't do the check either because of exactly the reasons he's saying. And Hank goes, you guys are two losers.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. And yeah, listen. Yes.

[Big Cat]

That.

[PFT Commenter]

That is very much operating from a losing mentality. 100. But then Hank, you're not. You're also just encouraging Big Cat to do this to see the misery that follows.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

After he gets bigger misery.

[Mario Cristobal]

Either way.

[PFT Commenter]

There's misery. Either way. That would be. That would be Hanks.

[Big Cat]

People are going to be wet.

[PFT Commenter]

Drink. We're going to be laughing at you.

[Big Cat]

Either way, I'm gonna get the big check eventually. They said that they can get me the big check no matter what. I just do not want to do it on an elimination game. I think that's a very appropriate. I have to focus on the game.

[PFT Commenter]

Can I give you an example?

[Big Cat]

Also they wanted me to get there at 1:30 and that's two and a half hours before first pitch. And I do actually have to work a little bit on Wednesday. And I also don't want to sit in the ballpark for two and a half hours of an elimination game. Just with my thoughts.

[PFT Commenter]

Remember when I wanted to shave my head and at the end of. At the beginning of next season and Joe Missoula told me that's you can't carry on stuff from this season into next season loser mentality.

[Big Cat]

You can get Craig Counsel to. To. To call me and tell me to go accept the check. I will accept the check. Fair. That's fair. What you just said is fair.

[Memes]

Also if you are.

[PFT Commenter]

Joe Missoula calls you and tells you that's Joe.

[Memes]

But if you're sticking with your gun.

[PFT Commenter]

Exact same thing. Yeah.

[Memes]

With. You can't have anything to do with the 50. 50. You're not allowed to buy any 50.

[PFT Commenter]

50 tickets.

[Tom Fornelli]

True.

[Big Cat]

That's not a rule.

[PFT Commenter]

Max makes a good point.

[Memes]

No, that.

[Big Cat]

That's not a why?

[PFT Commenter]

Because what if you win?

[Big Cat]

I will not say that I won. If we lose, I will not say that I won.

[Memes]

You're not allowed to buy 5050 tickets.

[Big Cat]

No, that's.

[Memes]

That should be the compromise.

[Jerry]

If.

[PFT Commenter]

If wrong, there's. There's also zero percent chance that wins.

[Big Cat]

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.

[PFT Commenter]

And that doesn't say that he won. If they.

[Mario Cristobal]

Correct.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. That's like. If you run a marathon, don't kill anybody.

[Big Cat]

Hey, for all everyone knows, I won the 5050 on Wednesday because if I won it and we lose, you'll never know.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I might have done that marathon. You don't know.

[Memes]

What if they want. Wanted you to do double big check? Zach just brought up this point.

[Big Cat]

If I win on Wednesday, all right, I'll make a deal. If I win on Wednesday and they want to do double big check on Thursday, which would also be an elimination game, I will be there for the double big check.

[PFT Commenter]

What if. Okay, what about this? What if they. What if they said Wednesday night or Wednesday afternoon, we want to do the big check, but we're going to make the check even bigger than we told you? Like, mega check. How big?

[Big Cat]

You got mega check and mega ticket in your brain.

[PFT Commenter]

How big does. How big does.

[Big Cat]

No, you get this guy a big cardboard something. How.

[PFT Commenter]

How big would the check need to be?

[Big Cat]

I like, as big as the American flag that they do in the entire outfield.

[PFT Commenter]

If that was the size of the check, you'd say yes. If they covered the. If the tarp.

[Big Cat]

Yes. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Was the check.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

I need, like, I need an entire elementary school having to carry out this check.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

All right.

[Memes]

Did you feel bad if. If you won the 5050 again in.

[PFT Commenter]

A loss at that point, it becomes a jinx?

[Tom Fornelli]

At that point?

[PFT Commenter]

No.

[Big Cat]

At that point, actually, no. I will say this. If I. If the Cubs lose tomorrow and I win the 50 50, I will 100% retire from 5050 for the rest of my life. That's a fact. Because then it would just be like, you literally only won on losses on big playoff losses. So that is a fact. But it. What a way to go out.

[Tom Fornelli]

It would be.

[PFT Commenter]

It would.

[Big Cat]

You were. You were too good. You had to ban time Winner had to ban myself. I was bad for the league. All right, we should talk some football real quick. Monday Night Football was phenomenal. Incredible Monday football game. I wish we had saved this game for when we didn't also have playoff baseball. But Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars win a game that the Jacksonville Jaguars never win. And it feels like Something shifting because that last drive, Trevor Lawrence on that last drive, he went from picking his nose, the most blatant picking of a nose on national television, to that last drive where he started it with a. What was it like a 42nd run for three yards that when they needed time.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Made an incredible. Travis Hunter made an incredible play. Brian Thomas, that was a great pass. Delay a game on the goal line, then falls down and somehow gets up and scores a touchdown and you're like, holy shit, the Jaguars actually did it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, that, that is a game that the Jaguars lose and that's a game that the Chiefs win all the time. It was kind of crazy to see the Chiefs because like we've all, we've all seen these games from the Chiefs where the other team ends up being like, what the just happened.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

That only. But what we're seeing with the Chief, I don't think it's like a loss of their weird black magic voodoo or whatever. I think it's that the Chiefs, they're starting to lose games in ways that are familiar to every other team out there, to every other fan base. It's. They, they look like all of us now.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So like when people talk about is this the end of the road for the Chiefs? I'm actually, I'm starting to think that it might kind of be their, their regression back to being just like kind of a normal good football team. Well, which is still a good place to be. Like talk to a Cardinals fan and be like, can you believe that a team lost because their defensive lineman just didn't move on. On a goal line stand and the guy fell down then walked in. They'd be like, oh yeah, that's not that bad. Yeah. Like these types of losses that the Chiefs are experiencing now, they're, they're super familiar to all. We've seen our own teams do this. And so for me it's more about seeing the Chiefs and being like, oh, I can, I can see some of myself in the cheat.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Which I've never been able to do with the Patrick Mahomes Andy Reid combination.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. The Devin Lloyd 99 yard pick return, which was electric. But yeah, to, to, to your, to back up your point. Even with stats, a lot of the NFL, the teams are so close to each other. Obviously the Chiefs are very, very good. They were very, very good last year, year before they won the super bowl two years in a row. Whatever it is, a lot of times the, the margins are the bounce of the ball and like a little bit here a Little. Last year the Chiefs were 10 and oh in seven point games decided by seven points or less. This year they're zero and three. Yeah, that's, that's it. It's not like they're getting blown out. They're just not winning the close games that they won literally all of last year. And that was. The Chiefs now have their third loss last year. Their third loss was in the Super Bowl. Pretty crazy. I still think the Chiefs will be in the playoffs. Did you have to play the Lions on Sunday night schedule? Not going to be easy. But I was more like walking away from that. Impressed with the Jaguars because it feels like, not the, like the Jaguars are set and going to be a Super bowl, but that is a game they always lose. Yeah, they always, always lose.

[PFT Commenter]

It should also be five and oh.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, very good. Jake Browning, that Travis Hunter defensive pass interference call away from being five and up.

[PFT Commenter]

And when Trevor Lawrence jumped over the offensive line on the goal line, that was in the first half I think, right? And it got, it got knocked out of his hand like maybe a centimeter before it crossed.

[Big Cat]

I think it might have scored.

[PFT Commenter]

I, it was close enough where it was like I, I don't, I, I don't.

[Big Cat]

Saw a screenshot that looked like he scored.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, you can get screenshots. Oh yeah, you can have some copium screenshot and be like look, we should have blown the Chiefs out. That was that to me at that moment I was like oh, the Jaguars are. Yeah, it's going to be one of those nights for him. But then things kind of started to turn the other way. And kickers, kickers absolutely love illegal procedure penalties. When it's late in the fourth quarter and it's like a close game.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

They love kicking the ball out of bounds and then the announcers going oh, that's the one thing you can't do there.

[Big Cat]

Do it.

[PFT Commenter]

You gotta be better than that. But yeah, Trevor Lawrence looked good for the most part. Trevor Lawrence looked really good. He ran a good amount.

[Big Cat]

He looked erratic but erratic work.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, erratic but like Travis Hunter. Travis Hunter, awesome.

[Big Cat]

Showed out a little.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, there were some moments and I think Trevor described his, his game winning touchdown run is just panic. Yeah. Like he, he was on the ground, tried to get up, panicked, fell down again, tried to get up again and then he just had to like scoot his ass in the end zone. But yeah, Chris Jones on that last play, not, not great. No, not a great visual for Chris Jones to be putting on tape. He just kind of like stood up and to his credit, it was late. He was probably tired. Yeah, it was a fourth quarter of a game.

[Memes]

He.

[PFT Commenter]

He'd been exercising for like an hour and a half, so he was tired.

[Big Cat]

Tired.

[PFT Commenter]

He just stood up and just didn't. Didn't really seem like he wanted to move at all. And that was like kind of Albert Haynesworth like.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it was. It was. It was a. A tough look. Also, great block by the guard on that play where the, the tackle of the. Of the Jaguars got him held up and then just the. The guard finished them and that was basically what sprung them. You guys want a crazy stat? This was the first time that the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens all lost in the Same week since.

[PFT Commenter]

2015. 2000. No, Josh. 20. 2019.

[Big Cat]

Week nine of 2017.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, shit.

[Big Cat]

Crazy. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson were still in college and Patrick Rollins hadn't taken a single snap.

[PFT Commenter]

New era. Fuck him.

[Big Cat]

Him. Also, we had this idea on Wake Up Barstool this morning, but there really should be commissioners for each division in the NFL because the AFC south needs some better PR. This, they're really good now. Colts are 4 and 1, Jaguars are 4 and 1. Texans are kind of turning it around with, you know, they're two and three. Even the Titans won. Wouldn't it be cool if there was a commissioner for each division? Yeah, I mean, had like commercials and stuff. And you're like, yeah, hey, here at the AFC south, we actually play winning football now.

[PFT Commenter]

It would be great if they all had commissioners and they. All the commissioners lobbied to get them into the playoff at the end of the year. Yeah, but they still use the same criteria to get into the playoffs at the end of the year. But you still have guys like out there shilling be like, this is why ours. We actually deserve four teams.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

In the playoffs.

[Big Cat]

Right. Hey, we welcome on the commissioner of the AFC west this week. And like, the, the negative ads would be very funny too, if the AFC south was like, hey, everyone thinks we suck.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, but how do you get an unbiased commissioner?

[Big Cat]

No, you need the most biased.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, no, that's the thing. But like, how do you get out. No, I'm saying like an unbiased commissioner that's not biased towards any of the teams in the. In the.

[Big Cat]

They're just. No, they're just. They're rooting for the division. Right?

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Who. Who would qualify for that? I mean, I was. I was kind of the NFC beast commissioner for a year.

[Big Cat]

I could do the AFC south right now. I got no ties to any of these Teams. I just be like, hey, do you know the AFC south has two teams that are four in one?

[PFT Commenter]

Did you know that Texans is your pinky team?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I know, but. And then I would, I would just do some negative campaigning too. I'd be like, hey, do you know the AFC north, the best quarterback in the AFC north starting this week is a 41 year old.

[PFT Commenter]

Then I'd be like, hey, the AFC north, actually, that's a, that's a system conference.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Because they just all have Joe Flacco.

[Big Cat]

Are we sure the NFC west is good? Ask yourself that.

[PFT Commenter]

AFC south should be like, hey, did you know that Jacksonville is actually the largest market by square miles?

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

In the United States.

[Big Cat]

Yes. That's what I'm saying.

[PFT Commenter]

It's the biggest city.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

In the country.

[Big Cat]

You know, in the AFC south, people don't talk about three fourths of the teams not having Mark Sanchez get stabbed in their city.

[PFT Commenter]

Did you know that in the AFC south, we don't pay state income tax? Except for Indy.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. This is the type of we need.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

It's good.

[PFT Commenter]

It'd be good.

[Big Cat]

I, I, I want this. I want, I just want to watch, I want to watch like a football game and see just an attack ad on a, on a certain division.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

Like. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay. And the NFC south sucks.

[PFT Commenter]

The ones.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, they have the Bucks, but what else?

[PFT Commenter]

The one city where Mark Sanchez does get stabbed. It sounds like it's really easy to have a huge party night. Yeah. In that city.

[Big Cat]

It was actually his fault.

[PFT Commenter]

It sounds like there's some great, great things. Great party favors in Indy.

[Big Cat]

Oh, is there more to the story that came out?

[PFT Commenter]

I said sounds like.

[Big Cat]

Sounds like I said sounds alleged.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Speaking of, of divisions, we do have Joe Flacco now on the Cincinnati Bengals. Thank you, Bengals. A huge. I don't know how you guys took the news, but I had just a huge sigh of relief because I'm excited to watch Joe Flacco in prime time.

[PFT Commenter]

I had a huge sigh of relief and then I had a huge gasp of panic when I remembered the state of the offensive line for the Cincinnati Bengals.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And then I remembered that Joe Flacco is 41 years old.

[Big Cat]

But guess what? Just throw it up to Jamar.

[PFT Commenter]

He could, he could just throw. Jamal, you could throw it to anyone.

[Big Cat]

He could throw it to anyone. But especially Jamar.

[PFT Commenter]

Especially Jamar. But will he have enough time to take one step and throw a pass to Jamar? Yes, I hope he will. Yes. My biggest takeaway is that Thanksgiving is now safe yes. Like, at least Joe Flacco saved Thanksgiving. We didn't. We didn't want James.

[Big Cat]

Nope.

[PFT Commenter]

We never wanted that. We wanted Joe this whole time. It's gonna be great.

[Big Cat]

That's exactly what we wanted.

[PFT Commenter]

No, it's like, we have James at home.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And Joe's James at home.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Also, why did Brett Rippin get cut?

[Big Cat]

I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

Because they cut one.

[Big Cat]

So, So I, I. I don't understand my take. We're asking the real question. No, everyone's wondering.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't understand. I don't understand that part of it. It's like, how is Brett Rippin the scapegoat for Jake Browning?

[Big Cat]

Well, did. Did, like, how many quarterbacks they have if.

[PFT Commenter]

If Jake Browning. If. Beats Brett Rippon in a competition, and that's how bad Brett Rippon is. So just cut him. I don't know. I don't know how much worse that could be.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, but how many exactly? Do they have another backup quarterback?

[PFT Commenter]

Is that Sean Clifford? Is he still there?

[Big Cat]

I don't know. I mean, they're probably going to just bring him back to practice squad, Right? That's got to be what's going to happen.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I just didn't know why he had to take the fall for that. That's the real Brett Rippon didn't do anything wrong.

[Big Cat]

That's the real thing people aren't talking about. Wait, was he named the starter? Joe Flacco.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes. From what I read, they're like, joe, he's a quick learner, so we hope that he can make an impact against the Packers. Oh, so Joe just got done playing against Michael Parsons. He beat the Packers.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, he beat the Packers.

[PFT Commenter]

So he maybe. Maybe they just signed him for a week. Be like, this is our packers specialist. Yeah. Teach our defense how to be good against the Packers.

[Big Cat]

Please go beat the Packers. All right, let's do hot Seat, Cool Throne. And then we got a great trio of interviews. We got Tom Fornelli talking college football. We got Mario Cristobal, head coach, the Miami Hurricanes, and interview I love doing. We got Jerry from the Meow Mix podcast that is now defunct, talking to him about what happened when a football team is so bad it makes you stop doing a podcast about that team. Hank. Hot Sea, Cool Throne.

[PFT Commenter]

My hot seat is the NCAA tournament.

[Big Cat]

This is happening, isn't it?

[PFT Commenter]

It seems like it's happening. Not. Not this year, but next year. It was always going to happen. This is how I feel like back when people, like, invented the printing press and the Luddites. Like, burned the barns that they were in. Like you technology. I'm gonna stand here screaming about how I hate this, but there's really nothing I can do about it. And I just know that expansion is going to continue to happen.

