Chris Fowler & David Pollack Celebrate Lee Corso | College Football Week 1 PREDICTIONS

Summary

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See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: Chris Fowler & David Pollack Celebrate Lee Corso | College Football Week 1 Predictions

Date: August 28, 2025

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Overview

This episode dives into the exhilarating kickoff of 2025’s college football season. Host David Pollack, alongside co-host Brent Rollins, breaks down week one’s most anticipated matchups, discusses the stories and personalities shaping the sport, and welcomes ESPN legend Chris Fowler for an insider’s perspective. A heartfelt tribute to Lee Corso's legacy on College GameDay weaves through the show, celebrating the coach’s unique impact as he nears retirement.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. New Segment: Podium Kings – Sounds from the Week

(03:25 – 10:06)

• Concept Introduction: Each week, the team spotlights the most compelling, humorous, or revealing comments from coaches and players, using their direct quotes to set the stage for analysis.

  • “It’s called Podium Kings. It’s the sounds from the weekend, the week of… like, the different things that they said; something we’re like, oh, that caught my eye.” – David Pollack (01:25)

• Kirby Smart on Colbie Young (Georgia WR):

  • Smart’s emphasis on leadership, toughness, and physicality as key traits for WR1.
  • Pollack’s analysis: “If you don’t block, you can’t play at Georgia. No block, no rock.” (05:19)

• Texas A&M RB Leon Moss’s Mentality:

  • “Running out of bounds is like running from a fight.” – Leon Moss (06:06)
  • “I could not love this anymore… that guy’s on my team, I’m glad he’s on my team.” – Pollack (06:08)
  • Noted stat: Moss averaged 4.4 yards per attempt after contact last year.

• Coach Fran Brown’s Authenticity & Approach to Scholarships (Georgia Alum):

  • “I got money… I’m gonna pay his way and I got another scholarship.” (07:22)

• Arch Manning on the Season’s Pressure (Texas):

  • “We're not the hunted, we're the hunter. We have the red dot on everyone else.” – Arch Manning (08:24)
  • Pollack: "When you're a QB, you gotta have a level of swag… you want that from your QB..." (09:06)

2. Week 1 Matchup and Predictions

(12:07 – 33:35)

Georgia Tech vs. Colorado

• Both co-hosts pick Georgia Tech due to known strengths and consistency, but express intrigue about Colorado’s new identity post-Sanders era.
• Fun Fact: Colorado’s live mascot, Ralphie, is retiring due to “an indifference to running” (16:34).
  • “Count me on the list… I have an indifference to running, too. Who the heck likes running?” – Pollack (16:38)

Boise State at USF

• Boise favored, but questions raised about a cross-country trip and team adjustments post-NFL departures.

Nebraska vs. Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium

• Both pick Nebraska, citing improved roster and must-win status for a program seeking to take the next step.
• Brent highlights DL transfer Williams Nwaneri and Nebraska’s new offensive weapons.

Auburn at Baylor

• A pivotal contest for Auburn’s program identity.
• “Auburn fans are like this right now… they’re trying to figure out who they are. Are they a seven [win team] or are they a two or a three?” – Pollack (22:31)
• Both believe Auburn’s elite WR duo and strong OL give them an edge, if the QB play holds up.

Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Neutral Site, Atlanta)

• Tennessee’s defense is viewed as the key.
• Discussion of fit and risk in Hypel’s offense; concern for turnover propensity of new Syracuse QB Steve Angeli (from Notre Dame).
• “You gotta trust Hypel… he finds a way to get it done.” – Pollack (29:39)

Alabama at Florida State (Doak Campbell Stadium)

• High focus on QB play and Alabama’s ability to contain FSU’s dynamic dual-threat QB Thomas Castellanos.
• “The running quarterback’s been an issue for Bama… you could play touch football on an elevator and lose to Tommy [Castellanos].” – Pollack (30:49)
• Brent flags rising FSU RB Arelious Crum—curiosity if he’ll make an impact as a true freshman.

3. Chris Fowler Joins: Celebrating Lee Corso, Previewing LSU vs. Clemson

(35:46 – 52:52)

Fowler's Dual Schedule/Football Excitement

• “These are my two favorite sports [football and tennis]… when they converge… I’m pumped up. I use sleep is for October, I guess.” – Chris Fowler (36:09)

Intel from LSU Coaches on Their Opener Against Clemson

• Fowler shares LSU’s optimism after offseason investment in the portal, significant improvement on OL/DL, and confidence in QB Nussmeier.
• “The Bayou Bengal Tigers have a better chance of going in there and winning than I thought… two hours ago.” – Fowler (38:50)

Clemson’s Outlook and Defensive Upgrades

• Fowler notes Klubnik’s growth, defensive improvements under new coordinator Tom Allen (from Penn State), and Clemson’s avoidance of Miami in the ACC schedule.
• “They [LSU] played so much Cover 2 last year… didn’t look like LSU at all. But now they think they are [ready].” – Fowler (39:32, 40:30)
• Both agree it’s a playoff-caliber matchup to open the season.

Lee Corso – Memories, Legacy, and Headgear Tradition

• Fowler paints Corso as much more than an entertainer — a mentor and a coach to all who worked with him.
  • “He made you want to believe in yourself… he showed confidence in you. That’s how he was as a coach and as a colleague.” – Fowler (42:30)
  • Anecdote: “It’s entertainment, sweetheart.” – Lee Corso to Pollack on set, reminding him of the show’s spirit (44:16)
• McDonald's drive-thru story: Corso unwittingly eats a chicken sandwich dropped in a parking lot and reassembled for a halftime skit — a testament to his comic commitment and laid-back nature (45:40).
• Emotional reflection on Corso’s final show at Ohio State, full-circle where he donned his first headgear.
  • “There’s never going to be another one… it should go away [after Corso].” – Pollack on retiring the headgear tradition (48:32)
  • “He would say yes to anything… he would commit 100%.” – Fowler (49:30)

Rapid-Fire Weekend Plotlines and Picks

• Ralphie’s retirement as Colorado mascot bums Fowler out: “That’s the one downer of the weekend.” (50:06)
• Anticipation for Texas–Ohio State: “All six [top 10 teams playing] could make the playoff. This is as deep and strong a week one as I can remember.” – Fowler (41:35, 42:04)
• US Open tennis pick: “Sinner is the easiest pick to make… those two young guys, Sinner and Alcaraz, are in a class by themselves right now.” – Fowler (51:50)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Arch Manning Q&A:

  • “We’re not the hunted, we’re the hunter. We have the red dot on everyone else.” – Arch Manning (08:24)

• On Bold QB Attitude:

  • “You gotta have a level of swag… you gotta kinda think you’re bulletproof.” – Pollack (09:06)

• On Lee Corso:

