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David Pollack
If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and f. With Granger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. 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
Reese Davis
of ball player he is.
David Pollack
He's got a heart of a line. I'm really proud of that kid.
Reese Davis
This is Seaball Get Ball, college football's
David Pollack
top show for football analysis, predictions and coach interviews.
Reese Davis
Now here's your host, three time all of American, seven time Emmy award winner. Next here on Seball Get Ball. It's not just Mr. College Game Day with basketball and with football it's my dude, one of my best friends, one of the best people on the planet, Reese Davis and Reece. There's so much to talk about with, with basketball, going to the tournament and in college football because we're almost there again already because the season's so long. But, but the, the great Lou Holtz, man like you getting to work with him, us getting to work with him just at ESPN like very few people do, you go that's one of one, like God only made one of those and there isn't another one that you'll ever think of. Like that's that to me is what stands out just about, about Lou.
David Pollack
David there are so many great stories but just, and I don't think his son Skip will mind me sharing this. When Skip called me yesterday afternoon after, after Lou died and you know Lou, a tough time for, for quite some time and he said that, he said that, you know, when he would have good days, he said they would take him out and he would sit outside and get some sun and you know, be in his bed by the pool and he'd say Bring me my pipe. And he said one day they were out there, and he said, you know, why don't. Why do you think the Lord just. Just doesn't go ahead and take me. I'm ready to go. And Skip said, well, dad, he said, it's probably because you'd go up there and start telling him how things ought to run. And when you get ready to be an assistant coach again, he'll probably bring you home. So Skip said, dad must have decided he was ready to be an assistant coach finally. But he. He was a wonderful guy. There's so many people, David, in my life that, you know, people that you and I both know, mutual, mutual friends who have, you know, handled many affairs for us, who I would not know, would have never met or even known they existed if not for Lou Holtz through connections with him. So, you know, he was a. A really meaningful guy. And, you know, we had a lot of great times. I posted that picture last night of you and him and Mark on set on the bowl selection day when Mayday was holding up that blank T shirt because Ohio State didn't go to a bowl. He said, this is the Ohio State bowl shirt. Ohio State fans loved it, didn't they? Oh, yeah, they were thrilled about that.
Reese Davis
They love that. You know. When did you first meet Lou? Like, how did you first start a relationship with him?
David Pollack
He came in right after he finished coaching at South Carolina. They had hired him, and he was supposed to be on espn, too. And if you remember. Oh, you may not, because you were still playing, but the first weekend, maybe it was. Maybe. Well, you were still playing. You might have been in the NFL. But the first weekend, Trev Alberts was with us. And Trev, you know, got crossways about some things and left, you know, after the first week. And they brought Lou in and said, you know, and said to Lou, well, you know what? Why don't you sit in with recent Mark until we find somebody in a permanent basis? We'll see how it goes. And then Lou joked, years later, they brought me in there and didn't even send my wife a ransom note, you know, and he was in there. And so we started working together. And, you know, he had a presence about him, even all 5 foot 6 of him or whatever and skinny as a rail. But, you know, he had an aura and a presence, and you wanted to be around him. And he was great storyteller. And just, I think through those long days in the studio of watching games and learning from him about a lot of things about, you know, Learning about what he viewed as important in terms of being a father, learning what he thought was important and building a team, you know, and learning. He has this remarkable photographic memory and the ability to dissect instantly what everybody on the field did on any given play. It was a really remarkable thing, I think, just spending all that time together. And we spent, you know, we spent 12, 14 hours a day, a Saturday together for 10 years. And, you know, so you get to know him. And he was really big on building relationships. So he would. He would come to our house on Thanksgiving. I remember one of the first years that we worked with him. I probably working with him a year or two. We were going to Orlando for our annual Disney vacation, and Lou insisted that my family and I come over. He said, stay with us the whole time. I want you to come over and stay at my house for a couple. Couple of nights. And so we thought, well, this is a great opportunity. I'd like to get to know Mrs. Holtz, and we'll do it. So when we get there, Lou had to go to a speaking engagement. So it was just us and Mrs. Holtz for a while. But Lou said, I want you to understand something. He goes, it's not my responsibility to entertain you. I'm not here to be your tour guide or to make sure that you have something to do. That's up to you. He goes, we just want you to be here and get to know us a little bit. No, it's fine, Coach. You know, we don't need anything like that. Well, one morning we're up and we're having coffee with Mrs. Holtz or whatever, and I look at my kids are gone. Like, where are my kids? Go outside. No kids. No kids, no Lou. And before long, the guy who wasn't there to entertain me or wasn't there to entertain my kids, I catch a glimpse of driving through the neighborhood, of Lou driving them around on a golf cart. And then they come back around later, and my son, who was probably eight, I don't know, was driving the golf cart through the neighborhood. And my daughter would have, too, except she distinctly remembers she couldn't reach the pedal. So Lou put her up on his lap, pipe in his mouth, and there, you know, he let her steer while he hit the. Hit the gas. And, you know, he was. He. He was really meaningful to our family, and he was wonderful to us. And I. You know, it'd be a great loss, but I. I have so many. So many funny memories. Some of them involving you, actually.
