← See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
CFB Coaches on the Move? | Texas Tech LB JACOB RODRIGUEZ Joins the Show!
00:41:06
CFB Coaches on the Move? | Texas Tech LB JACOB RODRIGUEZ Joins the Show!
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- [00:00]
A
And how about that Pollock interception in the end zone? Well, it's David Pollock and I think people are going to learn what kind of ballplayer is. He's got a heart of a lion. I'm really proud of that kid. This is C Ball. Get Ball. College football's top show for football analysis, predictions and coach interviews. Now here's your host, three time All American, seven time Emmy award winner. Welcome in, baby. We gave you the picks, we gave you the bracket, we did all the things this week, got a little haircut which looks really, really awful by the way. I can see it in the show if you're watching on YouTube. And now we have a couple of coaching, you know, news. We'll start to talk a little bit about coaches. I think this is, this is the interesting part. Now you start linking specific guys to jobs and then, and then Brian Kelly who's kind of only linked to one job. Poor guy. And then it kind of brings up other topics too that Wesley put in the, in the show today. Wes, what were you thinking so far to start off the, to start off the show?
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B
Homie G. Good evening. Hey.
- [01:02]
A
Good.
- [01:02]
B
Yeah, so look, we, we've talked a lot about the Auburn job, we've talked a lot about the LSU job and we haven't really touched base since everything's gone crazy down in the bayou with lsu. So I just wanted to kind of reopen that box a little bit and it seems like right now I'm not looking at Vegas, I'm not looking at the odds on favorite. Just, just the reporting. Seems like Summerall is a big favorite for Auburn right now if DJ Durkin doesn't get the job. So if that pans out. Just wanted to pick your brain a little bit. The, the pros and cons of, you know, Auburn fans kind of clamoring for new blood there on the planes versus maybe keeping some consistency in the recruiting class with Durkin. And they had a heck of a game against Vandy too.
- [01:47]
A
Yeah, it was, it was a, it was a shootout. Here's the thing, Durkin has a chance here. Like that's the biggest thing. Like if they would have beat Vanderbilt, obviously, you know, that have been the first step in the right direction. And that Alabama game's still coming up and if you don't think that means something in this rivalry, you done lost your flipping mind. But I think that, so if you start with Durkin and how he earns the job, I think the offense immediately got better, but the problem is the defense got absolutely smoked. Um, so that was not, you know, the best start. But he's a defensive guy who's been really, really great. Like you hired him to do a job, paid him a shoot ton of money, one of the highest paid coordinators in all of college football. And he's absolutely built a great defense, recruited well, replaced a lot of different guys. The recruiting honestly, really speaks for himself and so that he, he's, he's done well at that and he's done well as recruiting in the past. Familiarity with, with the school. Hard nosed, energetic, like super en. The guy's got really, really good energy. So that, that's the pros. The cons are like we just mentioned, you already lost. The con is it did not end well at Maryland. And if you don't remember, you can look it up. I'm not going to hash up all the things that went on at Maryland, but like there was a player that passed away on his watch with a heat stroke and that's, that's kind of how it soured and how it went. And he didn't have a winning record anyways and didn't do well at Maryland. Listen, nobody does well at Maryland. Like that's a tough job to win at. So that's not, that's not the, the end all be all. Ralph region is about the only one I can remember doing pretty well. And. But like it's, it's a tough job, it's a tough gig. But, but the thing, another con too I think is like Auburn fans watching the lack of offense and then hiring a guy that's teams have lacked offense, who's a defensive coach. How would that sit, you know, with Auburn fans? I don't think that would be gal. I think they're so desperate to have some form of an offensive when they want a championship. With Malzahn and with Chiswick, like the explosive offense was, was the thing, you know, that Auburn fans had to rally a Brown. So you've had, you've, you've had that in the past. I think you want that. So those are the pros and cons. Now some are all younger. Um, you know, he's, he's at Tulane right now. Built a lot of success. I think he's 14, 11 at Tulane. Here's what I'd say about Summerall. Use the transfer portal successfully, successfully in recruiting. Culture driven, like really hardworking. He's a tough, passionate culture builder. Like he's, he's got that. He's done it at Troy, he's done it at Tulane. Like he's Got that familiarity with. With Alabama is. Our familiarity with Alabama is a big thing. It's a big deal. Not Alabama University, the state like him and his wife from Huntsville. Familiarity with sec, played at Kentucky, played linebacker. So that kind of tells you a little bit about his personality. So I guess the question is hasn't done it at this level, at the highest level, like where he's going to be at. You're betting on the come a little bit. Is that. Are you ready to do that? As an Auburn fan, I know Adam Rooks will be in the, in the. In the chat before long because he always is and he's going to tell you, no, I want somebody more established. Defensive success speaks for itself as well. Like, I think, you know, he's done a good job with, with defense as he has he done enough with the offense. You know, some are all teams and offenses and obviously his background is defense, but I think he's the younger version of aggressive mentality, culture builder, familiarity with the area. So I think there's your two, you know, two guys that you think that you use in this debate that, you know, I, if, if I'm an Auburn fan and Brent, you can jump in. If you're an Auburn fan, like, are those names, are those names sexy enough for you? If you're an Auburn fan, like, is that, is that good enough for an. An Auburn Tiger?