[Big Cat]

Do they not realize that, like, a lot of the fun of the. Of the March Madness is the lead up in the bubble watch? And now the bubble watch is basically done. Like, the bubble watch is over. They're taking no more bubble.

[PFT Commenter]

They're taking away one of our favorite things, which is to spend exactly 24 hours being pissed off about a team that didn't get in.

[Big Cat]

What do you think Joe Leonardi's thinking? Or do you think he's probably sleeping?

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, no. This is good for Joe Lenardi. More teams.

[Big Cat]

But being in bubble kind of.

[PFT Commenter]

No, but more teams, like, being talked about for the bubble. This is. I feel like this. Big Joe is behind this.

[Big Cat]

It'll be the same amount of teams.

[PFT Commenter]

It's like basketball, though, where it's like, all the teams that are.

[Big Cat]

It's basically.

[PFT Commenter]

Are going to suck.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. It's basically just teams above 500 are going to go.

[PFT Commenter]

No, but they're going to be so many more like average teams that think maybe we'll get in and they'll click on Joe's articles to see if they're like, first four in, first four out, next four out.

[Big Cat]

If you're.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. If you're on the bubble in 72.

[Big Cat]

The bubbles just move.

[PFT Commenter]

Deserve to be on the bubble. Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. Like, we're not going to be able to be as mad about teams getting left out.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right. Right.

[Big Cat]

But.

[PFT Commenter]

And I hate that. I learned everything. I like getting mad about that.

[Big Cat]

And there's also just going to be so many teams that are. I don't want to see. Play more basketball.

[PFT Commenter]

This is great news for Villanova.

[Big Cat]

Great news.

[Memes]

We suck. I have a question.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Does this mean that all conference or all conference champions will not play in the first round?

[Big Cat]

I don't know.

[Memes]

You know what I'm. You know what I'm asking.

[PFT Commenter]

No. Yeah. I don't.

[Memes]

I think it's bullshit that they don't. That they do. Playing games for conference.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, the play in game. Yes. Yeah, yeah. The first four got it. I agree with that.

[Big Cat]

Oh, like the 16.

[Memes]

Like, it sucks that the 16 seeds don't even. Don't even get to actually make the turn.

[Big Cat]

I agree with that.

[Memes]

So I'm hoping that this will at.

[PFT Commenter]

Least eliminate that all at large teams.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Memes]

I don't I don't know the rule. I thought maybe.

[Big Cat]

When is the extra games going to be played? Is it going to be the Tuesday? Wednesday?

[PFT Commenter]

Probably. Probably that. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Monday. I mean, listen, when they give me more basketball, I'm going to watch some more basketball. But I. I am not happy about it.

[Memes]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Your cool throne.

[PFT Commenter]

My cool throne is Amazon prime prime day.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Stella Blue Coffee.

[Big Cat]

30% up to 30% off. Stella Blue Coffee. Go buy. Save some dogs.

[PFT Commenter]

I also wrote this down last night when I thought the LeBron decision was going to be a ad for Amazon Prime. Turned out it was just an ad for Hennessy.

[Memes]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

That was so lame by LeBron.

[PFT Commenter]

I thought that it was going to be a major announcement.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I thought he was really going to do. Yeah. I can't believe. I can't believe LeBron lied to us.

[Big Cat]

I didn't realize this, but I was talking to Titus about it, and because I was like, Yeah, I think LeBron's going to retire. And within the next, like, year or two. He was saying that he doesn't think LeBron's going to retire until 2028, when the Olympics are in LA. That's so much more LeBron.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't. I think that's so much more LeBron. I think one more year. I think one more year, then he starts his own league.

[Big Cat]

But the Olympics make sense. Like, he will. That will be the last basketball he plays the Olympics in. 2028.

[PFT Commenter]

I thought Hank was saying he starts his own league, then he starts his own Olympics. No, but he starts on league, stays in shape, and then Olympics. Yeah. I. I do think that he's going to do the thing where he. He creates a rival league to the NBA and just tries to take them down. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Pft. Your hot seat.

[PFT Commenter]

Cool. Toronto. My hot seat is fake news media that clamors on to people making obscene gestures when that's not actually what they were doing. So if you consider yourself a member of that fake news media, you're on the hot seat because the video of Jerry Jones where he. He appeared to flip off fans. Okay, memes. Did you see that? Jets fans. It turns out that was a big misunderstanding. Jerry said that was unfortunate. There was a swarm of Cowboys fans out front. It was right after we made our last touchdown. I put up the wrong show of hand. The intention was thumbs up. So he accidentally flipped him off instead of giving. Giving a thumbs up. Class. It's class act all the time. Yeah, class act.

[Big Cat]

Very class.

[PFT Commenter]

It happens. I don't know why people got upset about it, the league find him $250,000, which is. Feels like a lot of money for. For a simple mistake. He's an old man. His hands don't work right all the time. He tried to give you a thumbs up. Memes.

[Memes]

I loved it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that's just a New York hello.

[Tom Fornelli]

More owners should do it.

[Big Cat]

I agree with that. What David Tepper do? He stole a man's hat.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, don't do that.

[Tom Fornelli]

Just look him up.

[PFT Commenter]

David Tepper should have said, little misunderstand. I meant to tip my hat to the guy, not take his hat. My hands got confused. It was a perfect middle finger. And then point.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, I like the middle finger.

[PFT Commenter]

Point you. Yeah. Flipped you off.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's good.

[PFT Commenter]

I just love Jerry being like, yeah, that was my hand. My hand messed up. Yeah, it was unfortunate then. My cool throne is Connor McDavid. Connor McDavid's on the cool throne. He just signed a contract going back to the Oilers and it's a pretty team friendly deal. I'd say it's like a very steep hometown discount. 12 and a half mil for McDavid. That sounds right. Yeah. Yeah. So people are excited to have him back in Edmond, see if he can win the big one. To me, when I saw this, this one of two things, I. I think.

[Big Cat]

You'Re about to say the same thing that I said to Yan's earlier.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. All right.

[Jerry]

So.

[PFT Commenter]

So one or two, one of two things popped in my head when I saw the hometown discount. One, does he have some sort of tree planting deal on the side or like, I don't know what they do up in Edmonton, like icicle planting?

[Big Cat]

I didn't think that.

[PFT Commenter]

And then two, this seems like it would be very easily tradable.

[Big Cat]

Bingo.

[PFT Commenter]

Very, very.

[Big Cat]

To a team that is contending very.

[PFT Commenter]

Very easily tradable contract.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. He basically. I mean, smart by him. Yeah. Like, hey, if I, like if I take a shitload of money and I want to go try to play for a cup. Now obviously you could also say he took less money so that the team could get better. You got to hope the Oilers do that. But if in a year and a half the Oilers aren't competing. Yeah. And he can go somewhere for a year and a half and it doesn't fuck up some teams.

[Jerry]

Cap.

[Big Cat]

Interesting.

[PFT Commenter]

Like if you were a gm, maybe like a brand new GM in hockey, new to the league, would you just make a call today?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And be like, hey, can we trade you for Connor McDavid?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that's a good Deal.

[PFT Commenter]

Like we'll take them. We'll throw in a lot of stuff.

[Big Cat]

I'm happy for Oilers fans, though, because I, I hope. I hope Conor McDavid stays Edmonton. That would suck. If he leaves.

[PFT Commenter]

I agree.

[Big Cat]

I hope he wins a cup. I'm going to start rooting for him to win a cup this year. We put a future on him.

[PFT Commenter]

I think. I think it would be great. And I, I'm. I'm rooting for him in theory. It is a lot of fun to make fun of our friends that. That love him. Friend, friend, friend. We have one friend who's in love with him.

[Big Cat]

I'm going to root for Connor McDavid this year. I'm going to say it right now.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm rooting for Connor McDavid 100%. Not as a troll.

[Big Cat]

Not as a troll. I'm going to put real money on it.

[PFT Commenter]

It until the Olympics.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Then I hope he gets smushed.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Hope we kick his ass. What's the Canadian like, the Canadian exchange rate. Does that make it even more of a team friendly deal?

[Big Cat]

Loonies. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

How many. How many loonies is 12 million United States dollars?

[Jerry]

I don't know.

[Memes]

Like.

[PFT Commenter]

Or is he getting paid 12.5 million loonies a year?

[Big Cat]

Probably throwing in some Timbits.

[PFT Commenter]

This is great having Max look up currency exchange.

[Big Cat]

We're going to be here.

[PFT Commenter]

This is going to be good.

[Big Cat]

Oh, no.

[PFT Commenter]

Maximum says pounds. That's actually one dollar.

[Memes]

One dollar was worth approximately 72 US dollars. One looney.

[PFT Commenter]

No, one looney is worth 72 cents. Okay.

[Big Cat]

All right.

[Memes]

Of a US dollar.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. So that's a super team friendly deal.

[Memes]

I. I was trying to talk over you calling me fat.

[PFT Commenter]

That's. Yeah, Good call. All right.

[Big Cat]

My. Is that. That was your cool throne, right?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. My other cool throne is Baton Rouge. Go to Baton Rouge on Friday. Pop Punk is playing at Fred's. It's one of my favorite bars in. In the entire world. Best college bar in America. At Fred's, we do the right.

[Memes]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

The good people at Fred's took care of our dear sweet boy Hank when he was on the Dixie tour. Brought you in, clothed you, bathed you, took you in off the street. It's an awesome bar. We're gonna have a lot of fun. Me, Roan, Caroline, Robbie Fox, Frankie and Nick are going to be playing there in Pop Punk on Friday. And so come out see us. I think it's free. So just come get drunk with us. Have a good time. And we have. Can we put the new Song at the end of the show peaked in High School. Yeah, that's the one that we got hot.

[Big Cat]

Don't copyright us Mark Hoppus.

[PFT Commenter]

I won't. I won't strike you. Mark Hoppus in the interview gave us a sample to use on Peakdon High School. So it's featuring Mark Hoppus. Technically.

[Big Cat]

It would be funny if you copyrighted us.

[PFT Commenter]

I might do it.

[Big Cat]

All right. My hot seat is the human brain. Because the Wall Street Journal had an article today that the human brain can hold how many meaningful relationships in their life. Anyone want to take a guess?

[PFT Commenter]

1. The Lord.

[Big Cat]

How many meaningful relationships can the human brain hold at one time? Four.

[PFT Commenter]

I think.

[Big Cat]

How many friends can you have?

[PFT Commenter]

Does it count? Like parents, family?

[Big Cat]

I don't know. Maybe. I didn't read the article.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, what if it's zero?

[Big Cat]

It's 150.

[Memes]

Oh.

[Big Cat]

Which is way too many.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, no, that's. That's just not true.

[Big Cat]

It's that. Who has 150 friends?

[PFT Commenter]

It's not true.

[Big Cat]

It's insane.

[PFT Commenter]

Accels. He's gotta goes to a wedding every.

[Big Cat]

I'm not using any of my.

[Memes]

Yeah, no. 150 friends is actually pretty easy once you get in the wedding.

[Big Cat]

Wedding season. Yeah.

[Mario Cristobal]

Culture.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I was shocked by people.

[Memes]

People are gonna get cut.

[Big Cat]

I thought the. I thought the answer was gonna be like 12.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I was thinking even less than that.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Like what?

[Big Cat]

Like. Like this room.

[PFT Commenter]

Now I feel like a loser and.

[Big Cat]

Like five other people.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I'm like, okay. This room. Family, Jaden. That's about it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's about it.

[Memes]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

That's it. That's it.

[Big Cat]

That's it right there. And then my cool throne is Jaylen Herz. Because what you're going to.

[Memes]

You're going to say some.

[Big Cat]

No, I'm not.

[PFT Commenter]

It's on the cool throne off the hot seat.

[Big Cat]

It's the cool throne, dude.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't need to be this negative, Max.

[Big Cat]

The wide angle of the Hail Mary came out and Jalen Hurts tried to get his own rebound. And I will say this, if people didn't see it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

He literally threw the Hail Mary and then sprinted to the end zone to try to get it. If it bobbled and somehow landed back at him. I'll say this right now. If that ever happens, that will be the coolest play in all of sports.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I thought it was fake at first. AI.

[Tom Fornelli]

He.

[PFT Commenter]

He was flying.

[Big Cat]

That was sports history.

[PFT Commenter]

The fact that he got as far down as he did was.

[Big Cat]

If there was a. If there was two Bobbles. He would have been there.

[PFT Commenter]

Follow your shot.

[Big Cat]

Incredible.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it would have been awesome. AJ Brown would have been pissed. Yeah, that would have been very funny actually. But yeah, look at him go.

[Big Cat]

It's incredible. He went to try to get it.

[PFT Commenter]

I've never seen a quarterback do that before. I, I really like this play, Max. Yeah, that was good.

[Big Cat]

Really, really like this play.

[Memes]

Thank you. Thank you for no slander.

[Big Cat]

Did you guys think that Patrick Mahomes kind of didn't throw it as far as I thought he would?

[PFT Commenter]

His arm is dead.

[Big Cat]

I, I'm not saying that it wasn't far, but it wasn't, wasn't far at all.

[PFT Commenter]

It looked like Jalen hurts in the Super Bowl.

[Big Cat]

It's not Baker's arm.

[PFT Commenter]

It's not Josh Allen's arm through from like the 40 yard line and didn't make it to the end zone. Stepped on a foot and then Max said any quarterback can throw. Hail Mary.

[Big Cat]

How far was the Mahomes throw?

[PFT Commenter]

We need to look at the air yards on that.

[Big Cat]

I just don't think it was like Josh Allen and Baker can definitely throw. It's from the 20 to the 20.

[PFT Commenter]

So 60 yards.

[Big Cat]

60 yards.

[PFT Commenter]

But the way that he wound up for it, I thought maybe there's a chance he gets to the goal.

[Big Cat]

I did too. I was like, holy shit. This one's actually going to go from the 20.

[PFT Commenter]

To the.

[Big Cat]

It's like 63 yards.

[PFT Commenter]

But still like I, I, I always assumed that he could throw it as far as he wanted to. Right. Like there's no limit.

[Memes]

It's a 68 yard. 68 yards. And Baker Mayfield threw a post route 64 yards. That's what, that's what this guy Joe A NFL says.

[PFT Commenter]

Joe Milton would have made it to.

[Big Cat]

Joe Milton. You can't say that, Max. You can't say that. You said you wouldn't talk about him like that anymore after he are over. Thank you.

[PFT Commenter]

But yeah, you know that he could, he could throw it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, he definitely could.

[PFT Commenter]

The man threw an orange 100.

[Big Cat]

Don't even smile. Max.

[PFT Commenter]

Max, you remember when he threw that orange and then he said that he threw the ball out of topgolf.

[Memes]

You know I love Jones.

[Big Cat]

Shut up. Cut that. Delete, delete.

[PFT Commenter]

No, no, don't, don't keep. We're keeping that freedom of speech.

[Mario Cristobal]

That.

[Big Cat]

Law that over loss started. That was a domino of just losses.

[PFT Commenter]

Also in that Monday night game. Trevor Lawrence just does not know where the line of scrimmage is.

[Big Cat]

Nope.

[PFT Commenter]

Ever. He's never going to learn Troy, number.

[Big Cat]

One, run past the line of scrimmage and throw a guy.

[PFT Commenter]

Did you guys have the sound on?

[Big Cat]

I did not.

[PFT Commenter]

Troy Aikman kind of roasted him. He's like. Yeah. You know, sometimes Trevor doesn't really know where he is on the field, and this is him making another one of those plays. Again, he just has no idea where the stick.

[Big Cat]

That's what I'm saying. Like, he played well. It was just erratic.

[PFT Commenter]

It was just.

[Big Cat]

It's just chaotic.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Sometimes with. With Trevor Lawrence, which I like. He actually might be like our new, like, Jamis Phil Rivers hybrid.

[PFT Commenter]

I'd say more. More along the lines of Phil.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, but a hybrid. All right, Zach finishes off. My hot seat this week is Drake.