Reese Davis
Yeah, I remember sending him the picture in the South Carolina. I sent a picture. Was it to you and Lou? A video of it was, it was the South Carolina interception play. And I went right to the spot on the end zone and I'm holding the camera and I'm like, golly, something right here happened. Like Reese, do you think Lou remembers this right here? And what do you think he said about that? What did he say in studio?
David Pollack
Oh, I remember exactly what he said. He said what he always said when he gets mad. He goes, oh, kiss my hind quarters. Except he didn't say hind quarters. And then he started ranting about one dang play one. Not dang either. He didn't swear very much. He's like, what? I was like, well, he actually made a lot more than one play, Lou. That was just the most memorable. And oh, kiss my hind quarters again. You know, he, he, that was so funny though because it was tough to get him because he, he always would have the last barb.
Reese Davis
But I mean he had.
David Pollack
You got it good on that one.
Reese Davis
He was so even, even in later in life he was so sharp, like so quick witted. I would never forget. He was like, I remember he, he killed, he killed his son. I mean he was just like running speed option to.
David Pollack
At.
Reese Davis
At Pollock to end the game. Really like that's what we're doing, Skip. Like, like he totally screwed us. And I was like, I love that it will throw his, his son under the bus. Like what were you doing? What were you thinking?
David Pollack
There's no one was spared. I mean he loved everybody. He loved Skip. And I mean there, I don't know, I mean, you know, watching Nicholas now and then me with, with my son over the years, watching them play sports and Nicholas and Leah for that matter, that. That can be kind of agonizing. But Lou went through it, man. When Skip was the head coach at East Carolina and at usf, Lou went through it every Saturday because the Pirates or the Bulls, they were definitely on, on the six pack of monitors in front of us all day. And he was, he was living and dying with every snap. So yes, he would, he would, he would call you out quick.
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David Pollack
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Reese Davis
He might let you know about it. Oh yeah, and then what about, what about you and him and Mark? Like, just that, that show like for you to put a robe on like, and do that show. Because I just remember watching it so vividly. It was, it felt like 15, 20 years of it. Like we got to see it. But like making the case back and forth and both of them going at it like that was just that had to Been. That had been the fun. The most fun part of the day.