  • “He made you want to believe in yourself… he was a wise, experienced voice and resource when you needed that in your life.” – Fowler (42:30)
  • “It’s entertainment, sweetheart.” – Lee Corso via Pollack (44:16)

• On Georgia’s WR Room:

  • “If you don’t block, you can’t play at Georgia. No block, no rock.” – Pollack (05:19)

• On Auburn’s Current Program State:

  • “Auburn fans are like this right now… they’re trying to figure out who they are. Are they a seven or are they a two or a three?” – Pollack (22:31)

• On Ralphie (Mascot) Retirement:

  • “Count me on the list. I have an indifference to running, too.” – Pollack (16:38)
  • “That’s the one downer of the weekend.” – Fowler (50:06)

• On Headgear Tradition:

  • “Do you dare try that [headgear] with someone else? …I think it should go away [with Corso].” – Fowler & Pollack (48:20)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Podium Kings Feature: 03:25 – 10:06
• College Football Week 1 Picks: 12:07 – 33:35
• Chris Fowler Joins (Celebrating Corso, LSU/Clemson Analysis): 35:46 – 52:52
• Corso Stories and Headgear Discussion: 42:04 – 49:30
• Weekend’s Big Games & Tennis Pick: 50:06 – 52:52

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Final Thoughts

This episode expertly intertwines in-depth game previews, behind-the-scenes insights, and warm, humorous storytelling about college football’s legends. Pollack and Rollins deliver sharp, honest analysis, while Chris Fowler’s stories remind listeners of the heart and humanity that underpin the sport’s culture. The show ends with a call to savor both the spectacle of Week 1 and to honor Lee Corso’s singular mark on college football.

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Transcript

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[David Pollock]

What's up everybody? David Pollock here of cball Get Ball podcast. I hope you like it, man. Be sure to follow the show Wherever you subscribe, YouTube or any of your other platforms. What's up everybody? Welcome back on in. And we will continue to be here live every Monday and Wednesday night at 8:30. So y' all keep joining us and, and then we're. We're here. C ball. Get ball. Brent, like Brett Rollins joins me as always. And, and we're here. We're getting closer. Today is picks day. We're going to make some picks of some big games. We got Chris Fowler and Brent. I was talking to Fowler about his schedule and he was balancing the US Open with Novak Djokovic and then balancing talking to lsu. So he's going to be fresh off of his conversation with LSU coaches today about, you know, about the game. So it'll be great to pick his brain because he's calling that football game. But first we'll get to the real Deal. We're going to do this every week, man, and it's going to be really fun. And it's called podium Kings. It's the sounds from the weekend, the week of, like, the different things that they said. Something we're like, oh, that kind of. That kind of caught my eye. And that gives me a. An introduction into somebody or something that's going on. So, Brent, how you doing, brother? First, you doing all right? Good.

[Brent Rollins]

I. I just. It's here, like we've talked for and just personally, a couple of things. One, I'm not used to doing all this talking in the off season. It's. It's a different animal. I'm ready for actual football. I'm ready to break down actual football. It's. It's fantastic. Two, 21 years ago, I moved to Georgia and I went to my first Georgia football game. And do you remember who they played 21 years ago?

[David Pollock]

Marshall.

[Brent Rollins]

That would be Marshall.

[David Pollock]

I played Marshall in the opening.

[Brent Rollins]

You played against Marshall? I was there. I actually had to get tickets. My wife graduated from Marshall. Like, I went to all their games, you know, because it's like 40 minutes from my hometown. So, like, it's a sort of nostalgic feeling this week. Marshall coming to Athens again.

[David Pollock]

That's cool. No, that's cool. And then obviously, Georgia is not going to be one of the games we're previewing because that spreads almost at 40, but a good number for you, Brent, with that game. Kirby Smart is 0:12 in 38 point or more spreads. Yes, I saw. I saw that somewhere. Because Kirby doesn't care. He's going to run the football. Get the heck out of here. Try to stay healthy. First. Let's get the podium kings. We're going to listen to the voices of college football, the different players, the different coaches, and maybe even have different things along the way. And I think it'll be fun break because we can listen to them in their own words, talk about specific things and then maybe we'll break it down and actually what they mean sometimes. Like this one right here from Kirby Smart talking about one of his wide receivers this year.

[Brent Rollins]

Coach, everybody knows what, you know, Kobe Young situation was last year. He's now back. How is he maybe. Maybe appreciated this second chance he's now getting? And how has he been so far in camping practice?

[David Pollock]

He's been a tremendous leader throughout. He's practiced with toughness.

[Brent Rollins]

He's.

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He understands that position in that room really well. Really physical.

[David Pollock]

Can block.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

I mean, just, you know, incredibly and has been a. A Vertical jump ball. Really good player for us in camp.

[David Pollock]

So I want him to.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

To keep doing what he's doing and continue to lead that.

[David Pollock]

That young group of guys in that room. I'm going to break down what that means for Kirby Smart. We got our wide receiver one. That's what that means. Like the guy that does all the dirty work.

[Brent Rollins]

Yes.

[David Pollock]

All the. All the blocking. First of all, if you don't block, you can't play at Georgia. Like, you just.

[Brent Rollins]

You're blocking Rock.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Yeah.

[David Pollock]

No block, no rock. You ain't getting it. And I think we saw from Colby Young a year ago, the dude's a star. I mean, he can catch the ball over top of people. He's obviously got the size, winning deep. But the leadership component is the first thing Kirby's going to hone in on is the hard work, the leadership. But I think to me, I HEAR Wide receiver 1 for Georgia is Colby Young.

[Brent Rollins]

Shout out. By the way, my co [e-mail] Anthony-with the great question, then us with the feed there. That's. That's great cross promotion for me because I obviously write for Ugasports.com but also just the toughness part of it, I think he's taught. When you hear Kirby answer questions week in and week out, he's mainly talking about practice habits and toughness. So that, that's. That, that. That's good to hear if you're a Georgia fan, I think from that.

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Yeah.

[David Pollock]

Well, those are the most. Those are. Those are the most important things to him. I don't know who is next. Let's, let's. Let's make this a surprise of who's next, but I think it'll be entertaining. So take a peek. Would you be more inclined to just.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Go out of bounds now if you're. No, no, I'm a man.

[Brent Rollins]

Try to save yourself or anything.

[David Pollock]

I'm a man.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Running out of bounds is like running from a fight.

[David Pollock]

I could not love this anymore. Leon Moss for A and M, the running back, like you saw him last year, he ran angry. He ran pissed off. And that is the, like, that reminded me of Hersel. Like when Herschel said the ball didn't get heavy like they asked him, you're carrying the ball 40 times. Like, can you. Can you hold up? He was like, ball doesn't get heavy. He was like, the fact that you questioned him, he literally looked at the camera. He was like, bro, what. What are we talking about here?