- [05:50]
C
So the interesting all with all this for me and the coaches and who ends up where is like, do you really know anymore because of the un. All of the unknowns. Like certain people, yes, they've won in certain. Everywhere they've been. But then, hey, I've got to step up into a different animal. Do you really know how successful they're going to be?
- [06:10]
A
I don't know.
- [06:11]
C
But you know, the thing that's more interesting to me about all these names and where they go is the win. Because now you've got one portal window and then depending upon the win of all these coaches changing it's because it's yeah, they take a job, but then somebody's got to take their job. And then there's. I mean it's a multiplier in terms of effect. You know, the portal's crazy already. The, the timing of all this just matters because it's like, okay, if this guy takes a job and then, you know, the portal window for their team and their change is there and then the portal winner for the next.
- [06:48]
A
This is why I don't like. This is why the portal winner to me should be in the south it should be before spring ball. It should be in May. That's what I originally thought and said, like it should be before spring football. You get your guys, you have plenty of time. It separates high school signing day from the other, which I think is good. It puts separation from playoff teams. All coaching vacancies are already very well filled unless a San Stanford situation happens, which was weird a year ago. That's why I don't like, I don't think the portal should be in January. I know some people are for it and so be it, but I think you should differentiate between December recruiting and put a big difference in between them and building your roster. And then when somebody gets hurt in the off season, et cetera, et cetera. Now you got a chance, you know, in the portal before spring, because I do think you need spring ball to get that together. But. But I think that I will say this. It's going to be interesting moving forward because we're in a day and age where the goalposts have moved so much, the rules have changed so much, and we're in so much newness. Do you really want to go with somebody who hasn't done it? Yeah. Under one condition. If they walk in your room and they freaking blow you away and they're like, dude, this is my plan, my gm, how I want to build it, how I want to do it. I've seen coaching do it. I've done it at Tulane, I've done it, you know, not at Troy, because the game has changed so much in the last four years. But, like, I think being able to say that I've done it really, really helps. And you have that experience and there's so many people now that are learning on the curve that I think it hurts these jobs when.
- [08:19]
C
The reason I bring that up specifically when, because you're discussing the Auburn job, is because that roster, they got some players pillaged. They got players. And that's. So that's one for me where it's just like the timing of that and when they get their coach and making sure that that roster stays intact. And maybe they can't do it independent of who they hire, but that is job number one for whoever gets that job.
- [08:49]
A
But whoever. And remember, whoever gets the job also is going to bring players from their school. Like that's going to happen. So Indiana is a perfect success story. Like you brought guys similar to your program. They know exactly what to be, who to be with, your coaches, immediate success. I'll be interested to watch if they can sustain it. Like I I think it's going to be a lot harder to sustain it than you think, because you're taking portal kids that you don't know. Like, you had insider knowledge. It's like insider trading. Like, you knew exactly what these guys were about and who they were. So that's enough for Auburn. Wesley, you want to get to. To our boy Brian Kelly, because there's not as much talk about Brian Kelly I feel. You know what? Like, here. Here's one thing I'll say. I get. I get really tired of people piling on people. Like, it just annoys me. Like, I think now is the opportunity for everybody to pile on Brian Kelly for his personality and who he is. He's been that throughout his career. But when he has a job, everybody wants to talk to him. And as soon as he gets a job, all these guys in the media will be kissing his butt, like, oh, my gosh, we'll be back to. To puckering up. But I would say the personality of Brian Kelly is probably the biggest reason why it's going to be interesting to see how many teams talk to him.
- [10:08]
B
Yeah. So I'm more interested in the LSU situation right now than bk. But I will say, the way, me personally, the way everything's playing out in Baton Rouge, I'm actually, like, taking aside a little bit. Like, it seems like they kind of fumbled that bag, the deal with Brian Kelly. Right now, the only reportedly interested team in Brian Kelly right now is Michigan State. So do with that what you will. I mean, the Big Ten and Brian Kelly do seem like a good fit, but the way that this has gone down since they let him go, the governor getting involved now, this buyout, potentially going to court, it's getting nasty. You had LSU right up there at the top of the most intriguing, most appealing openings in college football as of right now.
