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Van Lathan
Foreign.
Tate Frazier
Welcome back to Ring of Tailgate, the Wednesday edition of the show. We got a very fun show today, and first and foremost, let's say what's up to our guy in studio. What's up, Van Lathan? How you doing, man?
Van Lathan
What up? What up? What up? I'm at Sycamore, so we gotta raise this roof a little bit. Tate, good to see you again, man. Fun times on Friday. Me and Tate.
Joel Anderson
Oh, what y' all do, man?
Van Lathan
Cam Johnson around a little bit? We had talks. We talked about life out there, Tate. Yeah, by the beach. We threw the. We threw the baseball around. It was a lot of fun.
Tate Frazier
It was a very wholesome day. My fiance came home. She was like, did Van come over? I'm like, yeah, he did. We went and threw the ball around. She's like, that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard. So, you know, a nice little ring, your tailgate moment there, Joel. We wish you were there. We wish we could have had it. Wish I could have been trying.
Joel Anderson
I'm glad. I'm glad I shamed you all into hanging out, man. That's what's up.
Tate Frazier
It seemed like you were upset.
Van Lathan
I'm pissed off about it. When I keep telling you that we hang out. Why don't you do this, Joel? Why don't you take your words and why don't you stick them into your fat face?
Joel Anderson
Why are you doing that, Doc? Why I gotta be about that, man? I just. I just. I'm surprised. My fat face, man. You know, I'm. You know, I'm sensitive about my weight.
Tate Frazier
No, you're working out.
Van Lathan
I'm gonna be real with you. I'm be real with you, Joe. I'm gonna be. I'm gonna be all the way real. It looks like you've already lost a little weight. Like what? Like, are you. Are you getting the. Are you. Are you getting the jab? You getting.
Joel Anderson
No, no, no, no, no, no, no jab. No jab.
Van Lathan
No jab.
Joel Anderson
I'm not against it.
Van Lathan
I'm not against it. I'm actually on it. But so I'm. I'm not against. I'm not against it in any way. I'm just. I'm just wondering if that's what you're doing, because I'm gonna be honest with you, bro. We almost to June. The ringer field day is right around the corner.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, well, first, I mean, two things about that is that. Yeah, thank you. Yeah. I appreciate it. You know, I'm saying. I do. I. I feel like I've lost a little bit of weight. I've changed my dieting, you know. You know, doing a lot more walks right now. I'm not ready to. To, you know, I'll get to the running part in a little bit, but just, you know, building back everything.
Tate Frazier
Walks are better for the joints.
Van Lathan
Yeah.
Joel Anderson
Yeah. I mean, man. Yeah. Yeah. I. I used to be like a half marathoner and all that, and all I ended up with was shin splints and like, up joints, so. Yeah, I totally agree. I don't remember what the second thing was going, but.
Tate Frazier
Well, we gotta. We gotta introduce you and say hello to Joel Anderson. He is verified on Blue Sky. For everybody out there, congratulations. Let's raise the roof for that. Let's lay the roof for Joel officially skiing out there.
Joel Anderson
I didn't even ask. I didn't even ask. I never asked to be verified. Like, you gotta verify me. I'm not going to ask whatever for that. So, like, threads. I'm not verified. Instagram, not verified. If I have to do anything to make it happen, you have to bestow it upon me. And Blue sky did that. I appreciate it.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, shout out to Blue sky for bestowing that. There's one other thing I wanted to hit because Van just got done recording the rewatchables and Joel, I. I love to follow you on social media. It's one of my favorite things. I like to see what Joel's up to. I did want to ask you about this before we get into the show. You put on your story on Monday, a clip from Tropic Thunder, which you famously went on the Rewatchables to discuss. You said you didn't quite like the film, and you put on your story. You put a caption underneath the clip, and you said, a fantastic film. Wonderful. Exclamation point. Cinema with three exclamation points. Now, what was the angle here and why did you do this? Like, what was this messaging from. From inside the house?
Joel Anderson
I thought it was interesting. You know, I just thought it was a good movie. And, you know, no matter what other people seem to think about it, I think it was the greatest movie in the world. And I'm sorry that I didn't like everybody's favorite movie.
Tate Frazier
You're trying to change the narrative here, is what I'm saying.
Joel Anderson
I never. I said that I thought there were really high points. I thought the blackface was the best part of the movie. And I thought, you know what? The last half of the movie kind of was disinterested. Like, in retrospect, I Was like, man, maybe. Maybe what has happened is that when I first saw the movie in, like, 2006 or 7 or whatever or 2008, that I hadn't gotten as much into my phone and social media at the time. I don't. Maybe I don't have the ability to focus for as long, but they lost me in the second half of the film. Still means is overall a very good movie. And you. If you watch the rewatchables, you'll see that I said that. If you don't think I said that, then I guess, you know, you just being a hoe about it.
Tate Frazier
Dan, what are your thoughts on this? Do you think this is a good move by Joel to, you know, address this situation?
Van Lathan
Here's my deal. I ride with the tailgate crew no matter what. Yeah, Joel came on. Joel came on this situation, the rewatchables, and he committed a party file. But it don't matter. Foul ball or no foul ball, I'm with my batters, and my batters is Tate Joel. Freeze, Billy. That's what's going on. So I'm riding with Joel. I will say, can we just leave it the fuck alone now and move on to the next one? But Joel, if. Joe, if, If. If Joel going, I'm going, but I'm gonna let him go first. That's gonna be funny, I think.
Joel Anderson
I've never said anything publicly. I guess on the show this counts as publicly, right? I haven't said anything else publicly about this, about the Rewatchables thing since it came out. You know, I've got. You know, I don't. I've not responded. I've not read any Reddit posts. I've really pretty much kept it at the periphery. So that was my first time getting a chance to say anything about a wonderful film called Tropic Thunder. Go. Please go see it. Two thumbs up. It's on Netflix right now.
Tate Frazier
You can go watch it. I just thought that was so funny that Joel was trying to address that. Cracked me up on a Monday.
Joel Anderson
So it's just so funny because a lot of people follow me that don't know what the fuck I'm doing, or they're just like, my uncle or whatever. And I know they're just like, what. What are you. What are you talking about? You really like that movie like that.
Tate Frazier
So, anyway, well, it was nice if you know what you're talking about. It was a lot of fun. Made me laugh. On a Monday. So shout out to you, Joel.
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Tate Frazier
Let's get into the show. This is one of Joel's ideas. He wanted to talk about the top 12 teams coming out of the spring. We flipped this a little bit. Usually we do one big reaction. We'll talk about the Sorsby news probably within this. But let's do one big prediction. I want us to pick one team that right now we see being in the cfp. Now we have a lot more time for previews, but if there's one team that you kind of hang your hat on that you believe in going into the season right now, I have some odds. I'll read them to you. Just so we kind of have a reference point here. So this is courtesy of FanDuel. Notre Dame right now is the favorite, minus 700 to make the CFP. Indiana, the defending champs right behind him, minus 350. Miami minus 300. Oregon minus 290. So there's your top four. Van, I'll go to you first. I'll give Joel some time. He said he needed more time to prepare for this. But what team are you kind of riding with to think that they will end up being in the CFP next season?
Van Lathan
I am high on Ohio State, I think. Yeah, I'm high on Ohio State. I think that Ohio State has stockpiled so much talent they're going to have a more experienced quarterback next year. Having that experience at quarterback I think is going to unlock Jeremiah Smith. You're going to have another season of Matt Patricia's defense wreaking havoc in the Big Ten. But I think that Ohio State right now is poised in position. Maybe not with some of the expectations of last year. Even though I imagine that they're going to be a pretty highly ranked team going into the season, I think that Ohio State is going to make a deep run in the playoffs next year. I'm not so sure about what Notre Dame will be. Rave reviews about what's happening from the quarterback position, from a lot of the camp reports and stuff like that that's coming out. I'm not so sure what Notre Dame will be, but I'm looking for Ohio State to really make a big splash. And obviously I'll be remiss not to say that there is a ton of excitement. We don't know how healthy or we don't know when Sam is going to get back to lsu, but there is a ton of excitement about a lot of different things that are developing with the LSU football team right now. How much money has been put into the roster, the development of that roster by Lane Kiff, and even a recent coaching hire that tells you that the defensive line might play a little bit
Joel Anderson
differently than we have the past years.
Van Lathan
I would be remiss not to mention lsu, but I really do think that Ohio State is going to make a deep run.
Tate Frazier
Do you think Julian saying Heisman season, right. Everyone's saying it's Super Saiyan season. Do you believe in that?
Van Lathan
Yeah, look, look, they're going to need those receivers around Smith to step up, and that's going to be the, the, the, the question mark in the passing game right there. You have a say. You have the best security slash safety blanket in college football, maybe in college football in a long while, but they're going to need some other guys to kind of step up. But I look for him to take a huge leap. A huge leap and what was already a very successful first season as the starter there.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, and the defense obviously lost a lot of talent, but they obviously have a lot of talent already there in the building.
Van Lathan
So they're going to be fine there in terms of getting. They might not be dominant, but that defense is going get stops.