[Brent Rollins]

And his initial response. I'm a man. I'm a Man, that's. That's one of those ones you're like, yeah, I like that. That guy's on my team. I'm glad that he's on my team. By the way, 4.4 yards per attempt after contact from Moss the year ago. One of the best in the country.

[David Pollock]

So with a big physical offensive line, you're going to hear a lot about him. He stays healthy in that run game for A and M. Could be a big time. It could be the. It could be the biggest thing for them to take them over the hump. If they got that, they've got some balance with the passing game. With a mobile qb, it could be. It could be good. So next we got Georgia alum coach Fran Brown. For me, it was better to have my son not saying that he can't.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Be on scholarship because he easily could be on scholarship.

[David Pollock]

But it's easy for me to pay and then get another kid, right? He was at Georgia for a long time, so got to know him for many years. He ain't never minced words in his life, and he doesn't. Last year, in the beginning of the season, member he was the one who almost sent Ryan Day a bottle of Champagne because Cal McCord ends up breaking all the records in the ACC for and throwing for 4800 yards. But he's like my son. Like, I got money. Forget that crap. Like, I'm gonna go ahead and put him. I'm gonna. I'm gonna pay his way and I got another scholarship. Brent.

[Brent Rollins]

Yeah, it's. He's as real as it gets, always. And I think I saw another one where he was talking about, hey, it's gonna be orange. It's gonna be a lot of orange. Because somebody's saying how it's gonna be. Major Tennessee crowd. But he's like, orange is orange.

[David Pollock]

Yeah, orange is orange. And speaking of orange, burnt orange. The next guy on the list, Arch.

[Brent Rollins]

Manning, you mentally prepared to have that huge X on your back all season long for everybody is going to be coming for you.

[David Pollock]

I mean, I think that's all of.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Us at Texas, and I think we kind of try to shift the narrative. We're going for everyone else.

[Brent Rollins]

Target's not on our back.

[David Pollock]

We have the red dot on everyone else. I love that from my qb. I love that he'll say, no, no, no, forget that. Like, it's kind of like some of the coaches have said in the past, man, like, we're not. We're not the hunted. Were the hunter. And being the aggressor. So you probably loved hearing that from Arch.

[Brent Rollins]

Oh, yeah. And it's one. Where did he. Has he anticipated that question for a while and like, hey, I'm. I'm gonna go with this response. Or is it like when you think like Captain America and the Winter Soldier movie, when you know, the Falcon guy's like, hey, did you just think that off the top of your head or did you rehearse that? Like, it feels like he may have rehearsed that a little bit, but it was really good in the moment. That's one. I would never come up with something that good in that moment, that's for sure.

[David Pollock]

No, I like that and I like. Dude, I got news for you. Like, when you're. When you're a QB man, you. You've got to have a level of swag about you. Like, you've got to have that. Bryce Underwood made comments recently that he's like, you never seen a freshman like me. And I saw people going nuts and like, they're. I can't believe you'd say that. Like, you want that from your qb. I mean, you don't want to cross the line into. To arrogant as crap and not being able to take coaching. But, like, to be that good, you have to be an elite. You have to have an elite mindset and you have to realize you have to kind of think you're bulletproof. And I did, Brent, when, When. When I played. I'll never forget, I'm going against Jonathan Ogden, who's a first ballot hall of Famer. And. And I went and I'd rush the pastor and I'd be like, man, I missed with my hands. Like, he didn't get me. I. I missed. It was. It was. I messed up. Not. He was really good. And so there's a fine line. Now listen, everybody in my life will tell you, and I'll tell you I was a cocky butthole and you probably didn't want to be around me much. But. But I digress. Let's get into some picks, man, because I see.

[Brent Rollins]

Do we think Moss is the lan. Moss is the. The king there. I think Leon Moss is the. Is the winner of the week with that. With the. I'm a man. I ain't going to.

[David Pollock]

I can get down.

[Brent Rollins]

That's me. He's the king. He's the king.

[David Pollock]

I like that. I can get down with that. So next we'll get to.

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[David Pollock]

Some pics. All right, let's get to them. Brett. This is the time of the year. All the talking and all the studying. Now this is, this is what we've done it for, Brent. So let's, let's now get to this and, and figure out the the games and did you, did you struggle with this? Did you overthink this and do how many weather reports did you look up this week?

[Brent Rollins]

Zero. Because the weather's beautiful across the country.

[David Pollock]

Okay. All right, sweet.

[Brent Rollins]

I will say Boise going. I did look at the weather in Boise, Idaho right now compared to what it is in Florida, very similar. So outside of that, no, I didn't look any other weather. But what's amazing about this week is all these games that I looked at is the number of double digit spreads. Very few. Like you got Bama. That's a Double digit favorite over fsu. You got Tennessee. That's a double digit favorite over Syracuse. Over Syracuse. The rest of these games are all basically within a score. And you know, it's one of those where it's just so many great games. When we talked about this Monday, it's a phenomenal week one. It's probably the best week one that we've ever had. Like three top 10 matchups. I think we're gonna do probably in another. We're gonna hit that in another video with the three top 10 matchups.

[David Pollock]

Absolutely.

[Brent Rollins]

We want to focus on those. But these are the rest, the rest.

[David Pollock]

Of the games that we'll all be watching. And I do like that it's spread out over, you know, so many nights this weekend. Like that's, that's what's really, really fun, that you'll start getting football. You know, you'll get football every day of an extended weekend. That's winning that, that's winning.

[Brent Rollins]

Five great days in a row.

[David Pollock]

Football great days in a row. All right, first one, first one I got on my list. Georgia Tech and Colorado. Was this a tough one for you to pick or did you, did you know what you wanted right away?

[Brent Rollins]

I think I. In terms of pick, no, it wasn't tough to pick. But by the way, this one's Friday night, 8 o', clock. So they'll kind of be, this will be a double screen, I think with them and Auburn, Baylor, but at Colorado, Salter, Kaden Salter is going to start at QB for Colorado. I just, I trust what Georgia Tech has offensively right now more than I trust anything. And with Haynes King returning, and by the way, Haynes King tied for the best in terms of percentage of fewest turnover worthy plays in the entire FBS a year ago. So just takes care of the football pretty consistently. If he keeps doing that, their office offense is going to be really good. Eric Rivers, the transfer from fiu, very excited to see him in that sort of potential singleton role. Getting a lot of touches.

