Ringer Tailgate – CFB Week 8 LIVE Reactions: Van Crashes Out, LSU’s Loss, Georgia’s Win & More

Date: October 19, 2025
Hosts: Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier

Episode Overview

This live episode of Ringer Tailgate captures the hosts’ instant, emotional reactions to a wild Week 8 in college football, with a heavy focus on LSU’s humiliating loss to Vanderbilt, Georgia’s gritty win over Ole Miss, and seismic upsets across the landscape. Van Lathan deals with abject LSU despair via Louisiana spiritualism, Joel Anderson jabs at both his co-host and the sport’s long-suffering programs, and Tate Frazier keeps things (mostly) on track, all while offering irreverent insight on the week’s biggest CFB storylines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Van’s LSU Meltdown: Spiritual Desperation (00:59–07:22)

• Van arrives in full crisis mode after LSU’s shocking loss to Vanderbilt, complete with face paint and “spiritual cleansing” props.
  • “We turn to the spiritual. We turn to root work, hoodoo, and voodoo. And that’s what I’m doing today…to get Brian Kelly out of my town.” – Van Lathan (01:36)
• Details the crestfallen mood in Baton Rouge, how losing to Vandy (first time since 1990) feels like “hell,” and why the only thing left is to turn to family-rooted hoodoo practices.
• Van recounts his mother’s advice on spiritual cleansing: “She told me to sage my LSU hoodie, sage my LSU pillow, and put a face on. Let the energies know you’re here.” (05:28)

2. LSU vs. Vanderbilt: In-Depth Breakdown (06:54–15:18)

• The loss is dissected as a failure of coaching, culture, and execution.
  • “LSU went out there and got out-executed, got out-physicaled, got out-competed, out-everythinged by Vanderbilt. That’s hell.” – Van (07:35)
• The absence of key players (e.g., Whit Weeks) is noted, but Van insists talent and resource disparities (including $22 million spent in the portal) mean LSU has no real excuse.
• Offensive line play and penalties come in for scathing criticism.
  • “There is a talent maximization and capitalization issue at LSU right now.... The offensive line is always reflective of that.” – Van (13:30)
• Brutal assessment from Van:
  • “It is C-plus [football]. If you want a chance to win big or even compete in the way LSU fans are used to, you have to do something new. And that’s just what it is.” (14:37)

3. Coaching, Buyout Talk & Fan Pain (15:18–21:54)

• Debate whether Brian Kelly is the right coach for LSU.
  • “Brian Kelly might just be a ‘good’ coach at LSU, right?” – Joel Klatt (15:41)
  • Van blasts the notion of settling for being “good,” arguing LSU deserves and expects greatness.
• Buyout ($52 million) is discussed humorously; Van calls out local business moguls to foot the bill: “Todd Graves got that in chicken finger money. Pay the money.” (17:30)
• The emotional weight for Louisiana fans:
  • “We’re one of the poorest states. But what makes us feel rich is how our team performs on Saturday… This just makes us feel poor again—culturally, spiritually, competitively.” – Van (21:27)

4. Diego Pavia: The CFB Folk Hero (22:54–27:41)

• Joel spotlights Vandy QB Diego Pavia’s improbable path and historic run.
  • “Diego Pavia is the Bill Snyder of college football players… literally taking some of the hardest programs to win at in FBS and doing things nobody’s ever done.” – Joel (22:57)
• The crew marvels at Pavia’s confidence and leadership, suggesting he’s the type of QB every program covets.
  • “What you want at QB is a personality and a belief that spreads through the team... an inspiring leader who can also get it done.” – Van (25:45)
• Tate notes: “He’s a guy that wore a Pooh Shiesty mask to the game. He had an expectation to win.” (27:41)

5. Georgia vs. Ole Miss: The Gritty Champs (35:22–43:14)

• Georgia survives another scare, winning ugly against Ole Miss.
  • “Interesting to see Georgia in a situation where teams walk the ball up and down the field… but their culture’s strong enough to overcome it.” – Van (35:22)
• Gunner Stockton’s breakout performance (26/31, 289 yards, 4 TDs) lauded; contrast made with previous UGA QBs faltering elsewhere.
• Discussion on Georgia’s defensive slippage since their Natty years.
  • “They’re tough, but they’re just not dominant anymore… just a win, right?” – Joel (40:50)
• Ole Miss as the always-the-bridesmaid program:
  • “Ole Miss needed this game to announce they’re really here. Eventually they’re gonna have to win one of these if Lane’s going to be the guy.” – Van (36:41)

6. The Culture & Psychology of CFB Fanbases (43:41–49:21)

• What constitutes success and happiness in CFB?
  • Joel: “Be grateful you’re having this era of Ole Miss football. At a certain age, too much ambition can be embarrassing.” (43:14)
• Van and Tate reject that notion for SEC programs that spend like contenders.
• The crew analyzes what fanbases expect from their programs, and why “just being back” isn’t enough for power schools.