Joel Anderson
I like, I like Ohio State a lot, but let me just give you, I'm. I'm going to give you their toughest games. Okay? September 12 at Texas, October 3 at Iowa, October 17 at Indiana, October 31 at USC, November 7, Oregon, and then November 28, they close out with Michigan. That's, I mean, man, that's a lot of really tough games. And Ohio State, like you said, Van, and I agree, they're, you know, Ryan Day has just stockpiled the kind of talent that Alabama Used to. Or the Georgia.
Tate Frazier
Used to.
Joel Anderson
Right. You just kind of expect them to be able to roll it off the assembly line. But that's a. You know, in retrospect, man, I'm looking at that. That's a tough sky. Northwestern isn't really a gimme.
Van Lathan
You know, not a gimme.
Joel Anderson
Not. Not a gimme. Then they got to come down. Oh, Maryland got to go up there. Well, that's not going to happen.
Tate Frazier
So anyway, it always goes back to Maryland with Joel.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, I love Maryland, man. Shout out. Mike Loxley, man, we're going to get it done this year, I think.
Tate Frazier
Yeah. Good crew there at Ohio State. I think that's a good pick. Joel, who do you've had enough time now to marinate? Who's your team?
Joel Anderson
Okay, so I'm going to go with Oregon for one, because they've made it the first couple years and, you know, I sense a pattern developing. I think they return a lot of good players. Dante Moore is coming back. You know, the wide receiving core is going to get better.
Tate Frazier
Jordan, they said he came back for his friendships. I thought that was an interesting reason.
Joel Anderson
And, you know, the crazy thing about it is that. And this is more of an NFL concern, but if Dante Moore gets hurt, they brought in Dylan Raiola as their backup quarterback. So even if, like, God forbid, Dante Moore, you know, has to miss a few games or whatever, they may have the best backup quarterback in the country, or one of them, at least. So I like. I like Oregon. I like what Dan, you know, my boy Dan Lanham is doing up there, man.
Van Lathan
You can make an argument that they had the best backup in the country when it was Dante.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, goddamn. That's right. Yeah. Seriously. Seriously. Seriously. And I mean, they're just so. I mean, they're well coached, they don't really have letdowns. And I mean, they really kind of run through the Big Ten, right? Like, I mean, they've. They've been. I mean, they've been a consistently dominant. So I don't. I don't think that necessarily has to change this year. And if I had to look at somebody else here, man. So there's two reasons I'm going to pick Notre Dame, okay. Is because they have a lot of talent, right? C.J. carr is going to be there. You know, they have one of the. They probably. I think they have maybe, probably the best cornerback in the country. And Leonard Moore, just overflowing talent. France, Keon Keeley comes up from Alabama, stuff like that. But they're not going to let Notre Dame miss the playoffs again.
Tate Frazier
Well, that's the thing. That's why I think it's minus 700. I think that they expect them to be in no matter what they are
Joel Anderson
guaranteed as long as they don't around. They should be. They should be in there. I mean, you know what I do think will be interesting though? What do you think happens to Steve Sarkeesian if Texas doesn't make the playoffs?
Tate Frazier
Well, that's interesting because. No, I was going to say they're minus 190. So I mean they're not as favored as you would think. Obviously preseason number one last year.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, yeah.
Van Lathan
I think Texas is primed to make the playoff. I do think that things are going to get a little bit uncomfortable if they don't. And I'm not necessarily saying that he's going to be on the hot seat or he'll even be on a hot seat watch. But I do think that with everything that Texas has been able to accomplish with Texas being able to make the playoff in its prior iteration with Texas having this type of quarterback, not just talent but also this type of quarterback in terms of, of all the cachet that comes with his name, I don't think that Texas is going to be able to be a team that is going to be able to circumvent the expectations of success that not just the fan base has, has but the college football culture has. So this is going to be a year where Sarkeesian, along with all the support that they're getting, inquiring transfers and stuff like that, they're going to want to make a push and get into the playoffs this year or else things are going to start to get a
Joel Anderson
little uncomfortable and people don't pay attention to like, you know, defections or losses along the offensive line. They look at the, you know, high profile players, the stars. Right. It's. You could argue that Texas has the country's best quarterback, the best running back room, the best receiver not named Jeremiah Smith and Cam Coleman and the best left tackle in college football. So that is a lot of talent to work with, man. Like I would, you know, and Steve Sarkeesian, he's supposed to be the play caller guy. He's the one that's supposed to be an elevator and offense. And then you look on defense, they have probably the best defensive lineman, maybe the best defensive player in the country and Colin Simmons. So yeah, he's not going to be able to, you know, they will not be able to stomach a season where they miss the playoffs. And the thing is, is like he may not want to stay if they don't make the playoffs.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, we also had the weird, yeah, we had the weird story where you know, there was a, you know, Diana Rossini leaked that he had interest potentially in the Titans job.
Joel Anderson
Oh really?
Tate Frazier
Yeah. Remember that? In the, in the fall or late winter.
Van Lathan
She leaked, huh?
Joel Anderson
Yeah.
Tate Frazier
And then he came out and adamantly went against that. Also you had Mack Brown going out, you know, trying to defend him, basically being like it's hard to turn over the play calling duties but maybe it's time for him to do that. So there's gonna be a lot of questions there with Sarkeesian.
Van Lathan
One thing schedule is, is not one. So when you look at Texas, they have, they play LSU at home. They have their home against Ole Miss, their home in Red River. Excuse me. They're on the road at Red River. They have Ohio State out of conference. They got Tennessee, they got A and M. This is a tough one.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, I mean, I guess the thing is what do you think of Tennessee? What do you think of Tennessee and A M kind of says how tough you think that schedule is. Right.
Van Lathan
Well, I mean when we were talking about Ohio State, we mentioned Iowa. I would expect the Tennessee and A and M to be teams that are commiserate on par with like what Iowa will be able to do next year. So those are games against teams that have good traditions, good personnel, coaching. So they're not gimmes.
Joel Anderson
I think the schedule is tough but yet and still also worked in their favor because again you get Ohio State at home. That's. That would be great. That, that's what you want. Tennessee, that's. You probably don't want to have to go to Knoxville, but if that's going to be one of your toughest SEC road games, you can live with that if you're Texas. Oklahoma is always a dog fight. Every year. Florida has a new first year coach. Ole Miss is, I mean they're starting over with Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacey and then I mean Mississippi State, Mizzou,
Van Lathan
they're starting over with two guys that are returning. That's starting over. They got one of the, they got.
Joel Anderson
Oh well, I mean.
Tate Frazier
Did you say. Who said that? You said that?
Joel Anderson
Oh no, I was, I was trying. I was, I was trying. Yeah, but I mean like, but around them, I mean they don't have the, A lot of the same offensive coaching staff that's.
Tate Frazier
They don't have wise. They don't have lost receivers.
Joel Anderson
You know, a lot of people on the line I. It's just going to be, you know, it's. That's a lot to ask. I think that they're though. You would want to have those two guys if you had to be in that position, but I think that's a lot to ask. I don't think anybody would expect them to make the playoffs this year. At least I don't. And then, you know, man, lsu, Arkansas comes to Austin. So that's not what you think it's going to be. And they've. They've handled A and M. I mean, you know, we'll see what Marcel Reed is like this year. But I don't know, we should say.
Van Lathan
We. We should say it's a tough schedule. We should say A and M is a team that just. That came out of the playoffs. I had a great season last year. You would. Those are. Those are going to be tough games. Those are going to be tough games. Go ahead.
Joel Anderson
No, go ahead. Go ahead.
Van Lathan
No, the deal is in the Big Ten or in the sec.
Joel Anderson
Yeah.
Van Lathan
You're going to play competitive teams, particularly when you get to the conference schedules, especially now, like, with. There are other conferences out there where teams don't have to really worry about that.
Joel Anderson
Okay, I should have interrupted. I should have. I should have talked over your ass. You gonna do that shit if I know you gonna do that? I would have just kept on going.
Van Lathan
No, no, no, no. But like. But no to. Back to Joe's original point, though. This is probably slightly. Slightly. And it's kind of bullshit because this is a team that has been like. This is a team that has been to the playoff. They've. He's already proven that he's got Texas in a position to win. But for some people, this might be kind of a prove it year. For Sarkeesian, it's one of the weirdest, weird prove it years. But for some people, it might feel like that. It might feel like it's a proven year. For Sarkeesian. That sounds stupid to say, though.
Joel Anderson
No, I don't think it sounds stupid at all. I agree with you. I think that. I mean, they've given him all the money you've got. They paid for Arch Manning. They went and got you Cam Coleman. They got Hollywood Smothers. Like, there's just so much talent right there. And it's like, if you can't do it this year, like, what you going to do, bro?
Tate Frazier
They stole Hollywood's mother.
Joel Anderson
Stolen, man. I know, I know.
Van Lathan
You think.
Joel Anderson
And you think that's funny because you don't, you know, What I'm saying, you're trying to talk. I know you UNC guys talk down on the NC State guys, man. But that's sad. Took their home, man. That's horrible. Let me just say this last thing about. Well, two things. I'm done doing the. See the reason. I'm just kind of on the Texas schedule. I'm done doing the thing where I'm like, wow, Florida. Oh, Mississippi State. Oh, my God. They've got to play Mizzou. I'm done doing that with sec. Tennessee. Oh, man. Oh, my God. How you gonna.
Tate Frazier
They gotta go to Neyland.