- [10:59]
A
Yeah.
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B
Has your mind changed as you've seen all this play out?
- [11:05]
A
Yeah, yeah. And. And because, I mean, how LSU has. Has handled this has not been good. You know, you always want to know who you're working for. You always want to know who you're working with. And to see the. The debacle that happened. And I, I think everybody saw, you know, the governor get involved and. And basically say he's making decisions and then ads get fired and, like, it's just a lot of weirdness. Like, a lot of weirdness. And so I have no clue what this means for. For lsu. I really don't. Like, I don't know if this turns people off or not. You know, Lane Kiffin has been asked a bunch of questions and Lane Kiffin has done his best Matrix. I mean, that dude has dodged it and, you know, worked around it as much as he possibly can. But the LSU job, still, it's, it's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. And some are all still been mentioned for this job, which makes a lot of sense because of the culture and right where he's at in New Orleans with Tulane and not far down the road. And so it's, it's a great job, man. It's a historically great job. Think about this, man. Like, LSU has been a spot where they have won national titles despite their coach. Like, how many programs can say that? Despite Les Miles, despite Ed Orgeron, who. You saw it, guys, like, it's, it was not a good operation. Sucker still went one national championships. Like, that's, that's absolutely incredible. So it's, it's an unbelievable gig. And this is, you know, they hired their new D.C. who's, who's still. The defense is still ball and still playing. He's still going to have a chance, obviously, to prove himself and to see if the other coaches who are there, like the Auburn coaches, the Auburn coaches are all intact except for Hugh. You know, the LSU coaches are intact. Let's see how they, how they finish their squads. But no, I think LSU definitely caused coaches to go, wait a minute, pump the brakes. Let's figure out who's in control. Let's figure out who's making the decisions. Let's figure out these relationships. Because otherwise, bro, like, I ain't jumping into that, like, point blank.
- [13:13]
B
Yeah. All right. Elsewhere and fired coach Land, Billy Napier reportedly was at Georgia's practice earlier this week and a lot of people speculating he's helping Kirby smart out game plan for Texas. Kirby said, no, that's not the case. We're just buds, whatever the case may be. Thought this was an interesting opportunity. You know, you've got Arch Manning telling people that he hit up Ty Simpson to get some advice on playing Georgia. Ty Simpson's done the same with Arch on prepping for Oklahoma. So I wanted to have you take us behind the curtain a little bit. How does this stuff really work when coaches talk to other coaches during the season about getting help on playing upcoming opponents? Because that's, it's one of those chess move kind of things that's always been interesting to me.
- [14:03]
A
Well, this is, this is something that really needs to be talked about. This is a phenomenal question. So I'm not the least bit worried about Billy Napier. Like Billy Napier happens all the time. The only way Billy Napier and that story would be relevant is if Georgia was playing Florida. Like, if Georgia was playing Florida this week. Okay, we can talk about Billy Napier being there, because the insider trading right there would be absolutely dirty. You could tell there'd be a vendetta. Not. Not good. Interesting. You know, this is the day and age, by the way, that Ty Simpson is helping Arch Manning, that that's where we are because of elite elevens and social media and everybody being friends, as opposed to it used to be everybody be enemies. So, sure, they'll pass information. I'm not sure that's that helpful. But here's the thing to understand during the season. So coaches have relationships with other coaches, and if you have a good relationship with somebody, you're absolutely going to inquire and you're going to find out week to week, okay, you played them. What went down? How was it? How's their tempo? How's their personnel thoughts on just coaching against them? Things that stuck out that were better maybe than the tape or in the moment that you really, really learned that that's cool. Now it's an unwritten rule. Like, an unwritten rule. You don't. You don't want to share this. Like, this is. This is a please, you know, this is a keep your mouth shut, right? Kind of a deal, right? Like you're going to talk to, especially in conference opponents that are playing each other in and out. That's a really big no. No. But, like, this is. You don't want to. You don't want to tick these people off. So this is not something you text. This is not something you email. Like, this is something that you call, you pick up the phone and this conversation happens. Now, here's the thing, it might not even be your phone. Like, you might call wife to wife just to make sure that there's a buffer. Like, these coaches are making sure that, like, they understand what it could mean and what it could look like. But this is something, man, that being around the game, that. That kind of blew me away. Like, I was shocked to find out, like, how much coaches are willing to help coaches week to week, because it's just your competitive nature. You just wonder, like, how does that possible, like, how would a coach really want to help another coach that I'm going to have to play in the future? So. But it does happen. I mean, it happens all the time. And the first part, the first part that really caught me off guard years ago when I was working at espn espn. Like the thing that caught me off guard was I remember when 2014 happened and, and, and Tom Herman and company beat up on Alabama with tempo, with pace in the Sugar bowl and went on with Cardell Jones to win a national championship. Tom Herman that offseason gets the job at Houston. Alabama and Nick Saban invite Tom Herman in, into their living room, into their coach's office. Right. To get there and to pick his brain on tempo and what their thoughts were. So like, it's so weird because the thing with the coaching profession is the coaching profession was built on other coaches helping other coaches and having mentors and people that teach you. So you want to be able to pass that on and to be able to share knowledge. But there's such a fine line between sharing knowledge with coaches and sharing knowledge with enemies and people that you're going to play and they have to delicately balance that in a way. I think is, is really, really interesting. And you're right. Morris in the chat, junior like Saban was constantly re rehabbing coaches. Right. And bringing them in. And, and that's a really smart thing to do. And here's another thing you see, you see a lot of GA's get taken into different schools in the off season. Guys that don't have a lot of value, you would think on the outside, but they've worked in a system. So guess what they do. They have their signs, they have the way they communicate. So they come in and they use the information against certain opponents. So Wesley, did that, did that answer your question? Because I think it's cool. I think it's cool that people know that. But that's how, that's literally how coaches work in the back channels.
