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SEC Unfiltered
HOTTEST TAKES From SEC Football Media Days ft. Bryce Koon, “The Crowded Booth” | Chewing Clock EXTRA
00:22:21
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- [00:00]
A
SEC football media days taking place down in Tampa, Florida. Talking season is officially here. Good friend of mine, friend of the show joins us live from Tampa. Boots on the ground, a man who has had a really interesting and successful last 365 days. It is Bryce K of the crowded booth. And now working with Glory Glory on the Georgia side of things. Bryce, really appreciate you taking the time, excited and glad you can give us the perspective and everything happening down in Tampa. And my friend, let me start by saying again, congrats to you and all your success. Really happy for you, proud of you and happy to have you back on the airwaves, my friend.
- [00:38]
B
What's going on, man? No, first off, appreciate that, Chris. I mean, I think it's one of those things where, gosh, I think I was down at LSU the last time that we talked. And then obviously now getting to come back home and work with George has been phenomenal. So we're doing awesome opportunity, you know, just to kind of work on a different side of things. I think that's what's been really fun, to take the storytelling to a different level with this new opportunity. And so we're rocking and rolling. You and I were joking beforehand. I know you've had some thoughts on SEC media days being in Tampa. I've got some thoughts about the location in terms of the Internet issues we've been having all day. But no, man, as always, love to hop on and talk with you.
- [01:16]
A
Well, Bryce, first thing, if you need a couch next year on Nash in Nashville to sleep on, you know, you got my place. I live probably five. We're gonna have it. So yeah, I, I'm gonna take some credit, by the way for that and say that was my, my complaining and griping on social media that inspired Greg Sankey to say, you know what, let's actually wise up and go back.
- [01:34]
B
He crossed out wherever it really was going to be and then turned and said they needed up there.
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A
He's like, see, see, we have the proof here. No Bryce, again, really appreciate you taking the time, my friend. And again, really happy to have you on you sharing your perspective from Tampa. Now we're at a time of year, Bryce, where typically, and I'm someone, I'm very vocal about it. Hey, I, I don't really want to solve the riddle. That is how do we fix college football? It's, I didn't bring you on to talk collective bargaining or expansion or nine game conference schedule. As Kirby Smart said today in his availability, let's talk about what wins football games. But with that being said, I just mentioned Kirby Smart. He is someone that, while saying that, has had a lot of opinions on the future of the sport, of course, and the SEC branching away and breaking off was something that I know he's actually mentioned that he's been thinking about for a long time. Greg Sankey mentioned it as well and essentially said, hey, this isn't an empty threat. This is something that, you know, we are at least considering what's been the reaction from the media there at SEC media days and just your overall thoughts on the idea that potentially the SEC could break away and be its own thing?
- [02:44]
B
Well, I think you kind of started it off with, and I agree with this and it wasn't really even necessarily today, but if you go back to those SEC spring meetings back in Destiny and you know, this is real, I think that's, that's the biggest thing is you have a lot of media. I don't want to say you've heard a collective gas, but you can kind of tell the people filing out of that ballroom, going into the auxiliary rooms and everything. The big consensus was, okay, you've just now had your most prominent figure, your most, your longest standing head coach in the conference say, essentially align yourself in so many words with Greg Senke. And so I think that there's a sense of, I don't want to say impending doom. I'm like you. I don't. There's a lot of things wrong with this sport. We still love and consume this sport. So don't get me. Let's don't. We don't have to enter the conversation that everything's doom and gloom. But you know, just in terms of how real it is, I thought Kirby's comments about until there's governance, whether it's the ncaa, whether it's the SEC can govern themselves. Until you have some semblance of that, there's still going to be these problems. And right now the clearest path due to, you know, we're not going to get political, Chris, but Congress or legal battles up happening kind of above everybody's head. It does feel like the SEC governing themselves, breaking away is that clearest, most direct path right now. And so I think when you kind of look at what Kirby said, I'm interested to see what some of the bigger names say tomorrow and Thursday as well in terms of that conversation. But you had your leading figure speak on it. You mentioned this, you had Brickwood speak on the nine game conference, but you're starting to see these coaches become a little more vocal in some of the hot topics of college sports and college football right now. And I think the biggest thing, man, is okay, this could be real. What does it look like? Logistics. I think that's up to conversations like you and I are going to have for the podcast and the shows and things like that. But in terms of this might not just be an empty threat. I think that gained a little steam today when Kirby took the podium and