David Pollack
It was for me, wasn't always for them, because they were competitive and they wanted to win, and we never scripted who was going to win. And we'd always try to find something that they legitimately disagreed on. And usually that wasn't too terribly hard. Because, you know, I mean, I love Mayday, and I know you do, too, but if you continually tell Mark May how blue the sky is, he's going to start arguing, there's a cloud. There are some shades of gray in there. I. I mean, you may say it's blue, but that's a lot of gray, you know, so that's kind of just his disposition. So it wasn't hard. But they would. I mean, they would get mad when they lost in the famous scene that's popped up on social media over the last day or so about him flipping over the podium when I ruled in Mark's favor. He was mad, David. He was legit mad. And he had won three or four weeks in a row, whatever it was. And, you know, I was sort of feeling the need to tip the scale of justice back in Mayday's favorite. And, you know, I remember telling. Because I kind of got annoyed with him, actually, to be honest. I got mad at him. It was like, enough already. After we finished taping it. And he was just on and on, you're a corrupt judge. You couldn't judge anything. Your court is awful. You're terrible at this. I'm never doing it again. On and on and on and on. And finally I said, you know, Lou, you can't win every week. And he looked me dead in the eye and said, the hell I can't, and stormed off again. I mean, he was just, you know, that's the way he was. The other one, the other story that I haven't told as often is I wrote a script, a parody of that great courtroom scene between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson and A Few Good Men. And I thought Mayday would probably pull off the Nicholson role better. And that was the only time we ever scripted or prompted anything like that. So I wrote. I wrote the whole thing. It came to me for whatever reason, and I wrote it. And Lou was furious at the end of taping that because he felt like he hadn't had a big enough role. He didn't like his part. He thought it wasn't enough. Why? Why was Mayday getting all the lines, all this stuff? Well, it turns out, even though I told him it was a movie and told him, you're the Tom Cruise role. That didn't matter because he'd never seen the movie. He didn't understand the whole thing. So he left mad that Saturday night. I thought, well, I'm going to have to smooth that over next week. He comes back in the next week and he's happy, as happy as a clam, talking about how great Final Verdict was the last week. And I said, well, I thought you were mad when you left last week. No, I wasn't mad. And he goes, you know what? You know, four ladies in the airport stopped me and told me I looked better than Tom Cruise, right? So, you know, that's all it took. That's all.
Reese Davis
It totally saved you. It totally saved you. All right. Well, no, I mean, Lou, it's good to know there's another assistant coach up in heaven, that's for dang sure. What most excites you about the hoops tournament coming up? Man, just everybody always has a bracket this time of year, and it's always fun, man.
David Pollack
I think it's the number of individuals that potentially could put their teams on their back and carry them really deep in the tournament. Sort of like a Kimball Walker, Carmelo Anthony, Shabazz Napier, you know, a number of names over recent years kind of loaded up teams and had, you know, transcendent performances. We've had an inordinate number of individuals have, you know, 30 and 40 point games this year. And I think because of that, you have some guys and maybe their teams aren't as strong, but maybe somebody gets hot. I think that's the most exciting thing because to me, it's pretty clear cut. It's not as clear cut as last year, but it's pretty clear cut. Who the four best teams are. I think. I think the four best teams are Duke, Michigan, Arizona and Florida. Now, Yukon's close, but I think those four are the best. Now, Florida, I mean, Yukon's good, Houston's really good. You know, there are a few others, I'm sure I'm forgetting off the top of my head, that certainly could, could do something. But I think those four are set apart, but they're not so far above the fray that A.J. deVonta can't, you know, put 45 on you and knock you off. You know, that Kingston Fleming, who is of Houston, one of those better, better players that can do it. There are just a number of young players. If Caleb Wilson is able to come back healthy for North Carolina, you know, there's just a number of.
Reese Davis
The list goes on and on.
David Pollack
Yeah, I mean, I spent some time this week with Boozer, with both Boozers, and John Shire went up to. To Duke. I mean, you know, look, they're one of the best teams anyway, but then they've got a guy who just always delivers, he always produces. I asked him, David, interesting question for a guy like you who played at a higher level. I asked him, cameron, you do everything, you know, 13 straight games with a three every game this season, multiple assists, you know, shooting a high percentage. I said, how do you evaluate when you watch your tape, whether you played well? And it sort of stumped him for a minute. And he finally said, you know, if I do things that contributed to winning, whether it was scoring or not, that's how I evaluate it right now. And he's just. I mean, he's not as explosive and not as dynamic as Darren Peterson, you know, at Kansas, or is defense, you know, or some of the other guys, but, man, is he good. He is so, so good. So, I mean, he clearly could carry them as well.