- [18:04]
B
Yeah, I mean I think Napier and Kirby, their friendship, their relationship, I mean it's a no brainer. What else is Billy Napier up to right now? And what other town would you want to be in in November than Athens? You know, it's the perfect place to be. So. Yeah, that's very interesting. Really the more interesting thing to me was, was the arch and tie connection. Obviously they, they go way back, but the dynamic, I mean think about the implications of all those SEC teams, what they're all fighting for right now. And very similar to the coaches, players helping each other out as well.
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A
Yep, no doubt.
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B
Tell us about Omaha Stakes. I got your script in, got your read in there.
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A
You got me, you got me. You scripted me. Sweet. All right. Omaha Steaks, man, I think everybody knows that, that, that name, when you say it, obviously it has, you know, it has a care to it. People know what that brand stands for. And I, I'm a, I'm a picky dude and what I put in my body and health is a big deal. So eating grass fed beef, that's, that's one of the reasons why I like Omaha Steaks. Family owned business, over 100 years delivered to your door. If you don't love that, you are not human. Everybody loves that nowadays. How many people have boxes that show up consistently at your door all the time? I don't really love that all the time. Especially when your wife's buying stuff you don't really need. Really need. But we get our shipments all the time to our doors. You know, I'm ready to go place one now. Get my son in there on the grill. My son actually cooks them for us. But this month if you visit Omaha steaks.com you get $35 off. 30, 35 bucks off, dude. You're welcome. With the promo code pollock. That's Omaha Steaks dot com. 35. 35 off with the promo code Pollock. Get you some steaks, get you some burgers, eat good, take care of your body, take care of your family. And in the most important way possible, do it conveniently. You ain't got to go out. Ain't nobody got to run to the store. You're good. You're taken care of. Omaha Steaks has always been top notch.
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B
All right.
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A
Wesley, where are we going next, homie?
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B
Got Nicholas on the grill, huh? I like that.
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A
Oh, dude, he's got the meat thermometer and everything. Like, it's fantastic.
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B
Good. All right. So did you see what USC did on the fake punt?
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A
I did.
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B
What'd you think about that?
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A
I am not a fan. I think this is. I think this is bush league. I think what. I think what, what Lincoln, Riley and USC did with their punter is bush league. I don't like it. I don't think there's any place in the sport for. Was absolutely done on purpose. You know, he was a quarterback, a backup quarterback puts on number 80 to look like punter Sam Johnson. They run a fake punt and here's, here's why. I don't like it, Wesley. Because one, he didn't warm up with the quarterbacks for a reason. Because they. They changed. They. They gave the. They gave the roster to Northwestern earlier in the week. They. And then they presented a different roster, the flip card roster before the before kick.
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B
And they put him as number 80. Correct game day roster.
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A
They. They changed it. So now, so now Everybody in America is going to be very cognizant of the game day roster. He wasn't on there before that, but. So they flipped him. They changed it. They dressed him up as a punter. He had kicking cleats on. He had the wristband of the punter. He looked exactly like the punter. He didn't warm up, Wes. He didn't warm up with the, with the quarterbacks. Like so. Yeah, we can call this gamesmanship. We can call it taking advantage. It's. It. To me, it defeats the purpose, the spirit of football. If we're going to talk about. We do this with honor. We do this with integrity. Like, you deliberately worked around a rule and cheated. Like, I don't think that's the spirit of football that we want. I don't think. Here's the thing. You know what? Here's, here's two changes to me that we get rid of this bullcrap. One, your roster at the beginning of the season is your roster. Can't change it. That's your roster. We're not changing the roster week to week. We don't need to do that crap. And then get rid of double numbers and it gets rid of this stuff. Like, you have one number. It's pretty simple. You don't get the number you want. Too bad. So sad. Here's how I got 47 at Georgia. I got to Georgia and I was like, I had. They gave me number 47. I was like, hey, coach, I was 44 in high school. I'd really like to be 40. 44. So 44 is taken. Okay, I'll take 47. Like, it's that simple. So, no, I think it's bush league. I'm not on board with this.