- [04:37]
A
said those words price SEC media day storylines. You know, I was talking to somebody about this earlier today, and you know, we love SEC media days. I'm sure you'd do as well. It's. It's something I remember being a kid watching. And when the SEC Network first got launched back in 2014, this was always an event you look forward to the unofficial kickoff of the college football season. But, you know, being in the content space, it's probably more for us because games aren't one and lost, obviously, at the podium. It's an opportunity for us to all come together and talk about these teams. And certainly that's happening at the event down in Tampa. You're on Radio Row. You're intermingling and talking with a bunch of different members of the media. And you know, I've said it before, I'll say it again, you learn more from the local media than you do necessarily that are taking the podium. I'm curious what have been some of the talking points to this point in the week in Tampa, And I'll throw this one at you. I actually saw on social media, it was early yesterday from a Texas friend of ours that essentially said it feels like the, the narrative from the media around media days is like it's, it's Texas's conference to lose. It's. They're the favorites. They should be crowned as, you know, they have the best opportunity maybe to make a run. When the national title, has that been a talking point and if not, what else or what along else with that? Do you feel like there's been some common themes around media days about how this season is going to shake out from the media in particular?
- [06:02]
B
Yeah, I think that's, that's a big one for sure in Texas. Just with, you know, when you put together the amount of money that they have spent, the roster that they've done, and really, truthfully, also be honest, the disappointment that they've had over the past couple of years, falling short, whether it was in an SEC title game two years against Georgia, whether it was in the playoff later that year, there's you. And I know this, we've been around the sport long enough. We grew up fans. We remember what Texas used to be. This, this moniker of their back. Right. And what does that really mean in today's era of college football? Well, I think one thing coming out of media is, hey, they're back to go win a title. And that seems to be the one thing that evades, I think Sark in terms of hoisting that trophy. Look, I think in terms of success and if they win the sec, that's a massive step forward for this program in terms of winning conference. Because, Chris, you go back and look like they weren't even winning the Big 12. We need to remind ourselves that they were not a team that was dominating in terms of confidence titles. Oklahoma outweighed them in that category over the last couple of years out in that conference. So when you talk about storylines, I think Texas with what they did, I really look at that offensive line. Can they protect Arch Manning and you know to just the weapons. We know what Ryan Wingo can be. One of the storylines I keep hearing and obviously both from kind of the Auburn side of things and the Texas is is this where the national media gets to really see what Cam Coleman's because that's a kid who grew up five minutes right across the Chattahoochee river from my hometown. I've got family members that taught him. They know, they've seen the progression. Watched him in high school all the way through. We know what he can be due to lackluster quarterback play and bad coaching, wasn't able to showcase that. And so when you take a turn now where you get him into a system that he should be able to thrive off of, I think that's a big piece where that emerges. Then you're really going to see this bollyhood team that we've talked about all offseason start to take shape. Another thing too, and I think it's an interesting storyline and I don't know if you've talked about it on your show a lot, but is just the how stable Missouri has been. And I think that's an underrated storyline for this year with a lot of turnover, especially on the defensive side of the football. We all know Damon Wilson's off to I guess literally mean greener pastures down there in Coral Gables. But you talk about just what they bring to the table. Look, Chris, Austin Simmons, how well is he settling in Ahmad Hardy's health? You know, drinklist is a interesting cat for sure and how he approaches things. But I just think how Stable things have been there for him and for this program with some roster turnover, some staff turnover the past three to five years, he's been a constant. Now, does that mean that he's going to be pushed into a category where they're an SEC title contender?