Joel Anderson
Yeah. They gotta go to dealing. What? You know, I'm done doing that shit. You can't get me like that. But the one thing I wanted to say, I wanted to circle back on because I. I feel like I have to say this out loud because it's killing me. I never thought I would see Diana Rossini's husband in public again. I just. With her. I never did. I never. I just. I. I cannot believe it. It's shocking. We can move on. But I was like, man, I would love to know, like, the dynamic. Everybody would, right? But I'm glad.
Van Lathan
Sticking it out.
Joel Anderson
I'm glad. Those crazy kids. Yeah, man. They were kissing in public, man. They've been out a couple times.
Van Lathan
Good.
Joel Anderson
Yeah. Those crazy kids, man.
Van Lathan
Don't let nobody come break up your marriage.
Joel Anderson
They got. They got kids, man. Stay together for the children, man. Do you do that? Her husband, man, he's a. He's got a lot more guts than I do, you know, he has a lot more courage.
Tate Frazier
I think it's kind of player, you know what I mean? He's just like, whatever.
Joel Anderson
I don't think that's player. I don't know about that. He might be doing his own thing. He's not necessarily a fan fault, but that's like. We don't have to. He ain't no. That's no, man.
Van Lathan
Her husband is a down ass.
Joel Anderson
He is. He's a down ass.
Van Lathan
Down like the husband, man.
Joel Anderson
Look at you, man. Look at you, dog.
Van Lathan
Her husband is a down ass. Good for him.
Joel Anderson
Mike V Gonna follow you.
Van Lathan
Break up your marriage, man. Don't let nobody come break up your goddamn marriage, man.
Joel Anderson
Don't do it, man.
Van Lathan
Don't let nobody come break up your marriage.
Tate Frazier
That's right.
Joel Anderson
Stick it in.
Van Lathan
You know, what's going on in your business. You know what I'm saying?
Joel Anderson
I didn't mean to say like that.
Van Lathan
What's her husband name? I was about to say Kevin, let's just get off this. But he down ass of the year right now.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, man, he really is, bro.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, he might. He might win an award. You might win a tailgate award.
Joel Anderson
He might win an award.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, we're gonna keep that in the back of our minds as we get down to, you know, that part of the year That'll be next year once we get to the awards again.
Joel Anderson
Did I say Kevin?
Tate Frazier
Billy said it could be the Joel award.
Joel Anderson
No. You know, no way.
Van Lathan
Oh, it's a Joel award. You're not even getting nominated down ass of the year.
Joel Anderson
No, man. No. You're not even getting nominated for that one player. No. No offense, Kevin Goldschmidt, but you not. You can't.
Van Lathan
That's Kevin Goldschmid. No, no, no. It's offense.
Joel Anderson
You don't disqualify.
Van Lathan
You disqualify.
Joel Anderson
I feel I. I feel I, I. Well, you know what I see, again, that's passing judgment. I just think that's a very tough situation to be in. You know, it's somebody who the nation was laughing at a couple of weeks ago. It took. And not even to anywhere near the scale of Kevin Goldsmith. I can just imagine having to live with that every day. Even if they don't. Even if it's not what we think it is. And there's an understanding that we don't understand about the fact that people. Let's move on.
Van Lathan
Okay, so. So hold on for a second before we get off this.
Joel Anderson
Oh, man.
Van Lathan
Before we move off this Texas thing. Before we move on. Like, before we move on. Okay. Yeah.
Joel Anderson
Okay.
Van Lathan
So Sark has been in Texas since 2021?
Joel Anderson
Yeah.
Van Lathan
No, he hasn't. When did he. What was his first year there?
Joel Anderson
That, that 2022, or was it the first?
Van Lathan
No, it was 21. 21. It was the first year. It's 2021. He's been, he's. He's been there since 2021. Okay, so he has made the playoffs twice back to back years in 23 and 24.
Joel Anderson
Yep.
Van Lathan
He lost in the semifinal the first year. I think that was still the 14 playoff. And in the second year, while they were. They're in the sec, he goes to the playoff and, like, he wins a couple of games. They have a sort of a down year last, last season. Now, having said all of this, we really think, as we say this a little bit more, we really think that people are going to start to ask questions next year. And I guess what I would ask you, Joel, is, do you think it would be Fair to ask those questions of Steve Sarkisian next year if Texas has kind of a bumpy season.
Joel Anderson
Oh, it absolutely would be fair because that, you know, Texas thinks a lot of itself, and they think that they should always be in the playoffs. Not necessarily in the running, but in the playoffs. But I would say to that is that 12 wins, 13 wins, 10 wins in the last three years. That's pretty good, man. I might take my chances with that, and I hope that he breaks through.
Van Lathan
Fantastic.
Joel Anderson
Yeah. Yeah, that's not bad.
Tate Frazier
So it's also. The Arch expectations were so out of whack that I think that it kind of hurts what the perception is, too.
Joel Anderson
Tate. That's exact. That was a huge thing, man. We still. It was just really tough to know what our expectations should have been of Arch, because by the end of the season, I came around to thinking, oh, he's underrated. Like, he's much better than we think.
Tate Frazier
And that's because he had gone so far the other way. But going into the season, fine. Bomb said he was going to be the best college football player ever.
Joel Anderson
Look what happened as soon as he got.
Tate Frazier
Joe just sat there and nodded his head no.
Joel Anderson
You've been calling people bottom. Look all right, Tate. All right, man.
Tate Frazier
I'm just kidding. But, yeah, Arch is the. Is the real question mark. We'll see what he looks like. But you're right. At the end of the year, he looked good.
Van Lathan
He did.
Joel Anderson
He did. He did. I thought that, you know, he may have. I could understand why people say, oh, yeah, that's the top prospect in the draft, so. And like I said, they got him a number one receiver. A true number one receiver. And yeah, I gotta also say about Steve Sarkeesian, man, another dude who got his woman back, man. He got his strong black woman back, too. You know what I'm saying? Because they had a. They would file for divorce. And then last year, all of a sudden, she's back, first lady of the UT program, man. So, you know, maybe with his woman by his side, there's nothing stopping him, man.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, I mean, that's kind of the playbook. Lane Kiffin did that. I mean, not all the way, but he kind of brought his girl back around.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, get your girl.
Tate Frazier
It's a big PR win, you know what I mean, to get that happening. I do want to do a start binge cut, because I do find these three teams sort of cosmically connected at some level in the sec. So Alabama, lsu, Ole Miss, all of those three teams kind of have similar odds to make the playoff. Alabama has the best odds, plus 145. LSU plus 150. Ole Miss plus 170. If we're going to do a start bench cut of those three programs to make the cfp, Van, I'll go to you first. How would you rate that between those three?
Van Lathan
Say again?
Tate Frazier
If you want to start bench cut between Alabama, lsu, Ole Miss to make
Joel Anderson
the playoffs, pay attention now.
Van Lathan
Tough. I guess you got to start Bama.
Joel Anderson
Really?
Van Lathan
I guess you got. Actually, these teams seem like they're all in, like, really the same situation.
Tate Frazier
I'll do mine and then you guys can react.
Van Lathan
What happened, man?
Joel Anderson
What were you looking at? What? What you were looking at some tweets or something I know you didn't expect.
Tate Frazier
You didn't.
Joel Anderson
You didn't understand the question.
Van Lathan
I did. So start, bench, cut,
Tate Frazier
Alabama, Ole Miss.
Van Lathan
Yeah, I just want to say that, like, I'm about to start being like Joel without talking to me on social media. I have to document up now. I got the document up.
Tate Frazier
Okay.
Van Lathan
So starbase cut, Star bitch cut to make the playoff.
Joel Anderson
Really?
Van Lathan
Like, it's tough. Like, if you have to go with start, I would start Bama just because Bama was there last year. Right. And it seems like they have the enough coming back. I bench lsu, I cut Ole Miss. Some of that might be Hart, but there's a world where you start Ole Miss, you pinch Bama, and you cut lsu. Those three teams to me are in similar situations in terms of, like, what they lost, what they're bringing back, expectations, how they've been able to transform the rosters. Those teams all have a lot of talent, stable coaching, but all have tremendous questions about what they're going to look like when the ball kicks off. So it's a difficult question. That's why it's a good question.
Joel Anderson
Okay.
Tate Frazier
Joel, what about you?
Joel Anderson
Yeah, well, Tate, did you give yours? You said you.
Tate Frazier
Well, I mean, my. Mine would be just what Van said. I would start Ole Miss because of Trinidad Chambliss.
Joel Anderson
Okay.
Tate Frazier
I think they have the best bet there. I think Golding kind of showed that he can handle the defensive stuff, and I think this is going to be a really good team. But if you look at those three coaches, you know, it's kind of probably Golding would be the worst of the three. So that's the really the concerning point there. But again, they have the best quarterback of the three. I think lsu, I would bench and then I would cut Bama. So that would be my three.
Joel Anderson
Okay.
Van Lathan
Oh, you cut Bama.
Tate Frazier
I would Cut Bama. Yeah. I would swap out Bama for lsu because I do think that Lane Kiffin and Sam Levitt, I mean, there's a little bit more enticing there. I worry about the quarterback position.
Joel Anderson
Right.
Tate Frazier
Alabama. And I think there's a lot of pressure on DeBoer as well.