[PFT Commenter]

Are you guys familiar with Travis Scott.

[Big Cat]

And Kendrick Moore, the McDonald's guy? Oh, no, not the McDonald's guy.

[PFT Commenter]

Travis Scott, musician.

[Big Cat]

Kendrick Lamar, awesome musician. Didn't Travis Scott have a. Yeah, he's a McDonald's guy. I take it back. Definitely McDonald's guy.

[PFT Commenter]

Definitely had McDonald's order.

[Big Cat]

That's on me. Big cat.

[PFT Commenter]

He's the. He's the golf shoes guy.

[Big Cat]

Travis Scott, also the golf shoes guy from the coin flip.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Great Kardashian lover. Also Jenner baby daddy. Jenner baby dad.

[PFT Commenter]

Kardashian adjacent baby father.

[Big Cat]

We know Travis Scott.

[PFT Commenter]

Travis Scott did surpass Drake's God's Plan.

[Big Cat]

Goosebumps Featuring Kendrick Lamar.

[PFT Commenter]

17 times platinum. 1 time platinum is 100 or 1.5 billion album or billion listens. He did it 17 times.

[Big Cat]

Holy shit.

[PFT Commenter]

So Drake's in the hot seat because.

[Big Cat]

The guy that he also was beefing with just passed him up. Is that the most listened to most?

[PFT Commenter]

I believe so. That's crazy. So 1.5 billion times 17.

[Big Cat]

That's a lot of billion.

[PFT Commenter]

You got to get a special calc.

[Big Cat]

For one of those, like a Texas instrument situation.

[PFT Commenter]

Are you saying that it's like, what, 1.7 billion times 17? That's the amount of. That's the amount of listens that he has.

[Big Cat]

1 billion times 17.5. So 1.5 billion streams is 1 times platinum.

[PFT Commenter]

And it's 17 times platinum.

[Big Cat]

17 times 1.5.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, so he's. Yeah, it's like 20 something billion.

[Big Cat]

Way tons of billions. So many billions.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And. And Drake had a issue with the.

[Big Cat]

Guy that's featured on the song. So it's just a bad look. So he's definitely. His seat's super hot. Okay. And then my cool throne this week is Julian Brown.

[PFT Commenter]

He's an inventor out of Atlanta. He found A way to turn plastic waste into fuel.

[Big Cat]

110 octane gasoline.

[PFT Commenter]

22 years old.

[Big Cat]

I just think that's the coolest throne ever.

[PFT Commenter]

Because he might implant.

[Big Cat]

He.

[PFT Commenter]

He might leave something afterlife that affects the world in for the rest of time.

[Big Cat]

Now, did he actually do it or is this like an Elizabeth Holmes situation where he's got a company that everyone's going to invest in and then he's like, ha. Just kidding. I was blurring. I was. I was burning the Tupperware like in the back of my house. There's tons of videos of him. Like, he.

[PFT Commenter]

He's posted, like, step by step on.

[Big Cat]

Instagram and tick tock of him building.

[PFT Commenter]

The machine at his home that can.

[Big Cat]

Turn the plastic waste into fuel. That's badass. And he's finally figured a way to do it. Okay, yeah, I like this. And he's, dude, that is badass.

[PFT Commenter]

What a g. And he calls it Plastoline. Plastoline? Yes, sir. That's a great name. They started up a 2023 Dodge Charger. Wide body.

[Big Cat]

That's awesome.

[PFT Commenter]

That's very good for him. What is plastic made of? Is that also made of oil?

[Big Cat]

The composition of plastic I'm not 100% sure on. I'd be lying to you if I said I was. I can find out for.

[PFT Commenter]

So regardless, this guy's a genius. If that's what he did. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

22. Which is crazy. That is crazy. That's not Plastoline.

[PFT Commenter]

Plastic is made of cellulose and coal.

[Big Cat]

Salt and crude oil. Okay, but he's converting like your milk jugs. He's recycling. Yeah. Shout out to Julian. Shout out Julian. That's sick. Okay, let's get to our interviews. We got college football talk with Tom Fornelli, then Mario Cristobal, then Jerry from Meow Mix. And we're going to Finish up with FAQs. Okay, before we talk some college ball with our good friend Tom Fornelli, wanted to talk to you about Chevy. Football season is here. And whether you're grinding through the week or gearing up for the kickoff, there's one ride that's always game ready. Chevy Silverado. The Chevy Silverado is a longtime partner. Part of my take in our favorite truck. And it's all about grit. From job site to tailgate, Silverado lets you show up strong and tackle any task. Built for the hustle, ready for the game. Silverado is America's most dependable full size truck. For J.D. power 2025 award information, visit jdpower.comawards Head to chevy.com to learn more and build your own Chevy Silverado today. Okay. Here he is, our good friend, Tom Frenelli. All right. We now welcome on a very, very, very special guest. It is Tom Frenelli talking college football. We are in week seven. It has been an awesome football season so far. A lot of teams that we thought were going to be good are not good. A lot of teams we didn't think were going to be good are good. Let's start, Tom. Cause I want to do a little, like, look back on week six, but also look. But let's start with the biggest story. Penn State, James Franklin. Is there any chance they buy out Ben or James Franklin and move on from him?

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, I can't say there's not any chance. I don't know if I'd consider it likely. But you see, like, this week after the UCLA lost, like, there are columnists from every single outlet. It feels like riding the. Is it time for James Franklin in Penn State to go opposite directions? You know, to finally part ways? So it's the first time you've kind of seen that, which is typically a sign that it might be coming. But I, I don't know because I, I think it's a dangerous proposition because there's, there's no excuse for what happened last week at ucla. Like losing in double overtime to Oregon. Fine. Like, we, we all typically thought that was going to happen. That's been Penn State's problem all along. But, like, these games against UCLA are just the games that Penn State has always won under James Franklin. So it's going to lead to this kind of discussion. But it's also a situation where, like, I don't know what your goal would be if you fire James Franklin. Like, who are you going to replace him with? Who can realistically do a better job than James Franklin has been doing? Yeah, because it reminds me kind of like a situation that we saw, you know, like when Nebraska fired Bo Pelini. Like, they thought that they could do better. And we know how that's gone for them since. They have not done better. And you look at Penn State as a program like it's one of the best programs in the country. It has been for a long time. But even with that being said, they've won two national titles in their history. Like, the last one was over 40 years ago in 1986, or just under 40 years ago, if you want to count 1994, it was over 30 years ago. So it's not like this was a program that was Winning national titles constantly or competing for them like Joe Paterno's got the only ones to the program's name. And even Joe Paterno, it took him 16 years before he finally won his first national title. Which is not to say I think Penn State just needs to give James Franklin five more years and he'll break through. But I don't really put this on him as much as I put it on everybody hyping this team up a little too much because of everything that they had coming back. And we were just looking around, it's like there are so many questions at all these other programs. Penn State's got all these dudes coming back. Maybe this is the year, and I mentioned it when I was on before the season started. Yeah, they did have a lot coming back, but they also did not have their best player on offense and their best player on defense. And the guys who did come back from last year didn't really win a national title. They won playoff games against SMU and Boise State, and then they lost to Notre Dame as soon as they ran into another real team in the playoffs. So I think the expectations were probably too high, which I don't think is fair to James Franklin if he's going to lose his job now. But I could see it happening. I just, I don't think it's likely because of the available coaches. Like, who are you bringing in to replace them? Oh, yeah, but it's Kurt signal he could leave Indiana for Penn State.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I mean, I, I spent years hearing that he was going to go to West Virginia. That in my mind, I was like, he's only going to end up at West Virginia. That's the only school. And then he, he made statements kind of not necessarily saying that, but the, to that effect. And then he goes to Indiana, major pay bump. I understand why he takes that job. He's winning there. If, if Penn State offers him just an incredible amount of money. I don't think that there's anything that's tying Kurt to Nettie to, to Bloomington.

[Tom Fornelli]

I, I, yeah, I think Penn State is one of the jobs he would definitely leave Indiana for. I think there are a lot of jobs that have come open or are likely to come open that he's been mentioned for that. I don't really see his upgrades over Indiana, which, I know it's weird, but we're in a very new situation now where Indiana has money and they're spending it on their football program and might be in a better spot. But the problem is if you're Penn State and you're hiring Kurt Zagati. He's 64, so it's not like he's a long term answer. So it's like, I feel like if you're going to replace James Franklin, you need to find your own Dan Lanning kind of hire. But Dan Lanning obviously isn't going to leave Oregon for Penn State. And it's just, I don't know that that guy's available. All right, so would you get Matt Rule from Nebraska, bring him home? Is he the answer?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that doesn't, that doesn't really fix it. So last thing about Penn State, Penn State, obviously two losses. Haven't. Haven't been a Power 44 program yet. If Penn State were to somehow run the table, is Penn State going to be in the playoffs? Do they still have that in front of them?

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, if they run the table, they're in. Because if they run the table, they pick up wins at Ohio State and Indiana along the way. And you might also be in the Big Ten championship if you're 7 and 2 in conference play, especially if you beat Ohio State. So I would think that 10 and 2 with a win over Ohio State along the way would be enough to get you in as an at large, even with the UCLA kind of anchor around your neck. But the reality of the situation is the odds of Penn State running through the rest of their schedule winning out are very low. Yeah, because, yeah, like they have to play at Ohio State and then the very next week they're playing Indiana and it's like they'll probably lose the Ohio State game and maybe they beat Indiana. But if you're nine and three with a win over Indiana, that's probably going to knock you out of the at large discussion pretty quick.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I'm glad Big Cat asked that because I was, I was going to ask you a similar thing about the sec. What is the, what is the most surprising SEC team that you think could run the table and make the playoff.

[Tom Fornelli]

That could run the table from here on out? I would say Texas A and M. I do think that they are legitimately good. Like, I was skeptical of them early in the year. I thought the offense was fine. I thought they really hit on the portal at receiver with Concepcion and Craver. The defense looked like ass, though, for like the first three weeks of the season. But they've kind of figured things out and gotten their act together the last few weeks. And I think that this is suddenly a team that is exceeding expectations, who has a ton of talent on offense at the skill positions is strong along the lines of scrimmage. And the back end of that defense, which was struggling earlier in the year, is starting to look a lot better. So I'm not saying that they will. I'm just saying they strike me as a team that is much better than anybody truly expected, which is not something you can say about most programs in the SEC or the Big Ten. It feels like almost everybody, except for, like, Ohio State and Oregon, have been at somewhat of a. A disappointment.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

All right, so the next big question I had for you. How happy do you think Steve Sarkeesian is that James Franklin and Penn State exist? Because it really does feel like the majority of the discussion online has been James Franklin and Penn State. Meanwhile, Steve Sarkeesian, Texas is an utter disappointment. Arch Manning does not look ready. They put. You know, they were. This was a whole thing. Like, this is Arch's year. I listen, I bought it. I'm an idiot. I believed in it. Like, what is going on? Are they going to potentially bench Arch at some point? Like, Oklahoma's defense this weekend is legit. Legit. And now you got to go play them at the Red River. It could get even worse than it's been, and it's been bad. Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't know if they'll bench him because, honestly, I don't know that they have an option behind him that they feel is truly an upgrade. I. I do think you're right, though, about Sark, because a lot of the narratives that James Franklin gets hammered with, you can kind of hit Steve Sarkeesian with the same ones. And Texas has been very disappointing. Like, that was a team that had to replace nearly its entire offensive line. It replaced a whole bunch of guys, and defensively, they're still right there. I think on the defensive side of the ball, Texas is still one of the best teams in the country, but offensively, they. They just haven't been there. Arch has been a huge problem with it, but I don't think he's the only problem. I think he garners most of the attention, though, because of all the hype that was surrounding him heading into season. And I am surprised, Like, I knew when Arch came out of high school that he wasn't really ready to be a starter in the SEC or at that level. But I would have, I thought, like, the last few years, sitting on the bench, developing behind Quinn Ewers, like, we were going to see a much more polished player than what we have seen to this point. He just looks like a freshman Even though he's now in his third year on campus. So I think that is very alarming. I think the fact that they can't run the ball because the offensive line can't block anybody is also very alarming and not helping the situation. And you look at them like, with that schedule everybody was talking before the season, that in the context of the sec, Texas is actually catching some breaks. The schedule is not that difficult. Well, it looks a whole hell of a lot more difficult now with the way that they've been playing. And it's really hard to imagine that they're going to get to the playoff. I really don't think they've got a shot of getting to Atlanta. So it's like at larger best, but the way that they're going, unless Arch, like the light flips on and he's able to recognize what a defense is doing before the snap and get the. The protections right, which I think he's really struggling to do right now, I just don't see Texas being able to pull this off. Like, they're not going to fall off a cliff. But seven and five, that's kind of within the realm of possibility. It is, but. Yeah, but they'd still get to a bowl game, though, you know, I mean, they're not going to finish 5 and 7 or 4 and 8.

[PFT Commenter]

That's not like Texas has fired coaches for reaching bowl games. Like, that's not. That's not what they're looking to do. And if. If the name on the back of your jersey says Manning and you're the quarterback at Texas, the expectations are so high that, yeah, that would be seven and five would be a big disappointment in Austin.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, yeah, for sure. It's just I don't think that, like, for me, wheels falling off is not getting to a bowl game. And I think that if you're a Texas fan, like, you can look at the schedule and you can say, well, look, we lost to five really good teams, man. You know, Ohio State and Oklahoma and all these teams made the playoff and you can kind of feel good about it.

[PFT Commenter]

Florida, they need Florida to win some. Some more games so that they can say, hey, Florida, actually not that bad of a team that we lost.

[Big Cat]

They aren't. Billy Napier, with his back against the wall, might be the best coach ever. He literally just. Just get him. Get him almost fired and he'll start performing.

[PFT Commenter]

He might get off of the Penn State job.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, the thing. The thing about Florida is, like, all the. All the promise pinned on that team in the preseason because everybody knew the schedule was just incredible. Like, they had. They were going through the gauntlet every single week, but it was always like, yeah, but if DJ Lagway starts to live up to his potential, man, they're going to be so good. And last week was the first time DJ Lagway looked like the guy everybody thought he could be. And he was dealing with injuries all off season. He looked kind of, you know, not 100% to start the year. You could tell that the lack of. Lack of practice time in the off season had impacted him. But last week, he looked like a guy who was finally starting to get comfortable. And if the DJ Lagway we saw last week is the guy they have for the rest of the year, Florida's going to beat some teams. They're. They're not going to get to the playoff, but they're going to pick up a couple more wins that leave people kind of surprised.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, Tom, there was. There was a rumor that was floating around the Internet this week. I, I wanted to go to you because I feel like you'd be more plugged in than anybody else. Are. Are you familiar with the sources that have Mater coming back for the Red River Shootout? We still call it the shootout. Are you familiar with that?

[Tom Fornelli]

I am, yes.

[PFT Commenter]

So the story is that somebody was standing next to him in a Chipotle and then overheard him say, like, I feel good. Is that it? He said The. The person that posted this said that Mater told the Chipotle employee he is a hundred percent going to play versus Texas. And they've. They've been, like, a little bit cagey about the injury, which you would expect them to be. And I know that, like, the local hand surgeon or whatever has turned into a celebrity, and all the Sooner fans, they're. They're like, gassing them up, leaving good reviews.

[Big Cat]

Dr. Shin.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So what are you hearing? Do you have an update on. On the Chipotle story?

[Tom Fornelli]

I. I feel like, you know, John Matier is probably already getting his burrito for free, so he has no reason to lie to try to get, like, double meat for free from. From the guy behind the counter. So I don't think you can't not trust him when he says he's 100% going to play. My, My skepticism is the point spread hasn't moved, and these rumors have been out there, but nobody's budging on that. Texas is still favored by two and a half, last I checked. And I also feel like you saw the, The. The volume of reports on Tuesday morning about John Mateer might play this week against Texas. I feel like if Oklahoma really thought he was going to play, they wouldn't. They'd be keeping that under wraps. They wouldn't be floating out that possibility.