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B
All right, so you're going to hate this order.
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A
Number 80 for Sam.
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D
Number 80 for.
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A
Number seven. There we go.
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D
Thank you. All right, man.
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A
Have a good day.
- [22:57]
B
Thanks.
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D
Pass. The other day.
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A
Nice puns. That.
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B
That is from. That is from USC's account. So not only.
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A
No, no, no. I love that. I love that. I love the trolling. You know me, I'm all for trolling. I'm all for, for that stuff. But the spirit of what was done and how it was done and stuff. Like, I'm out on that. And, and, and it's. And you've seen it. You'll see it across the country. Now, obviously, people will be checking rosters and be more dialed into this. But I don't like the, the, the, the wardrobe and all that went into this.
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B
Yeah. So Northwestern's coach actually said he's, he's still continuing to blame himself. You sent me that link. I didn't have time to get it in the show.
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A
That's because that's what he does because he's a great coach and that's what you do. You blame yourself. Remember, what did Dillingham say with us last week? It's on me.
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B
His fault.
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A
Something doesn't go right, it's on me. Mr. Jacob Rodriguez coming up. By the way, for all you reckon fans later in the show, we're gonna have the stud muffin fumble causing machine.
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B
Did he have the stash when you talked to him today?
- [23:58]
A
Dude, healthy stash talked to him earlier today. The stash is, is, is luxurious. It's, I mean, it's, it's thick. It's a sweater. He said it's good for this time of year.
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B
All right, that's coming up in a couple minutes. All right, so podium kings gonna start off with. We're going to work our way through the weekend. So Kurt Signetti, before the game, all business and I like this quote for a couple of reasons. But here he is before kickoff on fox.
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A
This team's never played here. You said your antenna is up when it comes to Penn State. What concerns you? Nothing concerns. It's time to be concerned over. It's time to attack and play.
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B
So Jenny Taft asked him, you know, hey, Indiana's never won here. And that was Signetti's response. This team has never played here. And I thought that summed up a lot about college football right now. History books, your legacies, none of that stuff matters anymore, man.
- [24:52]
A
Now it's changed so much. And obviously Indiana's writing their history, you know, like that was, that's part of, you know, they're, they're leaving all that behind, man. Where they've been, ranked, how they've been. I will say this, man. I went back and watched that Indiana game again and the Penn State game and there's some concerns for Indiana and they're, they're, it's, they need to wrap back, obviously. But I was definitely concerned with, if I'm an Indiana fan. I was, I was a little bit concerned about a bunch of different things. The offensive line in particular. You know, those guys protecting their, their stud. Mendoza. It was not, it was not great. And the defense is obviously giving up more plays as the season has gone on. Big plays at bad times, too.
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B
All right, you and Brent talked about Coach Narduzzi and Pitt. I'm going to play it. And then I Want to ask you a, a specific question as it relates to Notre Dame.
- [25:48]
A
Absolutely not. You know, it is not an ACC game. I'm glad you brought that up. It's not an ACC game. You know, I gladly get beat 103 or 110 to 10 in that game. They could put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that. But again, our focus is on Notre Dame and getting as many wins as we can.
- [26:10]
B
All right, so he was asked if Notre Dame is a must win game. Look, if that's the case, why should anybody care about playing Notre Dame? I just, I didn't understand it. I think I kind of understand what he's trying to say. But the 110 to 10 or whatever it was, that was crazy.
- [26:29]
A
Brent mentioned the, the numbers being significant because they've beaten him by that money in the last couple two years. But, but like, I understand as a coach wanting to take the pressure off of my guys. I get that. But, bro, that. I'm not trying to give him excuses either. And that's not what I want to see. And I guarantee he's not like that behind closed doors. But I didn't love the quote. I don't, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not letting a man. I'm not saying a man's going to beat me by anything more or less by 100. I don't care if we lose by a hundred. Like, I, I don't like losing, period. Like, I'm a horrible loser. And you now, I don't care if I get destroyed. If that was my coach, I'd be like, oh, I don't, I don't love the quote.
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B
Not a fan, coach. All right, this last one, Coach Blake Harrell at ecu, I found this one to be very relatable for everyone involved with this show as it concerns pronouncing names. Number 13, Greg Desorios.