Joel Anderson
Well, yeah, that's what I was going to say. Alabama did not look good down the second. The second half of the year. Now they don't even have Todd Simpson. It would have been much if you had. If they had Todd Simpson, you could come up with the scenario where these
Tate Frazier
odds would make more sense to me. If they had time.
Joel Anderson
Yeah. Yeah. But between Mac and Russell, guys who've never really played, I think that makes them cut. And when you guys were talking about it, I was like, clearly, lsu, it would be picked over Ole Miss. And I still think that. But I get the argument for Ole Miss. Right. Because you're right. Pete golden, they. They looked. I'm not going to even say they looked better at the end of the year, but they looked like a really good team. Like it wasn't confident. Yeah, they didn't. They didn't look like it was smoking mirrors and. And Pete golden showed something in that. Those moments and. Yeah. Wouldn't you like to have Trinidad Chambers? So. Yeah, man. Maybe. Nah, man. Everybody thinks. I mean, dog, if you had to guess today who's gonna win between LSU and Ole Miss, who would you pick?
Tate Frazier
Ole Miss at home.
Joel Anderson
Really?
Van Lathan
Okay. Ole Miss. Ole Miss at home. We played Ole Miss at home last year. We should be.
Tate Frazier
No, this game is at Ole Miss.
Van Lathan
We're playing Ole Miss again at home. We played. We played Ole Miss on the road last season.
Tate Frazier
No, I think it's. Yeah, I think. I think this year it's at Ole Miss or coming up this year because Lane Kiffin has to go home. Make sure.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, that's right. Yeah, man. No, because. That's right, because I remember, you know, when all this hubbub happened about him saying, well, man, you know, it's tough to get black people there because they say it's racist. And I was. I remember thinking. I was like, man, that's going to be the most game is at Ole Miss.
Van Lathan
Did we play Ole Miss?
Tate Frazier
I think it was two years ago. You're thinking of that?
Van Lathan
No, we played them at home two years ago. Last year we also played them. And I feel like that game was at Ole Miss.
Joel Anderson
Damn. I mean, I hope that's the case, man. Cause you adamant about this.
Van Lathan
Yeah, we're playing. Oh, we're playing Ole Miss at their place two years in a row.
Joel Anderson
Is that right?
Van Lathan
Two years in a row. We played them on September 27, 25.
Joel Anderson
Remember that game?
Van Lathan
1924, we're playing.
Joel Anderson
What are we doing?
Van Lathan
The fuck is that dumbass shit?
Joel Anderson
Yeah. That's crazy when you say it like that.
Tate Frazier
They want Lane to come home. Yeah.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, man. They really went. They really.
Van Lathan
Although I will say that the next week, we're playing A. M. Yeah. And we're playing A M at lsu. So we're playing A M two years in a row in Baton Rouge.
Joel Anderson
Man, they got to go to Baton Rouge. Two years.
Van Lathan
Yes. They give it the kid. They. The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away.
Joel Anderson
Okay. All right. I mean, that's. That's not bad.
Tate Frazier
To me, that feels like the moral victory for Ole Miss. That feels like the get back game, you know, for all the Ole Miss fans against Lane Kiffin. But I don't think that, you know, I don't think that means that LSU won't make the playoffs. Still, I. I wouldn't be shocked if two out of those three teams make the playoffs.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, man, LSU has a lot. I mean, no matter what, Lane Kiffin has shown that he's a good head coach, that he can coach up a quarterback. Sam Levitt was maybe the best quarterback in the Portal last year, and they've got $40 million worth of talent. And you just gotta think that's. That's tough to compete with. Like, theoretically, they should be really. They should be in the playoffs, if not flirting. Flirting with the playoffs.
Van Lathan
Well, Levitt was certainly the best quarterback in the Portal that's not addicted to FanDuel.
Joel Anderson
Oh, wow.
Tate Frazier
Yeah. Should we talk about that? That's another thing. Texas Tech minus 180 still to make the playoff, even though Brendan Sorsby NCAA denied. So he is trying to appeal to be reinstated to play college football. He put out an apology to the people. So that's a big storyline. Will Hammond did look good in a couple games that he played last year.
Joel Anderson
So everybody keeps saying that, man, it's just like, yeah, Will Hammond was pretty good in the second half against Utah, a couple other games, and that people really saw the game. You know, the game.
Tate Frazier
The odds haven't shifted too much. So either. There's two things either at play when it comes to the. The. The odds makers. One, they think Sorsby will be reinstated at some point, which I think is fair to think, or two, they think Will Hammond is good enough with the talent that they brought in Yeah, I
Joel Anderson
think so am I.
Tate Frazier
And they play the Big 12.
Joel Anderson
If I'm correct, the game they lost last year was the game Will Hammond started at Arizona State. It's just funny to me. It's like, man, you're Will Hammond. He played pretty good. We'll see him. And I'm just like, yo, the game they lost one of the games he started being. He looked good against Utah when Utah had gotten ground into the fucking ground, pounded into the fucking ground in that game. So, anyway, we'll see.
Van Lathan
I'm reading a Yahoo article right now that is speculating that Brendan Swordsby might make himself available for the supplemental draft in the NFL.
Joel Anderson
He got to, man. You got to.
Tate Frazier
I love the supplemental draft.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, man. Yeah. You said what?
Tate Frazier
I love the supplemental draft.
Joel Anderson
Oh, yeah, me too. Yeah, man, absolutely. Isn't that how old boy Terrell Pryor didn't he get drafted in the supplemental draft? Yeah, some legends have come through the supplemental draft. And so, yeah, I feel bad for Brendan Sourceby, but. Go ahead. What?
Van Lathan
Oh, no, no, no. You feel bad for him? Go ahead. My bad.
Joel Anderson
No, no. I mean, I feel bad for him because, I mean, I'm going to take him at his word that he has a problem with gambling because it's not uncommon for person that age to have a problem with gambling. Like, I've written about this before and talk with people about it. Like, the widespread availability of this stuff, you know, captures a few people and it's hard for them to let go. Right. And so it wouldn't be a surprise if a college football player. I wouldn't be surprised if there's dozens, hundreds of college football players that maybe they don't have a problem, but that they're dabbling a little on the sites. So, yeah, I just feel bad for Brendan Sweet. That he got caught and he's not going to get a chance to, you know, have a great year at Lubbock and, you know, show his NFL stock and go into the draft a normal way instead of having to go through the supplemental draft. But, you know, I mean, I understand the NCAAs, you know, resistance to this, why they don't want him in there. But I just, I'm. I'm thinking of a kid that's struggling and I'd like to see him have opportunity to play.
Tate Frazier
And that's going to be trial.
Joel Anderson
Yeah.
Van Lathan
So let me ask you this. Having said all of that, I don't think there's anyone that looks at the Brendan Scoresby situation and thinks, you know, at least nobody that I know. Oh, good for him. Blah, blah, blah. Whatever he gambled, he deserves, whatever he gets. I don't know that too many people are feeling that way just because I think increasingly people are looking at the presence of a lot of these gambling entities as being predatory.
Joel Anderson
Yeah.
Van Lathan
And almost preying on not just young athletes, but young people, period. A lot of people look at them as no different than credit card companies trying to get you early, when you're particularly in college, away from your parents and you, you, whatever discretionary income you have, it can lock you into a way of life and build what he
Tate Frazier
knows, what interest is.
Van Lathan
I know what interest is, all of that stuff. Right. Having said that, there is a question here about sport, about sport, about what you do with someone who is gambling on sport and the competitive integrity of that sport. It is a dangerous thing to have a player that is too hooked into gambling. Almost more so for the sport itself than other personal failings. Those players might not have. Those players might have. Because if the people watching the games don't believe that the outcomes of the games are real, it strikes directly to the heart of why people love sports. So then the question is, understanding all of that stuff in this long winded preamble, what do you do about a situation like this? You have to come down hard on this type of stuff, but then you also have to consider the time in their life that these young men are in. This is why I have always said that there are extra considerations to be had when you are dealing with younger people. You can't treat them exactly the way you would treat a 26 year old third year NFL pro in this situation because they're not in the same spot in life. And this Sorsby situation is a perfect example of that. He's being paid to play a sport. Yeah. But he's also in a position and a point in his life where there are lessons he still has to learn. So do you come down on him like you would come down on a pro athlete or do you treat him like a college kid?
Joel Anderson
That's tough. I mean, so I'm looking at his career here. So he's been in college for five years. Is it, they're not going to do this, but is it just possible to be suspended for a year and preserve a year of eligibility so he could come back and play next year for this instance?
Van Lathan
Interesting.
Tate Frazier
Maybe.
Joel Anderson
I don't know if that's possible. Probably not. I mean, because, you know, I'm sure anybody would try to come up with all sorts of reasons to you know, use that as a loophole. But to me, for somebody that is says he's dealing with addiction, has people, you know, had a counselor who can testify to the fact that he was addicted to this, it seems like, you
Tate Frazier
know, also you can point to the timeline. It was from what, three years ago, four years ago when this is all brought up.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, man. I mean, yeah, I mean, you know, I'm a, I'm a, I'm a softy, bro. You know what I'm saying? I'm a bleeding heart. So I, Anybody who seems to be wounded or troubled, you know, I want them to come out of it okay. And I would hate for this to derail him in any way because I mean, again, a person with a, an addictive personality and suffering a massive disappointment like that, I worry about him.