[David Pollock]

So I think, I think the. I'm gonna let you take the games from now on out because we need to go in order. That would be a better way to do it. But like, but I think it's interesting, you know, with, with, with Georgia Tech. I feel like we know who they are and we know what they are and so that makes it especially offensively like that they've been, they've been so consistent with Lester Faulkner for the last couple years. You kind of know exactly what they're going to be, who they're going to be Haynes, King, the leadership. Like I expect that now. I don't. I don't expect a lot from their defense and that will be the big question. Everybody's new and their pass rush wasn't great a year ago and the secondary, the passing D wasn't. Wasn't elite. So that would be interesting to watch. But I'm just as equally as interested to watch Colorado because I just don't know anything about them. Now, Kaden Salter, he played for Liberty and he's got great stats and played well. But here's the thing. He ran the football really well and that's what he does good. Shador Sanders, it was 70% pass. Like it was seven out of 10 plays. Like the run was the change up. And he scrambled around more than anything. Like so, like they have all four of their top receivers gone, their top two running backs gone. I think the offensive line could be a little bit better, but just very interested to see Colorado and their identity now without Shador and what that looks like because the defense went. They were 11 points better a year ago, by the way.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Like they were.

[David Pollock]

They were way improved.

[Brent Rollins]

Some of the secondaries back still, even though Hunter left.

[David Pollock]

So I'm very, very interested. I'm just as equally as interested. But I'm taking Tech too because of the known. But did you hear about Ralphie, by the way? The. The. The Colorado mascot. Did you hear about what happened with him? Oh, so. So Ralphie is. Is basically retiring and not running the.

[Brent Rollins]

Big live thing, right? The living animal.

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Right.

[Brent Rollins]

Yes.

[David Pollock]

It's. It's a huge buffalo. It's.

[Brent Rollins]

Yes.

[David Pollock]

Crazy big buffalo buffaloes.

[Brent Rollins]

Yeah. Which by the way, it's funny that you talked about that with the identity change or the identity of that.

[David Pollock]

That's that they might note.

[Brent Rollins]

I wrote down for Colorado for the whole thing. Identity change, question mark.

[David Pollock]

Well, and we'll see what they are. But how about. Ralphie's not running anymore. But this was the funniest thing that I've read because I love this. Because they have an indifference to running. That's why it's getting retired. Guess what? Count me on the list. I have an indifference to running, too. Who the heck likes running? I don't want to run.

[Brent Rollins]

Like worst thing.

[David Pollock]

Good for you. For Ralph, it was Ralphie. Six has an indifference to running. I do too. Actually. Mine's more of a hatred. But that is. Brent, the most exciting thing that you'll ever watch in a college football game is probably that like watching them run live beside him. It's really, really cool it being at home. I think is. Is going to be a close game but. But I'm taking the Yellow Jackets. All right, where we going next as well?

[Brent Rollins]

So Thursday it actually, so tomorrow it actually kicks off. By the way, they got two games. So quick thing Boise at usf. Do you think in any way, by the way that's only. That's a less than a touchdown point spread. Do you think in any way Boise is in danger going to South Florida, all the way across the country into the heat at 5:30 by the way. 5:30.

[David Pollock]

I think. I think that's the reason why you have that is because, because of that, because of the Heat. I also think, I don't think they're playing bums. I think they're playing a team that knows exactly who they are. They can run the football or QB can run the football. The system is good like and Ascent Genti is not there. And and here's another thing too to put that I kind of got in the back of my mind now I watch Ashton Genti in the NFL and I'm like, my gosh, like okay, was it, was it just Genti like like now it's putting that in my head too. Watching him and be so great in the NFL I'm like, okay, he can do that at the Raiders. I know he carried his team Boise. So like does that have a little bit of concern Mad Dog at quarterback, you know, really good player, experienced offensive line. I'll take the pedigree of Boise but I think that game is going to be an absolutely, absolutely good game.

[Brent Rollins]

Yes, very much so. And I do think, I think it's a must win for them because they still got to go to Notre Dame and it's not, it's not about just winning the Mountain West. You got to win your conference and be the highest ranked. So you don't want to like the American and things like that. You don't be lower ranked. So that's one. But anyway then nighttime Thursday night, Nebraska, Cincinnati and you've got just the comedy of this by the way is still makes me smile and chuckle a little bit. You've got Dylan Raul and him looking and acting very Mahomes s going to play at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

[David Pollock]

That's interesting your mind went there because my mind went Travis Kelsey played for Cincinnati and he's in Cincinnati's playing in Arrowhead. So I'll never forget I was calling a Thursday night game and I was sitting down with Dave Johnson, the tight end Coach of Cincinnati and Travis Kelce. I sat down with both of them and was talking to him and he was like. And Dave Johnson, who coached, he coached at Georgia while I was there. He was like, this dude's going to be a stud. He was like, when he gets to the league, he's going to go like this, like big, strong, like really gets it tough. He was right. He was definitely right because I looked at him on the roster, I was like, he's. I, he wasn't that great.

[Brent Rollins]

He's kind of winning in life too, a little bit. By the way, did you notice that the new. Did you happen to notice you have pro doesn't pay attention to a lot of social media things? Did you happen to notice that they got engaged?

[David Pollock]

Who? Oh, absolutely not. I didn't know that. And I could care less. But I'm sure now the NFL producers at all the networks are super excited because last year we saw her 467,000 times. I think they had a tracker up, didn't they?

[Brent Rollins]

Anyway, anyway. That doesn't shock me that you didn't see that, by the way.

[David Pollock]

I did not see it. I follow like my whole algorithm. It's funny to follow my algorithm. Like it's, it's everything. Faith, it's, it's now it's college pressers because of podium kings. I swear to goodness. And then fantasy football and college football are pretty much it. But here, here's what I'll say about this. Nebraska getting off, by the way, Nebraska getting off to the right start. Like they have a really good schedule this season. They are set up to have success. Yes. And take the next step in the program. In order to do that, you beat teams like Cincinnati. Now Cincinnati, they make you earn it. Like they play very conservative defensively and that's who. And they're going to run the football and they're going to eat clock. Like maybe that's the way they hang in this football game. But Nebraska and Dylan Raiola, Dane key, Isaiah Hunter, like those new weapons, like they have new weapons. They're breaking in. But I think they're better than they were. So I think they can, they can take a next step. I got Nebraska.

[Brent Rollins]

Yeah, I do. I have Nebraska as well. And I'm really intrigued to see Williams and Watery, the kid who was a five star top 10 recruit that was at Missouri a year ago, only played 38 snaps, kind of hopped in the portal. I don't know if he felt at home at Missouri and his high school coach is now on staff, is on staff at Nebraska. So his high school coach is there a lot of positive vibes reading about that and they to me they this is a must win for them. They want to be 30 hosting Michigan to like you said to take that sort of next step. Culberson, great comment recently about hey we're going to run the dang ball.

[David Pollock]

Yeah. But the way he phrased it was even better because he was like I got kicked out of the Air Raid club because I run the football Air Raid that like lead system that just throw, throw, throw. Dana's like no, no like that's not, that's not what I want to do. So I love that this feels like.

[Brent Rollins]

Nebraska like a Sep by like 7 to 10 for me. Ish.

[David Pollock]

Yeah. Lower to mid scoring but Nebraska, Cincinnati and Sorby, I just don't know with all the receivers that they're replacing they can go tick for tack and score a bunch of points. Points.