[PFT Commenter]

But there was. There was a picture of John Mattier in a Chipotle with a Chipotle employee.

[Big Cat]

That's enough for me.

[PFT Commenter]

People are speculating that this is potentially the. The very same employee that he shared the news with.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, this is all. I don't. What's the word in court? Like when the evidence is circumstantial. There we go. This is all circumstantial evidence. But the circumstances speak pretty loudly.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, sometimes that can be enough.

[Tom Fornelli]

Would you lie in a Chipotle like it's wrong? Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I'd be like, no, I don't need to use the restroom.

[Big Cat]

It's like being in church.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. You can't do it. I'm going to say something. You tell me if it's crazy.

[Tom Fornelli]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

Ohio State this year is better than Ohio State last year.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't think it's crazy. I think it's certainly possible. But this is. You know, when, when I was on the show a couple months ago, I got yelled at by you and Brandon because I was saying that Ohio State was doing like load management last year. And what I did not get across correctly when I was making that statement was I didn't say they. I didn't mean to say they were going half speed in games against Oregon and Michigan. What Ohio State was doing last year was in those other games that weren't Ohio State or Michigan, they were going half speed. They were just doing whatever they had to to get by. Kind of like what I thought Penn State was doing in non conference before they started playing real teams and looked so like Ohio State was flipping a switch in its big games and they came up short against Oregon by a point on the road in the regular season. And then Michigan did the thing where Michigan just beats them because Ohio State can't beat Michigan anymore. But then we saw once they got to the playoffs and flipped a switch again. Absolute juggernaut, right? This year. My argument was Ohio State couldn't really afford to do that because they had too many new guys coming in and they have to work. Julian saying in so I think that the effort level you're seeing so far from the Buckeyes is higher than the effort level you saw from last year, which was a very veteran, veteran team that already knew who it was and just knew that it had to survive to get to the playoffs and then things would take care of themselves from there. So I don't think Ohio State is really going like, I still think last year's team was better. I think that by the end of this year this team could be better because I do think there is an argument to be made that the defense is better than last year's defense. I think Patricia is just confusing the ever living crap out of all the quarterbacks that he has faced so far. Like, these kids do not know what they're looking at before the snap and it's really showing up, up. And once they get to the red zone, they're just absolutely clamping down and not giving up anything. So I think the defense is very, very, very good. The offense to me is not quite to where last year's was. And I think that that could change as the year goes on, just simply because we're seeing week by week, they're giving Julian Saying a little bit more responsibility. They're lengthening the leash. They're letting him move the ball downfield more often. And I think that he's very, very talented and he's showing excellent poise and excellent accuracy. He's like showing you everything you want to see from a young quarterback as far as growth is concerned. So I think by the end of the year it could a thousand percent be true. Right now, I don't agree with you, but I don't think it's crazy.

[Big Cat]

Well, I'm happy. I'm, I'm. I'm early on the take because I. Part of the take is the defense is phenomenal. I think Julian Sayings ceiling as a passer is way higher than Will Howard's. So that's, that's where I'm going for is like, if Julian Saying keeps on this path, this offense is going to be like. Even saw it in the Washington game where they kind of like, hey, Washington's not going to score on us. We're going to play defense. We'll be fine. But then there was moments where they're like, you know what? Let's, let's do the Jeremiah Smith thing and let's fucking, let's just fuck him up for like a series. And you could see it there. I think it's coming. I think Ohio State this year better than last year.

[Tom Fornelli]

The difference to me though is like, and this is no disrespect to CARNELL Tate or C.J. donaldson or even the great Bo Jackson who has been brought back to life to play running back for Ohio State. It's just last year's offense also had a mecca. Trevon Henderson and Quinn Shaw Judkins and I don't think they have those guys. They still have Jeremiah obviously though.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I do like that take though. That also sets Ohio State up for like that would be the biggest disappointment of all time if they didn't win a back to back national or if.

[Big Cat]

They don't beat Michigan.

[PFT Commenter]

Or if they don't beat Michigan. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Are you feeling like there's any chance for Luke Alt Meyer in your line? I on Saturday I always feel like.

[Tom Fornelli]

There'S a chance which is a lie. I tell myself. I do. Yeah. I, it's tough like Illinois's defense has been beaten up the last few weeks and going up against Ohio State when, when your secondary is banged up is probably not the best spot to be in. But I will say offensively I think Illinois is legit. The concern is that we saw against Indiana not just forget the final score which was a 53 point point just complete ass whooping by the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington. But like offensively they got completely stonewalled by Indiana in that game and it was a lot of the offensive line had issues picking up blitzes and all that kind of stuff. And I think that Ohio State, as I just mentioned with Matt Patricia has done an incredible job of confusing quarterbacks. But the one thing Illinois has going for it is Luke Alt Myers is a third year starter who's also in his third year with the same offense defensive coordinator. So like they, they have answers to the tests more than a lot of the other quarterbacks that Ohio State has faced to this point. Whether or not they can execute it and do it well enough to overcome a defense that's probably going to have a really difficult time stopping the Buckeyes. That remains to be seen.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I want to talk a little Texas Tech with you. People are like talk, talk about our football program, Texas Tech, they're, I think they're finally being respected. What are they? They're top 10 now in the country. Should Texas Tech Tech start to prepare themselves for a world in which they win their conference and then do not get a buy.

[Tom Fornelli]

I, I, we had this conversation just the other on the show the other day. Yeah, I think that's very possible. I, I think that if you look at the Big 12, the problem Texas Tech faces right now is like before the season started it was like the Big 12 is great. Nobody's really good enough to pull away. Every game is going to be super fun. It Feels like Texas Tech has pulled away.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it does.

[Tom Fornelli]

They spent a ton in the portal, and they've hit on most of the guys that they got in the portal. They have a good starting quarterback, and as we saw in the Utah game, they have a very good backup quarterback in case Baron Morton goes down again. And on the defensive line, they're just in a completely different planet than the other teams that they're facing in the Big 12 week by week. The problem that they face is by the end of the year, there's no guarantee that they'll have a ranked win yet. And we know, like, the. The SEC campaigns to get, like, the SOS metrics changed in the College Football Playoff formula. So there's a very real chance that, like, Texas Tech could be 130 come the end of the season, and, like, Ohio State and Oregon could both get buys if they reach the Big Ten championship game. Miami could be undefeated, so they're probably going to get a buy in that case. And like, the SEC champion at 10 and 2 will have the much higher SOS metric than Texas Tech, and they will get put ahead of the Red Raiders, who are forced to play in the first round. I. I think that, yes, it's a very real spot because, like, just look back to last year. Arizona State won the Big 12. Obviously, they lost two games, but they were ranked behind Alabama, who did not make the College Football Playoff and had three losses. So the committee doesn't really have a ton of respect for that league.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Yeah. When it comes to Miami, do they have. What's the biggest speed bump that you could see on their schedule? Because it feels like they've. They've beaten some teams that everybody had circled at the start of the year. The acc, not exactly super strong. There's some good teams, like UVA is pretty good.

[Big Cat]

Sure, Georgia Tech.

[PFT Commenter]

Georgia Tech's pretty good. But what's the biggest speed bump that you see in Miami's way between here and the playoff?

[Tom Fornelli]

I think Miami's biggest speed bump is always Miami. I. I think that, you know, like, a lot of times you've seen very Miami thing.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Taking those, like, flat.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, like last year, their defense was terrible. So it's like, that's why they were always stuck in these shootouts with inferior opposition, because their defense couldn't get any stops. I think the biggest difference this year is their defense is legitimately good. It's like, it's the defensive line. Ruben Bane and those guys are getting all the attention. Ruben Bane's being mentioned as a heisman candidate.

[PFT Commenter]

He is, but it's. He is. Tom, you're right. I'm glad you brought that up because he is being mentioned. I've heard it everywhere. Ruben Bane, possible. I mean, if you look at the odds, extremely long shot. But yes, he should be talked about. Tom, thank you.

[Tom Fornelli]

I agree. And I think that you should definitely hold on to that ticket until he's announced as a finalist and then cash out at the end, earliest opportunity once that happens, because there's no way in hell he'll win. But I also think that when you look at the rest of that defense, like the secondary, they went to the portal, they replaced a lot of guys, they've hit on them, their defensive philosophy has changed. I think that they are legitimately good football team. And you look at the rest of the acc. Florida State should have been its most difficult opposition in conference play, and it was. But they kind of made it look easy. Florida State had that comeback late to make the game look a lot closer than it was. But you look at the rest of their schedule, their only road games are at smu. And I don't think SMU is nearly as good as it was last year. Then they finished the year with road trips to Virginia Tech, who will probably be dead and buried by then. They're already on an interim coach, so by the end of the season, who knows how much that team's even going to care? And then I think the trickiest spot.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[Tom Fornelli]

Is the final game of the season at Pitt, because that's just the kind of thing Pat Narduzzi would do. But if Miami's undefeated by then and they lose that game to Pitt, they're still going to be in the ACC Championship and they'll probably still win that game and they'll probably still get a buy.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

All right, sec. Who's going to win the sec, and is it Alabama? Because they're back.

[Tom Fornelli]

I do think it's Alabama.

[Big Cat]

I love Ty Simpson, by the way. He's awesome.

[Tom Fornelli]

Ty Simpson?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Ty Simpson might be the best quarterback in the country, Right? Yeah, I. And it's funny because I think back to like two or three years ago, whenever it was when they were playing South Florida in that monsoon and they were playing the games with like Jalen Milro, where they benched him and they went and Ty Simpson got into that game and he looked terrible. And then they come back and you're like, Ty Simpson is going to be the starter. That dude from the South Florida game. Oh, my God. Sell your Alabama stock. But he's one of those few instances we're seeing these days where, oh, my God. Sitting on the bench and learning has actually helped him get better. Because even in the Florida State game, like, he was making really nice throws. He was just a little late on a lot of them. He had open receivers and he was missing. And it was just like, okay, this is a kid in a tough spot not seeing it quick enough. Ever since then, he's seeing it. He can make every single throw. He can do it from the pocket we saw last week. He's able to do it while on the move, both going to his right and to his left. He's able to, you know, come back across his body and put zip on a throwback across the field. I think he's legitimately like Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore. You're seeing them in the mock drafts as first rounders. I think Ty Simpson, by the time the season will end, will be like a top half of the first round kind of draft pick in all the mocks. And I look at Alabama, you know, the game against Florida State, to me felt like the result. Bas especially based on what we've seen in the week since, is Alabama defensively took the wrong approach and Florida State and Tommy Castellano's torched them. And we have seen defenses adjust and approach Florida State in different ways since then. And it worked for Virginia, it worked for Miami. It worked for Alabama last week against Vanderbilt, although Vanderbilt did shoot itself in the foot a few times there. But overall, I think Alabama is the team I trust the most in the sec. I don't think that, like. Well, I look at Texas Tech as a heavy favorite to win the Big 12. I look at Miami as a heavy favorite to win the acc. I don't think Alabama is a heavy favorite to win the SEC simply because I still think that. You know, I mentioned Texas A and M earlier. They're good. I think Oklahoma is good. If mater is healthy, I think Mizzou might be better than most people realize. And I think that Georgia still has a chance to be awesome and Ole Miss. I'm not huge on Ole Miss, but damn it, they don't lose. So it's like at some point I just have to sit my cap to him and say, I don't really like the way you're going about it, but damn it, you keep proving me wrong every single week. So, yeah, it's. It's really tough. Like, there's a chance. I think there's a much better chance that people think that the SEC is going to get five teams into the playoff.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

The SEC is the new Big 12, outside of the fact that they're going to get five teams, but it's the new Big 12. And the fact that I feel like any team can beat any team any weekend because there's just not that super like Alabama, two and a half point favorite against Mizzou.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, I know. It's kind of surprising when you see that.

[Big Cat]

Right?

[Tom Fornelli]

But I mean, that's, that's just a testament to how good Mizzou is. Like, they've. They haven't played in any big games, so they haven't really gotten a lot of attention, but if you've watched them, you're like, holy shit, this team's pretty damn good.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. What about Tennessee?

[Tom Fornelli]

I think Tennessee is good. I don't think Tennessee is great. And I, I feel like they kind of. That they missed their opportunity because they outplayed Georgia in that game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Tom Fornelli]

Like, if you. From start to finish, Tennessee was a better team for most of that game and they had. They came up short and they lost by three points. I think that Joey Aguilar is good, but I don't think he has the kind of arm strength that, you know, like a Joe Milton can bring back to the Tennessee days. But it just, like, he's throwing a lot of pretty deep balls, but there's some rainbows to him. And if you come back to that Georgia gabe, there were a couple touchdowns he threw that probably should have been intercepted more than they should have been touchdowns. They just. The ball bounced their way and they took advantage of. Of it. It's just defensively I think they've slipped a little bit. And offensively I don't think that they're outstanding. I think that they are a team that can compete for one of the SEC's playoff bids. But they strike me as the team that if they get to the College Football Playoff, they're probably going to lose their first round game.

[PFT Commenter]

I would feel a lot better about Tennessee if they had Bama at home. That's the thing. It's like I could see them beating Alabama at home. I can't really picture them going down there and doing that again based on what I've seen from so far. But the nice thing about Aguilar is he's. He's usually very accurate. He knows where to go with the football. He's played it off ball where he can, like, get through his progressions. And I think in that offense, that's, that's really what you're looking you don't need a guy like Joe Milton who's like obviously super fun to watch when he throws the ball to the moon, but I feel like that's the prototypical guy that you need in that offense.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh yeah, he's a clear upgrade over what Nico was for them last year. It's just I don't think that as a team, this team is as good as last year. I think they have a better quarterback and I don't think they're as good at other spots.

[PFT Commenter]

Are we back in on Nico? That was a great performance. I feel like there are a lot of people sold their Nico stock at rock bottom and maybe we get a little bounce back. And so I think I, I said he should be a wide receiver, a tight end, like put some weight on.

[Big Cat]

I like that.

[Tom Fornelli]

I've never sold all my Nico stock, but I do feel like, like last week might be a bit of fool's gold. I think that Penn State was just still kind of in shock over what had happened to them against Oregon.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, but I mean he looked good. He looked really good. I, and also New Heisel is getting all the credit for that victory.

[Tom Fornelli]

He is. And I don't know that, I mean credit to him. I, I, I think honest this is a little too in the weeds. But I think a big part of what happened last week is A, the Penn State was still in shock over the Oregon game, but B, with new Heisel now as a new offense coordinator, like Penn State had absolutely no idea what US UCLA's offense was going to look like. They hadn't seen it, nobody had. So it's really hard to prepare for. So like in the first half, UCLA is moving the ball on them. Penn State's like, what the hell? What are they doing? UCLA gets whatever 20 something points. Then the second half, Penn State's defense locked them down. The problem Penn State had was their offense was just way, like there was no excuse for their offense to perform the way that they did.

[Big Cat]

Well, and you're forgetting the biggest reason. The tarmac's not big enough in Happy Valley. So they had to drive an hour and a half, half to fly.

[PFT Commenter]

It's crazy.

[Big Cat]

It's insane. Franklin's right. Like that was they, they basically stacked the, the, the deck against him.

[PFT Commenter]

Last week they just take like a.

[Tom Fornelli]

Three hour Uber drive to a different airport.

[Big Cat]

I also don't know why Penn State, like if you have all this money, why not just build a bigger tarmac?

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean that's what we're doing, right? Like that's what the TV money's for.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, right.

[PFT Commenter]

If you're Penn State, you should be able to understand how to bounce back from really crushing losses.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Kind of like that's kind of what you do.

[Tom Fornelli]

I put the blame on us because we convinced them that this was their year. I blame Brandon.

[PFT Commenter]

That's who I. Yeah, I agree.

[Big Cat]

You have sources. You have inside information. How, just how bad is it at unc?