Tate Frazier
Yeah. Highest paid player in the portal as well. I mean, this is a guy who was coming to Texas.
Joel Anderson
He could taste that $6 million. Yeah, taste that $6 million, man.
Van Lathan
Yeah. So, I mean, they're still getting probably not, right?
Joel Anderson
Oh, hell, man. I'm sure Tech tried to get that.
Tate Frazier
He said he is going to.
Van Lathan
If you went to the supplemental draft, do you think you would be selected? Yeah, I mean, you gotta put a draft pick on it.
Tate Frazier
I mean, I was going through and
Van Lathan
that's a rule in a supplemental draft. Don't, don't you have to.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, like, you know, like Chris Carter was a fourth round pick in the supplemental draft. Josh Gordon, second round pick in the supplemental draft. So there's actually been some surprisingly like, you know, Steve Walsh was a first round pick in the supplemental draft. Like there's been some big names that have gone to the supplemental draft. So I mean, there is some precedent meant to be set there. But I, I always feel like he's like a fourth, fifth round guy.
Joel Anderson
I mean, I'm, I'm not even sure about that right now. I mean he's, he's, now he is a big dude. I didn't realize he's 63235. Like that's, that's not 63210, you know, so that, so he's a, a stocky, sturdy guy. And again, you know, he, he did very well at Cincinnati, but I mean the most, you know, they went. He threw for 2800 yards. I mean, that's raw stats is not the way to look at this. But I'm not looking at something where somebody says we got to have Brendan Swordsby. We got to reach into the, to the supplemental draft to get that. I would Be concerned that he might not get drafted.
Tate Frazier
I'd watch out for the Jets.
Joel Anderson
I mean, they could, man, you know, it ain't nothing to put a cup if you got excess number of draft picks and you need a developmental QB or you got a 38 year old QB and you want to develop somebody, I guess, you know, why not?
Tate Frazier
But yeah, they watch Club Nick for a couple weeks and they're like, why don't we take a swing on Sorsby?
Joel Anderson
But think about, I mean, again, you take it on somebody who's not a particularly special athlete and he comes in with a gambling addiction and it's like, right, do I want to speak? Do I, do I really want to spend a pick on that? No offense to him, right? But like, this is a business decision.
Tate Frazier
Yeah. The last supplemental pick was Jalen Thompson, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 5th round pick out of Wazoo. So, okay, the last time we've seen it happen. So it has not happened this decade, which is pretty interesting. So we'll see that ends up being the case. I think he's going to go to court and he has a chance to win. I think he might end up being reinstated at some point. So I think that's why the odds haven't shifted too much. But again, it is a big story and I want to lead into a headline here because Sarkeesian was talking about Texas Tech. He took a shot at Texas Tech. He was discussing how the College Football Playoff committee facts, factors in strength of schedule. He said, quote, there's a team in our state that plays in another conference that has a schedule that I would argue if played with R2s and R3s, we could go undefeated and they'll probably make the CFP again this year. Talking about Texas Tech. Van, I'm, I'm sure you enjoyed this quote, but Joel, I want to get your reaction to that.
Joel Anderson
I mean, man, you, you lost twos and threes. Joel, you lost to Florida last year. Doug, who lost the US had to go down in the swamp, man. And it was the game, it started to, you know, near dusk around 6 o'. Clock. So things are really in question there. And Tyreek Sapp, his thighs were out, you know, I'm sure they were probably, you know, all that kind of shit. But you mean, you lot, you lost to Florida last year, bro, like, just shut up, man. You don't have to do this, you know, show, improve. Go, go. Win, win all year game, bro. They didn't look, I mean, there was a half, they didn't look particularly good. Against UTEP or San Jose State on their schedule. Who are. Again, those teams are on their schedule. Right. So, like, don't act like you don't have a few holes in your schedule as well. Right. But so, yeah, I. If I was Steve Sarkeesian, I shut the up. You got enough on your plate, bro.
Van Lathan
Do you think. Do you think what he's saying is true? Nah, I'm asking.
Joel Anderson
No, I don't. I don't know. I don't think Texas twos and threes could go undefeated in the Big 12. Absolutely not. No.
Van Lathan
Yeah, I think that's probably a stretch right there.
Joel Anderson
Oh, it's a bit of a stretch. Very much. It's a lot. It's a, I think, stretch. Yeah.
Van Lathan
So I've been talking a lot of. And I remember you talk a lot of to be so light in the ass. Yeah. See, if you. If you gonna talk that type of, you gotta have a trophy up there, man. You're gonna diss a whole conference. That was something that Saban could have got away with.
Joel Anderson
Yep, yep.
Van Lathan
That was something that I was Kirby smart.
Joel Anderson
Kirby smart, yeah.
Van Lathan
Right until LSU got they fucking nuts cut by UCLA when he was trying to talk shit. So, like, if you go do that, you gotta be able to have a little bit more. You can't be so light in the ass. But no, I don't think that's true. Particularly after last year when, you know, you saw the Big 12 really be a conference of, you know, at the top and in the middle, some surprising depth. Big 12 was a legit team.
Joel Anderson
BYU, very good.
Van Lathan
They got. They got. They got fucked over by Oregon. But, you know, I think that they'll be better. They would really have been better if Sourceby was at quarterback. They'd be able to deal a little bit more. So, no, I think Sark is probably barking a little bit, but that's what all those coaches do at this time of the year.
Tate Frazier
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Tate Frazier
Speaking of coaches that you just mentioned him, let's talk about an LSU finalized deal to hire Ed Orgeron. Coach O is back at lsu. He's on staff and he's already crudin already calling kids van. How excited are you to have Coach O back?
Van Lathan
Really excited, man, for a lot of reasons. Let's tell you something. Yeah, Coach O coming back says two things. One, it says that LSU is going to have legitimately a dynamic defensive line mind and a dynamic recruiter back in the fold. That is a plus situation no matter how you look at it. But there's also something else that really matters when you talk about Coach O coming back. Coach O coming back demonstrates a cultural cohesion that didn't seem to have existed in LSU in recent memory. The big thing about Coach O coming back is that Lane Kiffin could convince Coach O to come back. Now those two guys have a very warm relationship and they've been friends for a very long time and there is a chance that Ogeron would not have come back from any coach other than Lane Kiffin. But just think about that. Think about the fact that you don't have a malcontent in the coach out there saying stuff a little pissed off about how his time ended up. Think about the excitement that it brings for a lot of the LSU fans and players that are now going to be connected to directly the greatest season in the history of the school and what it means for Lane Kiffin to be able to have pulled that off. That means even though we've lost some pretty high profile guys to other schools, that there is some cohesion and an understanding of what LSU is and people want to be a part of that, whether they're driving the boat or whether they're help Steering the boat. So when I saw that, I was excited, not just for what it means as far as a football standpoint. Coach O is 64. Who knows if this is a stepping stone to another head coaching job or if he just goes, I'm going to end my career with the Tigers being a part of the program that I brought so much glory to. But the fact that he is a part of it is a huge deal, and it bodes well for Tiger fans as far as what it means culturally.
Joel Anderson
I don't know how serious you were, but after Brian Kelly got fired, I seem to remember us having throwing Coach O at you as a possible replacement. Like, how would you feel if they brought back Coach O and you were kind of like, I don't know, maybe so. And so the fact that they just got him on staff, right? Like a guy that a lot of LSU fans didn't want to. You know, as Van can tell you, they. They didn't want to have to fire Coach Ho, man, they wanted family. Yeah. It was like firing family, man. He embodies a lot of what LSU thinks about itself. You know, tough, cagey, you know, driven to the point of maniacal, mischievous, all that shit. Like, LSU thinks of himself in that way. He embodies that. And also, it's a good sign that Lane can assess. He can look at his staff and say, subjugate his ego. I mean, Coach O probably be a more popular figure at LSU than Coach Kiffin would be, right? At least initially. And he's just like, you know what? I don't give a shit. I want to win. I'm going to do whatever it takes to win. So that's a. That's it. To Van's point, it's promising. It shows some alignment there. And, I mean, you can. You can do this shit. Not LSU, man. They got a $3 million defensive coordinator, a $3 million general manager. They bring it in. Coacho. That's Coach Wise, Coach. Yeah, man, they do. They spend a lot of money, dog. So I'm, you know, they some big spenders. And so I'm. I just.
Van Lathan
You know what the. I'm talking about Joe
Joel Anderson
also.
Tate Frazier
I mean, what. I mean, what else can we say?
Van Lathan
Yeah, let's get it.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, you're excited.
Van Lathan
You know what I'm saying?
Joel Anderson
Is anybody gonna get hyped by James straight up bringing in Brit Pie? I mean, you know, saying he brought
Van Lathan
in straight up, bro, if. If it's about being a Tiger, man,
Tate Frazier
it all started with Van. I mean, it started with The Hoodoo Week 4, whatever it was, to get Brian Kelly out of here. And look where we are now.
Van Lathan
I'll tell y' all something. So my mama is like, you playing around.
Joel Anderson
I was like, yeah. Oh, yeah.