[Brent Rollins]

Yep. So Friday night we already talked about Tech in Colorado. We got another to me it's a ginormous game. Auburn as much even though they're not ranked like Auburn at Baylor, two and a half point spread Friday night, Waco, all the things with it. I, I am massively looking forward to watching this game.

[David Pollock]

I am too. Here's to me what I'm most looking forward to about Auburn. This is like here's what Auburn fans are right now. I'm going to give you a good analogy, Brent. Auburn fans are like this right now and they're doing that. I just looked my head side to side. They're doing that because they're trying to figure out who they are. Like this might be the most important season they've had in a long time because they're trying to they're going we're Auburn like we belong in the Georgia Bama, LSU conversation, the upper echelon in the sec, the Texas's. But they're the one year on the blip is like okay, that's a bad year. Two years, okay, they're going on five years. Like they're trying to figure out are they a, are they a seven or are they a two or a three. Like they're trying to figure out where they register. They know they're not a 10 anymore. Like they're 100% sure of that. But. But this game has to start it for Auburn and Auburn has so many good things about them and the best one two punch at wide receiver in the country, a top 10 offensive line in the country. Like a bunch of guys with A bunch of experience at the right spots. It's all about the quarterback. Like, it's all about Jackson Arnold. Like, is. Is he good? If he's just good, this team can be a great team this year and they can go to the College Football Playoff if he's great. Like, that's what, that's what the supporting cast and everybody looks like. And it's just Auburn's like, what am I? Like, please. Like, I want to be there. I don't want to be down here.

[Brent Rollins]

And when you have Cam Coleman and when you get Singleton in the transfer portal and you get a new quarterback, what's a good way to sort of open your season facing the team that was one of the worst pass defenses in the country a season ago? And that, by the way, I've heard Dave Randa talking in various clips about we're still working on this, still trying to get there, still. Like, he's maybe he. Maybe by the way, he's just playing the game and not very confident is secondary. But yeah, maybe he's just telling the truth. And they've already got the Pendergrass at running back that's out with injury. So the one two punches is there Turner that they brought in from Northwestern. Transfer Portal is gone with the. With the knee.

[David Pollock]

But we saw Sawyer Robertson take off last year towards the end of the season. And so if that run game with him, like, if that continues to pick up and go like this and they keep work and their defense takes some small steps forward, you know, this is a team that's still dangerous. But either way, if they lose, they're still going to be in the mix. They can still go make the College Football Playoff. Auburn can't, man. Like, this is a. They've got to get this. I think Auburn gets it done. I was leaning Baylor earlier. I think Auburn and the pressure defensively that they can apply getting to the quarterback, they can play more aggressive. I think they can. They can match up out wide better. And they've been practicing against Coleman and Singleton Jr. Like, they're like, all right, bring on anybody. I'll play, man, covered on anybody. So I'm actually going Auburn. But I do think this is a close game and the spread shows you that, like it's two and a half and they're the home team for Baylor.

[Brent Rollins]

Yeah, I went Auburn 34, 30. Like, I think this is a fireworks kind of game, at least initially or. And maybe even late with them with. With Baylor kind of coming back. But that's. That's Friday. So now We've got Thursday, we've got Friday, now into Saturday. Obviously the big, the big game is noon with Texas and Ohio State and we're going to look at Those in the three top 10 matchups in a different, different video. But we got Syracuse and Tennessee too at noon in Atlanta, by the way. Right. You know, whatever.

[David Pollock]

A lot of neutral site game west of us. A lot, a lot of those neutral site games. I don't, I don't, I don't love those as much. But so I, I think Syracuse is probably one of the most unpredictable teams probably in the country because they're replacing so much. I mean.

[Brent Rollins]

Yep.

[David Pollock]

Go. Especially the. Here's, here's what Syracuse season boils down to to me, Brent, can they catch lightning in the bottle again? Because Kyle McCord did not look like he was that good when he was at Ohio State and then he comes over and throws for 4, 800 yards, an ACC record and was unbelievable. Now the top three wide receivers are gone, running backs gone. And now Steve Angeli's turn from, from Notre Dame. We saw him in the Penn State game right. Like we saw him have some success in the College Football Playoff. But obviously he's, he's, he's not a, he's not a seasoned guy by any stretch. We don't really know what we're going to get with him. But McCord had that one season. Angeli doesn't. And then playing against the Tennessee defense, that I think is going to be really, really good. I think it's the strength of their team this year. So how quickly can Syracuse get that side of the ball rolling? That's a big question because let's be honest, their defense wasn't any good a year ago and they lost some guys. So to me Syracuse is all about that QB spot. If it hits and they can score and they can go tick for tack, they got a chance to stay in games. Tennessee's defense is the reason I'll take Tennessee in a neutral site.

[Brent Rollins]

Yeah, I think this, the, the two touchdown spread here is very warranted. But the thing that I've talked about all off season, does Tennessee have some addition by subtraction at the quarterback position? And not so much of Nico and a talent issue but more so fit within hypo system ability to hit deep ball, things like that. And you look at Joey Aguilar and went back over the last two years in terms of big time throws which are pff Pro Football focus who I also work for their highest graded throws, he has 50 which is fourth most in the FBS but turnover worthy plays. Yes, 51, which is the most in the FBS. But here's the thing with Hypo's offense that I'm intrigued to see with Aguilar. It's by nature risk averse where you're looking to one.

[David Pollock]

He takes care of the quarterbacks.

[Brent Rollins]

Don't make the throw go run tempo.

[David Pollock]

Makes it defined looks like makes the defense play very conservative.

[Brent Rollins]

It's kind of by nature designed to limit turnovers in a way. And yeah, you do that and you get some big time throws in addition to the defensive stuff that you talked about. Yeah, they were by the way, they were third in the FBS in terms of EPA per play and efficiency on defense last year. So good stuff from Tennessee.

[David Pollock]

The problem with Tennessee's offense that the only thing I hear what you're saying and be risk averse and stuff, but another thing they've been able to do is run the football like Sampson was the SEC offensive player of the year. He gone. Top three wide receivers are gone for the five offensive linemen. So like a lot to replace along with Aguilar. Like Aguilar didn't go through spring and I'm breaking in a ton of stuff that I don't necessarily know. But you know what I do know, Brent, and what I've seen is the defensive front seven is nasty and Joshua Joseph's a baller like a ballerina who can get to the quarterback, who can play the run, who's a real, who's a guy that can wreck Syracuse offensive line like absolutely.

[Brent Rollins]

By the way, I think has four out of five starters. Transfers, all transfers.

[David Pollock]

And that's the way, that's the way college football is obviously more and more. But to me it's, it's. They'll hit a few of those deep plays. You're right though. The Tennessee offense is going to be fun to watch this year. And how do they reshape retool? But one thing you got to do is you got to say, okay, I'm trusting Hypo because he does it like you can say whatever you want to say about him. He finds a way to get it done. And so I'll take Tennessee as well.