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, it's awful. I mean, it's. It's a dumpster fire. It's like the stuff you're hearing in the. That's coming out now. You've kind of been hearing it for a few weeks from people, but it's. You just have to look at the team on the field to kind of understand that. Yeah, it's. Nobody really understand. The players are completely like the players. You watch them on the field, they don't know what's coming. They look like they're completely unprepared. And now you've got like Mike Lombardi releasing this long winded trust the process kind of letter to the public, like saying, hey, come on, this was the plan all along, right? We were going to suck on purpose. You just have to trust the process. Like, Mike, there are no draft picks like you. You have to recruit these dudes. And it's a staff that thought, you know, Bill Belichick thinks he's the greatest football coach ever. And he might be like, he won a lot of Super Bowls, but the NFL is very different from college. Like, at the NFL, everybody's super talented. You can gain an edge by out scheming your opponent. You also gain an edge by having a superior quarterback at the college level. The scheme only matters so much if you're not, you know, if you're not as talented as the team you're playing like a zone pattern matching scheme on your defense. And zone isn't really going to mean shit if the other team's just playing better than you and kicking your ass along the lines of scrimmage. And they went to put together a team in the portal and they really just kind of took guys. It wasn't taking top guys. They were taking guys that they could get and they weren't able to get a ton of really good guys. And it's showing every single week. Week.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, the. The tone from Lombardi in that in the letter was like, I really respected the 76ers for how they messaged the process. I. I emulate being able to. Being able to. I would love to be able to.

[Tom Fornelli]

Get you to buy into.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

I really love the way that the 76ers were able to get you to buy their about not trying to win.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes, that's exactly. He's like, I wish I could convince people to let me do my job when I'm not winning and I'm not getting results, because they did an awesome job of that. Not that did just my checks. Okay. It did not inspire confidence that they're actually doing things to try to win. It was just like, hey, just get off my back for a little bit. Yeah, buddy. There was that report that came out today. I think it was wr the the long story about just how bad things are getting there. And it seems like none of the parents like Lombardi.

[Big Cat]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

Or at least none of the parents that spoke to this article. They called him rude and nasty. They say that Belichick is like, okay in terms of how he interacts with players, but there's no communication with their families going on here. And now they just canceled Tar Knox, the, the documentary that was going to be on Hulu. At first it was going to be on tv. Then they canceled it over the summer. Then they redid it again. Now they're canceling it again.

[Big Cat]

It need that footage, by the way, because there was there is out there. We need that footage.

[PFT Commenter]

We got it. We. We will air Tard Knocks in its entirety on Barstool Sports.

[Tom Fornelli]

Someone Dropbox PMTV episode.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, if you can send it over to us. It does feel like this is just. There's a lot of things happening that would point to Belichick not sticking around too much longer. Is that something that you think is on the table?

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, I definitely think it's on the table. I, I, I don't know. I don't like the details of the buyout on North Carolina's end. Like, I know that Belichick could leave and he only has to pay, like, a million at the end. End of the season. Right. I don't know if it's the same kind of sweet deal for North Carolina on their end. Like, they might still have to pay him a significant chunk of money to move on. And I don't know if they have the stomach for doing it, but I also feel like at a certain point, you kind of can't just think about the money. You have to think about the state of the program. And we've seen it, like, the stadium's empty. Fans aren't sticking around for this. Like, they've seen through it. They understand that it was a joke. All along now, and they're just going to move on and they're not going to care. And I think that right now, with the current state of college football and just the way things are working, like the settlement of the lawsuit from Florida State and Clemson against the ACC basically bought the league five more years, because Florida State and Clemson, once that deal is up, are leaving. They're going to go to the Big Ten or the sec, wherever they can get a home. North Carolina is going to have to follow them. And I think that the thing that they need to worry about is you can't become an afterthought in football right now, because in five years, you still need to be an attractive property or program for the Big Ten or for the sec. And if your program goes completely in the tank because of this and you don't move on and you don't, you know, just try to buy your way out of it, essentially, and bring in an actual football coach, you could find yourself without a life raft. You could be Washington State. You could be Oregon State. You could just be sitting in the jungle by yourself. And it's important to remind people, in case they didn't know the athletic director at North Carolina did not want to hire Bill Belichick. He wanted to go after a traditional coach like a Matt Campbell or a John Sumrall, just going after somebody to bring in the job. It was boosters and members of the board of trustees that pushed Bill Belichick on Bubba Cunningham. So I think that if. If this were Bubba's decision, I think Bill would be gone already.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

By the way, the Mike Lombardi, I always. I just looked it up because I remember reading this a while ago. Chuck Closerman once wrote, it's. It's such a mean quote, but it's probably apropos for Mike Lombardi. He called Mike Lombardi a detail freak and a polymath, or at least a person successfully attempting to impersonate one.

[PFT Commenter]

That's so mean.

[Big Cat]

That's so mean. And it feels like right now we're on the impersonation part successfully. Now he's successfully.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. But now he's unsuccessful. He needs to get better at his impersonation of Sam Hankey.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Oh, my God. Imagine reading that. Just be like, wait a second. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

What about.

[Tom Fornelli]

What percentage of your listeners do you think know what polymath means?

[Big Cat]

I don't.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I think it's something.

[Big Cat]

What is it?

[PFT Commenter]

I were to guess it's someone that can do addition and subtract.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I was gonna say, like, Someone who just sees numbers everywhere. Like Russell Crowe.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's like, it's like a Renaissance man. It's like you're really smart at a lot of things.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Yeah. It's a polymath is a person with expert knowledge in several diverse fields, driven by a deep curiosity and lifelong love of learning. That's not what I thought it was.

[PFT Commenter]

Someone would call that a jack of all trades, master of none. Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Thought it was a guy who'd like to both algebra and geography.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I'm a polymath. I like watching Big ten football and math. Football.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

There you go.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I'm a polybag sometimes. I bet the under too.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Holy.

[PFT Commenter]

I go both ways. What about elsewhere in the Carolinas? Dabo, good friend Dabo Swinney, which is a fun name to say. We've been talking about him a lot. He did get him and, and Bill Belichick combined to get the ludicrous concert moved to 9:30am which is I, that is, that's just the biggest insult. That's, that's a sad state of affairs with those programs. But we've been talking about Dabo and, and whether or not he would get another big time coaching offer if it didn't work out at Clemson. So I guess I, I got a two part question. One, how much longer would you see Dabo sticking around at Clemson? Like, is this where you think he's still going to remain even if, you know, things don't go his way? And then two, if he does leave, is there a big time, like a big time college football team that would want him as their head coach?

[Tom Fornelli]

I, I don't think Dabo's going anywhere this year. I think he will finish the season at Clemson. And I also, I think they're what they're 2 and 3 now. They'll probably end up 7, 5, 8 and 4. So like as the schedule gets easier, I think they're going to rack up some wins and they'll look a lot better come the end of the season. I still think though that he's going to have to like have a come to Jesus moment and be like, all right, I really need to start using the portal. If I can't keep winning my way, I doing it the quote unquote quote right way that worked for him in the past because it's clearly not working for him in the present. And whether he wants to say it out loud or not, like the he, he raised the expectation level for the program. He has to, he deserves credit for it. But now that you've done that, your fan base has grown accustomed to a certain level of success that they now expect. And if you're not competing for national titles, well, they're going to turn on you at some point. And I think Dabo needs to decide for himself, do I want to keep doing it my way and just eventually get kicked out of here and lose the job, or do I want to keep this job and adapt and try to win the way that you have to win in the modern era? I don't know what decision he makes there. If he did get fired at Clemson, as for the idea that another top program would come along, I would bet at least one would. I don't know who it would be, but we're just talking about North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick. So, like for Dabo Swinney, one of the few coaches out there who actually has national titles to his name, if there is a big time program that has maybe fallen on hard times, Florida, and is just sitting there trying to do something to kind of revitalize their program, I could see somebody reaching out to Dabo and trying to bring him in, hoping that he could rekindle that magic for them. And Dabo might be like, all right, well, you know, maybe I'll go somewhere where they appreciate what I've done because they're not tired of it now. I still think that unless he changes his approach, he's not going to have the same kind of success no matter where he goes.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I mean, I just don't know why a big time program like Florida would bring him in if he said, hey, listen, I'm. I'm going to do it my way.

[Memes]

Way.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm not going to. I'm not going to change. You're getting Dabo. You're not getting like the new age Dabo, the next evolution. I don't see why a big time program would think that that was a good idea.

[Tom Fornelli]

Because Florida could convince itself that we'll have better players than what he was getting at Clemson and we just need him to be Dabo.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Or he's a big God guy. What if he. What if he sets an example for his team and he cuts his son? Right? That's. That's in the Bible. Like, I'll do it. I'm taking away your scholarship, Clay, in front of the team that now we got a new one up for grabs. That's what he should do.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, yeah, he should try that. And if that doesn't work, maybe go to the transfer portal and Find a quarterback and a wide receiver.

[PFT Commenter]

That's also a good idea. Yes.

[Big Cat]

Tom, this has been great. I got one last question for you. It's a robot question. Rho b a c-k.com promo code. Take 20 off your first purchase. Q zips, polos, hoodies, joggers, shorts. Roback.com promo code. Take Saturday slate is laid. It is loaded. It is awesome. Awesome, awesome.

[Tom Fornelli]

We.

[Big Cat]

I feel like this is. This is why the. I know that people don't. I think you don't like the College Football playoff expanding to 12. I do, because I love that, like, a lot of these games feel like they mean more. Penn State still can play, they can still get in. But give us your favorite game and bet on Saturday can be two different things.

[Tom Fornelli]

My favorite game is obviously Illinois, Ohio State, because Illinois is going to shock the world and knock the Buckeyes off. But if I wasn't picking that game. Yep. I mean, I think I. I love the Red River Shootout or whatever we're calling it.

[Big Cat]

Shootout, Same.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. Oklahoma, Texas. I mean, I hope Matier plays because I would like them to be at full strength for that game. But regardless, like, both of those, they could be like, like there's so many times in the Big 12 in recent years where they were like seven and five teams. I didn't care. I was still watching the hell out of that game because I thought it was really fun and entertaining. So that's the one I'm most looking forward to. As far as my favorite bet right now, I think the wrong team is favored in Los Angeles. I think Michigan's a better football team than usc. If you want to take the points, go for it. I'm probably just going to be on the Michigan money line.

[Big Cat]

Bryce Underwood's really good.

[Tom Fornelli]

He's getting better every week. And, you know, Jade Maeve is really good, too, but USC is kind of banged up up, and I think Michigan's just much better than they are along the lines of scrimmage. And I think if Underwood continues his progression, he's just going to get better and better and better and he's got so much talent that by the end of the year, like, if Michigan sneaks into the playoff as an at large, and I think that's a certain possibility at this point, and Underwood's kind of peaking, they become a really dangerous team come playoff time.

[Big Cat]

That's gonna be really fun for us here at Barcelonal Sports.

[PFT Commenter]

It'd be great.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it'd be great.

[PFT Commenter]

We're gonna have a lot of fun.

[Tom Fornelli]

Why Is there somebody there who cares about Michigan a lot?

[PFT Commenter]

No. I mean basically the guy that bought Bryce.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, well, Larry Ellison doesn't work here.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yet.

[Big Cat]

Yet. All right, Tom, you're the best. Thanks so much. We love talking to you and hopefully see you soon.

[Tom Fornelli]

Look forward to it. Thanks for having me.

[PFT Commenter]

Tom Fornelli was brought to you by shell V powered Nitro plus premium gasoline. It removes up to 100% of performance, robbing deposits to rejuvenate your engine's performance. You can get more performance with every drive. Get more. With Shell V powered Nitro plus Premium Gasoline, you get more performance, more power, more protection and more protects against carbon deposits, friction and wear for better fuel efficiency. In addition to engine performance, get more performance with every drive. It's their best fuel ever. A fuel like no other. Learn more at Shell us more Dash performance. Download the Shell app and locate your nearest station today. And now, here is Mario Cristobal.

[Big Cat]

Okay. We now welcome on a very special guest, very, very, very special guest. It is Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal, the number two ranked Miami Hurricanes coach. Great to see you. First of all, congrats on winning the state title. I saw that you finished, you finished it off this weekend with the Florida State win. I want to talk big picture though. To start though, you are known for being really great at inheriting programs that maybe are in hard times and turning them into what you got right now with Miami. You did it at Oregon, you did it at fiu. What's the secret sauce to be able to do that because that it's such a difficult thing to do and you've proven it it time and time and again that you're able to change a culture and turn a program around.

[Mario Cristobal]

Oh well, first of all, thanks for having me on the show. It's an honor to be here. Secondly, it's really, it's not me, it's everybody that's tied into our organization. It's, you know, it's almost like real estate, right? You when you see a place that's got a ton of potential but just hasn't been taken care of or done the right way, you go all in. And it starts with just changing the DNA of the place with the right people and just littering the place from top to bottom with hard working driven self starters that are all about just team and getting better and that's hard to find nowadays. So it's a, it's a relentless process. We've been very fortunate to bring in the right kind of people that are high Achievers and hard work and sons of guns and that happen to be really, really talented too.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah. You're known as a relentless recruiter. Recruiter or do. How is that working for you? If, if you, your expectation is so high to recruit, would you say that you're, you're a driven guy? Like, do you push your guys as hard as possible?

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Mario Cristobal]

I mean, our, I mean, the only thing our parents are probably the most important thing our parents taught us. I mean, again, two parents that couldn't even speak the language and got here from another country and race really didn't have a chance to raise us. They were working two jobs and one in night school. Our high school coach was responsible for that. And, but it was all about the work. And then I played for some coaches, Jimmy Johnson, Dennis Erickson, that were all about the work and coaching for Butch Davis and, and Nick Saban. Work, work, work. So I learned a really hard lesson as a graduate assistant when I came here in 97, 98. And Miami was awful. I mean, after being part of those championship teams as a player, Miami was awful. And we went on a tear in recruiting. I believe we had nine scholarships to give because Miami was on probation. And of those nine, seven end up being first rounders. The eighth was a second rounder, the ninth was still a good player. And that turned into that 2001 team. And so I learned the value of recruiting very quickly and how the magic is in the players.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I read a, I read a story about your past when you were at Miami back in the late 90s, that you were getting ready, you were prepping for a bowl game and you got a message on your pager saying that you had a job offer for the United States Secret Service and that's a job that you had wanted. And you decided to say, no, I'm not going to be a Secret Service agent. I'm going to turn that down and stick with coaching football. I guess my first question would be like, how serious were you about becoming a Secret Service agent?

[Mario Cristobal]

I mean, I was gone. That was what I wanted to do. I, I became a GA by accident. I was working at some public relations firm right down the street, just losing my mind on a daily basis. So, and I kept, Remember back then there were no cell phones. I would fax like the run game protections to my friend Rob Jaczynski, who was the tight ends coach here at the time. And I'm like, brother, you can't block things like that. You got to do this and that. And finally he Picked up the phone and said, just stop faxing me stuff. Come over and be a ga. I'm like, I'm gonna be a ga. Those guys, like, you do laundry and you do all the crappy tasks or whatnot. But I came over, talked to Butch Davis, and he gave me a shot. And I was, I told him I go, I'm leaving. And whenever I get hired, it's probably going to take 18 months, two years. And when they called, I accepted. The job was on. I think it was the Gator Bull, if I'm not mistaken. We were on a. It was awesome, man. Fishing on one of those, you know, bull excursions that they put you on with guys like Reggie Wayne and Santana Moss. They were puppies, they were babies, and I was gone. And then I woke up in the middle of the night and I said, hell, no, I want to coach football. And that was it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Has there ever been a what if moment where you're like, what if I, what if I did join the Secret Service? How good would I be at that job?

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah, I, I mean, I, you know, I had a chance to visit the White House, you know, when I was at Alabama, and, you know, you look around like, okay, what if. But though I'm, I'm good with the decision and certainly I was honored to have that opportunity and honored to have the opportunity I have now.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You, you, you mentioned Alabama.

[PFT Commenter]

You.