Van Lathan
He was like. She was like, son, be careful. Cause, you know, you come from a long line of energy work. You might fuck around and tap into something, and it might work, but you also have to control the energy, okay? You have to play with the energy. You have to do all of that stuff. So I might have. I might have fucked around and tapped into something. Because when you think of it, Kelly Long, Kiffin hired Coach O back. If you look at it, $40 million roster, Sam Levitt, all of that stuff, I might have tapped into something. But the question is, what happens on the backside? Gotta control the energy. You know what I'm saying?
Joel Anderson
I mean, man, you know what? Actually, man? Yeah, man, they went ahead and paid $50 million to get rid of a dude you didn't like. You know, like, that would have seemed crazy.
Tate Frazier
Imagine if we read that to you, like, after you got done with your energy work, summer of next year, you're gonna have Lane Kiffin as your head coach, Coach O on staff, Sam Levitt as your quarterback, and a $40 million roster.
Joel Anderson
You would.
Tate Frazier
You would have taken that all day, every day.
Van Lathan
I mean, I guess I'm a motherfucking.
Joel Anderson
I mean, it is crazy that, like, if you've gone to lsu, right? In the, like, seconds after that A and M game where they were talking shit and embarrass them in the stadium, and you said, don't worry about it, man. By May, we're going to have all this shit figured out, brother. I mean, that would. That. That. That's incredible. I mean, so it really puts all the. Man, Kiffin is a villain, and he left ole mission perspective because, like, that's. Because everything that has happened is validation for why Lane Kiffin wanted the LSU job in the first place.
Tate Frazier
Yep, 100%. Also, you have the best interim coach in college football sitting there on staff now. So if Lane Kiffin does pull a Lane Kiffin, hey, then you got Coach yo ready to go.
Joel Anderson
So, I mean, I think that's the other part of it also. Talking about protect your chick, man. In Baton Rouge, man, it's about to get serious out there.
Van Lathan
Of here. Don't take no road trip.
Tate Frazier
Season down.
Van Lathan
You out of here. Don't take no road trips. You don't have to. Don't do no yoga. Don't go to no gas station. Don't do nothing. Don't take no tr.
Joel Anderson
You don't. I mean, the funniest lie ever is
Van Lathan
you might end up. She might end up in a Tiger Tower.
Joel Anderson
Oh, okay.
Van Lathan
All right.
Joel Anderson
I wish.
Van Lathan
The tiger might rename the Eiffel Tower to the Tiger Tower. You know what I'm saying? Just be careful with your girl in Baton Rouge now. I guess we somehow, you know, I'm
Joel Anderson
a G. I mean, yeah. You know, Coach O is a G. You know that. Just. How can you not love somebody that sees a pregnant woman at. At the gas station and talk about working out with them? And she'd be like, well, you know, I'm pregnant. He's like, what's that? What's that matter?
Van Lathan
First of all, allegedly. Allegedly.
Joel Anderson
When you're talking about alleged, Allegedly, Allegedly, allegedly.
Van Lathan
Yeah.
Tate Frazier
Gosh, I can't wait. That's gonna be. It's gonna be great for us to have that type of content coming out of Baton Rouge. So shout out to the Tigers for getting it done. One more big story I wanted to hit. This can be the last one because we got Zach Lowe. It's got a.
Joel Anderson
You know, this is a short show, man. What happened?
Tate Frazier
Well, Zach Lowe's got to take over for our director, Jonathan Prius. Shout out.
Joel Anderson
Billy.
Van Lathan
Billy.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, Billy. Billy, can you come on and litigate this? Joel's getting upset about the hierarchy.
Van Lathan
You.
Joel Anderson
You are management. Oh, what's taking so long?
Tate Frazier
I don't think his care. He doesn't see his camera's off.
Joel Anderson
Was. Yeah. Were you not prepared, too? Billy, what's going on?
Tate Frazier
Oh, there he is.
Van Lathan
That's not the right. Yeah.
Joel Anderson
What happened? What. Why were you not prepared?
Tate Frazier
He's got his camera for Zach Low.
Joel Anderson
That can't.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, the camera's not working, so, you know, making do with what I can instead of holding this up a little bit. We were waiting 20 minutes for you to show up today, so I got to keep.
Joel Anderson
The van's said that he was going to be doing the rewatchables late, and so my. I said, I've got some stuff to do, too. My assumption was that y' all were going to tell me when it was time to come on. I. And that's what I was waiting for. I was ready to go. Hey, Billy, your management. What? What is it? Why does the show get prioritized then over others? Like, I just. Like, what is this shit? Like, we all work at the ringer. I don't get it. So, like, just. I mean, no offense to Zach Lowe. I know he has a very popular podcast. I Mean, what the, man, I work here too. I went. I don't.
Tate Frazier
We gotta pump these numbers up, Joel. I think that's. That's the message, you know, that's what I'm saying, bro.
Joel Anderson
You don't get on Netflix. You don't get on the Netflix here doing a 50 minute show.
Tate Frazier
Why are you wasting the precious time we have doing this?
Joel Anderson
Yes. Fair point, fair point, Fair point.
Van Lathan
Oh, hold on. Free is said. We can go by 140. We got 10 minutes. He gotta go to Zach Lowe ZL in this.
Joel Anderson
Okay.
Van Lathan
Yeah.
Tate Frazier
Conference finals. You know, there's a lot going on
Van Lathan
in the NBA, so it's the like, most important time of the whole NBA calendar right now.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, man, that's true. That's true.
Van Lathan
Give us your opinion of the conference finals thus far. Do you.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, there you go, Joe.
Van Lathan
We'll see. What do you think about what you've seen?
Joel Anderson
You know, man, Oklahoma City is so good. And I know that people want to focus on like all the. The foul baiting and everything, but I look at the way that they play, how aggressive they are on defense, how they just keep. They're. They are totally. How. How they are just relentless. It just seems like they'd be very hard to play against. The reason I was saying that is because I remember game one and I wish I tweeted this. Put it on blue sky while I'm verified if I. Because I really wanted to say this after the end of the game. So Wimby plays basically the best game of his career and they barely win in the game one. I was just like, that's. It's good that the spurs won that game. It would have really hurt if they lost, but under those circumstances, they had to win that game. Like, Oklahoma City was just kind of getting up, you know, like they had not been in an intense game in a little bit. Right. You know, basically, you know, they were not fighting for their playoff lives in like, you know, in a couple months or whatever. And I read them this season, so they had. They had to up the intensity. And the moment, you know, they caught on, they got right back in the game and they lost it at the end off of some miraculous shit by Wimby. But I was just like, I don't think Wimby's going to have four games like that, like, where he's going to go 41 and 24. So that's what I think. I just think Oklahoma City is the better team, and I think that they'll prevail. I don't Know if they'll do it in Game six, but I think they'll at least win in game seven. What do y'.
Van Lathan
All.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, I think it's going to seven. Yeah. I think OKC and seven feels like the storyline and they get redemption for Game one. But, I mean, wimby's been incredible. The SGA talk has gone a little bit too far for me. But tell them.
Joel Anderson
Tell them about it. Tell them about it.
Tate Frazier
Well, I'm just, you know.
Van Lathan
Look, Tate, Tate, tell these motherfuckers what's going on, bro.
Joel Anderson
Man, you're a basketball player.
Tate Frazier
Well, we know what it is. The best player in the NBA goes to the line more than everybody else. That's just a fact. That is the NBA. And you talk to any coach in basketball, what do they call the NBA? Not basketball anymore. Why not? Because it's entertainment. So there is a level.
Joel Anderson
What coaches say that.
Tate Frazier
Talk to any coach. They'll tell you, the NBA is not basketball anymore.
Joel Anderson
What?
Tate Frazier
I'm a college basketball guy.
Van Lathan
I want you to repeat this. I want you to repeat this. Just say. Say it like this, Tate. Say, yo, you ass. Stop talking all this about the NBA. Because, like, the reality is this been going on for a long time. It's been superstar calls. This is big time. Tate, on this. And throw your setup. Go ahead.
Tate Frazier
Yeah, that's usually. That's usually how I handle my business. I will say shout out to all the people that have tried to keep it civil with the conversation. I understand, though. I mean, Oklahoma City is allowed to maul you on defense, and it's a different level of physicality on one end. I think that's the problem with the NBA. The consistency is not there. The litigation, I mean, it's basically going to trial every time you watch a game. It's like the litigating. This is the number one sign in basketball. Now, the review, the tape, it drives me insane. So I. It's just. I understand the frustrations from people, but again, the basketball, when it is. Basketball has been really, you know, incredible to watch between these two teams. I'm excited to see the Knicks, though, MSG in the Finals.
Joel Anderson
Oh, man.
Tate Frazier
Kidding me. Oh, that's an incredible storyline with all the stuff about the officials, like, can we talk about the Knicks be sweeping.
Joel Anderson
It's great, man. Look, I.
Van Lathan
When I'll tell you something. What? Oh, go ahead, Go ahead.
Joel Anderson
No, I was gonna. I'll just. Y' all get it quick. I lived in New York, and one of the things that I did is I went to a Knicks Game within a couple months of being there. And I was like, I'm so glad I did, because I didn't understand, like, all the hype around Madison Square Garden and, like, the Knick enthusiasm or whatever. And I was just there in the midweek for a game against the Wizards. Like, it wasn't even, like, a great game, but I was like, man, it felt electric in there. And so just imagine being there. I would pay. I mean, if I had the money, man, I would. I. And I was a Knicks fan, I would find it. I. I would have to be there, basically.