- [27:28]
A
Desorous or not sure how to say his last name, but 13 does a really good job back there.
- [27:33]
B
He can really, you know, go the.
- [27:34]
A
Distance, take the house as well.
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B
When in doubt, just use the number. Right. D.P.
- [27:39]
A
I love that. Well, I mean, that's, that's fantastic. Like, that's. Listen, when you watch tape, man, like, Brent, when you watch the tape, like, you don't have time to. You don't have time to learn all of the names you're just going through. And sometimes you're like, man, all right, 13, all right. Not like you just, well, I don't need to know all the names. I just need to get through it and watch it at nauseum. I'm not going to look up every name every time a play is made. So I. And we're all here for using initials too. Like we're fine with that. And nicknames are good. Like all that's good.
- [28:11]
C
Well, like, you know, we've had Cole Kublick on the show and when he does his recap, do you notice what he does in his recap numbers? 0 did this. 5 did this. 33 did this. He's. He's not looking up names. I just want to say though, the Georgia Napier being at Georgia's Practice first reported ugasports.com Anthony Dasher. Shout out him. That was the. That's the website I work for.
- [28:35]
B
So I want to get his mustaches, man. Love Dash.
- [28:38]
A
Sweet.
- [28:39]
C
Gotta give us. I mean if we're going to talk about it, we got to give the credit where it came from first.
- [28:44]
A
Gotcha. I'm not good at that. That's not my. That's not my jam. That's why we got Brent. So we got Wes. I'll cover all the details. All right. Early today, got lucky. Got to go visit my man Joey McGuire in Texas Tech and we got to visit with Mr. Rodriguez. The fumble. The fumble forcing machine. But you know, here's. Here's visiting with Coach McGuire earlier. He didn't set up the interview. All right, coach, give me the tour of the office. This is the best part I already see right here. I'm glad you appreciate the Christmas tree. My wife is going to love that. We call this the closing room. So, you know, over the last year we have had some pretty big deals and some celebrations of some really big time players. All the position coaches, they have a balcony off their office. Oh, everybody does.
- [29:32]
B
Yeah.
- [29:33]
A
So during the games we come in, we got some really nice seats. We come in for our families and everything like that. So it's like every coach has a suite. So your journey is really cool, man. Like, so getting coming out of high school, what was your recruitment like? Like, because obviously I don't know that everybody knows where you went and what position you played, right?
- [29:53]
D
Yeah, it was, it was interesting. Especially like that was right around Covid. So, you know, none of us got to take any visits and it was real weird trying to get to know coaches and figure out where you want to be. But I played quarterback in high school and so I was getting recruited as a quarterback and then kind of turned out to be half my offers were quarterback, half My offers were linebacker, and so I still thought I had some quarterback in me.
- [30:20]
A
So you wanted to play quarterback?
- [30:21]
D
I did. I wanted to play quarterback. And so I went to the University of Virginia and went out there for Bronco Menenhall and played quarterback and ended up being a gadget player and, you know, playing all over the field on offense.
- [30:32]
A
And how did you get to. How did you get to Tech? Because I think a lot of people are like, oh, he just transferred to Tech and started making plays.
- [30:37]
D
Yeah. So McGuire was at Baylor when he'd offered me to play linebacker. And so when he got the job here, I had a few guys who were on the team here out of high school, and so I kind of hit them up and was able to get a spot down here. But, you know, he didn't have any scholarships left at the time. And so it was kind of one of those where, you know, it's a tough decision to leave a place where you're taken care of, but, you know, kind of trusted in him and, you know, it's kind of gone from there, but, you know, playing a new position and doing everything, it's definitely different.
- [31:10]
A
What was the hardest part of adjusting to linebacker?
- [31:14]
D
I think just being physical in practice. I think, you know, because you usually.
- [31:17]
A
Wear multicolored jersey, you're not allowed. You're not allowed to hit.
- [31:20]
D
Yeah. So as a quarterback, nobody's ever touching you in practice. And it's, you know, Cardinals tend to even get close to the quarterback. And so, you know, I had never really experienced that in practice. You know, you know, games are games where you're going to be physical but just hitting an indy and then, you know, in every team, period, and stuff. So you got to really get used to using your hands and. And, you know, you got to do a lot of neck workouts, but other than that.
- [31:43]
A
Yeah, I bet that neck was sore getting all that contact, repeated contact, over and over.
- [31:47]
D
Yeah, because it used to be where it's just kind of after. After a game and it's kind of a Sunday, Monday thing, and then it's good. But, you know, it's all throughout the week and, you know, you have to get ready for the next game. But, yeah, that was probably the biggest difference.