- [08:44]
A
I don't know.
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But do they play along that fringe of eight to 10 wins, eight to nine wins, and eventually get, you know, battle for that 12th, 11th spot in the playoff? I think that's something that you kind of heard. How Austin Simmons settles in is going to be a really, really big piece to that puzzle.
- [09:01]
A
Bryce, I want to go to a team their head coach has not spoken yet, but one that you are very, very familiar with because you spent a couple years down in the bayou, that being Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers, which, funny enough, I mean, we're speaking on Tuesday. Bryce, they've already been a talking point at this point in the week, and he hasn't even gone yet. They haven't even arrived. You saw on Monday and heck, I had a back and forth the Jordan Rogers of SEC Network because of his claims that it's national title or bust for lsu. And it's been entertaining Bryce to see since he got hired, the expectations have just done this. They just keep skyrocketing to the point that this thing, who knows, it might explode by the time we get to week one and LSU plays Clemson again, that's a fan base and a program that you're really, really familiar with. What's the chatter been? Because again, every coach, it seems, has been asked about Lane Kiffin. Kirby Smart was asked about him today. The buzz and the chatter around lsu. And then I'll ask you your your thoughts and expectations on Lane Kiffin in year one at lsu. Hey, don't tell me you think it's national title or bus, right?
- [10:06]
B
No, I don't. I think, Chris, I'm of the belief that it's harder to win a national title now more than ever. So putting that type of pressure on someone. Let's talk about playoff first, right? I mean, this is a program that is very proud. They show it both with that fan base and their wallet. If we're being real in terms of what they've done over the past calendar year. You also add to the fact that no mutual friend of ours, I had him on my show last week and you've had him on show recently. Blake Ravino has been very vocal about this as well, is that there is pressure to perform. Where do you gauge that? And so in terms of starting off with what's been talked about here. I think it is a lot of surrounding and you're trying to get it from the local media. A lot of LSU local media came actually, which is an intriguing point to be made. They got here Monday because they knew the storylines would start circulating, something to cover before he even speaks on Thursday. But to that point, it's Sam Levitt and it's the help. What, what really is he. You haven't talked to him, no one's spoken to him since he arrived in Baton Rouge in terms of an official capacity. So what, what is he. What really. Is this the guy from two years ago that led Arizona State to that magical season? Is this a guy that's going to show signs of inconsistency and then, you know, two is just the depth. You and I both know it just takes some really, really good depth to win weekend week out. And I think that's something where LSU is going to have to grow in. I think that they have it at certain spots. But that's also been a talking point. That running back where the offensive line, they ramped up expectations. And this was even before I moved over to Georgia, get into my personal thoughts. You know, Chris, I was one of those people that said, okay, I think they should win eight to nine games this year. But when they go out and pay the 5 million percent, when they go pay Jordan C to be one of the top highest paid players, not just tackles in the country, that accelerated everything because you had the franchise tackle, you've got the franchise QB in terms of the market value. Now you're saying, hey, we don't need an easing in period. Now Wayne Kiffin, I'm sure like much like he did up in, you know, or down in Destin with SEC spring meetings, is going to attempt to tame things down a little bit. Like you said, this is a rampant roller coaster, right? Like this is the one that, you know, you're at, you're at the amusement park and you don't want to get on because you don't know when it's going to stop. That's kind of where I see LSU this year. But in terms of the expectations, man, I think it's playoff. With that schedule, you're really sitting in a scenario where you could lose two games and be an automatic M because of the quality of opponent that we believe in the preseason that you're going to have on that schedule. So I think it's playoff the concept and you know, he's been walking around, I know he's been a big proponent of it. And Jordan Rogers the concept of national title to me is a very. It's a casual, I think because I think you really have to understand the intricacies of navigating your way through a playoff and parlay. It's the team that I cover now. I don't think anybody should take anything away from Georgia just because they got knocked out. It's just you look at what they ran into. National title appearance team in Notre Dame, a very veteran laden team, an Ole Miss team that was playing with house money and every single card known to man with what they needed. So when you get to the playoff, your matchup, your help matters even more now because you have to be able to navigate three or four games. And also to Chris it's one of the things where you're playing the game. So I push back on that. I don't think that international title or bust in year one, within five years,
- [13:30]
A
totally different conversation Bryce Georgia and Texas are the favorites. I fully expect the media to pick them as such. Whether it's Texas 1, Georgia 1, those are going to be the top two teams selected. Where do you go immediately after that? Because it feels like there is a cluster of Texas A and M, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, lsu, Alabama, maybe Florida is a dark horse. But of that group, like where, where does your mind go next is hey, if somebody's going to upset what we feel like is the established order, it could be this team that's that number three team in the league.