Tate Frazier
Oh, I mean, it's the best.
Van Lathan
The last time I was at Knicks game, I was with Tommy Alter, and I'm sitting down at the Knicks. It's true.
Joel Anderson
True. It's true.
Van Lathan
What you want me to say? I was with Tommy Alter. Me and Tommy went to the Knicks playoff game last year. And we sitting down there. I'm sitting next to this guy, and he looks at me, he goes, hey, are you that. That. That Kanye guy? You had the thing with Kanye, right? I'm like, yeah. And he goes, I'm Jewish. And I was like, nice. I appreciate you standing up, you know? He goes, yeah, But I gotta admit, I love that Heil Hitler song. I was like, yo.
Joel Anderson
Oh, dog. Oh, man. Come on.
Van Lathan
I promise you, if you do not believe me, ask.
Joel Anderson
No, I believe you. I believe it.
Van Lathan
I believe it. I promise you.
Joel Anderson
That's craz you.
Van Lathan
And I'm like. And then the whole. Then the whole time we was watching the game, I'm saying, man, these Knicks fans is different, bro. This was my first time meeting this guy. I'm like, these Knicks fans is different, bro. It's different. I tell you straight up right now. And I never do this. Cause I don't be hood hopping from team to team. I am into the Knicks. I'm into the Knicks. And the way they got here, I'm into the way Jalen Brunson completely eviscerated the Cavs in the middle of a quarter. Down 20 points, one on one, Bang, bang, pow. I like what Draymond said. Somebody should have helped him. Draymond was like, why ain't y' all helping out?
Joel Anderson
Like Draymond? That was a great clip.
Van Lathan
Pow, bang, bang. Come get some of this.
Joel Anderson
Boom.
Van Lathan
I like all of that, and I like that the Knicks are playing the best that they've ever played at completely the right fucking time. I like the fact that their fans are on fire. And this is what sports is about, being bomb. Okay? I swear, this is what Sports is about. Yeah, the Knicks, the little engine that could.
Tate Frazier
I know they're like the underdogs, the whole world. They are seven billion dollar franchise. Yeah.
Van Lathan
Seven billion dollar. The oldest, most famed story arena. They got all the advantages, but for some reason, watching them fans go crazy, it looked like sometimes the fucking top is gonna come off the top of msg.
Joel Anderson
So fun, man.
Van Lathan
I fuck with it. It's a great, great fucking story. And great for Brunson, great for Cat. Great for Bridges, Great for Landry Shamet.
Joel Anderson
Landry Shammit.
Van Lathan
Quality Landry Shamrock. Minutes in the playoffs. Og just a very likable team. I'm happy for the Knicks.
Joel Anderson
Well, you know, I also want. And. And this is my personal pet thing. I. I want Cat redeemed because. And I mean, you know, if you've heard me on Bomani, I'm not a huge Jimmy Butler fan because I just think that's some bullshit. I don't like people who bully other people. And I felt like what Jimmy Butler was doing was bullying Cat in a way that.
Tate Frazier
I mean, he bullied the whole team. Yeah, I had a bunch of people that worked in Minnesota at the time, they were like, yeah, that Jimmy was crazy.
Joel Anderson
Yeah. Like, why are you so mad at your team, dog? You're part of this. I, you know, I just. I'm not a big fan of the Jimmy Butler thing anyway, so I just. I want Cat redeem because I think it hurt his reputation in a way where people talk about him in a way that is sort of reminiscent of Chris Bosh and which they're implying that he's effeminate or soft or anything like that. And I just want him to be redeemed and to have a great series, whether it's, again, wimy, whether it's against whoever, you know, homegrown or whatever. So I, Yeah, I'm. I'm. I guess I'm a Knicks fan also. Knicks fans, man, Y' all gifted me my first NBA championship, man. So I always. I'll always hold a Knicks special in my heart as a Houston Rockets fan.
Tate Frazier
Elijah on Ewing. What a matchup. I mean, what a time that was. That was Elijah1 sending a message like, yeah, it's a different level to this. Watch this.
Joel Anderson
Oh, can I. Can I say two quick things? We almost done.
Tate Frazier
We got. We got four more minutes.
Joel Anderson
All right. Van, did you have something to say?
Van Lathan
No, no, no.
Tate Frazier
Let this be your parting shot.
Joel Anderson
No, no, no, it's not a parting shot, because I had two things I want to say.
Van Lathan
Van.
Joel Anderson
I just want to say you said. You say, oh, man, if you don't believe me, I. The way I'm built, I believe any racism story. You can't. There's not. There was a point in my life where my dad was like. He told me as a kid, he was like, man, you know, I was coming home, and these. These. These white kids in a truck chased me home in the 50s or whatever, you know, 60s in Arkansas. And I'm like, you lying. That ain't never happened. And. And then he said. I remember one time he told me, yeah, well, you know, your grandmother is buried in the black cemetery on this side of town in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I was like, black people don't have different cemeteries. Like. And so, like, I had this process of learning how the world worked. And so if you are a black person, if you tell me something racist happened to you, I believe you. Okay. If nobody else in the world believes you, Joel Anderson believes you also. Go ahead, Van.
Van Lathan
No, no, no, no, no, no. I was just gonna say breath. I'm just saying two things, knowing Joel cares if don't nobody else care. That's true.
Joel Anderson
That's true. That's true.
Van Lathan
Number two is my daddy wouldn't have ran. My daddy would have turned around, dropped his hands, and actually got busy.
Joel Anderson
But go ahead. Okay. Okay. Yeah, you would have got. No, he would have gotten lynched. Okay. It would have. He had turned around, got busy. They would have overcome him, and he would have been a headline story. Yeah. I'm just saying the rope. That's what would happen.
Van Lathan
No, trying to. The rope would have snapped. Trying to lynch my dad.
Joel Anderson
They'd have a postcard of people like Jeff Landry's descendants, you know, his ancestors having a snack.
Tate Frazier
Where did that point come from, Joel? What story were you referencing?
Joel Anderson
Oh, well, I mean, I guess it depends on what you think about. I like the Heil Hitler song.
Tate Frazier
Oh, okay.
Joel Anderson
I just. I. That felt racist to me. I felt like, hey, man, I don't want to talk about that. Don't do. Don't do that to me. Like, I don't want. Like, don't sit down and do that.
Van Lathan
Dude was cool as.
Joel Anderson
Okay, yeah. Just. Hey, man, like I said, blackface. I was with it, bro. You know what I'm saying? ROBERT DOWNEY jr. Oh, yeah.
Tate Frazier
To go all the way back to Tropic Thunder.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, It's a good movie.
Tate Frazier
Masterpiece.
Joel Anderson
Last thing. I can't wait to see how the Jared McCain story ends. And he's one of my favorite players, too, because I'm just like. I Just want. I just want to see what's gonna happen. Because no matter how it ends.
Tate Frazier
Would you tell someone back in the day.
Van Lathan
Oh, come on, guys.
Joel Anderson
What? I just. I can't wait to see how this story is. What?
Tate Frazier
I think, honestly, OKC is the perfect matchup for Cat. You know what I mean? Like, Cat, okc.
Joel Anderson
Oh, okay.
Tate Frazier
Perfect matchup. You know, like, that's gonna be perfect.
Joel Anderson
It is. I can't wait, man.
Van Lathan
I'm excited to see Cat versus a bunch of dicks
Tate Frazier
coming up next on tnt. Man, I guess anymore.
Joel Anderson
I want to play catch with y', all, man, next time, you know what I'm saying? I'm gonna be out there, man. I think.
Tate Frazier
I think at the.
Van Lathan
You gotta get out of here because. Freeze. You're finished. You'll never play catch with us. The catch is. Catch is you're done.
Joel Anderson
All right, fine. Whatever, man.
Van Lathan
No, no, no, no, no.
Joel Anderson
Because I don't stick to playing golf out here. That's fine.
Van Lathan
Catch is. Catch is. No, you already said you wanted to
Joel Anderson
me married man heifers. Okay? And I told you if I. I always had a plan B. So if you. If I can't play with y', all, me and Heifers, we gonna go do some golf around here in the dmv
Tate Frazier
so we can play golf.
Van Lathan
Good. Good.
Joel Anderson
I can play golf with you.
Van Lathan
Hey, you know what? Let's play golf this weekend.
Joel Anderson
I would love it if. I would love it if y' all would hang out together out of just despite me over and over again.
Tate Frazier
That's the plan. We're just gonna keep hanging out. We're gonna go on the boat on Sunday. Van invited me to go on the boat on Sunday.
Van Lathan
Oh, yeah. We're all gonna go on the boat, and then, like, we're going. I'm ridding the boat. I'm renting the boat. I'm doing boat rentals on the weekends so everybody can go on the boat, hang out. We gonna go on the boat when
Joel Anderson
O'Reilly and Kalika go meet. Man, it seems like y' all doing all this.
Tate Frazier
That was supposed to be the boat day.
Joel Anderson
That was the thing.
Tate Frazier
Yeah.
Joel Anderson
Oh, I thought y'.
Van Lathan
All.
Joel Anderson
That was the boat. That was the boat.