[Brent Rollins]

Hot take. I think for me though, by the way, in terms of long term for Nico, I think he did the best thing for himself long term.

[David Pollock]

We'll see.

[Brent Rollins]

Just as an aside. All right, next up, Bama at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee playing the Seminoles, which by the way, I think I had read or saw or I don't know where I saw this, but I think somebody said that you, you. It came out as dope Walker, maybe in the college football game. Yeah. Have people said that to you? Yeah, that was a, that was a thing. But anyway, so Castellanos and being very brash about this game specifically, like, I like that. And, and he reminds me of kind of very Diego Pavia esque. The swag, the confidence, all that sort of stuff. Let me give you a little number, by the way, in terms of clean pocket passing grade, top returning quarterbacks in the country. Number one, Diego Pavia. Number two, Thomas Castellanos. So, well, maybe he's got a little something to that swag. Maybe there's some, something to back it up in this game. Maybe not, but we'll see.

[David Pollock]

And that's an awesome stat and that's, that's great. But he's the bigger, the bigger thing for me is to watch this, is to watch him as a playmaker because, because if you watch the last memories I have of Alabama a year ago was watching Jackson Arnold run at nauseum against him and have no answer. I remember, shoot. I remember the first game of the season against usf. They got ran on like crazy. And then Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt beat him by running on him. The running quarterback's been an issue for Bama. Like even Lenora Sellers played really, really well. Like I'm interested to see because this dude you could play to, you could play touch football on an elevator and lose to Tommy. Like this dude can skirt. I mean he is quick, he is fast. Like he can make you miss. But yeah, his comments, they don't have Nick Saban to save them. I just don't see how they're going to stop me. Oh, oh man, I don't love that for him. There'll be some, there'll be some physicality dealt out. Hopefully he can, he can remain in the game. But the last thing too for, for me for watching Florida State this year is the, is you got Gus Malzano as an OC now. He's got plenty of experience against Alabama. He knows how to run his qb. There's not a better probably fit in the country. You want to go to a place where a guy knows how to use you and Gus Malzahn knows how to use him. But I'm interested more so Brent because there's a lot of Bama love, a lot of Bama love like in the country, across the nation. And I'm interested to see how good they are at the quarterback spot and on offense and if they find an identity because I still I still see holes with this roster and things they need to improve on. But I think they're good enough to beat Florida State coming off that good two two win season last year. Golly. I know they wanted to forget that but a good performance will hopefully they help out.

[Brent Rollins]

But yeah for Alabama to it's just one thing. It's all eyes are on the quarterback.

[David Pollock]

Yeah.

[Brent Rollins]

And by the way it's the number of games that you can write that as a note this weekend. All eyes on the quarterback. Just phenomenal and fascinating to me. And Florida State one other thing for them. I think I've heard a lot or read a lot that the true freshman running back are we is he going to play a little bit the chroma awesome chroma kid from that's from Georgia that went that's in Tallahassee. I'm curious to see if he gets gets a little time but hey that that like we just hit like six games. Maybe more. I can't even count that high and we didn't even get to the biggest three. No the way this weekend's like we said five straight days of just phenomenal football. I'm glue. I'm gonna be glued. I'm gonna have to like get some do like you on the golf course and like where you do your push ups in between the holes. I'm gonna have to like commercial breaks do some push ups or something because otherwise I'm going be living on the couch.

[David Pollock]

Dude. I I do that all the time because of the when I'm watching TV because I feel so fat just sitting there watching just literally eating and watching games. I'm like all right, I got to do something productive. So push ups and sit ups. I mean just got to do something to keep yourself entertained. But you're right, that's that. And then we'll talk to Fowler next though. And the good thing about talking to him is he's got the the the Colorado Buffalo connection too. Went to Colorado Colorado fan but obviously he's calling the LSU game which will be a barn burner. And we'll get to some of the big games. And some of his preseason thoughts right here next on cballgitball.

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[David Pollock]

All right, so now joining us live, Chris Fowler. He looks like he's in the bunker for straight from the US Open. Calling, calling Djokovic's match or some kind of big ma. Chris, we've joked about it for years, man, how much you just love tennis and, and calling it obviously, and you do such a great job. But, but what about the week of football season though? Like, is it this is the same adrenaline to get kicked off this week?

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Oh yeah. I just got off the zoom with the LSU coaches. We got lsu, Clemson. I mean it's totally juggling. You guys know, I mean I'm doing day and night matches. Then I got the, I got the football chart here. Every time I get a free minute, it's back to this bus and dive into the analytics and watch some tape from last year and get ready. I mean, these are my two favorite sports, David. So when they converge like this and we get an opening weekend like I've not seen in a long time in this sport, I'm pumped up. I use sleep is for October, I guess.

[David Pollock]

Dang. Right. Well, I talked about you yesterday when I was talking about you coming on and I was, I said you're the fittest play by play guy in the business and the strongest. So can we confirm, can we still put 315 on that bar and make it look like it's dental floss.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Well, I. I did. I did deadlift 4:20. The hex part the other day, benching. I bet my shoulders messed up and fixed with stem cells, but it's still a work in progress. I don't do the bro lifting, benching. That's probably what got me hurt in the first place. I. Dude, you know, I mean, you train smart. You. You train with intention. That's what you got to do when you're a senior citizen like me, man. It's less about the numbers than it's just about, you know, trying to keep mobile. Don't decline, maintain what I got, you know? That's what it is.

[David Pollock]

Oh, yeah.

[Brent Rollins]

420, deadlift. I mean, oh, my goodness.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

I shouldn't have done it because I hadn't deadlifted in a month or two, and I was like, this isn't very prudent, but I feel good, and it's my birthday weekend. I'm gonna go for it. And I survived. Wasn't sore, didn't hurt myself.

[David Pollock]

So, you know, so was it very.

[Brent Rollins]

Very political, I guess, with the conversation with the LSU coaches, or you feel like, hey, I got some. I got some good intel there?

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

They're pumped up. They're optimistic about fixing the defense. I think they. They believe they'll run the ball better this year. I think the pieces are now in place. They spent a lot of money, as you know. Kelly's been pretty open about what they spent on their roster and the portal editions. Maybe not the giant splash names, but. But they got dudes who played a lot of football. I think they feel like they got a lot better O line, D line, David. As you know, that's what it's about in the sec. So I think they feel like they've addressed some weaknesses and that they're well set up with Nussmeier in his 11th year, whatever it is, fifth year, actually. But, yeah, I think they. Harold Perkins is healthy and playing a new position that they think suits him well. So they, like. They really love their team. I think Clemson's favorite for a reason. But I got to be honest with you, we had done their calls last week. LSU today. I feel like the Bayou Bengal Tigers have a better chance of going in there and winning than I thought, like, two hours ago.