[Big Cat]

Nick Saban always has so much praise for you, and it feels like he's, you know, been a mentor from you. What, what, what have you learned from him? Because it does feel like every time he talks about you, he's like, you know, he, You're. You're one of his guys, so to speak.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah, I, I thought, you know, besides the way he managed all those resources, I thought the best thing he did, besides the regimentation, I mean, the off season, the fourth quarter program that's run the condition department. He has his hand on everything. He was unbelievable. But I thought what he did best was the, the, the most underrated and the least talked about thing was his daily fight with complacency, how he refused to allow any type of complacency to seek deep into the program. And so he was just on it. And, And I loved it because that's how my high school coach was. That's how my dad was, may he rest in peace. That's how. That's what I was always used to. And that's why I was, I was so drawn to that opportunity and working there. So I Learned a ton, and it was awesome, man. He was. He's been a great mentor.

[Big Cat]

So what are you doing with this team? Because this team, obviously. Incredible start to the season. You guys are number two team in the country. You have everything in front of you.

[Tom Fornelli]

What.

[Big Cat]

What are you doing to actively make sure that your players aren't getting their. I think it's, to quote you, the. Their ass cracks kissed. That's what you say. They always have. You know, we don't want to get their ass cracks kissed too much. So what do you do actively? Because it's.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's.

[Big Cat]

Obviously it happens, right? It's. It's. Every football team goes through it.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah. It starts with the work, right. And we work at a level. At an intensity level that's pretty. Pretty insane. In a good way, in a smart way. But we're very honest and open about everything we do. We go direct, man. I mean, if you watch our film, to us, we acknowledge very simply that we have a long ways to go. We've gotten better. We've come so far in the trenches. The perimeter players for us on defense are now playing at a much higher level. Our skilled guys are making plays. Our young guys and our transfers have blundered the wall together. But, brother, we got a long way to go. We have massive improvement to be made to accomplish what we want to. I mean, it just. What we want to do requires us to get a hell of a lot better. There's only one way to do it, man, that's work our butts off. And they've accepted and allowed myself and our staff to push these guys as hard as they can be pushed.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. What was it about. About Carson Beck that you saw and you said, okay, this guy is. I'm going to target this guy. He can make a difference in our program time. He is exactly what we need. And there's a big price tag that goes along with him. But there's something about this guy that I feel like could take us to the next level.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah, I mean, watching his film in 23, he was off the charts. And if you go backwards in time, at the beginning of 24, he was the projected number one quarterback. Right. To be taken. And Cam Ward was a projected 5th, 6th, 7th rounder at that time. So a year later, honestly, you know, obviously what Cam does, what he does, and he goes on and moves on. But watching Carson's film, there's a lot of really good film there. I just thought that schematically they were very different. The supporting cast was a little bit Different. And I thought our offensive line, we thought our offensive line and our, our supporting cast suited him really, really well. I thought he was a strong arm, accurate arm, extremely intelligent, understood protections really well, put them in the right kind of runs. He understands no numbers, leverage angles in the run game, the screen game, and he's, he's a grinder. Like, he, he understands football and he takes in new concepts really, really quickly. He's a really quick study with a super high football iq. So we thought he was a perfect fit.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, he's been great this season. And Big Cat was talking about like, the complacency stuff. How do you, how do you guard against your own? Like, do you notice small moments in the day where you're like, hey, Mario, you're being complacent right now. Snap out of it. Like how you do, do. How do you recognize that when it comes to yourself?

[Mario Cristobal]

To myself, man, I'm, I'm out the door way, way early and don't get back till very late. And knowing that, look, I mean, I'm, I'm a nobody from right down the street. And I had an opportunity given to me by some awesome people, starting with Jimmy Johnson and going all the way to Butch Davis and whatnot. So I, I value opportunity and chances. Like, I don't know, I don't know. I don't know anyone else that valleys as much as I do. So that's my daily. I refuse to allow any of that, like, what do they call it, the relax mode, right? Leaf syndrome. To get and creep into myself. And so it's my job and our assistant coaches jobs, because this starts with them. People always saying, well, players nowadays are right. It's the adults. The adults set the tone right, and the players will follow. And we have the right kind of players with the right kind of mentality. It's full throttle every day, man. And you, and you're honest. Don't. We don't sugarcoat anything. We don't try to be anybody's friend. We try to be their best mentor, their best truth teller. And everyone must recognize that we only have them here from at the least one year, maybe six months with the Portal or up to four years, some five. That's not a long period of time, so bust your ass. This is a vocation. This is not a part time job. It's not a check the box job. So we just flat out go, but we go all out for our players. That's number one. Always players first, as if it's your very own son.

[PFT Commenter]

What Time. Do you wake up in the morning? You said that you get in really early.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah, you know, I don't. I don't, like, put the times out there because I think when people do that, it's like patting themselves in the back. Hey, I'm a hard worker. I'm a tough guy. I. I don't.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's.

[Mario Cristobal]

It's pretty insane, but it's. It's what needs to be done. It is not. I'm not doing anything extraordinary. I'm doing what has to be done, whatever is required of me. You know, I can't tell our players and our staff to bust their butts and go above and beyond. And me not go above and beyond that. So. And that's what's supposed to happen. That's not something extraordinary or something super cool.

[Big Cat]

I. That was. That's your old Secret Service coming out right there. You just made sure that no one can know your schedule. That was smart.

[PFT Commenter]

Competitive advantage.

[Big Cat]

Stay ahead of it. I got a question about your phenom, freshman. Malachi. Tony. His nickname in high school was Baby Jesus. Did you watch his tape or were you just like. When someone told you the nickname? You're like, all right, we want him. Because that's hard to do to get Baby Jesus as a nickname.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah, I'm Catholic, but I'm still going to watch tape. But my son, and my son, who's now in high school was like, papa, I wanna. Can I skip school? I'm like, what do you wanna skip school for? He goes, I wanna go watching Baby Jesus play. What are you talking about, man? And we watched him in high school. Have you seen his high school tape?

[Big Cat]

I haven't, but I would imagine. I mean, Florida speed is just different. He's almost got different speed where, like in that Florida State game, even. And there's moments where you're watching and it doesn't look like he's running that hard, but he's running so much faster than everyone else on the field. It's crazy to watch.

[Mario Cristobal]

Well, in high school, their quarterback got hurt, and they were. I think they were 4 and 2. They were kind of questionably making the playoffs and making a run. They put him at quarterback. They win the state title. In the state title game, I think he was 15 of 15 for 2. Yeah, he's. He's a. This is the best part about the guy. The guy's the ultimate professional. He is in here as early as anybody or earlier. He stays late. His work ethic is just. It's insane. He does the things Of a, of a six year NFL pro. And he never like, strays from that. He is on it every single day. He impacts other people. He doesn't. He loves ball, man. You know, his dad was in that legendary street race, you know, against Devin Hester back in the days that actually won that race. So the bloodlines are real down here in South Florida. And from a football standpoint.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, how, how hands on do you get to be as a head coach when it comes to like working on technique with the guys? Do you ever find yourself wanting to get in there and then maybe like.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah, there's no question. I mean, obviously my, you know, my background is the trenches. I mean, so wherever the offensive line and D line is and the tight ends and special teams, that's where I'll be for almost all of practice. You know, if I feel the, the skilled guys are getting a little bit sensitive, I'll go and watch them and, you know, for a minute and a half and then I'll get back to the trenches.

[PFT Commenter]

We were talking to Coach O a few weeks ago. He came through our office. Great guy, we love Coacho. And he said that he stopped by Miami practice over the summer and that it was. The trenches are going to be a strong suit for you guys. Was he, did he like share anything with the players or was he just there as an impartial observer? Just watching ball.

[Mario Cristobal]

Coacho is awesome. Both his sons, you know, Parker and Cody, they work for us. They're both analysts on the offense and defensive side of the ball, respectively. And Coach O, I, I always been his ear for stuff. Now Coach O has seen a lot of ball. Coach O was a graduate assistant and then the D line coach when I was a player here. So he was on my ass all the time. I've known him forever, you know. Yeah, he's the one that, you know, if you miss English class because you decided to go fish in the lake on campus, he's the one that's going to run you at 5am so we all became really acquainted with Coach O and his, his background in trench play is awesome. And he's got a really good eye for the simplicity of technique and fundamentals as well as practice regimentation overall, just conceptual teaching and he's. He's been a really good guy to lean on.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

All right.

[Big Cat]

I got a question about your career that's fascinating to me. So you're a ga, like you said, at, at, at Miami, and you're maybe looking for a good first break and tell me if this is Right, but, but you are tasked with going to pick up a potential defensive coordinator from the airport. His name is Greg Shiano. You talk with him on the, on the drive back from the airport. He ends up hiring you at Rutgers. Greg Shiano. Cochiano does not strike me as like a super amicable guy. How did you, how did you do that in like one car ride where you're just, you, you guys hit it off?

[Mario Cristobal]

Well, we hired him here at Miami. Okay, so he was a new defensive coordinator. He was at that time the Nichols coach with the Chicago Bears comes to Miami. Remember back then you didn't have all these analysts, man, like, this is crazy. Now we got like 400 people in the building. Back then, there was one GA on offense and one on defense, and your butt was working all day, all night. But Shiano, he's by nature a grinder. So deep into the night, midnight and beyond, one, two, like, he was always around, always working. So, so I go in there and he just throws stuff up on the board. And we talk pressures.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right?

[Mario Cristobal]

He had those unique third down pressures back in the day, really exotic looks. And I'd learn a bunch about protections versus those pressures. And we just developed a relationship, worked together for, for that year and the next year. And then when he got the call at Rutgers, he, he asked me to go up there with him.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah. And I, I, I like, I love to look back at the 2000 Miami Hurricanes roster. It's like that, that, that span. I know that you were there for the very start of it, but how good was that team? Like, even just watching them practice, the 2000 roster had just. It feels like every awesome college football player that then became a great NFL football player was on that team. I feel like that had to be so much fun to watch them practice.

[Mario Cristobal]

It was awesome. But you know what, when I got here as a ga, I remember they asked me, what, what do you, how do you feel about, you know, the quality of, or the caliber of talent on the team? And it was like, man, this is bad. You know, Miami was 5 and 7, 5 and 6 at the time. I think there were 11 games back then. And then those two, three recruiting classes stacked up. Man, that was a different look in a roster. I remember, you know, when you're a ga, you manage a scout team, so you're running the looks for, you know, and I had, was, I was managing the scout team for our offense. So my scout team players are Vince Wolfork and, and we're kicking the dog out of the offensive so Butch Davis is mfg me, the coordinator, all the coach are just dropping all kinds of F bombs on me. I'm like, dude, these guys are creatures. These guys are going to absolutely be super studs here in a very short amount of time. So it was, it was awesome to see that transformation and Miami, you know, get to that level again pretty quickly.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I mean, that's, that's incredible. Vince Wilfrick on the scout team had to be a problem.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah. Jerome McDougal. I mean, these are like first rounder after first rounder. It was no, the battles out there on Green Tree. When I was a, when I was a kid, when I was growing up, I used to come out here and watch Michael Urban, Benny Blades, Jerome Brown, Dan Cilio, I mean, Paul o', Connor, Jeff or Greg Rosi, all those first rounders. And I was, I wanted to be a Miami Hurricane, but I was terrified to even think about competing with those guys. And so it was, it was kind of neat to see that thing, you know, come full circle again. As a ga.

[PFT Commenter]

I, I loved watching Michael Irvin on the sidelines. That guy was fired up, up. Felt like he was, you know, he wanted to get in the game. He was, he was itching to come off the sidelines. Is he going to be back on the sidelines for more games?

[Mario Cristobal]

He's around all the time and he's, he's one of the most grateful guys to the University of Miami that you'll ever see. And we talk about it all the time. It's, it's really important and in our opinion that players come back and show that type of gratitude. I mean, we were, we're all knuckleheads, man. Back in the day we had great coaches, great mentors. We learned a ton. We got our diplomas, had, got a. Opportunities, and now we have a chance to impact the next generation, Mike. And a lot of those guys come around all the time. Andre Johnson, Devin Hester. I could go on and on. John Vilma talked to the team. He was incredible. I mean, John Vilma, I mean, I, I could go on and on about the number of guys that come. Randall Hill, you know, remember his deal back in the tunnel in the Cotton Ball? I mean, these guys are, they're incredible teammates, friends and certainly mentors.

[PFT Commenter]

I feel like Mike G might need a get back coach at some point. You might have to like delegate one of the gas to just be like, okay, this last.

[Mario Cristobal]

He got, I think him and, and Holly Row got got, you know, trampled, rolled up on.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah.

[Big Cat]

When I know you.

[Jerry]

You.

[Big Cat]

You obviously probably avoid the media, but people love to talk about the. You being back. Is that only when you lift a trophy and win a national championship? Is that the standard? Or do you give yourself every now and then a moment? I know you don't like complacency, but to look back and be like. Like, hey, this is my dream school went here, history here, was. You know, came to practice, and I've got things going in the right direction. I can. You know, this is pretty damn cool what we're doing right now.

[Mario Cristobal]

We never. I've thrown that Miami's back thing. I've thrown that out from everything. The term itself. We don't. We don't talk like that around. And I'll. I'll tell you why. It's like, look, my time here as a player. I mean, uncompromising bull. It's a time and a place that I don't think will ever be duplicated. And the principles and values of that time.

[Big Cat]

Absolutely.

[Mario Cristobal]

We're carrying that and bringing it forward, but everything we're doing is. Is going that way, going straight ahead. And I'm. I'm not. So, like, I don't spend a single second thinking about myself and my. I came back to Miami and left a really good situation because I've been watching it from afar for 20 years. And I was. I was really. I got. I was pissed. I was angry that for 20 years, watching my alma mater just decline and everyone taking shots at it, the whole world. And that happens right when you're. You do good things, and then all a sudden, you. You slide, and everybody just wants to keep t. Kicking the dog when it's down. And I was just pissed and. And I knew it was going to be, you know, a butt kicking when we got here early because a lot had to be done. But that's what finally did it. And I was just tired of Miami being that, and I was tired of our own people. People kick in Miami while it was down. I was just sick of it. And it's. Instead of being sick about it and talking about. Or making noise, go do something about it. So that's. That's why we're here. And we have a long ways to go. We've made a lot of progress, but, brother, we. We have a long, long way to go, and we're at it. We had a great practice today, and we need to have an even better one tomorrow.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Do you worry at all about style points when you're in. In the middle of a Game like, when we say that, it's like, okay, the, the voters out there, which ultimately, like, they don't play football, they don't really know everything that goes on, but they are the ones that are making the decisions of where you end up being ranked at the end of the week. Like, do you worry during games, like, hey, we need to put our foot on the gas here because we need to make sure that everybody knows how good we can be.

[Mario Cristobal]

Well, we always want to keep our foot on the gas. You know, obviously we didn't play a really good fourth quarter the other night, and, and that's got to change, and that will change. But I think that your style points come in your style of play as well. And if your style of play is out of substance, it's about legitimate blocking, tackling, great pad level physicality and violence that'll show. But we lean a little bit more, I would say a lot more on roster development as opposed to style points. And by that I mean if you can get your twos and threes, another 30, 35 snaps of live football and, I don't know, score once or twice and maybe they score once as opposed to another 35 points with your one ones will take roster development all day because you're going to need those guys at some point in time. They're going to have to play and there's nothing like game experience. So we'll take development of the roster throughout what could be a very long season as opposed to style points.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Have you, have you noticed your, like, your, your evolution as a coach maybe being a little more aggressive at times? Like the Florida State game, you had a fourth and two where you could maybe kick a field goal and you go for it. You score a touchdown on that play. And it goes from, you know, a game that was not close, but you guys were up 14, three, whatever it was, and then you kind of blow it up open with a 21 to 3 lead off that touchdown. Have you noticed that you've as a coach gotten a little more aggressive? A little more, hey, we got to step on their throats when we get it. The more go for it on the fourth down that you see a lot of teams doing?