- [31:59]
A
I have to imagine, though, like, playing quarterback like that had to help being a linebacker. Like, I mean, do. Do you still look at the game? Obviously you've transitioned, you've done it enough. But, like, you have more intel on QBs than most defensive players. Like, most of us are just big, dumb animals. The Ball moves, we go get it. Like, you have the thought process of a quarterback because you know, what they try to do to you. So how does that help you?
- [32:21]
D
Yeah, I think it helps me with, you know, just knowing where to attack defenses and, you know, want to kind of where like the no cover zones are, you know, pre snap where their grass is and, you know, just being able to put my. Myself in a position to be able to do my job, but able to, you know, protect us as much as possible.
- [32:37]
A
When. When you look at this squad this year, man, like, bringing in all the new guys, like, how did y' all get to know each other? You got new dc, you got new guys all over the place. Like, how did. How did everybody come together and, you know, how did y' all become a team?
- [32:53]
D
Yeah, I think the first thing was we got really great people. And so, like, obviously they're really good football players, but, you know, they came in not wanting to be, you know, just here for a year and gone. They wanted to be a part of something special and a part of a family. And, you know, they bought in as soon as they got here and everything was new. I mean, we had a new facility, we had, you know, new coaching staff, new everything. And so we're all kind of, you know, started from, you know, phase one together. And so I think that really helped. But then, you know, we did a lot of stuff, whether it was in the weight room in the off season, you know, switching up groups that we work out with to get to know guys. And then, you know, Coach Wire does a great job with wanting us to meet with each other and so, like, individually. Yeah, so. Or we would go out as groups, like 10 or 15 guys every Wednesday, and we go to a different, you know, breakfast spot in Lubbock. And so the whole team would go out, but, like, you know, you're, you know, rotating between 10 and 15 guys every time. So you're getting to meet guys and, you know, learn things outside of football about them. And I think that was something that really helped us was, you know, just getting to know everybody off the field and, you know, figuring it out that way because obviously we have great football players that. That came in and we're going to make a difference right away. But, you know, it means more when you, you know, know so much about their family and where they came from.
- [34:04]
A
You got some monsters in front of you. I mean, some monsters. Like, what's it like with those guys? Give me, give me. Like, when did, you know, like, when did you. When did you know, those guys, because, like, everybody. Everybody has different hypes and different things, like when coming in. But, like, when did you know, like, when you're at practice, you're like, that's. That's a little bit different.
- [34:21]
D
I mean, the first day. I mean, the first day of spring ball, and we're doing just. I'm just watching them do Indy and, like, David and Romello and Lee Hunter and, like, all these guys that are, you know, massive, they're moving just different than I've ever seen.
- [34:43]
A
Getting off the ball a little faster.
- [34:45]
D
I know David came a little later in the spring.
- [34:48]
A
Yep.
- [34:48]
D
And so, you know, the first practice that I got to see him, like, I had never seen two guys close the pocket as fast as David Romello had. And it was just one of those, you know, my mouth is dropped to the ground, and I'm just, you know, super excited to be able to play. I mean, it makes everybody's job easier. And, you know, when you only have to rush four and you can still get there and you're confident getting there with, you know, in a timely manner, I mean, you can do so much in the back end. That'll help. And, you know, I mean, they're incredible.
- [35:18]
A
Have you seen. Have you seen them do anything that you're just like, how the heck did you do that?
- [35:22]
D
Oh, well, like, we'll watch it in film. So in practice, you know, when we go good on good, and, you know, we're watching a play where, you know, something goes wrong in the back end, but then coach will kind of bring it up. Well, you know, it's a sack. Like, what do you mean? Like, it was, you know, a second and a half. Not even. It's like, oh, yeah, watch David. And it's like the nastiest move you'll see, and he's just lightning fast. And same thing with, you know, Romello. Those guys are so good, and they work so well off of each other that it's. It's not fair. It really isn't.
- [35:57]
A
I saw. I saw David beat a double team with two different moves and a spin. Like, he hit him with one move and then a spin move off it. I'm like, that's just. That's. That's not human. Like, that's. That's so much fun. Like, the way he strings moves together. All right, so we've talked all this time, and we haven't talked about punching a football out. Like, all right, so I played a long time ago, but that's not something that we ever Did. But then you see Peanut Tillman in the NFL. I don't know if you know who he is from the Bears. Okay, like, how did you. How does this come. How did this come about? Do y' all work on this? Like, what, what, what? Tell me about your punch.