Reese Davis
Well, and that. That's what makes me. For the next level. It's. He's an interesting case to me because I know he could be a high pick, obviously, but, like, to be that next level and go to the NBA, you find very few guys that aren't freak athletes that can go dominate the NBA. Like, you can find good players. And I know he's better than his dad, and I think he could be a good player, but is he that player that, you know, you can put on. Put a franchise on his back? Like, that'll be interesting because. But the big and strong in the. In the head and all that stuff. I don't doubt he's fun to watch, obviously.
David Pollack
Who does he remind you of? I mean, I. I had a. I talked to a scout, and I said, I'm not saying he's this good yet, but are there parts of his game that remind you of Luca a little bit? I mean, he can shoot it, he can pass it. Probably a little bit different because he's a little more in the post or whatever, but, you know.
Reese Davis
Yeah. Not as good. Not as good with the ball, you know, not as. Not as good at putting people in jail.
David Pollack
Like Luke.
Reese Davis
It's a. I don't get it that that dude can barely jump over a curb.
David Pollack
Yeah.
Reese Davis
And he. And he can dominate anybody you put on him. That's super fast and springy. Like, it's just incredible. It's incredible to. I just literally am like, I'm blown away by people who don't have that upper level elite athleticism that can still win. Like it's a, it's. I mean I was watching a game last night where we got two kids in high school. It's on Nicholas's team. One's got all the SEC offers and another one's going to Clemson. And they're totally different players like. But one is crafty, can do all these different things, can shoot the mess out of it. The other one, he. He dunked last night, Reese. And he was looking down at the rim and I was just like. I was like, it must be nice to fly like that, dude. He knows what it feels like to fly. He was so high in the air. But it's so fun to watch the different dynamic abilities of folks. But, but again, you have to have a component of this which Luca does. And watching it the next level, it seems like it's going to be fun to watch who the number one pick is overall because like you just talked about, there's a bunch of kids that can carry and it's because there's so many good freshmen that are just off the. Off the franchise, off the rip that are just so good, man.
David Pollack
Two of them at Arizona, I mean they're not quite, you know quite what those guys are and I don't. They're not quite Peterson or Debons, you know, take over a game. Nate Event Tennessee, you know, before he got banged up. I know last weekend. But you know there are so many guys can take over. But it was that the guard at Arizona, Braden Buries is really good. Co opied the big guy's good and they've got a nice mix of older guys. I mean it's going to be a really interesting tournament, but I do think that those top four seeds aren't quite as set apart as the four who ended up making the final Four last year.
Reese Davis
Yeah, all the ones last year. College football off season like what. What is. What has stuck out to you this off season? Anything in particular? There's obviously been a lot going on with Portal and it seems like there's a court ruling every. Every so often. And if you get a good football fan, it's a good. It's a good thing for college football. But anything stuck out this offseason?
David Pollack
I think just those things. And what are we going to do with the future of the playoff and the future of eligibility? Because the playoff will work itself out if they just don't do something dumb, you know, if they just 612 is enough. To be honest, what I would probably prefer right now is 12 and another round of home games, but 16 wouldn't bother me. Go beyond that is too much. The eligibility thing and how you determine it. I don't care what you do. Just got to find something and stick to it, you know, whatever. I don't. What is the rule? You know, is it, you know, five or six years after your high school graduating class is done? Is it, you know, what, what is it? Because, you know, I laughed at Saban. Not at him, but, you know, I sort of chuckled and thought, okay, that might be a little hyperbolic when he said how far are we from, you know, former teams quarterback being on the practice squad of the Giants and his old school, they had a year left and his school's quarterback gets hurt and they bring him back. You sort of, yeah, that'll never happen. And then, you know, you have the whole thing with Betty Oko at Alabama and you know, I mean, I got into a pretty good discussion with an athletic director this week. I said, look, I do not like the way Alabama went about that. I don't think that was the way to do it. But if you take a step back and look at the arguments and kind of divorce yourself from that and say, okay, what is it that we're really bothered about? We let all these other guys do it and we now it hasn't happened in football, but we're probably not that far from it if, you know, unless they come up with a, with a real standard about what eligibility is. And now we're gonna, how we're going to be able to enforce it because
Reese Davis
the money, I expect that quick from the ncaa. I'm sure they're working on it.