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah, I mean, we always try to be aggressive. I mean, that's part of our deal. We throw caution of the wind and, and go play ball as best we can. And, you know, we do look at analytics and it. I'd say 99 of the time is in line with what we're thinking and our gut feel for the Game and the situation. Circumstances. But we do. We'd like to be aggressive as best we can because we do have a lot of trust and confidence in our players. Like, you know, we had a fourth and eight the other day that was. That's, like, right on the line analytically. Yeah, you. You do. You go for it. If it's more than that, you're probably better off kicking it. And even before that, like, we felt really good about the play call. We felt really good about the matchup. We didn't execute it, so. But it doesn't take away from the fact that we would still stay aggressive in that situation. So we want. We want to stay along the lines of that.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Coach, in your unbiased opinion, who do you think the Heisman Trophy front runner should be right now?

[Mario Cristobal]

I have no opinion on that whatsoever. And I can honestly say our guys really don't care. They really don't. Like, it's not. It's never part of a topic. I've never. You know, our. Obviously, our guy Cam Gorby is the best of the best, and, man, he publicizes our guys like there's no tomorrow. But I. I watch a lot of football. Like. Like, I'm a manic about it, so I see a lot of crossover table. There's a lot of great college football players out there. The only thing I would wish for the Heisman Trophy, that it was awarded it when all the games are done.

[Big Cat]

Agreed. Yeah. Yeah.

[Jerry]

That.

[Mario Cristobal]

That whole award before these, you know, postseason games are played is. Is absolutely bizarre to me. Like, I don't. I can't comprehend it. Never will. But the most important thing for us, brother, I just got to make sure our guys are taking care of business and getting ready for a great practice tomorrow.

[PFT Commenter]

I'd like to play for you. I'm just gonna say I feel like, well, you wouldn't want me to play that.

[Mario Cristobal]

We'd be in pads, you'd be bitching.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, yeah, you wouldn't want me to play for you. But I feel right now you're not. You're, like, not putting the recruiting pitch on, but I feel like I would want to play for you. And then I'd be like, I've made a terrible decision. I can't hang with this guy. And so you would derecruit me pretty quickly.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, well, I mean, like. Like, just be honest, like, a little bit of complacency. Because I would like to do a little bit of complacency every now and then.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah, we. It's. It's you wouldn't like to care?

[Big Cat]

Just a tiny, just like a little pinch of complacency. Complacency every now and then.

[Mario Cristobal]

This would be hell for you.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

All right, I got one last question. This has been awesome. Coach Roback question. R-O-B A C K.com promo code take 20 off your first purchase. Q, zips, polos, hoodies, joggers, shorts. Roback.com promo code take. Are you ready for the dumbest question you've probably ever gotten?

[Mario Cristobal]

Well, as long as it doesn't ask me to predict something or get involved in a hypothetical, I could probably handle it. I'm probably going to give a really boring answer. I will for sure. Qualifies your top three top five most boring interviews. But if I'll do my best to try to answer it.

[Big Cat]

Okay. All right, here it is. The year's 1985. You are 15 years old. A video game comes out called Super Mario. What's going through your head?

[Mario Cristobal]

I didn't play it much. I really. Yeah, I never.

[Big Cat]

Are you a fan of the, of, of super, Of Mario and Luigi?

[Mario Cristobal]

I'm a Pittsburgh Steeler Die Hard fan.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Mario Cristobal]

Always was. And learned to play football that year in 85. My first time ever. It was when I got to high school. And after that, all I know is, you know, that's it. I told you it was going to be a boring answer.

[PFT Commenter]

It's a football guy answer, though. Do, do you remember when econ was around?

[Mario Cristobal]

So, so, you know, but yeah, sorry, man.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Do you remember when you fell in love with football when you said to yourself, this is what I'm going to be doing?

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah, it was when we got, finally got the chance to put on pads. I never put on pads. We were baseball players. We're, I mean, we're Cuban kids, you know, we, you know, we learned to speak the language, I don't know what age, and had a strong accent like Scarface, you know. I'm sure you saw that movie.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Mario Cristobal]

And our high school coach was an absolute badass. I swear to God. He's the best mentor, best human being, that guy. I love that guy more than anything. He changed the lives of my brother and myself, and that changed everything. And then with that came opportunity. So we're just, you know, we're just hardworking dudes, man. You know, we're full of gratitude and just ready to get on to the next thing.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, no, listen, I, I, I'm, I'm bought in right now on your program.

[Big Cat]

Absolutely.

[PFT Commenter]

I feel like this is this is a good sign of things to come for the you. So I'm happy that you're there and and thank you for taking the time to talk to us.

[Mario Cristobal]

Appreciate you guys having me, man. Have a good one, bro.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, thanks so much coach. Best of luck for the rest of the year.

[Mario Cristobal]

Thanks guys. Appreciate you.

[PFT Commenter]

Coach Mario Crystal Ball was brought to you by hey Dude. The best shoes. The most comfortable shoes. Great for wearing around the house. Great for wearing on a walk. Great for wearing to the office even this week's episode is brought to you by hey Dude. And what better way to kick off football season than with the official shoe of tailgating. Hey dude is the only option when you're planning your game day fit. It's easy to slip on. It's got laid back style all day comfort. They hooked us up with a bunch of new pairs. We're wearing them all weekend long. They're super comfortable, very easy to put on, very easy to take off. We wore them when we were going fishing that one time. You can even wear them fishing. Hey dude is offering a special offer to get you ready for the season. For a limited time, go to heydude.com BarBarstool use code PMT20 get 20 off the hey Dude Barstool collection. That's code PMT20 20 off all their favorite styles. Order yours today. Experience Comfort all season long. Whether in the parking lot before the game or locked in a red zone from the couch, make sure you're ready for football season with hey Dude. Check out hey Dude. Today Coach Crystal Ball was also brought to you by Experience. Some listeners may be looking for a travel credit card so you can maximize rewards on your trip to London for the Super Bowl. Upcoming Eventually, Hank Others might be looking for a cash back card to help pay doctor bills because their ankle is never going to heal no matter what type of card you're looking for. Experian can show you personalized credit card offers based on your credit profile. And even better, cards labeled no Ding Decline won't hurt your credit score if you're not approved so you can apply with confidence. Anybody here know that if you apply for a card and you're declined, it could hurt your credit score? It actually could. That's why we need Experian. It's like having a financial coordinator in your pocket minus the headset. Take control of your finances with your big financial friend, Experian. Find a card matched to you today. Download the Experian app today and check it out. And now here is Meow Makes Jerry.

[Big Cat]

Okay, we now welcome on a very, very, very special guest. It is Jerry from the now defunct Meow Mix podcast, a Carolina Panthers podcast. Jerry, we wanted to have you on real quick because we were fascinated with the story. You don't see often that a team podcast retires mid season. Talk us through. Let's start there with the retirement. Did you, did you bring it up to your co host or did he bring it up to you? What was the breaking point? What was the moment? You're like, I can't, I can't do this anymore because my football team is just driving me insane.

[Jerry]

Well, first of all, we didn't retire. A, that signifies we actually got paid, but B, is we kind of went on hiatus and we were gonna re. Reassess the way we were sitting up because we're doing two shows a week, almost three, and we were just burnt out. And then basically a couple times last year, we didn't record after the game, game because we are just so heartbroken. And then they started doing well towards the end of last season, we were like, okay, okay, here we go. And then this year happened, and I thought the New England Patriots were going to be same, same sphere as the Carolina Panthers, you know, an eight win, six to eight win type of team. And they just manhandled us on last Sunday. And it was just, just so heartbreaking that I texted him and was like, I can't record tonight. I just, I, you know, midway through the third quarter, I turned the game off. First time in 10 years or so that I actually stopped mid game. And I was like, I can't do this. And then the next day he's like, you know, what? Do you want to do it? I was like, not really. And he was like, yeah, me neither. It's becoming more of a choreography than a fun hobby that it started out to be. So then we kind of talked back and forth and, you know, we decided to put the show on hiatus until we kind of could figure out what we wanted to do.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Called a cat nap. Yeah. So you might be back.

[Jerry]

A cat nap. I like that idea.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. What about. So we, we talked about this on the show because we, we appreciate the ecosystem of sports podcasters. I think it's, it's very important, I think, to the sports community that we do have podcasters that are, are laser focused on their specific teams because we can't cover everything when it comes to the Carolina Panthers. Like, we'll say we'll talk about it or anything. Or anything at all. Yeah. So have you Thought about maybe. I think we suggested that you bring the podcast back over only after wins, when you feel good.

[Jerry]

See, I feel like that's almost a disservice because you're also not getting the lows, too. As a fan, you want the highs and lows. Now, I have seen quite a few people come out and say, why don't you do it less like once a month or once a week? And, you know, we've brought that up to each other. We're kind of still working on this again. We decided this one week ago. We posted on Twitter just to let our fans know, hey, we're not completely gone, but we need some time to think about what we're doing. Then somehow it blew up. You know, just our small little podcast got picked up by national media. We're like, how did this happen?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's. It's. It's cool.

[Jerry]

We.

[Big Cat]

We just love anyone who's dedicated to the game, anyone who's grinding out there, and we were kind of heartbroken to see it. And I looked it up, you guys, since you started your 30 and 74, that's. That's a lot of losses. That's a hard thing to do. When you decided to step away. And then the Panthers have an incredible comeback win against Dolphins. Dolphins. Did you. Did you text Stephen and you were like, hey, should we. Should we do it? Should we. Should we do it again? Should we get back on the mics?

[Jerry]

I. First of all, we're in a group chat with a bunch of our friends, so we. We're talking throughout the game, and I was tweeting throughout the game just because no matter what, I'm still gonna watch.

[Big Cat]

Right?

[Jerry]

Yeah. That's what a lot of people didn't understand about that tweet was, you know, we're still watching. We're still fans. So we're tweeting back and forth. And he wasn't in the mood mode to record. I kind of wasn't in the mode still. I didn't want to just, oh, we're going on hiatus. Oh, we won. So I'm coming back right now. But, yeah, so we didn't. But our friend said, you should really just put up a video of Cats. You know, the Sweet Caroline song that plays after every game. And I was like, you know what? That's gonna be hilarious. And I had to do it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I saw that. You got me. I was like, oh, man, the boys are back. And then I watched videos like, oh, they're not talking about anything. It's Just a picture with Sweet Caroline playing.

[Jerry]

Yeah. And that's a Panthers. Any home victory or anything, they play Sweet Caroline. So that was kind of why that happened.

[PFT Commenter]

Did you find that the. The negativity around the Panthers after losses, that was that affecting your personal life and did that have something to do with it?

[Jerry]

My personal life? Not personally. Like, I. Like it wouldn't. Like. Like it didn't hurt my marriage, didn't hurt me with my kids, but just put me in a bad mood.

[Big Cat]

Like.

[Jerry]

Like I know everybody, every fan loses in his defunct. But it's like, God, we just got our ass whooped by like 30, 40 points. And now I've got to go talk about this for two hours and then next. Then in a couple days do research on the team to say, what could we do better? There's only so many times I could say, hey, Dave Cadales, you got a big O line run the ball with 2000 yard backs last year.

[Tom Fornelli]

Year.

[Jerry]

And they don't do it. It's like, what can I tell them more, you know?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Was it you or Stephen who said that his kids don't even like the Panthers because it makes daddy, like, sad?

[Jerry]

Yeah, that. That's Stephen. And I feel for him because he said that and I did. I knew his son was into the Philadelphia Eagles. I didn't realize that that was the case, and it's heartbreaking to hear.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. He's experimenting with Eagles at such a young age.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, you got to. Yeah, this is. This is something you got to change up.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Hopefully you find like a. Yeah, you find a. Like a Kelly green ball cap under his pillow. Son, what's this? Yeah.

[Big Cat]

What are you doing here?

[Jerry]

Luckily, my daughter, she knows we. We cheer for the blue team.

[Big Cat]

Yes. I love that. I love that. Okay, so. All right, so the future, like, let's say. So we're just. We're out for right now. Is there any chance we can get the boys back. Back together? Because I know you didn't. The thing I like about this, how everything unfolded. A lot of people are skeptical and cynical online these days. They'd be like, oh, they're doing this to get. Drum up support. I watched the whole episode. You guys were doing that completely as honest and like, this is where we're at. But it probably has gotten you a good enough attention where you're like, maybe we should do it again. So is there any chance that you guys get back on and get the band back together? I want to see Stephen and Jerry talking some. Talking some Panthers football.

[Jerry]

Right now I'm not sure I would. I think that something could happen. I'm not sure. Like it depends on the team and where Steven's at. I, I said that I really like doing the draft profiles for the team as it was a fun way for me to learn like the draft prospects and stuff. So I don't know. Right now I would say maybe.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Jerry]

Just because I, I don't know where his headspace is at with coming back. I know right now he's really on a no side, but.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

I remain hopeful.

[Jerry]

Yeah, I am too. And I. And especially if the team starts doing a little bit better or even if we do, like I said, the once a month or once a week or every other week, I think that would be fun. Because when we're doing it, he has fun, I have fun. It's just, just there's only so much of demorally being demoralized you can take.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

In a three year span that the Panthers have given me.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I hear you. I, I would like to see you guys make some sort of return. I don't. If it's not, you know, three times a week, I understand that. If it's not twice a week, I understand that. But I feel like the, the world is a slightly brighter place when we've got guys like you doing the stuff that you love to do.

[Jerry]

Yeah. Even after our fans sent us because we had a segment called Gambling for the Children where we bet on the Panthers game. We put in $100 and we bet on the Panthers game throughout the season. At the end of the year, whatever's in the pot, if it's above a hundred dollars, go straight to St. Jude's oh no. If, you know, if it was under. We put it back the hundred dollars and make it to St. Jude's so we got questions about what's going on with that money and we're like, well, we're still going to be doing.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

So.

[Big Cat]

But I love that that's not a lot of money. That. What was the lowest amount of money that got? Like what. What year was it? Is it Moneyline or are you betting spread?

[Jerry]

We're finding the best bet that we can because we used to do beer bets to each other but then we just quit care. We're like, we're just gonna get drunk anyways because this team sucks so bad. So. So like let's actually try to get. So like last year we made a lot of money. Money on Chuba Hubbard.

[Big Cat]

Oh yeah.

[Jerry]

Breaking the yardage every week and Stuff like that. So we did win last week with the Miami. We took the money line.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

I thought we were actually gonna beat the Dolphins, and we did. So we took the money line.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Cause I.

[Big Cat]

When you first explained that, I thought you were just taking Panthers Moneyline every week, and it's like that would be a. That would get into depressing territory of like, you know, a 1 in 15 season being like, oh, this is not.

[Tom Fornelli]

To going go well.

[Jerry]

No, that's why we went to gambling for the children. So we wanted to win instead of just.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

Losing bets to each other for beers. We were like, yeah, I love it.

[Big Cat]

I love it.

[PFT Commenter]

If. If you want to send us your. Your best bet on the Panthers every week, I'll put in a bet on it. Yeah, we'll shout it out and then I'll. I'll give everything that I earned from that bet to the kids. For the children.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, we're in. We'll get.

[Jerry]

Awesome. That's great.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Last. Last question for you. Did squeaky cheeks reach out at all? Because I saw you guys give a shout. That was my favorite part of the video. When you're like, you know, blood nugget and squeaky cheeks, some of the people that are. Did. Did you get. Did squeaky cheeks reach out?

[Jerry]

Oh, Squeaky cheeks messages us on our YouTube channel all the time. Same with Blood Nugget. You know, rj, Andrew, we had some great fans. We really have some great fans. And, you know, we got one from Switzerland today.

[Tom Fornelli]

It.

[Jerry]

That was what kept us going mostly was just the simple fact it was a small community because again, we're a little podcast, but our community was good, you know, always talking, always, you know, going back and forth about what to improve this game.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I love it. Well, appreciate you hopping on Jerry. And you let us know if you're ever, you know, when. When you. When you do feel the itch and you maybe bring it back, let us know because we want to boost it and get everyone to subscribe.