[David Pollock]

Okay. And that. And it's. It's interesting when you look at this matchup and you look at the trenches. A lot of new then, like, a lot of new on the offensive line for LSU and especially the tackle spots going against a really good defensive line. And Chris, you're going to be there and you've been there a million times. That atmosphere is stupid and so good and so loud. So you think, you think, you think that part of the game they can hold up and then the other side too. What are your thoughts on Clemson this year anyways? Are you. There's a lot of people. Van Pelt was on last week and he was like, he's high on Clemson like I am. I'm high on Clemson. They're my national championship pick. So I guess just coming into the season, some of the thoughts. Broad spectrum on Clemson as well.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Yeah, really high on Clemson. I mean, I think you've got club Nick, who's had a terrific year last year, worked hard. They got to get a little bit better in the red zone, kick fewer red zone field goals to beat the good teams. We all know they went 03 against the SEC. Excuse me, the dogs took him to the shed early in Texas, ran right through them late and South Carolina was a heartbreaker. So, you know, Dabo gets all fired up about facing the sec, hates that narrative that they didn't beat him last year and now you get a high level SEC team coming to your ballpark. I think it's a great way to start the season. I don't think Clemson needs to win the game. As you know, when they get into the acc, to me they're a solid favorite in all their games. They don't play Miami in the regular season. I love their chances. I think they have a lot of pieces in place. I think they feel like they've gotten much better on defense themselves with Tom Allen coming down from Penn State. As you know, tackling was an issue last year. They're going to have to tackle in space against LSU's playmakers. They feel like they can do that. And with T.J. parker and Peter woods, you got guys who are on the top of the draft board respectively at DN and interior defensive linemen. So they are good in the middle. Offensive line is never been. I don't think elite strength of Clemson good enough and they work around it. Can they work around it in this game? It's going to be a good challenge against LSU because I think Blake Baker, the coordinator really believes that LSU now has the weaponry, now has the pieces to play the way he wants to play aggressive, challenge him and play. Man, they played so much cover too last year at lsu. Didn't look like LSU at all. They just weren't thin enough. They weren't good enough up front now that they think they are. I can't wait for this matchup. I guess a great quarterback matchup because nuss nuss Meyer and Klubnick, I think are two, two of the better guys on those draft boards and in college football along with Arch. So it's going to be fun.

[Brent Rollins]

You mentioned the opening weekend. Like, do you. So do you remember any opening weekend like this in, in all these times you've called games or done game day those, all those years?

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

I don't think so, man. I think if you look at three top 10 games, it doesn't even include Alabama, Florida State doesn't include Belichick's debut on Monday night. You know, it doesn't include Coach prime against the Ramblin Wreck on Friday night, which I will be watching. I mean, I think just, it's got depth, it's got, I think those three top 10 matchups. I mean, Dave, you might disagree, but you can make a really good case. All six teams are going to be in the playoff field. And so that, that's really, really cool to have three games like that the first weekend.

[David Pollock]

Yeah, I think the playoffs, literally, you get, you get a glimpse of the playoff week one. I mean, how cool is that? Like, you're seeing three playoff matchups and we haven't seen that. All right, I, I got to get to this too, man. Spending so many years on game day. Coach Corso, like last show, all the memories. Is there anything that sticks out, story wise or memory w rise? Just all the years, all the fun, all the time with coach.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

I mean, from the very first show that I did as a fill in emergency host in 1989, man, I, he was a powerful presence. He was like a coach. He, you know, he had a true freshman quarterback thrown into the fire. Never done that before. I mean, game day wasn't that big a deal, frankly. In 1989. It was in the studio, it was like an hour long. Nobody really watched it, but I had never done it. And, and, and you know, I had, I had people around me that had like that questioning look in their eye, like, I don't know about this kid. I looked about 11 when I did that. And, and Corso was such a calm guy. He did David what he did his whole life as a coach. He made you want to believe in yourself. He made you want to improve and be better. And he showed confidence in you. And that's what he did from the start. And all the times, as you know, man, it's special bonding away from the set, obviously, as a showman, as an entertainer, as a guy who's passionate about the game and those who played it and coached it. He's first and foremost, always a coach to me. But people see the clown, they see the headgear, they think that's the sum total of the man. And as you know, it's a lot more than that. The presence that I'm sure. Things he taught you, things he taught me. Kirk, Desmond, everybody that he had contact with. He was just a wise, experienced voice and resource when you needed that in your life, man. And that's what I think about, too, is that we had some fun meals. We had so many laughs. I still see him down in Florida in the off season. I'm still going to see him after he retires. So it's those moments away from the set, besides, when he's playing with Katy Perry and Will Ferrell and Bill Murray and. And all those, you know, dancing with Vince Vaughn and a leprechaun outfit. I mean, those are what viewers are going to remember from him and me, too. But there's a lot more to him when you. When you hang around him away from the set.

[David Pollock]

Chris. I'll never forget Chris Fowler joining us here. C. Ball. Get ball. He looked at me one time and, you know, I didn't feel like I belonged on the set. Like, you just, you know, you know, you know, I'm saying, like, kind of like you just said, like, when your first time there, you're there, you're on the set and you're trying to prove yourself. And I just remember I watched so much tape and, like, was trying to make sure that I knew football inside and out. And he looked at me and he grabbed that number two pencil and he was like, hey, football guy. Hey, football guy. He's like, what, coach? He goes, it's entertainment, sweetheart. It's entertainment. And I was like, all right, all right, all right, coach. I got you. Like, all right, I'll relax.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

No, but, you know, he also respected that you knew ball. I mean, listen, it is entertainment. But notice something, David, that when he said, you know, we're in the entertainment business, football is the vehicle, he said that, and he believes it. But he stayed in the football lane. He wasn't out trying to host game shows. He wasn't doing comedy shows. He was entertaining in the arena of college football because he loved the game so much, and that's what it was about for him, too. So, yeah, he made fun of you. He made fun of Herb Street. Whenever Kirk would break down a game and the focus would be like that center guard combo block. And you were like, yo, serious football, sweetheart. You know?

[David Pollock]

Oh, yeah.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

So I was.

[Brent Rollins]

I've done a lot of reading about some of the stories, and one that caught my eye. I think that you could. That's probably worth you sharing something about a McDonald's drive thru.