David Pollack
Well, it's not even their fault though because they, they're owing a billion in court because even if they do something, they're going to get sued and loose. So they've got to figure out a way to, you know, and some people think it's a narrow ruling from Congress about, you know, what it might be. Others, you know, I, I'm in the collective bargaining camp, but I fully realize the problems with that. There are million deeper level problems with it. But the first problem is who bargains with whom. You know, is it going to be the NCAA's College Football Playoff committees that are new enterprise and who in the world reps the players, you know, so it's real easy to say we should bargain this out who you know. So there are a lot of problems with it, but I think the most pressing one is determining eligibility standards. So that at Least that part of it is, you know, is level and, and reasonable. You know, Billis had a great line about the Medioco thing, is that, you know, everybody said, well, this is the line for the ncaa. Well, why would you. Why would you worry about crossing a line that's so blurry? You know, that line's been so blurred there about, you know, what constitutes, you know, a guy who's eligible to play. It's. It's a really interesting time. And I think that's the most pressing issue for college sports, admittedly less pressing for football than the other ones. But, I mean, think about. Think about baseball. Let's say you had a guy who went straight out of high school to the minors, and it's not really working out. He's in Double A, and all of a sudden, Florida needs an arm. They need a bat in the middle of the lineup. Breaking back from double A. I mean, you don't want that. That's not what we should be doing. So in order to do, in order to figure it out, you' to it. Well, let me phrase it two ways. It's either not what we should be doing, or we should just embrace it and say, this is just another pro league, and if a guy's played, you know, five years in the NBA and he not working out and he comes back, we're just another pro league. Let him play. You know, I think we have to make the determination of what we want this to be. You.
Reese Davis
It's amazing. Chris Winky did that 20 years ago, right? Like, went and played baseball, came back, played played football, and he was, he's. He was 28 years old in football, right, that year?
David Pollack
Yes.
Reese Davis
I mean, I mean, so we've kind of seen it, but it's. It is like the linebacker, you know, the guy from Montana who got his ninth year, you know, they used to call you a doctor. Now they just call you a linebacker. I guess you just long enough. I guess you can just be. Be a linebacker. It's great. But, yeah, you're right, though. I mean, it's just. Sue the ncaa. I mean, that's why Joey Aguilar. I'm like, tennessee fans were upset. I'm like, just keep suing. Trinidad lost the first three. He lost the first three suits, and then. And then he got, he got it. So just, Just keep peppering them. They got to pay for it. And before you know it. What the heck?
David Pollack
Watch.
Reese Davis
Watch this. It'll probably work out for your favor.
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Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Shopify is the home of the number one checkout on the planet. And the not so secret secret with shop pay that boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning way less carts go abandoned and way more sales going through. So if you're into growing your business, your commerce platform better be ready to sell wherever your customers are scrolling or strolling on the web, in your store, in their feed and everywhere in between. Businesses that sell more sell on Shopify. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout that Skins uses. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period for three months at shopify.com Westwood1 all lowercase go to shopify.com Westwood1 to upgrade your selling today. Shopify.com Westwood1
David Pollack
yeah, I mean I, it's really funny because what I want is for all of that, all of the stuff to matter, you know, a finite period of time. But when I take a step back from it and I ask myself, why do I want it to matter? It's usually just because that's how it's always been and there's a feeling of nostalgia to it. And then you have to ask yourself, well, is that the right thing? Is this nostalgia a good thing for the enterprise? Is it a good thing for the players? Is it a good thing, you know, for the sport in general? Or has this now just become another professional enterprise? It is professional, let me say that. But is it, is there something that differentiates it from the, you know, from pure professional enterprises, meaning only pro sports leagues with no other components, you know, and people say academics, but I mean, academics are important, but sports and academics are not mutually exclusive. You can do both. So you know and one doesn't. I'm not sure why we've decided that one has to be tied to the other.