- [14:04]
B
Yeah. It kind of feels like you mentioned this, that Georgia and Texas are your old guard and I think the team to me, when you look at the scene right of what can you accomplish? What do I trust the most? It's probably a lane kiss about this. Like we just got to talking about this. There's so many questions in terms of how it gels. But every single year, you know, and even on the LSU side of things where you wanted to pick a party, you wanted to point, poke holes in Ole Miss's offense without any transfers, they gelled quickly and they answered the call. When I look at that schedule, there's opportunities to make statements early in the season. I think it's through September, you have the opportunity to go play Clemson, Ole Miss and Texas. We're going to know a lot about that team the first month in like first month and change in. So to that point it's LSU I think has a chance to really run rampant there. You start to get south side of that and maybe I'm sleeping on Too much. But I kind of intrigued to see what Texas A and M does because I think Marcel Reed is an immensely talented quarterback. I think that another year for him really is the bonafide starter. Right. Because we go back two years ago I was in College Station a game where he came in against lsu, took the reins from Connor Wegman starts last year. But this is, this is really here too. So to me it's lsu, Texas A and M. Outside of that Chris, I think Alabama is really talented. I want to. I'm going to wait and see what quarterback happens but wait see what this offensive line looks at. Was talking with some Alabama media about this. They feel like they're pretty thin on that front seven. They've got good top tier talent behind that. Can you rotate past rushers? Can you rotate a front 7m that can be vaunted but to me it's. I think LSU and A and M are the two teams I trust. I trust Mike Elko defense in year three and then I think I also trust what Lane Kiffin's going to do immediately in year one from an offensive perspective.
- [15:53]
A
Bryce there's a number of new head coaches in the sec. I'm going to leave out Lane Kiffin and Pete Golding for this exercise just because again it's a unique situation with those two of the true first year head coaches at their new spots. The first year head coach that you're buying the. The most stock in to have a
- [16:12]
B
big year one that last week before he took the podium yesterday. I'm a Will Stein guy. I'm really intrigued in this Chris because I think we have to define success in different ways for different programs. John Sumner Florida is going to be graded differently than Will Stein at Kentucky is if Wilson Kentucky make a bowl game in year one, six and six, seven, five. That's a total different conversation if John somewhat goes six and six in year one. So I like what Will Stein. I like the moxie, I like the. I like the arrogance. To be honest with you a lot of people are equating it to Albert Signetti arrived and listen frankly we gotta stop that. You know what I mean? It's an easy low hanging fruit talking point talk about him. But Will Stein in Kentucky are very interesting to me. I had the chance to talk with Kenny Minchi down at Manning Passing Academy. Really obviously a smart kid that understands what he needs to do if he operates within himself in that offense. I think they have enough weapons to find consistency on the offensive football. So it's Will Stein for me man, and that's going to seem like a trendy pick because we're recording it after he took the stage and delivered some fireworks there on day one. But I just think when we talk about what success looks like, immediately I think he's got the best chance because if we're being real with ourselves and I think you did it and I did a segment on this a couple of years ago, the level of care, actually, I think I remember you saying this so you can correct me wrong. People don't get as irate about Kentucky football, Kentucky fans, as like Georgia fans about Georgia football. Right. There's a sense of complacency. So if you take that team and you have a Music City bowl appearance in year one and let's just say you win it, so you go six and six, you beat Maryland in the Music City bowl. The trajectory that does for that program I think is huge because you have to understand what that program is before Mark Stoops. You won't really worth it. I mean, Mark Stoops had that program humming at a level that they were competitive. They usually played some meaningful games in late October and early November. And if you can get to that point not in year one, but over the next three years, you've done your job. I don't think there's national title expectations at Kentucky, elsewhere, Auburn, Florida. I'm not high on Arkansas in general, to be honest, from a town level standpoint. But those other two programs, for me, Chris, the expectations are so outlandish at times, warranted maybe. I just think Kentucky's the easy answer for me at least when I look at immediate success, defining what that is.