[David Pollock]

Close.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Yeah, it was. We were in a. In a parking lot at Sun Devil Stadium, and it was the Chick Fil a Bowl halftime show. We were doing it from the west coast because that's. The Fiesta bowl was the big game that year, and they're playing a game in Atlanta and he. And one team was winning big. I don't remember who it was. And Corso had the idea that the whole halftime speech was going to be, go get some Chick fil A sandwiches and get under the team at halftime. And they're going to turn this game around. Obviously a play on the sponsor. And so they had to try to find a Chick Fil A in Arizona to get him a sandwich so we could use as a prop. We couldn't find a Chick Fil a. They found a McDonald's and they didn't tell him. They just got a McDonald's chicken sandwich. They bring it, and these guys are having it on a plate in a golf cart and they're racing from the office through the parking lot trying to get to the set. And you're just barely going to make it at halftime. So he can use this sandwich and bite into it and do his thing. The sandwich goes flying. When the golf cart takes a hard left turn, the sandwich goes flying. It disassembles in the parking lot. Okay, Bun, chicken. It's all over the place. They're like putting it back together, scraping some gravel off of it, making a sandwich. The guy didn't find this out till later. He never knew this. Never knew this at all. Put the damn thing back together. He goes and takes a bite out of a sandwich that had been seconds before in a parking lot and never knows anything about it. So just when he was involved, you know, just crazy stuff could always happen. You know, everybody knows about the F bomb story in Houston. I mean, it just goes on and on. And I think that's what, frankly, is going to be a little bit emotional. Guys, when you.

[Brent Rollins]

When you.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

When you see him at Ohio State, back where it all began, the very first headgear pick was Brutus Buckeye. And they had to convince Ohio State to give up that headgear because Brutus was pretty sacred, that. That idiotic looking nut thing that he's got in his head. But that meant a lot to them, and they weren't going to get the headgear up to him. And Kirk's wife, Allison, had been a cheerleader at Ohio State, convinced them, had to ask multiple times. They finally gave in. That was the first headgear. Now he's back at Ohio State, kind of coming full circle. And I think it's going to hit a lot of people. I've heard from a bunch of viewers who, who are going to celebrate him, but also, man, it's going to get him right here because they're going to realize that they won't see that again because it can't be duplicated and there's ever going to be anybody like him on sports television again.

[Brent Rollins]

So that was. I was going to ask you both, do you think the headgear, sort of putting on the headgear begins and ends with the Ohio State game and with Coach Corso?

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

I don't know who. Do you dare try that with somebody else? I mean, McAfee would do anything, but I don't know that that really should be continued after. After LC what do you think, David? She put it. To retire it because. Out of respect or what?

[David Pollock]

I would. I would. Because there's just. There's just never. It didn't matter the personality. It's just never going to be another one. And he's the one who made that show so big and just. And one thing, too, Chris. Like, he never, ever said no to anything. Like, just tell me what to do and I'll do it. Commercials. He's like, you want me to get naked in the pool? I'll get naked in the pool. Like, he didn't care. Like, he never took himself too serious. I think it was one of his greatest qualities among the many great ones that he had. But, yeah, I just, I think it. I. I think it should go away. But that's just mine.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

You're right. I'm glad you brought up the commercials. I mean, that's what I, you know, yes, within the confines of game day, he was crazy. But the commercials we shot in the summer, you know, he would, He. He would put on a karate ghee and be like a Zen master. He would put on disco platform shoes and come out of a foam room where he'd. He would literally say yes to anything. He would take the.

[David Pollock]

Anything.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

Thermometer. It would take a temperature with the erectile thermometer of Ralphia. I mean, he spent a day behind a buffalo's ass to shoot a promo. I mean, he literally would say yes to anything. And he would commit to it.

[David Pollock]

He would commit to it 100% in. Hey, Chris. All right. The great Chris Fowler joins us. Anything else, man? Just about this weekend. I don't know if you saw it, but Ralphie hung it up. Ralphie. Ralphie hung it up because he not really interested in running anymore, which I. Which by the way, I support that. They shouldn't. I don't want to run either. But what else about this weekend, man? The last thing. And we'll get you out.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

I got time. I'm good here. I know. That disappointed me. I mean, you got a big home game on Friday and. And Ralphie's always a female buffalo. I don't know if people know that because the males are too rambunctious. They can't control them. They. They're a lot bigger and stronger and they can't. They can't really make sure they go where they want them to go. And I know she got disinterested in running, and now they can't get the Ralphie Seven trained up in time. So it's disappointing. That's the one downer of the weekend. And we'll see if the Buffs defense can hold up and beat the Jackets. It's a challenge. I just think there's so many. So many great plot lines. I mean, look, we haven't even mentioned the game that follows game day in Columbus. I mean, you guys. You guys have probably heard about this quarterback that they got coming in at Texas, but, you know, I mean, it's Arch, Arch, Arch, arch, Arch all the time. Every show in ESPN is obsessed with it, like he's the only guy in the sport. But I do think Julian saying, you know, going against the Texas defense and his first real football at all, you know, is a very intriguing piece of this, too. Both teams are going to make the playoff. It's an elimination game, and it shouldn't be in August, but I can't wait to see. We're going to hang around a little bit and see the beginning of that. Of that game and see how Manning does handle being on the road in that environment and see how Julian Saiyan tries to be a rookie starter beating a number one team, which I don't think has been done before. So that.

[David Pollock]

That.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

That game just kind of teases up on Saturday. Really interested to see how Bama plays against fsu and then we'll watch that one as we get ready for the night game and obviously have a whole bunch of fun in Clemson and then Notre Dame. Miami is a hell of a game on Sunday. I wish I could do that game, but I got to get back and do the US Open on Sunday. But that's really compelling, too.

[David Pollock]

All right, you only get. Only get one pick real quick. Who's going to win the US Open, Then we'll get you out of here.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

I think center is the easiest pick, easy pick to make. I mean, Djokovic is struggling right now. He's lost the first set. He finally at 38. You know, you follow the sport and love it, too. David, Father Time's undefeated, bro. And it doesn't matter how well you take care of yourself and how much recovery. I mean, dude, he's 38 and these guys are 23. And now center's 24, barely. And he's having his hands full of the young American guy right now. After looking low energy in the opening match. We all like Novak to make a deep run and. And, you know, kind of give it one last go. But I don't think those two young guys, I mean, they're. To me, they're in a class by themselves right now. Cinder and Alcaraz, and I'd be surprised if it wasn't them. The field, everybody else at the start of the tournament was like plus 350 to win it. So those two guys are in good shape and men's tennis is in good hands.

[David Pollock]

Chris, we're in good hands because we get to hear you Saturday night. We're excited about it, man. Kicking off the season. Look forward to, well, Brian Kelly said Death Valley Jr. So we look forward to your call in Death Valley Junior.

[Firestone Complete Auto Care Representative]

It's not junior anything. Man. I can't wait to be a. You know, it's so cool you can open this season on a campus. We've had some really good matchups in pro stadiums to start the season off, but you go to that environment and that's what it's about. I can't wait to see. It's going to come through the screen. I think the energy in that place on Saturday night. I'll see you guys soon, I hope. And we're going to be down in that part of the world for. For most of the year, so I hope he can see a few times.

[David Pollock]

See you, brother. Thank you.

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