- [36:32]
D
Yeah, definitely. So if you walk around the facility, you'll see, like, we have posts that are nailed it to the ground that have a screwed in football on them. And so we're walking around and we're punching it, you know, every time we come in and out of the door. And it's something we think about, you know, McGuire sends us a text every day as a defense, and whether it's, you know, Peanut Tillman punching another ball out or, you know, somebody intercepting the ball. But, you know, that's why we call it takeaways, not turnovers. And so you're always learning how to take the ball away. And it really just kind of depends on kind of your angle that you come in at, whether you want to rip or punch. But most of the time, I find it easier if you just, you know, punch at it while you're tackling. It makes it a lot easier.
- [37:09]
A
You don't even like. It's funny because the more I continue to watch it is you don't have to hit the ball. Like, you don't have to perfectly hit the ball. Like hitting arms. And like the ball, it still seems to come out regardless if you do it violent enough, I guess, with the right timing. Is that, Is that the thing?
- [37:25]
D
Yeah, timing's a big thing. And kind of how you strike, it's the same thing. If you want to strike with your same foot, you know, your power foot in the ground. And so kind of that power foot in the ground and then leads up through the ground and, you know, you get a good punch on it, you have a chance.
- [37:40]
A
All right. Coach McGuire seems actually. Know what you said it strike. You said strike. So you did. You struck a pose this past week. What led to that?
- [37:49]
D
Yeah, you know, I feel like everybody, especially that week, had been talking about it. You know, we had all these tents set up here for game day and Raiderville was wild and they were all just Chen Heisman. And I was kind of messing with my linebacker buddies that, you know, if I do something, you know, that is worthy of hitting the pose and I'll do it. And sure enough, I got, you know, Lee and David. I'm so thankful they didn't get a sack on that play.
- [38:14]
A
He bought some time.
- [38:16]
D
Yeah, they, they, they were Real close to getting there. And so kind of, that's the only.
- [38:20]
A
Time you're gonna be thankful.
- [38:21]
D
Oh, I know. I know. And, you know, I was able to tip it to myself and then go for it, and I didn't even want to hit it then. And I was just kind of celebrating, about to get off the field, and then, you know, one of my teammates was, you know, telling me to hit it. And so it was in the moment, a lot of adrenaline going.
- [38:38]
A
Ain't nothing wrong with that. Yeah, nothing wrong with that. All right, so we'll wrap up. Coach McGuire seems like, like, the most country cool, chill, nothing bothers him type of guy. I can't imagine that's always the guy.
- [38:53]
D
You see, man, Coach McGuire is the same guy all the time talking to the media, whether we're here at, you know, 5:00am Getting ready for a walkthrough on Thursday, or, you know, in the afternoon for a practice.
- [39:06]
A
So he's never mad?
- [39:08]
D
No, I mean, he gets mad, but I mean, his energy level and his, you know, appreciation for everybody is always the same. And so whether it's the first time meeting him or the hundredth time meeting him, he's gonna, you know, you know, get to see you the same way and be excited to see you and, you know, real appreciate if you get to meet you. And he's the best I've ever been around, and he's the most consistent that I've ever been around.
- [39:31]
A
That's cool. When you bring in all these guys and you hear, like, I guess, how does this make you feel when you hear people talking about, like, well, they went and bought a defense, they bought a defensive line, bought a defense, buying wins. Like, does that bother you at all?
- [39:47]
D
Not really. I mean, I feel like everybody around the country is doing it.
- [39:51]
A
Yep.
- [39:52]
D
It's just kind of where, you know, we're. It's paying off for us because I think we. We're more important with doing it with the right people and bringing the right people in. And like I said earlier, you know, we didn't bring just great football players. We got. We brought great people and people who want to come in the building and want to be a part of a family and want to, you know, buy into a culture. And I think that's paid off for us so far.
- [40:13]
A
What's. What's the goals. What was the preseason goals for?
- [40:17]
D
Texas Tech Big 12 Championship?
- [40:19]
A
So that's what we're singularly focused on, the Big 12 championship.
- [40:22]
D
Yes, sir.
- [40:23]
A
Whoever gets in the way.
- [40:24]
D
Whoever gets in the way, who would.
- [40:26]
A
You like to beat in the championship game? Do you have a rival that y' all play that you do you want to beat more than others?
- [40:33]
D
I mean, I feel like we had a rival which was TCU and Baylor, but we didn't even play them this.
- [40:37]
A
Year, which is weird. That's the conference expansion.
- [40:40]
D
And so I guess. I mean, now I don't even know who we would have. I mean, I would love to play Arizona State again. You know, I'd love to do whatever I can to win that game, but it's really just whoever, you know, shows up. But we got to get there first. You know, we got a good one this weekend with a really explosive offense, and so we'll go one and oh this week, and then we'll see what happens.
- [41:02]
A
All right. One and O this week. Good to sit with you, brother.
- [41:04]
D
Appreciate the time. Appreciate the time. Yes, sir.