[Jerry]

Okay, will do. Thank you.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

All right.

[Big Cat]

Thanks so much, Jerry.

[Jerry]

All right. Thank you.

[PFT Commenter]

Meow MC is brought to you by Twisted Tea. Twisted Tea is a refreshing, hard iced tea made with real brewed iced tea and 5% alcohol. Twisted Tea is the perfect alcohol beverage to keep the good times going all season long. Whether you're hanging out at a friend's house, catching a game at the stadium or at the bar, or just seeing where the day takes you, Twisted Tea is there to turn your day up a notch. Watch and make a good Time. A great time. We're out on the course on Monday playing some golf, and Twisted Tea was with us. And I don't think that there's a better outdoor drink in the world than twisted tea. It's perfect for a nice sunny day. Perfect when you're hanging outside. Keep it twisted. Grab a tea. It's game time. Stock up on ice cold Twisted Tea today.

[Big Cat]

Okay, let's wrap up the show. We got FAQs from our one and only Henry Lockwood. Hank.

[PFT Commenter]

I like that. That was like a old school morning DJ voice. Yeah. Let's kick it over to Henry Lockwood on a wacky Wednesday.

[Big Cat]

Hank. And he's not ready after that intro. Not even ready.

[PFT Commenter]

I know nothing.

[Big Cat]

What? Nothing. What?

[PFT Commenter]

As a St. Louis Cardinals fan, I've never experienced a full rebuild in my entire life. How do you handle it? How do you approach the season knowing you're not a contender? Where's the small? Would you come. Can feel. This is such a. Like, listen, it's. I can. I can speak from experience. Like, it's. It's one of those things where it's going to be dark. You're going to have, you know, games where, you know you're not going to win. It's going to be ugly, but. But the sunshine will rise again. Like, it. It will be good again. You just gotta, you know, trust the process and understand that it's not forever.

[Big Cat]

Actually, Hank is. Hank did handle the rebuild correctly. He just ignored his team for. For like four years, and now they're back and he's like, oh, well, that's.

[PFT Commenter]

The thing is, like, if you come from a winning background, you can then have an easier time ignoring the rebuild. Yeah, but if you come from a losing background, then the rebuild is all you have, and. And you put your hopes and dreams in the rebuild and you check up on the rebuild every day. You might hypothetically look to see how your minor league teams are doing and then refresh the batting averages and look at the prospects and be like, oh, this rebuild is not going well right now. But what I like to do is I like to just. I bet on the season win total over at the start of the year, and then I just kind of forget that I bet on that around, like, mid July, and then I check again in late September and I'm like, oh, maybe, maybe. Nope, it's not going to hit. That's how I handle it.

[Big Cat]

I got to say it. Rebuilds are fun. Failed rebuilds are not fun. But, like, the idea, if your team actually says, like, hey, we're going to try to rebuild because. Because the worst part, the worst place to be in any sport at any point is to have a team that, you know, cannot win a championship. But the owners being like, no, it's fine, we're going to keep doing the same thing and it will work. When you actually hit the rebuild button and if you have the right people in charge to be like, hey, guys, rebuild. They can be kind of fun.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Like, hey, this is a process. We know it's a process, but at least we have a direction now.

[PFT Commenter]

What I've never been able to do is to become like a. A fan of the rebuild. There are fans of your team that will become fans of the rebuild and fans of the process, and you need to use them as a resource to check in on and be like, hey, how's the rebuild going? But, you know, the kind of guys I'm talking about that are like, okay, well, we got this draft pick, we got this asset, and then they, they plan out how to use the rebuild. Yeah. So they become fans of the process, and they don't care at all about the results. They're just like, the process is good right now.

[Big Cat]

Baseball rebuilds are also the, the most fun team or sport you can rebuild in because unlike all the other sports, you can actually watch your players still play. Like, you know, getting excited about a guy in aaa, like, mashing is kind of fun.

[PFT Commenter]

It is fun.

[Big Cat]

And then the call up is so exciting. You're like, oh, my God, this is a big day. I remember, like, Chris Bryant day at Wrigley was like, one of the most excited I've ever been.

[PFT Commenter]

I was there for that day.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that's right.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it was, it was a cold day that they brought him up and.

[Big Cat]

Everybody struck out, I think four times. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Everybody in the stadium was like, okay, this is it.

[Big Cat]

We got our.

[PFT Commenter]

But, yeah, there, it's. It's a lot of fun. Like latching on to tiny stats of your high tattered prospect. You're like, oh, his chase rate is incredible. Er, they've never seen a guy. This guy has the best eyes in the history of baseball. He never, never strikes out looking. He takes a lot of walks. I love this dude.

[Big Cat]

But, yeah, I mean, another pitch, once he adds a third pitch, third pitch is. He's going to be electric.

[PFT Commenter]

He's working on a Slurpee curve.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So that's going. I'm looking at the spin rate on that. It's way higher than it was last year. Yeah. Rebuilds.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. But Also, in baseball, rebuilds.

[PFT Commenter]

It kind of sucked, too, in baseball because the draft is so weird in baseball.

[Mario Cristobal]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It's like, it's such a complete crapshoot. And sometimes you even draft guys that are not even slotted in that position based on talent, but they're slot in that position based on money and what you have left to spend. It's a. It's a challenge to get through.

[Jerry]

Through.

[PFT Commenter]

But I'm sure that the Cardinals will find some way to be good in like, one year, and it'll piss everybody off. So congratulations. Hey, it's Jake from Toronto.

[Big Cat]

Hey, Jake.

[PFT Commenter]

My question is, what is your favorite PMT road trip moment? Love the show. Oh, favorite road trip moment. I like the. I think on the first grit week, remember, we had a fan drive up and. And throw a beer to us in the bus. Yeah. On the road while we were driving. That was electric.

[Big Cat]

That was electric.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, also just being nostalgic. The first grit week when we were in the Buffalo Bills stadium parking lot just trying to, like, scrounge up interviews, and we basically like the guy that hangs out outside training camp being like, can I get a tryout for the team?

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And we had Richie incognito on the bus, and then we were like. Or on the van, and then we're just waiting, and Rob Ryan walked out and he walked onto the RV and was like, oh, boys, I could live on this thing.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

We paid Rob Ryan with a case of beer, and he had a. Had a great time on the rv. Just like the nostalgic moments hit sometimes.

[Big Cat]

I think my favorite moments are always when we're like, at the tail end of a long week of work, and we have, like, a night where we can go out to dinner or get drunk or something, and it's just like. Like, actually. All right, I got one. Yeah. I don't know if you guys have this one in your head as well. Grit week, Colorado. Climbing Everest, doing mushrooms, Going to one of my favorite dive bars I've ever been into at Boulder, the Sunset Room. We were high on mushrooms, and we played maybe the worst game of darts that has ever been played in the history of darts. No one could hit anything because we were fucked up. But that was like. I just remember looking around being like, man, this is fucking sick. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

The jukebox.

[Big Cat]

Those type of moments. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It was a good vibes that night.

[Big Cat]

We were so bad at darts.

[PFT Commenter]

Very bad.

[Big Cat]

They're so high on mushrooms.

[Memes]

You want. You. You were actually good.

[Big Cat]

Was I?

[Memes]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I just. I just remember being Like, I. I don't really know. Like, I'm not in a mind space to play darts right now, but we're gonna play darts.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

The. The. There's actually, like, a lot of dive bars that I remember now. The dive bar in Atlanta.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Northside Tavern, where we went, got pretty drunk, watched some blues band play with, like, Chris Long.

[Big Cat]

That was great.

[PFT Commenter]

That was a great night. I heard that place might have closed down. No, I hope it didn't. I hope. I hope that's fake news.

[Big Cat]

No wing nuts first. Wing nuts, yeah. Walking into the Knights of Columbus. That was pretty awesome.

[PFT Commenter]

Meeting Ed and Alicia.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Memes]

I wasn't at this one, but the one that I always wanted to be at was the storm chasing.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, yeah.

[Big Cat]

With Buddha.

[Mario Cristobal]

Bad.

[Big Cat]

I mean, that was electric.

[PFT Commenter]

I would go storm chasing again.

[Memes]

I would. I would love to go storm chase.

[Big Cat]

Absolutely.

[PFT Commenter]

We should do that.

[Memes]

That's a.

[Tom Fornelli]

We.

[Memes]

We should.

[Big Cat]

We have two vanies. We could hit them from both sides. Yeah. Meet in the middle of the storm. Storm.

[PFT Commenter]

It's like Twister. Hey, guys, longtime listener, first time texter. How do you come up with your material for fastest 2 minutes? Are you doing it as you're watching the games, or do you have jokes saved?

[Big Cat]

No, we do it after the games.

[PFT Commenter]

Occasionally, I'll jot down something during a game.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, but what.

[PFT Commenter]

I found that this year, every single time I've done that, it's been about the Giants, and then the Giants are the. James Winston. Yeah, we don't get to use.

[Big Cat]

I did that the other week. Remember when we split it. Cause sometimes it. Depending on the schedule, like if we have.

[Tom Fornelli]

If.

[Big Cat]

If the Commanders or Bears play the afternoon game, we'll split it up and do it separately. But when we can do it together, it's more fun. So, yeah, it's. It's kind of just around six o' clock every Sunday, just being like, oh, we got to do this.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. And then not, like, in a bad.

[Big Cat]

Way, but just like, oh, yeah, I forgot. We got to do this.

[PFT Commenter]

So right now I have a completely empty Google Doc. Except it still says, from, like, week two, scatter bow.

[Tom Fornelli]

Busy, busy.

[PFT Commenter]

Scatter bow. And I'll just be looking at that every day. Yeah. Yeah. That's like a Yogi Bear. I don't know where that came from.

[Big Cat]

Just have a couple in the. In the hopper.

[PFT Commenter]

All right, last one. What does the booth smell like?

[Tom Fornelli]

Bad?

[PFT Commenter]

That's a great question, because I feel like it varies.

[Big Cat]

Bad.

[PFT Commenter]

How is it right now?

[Memes]

Although we don't really know because it's.

[Big Cat]

Like, you're in it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Individually, they're not bad smelling. Guys. Yeah. The three of you do not smell bad individually. I think when you put them together. And then Max. Max. I mean, his.

[Tom Fornelli]

He.

[Big Cat]

The other night, he cleared the booth. He just. He just stood up. He goes, I got to open the door because I just farted it so bad. That's got to stick in there.

[Memes]

Well, yeah. There's no circulation, and it's a small room. So, like, if we fart. I mean, our Sunday. We've talked about it. Weight loss challenge, going bad. Sometimes we eat a lot of gross.

[Tom Fornelli]

Food and we fart.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

That's what guys do.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Gross food equals farts.

[PFT Commenter]

What would you say, Zach?

[Big Cat]

I would. I would have to piggyback on the. We're in it, so we wouldn't.

[Tom Fornelli]

I wouldn't.

[Big Cat]

I don't have a great read on how it smells. It would have to be someone third party coming in. Like, wow, this is a little funky.

[Tom Fornelli]

Probably is what they say.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. All you know is what.

[Memes]

You know, sometimes the guys who come in for the lottery ball, they'll say it.

[Big Cat]

They'll say it smells bad. That's a good point.

[PFT Commenter]

Sometimes they're quick to be like, whoa, should we get you guys an air filter?

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Or something. Air freshener. Hang a big, like. Like make it oversized Christmas tree, one that they have in the cars. Just hang it in the middle of the booth. They come out smell like pine.

[PFT Commenter]

Sunday is definitely the worst smelling day, right?

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

That booth gotta be.

[Big Cat]

Gotta be. Sundays just get. It's too much word. Football season, low key. Kind of kills all of us. Yeah. We joke about, like, the whole. It's harder to do what we do than playing in. In the NFL. But I. I don't think it is week to week, but I think when. When all said and done, if, you know, we do this show for another 10, 15 years, if you add up all the years it's gonna be like that. We put. We put some stress on the body.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, yeah. The late nights that turn into early morning, especially for the guys in the booth and, like, puzzles. Doug, Jack behind the. Like those guys. That. That is tough.

[Mario Cristobal]

It's.

[PFT Commenter]

It's a quick turnaround. But guess what? We're young.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

We're still young. We're very vibrant. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

All right. Speaking of guys in the booth, you want to get them in here for the numbers 3. Oh, memes. My mic wasn't on that. That was rude.

[PFT Commenter]

Number 22 memes. Do you want three? I mean, they all Got it. They don't have to be in here.

[Tom Fornelli]

We'll go 29.

[PFT Commenter]

Do you want three memes?

[Big Cat]

No, it's okay. I'll go six, seven. Yeah, I. I have a bad update about that. By the way, my. My son knows what that is. He said the kids say it at school, so. Word. That means that I am dangerously close to getting learning things from him before I learn them myself.

[PFT Commenter]

Six seven is one of those mass hysteria things, like when everybody in the. In a town catches the giggles at the same time. Yeah. Insane. That's what it's become. Like that on a national. It's a virus.

[Big Cat]

But I. I learned about six, seven, like, maybe two months ago. So it's got. It's very close.

[PFT Commenter]

Too close.

[Big Cat]

That I got that in.

[Memes]

All right, anyone pick 33?

[Big Cat]

Nope. 5, 5.

[Memes]

99.

[Big Cat]

22.

[Memes]

8.

[Big Cat]

What was yours? Memes.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

29.

[Big Cat]

29. Hank, where were you?

[PFT Commenter]

12, 22, 84.

[Big Cat]

84. Notice I didn't ask memes if you've gotten it before.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I.

[Tom Fornelli]

Ignore that part.

[Big Cat]

Okay, well, I didn't. If you go back and listen, I didn't ask.

[Tom Fornelli]

Good for you.

[Big Cat]

I know the answer to it. You have not, and you never will.

[PFT Commenter]

We're gonna walk in here.

[Big Cat]

This.

[PFT Commenter]

This machine's gonna be smashed one day. On fire. Love you guys.

[Tom Fornelli]

Shove geeks inside lockers they were freaks, I was cool, but now I'm a.

[Big Cat]

Blogger act like a punk rocker I.

[Tom Fornelli]

Still live with my mother? Cause I peaked in high school school, yeah I'm roommates with my brother My mom's basement, my room? I peaked in high school, I ran the world?

[Memes]

I peaked in high school?

[Tom Fornelli]

If you did, you're a nerd? I peaked in high school, I was.

[Big Cat]

The man but now I'm not cool?

[Memes]

So I started this fucking band?

[Tom Fornelli]

I've got this leather jacket those geeks.

[Big Cat]

Wish that they had it?

[Tom Fornelli]

I still like Lenny Kravitz and I work at barstool?

[Big Cat]

I kicked all the asses, I skipped all the classes?

[Jerry]

I made fun of kids with glasses.

[Tom Fornelli]

And my dick's minuscule? I peaked in high school, I ran the world? I peaked in high school?

[Memes]

If you didn't, you're a nerd?

[Tom Fornelli]

I peaked in high school, I was the band but now I'm not cool?

[Big Cat]

So I started this band.

[PFT Commenter]

SA.

[Tom Fornelli]

School.

[Big Cat]

I ran the world?

[Tom Fornelli]

I peaked in high school? If you didn't, you're a nerd? I peaked in high school, I was the man but now I'm not cool?

[Big Cat]

So I started this band, folks, it's the foreplay guys, let's talk Truly Unruly. When you spend every day following the countless laws flaws of golf like us, it's refreshing to get a little unruly. Whether that means using the old hand wedge to escape the bunker or just cracking open a hard seltzer that breaks all the rules, few things feel better. Truly Unruly is the first high alk seltzer that actually tastes good. It's hard hitting, but still light and refreshing, making it perfect for everything from the front nine to the clubhouse.

[PFT Commenter]

Find it near you at trulyhardselter.com Locations.

[Big Cat]

That's truly hardce seltzer.com Locations Hard Seltzer Beverage Co. Boston, MA Please drink responsibly.