Reese Davis
Well, that's always the case. All right, real quick, let's do some rapid fire stuff. Texas, Texas, one of your top contenders to win a national championship next year.
David Pollack
Going to need to see the offensive line. So the offensive line's got to be a lot better. And I could say that a lot
Reese Davis
of places the, the Will Muschamp higher. I like for that component. Like, I like the fact that he's got some mother blank you in him like. And you know, the Sark. Sark's Cali. You know, like I think that's such a good like marriage together and you know, like Sark's going to let him run it. Like he's going to let him run it. He's going to let him do his thing. So I think it'll be, it'll be fun to watch. Does. Does Lane do we get. Do we get Happy Lane? Do. Do we get Cantankerous Lane? Like, what lane are we getting at LSU this season?
David Pollack
This season and maybe this season we get Happy Lane? Well, I think we'll get Happy Lane this season. Now does that mean Championship Lane? I don't know, but we'll get Happy Lane. They'll be good. And I think Levitt will, will work out well for of him.
Reese Davis
Yeah. What about Ohio State? Like, we're going to see so many of those folks drafted and they rebuilt it all last year. Like you think they're going to rebuild it again and be right back where they were. You betting on that?
David Pollack
I don't know if I'm betting on them being right back where they were, but I wouldn't bet against them. That's hedging my bet, I would say, because, I mean they've certainly proven they can stockpile talent and they can produce. But those, they lost so many leaders from the championship team and then they, they're losing a ton of guys next year, but they have still the most dynamic playmaker in the sport. So, you know, I figure, I figured they'll be right back, right back in the mix. I'd be very surprised not to see them in the, in the Big Ten championship game and in the playoff.
Reese Davis
Georgia ain't won a playoff game in a couple of years.
David Pollack
They're.
Reese Davis
They're just been kind of, they've been really good winning the sec. But what about, what about poor Georgia Bulldogs? Are they going to be back in there or what?
David Pollack
Oh, I just hope they can find a way to scratch out a first down. Those poor old boy. I mean, they were, they were really young. They were really young last year in a lot of spots. Right? I mean, that's fair. Really young. Really.
Reese Davis
It's the first time I've ever gone into a season with Kirby and I'm gone. Who's the ballers? Like who's going to be the All American? Because usually you got, okay, we got three or you got three or four that are first round picks. And this last year you were like I don't know who those guys are.
David Pollack
Mm. Well, let's. Let's look at if they, you know, look, they got caught up in a buzz saw, you know, in the playoff. They win that game, I think they go to the national championship game. You know, I think they would have won the next one. So I don't think they're that far off. Georgia is going to be right. And I think Georgia is one of the favorites to win the national championship last year or next year, I should say. Yeah.
Reese Davis
Is Indiana going to sustain their success? Will they be. Will they be right there again in the mix or are they going to fall off a little bit?
David Pollack
I mean, they're going to have to fall off a little bit because they were darn near perfect this year. But I. I think they're here.
Reese Davis
Technically. They were perfect.
David Pollack
Yeah, they. They are here to stay. I think now at that level, probably not. You got to hit on the quarterback again, and they've got a great track record of doing that. And I think Josh Hoover is really. Is really talented and is the right kind of guy to fit well in into that system and be developed by those guys, by Mike Shanahan and Altino sincerity back with them again. So, you know, I. I think that. I think they will continue to be a force in the Big Ten. Will they be as good as last year? I think one of the things to look at, David, they've done a great job in the portal. Signetti is a tremendous talent evaluator, but he also, for the first two years has had a core of guys who've been with him for a really long time, and now those guys are gone. And incorporating new guys is a challenge no matter how good you are. So I think they'll be. They'll be in the mix, they'll be in the fight, but be hard to be as good as they were this year.