- [18:35]
A
Bryce Kuhn, the Crowded booth Always a pleasure, Bryce. One final thing and I'll get you out of here. I think the common fan would be fascinated by kind of what I mentioned earlier where how much you learn from. You mentioned talking to an Alabama beat replacement Porter, and how much you learn from the local media that is in attendance. Because these, the local media, they see the warts of these teams better than anybody and they know the strengths of these teams better than anybody because they're on the beat every single day. Is there something that I preface with by the way, you can share because as you and I both know, we hear a lot of things. It's like, hey, keep this on the down low. But is there anything that you have learned thus far at SEC media days talking to folks that either you didn't know, know or maybe went against something that you thought? Like, was there any tidbit that you picked up from a local media member or just anybody that you talked to that stood out, you're like, huh, I did not have that piece of information going in.
- [19:31]
B
I'll double dip here with two. One was essentially talking about Missouri earlier with their defense can still be really good. Maybe the casual fan thinks, oh, they lost a lot. They've had a lot of turnover the past two years. A lot of guys drafted off that Missouri defense in the last two years. So Missouri is a team to me. But I'll talk about a team that went alongside Georgia this morning here in Tampa. There's a lot of hoopla made about Byron Brown's throwing motion, right? And I think a lot of us, it's easy to get entangled into the social media reaction of things. But just even talking to some of the beat writers, super close with a lot of those people over there, they're like, hey, it's. I don't. They don't think it's really going to matter. And talk to people inside that building is that, hey, if there's, if there's something Auburn had lacked over the past several years, it was an identity. That just doesn't seem to be the worry heading into this year. How does he acclimate to the sec? How does all this happen? But in terms of knowing who you are and what you want to do, that seems to be like the easiest thing Alex Galush has been able to do. And honestly, because it's brought over so many guys, usf, including his quarterback. So I guess Chris, that's probably the one thing that really sticks out to me through to day and a half here in Tampa, because it's a program that needs an identity. They're going to have a lot of questions they need to answer this fall. They want to be competitive. That just from the beat writers doesn't feel like one of the big questions needs to be answered. They know what they're going to do. Is it going to work?
- [20:56]
A
Year one?
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B
We'll see. But a lot of times when you go back and look at trying to find the identity the Hugh Freeze Auburn team, you just couldn't find one out there. And so I think that's the biggest change and something maybe Auburn fans can hang their hat on. It may not result in a 7, 8, 9 win season, but you're going to know who you are and what you want to build.
- [21:13]
A
With Bryce Kuhn, the crowded booth. Glory, glory, Georgia boots on the ground in Tampa, Florida at SEC media days. Bryce, I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule, of course. Down there in Tampa, let's definitely. Excuse me. Do this again soon and enjoy the rest of the week, my friend.
- [21:30]
B
Of course. Appreciate it as always, Chris. Thanks, man.