7. Miami’s Latest Collapse & CFB Narratives (48:29–58:57)

• Miami’s Friday night loss—are The U’s glory days gone for good?
  • Joel: “The U is dead, and it’s never coming back. Miami is a good program, but the U, my brothers, that’s over.” (49:35)
• Host banter about Mario Cristobal’s game management woes and how Miami always “finds a way to do something stupid.”
• Van and Tate break down why Friday nights spell doom for ACC powerhouses, and whether Miami can still make a 10-2 push to the playoff.

8. Coaching Carousel & Penn State’s Future (60:30–71:21)

• Speculation on the next Penn State coach: Matt Rhule, Manny Diaz, Clark Lee, Urban Meyer, even (jokingly) Art Briles.
  • “If you win at Vanderbilt, it’s a good predictor of success at Penn State.” – Joel (63:11)
• Extended tangent on the way college football, for all its scandals, continues to recycle coaches—often ignoring troubling histories (Art Briles debates).
• Lively discussion about what kind of job James Franklin will take next, with Van arguing he’ll land another blue-blood gig, Joel predicting a step down in prestige.

9. Which is the Best Job: Penn State, Florida, LSU? (71:43–77:07)

• Start/Bench/Cut: Most desirable jobs if all are open.
  • “Start: LSU. Bench: Florida. Cut: Penn State.” – Joel (72:15)
• The hosts break down their reasoning, emphasizing recruiting bases, recent histories, and fan expectations.
• Van agrees, giving a poignant defense of why LSU’s expectations and talent pool keep them elite.

10. Quick-Hitters & Standout Games (77:07–85:17)

• Updates on other key CFB results and upsets (A&M/Arkansas, Wazoo/Virginia, Oregon/Rutgers).
• The “Holy War” (BYU/Utah) discussion, in lighthearted tones about social media feedback from Mormon listeners.
• UAB's upset of Memphis and the firing of Trent Dilfer; banter about Dilfer’s near-co-hosting gig with Tate.

11. Personal Stories & Closing Banter (82:00–End)

• Joel opens up about his family, talks about fatherhood, and tells a story about his family naming tradition.
• The crew finishes on a human note, reflecting on what CFB means to their lives and relationships.
• Van: “People don’t believe my family… I am the son of a hoodoo woman and a rodeo cowboy.” (75:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We turn to the spiritual. We turn to root work, hoodoo and voodoo. And that’s what I’m doing today… to get Brian Kelly out of my town.”
  – Van Lathan (01:36)
• “I put my mask on, I put my spirituality on. I sage everything. And I asked the spirits for some help, cause we goddamn definitely not going to get any help from anybody running LSU football right now.”
  – Van Lathan (08:11)
• “Diego Pavia is the Bill Snyder of college football players… literally taking some of the hardest programs in FBS and doing things nobody’s ever done.”
  – Joel Anderson (22:57)
• “You have to do something new. And that’s just what it is.”
  – Van Lathan, on firing Brian Kelly (14:37)
• “Be grateful you’re having this era of Ole Miss football. At a certain age, too much ambition can be embarrassing.”
  – Joel Anderson (43:14)
• “The U is dead, and it’s never coming back. Miami is a good program, but the U, my brothers, that’s over.”
  – Joel Anderson (49:35)
• “We’re not a rich state… but what makes us feel rich is how our team performs on Saturday. This just makes us feel poor again—culturally, spiritually, competitively. And I don’t like that.”
  – Van Lathan (21:27)
• “Start: LSU. Bench: Florida. Cut: Penn State.”
  – Joel Anderson (72:15)

Important Timestamps

• Van’s Spiritual Ritual & LSU Rant: 01:36 – 07:22
• LSU-Vandy Breakdown: 06:54 – 15:18
• Cultural Pain of LSU Losing: 21:27 – 21:54
• Diego Pavia’s Legend: 22:57 – 27:41
• Georgia-Ole Miss Analysis: 35:22 – 43:14
• Debating What Makes a “Happy” CFB Program: 43:41 – 49:21
• Miami’s Collapse and Coaching Critiques: 48:29 – 58:57
• Penn State Coaching Carousel: 60:30 – 71:21
• Best CFB Jobs Debate: 71:43 – 77:07
• Rapid-Fire Results & Quick Hits: 77:07 – 85:17
• Personal Stories & Show Close: 82:00 – end

Tone & Language

The tone is raw, emotional, irreverently funny, and intermittently poignant, true to the “sideline hangout” style. Speakers are colloquial, unfiltered, and open—especially Van, who mixes humor, cultural depth, and frustration. Joel brings both snark and sharp analysis, while Tate balances enthusiasm and order.

Summary Takeaway

This Ringer Tailgate episode is a cathartic, chaotic ride through the heartbreak, absurdity, and unrelenting hope of college football fandom. It’s therapy and therapy group for the suffering, the cynical, and the stupidly optimistic, and this week, nobody needed it more than Van Lathan—the spiritual guide for all those who’ve wished they could sage away their coach’s contract.