Reese Davis
And we're deep in the weeds here. This is the last one, though. Like, who could be next year's Indiana? Is there a team that you're thinking about, like, that could come off the ra? I have one that will come. I think that's going to come off the radar and be very competitive and very good. I mean, saying they're going to be Indiana is. Is not fair to say for anybody. But I've won the big. I have one of the Big 12. I really, really like the Oklahoma State.
David Pollack
You like Oklahoma State?
Reese Davis
Yeah, I just think bring it.
David Pollack
The whole system. They brought the whole system.
Reese Davis
They brought. They brought the best with them. And Eric Morris obviously can coach. I really like him. And by the way, like, just his quarterback play that he's been around is like, stupid. It's silly. And we could go, Mahomes, Mayfield, we can keep going back. The tree he comes from, like Kingsbury and Holgerson and Leech, like, he, he is, he had all these guys on one staff. Lincoln, Riley, Ruffin, McNeil. Like, he's been around so many great minds. And you bring in 80 of those guys with you. Oh, by the way, Messamaker, who was the nation's leading quarterback, like the nation's leading rusher for touchdowns, a stud at receiver. And Wyatt, like, I think they got a chance to, I think the Pokes got a chance to come in and at least poke some people. Like, at least get some, get some big fish.
David Pollack
I think that's a good call. It's a really, really good call because they'll be able to catch some people unaware at different times. So I think that's a really, really good prediction.
Reese Davis
Well, I know you're in the, the basketball mindset. So who wins, who wins the NCAA tournament?
David Pollack
You're going to think I'm crazy.
Reese Davis
I already do.
David Pollack
Now. That's true. You know what I'm going to, I was about to say Florida, but I think I just can't quite do it because it's hard to go back to back. So I'm, I'm, I'm going to say Duke. I'm, I was really, I was at the game where they played Michigan and I've been on the Michigan train for pretty much a whole season and I was really, really impressed with what, the way, what they were able to do against him defensively. That's a really good defensive team and they've got a lot of, a lot of parts. They've got a difference maker and boozer. I'm gonna say Duke, but it's not going to surprise me if Florida wins it again because they are, they are hot at the right time and they're really good and they're really big up, big dude. They are huge up front.
Reese Davis
Some gams, some grown ace men.
David Pollack
Yep.
Reese Davis
All right, well, appreciate your time, big homie. All right, man. To retalk about Lou Holtz. The, the great Lou Holtz. I know he's smiling about that and those stories and all the Stu, all the love he's getting across the nation I know he loves. But thank you so much for your time, big homie. And we will write down Florida and Duke. We'll put that, we'll put that in the two brackets because you're allowed to fill out more than one. Anyways, see you, brother.
David Pollack
See you, man.
See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
Episode: Rece Davis and David Pollack on Lou Holtz & the State of College Football
Date: March 6, 2026
This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the late Lou Holtz, delivered through warm and humorous storytelling by two College Football mainstays: host David Pollack and ESPN’s Rece Davis. The pair reminisce about working and spending personal time with Holtz, offering both behind-the-scenes glimpses and reflections on Holtz’s legacy in college football and broadcasting. The conversation then shifts to lively analysis of the current state of college football—highlighting pressing issues such as transfer eligibility and playoff expansion—and even dips into a rapid-fire review of the upcoming NCAA basketball tournament and major football programs’ outlooks. The episode combines heartfelt memories, sharp sports commentary, and plenty of laughs, making it both a tribute and a timely sports roundtable.
(00:58 - 14:27)
(14:27 - 19:59)
(19:59 - 27:10)
(27:10 - 33:39)
(32:35 - 33:40)
This episode blends nostalgia and good humor with straightforward, candid sports analysis. The personal and professional memories of Lou Holtz foreground a warmth and humanity, while the football and basketball analysis is robust, rapid-fire, and honest—classic Rece Davis and David Pollack. The tone is familiar, sometimes a bit playful, but always deeply informed.
For listeners seeking a tribute to Lou Holtz, insight into the current state of college sports, and a brisk look at the coming year on the gridiron and hardcourt, this episode delivers throughout.