Tate Frazier
We were gonna just be on the boat together.
Joel Anderson
Okay, my bad.
Van Lathan
I gotta let you know, you ain't stopping no type of motion.
Joel Anderson
This.
Van Lathan
This, like, we going up. You can't come play catch. Hey, me and Hyper, you were down on catch. You didn't want us to play catch now that you didn't want us to Play catch. You can't come play catch.
Joel Anderson
The golf place that you go. Do you know topgolf? Top Golf? Yeah, man. Me, man. Somebody was saying if I wanted to learn how to play golf, that's the way to do it. So high Fitz. We're gonna meet up at topgolf somewhere around here, bro. So we good?
Tate Frazier
I love this strategy of making Tate and Van jealous is I'm gonna hang out with Danny Heifetz.
Joel Anderson
Oh, okay. What you got? What you trying to say about high fizz, Bill?
Tate Frazier
I'm not saying anything. I'm just saying this.
Joel Anderson
I mean, we're going to the same thing.
Tate Frazier
We're doing both Team Bonds. Joel, yet again, is saddling up with a different show. Yeah, classic.
Joel Anderson
No, man, y', all, we. The reason we have to stop right now, the reason we started late, and the reason that we're ending early is because of two separate shows that are. That are at the ringer. The tailgate is nobody's priority except mine.
Tate Frazier
Did. Did Danny Heifetz invite you to his wedding last weekend?
Joel Anderson
Oh, you know what? We just didn't know each other.
Tate Frazier
He's not your friends.
Van Lathan
He got married.
Joel Anderson
I am going to, by the way.
Van Lathan
I want to shout out to. I want to shout out to this. Just. This is the last thing I say because I know we gotta go. I don't care how unwell. I know you. If we've had more than five conversations and I heard that you got married and you didn't even bring it up, I look at you different. Oh, no, I don't care. He brought it up like Heifetz. I found out that Heifetz got married because they were here at Sycamore. Like, last week or something. I met Craig's brother. Craig's brother was shining on Craig. Craig's brother was like, yeah, man, when it comes down to basketball, I'm the man. And he was like, look, I got big ass hands. Craig brother was cool as shit. Just boom, boom, boom. Like, he's giving Craig buckets. Their whole childhood. I found out hyphens got married. I let it slide. I would expect with the amount of time that me and hyphas have spent and talked, that there would be. This is the only time I felt Joel, like, that Hyphas would have at least been like. If there was a mass group text like, hey, I'm getting married, and y' all can't come, then I would have at least been a part of that. I felt away. I felt the way.
Joel Anderson
Sounds like you got beef with the
Van Lathan
fancy Football shit actually puts Tate on the clock. Tate, you better not. Okay.
Tate Frazier
Oh, y' all are good. I just need. Are we good?
Joel Anderson
Yeah, I want to go.
Tate Frazier
I need addresses, and I need full names. Apart names, partners. You know what I mean? You send them to me, we're all good. Save the dates coming.
Joel Anderson
Are y' all gonna allow kids to come or no?
Tate Frazier
Yeah, kids are invited.
Van Lathan
Hell, okay. I don't want to do that.
Joel Anderson
Come on, man.
Van Lathan
Look at you. But.
Joel Anderson
Let's see.
Van Lathan
But I'm definitely coming. But, like, how you gonna be a community about children if it's you my guy, you my guy. Hyphens, you're my guy.
Tate Frazier
I found out.
Van Lathan
I look at you different. Yeah, I look at you different. See? Found out on Instagram, found out. Hyphens, hyphens. You my guy. I do look at you different. The Ringer fantasy football crew.
Joel Anderson
Couple things here. You know what? You know, that's too bad, because if you listen to his show, you would know. You would have known when the wedding was going to happen and that he was getting married and stuff. You know what I'm saying? Listen, yo, you think you should have listened to the show? Yeah. Yeah.
Van Lathan
I'm in a fantasy football league.
Joel Anderson
I listen to higher learning every. Every episode, man. I'm a big fan. It's the first thing I look for. Tuesday and Friday.
Van Lathan
How many choices at the Ringer do you have?
Joel Anderson
I could listen to Native Land. I don't listen to Native Land. I listen to higher Learning.
Van Lathan
Oh, now you just brought them into it now. Bakari, get on your ass.
Tate Frazier
That's a diss.
Van Lathan
Shout out to all of them.
Joel Anderson
Man. I spent a whole week with Angela Rise Daddy in Seattle. That was so dope, man. It was amazing. I had a great time. Eddie Rye. Yeah, man.
Van Lathan
Yeah.
Tate Frazier
Damn. All right, well, good. Wrap up those. Those are nice parting shots. Ring or tailgate? Let's raise the roof. One last.
Joel Anderson
Yeah, all right.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Yeah.
Tate Frazier
If you're a fan of the NBA, go listen to Zach Lowe, listen to Bill Simmons, listen to the Ringer NBA show, go do all that stuff. But thank you to listening to Ringer Tailgate. We appreciate you and we will see you all next week. Must be 21 or older in President. Select states for Kansas and affiliation with Kansas Star Casino are 18 and older in President D.C. kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 800-MY-RESET. Call 1-887-897-777 or visit ccpg.orgchinconnecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org In Maryland, hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050. For 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-87-7-8, Hope and why? Or text Hopeny in New York. For Louisiana, call 1-877-770-7867.
Date: May 27, 2026
Hosts: Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier
This episode captures the regular season fervor, as Van, Joel, and Tate debate way-too-early College Football Playoff (CFP) predictions, break down the latest Brendan Sorsby eligibility controversy, and respond to the seismic LSU news: the return of Ed Orgeron (“Coach O”) to Baton Rouge. Expect trademark banter, sharp analyses, SEC heat, and some classic sidetracks into pop culture and personal drama—delivered with the warmth and rowdiness the “Ringer Tailgate” crew is known for.
[07:03 – 14:28]
Rationale:
Concerns for Notre Dame: Noted positive QB chatter but remains skeptical until the season gets underway.
Caveats: “Their schedule is brutal!” Joel raises concern over tough road games: Texas, Iowa, Indiana, USC, Oregon, Michigan (10:07).
“You will not be able to circumvent the expectations of success… This is going to be a year where Sarkeesian, along with all the support they’re getting, is going to want to make a push and get into the playoff.” (13:20, Van)
[25:32 – 31:30]
Tate: “Let’s do a start, bench, cut… Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss—to make the CFP.”
Start: Alabama (“Bama was there last year, seems like they have enough coming back.”)
Bench: LSU
Cut: Ole Miss
Acknowledges it's tight: “Those three teams are in similar situations in terms of what they lost, what they’re bringing back, expectations…” (26:58, Van)
[31:34 – 40:30]
[40:30 – 42:53]
“You lost to Florida last year, bro. Like, just shut up, man. Show, improve. Go win your games.” (41:26, Joel)
[44:24 – 51:51]
“Coach O coming back says two things: LSU gets a dynamic defensive line mind and recruiter, and it shows a cultural cohesion that didn't seem to exist in recent memory.” (44:39, Van)
“There's excitement for a lot of LSU fans and players now connected to the greatest season in school history…”
Highlights Lane Kiffin’s role in wooing Coach O back: “There is some cohesion and an understanding of what LSU is and people want to be a part of that, whether they're driving the boat or helping steer the boat.” (45:34, Van)
Classic Coach O color: “Who knows if this is a stepping stone to another head coaching job… but the fact that he is part of it is a huge deal.”
[Throughout]
[54:05 – 61:17]
| Time | Topic | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 07:03 | Early CFP Predictions & Odds Discussion | | 13:10 | Texas Odds/Expectations, Sarkeesian’s Hot Seat | | 25:32 | Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss: Start-Bench-Cut | | 31:34 | Brendan Sorsby Suspension, Texas Tech’s Playoff Odds | | 40:30 | Texas vs Texas Tech: Sarkeesian Comments | | 44:24 | Coach O Returns to LSU | | 54:05 | Knicks/NBA, MSG, and Sports Storylines |
“Ohio State right now is poised… I think they're going to make a deep run in the playoffs next year.”
— Van Lathan [08:30]
“They're not going to let Notre Dame miss the playoffs again.”
— Joel Anderson [12:55]
“If you gonna talk that type of sh*t, you gotta have a trophy up there, man. …That was something Saban could have got away with.”
— Van Lathan [41:47]
“Coach O coming back says two things—LSU gets a dynamic recruiter and shows a cultural cohesion that didn’t seem to exist in recent memory…”
— Van Lathan [44:39]
“He embodies what LSU thinks about itself—tough, cagey, driven to the point of maniacal, mischievous…”
— Joel Anderson [46:44]
Rambunctious, insightful, loaded with in-jokes and inside references—listeners are immersed in the trio’s chemistry and the broader Ringer universe. Analytical sharpness is softened by personal asides and genuine affection, making Big Ten and SEC storylines as enjoyable as tales of tailgate hangouts and fantasy league cloudiness.
This episode is your whip-smart, hype-bringing Summer preview of the epic ’26 CFB storyline, woven with levity, candid opinions, and all the Ringer Tailgate personality you’d expect. If you want a blend of playoff odds, bold calls, scandal discussion, and LSU soul, you’ll find this episode a perfect pre-season feast.